The Yakushima Flood Plain is the largest river in the area. The bank on its side is covered with luscious trimmed grass. Many people (tourists and residents) come to either relax, have a picnic or, the most popular activity, fish.
Before heading to the flood plain, we decided to stop by our respective houses to get our fishing gear. As Mitsuha had no experience in fishing and therefore no fishing experience, I lent her mine while I used my father's. Once we prepared with our rods and bait we entered the battlefield.
The melodious chirping of birds boosted our concentration; the salty scent of the river water wafted into our nostrils, transporting our minds to the world of fishes under the river's surface. Yuki's, Ren's and my competitive spirit shot through the roof. Every time we entered this. It was an unspoken rule that we must compete to catch the biggest fish in the river: the legendary River Guardian.
We shook hands and wished each other all the best as though we were professional sportsmen battling in a world-famous tournament. Mitsuha stared at us with utter confusion as she noticed the severe expressions on our faces. "Umm, why are you guys so serious all of a sudden. Isn't this just a game?"
"Because, Miss Mitsuha, fishing isn't just a game. It is a way of life,' explained Ren, trying to act cool in front of Mitsuha. She was still unable to comprehend our spirit and stood there with the same expression. It was not a problem, though. She would understand soon enough.
"Everyone! On your marks. Get set. Fish!"
As I announced the beginning of the competition, everyone's fishing lines, save for Mitsuhua's, flew into the deep blue river. The second the bob from my rod kissed the river's surface, I felt a tug from below. With all my strength, I tired the fish by pulling my rod to the left and then the right alternately. Once it was weakened, I slowly pulled the aquatic creature to me. The fish that appeared in front of me was a carp - not bad but not great either.
I then observed what the other two were doing. Yuki was skillfully moving her rod like a professional gymnast showing off her ribbon dancing skills. Ren, on the other hand, was pitifully struggling against his aquatic enemy. A wave of nostalgia hit me as I reminisced about the time we spent here as kids. I continued fishing, praying that the River Guardian will nibble on my bait until a sudden thought struck my mind. Where was Mitsuha?
Turning back, I noticed that Mitsuha was watching us the entire time with a smile of pure joy. "It may look fun watching us but it will be even better if you joined us, you know," I advised her. She put her arms straight out in polite refusal.
"Come on! Just try it out. Who knows, you might like it!" Ren barged into the conversation.
"Yeah. And even if you can't catch anything on your first try, that's fine. It took Ren more than a week to catch his first fish and look at him now," said Yuki, trying to encourage Mitsuha.
"Exactly! So give it a try, pretty please," Ren begged.
As per usual, Mitsuha contemplated this choice for a minute. "Well, if you insist." Smiles erupted on our faces. Yuki immediately brought her to position and gave a short demo on how to fish. Once she was able to grasp the process, she let her fish on her own.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" Ren asked.
"For sure. She is a pretty fast learner," answered Yuki proudly.
The three of us observed Mitsuha's careful and gentle movements. She slowly threw her fishing line towards the glistening river like a talented ribbon dancer gracefully twirling her ribbon. As her bob landed on the water's surface, a combination of excitement and worry caught our minds.
5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. 20 minutes had passed without the bob even moving a nanometer. Ren was already half asleep, his head repeatedly bobbing up and down. On the other hand, Yuki intently watched her protege and did not even blink once.
"Umm, is it supposed to take this long?" Mitsuha asked, still standing in the same position.
"Ideally, no. I wonder what's wrong," I replied, "Maybe try again."
Suddenly, blub-blub-blub. The sound of bubbles expanding and bursting entered our ears. The ripples of the water became stronger and were moving swiftly towards the bob. Mitsuha was pulled fiercely by this underwater creature but she fought back valiantly. I tried to rush towards her to help but Ren stopped me in my tracks.
"What are you doing?! She's going to get hurt!" I shouted.
"She needs to do this by herself. It's the only way she is going to learn," Ren advised.
The fearsome battle went on for what felt like a century. Mitsuha and the stubborn fish exerted themselves to their limit, not giving in to each other's desires. Finally, as the fish became weaker, Mitsuha pulled the rod with all her remaining strength. The fish burst out of the water's surface, creating a miniature tsunami that nearly drenched us. The fish was humongous, approximately 50 centimetres long, and radiated heavenly light from its golden scales that complemented its maroon fins. Yuki, Ren and I gasped in unison.
"The River Guardian!" we shouted.
Mitsuha held the legendary creature with a bashful smile. Out of respect, we bowed down to the new queen of the river, who was confused by our over-the-top reaction. She then gently dropped the River Guardian back into the lake and sat down on the ground with a plop.
"Phew! I'm exhausted!"
We lay down on the grassy hill to relax from the strenuous activity. As I turned to my left, I noticed that Ren and Yuki had already fallen asleep.
"Let them sleep for a while. We all had a tiring day today," Mitsuha said from the right.
I returned a slight smile and turned towards the amber-coloured sunset. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Mitsuha spoke again.
"Thank you so much for today. I had so much fun."
"That's great. We should come back one day and have another competition. I'm sure those two will be itching to fish again."
"For sure! You don't get anything like this in the city."
"Aren't there fishing ponds over there? You could try fishing there when you go back to Tokyo."
"Well, I can. But it's not the same."
I pondered on her words for a while. What could be different about fishing in the city compared to fishing in the boonies? All you need is a body of water with fish and a fishing rod. You can get that both in Yakushima and in Tokyo. Why was it different for her? Noticing my serious expression, she said one last sentence that caught me off-guard.
"Makoto, you should learn to love your home more."
Mitsuha stood up and waved goodbye before leaving the flood pain. I thought of chasing her and asking her about what she said but she disappeared before I could. "Learn to love my home?" I whispered to myself, wondering what exactly she meant.
After waking up Yuki and Ren from their slumber and walking them home, I decided to explore the town. The twinkling stars sparkled beautifully, illuminating the pitch-black sky. Tall street lights flickered endlessly as the cool breeze enveloped my body. The town seemed abandoned. The streets were devoid of life; all the shutters were closed and only the sound of crickets could be heard. I glanced at my wristwatch.
"8:07 pm."
For city folk, this time would still be considered early. However, in the countryside, everything closes at 7 pm - another reason why I hated this place. Sometimes it was nice to walk outside with friends or family at night but since everything is closed, the experience would always be lacklustre. The world seemed to be at a standstill while only you moved forward.
"Makoto, learn to love your home." Those words kept repeating inside my head as I slowly sauntered on the pavement. What was there to love about Yakushima? I couldn't think of even a single positive point. There were barely any shops around the area; it was filled by senior citizens that would treat anyone younger than them like babies; the scenery, while beautiful at first glance, would get tiring fast. My mind thought about more and more complaints.
I then walked to the Yaksushima Flood Plain. The memories of this afternoon played in front of my eyes as I watched the black mirror that was the river reflecting the luminescent stars. When I set foot on the grass, a thousand fireflies rose from the ground and illuminated the area with neon green lights. Calling the scene breathtaking would be an understatement. It was as though I was transported into a dream. The word 'beautiful' instantly escaped my lips.
The last place I decided to visit was the place that changed my life: The Yakushima Tunnel. Once I reached the tunnel, I examined its state. Cracks covered the surface of the ash-grey concrete like strings of spiderwebs. Through the cracks, buds of flowers grew, emanating a pleasant aroma. Although the tunnel was, without a doubt, dilapidated, it still had a form of beauty. I sauntered into the abyss in front of me, prepared for anything to happen.
"So. Have you come to a conclusion?" a familiar voice spoke from behind me. Mitsuha, still dressed in her uniform, stood in the tracks, crossing her arms. Her iridescent black eyes stared into my soul, looking for the truth.
"How long have you been following me?" I asked her. Seeing her here did not shock me. Ever since my experience in the tunnel, I had a slight suspicion that she wasn't a normal person. It was as though she entered this world for a specific purpose. I had no solid proof but my intuition was too strong to ignore.
"From the beginning, I guess. That doesn't matter," she said as she waved her hand off, "Have you come to a conclusion?"
"I think I'm close."
"Then let me help you."
Mitsuha grabbed my arm and together we entered the tunnel, probably for the last time.