Equinox Flower Page #2

We thought about sending you good ones,

but there were none left.

They had all become bamboo trees.

- I don't need bamboo trees.

- Of course, what's the use for those?

- Why did you come to Tokyo?

- Me?

Yes.

Because of Yukiko.

What about her?

I'll tell you the whole story. It's like this.

Yukiko won't take my advice.

She's always arguing.

- What about?

- Marriage.

I see. Well, congratulations!

No, nothing's set yet.

You know that doctor

from the Tsukiji market?

I don't believe I do.

He stays at our inn

when he travels to Kyoto.

I'm guessing you send him

the good bamboo shoots.

I certainly do.

You've never seen him at our inn?

Is he a possible prospect?

No, not him. Pay attention.

He's over 60 years old.

He's much too old for Yukiko.

Then who is it?

An assistant who's also a doctor.

That's good.

That doctor is young and kind.

When he stayed at our inn,

he took very good care of...

Yukiko?

No, he treated me.

Do you remember my chronic disease?

What was it again?

I'm not taking too much of your time, am I?

I'm actually a bit busy.

Really? I apologise.

It might be my heart.

I suddenly feel it tighten up

and I have difficulty breathing.

I think I might be dying.

This young doctor told me

to get a full physical,

but I'm scared of what they might do to me.

I'm scared of the drill at the dentist.

I almost faint when I see it approaching.

I always end up rushing home.

If I were to get into this human dock...

Hold on.

What is it?

Excuse me. I need to go to the toilet.

Please, go ahead. Or maybe I should leave.

Take your time.

All right, then.

- Please serve tea in the reception room.

- Yes.

- Should I wait?

- No, you can leave.

- Is anybody home?

- Yes.

Welcome!

I'm Yukiko Sasaki from Kyoto.

Just a moment, please.

Hello. It's good to see you.

Hello.

Make yourself at home.

Thank you.

Where is everybody?

They go shopping on Sundays.

I see.

Come on in.

You'll like the other room better.

You must be a second-rate customer.

Yes, you should give me

bad bamboo shoots.

Right.

There. For you.

Thank you.

Ms Tomizawa, please bring tea and cakes.

Right away.

I have a gift for you.

Thank you.

Did your mother go to the hospital?

She finally decided to go.

Too much fussing?

Yes, the night before she got admitted,

she went on and on

about how she didn't know what to do

and how she just wanted to cancel

the appointment and return to Kyoto.

She wouldn't listen to anything I say.

But you persuaded her?

She was being completely irrational,

so I told her,

"Mother, I'm worried about your health,

so do this or I'll leave home."

So she finally listened to me.

Really?

I had to be firm.

There are good hospitals in Kyoto, too.

I know. This is just Mother's little setup.

- Setup?

- Yes.

- Please.

- Thanks!

Tokyo and Kyoto are so different.

What about your mother's setup?

Did she tell you about my marriage?

Yes, she said something a young doctor

at the hospital.

I know what she's thinking.

She gets hospitalised

so I visit the hospital everyday,

and then she sets me up with the doctor.

She's so transparent.

Do you like this doctor?

No, I'm not interested in him.

Then I feel sorry for your mother.

I understand, but this is for her health.

I suppose it is.

What will you do in the meantime?

I'm going shopping,

and then I'm heading back to Kyoto.

You're leaving your mother?

That's right.

It's very cruel!

I know, but I need to take drastic measures

if I'm going to stop her

from constantly trying to choose

my husband. I can't take it anymore.

Does she do that?

Constantly. Anyway,

I don't want to leave Matsu alone at the inn.

Do you have someone in your life already?

No, I don't.

You shouldn't rush to get married.

That's true.

I mean it. What first looks like gold might

turn out to be brass once you're married.

Really? Brass?

That's right.

You don't need to get married now.

Why should every girl rush to get married?

Why not be different?

You've no plans to marry Setsuko?

In a way, I do.

Regardless, a pretty girl like you

shouldn't hurry to marry brass.

Your family is late.

They didn't tell me anything.

When they get back, I'll tell Setsuko

to come and visit you tomorrow.

Yes, I'd love to see her.

It's such a lovely day.

Indeed.

- It's time for your medicine.

- Right.

This tastes awful! What is this?

There's sulphur in it.

Really? Why?

Do I have to finish it?

Yes.

I'd rather not. Is she here yet?

- Your daughter?

- Yes.

No, not yet.

Where is she? She's late.

She only visited me once this morning.

Mother's room is right round here.

I see.

Did you meet this doctor?

Yes, but only briefly.

- What do you think of him?

- I'm not interested in him.

It was Mother's idea. So annoying.

But what about you?

What about me?

Isn't there some plan to marry you?

No, not really. Father's interested, that's all.

Really? They should really stop

putting us through this.

Is she that persistent?

It's all she talks about.

The other day, a man with a tuxedo

and a white scarf walked past us.

Mother asked if I wanted him for a husband.

So I turned round to look at him,

and I saw an advert for a nightclub

on his back.

I envy you, Setsuko.

Your parents aren't like my mother.

They're so understanding.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

They're not like Mom at all.

She always goes on and on

and never gets to the point.

She has an interesting way of talking.

Yeah, too interesting, if you ask me.

Setsuko, we should team up.

What do you mean?

You help me

when my mother's being unreasonable,

and I'll do the same for you.

- That sounds good.

- Remember, I'm relying on you.

Will you take a pledge?

What was that?

It means, "13 silver hairpins, bloody

broken spider webs, and three..."

- It's an incantation.

- I see. In that case...

Thank you.

- Should I wait?

- No, you can leave.

Hello.

- Excuse me.

- Yes?

I'm happy to see you again.

This is a surprise. Welcome. Come in.

May I? I hope I'm not bothering you.

It's all right. Come in.

Thank you.

Have a seat.

- Welcome.

- Hello.

I'm sorry to bother you.

I brought this as a present.

Thank you very much.

It's for the family, not for you.

I know.

I'm sorry.

Are you busy with something?

I knew we'd talk long, so I went to the toilet.

I see.

Is Hisako at school?

Yes, and Setsuko's at work.

They're both lovely girls.

Yukiko returned home without me.

You got in a human dock, didn't you?

It's such a horrible place.

They sent electricity

through wires around my hands and feet,

and injected me with some kind of blue ink.

It turned everything blue. It was horrible.

That's not all. I had to drink

this muddy, plaster-like substance.

It tasted horrible.

I was supposed to stay three more days,

but I just couldn't take it.

But you finished your treatment?

Yes, there's no need for them

to poke and prod me anymore.

I don't need to be their patient anymore.

And what about your heart?

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