Kouya Hijiri: CHAPTER 12

“Please follow me.” She stood with the small tub in her hands, and put a towel in her sash. Her gorgeous long hair was piled high and bound with a simple comb and hairpin. She was so beautiful.

I put on the geta she offered me, and looked back at the fool. Childishly, he called out to her “Sister! Come! Come!” He looked at me and petted his own head with his hand. “Monk? Monk?”

She nodded to him several times, smiling.

The man nodded to her and began playing with his navel again.

I felt so sorry for him. I stole secret glances at her, and though I think she saw me she didn’t seem to mind.

We came around the side of the house, an old man suddenly appeared from behind a bush of flowering hydrangea. He stopped and put a long pipe in his mouth, watching me curiously. “Welcome priest!”