real live police detective. All I can say is, I didn't know that in real life there actually were such people! It's like a TV drama. Police officers are so masculine."
The guy kept chattering on happily. Takako said nothing, thinking that after having to listen to him prattle on, she could only hope that his recollection was on the money, whether by coincidence or by miracle.
When they were finally free of the beauty salon owner and left the building, the winter sunshine was dazzling. Takizawa lit up another cigarette and, addressing Takako for once, muttered, "The building maintenance company in Hachioji. Might as well go there next, ya think? All the tenants have scattered to the four winds anyway."
Takako hesitated, surprised to be spoken to, wondering whether this called for a response.
He shot her a glance. "OK?" he asked.
"Umm, OK. Shall we go to the maintenance company now, then?"
Takizawa took the cigarette from his mouth with an indecipherable grunt. "Look, you," he said, "however we do it is OK by me, but would you please smarten up a little?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Takizawa skewed his face into a scowl. "You want to stand behind me all the time, fine, whatever, but I've had it up to here with you on your high horse, giving people dirty looks."
Instantly, Takako felt her face flush bright red. She was about to speak, but Takizawa cut her off.
"I'm not telling you to make nice just because you're a woman, but on the other hand, why not turn it around, make it work for you, huh? Would it kill you to give out a smile now and then? What's the point in acting like such a goddamn sourpuss around a well-meaning citizen? Who are you to be so condescending, anyway? It interferes with the work. Or have you got something against his type? Maybe you don't care about what his kind has to say, is that it?"
"No, that's not true."
"Oh yeah? Well, good. I figured maybe a young lady like yourself couldn't bear the thought of being around queers."
"You're wrong."
"Or else that you had a stick up your ass. You made up your mind nobody was going to look down their nose at you for being a woman." Takizawa narrowed his eyes, smiling out of a corner of his mouth. His eyes had a reptilian look that made her skin crawl.
"That's not true either."
"Good. Yours truly doesn't have to worry about the sensitivities of a little princess then."
Takako drew in her chin and bit her lip, staring at Takizawa. She could feel the color draining from her face. The hand gripping the strap of her shoulder bag clenched into a fist.
"Now we've got that settled, let me ask you one favor."
Takako smothered the impulse to turn away. At the same moment, she understood what it might be like to be interrogated by this man with his cunning gaze trained steadily on you.
"Yes?" she said.
"Could you keep your mind on the job? Walking around all day with nothing to show for it comes with the territory. If you think it's boring or stupid, then quit."
With that, Takizawa strode off. Takako chased after him, feeling her heart pound a drumbeat in her ears. Her hands and feet were shaking, and it was not from the cold. Takizawa had acted completely oblivious to her—she never dreamed he would say such a thing to her.
You old fart. How dare you?
As she walked to the station, Takako felt her blood begin to boil. Adrenaline coursed through her. She hadn't felt fury like this in a long time. From the core of her being rose stinging, wordless retorts. Struggling with the urge to shout herself hoarse, let out all she'd been feeling, Takako followed Takizawa through the wicket, showing her badge to the monitor to get in.
As they stood alongside each other on the platform, Takizawa glanced at Takako. She gazed unwaveringly back at him, waves of emotion roiling in her.
"What?" he said, looking at her expectantly.
She said nothing.
Takizawa's face, slack-skinned and reddish-brown—whether from suntan or booze, who could say—bore a cold smile: "If you have a
The guy kept chattering on happily. Takako said nothing, thinking that after having to listen to him prattle on, she could only hope that his recollection was on the money, whether by coincidence or by miracle.
When they were finally free of the beauty salon owner and left the building, the winter sunshine was dazzling. Takizawa lit up another cigarette and, addressing Takako for once, muttered, "The building maintenance company in Hachioji. Might as well go there next, ya think? All the tenants have scattered to the four winds anyway."
Takako hesitated, surprised to be spoken to, wondering whether this called for a response.
He shot her a glance. "OK?" he asked.
"Umm, OK. Shall we go to the maintenance company now, then?"
Takizawa took the cigarette from his mouth with an indecipherable grunt. "Look, you," he said, "however we do it is OK by me, but would you please smarten up a little?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Takizawa skewed his face into a scowl. "You want to stand behind me all the time, fine, whatever, but I've had it up to here with you on your high horse, giving people dirty looks."
Instantly, Takako felt her face flush bright red. She was about to speak, but Takizawa cut her off.
"I'm not telling you to make nice just because you're a woman, but on the other hand, why not turn it around, make it work for you, huh? Would it kill you to give out a smile now and then? What's the point in acting like such a goddamn sourpuss around a well-meaning citizen? Who are you to be so condescending, anyway? It interferes with the work. Or have you got something against his type? Maybe you don't care about what his kind has to say, is that it?"
"No, that's not true."
"Oh yeah? Well, good. I figured maybe a young lady like yourself couldn't bear the thought of being around queers."
"You're wrong."
"Or else that you had a stick up your ass. You made up your mind nobody was going to look down their nose at you for being a woman." Takizawa narrowed his eyes, smiling out of a corner of his mouth. His eyes had a reptilian look that made her skin crawl.
"That's not true either."
"Good. Yours truly doesn't have to worry about the sensitivities of a little princess then."
Takako drew in her chin and bit her lip, staring at Takizawa. She could feel the color draining from her face. The hand gripping the strap of her shoulder bag clenched into a fist.
"Now we've got that settled, let me ask you one favor."
Takako smothered the impulse to turn away. At the same moment, she understood what it might be like to be interrogated by this man with his cunning gaze trained steadily on you.
"Yes?" she said.
"Could you keep your mind on the job? Walking around all day with nothing to show for it comes with the territory. If you think it's boring or stupid, then quit."
With that, Takizawa strode off. Takako chased after him, feeling her heart pound a drumbeat in her ears. Her hands and feet were shaking, and it was not from the cold. Takizawa had acted completely oblivious to her—she never dreamed he would say such a thing to her.
You old fart. How dare you?
As she walked to the station, Takako felt her blood begin to boil. Adrenaline coursed through her. She hadn't felt fury like this in a long time. From the core of her being rose stinging, wordless retorts. Struggling with the urge to shout herself hoarse, let out all she'd been feeling, Takako followed Takizawa through the wicket, showing her badge to the monitor to get in.
As they stood alongside each other on the platform, Takizawa glanced at Takako. She gazed unwaveringly back at him, waves of emotion roiling in her.
"What?" he said, looking at her expectantly.
She said nothing.
Takizawa's face, slack-skinned and reddish-brown—whether from suntan or booze, who could say—bore a cold smile: "If you have a
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