No Longer Human ( PDFDrive )

over it taught me a lesson in the parsimoniousness
of the city-dweller, and in what it is really like in a
Tokyo household where the members divide their
lives so sharply between what they do at home and
what they do on the outside. I was filled with dismay
at these signs that I, a fool rendered incapable by
my perpetual flight from human society from distinguishing
between "at home" and "on the outside,"
was the only one completely left out, that I had been
deserted even by Horiki. I should like to record that
as I manipulated the peeling lacquer chopsticks to
eat my jelly, I felt unbearably lonely.
"I'm sorry, but I've got an appointment today,"
Horiki said, standing and putting on his jacket. "I'm
going now. Sorry."
At that moment a woman visitor arrived for
Horiki. My fortunes thereby took a sudden turn.
Horiki at once became quite animated. "Oh, I
am sorry. I was just on my way to your place when this
fellow dropped in without warning. No, you're not
in the way at all. Please come in."
He seemed rattled. I took the cushion from under
me and turned it over before handing it to Horiki,
but snatching it from my hands, he turned it over
once more as he offered it to the woman. There was
only that one cushion for guests, besides the cushion
Horiki sat on.