Beside him, Chiko unfolded the letter and cleared her throat before beginning to read aloud.
"To those receiving this letter,
For Chiko:
Chiko, it's Hanako.
It's been a while since my last letter. I've settled down here now, so there's no need to worry too much about me.
How have things been lately? Is everyone at the club still getting along? Whatever happens, make sure you take care of your health.
I recently opened a small shop of my own. It's nowhere near as busy as what I used to do, but somehow I feel even more exhausted than before. Maybe I really am getting old. I just don't have the same energy I did when I was younger, and these days, whenever it rains, my shoulders start aching.
You need to take care of yourself too. You're still young, so don't wait until you're my age before regretting all the times you neglected your body.
Still, even though I'm busy until late every day, life feels unexpectedly fulfilling. It's been a long time since I last felt like this.
Sometimes, that sense of fulfillment gives me the illusion that I've somehow returned to the past, and whenever that feeling fades, I inevitably find myself becoming sentimental again.
It's at moments like those that the meaning of time and the passing years becomes especially thought-provoking.
The man standing beside me in the postcard I sent you is someone I grew up with. I never expected him to remain in the village all these years without ever leaving, and he's helped me a great deal lately.
And...
I'm quite fond of him.
But whenever I'm alone, I sometimes find myself feeling a little sad.
I've never regretted the choices I made in the past, but now, for the first time, I find myself feeling a little heartbroken over them. He knows about my past and doesn't look down on me for it, yet somehow I've begun looking down on myself instead.
Fate really does enjoy playing tricks on people. It waits until you've already given up, then suddenly places another piece of hope in your hands.
If only I had met him again sooner...
Also, when you receive this letter, remember to find Yuto. I'm not going to send him a separate one. For some reason, I can never remember his address. Strange, isn't it?
For Yuto:
Yuto, it's Aunt Hanako. Have you missed me?
Aunt Hanako thinks about you quite often over here. Now that I think about it, I really should have given your cheeks a proper squeeze before I left. I only realized that afterward.
What a shame. (Laugh)
You don't need to worry too much about Aunt Hanako. I'm very happy here, and I'm doing well.
Back when Yuto came to comfort Aunt Hanako while acting like such a little grown-up, it really did make me happy. I was proud of you too.
Yuto, make sure you spend every day happily. More importantly, make sure you live a happy life.
Also, if anything happens in your life, make sure you tell Chiko!
There absolutely cannot be another incident like what happened with Housen. If anybody bullies you, tell Chiko immediately! I already gave her instructions, so she'll definitely help you.
Everyone on our street looks out for each other. No outsider gets to bully one of our own!
Especially those delinquent brats from outside or those messy yakuza groups. Don't be afraid of them, Yuto. They wouldn't dare come here and start trouble.
And if you ever need help with anything else, don't be shy. Just ask everyone. Everybody here likes you, and they'd all be more than happy to lend a hand.
If I remember correctly, Yuto still doesn't have a girlfriend, right?
That won't do.
Yuto needs to get out there and date more girls. With a face like yours, you could have those young girls falling all over themselves without even trying.
Still, Yuto, don't go too far when you're having fun. And when you do that, remember to use protection. It's better for both you and the girl.
All right, that's enough.
I've included my phone number. If either of you misses me, you can call, although sometimes I might not answer. (Laugh)
Once everything here has completely settled down, I'll come back and visit everyone.
Wishing you good health, and that everything goes smoothly.
With love,
Hanako."
By the time Chiko finished reading, she was already wiping at the corner of her eyes.
After a moment, she sniffed loudly and cursed beneath her breath, though the enormous smile on her face made it obvious that there was no real anger behind the words.
"Seriously... when did Big Sis become such an old nag? That doesn't suit her at all! And it's just some guy. Don't go looking down on yourself over that, idiot!"
Her eyes were red, but the happiness in her expression was impossible to hide.
Yuto drew in a deep breath before letting it out with a faint, helpless smile of his own.
He had not expected Hanako to write something like that to him.
The section addressed to Chiko and the section written for him might as well have come from two completely different people.
One moment she had been mature and reflective, quietly looking back on her life and the choices she had made; the next, she had transformed straight back into the overly familiar Aunt Hanako he remembered, worrying about whether he had a girlfriend and even reminding him to use protection.
That contrast was so thoroughly Hanako that Yuto could only smile.
"Oh, right. This is Hanako-san's phone number. Want to call her?"
After wiping away the last traces of tears, Chiko pointed toward the string of numbers written at the end of the letter.
It was a landline number.
No wonder Hanako had specifically warned them that she might not always be able to answer.
"Let's call her."
Yuto nodded.
Chiko immediately pulled out her phone and dialed the number.
The ringtone continued for quite a while, long enough that both of them began wondering whether anyone would answer, before the call finally connected.
They visibly relaxed at the same time.
Chiko casually switched the phone to speaker.
"Hello? Nobuko General Store. How may I help you?"
The familiar voice coming from the other end made Yuto slowly breathe out.
"Hanako-san..."
Chiko, however, immediately struggled to hold herself together.
She had only just finished crying over the letter, and the emotions she had barely managed to suppress surged back the instant she heard Hanako's voice.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Chiko..."
"Hanako-san, are you doing well?"
"Mm. What about you?"
"I'm doing fine too."
"And the club?"
"Everything's good there too."
"That's good. Make sure you take care of yourself."
"Mm, I know." Chiko glanced toward Yuto before adding, "Yuto's sitting right across from me too. Do you want to say anything to him?"
"Eh?! Yuto's there too? Why haven't I heard him say anything?"
"Aunt Hanako, it's been a while."
"Hehe. It really has." Hanako sounded delighted to hear his voice, but her next question came almost immediately.
"So, have you gotten yourself a girlfriend lately?"
Yuto felt rather helpless.
Of all the things she could have asked after not seeing him for so long, her very first concern was apparently still his love life.
Even so, he answered honestly.
"Mm. I have."
"Oh? Hahahaha! That's wonderful!" Hanako's laughter immediately became louder. "I've been wondering about that for ages. So you finally found someone."
She sounded exactly like an anxious mother who had spent years worrying that her child might never manage to settle down.
"Is she a good girl?"
"Yes."
"Then when I come back someday, make sure you introduce her to me. Let Auntie have a look at her for you. Men aren't nearly as good as women when it comes to judging girls, you know."
Yuto could only helplessly agree.
After that, Chiko took over the conversation again and began telling Hanako about everything that had happened recently.
She went through various matters involving the club and Ichinose Street in considerable detail, from ordinary neighborhood gossip to the smaller problems that had appeared since Hanako left.
Eventually, the conversation drifted toward the strange old man who had been wandering around the street lately.
"Hanako-san, let me tell you—there's been this weird old man hanging around here recently, asking questions all over the place. He's incredibly annoying. One look at him and you can tell he's some washed-up gambling addict, and he's even missing several fingers."
"Oh? Is that so? It isn't particularly unusual for gamblers to come to a nightlife district looking for entertainment."
"That's the problem—he's not here for entertainment." Chiko sounded increasingly irritated as she remembered him.
"He just keeps going around asking all these strange questions. No matter how many times we tell him we don't know anything, he refuses to leave. I have absolutely no idea what he's so obsessed with."
"What is he asking about?"
"His daughter. Apparently, he heard she used to work in this line of business, but I've never even heard her name before. She definitely wasn't from our street, so that old man probably came to the wrong place. But no matter what anyone tells him, he still refuses to give up. I seriously don't know what to do with him."
"That does happen sometimes. What a troublesome situation." Hanako paused briefly before asking, "By the way, what was his daughter's name? Tell me. I might know her."
"Eh... um... that..."
Chiko scratched her head.
"I actually forgot. Who bothers remembering stuff like that~?"
"Her name was Morishita Nobuko."
Yuto supplied the answer from across the table.
He still remembered the day the old man had shown him that worn photograph and mentioned the name of the daughter he had spent so long searching for.
The moment Yuto said it, the other end of the phone fell silent.
Only the faint sound of Hanako's breathing could be heard through the speaker.
"Hello? Hanako-san?" Chiko frowned at the phone. "Why'd you stop talking? Hello? Hello? Is the signal bad? Damn it, this garbage phone company is useless!"
While Chiko angrily blamed the connection, Yuto said nothing.
Unlike her, he had noticed the change immediately.
When Hanako finally spoke again, there was a faint tremor in her voice.
"Can you describe what he looks like?"
Yuto's eyes narrowed slightly as his thoughts began turning.
Chiko, as blunt and carefree as ever, completely missed the change in Hanako's tone.
"Eh... what he looks like? He's really skinny, walks hunched over, has a scar on his face, wears this beat-up felt hat, and he's missing three fingers. That's about it..." She paused before suddenly remembering something else.
"Oh! Right, right! He also has an old photograph."
"What's in the photograph?"
This time, Hanako's voice was noticeably more urgent.
Chiko frowned and spent a long moment trying to remember, but the details clearly had not left much of an impression on her.
Yuto answered instead.
"Two girls leaning against each other."
The words had barely left his mouth when Hanako fell silent again.
This time, even Chiko did not immediately complain about the signal.
The silence coming through the phone felt different now.
And Yuto, remembering the name Hanako had just used when answering the call—
Nobuko General Store.
—felt a vague suspicion beginning to take shape in his mind.