33 Tracing Water

CHAPTER 33

TRACING WATER

Kisejima, 2000. Located south-west of Kyushu, Kisejima — also known as Kise Island — is part of the Ryukyu Islands. Famous for its pristine beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and the diversity of its aquatic life, it is a popular destination with beginner and experienced divers. Because of its location, the weather is warm most of the year.

After checking in to the Ocean View Kise Hotel, Shoji called Yoshioka using the in-room phone. Waiting for his senior to pick up, he stared out of the window. It was raining. The sparkling sea could be seen from the villa, even though the beach was a long walk away.

‘What do you mean, you’re not returning tomorrow?’ Yoshioka said. ‘Didn’t I make it clear you could only take three days off? We have the editorial meeting.’

‘My apologies,’ Shoji said, lowering his head. ‘Think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime favour.’

Yoshioka groaned. ‘Do you need me to personally come and get you from Singapore?’

‘I’m in Japan.’

‘Good. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then.’

‘But, right now, I’m somewhere near Okinawa.’

There was a brief pause. ‘Arai, is this a joke?’

‘I’m serious.’

To reach the island from Singapore, Shoji had taken three different flights. One from Singapore to Narita, and then another from Narita to Naha, and finally, a domestic flight to Kisejima.

Yoshioka took a deep breath. ‘Arai, I thought you were serious about your job. That was why I recommended you for promotion. You’re showing yourself in a bad light. How am I going to explain this to the management?’

Shoji tightened his grip. ‘I need to be here even if I lose my job.’

Yoshioka went quiet. It was a bold move for Shoji to say this. It would be difficult for him to find other employment if he were to leave the company. But he had to do what he had to do, whatever the cost.

After a long silence, Yoshioka asked, ‘Can you be back in a week?’

‘That should be fine.’ Shoji breathed a sigh of relief.

‘I’ll get a doctor friend of mine to write a medical certificate saying you’re unwell or something … But only this once. And please keep it to yourself.’

‘I appreciate it.’

After the phone call, Shoji took a taxi to Kisejima Ocean Science Museum in the pouring rain. Water droplets pelting on the window made it hard to see outside. Bright billboards blurred into each other. People scurried under colourful umbrellas while some took cover under shelters.

‘The weather has been like this since this morning,’ the taxi driver said. ‘It gets heavier whenever you think it’s going to stop.’

Shoji said nothing. The white sedan he was in crept along in the congested traffic.

‘Strange,’ the driver murmured, ‘we don’t usually have traffic jams.’