"This is..."
Taking the item Tangze handed her, Yuko Aizawa immediately noticed the pattern in the corner of the neatly folded square handkerchief.
It was a commemorative handkerchief issued by the organizers of a sporting event, and printed on it was one of the World Championships she had competed in.
That had also been the last official top-level international competition she participated in. A few days after calculating her ranking points following those World Championships, she injured a tendon during training. Even after treatment and rehabilitation, she could not regain her former level. After struggling for a year, she ultimately chose to retire.
She had already known Shiro Aizawa at the time, and that was why there was a photograph of her holding up her medal beside her husband and Senior Kajimoto's family.
That had been four years ago.
"How do you have this?" Having recognized it, Yuko Aizawa rubbed the neatly folded fabric between her fingers, her face full of surprise. "This thing is practically..."
Practically brand-new. It had clearly been carefully preserved by its owner.
The quality of souvenirs made for competitions like this was only passable. They faded and wore easily, yet the print on this one was crisp and bright. Aside from the slight stiffness caused by washing and starch, the fabric remained white and clean.
"This belongs to your husband." Tangze smiled as he explained. "He had a minor accident at the restaurant and left his handkerchief behind. It wasn't convenient to give it to you directly just now, so the waiter asked me to pass it along."
That was not exactly a lie. It was just that the "waiter" who came to deliver it had actually been Shimabukuro Kimiye, following behind them.
Hoshikawa Teru and Asai Narumi had been responsible for holding Shiro Aizawa