(TN: Oinari-sama – Inari is an ancient fox goddess. A mythical beast with nine tails. In Shintou beliefs, anything that lives or remains intact for a hundred years becomes a god, and any such fox becomes able to shapeshift and bewitch people. Their power is represented by the number of tails. Albino foxes are said to be Inari’s servants.)
Girl: As soon as I get together my travel luggage, I will leave this place at once! Yes!
After we both introduced ourselves and finished explaining everything, I learned that this girl, named Wakasugi Tsudzura, had settled in and lived here for a while previous.
Tsudzura: Vagrancy and trespassing refer to this exact predicament!
Tsudzura: I prostrate myself before you in apology, so please find it in your heart to be lenient! Children are the future, so please do not report this to the police, the court house, the heatlh care center or any related offices!!
Kei: Ah… yeah. I don’t really mind that you lived here, or anything. It’s been left alone all this time, and it looks like you cleaned it up.
Tsudzura: Ya–y! I am saved! I am in your debt!
I’d basically been prepared for it, but I’m happy I don’t have to sleep in a place that’s covered with dust.
Kei: But you know, Tsudzura-chan… you’re all by yourself, right?
Tsudzura: I wouldn’t say that’s true.
From atop her head, Obana-chan gives his white tail a wave. *furi furi*
That’s right. This little one is neither a cat, nor a ferret, but a fox.
Not only his tail, but the whole of him from head to foot being pure white… must make him a pretty rare specimen, huh?
But, that aside…
Kei: ……Well, that isn’t what I mean, though. I’m talking about what happened to your guardian…
Even in summer break, for a girl about Tsudzura-chan’s age to be alone is a little strange.
Kei: Did the people in your house give you permission?
Tsudzura: …………
Kei: Well, did they?
Tsudzura: As far as permission goes, I wouldn’t say so…
Kei: I knew it.
Just as I thought, a runaway.
Kei: Tsudzura-chan, you’re still so small. Your father and mother must be worried sick.
Tsudzura: ……I have none.
Kei: Eh?
Tsudzura: Tahaha, there is no need for you to worry, Kei-oneesan. The traditions of our house are based on survival of the fittest.
Kei: Ehh!?
Tsudzura: And so I find myself on a lone journey. However, as you can see now, I have a fellow traveler…
Kei: Until you get to where?
Tsudzura: That is undecided…
Kei: When will you decide?
Tsudzura: When, indeed…
Kei: …………
I am speechless.
They do say, “let your dear children journey,” but I think this takes it too far. I really do.
Tsudzura: As day by day went by, I was getting so tired, when in my daze I found this open house. And so I was simply roped in.
Could it be… has Tsudzura-chan been thrust into the valley of a thousand fathoms? Was she pushed away to grow up strong, even if she becomes a real problem child in the process? (TN: This comes from a legend of a lion that pushes its cub into a deep valley, with the hope that it will grow up strong.)
Kei: *gushi!*…… (sniffle)
Tsudzura: Umm… Kei-oneesan?
This isn’t good… not only have I lost, but my eyes are welling up…
Tsudzura: I guess that means… I’ll be chased out after all?
Kei: It’s okay, you can stay the entire summer if you want! I’ll even stay with you!
Tsudzura: Come again?
Kei: I’ll just have to bear with it until school starts. If we’re together, I’m sure we’ll grow up strong!
Tsudzura: ……Tahahahaha. Please don’t overstretch your efforts, landlady-san.
Kei: Yeah, let’s do our best.
It isn’t a time where I would normally sleep, but in a house with no power running, there isn’t much else to do.
Fortunately, I’m pretty tired with all that’s happened, and the sleepiness visits me right away, even after all that sleep I had on the train.
Anyway, a dried and perfectly usable futon is something to be thankful for. My thanks to Tsudzura-chan.
Ahh, speaking of which, Tsudzura-chan…
Even though I wouldn’t have minded sleeping in the same room, she retreated into another by herself. Just because there are so many rooms doesn’t mean we have to be separate……
It’s not like my snoring is loud, or my sleeping posture is bad (at least, I don’t think it is), but……
…………
The soft darkness of sleep slowly creeps inside of me.