Chapter 34
[The envelope was delivered by the postman. You initially thought it might be some kind of invitation or an invoice. The moment you took the envelope, you realized your assumption was wrong.]
[A central bulge could be felt through the thin envelope, leading you to guess it contained a piece of silk and a thin letter.]
[Chitose Kazumi was not home; she had gone to a senior club an hour ago. These highly educated elderly ladies had suddenly taken an interest in the education of children in the orphanage and often volunteered as teachers. Last month, she had even dragged you along to a music lesson.]
[When Chitose Kazumi was younger, she was rather reserved and often solitary. Now, with her hair turned white, she was enthusiastic about socializing. In contrast, you now only correspond with other influential peers in your field and are too lazy to write or speak to anyone else.]
[Someone like you shouldn’t have received a letter, but it was indeed addressed to you. You suspected Chitose Kazumi had used your name for some activity she attended, and the letter was actually meant for her.]
[After a moment of hesitation, you decided to open it.]
Minami Yuuki closed his eyes, the memory scene appearing beneath his tightly shut eyelids.
In the depth of winter, the faint morning light shone on the bare bushes in the garden. The elderly Minami Yuuki walked slowly to the pavilion, sat by the round table, and tore open the envelope with his wrinkled hands.
Inside the envelope, a transparent sealed bag contained two items: a letter and a handkerchief.