Shrines, as one of the most iconic symbols of Shinto culture, could be found almost anywhere in Japan.
From bustling city streets to quiet corners tucked away in narrow alleys, their presence was nearly inevitable. Some sprawled across vast grounds covering dozens of acres, while others were so small that they consisted of nothing more than a single statue.
Such was the nature of a culture that believed in the idea that all things possess a spirit. Under this belief, the so-called "eight million gods" had their dwellings scattered across every corner of the land.
As for the shrine where Amamiya Yoru often went—
Hirakawa Tetsufumi had passed by it before.
It was a tiny place, likely dedicated to some minor deity, barely occupying a few square meters. Nestled between the train station and the school, it was easy to miss. Only by peering through overgrown branches and following a narrow, weed-choked path could one glimpse its faint silhouette.
Judging by the wild grass alone, it was clear that few people ever came to worship there.
Which made it all the more puzzling.
Why would Amamiya Yoru come here during school hours?
Why had she even skipped an entire morning?
And those recent days of being late… could they all be connected to this shrine?
The questions circled endlessly in Hirakawa's mind, refusing to settle.
This girl was impossible to figure out.
Still, he had a feeling the answer was finally within reach.
After hurrying for ten straight minutes, unable to slow down out of worry, Hirakawa finally arrived at the shrine, breathing heavily.
It was noon in mid-April. A faint chill lingered in the early spring air, and the wind brushed against his sweat-dampened face, sending a cold shiver down his spine.
Standing at the edge of the woods, he looked ahead.
Between trees sprouting fresh green leaves stood an old stone torii gate, weathered and gray. On either side were stone guardian statues, komainu, silent and watchful.
Beyond the gate, a short stone path stretched forward, uneven and overrun with weeds, leading to the small main shrine building just a few meters away.
And beside that building
There was a figure.
A girl.
Amamiya Yoru.
The moment he saw her, Hirakawa let out a quiet breath of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly pulled out his phone, dialing her mother.
The call connected almost instantly.
A worried voice came through, as if she had been waiting the entire time.
"Hello, is this Hirakawa-sensei?"
"Yes, it's me. I've found Amamiya Yoru."
The tension on the other end eased immediately. He could clearly hear her sigh of relief.
"That's wonderful… really, I don't even know what to say. Thank you for going through the trouble today, Sensei."
"It's nothing."
"Then what is Yoru doing right now? I asked her earlier, but she kept avoiding the question."
Hirakawa glanced toward the shrine. From where he stood, her figure was faint and unclear.
"I'm not sure yet. I'll need a moment to find out."
"I understand. Thank you again."
After ending the call, he slipped his phone away and stepped into the forest.
With each step forward, it felt as though he was leaving the outside world behind. The dense trees muffled all sound, isolating the shrine in a pocket of quiet. Only his own footsteps echoed softly.
Soon, he reached the torii gate.
Just a few meters ahead stood the girl.
Amamiya Yoru.
She was crouched in front of a wooden box, completely absorbed in whatever she was doing, unaware of his approach.
What is she doing?
As he moved closer, a soft sound suddenly echoed through the shrine.
A faint, trembling cry.
It was unmistakably the sound of an animal.
And it came from the wooden box in front of her.
Hirakawa stepped through the torii gate, his footsteps finally catching her attention.
Yoru turned her head slightly. Seeing that it was him, she showed no surprise. She simply stood up and gave a polite bow.
"Hirakawa-sensei."
Her mother must have told her he was coming.
But Hirakawa's expression remained stern.
He looked at the girl who had skipped school, disappeared for an entire morning, and caused so much worry.
"Amamiya."
"Yes."
"What time is it right now?"
"Lunch break."
The answer was technically correct.
But it was not the answer he wanted.
He let out a quiet sigh, his tone softening slightly.
"You skipped school this morning to come here, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"And the past few days when you were late?"
"This place too."
"Why?"
She fell silent.
Her eyes shifted slightly, avoiding his gaze.
But her silence only made his suspicion grow stronger.
His attention shifted to the wooden box behind her.
Just as he took a step forward
She moved.
Amamiya Yoru spread her arms and stood firmly in front of him, blocking his path.
Her expression was determined.
Do not come any closer.
That was the message she conveyed without words.
Hirakawa frowned slightly.
"Amamiya… what are you doing?"
She shook her head, then spoke quietly.
"Sensei… can you promise me something first?"
"What?"
"Please don't tell my mother about this."
Hirakawa hesitated.
As a teacher, he had responsibilities not only to his students, but also to their parents.
Helping a student hide something from their family was not a simple matter.
What should he say?
He frowned, thinking carefully before answering.
"I can't promise that right away. But if you explain everything clearly, and if your reason is reasonable… then I might consider it."
Her expression changed instantly.
For a moment, she looked disappointed.
But the next second, her eyes lit up again.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He meant it.
Students having secrets was not unusual. Even between parent and child, some distance was necessary.
But whether her reason was acceptable—that would determine everything.
He had thought this through carefully.
However
It seemed Amamiya Yoru did not fully trust him yet.
She slowly raised her hand.
Extending her little finger toward him.
Hirakawa blinked in confusion.
"What is that?"
"A contract."
"A contract?"
"Once it's made, it can't be broken."
He paused, then let out a small breath.
So that's what she meant.
A pinky promise.
Even so, he spoke seriously before reaching out.
"Amamiya, I'm not agreeing unconditionally. Your reason has to convince me first."
But she continued as if she hadn't heard him.
"In this shrine, under the witness of the gods, once the contract is made, you absolutely cannot go back on your word."
Her tone was unusually solemn.
Almost ceremonial.
Hirakawa felt a strange sense of discomfort.
Was this really necessary?
And more importantly, he hadn't even agreed yet.
"I didn't promise anything yet," he said again.
But once more
She ignored him.
The quiet shrine, surrounded by trees, felt almost sacred.
And in front of him stood the girl, looking at him with pure, earnest eyes filled with expectation.
Refusing her now somehow felt like committing a crime.
Before he realized it
He had already hooked his finger with hers.
The contract was made.
Only after it was done did he come back to his senses.
What just happened?
"Sensei," she said, her voice light with joy, "now that we've made a contract, you can't tell my mother."
So the condition had been completely ignored.
Hirakawa could only stand there, speechless.
A high school student, still insisting on something like a "contract."
Maybe he really was getting old.
In the end, he let out a quiet sigh.
Forget it.
What mattered now was the wooden box.
If he could understand what
was inside
He would finally understand why she had been late, why she had skipped school, and what she had been hiding all this time.
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