(770 + 1) ÷ 2 | [A Short Story about a Tanuki]

　Only the sound of cicadas crying in the distance
　told the truth of the world.

　The slightly cool scent of soil
　revealed the reality of the world.

　In my hand, I held a heavy, solid stick
　taken from a rotted ladder.

“Not that way, a little more to the right”

　My wife’s voice, filled with laughter.
　I take a step forward, cautiously,
　in the direction I trust.

“Ah, too far.　　　A little closer. Yes, there, right there.”

“I can’t tell from there”

　The instructions were quite vague, making me ill-suited for this role.

　“That’s it, that’s it. Right there, perfect.”

　I loved this time.
　
　A campsite reserved just for the three of us.
　An atmosphere where we could be ourselves, undisturbed by anyone.

　I never doubted that this happiness
　would continue tomorrow, the day after, and forever.

　I swing down with all my might.

　“Crack”

　A dull impact resonated, and a crisp sound burst forth.
　Cheers went up, and I hurriedly took off my blindfold.

　Before me lay a watermelon, split perfectly in two,
　revealing its vibrant red flesh.

　She and our friend
　smiled at each other, a little awkwardly.

＊＊＊

　As the sky began to dye in gradients,
　we munched on the split watermelon
　and enjoyed idle chatter.

“It’s hot, so I’ll make you a special mojito.”

　Saying that, he used his practiced hands
　to put mint leaves into the glass.

The rhythmic clinking sound
echoes through the quiet twilight.

As she emptied the glass in her hand,
she listened to that sound with enchantment.

“It smells like fresh mint.”

She laughed innocently.

***

Having finished her third mojito,
she seemed quite intoxicated.

I stood up with the empty bottle in my hand.

“I’ll go grab some soda.”

I opened the lid of the cooler,
and in that brief moment of distraction, I pulled out a chilled bottle.

“Hey... I just remembered that watermelon splitting from earlier. It was truly the best.”

I never missed
that sweet, syrupy voice of hers.

I returned to the two of them in silence.

The two of them, as if nothing had happened,
hurriedly put some distance between each other and turned smiles toward me.

Their faces were horribly distorted by their secret.

I placed the glass quietly on the table.

Looking slowly from his face
to hers and back again, I said:

“Look, it split perfectly.”

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