FLOWERS

1.

Onomichi, Hiroshima, in Showa 23 (1948).

Tama was sitting in the large room, facing the young boss of the Kawauchi-gumi.“You are Fukumori’s niece,” the young boss said calmly.

“Yeah, boss, she just turned eighteen. I know it may sound strange coming from me, her uncle, but she’s really beautiful. I’m really proud of her,”Eitaro, her uncle, replied.

Eitaro is Tama's uncle, fifteen years older than her, and he has been taking care of her since she lost her parents in the war.

“She’s really good-natured, and she’s a great girl for you to spend time with.”

The young master, in his mid-twenties, looked straight at the girl.

“That’s certainly true. She’s a fine girl.”

Tama looked back at him formally.

Aoi was as good-looking as a movie star and very sophisticated.

Tama felt her face grow hot. She had never seen a man as beautiful as Aoi.

As for Tama, she has well-defined features and long, straight, glossy hair. She is a famously beautiful girl in the area.

One of the young men from the Kawauchi-gumi noticed her beauty and whispered to Aoi.The small book shop where Eitaro works is in debt to the Kawauchi-gumi.

The debt is so large that Eitaro can’t repay it, because the business is not going well.

After the Kawauchi-gumi proposed that the young boss would like to meet Tama, Eitaro, after some hesitation, asked her to go and see Aoi.

So at first, Tama was reluctant to meet the gang boss she didn’t know, but in the end she gave in and agreed to see him.

Aoi was wearing a finely tailored suit and looked more like a business leader than a gang boss.

“I like her. I’ve decided. I’m going to marry her this weekend.”

When Eitaro and Tama heard this unexpected proposal, they were truly astonished.

“Young master, Tama is still just a child, and she’s never gone out with any boys,” Eitaro protested.

He had expected that the young master only wanted to meet Tama and hire her as a maid to take care of his daily chores. He had never imagined a proposal like this.

The moment he heard Eitaro’s words, Aoi snickered.

“That’s convenient for me. If she already had someone in mind, I’d have to force her to break up with him.”

Then he turned to face her properly.

“I like you, girlie.”

Tama, who had been sitting there like a stone, finally dared to lift her face to Aoi.

“I have to explain my situation to you, young master.”

Aoi looked at her properly and focused his attention on her.

“Go ahead.”

Tama took a deep breath and forced herself to speak.

“I have a severe burn on my left shoulder, and I may not be able to…”

She paused but soon continued.

“I may never be able to have children. I was exposed to the atomic bomb at ground zero in 1945. I still have tiny pieces of glass in my shoulder.”

After saying that, she let her head drop helplessly.

Aoi listened to her without changing his expression.

“Let me see your burn,” he ordered.

Then, moving closer to her, he unbuttoned her blouse down to the third button and exposed the wound. He studied the burn on her shoulder and commented,

“It’s really a small matter. You’re truly beautiful, and that’s enough.

It’s better for you to have a small flaw or two.”

He fastened her buttons again.

His glossy dark eyes were fixed on hers.

“Fukumori, I’m going to marry your niece this coming Sunday. So bring her to us that day. If you need anything, tell our men. I’ll have them prepare it.”

Eitaro prostrated himself on the tatami. “It’s really kind of you to make such an offer.”

Aoi turned to Tama. “I’m looking forward to next Sunday.”

Then he rose smoothly from the tatami and clapped his hands.

“They’re leaving now. See them out to the entrance.”

Aoi was over 180 centimeters tall, unusually taller than anyone else in the small town.

Tama modestly followed his figure with her eyes. Then she lifted herself up from the tatami.

Aoi naturally helped her to her feet and escorted her to the hall. The top of her head only reached his upper arm.

Tama caught the scent of his elegant perfume.

Aoi gently patted her head.

“See you.”

He said goodbye.