Vol 4 Chapter 7 (2/2)

So

”Is it possible to somehow stop the construction? The procession could cross the bridge in five minutes”

If that was indeed possible, there wouldn't be a need for a discussion Hanai shook his head

”Besides the procession, there will also be journalists and cae, the construction agency would take the blame Since they've started work already, on't ask them for the impossible To prevent this situation, we had actually asked theements, but”

He looked around slightly as he spoke Mr Tanimoto must be around here somewhere

”There's no helping it How about we go past Choukyuu Bridge, then return?”

As Hanai spoke while rubbing his chin, angry voices flew out from all directions

”We can't do thatǃ”

”Go back the e came?”

”That takes care of the east side, but what about the west, no dolls for them?”

I could vaguely grasp the situation The east and west areas of the brook worked together for the festival, but having the procession move on only one side would definitely make some people furious

Accepting the rebuttal, Hanai brought out another proposal

”Then what about going past Choukyuu Bridge, returning, then getting to the west bank using Kaya Bridge, then going past Choukyuu Bridge again, and then going back?”

Going and returning twice, huh? That's a way to do it, but

This tiument He wasn't in the room earlier

”That woulddistance”

”There's nothing else we can do”

”Is there really nothing else? This would throw our plans into disarray Further e like that”

Another man entered the conversation

”Also, the dolls already have to exert quite a lot of physical energy Doubling the distance would be terrible”

What a brilliant opinionǃ I don't kno heavy an uh, but I don't want to walk double the distance

Having been uy, Hanai's whole face became shaded with the color of his nose

”Youelse?”

”We could go all the way to Tooji Bridge”

A young man said

”If we cross Tooji Bridge and go back by Kaya Bridge, the distance wouldn't be doubled, right?”

From the flow of the conversation, I presue further downstreae when I walked along the river? Well, it was probably there, but I just don't remember because it wasn't of interest to me at that time

However, when that idea was proposed, Hanai　grimaced and did not say a word It wasn't just Hanai There was some sort of aard atmosphere in the room

There was hardly any time before the start of the procession Is there anyone who can break this stasisǃ

I'm not sure about the inactivity, but the silence was soon broken I ondering if so door, when a plued woman entered and spoke with a puzzled voice

”Excuseyou when you are busy, but is there someone called Oreki-san here?”

”Ah, yes”

I straightened my knees and stood up

”That would be me”

The woly baffled expression I have the feeling that I gave off the impression of an impolite person

”What is it?”

”Ah Chitanda-san's daughter is looking for you She wants you to come over”

Chitanda?

Were they waiting for the intruder to leave? I hurriedly left the room with the heavy atmosphere where everyone shut their mouth I don't knohat business Chitanda has with lad to be called out

3

But I wasn't allowed to look at Chitanda directly

I was in a roo roo the plan of action Since there were more kerosene stoves, it ar in the room, and I couldn't see if there was anyone, or how many people there were, behind it I felt that I shouldn't even try to look The roorance of cosmetics

A quiet voice came from behind the sheet

”Are you there, Oreki-san?”

That was Chitanda's voice, I think There's no other voice like that

But for a moment, I hesitated Chitanda has often used this cal from behind the cloth seemed more prim, and somewhat colder This voice seemed to portray formal, ordered behavior

”Sorry we have to talk like this I'ht now”

I had been thinking about the uess was confiruely responded with an ”Ah” and a ”Oh” The disco room earlier seem like a siesta room I adjusted my trench coat, which had fallen off my shoulders

”I've called you for only one reason There has been soht?”

” Yeah”

”Is it serious?”

”Seems so”

”I see”

The voice cut off for a short moment Was Chitanda the only person behind the curtain? That shouldn't be the case, right? The procession does not consist of only Chitanda, after all I don't knohat they're wearing, but for things like these, it's usually i After a while, Chitanda spoke up again

”Then please tell me what happened There isn't much time left”

That was true If ere setting off at eleven thirty, I would have to change soon I get the urgency, and I understand why Chitanda wants to deal with the situation She called uy probably because I would be easier to talk to, with us being the sae

But then again

If ere talking without seeing each others' faces, then it would be like our usual telephone calls, but this tiue-tied Perhaps it was because I suddenly moved from a cold place to a warm one

It's alright It's not soan to talk

”At Choukyuu Bridge”

Construction has started

That construction was initially arranged to be stopped

But then the construction agency received word that it was fine to continue

As a result, it becae, and the e the route I sus and said it much too hurriedly

I didn't even hear a cough froood to hear souess it's possible that Chitanda was et past the thick cloth I have no idea how she's listening totowhile doing a headstand ?

I suddenly felt a little unsure, so I stopped my speech and asked

”Soe, but are you listening?”

She responded quickly

”Yes, I am”

Her reply wasn't just curt, it ith a coldness I hadn't experienced before It was as if she was holding a fan to her ainst an arhed, spoke of the aard at the men, and ended my explanation

I closedI could hear in the room was the soft sound of kerosene combustion from the stoves

No, that's not all

I strainedvoice It sounded like so? Or was it the other person here who hadn't said a word to me before?

And then, the evaluation came

”You su very well”

Well, thanks

But her next words were a little different from before I felt her take a deep breath, and then she spoke in a louder voice

”Murai-san is athe coure of speech, but it would be difficult for the Nakagawa Engineering Firh Murai-san Thatthem to continue work today was real”

Her words wereIt was a burning enthusiasm that always existed underneath that neat appearance When I hear the na Since we first otten me, Satoshi+ and Ibara involved inwith curiosity

Thatno fan She just wanted to find out who did this and why Shesheet as possible Yawning would be unthinkable There's no doubt that her enory That's just Chitanda

”Why would they”

Behind the cloth, Chitanda became curious

But that was all there was to it

I had caught a glimpse of her excitement, but then it suddenly faded away, as if it hadn't existed in the first place

While I was sitting properly on the tatami, what Chitanda said to me was not, ”I'm curious” Instead, she said,

”But it's fine It seems that the problem is not that severe”

There were two things I wanted to say, but I just couldn't reply to that The first was, ”Is that all?”, but I naturally couldn't say that I cleared my throat, and asked,

”Is that so? It seems quite serious in the other room”

”That ht be the case, but there isn't a lack of a solution To put it sio to the area further downstreaious matters”

She said this as if she was giving a lecture I wasn't really that interested, but I soive a more detailed explanation?”

She thought for a while

”Oreki-san, could you please bring the e?”

”Mm Sure”

”Then”

She started with a voice tinged with fortitude

”I'll ask the other side's priest myself I'll ask my father to contact the representatives personally, too Please tell them that”

I moain The e does seem a little short on words, after all When Chitanda asks for help, she tends to gloss over the explanation, but if I point it out to her, she would carefully and properly supplement it

But this time, even when I asked, ”Is that all?”, all that ca sheet were a few cold, dry words

”They should understand”

And that's all I told them

I returned to thethat the roo when Hanai showed an openly relieved expression

”Ah, then let's leave it to her Okay, people, we'll be using Tooji Bridge”

It see to understand as going on

Noas a Stur[12] with no room for doubts There was hardly any time left before the procession would start, after all

4

My changing progressed at a frenetic pitch

The spring sun spread its rays outside The sweatshi+rt I had worn here was taken off, and of course, I couldn't wear the trench coat either On top oflike a Hakah sleeves, but the cuffs were too high A third of my shi+n could be seen

”This doesn't really fit”

I told the person as helping e I was called because I would fit the size of clothes, but that isn't the case However, my helper, who seee, smiled and replied,

”That's how it is”

”Is that so?”

My feet are cold This reminds me of the incident on New Year's Day It seems that when you add ”Chitanda” and ”traditional clothes”, the result would automatically become ”cold”

”It's the best fit If the cuffs were a little longer, I would be the one holding the umbrella”

The man said He was indeed a lot taller than ht brown, and he looked like an unconstrained older brother But if there was a young person here, Chitanda wouldn't need to call ht that ould have to depart soon turned into a nervousness I hadn't felt before, and I grumbled a little

”If it's just the cuffs, it would have been better if you did it”

Theme a pair of black Tabi

”You don't often get to see a procession like this, so I purposely came back home If I were in it, I wouldn't be able to watch”

Well, it's certainly true that I wouldChitanda's back

I don't really like these clothes, but I have a psychological opposition against wearing a Tabi that someone else has used However, I couldn't resist this tireat reluctance

With that, I had finished wearing a black top, black trousers, and black socks As I thought, my exposed shi+ns does seem quite indecent

”Right, next is this”

He handed me some white overalls

”Wear this, and I'll tie it around your waist”

Just as he said, he tied the cord around with a butterfly knot

There was sohtened The sleeves were quite loose, and I could see the black clothing underneath There was a slit on the side from the waist to the knees, where I could see the pleats of the Hakama The front part of the overalls was flat and collarless, but arounda black and white layered costume

I see, so even the packhorse can look good with clothes[15], huh? I' to look like someone related to the festival

”Next, wear this on your head”

The man passed me a black hat which looked like a cylinder crushed from the side It's a kind of Eboshi+[16], I suppose

I have a bad feeling about this Everything before this has been fine But if I put it on

I tried it

My whole body was reflected in the e and muttered,

”It doesn't really suit you”

My thoughts exactly

Whether Oreki Houtarou looks good in traditional clothing or not, the festival was about to beginning

It seee was fixed, but the start time was to be delayed It was said that the procession would start fifteen inal time

I exited froo out froather in front of the shrine That wouldn't be athered dolls line up when I nonchalantly join theo behind Chitanda

Right The preparations were perfect

As I felt unco a Tabi I wasn't used to, I walked down the corridor of the shrine office and towards the exit I wore the provided Zori I would be walking in these for an hour, or even longer since the route was changed I loitered by the main entrance, but it wasn't because I hurtMy footasn't very comfortable, but I think I can endure it

As I exited the shrine office, I noticed aoff Thethe u for er than I had expected It opened at a larger angle compared to a western-style umbrella, and looked like a T shape, so it would look really big As I faltered, Sono spoke to encourage me

”Hey, the Living Doll Festival isn't one to strain yourself over Try to make yourself at ease”

”You're saying that there are other festivals?”

”That's right There are quite a few other spring festivals”

”Is that so? That ht as I accepted the u, but it's not particularly heavy It's just slightly heavier than a cloth u this with both hands, so I should be able to easily hold out for an hour

Fuu, I took a deep breath Sono asked,

”You nervous?”

Just a bit

And then the living dolls gathered

First was the e an Eboshi+, but unliketail behind He was also completely in black, except of his white footwear, which were peeking out from under his costume Naturally, his outfit was one suited for royalty, but as interesting was his clothes It was black, but it wasn't absolutely black Instead, a pattern of a subtle shade of black was stitched on it I couldn't see the exact pattern from far, but in a flash, I realized that it looked like stripes The emperor was played by an aesthetically beautifulface

That's what I thought, but it was a huge mistake I couldn't believe my own eyes That wasn't a nize that emperor's face Those sharp eyes, and that shallow chin line She can't foolher hair up That was a second year froh School - Irisu Fuyumiǃ

My relationshi+p with Irisu goes back to the Cultural Festival, where we helped each other I don't know much about her, but I at least know that Irisu's family doesn't stay around here Was she also recruited as an outsider, like ht ahead, without even a hint of embarrassment Since she didn't look around, I wasn't noticed

Next was the empress

So athered in front of the shrine that it made me wonder where they all came from Perhaps some of them were visitors fro Doll Festival was an unexpectedly effectivetourists No wonder Chitanda mentioned that it was ”quite famous”

The hurounds stirred, holding up their numerous ca sun, ould have undoubtedly been treated to a never-ending slew of camera flashes The e black royal clothes, so that hat Irisu earing What would the empress wear, then?

Chitanda ca a twelve-layered kimono

The outerreen, a cal pattern on the kiently placed on the doll's hands Chitanda stepped out into the grounds with her heavy make-up and downcast eyes From just a few steps, I could tell that Chitanda hadbeautifully in those clothes

”Ah”, I thought

This isn't good This isn't a good costume crap, I should never have come here

That means that, in other words, what does it mean?

In other words

I've always taken pride in e

Additionally, while I ical at times, I've always believed that I was the type to use reason to organize hts

However, that day, on the grounds of Ka day, at approxi in her twelve-layered kimono

I have no good words to explain why I thought the word ”crap”

I've considered many reasons, but none of them can explain it well If I don't have to do it, don't do it If I have to do it,fatally jeopardized I have no way of explaining why I had that premonition

I just kept earnestly thinking, ”crap, this isn't good at all”

Behind Chitanda's ki filet[17], with to it up so that it wouldn't touch the ground Long hair drooped down Chitanda's back, tied into a bundle with golden paper A person who doesn't know Chitanda would probably think that the girl in the twelve-layered ki hair, but I know that Chitanda's hair isn't that long That's just a wig

After that, the Ministers on the Left and Right appeared, along with the three court ladies Sadly, I didn't take a look at any of them

I realized that I had to hold the purplish red u procession The order was Irisu, Chitanda, the to Chitanda's filet, and then me

As alked along the narrow pathway, I was thinking about the filet being in the way I couldn't see Chitanda

It seems that besides the tourists, there were quite a fes co aimed at us As we proceeded a little further, I saw so in wait If some cause for applause transpired, it would probably be shown on TV, and I thought that I would get really nervous However, when I was actually in front of the ca different

But I guess the reason for that would be that I'round, and not a main character

The procession was longer than I had thought A troupe oftheir transverse flutes I didn't see them directly, but since I heard some ”Don, don” sounds mixed in, I presume that there are a few people with Taikos there, too

We headed downhill on the path parallel to the river that I had cycled up In theeven with ht froh it was just a small river, a breeze blew over its surface, and since it was only April, it was actually quite cold, although that definitely wasn't an unpleasant thing

Tourists were lined up in ts on the left and right of the narrow path I've never been seen by so ain, I don't think anyone would really look at the boy holding an umbrella at the back of the dolls I looked forward for just a while

We had passed the problee before I even knew it I only realized it when the procession went over the water

Suddenly, my vision was filled with pink, and I looked up

Chitanda alking under the flowering cherry blossom tree We walked past half-opened and fully-opened flowers, but under the out of season flowers, Chitanda advanced silently with her twelve-layered kiht, the tiled room of and old house that happened to be built there by chance, the leftover snow on the rice fields, the transparent surface of the creek that hadof the streas At least, that's what I felt

However, all I could see of Chitanda, with her flowing hair and her filet that was being held up, was her back

I can't say that I hold any affinity to the curiousness that Chitanda repeatedly eht, ”Do this is what Chitanda has always felt” Right noanted to see Chitanda's expression Now, in this place, if I could see her face-to-face with her rouged, downcast eyes, hoould that be

”Houtarouǃ”

A voice called Taken aback, I turned around

I saw that Satoshi+ was in the audience

I turned back to look in front, with a nonchalant expression on my face

5

The sake was delivered late, but thanks to the altered route, it arrived just in tireeted with a hotthe way, but it ended without any probleht festival The afternoon meal was extremely calm and full of smiles

Chitanda and the rest of the dolls did not take their lunch, and instead went to the prayer hall They're cleansing their impurities, I think

Dolls are, by nature, things that accept the sins ofhas to be done about the accumulated impurities I don't knohen Mizunashi+ Shrine started the Living Doll Festival, but it has hue ritual You could even call it dangerous if you consider the incantations involved It's definitely noti

The person who said all that was the one who knows all unnecessary pieces of information, fukube Satoshi+ not It was actually Ibara who gave that ed toMitarashi+ Dango in a corner of the shrine grounds together with Ibara and Satoshi+ I never knew that Ibara could give us so h

Satoshi+'s words, on the other hand, was of a different matter

”That was miraculous, Houtarou”

”The fact that you made it for the festival?”

”Ah, yeah, that's also unbelievable I never thought that the festival would be pushed back”

It seeht after his reht up with the procession at the second half of Tooji Bridge He thrust his hand into his linen drawstring bag and retrieved a disposable camera

”My equipment was quite inferior, but it's way better than not taking a picture at all That was a one in ten thousand opportunity, so it hile using this thing I was horrified at letting this chance go to waste, and if I hadn't taken a photo, I would be stoust”

”So did you take it?”

”It was a perfect shot, with the cherry blossom in it”

I stayed silent Satoshi+ grinned and added,

”Based on your type, you just can't bear to say so like 'Make ht? But don't worry, I'll give you one even if you don't say it”

”You didn't suit your outfit at all”

Ibara just had to say the line that didn't need to be spoken

In the end, I didn't e to see Chitanda at Mizunashi+ Shrine I don't knohen the purification ritual ended, but the tourists evaporated after the festival ended, and Satoshi+ and Ibara didn't feel like staying any longer ”Say hi to Chitanda for meǃ” Satoshi+ called as he retreated from the shrine

As forI should act like an involved person for, I had lunch and proactively helped with the cleaning up The men eren't free had left already but there were ten people who stayed until the end, so ed the re a lively conversation

I onlytowards the west I was passing by her house when I spotted Chitanda on her veranda, and she beckoned for me to come in

I aiting patiently at the guest rooo to the toilet On the way back, alked into each other

”Ah, Oreki-san I was just coreet you”

The Chitanda as s in front of me had removed her make-up She was the usual Chitanda I had never stared at her so fixedly before, but now I understood This was the Chitanda that I was used to seeing She had taken off her twelve-layered ki a collared shi+rt and a skirt with a gentle color, which was very suitable as indoor clothes She could appear in front of people in this

While I was looking at her, Chitanda's cheeks swelled

”Wh-what is it?”

Chitanda sighed, and then shouted excitedly

”Oreki-sanǃ”

””

”Today was terribleǃ I had to control ǃ If I may say so, I think I did quite well just for today”

”Ah, playing the doll?”

But that wasn't it Chitanda shook her head and took a step forward The polished veranda floor creaked

”That was not what I was controlling myself for It was definitely”

Chitanda put her hands on her chest, and spoke with her heart

”About who called the Nakagawa Construction Agency I've been curious for such a long timeǃ”

So that was it

”Oreki-san, you probably understood so in that rooht, but I felt that there was so behind the sheet”

”No, that wasn't it”

”Then ere you about to say?”

I never thought that I would be asked about that

”I thought about it a lotǃ Who would benefit the e could not be passed? But I had a job to do today, so I couldn't spendabout it, but there was no one I could turn to”

Her expression did not changebarrier on the veranda As a result, Chitanda's eyes, the representation of her curiosity, drew closer

”Oreki-san, you were in the office the whole ti?”

”Not at all,” hat I would like to say

But I actually did notice soht about what happened with the bridge, but today, in view of the special incident, I thought that Chitanda would be interested Therefore, I listened carefully to what everyone said

Since she didn't say ”I'ht it was over then I never knew that I would be brought to Chitanda's house in the evening

I took half a step back and answered

”Yeah there were so h Honestly, I don't know all their names”

”I know all of them, I think”

”Do you think any of them as suspicious?”

I asked Chitanda's eyes, which had been blazing with curiosity