Ten

by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

“What’s wrong? You seem unusually down today, don’t you?”

The day after the fire, I called out to Rap, who was sitting in the guest room chair with a cigarette in his mouth. He had his left leg resting on his right leg and was staring blankly at the floor.

“Rap, what’s wrong?” I asked again,

“No, it’s nothing,” he finally looked up and let out a sad voice.

“Today, while looking out the window, I muttered, ‘Ah, the bug-catching violet has bloomed.’ Then my sister suddenly changed her expression and got angry, saying, ‘I’m the bug-catching violet anyway.’ On top of that, since my mother favors my sister, she started to attack me.”

“Why is it unpleasant for your sister that the bug-catching violet has bloomed?” I asked.

“Well, maybe she took it to mean catching a male kappa. Plus, my aunt, who doesn’t get along with my mother, joined in the fight, and it turned into a huge commotion. Moreover, when my father, who is always drunk, heard this uproar, he started hitting anyone and everyone. That alone was unmanageable, and in the meantime, my brother stole my mother’s wallet and went to watch a movie. I… I really don’t know what to do…”

Rap covered his face with both hands and began to cry without saying anything. While I sympathized with him, I also remembered Poet Tock’s disdain for the family system. I patted Rap on the shoulder and tried my best to comfort him.

“Such things happen everywhere. Be brave.”

“But… but if the beak wasn’t rotten…”

“That’s something you just have to give up on. Come on, let’s go see Tock.”

“Mr. Tock looks down on me. I can’t abandon my family as boldly as he does.”

“Then let’s go to Klabak’s place.”

Since the concert, I had also become friends with Kurabak, so I decided to bring Rap to this great musician's house. Compared to Tok, Kurabak lives a much more luxurious life. It’s not the lifestyle of a capitalist like Geel, but various antiques, Tanagra figurines, and Persian pottery are lined up throughout the room, a Turkish-style long sofa is placed, and you can see him playing with children under his own portrait. However, for some reason today, he was sitting with his arms crossed over his chest, wearing a bitter expression. There was crumpled paper scattered at his feet. Rap must have met Kurabak with Tok before, but today, perhaps frightened by the atmosphere, he quietly sat down in the corner of the room.

“What’s wrong, Kurabak?” I asked as a greeting.

“There’s nothing I can do. The foolish critics say that my lyrical poetry is nothing compared to Tok’s lyrical poetry.”

“But you are a musician…”

“I could tolerate that. This time, they said I don’t deserve the name of a musician compared to Rock.”

Rock is a musician who is often compared to Kurabak. Unfortunately, since I am not a member of the Superhuman Club, I have never spoken to him, but I have seen his uniquely upturned beak-like face in photographs many times.

“Rock is undoubtedly a genius. However, Rock’s music lacks the modern passion that your music possesses.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do think so.”

Then Kurabak stood up, grabbed a Tanagra figurine, and slammed it onto the floor. Rap, startled, raised his voice and tried to escape, but Kurabak waved his hand and coldly said, “Don’t be surprised.”

“You too, do not have ears like a common person. I fear Rock…”

“You? Stop pretending to be humble.”

“Who pretends to be modest? If I were to show you, I would show off in front of the critics. I—Klabak is a genius. In that regard, I am not afraid of Rock.”

“Then what are you afraid of?”

“Something unknown, so to speak, the star that governs Rock.”

“I don’t quite understand, but…”

“Then let me put it this way. Rock is not influenced by me. However, before I know it, I am influenced by Rock.”

“That is your sensitivity…”

“Well, listen. It’s not a matter of sensitivity. Rock always does the work that only he can do with ease. However, I get frustrated. From Rock's perspective, it may be a matter of a step, but to me, it feels like a difference of ten miles.”

“But, sir, your heroic piece…”

Klabak narrowed his already thin eyes and glared at Rap with annoyance.

“Shut up. What do you know? I know Rock. I know Rock better than those dogs who bow down to him.”

“Well, please be a bit quieter.”

“If you can stay quiet… I always think this. —Something unknown to us has made Rock stand before me to mock me—Klabak. Philosopher Mag knows all about this. Even though he always reads nothing but old books under that colored glass lantern.”

“Why?”

“Look at the book Mag recently wrote called ‘Words of the Fool.’”

Klabak threw a book at me—rather than handing it over. Then, still with his arms crossed, he said defiantly.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave today.”

I decided to step out onto the lively street once again with the dejected Rap. The busy street was still lined with the shade of the Zelkova trees, and various shops were lined up. We continued to walk in silence, not particularly talking about anything.

Then, passing by was the long-haired poet, Tock. Upon seeing our faces, Tock took a handkerchief out of his belly pouch and wiped his forehead repeatedly.

“Hey, it’s been a while. I was thinking of visiting Clubback for the first time in a while today, but…”

I thought it wouldn’t be good to make these artists fight, so I indirectly conveyed to Tock that Clubback seemed quite grumpy.

“I see. Then I’ll skip it. After all, Clubback is a nervous wreck. …I’ve been weak and unable to sleep for the past two or three weeks too.”

“How about taking a walk with us?”

“No, I’ll pass today. Oh!”

As Tock shouted that, he firmly grabbed my arm. He seemed to be sweating cold all over his body.

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s the matter?”

“I thought I saw a green monkey sticking its face out from a car window.”

I became a bit worried and suggested he see that doctor, Chuck. However, Tock showed no signs of agreeing at all. Furthermore, while looking at our faces with suspicion, he started saying something like this.

“I’m definitely not an anarchist. Just don’t forget that. —Well then, goodbye. I want nothing to do with Chuck.”

We stood there blankly, watching Tock’s back as he walked away. We—no, it wasn’t “we.” The student Rap had somehow spread his legs in the middle of the street, peering into the passing cars and people with a curious look. I thought this kappa had gone mad and was surprised to pull Rap up.

“This is absurd. What are you doing?”

However, Rap rubbed his eyes and surprisingly responded calmly.

“No, I was feeling so gloomy that I decided to look at the world upside down. But it’s still the same thing.”