𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟔: 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 / 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐬
It was the morning after the summer festival had ended.
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Waking up in my second-floor apartment with Kami-sama, I, who was about to open the shop, suddenly noticed a brand new wreath hanging on the shop’s door.
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“Huh? What’s this?”
“It doesn’t seem to be something dangerous.”
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With Kami-sama saying that next to me, I took the wreath in my hands.
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“It’s freshly made. Well, it’s indeed a pretty one. . . . . .”
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I gazed around. It’s a beautiful wreath, made by collecting only the most vibrant herbs.
I picked it up and sniffed it — and in that moment, memories vividly awoke.
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On a hot summer day, my mother told the young me a story.
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—Mom got married in the summer.
—The wedding was modest, but. . . Dad made a crown full of fresh herbs instead of a wedding ceremony for her.
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And then, my mother recreated that crown for me right in front of my eyes.
A fresh-smelling one, filled only with strongly scented flowers of summer, much like the perfume Mom used to wear.
In the depths of the ring, there was only a single marigold inserted.
You wouldn’t see it unless you held this wreath and looked closely.
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“Dad!!”
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With the wreath in hand, I ran around looking for him.
But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find the figure I was looking for.
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“. . . . . . Dad. . . . . . Can I believe that you’re alive . . . . . . ?”
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I sat down and hugged the wreath.
Did my father hear about this shop and think of Charte, think of Charlene?
Kami-sama put his arm around my shoulder. It was good to have warmth to cling to at times like this.
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The wind blew.
The signboard with the shop name Hiraes, also my father’s name, swayed, making a strong, invigorating sound.
―𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕰𝖓𝖉―
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