Chapter 323 Shiori’s desire for love
After finishing their hot spring bath at noon, the three of them returned to their rooms to take a lunch break.
Perhaps it was difficult to pick up the interest after relaxing. After changing into her pajamas, Esaki Suguha quickly fell asleep on the bed. Seeing this, Sawayama Haruno couldn't bear to disturb her anymore, but hugged her. He also fell asleep in his arms.
It wasn't until about three o'clock in the afternoon that he got up and went to the bathroom in a daze, and then regained his consciousness a little.
“The restrooms in the hotel are so high-end.”
Haruno Sawayama casually pressed the flush button and fell into deep thought while looking at the series of buttons next to him.
There is a butt-washing button, which he still recognizes.
But I don’t know what the other functions are. The one with the word HOT should be a heated seat cushion?
High-end toilets are different. If you want to move in the future, you might as well pay attention and remember to buy such a toilet when decorating.
At least in winter, it is very practical.
Haruno Sawayama sighed while washing his hands.
When he returned to the room with the water in hand, Esaki Suguha was still lying on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, Haruno Sawayama couldn't help but move more lightly, slowly found a new set of clothes from his travel bag, changed them and quietly went out.
He wanted to take this opportunity to go out for a walk. He would definitely not be able to stay in the room all the time. After all, Suguha was sleeping, and Mine Shiori next door didn't know if he got up. In this case, he might as well go out and take a look. Is there anything interesting nearby?
Sawayama Haruno, who was determined to pay attention, soon stopped hesitating. After leaving the hotel, he walked up the road and soon noticed a sign pointing to a shrine not far away.
Anyway, it was idle, so Sawayama Haruno didn't think much and continued walking towards the shrine above.
In about fifteen minutes, he soon saw the bluestone steps leading to the mountain shrine, and halfway up the road there was a huge dark red torii gate that had lost its former luster.
It seems to be very old.
Sawayama Haruno stared thoughtfully for a while, then quickly continued walking up.
There are so many shrines in the island country that even their government is not aware of them. This is because the belief in the ancient island country was very seriously divided. In addition, they generally believed that there were so-called "eight million gods" in the world, that is, regardless of the day, The moon, climate, or birds and animals may be worshiped here.
Therefore, the number of private shrines in the island country far exceeds other people's imagination.
It is indeed difficult to see wild shrines in Tokyo, but as long as you go to relatively remote areas, you will definitely find them in the suburbs.
Haruno Sawayama guessed that what he was climbing might be a wild shrine that had been abandoned many years ago. Because it was not under jurisdiction and no one took care of it, even the torii gate had lost its former glory after being exposed to wind and sun.
How should I put it, it feels a bit different from the shrines in Kyoto.
The shrines he saw in Kyoto were basically very large in scale, and he really hadn't paid much attention to the small shrines.
But they do have commercial value after all, so it’s normal for someone to keep taking care of it. For example, the shrine I’m visiting now is located in an area where no one can poop, so why would someone stay and take care of it?
With this idea in mind, Sawayama Haruno walked slowly on the bluestone steps. However, when he was only halfway there, he quickly realized that his idea was wrong.
"Eh"
As if he noticed the person coming behind him, the middle-aged man who was cleaning fallen leaves halfway up the bluestone steps with a broom turned around in confusion.
"Is this gentleman also here to pay homage?"
"Ah, hello."
Sawayama Haruno subconsciously greeted the other party.
"I came here for a trip, and happened to see a shrine here, so I wanted to come and have a look." He explained.
"So that's it."
The middle-aged man smiled heartily and said: "I am the palace minister of this shrine. If you want to go up and visit, sir, please feel free to do so, but there are so many people coming today."
"Is there anyone else besides me?" Haruno Sawayama asked curiously.
"There is also a newlywed couple, and the other one is probably a child who came alone."
The middle-aged man who holds the position of Palace Secretary explained enthusiastically: "They also met me just now, and they should have entered the shrine by now."
"Really, thank you"
Sawayama Haruno nodded politely to him, and then continued walking up.
He didn't know why, but when he heard the other party say "a child who came alone", he suddenly had a strong premonition in his heart.
Sure enough, after he walked for another seven or eight minutes and finally reached the shrine, he saw the petite figure standing in front of the large water tank as soon as he entered the door.
The other party was holding a long ladle at the moment, standing there carefully to draw water.
However, because the water tank was too big and she was not tall enough, the action of fetching water seemed extremely difficult.
"It's really her"
Sawayama Haruno was a little amazed at the middle-aged Gongji's ability to describe accurately. When he heard the other person describing him as a child, he had already vaguely guessed that it might be Mine Shiori. After all, it was still school time, and ordinary children rarely came to play at shrines in the suburbs at this time. .
Sawayama Haruno shook his head, no longer thinking about it, but took the initiative to say hello: "Shiori, do you need help?"
"Eh?!"
Feng Shizhi trembled all over, and turned around gingerly holding the long-handled spoon.
"Why is Haruno here too?"
"After I woke up, I wanted to go out for a walk, but I didn't expect you to go up too." Haruno Sawayama touched his chin and said with a smile, "I thought you were still resting in the hotel room."
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"I thought so too." Feng Shizhi whispered.
Can they all meet each other
But it's quite normal. After all, the hot spring hotel itself is in the suburbs. From the main road out of the hotel, you can go up to the rice fields in the suburbs, and then back to the town.
There are only two directions in total. If Haruno Sawayama chooses to go up, he will notice a shrine here no matter what.
Thinking of this, Feng Shizhi handed over the long-handled spoon as if he had been convinced.
"Can you help me get some water?" she whispered.
With her height, it was too difficult to get a spoonful of water from the water tank, and there were no small stools in the shrine that could be used to raise the height, which really made her a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, Haruno Sawayama is here now, so he can easily take over this task.
"Extend your left hand."
Haruno Sawayama took a long-handled ladle and filled it with a small spoonful of water, and then asked Mine Shiori to stretch out his palm.
The latter obediently followed the instructions, and Sawayama Haruno still poured the water from the ladle into her left hand.
"Next is the right hand." Haruno Sawayama said with a smile.
What he is currently doing for Mine Shiori is also known as "pure heart" among the island country's shrine worshipers.
This is a very strict worship rule. Everyone who enters the shrine must use the water here to wash hands and rinse mouth at a specific location called the Shuishuisha, which is meant to remove impurities and purify the body and mind.
This shrine is obviously very small, so the palms are removed and a large water tank is placed at the front door of the shrine to serve as a ceremonial ceremony before worshiping.
Although the sparrow is small, does it have all the internal organs? Haruno Zeshan felt a little emotional.
He patiently helped Feng Shiori complete the "purification of the heart" ritual, and then he washed his hands and gargled his mouth in line with the concept of doing as the Romans do in the countryside. After all this was done, he put down the ladle.
"Let's go in and have a look?"
Sawayama Haruno looked at the worship hall in front and said with some curiosity: "There is no hand water house, but there is a worship hall and a coin hall."
"I also find it very strange. Maybe it was demolished because it was in disrepair?"
Feng Shizhi glanced at Haruno Sawayama and whispered: "Someone has already gone in first. When I came up, I saw a couple who were also traveling."
"Really? It's really strange."
Sawayama Haruno said as he walked towards the location of the worship hall.
It has a pure wooden beam structure, and the top of the entrance to the worship hall is a triangular shape with a curvature, which is the so-called "herringbone". This kind of architectural style is considered quite satisfactory in the island country, and many shrines in other places have similar ones. build.
However, after entering the worship hall, it seemed a little inexplicably shabby inside. There was only a small table placed not far from the door, and nothing else. It was so empty that it seemed a bit lonely.
"Kami-sama seems to have financial difficulties too," Haruno Sawayama complained feebly.
He also wanted to see how the shrines in the Kanto region were different from those in Kansai, but when he came in, there was nothing at all.
Mine Shiori obviously didn't expect that this shrine would be so poor. After some hesitation, she still whispered: "Forget it, why don't you go to the Coin Hall now that you're here?"
Although there seems to be nothing I can pray for, since I have come this far, I might as well donate something. Maybe it will bring some good luck in the future?
For a shrine like this that is too poor to open the door, five hundred yen can make the god happily bless you, right?
No, how could I have such an idea? I must have been led astray by Haruno.
Mine Shiori suddenly puffed up her face and glanced at Haruno Sawayama cutely, but the other party had already walked towards the coin hall in front and didn't notice her little look at all.
"Ah, there are things in the Coin Hall, including the ema and the donation box. Are these things placed here?"
Sawayama Haruno picked up a small wooden sign and shook it towards Feng Shiori with a smile.
"How about, do you want to write down your wishes?"
".Then, write one."
Feng Shizhi carefully took the wooden sign from the other party and looked at the blank space reserved for making wishes. She suddenly fell into a trance.
In matters of love, can making a wish to the gods also work?
(End of chapter)