"That doesn't mean we should resort to eating dokudami, does it?!"
"Are you okay with letting me starve to death here?!"
"That would be a problem!! Ugh!! This is going nowhere! Let's just move, big brother. I believe there has to be something near our new home."
I started walking behind Summer as she led the way, sipping the leftover juice she had given me earlier. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I voiced it.
"Do you even know where our new place is?"
"..."
Summer's feet came to a sudden stop. It seemed she had been wandering about aimlessly. It was a bit concerning, as I didn't have any sense of direction either, and being asked to navigate now was a real dilemma.
"Just walking around, we'll find it," I said.
"Yeah, with such nice weather! Let's take a stroll and look for it casually, big brother."
"If we get lucky, we might even find something to eat."
With no real plan, Summer and I chose the paved road among the winding paths and started walking. The sound of the rolling suitcase startled a cat that had been sleeping by the side of the road, causing it to flee.
As we walked further, the number of houses began to increase. I had pictured quaint, old wooden homes, but most of the houses were just ordinary ones you'd find in the city.
I wondered if our new home was around here. It suddenly occurred to me to pull out the map my mom had given me, and it looked like we were surprisingly close to our new place.
In that case, we could drop off our things first before heading to Jasper Hill. However, we both knew that if we didn't figure out lunch soon, we'd be too hungry to carry on.
"Oh, big brother! Isn't that our new home?" Summer exclaimed happily, pointing to a house in front of which a moving truck was parked.
After checking, it seemed that this was indeed our new house. It was quite impressive and stood out compared to the others. It felt like a single swan among a flock of crows. The thought of starting a new life here with Summer gave me a thrill of excitement.
"...But I'm hungry," I muttered. Excitement alone wouldn't fill my stomach. After explaining our situation to the movers, they mentioned a nearby traditional Japanese tea house, and Summer and I decided to thank them and head over there.
"Is it really okay without the homeowner being around?" Summer asked.
"They've been doing it this way since before we arrived. Once they finish moving the stuff, they'll leave the key in the mailbox, so we're fine."
"That's not what I was worried about, but... whatever. Where's this tea house?"
"They said it's just down that corner."
"I wonder what kind of fancy place it is! If it's a traditional tea house, the waitresses might be wearing kimono!"
I hesitated to shatter Summer's enthusiasm with the truth, but I knew I had to let her know; otherwise, she might be devastated by the reality later.
"I looked it up on my phone earlier. It's only called a tea house; it's basically just a sweets shop, and apparently, it's really tiny."
"…As long as it fills my stomach, I'm fine with that."
Summer's shoulders visibly slumped in disappointment. What were you expecting in such a rural town? I thought, but I couldn't really say anything since I had been just as hopeful until I checked.
We turned the corner, and the so-called "traditional tea house"—or rather, sweets shop—was right there, waiting for us.
The café's exterior was nothing like what the internet had suggested. It resembled a food stall more than a traditional café, featuring just a few small benches and a table that could seat five or six people.
The idea of a traditional Japanese waitress was nothing but a distant dream. Instead, we were greeted by an elderly woman with graying hair, swaying slightly as if dozing off in the warm atmosphere. It was just as well I didn't have high expectations.
"Is this the fate of those who move to the countryside...?" Summer sighed, clearly disappointed. I understood her feelings, but anyone from this town would likely take offense.
"Enough lamenting! Let's fill our stomachs first. After we eat, we should check out Wind Jasper Hill," I suggested.
"Isn't that the hill filled with windmills? I've been curious about it... Oh, the menu looks quite diverse!"
As if roused by our chatter, the woman greeted us with a smile and watched as we browsed the menu.
"Could I get ten kushi dango and some matcha, please?" I ordered.
"And I'll have ten anko dango with hojicha," Summer added.
"Takeout?" she asked.
"Nah, we'll eat here," I replied.
Her smile froze in surprise. It was understandable—who else would dare to eat this much on the spot? Though she seemed tempted to say something, she quickly set about preparing our order without overthinking it.
I placed the pyramid-shaped dumplings and a drink on the table and decided to dig in right away.
"…These are delicious."
The thought slipped out of my mouth without my even realizing it.
The moment the dumpling touched my tongue, the perfect sweetness of the sweet bean paste spread through my mouth. The chewy texture of the dumpling filled me with joy. No matter how many I ate, I never grew tired of them.
"Appearance aside, these are a hit. Should we get some to take home for dinner?"
I munched happily.
"If we're doing that, I'd like something savory. Is there anywhere around here that sells pickles?"
I continued to munch away.
"Well, we can look for them while we're heading to Jasper Hill."
I kept eating.
"Sounds good. Let's go then."
After finishing the dumplings in one go, I downed my hojicha in a single gulp and stood up. I still felt a little hungry, but I could hold out until dinner.
"Thanks, Auntie! It was delicious! I'll come back to buy more later!"
"Thank you for the meal! I'd like ten each of the isobeyaki and zunda dumplings, and could you prepare six strawberry daifuku as well?"
The auntie's smile froze once more.
"Oh! You really knew what I wanted, didn't you?"
"I could tell from your gaze while looking at the menu. The strawberry daifuku, though, was just because I wanted it."
"Huh? Weren't you behind me while I was looking at the menu? How could you know what I was thinking?"
"Because I'm the big brother. What do you want to do about drinks?"
"I get it. We have some Japanese tea that we brought from home, so that should be fine, right?"
"Okay then. I'll come by in the evening to pick it up, so thanks!"
The woman seemed to give up on pressing the matter too soon, sending us off with a frozen smile. We would be using this place often from now on, but that's a story for another time.
To be continued…
"Lalalala♪"
With a light-hearted tune, Summer walked along, her spirits high. In her hand was a vanilla soft serve ice cream cone.
After leaving the sweet fox shop, we stumbled upon a small shopping district on our way to Wind Jasper Hill. After exploring the area, we discovered we could stock up on ingredients. Currently, we were enjoying the soft serve ice cream we had bought from what seemed to be a convenience store as we headed towards Wind Jasper Hill.
"The selection was pretty good if you don't compare it to the city! I said it twice because it's important!"
Despite her complaints, Summer wore a delighted smile. I could tell she was buoyed by the unexpected find after nearly giving up hope.
"If it comes down to it, convenience store food is reliable. But for now, we need to start cooking. Let's pick up some things on the way back."
"Curry! I want to eat your curry, big brother!"
"Curry, huh? Sounds good. Well, since it's dango day, I'll make you my special curry. Although… I'll be using store-bought roux this time."
Usually, he makes curry from scratch, but after checking the shops, it looks like there aren't any ingredients available.
"I asked the convenience store manager earlier, and he said it's closer to go to Wind Jasper Hill this way."
"Lead the way!"
"Understood!"
I follow Summer down the path she suggested.
Once we exit the shopping district, the scenery returns to its usual monotony. Surrounded by nature isn't so bad, but having lived in the city, it still feels a bit lacking.
Well, I'll be living here for a while; getting used to it is just a matter of time.
"Walking through the shopping district made me realize something: there weren't any students... or anyone our age, for that matter."
"Well, it is a weekday. Everyone's probably in school."
"Ah, right. From the outside, it must look strange that we're out at this hour."
That strange look we sometimes get is likely due to that. But that's only for today.
"We're students too now, thanks to Dawn. I think it's called Rainbow Hill High… I wonder what it's like?"
"It doesn't really matter to me. Oh, for lunch, can I visit your place just like at my old school?"
"How about we deepen our bonds in class, at least at first? Well, feel free to come if you want."
"Alright, I'm in. You tend to become friends with classmates naturally."
"Exactly."
Neither Summer nor I have ever had trouble making friends. Being siblings and just acting silly anywhere tends to draw people in. Perhaps our fortunate environment played a part, but mostly, if you stay cheerful and fun, others are naturally attracted to you.
"Isn't this the place? Look, there's a sign."
On a weathered, splintered wood, the faded letters spelled 'Kaze Jasper Hill.'
The location seemed right, but in front of us was a dense cluster of trees that could barely be called a forest. There was a semblance of a path ahead... but is this really where we're meant to go?
"Hey, big brother... you look pretty dead inside. It doesn't seem that far, so keep it up."
"Just make sure to collect my bones."
"It's seriously not that far! Just look ahead."
Beyond the thick trees, a glimmer of light peeked through. The slope was steep, but as Summer said, the distance didn't seem too great.
The entire hill was surrounded by lush trees.
Protected—why did such an absurd thought cross my mind? Even with numerous windmills planted around, it was just a hill after all. Nothing special about it.
"Let's keep going, big brother! We're almost there!"
"Okay."
With a lethargic reply, I began to walk. The ground was muddy, as if it had rained the day before, making each step difficult. The dense foliage overhead blocked the sunlight, leaving a slight chill in the air.
We moved toward the light ahead. Strangely, we walked in silence, as if drawn together by an invisible force. The exit loomed close, and for a brief moment, I felt I could reach out and grasp the light. Suddenly, everything burst into view.
"Wow..."
I instinctively closed my eyes but slowly opened them to find a breathtaking scene that escaped a quiet gasp from me.
"Isn't it amazing, big brother?"
"Yeah..."
Before us lay a vast emerald carpet, dotted with countless windmills, just as the internet had described. A magnificent broadleaf tree perched on top of a hill, as if it were watching over the entire town. It was a picturesque landscape, like something out of a painting.
A gentle breeze suddenly blew.
It was warm and pleasant, embodying the essence of spring. Summer and I surrendered ourselves to the sensation, feeling as if our hearts were being filled just by experiencing it.
"Wait...?"
"What's wrong?"
"Look at the windmills. They're not spinning."
"What?"
As I gazed at the windmills, I quickly realized the truth of Summer's words.