It had taken three days for her son's body to settle and converge with the wandering spirit. As the Shaman had said, the only thing left was to bind everything together through marriage, the strongest bond there was. This would ensure that Ryousuke would stay tied to the land of the living, and the only way to finish the ritual was by finding him someone who'd be willing to marry him.
For the next few days, the Village Head tried to rack her brain, searching for a suitable woman for the role. Her son was her entire world. The last thing she wanted was for Ryousuke to end up with someone unworthy of him. The problem was that she couldn't find anyone who could meet her demands. There were plenty of beautiful and hardworking women in the Village, but they didn't seem to capture what Iori, the Village Head, wanted for a daughter-in-law. External beauty wasn't what mattered here.
She needed a woman kind enough, loyal enough, and accepting enough to stay with her son even if the truth were to get out. If his wife were to break ties with her son, Ryousuke would die permanently or worse, become an evil spirit. Neither option was viable.
"Perhaps I need to widen my scope and search in the city? Or outside of the Island?" She muttered.
"I don't think that's wise. It would be better if she were someone from the Island at least. This is where the ritual began, and this is where his body will be the strongest. Bringing him outside, especially when he is still vulnerable, could break the connection and leave the spirit unsettled." The Shaman replied.
Iori sighed. It looked like she had no other choice but to look beyond this village—or at least, that's what she'd thought at the time. Now, as she sat before a potential candidate, Iori realized this woman met all her requirements and also seemed genuinely interested in her son. For Iori, this was an unexpected opportunity she couldn't let slip by.
She'd completely forgotten about the daughter of the Tachibana family as well. It had been so long since they'd seen the family that it slipped her mind that they had a child at a marriageable age. From what she'd heard, however, she was a kind girl with a good head on her shoulders. With her father being a merchant and her mother owning a business of her own, they were well-off and did not want for money. This was almost too perfect. Now the problem was finding out if she was the kind of woman who could cherish her son with all of her heart and accept him until the very end.
An idea came to mind, and her eyes moved to her friend once more, who gave a subtle, barely perceptible nod. The heavens were finally looking favourably at her!
Mizuki, meanwhile, was in complete and utter disbelief. She had good reason for her skepticism, as she'd spent years searching for the man of her dreams since she was sixteen. Now, four years later, Mizuki had given up after repeated disappointments. Many suitors had vied for her hand, but none ever held her interest. From Mizuki's perspective, most young men her age were always lacking in several ways. She didn't want to settle just for the sake of it.
After a while, desperation gave way to defeat. She stopped trying to find a husband and focused her attention on her business. Gardening had always been her love. She decided to use the withered plants, dry them, and give them new life. Since then, the thought of dating, relationships, and eventual marriage had escaped her. In fact, she found it a bit of a pain. So, after all these years of searching, the one thing it took was a visit to the Village Head. That was enough to make her take a step back.
Just what is this? Is the universe playing a joke on me?
Still, her curiosity beat her scepticism, and she couldn't help wondering who this man could be.
"He's a good man, strong, and a natural caregiver. In fact, he's my son Ryousuke. He's unmarried and has been looking to settle down for some time now. I believe he meets your requirements."
Mizuki raised a brow, and both her mother and aunt could barely contain their excitement. For them, this was a wonderful opportunity, not only would Mizuki finally have a husband, but he would be the son of the Village Head, no less! To her mother and aunt, it truly seemed like a match made in heaven.
"Village Head, if it's not too much to ask, but is there any way for the two of them to meet? The earlier the better, as they say!"
Mizuki shot her mother a look that the older woman ignored. The Village Head's eyes sparkled with amusement. "My son is actually away on business, but he will be back in five days. Both of you can meet then," she said as she looked at Mizuki.
Her eyes once again flickered to the lady in the corner of the room. The young woman who'd been eyeing the Village Head for some time now didn't miss this exchange. I wonder what that's about.
The group of women chatted for another hour as her mother gushed about her fabric dyeing business and how the Village Head could feel free to send a request if she liked anything customized. Mizuki remained quiet throughout the exchange, focusing instead on the confectionery snacks laid out before her. After her fourth sakura-mochi, the three said their goodbyes and left the Village Head's home.
On their walk home, her aunt parted ways at the market. Alone at last, Mizuki's mom couldn't contain her excitement about the upcoming meeting. Eager to share the news with her husband, she danced and swayed to the wedding bells in her mind. Mizuki watched, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
When she returned to her room, Mizuki's mind was muddled with thoughts and mixed emotions. On one hand, she was happy at the possibility of meeting someone who could be the man of her dreams. On the other hand, she felt apprehensive about being tied down so quickly. For Mizuki, freedom meant pursuing her passions without restrictions. The idea of marriage left her torn between excitement and uncertainty.
There was no doubt that things would change when she got married, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for such a big change. The thought of her wings being clipped made her a little sad, not to mention anxious. Still, she couldn't deny the fact that a part of her was excited at the prospect of finally getting what she wanted. It's not as if a formal arrangement was made, and that once they met, they would get married. She was only meeting him for a simple talk. If they were compatible, then the marriage process would begin.
She exhaled sharply and flopped onto her bed, her mind tangled. "Ah, I can't stand this!" she burst out. She sprang up and made for the kitchen.
Whenever her thoughts were a pool of murky water, cooking was the best way to free herself, to let go of everything and relax. Love of food had always been the one thing everyone in the Hino household had in common. They loved to eat. They loved to cook. Mizuki turned on the stove, heated a pan, and decided to fry six pieces of gyoza for herself. Once they were sizzling and crispy on one side, she flipped them over. She poured two teaspoons of water and put a lid on so they could get soft. As they cooked, she grabbed a bowl, scooping some steaming rice. She then opened the fridge to grab some leftover edamame her mother had stir-fried with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Once everything was done, she took a seat at the dining table and poured herself a glass of barley tea over ice.
"Thanks for the meal," she muttered to herself before digging in.
As soon as she took a bite, the juices from the gyoza exploded in her mouth, salty and full of flavor, topped with a crispy bottom. It was exactly the pick-me-up she needed. She then placed a spoonful of edamame over the bed of fluffy rice and took a bite. She blew a breath. The steam from the sticky starch was followed by the crunch of the beans. The sensation invaded her senses, making her feel warm and comforted. After taking a sip of her ice-cold tea, Mizuki instantly felt at ease. The thoughts of marriage were gone, replaced by happiness.
Unfortunately, Mizuki's happiness didn't last long. Five days passed, and it was time for her to meet her prospective husband. Mizuki dressed in her finest robes, dyed a beautiful red, and lined with white floral designs that emphasized her womanly curves. She tied back her hair and adorned it with the Hino family hairpin, a prized heirloom. As Mizuki looked at herself in the mirror, her stomach churned and her throat tightened. The natural makeup on her face enhanced her features, but her emotions ran high.
This wasn't anything serious, just a casual getting to know each other meeting, but it felt like she was in the process of signing her life away.
"You look beautiful, Mizuki. You should dress like this more often!"
The young woman rolled her eyes. If she had to dress like this every day, she'd kill herself. Mizuki had to endure the endless flashes of the camera as her mother gushed about how good she looked. "I'm sure your aunt Minako will want to see this!"
Finally, after an hour of her mother's nonsense, they set off.