We were two days into Golden Week. I was doing my rounds as usual when I received a call from Old Man Yumoto. “Hey, we got some bamboo sprouts, so stop by tomorrow!”
Huh, I didn’t know you could still find those in May. I suppose it depends on the location. That reminds me—wasn’t there a bamboo forest at the bottom of my mountain, near the boundary with Aikawa-san’s?
The border between our mountains had come up in our conversation yesterday, but needless to say, it wasn’t like we were able to pinpoint exactly where each mountain started and ended. In any case, his mountain also had the usual signboards: “Beware of Wild Animals” and “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Bees” and so on.
The vipers were food for his snakes, according to him. Does that count as cannibalism?
By dangerous “wild animals,” he must’ve meant Rin-san and the other snake, surely. If someone did trespass and my chickens attacked and hurt them, I’d feel at fault too, so it was a complicated issue. At the same time, I couldn’t just put up a wire fence around the whole perimeter of the mountain—that wasn’t realistic. I’d been enthralled with the idea of owning a mountain for myself, but now that I actually owned one, I understood that it came with its fair share of trouble.
I still like this mountain, though. It’s hard work, but I feel like I can do it if I have the chickens with me.
I was starting to get in a sentimental mood when my phone suddenly rang. Wondering who it could be, I checked the caller ID—it was Katsuragi-san.
“Hello?”
“...rry! I’m sorry! I don’t have anyone else I can ask! Please! I need you to come here! Help me!”
I could tell from her voice that she was quite desperate. I took a brief pause to collect myself, then said, “Okay. Where do you want me to go? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Please come to my mountain. I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”
“Don’t fret; just calm down. Did you also try talking to the villagers?”
“I... I can’t ask them to help with this. I’m sorry.”
“Got it. I’m on my way.”
Given the state of panic Katsuragi-san seemed to be in, I assumed this was more than just a trespasser or something. I turned to the chickens, who were on the other side of the fence.
“I need to go to Katsuragi-san’s place the next mountain over. What about you guys?”
Tama and Yuma stepped forward. Looks like it’s the three of us this time.
“Well then, Pochi, I’ll leave the rest of the patrol to you.”
Pochi raised his head sharply. He seemed to be saying, I’ve got this!
Such a reliable chicken.
I drove to the outer side of the fence, locked it, and left a note: “Be back soon—call in case of emergency.” I don’t think anyone’s gonna be coming here while I’m away, but you never know.
I sat Tama and Yuma in the passenger seat, texted Katsuragi-san, and headed out.
We were already at the foot of the mountain, so Katsuragi-san’s mountain was close by; it was a ten-minute drive before her fence came into view. I hopped out of the truck and checked my phone. There was a message from her saying the fence was unlocked. That fact was hard to tell at a glance, but I managed to open the gate, then got back in the truck and drove inside. I decided to lock it behind me. Not sure why, but I have a feeling it’s a good idea.
“I should’ve asked her what’s going on.”
Why do I always forget the most important part? I felt frustrated at myself, but I had plenty of time to mope later. Katsuragi-san’s mountain was steeper than mine, as I’d previously heard from her. There was an area with gentler slopes to the northeast of the mountain, which was also part of her property. She basically has two mountains, then, I thought as I drove onto the mountain. Before long, I reached a clearing and spotted a modest house.
Looks like it’s here.
Katsuragi-san came running out of the house as soon as I parked my truck.
“I’m really sorry for asking you to come all the way out here!”
She bowed profusely with an apologetic look on her face. Must be a real emergency.
“Please don’t worry about it. So, what’s the matter?”
“Ah... Um...”
Katsuragi-san seemed terribly flustered. I saw that her house had a veranda, and, after asking for her permission, I had a seat on it.
“Katsuragi-san, where’s Tatsuki-san?”
“Oh... He’s, er, over there...”
The dragon was resting in the house’s shade. Good. I definitely don’t want to be caught off guard by something of that size.
“Hello, Tatsuki-san. Thanks for having me over. Do you mind if my chickens eat some of the bugs around here?”
He opened his eyes slightly and nodded. Without a doubt, this dragon was this mountain’s apex predator, so I thought I’d better pay my respects. Likewise, for Aikawa-san’s mountain, that spot probably went to Rin-san and the other snake.
What about my mountain? Well, the chickens, I guess? To be honest, I’m only doing this because Aikawa-san also asked for permission when he was over yesterday.
“Tama, Yuma, he said it’s okay.”
I let the two out of the truck. They stared warily at the dragon from a distance, then, seemingly having reached some sort of agreement, began to walk around in the vicinity of the house.
I realized I’d left Katsuragi-san by herself and looked back at her, only to find that she was in tears for some reason.
“Thank you... Thank you so much... I’m sorry...”
“Please don’t apologize—it’s all right.”
It must be something really serious. Katsuragi-san and I sat down on the veranda with some space between us.
Come to think of it, my tone was a bit too frank when I spoke to her on the phone, wasn’t it? I’d better watch myself—don’t wanna seem too pushy. Hopefully she didn’t notice.
“Ah... Please hold on. I’ll bring us some tea...”
She was no longer crying, and she seemed to have calmed down a bit. She briskly stood.
“Please, don’t worry about it,” I said.
“I’ll go make some tea!”
If making tea helps her calm down, then I guess I shouldn’t stop her. Anyway... This house is pretty unusual, huh? Looks like one of those cozy log cabins, but it also has a Japanese-style veranda. Wonder if the previous owner built it.
“Sorry to keep you waiting...”
Katsuragi-san soon came back. She’d also brought a pair of shoes. Does she want to talk here on the veranda and not inside? She is a young woman living by herself, so I guess I can see that. I’d feel awkward barging in too.
“Thank you. I went ahead and locked the entrance. I mean, the gate to your mountain. I hope you won’t, uh, mind...?” As I said that out loud, I realized how awkwardly I’d phrased it.
“Oh! That’s okay, thank you...”
Guess she’s wary of trespassers.
She’d brought us tea and some rice crackers. Always a winning combination.
After taking a sip or two, Katsuragi-san apologized quietly. “Sorry for calling you here all of a sudden...”
“Please don’t worry about it. Did something happen?”
If she wasn’t comfortable talking about it, I didn’t intend to press any further. I’m sure women have their own problems that us men can’t even begin to understand. Like it or not though, one thing we do have over them is physical strength, so some things must be pretty hard for her.
Her lawn was well-kept, and the roads around her mountain were also in a good state. I guess someone from the village helps her out with this sort of stuff.
“I’m not sure how to explain things... Do you mind if I just tell you the gist of it...?” Katsuragi-san asked awkwardly.