The Balloon Page #3

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How about that!

That's good to hear. Thank you.

Have a seat.

By the way, this question

may sound a bit odd.

That woman in the photo you

have in your window...

Oh, that. I took it.

I took some nude shots

of the same model.

- Would you like to see?

- Nudes?

What do you think?

She's got a lovely body.

She came looking for work.

The model, do you know

where she's from?

I'm not really sure.

Sachiko.

What was it

that model said to you?

She said she was helping out

at a bar called Osome.

She did?

Shall we stop by

on the way back from the party?

How about it?

Lovely to see you again. It's been a while!

You've got a girl who does

modeling work here I think.

- You mean Rui?

- Is she here tonight?

Ruiko, you say? So it is her.

From Nishijin?

Yes, that's right. She's taken the night

off. Something about her brother she said.

Why do you want to know?

It's not important.

Anyway, please enjoy yourselves.

Do you know the model then?

Not exactly...

She's the daughter of a family who were

very kind to me 8 years or so back.

You lived in Kyoto?

Yes, it was immediately after the war.

I had a factory which made

parts for submarines.

I was removed (probably by occupation

forces) and I was sent off.

I came to Kyoto alone.

I see.

I left my family in Tokyo and advised

my factory start make frying pans!

It was almost like being in exile.

Her family rented me a room.

It was near Ogawagashira in Nishijin.

An old weaving house at the end of an alley

with a tiny shrine and a statue of Jizo.

I was going to Daitokuji

Temple to meditate every day.

Not really trying to getting

anything out of it...

I was deep in despair but

the discipline helped.

Looking back on it now, it

was probably good for me.

Mr Aso. Are you at home?

Please come this way.

- Thank you.

- This way.

It's nasty weather!

Please come in and get out of the rain.

You're very kind.

You had some business with Mr Aso?

Yes, I used to rent the upstairs

room - quite a while ago.

The second floor just opposite here.

Yes, I remember. But you

have really changed!

So you remember me?

- You used to go to Daitokuji Temple.

- Many years ago.

Speaking of old we've been here

doing gold leaf work 50 years!

Now I'm just an old guy and

if I laugh I drop stuff!

But this job has fed and

clothed us right through.

I sometimes think it's

too good for us though!

I think she's back.

Rui?

It's me. From Tokyo.

Mr. Murakami!

You haven't changed a bit.

- Here you are.

- Thank you.

You're alone? Where are your parents?

Both dead.

Dead? Really?

Mother 4 years ago. Dad just recently.

I see. I didn't know.

So it's just you and your little brother.

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