Form

They all filed out of the room, one by one, like ants carrying orders from their Queen. In this case, I suppose it would be Shindo.

"That's it? No more explanation? You would even keep your own asso-let me stop there. I know how you are." The only ones left in the office now was him and I. Exactly as it needed to be. 

He shuffled a couple pages and stood up to look out the glass window. You know what they say about glass houses. "Then you should know well enough then what the answer is to your question. There's nothing ulterior behind this. In fact, the move to pharmaceuticals is long overdue. If we were already producing microchips, other electronics, it's only natural."

"You don't see tech companies getting into pharmaceuticals unless there's something deeper."

"Like what? Money? It's truly no different than any other multi-national corporation. And plenty of companies, Amazon, Microsoft all see the value in adding their say, digital footprint into the pharma world. Especially, with the rise of AI. Besides, we just do tech, we're through and through, till the end a fruit distribution company."

"Okay." Nothing more to extract from him. Maybe it wasn't deep enough, my persistence. Then again, I don't need hi-wait. "Shin hasn't joined. Why did you mention it to the board as if it's a done deal. I doubt he'll willingly join."

"Oh, he did. In fact, he called me and asked more about what it meant to be a scientist on my team, but that's besides the point. That was all thanks to you anyway." Besides the point he says, "What'd you think of the meeting? I told you; work hard and keep your head down, you'll make it."

"Why Yuzus? There's many other fruits that have better health benefits. Pomegranates, Oranges, Mangoes are one highest growing fruit in the world, the closest to the sun. And why would the government give you the space?"

"Because Osaka Industries paid for it. I don't what it is you're trying to get at here. We do things legally with full consent and support from the government because of what we provide for the country of Japan. The one you live in, by the way."

It's already hard to stand him, but to sit here and listen to him blabber on and lie with this pompous attitude. We move forward. "You don't like me much, do you Rin?"

"It took you this long to understand that?"

"Then why do you insist on working here? You're free to travel the world, be a rich kid and waste your life doing nothing, chasing conspiracy theories and pretending to have a passion-"

"I do."

"Ok, you do. I wasn't the one who abandoned you. You are aware of that, no? It was that tramp mother of yours and that shitbag of a dude who is your father. I'm the one who let you live with me. Gave you a job. Live your life. Let you do what you want. Don't forget that."

"I doubt you ever will." 

He wonders why there's no Father of the Year award for him in my mind. He's corrupt. Sometimes it can get overzealous-that's true. But there's something there. The increase of the GDP for Japan due to Osaka, the Emperor visiting our farm a few years ago, the news that they're moving into big pharmacy. What does this all mean? Knowing him for as long as I have, it was virtually pointless to expect to get anything out of him, just wanted to see where it would lead. Yet, it never fails to leave me that he's always one step ahead, never leaving top form. 

*

*

*

The train called my attention today, so there it was that I found myself. A 3-hour ride to Nagoya. It's better to take caution, knowing that it's still known that I am a public figure to a certain degree. Covering up and wearing my hair up usually helps and it's very rare I get bothered or even noticed for that matter. It's preferred. Being in a company car or jet sometimes robs me of the view of Japan and as I say it I'm sure it sounds privileged. But looking out the window, having time to think. There's many things that don't make sense to me, starting with why he even invited me to the meeting. As it stands, it only was to show the forward progress of the company and that of Shin's arrival. There is much to be desired in the area of Shin's importance. It was only a couple of weeks ago we drove to the port near Kochi, talking for hours. Why can't I think straight about him? He's so wishy washy and emotionally unavailable but here I am, quite literally unavailable, keeping secrets. I tell myself it's for his own good, but that's another lie. He's involved because of me, well, my father has an interest in him anyway, and if you look at it another way, I got the first move on him. The first opportunity that I had gotten in years. Why isn't that like that of the other ones who were easily erased from my mind? I can't stand it, the constant thinking of him, wondering who he's with. What he's doing. I'm at least rational enough to know that above all, he is the key. For some reason he holds the answer to the mystery of my father and I'm dying to know what is the Yuzu Tree. 

I just hope that we can find out together. Wait a little for me, okay?

***