“Who can say?” Kiyoka’s reply was curt. “That man was clearly a foreigner, and the word ‘shaman’ comes from a foreign land, too. Looking into it more can’t hurt.”
“Are you able to do that?”
“Yeah. I’m acquainted with someone who’s far more knowledgeable about foreign cultures than me.”
Who was he talking about? Was it someone Miyo was familiar with?
Seeing Miyo’s confusion, Kiyoka revealed the answer. “It’s Godou.”
“Huh? Why him?”
“I never told you? He was studying abroad in England until several years ago.”
“What…?! Oh, but now that you mention it…”
Miyo vaguely recalled Godou saying something about that when he’d been hospitalized last fall. It had hardly been the time or the place to pursue the topic any further, but she remembered him talking about studying abroad.
“He left Japan to learn about the supernatural abilities of other nations, so there’s a chance he could know something about shamans.”
Kiyoka got up from Miyo’s lap to take a small scrap of paper out of his luggage. After writing a brief message, he folded the paper into the shape of a bird and sent it flying out the window.
He was getting in touch with Godou via familiar. The whole procedure had taken only a few minutes.
After finishing the perfunctory task, Kiyoka once again lay down and placed his head in Miyo’s lap, crossing his arms and exhaling through his nose.
Miyo chuckled at the amusing sight.
“…I really wanted to enjoy this one trip without any extra worries or trouble. This is supposed to be our honeymoon.”
“Kiyoka…”
Miyo hadn’t realized Kiyoka thought of this trip that way.
The Earth Spider case was still ongoing, so it would be impossible for him to be completely at ease. Yet despite all that, Kiyoka still wanted to make this trip a fun and exciting experience for Miyo.
This thoughtfulness he showed her made her happier than she could ever imagine.
“Kiyoka, you don’t need to worry, I had a great deal of fun today. The train trip, my first moments in the old capital, the shrine, the restaurant meal—I know I’ll cherish the memories of these experiences forever.”
“…I suppose I’ll be content if that’s the case.”
“It is. Besides, with you at my side, I’m not in any danger. Please have more faith in yourself.”
“I’ll protect you with all the power I have, of course. But don’t let yourself get careless, either. Don’t go putting yourself in danger just because you can use your Gift, got it?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Bedtime.” The single word from Kiyoka led them to both get under the covers. Worn out from the trip, Miyo quickly drifted off.
Night turned to morning. Today, Miyo would be formally presented to the members of the Miyakouji family as the wife of the Kudou family head.
The Miyakoujis held a tea ceremony every summer.
Conducted within the Miyakouji estate’s vast Japanese garden, the event was supposed to deepen the bonds of the attendees as they gazed out at the vibrant greenery with tea in hand. Almost everyone in the Miyakouji family showed up for the ceremony, save for the members of the branch families who lived far away, such as the Kudous.
Miyo was participating with Kiyoka this year as an opportunity to introduce herself.
Though she had worn a one-piece dress the day before, today she would be wearing an outfit befitting a tea ceremony.
Miyo chose a finely patterned silken kimono meant to be worn in summer. Tiny white flower patterns were scattered on the sleeve and underside of the pleasant pale chartreuse outfit.
Kiyoka, on the other hand, had put on his military uniform for the occasion. Though the outfit had been his formal wear during his time in the military, this would be his last time wearing it in public. Miyo might never get a chance to see him in his uniform again.
It feels like a little bit of a waste…
Given Kiyoka’s androgynous yet gallant beauty, the military uniform was a perfect fit for him. So perfect, in fact, that one had to wonder if it had been designed with him in mind.
However, Miyo sensed it was the duty of being a soldier that Kiyoka found special, not the uniform.
With the opportunity right in front of her, Miyo decided to burn into her mind the image of Kiyoka wearing his uniform. While doing so, she and Kiyoka headed over to the Miyakouji gardens, the venue of the tea ceremony.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
Though the sun was bright, it was still morning, and the trees and grasses of the garden kept the air from growing too hot.
This tea ceremony would be an open-air event and thus more relaxed than a standard tea ceremony.
People had already gathered in a clearing of the garden, and there were several wooden benches draped in crimson rugs and with red parasols and a full set of tea utensils ready for the event.
After Miyo and Kiyoka came into the area, everyone in the garden immediately turned to them.
I still can’t get used to being the center of attention.
Her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. Nevertheless, Miyo did her best to stop her nerves from showing on her face and maintained her composure.
As the wife of the Kudou family patriarch, she couldn’t let herself look disgraceful.
“Good morning, you two.”
Komon was first to speak to them. He had been very drunk the night before, but you wouldn’t have guess that this morning, as he wasn’t tipsy in the slightest.
“Good morning.”
After they both greeted him back, Komon briefly told them to “have fun” and departed, carrying himself with much more composure than he had the day before.
Miyo assumed this was what he’d meant the previous day when he told them he conducted himself much differently in the Miyakouji estate. If she had to describe it, she would say he was playing the part of a perfectly solemn and dignified patriarch.
Regardless, it was a stunning transformation.
“Oh, right. Who in this crowd is Lord Komon’s wife…?”
“That would be the woman over there.”
Miyo followed Kiyoka’s gaze.
She saw a woman in her late twenties giving orders left and right to the servants to ensure the tea ceremony was proceeding as planned. Though she was deftly managing the event, she would reply with only a few words when spoken to, and she appeared to be a rather quiet person.
When the time came, the tea ceremony kicked off with the smoothness of flowing water, starting out of the blue without any signal or opening remarks.