Four (1/3)

by Natsume Sōseki

Breaking into the Kaneda residence is a usual occurrence.

What is referred to as "a usual occurrence" does not need further explanation at this point. It is a phrase that indicates repetition; something done once often leads to wanting to do it again, and something attempted twice tends to invite a third attempt, a curiosity that is not exclusive to humans. Cats, too, are born into this world with this psychological privilege. When something is repeated more than three times, it is first labeled as a "habit," and this act evolves into a part of life, which is no different from humans. If you wonder why I frequent the Kaneda residence so much, I first want to pose a question to humans. Why do people inhale smoke through their mouths and exhale it through their noses? Since they shamelessly expel something that does not contribute to their sustenance or serve as medicine for their blood, I would prefer not to be loudly reprimanded for entering and exiting Kaneda's place. After all, the Kaneda residence is my tobacco.

The term "sneak in" has a misleading connotation. It sounds as if I were a thief or a seducer. I go to the Kaneda residence not because I have been invited, but certainly not to steal slices of bonito or to have secret talks with a Chin dog that has its eyes and nose stuck in the center of its face. -- A detective? -- That is out of the question. I believe there is no profession more inferior than that of a detective or a loan shark. Indeed, I once acted with an uncharacteristic sense of chivalry for Kangetsu-kun and investigated the Kaneda household just once, but that was only a single time, and since then, I have never engaged in any base actions that would shame a cat's conscience. -- So, why did I use the dubious term "sneak in"? -- There is a reason for that. In my view, the vast sky exists to cover all things, and the earth exists to support all things. No matter how stubbornly one may enjoy debate, they cannot deny this fact. Now, when it comes to how much effort humanity has expended to create this vast sky and earth, in reality, they have not contributed anything at all. There is no law that allows one to claim as their own that which they have not created. While one may assert ownership, there is no reason to prohibit others from entering and exiting. To enclose this vast land with a bit of cleverness and declare it as private property is akin to stretching a rope across the blue sky and declaring, "This part is my heaven, and that part is his heaven." If we can chop up land and sell it by the tsubo, then we should also be able to sell the air we breathe by the cubic shaku. If selling air is impossible and the demarcation of the sky is unjust, then isn't the private ownership of land also unreasonable? When I think about it this way, I can enter anywhere. Of course, I won't go to places I don't want to go, but I will head in the direction I desire, east or west.The discrimination between the North and South is nonexistent, and I proceed with a calm face. There is no reason to be considerate of someone like Kaneda. -- However, the sadness of a cat cannot possibly compete with humans in terms of strength. In this world, where the saying goes that strength is rights, no matter how justified we may be, a cat's argument will not hold. If one tries to force it through, it would be like the blacksmith suddenly eating the balance beam of the fishmonger. When reason is on our side but power is on the other, whether to bend reason and submit or to slip past the power and uphold reason, I, of course, choose the latter. Since the balance beam is unavoidable, I have no choice but to endure. It is not a problem to enter someone's estate, so I have no choice but to enter. For this reason, I sneak into the Kaneda residence.

As the number of times I sneak in increases, although I have no intention of being a detective, it is inevitable that I naturally notice the circumstances of the Kaneda family, and things I do not wish to remember stick in my mind as impressions. Every time Madame Hanako washes her face, she deliberately wipes only her nose, the young lady Tomiko eats Abe River rice cakes indiscriminately, and Kaneda himself -- Kaneda is a man with a low nose, unlike his wife. Not just his nose, but his entire face is flat. It seems that the face he had when he was a child, when he got into a fight and was grabbed by the neck by a gang leader and pushed hard against a dirt wall, has influenced him up to today, forty years later. He has a very gentle and harmless face, but somehow lacks variation. No matter how angry he gets, his face remains flat. -- That Kaneda, while eating tuna sashimi, taps his bald head with a splash, and not only is his face low, but he is also short, so he indiscriminately wears a tall hat and high geta, which the coachman finds amusing and tells the student about, and the student is impressed, saying, "I see, your observations are sharp" -- there are countless such things to count.

Recently, I would pass through the side door to the garden, gradually climbing up after confirming that the sliding doors were closed and quiet from the shadow of the mound. If I thought there might be lively voices or a fear of being seen from the tatami room, I would go around the pond to the east and sneak out under the porch without anyone noticing. I have no memory of doing anything wrong, so I have no fear of hiding, but when I encounter a lawless human, I can only resign myself to misfortune. If society were filled with Kumazaka Nagahiro types, even the most virtuous gentlemen would likely adopt an attitude like mine. Kaneda-kun is a dignified businessman, so he naturally doesn’t have to worry about swinging around five shaku three sun like Kumazaka Nagahiro, but I’ve heard that there is a disease that makes people not regard others as human. If one doesn’t see others as human, they probably wouldn’t see a cat as a cat either. Thinking about it this way, no matter how virtuous a cat may be, one can never let their guard down in his residence. However, that very unpredictability is somewhat amusing to me, so perhaps my frequent comings and goings at the Kaneda household are simply because I want to take on this risk. I will let you know about that again after I have thoroughly dissected the cat's mind after careful consideration.

Today, I wondered what the scene would be like, and as I pressed my chin against the grass on the mound and looked ahead, I saw the fifteen-tatami guest room bathed in the spring sunlight. Inside, the Kaneda couple and one guest were talking. Unfortunately, Madame Hanako's nose was facing this way, staring intently at my forehead across the pond. It was my first experience being glared at by a nose. Fortunately, Kaneda-kun was facing the guest, so half of his flat face was hidden from view. However, in exchange, I couldn’t quite discern the position of the nose. I could only conclude that there must be two holes above the casually grown grayish mustache. I couldn’t help but imagine how pleasant it would be if the spring breeze were blowing only on such smooth faces.

The guest has the most ordinary appearance among the three. However, because it is ordinary, there are no particular features to introduce. While being ordinary may seem quite acceptable at first glance, reaching the realm of extreme mediocrity and entering the room of vulgarity is rather pitiable. Who could it be that was born in the Meiji era, carrying the fate of having such a meaningless face? One cannot understand without going down to the porch as usual and listening to that conversation.

“...So my wife went all the way to that man's place and asked about Yoko...” Kaneda-kun begins to speak in his usual sideways manner. Although it is sideways, there is absolutely no harshness. His words are as flat and large as his face.

“I see, that man has taught Mizushima-san before—indeed, that’s a good idea—indeed,” the guest keeps repeating “I see.”

“However, somehow it doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes, Kusama doesn’t make sense—ever since that man and I were living together, he has truly been an indecisive person—that must be troublesome,” the guest turns to Madam Hanako.

“Troublesome or not, you see, until this age, I have never been treated like that when going to someone else's house,” Hanako snorts as usual.

“Did I say something rude? He has been stubborn since long ago—after all, he has been a teacher specializing in Riddle for ten years, so you should understand,” the guest smoothly adjusts his tone.

“No, it’s so trivial that when my wife asks something, it seems like a very curt greeting...”

"That is quite suspicious—when one studies a little, pride inevitably sprouts, and on top of that, when one becomes poor, resentment arises—there are quite a few lawless people in this world. They don't realize they have no contribution of their own and recklessly attack those who have wealth, as if they have stolen their property. It's astonishing, ha ha ha," the guest seems to be greatly enjoying himself.

"No, it's truly outrageous, and such behavior ultimately stems from ignorance and selfishness, so I thought it would be good to discipline them a little, and I gave them a bit of a hit," he said.

"I see, then you must have answered quite a bit. It's truly for their own good," the guest, unaware of how he was struck, has already agreed with Kaneda-kun.

"However, Suzuki-san, what a stubborn man he is. Even at school, it seems he doesn't speak to Fukuchi-san or Tsuki-san. I thought he was just intimidated and silent, but the other day he chased an innocent student with a cane—thirty faces down, well, how could someone be so foolish? He's really a bit out of sorts," he said.

"Oh, why on earth did he do such a violent thing...?" At this, even the guest seemed to harbor some suspicion.

"Well, it seems he just passed by that man and said something. Then suddenly, he jumped out barefoot with a cane. Even if he said something, isn't he just a child? Despite being a bearded monk, he's also a teacher," he explained.

"Indeed, he is a teacher," the guest said, and Kaneda-kun added, "Because he is a teacher." It seems that the consensus among these three is that as a teacher, one must remain calm like a wooden statue, no matter what insult they receive.

“Moreover, that man Meitei is quite the drunkard, isn’t he? He just spouts useless lies. It’s the first time I’ve met such a peculiar person.”

“Ah, Meitei, is it? He seems to be blowing hot air as usual. Did you happen to meet him at Kusami’s place? It’s unbearable to get involved with him. He was once a fellow in the cooking club, but he looks down on people too much, so we often ended up fighting.”

“Anyone would get angry with him. It’s one thing to tell lies, but when it comes to bad manners or having to match up to someone—everyone says things they don’t mean in those situations. But that man, he says things he doesn’t even need to say, and it’s just unbearable. What does he want by spouting such nonsense—I really wonder how he can say it so brazenly.”

“You’re absolutely right; it’s troublesome because it’s all lies born from his indulgence.”

“The matter of Mizushima, which you went to listen to earnestly, has turned into a complete mess. I was quite irritated and vexed—but still, there’s a sense of duty, and it’s too much for someone to go to someone’s house to ask about something and act as if they don’t know anything. So later, I had the rickshaw man carry a dozen beers. However, you know what? He said there’s no reason to accept such a thing and told me to take it back. No, it’s a token of gratitude, so please accept it, the rickshaw man said—‘It’s not bad, but I’ve never drunk anything bitter like beer, I just lick jam every day,’ and he abruptly went inside—what a ridiculous excuse, isn’t it rude?”

“That’s terrible,” the guest seemed to genuinely feel irritated this time.

“So, I called you out here today for a reason,” Kaneda-kun's voice was heard after a brief pause. “That fool can be teased from the shadows, but there are some troublesome matters as well…” he said, tapping his bald head like when eating tuna sashimi. However, since I am under the eaves, I can't actually see if he tapped it or not, but I have gotten quite used to the sound of this bald head lately. Just like a nun can distinguish the sound of a wooden fish, even from under the eaves, if the sound is clear, I can immediately tell it’s his bald head. “So, I would like to ask you for a small favor…”

“If it’s something I can do, please don’t hesitate to ask—this matter regarding the Tokyo assignment has caused quite a bit of concern,” the guest readily accepted Kaneda-kun's request. From this tone, it seems that this guest is indeed someone who has been taken care of by Kaneda-kun. No, the incident is becoming more and more interesting. The weather is nice today, so I had no intention of coming, but I never expected to gain such good material. It’s like visiting a temple during Higan and accidentally being treated to botamochi in the hojo. Kaneda-kun is listening intently from under the eaves to hear what kind of request the guest will make.

“That oddball called Kusami seems to be hinting for some reason that he shouldn’t take Kaneda’s daughter as his wife—right, Hanako?”

“It’s not just a hint. He’s saying that there’s no fool who would take that guy’s daughter, and that Kanetsuki-kun should absolutely not marry her.”

“What do you mean by ‘that guy,’ did he say something rude?”

“It’s not just something he said; the god of the carriage shop came to inform me properly.”

“Suzuki-kun, what do you think? It’s just as you heard, isn’t it? Quite troublesome, isn’t it?”

"That's troubling. Unlike other matters, others should not meddle in such things recklessly. Even someone as foolish as Kurusami should understand that much, but what on earth is going on?"

"So, since you have been living with Kurusami since your student days and were close in the past, I am asking you to meet with him and explain the benefits and disadvantages clearly. He might be angry, but it's his fault for being angry, and if he behaves himself, I will make sure to accommodate him and refrain from doing anything that might upset him. However, if he continues to act that way, I will feel compelled to respond in kind—after all, being stubborn like that only harms him."

"Yes, you are absolutely right; making foolish resistance only harms him and brings no benefit, so I will convey that well."

"Furthermore, there are various proposals for my daughter, so I cannot definitively decide to send her to Mizushima, but as I gradually inquire, it seems that both his studies and character are not bad, so if he studies hard and becomes a doctor soon, it might be possible to hint that he could be considered."

"If I say that, he will likely be encouraged to study. That sounds good."

"And then, there's that strange matter—I think it doesn't suit Mizushima, but he calls that oddball Kurusami 'teacher' and seems to listen to most of what Kurusami says, which is troubling. It's not limited to Mizushima, so no matter what Kurusami says to interfere, it doesn't particularly bother me..."

"It's sad for Mizushima," Mrs. Hanako interjects.

"I have never met a person named Mizushima, but in any case, if a connection can be made here, it would be a lifelong happiness, and he surely has no objections."

"Yes, Mizushima is eager to marry, but those oddballs like Kurusami and Meitei keep saying various things."

"That is not a good thing, and it is unbecoming even for someone who has received considerable education. I often go to talk with Kusami."

"Ah, please, I would like to ask you one thing, even if it is troublesome. Also, actually, Kusami knows the most about Mizushima, but when my wife went the other day, due to the current situation, she couldn't really ask much, so I would like you to hear about the person's character and academic talent from him."

"Understood. Since today is Saturday, if we go around now, he will probably be home already. I don't know where he lives lately."

"If you go right at the end of this street and walk a bit to the left, there is a house with a crumbling black fence," Hanako informs.

"Then it's very close by. There's no reason not to stop by on the way back. You should be able to figure it out, just by looking at the sign."

"The sign is sometimes there and sometimes not. I suppose he sticks his business card to the gate with rice grains. When it rains, it peels off. Then, on sunny days, he sticks it back on. So, the sign is not reliable. Rather than doing such a troublesome thing, it would be better to at least hang a wooden sign. He really is an incomprehensible person."

"I'm quite surprised. However, when I hear about a house with a crumbling black fence, I can generally understand."

"Yes, there is only one such dirty house in the neighborhood, so I can find it right away. Oh, by the way, if you still can't find it, there's a good way. Just look for a house with grass growing on the roof, and you won't be mistaken."

"It must be quite a distinctive house, ahahahaha."

If I don't return before Suzuki-kun arrives, it will be a bit inconvenient. Having heard this much of the conversation is enough, it is sufficient. I sneak around the snow hiding place to the west, come out from the shadow of the mound, and hurry back to the house with grass on the roof, nonchalantly making my way to the tatami mat.

The master had spread a white blanket on the engawa and was lying on his stomach, basking in the beautiful spring sunlight while drying his shell. Surprisingly, the sunlight was fair, making even a small house like the one with penpen grass growing on the roof look bright and warm, just like Kaneda-kun's guest room. However, unfortunately, that blanket lacked the essence of spring. It had been woven with an awareness of white by the manufacturer and sold as white at the antique shop, and the master had thought it was white when he purchased it. However, since this was about twelve or thirteen years ago, the era of white had long passed, and it had now turned a deep gray. It is questionable whether the blanket will last until it changes to other dark colors. Even now, it is already worn out, with the vertical and horizontal fibers clearly visible, making it presumptuous to even call it a blanket. It would be more appropriate to omit the 'fur' character and simply call it a 'ttto.' However, the master seems to believe that once it has lasted a year, two years, five years, or ten years, it must last for a lifetime. It is quite a carefree thought.

Now, what is the master doing lying on that blanket? He is supporting his protruding chin with both hands and holding a rolled cigarette between the fingers of his right hand. That's all there is to it. Of course, there may be the great truths of the universe spinning like a fire cart behind his dandruff-covered head, but from the outside, one would never dream of such a thing.

The flame of the cigarette gradually approached the mouthpiece, and even when a small burnt-out ash fell onto the blanket with a soft thud, the master was intently watching the fate of the smoke rising from the cigarette. The smoke, rising and falling in the spring breeze, formed multiple rings and was blown toward the roots of his wife's deep purple hair. --Ah, I should have mentioned my wife. I completely forgot.

The wife is turning her back to her husband—what a rude wife? There is nothing particularly rude about it. Courtesy and discourtesy can be interpreted in various ways, depending on mutual understanding. The husband comfortably rests his chin on his wife's backside, while the wife nonchalantly presents her majestic rear in front of her husband's face. The two have transcended the rigid constraints of etiquette within less than a year of marriage, becoming an extraordinary couple. —Now, the wife, having turned her back to her husband, seems to have taken advantage of today's weather to wash her excessively long green-black hair vigorously with seaweed and raw egg, sprinkling it over her shoulders and back as if to flaunt her unstyled locks, all while silently and diligently sewing a child's sleeveless garment. In fact, she had brought out a silk quilt and a sewing box to the porch to dry her hair, respectfully turning her back to her husband. Perhaps the husband had brought his face towards the direction of her backside.

Then, the smoke of the tobacco that was just mentioned flowed through the rich, flowing black hair, and the master was gazing at the burning mirage without distraction. However, the smoke, of course, does not remain in one place; due to its nature, it rises higher and higher, so if the master wants to see the strange sight of the smoke intertwining with the hair, he must inevitably move his eyes. The master first began observing from around his waist, gradually moving up along his back to his shoulders and neck, and when he finally reached the top of his head, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah!" — Right in the center of his wife's head, there was a perfectly round, large bald spot. Moreover, that bald spot was reflecting the warm sunlight, now shining on her face at just the right moment. The master's eyes, showing ample surprise in the dazzling light, were fixed intently on it, disregarding the dilation of his pupils from the strong rays. When the master saw this bald spot, the first thing that came to his mind was the lamp dish that had been adorned on the family altar for generations. His family practiced Shin Buddhism, and in Shin Buddhism, it is an old custom to lavish inappropriate amounts of gold on the family altar. He remembered that in his childhood, there was a dimly decorated, thickly gold-leafed cabinet in the family's storehouse, and inside it, a brass lamp dish was always hanging, with a faint light glowing even during the day. In the surrounding darkness, this lamp dish shone relatively clearly, so the impression of seeing this light many times in his childhood suddenly resurfaced, evoked by his wife's baldness. The lamp dish disappeared in less than a minute. At that moment, he recalled the dove of Kannon. Although there seemed to be no connection between Kannon's dove and his wife's bald spot, in the master's mind, there was a close association between the two. Similarly, in his childhood, whenever he went to Asakusa, he would always buy beans for the doves. The beans were sold for two bun per plate and were in a red earthenware pot.That pot resembled this bald spot in both color and size.

“Indeed, it does resemble,” the master said with admiration, to which his wife replied without looking, “What does?”

“What do you mean? You have a big bald spot on your head, you know?”

“Yes,” the wife answers without stopping her work. She shows no signs of fear of being exposed. She is a truly exemplary wife.

The husband asks, “Was it there before you came to live with us, or did it develop after we got married?” If she has been bald since before coming here, he thinks to himself, though he doesn’t say it out loud, that he has been deceived.

“I don’t remember when it started, and what does it matter if I’m bald?” the wife replied, looking quite enlightened.