"Since there’s no issue, don’t force them to stay here. Let them go back."
"We still need to learn a bit of the situation from Abbot Kiyoka. Will Director Fujiwara join us?"
"You go ahead. Let him co find after the investigation."
"Alright."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"It’s no trouble at all; it’s our duty..."
After the two colleagues left, the girls from Capital City also ca out of the side hall, chattering as they headed towards the back mountain, seemingly preparing to pack up and return to Capital City. Kasahara Fumi glanced in that direction, stood up, and said, "I’m going to the bathroom."
Exiting the courtyard of the side hall, she stepped onto the path leading to the back mountain.
Kasahara Fumi followed behind, occasionally brushing past monks wearing simple round-collared robes with leggings.
Her extensive experience in Division Nine and her special abilities made her very adept at tailing people. Even though she wasn’t following far behind, the girls from Capital City did not notice her presence.
Crossing a suspension bridge, she arrived at the back mountain where the ancient temple was being restored. A pine forest stood on the slope facing the sea, with a few ancient wooden houses scattered among the trees. Tall reed grass grew on both sides of the road.
The sea breeze blew, and the sound of branches and reed grass rubbing against each other resembled the gentle rumble of the mountains themselves.
Stream water descending from the mountain gathered into a small lake in front of the residences. The girls from Capital City played by the lake for a while, washed their hands and feet, and then entered one of the small houses. Kasahara Fumi placed so specially scented chestnuts in front of that small house. Before long, Natsuki Kuri would be drawn by the scent to give these girls a life lesson.
Shortly after, Kasahara Fumi returned to Fujiwara Reya.
The clear sky devoid of clouds embraced the mountainside glowing under the evening sun. The chest of the young man wrapped in a white shirt rose and fell, swaying in the sunlight filtering through the leaves. For so unclear reason, Kasahara Fumi suddenly felt sowhat happy, a faint warmth spreading through her chest.
What she was doing now was like the shirt on that guy’s body.
Though it might wrinkle, how dazzlingly white it was. Any creases, as long as they’re washed away, would not remain, only the pure white color would never be tainted...
Returning to the courtyard, Kasahara Fumi pressed her long skirt with both hands and knelt beside him in a very ladylike manner, her posture surprisingly submissive.
One sitting, one reclining, they looked towards the blue sea at the mountain’s base for a while. The sunlight shimred on the distant water, and the wind carried the scent of the sea. Kasahara Fumi gently smoothed the strands of hair tousled by the sea breeze with one hand, turned her head, and asked, "Actually, with your current position, you don’t have to be so polite to others. Whether it’s with those girls from Capital City or those two from Onmyo-ryo just now."
"I’m just a little monster, I don’t have any position..." Fujiwara Reya casually said, chewing on a clover in his mouth, "My only goal is to restore the Asakusa Shrine to its forr glory. As for any titles or status that co with it, well, let’s just say it’s for serving the people. Just do what needs to be done without leaning into arrogance or haughtiness just because of so power. That would fall into clichés."
Kasahara Fumi nodded slightly, lowering her gaze to him.
The young boy appeared utterly at ease, the clover flicking between his lips. From his sharp nose to his outstretched legs, he exuded vitality, brimming with confidence and a hint of youthful innocence. He seed to fully understand the weight of humility, and under the crisp white shirt, his broad chest was like the bow of a ship advancing into the waves.
Watching him, a softly inexplicable smile appeared on Kasahara Fumi’s lips, "Alright, alright, I got it. You’re a good person. But at least when Abbot Kiyoka cos, be a bit more severe, present the authority a director should have."
For so reason, there was a hint of indulgence in her tone, much like an elder sister speaking to her younger brother.
"Ah, no, that’s too sudden!" Fujiwara Reya stopped flicking the clover with his lips and turned his head to look at her, "Sister Fukaeri, you better keep your usual cold deanor. This sudden tenderness is too scary; I might end up succumbing to it."
The smile on Kasahara Fumi’s lips vanished in an instant, and she did not comnt on his words.
"Actually, if you look at it from a rule perspective, nothing was essentially wrong with restoring the ancient temple since selling yellow pine jade wasn’t banned," Fujiwara Reya said in a clear voice as sunlight fell through the leaves, "Before last night’s incident, I talked a lot with a beverage store owner. In a place like Minami-Izu, where people have no money, hoping to hold a grand festival is a kind of luxury. From the perspective of the ancient temple’s restoration, having a source of inco and not breaking any laws or regulations, gathering so money to hold a grand sumr festival can’t be criticized. Conversely, we people in positions of power ought to reflect on this event, think about how to increase the inco of shrines and temples in remote areas, and if decisions are habitually overlooking the silent majority..."
Kasahara Fumi watched Fujiwara Reya in silence for a mont, then drew her legs together, resting her chin on her knees.
Growing up in Tokyo, she didn’t quite understand this kind of kindness. But she could infer that for him to say sothing like this, the world he grew up in must overflow with bright emotions and good intentions. Moreover, his upright heart was supported by strong forces and resilient flexibility, which defined his current code of conduct.
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