Chapter 91

1. The God of Bountiful Harvest

When Umemura got off the train ahead of me, he whispered to me.

"Don't be in such a rush to live. It's a life your father and Kirima protected."

The end of his words and his troubled expression were cut off by the automatic doors.

I returned to the government office and stood alone in the empty smoking area, not even smoking a cigarette.

My father was supposed to have disappeared. I never heard from Kirima that he protected me. But Kirima did tell me many times not to hate my father.

Kirima knows something and is hiding it.

At times like this, I can't think of anyone to talk to. Since joining the special investigation division, I've grown distant from my school friends. So they wouldn't get involved if something happened.

Light rain fell over the city viewed from the glass window, and countless colorful umbrellas bloomed like flowers. So many people were nearby, yet I was alone.

The door to the smoking area opened, and the quiet sound of shoes echoed.

"Katagishi..."

Even though it had only been one mission apart, I felt an intense nostalgia.

"Miyaki, did you start smoking?"

"No, I was just thinking..."

"That's good. This stuff is all harm and no benefit."

"You're the one saying that, Katagishi?"

I couldn't help but smile.

Katagishi, with a cigarette in his mouth, fumbled for his lighter.

"How are things with Akitsu?"

Umemura's words flashed through my mind, and I fell silent.

"If even you're struggling, then there's no way I could've handled it. Glad I passed it on."

"What are you saying!"

Though I said that aloud, I felt the turbulence in my heart calm. Katagishi lit his cigarette with the lighter he found.

"Well, hang in there. She's not a bad person."

"...You're right."

"I'm being dragged off by Rokuhara again, but if you're ever really in trouble, just say so. It'll be a good excuse to bail."

"That's your real intention, isn't it?"

I hesitated to tell Katagishi about Akitsu and Umemura. I didn't want to recklessly involve someone who had finally found closure.

Maybe Kirima is hiding something from me for the same reason.

Katagishi let out a small groan. Rokuhara was walking over from the other side.

"Don't look like you've seen a ghost."

"A ghost would be better. See you later."

Katagishi stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and left. I watched his back as he walked away.

His figure exchanging words with Rokuhara faded into the lingering smoke.

***

"Rokuhara, just admit it already."

"Admit what?"

"Why do you keep dragging me along on these pointless missions? You've got some agenda, don't you?"

"...I don't want her near your new subordinate."

"What are you talking about?"

"When I was a kid, I got close to the Territorial Divine Offenses infesting my hometown a few times. She gives off the same scent."

***

The destination we reached after transferring buses was much more developed than I had imagined.

At the mountain's base stood modest but charming teahouses and souvenir shops, with sweet steam wafting from stalls selling amazake. Faded noren fluttered in the sunlit breeze.

Work rarely brings me to places like this. If Katagishi were here, he'd have warned me not to treat it like a vacation.

Beside me, Akitsu exhaled cigarette smoke into a red tin stand-type ashtray and muttered.

"You look happy, Miyaki."

"I just... I know it's work, so I need to stay focused."

I forced a smile, but inside I felt a raw sting. Like it or not, Umemura's words kept resurfacing. Akitsu looked at me, then lowered her gaze.

"I'm a little excited too. I don't usually go on trips myself."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I don't have any friends to go with."

Seeing her shoulders slump with such a serious face made my earlier caution quickly fade.

"Then let's enjoy this now. Want some amazake?"

"Is that okay during work?"

"Building rapport with locals is important for investigations too. Shopping makes it easier to gather info."

Half-dragging Akitsu, I headed to the stall and ordered two amazake.

A middle-aged woman in an apron poured amazake into paper cups with vigor, the cloudy drops rippling.

"On a trip with your friend?"

The woman smiled warmly as she handed over the cups. Since Akitsu was frozen in place, I took them for her.

"Actually, we're working. It's for a travel guide interview."

"Oh, really? This is a good time to visit—nice and quiet. Plus, there's a festival."

"A festival?"

"Yes, it commemorates the people who founded the village long ago. We inform the mountain god that we've safely made it through another year."

Over the woman's shoulder, I noticed lanterns adorned with peony flowers hanging down.

"Are those part of the festival preparations too?"

The woman leaned back to check behind her, then nodded.

"Yes, they say the peony is the mountain god's flower. Though peonies don't actually bloom around here."

Akitsu and I sat on a bench covered in red felt and sipped our amazake.

"I wonder why a flower that doesn't bloom here is used as the mountain god's motif."

"Maybe it was the family crest of the people who drifted here and founded the village. Even in the Heian period, some regents used the peony as their family crest."

"You've really done your research!"

"It's my job."

Akitsu looked away.

"Are you mad I denied we were on a trip? I just thought saying that would go over better..."

A tired-sounding low voice cut in.

"You really do look like tourists."

A shadow fell over the bench. Looking up, a man stood there with an exasperated expression. His suit jacket hung loosely on his thin frame, making him look unhealthy, but his skin was healthily sun-tanned.

"Esato, you've arrived!"

I hurriedly stood up, and Akitsu rose with me. Esato shook his head with his usual exhausted expression.

"Sorry I'm late."

"This is part of our information gathering..."

I stammered, and Esato glanced briefly at Akitsu before lowering his eyes.

"Did you find anything useful?"

"Yes. Apparently, the village festival is coming up soon."

"A festival, huh."

Esato fell silent. In his hometown—also where my father was born—there was something called Territorial Divine Offenses and a festival that could only be called bizarre.

There's little past documentation, and Esato doesn't like to talk about it, but clearly it weighs on him.

"Once you finish drinking, we'll head out for the investigation. I'm no expert in folklore or theology, so I'll rely on you two for insights..."

"Leave it to us! I've got a capable junior with me!"

I patted Akitsu's back encouragingly. She gave a vague bow.

"My name is Akitsu."

"I'm Esato. Seems you're an elite like Miyaki. You probably don't like being paired with me..."

"Not at all. I heard you were born with ties to the Territorial Divine Offenses. Firsthand detection from someone who's seen a god is invaluable."

"You sure know a lot about me."

"Yes, like how you've been divorced."

I turned pale. Before I could smooth things over, Esato clicked his tongue and muttered, "Damn Umemura."

I scrambled to change the subject.

"Oh, right—during the earlier interview, I heard the God of Bountiful Harvest is associated with the peony flower. Could that be a clue?"

"I don't know much about flowers... but I did get a flyer about that on the way here."

Esato pulled a folded sheet of paper from the pocket of his jacket.

The hand-drawn tourist flyer had the words "Peony Pass." Though the photo pasted in the upper right was pixelated, it was clear it showed the entrance to a cave rather than a mountain pass.

Rocky formations resembling peony blossoms were layered like steps.

"So that's why it's called Peony..."

In the corner of the flyer was the same red peony flower depicted on the lanterns.

Perhaps the ink had run—red streaks extended downward from the petals, making it look as if blood were dripping.