Kino no Tabi:Volume9 Chapter5

“Land of Diaries” —Historians—

Year 573, Month of Grapes, Day 24
Weather: Clear
Emily Springfield

Something fun happened at school today.

A traveler came to our school. A traveler is a person from another country who is on a journey.

The traveler came to our country the day before. This person met our headmaster by chance, and was invited to come to our school.

When the traveler entered our classroom, we were so surprised. It was because the traveler was still very young, and looks around fifteen years old like my cousin.

At first we thought the traveler was a boy, so we were very surprised when we learned that she was actually an ‘older sister’.

Her name was Kino. She said she goes on a journey with a motorrad, but she can’t take him with her to the classroom.

What impressed me the most is that Miss Kino goes on a journey by herself.

I heard that that there was nobody in between countries. And that it was very dangerous to travel in those places on your own. Miss Kino also told us, ‘There are dangers. You have to get by on your own somehow.’

I thought that I was able to live because I am together with my mother and father in this country.

And so the important thing that I learned is to become fine adults someday and help people in trouble.

Year 573, Month of Grapes, Day 24
Weather: Clear
Gene Schmidt-Rubin

A traveler came to our school. I was so excited.

The traveler wore a cool persuader on her hip. It looked large and heavy. It was deep black and it seemed like a powerful persuader.

For sure, the traveler beats down the bad guys using it. She takes it with her on her journey because traveling is dangerous, obviously.

However, the traveler was so selfish. When I asked her to show me her persuader, she refused and told me that it was dangerous. She didn’t let me take a look at it at all.

I know a lot about persuaders from watching movies. I am very good in aiming my toy persuader, ‘Super Boom Z’, you know.

Even though there are twenty in our class, I am the best. And so, to be told something like ‘It’s dangerous’ is just not right. ‘It’s wrong,’ I thought.

Mother said that it was wrong to be selfish, and often helped distribute bread in the church. I do that too.

If you become selfish when you travel, then I think you shouldn’t go on a journey.

Year 573, Month of Grapes, Day 24
Weather: Clear
Carrie Steyr

It took me a long time to eat my breakfast.

There was a surprise at school. A traveler came to observe. A traveler is a person who does not live in a country, and goes on a journey.

Her name is Kino. She was a short-haired person.

On my previous birthday, I told my mother that I wanted to have short hair. My mother told me that girls should have long hair.

I saw that Miss Kino had short hair. I don’t understand why I can’t have short hair.

When I went home I told them. Mother told me that if a girl didn’t have long hair, she couldn’t marry. She also told me that because I’m still a child, I couldn’t marry yet.

Then my mother stroked my hair.

“If your hair is long, it can be tied in many different ways,” Mother said. I think that was the real reason.

But I thought it was unfair that Miss Kino can have short hair. At that time, my father went home from work.

“Long hair is cute, you see,” Father said. But I prefer to be cool rather than cute.

Our dinner was gratin. I blew on it because it was hot.

—

“Now, everyone. That was three diaries for yesterday’s ‘Diary Writing Activity’. Three of you wrote about a traveler coming to class. Your teacher is really happy. —Now then, I will announce which among these diaries is suited for the ‘community diary’. For today, teacher has chosen Emily’s diary. Everyone, please clap your hands for Emily. —Okay, now everyone. Emily’s diary will be copied and distributed, so please paste it on top of your diaries. Paste it well so that it won’t come off.”

“Teacher!”

“Yes. What is it, Gene?”

“I don’t want to paste somebody else’s diary on mine!”

“What’s that all of a sudden? Everyone in class should be friends. You have to have the same memories as your friends.”

“B-but, I thought so hard about mine! Aren’t we supposed to write how we felt about that person…um, about what happened on that day in our diaries? That’s what you told us, teacher!”

“I did tell you that. That’s not wrong. That’s why everyone in class should leave in their diaries the best memory of all. So that when you read it when you’re adults, you can recall the event, and have fond moments with everyone. It is important to share the same memories with everyone. Why can’t you understand that?”

“T-then! Can’t I have my own memories?! How a person felt about in the past, there’s no way that would change!”

“… Everyone, in this class, there’s a child who doesn’t listen to teacher. A very, very bad child. It’s a wicked child who insist on his foolish thoughts. Who is it? —Yes, it’s Gene. Gene, you are a very bad child. Everyone, don’t become foolish like Gene. —Gene, stand in the corridor. And please go to the staff room later.”

* * *

Year 625, Month of Nuts, Day 9
Weather: Cloudy
Hans Schmidt-Rubin

Today is a school holiday, so I cleaned up Grandpa’s mementos together with Grandma. Grandma told me, ‘Thank you for helping.’

There was a diary that Grandpa wrote when he was just a child. He wrote a lot of things.

Among them, Grandpa wrote about the day that a traveler came to their school.

Grandpa was so impressed with the traveler. He wrote, ‘She’s great because she was doing her best on her own. That’s why I also want to help people.’ He must be very impressed with this person.

Grandpa was such a good person. Grandma said ‘Yes.’

I also want to become like Grandpa.

But Grandpa would sometimes use ‘watashi’ and sometimes ‘boku’. Sometimes his handwriting would be neat, and at times, dirty. It’s very strange.

The end.

Translator’s Notes

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