Letters To The Field- Correspondence 8/17
And was horrified by what she saw. She’d heard the rumors about the letter’s contents before, but it wasn’t until she actually looked at the letter that she saw what kind of a savage man Youichi was. His handwriting was scrawly, scratchy, and untidy and all around poor. Looked much like a drunk man had written it. His paper was stained, abused, and had probably been used to clean someone’s boots before it was actually written on and sent. Then there was his crude language-!
How dare he address her baby girl as a ‘fucking woman’!
Enraged, she took the letter right to her husband and didn’t bother to notice another letter had fallen to the ground.
Miss Anezaki-
Hello ma’am, I am Specialist Atsushi Munakata under the command of Sergeant Hiruma. I was informed you had an inquiry about his hand injury from last month. I would like to tell you that he was testing out a new machine gun that had not been properly set up and got his right thump jerked pretty good from the recoil. Nothing was broken, nor was anything bleeding. His thumb was a little swollen and spazimed a little if he tried to use it. I had him restrict his use of that thumb for 24 hours with periodic icing. He was right as rain after that. The only issue was the day of injury and restriction happened to have corresponded to the evening he typically writes you. Corporal Takekura transcribed the letter on the Sergeant’s behalf. Other than that minor incident, the Sergeant has been in excellent health. I hope your worries are laid to rest now.
-SPC A. Munakata
Mamori had arrived at the home of Ichiro Takami. He had been injured as a child and had a lame leg so it was impossible for him to partake in the war effort. He was tall man, with chiseled features and clean cut hair. He was very well-kept and well-mannered. He was nothing at all like Youichi and exactly what her parents would think a good match. He was their town preacher and five years her senior.
“Father Takami?” Mamori asked, poking her head into the church. In her arms she had a basket full of fruit and the like. An offering from her parents of course, but Mamori knew better. Father Tamaki was a bachelor and a stable man. He didn’t make a good deal of money, but everyone in town respected him greatly. Of course her father would want her to seek a marriage with this man.
“Mamori!” Father Takami turned around and flashed her a kind, gentle smile. “My child, please come in!”
Mamori stepped into the church and quietly walked over to the Father’s side. She silently offered him the basket from her parents. Having not completely gotten over her conversation with her father, Mamori looked defeated and sad. Gently, Father Takami took the basket from her and set it to the side.
“What’s wrong my child?” Father Takami asked gently. It was easy for him to see that she was distressed.
“My-my parents do not wish me to support the man I love.” Mamori admitted sadly.
“Why is that?” Father Takami asked. “Is he in debt?”
“No, he’s out fighting in the war.” Mamori corrected.
“Youichi Hiruma, he’s the man you love, yes?” Father Takami asked. Mamori nodded with a blush.
“I’ve spoken to Youichi multiple times, he is not a bad person inside even if he does wish others think horribly of him.” Father Takami remarked. “And your parents made you come her to try and banish thoughts of him?”
“Not quite,” Mamori’s gaze dropped to the ground, “father wanted me to pursue you instead.”
A startled expression turned disapproving so quickly that one could not have even realized that Father Takami had found this to be news. He set his hands on Mamori’s shoulders and pulled her into a small hug.
“Let’s go talk to your parents about this.” The Father suggested. “They’ve done us both a disservice.”
Upon arrival, both Mamori and Takami were surprised to see just how venomous her parents were. Youichi’s letter lay open in the middle of the table for all to see. Beside it was a peace of pretty rose paper and a red pen.
“Mother? Father?” Mamori asked, concerned.
“Mamori, you’re not going to be writing that bastard anymore,” her father told her, “so we’re going to write him and tell him to stop sending us mail.” He sounded certain.
“Mr. Anezaki that will not be what we are doing next.” Father Takami corrected. “Instead I will be having a word with you and your wife about your actions as of late.”
“Father Takami?” Her mother looked at the priest, confused.
“Mamori, why don’t you take Youichi’s letter upstairs and write him a reply?” Father Takami requested. Mamori nodded, grabbed the letter and rushed up the stairs.
That’s when Father Takami adjusted his glasses and made his expression turn black….
Mamori didn’t start writing the letter right away. She was a little shaken by the gull of her parents. She turned on the little radio in her room in an attempt to hear more about the war effort. Team Naga this, Team Naga that, it’d been the subject all month. The enemy’s most destructive offense….
She thought about Sena, about Youichi, about what she had been doing, about what he had been doing.
“Mamori,” Father Takami knocked on the door, “there’s another part of his letter.”
“What!?” Mamori gasped and opened the door. The Father handed her the report from Munakata. Mamori read it quietly and was a little startled to find a pack of sugarless gum at the bottom of it.
“I know he doesn’t chew it around you, but he’s always enjoyed a stick around me.” Father Takami winked then left.
Youichi-
You could be a little nicer about asking for the coffee!
How was the first cup anyways? You never tell me if it was any good. Either way, it is good to hear that you’re still alive and well.
The radio’s been talking about Team Naga a lot lately, it worries me. I hope you don’t have to encounter them.
How’s Sena doing? Suzuna never tells me what he writes her about. I share with her what you send me!
I am thankful that you didn’t use ‘fucking’ so excessively this time. It makes me very happy.
I just want you to know that I still support you and wish you well. I know you hate God and Church, but I go and pray every day that you’ll return home safely one day. I know you’ll hate me for it, but I’m at my wits’ end and -I just-
I’m going to do everything, even if you hate it, because it can’t not help. So there!
I also recall that you liked sugar-free gum, so I sent you two packs. I hope they last until I hear from you again.
Lots of love,
Mamori A.
Delicately, lovingly, Mamori kissed the bottom of the letter.
“I’m in love with you, please come home-!” Mamori prayed, fighting the tears back. “Please-!”
_=_=_=_=_
For those who are curious, Takami is like seven years Mamori’s senior.