Issac pressed his forehead against the van window, fogging up the glass with every exhale.
"Guys, we're still stuck in these mountains… is this snow ever gonna get plowed out?!"
Shin, lounging like he owned the place, smirked.
"If you want the snow gone, why don't you ask the god sitting right here?"
He jabbed his thumb toward Cupp, who was suspiciously sitting a little too close to Aiko.
Cupp jolted so hard he smacked his head against the van ceiling.
"OUCH! Fine, fine! I'll help you just this once!"
He raised his hand dramatically like he was about to summon divine wrath—only for a snowflake to fall directly on his nose.
"Behold, mortals!" he shouted.
And just like that, the sky split open, the snow stopped, and the road melted in seconds. Cars ahead of them began to roll forward as if nothing had happened.
Elena puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms.
"You could've done that when the train got canceled, Cupp!"
Cupp, clutching his massage hat like a crown, scoffed.
"Restrictions!"
Issac slumped back in his seat.
"At least the traffic's moving now…"
For the next half hour, the van filled with Elena's relentless scolding while Cupp made excuses about "divine rules." Shin, as usual, just kept his smug grin, eating potato chips like it wasn't freezing outside.
Finally, as the sun began to set, the crew's van rolled into a snow-draped village. The rooftops were thick with white, the old gassho-zukuri houses looked like something out of a storybook, and lanterns glowed faintly along the streets.
Elena's eyes widened, sparkling as she pressed her hands to the window.
"Shirakawa-go…" she whispered.
Issac took a deep breath, half in awe, half in dread.
"…Well, here we go. Time to meet the mother of my ghost girlfriend."
The gang trudged through the snow-covered path, their breaths puffing out like smoke signals. Elena clung to Issac's sleeve, her eyes darting nervously around the old village.
Issac cleared his throat and asked one of the locals, "Excuse me… do you know where we can find Ms. Nagamoto?"
An elderly woman, bundled in three layers of kimono and shawls, squinted at them before pointing with a wrinkled hand.
"Down the slope, second house by the cedar tree. You'll know it when you see it."
And sure enough, they did.
The house looked like something carved out of time itself. Wooden statues filled the yard—birds mid-flight, foxes crouching, even miniature shrines. But what caught them all off guard were the sculptures of a young girl. Her smile, her school uniform, her hair flowing in the breeze… dozens of Elenas frozen in wood.
Shin whistled low.
"…Bro, either this is wholesome or extremely creepy. No in-between."
Issac's jaw tightened, but before he could speak, the sound of chipping wood echoed from the porch.
There, standing in denim overalls and a red-checkered shirt, was a woman who seemed like a matured reflection of Elena. Her movements were steady, precise, as her chisel danced against the wood. And in her hands—another Elena was taking form.
Cupp immediately adjusted his massage hat like it was a fedora.
"W-Whoa… she's… she's gorgeous…" he whispered, eyes sparkling.
Elena froze in place, her lips trembling as she whispered,
"…Mom?"
The woman looked up, wiping the sawdust from her cheek, and for a moment, the air itself felt heavier.
To be continued….
"Thanks for reading chapter 6"