Councilor Kondo Down on His Knees
Kondo Father’s PoV
“What, are, you, saying …”
With a trembling voice, I say these words unintentionally.
“Trying to hide it is useless. Kondo-kun. I’ve heard everything behind the scenes. If you want to apologize, it would be polite to contact them first. But you show up out of the blue and start talking about money. You also try to force a settlement without considering the victim’s feelings. As a human being, that was the worst thing you could have done.”
When I heard those words, my blood ran cold.
“I’m sorry. I lost my composure and used strong words.”
I was at a loss for words.
“I see. But, Kondo-kun. I’m actually a colleague of the principal of your son’s high school. Now that I’ve said all that. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I felt a cold sweat run down my back. I remembered what I had told the principal earlier.
“That was …”
Has the former mayor been told everything?!
When I realize what this means, I can’t stop shaking.
“Oh well. Aono-san, turn on the TV. It’s about time. Eiji-kun’s big day is about to begin. I recorded it, but I want to see it live. Let’s leave the clown alone for a while.”
“Ah, yes.”
They immediately ignored me and turned on the TV in the restaurant. The evening news is on.
A female announcer reads the following news.
[The high school students received certificates of appreciation. Eiji Aono, a second-year high school student, and Ai Ichijo, a first-year high school student, both from XX City, received a certificate of appreciation from the fire department. On a recent Saturday, they helped an old man who suddenly collapsed in front of the station. The couple left the old man in an ambulance without giving their names. A video of these two heroes rescuing a fainting old man posted on SNS generated a lot of sympathy, and the fire department and police searched for the couple. They were identified by a teacher at the high school they attend …]
After the announcer’s voice, some young high school students with big smiles on their faces were interviewed.
When I heard the words “Eiji Aono” I immediately understood that he was the son of this family. But I couldn’t understand the value of this beautiful story.
“Kondo-kun? Do you know who the old man is that Eiji-kun saved?”
When Minami-san asked me that, I could only shake my head.
“Actually, it’s Yamada-san. The former chairman of the Prefectural Assembly. Coincidence is a scary thing. You know Yamada-san, don’t you? He’s a leading figure in the same party as you.”
I do know him. He is an important figure in the prefectural assembly and a big shot that even council members would not be able to stand up to. He’s retired now, but his son is taking over, and his son is a big deal too. …
I can’t stop breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Yeah, that’s right. There’s someone I want you to meet, Kondo-kun. Hey, Yamada-kun!!!”
I heard the sound of shoes coming from behind me again.
“I really wanted to take the time to watch my benefactor’s big day. Too bad, isn’t it? Kondo-san.”
Yamada-san, a member of the prefectural assembly, has just arrived. He is a young hopeful who has taken over his father’s position and is expected to enter the national political arena in the future.
“Eh, why? …”
“Actually, I just met Eiji-kun at school. And I wanted to greet his parents properly, so I asked Minami-san to intercede on my behalf and come here. That’s why I was… disappointed to hear such silliness.”
He operated his phone and the voice recorder began to play the recorded sound.
[Aono-san. I’m a councilor and a contractor. If possible, I would like to settle this quietly. You are mature enough to understand what I am talking about, right?]
[This restaurant is an important restaurant that your late husband left you. So you shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. If I were serious, I could even do something about a restaurant like this.]
“Can you deny this? Don’t you know that other council members are in trouble for abusing their power? If the media finds out, it’s all over. You should be ashamed. Your expulsion is already on the party’s agenda.”
The usually gentlemanly Yamada, a member of the prefectural assembly, stormed towards me in anger.
“This is just a figure of speech. Why is Minami-san even here? …”
Yamada-san and Minami-san replied with a loud sigh.
The pensioner said coldly.
“The previous owner of this place was a good friend of mine. He was also very enthusiastic about volunteer work. I and the town were spoiled by his strength and kindness. You could say that the late Aono-san was a hero who sacrificed himself for this town, and we owe him a debt of gratitude that we cannot repay, no matter how hard we try. How could you serve as a councilor and not know? You are hurting, shaming, and threatening the legacy of this forgotten man. You are ready for this, aren’t you?”
I hear the sound of my heart breaking. Oh no, everything I’ve built is falling apart.
“I’m sorry, I’m really so sorry. …”
I rushed to apologize to Minami-san, but an angry voice echoed through the room.
“You are apologizing in the wrong direction! Your son beat Eiji-kun, an innocent man, in front of the public, spread false rumors to save his own skin, isolated him, and tried to kill him socially! Not only that, you even tried to threaten his family for your own self-preservation!”
Even information I did not know was leaked. In the end, everything is out. There is no escape now.
My face turned pale as I looked at Eiji Aono’s mother, to whom I had used strong words earlier. I almost collapsed from my knees, and then my head just gave way to gravity and I landed on the floor. Kneeling on the floor. It was not like I was told to do it, but I got down on my knees to ask for forgiveness. For the first time in my life, I am humbled by the total surrender to another person. And more than that, the fear of losing everything.
The fear overcame everything.
“I apologize for being so rude to you earlier.”
I even got down on my knees to apologize, but my apology was mostly ignored in the gloomy atmosphere. I felt like a prisoner on death row, standing in hell.
And the hell is still going on.