Eight (3/3)

by Natsume Sōseki

"The ball came flying in."

"Why did you let the ball come in?"

"I just ended up jumping in."

"What a rude fellow."

"I will be more careful from now on, so please forgive me this time."

"Do you think someone whose identity is unknown can just be easily forgiven for jumping over the fence and entering the house?"

"Even so, I am definitely a student of Rakugunkan."

"If you are a student of Rakugunkan, what grade are you in?"

"I am in the third year."

"I see, so that's the case."

"Yes."

The master raised his voice while turning to look towards the back.

The three from Saitama opened the sliding door and showed their face.

"Go to Rakugunkan and bring someone back."

"Who should I bring?"

"Anyone will do, just bring someone."

The maid answered "Yes," but the scene in the garden was strange, and the purpose of the errand was unclear. Moreover, the events from earlier seemed ridiculous, and she was grinning without standing or sitting. The master, thinking he was causing a major incident, was getting more and more agitated, but seeing the maid, who should have been a servant, grinning while listening to the instructions instead of approaching the matter seriously, only made him more furious.

"I told you to bring anyone, yet you don't understand. Whether it's the principal, the secretary, or the vice-principal..."

"That principal..." The maid only knew the word principal.

"I said whether it's the principal, the secretary, or the vice-principal, yet you still don't understand."

"If no one is around, is it alright to bring a janitor?"

"Don't say foolish things. What would a janitor know?"

At this point, the maid seemed to realize there was no other option, and she said "Yes" and went out. She still couldn't grasp the intent of the errand. While worrying if they wouldn't even bring a janitor, unexpectedly, the ethics teacher came through the front gate. The master, sitting calmly, immediately began negotiations.

"Right now, these individuals have intruded into the premises..." he used an old-fashioned expression reminiscent of Chūshingura, but added with a hint of sarcasm, "Are they really students of your school?"

The ethics teacher, showing no particular surprise, casually looked over the students lined up in the garden, then returned his gaze to the master and replied.

"Yes, they are all students of the school. I will always add admonitions to prevent such occurrences... but it is truly troubling... why do you all climb over the fence?"

As expected, the students acted like students. They said not a word to the ethics teacher and quietly huddled in a corner of the garden, waiting like a flock of sheep encountering snow.

"It's understandable for a ball to come in. Living right next to the school, it’s inevitable that balls will occasionally fly over. However... it is rather reckless. Even if you were to climb over the fence, if you were to quietly pick it up, there would still be room for forgiveness..."

"You are absolutely right, and I will pay close attention, but given the number of people involved... we must be sure to be careful from now on. If a ball comes flying in, you must go around to the front, ask for permission, and retrieve it. Do you understand? -- Since it is a large school, it is unavoidable that we will have to trouble you. Sports are necessary for education, so we cannot prohibit this. If we allow this, there may be incidents that could cause you trouble, but I hope for your understanding. In return, from now on, I will ensure that you go around to the front and ask for permission to retrieve it."

“Well, if you understand that, then that's good. You can throw the ball as much as you like. If you come from the front and just let us know, that's fine. Now, I will hand this student over to you, so please take them home. I apologize for calling you all the way here,” the master said, as usual, with a lengthy greeting. The ethics teacher took Tanba's Sasayama and led him through the front gate to the Rakuenkan. The so-called major incident I mentioned has, for the time being, come to a conclusion. If you laugh at what is a major incident, then feel free to laugh. For such people, it is not a major incident. I have described the master's major incident, not the major incident of such people. If there are those who speak ill of him, saying he is cut off and at the end of his strong bow, I want them to remember that this is a characteristic of the master. I also want them to remember that the master's absurdity is contained within this characteristic. If one says it is foolish to deal with children of fourteen or fifteen, then I agree that I must also be foolish. That is why Ōmachi Keigetsu has caught the master and said he has not yet escaped his childishness.

I have already finished recounting the minor incidents and have now completed the major events, so I intend to depict the aftermath that follows the major events and provide a conclusion to the entire piece. Some readers may think that all of this is just casual nonsense coming from my mouth, but I am certainly not such a reckless cat. Of course, behind every word and phrase lies a profound philosophy of the universe, and each word and phrase is layered and interconnected, reflecting and illuminating one another. What might seem like trivial chatter, if read carelessly, can suddenly transform and become a difficult discourse, so one must never lie down or stretch out and read it all at once every five lines in a disrespectful manner. It is said that Liu Zongyuan would cleanse his hands with rose water every time he read Han Taizhi's writings, so I want to ensure that, at the very least, readers do not make the mistake of borrowing a friend's copy to make do instead of purchasing the magazine themselves. What I am about to describe is what I call the aftermath, but if one thinks that the aftermath is bound to be utterly boring and that it is not worth reading, they will end up regretting it greatly later. It is essential to read it thoroughly to the end.

The day after the major event, I felt like taking a little walk and went outside. Then, I noticed Mr. Kaneda and Mr. Suzuki's Fuji talking at the corner of the alley over there. Mr. Kaneda was on his way home, and Mr. Suzuki was turning back after visiting Mr. Kaneda's house, which he found empty. Recently, Kaneda's house had become less of a rarity, and I had not been going there much, but seeing it like this brought a sense of nostalgia. I also wanted to see Mr. Suzuki after a long time, so I decided to approach them.

The conversation between the two naturally reached my ears, but this is not my fault. Since they are talking, there is nothing I can do about it. Mr. Kaneda is a conscientious man who would hire a detective to investigate his master's movements, so he wouldn't get angry just because I happened to overhear their conversation. If he did get angry, it would mean he doesn't understand the meaning of fairness. In any case, I heard their conversation. It wasn't that I wanted to listen; their talk just flew into my ears.

"I just happened to visit your house, and it was perfect timing to meet you," Mr. Fuji said, bowing politely.

"I see, actually I wanted to meet you for a bit. That's good," Mr. Kaneda replied.

"Yes, that was convenient. Is there something you need?"

"No, it's not anything particularly important, but it's something that only you can do," Mr. Kaneda pondered.

"I will do anything I can. What is it?"

"Well, yes..." Mr. Kaneda contemplated.

"If there's anything, I can come at a convenient time. When would be good?"

"No, it's not anything major. -- Well then, since we're at it, I might as well ask you," Mr. Kaneda said.

"Please don't hesitate..." Mr. Fuji continued.

"Actually, it's about that eccentric person. Your old friend, a man named Kusami."

"Yes, what about Kusami?"

"No, it's not anything in particular, but ever since that incident, I've been feeling uneasy."

"You're absolutely right. Indeed, Kusami is arrogant... I wish he would consider his social standing a little, but he acts as if he rules the world."

"That's true. A businessman who doesn't bow to money -- and he says all sorts of cheeky things, so I thought I would show him what a businessman can do. He's been quite weak lately, but he's still trying hard. He's really a stubborn guy. I was surprised."

“Really, it’s because he lacks a sense of gain and loss that he stubbornly endures. He has always been that kind of man, and he doesn’t realize when he’s at a loss, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Hahaha, it’s truly hopeless. I tried various means, but in the end, I had the students at school do it.”

“That’s a clever idea. Did it have any effect?”

“It seems that he was quite troubled by this. He will surely fall soon.”

“That’s good to hear. No matter how much he boasts, he’s outnumbered.”

“That’s right, there’s nothing he can do alone. It seems he has weakened quite a bit, but well, I’m thinking of having you go see how things are.”

“Yes, I understand. There’s no reason not to. Let’s go see right away. I’ll let you know how it is on the way back. It will be interesting to see that stubborn man looking dejected; it will surely be a sight to behold.”

“Then, stop by on your way back. I’ll be waiting.”

“Well then, excuse me.”

Oh, it seems you are plotting something again this time. I see, the power of a businessman is truly remarkable. Whether it is provoking a master like a burnt-out coal or causing the master’s head to be confused as a result of anguish, it is all due to the power of the businessman. I do not know the reason why the Earth rotates on its axis, but what moves the world is certainly money. Only businessmen understand this power of money and can wield it freely. The fact that the sun rises safely in the east and sets in the west is entirely thanks to the businessmen. It is indeed a mistake on my part to have been raised in an ignorant household and not to have known the benefits of businessmen. Nevertheless, the stubborn master must realize something this time. If he intends to be stubborn and push through, it is dangerous. The life he cherishes the most is at risk. I wonder what kind of greeting he will give to Mr. Suzuki. From that, I will be able to gauge his level of enlightenment. I cannot afford to dawdle. Even a cat worries about its master. I decided to slip past Mr. Suzuki and return home early.

Mr. Suzuki is still the same cheerful man, and today he doesn’t mention Kaneda even once, instead enjoying light and inconsequential small talk.

“You seem a bit pale; are you okay?”

“I’m fine; there’s nothing wrong.”

“But you look pale. You need to be careful. The season is bad. Can you sleep well at night?”

“Yeah.”

“If you have any worries, I’ll do anything I can to help. Don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Worries? What do you mean?”

“Well, I hope there aren’t any, but if there are, that’s what I mean. Worry is the worst poison. It’s better to live happily and enjoy life. You seem a bit too gloomy.”

“Laughing can be poison too. If you laugh carelessly, it can lead to death.”

“You shouldn’t joke about that. Good fortune comes to those who laugh.”

“There was a philosopher named Chrysippus in ancient Greece, but you probably don’t know him.”

“I don’t know him. So what?”

“That man laughed so much that he died.”

"Oh, that's strange. But that's from a long time ago..."

"Whether it's long ago or now, nothing has changed. I saw a donkey eating figs from a silver plate, and I couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably. However, I just couldn't stop laughing, and in the end, I laughed myself to death."

"Hahaha, but you don't have to laugh that much. Just a little laugh—moderately—then you'll feel good."

As Mr. Suzuki was diligently observing his master's movements, the front gate rattled open. He thought it was a guest, but it wasn't.

"I just need to get the ball that went in, so please let me."

The maid answered from the kitchen, "Yes." The student went around to the back. Suzuki made a strange face and asked, "What's going on?"

"The student from the back threw the ball into the garden."

"A student from the back? Is there a student back there?"

"It's a school called Rakugunkan."

"Ah, I see, a school. It must be quite noisy."

"Noisy indeed. It's impossible to study at all. If I were the Minister of Education, I would order its closure immediately."

"Hahaha, you're quite angry. Is there something bothering you?"

"Whether there is or not, I've been bothered from morning till night."

"If it's that bothersome, then just move."

"Who would move? That's utterly disrespectful."

"It's no use getting angry at me. It's just kids, you can just hit them back."

"You might be fine, but I'm not. Yesterday, I called the teacher and negotiated."

"That must have been interesting. They must have been intimidated, right?"

"Yeah."

At that moment, the gate opened again, and a voice said, "I just need to get the ball that went in, so please let me."

"Wow, you're coming quite a bit, it's the ball again, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I contracted to come from the front."

"I see, that's why so many are coming. Got it."

"What did you understand?"

"The reason for coming to get the ball."

"Today is the sixteenth time."

"Aren't you annoyed? It would be better if you just made it so they wouldn't come."

"Even if you try not to come, you will come anyway, so there's nothing you can do about it."

"It's true that there's nothing you can do about it, but you don't have to be so stubborn. When a person has corners, it becomes difficult to roll through the world, and it's a loss. Round things can roll anywhere without trouble, but square things not only struggle to roll, but every time they roll, their corners get scraped and it hurts. After all, it's not a world just for yourself, and people won't become what you want them to be. Well, you know. It's pointless to stand up against those who have money. You just end up hurting your nerves, your body gets worse, and people won't praise you. They are just fine over there. As long as they can sit and use others, that's enough for them. Many against few, it's clear that you can't win. Stubbornness is fine, but while you intend to stand your ground, it interferes with your own studies and burdens your daily work, and in the end, it's just a tiring effort with no gain."

"I'm sorry. A ball just flew over, so can I go around to the back entrance to get it?"

"Look who's back again," Suzuki-kun is laughing.

"How rude," the master is turning bright red.

Since Suzuki-kun thought he had mostly fulfilled his visit, he said, "Well then, excuse me, just come here for a moment," and went back.

The one who came in and switched places was Amaki-sensei. There have been few cases in the past where someone who identifies as a person with a temper actually calls themselves that. By the time I realized that this was a bit strange, I had already crossed the peak of my temper. My anger reached its highest point during yesterday's major incident, but the negotiations ended up being anticlimactic, and somehow, it was all settled. That evening, as I pondered in my study, I noticed that something felt a bit off. Whether it was the Rakuunkan that was strange or if it was me that was strange, there is certainly room for doubt, but in any case, it must be strange. No matter how much I set up my residence next to the middle school, I realized that it was a bit odd to continue having fits of rage all year round. If it is indeed strange, then something must be done about it. No matter what I do, there is no choice; I have no option but to take some medicine from a doctor and perhaps bribe the source of my anger to soothe it. Thinking this way, the idea came to me to invite my usual doctor, Amaki-sensei, for a consultation. Whether this is wise or foolish is a separate issue, but I must say that simply noticing my own anger is a commendable aspiration and a rare understanding. As usual, Amaki-sensei greeted me with a smile and calm demeanor, asking, "How are you?" It is common for doctors to ask, "How are you?" I find it hard to trust a doctor who does not ask, "How are you?"

「Doctor, it's really no good.」

「Oh, is that really the case?」

「Is it really true that a doctor's medicine works?」

Amaki-sensei was surprised, but being a mild-mannered elder, he did not show any particular signs of agitation,

and calmly replied, "It's not that it doesn't work."

「For my stomach ailment, no matter how much medicine I take, it's the same thing.」

「That's absolutely not the case.」

「Is that so? Will it get a little better?」 I asked about my stomach.

「It won't heal immediately; it will gradually take effect. Even now, it has already improved quite a bit.」

“Is that so?”

“Does it really cause a fit?”

“It does, it even causes fits in my dreams.”

“You should do a little exercise, that would be good.”

“If I exercise, it causes even more fits.”

It seemed that Dr. Amagi was taken aback,

“Well then, let’s take a look,” and he began the examination. The master, who could hardly wait for the examination to finish, suddenly raised his voice and said,

“Doctor, the other day I read a book about hypnosis, and it said that hypnosis can be used to cure bad habits and various illnesses. Is that true?”

“Yes, there are such therapies.”

“Do they still do that now?”

“Yes.”

“Is it difficult to induce hypnosis?”

“There’s nothing to it. Even someone like me can do it well.”

“Do you do it too, Doctor?”

“Yes, shall we try one? It’s something that anyone should be able to experience. If you’re okay with it, let’s give it a go.”

“That sounds interesting. Please do one. I’ve been wanting to try it myself. However, I would be troubled if I got stuck in it and couldn’t wake up.”

“Don’t worry. Then, let’s do it.”

The consultation was quickly decided, and my husband was to be hypnotized. Having never seen such a scene before, I secretly rejoiced in my heart while watching from the corner of the tatami room. The teacher first began to place his hands over my husband's eyes. Watching his movements, he stroked the upper eyelids from top to bottom. Even though my husband had already closed his eyes, he was trying to develop a habit of moving in the same direction repeatedly. After a while, the teacher asked my husband, "As I stroke your eyelids like this, your eyes will gradually become heavier, okay?" My husband replied, "I see, they are getting heavier." The teacher continued to stroke in the same manner and said, "They will become heavier and heavier, is that clear?" My husband seemed to get into it, remaining silent without saying anything. After repeating the same friction for three or four minutes, Teacher Amaki said, "Well, they won't open anymore." Poorly, my husband's eyes had finally remained closed. When I asked, "They won't open anymore?" the teacher replied, "No, they won't open anymore." My husband remained silent with his eyes still closed. I had come to believe that my husband had gone blind.

After a while, the teacher said, "If you can open them, try to open them. They absolutely won't open." As soon as he said that, my husband opened both eyes normally. With a grin, my husband said, "It doesn't work, does it?" Teacher Amaki also laughed and replied, "No, it doesn't work." In the end, the hypnosis was unsuccessful. Teacher Amaki also went home.

The next visitor was someone who had never come to the master's house before. For a master with few friends, it seemed almost like a lie. However, he certainly had come. Moreover, it was a rare guest. The reason I mention this unusual guest is not just because he is unusual. I am depicting the aftermath of the major incident I mentioned earlier. And this unusual guest is an essential element to illustrate that aftermath. I do not know his name, but he is a man in his forties with a long face and a beard like a goat. To the aesthetician of Meitei, I intend to call this man a philosopher. The reason I call him a philosopher is not because he scatters ideas like Meitei, but because when I observe him conversing with the master, he truly appears to be philosopher-like. He also seems to be an old acquaintance, and their interaction was very friendly.

"Well, Meitei, huh? He's as fluffy as a goldfish cracker floating in a pond. The other day, when I passed by the gate of a nobleman I had no acquaintance with, I heard he pulled me in saying, 'Let's stop by for some tea,' but that's quite carefree," said the philosopher.

"And what happened then?" the master asked.

"I didn't see what happened, but he's probably a natural oddball. Instead, he's completely like a goldfish cracker with no thoughts at all. Is Suzuki coming? Well, I can't understand his reasoning, but he's considered a clever man in society. He can let go of his gold watch. However, he lacks depth, so he is restless and no good. They say smooth and smooth, but he doesn't even understand the meaning of smooth. If Meitei is a goldfish cracker, then he's a konjac tied with straw. Just poorly slippery and shaking all over," he said.

The master seemed greatly impressed by this strange metaphor and laughed heartily for the first time in a while.

"So what about you?" the philosopher asked.

"Me? Well, I suppose I'm about like a natural yam. Long and buried in the mud," the master replied.

"You always seem calm and carefree, which I envy," said the philosopher.

"I'm just doing the same things as an ordinary person. There's nothing to be envious of. Fortunately, I don't even feel the urge to envy others, so that's a good thing," said the master.

"Is your accounting prosperous lately?" asked the philosopher.

"It's the same as always. Whether it's enough or not. But since I'm eating, it's fine. I'm not surprised," replied the master.

"I'm feeling unpleasant and can't help but be irritable. No matter which way I look, it's just complaints," said the philosopher.

"Complaints are fine. If you let out your complaints when they arise, you can feel good for a while. People are varied, so even if you advise others to be like you, they can't necessarily become that way. You have to hold chopsticks like others to eat easily, but it's most convenient to cut your own bread as you like. If a skilled tailor makes a kimono, they bring something that fits your body right from the start, but if you order from a poor seamstress, you'll have to endure it for a while. However, the world is well-made, and while you're wearing it, the clothes will adjust to your frame. If high-quality parents skillfully give birth to you in a way that suits the current world, that's happiness. But if you turn out to be a failure, you either have to endure not fitting into the world, or there's no choice but to be patient until you can fit in," said the master.

"But for someone like me, it seems like I won't fit in no matter how much time passes. It's disheartening," said the philosopher.

"If you force yourself into an ill-fitting suit, it will tear. You'll end up in fights, or even commit suicide, and cause a ruckus. But you, you just say it's not interesting and certainly don't commit suicide, nor have you ever fought, right? You're doing pretty well," said the master.

"However, I'm fighting every day. Even if the other party doesn't come out, if I'm angry, it's still a fight," said the philosopher.

"I see, a one-sided fight. How interesting, go ahead and do it as much as you want," said the master.

"I got tired of that," said the philosopher.

"In front of you, my heart doesn't become that free," said the master.

"Well, what exactly is there to complain about?" the philosopher asked.

The master then began to list various grievances, starting with the Rakugunkan incident, followed by the tanuki from Imado-yaki, Pinsuke, Kishyago, and all sorts of complaints, eloquently presenting them before the philosopher. The philosopher listened in silence but finally opened his mouth and began to explain to the master.

"No matter what pinsuke or yakishago say, it's fine to just pretend you don't know. After all, it's just nonsense. Middle school students aren't worth bothering with. They only become a hindrance. Even if you negotiate or fight, that hindrance won't be resolved. In that regard, I think the old Japanese were much more admirable than Westerners. The Western way, which has recently become popular, is all about being proactive, but it has a significant flaw. First of all, even if you say you're being proactive, there's no limit to it. No matter how long you keep being proactive, you can never reach a state of satisfaction or completeness. Let's say there's a hinoki tree over there. If you remove it because it's in the way, then the inn beyond it becomes a nuisance. If you get rid of the inn, the next house will bother you again. It's an endless story no matter how far you go. This is how the Western way works. Neither Napoleon nor Alexander was satisfied after winning. People fight because they dislike someone, they sue in court because the other party won't be quiet, and they think winning in court brings peace, which is a mistake. Inner peace cannot be obtained no matter how anxiously you pursue it until death. If autocratic rule is bad, then we switch to a representative government. If the representative government is bad, we want to change it to something else. If the river is too bold, we build a bridge; if we dislike the mountain, we dig a tunnel. If transportation is troublesome, we lay down a railway. But none of these will bring eternal satisfaction. That said, how far can a person assert their will? Western civilization may be proactive and enterprising, but in the end, it's a civilization created by people who live their lives in dissatisfaction. Japanese civilization does not seek satisfaction by changing the state of others. The fundamental difference from the West is that it develops under the premise that the surrounding circumstances should not be altered." It is important to understand that just because the parent-child relationship may seem uninteresting, it does not mean one should try to improve that relationship like Europeans do. The parent-child relationship remains traditional and unchangeable, and one seeks means of reassurance within that relationship. The same applies to the relationship between husband and wife, as well as between lord and vassal, and the distinction between samurai and townspeople is similar. Observing nature itself is the same. When there is a mountain that prevents one from going to a neighboring country, instead of thinking of breaking down the mountain, one devises ways to manage without going to the neighboring country. One cultivates a mindset that is satisfied without having to cross the mountain. Therefore, look here. Whether in Zen or Confucianism, they fundamentally grasp this issue. No matter how great one thinks they are, the world will never go as one wishes. One cannot turn back the setting sun or reverse the flow of the Kamo River. The only thing one can control is their own heart. Once one practices to free their heart, they can remain unfazed even if the students of Rakugunkan make a racket, and they need not worry about the tanuki of Imado-yaki. If Pinsuke says something foolish, one can simply ignore him and think, "What a fool." There is a story that old monks would say something witty like cutting through the spring breeze when they were attacked. I believe that when the training of the heart progresses to the extreme of passivity, such a spiritual action can be achieved. I do not understand such difficult matters, but in any case, it seems a bit mistaken to think that only the proactive attitude of Westerners is good. In reality, no matter how actively you work, you cannot prevent students from coming to tease you. Unless you use your power to close that school or commit some wrongdoing that would lead them to report you to the police, there is no way to win, no matter how proactive you are. If you do choose to be proactive, it becomes a matter of money.It becomes a matter of many against few. In other words, it means that you have to bow your head to the rich. It means you have to bow your head to the children who rely on the majority. The fact that a poor person like you tries to actively fight alone is the root of your dissatisfaction in the first place. How about it, do you understand?

The master listened without saying whether he understood or not. After the rare guest left, he entered his study and was lost in thought without reading any books.

Mr. Fujii from Suzuki taught the master to follow money and people. Mr. Amaki advised him to calm his nerves with hypnosis. The last rare guest preached that one should find peace through passive cultivation. Which one the master chooses is his freedom. However, it was clear that he could not pass through as it was.