Chapter 9

Rei Natsukawa loves cherry blossoms.

Until one day, a tree that had hardly shown any presence suddenly asserts its existence in a magnificent moment, much like a plain girl tying up her hair and putting on a luxurious party dress, suddenly drawing the attention of noble young men.

Rei particularly likes cherry blossoms at night. When she sees them standing there, faintly white as if emitting a very weak light, she wonders if this is what the dictionary means by "yugen" (mysterious depth and beauty).

Near the Kikawa Industry where Rei works, there is a large cherry tree, and Rei looks forward to its blooming every year since she came to this world.

"Chief, did you know? The cherry tree in the old house's garden is going to be cut down before it blooms this year."

"Huh? Why?"

"The neighbors complained. They said the petals stick to their cars and cause trouble. The old lady living there can't clean up properly, so she feels bad about it."

"True, cherry petals do fly far on the wind. What a harsh world we live in."

Rei was shocked when she heard the conversation between the part-time worker and the chief.

The petals fall for about ten days. Even if it's just ten days, she can imagine that some people might dislike it. But cutting it down seems irreversible.

She can't save all the cherry trees in Japan, but she wonders if there's something she can do within her own capabilities.

"Oh, right."

That night, Rei went to see the cherry tree that was scheduled to be cut down.

The cherry tree, illuminated by the streetlights, had its branches tinged with a faint red, preparing to bloom. When Rei looked at the tree, it seemed to tremble slightly, and she felt a lump in her throat.

"You're almost ready to be the star of spring. Even if it's just for a few days. I want you to bloom before you're cut down. It's your last chance, so I'll make you bloom a little early. ... Growth promotion."

The red-tinted parts at the tips of the branches began to swell.

The white petals, folded inside the buds, seemed to stretch out and open up as if they had a will of their own. Soon, the flowers began to open one by one, and before long, the tree was in full bloom.

"When the petals fall, I'll gather them all with my magic. Bloom without worry."

The next morning, the sudden full bloom of the cherry tree was the topic of conversation at Kikawa Industry. That wasn't all.

It seemed that someone who passed by on their way to work or school had tweeted about it, and it was featured on a midday TV show. In the TV segment, the old lady who owned the cherry tree was being interviewed.

Apparently, some volunteers from the neighborhood had offered to clean up the petals, and the old lady, with tears in her eyes, said,

"I think the cherry tree bloomed early because it was sad that I was going to cut it down."

When Rei left Kikawa Industry in the evening and walked past the cherry tree, she was surprised.

Many people had come to see the cherry blossoms. People who seemed to be volunteers from the neighborhood were guiding the visitors, and the flow of people was well-organized.

"Was this the right thing to do?"

The principal of the magic school had called the once-in-sixty-years forced summoning "an act against the natural order of the world." Was making the cherry blossoms bloom early an act against the natural order of this world? Was it within the "just in time" range, as Saito from the transport company often says?

"I shouldn't overdo it."

Her very existence is against the natural order of this world.

Since being thrown into this world, Rei has believed that her way of being is to "live modestly and unobtrusively without causing a stir in this world." She always reminds herself that she is a guest here.

On her way home, she looked at the guardian deity statue on the usual path.

The guardian deity statue, built at the boundary of a village or community, is said to protect against diseases and evil spirits from outside. Some guardian deity statues come in pairs, but this one stands alone.

"Thank you for your long service. Please keep up the good work."

Rei, who believes she has been baptized by the god Rase and lives with Rase's blessings, does not pray to other gods. Instead, she gently stroked the head of the guardian deity.

"Please don't be angry if I stroke your head, guardian deity."

Feeling a warm, cozy feeling, she smiled and headed home.

That night, she had dinner at a nearby yakitori restaurant.

After Rei left, a gray mist began to rise from the guardian deity statue. The mist gradually took the shape of a person, forming a young man with fluffy, natural curls and glasses. The man, 'Akira,' happily stroked his own head.

"It's been a long time since a human stroked my head."

Akira has been here for over five hundred years. At first, passersby would all pray to him and speak to him, but recently, no one even looks at him. He has become like a boundary marker between properties.

Feeling so lonely and bored, he sometimes leaves this place to observe the world.

Sometimes he rides on vehicles to visit the ancient and powerful Kutsuwa Shrine.

There, he met Natsukawa Rei.

"I hope someone will stroke my head again."

Akira murmured this as he set out for a night walk through the downtown area.