Prayer Fulfilled, Episode 1 (10 Episodes Total)

Mikiko Seo

Clouds drifted by, hiding the moon. The colors of the sky and sea, having lost their light, blended together, making the horizon ambiguous.
Mikiko closed her eyes while gripping the railing at the stern of the ship. The scent of the tide filled the air, and the sound of the waves reached her ears, sounding particularly loud. Even though summer was near, the wind on the sea at night was cold. Perhaps she should have brought a stole. Thinking this, she took deep breaths, trying to refresh the air inside her.

Suddenly, a familiar warmth enveloped her from behind. Overlaid by the sound of the wind blowing strongly past her ears, she hadn't noticed the approaching footsteps.

"Mikiko, are you okay?"
The voice whispering in her ear carried a faint scent of wine. And the scent of Toru.
"Yeah. I feel like my drunkenness has faded a bit now that I've caught the breeze."
"That's good. Aren't you cold?"
"A little. But it feels nice."

Her relationship with Toru Kariya had lasted for ten years. It wasn't that she had never thought about marriage before, but since Toru had never brought it up, she had long since given up on the idea. It was also partly because she wasn't particularly attached to the formality of marriage. Up until now, at thirty-five, she had never once wanted children, and she felt embarrassed at the thought of people who knew her childhood so well becoming her in-laws.

"I wonder if I should have just skipped the wine."
"No. It was delicious. Maybe it's just because I was nervous since it's my first time on a dinner cruise."

A large hand stroked her head and then came to rest on her shoulder. They stood side by side, gazing out at the dark sea. When the wind shifted, the faint murmur of the crowd inside the ship could be heard.

She had met Toru when she was six years old. He was one of the friends she made after moving.

It was a move that coincided with Mikiko starting elementary school. The new home was in a large-scale new residential area called Iwakuradai, which had been developed on a mountain on the outskirts of Yokohama.
In Iwakuradai, several horizontal tunnels from old air-raid shelters remained. It seemed the land had been inhabited for a long time, rather than being an untouched mountain cleared for residential development. The Seo family were first-phase residents, but development continued after that, and she had been overwhelmed by the way the town expanded day by day.

Many of the residents were young families, and the children were close in age. As the parents became friendly with one another, the children naturally began to spend time together as well.
Mikiko always played with the same group of five. They were all the same age: two boys and three girls. Toru was among them.

Once they entered junior high, their connections with friends at school became stronger, and the five of them from the neighborhood stopped gathering. They didn't even speak to each other when they passed in the school hallways.
Even after that, they continued to live in the same neighborhood, but they never became close again. Eventually, in her second year of working, Mikiko began living alone in Tokyo, and it was some time later that she reunited with Toru.

Suddenly, a fine vibration traveled from the railing. The motor roared. As she turned her head, she saw the approaching city lights. It seemed the ship was beginning preparations to dock.

"We'll be at the port soon. Should we head back inside?"
"Yeah, I suppose. How are you feeling?"
"I'm completely fine now."
"Really? ...In that case, maybe I'll say it."
"Say what?"

Toru had a very serious look in his eyes. Because Toru was usually someone who smiled often, that expression even looked a bit angry, and ripples stirred deep in her chest.

"Oh, stop it. What is it? Toru, what's wrong?"

She asked in a teasing tone, but Toru said it with the same serious expression.

"Mikiko, let's get married."

The whistle blew, and the rudder was turned. Mikiko stumbled from the ship's sway, but was quickly steadied by Toru.

Marriage—.

She had a premonition from the moment she was invited on the dinner cruise. However, the feeling that it was too late for such things was stronger, and she had completely forgotten her initial hunch.
Mikiko was terribly flustered, her eyes darting about. And then, at that moment.

“Ah.”

A small shadow was swaying on the deck visible over Toru's shoulder. She felt as if their eyes had met. The shadow moved quickly toward them. Mikiko stiffened and braced herself.

“Huh? What is it?”

Sensing something was wrong, Toru turned his gaze to where Mikiko was looking. At the same time, the shadow suddenly vanished.
Mikiko muttered in a trembling voice.

“...There was something there.”
“Something?”
“I don't know. It's dark. Maybe... a bug? Yeah, maybe it was a wharf roach.”
She didn't even know why a single small shadow bothered her so much.
“A wharf roach? The ones on the shore? They wouldn't be on a ship.”
“You're right. I guess it was just my imagination.”

Toru frowned and laughed.
“Hey, hey, you're ruining the mood.”
“Oh. You're right. I'm sorry...”

It was crazy to be so sensitive to a shadow running across the deck. It must have been just the way the light hit it. As Toru said, she should be more concerned about having ruined such an important moment.

“Well, that's fine. This will be memorable in its own way. ...So, can I have your answer?”

Even though she hadn't been waiting for this day, her heart was fluttering. She couldn't find any reason to refuse, either. If so.

“...I look forward to being with you.”
When she bowed respectfully, Toru clenched his fist, small but firmly.

An announcement began to play urging passengers to disembark, and they left the deck with the lingering feeling still fresh. As she walked down the gangway, she looked back at the deck one more time, but the small shadow from before was nowhere to be seen.

*

“Hello? Mom?”

“Oh, you! You called at the perfect time!”

Hearing her mother's first words, Mikiko quickly gave up on the idea of announcing her engagement in this call. It seemed her mother had no idea that she was the one who had called with something to discuss.

“What is it? Did something happen?”

“Ikumi-chan...”

"Huh? Who?"

"It's Ikumi-chan. Ikumi Tsubouchi-chan. You know, the one you all used to play with all the time."

"Oh..."

The name and the image of a long-haired girl connected in my mind. She was one of our group of five childhood friends. I thought she was still living with her parents at her family home. Could it be that she was getting married or something like that? As I was thinking this, my mother said something unexpected.

"She passed away."

"Huh? Passed away? Who did?"

"I just told you, Ikumi-chan."

"But Ikumi-chan is the same age as me."

"People can die from illness or accidents at any age, you know. It's such a pity, she was still so young."

"Was it an illness? An accident?"

"I don't know yet either. I mean, I can't exactly ask the Tsubouchis about that, can I? The wake seems to be tomorrow, so why don't you go if you can? Make sure to tell Toru-kun, too."

I had called specifically to talk about Toru, but this wasn't the kind of news to report after hearing about a death. I gave a vague, wordless reply, hung up the phone, and thought about Ikumi.

In my memories, Ikumi is still an elementary school student. Memories of those days the five of us spent together. I can picture the other three. Only Ikumi's face is blurry. I wondered why for a moment and then realized the reason. That's right, it was because she was always behind us. Ikumi was the girl who was always following behind Mikiko and the others. But.

Suddenly, my memory becomes vivid.
But, there was one time when Ikumi insisted on something strongly. That cat. It was Ikumi who suggested that we all take care of a cat. In that place that belonged only to the five of us.

There was a thicket in an area where residential development hadn't reached yet, and Mikiko and the others used a corner of it as a secret base. Even calling it a base, it didn't have any enclosures or a roof; it was just a space that had opened up between the trees, which we simply called our secret base. Even so, just by giving it the name "secret," that ordinary space instantly turned into a fascinating place.

The secret base was our meeting place after school and our playground. We would nibble on bread we hadn't finished at lunch, read manga, and spend time doing whatever we each liked.

That was where Ikumi brought a kitten that hadn't even opened its eyes yet. I feel like she said something about saving it from being attacked by crows on her way home from school. Just like Ikumi's face, I can only vaguely remember what the cat looked like. Was it a dirty white, black, or a mackerel tabby? All I remember is that it was just a small, dirty lump. Even so, the five of us took care of it with love.

That Ikumi.

Although I was surprised, the fact that no sadness or loneliness welled up made me feel the length of the time we had been out of touch.

*

The next day, after finishing work, Mikiko went home, changed into mourning clothes, and headed to Iwakuradai Station to meet Toru, who was coming straight from his workplace. The wake was not being held at the home, but at a funeral hall near the station.

Although she now lived in Tokyo, it took less than an hour to get to Iwakuradai Station, so it was by no means far. However, since she always met her mother, who loved going out, away from home, it had been a long time since she had visited Iwakuradai, even though it was her hometown.

The scenery of the rotary in front of the station had also changed completely. The walls of the buildings were dull, creating a somewhat desolate atmosphere. The people walking by were mostly older. Perhaps because people of the same generation had moved in all at once, the town's aging had accelerated rapidly once the younger generation, like Mikiko and Toru, left. The former new residential area had lost its novelty.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Toru appeared from the crowd of people passing through the ticket gate. He was wearing the dark-colored suit he usually wore, but had changed his tie to one for mourning.

We can walk, right?
Yeah.

There were buses from the station, but it was less than a ten-minute walk. In the past, there were only a few shops along the bus route and many vacant lots, but now buildings were lined up without any gaps. Even though the road shouldn't have changed, the fading townscape made her feel like she might get lost.

At the funeral hall, the staff guided them efficiently, and as they followed the route, the incense offering was over before they knew it. She didn't even get a good look at the portrait on the altar.

When her turn to offer incense came, she glanced up at the portrait, but no sense of nostalgia welled up. She couldn't even tell if there were any traces of her childhood self. Yet, it wasn't as if it were a stranger's face, and only a frustration like something brushing against the surface of her memory remained.

Receiving the return gift for the incense money like a ration at the exit of the room, she walked down the hallway with Toru, who had finished offering incense earlier, and arrived at a room filled with a buzz. It was the wake reception area, where sushi tubs, beer bottles, and plastic bottles of soft drinks were lined up on long tables. Perhaps because many of the people eating and drinking were relatives, the presence of elderly people stood out. The women were chatting about things that seemed unrelated to the deceased, and the men were laughing boisterously, perhaps because they were drunk.

She probably should stay for the sake of the memorial service, but it felt uncomfortable. Just as she reached for Toru's arm to suggest they pass through, she saw someone waving at them. At the same time as Toru, she said, Oh. It was Kenji Iwamoto.

She followed Toru as he headed toward Kenji.

Kenji, you came too? It's been a long time.
Ten... no, has it been about twenty years? Wow, I can still recognize you.
Even though I look like a total middle-aged man now.
Shut up. We're both in the same boat, aren't we? ...So, is this your wife?

Kenji gestured toward Mikiko. She and Toru looked at each other, stared for a moment, and then burst out laughing at the same time. However, they immediately remembered what kind of place this was and hurriedly stopped laughing.

Wife? Are you serious? Well, I mean, that is the plan, but...
Plan?
Oh, no, never mind that. This is Mikiko. Mikiko Seo. You remember her, right?
Mikiko? Wait, you mean Miki-chan?

It seemed that Kenji had finally managed to connect the past and present in his mind. Mikiko gave a small smile.

Long time no see, Kenji.
Oh, long time no see. Yeah, yeah, now that you mention it, I can see a resemblance... maybe, or maybe not.
Geez. Have I changed that much?
Yeah. I didn't recognize you at all.
I'll be mad if you say I've become an old lady.
I wouldn't say that... but compared to that... well, I don't know if I should say it this way, but did you see Ikumi's portrait? She looked quite aged.
Yeah. Actually, I thought so too.

Toru agreed immediately, but Mikiko only nodded vaguely.
Was that why she couldn't find any resemblance in the portrait? She didn't know when the photo was taken, but if it was indeed a recent photo, she had to admit she looked aged. However, she thought that might just be because of her listless expression. It wasn't a matter of whether her features were beautiful or ugly; it just wasn't a face that invited affection. If there wasn't a better photo than that, perhaps Ikumi had been living an unfulfilled life.

A man who looked like a funeral home staff member wearing a mourning badge approached and bowed.

Would you like me to bring you something to drink?

Toru and Kenji asked each other, "What about you?" and shook their heads. When Mikiko also shook her head in silence, Toru replied, "Thank you. We're fine." Waiting for the staff member to leave, Kenji gestured toward the exit with his chin.

"...Shall we get going?"

Perhaps it was just that their schedules didn't overlap, but they hadn't seen any other mourners of their generation at the funeral home. Everyone there was clearly an acquaintance of the parents, not of Ikumi herself.

Even after leaving the building, no one offered any parting words. They looked around to see if there was a place to sit down, but could only find local bars. However, the two men didn't seem to care about the location, and they began to talk in the corner of a coin-operated parking lot adjacent to the funeral home. Despite facing the street, it was slightly set back, so the sound of passing cars was only faintly audible.

After exchanging contact information, Kenji looked toward the funeral home and said, "Come to think of it, I wonder if Eri isn't coming?"
Toru shook his head.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her. What about you, Mikiko?"
"I haven't seen her either. Even if I did, I'm not sure I'd recognize her face. At any rate, I don't think there was anyone else our age there. If you haven't seen her, Kenji, since you arrived before us, maybe Eri isn't coming."

The five of them had been together every day as children, but now they were scattered. Mikiko, Toru, Kenji, Eri, and Ikumi. Perhaps Eri didn't know about Ikumi's passing. Even if she did, it didn't mean she would come to the wake. After all, they had cut off contact for nearly twenty years.
However, Kenji didn't seem to think so.

"We haven't seen each other in a long time, but our parents are still neighbors, so I'd think they would have told us about something like this. My parents told me, at least."
"That's true. I heard it from my mother, too."
"Wait? Come to think of it, Toru, you knew about it well. Your parents moved somewhere, didn't they?"
"Yeah, to Izu. My father took early retirement, and they're living a semi-self-sufficient life in a house with a hot spring."
"Right. And you're in Tokyo, aren't you? In that case, how did you... wait, you two, could it be...? But you said you weren't married... oh, but, wait, so the 'plans' were... that's what it meant!"

Kenji pointed his index finger back and forth between Mikiko and Toru, satisfied with his own conclusion. As they watched his finger and laughed, something darted across the corner of their vision.

It was that shadow again.

No, it was bigger. Could it be a rat?

They turned their heads to follow the shadow, but it had already melted into the darkness of the night. Instead, they saw a man in mourning clothes approaching them. The traffic light must have been red, as the sound of cars ceased, and the sharp, rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed. The bright light of a small flashlight swayed left and right as it approached along the asphalt. The man was walking cautiously.

Click, click, click...

The approaching sound was that of a white cane being swung from side to side, striking the ground. Toru and Kenji also noticed the sound and seemed to recognize him.

"Huh? That guy..."

Toru muttered.

"Prayer Fulfilled" 10 episodes total
Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Episode 10

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