novelraw Chapter 63: Ran Into a Wild Pretty Girl
Chapter 63: Ran Into a Wild Pretty Girl
The interior of the shrine wasn't particularly remarkable—just some buildings to look at and shrine maidens to observe.
These so-called shrine maidens served as one of the shrine's religious roles, responsible for maintaining the grounds and attending to the deities. They typically wore white robes with scarlet hakama pants, white tabi socks, and red-tied straw sandals.
In the courtyard between the torii gate and the main hall, several women dressed as shrine maidens could be seen sweeping with brooms or holding some unidentified objects, performing movements in the air that Aoto couldn't comprehend.
Shrines generally only became lively and entertaining during special festivals like New Year's Day or Obon. During these occasions, various performances could be enjoyed, such as shrine maidens dancing with sacred bells, taiko drums, and other instruments to perform exorcism and blessing rituals.
During ordinary times, visiting a shrine merely involved viewing the architecture, watching shrine maidens sweep and clean floors, then tossing some offering money at the main hall while offering prayers and making wishes.
Aoto had absolutely no interest in so-called "praying before the gods." After examining most of the shrine's buildings and scenery, he turned his gaze behind him—
"Saitō, do you want to spend more time looking around the shrine?"
Saitō's response came exactly as Aoto expected: he shook his head without hesitation.
Seeing Saitō's refusal and feeling bored with the place himself, Aoto planned to leave the shrine and explore other areas of Fujisawa-shuku. There was still a little time before dusk, enough for some more sightseeing around the post station.
Just as Aoto was about to turn and leave Enoshima Shrine—Thump!
"Ah!"
A dull sound of impact and a sharp cry simultaneously erupted in front of Aoto.
Drawn by the unusual noise, Aoto instinctively looked forward—at the source of those two sounds, he saw a young shrine maiden around twenty years old, clutching a broom as she sat fallen on the ground, while a figure wearing a brown cloak stood before her.
The cloak worn by this brown-cloaked figure was the type with an extremely wide hood. The person pulled the hood down, the broad covering concealing their entire face while the equally spacious cloak obscured their body shape.
With both face and body hidden, it was impossible to discern their appearance, gender, or age. The only recognizable feature was height—Aoto estimated the person stood around 165 centimeters tall.
Given that it was midwinter, this cloak-and-hood attire wasn't particularly unusual for the season.
"Ah... it hurts, it hurts...!" The fallen shrine maiden rubbed her right shoulder, her mouth twisting in pain.
"...My apologies, I was walking too hurriedly and bumped into you. Please forgive me."
The cloaked figure apologized in a hoarse voice that sounded like someone clearing their throat, then extended a hand to help the shrine maiden up from the ground.
After lifting her up and offering another apology, the cloaked person turned and ran, hurrying away toward the shrine exit with urgent strides.
Watching the retreating cloaked figure, the shrine maiden continued rubbing her right shoulder while grumbling:
"Honestly, rushing off to the Sanzu River or something... why run so fast... ouch..."
Recalling the scene he'd just witnessed and hearing the shrine maiden's complaints, Aoto roughly understood what had happened. Most likely, the cloaked person had been walking too fast and accidentally knocked the shrine maiden over.
It was just a common, everyday incident not worth particular attention, so Aoto didn't dwell on it either. After briefly watching the commotion, he moved on.
After leaving the shrine directly and reaching the bustling vendor area outside the torii gate, Aoto looked up at the sky.
—Still about half an hour until nightfall... not too long, not too short... I suppose I'll visit Fujisawa-shuku's market district...
Aside from the market, Aoto couldn't think of any other places to pass the time. Although he knew asking Saitō's opinion would be pointless, out of respect for his bodyguard, Aoto still inquired if there was anywhere Saitō wanted to go.
And as always, Saitō delivered his characteristic conversation-ending response: anywhere was fine.
—Then let's go check out Fujisawa-shuku's market district...
Aoto placed his hands on his hips, looking left and right for any idle-looking passersby who could give directions.
But just then—
"Ah, Miss Mai! I want to eat that!"
"Dango rice dumplings? Sure! Which skewer do you want?"
"I want those three skewers with all red ones!"
"You want three skewers? Can you finish that much?"
A conversation between two pleasant female voices suddenly reached Aoto's ears from his side and behind.
Hearing this exchange, Aoto froze completely.
Not because the conversation content was particularly noteworthy.
But because one of the voices in this dialogue sounded extremely familiar to him...
Following the sound, Aoto slowly turned his gaze...
A familiar, graceful figure he'd seen just days before came into view.
—Miss Kinoshita...?
The familiar silhouette that entered Aoto's vision was none other than Kinoshita Mai, whom he hadn't seen for several days.
Mai still wore that bright red kimono that suited her so well, with white tabi socks and red-tied straw sandals on her feet.
The only difference from several days ago was her hairstyle. When Aoto had encountered Mai on the street days earlier, she'd worn the fashionable Shimada mago style.
Now, she simply tied her waist-length black hair into a high ponytail.
The changed hairstyle gave Mai a slightly different aura. The Shimada mago style had given her a quiet, refined presence.
Now, with her hair in a high ponytail, she seemed more vibrant and energetic.
Encountering Mai at the vendor area of Fujisawa-shuku's Enoshima Shrine—while surprising—didn't deliver a major shock to Aoto. He remembered clearly: several days ago, Mai had told him she was coming to Fujisawa-shuku to meet a friend.
At this moment, Mai stood before a snack stall.
Her right hand held that of a quite petite young girl.
The girl stood approximately 140 centimeters tall, wearing clothing that contrasted completely with Mai's.
Mai's kimono featured a bright red primary color.
The young girl's kimono was primarily sky blue.
Not only were their clothing colors opposite, but even their sandal colors were reversed—Mai's sandals had red ties while the girl's had blue ties.
The girl wore a woman's cold-weather headscarf that completely covered her hair, along with a dark red tengu mask that concealed her entire face.
The only skin visible on her entire body was her neck and both hands.
Her skin was extremely pale, but not in a sickly or unnatural way.
Sunlight shining on her skin made it appear more luminous and delicate, with an almost translucent quality.
Besides holding the hand of this sky-blue kimono-clad girl, Mai was also followed by a quite tall woman standing about 160 centimeters.
The woman wore a pale yellow kimono, her head also wrapped in a scarf that completely covered her hair, her face similarly hidden behind a dark red tengu mask.
Aoto noticed—this woman's skin, like the young girl's, displayed that same natural, beautiful snow-white complexion.
While speaking with the girl she held, Mai showed a happy smile and cheerful expression that Aoto had never seen before.
There was no trace of the "shy girl" demeanor that Aoto knew so well.
After deciding with the girl which dango skewers to buy, Mai lifted her head to look at the snack stall owner—a middle-aged man with a receding hairline that made one think he might look better completely shaved.
"Shop—keeper..."
Maintaining that cheerful smile, Mai began negotiating with the owner.
But then... she only managed to get out the first syllable of "shopkeeper" before her expression began changing dramatically...
Aoto watched as the smile visibly vanished from Mai's face, her head lowering slightly until her hair whorl pointed toward the snack stall owner.
Replacing her previous smile were expressions of unease and tension...
"#@&（*%..."
Aoto could no longer hear what Mai was saying...
"Eh? Miss, what are you saying?"
Not only could Aoto not hear clearly, but even the owner standing just inches from Mai couldn't understand. He looked puzzled as he leaned an ear toward Mai.
The extremely shy Kinoshita Mai that Aoto knew had "returned"...