If You Say Goodbye/1

EN= Chapter One – Halcyon Days

‘No, no, no, this wasn’t meant to happen…!’

The inventor stared down at what he had created, feeling no sense of accomplishment—only regret. Where had his life’s work gone so wrong? And, more importantly, could he find a way to fix his terrible mistake?

For as long as he could remember, Sai had always loved building things, toy in particular. Day and night, he would toil in his workshop, dreaming up new playthings and bringing them into the world with his own two hands. People thought he was ‘eccentric,’ to put it kindly, and kept their distance. At least, the adults did.

For the children of the town, going to park and playing with Sai’s toys was a rare pleasure. He was always surprising them with new creations, and wondering what he would come up with next could be just as fun as seeing the final product.

‘Sai, Sai! What are you making now?’

Martha tugged at Sai’s sleeve, stretching up on tiptoes to see over the top of his workbench.

‘Well, if it works out, these shoes will let you slide around like you’re on ice wherever you go.’

‘Wow, that’s so cool! Hey, can you make them leave behind, like, a color-y trail on the ground, too? And, and…!’

The little girl bounced around the room, shouting out new ideas as they came to her. She was Sai’s biggest fan and, in spite of the difference in the ages, also his best friend. If Sai was developing a new toy, you could be sure Martha would be there too, offering advice or just watching him work. ‘Is watching me really that much fun?’ he’d asked her once.

‘Well, yeah!’ she replied, ‘You always look so happy when you’re making things, so that makes me happy too!’

Sai was on his was to the park to show off his latest inventions. He never took money from the children-- seeing their faces light up with joy was reward enough for him. He stumbled through the city streets, holding a pile of toys against his chest and doing his best not to knock into anyone.

‘Sai! Saaaaaai!’

Sai came to a stop and looked around. Was that Martha calling him? Yes, it had to be. Even in a crowd of people like this, he’d know her voice anywhere. He’d arranged to meet her at the park like always, so why was she here?

Sai scanned the oncoming sea of people for signs of his friend. Had the streets always been this crowded? There were other voices now, people yelling ‘Run!’ and ‘Get out of the way!’ Finally, Sai caught sight of Martha, and in the same moment realized what was going on. He ran toward her, the toys he’d been carrying clattering carelessly to the ground.

‘Martha, over here, quick!’

She reached out a hand to him… but it was too late. As the runaway horse-drawn carriage tore through the crowd, everything became a cacophony of crashing, crunching, and screaming.

And then, nothing.

The rain came down hard, soaking Sai’s hair and mingling with the tears running down his face. He ignored it, and continued to gaze at the tiny grave.

‘Don’t you want to play with me anymore, Martha?’

There was no answer.

‘Please, play with me. Try out my toys like you used to. Tell me how to make them better, how to make them more fun...’

The tears wouldn’t stop coming, but Sai barely even noticed them anymore.

‘Wait for me. I’ll make something new, something you can play with even the way you are now. It’ll be fun. So, just...wait for me’. JP="上巻【今は遠い日々】 「こんなはずじゃなかったんだ――」 サイは自分がしたことを後悔していた. 人生をかけて作った、 持てる技術の集大成とも呼べる発明品. それがようやく完成し た今、彼はこんな物作るのではなかったと嘆いている. どこで 間違えたのかは分からない. しかし、どこかで間違えてしまっ た事だけは確かだった. ◇ 時は彼が若かった頃まで遡る. サイは物づくりが大好きな少 年だった. その中でもとりわけおもちゃ作りが大好きで、寝る 間を惜しんでおもちゃを発明する生活を送っていた. 街の大人 たちは彼の作るおもちゃが理解できず、彼を変わり者扱いして 遠ざける. 一方子どもたちはというと、誰もがサイのおもちゃ で遊び、彼がおもちゃを配るために公園を訪れる日を指折り数 えるほど、彼と彼の作るおもちゃが大好きだった. 「次はどんな新しいおもちゃを作るの？」 少女は少し大きい机に腕を乗せて、サイに教えて教えてとせ がむ. 「そうだなぁ、どこを歩いても物凄く滑る靴なんてどうかな？」 「わぁ、どこでも滑れるの！絶対楽しいよ！そうだ、 滑った所に色が付いたらもっと楽しくなるんじゃない？」 そう言って快活に飛び跳ねる少女の名はマルタ. 栗色のくせ っ毛が可愛らしい少女だった. サイの作るおもちゃの一番のフ ァンであり、同時にアドバイスをくれる友達だ. ほぼ毎日彼の 家に来ては、おもちゃ作りをするサイの様子を眺めている. サ イが自分を見ていて楽しいのかと尋ねると、マルタは 「楽しそうにおもちゃ作りをしてる サイお兄ちゃんを見てると、私も楽しくなるんだもん！」 と返すのだった. ◇ 今日は完成したおもちゃを公園で子ども達に配る日. お金に ならない事は分かっている. それでもサイは、喜んでもらえる だけで嬉しかったのだ. 奇異の目を向けてくる大人たちの間を サイはおもちゃを両手いっぱいに抱えて歩き出す. 「おーい、サイお兄ちゃん！」 遠くから彼を呼ぶ声が聞こえた. 人混みに紛れてよく見えな いが、その声は間違いなくマルタのものだ. 彼女もサイが配る おもちゃを貰うため、公園に向かっているに違いない. サイは 来た道を少し戻りマルタの姿を探すと、大人たちの波に揉まれ て前に進めない様子の彼女を発見する. 今日は何でこんなに街 の通りが込んでいるんだろう. ふと、そう思ったサイが人混み に耳を澄ませると「早く逃げろ」といった怒声が遠くから聞こ えて来た. 「マルタ、早くこっちにおいで！」 両手いっぱいに抱えた新作のおもちゃを手放してマルタの方 に手を伸ばす. それに気が付いた彼女も手を伸ばした、その時 だった. ――馬車を引いたまま暴れた馬がサイの目の前の人混 みを轢いて行ったのだ. ◇ 土砂降りの雨の中、サイは静かにお墓の前にかがみこんでい た. 「マルタ、僕の作ったおもちゃで遊んでくれないのかい」 冷たく鎮座する墓石は何も答えない. 「また、僕が作ったおもちゃにアドバイスをおくれよ. また、一緒に笑い合っておくれよ」 そう語りかけるサイの目からは絶え間なく涙が溢れていた. しかし、自分が涙を流している事に気付いていない. 「だから少し待っていてくれ. 僕が必ず、 今の君にも遊べるおもちゃを作ってみせるからね」"