Recovery of a Missing Piece

That evening, Hiroshi, Misako and I arrived at Mister Mitamo’s home. He had a respectably large home, for a watchmaker in Tokyo. We stood outside, waiting for Yuta to answer the door. We decided to look through the belongings of Hitomi, in search of the missing pocket watch. I was curious to learn more about Hitomi, to see her things. I hid my grief from Misako and Hiroshi, focusing on the present moment over lingering on her death. I wished she were alive, I wanted to speak to her, I wanted to see her face. But it would never be possible to do so unless Hiroshi invents a time-machine one day.

“Hello!” A voice said as they opened the door.

Missus Mitamo had greeted us, the lady I met by coincidence on the park bench. She noticed me, Hiroshi and Misako together before her.

“Oh, it’s you! The good-looking boy from the park the other day.” Missus Mitamo said.

“Nice to meet you again, ma’am.” I replied.

“And Misako? You haven’t dropped by the house in a while!” She asked.

“It’s good to see you, Aunty Mitamo.” Misako replied.

“Do you two know each other?” She asked Misako.

“Yes, we do. We met by chance, but we go way back. It’s a long story, Aunty Mitamo.” Misako replied.

“And you are…?” Missus Mitamo asked, looking at Hiroshi.

“Hiroshi Hayakawa, ma’am. I’m your son’s Master.” Hiroshi said.

Yuta appeared from behind his mother. He was still dressed in his school uniform. He was surprised to see the three of us at his house.

“Hey, Master!” Yuta screamed.

“Hey, kiddo.” Hiroshi replied.

“Ah, I see! Please come in, you three, you are all welcome inside.”

The Mitamo household was littered with ornaments, framed art pieces and some of Mister Mitamo’s watches. I could tell that they were a household that adored the art world. Missus Mitamo seated us by a large table in the living room. She quickly boiled water, preparing to make us some tea and coffee. I noticed that no pictures of a girl were in the family photos on the wall. I assumed they had taken down all photos that had Hitomi in them. But I understood why; my father had done the same after my mother’s passing. It was too much for him to see his deceased wife on the walls whenever he returned home from work. Missus Mitamo placed a large helping of snacks down on the table as she served us beverages.

“What brings you all here?” She asked us.

We did not want to mention the exact reason why just yet, as Yuta was with us. Hiroshi and I remembered the promise we had made with Misako some time ago; to not mention Hitomi’s death in front of him.

“Hey, Yuta, want to show me your collection of toys in your room?” Hiroshi asked Yuta.

“Right now?” Yuta asked.

“Sure, if that’s fine with your mom.” Hiroshi replied.

“Go ahead, you are more than welcome to. Yuta tells me such much about how you look after him.” Missus Mitamo said.

Yuta grabbed Hiroshi, walking with him to his bedroom.

“How is Yuta doing?” Misako asked missus Mitamo.

“The same old, always getting into trouble, but since Hiroshi, he has calmed down on his antics quite a bit.”

“Hiroshi uses up all of Yuta’s energy, it’s understandable.” I said.

“So…” Missus Mitamo began, taking a sip of her tea.

“My son can’t hear us now, what did you want to speak about?” Missus Mitamo insisted.

I took a sip of tea, I relied on Misako to speak to Missus Mitamo, as I was but a stranger to them.

“Aunty, it’s about Hitomi.” Misako stated.

Missus Mitamo set her cup of tea down. She was visibly upset at Misako’s response. The thought about her daughter had affected her mood entirely.

“What about her.” Missus Mitamo said, I could hear some anger stirred in her voice.

“W-We wanted to take a look through her belongings.” Misako asked with hesitation.

“No.” Missus Mitamo denied.

We did not expect her to reject our request.

“B-but we just need-”

“No. You may not.” She sternly replied.

“Aunty…”

“You know my reason as to why. If that’s all you’ve come to do, then you all can leave my house.”

Misako sat quietly. I did as well. ‘How can I respond? Do I say something?’ I wondered.

“Missus Mitamo-” I began.

“I do not want to hear from you, I don’t even know you.” She retorted, cutting off my response.

Missus Mitamo stood up from her chair, she grew angrier by every second.

“Thank you very much for the visit, but it’s time for you to leave.” She stated, she was not going to listen to us.

“Aunty Mitamo…” Misako trailed off.

“It’s your fault my daughter is dead! Do you hear me? YOUR FAULT!” Missus Mitamo yelled, slamming her hand on the table.

In the corner of my eye, I could see Yuta and Hiroshi peek their heads out of the room. I looked at Hiroshi, and he understood what I needed him to do. Hiroshi grabbed Yuta by the head, pulling him back into his room. Then, I heard the door slam shut in Yuta’s room. Misako placed her hands in her face, she looked down in shame.

“Honey, we should be kinder to our guests.” A voice said.

Mister Mitamo walked into his house. He had a pocketful of groceries in both hands.

“What are you doing back early, Toji?” Missus Mitamo asked.

“Work was slow, so I closed the shop early today. Looks like it’s a good thing I did, Sakura.” Mister Mitamo said to his wife.

He walked closer, seeing Misako crying.

“We should listen to their story, Sakura.” He said.

“I will not. I refuse.”

“They must have good reason.”

“My daughter is dead! And it’s her fault.”

“It was not her fault, stop telling yourself that.”

But Missus Mitamo would not listen.

“Honey, come with me to the back of the house.” Mister Mitamo told her.

Missus Mitamo followed him as they walked out of my eyesight. I focused on Misako. I held her hand, she needed strength. I understood the pain she carried, the blame she had in her heart. I understood it all.

“It will work out, it will all work out.” I whispered to Misako. I brushed her hair with my fingers.

“It’s all so…draining; Arguing and fighting, death and life.” Misako mumbled.

“It is. It truly is.”

Some moments passed as we awaited their return. Finally, Mister and Missus Mitamo returned. They both held brown boxes in their hands. They set it on the table for us.

“Here is all of her things, other items such as clothing we had given away already.” Mister Mitamo said.

“You can’t take anything from these boxes, but you may have a look.” Missus Mitamo said.

“Thank you.” I replied on the behalf of Misako.

“Why do you want to go through her things?” Mister Mitamo asked us.

“Well, we are looking for a third pocket watch, an exact copy of the watch Misako and I have.”

“Why would my daughter have one?” He asked.

“Hitomi was the one who made the pocket watches. She sent it to me and Misako as a memento of our friendship.”

“How? Did you know my Hitomi?” Missus Mitamo asked.

“It’s a long story, but yes, I knew her.” I replied.

The two of them sat down as we opened the boxes.

“We have all the time in the world, let’s discuss.” Mister Mitamo stated.