CPSG 04

Chapter 4 

A Lonely Night

That night, Grandma from Yamanote and Emi came to stay over, bringing with them a gift to celebrate Aimi’s school entrance.

Grandma Yamanote, whose name was Kinue Noguchi, was Aimi’s maternal grandmother. Emi, her daughter, was Aimi’s mother’s younger sister.
For Aimi, Emi was not only her aunt, but also her mother’s younger sister by four years—someone who had naturally become a substitute mother to her after her real mother’s death. She was also Aimi’s piano teacher.

Kinue was now sixty-five years old and one of the directors of a certain music university. Aimi’s mother, too, had once been expected to become the world’s greatest pianist, carrying that university’s name on her shoulders—if only that accident hadn’t happened…

Now, Kinue was hoping to make Emi her replacement. But Emi seemed to have no such intentions. Even as she neared thirty, she remained a free-spirited pianist, living an independent life.

“Oh, really? I would’ve loved to hear it too. They didn’t have to schedule the board meeting on today of all days…”
Kinue had just heard from Eijirō about the commotion at that morning’s entrance ceremony.

“If Mari were alive, she would have been so happy…”
Kinue’s eyes welled up with tears again.

“Grandma, you’ve been crying nonstop since earlier—”

“Well, your grandpa passed away, and now it’s just Emi and me. It’s lonely, and I cry easily these days. If Emi would just marry and give me some grandchildren, the house would be much livelier…”

“Mother, don’t make it sound like it’s my fault—” Emi blurted out, flustered at the sudden turn toward marriage talk.

“That’s right. Emi, don’t you have someone nice?”
Even Eijirō joined in, teasing her along with Kinue.

“Big sister, you can’t get married! You have to stay my mother forever—”
Only Aimi clung to Emi anxiously, holding on to her tightly.

“Oh no—if this keeps up, I’ll end up an old maid!” Emi exclaimed dramatically.

“Then I’ll take care of you!” Aimi said quickly.

“Thank you. I’ll be counting on you!” Emi replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Kinue murmured:

“Mari used to say the same kind of things to make me happy. But then, when she fell in love, she forgot all about me and left…”

“Ami, you wouldn’t do that, right?” Emi asked, looking at the little girl who was clinging to her.

“Hee-hee-hee—” Aimi stuck out her tongue and looked away playfully.

“Well then, why don’t you play me that wonderful performance from this morning?” Kinue asked Aimi.

“Eh—Grandma, I just practiced the piano earlier. Besides, it’s been such a tiring day for everyone. Let’s just take a bath and go to bed. I’ll play tomorrow, okay?”
Aimi quickly steered the conversation away.

“Ami’s right, you must be tired. Please, have your bath first…” Fumie said, gently inviting Kinue toward the bathroom.

“That’s true. Tomorrow, I’ll be sure to hear plenty of it…”

And so, after a long while, the house was once again lively, yet tinged with a quiet loneliness, as the night wore on.