Mystery of Time

Chapter 6: Isn't' the road of past more mysterious than the road of present?

Yuri, the young detective, started calculating her situation as her emotions
shifted to a state of focused analysis. She had just completed a
presentation in her ninth-grade history class, which she had nailed with her
usual brilliance. The topic had been, "What was your school's environment
like 50 years ago?" Despite her worries, Yuri managed to gather
information by interviewing elderly citizens and researching old magazines
and newspapers. Her findings revealed that the school's architecture had
changed and modernized, the number of trees had once outnumbered
buildings, and there were fewer vehicles on the roads. Her presentation
was praised as exceptional.
However, the old-fashioned design of the furniture in her current
surroundings struck her as a stark contrast to the contemporary world she
was used to. As Yuri tried to get out of bed, every part of her body ached
severely yet felt oddly refreshing. It was as if she had been reborn. She
struggled to the window and peered outside, expecting to see remnants of
old huts. Instead, she found herself in a secluded house surrounded by a
dense forest—nature in its purest form.
The room she was in contained an old, shabby clock and a calendar that
was barely legible. As she focused on her surroundings, Yuri noted the
comfortable yet outdated bed, walls that retained heat but had peeling
wallpaper, and a general sense of poverty. She deduced that the house
likely belonged to someone in a modest financial situation.
Yuri contemplated how long she might be in this state. She guessed it
could be two or three days, or even a month. “No, that can’t be right,” she
thought. As she opened her eyes with a hopeful curiosity, she wished for a
stroke of good luck. Yet, Yuri’s belief in her own luck was bleak; the year
she found herself in was 1989, a year she never believed in miracles.To Yuri, the true and safe beauty was embodied by Aroha and her mother,
while magical miracles and her own troubled life represented false and
dangerous beauty. Yuri had accepted that miracles were impossible and
that their occurrence required investigation. She found herself in an
uncomfortable but intriguing situation. “Yes, it’s 1989,” she acknowledged.
“Now what? Will I see my parents at my own age? Should I continue living
like someone from the Stone Age?” In frustration, Yuri shouted, “No! I want
to go home. I want to return to my normal life, no matter how miserable it
is.”
Just then, the door creaked open, and a middle-aged woman appeared.
“Do you need anything, dear? Are you in pain?” Despite her unusual
circumstances, Yuri maintained her composure, always polite with
strangers. “Um, sorry for the sudden disturbance, but could you tell me
where I am?”
The woman, with a pleasant face and speaking in a formal yet regional
dialect, explained, “This is my hut. I apologize for not having a proper name
for it.” The woman’s speech suggested she was educated yet had chosen
to live away from society. Yuri engaged in conversation to learn more.
Yuri asked, “Did you save me?”
The woman replied, “Yes, I found you lying beside the sea and took you in.
I visit the sea daily for fish and use nature to live. Are you comfortable here,
dear?”
Grateful for the woman’s friendliness, Yuri was eager to ask many
questions but found the woman quite talkative.
Yuri expressed her thanks, “Thank you for your hospitality. May I know your
name?”
The woman responded, “Is it important?”
Surprised by the question, Yuri decided to move on. “Never mind. Can I go
back to where I came from?”The woman replied, “Let’s say you can’t, dear. Not right now.”
Panic set in for Yuri. Would she have to escape like she did with Aroha to
avoid Yami? She didn’t know the way. As she began to panic, the woman
hugged her and said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t realize you
had such a sensitive heart.” Yuri calmed down, realizing her fears were
more in her head. She learned that people living close to nature were
inherently kind and soft, unlike the politically driven society she was used
to.
What would Yuri’s next plan be? To rest and bond with the woman as if they
were family, then? She pondered whether she’d want to return to her old
life after experiencing this new, simpler existence. Deciding it was better to
stay, Yuri relaxed and looked out the window, feeling content.
The woman brought her tea made from fresh, unprocessed leaves. Yuri
drank it nervously but enjoyed it, feeling healthier. The tea was new to her,
and she wondered how long she’d continue to enjoy this hospitality. The
woman then shared her personal story: “I live alone because my husband
died of a disease many years ago. I miss him deeply, and my son, whom I
sent to town, is coming back tomorrow. I’ve always wished for a daughter
like you. Although I don’t know who your parents are, I feel like you could
be my child. Don’t regret being here. I imagine your parents must miss you
too.”
Yuri was touched by the woman’s words and realized she felt a complex
emotion. She admitted, “I am an orphan and ran away from my orphanage.
I’m happy to be adopted by you.” The woman was silent, contemplating
Yuri’s words.
The woman finally said, “I would love to adopt you, but your life choices
were not ideal.”
Yuri cheerfully responded, “I know, and I won’t make those mistakes again,
mom!”The woman replied, “Let’s say you can’t, dear. Not right now.”
Panic set in for Yuri. Would she have to escape like she did with Aroha to
avoid Yami? She didn’t know the way. As she began to panic, the woman
hugged her and said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t realize you
had such a sensitive heart.” Yuri calmed down, realizing her fears were
more in her head. She learned that people living close to nature were
inherently kind and soft, unlike the politically driven society she was used
to.
What would Yuri’s next plan be? To rest and bond with the woman as if they
were family, then? She pondered whether she’d want to return to her old
life after experiencing this new, simpler existence. Deciding it was better to
stay, Yuri relaxed and looked out the window, feeling content.
The woman brought her tea made from fresh, unprocessed leaves. Yuri
drank it nervously but enjoyed it, feeling healthier. The tea was new to her,
and she wondered how long she’d continue to enjoy this hospitality. The
woman then shared her personal story: “I live alone because my husband
died of a disease many years ago. I miss him deeply, and my son, whom I
sent to town, is coming back tomorrow. I’ve always wished for a daughter
like you. Although I don’t know who your parents are, I feel like you could
be my child. Don’t regret being here. I imagine your parents must miss you
too.”
Yuri was touched by the woman’s words and realized she felt a complex
emotion. She admitted, “I am an orphan and ran away from my orphanage.
I’m happy to be adopted by you.” The woman was silent, contemplating
Yuri’s words.
The woman finally said, “I would love to adopt you, but your life choices
were not ideal.”
Yuri cheerfully responded, “I know, and I won’t make those mistakes again,
mom!”