Every time a single soul is created, a new cabin is built.
When I quietly peeked into the bathroom, a pigeon was making a nest.
It was a nest about 30 centimeters wide.
Every day, to avoid the rain and wind, it picked up and piled branches fallen on the roadside.
Making a flapping sound, the small lump of twigs slowly grew into a large nest.
The sound rang out whenever the leaves on the tree trunks and branches bounced lightly and the pigeon flapped its wings.
Using its small beak, the pigeon took time to pile the twigs together.
Day by day, I watched its steady construction.
And finally, at long last, it was finished.
Bonded and stacked together with its own saliva.
Going back in time—
It was just past spring when I found the pigeon.
It started when I saw a black shadow in the tree near the bathroom and thought, “Huh?”
Pardon my late introduction.
I am Makoto Nanatsuno.
As a woman, I had grown tired of human romance, and this was back when waiting for time to pass by felt boring.
Yet, the pigeon paid me no mind and continued building its nest.
Round and round, making one twig at a time into a shaded spot every day.
“Hey there.”
I quietly called out to it.
However, the pigeon was not surprised and was protecting something.
It was sitting heavily on top, as if guarding the inside of the nest.
Wondering what the pigeon was protecting, I couldn’t help but turn on my smartphone camera.
Then, for some reason, the pigeon slowly turned around in circles to show what was inside.
“Ah!”
It seemed the pigeon had laid eggs and was protecting them until they hatched.
Where did it come from, who did it fall in love with, and how did they mate?
To give an example, it is like tea and a cup. Not poured to the brim, but gently poured.
And now, it surely must have been on a long journey—as I was thinking this…?
“Coo-coo-coo-roo–”
It seemed to be eating the fruit near the tree leaves.
Moreover, it was a kumquat fruit.
Is it delicious? I watched closely, narrowing my eyes.
To be precise, the pigeon seemed to be a female.
You are very patient, I felt, turning off the camera flash and taking a picture.
Hey, where did you come from?
I was born from a man and a woman who fell in love.
I flew across the sea for a long time and made my home in the trees on the ground.
Click
The season is summer.
The chicks have not hatched yet.
Hey, do you fly far away every day to find food to protect this child?
You eat what you catch to make body heat—I asked.
I smoothly swiped my phone search screen to look up how pigeons fall in love.
Pigeons live not only near the seashore but also by rivers, communicating during the winter and warming each other’s skin.
They press their warmed skin close together and spread their wings wide open.
How grand and beautiful—I was moved. By you coming here, I feel given the hope to make my heart flutter. Protecting the eggs until the chicks hatch, shielding them from the rain and wind, is an intense love stronger than romance.
Snap… crackle… pop…
A few days later, making a small sound, the pigeon’s nest shakes.
My and your happiness breaks apart at this moment.
Hey, can I see that child?
“Peep–”
I do not know the name of that child born safely.
I do not know your name either.
What is certain is that the moment of departure felt at the instant of birth…
I took a picture of you…
Then, the pigeon spoke these words:
“My time with you was happy.”
Thank you, pigeon…
For giving me one romance…
–After that
Recently, I got a male lover.
Our relationship was bonded by a shared hobby of photography.
We had physical contact from time to time, but even that was more intense than hearing the whispers of that pigeon.
“Hey, what should we name this baby that is going to be born?”
“Let’s name her Hinato.”
With that, only at the moment when the storm roared, we shared a kiss of happiness.
With the feeling of—thank you to this beloved child.
–And then, by the mysterious power of the pigeon, my daughter Hinato would light the way to a fateful encounter.
Without knowing that it would lead in an unexpected direction, I…