Kei: Mmm......
When I open my eyelids to the light of sunshine, an unfamiliar ceiling spreads out above my head.
There's no way I could mistake a stranger's ceiling for the one I'd always lived underneath with mom.
For one, it's much higher than mine, and wider.
............
......But wait, this house is mine too, isn't it?
Kei: Fwah~~~
I sluggishly crawl out from the futon and open the sliding window wide.
The strong light of the mid-summer sun, and the weeds that flourished in the yard by bathing within it, fly into my eyes.
Now that I see it in full illumination, it has a bearing that lets one feel the easygoing advance of nature all around.
Yes, yes, that's right.
My head gradually regains its focus.
This place is my father's house in Hemidzuka, standing majestically in a yard so unreasonably large, it even has a shed.
However, under the influence of ten years of neglect, the wilds of the yard are as you see now. Naturally, the three great lifelines of electricity, gas, and water are shut off.
As for the condition of the house itself, thanks to the property-invasive sojourn of the lone traveler, Tsudzura (and her fox), the outfitted environment of the house is an undisputable godsend.
Just being able to sleep on tatami not sodden and piled with dust, and a futon not stinking of mold, is an unmistakable stroke of luck.
...On the other hand, you could say it throws my lack of foresight into sharp relief, seeing as I came to stay in such a place.
......Now, then.
As for my tenant and timely benefactor Tsudzura-chan, and her partner, the white fox, Obana-chan, I wonder if they've awoken yet?
Kei: Tsudzura-chan, Obana-chan, good mo------
------*whoosh*
No one's in the room.
The futon is nicely folded, and shut away in the closet.
And I can't see her suitcase anywhere.
Kei: Huh---------?
Kei: Tsudzura-cha~n, Obana-cha~n?
I bustle about the mansion as I call out.
Last night, I could only rely on the moon and my flashlight, so I didn't check around anymore than I had to, but now I can see how truly wide this place is.
Kei: Ah.
*pita!* My feet come to a stop.
It appears it hasn't been cleaned beyond this point.
But there are no footprints in the piled dust. In other words, this place is uncharted territory, which means Tsudzura-chan and company won't be beyond here.
Kei: That's strange. I wonder where they went......
It's at this point that I remember a rather common story.
White foxes are said to bewitch people. (TN:
Hereis some more information. White foxes in particular are said to be servants of the goddess Inari.)
It's one thing to be invited into a mansion that's actually a horse stable, but having a feast, only to find you've eaten horse poop, is the kind of prank that just isn't funny.
............
......I- I'm all right, right?
At least, the mansion looks the same as last night, and I don't remember being given anything that I put in my mouth.
Come to think of it, ever since lunch yesterday, all I had was......
......Uuu! I'm really hungry. But in this place, I won't find any shops unless I head to town, will I?
How in the world did those two make it this far?
Kei: Heeey, where did you go---!? Let's eat some breakfast---!
I retrace my steps to the entrance hall.
My shoes are the only ones set there.
Really, where did she go off to?
Food gathering? Maybe a walk? Could she have left completely?