It was getting late when we took the bus back to the area near Dankai High School. As Soya and Yoshikawa walked to the station, they could see some Dankai students preparing to go home after club activities.

There were also a few people I knew who came over to say hello, and the first words they met were basically asking him or her why he or she had changed clothes.

"There was an accident..."

When they arrived at the station, Asagiri Suzu, who had received news from Soya in advance, was already waiting here. The three of them met and took the train back.

There was no empty seat in the carriage, so Yoshikawa held Asagiri Suzu's shoulders and stood together with Soya.

"Do you want Soya to go to the shrine today?" she asked.

Normally, after handling a request related to the spirit body, he would go to the shrine to record it.

Looking at the gloomy sky outside the car window, Zonggu shook his head.

"It's a bit late today, I'll go tomorrow."

Tomorrow and the next two days are weekends, so I have a lot of free time.

"Oh." Yoshikawa also guessed his choice, and then asked, "Are you going to visit Akane's house later? I'm a bit concerned."

"She has something going on at home, is it okay for us to go there?"

"Let's ask first."

"Um."

Kirino Akane's response was rejection.

After a while, she explained that she might be leaving soon and they wouldn't be able to see her when they came.

"Travelling? Where is she going at this time?"

"He said he was going to Tokyo..."

"Why?"

"have no idea."

Yoshikawa looked up at him, and Chaogiri Suzu also raised his gaze.

"Akane didn't say."

The two of them guessed in a daze.

Before the train arrived at the station, Kirino Akane asked them where they were and said that her departure time had been postponed until tomorrow morning.

The whole journey was silent.

Back at Kirino's old house, Soya and Yoshikawa met her in the living room.

"An important relative passed away."

Kirino Akane, who was preparing to go out, was wearing a black formal suit, looking downcast, with no smile on her face.

"In the past few days, I have to go there to mourn."

The Kirino couple were shocked to hear the bad news this afternoon. They asked their daughter to go home directly after school, intending to go there in the evening. However, due to some conflicts in arrangements, they finally decided to leave tomorrow morning.

"Really?" Zonggu didn't have anything else to say, "I'm sorry."

The same goes for Yoshikawa on the side.

Kirino Akane raised her eyes and looked at him, "Sotani also knows that relative."

"What……"

He was stunned and quickly remembered a name.

"Is it Mr. Tanishima Chaoyang who stayed here for two days before?"

"Yes."

Akane Kirino nodded, with a lingering sadness on her face, "They said that my uncle was killed while climbing a mountain."

"Yeah."

Zonggu took a deep breath and was speechless.

Tanishima Chaoyang, who was obsessed with mountaineering, died in the sport he loved most even though he narrowly escaped death a few years ago.

Yoshikawa was a little dizzy, shook his head, and hugged Akane Kirino's shoulders, comforting her softly.

"Are you going to stay there these two days?"

"Probably." She wasn't very sure. "My family has a very good relationship with my uncle's family. I should stay there for a few days before coming back."

"Yeah……"

Seeing that the atmosphere became serious, Akane Kirino forced a smile and asked about today's events.

"I forgot to bring an umbrella when I went downstairs. When I got there, it rained heavily and we got soaked... Soya and I's clothes were all lent to us by Kasukabe."

Yoshikawa explained the reason for changing clothes, and Soya told her how he handled the request.

"Are you going to Kyoto again?"

Akane Kirino thought of the events that she had personally experienced or heard from him in the past few months. Many of the spirits' destinations were Kyoto.

Zong Gu lowered his eyes slightly, "This is a matter between spirits. Who knows the reason."

She didn't ask any more questions.

"I wonder if uncle will become a spirit..."

"We can only listen to fate."

As Kirino Akane sighed, this topic ended here.

She did not stay in the old house for too long and left quickly. The next morning, the Kirino family took the Shinkansen and went to Saitama to pay their respects.

...

The rain pattered.

Standing at the door of the Social Affairs Office, Sugawara Kyoko stared at the wet bluestone floor in trance, and did not look away for a long time.

It was raining heavily and the shrine was empty. It was already afternoon and there was not a single worshiper today.

Too idle.

"..."

The young miko sighed quietly.

"I really want to see Zonggu. If I can't see him, I can't even eat. My thoughts are as long as the rain in front of me. I really want to see him...my Zonggu."

Jingzi turned around, with a look of helplessness on her face.

"Miss Noma."

"What, your reaction is too ordinary." Minami Noma walked out of the social affairs office, "Shouldn't you be blushing and saying 'hate' at the same time?"

Jingzi looked aside and ignored it.

"It's still raining...the rainy season is really troublesome."

Noma Minami looked at the sky, "No one comes to the shrine to worship."

"Um……"

"So there is no need for Kyoko to stay in the shrine all the time. High school students should enjoy their youth and leave the social affairs to them."

It was a fact that society was quiet, but Kyoko still shook her head.

"I have nothing else to do."

"Then go on a date with Soya."

"Stop joking, Miss Noma."

"This is no joke."

Noma Minami came over, put his arm around her shoulders, and spoke earnestly.

"Didn't Soya invite Jingzi to cook outdoors last time? Since Jingzi agreed, she should also invite him once, otherwise it would be too rude."

Jingzi opened her mouth and fell silent.

This is truly an irresistible reason.

After a while, she hesitated and said, "It's been raining recently. It doesn't seem appropriate to go camping."

"..."

Noma Minami laughed and looked at her again, "Kyoko, you are so cute and clumsy... I asked you to invite Soya on a date, not to go to the camping ground with him again."

She paused, "It seems like something must have happened last time that would make Jingzi never forget it."

Jingzi pursed her lips, "Nothing happened."

Seeing her serious yet clumsy look, Noma Minami had no choice but to shake her head and sigh.

"Yes Yes……"
To be continued...