Insect

Author: Sato Masako
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The sun shines on the sea surface, reflecting tiny bits of light. On the gentle slopes, there is a large orange grove, with deep green leaves glistening under the sun. Tada Junichi broke out in a sweat and unzipped his jacket, saying, "This way is warm." "It's still winter in Tokyo," Akiyama, who was walking beside Junichi, said calmly as he lit a cigarette. He then took another one out and offered it to Junichi. Junichi declined. Another one would make him feel uncomfortable. The sunlight was so bright that Junichi kept blinking, and the muscles on his shoulders were tense, creaking. He had stayed up all night to finish the drawings and then took the Shinkansen here. An inexplicable unease washed over him, as if a nagging old woman was whispering endlessly in the depths of his mind. There was just too much work! No matter how much he did, it never seemed to end. It was like climbing a fog-shrouded mountain. No matter how hard he tried, as evidenced by the sweat on his body, he couldn’t see the summit, nor could he figure out where he was on the mountain. It was all because he had taken this terrible position as a director in Shizuoka Prefecture! Back in Tokyo, work was so easy. No business trips, not much workload, and he had never felt tired. But for Junichi, this might be his last chance for promotion before turning 30, an opportunity that could shape the rest of his life. Junichi had never thought of working hard for promotion before. He was immersed in his beloved garden design and felt deeply satisfied. But as he grew older, worldly notions had crept into his simple passion. Perhaps it was because he had established a family.