My Childhood Friend Meows Under My Skirt. (GL) - Chapter 4
“I want to see Maki. I never want to be apart again.”
I hadn’t intended to resort to tears. It felt like the most miserable way to express myself. But the tears wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know how to make them cease. Kimizu-san gently offered me a handkerchief. It was made of soft white fabric, and it felt comforting. As I wiped my face, it quickly became stained with dirt, bl00d, and tears.
“Thank you,” I whispered softly.
“Just use the water from the purification fountain to clean the dirty parts of your body as well. I will prepare, so let’s meet at the main shrine as I guided you last time.”
With that, Kimizu-san finished speaking and walked down the hallway, turning the corner. Had I passed her test? Coming back to my senses, I hurried to the purification fountain. I dampened my feet, arms, neck, and cheeks, wiping away the dirt with the handkerchief.
By the time I finished cleansing myself, the lights in the main shrine were just coming on. I made my way down the path, passing by the offering box, and quietly ascended to the main shrine. Kimizu-san was waiting in the space before stepping onto the tatami, holding some kind of vessel. I recognized it as the tea set I had glimpsed before. As I leaned in, I caught the scent of matcha.
“From here, it becomes the sacred realm, so please drink this to purify yourself.”
“Is it… tea? Isn’t this usually something like sake?”
“It contains catechins, which are good for your body.”
I was starting to regain my composure enough to appreciate her usual lighthearted jokes.
There was a procedure to enter the sacred realm that hadn’t been present last time.
Before stepping onto the tatami room of the main shrine, Kimizu-san explained further.
“Like last time, we will retrieve something from the shrine, but unlike when we took out the medicine, this time we will delve deeper. Therefore, the method will be a bit more complicated. I must inform you in advance that there are corresponding risks involved. If we make even the slightest mistake in the procedure, we may never leave this main shrine again.”
“…What should I do next?”
Seeing my unwavering determination, Kimizu-san smiled softly. She instructed me to place the empty vessel on the floor, and I complied. Following her lead, I took off my shoes and finally stepped into the main shrine.
“That said, there’s not much for you to do, Natsume-san. Please just sit there.”
I sat in seiza at the designated spot, and Kimizu-san turned back toward the shrine and began to dance, just as she had before.
Her movements were remarkably refined, as if I were watching water flow. I felt an illusion that, around Kimizu-san, there was no friction or gravity at all.
I couldn’t afford to treat this like a leisurely performance; unlike last time, this was clearly part of a process. I could see sweat dripping from her armpits onto the tatami. Kimizu-san maintained her expression, continuing to concentrate. If she made even the slightest mistake, we would bear the risk.
The dance came to a halt, and Kimizu-san let out a deep breath.
“Now we just need to open the shrine.”
“So, we succeeded?”
“No. The final hurdle awaits.”
Kimizu-san disappeared into the corner of the room. I could see her retrieving something from a place where the light didn’t reach. When she returned, I realized she was holding a golf club.
Before I could comprehend the situation, Kimizu-san took a couple of practice swings in front of me. The first was quick, the second slow. I could see the number “6” printed on the bottom of the iron weight at the end of the club. What was she planning to do? Before I could interject, Kimizu-san murmured, “Alright,” and headed toward the shrine.
“Don’t grip the club too tightly. For the take-back, lead with your left hand and swing up without losing momentum. Be aware of your hip rotation and weight transfer, and then—”
She murmured as she lifted the club.
In that moment, I thought, no way.
“Backswing!”
Kimizu-san swung the club full force toward the shrine.
A loud crack echoed as wood splintered, followed by the sound of something collapsing, perhaps a foundation or a pillar. Fragments of broken wood flew toward me, leaving me stunned and unable to move.
After the club had fulfilled its purpose, Kimizu-san roughly tossed it aside and reached into the half-destroyed shrine.
“Where is it? I definitely stored it here. Um, oh, this is it. Found it!”
She retrieved the item and returned, wearing a relieved smile as if she had accomplished something. It seemed the ritual to extract it had been successfully completed.
Could it be that she had anticipated this outcome and learned golf in advance? Had she practiced matcha and traditional dance for this very moment? I felt that if I asked, she would likely evade the question, so I kept silent.
When Kimizu-san reached me, she sat in seiza as well and opened the box wrapped in paulownia wood to show me what was inside.
“This is…”
“A magatama. Just like with the seirogan, it contains power extracted from the land. It’s more difficult to obtain than the seirogan. The stage for the medicine to take effect has already passed, so we will use this.”
The magatama glimmered faintly with a bluish light. A hemp cord threaded through the hole. Inside the magatama, I could see something like particles moving ever so slightly. I didn’t understand the principle behind it.
Kimizu-san took the magatama from the box and gently placed it in my hand.
“Please hang this around Matsuhara-san’s neck. It should be able to forcibly suppress the blessing of assimilation. However, based on what I’ve heard, whether it will work is about fifty-fifty.”
“If I put this on, will Maki come back?”
“Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s probably no longer possible to completely eliminate the white cat. From here on, we will enter a stage of compromise and negotiation. We can only hope that Matsuhara-san and the white cat can find a balance. This magatama will not only halt the current progression of the blessing but also serve as a catalyst for that.”
I gripped the one and only magatama tightly. This was my last chance.
Since it was said that it wouldn’t harm an ordinary person, I hung the magatama around my neck, making sure not to lose it.
As I was about to leave the main shrine, Kimizu-san answered from where she sat.
“I’m sorry, but for reasons I cannot disclose, I am currently unable to leave the shrine grounds. I’m simply exhausted. This is as far as I can assist you.”
“…Thank you. I will do my best to find Maki.”
“Do you have any idea where he might be?”
“I don’t, but I thought I might search places where the white cat could be.”
The shopping district. The school. Between houses. Back alleys. There were a few places that came to mind.
While I was putting on my shoes, Kimizu-san offered one more piece of advice.
“If Matsuhara-san’s consciousness hasn’t faded and is still alive within his body, it’s possible that he is influencing the white cat’s actions to some extent. It might be worth searching for places where Matsuhara-san would likely go, not just the white cat.”
“…In that case, I have one place in mind.”
A location that immediately came to mind.
If I was going to hang the magatama around my neck, I had to proceed under the assumption that Maki’s consciousness was still present. That meant the destination was indeed that one place.
“The white cat, who is currently controlling his body and consciousness, is also desperately trying to survive. You will likely face fierce resistance. It may be difficult for you to confront it alone, Natsume-san. You will need some sort of countermeasure. And whatever means they use, do not be intimidated.”
“I understand.”
I firmly tied the laces of my sneakers, which had been coming undone. With a low center of gravity, I focused my strength into my toes and exploded forward. Oh, I heard Kimizu-san’s voice of admiration from far behind me in the main shrine.
I took off running. From here on, every second of my actions was crucial. I couldn’t afford to waste a single step.
“Maki. I’m coming now.”
Whether I win or lose, succeed or fail.
This time, I will be by your side.