(Well, today's the day. It's Hayato's coming-of-age ceremony. I have to admit, I envy him a little. Today, he'll enter the Sealed Forest and travel to the shrine.) I wish I could go too... No one is allowed to enter the Sealed Forest on the outskirts of our village until it's time for their coming-of-age ceremony. The legend says if a child enters to forest, Lady Chiyo will come to take them away. Lady Chiyo... I wonder if there's any truth to that story. Many times, I've been tempted to sneak into the Sealed Forest to find out myself. it sounds like one of the horror games I love to play. How else will I find adventure in a quiet place like Tokoyomi village?. Still, I've turned back every time. The seriousness with which everyone discusses the Sealed Forest and the coming-of-age is enough to shake even me. (Whether there is a real ghost or not, there must be a reason the Sealed Forest is forbidden to minors. There is a lot of disappearances around here, too. children do go missing when they're enter the forest.) I guess I'll just have you wait until I turn twenty and have my own ceremony.
"I finished packing up snacks just in case I end up on a great adventure - a habit I've had for years - and then head out to see Hayato off his big day."
"By the time I reach Hayato at his outskirts of the village, Kotomi is already there with him."
Kotomi: "How are you feeling?"
Hayato: " A little nervous. I hope I don't mess anything up".
Daiki(me): Come on, Hayato how could you mess up a coming-of-age ceremony".
Kotomi: "Hello Daiki, I'm glad you could make it to see Hayato off".
Daiki: "C-come on, like I'd miss this..."
(It's true that I've been keeping to myself even more than usual lately, but I don't mean anything by it. The three of us have been best friends for years now. But lately I've really started to notice that Kotomi is not just my friend, but she's also a girl... and that makes things awkward. It's like I don't know how to act around her anymore. Between that and Hayato working at his family restaurant so often, it's been a long time since the three of us hung out like we used to.)
Hayato: "deep in thought, eh Daiki? What, are you wishing you could go with me?"
Daiki: "No I'm fine"
Hayato: " Really? I'm surprised".
Kotomi: " Daiki is capable of patience, even though he doesn't show it.
Daiki: " Hey now.."
Hayato: "Hmm... I feel like this is where I'm supposed to say" something wise, like "Enjoy your childhood while it last".
Daiki: "Uh, thanks, I'll try."
(I guess there is a lot of things I can do now that I won't once I have more responsibilities. When I think of it like that, I'm almost sad.)
Kotomi: "Our time will come soon enough ".
Daiki: "Yeah..."
(Nowadays, she's much more reserved and... dignified, I don't get it. Is it because she's a girl?.)
Kotomi: "Hayato!"
"Out of nowhere, a girl comes barreling toward u, nearly knocking me down in her haste to reach Hayato."
Daiki: "Woah!"
Rina: "I'm so happy I could be here for your big day".
Hayato: " Haha, it's good to see you too Rina, I'm glad you could make it".
(It's been a long time since I've seen Rina. She's a distance relative of Hayato's, but I don't even remember how. Something way back in the family tree , I guess.)
Rina: "This is so exciting! Our Hayato is an adul".
Hayato: "Not quite yet - I still have to complete the ceremony"
Rina: " Oh, Who cares about little details like that"
Azusa: "Heh, I should have known all the noise mean a little kid was around".
Rina: " Huh? Are you talking about me?"
Azusa: " You see any other kids around here?"
Rina: " Grr, You're not that much older than me!"
Azusa: "Keep telling yourself that".
( Wow, even Azusa came for Hayato's Ceremony. She's in the same class as Kotomi and me. But I didn't think she knew Hayato very well. Still, a coming-of-age Ceremony is always exciting.)
"Azusa catches my gaze and frowns at me."
Azusa: " What's with you? why are you staring at me? I'm surprised you came. I didn't think you and Hayato were friends. Let's just say I'm curious about the coming-of-age ceremony. This might be the only one I ever got to see."
Daiki: "Right..."
(Azusa and her mother moved here last year, and she doesn't seem to like Tokoyomi village one bit. Everyone say she's studying to get into Tokyo University so she can move back to the big city.)
Azusa: "Anyway, good luck, Hayato. We're rooting for you!"
Kotomi: "You'll do great".
Hayato: "Thanks everyone. It means a lot that you all came out here to see me."
"Quiet footsteps alert us to the arrival of the priest who will handle the ceremony".
Priest: "Are you ready, young man? Do you have your kagura bells?"
Hayato: "Yes. I'm ready".
Priest: "Then follow me".
"We wish Hayato luck again, and then he turns and follows the priest toward the Sealed Forest, ringing Kagura bells for protection.
Kotomi: "It won't be long before it's our turn".
Daiki: "Yeah... Then we'll be officially adults".
(I'm not sure if that idea excites me or frightens me more. It'll mean more freedom, but also more responsibilities.)
" Hayato and the Priest pass through the shrine gate at the edge of the village, and soon they're out of sight".
( I wonder what the ceremony is like. All I know is Hayato will go to the shrine for a ritual, and then he'll accepted as an adult. Maybe once he get back , I convince him to tell me about it...)
Rina: "Oh no!"
Kotomi: "What is it?".
Rina: "I brought a charm to protect Hayato, but I forgot to give it to him! I can't believe I forgot..."
Daiki: "He doesn't need a charm".
Rina: "Uh, how could you even know that?"
Daiki: "He has his Kagura bells, so-"
Rina: "But more protection can't hurt, right? This is a lucky charm! It's supposed to protect whoever's holding it"
(Ugh. Why do I have the feeling it's some cheap trinket she picked up at some store somewhere?).
Kotomi: "It's too late now".
Rina: "Oh no it's not".
(Huh?)
"Before any of us can question what she means, she take off sprinting toward the Sealed Forest".
Daiki: " H-Hey! Rina, come back!"
Kotomi: "Rina!"
Azusa: "Stupid kid, get back here!"
"Heedless of our shouts, Rina continues to race toward the shrine gate."
(I guess someone doesn't believe in the legend of Lady Chiyo...)
Daiki: "Come on, we have to stop her!"
"Kotomi runs surprisingly fast despite her skirt, easily keeping pace with me as we run after Rina, and Azusa is just behind us).
Daiki: "Rina! You can't go in there!".
Azusa: "Rina!"
" Rina has to much of a lead. She doesn't even hesitate. She crossed the gate and enters the Sealed Forest just as we reach it."
( Ugh.... I don't believe this...)
Azusa: "W-what now?"
Kotomi: "We have to go after her"
Azusa:" You don't mean enter the Sealed Forest ourselves, do you?!".
Kotomi: "We can't let Rina wander around in there alone. It's too dangerous."
Daiki: "Azusa is right".
Kotomi: "How can you say that, Daiki?! We might be older than Rina, but the Sealed Forest is just as dangerous for us as it is for her."
Azusa: "Yeah. none of us have gone through the ceremony. If Lady Chiyo really exists, She'll be after us".
Kotomi: "So you just want to abandon Rina?! we'll an adult what happened. Who knows how far she might have gone by then? We can't after to waste time!".
Daiki: "Kotomi be reasonable about this. I'm going after her. if we hurry, we can catch her quickly and come back to the gate before anything happens."
Azusa: "I... I guess it can't hurt if we don't linger... right...?"
Daiki: " Right, We'll grab Rina and drag her back to the village before Lady Chiyo can find us!."
(Despite my brave words, I wish I felt more confident that what I'm saying is true...)
" Slowly, each of us reluctant to be the first one to step through, we cross under the shrine gate and enters the forbidden Sealed Forest."