Two Times
The middle-aged man was used to being polite to people.
To keeping his distance.
Just as he was used to wearing flip-flops.
Even though people had teased him countless times and told him not to wear them to the office, he still kept forgetting.
He would only remember after leaving home.
He hesitated for a second between being late and wearing flip-flops, then made his decision.
Being late meant having his pay docked.
Wearing flip-flops to the office would only maybe earn him a scolding.
After all, his boss might not notice he was wearing flip-flops.
Which was worse...
It was obvious.
After thanking the old woman again for going out of her way to bring him an umbrella, the middle-aged man opened it and left, shuffling along in his flip-flops.
After walking some distance, the middle-aged man turned around.
The pavilion was empty.
The old woman had already left.
The middle-aged man breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He turned back and returned to the place where he had earlier seen what he thought might have been the old man's figure from back then.
This time, he didn't lie down.
Looking back on what he had done earlier, he found it rather surprising himself.
He had actually just lain down like that.
And other people had even mistaken him for someone trying to end his life.
The middle-aged man pulled at the corners of his mouth.
What a strange experience.
The middle-aged man lowered his eyes to the surface of the lake.
Then he looked around.
After a long while...
The middle-aged man left that place with his umbrella.
The middle-aged man walked along, shaking his head.
At his own rather ridiculous behavior.
What was he...
Did he really