funbook-pk 123 Little Owl’s Secret
123 Little Owl’s Secret
Even though he was far enough away from the house, Senjuro could still hear the sounds inside. His brother was always like this, even when facing his decadent father, he was still enthusiastic.
Maybe it was because my brother was that kind of person, or maybe he actually hoped to use that kind of emotion to touch his father who was as silent as extinguished firewood.
Unfortunately, my father didn't seem to be encouraged at all by what my brother did. He was still decadent, silent, irritable, and still indulging in his drunken out-of-control state.
Father might never return to the way he was before, a way that Chijuro didn't know about and only existed in his brother's words.
The elder brother said that their father was not like that before. He said that their father was the Flame Pillar and had taught them very enthusiastically. It was only because of their mother's departure that he became depressed.
Chijuro didn't know the truth, but he believed in his brother, and therefore believed that this was why his father became what he is now. Of course, it is not ruled out that this might be because he also hoped that it was the truth.
The passionate tone gradually subsided, as if something more important was being discussed. The room was terribly silent, like a cold winter morning with dark clouds floating in the sky, a thick layer that completely blocked the sun, not allowing a single ray of sunlight to come through.
This reminded him of that winter day. It was a real winter morning.
Just like now, quiet and peaceful.
----
----
It snowed all night last night, and thick snow piled up in the yard and outside the door.
His brother had not returned home yet, and his father had not woken up yet, so Chijuro opened his eyes early. Actually, he could have slept a little longer. The sun always rose later in winter, and thick clouds were still in the sky. Perhaps it would snow soon.
But he finally stood up, changed his clothes, and went to clean up the fallen snow in the yard, hoping to pass the time when Kyojuro was not at home.
The streets were very quiet, and most houses had not yet woken up. Only the sound of brooms sweeping the falling snow echoed, which could actually calm people's anxious hearts.
That's when Senjuro noticed the boy.
He didn't know when the boy had arrived, how long he had been there, why there had been no sound, how he had gotten up there, or why he had chosen to stay there.
But when he noticed it, the boy was already hanging on the wall, with his head resting on his arms, and his blue eyes looked at him quietly. Their eyes met, and the other party did not run away, but just tilted his head as if out of curiosity, and blinked his eyes.
"It's very dangerous up there. If you fall down, you'll be in trouble."
Although he didn't know whose child this was, Senjuro's first reaction was that the high wall was obviously not a place for a child to stay. The boy heard his words, blinked, looked around, and confirmed that there was no one around except them. Then he nodded belatedly, turned around and disappeared from the top of the wall.
Chijuro subconsciously chased out, but there was nothing around the high wall outside the yard, no piled tables and chairs, no firewood, no wooden boxes. Standing under the high wall was a boy as tall as him.
"Are you okay? You jumped from such a high place, are you okay?"
He looked up at the wall, then back at the boy, his tone uncertain and filled with worry.
Perhaps the boy saw his worry, or heard his anxiety, and chose to step forward, leaving clear footprints on the white snow. The boy walked up to him, raised his hand, and turned around.
"As you can see, nothing was damaged."
There was even a hint of pride in his tone.
"Aren't you cold..."
But what the boy didn't expect was that Senjuro focused on his bare feet. From the moment he took a step, Senjuro was worried about this problem. Not only that, the boy's face was pale and his clothes were very thin, which did not look like winter attire at all.
"No. I think it's fine. Are you a child of the Purgatory family?"
The boy completely ignored his worries and pointed to the doorplate with the word "Purgatory" written on it. Senjuro nodded.
"Yes and you"
"Your name is Kyojuro?"
The boy quickly asked before Senjuro could say more.
"No, no, my name is Senjuro, Rengoku Senjuro, and Kyojuro is my brother. Are you here to see him?"
Although Senjuro didn't understand why a child came to their house looking for someone, he also didn't understand why the boy had been looking around with curiosity since just now, as if he had seen some rare creature.
"Your father is Makijuro, right? Rengoku Makijuro?"
The boy did not answer his question, but asked a new one instead. Chijuro was always very patient and polite, so even when the boy approached him a little rudely, he just nodded slightly.
"Yes, my father is Rengoku Makijuro. Are you here to see him? He is resting, so you may need to wait for a while."
"No, it's all right. I'm not going to visit him."
Before Senjuro could give any instructions, the boy spoke again, this time faster, shaking his head and waving his hands, continuing to look at him curiously, scanning him up and down, and finally stopping his gaze on his face.
"It's really the same..."
The boy's voice was so soft, so soft that Chijuro wasn't sure if he heard it clearly.
"What did you say?"
"No, it's nothing."
The boy shook his head, finally moving those eyes away from him, and looked curiously towards the yard.
"Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
Senjuro tentatively suggested. The boy crossed his arms, his palm resting on his chin, lost in thought like a little adult. Senjuro tilted his head to look at him, trying to figure out the reason for his hesitation.
"I won't disturb you, Father. Just rest for a while at my place. I have some snacks at home that you might like..."
The boy's eyes visibly lit up.
-
In fact, he shouldn't have brought a child of unknown origin into the house so easily.
His father would surely be furious if he knew, and his brother would probably be a little worried if he knew, but Chijuro did it anyway. Perhaps it was because life without his brother was too lonely, or perhaps it was because his father's actions made him lonely, or perhaps it was simply because the boy really needed a place to stay warm, he looked like he was about to die.
"Is it still to your taste?"
Such words were actually a bit redundant. The boy didn't seem to be picky about food. He ate up all the snacks in front of him, not even leaving a drop of tea.
"I'm so sorry for coming here so unexpectedly. Thank you very much for your care."
The language was very formal, even a little too formal. This was not the kind of thanks he should receive at his age.
"No, no, no, you're too polite..."
As if he was influenced by the boy, his words became subconsciously more respectful.
The two boys noticed the mystery belatedly, and after a brief silence, they couldn't help but laugh softly.
He was actually a very interesting boy. He knew a lot, like his elder brother, very knowledgeable and seemed to have seen a lot. He could describe many things or scenes that Chijuro had never seen.
"this is for you."
The boy took out a crudely carved but cute little wooden sculpture of an owl from somewhere. The owl had round eyes and puffed up hair, which looked a bit like his brother.
"Can I take this?"
This is not a very expensive gift, but it is really thoughtful.
"Of course, as a thank you for hosting me."
The boy smiled at him.
-
The boy left quietly just as he came, before his father left the house. Senjuro even forgot to ask his name. When he realized this and chased after him, the streets were empty, and there were not even footprints left on the snow. It seemed that all this was just his fantasy.
Only the wooden sculpture lay quietly in his hand, proving that it was not an illusory dream caused by a nap.
----
----
The boy didn't say what he came for, and when he left he just said that he had never been there. Since then, Senjuro never met him again.
Chijuro took out the wooden sculpture from his arms. It had big round eyes and puffy hair. He always felt that this owl looked very much like his brother. Otherwise, why would the boy come to his house? It could only be that a child helped by his brother would be brought here on purpose.
But when the boy saw him, he said his brother's name.
That means the boy has never actually met his brother.
Chijuro was stunned for a moment, then he looked up. Before him was the house number of the Rengoku family.
-
"Your name is Kyojuro?"
"Your father is Makijuro, right? Rengoku Makijuro?"
"No, it's all right. I'm not going to visit him."
-
Everything that happened that day came to mind: the loss, curiosity, anticipation, and final shake of the boy's face.
Perhaps the boy was not looking for his brother...
The owl in his hand was turned behind his back, and the feathers there stood up in not one but two tufts, but his brother always only tied up one tuft.
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【tips：
I mentioned Chijuro before when I was writing about Infinity Train, but I never really wrote about that little foreshadowing (flipping through my notes). I finally wrote it down. (I close my notes with a cool look)
This is a short story from my wandering days. I haven't met Kyojuro yet. I haven't met Makijuro in his downfall either. If I did, I'd probably be very sad. Makijuro probably wouldn't be sad, he'd probably think he was hallucinating...
The owl wood carving is indeed of Makijuro. In fact, this is the earliest achievement, because Makijuro stayed with him for a long time and even invited him to dinner, but unfortunately he never had the chance to give it away. Later, due to his status as a deceased person, he never had the chance to give it away.
Although I didn't see Kyojuro at that time, seeing that Chijuro and Makijuro looked exactly the same, it was considered to have fulfilled Makijuro's wish.