黒と白　－英語版－

　Tetsuji frowned as he looked at himself in the mirror in the bedroom.
　"What is a white mask for mourning ..."
　His boss, who has been indebted to him since joining the company he worked for before his independence, suddenly died as the president of his company's major business partner, and a company burial was held that afternoon.
　"It's a company burial. The black mask is better ..."
　"Daddy. What are you doing?"
　She said as her wife Sanae was frustrated looking into her bedroom.
　"White mask for company burial. Isn't it bad?"
Sanae said with a dismay.
　"It's already. If you don't come out soon, you won't be in time for the ceremony."
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　Although it was Corona, there were many people involved in the company burial, and the line to the reception after completing the bookkeeping was long.
　Perhaps because they were lined up at intervals due to their social distance, the faces of the attendees were inevitably visible. Tetsuji was restless as everyone seemed to be wearing a black mask.

　...After all, it's a black mask for company funerals ...

　Tetsuji went down to the reception desk.
　Tetsuji was stunned when he saw the reception booth when he was about to turn to the reception. All the respondents wore black masks.

　…Oh. This is bad ...

　Tetsuji tries to look down in a hurry, but unfortunately he meets one of the people in the booth.
　The receptionist, who was about his age and had a strict appearance, kept staring at Tetsuji.
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　The strict man standing with Dawn at the reception desk of "Business 　Partner Relations" faced Tetsuji, who seemed restless, while staring at him.

　… No, no. It's a bad atmosphere. I have to finish the reception early and leave this place ...

　Tetsuji handed over the book and the incense to the man, finished the reception, and tried to leave the place quickly, but he was stopped by the man.
　"Nishimura?"
　Tetsuji turns around terrifyingly.
　A man with a strict appearance like a demon.
　However, the look at Tetsuji was different than before, and he was calm and friendly.
　"I am, I"
　"?"
　" I am Imaizumi"
　"eh?"
　The man took off his mask and showed his smiling face.
　"Oh, you. Are you Imaizumi?"
　"Yes. Is it the first time in thirty years?"
　"Will that happen ..."
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　After the company burial, the two went to an izakaya that they used to go with.
　Immediately before Tetsuji became independent, Imaizumi was assigned overseas and has been away from Japan ever since.
　"When did you come back?"
　"Last month"
　"Why don’t you contact me"
　"Sorry. I can't afford it. As soon as I get back to it, it's a company burial."
　Imaizumi, a bitter smile.
　"But I'm really sorry ..."
　Imaizumi is disappointed.
　And they remembered the deceased.
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　Sake turned around and Imaizumi with a red face said.
　"By the way, you were nervous at the reception."
　Tetsuji made an excuse while superimposing that of the red demon on his face.
　"Because you were glaring at me"
　The white mask wasn't too daunting, Nishimura replied.
　"I wasn't staring at you."
　"I didn't know you were with the mask. I was glared at by someone with a sharp eye and pulled a little."
　"I just saw it normally."
　"If you knew you, it was okay."
　"It's been a while since I've met you. My face is hidden by a mask, and I was looking at my face to see if I was you."
　"Verification?"
　"I'm old. You"
　Tetsuji replied as he was sick of it.
　"You are the one"
　Sake progressed, and it became a recent story of each other.
　Imaizumi has two daughters, both of whom were married and left home.
　So now it seems to be the life of two couples.
　"I didn't feel that much when my daughters were there, but when I was gone, the house was empty."
　"Are you lonely?"
　"It's a little different. In other words, it's been a long time since the couple lived together. But at that time, the house wasn't big. I live in a single house now, but it's strangely big. I'm not used to it."
　"I understand. It took me a while to get used to the life of my only daughter, who was married to me and was alone with my husband and wife."
　"You too. I'm not the only one."
　Tetsuji told him that a child would soon be born between his daughter and his wife.
　"Yes. Is it your first grandchild?"
　"Ah, my first grandson."
　"When will you be born?"
　"I've heard it's early next month."
　"Well, Nishimura will also be a grandpa."
　"Hello, that's right."
　"We are already that old."
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　Nishimura invited the next house.
　"I want to go, but it's a hospital tomorrow."
　"What is it? Is it sick?"
　"No. Actually, I'm going to see my grandson's face."
　Imaizumi showed his grandson's standby image.
　"It's a girl. It's cute."
　Imaizumi showed the standby image of his newborn granddaughter.

　...It looks like a monkey ...

　I'm sorry for Imaizumi with a grinning face, but Tetsuji thought so and smiled inwardly.
　There was a phone call from his wife Sanae.
　"Well, labor pains have begun?"
　"That's right. It looks like it's early. Where are you now?"
　"I'm still with Imaizumi."
　"Can you come back soon?"
　"Oh, I see. I'll be back soon."
　After the phone call, Tetsuji saw Imaizumi.
　"It's bad to invite the second case."
　"Good. Don't worry. I'll be convenient tomorrow. God's guidance."
　"Let's drink slowly again"
　"Let's do that. Is it your first grandson? It's cute."
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　"Because it's a hospital. The mask will be white ..."
　The next morning, Tetsuji muttered while looking at himself in a black mask reflected in the mirror.
　"Daddy. Are you ready yet?"
　"Mom. Do you have a white mask?"
　"No. Right now, we only have a black mask left."
　"Yesterday. I saw a white guy."
　"That was the last one. When I went to buy it, there was only black."
　"Because it's a hospital. I have to have a white mask ..."
　"It's a good mask to prevent corona, whether it's black or white."
　"But it's a hospital"
　"If you're so worried, you should buy it at the hospital."
　"I opened this. It's a waste not to use it."
　"Don't linger, please be quick."
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　Tetsuji waited in the lobby for his wife to meet with his grandson.
　The number of visitors was less than expected, but people wearing white 　masks were visibly visible. His wife came back wondering if he should buy a white mask for a hospital purchase.
　"Mom. After all, the white mask is better ..."
　"I'm still saying"
　　　　　　　　　　　　*
　The two were guided by a young female nurse and were told to wait in the corridor in front of the neonatal room, which was lined with glass windows overlooking the room.
　Already there was a predecessor who seemed to be the same age as Mr. and Mrs. Nishimura.
　In contrast to his calm wife, the owner, who is wearing a flashy checkered mask that is popular in TV anime program these days, is irritated when he sees his grandson through the windowpane facing the corridor.

　…what. Bring such a KIMETU desing mask to the hospital ...

　Tetsuji was frustrated when he saw the man.
　"Daddy ..."
　Suddenly, the nurse next to Tetsuji told me to enjoy the dry couple.
　"Oh, Nana?"
　"It's not Nana. I'm always saying that there is no noise because it's a hospital."
　"Oh. Sman, Sman. But it's cute ..."
　Tetsuji was watching the exchange between the two with a friendly laugh, but suddenly his eyes met the man.
　And the two screamed "Ah" almost at the same time.
　"Are you Imaizumi?"
　"Nishimura. Why are you here?"
　"You are the one"
　"I have a grandson there ..."
　"eh"
　"Don't introduce me. The nurse next to you. My daughter Nana."
　The nurse greets them.
　"Ah. Was that so? Thank you ..."
　Imaizumi said in a good mood.
　"No, it's been a series of strange things since yesterday."
　"Totally"
　Tetsuji kept looking at Imaizumi's mask while saying so.
　"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
　"Your mask. It's flashy."
　"Ah, this is it. It's a gift from Nanako."
　"Is it a trendy anime?"
　"You'll love it. If you do this, you'll get rid of both demons and coronas."

　… Before that, you would have been exterminated…

　His wife Sanae called Tetsuji, who smiled inwardly.
　"Daddy. Look, look."
　Tetsuji asked Imaizumi when he saw his first grandson through the glass window.
　"That's right. Where did you buy that mask?"

　（END）