The Legend of the Greenfox

Toma looked to his two, much more serious friends as they paced. 

“I want to follow up,” Hana said firmly. “Ask around, maybe one of the old-timers at the nursing home. They could use our help with so few helpers around these days. They say Mr. Yukari knows everything about town. He’s been around forever.”

Toma nodded. He knew that Hana had volunteered there in the summer, intending to get experience relevant to med school. What a pity, he thought. She would’ve made a good doctor.

“Good idea,” Arata said, but his eyes drifted past Hana, scanning the charred walls of the shrine. His fingers were yet again toying with that ring around his neck. Toma noticed this habit of his a few months back, but again, he wasn’t quite sure how to wheedle the information out of Arata. He wasn’t sure he should even do it.

“I’m gonna go back and tell Feima we’ll be out late tonight. I’ll tell her we’re going to town to pick up more ration vouchers.”

Hana and Toma nodded, watching as he strode out of sight. Toma felt bad lying to his host, but Arata’s excuse was reasonable. The ration cards had been introduced last month to prevent bulk buying. Thankfully, many goods—especially local ones—were transported by drones, but the regional governments still had to monitor these things.

Toma let out a breath and sat down on a nearby stone.

Hana regarded him with a nervous look. “Toma… can we talk for a sec?”

Toma cocked an eyebrow. “Sure. What’s wrong?”

She stared after Arata’s retreating figure. “It’s not something I’m meant to talk about, so it’s hard.”

Toma bit back a dozen jokes he was dying to make about how love confessions are often difficult. He didn’t think that particular joke would be welcome or comforting at the moment.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”

She shook her head. “It’s about Arata. You’re living with him. I’m just… worried.”

Hana swallowed. “Do you remember how he had that freaked-out look when we saw that greenfox?”

“Yeah, I caught that. What’s the deal? Did something happen when you were kids?”

Hana nodded. “His dad… he drank a lot after Arata’s mom died in childbirth. He seemed like a sweet guy, at least when he was sober… but I’d sometimes see Arata wincing when we played. It took some arguing, but one time I had him show me the bruises under his shirt. It was awful. That bastard didn’t even take off his ring.”

Toma’s easy smirk faded. He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “The one Arata wears now? He beat his son with his own wedding ring? That’s twisted.” Toma shook his head in disbelief. “Damn. I never knew. But what does it have to do with the fox?”

“One time, when we were eleven, his dad came home really wasted and did something much worse than the usual beatings…” Hana looked mournful, and Toma waited for her to take a deep breath and collect herself. “He told Arata about his name.”

“His name?” Toma asked, confused.

“Apparently, ‘Arata’ comes from an obscure trickster figure in folklore. His dad used to be into that kind of thing. According to some myths, tricksters would transform into a greenfox. Travelers would see the fox and follow, assuming a freshwater source was near, but in reality, they were just being lured to their deaths. They’d land in quicksand, and the trickster would transform back and make off with their belongings. That story is why greenfoxes are considered unlucky.”

Hana started to cry and brushed the tears out of her face. “And… that asshole… he admitted in a drunken rant that he named Arata after that trickster because of his eyes, which were the same shade as a greenfox’s. He said Arata stole his wife from him.”

Toma swore.

“He was never the same after that. Much more introverted and bitter. His dad died in the car accident a few months later. His stepmom, who witnessed some of his dad’s worst days, felt guilty and always tried to make things up to Arata now that she had sole custody, but that relationship never really healed. I tried to be there for him, tried to get him to throw away that stupid ring and stop blaming himself for his mom… but he didn’t want to ever talk about it. It was hard to be around him, knowing he was suffering. And my parents were always in my ear, talking about how I shouldn’t associate with a kid from a family like his.”

She was sobbing uncontrollably now. The shame was obviously too much. Toma got up and hugged her. He didn’t know what else to do.

“They were always trying to control me, force me to be traditional. That was the last straw. I swore I’d do well in school and move away. Arata and I… it was awkward. We drifted apart the last couple of years as I got busy.”

Toma patted her back, and she stepped back, producing a tissue to blow her nose and wipe her eyes. Just then they got a ping from Arata saying he was done at his place and ready to leave. The two looked at it and composed themselves.

After a few moments, Hana said her last word on the topic before turning to leave. “I think seeing that vision might’ve brought it all back. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell. It’s eating him up. He’s closer to you than he is me at this point. If you can help him, please…”

Toma looked down, silent for a moment before following her out the door, muttering to himself.

“…Damn, and I thought my dad was a prick.”