monosyllable echo

Smooth out the muscle undergarment, then put on the white clothes, tighten the belt, and put on the scarlet hakama on the outside.Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she took out the hair tie in front of the mirror, raised her hair up high, and then arranged her makeup.

Well, everything is ready.

Facing myself dressed as a shrine maiden in the mirror, I recalled what Uncle Sojiro said to me that day when he was in the hospital: "Aku, let's go back to the shrine together. Kazuki can almost be discharged from the hospital for recuperation here. There are some things in the shrine that we must take care of." Miko-sama will take care of it, and soon it will be the blessing ceremony before entering the summer, this time I want to hand over the blessing dance to you, Ajiu."

I have to say that after a few days of busy preparation and practice, I had no room to breathe, but I breathed a sigh of relief.Ever since Kazuki was discharged from the hospital, he always avoids it deliberately every time, doesn't meet, doesn't strike up a conversation, even eating meals is deliberately staggered, hiding in the Japanese room to practice the Kagura dance to be performed in the blessing ceremony.Because, now, I don't know what kind of mentality I should use to face Kazuki.

"Ah Jiu, are you ready?"

Uncle Sojiro’s voice came from outside the door, pulling me out of my thoughts. I collected myself, turned around, knelt by the door and opened the paper door, and replied softly: “Yes, uncle, it’s ready Come in, please."

"Then I'll go in." Saying so, my uncle came in, looked me up and down, and said with a smile, "I knew, Ajiu would definitely forget about this! Haha~"

"What?" I repeated in confusion, and saw Uncle Chengbao put a neatly stacked Chihaya in front of me, and cried out in surprise: "... Chizao?"

"That's right! Chihaya is a must for a formal occasion like Kagura Dance! And this!"

Surprised one after another: "hairpin?"

"Yeah!" Uncle nodded and smiled, seeing my confused expression, he explained, "I didn't give these to Ajiu a few years ago, and I was still hesitating. Would Ajiu want to be the maiden of this shrine? Even I have passed the age of 16, because Ajiu always likes to accommodate others, I am afraid that Ajiu is actually unwilling. Well, but this year Ajiu is already 18 years old, I always feel that it is time to give these things to you, whether it is In the form of your mother's relic, or in the name of the miko heir."

Grab the Chihaya and the hairpin, and rub it lightly in the palm of her hand: These are...the ones my mother used to wear...

Close your eyes, and the dancing figure of the mother wearing these relics and accessories immediately appears in my mind.

Mother……

When I was at a loss, a big hand suddenly pressed down on my head and gently comforted me: "Ajiu, don't blame your mother, she loves you very much."

"..." Uncle Sojiro...

"Ah~~Senior Shiranui is indeed right! Xiao Jiu, you are here~ and Uncle Shiranui~" The energetic voice suddenly came from outside the door, and you can guess who it is even if you close your eyes—— Suzuhara Huka, best friend, that's right,... Is it okay to add the word "harmful friend"?

"Yo~ Little Huohua, are you here to play with Ajiu again?" Before I said anything, Uncle Sojiro greeted Hanabi with a smile.

Jumping lightly into the room, Huo Hua replied: "Well~~ I haven't seen Xiao Jiu for a long time, I'm thinking about it! Of course, I also miss Uncle Shiranui very much!"

Sparks have such an ability to keep people around them smiling all the time, everyone is no exception, including Uncle Soujiro of course, "Oh! Ahahaha! I miss Little Sparks too! How about it? After the ceremony, I want to Stay for dinner?"

"Thank you uncle for the invitation! Although I really want to stay, the bento made by Ajiu is always delicious! But, today I came to pray with my parents, and I want to go back together." Kneeling and sitting opposite me , Huo Hua blinked his big kind eyes, and declined his uncle's invitation with a smile.

"That's right." Hearing such an answer, Uncle Sojiro nodded to express his understanding, then patted Spark and me on the head, "I still have to prepare for the ceremony, you guys talk first, but don't forget the time, Aku .”

"Understood, Soujiro—"

"Understood~~ When did Uncle Shiranui become so wordy! Sasa~~ Uncle, go get busy~~ Don't eavesdrop on the girl's conversation here~~" Before I finished speaking, Huo Hua smiled Uncle Sojiro was pushed out.

"That's very rude."

I tried to make myself faceless to face the bright sparks of the sun at the moment, but, I thought, it must have failed.Because, you see, the spark on the opposite side didn't take it to heart at all, and even smiled and hugged my shoulder, teasingly said: "Yo~ Xiaojiu~~ I haven't seen you for so long, do you miss me~~ Also, come on Are you thinking about the next marriage proposal! I can't wait to hug you into the bridal chamber right away?!"

"Pfft!" Not good, it's broken!Facing the spark of winking and making eyes and deliberately laughing at himself, it is really difficult to hold back.

"That's right! That's right~ Although Xiaojiu is a beauty when she is not smiling, but she is even more beautiful when she smiles~~ So remember to keep smiling~~" Lowering her head and meeting my eyes, she Say so.

"Yeah." Thank you, my sunshine, my spark.

It's still early, but you have to be prepared.Thinking of this, I spread out the Chihaya in my hand and tried to put it on.

Huo Huo picked up Qianzao's sleeve, looked at it carefully, and sighed from time to time: "This crane and pine pattern is so delicate and beautiful... Let me help you!"

With the help of others, it was really much faster than my own plan. Sparks pulled me to the full-length mirror, loosened my hair tie, and tied my hair up with the hairpin. Did I look at the mirror carefully for comparison, and finally Nodding with satisfaction: "Perfect!"

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I always felt that it was the same as before, but it was also different, so I sighed and said, "Is it...?"

This question broke the spark behind him: "Little Jiu beauty, why are you so unaware! Now Xiao Jiu looks even more beautiful than when we first met! She is so beautiful and still looks like I don't think so. You really want to piss off thousands of girls to death! Or... are you very dissatisfied with the smug attire of the senior expert Master Spark?"

"Pfft~" Once again, I couldn't help but burst out laughing, "No, thank you, Spark."

"It's my honor~ Come on, beauty Xiaojiu, let Huohua smell like me~" Saying this, Huohua bent down, approached my face from behind, and whispered in my ear: "Look at me like this Xiao Jiu, it's not hard to imagine how beautiful Xiao Jiu's mother is, so, Xiao Jiu, don't be sad, cherish it, don't be sad, just smile."

"Yeah!" Looking at myself in the mirror, looking at the spark smiling at me through the mirror, I nodded deeply.

# # #

"Ah~~ It's getting late~ Let's go out together~ I'm going to meet up with Mom and Dad too! Xiaojiu~" Raising his wrist and looking at his watch, Huo Hua shouted.

"Okay." While echoing, we stood up together and walked towards the main shrine.

From a distance, Uncle Sojiro was busy arranging seats for the guests who came to pray.Back and forth busy non-stop.Just watching from such a distance, I can still remember the sense of security brought by hiding behind his tall figure, how many times that big hand has given me support and comfort, and the sentence-"Ajiu, don't Blame your mother, she loves you very much."

"Ah!" The body was suddenly pushed far away, which made me scream out unconsciously.

Turning around to look, Huo Huo looked at me quietly, and said, "Xiao Jiu, if you have something to say, you must speak up. Be brave~ Whether it is facing love or family affection, it is the same! This is the advice of a missionary of love. ~Sasa~~I’ll go first~I’m looking forward to Ajiu’s wonderful performance later~~”

Seeing Huo Hua turn and leave, I secretly encouraged myself, I can't always stand still!Uncle Soujiro, mother, and Kazuki, they always dodge everything when they encounter obstacles. How long will it take for them to grow up?Natsume Jiu, hold your head up and move forward!

One step, two steps, three steps... 25 steps, this short but long 25 steps, let me come to you, Uncle Sojiro.

The person in front of him suddenly turned around, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, and then a long-satisfied smile: "Oh, Ajiu! Get ready, she is really beautiful, just like your mother... no, than A wanderer is even more beautiful."

Say it bravely, the words that should have been delivered to him a long time ago!Looking up, I yelled, "Dad!"

The person in front of him paused, how obvious it was.

I'm sorry, I should have called you that way a long time ago, but I don't want to admit it, for my mother's departure, for your dependence, for all the cruel reality that I don't want to accept...

Once some words are spoken, there will be emotions that can no longer be concealed. I stepped forward and grabbed the man's skirt tightly: "Father... Soujiro's father..."

A slight shudder passed from this tightly grasped person, and then a warm embrace, and a call I longed for...

"Ah, Jiu, my... daughter."

Father, my father.

His eyes drifted away unconsciously, and he accidentally saw Shirogane with a surprised face, Spark who nodded with a smile, Teacher Xingyue who was meaningful, and... Kazuki who was looking straight over with a face full of shock.

When my eyes fell on Kazuki who was sitting in the wheelchair, my body still became stiff unconsciously.But, well, there is no longer any fear and embarrassment.

Hey, Kazuki, I figured it out.

Rather than settling in the pain of the past, I choose to grasp the warmth of the present.