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First things first, Grandpa’s gone. Reality gradually begins to take root in Rintaro’s heart. He finally manages to squeeze out a few words. “This is messed up, Grandpa.” But there’s no reply.
She was completely unafraid to be direct with an older boy. That was typical Sayo Yuzuki; it was her way of showing that she cared. Rintaro admired her for it.
“Books have tremendous power.” That was his grandfather’s mantra.
In other words, this was Rintaro’s safe space, a place where he could find shelter from the outside world. But now, in a few days, Rintaro was going to be forced to leave Natsuki Books forever. “Grandpa, this is messed up,” he whispered.
This world throws all kinds of obstacles at us; we are forced to endure so much that is absurd. Our best weapon for fighting all the pain and trouble in the world isn’t logic or violence. It’s humor.”
“It looks like it’s full, but in fact it’s empty.” The cat’s response was very Zen. “There’s no philosophy behind it and no taste. No matter how rich and wonderful it all looks on the outside, when you take off the lid and look inside there’s nothing but a jumble of borrowed junk. It’s the worst kind of ignorance.”
“I’ve already wasted two precious minutes listening to you. If you’ve finished, I’d like you to leave now.”
“It’s not true that the more you read, the more you see of the world. No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head, unless you think with your own mind, walk with your own feet, the knowledge you acquire will never be anything more than empty and borrowed.”
“It’s all very well to read a book, but when you’ve finished, it’s time to set foot in the world.”
“Because the obvious is no longer obvious in today’s world.” He gave a deeper sigh, then continued. “In today’s world, a lot of what should be obvious has been turned upside down. The weak are used as stepping-stones and those in need are taken advantage of. People just get caught up in this pattern. Nobody stands up and calls for it to stop.”
“Your grandfather didn’t just give up or run away without putting up a fight.” He laughed. “He simply changed his approach.” “Approach?” “Your grandfather opened a wonderful secondhand bookshop. And by doing that he was able to get all kinds of amazing books into the hands of many people. He believed that way he might be able to begin to right some wrongs, straighten out some of the things that had gotten twisted. What I mean is, this was the path that he chose. Not exactly the most glorious of routes, but a gutsy choice—typical of your grandfather.”
“Give it up,” said the man without even blinking. “There are as many people in the world with the title of professor as there are stars in the sky. Japan is full of professors. Try it—shout out ‘Professor!’ right now. Four out of every five of the scholars in this room will turn around.
“We’re looking for someone.” “You’d better not,” the man shot back. “This is a vast research facility, full of people who look alike, think alike, and are all likewise busy. Of course, everyone is eager to assert their own uniqueness, but since everyone is equally obsessed with asserting it, then there’s nothing unique about anyone. It turns out it’s impossible to distinguish between us. In a place like this, trying to find a particular ‘someone’ is not only difficult, it’s meaningless. Goodbye.”
“If you don’t like it, you can always go home,” replied Rintaro. “You know I’ve always been the kind of guy to recommend going home.”
“Reading isn’t only for pleasure or entertainment. Sometimes you need to examine the same lines deeply, read the same sentences over again. Sometimes you sit there, head in hands, only progressing at a painstakingly slow pace. And the result of all this hard work and careful study is that suddenly you’re there and your field of vision expands. It’s like finding a great view at the end of a long climbing trail.”
“Of course it’s good to enjoy reading. But the views you can see hiking on a light, pleasant walking trail are limited. Don’t condemn the mountain because its trails are steep. It’s also a valuable and enjoyable part of climbing to struggle up a mountain step by step.”
Rintaro seemed unfazed by the warning. He had neither the majesty of the tabby cat, nor the wit of his friend Sayo, but in his dull uneventful life he had come across his fair share of crazy predicaments and crises.
Flowers in the hedgerow and birds in the treetops are accessible only to the person who walks on their own two feet.
“This is the speed at which this song should be heard. Fast-forwarding sucks.”
She was charmingly plump with a short stature, and as she crammed herself into her tiny white Fiat, she reminded Rintaro of a friendly dwarf in one of his old picture books.
“Sitting behind that desk calling books expendable goods—I would call that a hard life.”
But time is merciless in its passing.
“If you’re worrying about her now, that means you’re finding your own heart again.
“A book that sits on a shelf is nothing but a bundle of paper. Unless it is opened, a book possessing great power or an epic story is mere scraps of paper. But a book that has been cherished and loved, filled with human thoughts, has been endowed with a soul.”
“Books have souls,” repeated the cat softly. “A cherished book will always have a soul. It will come to its reader’s aid in times of crisis.”
“You’ve earned my acknowledgment. The twisted soul is strong—” The cat paused. “But you are stronger.”
“Walk with courage the path you have chosen. Don’t be one of those bystanders who complains that nothing ever changes. Continue your journey, just as Melos kept running to the end.”
“I hate this . . .” she murmured. “From time to time I come across people who talk this way. It means I can’t completely give up hope.”
There was no such thing as having no choice. Rintaro knew that now. There were many roads to choose from. What was important was not to let yourself roll along aimlessly, but to pick a road. How can I move on if I don’t believe in myself? Deep in that labyrinth, Rintaro had asked himself that question. His words turned into strength and he felt able to keep going alone.
“It’s all well and good to chat inside the bookshop, but occasionally you need to get a bit of sun or you’ll be ill. Do you really want your grandfather in heaven to get worried sick over you?”
Surrounded by the pleasant aroma of tea, Rintaro carefully opened his book. A gentle breeze brushed the doorbell, and it gave a cheerful ring.
