Apartment Complex Strange Tales: The Boundary Between Funeral and Rebirth, Episode 8: The Younger Brother from Afar Who Appeared in a White Nexus

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◇Introduction to the Novel
Set in the apartment complex where I spent my childhood in the 1970s and its surrounding areas, this is a fantasy novel woven with memories of cats, cars, and the gadgets of that era. Please join me on this journey.

Click here for the synopsis, table of contents, and character introductions

My younger brother, who had arrived in the latest white Nexus that had just been released.
He showed no signs of getting out of the car.

"Brother, you look well."

"What do you mean 'why'? Because this is our family home, isn't it?"

"It's already a vacant lot."

"Did you perhaps give the order for this?"

My brother did not answer.

"That brings back memories."

"Huh?"

"Those are the couple dolls that were always there, right? The ones of Mom and Dad."

I had forgotten. They were things that used to be in the alcove of our family home.
He remembers them so well. I had completely forgotten.

I thought my brother had left home and gone somewhere far away, but
perhaps it was actually me who had gone further away.
Unlike me, my brother is an engineer at a major corporation, and given his success, a Nexus might actually be a sensible choice.

"Mom and Dad are gone now. There's no point in the family home existing anymore."

So you were the one who disposed of it, even though I might have still had my belongings there.
My brother mutters as if to deflect the anger that welled up in me.

"The Silver Wolf is still great, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"It's been a while, want to go for a quick spin?"

Going for a quick spin meant racing each other in our cars.
Whenever I came home, we used to race, ignoring the family home entirely.

"Let's drive around the apartment complex like we used to, and then head out to Trunk Road 1."

Trunk Road 1. It's a national highway, but back in the day, we used to watch it together, hoping to see supercars pass by.
I'll ask about the vacant lot issue later. The nostalgia and excitement of racing are winning out.

Alright, let's do this!

Under normal circumstances, there is no way a Eunos Roadster could compete with the latest luxury Nexus.

I'll give you a five-minute head start.

Fine, I accept your challenge!

The Silver Wolf lets out a growl. I open the roof and climb in. At times like this, I want to feel the wind.

Silver Wolf, let's go for a run for the first time in a while.

I pass through the first alley and head out onto Tokai Street. First, I need to make up some time on the loop road.

I cross the Inuwatarigawa River and pass the intersection by the office. A large dump truck piled high with dirt is stopped at the red light. The white Nexus hasn't come yet. He's a meticulous younger brother. He's waiting exactly five minutes.

I downshift and step on the accelerator. Looking in the rearview mirror, I see the large dump truck turning, and in its shadow, a glimpse of the white Nexus.

Hey, hey, isn't that too fast!

No! It's not that the Nexus is fast, the large dump truck is too fast. The large dump truck is closing in on the Silver Wolf's tail.

What is going on? Where is the police?

The police box has become the apartment complex redevelopment office. Even if I call on my mobile phone, I won't make it in time.

Looking in the rearview mirror, the large dump truck is charging into the curve while scattering the dirt it's loaded with. It's just like the movie 'Duel'; I downshift again and step on the accelerator.

What on earth is wrong with that dump truck driver? What did he react to? Did I provoke him somehow?

The driver of the large dump truck has his face hidden by the reflection on the glass. There's no way he's looking at the couple dolls in the Silver Wolf's passenger seat... right?

On the apartment complex loop road, the Silver Wolf, the dirt-scattering large dump truck, and the white Nexus race through in a line. Somehow, even spectators have gathered. Spectators are leaning out from the apartment complex balconies to watch. If I turn left at the next corner, I'll be at Trunk Road 1 in no time. Should I drift?

At the corner by the office, the section chief has come running out with a panicked look on his face! I see the black cat has also jumped out.

The tires of the 20-year-old Silver Wolf let out a screech. I saw the section chief who came out raise both his hands. At that moment, a loud impact sound strikes. The large dump truck couldn't make the curve and crashed into the embankment that is one level higher than the ground.

Serves you right, oh, what!

From behind the shadow of the overturned flashy dump truck, a white Nexus rises.
The intersection leading to Trunk Road 1 turns yellow.
Ginro hesitated.
In that moment, the Nexus dove into the intersection and vanished onto Trunk Road 1.

A text message arrives on his mobile phone.

"See you later, brother."

Once again, his younger brother had departed for the far side.
He would ask about his family home another time.

For some reason, he felt like he would see him again soon.
The couple doll in the passenger seat shone in the sunlight.

Ginro pulled into the office parking lot, biting back a sense of defeat.
The section chief was yelling at the dump truck driver.

The driver was a woman in yellow overalls.
She looked like Garako, but he couldn't see clearly.

"Garako, could it really be?"

Perhaps tired from yelling, she staggered closer.
The section chief, looking fed up, caught sight of the couple doll, looked at him in silence, and gave a slightly awkward grin.

"Well, since it's come to this, the afternoon is free, isn't it?"
"Yeah, yeah, let's go get a drink now!"

It suddenly turned into a welcome party.

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