Aoishiro
Chapter 3
With a Western and retro feel, the smell of spices wafted in the air. The large room seemed to have around 40 or more tatami mats and looked to have been used by parishioners or to have meals after a Buddhist memorial service. In one corner, tables were lined and up and food was arranged.
Ayashiro: Syouko-san, it looks like the place settings are done.
Syouko: Has everyone sat down?
After receiving the report from the vice-captain, I looked around from the head of the table to make sure everyone was here.
Syouko: Sensei, all preparations are done.
Aoi: Thank you for all your hard work. Then, let's eat.
As if they were waiting for those words, everyone stopped their murmuring and looked at me, the captain.
Going along with kendo traditions, it was the captain's job to give orders at the start and end of gatherings.
Syouko: Hands together!
Syouko: Itadakimasu!
Everyone: Itadakimasu!
The voices that were once in harmony separated into different, colorful conversations again at the dining table. Everyone reached their chopsticks and spoons to the dinner that Yasumi carefully prepared which was a dish that everyone liked, curry.
Momoko: Though curry is a staple dish of training camps, eating it in a temple doesn't seem suitable.
Aoi: Ara, that's not true.
Aoi-sensei stopped Momoko from saying something like, with those same ingredients you could make niku-jaga or something like that.
Aoi: Which country is curry from?
Momoko: India?
Aoi: Bingo!
She raised one her pointer finger and then the finger next to it making her hand look like a pair of scissors.
Aoi: And what country is Buddhism from?
Momoko: India?
Aoi: See? They're connected.
She smiled and closed her fingers in a motion like a scissor closing.
Aoi: There are a lot of rumors about the origin of curry. One rumor is that Buddha invented it.
Momoko: Woah! Is that true?
Aoi: It sounds fake, but I'm serious. If you think about medicine and food, you might think about Chinese traditional medicine, but originally curry contained a lot of spices and was a food with medicinal properties too. The characteristic yellow color of curry is from turminic and is used in medicines in India.
Yuukai: This evening's meal is very suitable for eating in a Zen Buddhist temple.
The relationship between curry and the temple was acknowledged by the monk.
Momoko: Then, I'll hurry up and start eating.
Satisfying Momoko's questions, she turned to her food. Her spoon reached out and we also continued with our meal.
Momoko: Wha, what is this!?
Ayashiro: It's a little spicy, but good.
Momoko: ...Guh...
Migiwa: This is fine for me. I wouldn't mind if it were a little spicier.
Momoko: Gah!!!
Everyone was complementing Yasumi's food as delicious, while Momoko was uncharacteristically silent. She finally yelled.
Momoko screamed in a strange voice while Yasumi stared blankly. All eyes focused on Momoko as she stood up.
Momoko: It's true that this curry is delicious as everyone says. But, this curry is missing a vital ingredient!
Yasumi: Eh...
Onions, carrots, potatoes, and a hint of tomato. Counting with her fingers, Yasumi checked to make sure she didn't forget anything and cocked her head at Momoko.
Yasumi: ...Love?
It didn't seem like she forgot anything.
Momoko: That's it! That's it! Did you take into account your affection for me!? I thought there would be meat, but instead it's tofu, fried tofu!?
Yasumi: They say soy beans are considered meat in the fields.
Momoko: I, Akita Momoko, won't be tricked by your false logic!? In order to promote a sound mind and body in a young person, it requires meet, which isn't found at this table! What is the meaning of this! I require an explanation that I will acknowledge.
Yasumi: Whether you acknowledge it or not, this is a Zen Buddhist temple. I thought a vegetarian meal would be better.
I see, so that's why it's like that.
Aoi: Now that I think about it, Aizawa-san, there's no katsuo bushi or niboshi in the dashi stock either.
Yasumi: I investigated it earlier.
She proudly held her chest out a bit.
Yasumi: Today's meal has no meat nor fish.
She made an announcement about the lack of animal protein. The founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Jodo Buddhism who "was neither priest nor of this earth" is the first one that unreservedly allowed marriage and the eating of meat. The other sects of Buddhism such as Zen Buddhism avoid meat in their daily lives believing that to be a wise choice.
Ayashiro: Are these dried shiitake mushrooms?
Yasumi: Yes, it's konbu seaweed and dried shiitake mushrooms. I don't use it often so I was a little worried.
Ayashiro: It's very good.
Yasumi: Thank goodness.
Momoko: No, no, that's not good at all.
Momoko refused to quiety accept that because it was a Zen Buddhist temple, it was best to avoid meat.
Momoko: Geez, this is why naive girls and pampered ladies lack energy and get into trouble.
Yasumi: Naive girls?
Ayashiro: Pampered ladies?
Momoko: I admit that this is good though.
She slurped her miso soup and then looked towards the head of the table.
Momoko: Zawacchi! Look at that!
Syouko: Don't point.
Momoko: Ok...
I lightly slapped her hand. She looked a little downhearted.
Momoko: But look in sensei's direction!
I looked over there. Aoi-sensei was recommending drinks to Monk Yuukai.
Aoi: Suzuki-san, please try this.
Yuukai: Ah, thank you. It's been a long time since a young woman poured me drinks.
Sensei was facing a thick, reddish-colored bottle filled with a yellow liquid made from oats. The glass in the monk's hand was overflowing with bubbles. My grandfather favored Japan sake so I haven't seen much of it but I didn't need to see the label to confirm what was in the bottle.
Yuukai: Ah, let me return the favor, Hanako-san.
Aoi: Ah, thank you.
Ayashiro: Monk-sama, is this ok?
Yuukai: It's fine. This is like the "wisdom gained from froth".
Ayashiro: Eh?
Yuukai: Even at the temple at Mt. Koya, a holy place for Buddhism in Japan, allows drinking. It's good for the circulation, clears up depression, and could almost be called medicine.
With a calm expression, he emptied the glass down his throat much like in a televison commercial. He then wiped the froth from his beard with the back of his hand in a grand gesture.
Yuukai: They say good medicine is supposed to be bitter.
Aoi: The bitterness is a little strong.
Yuukai: Do you dislike it?
Aoi: No, no, the bitterness is not that bad.
Yuukai: It is a taste suited for adults.
Aoi: It would be poison to children. Saa, Suzuki-san, have another cup.
Yuukai: Oh...thank you.
Pouring drinks for each other and never letting the glasses empty, the two adults set a good drinking pace.
Momoko: The 'wisdom of froth' is probably not a big part of what people age consider when they drink but...
Yuukai: It shouldn't be seen by people who aren't of age?
Syouko: If we want to be strict, then yes.
Yuukai: Ah, that's too bad.
As we were talking to the monk, Momoko drew closer to Yasumi.
Momoko: Since monk-san is drinking beer, it's naive to think that 'Since we're in a Zen temple it's better to have vegetarian meals...'
Yasumi: Uh...
Momoko: So, if you understand then give me animal protein...
Syouko: Ok, ok, stop right there.
Momoko was giving continually giving her opinions to Yasumi and was so close their foreheads were almost touching. I stuck my hand between them and pushed them apart.
Syouko: People who complain shouldn't eat the food then.
Momoko: Ah, that's not possible.
Momoko, whose ambition was destroyed, sighed and raised her chopsticks and continued eating without pause. She was a clever person.
Momoko: Ah, I didn't know Zawacchi was this thorough.
Migiwa: I bet you're wishing you weren't at a Zen temple. Yasumin, is there still more salad?
Yasumi: Yes, there is.
With daikon radish and carrots to give it a red-white color and an acidic dressing, the salad was a good side dish to the curry.
Momoko: Osa-sempai, why did we go to such a faraway place for training camp?
Syouko: Even if you ask me, I couldn't tell you.
Migiwa: Osa, aren't you the captain?
Syouko: I was just a normal member before summer.
At times, I had to do some tasks for the club council members and meet with other clubs but I was still a normal member of the club.
Syouko: I heard we were going to training camp again this year but I didn't think it'd be so far.
When I became captain, the time and place for the training camp was already set.
Syouko: Last year, you had to sleep in the gym, right?
Ayashiro: The sempai who lived in the dorms constantly returned there though.
Syouko: It seems we've gone from one extreme to the other.
We went from being a step away from home to evencrossing over a strait to go to far away place in the south.
Ayashiro: Was it because of the onsen?
Syouko: No way...
Migiwa: Did you come here to learn onitaiji kenpo (demon extermination sword skills) ?
Everyone: Onitaiji Kempo!?
Migiwa: You didn't know about the onitaiji legend?
Momoko: Was it what sensei was talking about in the bus?
Syouko: It wasn't that.
Ayashiro: It might've been that.
Yasumi: It was that.
Migiwa: I don't know what you guys are talking about if you keep saying, 'that, that'. I guess it was that then.
Momoko: Hoho.
Migiwa: The onitaiji kenpo legend was passed down the generations from Onigashima, also called Urashima, an island near the coast.
Syouko: Isn't that story fake?
As I explained to Momoko on the bus, the story was omitting details so that's why it was passed down.
Yuukai: It's true that the origin of the story is probably fake but the story was passed down from before Edo times and at least the part about a really strong kenpo is true.
Migiwa, an outsider, set up the story to be continued by the monk who was from the area. He had a serious look in his eyes.
Yuukai: The style was called Nekata Kurou Ryuu. (Root Kurou Style)
Momoko: That's a rather difficult name to say. (TN: Momoko's probably making a joke since "difficult (kurou)" is prounounced the same.)
Yuukai: Come now, in the onitaiji legend, Kurou-sama was the Dragon God that sealed the Oni King's power.
Whether it was aa legendary skill like Kashima Shintou Ryuu or mysterious sword arts, there were many sword skills that used the names of gods.
Yuukai: Nekata Munetsugu-san is the current head of the family and he has extraordinarily strong sword skills.
Syouko: How strong are his skills?
Yuukai: Um, Nekata-san is also Kurou-sama's priest and he never leaves the island so I couldn't tell you an opponent that has a comparable amount of skills...but do you ladies know about Aoi-san, not your teacher, I mean Hanako-san's father's level of skill?
Momoko: Do you mean Kakubei-shishou? (Instructor Kakubei) Shishou looks really strong even to a novice's eyes.
Aoi-sensei's kendo skill were on par with a novice, but her father, Kakubee-sensei had skills that were high enough to be known in the kendo world and was teaching at the police academy.
Because of sensei's connections with her dad, starting from spring, he occasionally came and practiced with us. I've felt his skills first hand.
Yuukai: When I was young, I also practiced with a shinai some. I was praised for learning an old-fashioned style, but that's the extent of it.
Momoko: Who is a comparable opponent for you?
Yuukai: If I was competing against Aoi-san, it would be a 50-50 chance of winning.
Momoko: So as expected, you're a strong person!?
Ayashiro: If you're on par with Kakubee-sensei, then you're world-class.
Yuukai: Well, that was when I was young.
The monk was good at folding his arms at least.
Yuukai: In those days, I was really fired up about kendo so I kept hearing stories about how strong Nekata-san was so I wanted to have a match with him but...
Momoko: But...
Yuukai: But since he wouldn't have a match with me, I picked a fight with him.
Momoko: Eh!?
Syouko: But you were a young man then.
Yuukai: Instead of a beard, I had hair.
He laughed while he rubbed his shiny head which didn't have a trace of hair left.
Momoko: Wah.
He was a rather reckless person.
Syouko: So what was the result of the match?
Yuukai: I lost horribly. And after the same result was repeated many times causing me to think about what to do. And I finally decided there was no choice than to become a priest.
Ayashiro: I'd like to see a match if he's that strong.
Yuukai: That'll be a little difficult because in a couple days there will be a festival for Kurou-sama.
Momoko: Festival! I want to go! Let's go!
We weren't here to be tourists and also, it'd be a little difficult to go to a festival on an island.
Yuukai: Unfortunately, for religious purification reasons, boats are forbidden from crossing over in the few days before and after the festival so there's no way to get across.
It should be easy to give up on the idea because neither the time nor circumstances permitted us to go. Even if it's Momoko she wouldn't say we should go before they stop the ships from crossing to the island. And also...
Yuukai: The only people who are allowed to go to the festival are the people of the island. And even then, it's limited to a few people who have some connection to the festival. It's a secret festival among secret festivals.
Aoi: Eh!? What's with this interesting condition!
The person who had an overt reaction to the monk saying it was impossible to go was not Momoko, but sensei.
Aoi: Suzuki-san, you should've told me about this story earlier. I would've like to write a report about this when I was a student~
Yuukai: Hohoho. Sorry about that. But since it's a secret festival, there would be no story. And even if you tried to sneak in, you'd probably be found out.
Aoi: True.
Yuukai: Well as long as you kept it to yourself it'd be ok. Still it'd be interesting if it were reported.
Yuukai: But if it were reported, they would investigate who leaked the information.
He lowered his voice.
Yuukai: And your lives would be over.
Aoi: Eh!?
Yuukai: Just treat what I just said as a joke.
After dinner, a bath was in order.
It was a nice bath, but since everyone was waiting, you couldn't take too long. And though it was time to go to sleep, young people wouldn't want to go to bed yet. They opened up the snacks they brought and amused themselves by chatting or sent e-mail to their friends or even went out for a stroll.
For every ten people, there were ten different activties.
Syouko: But still, there's a lot of free time...
Of course if I have free time, I can also keep choosing to do nothing. It's also fine to do nothing once in a while. I guess it was a good thing I didn't bring anything with me.
Momoko: How about playing
Daihinmin card game?
Syouko: This isn't a field trip.
Momoko: It feels like one though.
Syouko: Maa, I guess so.
We weren't training heavily, and we were in a far away place so it was more like a field trip than a training camp. Waking up with the same people and exchanging conversations was supposed to increase our relationships which was one point of the trip so going along with Momoko was not a bad idea.
Ayashiro: Momoko-chan doesn't seem like the Daifugou (rich person) right?
Migiwa: May I also join?
Momoko: Sure.
Migiwa, who was not a club member was also joining, but I guess that was alright.
We enjoyed the game for a while.
Momoko: Hime-sempai's is that one right?
It wasn't in the rules, but trying to guess what cards other people had mysteriously drew me into the game...
Doing that brought alternately joy and sorrow.
Syouko: .....
But people also get used to stimulus. The head and hands get used to the motion. Playing cards with the same people made it lose its fresh feeling and it becames boring. When there's not so much as a piece of candy at stake in the game, it actually might backfire. When you don't lose anything by losing, then there's also no point in winning and you won't get excited.
Migiwa: By the way...
Because we were sitting in a circle close enough that everyone could reach the middle, it was natural to start a conversation.
Migiwa: Does everyone know about the baths?
Syouko: What about them?
Migiwa: When a monk is in training, they call it 49 days because he only takes baths on days with 4 and 9 in them.
Everyone: Eh!?
As we were passing out cards, it interrupted the inertia of the game and if that was its purpose, it definitely served the job.
Syouko: Is that true?
Migiwa: I'm serious. I'm serious.
This was different than if you were secluding yourself in the mountains for a short while. This wasn't the desert, or a high plateau or a cold Northern area, this was Japan, with its warm and abundant humidity. With that weather, who knows what might happen if you only take a bath every 5 days.
Yasumi: In summer, the sweat generated would soon be hard to bear.
Ayashiro: During those times, wouldn't you purify yourself in cold water or stand under a waterfall?
Momoko: There IS an ocean around here.
Yasumi: But in winter, the cold water would soon be uncomfortable.
Everyone: .....
Momoko: Don't tell me the monk here doesn't bathe!?
Migiwa: Don't worry, don't worry. He likes onsen and baths.
Migiwa laughed at Momoko who was hiding. She did have an easy going personality.
Migiwa: Besides, someone who talks about the wisdom of froth while drinking beer isn't the type to adhere to rules just based on face value so he should take baths.
Momoko: Ah, I'm relieved.
The suspicions about the monk were cleared.
Migiwa: By the way, Osa?
Syouko: Yes?
Migiwa: Is Seijou strong? Or weak?
She came here to ask this.
Syouko: Why do you ask?
Migiwa: Osa's strong. Hime-san also looks strong, though Yasumin is not in the picture.
Migiwa: The only person I'm unsure about is Momochi. She seems strong, but she also seems weak.
She had a rather discerning eye for only getting a glimpse of us during the game. Actually, Momoko was sharply strong and weak in areas so as a rule she wasn't either. And also...
Momoko: Fufufu. I haven't held a shinai for more than half a year.
Since she was a novice, her body didn't memorize all the skills yet. But she had a will to win, was athletic, and paid attention so she was able to get a point on me or the other regular members at times.
Migiwa: You made a high school debut? Why the sudden interest in kendo?
Momoko: Iya, I only joined because I was following Zawacchi.
Migiwa: There wasn't a club you wanted to join?
Momoko: There was, but they didn't have it.
Migiwa: Which one?
Momoko: Our school didn't have a rock music club. I wanted to swerve around as I played the guitar and play until it looked like I was going to fall on the floor, but...
Syouko: Why don't you just buy a guitar and play in your room?
Momoko: If I plugged in an amp, it would be as loud as hell. You also need a special room and equipment. And without friends, you can't make a group either.
Momoko: Ah...
As she was talking, she seemed to remember something and her shoulders dropped as she let out a small sigh.
Momoko: Even if there were a music club, I might not be able to find friends with the same taste in music.
Migiwa: .....
Momoko: It seems the music Momoko wanted to play didn't have a lot of followers.
Migiwa: And what about Yasumin who dragged Momochi around?
Yasumi: It's nothing really. When I was in middle school because of some circumstances at home I couldn't join a club so I wanted to join one and it happened to be the kendo club.
Since Yasumi was hesitating, Momoko took over.
Momoko: It's because Osa-sempai and Hime-sempai's audition at orientation was so cool.
Looking at Yasumi who didn't make an objection but looked embarrassed, it seems that was the reason. It seems the sword performance that Ayashiro and I participated in under the direction of the former captain had a noticeable effect. I was opposed to the idea since kendo is not some play or stage performance but...
Syouko: .....
But because of that we were able to recruit a manager which was hard to get and also a future ace so I can't say that the former captain's methods were wrong. Now that I think of it, Akiko-san also liked swordplay and and her brother Fuyudai oji-san taught me kendo. That was because his daughter, Natsu ne-san also started kendo. Even now, we're still connected by that.
In the middle of the night, I inadvertendly woke up.
Because of the high ceiling, it wasn't as humid as I thought it would be. So it wasn't that it was hard to fall asleep...Maybe is was because of the neverending sound of the ocean.
Everyone was asleep so the sound of the ocean that I didn't normally pay attention to assaulted my ears.
The sound of the sea going out.
The sound of the sea coming in.
The neverending sounds overlapped and repeated themselves like someone breathing or something pulsing. It reminded me of a strange and mysterious feeling. It was not unpleasant, but a leisurely sound and it was I who was getting worked up for some reason.
Syouko: .....
Once I woke up, I wouldn't be able to fall asleep again. If I closed my eyes to the world around me, the sound will annoyingly buzz in my ear. The neverending sound was endlessly calling me.
Syouko: No way...
I gave up on falling asleep. It couldn't be calling me, but I could visit the beach to make certain and standing in the waves would calm me down.
This was a rural area with few lights. Compared to the city I lived in, the night was extremely dark. But because of that, the stars that spilled across the sky sparkled brightly. A small part of the countless ripples moving across the water's surface were reflected by the large moon. The white expanse of sand also shined under the reflected light. Maybe it looked that way because of the shadows of the summer tsubaki which covered the beach over the stone steps I passed through.
Syouko: .....
Walking down the concrete steps to the beach, the feeling under my shoes changed. The grains of sand crunched beneath my feet. Perhaps it was because of the thickness of the soles of my shoes, but I couldn't feel the sand. The change in hardness that travelled to my knees and waist let me know I had reached the ocean. I hadn't been to the ocean in a while.
Syouko: Nn....
I gave a big, big stretch. The wide sky felt good. Compared to this, the sky in the city I lived in was small. 10 floor apartments were commonplace and houses were 2 or 3 stories. It was rare to have a one story house. There was not much space between the buildings and they were lined up in a row. If I looked up, my gaze was sure to be drawn somewhere.
Even if it were just the power lines running left and right, it would make the sky looked cramped. Even if I changed my gaze from the sky to the ocean, the world felt different. Different from the vastness of space, there was the shadow of the island. I couldn't see anything on the water's surface besides that. Reflecting the blue and white moonlight, it looked like some part of an aquatic habitat. That black shadow was...
Syouko: So that's Urashima, which was known as Onigashima in the legend.
After the ceremony in a few days, it wouldn't be just a black shadow, but one or two lights from boats might be seen.
The ceremony for Kurou-sama, the Dragon God was going to take place soon. The custom of not letting boats travel for the few days before and after the ceremony had not died out.
Syouko: So the ocean became rough because of the oni's malice.
The practical problem was that during this time in summer, the sea was often rough.
Syouko: But, the island looks normal. Even the waves are gentle.
There was a cool breeze blowing and low waves were gently washing the beach. It was a good place to take an evening stroll.
Syouko: It's a pity that I'm the one monopolizing this scenery...huh?
I wasn't sure if it was a fortuitous event or if it was slightly regrettable, but it seems I wasn't the only one here.
Because of the additional shadows cast by Urashima, it was hard to see far in the dark. However, I recognized that slim back and the back of the person's head. I suddenly wanted to play a little prank.
I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with the salty air. I tighted my back and stomach muscles and let it out in one shout.
Syouko: Hey! Yasumi!
Yasumi: Fuwah!
Her shoulders jumped.
Yasumi: Ah! Wah! Wah!
She lost her balance and looked as if she were going to fall, but she caught herself.
Yasumi: ...Hah...
I approached Yasumi.
Syouko: Geez, what are you doing at a time like this.
Yasumi: Syo...Syouko-sempai~
Syouko: I'm glad you didn't fall.
Yasumi: Please don't surprise me like that.
Syouko: I didn't think you'd be here.
I held up my hand to make a gesture of apology.
Yasumi: Syouko-sempai, you couldn't sleep either?
Syouko: Something like that.
Syouko: Since you don't have a lot of stamina, you should go to sleep or tomorrow will be hard on you.
Yasumi: Ahaha...I couldn't relax.
Syouko: I understand the feeling.
I looked at the ocean.
Syouko: The neverending sound of the waves seemed to be calling me.
If I closed my eyes, I could clearly hear it. I opened both my arms and could feel the vibrations between the sky and ocean and the air.
Yasumi: That's a bit scary, somehow.
Syouko: Scary?
Yasumi: I feel that if you answer that voice, you might not return.
Syouko: No way.
Yasumi: But, the ocean takes away people.
Syouko: Yasumi?
Yasumi: Because, Syouko-sempai...
She was surprised by something she saw and swallowed her breath. The voice that was calling me was interrupted.
Yasumi: Sempai...that's...
Following Yasumi's voice, I looked over the ocean scenery. One place caught my eye. The blue incoming waves and the white splash on the beach showed that something white had drifted ashore.
The blue-white moonlight vaguely showed something whiter than the fine whiteness of the beach.
That was...
It was shaped like a person.
Though it was shaped like a person, there was something lacking so I couldn't say for certain.
Syouko: -----
The sound of the waves receded.
Though the sound was distracting me that much, it's as if their job was done and the sound faded away.
I couldn't move or talk and was focused on the object there. All my five senses besides my vision dulled and I could only stand dumbly. That existence which entranced my eyes, in a precious moment, that form was burned into my retina...my mind...and my heart.
Syouko: Ah...
Her graceful limbs were sticking out of the sleeves and cuffs of her disordered kimono. Her slender feet and hands looked fragile. Her complexion which had lost their color was smooth. In the pale light, it was like she was being polished by the silvery waves. The waves that soaked the hem of her kimono was like the tail of a fish and gently swaying from side to side.
Was she a mermaid or a doll?
The waves came and went. In a world that lost its sound, the waves pulsed. The waves formed a pillow which the whitecaps melted into and gently played with the hair upon it. The waves moved her hair and there was no motion from her slender limbs or her slightly opened lips.
Her closed eyelids led to long eyelashes and in the moonlight I could only confirm she had large eyes. There was no sign of anguish in her eyes or eyebrows and there was nothing clouding her sleeping face. Everything was so in place that she almost didn't look human...
In this dream-like scenery, my heart was only stolen for a moment, but it felt much longer.
Yasumi: .....
Yasumi who was standing still like me, made a wheezing noise which broke the spell on me. When the enchantment was broken I returned to the real world and immediately my mind returned to its normal thinking. There was an unconscious girl in the ocean...
I didn't think about the details of her situation or her identity. At this time, she needed help and it wasn't good to stand idly aside. It wasn't good not to move, but...
Yasumi: Why...Why...are...
Syouko: Yasumi?
I was worried about Yasumi's condition and didn't step forward. I had been fascinated by this unrealistic situation but there was something strange about Yasumi's behavior. She liked to read and was a sensitive girl that cried when reading stories, but...she looked like she'd lost her soul and her expression was frozen and stood in place.
Syouko: Yasumi...
She looked haunted by the girl reflected in front of her eyes and I thought she'd become like the sleeping girl in the water since she didn't move at all...
Syouko: ...Yasumi!
I grabbed Yasumi's shoulders and shook her hard. Perhaps it was because of a mysterious bad feeling but my voice and action was rough enough to surprise even me.
Yasumi: Ah...
Syouko: Hold it, Yasumi! Are you ok!?
Yasumi: Syouko...sempai...?
Syouko: So you are feeling unwell?
Note: In the game you can choose 1) Go and carry the girl or 2) Worry about Yasumi's condition. The novel chooses 2). If you choose one, you'll tell Yasumi to go back first to tell Aoi-sensei or the monk. Nami will wake up for a brief moment and give you a smile.
Her lack of stamina didn't start right now. Today there was the long climb up and she was in an unfamiliar place and she had prepared dinner and there was a long bath and after that our card game, so she must be exhausted.
Syouko: Leave this to me. You return to the temple first...
Yasumi: Sempai, excuse me for a moment.
Syouko: Eh!?
Yasumi stopped me and ran towards the ocean. She pushed through the waves that tried to stop her. The splash of water soaked the cuffs of her sleeping wear. She didn't care about that and went to the girl's side and tried to lift her up.
Yasumi: ...!
Yasumi couldn't carry her, but I saw her face and she seemed to be a ten to twelve year old girl. With her thin arms, Yasumi could only hold half of the soaked form up.
Yasumi: .....
Yasumi brought her ears close to the girl's nose and mouth. Her face hardened...
Yasumi: She's alive! She's breathing!
I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I felt I like crying.
Syouko: Ok, wait a moment.
Yasumi: Sempai, I'll bring her over there.
Syouko: I said to wait over there.
Though she should've just stopped there, Yasumi brought her shoulder to the other girl to help her stand.
Yasumi: Ah!
She couldn't muster enough energy and fell on her backside and got all wet.
Syouko: Geez, please think about the right person for the situation.
Yasumi: Uuu...
Syouko: Is that girl alive?
Yasumi: Eh, ah, yes. She's alive.
Syouko: I see.
She didn't mind that she was handled roughly and continued sleeping with a tranquil face.
Syouko: Then, I'll carry her.
I took off my shoes and ran barefoot across the sand leaving footsteps here and there and went to Yasumi and the girl's side.
Syouko: Let's take her to the temple first.
The ocean was moment by moment flowing between the boundary between the land and the sea. The gushing water that was clinging to my feet was rather cold.
Syouko: Yo...
The girl I took from Yasumi was also cool and stole my body heat. Yasumi should also be cold. She was soaked and her naked arms were sticking out of her puffed sleeves which had lost their shape.
Syouko: After we get back, it's a bath for you. If you stay this way, you'll catch a cold.
Yasumi: Ok...
Syouko: It's a good thing that the baths are on 24 hours a day.
Yasumi: Yes...
Yuukai: This girl was quite lucky.
Syouko: That's true...If Yasumi or I hadn't shown up and she was left that way until morning...
That place on the beach was part of a running course so someone would've seen her in the morning. But though we were at the southern most point, if she were left soaked all night, I don't know if she'd be ok. It would've been different then sleeping here on the futon. She might've been drawn back into the ocean and washed up on another place or disappeared with the seaweed into the ocean.
Yuukai: Yes, that's one deciding factor. That she was able to be rescued required luck upon luck. She probably needed the maximum amount of luck.
Syouko: Maximum amount of luck?
The monk repeatedly nodded his head and stroked his beard.
Yuukai: ...Around here is the ocean and people who swim here are dragged around so it's very dangerous.
Being dragged around and still going in the ocean, what was that like?
Yuukai: And also the area around here is complicated and there are strangely shaped rocks and stones scattered around and the waves swirl around.
Aoi: So there's many fast dangerous currents.
It's like the winds swirling around skyscrapers. The complicated changing currents can be most easily compared to the water running through a hose. Without changing the twists in the hose, squeezing the tap causes a strong burst of water.
Yuukai: Also the Ebisu-sama that's running around here is strong.
Ayashiro: You mean the business?
Aoi: It's true that they say if you catch a fish and throw it back, you'll get a bigger fish but...
The Ebisu-sama they refer to her are bodies that drowned.
Ayashiro: Ah...
Yuukai: So there's dangerous rocks that will open holes in the bottom of ships and cut open people's skin. It's hard to see them sometimes.
It's like the saying "One step below the ship, hell awaits."
Aoi: So that's why there's such deep-seated a strong belief in Kurou-sama, the god of the ocean.
Ayashiro: The sea is dangerous...
Momoko: That's too bad.
Syouko: What's too bad?
Momoko: I'm a bit confident in my ability to swim, but it might be better to stop.
Momoko: And I brought my swimsuit too.
Yasumi: Momo-chan, you brought one?
Momoko: Zawacchi, you didn't bring one?
Momoko: Since we were going to the sea, I thought it was natural to bring one.
Yasumi: Even if you say that...
Momoko: I guess it can't be helped if we can't swim. I brought a useless thing, so it's Zawacchi's win.
Yuukai: Well...ladies, it's a loss if you're too impulsive. If you don't give up, it's not the end.
Momoko: Monk-san...
Yuukai: The dangerous places are the rocks. As long you don't stray from the sandy beach, that area shouldn't be dangerous.
Momoko: Woah! The swimsuit is revived!
Yasumi: Momo-chan is in a good mood.
Yuukai: Anyways, just don't go near the rocks. They're called the Oni Stepping Stones.
Syouko: Oni Stepping Stones?
Yuukai: There's a place called that.
Yuukai: In the legend, the general and his three retainers launched a surprise attack on Onigashima, right?
Yuukai: To launch a surprise attack, you have to find a way to get to the island without being seen, right?
Aoi: At a certain time, at a certain moment, a secret path will appear to the island.
Yuukai: The secret path are called the Oni Stepping Stones.
Yuukai As you can imagine with something called a stepping stone, they're rocks that are normally covered by the tide. But during the ebbing of the spring tide, they appear.
Syouko: So they connect the two areas?
Momoko: Oh! So then we can go fly across to the island.
Yuukai: It's not that you can't go, but it's better if you don't go.
Yuukai: Actually, you can't go. Mark my words, it's a dangerous place.
Yuukai: And also, crossing over the stones is forbidden according to the religion unless there are certain circumstances. It's a forbidden place.
Unasaka didn't have this restriction but Urashima still had this commandment. Besides the Oni Stepping Stones there seemed to be many other places forbidden except to special people.
Yuukai: In the past, there were plans to make a dam or something like that. In a place like that, construction is also difficult, so they wanted to bury the sea and make a road crossing over.
Yuukai: Of course, the expense would be paid by the goverment.
Ayashiro: If you could cross over by car, the people on the island would have it easier too.
It was around 5 kilometers to the island. Even without a car, it wouldn't take too long to cross over by bike. Compared to a life that relied on crossing over by ferries every day, it would be more convenient.
Yuukai: But there was furious opposition from the people on the island, so that ended the plan.
But it seems we're a bit off topic.
He gave a light cough and rearranged his thoughts.
Yuukai: Anyways, there are times when the sea is rough around here and tosses things around...so it's a dangerous place.
Yuukai: But also...
The monk's gaze returned to the sleeping girl.
Yuukai: Look at that girl. Her body is perfectly clean.
That's was true. As far as I could see, her almost transluscent skin had not as much as a scratch on it. And that white smooth skin was clear all the way to her fingertips.
Syouko: You're right, but...
It means that we have to consider the possibility that she didn't wash up from the ocean. But there weren't any footsteps on the beach. But it hadn't been so long that Yasumi and my footsteps were washed from the beach. Maybe it was like the monk said and she had great luck and was washed up on the beach.
Syouko: .....
Aoi: Ok, ok, let's stop here.
Aoi: It looks like this girl's condition is stable, so you girls go to sleep.
Yuukai: Yes, that sound good.
With the combined opinion of the adults, we returned to our rooms.
Everyone: Good night.
Aoi: Ok, good night.