sinnesspiel | Shiki Novel Translations 7.3

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Shiki Novel Translations 7.3

Miwako knelt over the welcoming fire, fixedly watching as the flame burned out. Seishin watched over his mother's form much the same way.

They may have been a temple family, but they still had ancestral spirits. Miwako dutifully set out to meet them every year. In Sotoba, they burned firs rather than hemp. Burning chips of firs released the visitors from within the firs. Miwako set out beside the welcoming fire a horse made of cucumber and a cow made of eggplant, facing the main wing of the house.

Every year, each time he looked at the small ride-able animals, he thought it'd have been fine to have them facing the outdoors. It was said they were positioned so one could ride on their backs towards the house but they could also serve the function of being ridden back when they returned to the grave just as well.

Miwako remained crouching, without a word. What she was so silently caught up in thoughts about each year, he didn't know. Perhaps it was her own deceased father, or maybe her eldest brother who died young. Even from before Seishin had come to look over the welcoming fire with her, Miwako was like this, eternally silent with her thoughts. Kneeling and looking only at the flame, she was occluded to him. Thus somehow, he had the feeling that she was not thinking of the dead of this family, but of the one whose homecoming was some other place. She was not thinking of the spirits invited to this home, but to the dead being invited elsewhere, the dead that she had no right to invite to this house. ---Whenever experience this feeling, Seishin thought of how while he knew Muroi Miwako quite well, he knew nothing of Yamamura Miwako.

Seishin was pleased with the village's Bon. The families here and there, their street corners lit with flame, had their family altars visible through transparent reed screens, lit with candles and Bon lanterns resembling revolving lamps. In the village, the thirteenth was the welcoming or Mukae Bon, the fourteenth was memorial services, the fifteenth was the dance of Bon Odori, and the sixteenth was the send off or Okuri Bon. Welcome, pray, comfort, see off. ----The dead awoke. In the midst of the days of toiling to one's own death, on this night, when the forgotten dead had life breathed into them together with the welcoming flame, once living beings and the days they left behind were all contained in the feeble embers; in other words, they were revived within the light of the Bon lanterns.

From behind he heard a small sigh like sound. As he turned to look back, Miwako scooped a ladle of water from the bucket. She gathered the small horse and cow in her arms and stood.

"I will be returning ahead."

There was his mother's usual face. It was not a motherly face, but merely the face of the one known as "mother" to him.

Seishin nodded and saw his mother off, then looked down at the road leading to the shrine. There was one less light, now. Captivated by the night winds, he idly walked along through the mountain gate. He walked halfway down the stone steps, then sat. The lights he could see far off became faint and then vanished.

The dead revived and returned to their nostalgic homes. To where they belonged. As for him,

He left behind a hollow grave. There he was embraced in pitch black darkness awaiting impatiently the emissary. Return to your own resting place, the earth wailed. In a betrayal of the fate of divine providence, why did the sin laden earth wish for such so resolutely?

Seishin smiled faintly and shook his head. As he thought to stand to return home, he saw a white shadow yonder on the night road.

At last from before him, he saw a white, pale outline of a human form.
It came again tonight from the grave.

Seishin watched over it. Soon it revealed itself as a small statured person. Drawing closer with steps lacking in destination the figure came close enough to be seen as a young girl, stopping as if she had noticed Seishin. Soon the girl was, with a distinct sense of purpose, walking towards him. Finally arriving at the bottom of the stone steps, she looked up at Seishin.

The manner in which she tilted her head was child-like. A hydrangea colored one piece outlined her thin frame. She seemed to be twelve or thirteen. Her long hair settled over her thin shoulders with a soft, silky sound.

"---Muroi-san?"

Seishin nodded. He had never seen the girl before. She didn't have the aura of one from Sotoba. Who it was, he quickly deduced.

With no hint of bashfulness to her, the girl casually ascended the stone stairway. She rose until she was able to meet evenly the seated Seishin's gaze, her feet coming to a stop.

"You are Muroi-san, aren't you?" The girl said. Maybe it was because she could not bask in the sun; her skin was white like wax.

"That's right, but..."

The girl smiled and folded her slender arms behind her back. "I rather like your works."

Having that said to him out of the blue, Seishin's eyes widened. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

The girl inclined her head like a puppet.

"You are Muroi-san, yes? Of Minotaur."

"Ah... yes. But," Seishin took a long, hard look at the young girl's face in bewilderment. "You've read it?"

"Yes. I have read it. Is it strange?"

"No," Seishin forced a smile. "Thank you. I think that you are probably my youngest reader."

She made as if to suppress a giggle.

"Oh yes, there were some difficult words, too," she added in with blunt, fast talk. "But, I do believe that any human can understand the feeling that they have been abandoned by God."

"Do you like books?"

"Oh yes. I like them. I've read many," said the little girl, adding further. "Indiscriminately. The truth is your book, too, was one I had borrowed from my father's shelves. There were six long novels, and two volumes of short stories. If that is all of them, I have read them all."

"That's amazing." Seishin showed a smile, but inside, he was dismayed. "That's all of them. This is the first I've met someone who's read all of them."

"Also there have been times I've seen your essays and the like in magazines. Last year, you wrote about this village, didn't you?"

Seishin blinked. "You knew it was this village?"

"I at least knew that it was where the author lived. When looking at your other books' curriculum vitae, a person may be able to suppose whereabout you live, don't you think? All that was left was to use the name of the temple in that curriculum vitae and to properly look over a map."

"I don't think this is the case but, ---you didn't look for me like that, did you?"

The little girl smiled. "The truth is, one of my father's acquaintances had brought it up. That there was an author inf the village. And it had turned out to be Muroi-san. I promise you though, that I had read your works before the little old man of Takemura had told me this."

"----I see. Thank you."

"In reading over the magazine, I found that essay. A village like a shrine, it had a nice feeling. I felt I'd want to try living there," said the little girl, adding on. "I am sure that Father had thought the same. It was when I had found the essay and presented it to Father that he began to talk seriously about moving."

"That's... an honor," so he said, but the truth was that he was disturbed. The little girl fixedly watched over Seishin.

"You're troubled, it's written on your face."

"That's not it. Just--- all of this this is really something unusual for me."

"All of this?"

Seishin forced a smile. "Suddenly meeting a reader."

"Is it? If I am the first, then it is an honor."

"Without a doubt, you are the first."

The girl gave a simmering smile. "I have been very interested in you, Muroi-san. I'd hoped to try to meet you."

"You're probably disappointed I don't fit your image?"

"That's true," said the little girl, looking Seishin over again from top to bottom. "At first I had thought you were an unexpectedly normal person, to be honest? I mean, I had the feeling that Muroi-san was the type who would have a horn or a tail, after all."

"Why?"

"Because those are the humans you write about. Stories of those abandoned by God, right? So perhaps Muroi-san has a horn too, I had thought, like a Minotaur. So, I was sad that you had no horns," Seishin smiled at that girlish way of phrasing it, and was frozen by the words that followed. "---But, even if you don't have horns, you have scars. I am satisfied with that."

Seishin stared at the little girl's face.

"...You..."

"I'm Sunako. Remember that."

"Sunako-chan, you..."

"Don't add -chan. I really hate being called that!"

Seishin closed his mouth. The little girl was really doll like, the way disgust warped her face, and unable to think what else to call her, Seishin had forgotten what it was he was going to say to her. Without thinking, he'd gripped at the wristwatch over his left wrist.

"I will tell you something, Muroi-san. The little girl set off, speaking in a small voice. "A person won't die just from cutting their wrist."

Seishin had no response. Sunako's upper half seemed to revitalize, a smile rising to her face that seemed to engulf her body. She descended lightly down the stone steps, her one piece flickering on the night road off into the distance. ---Like a phantom killer.

As if he had been struck by one attacking a random peasant to test out a new sword, Seishin watched the road down which the little girl had disappeared. There had been neither time to stand nor to call to her to stop.

"Mm, that's right," Seishin answered, however belatedly. "....I think that I probably knew that then, actually."

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ooohhhh!! ooohhhh! Miwako's maiden name!!

whuuhh. Does that mean that Miwako isn't as motherly as we initially thought? ...That might explain some things about Seishin. Who knows, his parents are probably the quite apathetic type towards their son.

Noo, Seishin. The girl before you might be your oldest reader.

I think Sunako doesn't like being called '-chan' because it's childish and she definitely doesn't feel like a little girl inside, but a woman? (lolololl what if someday their relationship will be like that one in Interview with the Vampire)

ahhh, this part feels so nostalgic :'D makes me happyyy

"No," Seishin forced a smile. "Thank you. I think that you are probably my youngest reader."

She made as if to suppress a giggle.
^^^^
SUNAKO YOU SLY GIRL! You know, if we were to think of SeishinxSunako as being a pedophilic relationship, just who would be the pedophile then? Sunako is older, so really she's like a...cougar.

This chapter was deliciously creepy. Bon sounds so cool, I'd love to celebrate it sometime. Did you get a chance to see a Bon when you were in Japan? Is it a lot like Halloween? It seems similar because of celebrating the dead and stuff (although it's arguable that Halloween does so, but.) and it obviously doesn't have that fun, dressing up element...there's still some parallels, I swear!

Short, but sweet, I liked it a lot. I couldn't help smiling as the anime scene played out in my head while I was reading. I especially loved the part where Sunako's appearance was accompanied by an excerpt of Seishin's novel, it made it ten times more creepy (and it's something that can't well be conveyed in anime). And the soundtrack was playing in my head while reading...aw, I have to give that another listen now!

I totally prefer the slow, haunting creepiness that Shiki possesses to outright horror. If you wanted outright horror, all that Ono would have to do is add cicadas to the description *violent shudder*.

Hope you had a happy Halloween! Thanks again for another awesome translation. Finally it's almost Friday, the perfect day for a replying spree so you better prepare yourself!

I left Japan just before that, alas. But I mean, how much could I have missed? Halloween, Bon, same thing; you know, the day of the (un)dead, and turning on porch lights or lighting fires (in pumpkins) to welcome no-longer-human monstrosities to your home for a feast... Are? That's only the Sotoba-Bon?

Incidentally, I heard in the English dub they changed that to her not liking being called "Miss." That makes no bloody sense at all.

Some people go through haunted houses or watch gory, scary films to disturb themselves on Halloween. Me, I watch dubs.

Party hard in Sotoba, go hard or don't go at all that's the motto.
The only scary thing about my Halloween was studying for this test thing I had today...and as a result I found that I got the same score as this guy who totally winged it! Grrrr. I am so done. =______=

lolololll this is 100% off topic but you know, I've been following a manga by Nishi Keiko, Koi to Gunkan (awesome work!) which has this youthful looking 41 year old unmarried man whose haircut is much like Seishin and also bespectacled, kind person and all but also suppressed negativity, and is 'also' being crushed upon by a 13 year old girl... only that the girl is totally a normal, sweet and naive young teenager and he isn't uke-ish unlike Seishin, way more active, normal eyes, and also canonically gay... and mayy be secretly in a relationship with a friend-housemate.

lollll on topic now. Still wondering about how the heck Sunako knows about Seishin's scar. Maybe it's Shiki's inhumane senses though, perhaps scarred skin and flesh smell different.

also wondering if Toshio's dad was as hostile towards the temple family as Takae. When Seishin cut his wrist, perhaps he was first brought to the Ozaki's, and then he'd obviously meet Toshio's dad. The poor man had to face humiliation from Toshio's parents, I figure, though I think they wouldn't do so openly because this is a son of the highest ranked family in Sotoba. (Not that Seishin's the type who minds much about how others may think about him) Toshio had to be out of the village at that time.

nah, maybe not as hostile though because Shinmei was still able to seek some medical assistance from him regarding the deaths in the past. Perhaps it was all business though.

I can't imagine it's smell as scar tissue would have no reason to smell differently, much less that she'd know it was a scar from a suicide attempt as opposed to falling down as a child or something. If this was her first time seeing him, he's seated (or standing in the anime) and even explicitly looking to his wrists for suicide slits (again, why?) you don't normally see a person's wrist when they're sitting or standing around, as they're generally turned downwards... Good old rule of creepy?

I think Seishin tried in college, so he was likely not in Sotoba at the time. The chapter with more details is coming up soon. Unless I'm mistaken, it's the one right after the one I'll either get up tomorrow or Tuesday (which is another Hirosawa info-dump chapter, touching on his suicide). The rumor may have gotten around by someone who saw his wrist at the temple, during visits, services, etc., or perhaps it was a rare occasion where the Murois left town, or maybe he came home shortly for a period or... Indeed, you don't see a person's wrist too often normally but if you spend enough time with them it's not unthinkable a situation would arise where you would. Either way, I'd imagine Ozaki Sr. couldn't stand the weight of failure no matter how he felt about the patient. If he were like Takae (which I tentatively doubt he was--she obsesses over the privileges of position, it's the Ozaki doctors' job to BE the big man and do the duties of the position. Even Ozaki Sr. ended up being Ikumi's on call bitch; I suspect Takae wouldn't stand for it, professionalism or duty be damned.), he probably would have enjoyed that the monk had to come down off his high hill to get information from him. Likely through the front door where everyone could see and marvel over the two important men being important and discussing important things, in Shinmei's case.

ah, I'm just remembering that in the manga, Seishin was drunk when he attempted suicide. Like what Sunako said which he admitted, it was most likely that he didn't know what he actually was doing. Thus, yes, I think he was most likely out of the village that time. (because if it was something he did when he was in the village, everyone would most likely know, and thus it'd not be a mere rumor...?) I'm now imagining his parents' reaction when they first knew about this. I don't think they'd make a huge fuss about it (not exactly out of apathy, but I figure they wouldn't understand anything about it, the psychology behind it etc etc) Toshio though... He might make a bigger fuss about it (if not openly, then secretly) wondering here and there. He's a doctor/med student, so he might be wondering according to his psychiatry study.

Or he knew what he was doing and knew what he really wanted wasn't to die... But man, I'd pay cash dollars to see Ozaki's reaction, thoughts, etc. regarding Seishin's failed suicide.

If the failed suicide attempt happened not long ago, I'm sure we'd have seen his reactions. It happened long ago and Seishin is still fine now, so I think Toshio must have dropped the issue since long. It must have been horror for him (technically how everyone would react when their friends attempted suicide... Even if it didn't happen recently) even when finally knowing that Seishin didn't actually want to die. (Seishin must have been hiding it at first, not wanting to talk: 'Toshio, it's not a huge deal. Please drop it already' -- to his frustration. It'll be mostly silent inspection for him, after managing to get some facts from him, still keeping his eyes on him) It'd still show that Seishin was somewhat displeased with something, wouldn't it? (I don't know anything about the psychology behind it, but any sane person will immediately consider this idea I figure. I don't exactly know about what Toshio and other people who had been taught with basic psychiatry may think though) Though as someone of similar background, I think Toshio would somehow consider a certain idea... What might cause his unhappiness, even if he didn't actually mean to commit suicide.

Toshio pretty much keeps his ears open for gossips, right? He even works in a perfect place to get them. With some rumors about Seishin covering for hit-and-run, and about raping a young girl, maybe this suicide issue will be brought up again... Like, I think Toshio will most likely be aware of these rumors and pretty much the rumors of anything else, even if he doesn't always spend his time to think about them. If there's someone who's likely to spend his time to think about Seishin and not in bad and ignorant way, it's Toshio.

Unless they went to the same college, I suppose Ozaki and Seishin were long out of each other's lives by then, too. I think it was his second year of college, which usually means around age 20; most people don't keep in touch with high school friends by their second year of college NOW, and this was in an age before the internet and social networking was big. Ozaki just came back to Sotoba 2 years ago when his father died, which would have them at age 30. I can see not wanting to ask about something like that when it was a full decade ago. I'm not saying it's appropriate to do so, but I could understand Ozaki writing it off as a phase, or more of an abstract statistic Japanese student suicide than "my friend Muroi Seishin wanted to die." Or maybe he freaked the hell out but it was ten years ago. Maybe it went just like you said. But then it's interesting because on the other hand, maybe he gets it? He did med school and his parents are overbearing assholes; if anyone had pressure in his student days, it's him. They talked about hating their duty to Sotoba. Maybe even more than Seishin, he gets that Seishin didn't really want to die, he just wanted out from under the pressure. Or maybe he misunderstands that he did want to die, but gets why he would want to. I can see a lot of ranges as being in character for him.

On the plus side, if he does think in a bad or ignorant way about Seishin himself, he just spits it out at him directly. Or maybe Seishin doesn't view that as such a plus... still, the fact that his known best friend is one of the more abrasive assholes in the village should cue them in that he's not as delicate as he looks.

But I don't think that Toshio never went back to Sotoba for short period of time several times during his uni days? I think Seishin would go back on his holidays too, and that Seishin would obviously complete his studies before Toshio, and that he'd go back permanently afterwards (maybe he'd stay for a year or two in the city before going back) when he was finally back in Sotoba, Toshio'd meet him during his holiday and I think he'd discover his scar during the time of one of his visits. I don't believe they never met at least a few times before Toshio's going back to Sotoba after his dad died.... What do you think?

This chapter really doesn’t disappoint, I really enjoyed this.

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Shiki Novel Translations 7.3

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