[Three-Part Story] Bone Divination | Rain Boots Nemophila Bone

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

　An old woman in a raincoat entered the room. It was night. However, it was not raining, and there was a ceiling. Yet, the old woman's raincoat was constantly wet, and her rain boots made damp footsteps.

　The old woman sat across from the man. Between them was a desk, and on it were paper, a pen, and a lamp. The lamp smelled of flowers.

"So, what kind of fortune-telling would you like tonight? Palm reading, cards, name analysis, or perhaps astrology?"

"Bone divination. I want to find something that is in my destiny."

　The old woman's eyebrows arched for a moment, and she smiled faintly. There was no bone divination on the shop's sign. In other words, the man was a customer who knew about the secret menu.

　The man was made to take off his shoes and lie on the cot. The old woman held a thick, old book in one hand, checking something about his entire body while looking alternately at the man and the book. It is said that the old woman's eyes could capture the man's skeleton as if she were an X-ray.

"The way of life is revealed in the bones. Horses, whales, bats. These are all mammals. However, the horse on the plains acquired legs and hooves, the whale in the sea acquired fins, and the bat that flies in the sky acquired wings, and their bones follow those shapes."

　The old woman said this while writing something on paper.

"Are you going to diagnose my way of life by looking at my bones? I'm worried the osteopathic clinic will go out of business."

　When the man said this coldly, the old woman returned a dry laugh. The old woman snapped her fingers. Then, pale blue flowers spread across the entire floor under the cot. They glowed faintly blue and swayed even though there was no wind. There was almost no scent.

"Now, let's differentiate ourselves from the osteopathic clinic."

　Suddenly, the strength left his entire body. He couldn't even blink. The old woman gently closed the man's eyes. Only his lungs and heart were moving, and he couldn't move a single finger.

"I have temporarily detached your muscles and internal organs from your bones. During that time, these nemophila will take over your life support."

　Strangely, there was no feeling of suffocation. Even though his lungs and diaphragm were separated from his ribs.

"The qi of your ribs and the qi of your femurs are too connected. Also, the qi of your sacrum is strong. A phase of vitality and compassion... hmm, you are desperate for someone else's sake. I know what you are looking for."

　The sensation in his body returned, and he opened his eyes. When he realized it, the nemophila had lost their light, and when he got up from the cot, the old woman was gone. Something was gripped in his left hand. It was a piece of paper with something written on it. It was annoying that she had made him wrap it around his ring finger. The man gently stroked the pale blue ring on his ring finger.

＊

"I told you they really existed!"

　She said, showing the screen of her work smartphone.

"I saw the rumor of the old woman in the raincoat who appears at midnight with my own eyes, but when I tried to take a picture, she got away! I was sure it would be the scoop for my next article!"

In a corner of the editorial office, the man took a sip of coffee. He handed a piece of paper to her, who wore the same ring as he did.

"What is this, a coupon for a fortune-teller?"

"They say it's a fortune-teller who can always find what you're looking for. Maybe you'll find what you want. Let's go together sometime."

The language of the nemophila flower is "success everywhere." May it bloom by your side as well.

▼ Project I participated in