Oreki Houtarou's Strength-First Classroom

"..." Sanye.

Are these words coming from someone like you who lives in a lake?

"Are you a tourist?"

Sanye asked.

"...Probably." Oreki-san nodded. "Been here four years ago..."

"But looking at it now, it seems that the environment has not changed much." Oreki-san said. "This lake is still so beautiful."

“That’s what most people who come here say.”

Sanye said. "But it would be false to say there has been no change."

"A lot has been developed from four years ago to now, and Lake Itomori has become a tourist attraction."

"Then I was cleaning up the trash today."

Sanye said.

Oreki-san noticed that there was a bag and pliers on the side, and there were some cans inside.

It must have been thrown away by tourists.

oh.

This is the tragedy of the environment.

Openness can bring trash.

"But it's winter now, and guests don't like to come. Why are you here?" Sanye said again.

"Actually." Oreki-san originally wanted to say that he was here to look for Momoka, but he felt a little uncomfortable asking in front of Mitsuha, so he changed his explanation and said. "I'm looking for God."

"god?"

Mitsuba is the miko of the Miyamizu family.

The Miyamizu family enshrined the shrine and enshrined the divine body.

So I am very sensitive to this topic.

"I want to know if you have any gods here," Oreki said.

"..." Sanye.

As a miko, Mitsuha herself doesn't know. "If you want to know, just ask my grandma."

she said. "Grandma might know."

Oreki-san has already asked her about this.

However, Mitsuha was talking and seemed to be leading Oreki-san home, but Oreki-san still followed behind.

While on the road, I occasionally see a few unfamiliar faces who look like they are traveling.

"By the way, these passengers are carrying drawing boards on their backs," Oreki-san said. "Is oil painting developing well here?"

'Well! "

Sanye's body seemed to be suddenly caught by something.

"ah……"

"This, how should I say it——"

Sanye couldn't say anything.

"Is it because your paintings are so famous? Then you became famous in various ways, and then your father used it as a gimmick to develop tourism. Then many tourists who came here wanted to paint."

Oreki-san said.

"Why do you know!" Sanye looked confused.

"I said I came here four years ago, so of course I know everything."

"But this is our official first meeting."

"Hello."

Oreki-san stretched out his hand to her, "I am Oreki Houtarou."

Oreki Houtarou?

Sanye was unfamiliar with this name.

But strangely, she vaguely felt that Oreki-san seemed...a bit familiar.

"...I am Mitsuha Miyamizu."

Sanye didn't hold his hand, but introduced herself, "I'm currently in my third year of high school in the city."

"I'm from Kyoto, a freshman in high school." Oreki said.

"Are you younger than me?" Sanye seemed to have discovered a blind spot.

"..."

indeed.

When Oreki-san came here four years ago, Mitsuha was still in the second year of junior high school.

She is now a third-year senior.

…

So the two of them went to Miyamizu's house together.

There are some changes in the surrounding houses.

Many houses have been renovated.

Became a coffee shop, family restaurant and more.

Or a small shop, etc.

It really developed with the development of tourism.

But the Miyamizu family remained unchanged.

It is almost exactly as Oreki-san remembers, and you need to walk up a long staircase to reach it.

"Sanye, you're back..."

"Who is this?"

On the first floor, an old man was weaving knots with dexterous hands.

"A...well, a person passing by," Sanye introduced.

She is wet now and needs to change her clothes.

"I'll give you this first."

"You need to boil the water to get hot water, so wait a moment." Mitsuha added, bringing a towel to Oreki-san.

Oreki-san wiped his face.

"It turned out to be a guest..."

"oh……"

But Mitsuha's grandmother, Miyamizu Kazuha, pushed up her reading glasses. "You are the one who is destined to Sanye."

"You asked me before if there is a god, right?"

"I think there is."

"!?—"

This grandma is too strong.

Oreki-san was surprised to find that this grandma actually knew him.

Oh no.

It should be said that we know each other.

Because, he said before that the performance of the disguised Sanye was completely different from the original Sanye.

"By the way, Yotsuba isn't at home?"

Oreki-san asked.

"She went to school to deliver something to the teacher. She should be back soon."

profound.

Oreki-san nodded and sat down obediently.

"If you are looking for God, you stay. I will go to the mountain with Sanye tomorrow."

"Go and see the divine body."

"You can go and have a look." Grandma said.

profound.

Although he is very interested, Oreki-san’s current goal is not to seek God.

…

"You can take a shower now."

After a while, Sanye, who changed into casual clothes, came over and said.

"Wear my father's clothes first." Sanye handed him the men's clothes.

Oreki-san nodded.

It seems that their family has reconciled.

It is indeed strange that Miyamizu's father joins Miyamizu's family, but instead of inheriting the shrine he wants to become the mayor.

"What about your dad?"

"He went to the shrine."

"Isn't he the mayor anymore?"

"I'm giving up the election this year," Sanye added.

"So has the shrine become more lively now?" Oreki asked.

Although less than an hour had passed for him, it felt like he was revisiting his old place.

?

Sanye looked at him a little surprised, but still answered honestly,

"Well, it also serves as a tourist spot."

“Travellers often visit.”

“And there are more temple fairs being held.”

I see.

Oreki-san understood.

What is this mayor father thinking?

Previously, Mitsuba and the others were dissatisfied that their father gave up inheriting the shrine and became the mayor. However, the mayor said he did not want to inherit the shrine. In fact, he already understood.

Something necessary for the existence of Miyamizu Shrine.

A few years ago, there was a fire.

Many ancient books and even parts of the shrine were burned down.

Therefore, Miyamizu Shrine declined.

And he became the mayor and vigorously developed, financially supported, and carried out strategies to support Miyamizu Shrine.

The current Miyamizu Shrine has become the symbol of Itomori Town.

in this way.