LOVE OR DEAD
CHAPTER 31: MEETING WITH JIRO THE PUFFERFISH

My transfer from Naoko's apartment to me was the right path, I started to climb day after day by myself. Without being a burden in the lives of others. Somehow Naoko and Hayami, here I get a friendly and pleasant environment.

Azura as the owner of the building I rented, helped me find a job in a small shop not far from where I live. A small shop selling bento where the seller is an old grandfather and grandmother. But their spirit is like a young man.

Aunt Sanchi is the son of both seniors, my new boss. Thick-bodied with a round face, his hair neatly arranged with a crest in front. Every day I work in the store from 08.00 to 05.00 pm, not only do I get a box of complete bento every day for lunch.

I serve a variety of customers from office employees, students to manual laborers. Occasionally we receive large-scale orders for an organization or event. I began to find a quiet and pleasant life.

During the holiday Azura invited me to help her plant and harvest her hydroponic crops. Sometimes he took me to a farm in another area, to help him. He's a single guy who talks a lot, but he's very nice and humorous.

I have been enjoying this own life for three months without any obstacles, I wish all good – just fine up to unlimited time.

Weeks…

I enjoy harvesting apples in a garden belonging to brother Azura. We also rest for a while during the day while drinking apple juice, while resting on a shade tree from the scorching sun.

“Hoi..Yoshiko, why eat so much. I can afford to lose my wages to you but you still finish my food”.

“HA...HA....HA..Bas stingy, I'm a female worker see my beauty fading because I have to harvest apples in this hot weather. Naturally I need more nutrition, this as compensation”.

“Hmm…. I'm sorry to take you, but no more diligent tenant woman than you. The man who will marry you must be very happy to get you the hard worker”.

I listened then fell silent, recalling the bloody engagement I had. My life is too sad to expect a marriage.

“Why are you silent? You are angry, do not think too much about my speech later can get old quickly. Your pretty face will soon wither like that rotten apple falling on the ground”.

“No, I just remember something. Calm down I have the mental steel to live”.

“Considering what? Your boyfriend?”.

“I don't have a lover”.

“HA...HA...HA...HA..Pretentious, look for a young mumpung. Must be a lot of men who want to date you”.

“Be aware, you are also single at your age that is getting older. Drink the juice, and we'll finish it as soon as we can. I want to hurry home to break down my old body this”.

“Cih..youth basics, seasonal spirit”.

We stood up and began to harvest from one tree to another. After the apple, I got a box of apples from Azura as a bonus. I decided to take some and the rest I gave to Aunt Sanchi and the others.

Next day…

I vigorously brought plastic containing premium quality red apples from yesterday's harvest. I set off early on purpose, in order to enjoy the with my aunt and grandmother and grandfather.

Upon my arrival into the kitchen of the bento production section, I found a stocky man looking back at me talking to Aunt Sanchi.

“Aunt me coming!” I said.

“Yoshiko...tumben once you leave in the morning once” said aunt.

“We have come to guest?” I asked as I looked at the man's back from behind,

“He's my ex-boy, come he said out of longing. Don't assume she's there” complained the aunt who introduced the man in front of me.

“You are still my mother, even if you throw me away like trash. I'll keep coming back to see you” said the man.

“Go...I want to start bento production, I don't need your money. I'm happy to be able to sell like this” scolded him to the man.

“I will buy your bentomu, then prepare” said the man.

“I'm not going to serve your order, go I said!” firmly aunt Sanchi while beating the man.

I could finally see the man's face, as he turned to face me. Instantly I was shocked and shocked he was Jiro the pufferfish. A plastic bag containing the apple fell out of my hand. My fingers were as if they were limp, the apple in the plastic rolled and scattered into the corner of the kitchen.

“What should I do?” I was in my heart in a panic.

“Yeah... Yoshiko here your apples even split where – where, you how?!” bibi snapped while picking up apples on the floor.

I was also moved from my daydream and helped pick up the apples on the floor. Jiro did the same, we could only be silent but look at each other.

After the apples were collected I put them in a basket and washed them. Grandma and grandpa just came to help me peel apples to eat.

“Nak bring this apple that has been peeled forward, so my grandson can enjoy it. And bring this for breakfast, the grandmother made it to take home” said the grandmother to me while thrusting a plate of apples that had been peeled and a portion of the stentu already in the plastic.

I still heard Sanchi's aunt nagging Jiro, her voice filling the spacious tavern. I also ventured into the middle of – middle of their conversation in the store front. Seeming Jiro just lowered his head, the puffer fish turned out to have a side of spoiled children as well.

“Already bi, pity him .. look he was silent to hear looking maki aunty earlier. Let him see his mother, for a child will never forget his mother. Surely he was very sad not to meet aunt, even though he knew that coming home would be like this but he still wanted to see the mother he loved” said I cut off aunt's nag.

Finally the aunt fell silent, and I presented a plate of apples and bentos to Jiro's front desk.

“Eat, here's the apple that Grandma has peeled for you. He also prepared a serving of bento for you. Whatever your condition, visit. Honestly they must miss you too” I said to the puffer fish Jiro who had lowered his head earlier.

“Thank you” said Jiro quietly as he lifted his face.

“Never come back, I've never had a child like you. Dirty living following those gangsters is your choice, and my son died from the choice you chose” added aunty.

“I'm sorry I bu” Jiro said as she held her mother's hand.

Aunt Sanchi brushed it off, then went inside.

I sat down in front of the sad Jiro, I realized he must have been hurt by hearing it. I don't know how many times my aunt did that to him. Despite Jiro's wrong life choices, he still loves his mother.

I remember my mother and father in Hokkaido, wanting to go home but not wanting to be a burden to them. As long as Kawaki doesn't let me go, my life will continue on the run.

“Eatlah” I said.

Jiro ate in silence, while we were still in silence. There was not a word between us, we could only sit face to face in the silence of the tavern.

After eating, Jiro returns home…

We stood in front of the store.

“I know you Chiyo”.

“I am Yoshiko Kobayashi, don't call me someone else's name”.

“Mobile already know about your identity, you will not be able to escape with fake identity it”.

“How does he know?”.

“Thursday has been investigated, even Ryota has also confirmed. We were asked to find you, prepare to be caught”.

“Can you help me right now not to say anything to Kawaki the devil that”.

“How long do you think you can stay here? Kawaki will never let you go. I could die if I betrayed her, this time I'll shut up because you helped me talk to my mother. Means we break even, but get out of here”.

“I need time to move, actually I've been very comfortable with your family. They're like family to me, where my own family I can't meet because I have to escape continuously”.

“I will be silent and not share your whereabouts information with Kawaki and the others, but please take care of my family for me. I can't keep them at all times”.

“Sepakat”.

We decided to pura – pura do not know each other and forget this meeting. To be honest this time I felt the puffer fish did not suck and was a good boy. I wish I could last longer here.

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