Soya came to visit for the second time, but Sugawara and his wife, who were busy socializing, were still not at home.

And when he got home, Yuzi could no longer rely on his back and came down obediently.

After a brief reception, Kyoko asked Soya and Asagiri Suzu to rest in the living room for a while. Then she went back to the room to change into the shrine maiden clothes. When she went downstairs to the kitchen, Soya was already waiting inside.

"Tamako is already hungry. It would be more efficient if we two prepare together - and I have something to ask Jingzi."

"..."

She looked at him and quickly agreed.

"What do you need me to do?"

Jingzi opened the refrigerator and took out a few ingredients, "Let's process these ingredients first."

Zonggu took it and washed it in the pool.

Jingzi took some water and washed rice aside.

"What do you want to ask, Sotani-kun?"

The water made a splashing sound, washing the green vegetable leaves. It took him a few seconds before he spoke.

"It's about today's festival."

Kyoko immediately frowned, "Sotani-san also wants me to stop this so-called 'festival of unknown meaning'?"

"'also'?"

Zongya was startled for a moment, then looked back outside the kitchen, "Did Suzu say something to Jingzi?"

"Asagiri-kun said that holding this kind of festival whose meaning is unclear and only the form has been handed down goes against the original intention of the gods. It is an offense to the gods and should be abolished immediately."

"..."

That's quite rude.

He also planned to take it step by step, and it was meaningless to fail to realize it.

"Then what does Jingzi think?"

Jingzi looked over and showed him her unshakable attitude with a firm gaze.

"This is a tradition that has been carried out by all shrines and temples in Kinki for thousands of years. Even if it becomes a mere formality, it is absolutely impossible to abolish it."

"That's right."

Zong Gu had already expected this result.

If it were so easy to get the shrine to give up its traditions, Izanami wouldn't be suffering to this day.

Moreover, there are thousands of large and small shrines and temples in the Kinki area. Just one Fuun Shrine abolishing the begging ceremony does not alleviate her endless pain;

This is the will from Gao Tianyuan, he has tried his best.

【"...Don't let me down when the time comes."】

"..."

Zonggu clenched his fists.

She is Izanami, Tachibana is a false illusion... Stop being so stubborn.

Jingzi looked at him for a while, then turned off the running faucet.

"Sotani-san?"

"Feel sorry."

He came back to his senses and picked up the vegetables in the sink, only to find that there was a ball of vegetable leaves that he had crushed into vegetable scraps.

"……Feel sorry."

Kyoko shook her head.

"I want to know why Soya-san and Asagiri-san care so much about the festival."

"There's no reason." This obviously didn't make her believe it. "Maybe it's because Ling and I are both pragmatic people, and we can't stand this kind of formal tradition."

"Yeah."

Jingzi thought for a while and then said:

"Although no one knows the meaning of the festival now, and no relevant ancient books have been handed down, it does not mean that it will not be known in the future.

Perhaps one day in the future, Sotani-san will find the gods recorded by previous generations from the stone carvings in the mountains somewhere and teach the world the true meaning of this dance."

"..."

She was probably trying to convince him... or maybe comfort him?

Although he was a little reluctant, Zonggu still smiled at her.

"I'm also looking forward to that day...thank you."

The corners of Jingzi's mouth curved slightly, and she pointed into the pool again.

"Don't take it out on my vegetables."

...

After enjoying a delicious dinner, Soya and Asagiri Suzu rested for a while and said goodbye.

Jingzi sent the two of them to the station as usual.

"By the way." Soya thought of the establishment of the club, "I may have to disturb Kyoko at school tomorrow."

"Is it because of the new club?"

"Yes."

"As long as it doesn't take too much time..."

"No. Jingzi just needs to show up when the people from the student union come to confirm."

"I see."

Jingzi stopped in front of the station, "I'm in Grade 2 Class A, and the classroom is on the second floor."

"good."

The two said goodbye to her and entered the station.

The tram swayed past two stations without talking all the way. Soya and Asagiri Suzu got off at Jinko Station.

After walking out of the empty station, Soya took a few steps down the steps. When he turned around, he found Asagiri Suzu still standing where he was.

"bell?"

She looked down at her feet.

He walked back, "What's wrong?"

"pain."

Zonggu knelt down and checked a little.

"Which foot?"

The left foot moved.

He asked her to sit down, then took off her left shoe and socks, looked back and forth, and found no wounds or redness.

"where?"

She pointed somewhere casually.

Zonggu pressed lightly, "Does it hurt?"

Her expression remained unchanged, "It hurts."

After putting on her shoes and socks, Zonggu turned around and squatted down.

She lay on her back and hugged his neck.

There was no one on the road, and a crescent moon appeared and disappeared in the clouds. The convenience store not far away was deserted, and the clerk at the counter yawned.

When was the last time you carried her?

Zong Gu thought for a while, but she didn't think of it. Instead, she thought of the memory of her seven or eight-year-old self being carried back to the children's welfare home a long time ago.

Was it because of something...a fight, or something lost?

It's been so long that I can't remember clearly.

He was not walking fast, and the moonlight shone on the areas where the street lamps failed to illuminate, making the cement road white and cold.

"Did Suzu say something to Kyoko?"

She didn't speak, but moved her arms around his neck twice.

"I was rejected too."

Zong Gu looked ahead, "However, this is a matter of course."
To be continued...