50.The tall policeman ahead asked，"Lady，this is not for haircut but for a fugitive convict.It is a couple of youngsters that thrashed Americans.Thus they offended the Security Law."
51.Then the policeman behind asked，"Hostess，is there a stranger here？"
52.Mieko responded，"No，as usual，my customers are all from the neighborhood.The gentleman has sat here for a whole morning because his nice hairstyle is hard to perm and it has to take so much time.
53.One policeman proceeded to check over but he couldn't recognize Kyuutarou.Therefore he exclaimed，"Let's go." The two policemen rode their motorcycle away.
54.Seeing the policemen away，the graceful hairdresser couldn't help laughing.She laughed and laughed so that she was really creased up.In the mean time，she said，"Thrilling，really thrilling！" as she took away the hairdressing instruments，she said to Kyuutarou，"My name is Mieko and what's your name？"
55."My name is Kyuutarou hibatchi.From now on you can call me Kyuutarou" replied he with meditation."Why do you beat American marines？Did they offend you？Do you know them？If so，why？You know them？" Mieko cast all her doubts toward Kyuutarou.
56."Offend me？Know me？" Kyuutarou shook his head，falling into his painful memory.When Mieko pressed him for the answer repeatedly，he paused for a while and asked her simply with reluctance，"Do you know about the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima？"
57.For it，with a nod Mieko replied，"Of course.In order to end the war，American dropped two nuclear bombs，one in Hiroshima and another in Nagasaki.360，000 Japanese were killed with the tremendous explosion of Hiroshima，but what does go with you？"
58.Kyuutarou was overwhelmed to say，"What does go with me？Aren't we Japanese？Aren't you a compatriot of the victims？As for me，it does matter！"
59.Then Kyuutarou said，"My home town is Hiroshima.My family lived there for generations.However，the nuclear bomb that American dropped took away dozens of lives of my relatives including my grandpa，grandma，mama，aunts and uncles.Consequently，I was left to be orphan with handicapped limbs.See，what goes with me？Therefore，I hate the war； I hate nuclear bomb； I hate the American soldiers in Japan more.Mieko，do you know what the inveterate hatred is？Do you know about it？Do you know ——"
60.While talking，Kyuutarou drew a small album and a letter from his bosom，briefing Mieko his deceased folks died in the explosion of atomic bomb on Hiroshima.For once in a while，the resolute guy would fail to hold back tears when being overwhelmed with grief.
61.Listening to the doloroso story，Mieko was stricken numb.Quite a while later，she said quietly，"With your words and album，everything dawn on me.I can now feel the terrible grief in your bitter inner world.Alas！We bear the same wretched sufferings and you have my deepest sympathy."
62.Making a deep obeisance to Mieko，Kyuutarou said，"Thank you for helping me out，and your kind understanding is appreciated much as well.This is my phone number！Please call me if I can be of any help.Sorry to have troubled you so much！I am leaving for campus now，thanks again！I will be seeing you every week！
63.From then on，Kyuutarou would spend two days every week helping out in the barbershop.The industrious Kyuutarou had the exterior wall brushed at first，and then kept busy in sweeping the floor and cleaning the windows indoors.While noticing the sink with drainage difficulty，he just helped Mieko unclog the floor drain，sweat pouring down his face.
64.Mieko was in ecstasies to be with such good a helper.Now and then，she helped wipe his perspiration and gave him water.The two were all the day tired out，yet happy.
65.Late as it was，they continued the work and the barbershop remained open until the last customer left.After having a very full day，Kyuutarou gave his face a perfunctory wash and took off his work uniform，saying，"It's late！I am going back to the campus.The school gate will have been locked and kept me outside if I linger any longer." Mieko，however，wanted very much to keep him for dinner."How can you leave hungry？Please stay for supper！" persuaded Mieko in earnest.But Kyuutarou left in a hurry.
66.In the door，Mieko watched Kyuutarou in his back till he disappeared afar into the darkness.
67.After that，every day before the day when Kyuutarou came to help，Mieko would have prepared two lavish meals，thus Kyuutarou did not have to go back in hungry anymore.
68.Day after day，month after month，things went on as usual.On every Friday afternoon when the shop was closed，Mieko would habitually throw a glimpse at the calendar hanging on the wall，as if she was expecting something.
69.While at the same time，under the guidance of Mieko and from the beginning of ****** works，such as sweeping the floor or offering a shampoo，Kyuutarou gradually made a good hairdresser with versatile skills： cutting，shaving and arranging different haircuts or hairstyles.With the skills improving further，Kyuutarou was able to deal with any service item by himself in the barbershop.When the weekend came，therefore，his regular customers would swarm in.
70.In a morning that autumn，holding the diploma excitedly in hand，Kyuutarou rushed to the barbershop，screamed out at Mieko，"Look！Diploma！I've got it！I've graduated！The university has recommended me to the Association for the Disabled and I am accepted！You know，they want me to act as a secretary and legal adviser！How wonderful！I have a job！I can now make a living ..."
71.Kyuutarou was then in high spirits.But just as usual，Mieko stood there quietly listening and uttering not a word until Kyuutarou was finished，"Wow！Kyuutarou，it's great！Congratulations！Still do you have anything else to do or say apart from that？"
