"Come on Miyuki, it'll be fun! We'll go to the Summer Moon Festival all of us together, just like old times!"
She was nervously twirling her long black hair, her moon earrings swinging back and forth. Souta had his gaze fixated on them, reminded of the weird happenings of yesterday.
"Uhh..I'm not sure, I should probably help around the house. And I still have many books to read."
"Miyuki, you should spend time with your friends! The house won't fall to ruin if you spend a few days outside."
"Exactly. Listen to your grandma!"
"Not you too granny, why are you supporting them?"
"You are still young, you need sunlight to grow into a beautiful woman, my child."
"I'm not a vegetable grandma!"
"Airi has gone through the trouble of bringing us together, surely you won't disappoint her by declining now that we've come all the way to your house."
"Ryuo…when did you suddenly start caring about such things…well whatever, I'll humor you all for a moment. But know that I'm definitely not doing this to get sunlight, I have no interest in growing like some stupid vegetable."
"That's the spirit! Take your bike, we're going to get Kaito as well!"
"I..uhh..don't have one anymore. Grandma, is yours still working?"
"The tire blew five years ago, I still haven't figured out how to fix it."
"Five year- well that's a problem."
"No it isn't. Just hop on Souta's bike!"
"We'll both die!"
"Exactly!"
***
In the end, Souta found himself biking with Miyuki holding onto him for dear life.
How has this happened twice already?
The three were riding side by side, with Airi shouting directions from the middle.
"So Miyuki! Are you studying anything? Souta and Ryuo are going to schools in other cities and I'm currently going to an all girls highschool!"
"I'm going to Shinonome High, it's focused on Humanism, literature and the arts."
"I think I've heard of it! It's a private school right!?" Shouted Ryuo.
"Yes it is. I'm surprised you know of it."
"I remember my big sis considered going there, but we didn't have the funds and she couldn't get a scholarship, so she ended up going to some public one close by."
"Ah, that makes more sense."
The wind had died down a bit, making it easier to converse. Avoiding the potholes was hard with all three of them side by side, though Ryuo was enjoying swirling between them.
"Has anyone heard anything about Kaito in a while?"
"Nah."
"I haven't."
"Yeah..me neither."
"Huh, we really all went our own ways after preschool."
"If you ask me, we should have stayed on our own ways, but someone insisted on this gathering."
"Shut up Souta, I didn't ask you. And I think you are secretly enjoying this, as is Miyuki!"
"I'm definitely not."
"Me neither! And don't group me with Souta, I don't trust boys with piercings!"
"Well I think they suit him! Makes him look a bit more grown up! He should definitely cut that hair though."
"I agree."
"Or dye it like I have!"
"Hahahh! Imagining him with pink hair is a treat for the mind!"
"I would never do anything like that! And I think my hair is just fine!"
"Well I don't it's flying into my face back here and getting into my mouth!"
"You could also run if the ride isn't to your taste."
"No thank you."
"Thought so."
"Take a right here!"
Before them was a small road leading to the forest. Huge oak trees created a roof, through which almost no light passed through. Everywhere they could hear cicadas, singing their endless song.
I don't think I've ever visited Kaito's house, he always just hung out at our places. This forest is kind of creepy to be honest.
Souta couldn't see more than a few meters deep into the forest. The huge trees created an endless mass, dark mist swirling through the air. He could swear that there were eyes watching them from behind every three.
"It's nice and cool here!"
More like terrifying and cold.
"I've read that this forest is full of old shrines. There was this book, Tales from Tsukimori; Local Legends and History."
"How many books do you even read! I thought that this village was so small that surely no books would be written on it. It's a miracle that the train even stops here."
"I don't read that much. And even if I do, it's good for the brain."
"I've heard some stories from my parents, but I don't really know the history that well."
"We visited one of the shrines as kids, remember? It wasn't far from the edge of the forest, but it was super run down! I think Ryuo almost fell from climbing on top of one of the walls!"
"That's right! Remember, Souta?"
"No."
"Thinking back on it, we might have disrespected the shrine. I'm sure the spirits of the forest were not happy with us."
I'm quite sure they are staring at us right now. There were eyes again there. Well it the others don't see it's probably fine.
"We were just kids, how should we have known! And besides, I haven't been punished in any way!"
"We should ask Kaito if he knows anything about the shrines since he lives here in the forest."
"That's a good idea! I love learning about such stuff!"
"Wow, I didn't know you were into that stuff Airi."
"Everybody has to have hobbies you know!"
"I swear this road keeps getting longer the more we bike!"
"Don't worry, I think I see the house!"
Before them was indeed a house. Well, calling it a house is a bit misleading, it resembled a temple more than anything. A large stone fence circled around it, with a giant torii gate acting as the entranceway to the garden.
"That's an unusual gate. Look, there is a giant moon adorning the top part of the gate."
"I think I've read about that as well. The ancient people that used to live here usually had a moon in the middle there to signify the branch of religion that they belonged to."
"I think my mom told me about something similar a long time ago."
Huh…Interesting. Is his family religious."
They hopped off their bikes and respectfully walked into the courtyard. On both sides of the old, moss ridden pathway were beautiful ponds.
"Hey, there are some carp living there! That's so cool!"
"Please refrain from shouting Airi. We don't want to come off as rude."
"Oh sorry. I just got excited."
What a creepy place. At least there aren't threes growing here, some light gets in.
"Oh, look at these statues, I wonder who they represent?"
On the left side of the road three old stone statues stood in silence. A man in the middle, wearing a long robe that covered his face fully. In his hand he held a sword, with water coming from top, running down the blade into a small vase.
"That's so cool, it acts like a fountain."
On both sides, smaller statues of women, looking up to him, almost as if reaching for something. They were also robed, but with much more revealing clothes. On the right side the statue was holding a cup, and the statue on the left was holding a long wand, adorned with vines.
"I don't remember reading about anything like this. I wonder who these people are."
On the side of the pedestal they stood at was carved a five pointed star.
"Surely this has some symbolical meaning."
Their chatter was however cut short by the sound of the door of the temple suddenly opening.
"Who are you guys?"