“What a despicable woman!” said Supervisor Tsukada.
“Were you all right?” Supervisor Hamamoto inquired of the director’s wife apprehensively. “Did anything happen to you?”
“Well, I did notice that we started getting prank phone calls. Thank goodness she didn’t go any further than that! It’s not so much myself I was worried about, but when I think of what she might have done to our daughter . . .”
“Yes, it’s not worth thinking about. I know it would have been different if I’d actually died, but I can honestly say: Thank goodness it was me who was pushed off a building, and not you, or Arisa. Really, I thank my lucky stars.”
“Oh, you mustn’t say that. . . .”
“Definitely not. Whoever heard of being grateful for being pushed off a building? And why should you take the blame for what happened? The only person who bears responsibility is that woman. And she wasn’t just a stalker. She was also a thief.”
“No, but there are things I should have done better. I shouldn’t have gone to her apartment that evening. Not without someone else.”
“You’re too kind, aren’t you, Director. You went over to her apartment thinking you could persuade her—that there might still be time to help her.”
“Yes. I told her, If you’re too afraid to come clean by yourself, I’ll go with you. I’ll explain everything to the hotel manager, and apologize on your behalf.”
“And what did she say?”
“She just lost it, went ballistic, and . . .”
“And then pushed you from the second floor.”
“What a monster!”
Everyone suddenly fell silent. The old man lying in the other bed appeared to have fallen asleep watching TV. The sounds from his headphones were now mixed with the sawing noise of his snores.
The director’s wife was the first to break the silence.
“Oh! I completely forgot to bring chairs in for all of you! How thoughtless. I’ll just go to the nurses’ station and see if they have any.”
“Oh, please don’t worry. It’s all right. Really. We’ll be leaving soon anyway,” said Supervisor Tsukada.
“We brought some flowers.” Supervisor Hamamoto held out a bunch of orchids purchased on the way to the hospital.
“And I brought some purin.” Supervisor Tachibana held out a paper bag.
“Oh, that’s so kind of you. Thank you for going to all that trouble. If you’re not in a hurry to leave, please, all of you, do stay a while. I’ll just go make some tea.”
“Oh, but really, we ought to be—”
“Please, it gets boring for my husband to have no one but me to talk to.”
“Exactly,” the director said. “Come on, all of you, stay a little longer.”
“Well, in that case, how about if I help you. Let me get the chairs from the nurses’ station.”
“I will too.”
“And me.”
“Let me help make some tea.”
“Would it be all right if I use this vase for the flowers I brought?”
“Please do. Come, the kitchenette is this way.”
The supervisors all followed the director’s wife out into the corridor, half running, and raising a little stir of flip-flap sounds with their hospital slippers.
The room was now silent once again. The automatic door slowly slid shut, and the director breathed a long sigh of relief.
“Director.” I suddenly spoke up.
He gasped. “Oh! You scared me. How long have you been there, Gondo-san?”
“I’ve been here all along.”
“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t notice you. You startled me. Well, take a seat.”
The director pointed to the one folding chair, which had been propped against the wall. I unfolded it and sat down.
“Director, I have something to ask you.”
“Wh-what? What’s going on? You’ve got a stern look on your face.” The director drew back slightly.
“Director, I would like to raise a rather private matter.”
The director swallowed audibly. “And what is that?”
“There is something I would like to sincerely request of you.”
“Well, tell me then. What is it?”
I bowed my head to him. “Please! I beg you!”
“Wh-what’s the matter? This is weird.”
“I would like you to raise my pay!”
“Excuse me?” the director said.
“Please! And please allow me to take out advances on my salary! I beg you! Director!”
“Well, now, hold on a minute. It’s not so easy, you know. You’re putting me in an awkward position, just asking me out of the blue. This is not really the time or place, is it, for something like this. . . .”
“Please! Director!”
“I said hold on! Look at me—don’t hunch down into your collar. I’m very sorry, but I don’t decide financial matters by myself. I have to consult with the head office. And there’s also the matter that if I raise your wages, Gondo-san, I’ll have to raise the wages of all the other supervisors as well!”
“Well, can’t you convince the board to agree to your request? I’m sure it’s within your powers! You of all people should be able to do that!”
“What are you talking about? I can’t do that. That’s far too simplistic. For someone to get a raise, they first have to be reviewed by the board. And for them to even be considered, they have to be deemed extraordinarily good at their job, and enthusiastic about it. Even if you did manage to get reviewed, do you really think, Gondo-san, that someone like you would stand a chance? It’s a wonder to me that you haven’t been fired yet. Arriving late, leaving early, taking days off without notice. Do you have any idea how many complaints have been made about you by the other staff, saying that even when you do come to work, you often just take off somewhere and disappear? No way are you ever going to get a raise. Absolutely not.”
“In that case, give me a loan.”
“Come again?”
“Please! I’m completely broke!”
“Why on earth do you think I should lend you money?”
“Why not? You are my boss!”
“That’s irrelevant!”
“I don’t even have my commuter pass now. . . .”
“What’s that got to do with me, for God’s sake!”
“I have to walk to work every day. From a manga café!”
“What? What happened to your home?”
“I couldn’t pay my rent. I was evicted.”
“Well, I mean, that’s—”
“Please! I’m begging you, Director!”
“Well, come now.
