NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
1.
“Genji, you seem a bit off lately. Do you need help?” Tanaka, a student assistant from the psychological counseling center, visited the dormitory. She had her hair meticulously tied in a ponytail with not a single strand out of place. After a friendly, non-obsequious greeting, she got straight to the point:
“Health isn’t just the absence of disease or infirmity; it’s about maintaining a perfect state of physical, mental, and social well-being. The institute takes everyone’s mental health very seriously. If you’re facing issues like difficulty making friends, keeping up with studies, or missing your family, you can talk to a counselor or your seniors.”
Genji stayed silent, unsure why the counseling center suddenly sent someone. Was it because of his recent poor academic performance, or had the police informed the institute about his missing father?
“Don’t worry about the cost; the counseling services are free for students. If you need a referral to the campus or town hospital, we can deduct the fee from any future grants you earn.”
“Ah, okay…” Genji replied hesitantly, his gaze wandering, frequently licking his lips. Sensing his discomfort, Tanaka tactfully left without pressing further. Before leaving, she handed him a brochure for the counseling center and a small white spray bottle.
“What’s this?” Genji examined the spray, finding the instructions in tiny print.
“It’s a health product developed jointly by the pharmaceutical and agricultural sciences departments. It helps with mood swings, tension, insomnia, and has no addictive properties. Why don’t you give it a try now? Many seniors at the institute use it.”
Following her suggestion, Genji tried the spray. A refreshing sweetness instantly filled his mouth and nose, spreading a pleasant sensation throughout his body, making him feel light and uplifted. As if in a daze, he felt gentle hands embracing him from behind, just like in his dream. Whose hands were they?
After Tanaka left, Genji slowly regained his senses. His phone suddenly rang with an unfamiliar number. Hesitant, he answered it.
“Hello? Genji, how have you been?” A cheerful male voice came from the other side.
Genji was stunned. It was the voice he had been waiting to hear since early March!
“Dad… Dad?” Genji stuttered, his hands trembling, then shouted, “Dad!!!”
“Genji, I’m sorry for not being in touch. I intended to visit you in Yokohama, but one meeting in Tokyo led to another. Then I was asked to lecture in Europe and North America. I’ve tried to contact you, but couldn’t reach you. A friend from Ye Island helped me get through.”
Genji’s initial resentment dissipated with his father’s apology.
“Dad, aren’t you worried about trouble attending those meetings in Tokyo?”
“Not at all! I haven’t been back to Japan in years, and those old adversaries have probably forgotten about me. Besides, I was just making an appearance, not drawing attention.”
“That’s good to hear…”
Their conversation was limited to trivial matters, as Genji struggled to express his deeper thoughts and feelings. His father patiently answered every question until an announcement for boarding interrupted their call.
“Sorry, Genji, I have to go to the next city for a lecture. I’ll call you again once I’m free. I’m proud of you for advancing your studies. Keep up the good work!”
“Okay, I will!”
After the call ended, Genji held onto the phone, unwilling to let go until the screen dimmed.
Finally at ease, he could focus on his studies. But who was his father’s friend at Ye Island? How did they know he was looking for someone?
2.
Reassured by his father’s safety, Genji felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Under Mikagawa’s guidance, his reading pace accelerated. Sometimes, he would delve into books without any prompting.
Kawabata Yasunari, Hasegawa Nyozekan, Hirabayashi Taiko, Taketomo Kiyoshi, Kobayashi Takiji, Inoue Hisashi, Komori Yoichi, Hiromatsu Wataru… As he read more about these diverse figures and topics, humanities became a breeze for him.
Relying on his extraordinary memory, Genji never took notes but processed information methodically, ready to retrieve it whenever needed. His computer-like precision and meticulousness often amazed the institute’s faculty and students.
Before the end of his first semester, Genji had completed a year’s worth of general education courses and successfully applied to the Life Sciences Department – the field of his mother and grandparents.
“I didn’t expect you to be so sharp, Genji. You might finish your Ph.D. before I even complete my master’s. Where does that leave me?” Mikagawa joked, his eyes filled with admiration.
“That’s an exaggeration! And it’s all thanks to your guidance
, senior. I couldn’t have managed it alone!”
Pleased with Genji’s humble response, Mikagawa nodded: “Flattery will get you everywhere. I’ll talk to Meio about guiding you. Don’t idle away this summer; come help out in the lab!”
This was more than Genji had ever dared to hope for in terms of social interaction.
In the past, his grandparents, worried about his safety, never let him walk home alone and restricted his participation in activities, treating him like a child even after he showed signs of adolescence. His classmates ridiculed him as a coward and “Princess,” making friendship elusive.
After moving to a better high school further from home, Genji thought he could finally embrace a brighter future. But the consecutive deaths of his grandparents dealt him a heavy blow.
Thankfully, he was now reassured about his father, academically successful, and receiving guidance from a senior.
Life… should get better, right?
3.
July arrived, but Miyama Meio didn’t visit Genji.
He planned to talk to Mikagawa about it, but Mikagawa was busy with a hospital internship and couldn’t keep in touch as before.
Genji only heard rumors that Meio had fallen seriously ill and had to take a leave of absence, even leaving without saying goodbye to her boyfriend.
Speculations arose that Meio and Mikagawa might have broken up – it was common for long-term relationships to grow stale, and the island’s dreary environment wasn’t conducive to a girl’s academic pursuits.
Each time Genji returned to the dormitory, Mikagawa looked gloomy, but Genji didn’t dare to inquire. Mikagawa, usually open about his feelings, was unusually reserved.
One day, Genji returned to find the dorm filled with smoke.
“Genji, did anything unusual happen at the garden festival besides visiting the robot exhibition and meeting that girl?” Mikagawa asked while throwing things into a burning basin, his voice muffled and weak.
Yes, a student had been brutally apprehended for attempting to photograph sensitive research areas.
“Do you remember what happened to that guy?”
The student, Hirohiko Kitayama, had been expelled following the incident. Genji wondered why Mikagawa was asking about such a well-known case.
“He never left the island,” Mikagawa’s voice was frail, “because…”
As Mikagawa hesitated, Genji sensed something ominous.
“Because what?”
“Because… I personally dissected his body. And Meio’s too…”
Shock and horror struck Genji, his mind reeling.
“What’s the use… it’s useless… or Meio wouldn’t have…”
What was useless? What happened to Meio? Wasn’t she recuperating at home?
“…Rakshasa ghost, Ghost Hidden, Kunitsukami, divine punishment… I understand now, I finally understand. Genji, be careful, those demons… they’re coming for us…”
After uttering fragmented phrases, Mikagawa stumbled out, leaving behind only a cherished notebook on the table marked “Genji, please carry this with you at all times.”
From that day on, Genji never saw Mikagawa Shingo again.