B-san hadn’t asked them anything about A-chan. Keeping a wary distance from the group, she stood there, on edge, completely ignoring the girl who was putting on the show and the others behind her who were unable to hold back their sniggers.
A-chan was still hiding behind the staircase, only a few steps away.
As B-san stood rooted to the spot, the leader of the group suddenly play-acted concern.
‘Didn’t you hear? I said, A-chan already went home!’
Shoko was behind B-san and couldn’t tell what her expression was.
‘Thank you for telling me even though I didn’t ask.’
Well said! Shoko thought.
As B-san again passed alongside Shoko, who was now inadvertently fully absorbed in this drama, the girl’s expression remained tense, though she showed no sign of tears. She kept walking towards the front of the platform, all the way to the end, where she took a seat on the bench that was the furthest away.
Her erect posture conveyed a specific message:
Fine. I won’t look over there, even when the next train arrives. And don’t worry, once we’re on the train I won’t check to see whether or not A-chan is with you either.
As young as they were, these girls were already spiteful, indecisive and prideful. Quite a range of catty behaviour was already on display in this little circle.
Something about B-san’s youthful pride was compelling to Shoko. She walked over to where B-san sat on the bench.
‘Mind if I sit next to you?’
B-san looked up at Shoko dubiously. The self-assertive set of her features reminded Shoko of her younger self.
‘… Go ahead.’
Nowadays children probably received strict instructions not to talk to strangers. It was perfectly clear that B-san was suspicious of Shoko.
‘You don’t know me at all but don’t worry, I mean you no harm.’
‘… OK.’
‘I just wanted to tell you how much I admired the way you handled those girls back there.’
B-san’s eyes grew wide, and then her tears seemed to spill out uncontrollably.
Shoko took a handkerchief out of her bag and handed it to her. She’d read that recently, for security purposes, elementary school students no longer wore nametags. If she hadn’t overheard the girls’ loud whispering earlier, she wouldn’t have been able to guess her name.
‘Here, take this, you can have it.’
‘But my mom will get mad at me …’
‘You can tell her that you fell over and a nice lady gave it to you. When the train comes, you don’t want them to know you’ve been crying. For now, they can’t see past me.’
B-san pursed her lips tightly and, without speaking, began to wipe her eyes with the handkerchief. So proud.
Shoko peeked over her shoulder and could tell that the girls in the group excluding B-san were trying to figure out what was going on here.
‘For a girl like you, life might not be all that easy. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t find people who see you. There will be plenty of people who admire the way you handle yourself. Like I do.’
So keep your chin up.
B-san looked up from behind the handkerchief.
‘Are you happy?’
The girl’s question hit a sore spot for Shoko. She forced a smile and offered the following:
‘I thought I was on the way to being happy, but I had a little setback and I’m in the midst of starting over.’
My new job is going well. I moved to a wonderful new place. And – when happiness betrayed me, I took my revenge. I have no regrets.
‘But I don’t regret it. I’m getting a bit of a later start but I still believe I’ll find happiness.’
‘Then I believe I can find it too!’
They heard the distant clanging of the bell at the crossing. The next train about to arrive was bound for Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi.
The train came and went on the opposite platform, and then there was the sound of the bell at the crossing for the train that would arrive on this platform.
‘Well then, take care of yourself.’
Shoko stood up and the girl smiled and waved at her. She sat up even taller and looked straight in front of her. So as not to see her enemies.
When she got to the staircase, Shoko paused. She regarded the girls coldly. They were still children, and yet already women. They did not merit any indulgence. The girls could sense scorn in the way that Shoko looked at them. But instead of returning her gaze, all they could do was avert their eyes awkwardly.
Even at their age, girls will assess their rivals’ rank and treat them accordingly, and Shoko knew enough not to allow herself to be taken in by children. She was capable of intimidating almost anyone, be they young or old, man or woman. She was good at hiding her fangs but then, once her fangs had been bared, she knew how to go in for the kill.
That elderly woman she’d never met before had expressed her concern, or rather her reservations:
It can be hard for a woman like you to find happiness.
Shoko forced a smile as she thought about B-san and her pride.
They had made a pact together, to each find happiness. Like what that young couple who had got off at Nigawa seemed to have with each other. Happiness that meant not being triggered by the sight of new love.
Shoko was halfway up the stairs when the train slid into the platform. As the doors opened and passengers poured out—
‘Hey! You there!’
Among the commotion of disembarking passengers, a voice rang out and then the clack of heels bounding up the stairs. Shoko realized that the voice and the footsteps were directed towards her, so she turned around.
‘It is you! We saw each other before.’
It was the female college student she had encountered on the train earlier, when the designer bag had been thrown onto the seat.
‘What are you doing here? Weren’t you on the previous train?’
‘I could say the same to you – what brings you here now, on the next train? I certainly hope there wasn’t a row with those ladies …?’
‘Oh no, nothing like that.’ The student waved her hand in front of her face to ease Shoko’s concern. ‘Just experiencing life’s rich pageant.’
Shoko chuckled at her odd choice of words.
‘As a matter of fact, I myself had a taste of life’s rich pageant right after I got off the train.’
As they walked side by side along the passage heading towards the west ticket gate, the student was the one to chuckle.
‘But who’da thought it – quite an amazing coincidence!’
‘Truly!’
Shoko felt almost cheerful. Maybe a seed of happiness had been tossed her way.
‘Say, if you have time, would you like to get a coffee? My taste of life’s rich pageant is worth sharing.’
‘I’d love to! I can tell you about my pageant too.’
‘Does it have anything to do with me?’
‘It does! I mean, you were there, so …’
Hmm, could it have to do with that gaggle of ladies? Shoko’s curiosity was piqued.
‘I only just recently moved here so I don’t know the area very well. Do you know a place?’
‘Do you mind going over to Koma Road? There’s an Italian restaurant where you can order a cake special that comes with coffee – and the refills are free.’
‘Koma Road, you say?’
‘It goes towards Nakatsuhama.’
‘Ah, I think I’ve heard of it – if you turn right at the intersection where the wholesale supermarket is – is that where you mean?’
‘Yes, that’s right. It’s inexpensive and it’s pretty good too.’
The student’s suggestion was probably made with her own limited budget in mind. Shoko could have easily treated her, no matter how fancy the place, but that wasn’t what this was about. She had a feeling that, despite the difference in their age, the two of them could be friends. But if Shoko were to pay the first time, it would set them up on an unequal footing, and then their connection might not have the chance to develop. That’s why it was better to go along with the reasonably priced option.