Flower Spelling - Chapter 10
Chapter 10 – Good Luck Charm
The chill in the mornings and evenings had been intensifying day by day and the brightly colored leaves of the trees and shrubs in the garden had all fallen off. This was the first real winter since the arrival of Sogetsu in Edo.
The sun during the day remained warm, but at night, even in her room, the cold air penetrated her feet, causing her to shiver. More than once she had woken up in the middle of the night, too exhausted to head outside to the toilet, struggling under the covers to get back to sleep, only to be forced to get up in the end.
Oh, how I miss electric heaters and air conditioners.
Breathing into her gnarled hands, she was sweeping up the leaves in the garden when she noticed Takasugi approaching from the rear of the building. He was wearing a torso suit, so he must be on his way to the Yubikan dojo.
“Good morning, Mr. Takasugi.”
“Hello.”
In response to her usual casual remark, he replied in a curt manner. And he strode away without even a second glance at her.
“Isn’t Mr. Takasugi in a 30 percent worse mood than usual today?”
When she met Ito and recounted what had happened, he lowered his eyebrows and said, “Oh.”
“As a matter of fact, the trip to the West was canceled. The shogunate allowed only one person to accompany the envoy, and Mr. Takasugi was excluded.”
“Eh??”
He had been looking forward to it so much though. Reading books, even learning English all the time…
And on that day, when it was time for Sogetsu’s English lesson, Takasugi failed to show up.
?
Takasugi was alone on the roof of a secluded wing of the vast mansion, rarely frequented by people.
There, alone, Takasugi was drinking sake.
“Ah, what are you doing here! I’ve been searching for you!”
At the sound of the reproachful voice, he glanced languidly at Sougetsu, who was glaring at him from the top of the ladder.
“It’s time to study English!”
Recalling that, he brought the cup to his mouth.
“There is no longer a need for that.”
“I know. I heard about it from Mr. Ito… But that doesn’t mean you should stay here and drink. I know it’s a pity, but a few drinks won’t change the outcome!”
Sogetsu moved dangerously close to him and snatched the sake bottle from Takasugi’s hand.
“What’s wrong with drinking?” Takasugi didn’t bother to conceal his displeasure as he stared at Sogetsu in front of him, his eyes glazed over from alcohol. “My journey to the west was originally intended to drive me away from Edo.”
“Eh?”
“They wanted to send me away abroad because they were afraid of what I might do if I remained in Edo. Now that they’ve canceled it, what’s wrong with a bit of unrestrained rampage?”
Contrary to his expectations, Sogetsu burst into light-hearted laughter, believing that she would leave in disgust.
“Was that the reason for Mr. Takasugi’s going abroad? No matter how much they didn’t want you to stay in Edo, going abroad is… That’s granting your wish. Surely that was Sufu’s idea?”
“… Have you come here to be mad, or have you come here to laugh, which is it?”
“Oh, right, I am furious, I am!” She retracted her smile and formed an angry expression.
However, he seemed to have blown off her anger along with her laughter, resulting in a strangely half-hearted expression.
Takasugi tossed aside his cup as if he had been poisoned and sprawled across the floor.
“Oh, no more! I’m losing my temper with you.”
“Hah.”
Even his friends in the Shokasonjuku are intimidated to approach Takasugi when he is in a bad mood, but this meddlesome young woman is unconcerned.
She even shouted at him.
I swear, this woman is…
The person in question was oblivious to Takasugi’s thoughts, saying, “I have never been up on a roof before in my life. It’s a spectacular view”.
She seemed to be enjoying herself, saying things like this.
“… You, are you not afraid?”
“Huh?”
When he was met with a puzzled look, Takasugi was aware that she had been outspoken.
“Of course, I was a bit scared. But when I saw the scenery, I forgot I was scared.”
“No, I don’t mean the roof, I mean… Well, yeah.”
“Oh, yes! Here.”
In a flash, Sogetsu pulled out a small cloth package from his pocket and presented it to Takasugi.
“It’s a good luck charm. Actually, I was going to give it to you on the day of your departure… Since I have made it, please keep it. Maybe one day you’ll get the chance to go abroad again.”
“… I see.”
Sogetsu smiled in relief as he thanked her and accepted the gift. After a while, he muttered to himself.
“About your trip to England, it’s a disappointment.”
“Un.”
This time, they could converse honestly.
“It was Teacher Shoin’s dream to go to the West. But I will not give up. Someday I will follow in his footsteps and go to the West.”
“Yes, definitely.”
For a while, the two of them thought about the distant land beyond the sea.