The Lying Counselor’s Eloquent Reasoning - Chapter 19
“What I’m implying is that you are the only one who is experiencing distress from the echoes coming from the kindergarten. In short, your sensitivity to sound is different from that of the average person. This is called auditory hyperesthesia.”
“Oh, so that is the case…”
Tetsuo certainly seemed to be convinced.
“But you know, the last time I had my ears checked at the hospital, there were no abnormalities.”
“I see. Some causes of auditory hyperesthesia are developmental or organic, but in this case, I wonder if it could be psychogenic.”
“Psychogenic?”
“Yes, if there is no abnormality in the body, I suspect that the cause is in your own state of mind. There is also another reason why I consider it to be psychogenic. Simply because you seem to be hostile to the existence of children. Most people have a certain amount of tolerance for the behavior and conduct of children as young as those attending kindergarten. Even if they are causing unbearable noise. However, I could not perceive any such tolerance in your verbal expression since a while ago. I believe that you don’t like small children, Mr. Ishikawa.”
“Well, I’ve always disliked children…”
“Then, I suppose that your dislike of children is responsible for your auditory hyperesthesia to children’s voices.”
Uroma asserted definitively. But, “So what’s the big deal?” Tetsuo was puzzled. At any rate, the cause of the problem had been clarified, but that didn’t seem to matter to him.
Then, Tomomi suddenly had a question and asked. “But, grandpa. If you’re living with your wife, doesn’t that mean you used to live with your children?”
That’s right. Wouldn’t the experience of raising a child have enabled you to cultivate a heightened tolerance for young children’s voices? Shouldn’t that have cured your aversion to children?
“Well, I do have a child, but unfortunately he’s my wife’s stepchild. By the time he moved in with me, he was already in junior high school. I had a rough time with him, but eventually, he left the house without warming up to me at all, and I can’t exactly call him my child.”
“Ha, I get it…”
In that sort of family context, it may not be surprising that small children are still disliked.
“So, doctor? Assuming I have auditory hyperesthesia, what am I supposed to do? Don’t tell me you’re suggesting that I should just put up with it because my ears are not working properly?”
“This is not necessary. The source of the mental pain you’re feeling is evident. All you have to do is move away from it. In short, you should move to a place where you won’t hear any noise from the kindergarten.”
“M-Move!”
Instantly, Tetsuo frowned grimly.
“There’s no way I can do that! How much do you think it costs to relocate!”
“No, it won’t require that much expense. It’s only a matter of changing your place of residence. These days, many landlords prefer not to rent rooms to single elderly people, but since you live alone with your wife and have a son, it shouldn’t be a problem. You should be able to find a place to move in soon. You can even leave almost all of the moving work, from packing to unpacking, to the contractor??”
“That’s not the point! Why should I have to waste money and hassle to relocate! Because of those kids!”
“No, you see, your sensitivity to sound is different from that of a normal person??”
“I don’t give a damn! I’ve lived in that house all my life! For decades! And now I have to move out because of a new kindergarten that’s suddenly opened up! It’s not my fault! I didn’t do anything wrong! It’s all those kids who are to blame!”
“I can understand. Moving is impossible? Well, let’s try to like the kids a little more. Namely, cognitive behavioral therapy. Once your feelings of dislike for them are eliminated, your discomfort with the noises from the kindergarten will disappear??”
“Of course that won’t work either! Use your common sense, idiot!”
“… Is that so?” Uroma sighed heavily in exasperation. ” Well, I’m not too keen on this, but let’s proceed with the last method. That is, removing only the children’s voices from the world you perceive as noises.”
Opening the top drawer of his desk, Uroma pulled out a small bottle and placed it on the desk. Inside were what appeared to be a number of pills.
“What the hell is this?”
“It’s a medicine that when it is taken, it prevents you from hearing specific sounds.”
“Specific? You’re saying I won’t be able to hear any of the voices of those kids?”
“Yeah.”
“Impossible. There’s no way that’s going to happen.”
Tetsuo looked at him in disbelief. Tomomi shared the same feeling. How could there be such a convenient medicine?
“It’s true. It’s just that this is still a work in progress, or rather, it’s extremely difficult to handle. If taken in the wrong way, it can cause terrible side effects. Therefore, I don’t really recommend it. This is especially true if you doubt the effectiveness of the medicine. When it comes to medicine, nothing is better than choosing one that you can take with peace of mind. After all, this is an unapproved drug that is not yet available on the market and is obtainable only through confidential and top-secret channels. Human beings should not rely on such things. No, absolutely not.”
“A top-secret drug that hasn’t even hit the market yet?”
Tetsuo’s eyebrows twitched and he seemed to have caught on to Uroma’s words.
“Yes. And this is the only time you can try it. Due to the ingredients of the drug, it is something that will soon expire and become unusable. To tell you the truth, it’s about to expire. Thus, the opportunity to utilize it is only right now.”
“Now…”
“And currently, for a limited time, there is a 20% discount. It’s a great deal.”
“Limited time offer…”
“Of course, if you don’t like the results, you can always return it.”
“Oh, really! That’s a relief!”
At that moment, Tetsuo appeared to be thoroughly ensnared by Uroma. “Okay, I got that medicine!”, He said vigorously and took the bottle of medicine from Uroma’s hand. The sight was like that of a vendor peddling dubious health products and a customer being swindled by him.
“So, Mr. Ishikawa, how to take the medication is basically the same as antipyretic analgesic. In your case, please take one pill when you hear the sound of children’s voices coming from the kindergarten. Concentrate on the sound you do not want to hear. If you do so, it will soon disappear from your hearing – but.”
Uroma’s eyes glinted acutely and he raised his index finger.
“As I said before, it is a highly incomplete and unstable drug. It can’t eliminate many different sounds from one person’s hearing. It is something that should not be used except for the first sound you decide to use. As for you, please do not use it for anything other than the children’s voices.”
“Yeah. I simply don’t want to hear those kids’ voices anymore.”
Tetsuo nodded in agreement with Uroma’s words. Then he put the bottle of medicine in his pocket and left the room.