Vol 4 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Story 7 - The Doll that Took a Detour

1

After passing through the don area of Ka the road to the northeast, I reached a long, gentle slope The feet on the pedals of rew heavy, but I didn't feel pain The slope wasn't so severe that I had to stand up and pedal, but I could feel

Sparse forests appeared on both sides of the road, and I could start seeing the lingering snow on the ground The sings of human presence suddenly died out, as if so from a historical perspective, the hilly area on the northeastern side of Kae of a different name That's what I heard from Satoshi+, at least Even now, that area is known by its local name, Jinde The incline of the slope increased for a short while Although the indications of spring were getting stronger, it was still freezing in the ed, white breath escaping into the atmosphere

I noticed a shrine at the apex of the hill I've taken this road a few ti me the way The next time hen all four members of the Classics Club celebrated the end of the Cultural Festival But this is the first time I've noticed the shrine here It's probably because I've alalked on this road while there was some sort of disturbance, I suppose

Today, I'ht that the Oreki Houtarou, who took up the self-appointed role as energy conserver, would wake up so early in thethat this would have been io, I sarbha[1] Taking a break, I got off my bicycle, and with one hand, paid my respects to the bodhisattva

After the Kshi+tigarbha shrine was a downhill slope

I could see speckles of snow in the rice paddies The rays of the h the chilly atmosphere

Since this hill wasn't so high, the vieasn't so good However, in the middle of the expansive plains, out of the sporadically distributed houses, I could see an estate surrounded by a white fence of an unusual style A arden of that estate That would be Chitanda's house You can tell that it's a large house fro size of the reception hall and the infinite detail of the transo inside

But I wasn't going to Chitanda's house today I turned my head around

After the Chitanda residence was a brook that partitioned the land into two banks A s into thea fresh verdure　I couldn't see the ht it was probably there because of the flag in front

That's my destination It's called Mizunashi+ shrine, I think

It o days ago

As I was languidly lying on the bed ina thick paperback book that just wouldn't end, the phone rang

”hello Sorry for calling you during your break”

It was Chitanda By nature, she has a polite deet influenced by her large eyes and our past experiences, and I get made to realize that she's not just a trim person However, I can't see her face over the phone, so I thought that I had received a call from some lady

”I wasn't really taking a break”

”Eh? Oreki-san, you have supplementary lessons?”

”No, that's not it”

My grades were certainly not the h School, but they weren't that bad for me to receive a notice to attend extra lessons On the other end of the line, Chitanda spoke calmly

”It's the spring holidays”

That's right I was definitely taking a break fro holidays, without a care in the world

”I apologize for being so sudden, but”

Chitanda did see what this was all about

”Do you have any plans for the day after tomorrow?”

I glanced at the calendar There were no plans for the day after to holidays Ifso in Nanki[3], leaving me at home in peace

”Nope”

”I see That's great”

I could sense clear relief from the other side Then, Chitanda continued

”Er, but could you please help me hold an umbrella?”

While holding the receiver, I tilted

If this was April last year, I would have seriously been troubled about whether ”holding an u However, I've known Chitanda for about a year Based on experience, I've learned that Chitanda tends to gloss over the explanation when asking for a favor

”Explain fro”

”Froht It all started from the postwar period”

”Ah, I mean, explain from the middle, and in a way that I can understand”

It seems that even Chitanda had realized her habits With an embarrassed voice, she said,

”Sorry, I'm bad with explanations”

I could hear a muttered ”Eranized her thoughts

”Basically, a shrine neara Doll Festival There's the emperor and empress, ministers and three court ladies There used to be a five man ensemble, but because of the decrease in the number of children, it was removed”

”I see”

I have absolutely no idea why declining birth rates would cause an ensemble to be omitted, but more importantly, there was a fundamental contradiction The Doll Festival should be in March, but it's April now

”Isn't it one month late?”

”Ah, right, that is to match the lunisolar calendar”

This state like ”Is that so?” or ”What about it?” Is a Doll Festival held oneaboutsilence, Chitanda continued

”The royal dolls have umbrella bearers, but one person who has filled this role for many years suddenly dislocated his hand in an accident I wouldn't ask the ih helpers I've asked around for suitable people in my area, but none of them could make it

”The costume has a specific size, so not everyone can wear it For exae for fukube-san, but I think that it will fit you perfectly”

Chitanda stopped talking for afor my response

”It will take less than an hour Could you please help out?”

I realized that my face had turned bitter

Basically, all I have to do is to hold an umbrella next to the tiered doll stand But to be honest, it would be troublesome, and no matter how eloquent Chitanda was, there's no doubt that I would feel e in a festival in an area I have no ties to

”Not really interested”

”Ah, I see”

An aard silence followed

But now that I think about it, no one would care about the person holding the u principle, and yet she asked for my help That means that she's really troubled

If I can quickly help Chitanda when she's in a pinch, well, that's not so bad

”Ah, but it's fine I'll go”

”Eh? Is it really alright?”

Based on the sudden change in her speech pattern, it seems that Chitanda was really surprised After a deep breath, her well-mannered words returned

”Thank you very reat help”

”So, the day after toht?”

”Yes, and you will be walking with theift for your efforts”

Ah, I'll be getting a gift too This would be just like a simple part-time job, then

I was just about satisfied with Chitanda's explanation, when all of a sudden, I realized soht

”Walking with the dolls, you say?”

”Yes”

”The dolls walk?”

”That's right”

She answered as if that was natural, but for soradually softer I was about to ask ”Why would the dolls walk?”, when Chitanda spoke up, as if unable to bear it any longer

”They'doll' over and over I'm also quite embarrassed”

Soht for a while

My job was just to hold an umbrella for a doll, but Chitanda said that the doll walks Also, she felt shy upon hearing thte word ”doll”

There was only one conclusion that could be drawn

”Don't tell me the doll is”

”Ah Could it be that you do not know anything about it?”

Exactly as I had thought, huh

After adjusting the receiver, Chitanda continued with a detailed explanation

”Every year, following the lunisolar calendar, the Mizunashi+ Shrine celebrates the Doll Festival by having girls dress up as 'Live Dolls' The dolls forht that Mizunashi+ Shrine's Live Doll Festival was quite faht that you would know about it

”Yes, I have played the position of Empress every year since the start of middle school fukube-san said that he would come over to take a look”

But Satoshi+ had supplementary classes, so he just couldn't ht, and he spoke in a voice that seeret

”Listen, Houtarou You're holding an u an empress Come what may, never, ever, make a mistakeǃ”

I was more worried about what costume I would be put in, as the umbrella bearer behind the doll

There was still soet lost on an unfamiliar road I adjusted my trench coat, and pedaled all the way down the slope

2

Looking at the scenery froe was surrounded by s, and probably because noasn't the right season to plant anything, the fields contained only unmelted snow and some sparse leaves I heard frorown after the rice crops had been harvested, and I laughed a that noould also be the tiht now, I can't tell if the leaves in the rice fields were actually lotus plants

I pedaled along the side of the brook, which had trees growing on its banks The trees' leaves had fallen off in autumn last year, and the new buds hadn't appeared yet Despite having no interest in the beauties of nature, even I would knohat kind of trees these were, since they were of a major variety They were cherry blosso street in town I'd thought that these would have bloomed already

Since plants aren't industrially produced goods, they would occasionally have eccentricities in conduct As I wasupstream to cross the river, one cherry blossom tree with vibrant blossoms appeared before my very eyes Not all the flowers had opened up, but while all the other trees were still in the reticence of winter, this one tree already had half of its blossoht Seeing a solitary flowering tree sure was fascinating

I stopped the bicycle I was surprised by the wild bloom, but I wasn't here to admire the flowers From my pocket I retrieved a et to Mizunashi+ Shrine

”Fro the brook and you will reach a cherry blossoe ahead and follow the path”

So I should cross the first bridge after the cherry blossom I hurried on

I could sense the festival at down in vestibules Fros in the distance Andwhen there was no school

After rounding a curve, I finally saw a se, I suppose Matching its nae Its width was narrow, and it didn't seem that cars could cross it

But then

My pedaling greeaker

”Hm?”

Looking closer at the vicinity of the bridge, there was a standing notice board Well, this is troubling What ritten on the board was ”No crossing”

The bridge was undergoing so the contents of the notice board, I found that the deteriorating bridge was being reconstructed Indeed, the coe looked unreliable, and the bare floorboards, which hadn't even been laid with asphalt, had probably reenerations

Right now, the ”No crossing” sign was standing, but it didn't seee, so I could cross if I really wanted to However, there was a small truck on the other side, and there were twodown so They were probably construction workers from the public works company It would be really stupid to cross on e was only a fewI called out to the workers on the other side

”Excuse meǃ”

The worker that turned to look at me had a swarthy face that reotten the sunburn during his job, or perhaps he has an interest in skiing in winter Fortunately, he didn't seem to be a difficult person

”Yeah, what is it?”

”Could I cross this bridge?”

”Sure, sure you can pass right now Co”

He waved his hand Following his words, I pushed e The floorboards creaked and bent under my feet as I passed It would certainly be better for this bridge to be rebuilt as soon as possible

After crossing the bridge, the worker placed his hand on his hip and smiled

”We'll be starting work once another truck arrives, and you won't be able to cross after that”

”Okay, thanks”

That e downstreaet lost

Withwas strange Since Chitanda lives in this Jinde area, she should be aware of the bridge's reconstruction It's strange that she would tell e And it definitely wouldn't be a prank

Well, since I was able to pass in the end, I have no co the path, so I cycled further upstream

Coot to see Chitanda in her kimono on New Year's Day At that time, it was for a shrine visit, and today would be for a festival I don't really believe in this sort of thing, but it's a weird link of fate

Like its impression when viewed from afar, Mizunashi+ Shrine was built near the side of the e It was totally different in scale compared to Arekusu Shrine, which I visited on New Year's Day The archas s didn't seenificant history; it was simply old It's impossible to co destination, but the caretakers of Mizunashi+ Shrine were trying A reconstruction schedule was pasted in front of the shrine, and there was also a notice board with the large words ”Living Doll procession starts at 11ː30”

I've never been inside a shrine office in my entire life, but this year, I've already done it twice For so the second ti to do with the shrine offices of Arekusu Shrine and Mizunashi+ Shrine, but I supposed it's like being able to pass through the curtains of a Nagoya Don restaurant confidently after having been to a Osaka Don restaurant Would this be considered ”Taking revenge on your Edo eneasaki”? In any case, I certainly wouldn't really feel dwarfed being in theHappi coats[6]

The reception hall was a lot smaller compared to the one at Arekusu Shrine, but it was about twenty tataed er and asked him a question

”So, what should I do?”

The procession would start at half past eleven, but ere supposed to assemble at half past nine There was still so to do The man, who had a red-tipped nosed, stared at me suspiciously

”And you are?”

He asked brusquely

”My name is Oreki I was asked to hold an umbrella”

”Haven't heard that name”

”Well, I'm not one of the people here”

”Fnnnn”

I was stared at intently Did the words get through? Having rushed here in the cold only to be treated like this, I was naturally sullen

”Didn't you hear from Chitanda? I was told that the person who usually holds the umbrella had an injury, and I was asked to replace him”

Having confired

”Ahǃ So you're Hazawa's replace will be done soon, so it would have been better if you'd taken your time”

If I had known, I would have spared no effort to htdisheartened and crestfallen at the beginning of my work

”I'll take care of the arrangements Until you're needed, please stay warm”

”Okay”

That's great Having gotten per statue by the stove, one of ht forfrom nine thirty onwards, I suppose

Besides s to do, and they were all running around with urgency There would usually be four to five people gathered in the room, but when the man in the happi coat stoed, and people would take turns leaving and entering the room For example,

”Oi, who's in charge of the sake preparations?”

”That would be Nakatake-san More importantly, what about later in the afternoon?”

”I left it to the women, but please confirm it”

And,

”Hanai-sanǃ There's a call from a newspaper companyǃ”

”Newspaper? It wouldn't be NHK, would it?”

”All they said was that they were from a newspaper company”

Froe, I learned that the man with the red nose was called Hanai-san

For a ies in the noisy roo forward to the job There were a few people ould occasionally look atout? What's he doing?”, but I wouldn't be afraid as long as I didn't make eye contact with them

I don't always choose the path of the energy saver no matter the reason However, this time, there were clear, proper reasons for me to not move an inch from the stove

Firstly, I don't know this place I don't know anything about the interpersonal relationshi+ps or the festival arrange, and I think I would just be a burden if I tried to butt in

Second It's warm in front of the stove

Perhaps I had erased , foratDoll procession started, when the man from earlier, Hanai, stood up He quickly asked,

”You're holding the uht?”

”That's what I heard”

”I see I' at Sono-san's place, so the route will be changed”

”Huh That's unfortunate”

To that response, Hanai nodded lightly

”It was a peaceful death So, do you want to know the new route?”

”No”

”Then you'll be fine if you always follow the person in front of you The route will be somewhat shorter”

Having said everything that he had to, Hanai stood up and left in a hurry In any case, if I were to just follow Chitanda, there wouldn't be any point in knowing of the change in route If Hanai hadn't toldof Sono's misfortune It seems that Sono had reached the end of the natural span of life, and I silently prayed for him or her

The sound of heavy feet sto around for preparation of the event wouldn't stop

”The nus don't add upǃ What happened to the women's Zori[7]]?”

”Are youone or two?”

”One pair”

”Then it would be Chitanda-san's She brought her own”

Would I be wearing a Zori too? If that's the case, would I have to wear a Tabi[8]? What I' ht?

Obviously not It seems that I had been sed by the frenzied atmosphere, for I siht, I just have to check with Chitanda There's nothing for me to care about

But then again, I don't think our co uneasy

As ti into the room eird expressions on their faces increased A withered, old man with a head of white hair walked into the room and shouted in such a loud voice that I wondered where it came from

”Nakatakeǃ What did you do about the sake?”

A ishly He was a thickly-built th

”I have ordered it They will deliver it in the afternoon”

”By afternoon, what time did they mean?”

”By one o'clock”

”You foolǃ”

A thunderous voice sounded Even though I was on the other side of the room, my body shook in shock

”The procession returns at twelve thirty, one o'clock is too lateǃ That's why I told you to always leave a buffer, now hurry up and push it forwardǃ”

The person in charge of the sake didn't seem to accept it, but he quickly answered, ”I'll do it now” and left the room The white-haired man now stared at the room, and I accidentally made eye contact with him ”Oh,” he muttered, and with that sa Bending his vigorous body a little, the old man spoke

”Are you the person Chitanda-san asked to help?”

How did he”No, you've got the wrong person” anda run for it, but I can't do that

”That's right”

I couldn't say anything else My half-kneel had turned into a Seiza[9] without

In response, the old man lowered his head

”Sorry foryou cohquite a bit of trouble for outsiders such as yourself I hope you will forgive us”

I reflexively removed my trench coat and stood up

”Not at allǃ I'm sorry I can't be of et in the way If there is anything you need of me, please don't hesitate to ask”

The elderly man raised his head, and his eyes narrowed

”You've got your act together”

That's the first time anyone has said that to me

”Relax until your time comes,” he added, and with one more bow, he left the room It somehow seems that I was officially allowed to relax

However, that's just not sold in the wholesale store[10]

I heard this conversation fro the room

”Did you take care of Choukyuu Bridge?”

That was the red-nosed Hanai The person who answered was one of the firly man

”I asked Murai-sensei to take care of it”

”You left it to Murai-san?”

Hanai's words ended with a slightly bitter tone, which the tall man noticed

”Is there a problem?”

”No, well, fine, I suppose Did they delay the construction work?”

”He said it was perfectly fine, and that he would have construction stop on the day of the Doll Festival even if the completion date would be delayed”

Since I was an outsider, it wasn't my problem, and I could have just stayed silent Why didn't I do that? I have no idea myself In any case, Imy body by the stove

”Construction has already started on Choukyuu Bridge”

That line led to an unexpectedly enor to, as well as the elderlythe sake, or in fact, everyone in the room turned to look at me in unison

Even I knew that this was important Hanai's eyes looked like they would pop out of their sockets

”What did you say?”

And then he was temporarily lost for words He then yelled at the tall man

”shi+geǃ Did you confirm the delay?”

The e was flustered

”I emphasized it to Murai-senseiǃ But he toldfirm from hereǃ”

”You”

This time his words were directed at me

”Are you absolutely sure?”

He drew closer Being talked to like that makes me uneasy

”When I was con at the bridge Since the workers were there, I asked if I could pass and was allowed to do so”

”So they only placed the sign there?”

”Yes but they said that they would start work after one more truck arrived”

The room's state of commotion, suddenly descended into a hush Perhaps it came from the kitchen, but a shrill noise entered my ears

The white-haired old man spoke

”Sono-kun, take your truck there and check Taniency”

It seee I'ejirou”[11], though Accepting the proposal, Hanai nodded

”Ah, please do that”

And then he glared at me for some reason, as if I would be lynched if it was actually possible to cross Choukyuu Bridge

But ht Ten minutes passed

The man called Sono was a corpulentHe looked out of breath when returning to the room, but he reported in a loud voice,

”It's trueǃ Construction has startedǃ”

I could guess why that was so significant The procession's course probably included crossing the bridge

”shi+geǃ It's all your faultǃ”

Tani from Hanai's intensity, he spoke clearly

”But soawa Construction Agency to stop work on the day of the festivalǃ”

”Then”

”Apparently someone told them the day before yesterday that they could proceed on schedule”

Sono stood in to help the sweating Tanimoto

”It's as shi+ge said I just spoke with soency, and that's exactly what they said”

”Why did this happen” I could hear soh and mutter

Since the atmosphere in the roo away Should I raise an eyebrow? Unfortunately, h I had nothing to worry about All I could do atch the development blankly

The one who ain, the white-haired old man

”We shouldn't care about the agency for now Therethe way What's most important question nohat to do about the route”

A round clock without any for us that it would soon be half past ten

The original route was exceedingly simple

Froo downstrea the river After that, ere supposed to cross Choukyuu Bridge and change direction,upstreae called Kaya Bridge, and ere supposed to cross that and return to the shrine That's all

However, Choukyuu Bridge is unusable now

Receiving word of an eency situation, the men who had dispersed for preparations earlier returned to the roo rooer sit by the stove blankly, so I reain, and sat properly and silently at a corner of the roos that an outsider like me wouldn't have any relation to, I wanted to leave the roo