The first year of the Showa Era
Downtown Tokyo.

"Sir, are you sure there is an antique shop in this town? I have been around and asked, but nobody knows about antique shops,"

My name is Uchiyama Osamu. My mother is currently lying sick. The doctor said it was because she was old. I was really worried about her condition.

"But, mother said, we have to bring these things to an antique shop in this town," I said, my driver, Yamakawa, had been around but had not found the antique shop.

"Is it possible, the shop no longer exists?" Yamakawa said.

I sighed, "I can't go back saying we didn't find the antique shop. Mother condition can get worse. Let's find out again," I said as I continued walking around, "Ah! Excuse me," I greeted a man who out of a restaurant.

"Yes?" The man glanced at me confusedly

"I'm looking for an antique shop. But, I haven't been able to find it. Do you know if there's an antique store in this town?" I asked him.

"Oh, you are going the wrong way," the man said, "Let me take you there,"

"Eh? Do you know the place?" Yamakawa asked.

"Well ... you can say that," the man smiled.

"Thank God," I sighed with relief.

We walk down to the narrow back alley in a certain downtown area.

"Is this antique shop you're looking for?" The man asked.

I turned and looked at an old shop with the sign No. 49 Ren'ei antique stores.

"I...don't know...I'm just looking for an antique shop, if indeed this is the only one in this town, then surely this is the shop," I felt relieved after finding the shop.

"Thank God if you can see the shop," the young man said, stepping closer to the store, "The shopkeeper said, only those who destined can enter the shop,"

"Eh? What do you mean?" Yamakawa looked confused.

CLING !!!

The man opened the door and we followed him inside. Cold air pierced my whole body. The shop looks dark even though the sun shines very brightly outside.

"Welcome to our shop, dear customers, what can you do for you ... oh ... Ito-san?"

I glanced at the voice and saw a girl sitting in front of so many books.

"Aki-san, good afternoon, sorry for bothering you?" the man said.

"Oh of course not. I've been waiting, it's just that I didn't expect you to come too," the girl smiled.

Eh? What does it mean?

"You said that you were waiting?" Yamakawa asked, "Does that mean you already know we're coming?"

"I always wait for customers every day," the girl smiled, "What can I do for you?"

I stared at the girl for a moment, then stepped closer to her, "My mother, wants to give this thing to you," I put a long box on the table in front of the girl, her name is Aki if I don't hear wrong.

The girl smiled while taking the box, "How is your mother condition?" she asked while opening the wooden box slowly.

Yamakawa and I looked at each other. How can this girl find out?

"My mother was in a weak condition because of her age. Because of that, I wanted to do everything she wanted. She said to hand this thing to an antique shop, someone had been waiting for this thing since a long time ago, "I said.

The wooden box is open and a doll appears inside. Japanese dolls. With long black hair, wearing a beautiful floral pattern kimono, with florals hair ornaments.

My mother loves this doll so much.

"Ahh !!!" Ito was startled.

Yamakawa and I were shocked and glanced at Ito-san.

"A very beautiful doll. It's very well caring, isn't Ito-san?" Aki-san smiled.

"Ah ... yes ... I ... also think like that ..." Ito looked nervous and embarrassed, I didn't understand what he was thinking.

"That doll ... do you know who owns it?" I asked.

"I don't know," the girl said.

"Eh ... but, the Madam said to bring this doll here," Yamakawa said in confusion.

"I think your mother just told you to bring the doll here, right? There's someone waiting, maybe one day someone will come and take this doll," the girl glanced at me.

Should I tell her that my mother said that the doll is the one who asked her? No. I shouldn't.

"You mother only want someone to take care of this doll well, I guess," the girl said.

"If it's like that, why give it to an antique shop. I can also take care of this doll. Moreover, this is my mother's favourite doll," I said.

She shook her head, "No. Men won't be able to take care of dolls. You don't have a wife and also a daughter. Even a maid won't take care of the doll properly like your mother took care of her," she smiled.

"How can you ..." Yamakawa looked very surprised, so did I who could only stare at her.

"Your mother treats this doll-like her own daughter, doesn't it?" She glances at me.

I silence for a moment, took a deep breath, "My sister ... she ran away from home with a man when she was 18 years old. Father disapproved of their relationship. From that moment on, my mother became easily sick. I was sure that because she thought of my sister, "

"Are you not trying to find her?" Ito-san asked.

"At that time, I was young and my mother couldn't do much without my father's approval. But, we tried to find secretly, but we didn't find results until now," I sighed.

"But, Master died 3 years ago. When we tidied up his office, we found several documents about Young's miss search documents," Yamakawa said, "But, it seems that there are no results,"

"It's likely that your sister changed her name. Or maybe both of your sister and her husband changed their surname to eliminate the trace," Ito said, "We often receive many reports of a missing person, and it's very difficult to find them,"

"Are you a detective?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm a police officer, Ito Haruki," Ito said.

"I see. My name is Uchiyama Osamu and this is my driver, Yamakawa,"

"So what should we do now, sir?" Yamakawa asked.

I thought for a moment, "Mother asked us to give this doll to someone from the antique shop. I think I will give this doll to you, Aki-san," I stared at the girl.

Aki-san smiles, "Alright. I will accept it. Please express my gratitude to your mother,"

I nodded my head, "Then excuse me. Ito-san, thank you for taking me here,"

"No problem," Ito-san smiled.

Yamakawa and I then turned back to get out of the shop, when my eyes were distracted by a glittering object. My eyes widened when I saw it from a distance. I immediately approached the object and was very surprised.

"This ..." I took the object from the box on the shelf, "Silver pocket watch?"

"Do you know that thing, sir?" Yamakawa asked confusedly.

I quickly glanced at Aki-san who smiled at me, "Aki-san ... where did you get this pocket watch?"

"Ah ... sorry, it's not for sale. A customer left it here. I will return it if he comes back,"

I walked quickly over to Aki-san, "What kind of person is carrying this pocket watch? A woman?"

"What is wrong?" Ito-san, looking very confused.

"No," Aki-san smiled, "A fine young man. The pocket watch belongs to his mother,"

My body feels freezes, my heart beats fast, "Belongs.... to his mother? A young man?"

"Sir?" Yamakawa looked confused.

I stared at the silver pocket watch in my hand, "This is mine. My father gave it on my 10th birthday as a present." My feelings were mixed, "I gave it to my sister as a memento when she ran away from home,"

"Eh? !!!!" Ito-san and Yamakawa were surprised.

"Are you sure, Sir? Maybe the item just look alike," Yamakawa said.

"Impossible," I take a look behind when I saw my name written on it, "It's handmade that my father ordered only for me," I glanced at Aki-san who looked calm, "Where ... can I ... meet this young man?"

I know ... for some reason ... I'm sure, Aki-san knows something ...

"I don't know. But ... He said he would look for work at a festival near the fountain before returning to his village. Her son and wife were sick and they needed treatment," Aki-san smiled.

Without thinking I immediately left the store.

"Sir!!" Yamakawa was shocked and immediately followed me, "Wait, Sir ..."

I ran as fast as I could to the fountain. Yamakawa's voice sounded vaguely behind me. I have to be fast.

My niece ...

I stopped when I arrived right in front of the fountain. I tried to regulate my breath. In my age, I don't believe I can run this fast. My chest feels hot. I have to be fast.

But, my legs couldn't hold my body anymore so I fell.

"Are you okay, sir?" a man immediately approached me and helped me to stand up, "Are you okay?" he asked again.

I nodded my head, "Thank you," I peeked at the pocket watch that fell in the ground.

"Eh? Isn't that ... my pocket watch?"

We looked at each other.
I can see it clearly. My sister who smiled happily.

***

"What are you doing here?" Chikage glared at Ito with his usual sharp and cold gaze.

"The police seem to have a lot of free time, huh?" Aoi said it.

Aki chuckled, "Don't be like that. Ito-san brought customers here, you know? He helped Hikari-chan find her precious doll,"

Hikari hugged the doll tightly, "Thank you very much, Ito-san. I will never forget your kindness,"

"Eh ?!" Ito seemed embarrassed, "I did nothing," Ito laughed.

Hikari stared at them all, smiled happily, "I can rest now," Hikari's body slowly turned into like a foam.

"Hikari-chan?" Ito surprised.

"She can pass it now," Aki smiled.

Ito glanced at Hikari one last time, "I hope you can rest in peace now," Ito smiled along with the Hikari disappearance.

"All thanks to you, Ito-san," Aki smiled.

Ito stared at Aki for a moment, there were so many questions he wanted to ask, "Aki-san ... you already know that all this will happen, right?"

Chikage and Aoi glance at Ito, they will say something, but Aki holds them back.

"I only know, there is no coincidence in this world," Aki said.

Ito sighed, "I know everything happened for a reason, but, sometimes, I wish I know what that reason was,"

"Ito-san...you should stop thinking too much," Aki chuckles, "It's alright not to know the answer. They will come to you when you least expect it,"

***

Tale 12
End