“Shouldn’t you be going home?”
“I don’t want to…” Himekawa Yayoi hid herself in a corner of the shrine. She sat with her back to the wall, hugging Yatonomori Kaneomi.
Her parents had already come by looking for her, but they couldn’t find her because she was hiding in a dark corner. They ran off after some searching, frantically calling her name.
“Your parents must be worried about you.”
“Probably…”
They were likely still looking for her now. Still, she did not want to go home.
“Do you think I should go home, Sword-san?”
“That’s a rather difficult question,” he replied, to her surprise.
She had assumed he would say “of course” because he was so stern. He didn’t get angry when she did something naughty, but he did gently scold her. She had been fully prepared for him to tell her to go home.
“You’re young, but you have good common sense for a child. I doubt you’d do this for no reason, so it’d be wrong of me to tell you to go home without at least hearing your reasons why.”
She knew she was just being a willful child, but the sword was still willing to hear her out. That made her happy, and at the same time, a bit sorry. “I had fun here. A lot of fun.”
She’d enjoyed her summer vacation. She got to play almost daily with Nanao and Keito, and she met a mysterious talking sword. But if she returned to Uncle Kamei’s house tonight, then tomorrow she would have to leave Asakusa and return to her old daily life. She would only be able to communicate with Nanao through letters, and there was no knowing if she could even meet Keito and the sword next year. That was why she thought, just maybe, she wouldn’t have to go home tomorrow if she stayed here for the night.
Logically she understood that was wrong. But she’d loved the summer she spent here so much that she couldn’t help but cling to her childish wish.
“I see. But you can still write letters to that friend of yours, can’t you?”
“But I can’t see her face or hear her voice through letters. And I won’t be able to meet Keito-san or you.”
“I’m flattered you include me among those you’ll miss.”
Her father, being a chief priest, was rather strict with her upbringing, and the sword’s gentleness felt all the more pronounced as a result. When she said that to the sword before, he reacted like he’d been put on the spot a little. He had said that if her father felt strict it was only because she meant that much to him. She didn’t agree then and had sulked. She still didn’t agree now. When she’d told her father she wanted to stay in Asakusa a little longer, he’d flatly refused.
“He said I was asking for too much…” she explained.
“Your father probably has his own work circumstances to consider.”
“Then is his work more important than me?” With her spirits so low, only negative thoughts came to mind. The sword chuckled softly.
“Well, how about this? Which of your two friends do you like more?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s include myself for good measure too, and your parents and classmates, your school life, your hobbies, and your free time. Who or what do you like the most and the least?”
“W-well, I’ve never thought about it…”
“That’s normal. But once you become an adult, you’ll have no choice but to do that. Regardless of what you like and dislike, you’ll have to choose between everything.”
Yayoi was flustered, not comprehending what he was saying well.
“Even if you don’t want to work, you’ll do it to make money for your family. Even if it means you’ll be hated, you’ll scold your child so they can learn. Very few people can live doing only the things they like. You may see your father as strict, but it’s not because he hates you; it’s because he has to maintain his priorities.”
“His…priorities?”
“Yes. Even if you are first in his heart, that doesn’t mean he can put your wishes first—for your own sake. Sometimes work has to come before you, and sometimes he does things for your own nurturing. If he lets you have your way all the time, it could have consequences down the road.”
“That’s why he’s strict with me?”
“That’s right. Just as you’re putting the fun you had with your friends first, your father, like many other fathers, is putting your future first. It may be hard to see, but you mean a lot to him. Love and kindness aren’t only expressed through words.”
The sword sometimes expressed things in very roundabout ways. Half of what he said was beyond Yayoi’s understanding. She could not recall ever feeling this fatherly love that he spoke of.
“But even if it doesn’t mean anything to my father, this summer vacation was precious to me.” The feelings she had now were dearer than anything, and she did not want to deny them. “I…I still don’t want to go back. I know I’m being selfish and causing everyone trouble, but…I can’t.”
She had refused to go home in defiance of her father. If she gave up now, that would prove the fun she had here meant just that little to her. The feelings she felt would become no more than a lie. That was why, instead, she wanted to achieve her will even if it was selfish of her.
“You’re surprisingly stubborn.”
“Is that bad…?”
“No. If this is your choice, then I’ll support it. Feel free to stay here for a while.”
All that lecturing, only to end up giving her his approval. She felt the tension lift from her body. The oppressive air faded, and a smile naturally formed on her face.
“You know, even if your father is acting with your best interests in mind, it’s his own fault if that isn’t clear. Causing him a little worry might just be what he deserves.”
“Thank you, Sword-san.”
The sword had rather ordinary sensibilities for a talking object; he probably thought it was best for her to return home. Even so, he placed the rebellious wishes of a young girl first, and that made her happy. She let out a relieved sigh and started to feel tired. Thinking it would be a waste to fall asleep here, she forced herself to speak.
“This was the funnest summer vacation I’ve ever had. I’m glad I got to spend time with everyone.”
“Is that so? Does anything stand out as particularly memorable?”
“Good question… Maybe doing fireworks or drinking ramune soda at the shrine. Oh, of course, the biggest surprise was meeting a talking sword. That was a first for me.”
“Fair enough. I suppose that would be rather memorable.”
“Right?”
“What’s that boy’s name again? Keito-kun? The one you said was like an older brother.”
“Keito-san, yes. He’s a very kind and dependable boy.”
“Why not start writing letters to him too? It’ll make the wait until you can meet next year all the more fun.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. Exchanging letters with a boy sounds a bit embarrassing, though. Exchanging letters with you…would be a bit hard, huh?”
“Unfortunately, I have no hands at the moment.”
“That sounds inconvenient.”
“Well, I have nothing in particular that needs to be done, so it’s fine. I do miss eating isobe mochi, though.”
She giggled. “Then I’ll ask my mom to make you lots and lots of mochi once you’re free.”
“I look forward to it. While we’re at it… Yayoi? Did you fall asleep?”
She held out for a good while, but eventually she drifted off to sleep completely, soothed by the sword’s voice.