Strange Memories With You, My Dear

Chapter 01.04

Unknowable Memories

Translated by KuroNeko
Edited by Omkar

The day of this year’s Saitama Prefecture Tournament arrived, just as word of the start of the rainy season filtered in from the south. It had been a hot and bright day. The grass and trees were growing lush and green, and thick white clouds floated in the sky, telling us that summer was almost here.

    As I told my mother that I’m retiring from the club today, unless I move on to a higher competition. Our track and field team was not very strong, with only 10 students from all grades, boys and girls, competing in all events at the prefectural level. However, even those members of the club who could not compete came out to encourage us.

    I had no intention of continuing track and field in college, so I expected today to be the culmination of my track and field career, which began in middle school. So I decided to put my own spin on things. It would be fantastic if I could achieve the greatest time, but I don’t want to make a mistake or do anything I’ll later regret.

    When I got to the venue, I stretched and performed my push-ups.

    I’ve always been an excellent runner. On field day, I was always picked to run in the relays. As a kid, this talent was enough to elevate my self-esteem.

    I enjoyed watching soccer and baseball games on TV, so I figured I’d join one of those clubs in junior high. However, these clubs were already crowded with skilled players, and as an amateur, I felt awkward joining in with them. So I joined the track team, where practically no one had any experience, and became a sprinter.

    At first, I thought it was simply about running, but I soon discovered that there is a lot more to this sport than meets the eye, such as how you swing your arms, move your legs, and even how to pace yourself and when to attain peak speed over short distances.

    It was interesting to spend time alone studying them and building myself up. Of course, I have friends, and I have to work with them in some sessions, but at the end of the day, I’m the only one on the track.

    Every day, I practised, getting advice from my advisor and seniors, reading training materials, and so on. Seeing my time go quicker and faster was a moment when I could certainly sense my improvement.

    It was only a tenth of a second difference, but it was enough to persuade me that I was on the right track, and it helped me throughout my teens. My body was somewhat sweaty, and I could feel the strain of strength within me. I had the feeling that I was in good shape.

    The start of the 100-meter run competition was announced, and the first group onto the field. The cheers of those gathered around me echoed, and the scent of gunpowder from the starting pistol wafted on the breeze. I did some mild arm and leg stretching while watching the other racers go down the track, feeling the distinct tension before the start.

    After the race in front of me was done, I positioned up in front of the starting line after adjusting the starting blocks and practising the start.

    The names of the candidates were called in sequence as they queued up. My high school friends cheered me on when the name “Nakayama Yukinari ” was announced. I lowered my head to them, as I usually do, and softly rolled my shoulders and neck, hanging my arms and legs, trying to relax my entire body as much as possible.

    Although track and field is mostly a solo sport, there are several strong schools with outstanding athletes, and athletes from those schools were included in the same group.

    I exhaled a breath that had become stuck in my chest, unconcerned about my surroundings. Regardless of how many people are in front of me, I’m going to run this hundred metres, which will most likely be my last, with no regrets.

    “On your marks.”

    The announcement was made, and I adopted my starting posture by putting my feet up on the starting blocks. As the formerly bustling surroundings quieted down, I could feel my heart pumping rapidly inside my body. But I didn’t go up or strain myself in any way. The uneasiness and pressure I had been feeling had suddenly vanished shortly before the start of the race.

    “Set.”

    The sound of a starting gun popping followed a moment later. My body, which had been trained for years, suddenly began to move like a machine.

    As the applauding voices surged like a burst of electricity, I moved my feet and hands without thinking. Hearing the wind rushing about my ears, I concentrated for 10 seconds and a little, went forward, and finally raced through the finish line.

    Three people crossed the finish line ahead of me. I finished fourth. The clock read 11.40 seconds. It’s not a new best time, and based on past patterns, I doubt I’ll be able to improve on it, but it was a gratifying run for me, and I had a strong feeling of accomplishment, so I wasn’t too disappointed. I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate the end of almost six years.

    I bent my head to the truck and the members of our high school club in the crowd. Then I returned to our school’s luggage storage area outside the stadium and sat on the blue sheet we had set out. My legs were still burning after sprinting so hard.

    ――I softly stroked my both legs, knowing in my heart that I was exhausted.

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We were about to start the women’s 3,000 metres, in which Mineko and a second-year student would take part, after cheering for the women’s short and long jumps.

    I went with the rest of the boys to the front of the auditorium to cheer for our school’s players. The two best competitors rapidly drew ahead of the rest, but Mineko was leading the big group that had gathered behind them.

    I cheered along with the rest of the club. The space amongst the racers who had formed the group steadily widened as she reached the midway point. Mineko was falling behind the rest of the group, but on the last lap she made a surge and passed several of them, ending in seventh position.

    After crossing the finish line, she pressed her hands and knees into the ground in anguish, collecting her breath for a few moments before getting up and walking off of the track, guided by the attendant.

    Her performance was near perfect, but whether she could advance was a matter of time. However, Mineko’s expression was content as she strolled alongside the club’s younger female members, who had also advanced to the prefectural competition.

    Following that, many more events were held, and the competition for our school’s athletes ended.

    As a result, we progressed through the preliminary rounds of the men’s 400-meter race and the women’s 100-meter race one at a time, reaching the finals but failing to proceed to the Kanto Regionals.

    It was now decided that all third-year club members would retire. Long-distance athletes have the option of staying until the winter competitions, but because we are not a strong school, the third-year students retire at this time every year without exception, to prepare for the entrance examinations.

    We gathered around our advisor and began our final meeting when we were ready to leave the stadium.

    It was a little after four o’clock in the afternoon, and the sun was setting. The advisor encouraged the third-year students, and the third-year students who were retiring from club activities talked to the younger students one by one.

    I told the juniors that I had a fantastic experience for the past two and a half years and hoped they would do well in the future. It was a boring welcome, but when I was done, I felt rejuvenated. Normally, I am ashamed to talk in front of others, but on this particular occasion, the words poured out truthfully.

    Some of the club’s third-year female members began sobbing while speaking, and some of the club’s younger members were crying loudly.

    When the meeting was over and the group dispersed, the boys shook hands and embraced each other with a strange tension that made me feel sad, embarrassed, and excited all at the same time.

    This marked the end of my life as a track and field athlete, which I had pursued since junior high.

    I approached Mineko and extended my hand, saying, “Thank you for five years.” I was embarrassed, and something resembling a chuckle leaked into my voice.

    “Yes,” she responded, shaking my hand and smiling, her cheeks hot from the day’s sunburn. It was a warm hand, slender and a little bony, but warmer than mine.

    She’s in a separate class, and we won’t have much time to talk now that she’s retired from club activities.

    There is no sense of unrequited love here. I felt refreshed. My memories of club activities from junior high through high school, as well as the days I spent with her, watching her from afar, would be fuzzy, I thought.

    Then a high-pitched “Kya” rang forth. After the gathering, in the uplifting, lonely, incomprehensible mood, one of the third-year lads became carried away and attempted to embrace a younger girl, and was shouted at. The people in the club around me were laughing uncontrollably.

    As we stared at her, Mineko and I both laughed. Then she stepped away from me, saying, “Well.”

    “I’ve promised the girls that I’ll meet them for dinner thereafter.”

    “Yeah. Okay.”

    Mineko walked lightly to where the females were gathering. I, too, loaded my belongings onto my back and proceeded to the gathering of boys. The men’s club members then left the venue and went to the station to take the train home.

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“Yukinari-kun, did you buy that book?” 

    “Yeah. I came across it at a bookshop and was intrigued by it. Is it okay if I ask your father to teach me something I don’t understand the next time we meet?”

    “Yeah, I’m sure my father will be very happy to hear that. He said he’s been answering most of the emails with questions and feedback about the book.”

    “Really? That’s great――You’ll find a photo of your father here.” 

    “Don’t lie, where?”

    I opened the folded page and pointed to the image. Yuuko leaned in closer, as if she wanted to see into my hand. I could smell the shampoo’s sweet, fluffy aroma and see the white crust of her split hair.

    <Next, Shin-Musashino Station>

    I awoke with a mild headache and looked about as a man’s gruff voice informed that we were on my way.

    ――Where am I?

    I don’t recall what happened after I bid farewell to the male club member who had traveled with me till the end of the train and said, “See you at school.”

    I looked blankly at the countryside scenery, full of tea farms and thickets, with a peculiar feeling of realism that is unique to waking up.

    <From here, you can transfer to the Higashizawa Line and the Irisawa Yuen Station local area>

    My hazy consciousness returned as the announcement continued.

    ――Irisawa Amusement Park.

    My mind drifted to the news I’d seen the day before, which mentioned that the old amusement park will be demolished and replaced with a new one.

    “Yukinari-kun, did you buy that book?”

    In my thoughts, the voice of the girl who was speaking to me in such a friendly manner echoed.

    ――That’s right. I’d been dreaming about it till I woke up just now. However, this is a new dream. I was showing her a book that I was reading. What the hell was that book about…? The only thing that comes to me is a hazy image of many branching lines, like plant roots, but I can’t exactly recall what it is.

    The train slowed down, and I was soon on the station platform. The train came to a halt, and then the speaker announced, <The door that opens is on the right side> and the door opens with a sound like an ejection of air.

    I was still drowsy and foggy-headed.

    Just then, I thought I saw myself as a youngster, cheerfully going with some other children, through the open front door.

    I couldn’t help but get up from my seat.

    <The doors are closing>

    The announcement was made, and a short electronic tune began to play across the station to announce it. I stepped out after half-slipping through the opening in the door, which had begun to shift.

    As soon as I stepped off the train, the doors closed, and the train began to move slowly. The figure moved away swiftly, reflecting the setting sun.

    ――I’m out… 

    I was startled by my unexpected, incomprehensible actions. When I checked the time on my wrist device, I noticed that the next train was twenty minutes away. This was a station where neither the fast nor express trains came to a halt. I was exhausted and wanted to sit down on the way home from the convention, so I chose a train that stopped at each station instead of the packed fast train.

    I stood in the silent, empty station, confused, gazing at the tracks where the train had veered off. The iron part has a faint gleam to it.

    This Shin-Musashino station was in a neighbouring town. I’ve never been down here before. It was meant to be my first time. But I didn’t feel that way when I went down here.

    Nearby, there was a staircase.

    ――Sure, I climbed here.

    My thoughts went back to a “memory.” I neared the steps, reliving recollections I’d never had before. A railing made of silvery metal. On the walls, there is a concrete stairway with left-hand traffic and rubberized edges to prevent slipping, posters of the local professional baseball club, signs warning people not to walk on their phones or play video games, and posters of museum shows. I wondered whether it was because the staircase was so common at the station. I have a strong sense of déjà vu.

    As though guided by a sensation of déjà vu, I moved down to the opposite platform. The sign reads, “Irisawa Amusement Park, local side.” I checked the schedule and saw that I had five minutes until the next train arrived.

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