The Lying Counselor’s Eloquent Reasoning - Chapter 5
“Well, at least he’s an actual living person…”
Instantly, she approached the glass of the convenience store and further observed the man within the store. The man was right in the middle of paying the bill at the cash register. In the basket was a pile of green, blue, and white products that resembled miniature slabs. Upon further inspection, it seemed to be a pile of tablets. Yes, those round little pill-like things that are supposed to make you feel better when you put them in your mouth. I wonder what he’s planning to do with such a large quantity. Will he eat them all by himself?
Eventually, the man came out of the convenience store. He was carrying a plastic bag full of tablets candy. Tomomi promptly approached the man.
“Hey, what in the world are you supposed to do with all that stuff?”
That was the first thing she said to the man. There was more that needed to be addressed, but she couldn’t keep from asking.
“Of course, these are supposed to be eaten.”
The man smiled and replied, unfazed by Tomomi’s abrupt question. He then grabbed one of the tablets out of the plastic bag, opened it, and threw one of the contents into his mouth. He turned to Tomomi and said, “See.”
“I-I could tell that! It’s candy, of course, you’re going to eat it!”
At the man’s overly straightforward response and reaction, Tomomi involuntarily shouted again, her voice trembling. No. That’s not what I want to hear. What I want to ask you is not about that, but about the extraordinary amount?? Wait that doesn’t even matter at this point. The question is, why did I come all the way here by train?
“More importantly, you! You remember what you told me yesterday, right!”
“Ha? Who are you again?” The man nodded his head wonderingly. It was a strange barefaced gesture.
“What are you even saying now after yesterday! I’m talking about this body of mine!”
Tomomi held up her right hand before the man’s eyes and used her left hand to remove her glove, revealing it. The grayish skin of her right hand was exposed.
“Oh, yes. You mean that wonderful colored skin.” The man said again, feigning reminiscence.
“You told me this yesterday. That this is something that can be cured in no time.”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right.”
“That’s absolutely ridiculous!”
Since the man answered so casually, Tomomi involuntarily exclaimed, “I just went to the hospital today and was told that it would be difficult to cure.”
“You are free to believe it or not, but for that matter, why are you here?”
“Eh?”
“You look like you’ve been roaming around searching for me, aren’t you?”
“Well, that’s??”
Now, I’ve done it. I couldn’t admit that I was grasping at straws in my search, since I had abruptly denied the man’s words outright.
“Y-You were awfully rude to me yesterday, so I just thought I should complain about it again! Besides, I’m free today anyway…”
“I see. So you’re complaining? Well, since you’re here, I’ll listen to you. It’s a good thing that we met here again. But?? we can’t just stand here and talk.”
The man cast a glance at Tomomi and suddenly started walking down the sidewalk. Perhaps he was suggesting that they should change places and have a talk. At any rate, she followed the man. If he attempted to lead her to an isolated or suspicious place, she would escape immediately.
Yet, the man led her to a certain old building. Yes, it was the same place that Tomomi had visited yesterday.
Huh? I couldn’t find it at all earlier…?
As she followed the man into the building, Tomomi found it hard not to wonder. Had I taken a wrong turn somewhere?
“As I explained to you yesterday, this is a place where only those who truly require my assistance will be able to find it.”
“Able to find it?”
It’s a phrase that I find particularly annoying. As if this place could only be viewed by a selected group of people. Even though the advertisement on the tissues distributed in front of the station mentioned the location of this place – no, it turned out to be a discount coupon for a beauty salon when I checked today…
Tomomi suddenly became curious and retrieved it from her bag. The paper with the advertisement on it was no more a discount coupon for a beauty salon. Yes, now the words were clearly written on it. “Your concerns will be solved. Please feel free to contact us. Uroma Counseling Room”…
“W-What is the meaning of this? What exactly is this place??” Tomomi was too awestruck to express her surprise.
“It’s just like I said. People who don’t need it will not reach here. They just can’t get here, that’s all.” The man remained quite composed. He replied as he tossed another piece of the tablet into his mouth.
Eventually, they ascended the stairs and landed on the third floor. There, indeed, was a door that was familiar to Tomomi. It was an old wooden door with a plate on it that merely indicated, “Takahiko Uroma Counseling Room”.
“Is that your name, by any chance?”
“Yes, nice to meet you, my name is Takahiko Uroma.”
“Hmm. I see you have your last name and first name in kanji.”
The stench was at its peak, though. Tomomi went straight inside with Uroma.