Chapter 142: Ryohei Tanaka's Wish!
Yurine's father was named Hanazono Toshio, and her grandfather was Hanazono Kentaro. Both were cheerful, talkative men. They showed none of the typical "in-law" scrutiny, which came as a great relief to Ryohei Tanaka.
Grandfather Kentaro asked Ryohei about his original world—he already knew that Ryohei had been summoned as Yurine's familiar. In fact, it was he who had pulled some strings to get Ryohei's official documents sorted out.
Ryohei answered each question honestly. When they learned that he had no family left and no lingering ties to his old world, Toshio and Kentaro, while offering words of comfort, were inwardly even more pleased. No attachments was a good thing. They had worried that if Ryohei ever found a way back, he might leave and never return. If he could stay in this world with peace of mind, that would be for the best.
Soon, Hanazono Yo, who had briefly left, returned to the reception room carrying a tray. On it were a pot of tea, several cups, and a plate of sanshoku dango (three-colored dumplings) drizzled with honey and sprinkled with crushed nuts.
"Tanaka-kun, please, try some and see if you like it," she said warmly, placing the dango in front of him.
"My mom is very good at making these," Yurine, kneeling beside him, praised proudly. "They're just as good as any you'd find in a shop."
"Oh, you..." Yo chided her daughter, but the smile on her face only grew wider. She looked at Ryohei expectantly, awaiting his verdict.
"Yes, thank you, Auntie," Ryohei said, smiling at Yurine before politely thanking her mother. He reached out, carefully picking up a skewer of dango with one hand and cupping his other hand underneath to catch any falling honey or nuts.
He brought it to his lips and took a small bite of the white dumpling. A soft, chewy texture immediately filled his mouth. The sweet fragrance of honey mixed with the crunch of the nuts and a hint of milk.
Ryohei's eyes lit up, and he chewed with enjoyment. After swallowing, he offered his sincere praise. "This is delicious. The dango itself is perfectly chewy, and the sweetness of the honey and the crunch of the nuts create a wonderful taste and texture."
"I'm so glad you like it," Yo said with a radiant smile. She placed a cup of light-colored tea in front of him. "Have a taste. This is gyokuro green tea; it pairs very well with the dango."
"Ah, arigatou," Ryohei thanked her again. He picked up the teacup, feeling the pleasant warmth against his fingertips. He took a small sip. The elegant aroma of the tea instantly neutralized the sweetness of the dango, making for a perfect combination.
...
Eating dango, drinking tea, and chatting, the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
After they had all gotten acquainted, the grandfather put down his teacup and was the first to stand. "You all continue chatting. I have some work to attend to."
"Me too," Toshio said, also getting up. He looked at his daughter. "Yurine, why don't you show Tanaka-kun around the shrine later?"
"Mhm," Yurine nodded. She had been planning to do just that.
"You've never been to a shrine before, have you, Tanaka-kun?" Toshio asked.
"No, I haven't," Ryohei admitted. "Today is my first time."
"Then please, take your time and experience our shrine culture," Toshio said with a kind smile. He and the grandfather then left the room.
...
About ten minutes later, Ryohei followed Yurine out of the shrine office.
"The Inari deity is the protector of agriculture and commerce," Yurine explained. "She is revered as a god who ensures bountiful harvests, prosperous business, family safety, and the fulfillment of all wishes."
"Sounds like a jack-of-all-trades god," Ryohei commented.
"Mhm. Would you like to offer a prayer, Tanaka-kun?" Yurine asked, turning to him with her hands behind her back.
"Sure. What's the proper procedure?" Ryohei asked curiously. Since he was here, and it was his girlfriend's family business, he felt he should show some support.
"Come with me, I'll teach you," Yurine said with a smile, beckoning him over to the chōzuya (purification fountain) they had passed earlier. "Before you pray, you must purify yourself."
The "purification" was just washing one's hands and rinsing one's mouth, but the process was quite specific. First, you hold the ladle in your right hand and wash your left. Then, switch hands and wash your right. Switch back to your right hand, pour water into your left palm, and rinse your mouth. Finally, wash your left hand again and tilt the ladle upright to let the remaining water clean the handle.
Yurine demonstrated, and Ryohei followed her lead. Then, the two of them walked to the front of the main worship hall.
Yurine took out her wallet and produced two 5-yen coins she had prepared, handing one to Ryohei. In Japanese, "five yen" (go-en) sounds the same as go-en (御縁), which means fate or destiny. Tossing a 5-yen coin is believed to create a bond with the deity.
Cling—!
The clear sound of a bell echoed in front of the hall. Yurine bowed deeply twice, clapped her hands together, and closed her eyes to make a wish. Ryohei watched, curious about what she was wishing for.
After about ten seconds, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes. She bowed once more, then stepped aside, indicating that it was his turn.
Ryohei stepped forward, tossed the 5-yen coin into the offering box, and rang the bell. He followed the "two bows, two claps, one bow" procedure Yurine had shown him and made his own wish.
As for his wish—Ryohei didn't really have one. He was very content with his current life. He just made a simple wish for the "happiness and well-being of himself and the people around him"—which, when he thought about it, was a pretty tall order, especially since Jashin-chan was always looking for trouble.
Afterward, Yurine took him to draw omikuji (paper fortunes). His luck was good; he drew "Small Good Fortune." Yurine drew "Middle Good Fortune." Her father, Toshio, was the official fortune interpreter, but he wasn't needed; Yurine, as a shrine daughter, knew how to read them perfectly.
Next, they wrote on ema (wooden prayer plaques), a traditional way of making a wish in Japan. They wrote their wishes on small wooden boards and hung them up for the deity. Ryohei got to experience the full range of shrine activities.
...
Time passed, and it was past eleven o'clock.
Thinking it was about time to start preparing lunch, Ryohei asked Yurine to take him to the kitchen. He was ready to show off his skills and make a good impression.
When they arrived, however, Yurine's mother was already busy at work...