Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Ikuta Korenori Forty-nine

Wife Kazuko Forty-six

Son Koremori Twenty-five

Maid Teru Twenty-one

It was past mid-July.
Ikuta Korenori, a high-ranking official at a certain ministry, took a vacation and came to the seaside villa with his family.
Though called a family, it was just his wife Kazuko and eldest son Koremori.
The second son Yoshitaka claimed to hate the sea; instead, when summer came, the mountain-climbing bug would start up.
Since there was a caretaker couple at the villa, they brought only the maid Teru from the main residence.
This woman Teru had only recently been hired, but with her good manners and quick wit, she somewhat surpassed her peers to become the mistress's favorite.
If one were to find fault, it would be that her facial features were arranged a bit too perfectly, and there was a dangerously alluring quality to how she looked up at people through her lashes.

I

One evening，two men who had finished dinner early went to play billiards at a nearby hotel to stave off boredom.

Kazuko sat in the parlor rereading the letter from the second son about his mountain exploits，thinking she must admonish him once more to curb his reckless behavior and prevent him from getting carried away with his newfound mountaineer pretensions.

The maid Teru folded the laundry and brought it in.

Teru: “Young Master’s undergarment has something like blood on it, but I can’t seem to get it out properly.”

“Here, show me...” Kazuko took the undergarment. “Where...? Ah, this one? This... you... Well, that’s quite a shock, isn’t it? He must have squashed a mosquito or something.”

Teru then held up swimsuits. “Which one would be Master’s, I wonder...”

Kazuko still couldn’t remember. She’d looked at them every day... “Take a guess.”

“Hmm... Perhaps this one?”

“Which... Let’s see... When you lay them out like this... I can’t quite tell. If he were to try it on, we’d know right away, but...”

Teru—well then... even I...

Laughing together, Kazuko wrote her letter reply while Teru began putting away the laundry in the chest of drawers. At this moment, pretending to mistake the drawers, she took out a bundle of banknotes wrapped in a fukusa from one of them and swiftly tucked it into her obi. Before long, Teru tried to leave the room but hesitated for a moment; then, resolutely, she knelt there.

“Um... Madam...”
“I... have a request to make...”

“What’s this sudden formality…?”

Teru hesitated before speaking: “I’m terribly sorry to bring this up, but I would like to request my leave effective today.”

“What’s happened to you, so suddenly…?”

“No, there’s no particular reason I can state.”
“It’s just that... I can’t help feeling someone like me isn’t suited for a grand household like yours.”

“Well now, you’ve come out with another strange notion, haven’t you? I would think even you should understand how much consideration I’ve shown you...”

“Yes, Madam has granted me so much kindness... Truly more than I deserve.”

“Or if there’s something I’ve overlooked that’s made you discontent with this household, do tell me. I’ll hear out most matters...”

“...”
“It’s not about wanting more wages now of all times?”

“That’s not it at all…”
“I’ve never even dreamed of such extravagance.”

Kazuko: “Then—trouble with your fellow maids? If that’s the case, coming over here should settle everything.”

Teru: “Oh no... It’s nothing like that at all...”

Kazuko: “Ah, I see. This lonely place they brought you to—it’s left you disheartened, hasn’t it? You prefer livelier spots, don’t you?”

Teru: “No, it isn’t that I find it particularly lonely...”

Kazuko: “Of course—it can’t be family circumstances. You don’t have parents...”

“No, that’s not it at all.”

“So why don’t you just tell me properly?”
“If you can’t endure it – this sort of place – well, even if we masters mean well, that very intention might make things harder for you maids…”
“If that’s the case, then I suppose it’s not impossible to reconsider things.”
“In any case, I want to hear your reasons for reference.”
“Depending on the situation, there might be things that are hard to say, but even so, I do consider myself a bit different from other madams.”
“And I don’t intend to get upset or anything like that over it.”

Teru...

Kazuko, seeing her remain silent like this, thought it must be something terribly difficult to say—but what on earth could it be…
It all depended on me—couldn’t it be handled any way?

“Oh... N-no, it’s simply that my body isn’t quite well...”

Teru didn’t appear outwardly unwell either.
But well—if she claimed there was some illness involved, I could certainly let her rest and recover.
Was that the only reason…?

“No.”
“In truth, there are still other reasons I cannot bring myself to tell you.”

“You can’t tell me the reason…?”
What could it be?
Did she harbor such secrets…?

Teru...

“Can’t I be your confidant?”

“Furthermore, I couldn’t possibly cause you any more worry, Madam.”

“But why don’t you try telling me anyway…? If you absolutely must take leave, I won’t refuse to grant it, but are you really in such a hurry? You can’t wait until we find a replacement?”

“If at all possible, I would like to be allowed to return even tonight.”

“Well then, I suppose there’s no help for it.”
“You’re not new to service—I’d think you’d know how to give proper notice—but insisting on leaving without a replacement must mean something extraordinary. As for me, I’m at a complete loss.”

“I’m fully aware this is terribly selfish of me, but to take my leave in silence would... well, leave an unpleasant aftermath...”

“Are you saying you want to flee from here in silence?”
“How odd…”
“Enough of that—go and get your things ready….”

“No, even that… It’s because I don’t believe it’s my place to bring up such matters to Madam…”
“After being torn this way and that, I merely considered such possibilities—that’s all there is to it.”

Kazuko will probably stop by Tokyo to pick up her luggage, but that can wait for later.
Finish your meal early so you can catch the last train.
“Since the masters might return late…”

Teru: "I'm truly sorry..."

Teru bowed politely and attempted to rise from her seat.

Ah... wait.
“I know this may sound tedious, but I’ll ask one more time…”
“If the reason you can’t remain in this household has nothing to do with me—if it’s something involving either the Master or Koremori that’s offended you—then just say so…”

Teru...

“Can’t you even say that?”

“Please—don’t ask me anything more.”
“I beg of you.”

“So it really was that after all.”
“Did he force himself on you?”

Teru...

Of course I didn't think the Master would ever do such a thing, but Koremori was still so young—it being common among students his age, and with a pretty girl like you around... Well, it wasn't impossible for such feelings to arise suddenly.

I too had heard such stories from other mothers and had been sufficiently cautious, but through my eyes, there was no boy as clean-cut as that one.

If it was that sort of matter, I needed to have been properly informed—what exactly had Koremori done?

Teru...

Kazuko wouldn't understand if you stayed silent.
When had it happened - what exactly occurred?

Teru...

It wasn't anything irreversible after all—wasn't that so?

“No, it’s not… it’s nothing Madam should trouble herself over.”

“Even so—about that child—as a mother, I want to know everything.”
“But very well—if you’re so determined to keep silent for someone’s sake, I’ll honor that feeling.”

“Since I am of lowly status anyway, it matters not what becomes of me.”
“However, should anything untoward occur, I feared it might cause you trouble…”
“Moreover, first and foremost, I feel all the more apologetic toward you, Madam, who has been so kind to me.”
“It would be better if I were to withdraw now... That’s all I thought.”
“Please forgive me.”

“No—if only you’d told me that sooner, I would never have objected to your request.”
“On the contrary, I’d thank you with all my heart…”
“It’s truly because you held firm that we were all spared.”
“Well then—since I’ve my own considerations—let’s not rush things. Shall we discuss future arrangements?”
“Even if you leave this house, I mean to do right by you…”

“No, Madam, such matters... Had I known they’d trouble you so, I would have discreetly taken my leave.”
“I’m truly at my wits’ end.”
“I must... by today...”
“And to face everyone’s expressions now would...”

“Everyone, you say...”
“Ah—you mean you can’t bear to look at Koremori anymore?”

Teru...

Master doesn’t know anything about this—isn’t that right?

Teru looked up at Kazuko once with meaningful implication, then looked down again.

Kazuko, keenly following it with her eyes, murmured: “The Master... yes... he must know nothing at all...”

Teru...

“Surely you haven’t told the Master yourself?” Kazuko demanded.
(harshly) No way... she thought. Or... Could this involve not just Koremori... No... That can’t be... That’s absurd...
“You see? It’s because you won’t speak clearly that I’m getting so flustered here. Wait—let me calm down and ask properly one more time...”

“Madam, I implore you...”
“Please—not that—not from my own lips…”
“That’s going too far, Madam—”
(Teru breaks down sobbing)

“No.”
“This differs from outside matters.”
“Who should I ask, and what must I say to learn the truth?”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll spend my whole life being a foolish mother and foolish wife.”
“I beg you—tell me.”
“Just give me an answer.”
“That earlier matter—it was about Koremori, wasn’t it?”

Teru shook her head faintly.

“So—it’s the Master?”

Teru stealthily looked at Kazuko’s face.

Kazuko: “So that’s how it is.”

Teru: “No.”
“That’s not true. That’s not true.”
“There isn’t anyone.”

“So you mean... it’s neither... both... both of them... Is that what you’re saying...?”

Teru...

“Ah… How wretched I am…
How ashamed I am.
I want to leave this house even more than you do...”

“I... I have not yet spoken of this to anyone...”
“Is it not simply that Madam has arbitrarily decided so on her own…?”

“Even I—Kazuko—have been... You—you’ve been properly listening to everything said since earlier—haven’t you? We’ve reached this point—an ambiguous answer won’t suffice. If you refuse to speak, I’ll question both Master and Koremori about the facts before sending you away...”

“No, Madam…”
“If you proceed with such a thing, I... I’ll die...”

“I’m not trying to make a scene.”
“I simply want to know for my own understanding.”
“If you’ll just tell me the facts clearly, I intend to settle everything discreetly.”
“That would be best for everyone’s sake…”

Teru...

Kazuko (timidly): “So... it wasn’t... both of them... right?”

Teru (nods)

A long silence.

“So you can’t tell me which one it was yourself.”
“Yes—I beg your forgiveness for just that one thing.”

A long silence.

“I won’t ask anything more,” Kazuko resolved.
“Just one final thing—grant this last request of mine.”
“It’s nothing difficult.”
“You’ll come to no harm from it…”

Kazuko held out two sheets of paper and a pencil before Teru.

“Then write these words there—it doesn’t matter how you write them.”
“Each on a separate sheet…”

"I... I'm not good with letters, but..."

"It doesn’t matter if you say you can’t."
"Now, write it like this: ‘I humbly request an audience at the arbor tonight at nine o’clock.’"

Teru wrote as instructed, occasionally raising her face as if to hesitate, but Kazuko urged her on with a motion of her chin.

Kazuko: “That will do.”
“Now then, when it’s nine o’clock, you are to go out to the arbor.”
“I’ll be watching from here...”
“So one of them will come.”
“You must clearly say this there: ‘The reason I can no longer remain in this house—you must surely understand it.’”
“‘However, I wish to keep that solely within my heart and take my leave gracefully.’”
“‘Therefore, please tell me a single reason that Madam would find acceptable.’”

“But Madam… such matters… I…”

Kazuko: “You can’t say it, hmm?”
“Oh, you don’t have to say anything at all.”
“You’ll handle that part suitably.”
“As long as you maintain a logical sequence…”

“Then, at what hour might I receive my dismissal?”

“Well... It depends on how things turn out—but if my plan succeeds tonight or tomorrow—either way—I won’t mind.”

“Um... Then... If by chance no one were to come... what would happen?”

"You needn't worry about that."
"If they don’t come, I’ve made arrangements to ascertain things properly."

II

Near nine o'clock that evening.

The arbor in the pine grove overlooking the beach—darkness where a person’s face could barely be discerned.
From the left, a young man wearing a jacket and white trousers slowly walked over.
He sat down on the bench.
He appeared to be keeping an eye on his surroundings.
He took out a scrap of paper from his pocket and read it.

But just then, somewhere, the sound of footsteps treading on sand could be heard.
He put away the scrap of paper and concealed himself in the tree shadows.

Before long, from the right appeared a gentlemanly man wearing a yukata and carrying a walking stick.

Needless to say, the former young man was the son Koremori; the latter gentleman was the father Korenori.

Koremori (peering at the shadowy figure): "Father?"

Korenori (slightly startled): “What—it’s you?”

Koremori (approaching): “Are you taking an evening stroll, Father?”

Korenori: “You’re one to talk—what are you doing in a place like this?”

“What am I doing? This is precisely where one comes to contemplate the seascape.” Koremori swept his hand toward the dark water. “Not a whisper of wind today.”

“Nonsense.” Korenori tightened his yukata sash. “Cold enough to freeze a man in just this thin robe.”

“You must take care not to catch chill.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” said Korenori. “More importantly, didn’t you say earlier that playing billiards had worn you out quite a bit? Night dew is poison, I tell you. This is precisely when one upsets their stomach.”

“If I don’t have a bit of diarrhea, my bowel movements become terribly infrequent these days.”
“This foggy feeling in my head must be because of that.”

“Then take Laxatol, take Laxatol...”
“I brought an unopened bottle...”
“Go take it right away.”

“Yes, I’ll take it before bed.”
“Hey Father, I’ve just had a brilliant idea for my thesis, you know.”
“When I sit here like this, steadily gazing out at the night sea—it’s strange, isn’t it?—philosophical inspiration wells up endlessly.”
“Please let me think by myself for a while.”

“What’s this? You were just saying your head was foggy, and yet...”

“That is to say, I must have ventured too deeply into profound matters. After all, our heads are still fragile—when they collide with great truths, that alone tends to cause temporary confusion.”

“Anyway, you must take care of your head. As for me, since my school days, I’ve always prioritized conserving mental energy. That’s why my policy was to never engage in excessive studying or borrowing trouble. So you see—even now, the young folks at the office are astonished by my memory.”

“Ah, speaking of which—hasn’t the storytelling broadcast started yet?” Koremori asked. “After all this time, didn’t you say we absolutely must listen to Chiyū’s ‘Itō Hirobumi’ program tonight?”

Korenori rubbed his chin. “Let me see—it was supposed to begin at eight thirty. Hmm, yes, that’s right.” He waved dismissively. “Never mind that. We’ll catch it next time.”

Koremori glanced at his watch—still barely nine o’clock. Half the program might still be audible.

“Fine, fine,” Korenori grunted. “It’s a tale we already know by heart anyway...”

A long silence.

Korenori suddenly started chanting in a strange voice.

Koremori: Ugh...

Korenori: “Alright, alright. Then I’ll be off.”
“Tomorrow morning… shall we play tennis?”
(Stands up.)

Koremori: “I’ll play.”
“Good night.”

“Ah, good night.”

Korenori reluctantly headed off to the right, swinging a walking stick.

From somewhere in the villa, the sound of a piano could be heard.

Before long, Teru’s figure emerged from the left and gazed for a moment toward the arbor. But upon confirming that Koremori was there, she suddenly feigned ignorance and attempted to pass by in front of him.

Koremori (quietly): “Hey—do you need something?”

Teru (quietly turned toward him with calculated precision)

“What sort of matter is this?”

Teru (kept her gaze lowered)

“From my standpoint,” Koremori said, “that letter permits two interpretations.”
“I find myself unable to determine which meaning applies.”

Teru...

“Was dragging me out here like this just your own business,” Koremori pressed, “or does it concern me too?” He straightened his posture, the sea breeze tousling his hair. “That’s what I’ll ask first.”

Teru...

“Why are you staying silent? This isn’t a joke. You told me to come, so I came. There must be a reason you wanted to meet me here. Out with it.”

“When you speak like that... I can’t say anything at all... Truly, I’m so sorry. But I thought... perhaps you might come to understand my feelings.”

“All that grand talk—is that it? Hmm, so that’s your angle? What exactly are you telling me to do?” (Somewhat gently) “You’re bolder than you look. Do you think something like this could stay hidden from everyone?”

“No… That’s why I’ve decided to request my leave effective today…”

“This is awkward. I don’t know how to respond properly,” Koremori said. “But if you’d just confess that much to me, would that satisfy you?”

“Teru…”

“Or do you want to know whether I share the same feelings?”

Teru put on a bashful act. “I... I already understood without being told...” She covered her face with her sleeve and wept.

Koremori said, “Stop crying—it’s unbecoming.” Then with measured deliberation: “But you mean this seriously.” His tone shifted to pragmatic resolve. “In that case, I must consider this properly too.” A dry chuckle escaped him. “Neither party can remain indifferent in such matters.” He leaned closer, voice lowering. “Particularly when you’ve shown such resolve—well, I am a man after all.” The last words carried forced lightness. “I suppose I ought to offer some comfort.”

Teru (sobbing): “No... such things... I... never meant...”
“I... I don’t know what I should do anymore...”

Koremori: “So I’m saying—stop making that voice...”
“My phrasing was poor.”
“In other words... you wanting to leave my side—that’s you considering what’s best for both of us?”
“Because you think we can’t be together?”

Teru: “No... rather than that... such future matters... such dream-like things... I haven’t thought of them at all... just... just...”

Koremori: “Just… what is it?”

Teru: “I just… wanted… once… to truly see… Young… Young Master’s face… like this…”

“Ah, I see...”
“Understood.”
“Well then, this much should suffice...”
“Now hurry up and go over there...”
“What if I get flushed while we’re carrying on like this?”
“It’s getting rather precarious.”

Teru raised her eyes and gazed at Koremori’s face, clasping both hands over her chest as if pleading. “Young Master...”

“Huh?” Koremori reached out to place a hand on her shoulder but suddenly came to his senses. Flustered, he shook his head and dashed off to the right.

III

After that, thirty minutes later.

It was Korenori’s living room.
He sat at the desk reading.

Kazuko entered.

“Would you care for something sweet?” Kazuko asked.
“Hmm… I don’t particularly want anything,” Korenori replied.
“I hesitate to mention this now,” she continued softly, “but there’s something rather concerning about Koremori.”

“Huh?”
“Hmm...”
“What’s wrong with Koremori?”

“No, you see, I intend to dismiss Teru.”

“That would be acceptable.”
“But do you have a replacement?”

“This is no time to be talking about replacements.”

“What’s going on here?”

“Well… I can’t say for certain… but I just saw two people at the arbor.”
“Something seems off.”

Korenori: “I knew Koremori was at the arbor, but what business does Teru have going there?”

Kazuko: “That’s precisely why I’ve been telling you this, isn’t it? I think they might have had some prior arrangement from before.”

Korenori: “That’s strange, isn’t it?”
“That place is somewhere anyone might go; you can hardly call it suitable for secret discussions.”
“I also passed by there just a moment ago.”
“However, there are a few things about that which don’t quite sit right with me either, so I thought I’d casually look into it later on.”

“Which one do you mean?”

“Well, it’s not about either one in particular...”
“In any case, it’s better not to leave those two together.”
“It’s like leaving a cat alone with cream.”
“They’re like two starving wolves eyeing the same prey.”
“That Teru woman isn’t someone you can let your guard down around.”

“I can’t say such aspects don’t exist,” Kazuko replied, “but ultimately these matters depend on the man...” She paused meaningfully. “Moreover, she’s been giving it considerable thought.”

Korenori nodded deeply. “Hmm, quite right.” Gradually, things were coming into focus. That brat Koremori had interfered earlier—he must have been waiting for someone at the arbor. No, more precisely scheming to lure Teru there. He’d commanded her to come at nine o’clock. Of course Teru herself harbored no such intentions—she’d have avoided going if possible. But bound by her master’s orders, what choice remained? That’s when he’d hatched his plan. Dragged me into it as backup.

“What exactly are you implying?”

Korenori: “I see. As you say, that woman’s been thinking quite seriously...”
“Look here—something like this had been left on my desk.”
(shows the earlier scrap of paper)

“It’s Teru’s handwriting, indeed...”

“That’s probably right,” Korenori said. “Of course I knew that.”

Kazuko fixed him with a razor-sharp gaze. “Did you go there at nine o’clock too?”

“Huh? Me?” Korenori blinked. “I didn’t go there intentionally. Just passed by during my evening stroll.”

At that moment, Kazuko had likely failed to grasp the full implication.

“Huh?”
“This meaning?”
“I don’t waste time thinking about meanings.”

“Doesn’t that strike you as absurd?”
“Why wouldn’t you show me a woman’s summons, regardless of who sent it?”
“You claim not to have considered the meaning, but that rings hollow.”
“This alone makes everything perfectly clear, doesn’t it?”

“But in reality, that wasn’t its real meaning, was it?”

“No—you’re only saying that now because of how things stand. When you suddenly looked at something like this, didn’t you find it filthy? No matter what the circumstances might be, don’t you think it’s rather audacious for a mere maid to lure you alone to that arbor?”

“That’s why you can’t understand things unless you experience them firsthand. With fifty years of experience, I’ve come to thoroughly understand both the front and back of society. When I looked at this letter, I considered everything you people would normally think of—once and then again. However, I felt there was an unsolvable mystery lurking within these poorly written characters that couldn’t be unraveled by that alone.”

“Then why did you retreat so dejectedly despite Koremori’s persistence?”

“What do you mean by ‘dejectedly’? Are you doubting me?”

“I don’t mean to say I suspect you, but don’t you think there could have been a more fair and just way to handle it?”

“Hah... So you’re saying I should’ve consulted you beforehand? Take that complaint to Teru.” He affected a philosophical tone. “‘Why did you make such a request to Master instead of me?’ If I explain on Teru’s behalf, it’s simply because there’s no conceivable reason for Madam to go out alone to the arbor to cool off at nine in the evening. To make use of chance, one must apply their mind to what is most inevitable.”

“No, I’m not saying such things,” Kazuko replied. “Whatever Teru does—isn’t that her own affair? But you…”

“I already get it,” Korenori said. “Look—I tried handling this matter calmly. I meant to resolve the situation without involving anyone’s feelings. As proof, once everything became clear, didn’t I tell you every last detail? There was no need to specially show you this letter. No—it’s strange to say I shouldn’t have shown you, but if I had anything to hide, I would’ve quietly thrown this thing in the toilet or somewhere. That’s right.”

Kazuko (overcome by persuasion): “Oh, did you interpret it that way?”
“How preposterous! Surely you don’t imagine I—I could feel jealous over a mere maid… If you would only reflect properly, you would comprehend.”
“In any event, since matters stand thus, it benefits neither Koremori nor ourselves. I shall discharge that woman without delay.”

Korenori: “Yet it would be preferable to dismiss her without explicit cause.”
“Let us devise some pretext.”
“That method preserves decorum.”

“You’ve likely surmised already, but…”

Korenori: “Well, I’ll leave that to you.”
Ah, I was quite tired today.
“Go prepare my bed immediately.”

Kazuko: “It would be best if you too refrain from mentioning anything.”

Korenori: “I’m pretending not to know anything.”
“Let’s pretend we didn’t notice this letter either and left it as it was.”
While tidying up here, she’d quietly take it away.

As for Kazuko, there remained no further external matters requiring attention.

“Is Koremori in his room?”

“No, he hasn’t returned yet. When I looked earlier, he left Teru at the arbor and hurried off alone toward the beach. Teru seemed to be crying. They must have had some kind of argument.”

Korenori: "That fool."
Every last one of them...
This special vacation had been utterly ruined.

Kazuko left.

Before long, Teru appeared.

Teru prepared the bedding.

Korenori (without looking her way): “It’s hot. Just a blanket on top will do.”

“Yes, sir.”

She took out a futon mattress from the closet and, with practiced ease, spread it out in the center of the room.

Korenori watched her movements without truly watching.

Korenori: “Do you have a fiancé or something?”

Teru (looking up in surprise, smiling bashfully, then suddenly averting her eyes): “No.”

Korenori: “Alright, alright. Hurry up.”

Teru was carefully smoothing out the wrinkles in the futon sheet.

Korenori: “Has no one ever asked you to marry into their family?”

Teru (head still bowed, softly): "No... nothing like that..."

Korenori: "Hey, hurry up already..."

Teru handily placed the blanket on top and began hanging the mosquito net.

Korenori: "If you were to marry, where would you want to go?"

Teru (innocently squirming her body): "Oh, someone like me..."
Korenori: "Don't speak foolishness."
"What becomes of a woman who can't marry?"

Teru (finished hanging the mosquito net and began tidying the desk), “Will this amount suffice for your tobacco...?”

Korenori: “Ah, that’s fine.”
“I’m returning that letter to you.”
“That sort of thing would cause trouble if Madam finds it.”
“What exactly did you want to discuss with me?”

Teru remained motionless where she stood.

“Well, come here,” said Korenori. “My voice will carry—move closer.”

Teru did exactly as he instructed.

“Would it have been better if I’d gone there after all?”

Teru...

Korenori: "If that’s how it is, then you need to speak more clearly—otherwise I can’t make sense of any of this."
"If Koremori’s acting that way, I’ve got plenty of methods to stop it."
"I understand how you feel."
"There might be parts that’d be awkward to say outright."
"But not everyone’s so quick on the uptake."
"Still, I’ve got the gist of things."
"You must find this place uncomfortable too."

“I’m truly sorry for causing you such concern.”
“If I could stay by your side… I was prepared to endure any hardship…”
“Madam is indeed very kind, but… how should I put this—though it’s terribly rude of me to say—ultimately, it all depends on her whims…”

“That’s about right,” said Korenori. “You noticed that well.” “Quite worldly for someone who’s endured hardships...”

Teru kept her head bowed. “I... I have absolutely no family ties... When I think about it... it feels strangely lonely...” She covered her face with her sleeve.

“Natural enough,” Korenori gruffed out his response while maintaining distance from her emotional display. “Stay resolute yourself and kin become nuisances anyway.” His tone shifted to practical dismissal: “This isn’t the place—we'll discuss your situation properly later.” The command followed like shutters slamming closed: “Secure the storm panels.”

Teru stood up, passed by Korenori, and closed the storm shutters.

Korenori was watching her retreating figure intently.

Teru (gazing at him with nearly seductive eyes) “Then, good night.”

Korenori (throwing himself back in his chair): “Hey，come over here.”

Teru first lowered her head as if avoiding the man’s gaze, then began approaching him step by step as though waiting for something to happen. Korenori abruptly stood up and seized her shoulders.

From below came Kazuko’s voice calling “Teru.”

The two hurriedly pull apart.

Teru exited the room as she was.

IV

The next morning.

Korenori, Kazuko, and Koremori were seated around the dining table in the family dining room.

Even after Kazuko’s old maid had finished cooking the rice and Teru still hadn’t come down, when they went to wake her, they found she was already gone.

Korenori: “Last night… after that… Did you speak to her about anything?”

Kazuko (glancing at Koremori): "No, I didn’t have any particular conversation with her, but she did seem oddly restless."

“I do understand, you know... the reason she ran away...”

Kazuko: “Oh? You...”
(exchanging glances with Korenori)

Korenori: “It’s just one maid.”
“There’s no need for all of us to make such a fuss.”

“That’s true,” Kazuko said. “However, since being short-handed would be problematic, let’s call Tokyo and have someone sent over.”

“If you’re going to hire a maid from now on,” Koremori interjected, “please make sure she’s not too glamorous.”

Kazuko: "Why..."
(she exchanged glances with Korenori again)

“Why? Well, I don’t have that much confidence,” Koremori said. “If they don’t make any moves, I’ll manage—but if they tempt me even a little, honestly, I don’t know if I can hold my ground.”

Korenori tensed. “What do you expect to accomplish with such weakness?”

“In that case,” Kazuko remarked, “I suppose that Teru woman was reliable in that regard—just perfect for you, wasn’t she?”

“There’s no such thing as an ideal match to begin with,” Korenori countered.

Koremori: “Actually, to tell the truth, it’s the opposite—but well, such things aren’t worth fretting over. There’s no use talking about someone who’s already left.”

“Men,” Kazuko said, “are so easily deceived. You’ll need to be more careful from now on. Thinking you’ve discerned a woman’s true feelings just because she glanced your way is terribly hasty. Unrequited love usually sprouts from such misapprehensions.”

“Listen well,” Korenori grunted.

“Things permissible, things obligatory, things advisable, things forbidden—” Koremori countered, “I know perfectly how to distinguish between them all.”

“What’s that supposed to mean… That…”
“Say it again.”

Koremori: “Are you ready?”
“In this world there are things one may do; things one may refrain from doing; and matters where either course proves equally permissible.”

“There are,” Kazuko acknowledged.

“Then there are matters where abstaining is permissible,” Koremori continued, “yet acting proves preferable.”

“Such things do exist.”

“Of course,” he pressed on, “there exist acts strictly forbidden.”

“Undeniably...”

“Just as with the imperative category, there are deeds one must perform.” Koremori concluded with academic finality. “Properly distinguishing these four ensures minimal error in most situations.”

Kazuko: “Then which category do things better left undone fall into?”

Koremori: “They belong to permissible actions.”

“I wonder if such a thing even exists...”
“If something is better left undone, then isn’t it better left undone?”

“Yes—but it merely makes the world a duller place.”
“It only makes humans conform to molds.”

“You’re spouting some amusing nonsense there.”
“Do they teach such things in schools these days?”

“At school, you say…?”
“You must be joking.”
“This is my philosophy.”
“Father, will you be playing tennis this morning…?”

“Ah, of course I will…”

“I’ll go on ahead.”

After Koremori rose from his seat and left, the elderly couple, mutually suppressing their desire to laugh, exchanged looks.

Korenori: “Good grief, having a grown son brings nothing but extra troubles.”

Kazuko: “It was fortunate she left before causing any complications... Though when formally dismissing someone, one must maintain proper formalities. Still, depending on perspective, that woman does seem rather pitiable.”

Korenori: “But regardless—she’s a shrewd one.”
“She sees beyond the moment.”
“It may not be Koremori’s brand of reasoning, but she clearly distinguishes between what mustn’t be done and what may.”

“Truly, if only her looks were a bit plainer, there would be nothing to fault.”

At that moment, the telephone rang.

Kazuko (holding the receiver to her ear): “Hello? Hello? Yes, speaking.”
“This is Ikuta.”
“Huh?”
“Who may I ask is calling? ...Huh?”
“Police… (turning toward her husband) What business could they have…?”
“Hello? Hello? Yes, yes… Oh? Right now, to your place…?”
“And then…?”
“No, it certainly was there, but…”
“Ah, she states her name is Teru…”
“Well, I hadn’t noticed, but…”
“I’ll check right away…”
(hurriedly opened the chest’s drawer)

“What’s wrong?”

“Teru’s been detained by the police... They’re asking strange questions about her carrying a large sum of money—whether we remember giving it to her...”
“Oh dear, it’s gone...”
“The bundle of 500 yen we kept here is empty.”
“It was definitely here until yesterday evening...”

Korenori: “There’s no use saying such things.”
“Then just give them that answer, shouldn’t you?”

“Alright, I’ll deal with this….”
(picking up the receiver) “Ah, hello? This is Ikuta.”
“Oh? What exactly do you mean by that…?”
“Hmm… This morning… at the station ticket window… Ah… A hundred-yen note was dropped… Ha ha ha—naturally, given your professional duties… Much obliged… Ah yes, no—it’s not that she was fleeing or anything… That’s right… There were certain circumstances… Eh?”
“Well… That’s rather…”
“Ah, I see—about the source of that money… She absolutely won’t say… Claims she received it… From her master… Huh?”
“From whom…?”

“That Kazuko’s probably spouting some nonsense…”

“Silence...”
“Ah, hello? Hello? So she hasn’t... done anything particular...?”
“Well—that is to say... regarding the money... we’re aware of it...”

“What are you saying?”

Korenori: “Ah yes, that will do… No—thank you for your trouble… Goodbye…”
(Hanging up the receiver) “Preserving the family’s dignity for five hundred yen is cheap at the price, is it not?”
“Should you rashly claim that money was stolen, there is no telling what that woman might let slip…”

"But Kazuko—you—did something happen to that five hundred yen by yesterday?"
"I properly locked up at night and went to sleep."

Korenori (meaningfully): "So you see, everything adds up perfectly."

Kazuko (also meaningfully): "Even if the story lines up, the accounts don't balance."

“That settles it—the numbers don’t tally,” said Korenori. “In an accounting duel, she simply outmaneuvers us.” “She foresaw every move.” “Through those five hundred yen, she’s neatly deposited her secrets and made her escape.”

Kazuko: “And with Koremori’s situation too—it’s impossible to know which side bears the blame.”
“That woman might well have been the one to make the first move.”

Korenori: “Hmm… She’d likely do something of that sort…”
“In fact, that letter she sent me—pure deception.”

Kazuko: “How utterly mortifying… I completely misjudged her…”
“It was I who acted foolishly.”
“……Everything… All of this is my doing……”

“Now, now—what’s done can’t be helped,” said Korenori. “We must simply take greater care with one another from here on. Come—let’s go play tennis or such. Lately... when facing our son... I find myself rather outmatched.”

Korenori rose resolutely to his feet and left.

× × ×

Here the curtain fell on this play; however, this unfortunate couple, each concealing secrets they could never confess to one another, ultimately made the maid Teru's petty crime irredeemable.
Yet only their son Koremori, while becoming the outward sacrifice of his father and mother, held sway over their consciences and could at times fondly recall the girl Teru's tears.