The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (宝石商リチャード氏の謎鑑定)

I don't think I've ever had a good understanding

of what I do and don't know.

I don't even know what I don't know about men.

I just don't really get it.

Seigi-kun, are you listening?

Isn't it about time?

Well, I'm off to my marriage meeting.

Episode 8 The Angel's Aquamarine

Did you do poorly on a test?

You look like the world is ending.

Just kill me.

Tanimoto-san's going to a marriage meeting.

Oh, I guess she's already there.

Which means I don't have a chance...

Go for broke? I'm broke before I even went for anything...

Could you hold on to this for a while?

Are you familiar with the words of Machiavelli?

Machiavelli?

People regret the things they didn't do more than the things they did.

They're beautiful!

They're both gemstones relating to the sea.

Lapis lazuli is also sometimes called ultramarine.

"Marine" meaning the sea, and "ultra" meaning beyond.

Ultra?

Yes.

The lapis lazuli that was brought from Afghanistan to Europe

was "the blue that came from beyond the sea."

I see.

This aquamarine was mined in Santa Maria, Brazil.

The stone's name means "seawater" in Latin.

Sailors have used aquamarines as protective charms since ancient times.

In addition to signifying good fortune, they're also called the angel's stone.

Angel...

That's perfect for Tanimoto-san.

Did you know that Étranger offers an employee discount?

I'll buy it!

Seigi.

Are you free tonight?

Yeah, I am.

Then I'll take you to dinner.

You're such a good guy.

But I'll pass tonight.

I see.

Thanks. I really appreciate the thought, but...

Don't worry about it.

Huh?

Homura-san?

Good to see him looking well.

What... is Tanimoto-san doing here?

Huh?

Nakata-kun, right?

It's me, Homura. It's been a while.

Hello.

Thank you for your help back then.

Don't mention it.

Um, Homura-san...

Yes?

No... It's nothing.

I'm the one Shoko-chan was meeting.

She told me you two are friends from school.

I was surprised.

"Shoko-chan"?

I've known her for a long time.

Our parents were friends.

Our parents were friends. He played with me a lot.

Yeah, she mentioned it.

I know she said she was glad to have a friend

she could discuss the marriage meeting with,

but she even told you that?

I was surprised. I could hardly believe a college student had a marriage meeting.

Our parents are excited about it, but not me.

What about Tanimoto-san? How does she feel?

Why don't you ask her yourself?

Huh?

Well, I should get going.

Sorry for holding you up.

Seigi-kun, are you listening?

Isn't it about time?

Well, I'm off.

Huh?

Wait, Tanimoto-san...

Don't go!

Just a dream...

Tanimoto-san!

Seigi-kun.

I heard you know Homura-san.

What a surprise.

Oh, yeah...

Seigi-kun?

Um, Tanimoto-san...

About Homura-san... Do you really want to marry him?

Why?

Why? Because, uh...

I guess you could say... I'm worried about you.

I don't really know what it means to be with a man.

Huh?

I like Homura-san.

Like how I like my dad or mom.

But I don't know what it means to like someone in a different way.

Someone I thought was a friend once said to me,

"I like you. Please go out with me."

We were having so much fun as just friends, but I guess that wasn't enough.

Well, once I get married,

I won't have to worry about romance anymore, right?

So I want to get married.

I'm the worst, aren't I?

Sometimes I see myself as a gemstone that was mistakenly put on display.

Among beryls, there are aquamarines containing iron,

emeralds containing chromium,

and goshenite containing nothing at all, right?

But since colorless, transparent aquamarines and goshenite look the same,

goshenite is often put on display as aquamarine...

even though it's a totally different beryl that contains no iron.

Just like how choosing not to fall in love

and never understanding it in the first place aren't the same.

Maybe that's how love works, but I think marriage is different.

Huh?

My mom's a divorcée.

My dad was an awful guy.

She's remarried now, but she probably did it for me.

I think it's okay for some marriages to be like that.

If someone says otherwise, then...

Then?

Then they're...

They're probably the kind of person who'd say gemstones are all the same.

Even though they're all one of a kind.

Do you remember what you said about me, Seigi-kun?

How cool...

That made me way happier than being called cute or pretty.

I wish you all the best.

Thank you, Seigi-kun.

I've decided to support her.

Support who?

I'm going to support Tanimoto-san's marriage meetings.

It's really for the best.

May I offer my thoughts?

Go ahead.

You fool.

Say whatever you want.

I've already made up my mind.

The best thing I can do isn't asking her out.