Chapter 539 - Chapter 480: Visiting the Ise Family Grave
Tuesday
The light filtering through the gap in the curtains hit my face, waking me up...
"Gah!"
I almost cried out in surprise when I saw Mion sleeping in the futon next to mine. In IRO, it was normal and I was used to it, but in real life, I definitely wasn't. I had planned to sleep in the living room alone, but grandma had laid out futons for all four of us...
"Umyuuu..."
Miki was curled up like a cat across from me, and Mashiro-nee was sleeping diagonally across, snoring loudly. Actually, where did Mashiro-nee's blanket go?
"Ah."
"Ah, good morning. Did I wake you?"
"No."
The time was... just before 7 AM. I went to bed early yesterday, and I felt like I'd gotten a good amount of sleep for the first time in a while. Oh, grandma's starting breakfast.
"I'll get up and help grandma. Mion, can you handle Mashiro-nee and Miki?"
"Y-Yes."
I'll quickly change... in the hallway. Close call. I almost changed right in front of Mion...
...
...
...
After breakfast, we went with grandpa to check on the rice paddies for the morning. Mion wanted to come along too, and there was no reason to refuse. Well, it was basically just a walk with Kagemaru.
"Looks like no problems this year either?"
"Indeed."
We walked along the paved farm road, observing the rice paddies. Cultivation itself was done by autonomous rice-farming robots, and growth was pretty much left up to them. Grandpa's role as a farmer was mostly human oversight, checking for anything the robots might have missed.
"Mostly left to the robots?"
"Yeah. For rice and major vegetables, it's easier and better to leave it to the farming robots."
Grandpa said, laughing. For grandma's hobby of growing chrysanthemums or her home garden, it probably wouldn't pay off, but it seemed worthwhile if you grew a lot to sell.
Mion, beside me, nodded with a thoughtful expression, as if interested. We continued along the road and came out into a plaza I knew well. When I was in elementary school, Mashiro-nee, Miki, Nat, and I used to play basketball at the hoop in the corner.
"Wafu."
"Hmm. Is it okay?"
"Yes, I don't mind."
Grandpa gave permission, so I unclipped Kagemaru's leash. But the way he waited patiently showed that grandpa had trained him well.
"Good boy!"
"Waf!"
He dashed to the edge of the plaza, made a U-turn, and came back. This time, when I threw the ball grandpa handed me, he retrieved it, sat in front of me, and placed it down.
"Good boy, good boy."
I petted him thoroughly, praised him, and gave him a treat. Hmm...
"I wonder if Lupi-chan is doing well?"
"I'm worried about that too..."
She's a smart girl, and Leda and Roy are with her, so I think she'll be fine. I'm more worried about Sweee going wild...
...
...
...
Lunch was somen noodles. It's a summer staple, but our somen was loaded with toppings: ham, okra, cherry tomatoes, shredded egg crepe, and simmered shiitake mushrooms. After we all ate plenty and took a break,
"Alright, let's go visit the grave."
"That's right. Shota, I'm counting on you for Mio-chan."
"Ah, yeah, of course."
Mion watched this exchange with a puzzled expression. It'll be a bit tough, but she wouldn't understand if I told her to stay home alone...
"Alright, let's go!"
"U-Uhm..."
Mashiro-nee was fine, but Miki didn't seem too enthusiastic. This was also typical; Miki wasn't confident in her stamina or endurance.
"Come on, let's go."
"Grandpa. Kagemaru?"
"I'm taking him."
"Understood. Mion, let's go."
"Y-Yes. U-Um..."
We headed to the front entrance, but grandpa and grandma went to the back door. Taking the confused Mion outside, we found Kagemaru sitting and waiting.
"Wafu~"
"Good boy, good boy. Let's go together."
I petted him thoroughly, then replaced his leash with a cable.
"A-Um, Shou-kun?"
"Um, our Ise Family grave, passed down through generations, is on the side of the mountain."
"Eh?"
...
...
...
We climbed the back mountain, descended into a stream partway, then climbed again. After an hour or so of climbing and descending mountain paths...
"Mion, are you alright?"
"Y-Yes."
Mion was visibly struggling a bit. Miki also looked pretty tired, but we were almost there.
"It's just past that curve."
"Yes."
It would have been much harder after rain, so it was good that the weather had been clear for several days. Holding Mion's hand behind me, we made it up the last 10 meters and emerged onto a plateau about the size of a classroom.
"Wow..."
"This is the Ise Family grave, passed down through generations. I don't know how long it's been here, though."
"It seems... to be from the end... of the Meiji... era..." Miki said, sitting on a large rock along the cliff. Apparently, she'd heard it from Dad.
"It's very old. And it's been here ever since?"
"Well, that's how it is. Mion, why don't you sit next to Miki?"
"E-Eh, um..."
Perhaps she's hesitant because grandpa, grandma, and Mashiro-nee are busily offering flowers? If I'm honest, I haven't done anything either.
"No need to force yourselves. You two just sit down."
Grandma handed me a water bottle, so I had Mion sit down too and gave them both cold barley tea. We had walked through the mountains, so it wasn't that hot, but heatstroke was still a concern.
"Alright, preparations are complete."
The faint scent of incense wafted through the air.
"Okay. Mion, Miki."
"Yes."
"Hmph."
With everyone gathered, we put our hands together in prayer. It happened every year, but I was still happy Mion could come.
◇◇◇
"Aooooooon~~~"
"""Aooooooon~~~"""
The observation deck on Shou and Mion's island.
Lupi's howl echoed, followed by the howls of Leda, Roy, and the Drab Wolves.
Sweee and the Fairies, Shal and the Cait Sith also observed a moment of silence...
"Wafun."
"Nya."
While Shou, the master of the island, was away, Lupi's group had come to visit Leda and Roy's parents and siblings after a long time. Sweee and the Fairies were concerned about the remaining Sky Sugar, and Shal's group's objective was Silvina (catnip) fruit, perhaps?
"~~~♪"
"Nya. Nya-nya?"
"Wafu."
Sweee decided to head to the stream to gather Bluegaris and Silvina. Afterwards, they agreed to go to True's group to make Silvina Wine.