Instead of going back to the apartment, Hisaki asked Mrs. Ikeda to drop her off at the festival that she went to yesterday. Because it was just along the way back to their neighborhood, Mrs. Ikeda didn't need to do a detour.
"Thank you, Aunt Takako," Hisaki gave the middle-aged lady a smile. She unbuckled the seat belt, "The chrysanthemum display is so pretty. I wanna see it again."
"The shrine maidens are talented in flower arrangement art. They always won the first three places in competitions. Enjoy your time. Be careful when you head home later," reminded Mrs. Ikeda, "Go back before it's dark, en?"
"I will. See you again, Aunt Takako."
Hisaki stood on the sidewalk until Mrs. Ikeda's car left the main road. Taking a deep breath, she turned around and looked up at the hill in front of her.
