Apartment Complex Strange Tales: The Boundary Between Funeral and Rebirth, Episode 11: The Heavenly Driver Shot
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◇Introduction to the Novel
Set in the apartment complex and its surroundings where I spent my childhood in the late 1960s, I am weaving this into a fantasy novel, intermingling memories of cats, cars, and the gadgets of the era. Please join me on this journey.
Click here for the synopsis, table of contents, and character introductions
On the day of the golf tournament, I head toward Building 1, led by the section manager. We walk along the perimeter road of the Chigoi Apartment Complex from the office to Building 1.
Before I knew it, Tom, the black cat with white paws, had started following us. Tom is rubbing against the section manager's legs and purring.
That cat, Tom, sneaks into the company housing and is quite elusive, but where on earth does he sleep?
We turn the corner of the schoolyard, glancing at the apartment complex elementary school building, which is beginning to be dyed orange by the setting sun. Building 1 stands at that corner. I ask the section manager as we climb the middle staircase of the three.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"To the golf course, obviously."
"Wait, where?"
The two of us climb the stairwell. We reach the fifth floor, the top floor.
The section manager points with his chin toward the ladder leading to the roof.
Tom leads the way, climbing the ladder skillfully. Seeing that, I climb the ladder while clutching my clubs, my head filled with question marks. When I open the iron door, Tom leaps up. Seeing that, I slowly poke my head out.
What, what on earth!!
The roof of the apartment complex was covered in green grass.
Illuminated by the setting sun, the grass grows.
"The roof of the apartment complex is...?"
"It's the Apartment Complex Golf Course, a golf course in the heavens!"
"It's properly maintained with 18 holes."
Lighting is also provided.
With this, we can even play night games.
"Alright, let's get started."
The section manager rolls a white ball, and Tom chases after it.
"Are there just the two of us today?"
Do you want to focus on your tee shot? The section chief doesn't answer, instead setting the ball on the tee.
Well then, I'm counting on you tonight!
The section chief readies his club. His stance is magnificent.
Where on earth is he aiming!
A swing that seems to whip up a gust of wind. For a moment, the club head looks like a massive lump.
Whack!
The massive head slams into the white ball. The follow-through is surprisingly supple. The ball flies through the air.
W-what is this!
Building 1 stands facing the elementary school playground within the apartment complex. The ball flying through the air lands perfectly on the roof of Building 2, which stands next door.
Despite the powerful swing, it's a shot of unparalleled accuracy. Even when spoken to, his concentration hasn't wavered at all.
This is going to be tough!
Now, it's your turn.
It seems we're hitting from the roof of one apartment building to another.
Can I really do something like that...
Cold sweat runs down my back.
Can I actually hit the target?
Feeling quite tense, I place the ball on the tee and hit it with the persimmon wood.
Oh, no!
I panicked and swung too late!
But perhaps that worked in my favor; it slices wide and somehow manages to reach the roof of Building 4, which stands to the right of Building 2.
Not bad.
Well, let's go.
Wait, no way.
The section chief clutches his club and starts down the ladder.
Yes, that's exactly what I mean.
Every time we hit, we have to go down the stairs, head to the building where the ball landed, and climb the stairs and ladder to the roof again.
Um... what if the ball doesn't land on the roof...
I call out to the section chief as he heads toward Building 2.
Look, that's an OB.
OB: Out of Bounds, one-stroke penalty.
Seriously! That's rough.
It doesn't look like it'll go in the pond, but can you really hit from roof to roof...
I wonder how many balls we're going to lose.
The section chief turns around and points to the black cat at his feet.
The balls will be fine.
Here, this guy will go find them.
Wait, Tom will?
Tom looks up with a face that says, 'Don't worry about a thing.'
I part ways with the section chief and climb the ladder of Building 4. Tom seems to be waiting on the ground. He's sitting neatly on the dirt. When I get up to the roof and look at Building 2, the section chief is winding up for his swing.
The section chief's second shot. It manages to land on the roof of Building 14. A magnificent three-on. There's a green here.
Can I manage it from Building 4? A three-shot after chipping from the roof of Building 4. Too bad, I topped it! The ball didn't rise, it bounced off the wall of Building 14 and disappeared. Topping is a mishit where you strike the top of the ball. I can see Tom, who was on the ground, running after it.
What on earth is this...
Thinking about the play ahead, I feel gloomy.
There's also a 'Pre-4' option.
The section chief shouts from the roof of Building 14. 'Pre-4' means if your first drive is an OB, you can hit your fourth shot from a special tee.
But does that even make sense!?
This rooftop golf course, it seems, is a special creation of the Danchi Revitalization Office.
What on earth am I doing?
Click here for the table of contents