The statues of the guardian dogs under the shrine's torii gate, one with an open mouth named "A" and one with a closed mouth named "Un," harmonize perfectly together. This is a depiction of the friendship between Mado and Mizuta. The last novel by Kuniko Mukoda, "Aun," tells the story of these two individuals.
Mizuta and Mado are two very different people. Mizuta works for a small company and is quite ordinary in every aspect, while Mado owns a company and became wealthy due to the current situation. However, despite their differences, their relationship is extremely strong. Whenever Mizuta has to move due to work, Mado takes care of everything, from finding a new house and cleaning the rooms to heating the bathwater and ordering meals. Mado goes above and beyond, even doing things personally.
Mado and Mizuta were once comrades who slept in bunk beds, which already signifies a deep bond. However, what truly maintains their friendship is Mizuta's wife, Tomomi, and the platonic love between Mado and Tomomi. This is obvious to everyone, whether it's Mizuta's father and daughter, Satoshi and Tomoko, or Mado's wife and mistress. However, the three individuals involved pretend not to know and never reveal the truth, maintaining a delicate balance.
Mado, an outstanding man, admires his own wife, and Mizuta even feels a bit proud about it. However, all three of them are quite conservative. Tomomi feels ashamed and goes to wash herself whenever she dreams of Mado embracing her. Mado never enters Mizuta's house when he's not home, despite both of them having feelings for each other. However, there is no infidelity between them. When Tomomi becomes pregnant, Mado wants to adopt the child, and his wife doesn't know who the father is, assuming it's Mado's illegitimate child. Mado immediately slaps her and says, "What nonsense! I haven't even touched her with a finger."
Almost everything Mado does for Mizuta's family is for Tomomi's sake. Even when the company is on the verge of bankruptcy, Mado uses his own money to settle the issue of embezzlement by a subordinate. When Mizuta becomes infatuated with a geisha and spends money recklessly, often returning home late at night, Mado pays to redeem the geisha and make her his own lover. Mado does all this to prevent Tomomi from being troubled and heartbroken.
Mado, who appears to be quite flirtatious outside, becomes like a primary school student in front of Tomomi. Every time he does something wrong and is scolded by Tomomi, Mado stands still for a while, silently savoring this happiness. However, when he accidentally sees Tomomi trying on her husband's clothes in front of a mirror, it is the exact posture that Mado has always yearned for. He can no longer control himself and silently leaves.
Worried that he cannot restrain his feelings for Tomomi, Mado intentionally says something offensive to Mizuta, causing them to break off their friendship. The Mado and Mizuta families, who no longer have contact, lose their former vitality. Tomoko also realizes that their family has always been a family of four, with Mado's presence everywhere. Tomomi balances her husband and Mado like a scale, holding the delicate equilibrium.
This novel continues Kuniko Mukoda's consistent style, depicting twisted family life and the emotions between people. It still includes the setting of a cheating husband and a suffering wife, with rich and precise details. The writing style is similar to a TV script, with strong visual imagery and a natural ending. The story appears ordinary but is filled with conflicts. The background setting also holds deeper meaning, showcasing the lives of ordinary Japanese people during the Sino-Japanese War. Tomoko's second boyfriend is arrested by the secret police and sent to the battlefield, hinting at the dark side of the government.