Chapter 3.2

When Seishin hurried back to the temple, he arrived just as Miwako, still in her bedclothes, was hanging up the phone. "My, are you just getting home?"

"Yes--I was at Toshio's. I'd heard that the Motohashis' Tsuruko-san had passed away?"

"That's so," Miwako said with her hand to her face. "They'd called in to Toshio-kun's place, then, yes? They said she'd passed away, Tsuruko-san did. She was on in years but..."

Miwako made an anxious expression. "Why does this keep happening, I wonder? The parishioners are worried that there isn't a terrible disease spreading. .... What do you think?"

Seishin avoided her gaze. "I cannot say anything."

"Oh... Please don't push yourself too hard either, do think of yourself too. That is a part of fulfilling your responsibilities you know."

I understand, Seishin nodded. Passing by by Miwako as they went in opposite directions down the halls, Ikebe awoke and came out, his face clouding as he heard the death report. He looked to Seishin as if to say something but nothing came from his mouth. Mitsuo came and then Tsurumi came. Various parishioners gathered to participate in the services but lately the number of familiar faces felt to be in decline. In contrast, the number of unusual faces increased, so it didn't feel as if there were fewer people but it was clear that a change was occurring.

As the services finished, coming timed as if to just miss the service was Shimo-Sotoba's manager Matsuo Seiji.

In many cases the Mourning Crew's manager was an elderly person with much experience but Seiji had just reached middle age. He'd just inherited the position from his father whose body was failing him the year before last.

Seiji arrived with a cool face relaying news of Tsuruko's death. Tsuruko was an old woman who lived alone, and when a neighbor who hadn't seen her in some time became worried and stopped by the house, they had found her dead body.

"It seems she died the day before yesterday. What a bleak prospect."

Is that so, Seishin fed him the requisite responses appropriately.

"She had three children all daughters. Her oldest daughter has a household in Kami-Sotoba, she will stand in as the chief mourner. That's taken care of, but..." Saying that, Seiji's words were hesitant, looking as if sneaking a peek at Seishin's face. "If possible, we'd like to have the vigil tonight, and have the funeral tomorrow, you see. How does that sound?"

I don't mind but, Seishin started to say looking to the blackboard.

"But, tomorrow is..."

"Yes, tomorrow is Tomobiki."

"We are fine with that. But you see---Junior Monk, do you know of the latest rumors of a spreading illness?"

"Yes... well, that is..."

"Of course I understand that it isn't an epidemic. Or rather, the doctor of the Ozaki's hasn't said anything and neither has the government office, so we can only assume it isn't one. But, to be honest, things are strange this year. I can't get my mind around this many deaths in a row."

"...Yes."

"It's at least like an epidemic. Are there circumstances that mean you can't say that it is or it isn't? The government office and the hospital might have reasons they can't too. When it comes to things like that, it's something the likes of me couldn't understand but." Seiji said with a conspicuously heavy sigh. "....Don't think that I'm unfeeling. I don't want to put off the funeral to avoid Tomobiki. While we're drawing it out like that, another death notice might come in, though."

Seishin stared back at Seiji, who gave a shameful laugh.

"To be honest, doing two funerals in one day is tough. There's no guarantee it'll be only two either. Even without that, ever since summer the people on the Mourning Crew have been running all about, we're tired, you know. You could say we're succumbing to it. We have to contact the contractors to take care of the grave but even the contractors have their schedules packed full if it gets busy. And so we don't wish to postpone. All of this isn't my opinion alone, either..."

Seishin nodded. So the situation has progressed this far, he realized. Indeed, thinking of the number of funerals since summer, the tasks taken up by the managers and the Mourning Crew were beyond the pale of an ordinary suffering load. It made sense that they would be succumbing to it.

"...Understood. Indeed, it may be as you say. If you say that the bereaved family is also in agreement, I do not have any complaints on the matter either."

As if a great weight was listed from his shoulders, Seiji's expression lightened.

"I can be at ease if the Junior Monk says as much. After all, I know some of the elderly will be saying it's just terrible," Seiji said with a strained smile. "Once you get old, you can just talk without being obligated to do any action, you know? I don't know how to put this, but it's easy to talk about those doing the real, bodily work. There are some people whose work just never ends."

That may be so, Seishin nodded. Seiji bowed his head low.

"So with that said, I'll leave it to you. The chief mourner says to make the posthumous name fitting and the services minimal."

"Most certainly."