The truck finally stopped near the edge of the village.
The engine shut off.
Silence returned immediately.
Hikari climbed down from the back of the truck, brushing dust from her coat.
The village looked almost exactly the same as she remembered.
Small wooden houses.
Narrow dirt paths.
Smoke rising gently from a few chimneys.
Behind the houses, the mountain forest stretched endlessly upward.
The driver lifted a crate from the truck.
"Your grandmother's house is near the shrine."
He pointed down the road.
"Second house on the left."
Hikari bowed politely.
"Thank you for the ride."
The driver waved casually as he returned to unloading supplies.
Hikari walked slowly through the quiet village.
The air smelled faintly of wood smoke and pine.
Wind moved softly through the trees surrounding the houses.
Some villagers looked up briefly as she passed.
Most simply nodded politely.
Visitors were rare here.
Soon she reached a small wooden house near the forest edge.
The sliding door was slightly open.
Warm light spilled out from inside.
Before Hikari could knock, the door slid open.
An elderly woman stood there.
Her gray hair was tied neatly behind her head.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she smiled.
"Hikari."
Hikari blinked in surprise.
"Grandmother…"
The old woman pulled her gently into a hug.
"You've grown thinner."
She stepped back and studied her carefully.
"Are they not feeding you properly in Tokyo?"
Hikari laughed softly.
"I eat fine."
Inside the house, the atmosphere felt warm and peaceful.
Tatami floors.
Wooden beams.
The quiet ticking of a small wall clock.
It felt like time moved slower here.
Grandmother poured tea into two small cups.
"It's been a long time since you visited."
Hikari nodded slightly.
"University has been busy."
Her grandmother studied her face carefully.
"Too busy."
They sat together quietly for a moment.
Then Hikari noticed something hanging near the door.
A wooden charm carved with the shape of a wolf.
She pointed toward it.
"Is that new?"
Grandmother followed her gaze.
Then nodded.
"The villagers replaced the old ones last year."
Hikari tilted her head.
"Why wolves?"
The old woman smiled faintly.
"You've forgotten the mountain stories already."
She poured more tea.
"Wolves used to guard these mountains."
"Long ago, people believed they protected travelers and the village."
Hikari looked toward the window.
The dark forest beyond the house seemed deeper now.
"You mean legends?"
Grandmother shrugged slightly.
"Perhaps."
She sipped her tea calmly.
"But people still leave offerings at the shrine."
"Just in case the mountain guardians are still watching."
Outside, the wind moved through the trees again.
Deep in the forest above the village…
Golden eyes watched the warm light glowing from the grandmother's house.
The wolf stood silently between the trees.
Observing the human girl who had returned to the mountain.
For the first time, Rōga watched her closely.
Curious.
Interested.
Something about this human felt different.
And in the quiet house below…
Hikari had no idea that the mountain guardian was already watching her.