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Summer Phantom – Part 04

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Translator: Kell

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The Matsuyama Department Store, standing in the center of the zelkova-lined street, was the most popular store for ladies and gentlemen in the imperial capital, with its large selection of goods and luxurious atmosphere.

On the weekend, Ruri invited one of her followers, the daughter of a high-class family, to go window shopping with her to distract herself.

Leaving their attendants to wait in front of the department store, Ruri and the girl entered hand-in-hand. Short-haired salestaff in stylish western clothing showed them new stationery and sash clips.

“It’s you,” came a sudden man’s voice.

Ruri, gleefully studying the items, glanced up and saw a familiar, handsome young man standing there. She gave him a puzzled look.

“It’s Kira,” he said. “Don’t you remember? This is the second time I’ve seen you this week. What a coincidence!”

“Right…”

“Man, it’s not every day you get to meet a pretty lass.” He sounded frustrated. “Unfortunately, I’m in a bit of a hurry. Truly a shame!” He then disappeared somewhere.

“Who was that?” Ruri’s friend asked.

“No clue.”

While they stood there looking baffled, a staff called to them.

“An exhibition of rare Chinese works of art has just opened in the top-floor hall. Would you ladies like to see it?”

Ruri and the girl exchanged glances. They decided to check it out, so they took the elevator to the top floor.

Chinese kimonos, furniture, and large vases were neatly arranged in the hall. Upon noticing Ruri’s friend, an executive from the department store immediately rushed to her to greet her courteously. Ruri and the girl slowly made their way around the hall. Each item on display was apparently an important cultural asset that sold for astronomical prices.

“Incredible,” Ruri breathed. “Right? Huh?”

Ruri looked over her shoulder, and was stunned.

Her friend had tripped, and a vase was falling.

The vase tumbled, and so did her friend. Her fall looked like it would result in a serious injury. Ruri had always been coordinated; when she was younger, her mother would lock her younger brother in the storehouse as punishment, but Ruri would climb over the outer wall to toss rice balls through the window far above. Ruri hesitated for a moment. Then she ignored the vase, leapt and took flight, spreading her arms out to catch her precious schoolmate.

“Lady Ruri!” the careless girl exclaimed, deeply moved.

The sound of something breaking came from behind.

Fearfully Ruri looked over her shoulder. The vase was split in half.

Oh, no!

Ruri and her friend were hidden behind the kimonos on display in the hall so no one could see them.

“What do we do?” Ruri asked as she helped the girl up.

She picked up the broken vase and put it back in its place, assembling the pieces together.

At first glance, the vase seemed to be back to normal. But it quivered with even the slightest vibrations.

I don’t care about myself, but she can’t be involved in this. If word gets out that someone from an esteemed family broke a Chinese vase, there will be some serious trouble. I have to get her out of here without drawing attention.

Ruri pulled on the girl’s hand, dragging her away from the vase.

If they find it, I’ll just say I broke it. Ah, they might ask me to pay a ridiculous amount for damages. What will happen to my family then?

The vase looked like it would split in half and fall again at any moment.

Ruri headed for the hall’s exit, pulling the stumbling girl along.

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After arriving at the ground floor of the department store and helping the girl into the car prepared for her by her attendants, Ruri breathed a sigh of relief.

The sun had completely set, and it was dark outside. As Ruri stood there, taking in the night breeze, she heard footsteps approaching.

She turned around and spotted the handsome young man, Kira, carrying a large package wrapped in a cloth like last time. As Ruri watched him, Kira noticed her and raised one hand, before hurrying away across the sidewalk.

Hearing people abuzz behind her, Ruri turned around. Apparently there had been some sort of incident.

She shuddered. Do they know about the vase?

She listened closely.

“A phantom appeared.”

Ruri frowned, baffled.

Doesn’t sound like it.

“A phantom in a black cape appeared, flew through the air, and then vanished.”

Wh-What?

Ruri was about to walk away, thinking that the case had nothing to do with her, when she heard the word ‘vase’. She quickly jumped into the midst of the gossipers.

“Excuse me,” she said. “What’s this about a vase?”

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Ruri learned that after she and her friend left, the lights suddenly went out in the hall on the top floor, and a phantom wearing a black cloak appeared. After stealing a Chinese vase, it fled through the window, escaping from the security, and quickly made its way to the rooftop.

The phantom then flew through the air, cloak flaring, and vanished.

What does that even mean?

Ruri wore a perplexed look as she moved away from the department store.

It’s not humanly possible to fly into the night sky from a rooftop. And as for the vase they stole, it was already broken. Did we just break the vase that they were planning to steal? Hmm…

As she was mulling the incident over, she bumped into the person she least wanted to see on the back street. A big, bearded army officer. I think his name was Mushanokouji, or something like that.

“Ah, Ruri-san,” Mushanokouji greeted with a smile.

Ruri frowned. Stars twinkled in the night sky, and the wind was a bit chilly. Ruri’s black hair fluttered in the wind. Mushanokouji squinted. He still had the same beard and square face. The banner hanging on the wall of the department rippled along with Ruri’s hair.

“What a coincidence,” the man said. “Were you out shopping?”

Ruri frowned. She was about to leave right away, but the problem that was currently occupying her mind was bothering her, so she couldn’t help but speak.

“There seems to be some sort of commotion about a phantom in the Matsuyama Department Store. It’s like something out of a novel. Isn’t that intriguing?”

“A phantom? Novel?” Mushanokouji laughed. “How ridiculous.”

The way he said it, similar to her father and brothers, ticked Ruri off. She whirled around and walked away.

“What’s the matter?” the man asked. “You’re always angry when I see you.”

“Leave me alone!” she snapped, turning back around. She cast her eyes down. “Um, Mushanokouji-san, I don’t know what my father and brothers told you, but I have no plans to marry at the moment.”

When she didn’t hear a reply, she lifted her gaze up and saw Mushanokouji clearly disappointed. His face was like an open book.

“Why?” he asked.

“I, um… I have a goal.”

“A goal?”

“Actually…” Ruri hesitated for a moment. “I’ve been offered a teaching position in Seian after graduation. It was a very attractive offer. So, no matter what my father and brothers say, I can’t marry you, or anyone else for that matter at the moment.”

Ruri’s heart was racing. Her father’s pet phrase came to her mind. Women this, women that.

Her father and brothers, who had a habit of saying ‘you can’t’ and ‘it’s impossible’ before she even started doing anything. Her adorable and obedient younger brother, who had to endure that all his life. His sad eyes, and his decision to leave for a faraway country. And her father’s stubbornness that almost denied him that choice.

But despite the thoughts running through her mind, Ruri continued.

“To tell you the truth, I have never seriously thought about my future before. But when I received the offer, I thought about it for the first time. I thought to myself, ‘I am no longer a child. I must make a proper decision about my future, instead of moping around, thinking about my brother abroad.’ That future is uncertain, to be sure, but there’s hope and new things to discover. So…”

Mushanokouji was silent.

He must be appalled, Ruri thought. Hiding her diffidence, she held out her right hand.

“That’s my decision, Mushanokouji-san.”

Mushanokouji did not shake her hand. He simply stared at Ruri in silence.

Hmm?

Behind his large body and bearded face, there were two familiar, jet-black eyes regarding Ruri silently. Black eyes that she’d seen since she was a child, kind and slightly melancholic.

His eyes look familiar…

After a moment of staring at each other, Mushanokouji turned around without saying a word. His back was even bigger than her father’s and brother’s. His khaki army cloak rustled.

“U-Um, Mushanokouji-san?”

He didn’t look back even when called. Ruri watched the man blankly as he strode away without a word.

A pale moon sat in the night sky.

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