Chapter 25
The autumn festival is completely different from the summer festival. As dusk falls, the ancient lanterns light up one after another, spreading out warm halos.
The air is filled with the rustic aroma of roasted rice cakes and steamed taro, mixed with the unique dry fragrance of straw and autumn grass.
There is less restlessness in summer and more tranquility and solemnity in the harvest season.
As soon as Itami Koji arrived at the field, he sniffed deeply and blurted out, "Wow! It smells like roasted sweet potatoes and roasted chestnuts!"
This time, Tian Na Yuanzi didn't refute him. Her eyes sparkled as she looked towards the traditional snack stall not far away where steam was rising from. "We also have candied persimmons and mushroom soup!"
Kurozuka Kirishi glanced at the stalls on both sides of the street. They were not the usual game stalls at summer festivals, but were filled with autumn products.
The golden rice piled up into small hills, the plump and tempting fruits and vegetables of various colors, the baskets of mushrooms with the fragrance of soil, and the dried fruits and pickles made by farmers themselves are full of the breath of life.
"It seems that the goldfish scooping and shooting games that someone is looking forward to will not happen." Fujimine Tsukasa smiled knowingly and patted the dazed Itami Koji.
Sengoku Sakuya had already walked to a stall selling handmade woven products and was looking at the grasshoppers and decorations woven from autumn grass with great interest.
"There seems to be a Kagura dance performance at the main venue. It's about to start." Hoshina Soshiro checked the time and gently reminded everyone. His eyes naturally fell on Kurozuka Kirishi: "Want to go and see it?"
Kurozuka Kirishi nodded. She herself was not very interested in many things and usually just wanted to be a bystander.
As they walked towards the main venue, they passed by a group of town-god members carrying a small portable shrine.
The young men shouted powerful slogans and carried the gorgeously decorated portable shrine in unison. Their youthful and passionate appearance attracted many onlookers to stop and take pictures.
"It's the mikoshi Watari!" Tanai Sonoko whispered excitedly. "It's only a small-scale event, but the atmosphere is great!"
When we arrived at the main venue, the Kagura dance had just begun.
In the dance hall, dancers in classical costumes danced slowly to the distant and solemn sounds of flutes and drums.
The movements are solemn and slow, and the coins or branches held in the hands sway gently with the dance steps, as if expressing gratitude to the gods for the good harvest and praying for peace in the coming year.
Although there were many audiences in the audience, most of them watched quietly, immersed in a sacred and peaceful atmosphere.
Kurozuka Kirishi stood quietly at the back of the crowd, looking up.
The dancers wore pious and peaceful expressions on their faces. The light from the lanterns softly fell on their focused profiles. Their always calm black eyes reflected the shadows of the ancient dance, making them look particularly serious.
Hoshina Soshiro was standing beside her. Although he was also watching the dance, his eyes were always unconsciously drawn to the side.
For some unknown reason, he quietly took out his cell phone, carefully adjusted the angle, avoided the crowd, and pointed the camera at her.
The light from the screen reflected in his eyes. He held his breath, his fingertips lightly hovering over the shutter button.
The moment he pressed the shutter button——
As if they had a telepathic connection, Kurozuka Kirishi, who had been gazing at the dancer, suddenly tilted her head slightly. Her fingertips naturally lifted a strand of hair that had been blown to her cheek by the wind, and her gaze met his camera lens without hesitation.
At that moment, time seemed to be stretched infinitely. The soft light of the lantern perfectly moistened her face and cast tiny dots of light in her eyes.
She seemed to be slightly startled for a moment, and then the corners of her mouth gently and slowly raised a shallow and vague arc.
The smile was very faint, like a tiny stone thrown into the lake, which disappeared before it could create any noticeable ripples, but it was enough to stir up huge waves in the hearts of the viewers.
“Crack.”
A slight shutter sound rang out at the same time, freezing the scene.
Hoshina Soshiro's heart skipped a beat, and he met her gaze.
"What's wrong?" Kurozuka Kirishi didn't pay much attention to his behavior just now, because she didn't feel that he was taking pictures of her at all, but just thought he was recording other people.
Hoshina Soshiro quickly put down his phone: "Nothing."
After the Kagura dance ended, the crowd gradually dispersed and the atmosphere became lively again.
"Okay, we're done with the ceremony," Fujimine Tsukasa checked the time. As the team's secret plan leader, he was the first to speak. "Isn't it time to go back? I wonder if the cafeteria will be open soon, though."
Itami Koji responded immediately. He had just carefully scouted the surrounding food stalls. "Yeah, yeah! Why don't we go back and get some food? I saw some great new rice and fresh mushrooms! And super sweet persimmons!"
Although Tanai Sonoko was still a little reluctant to leave the festival, her eyes lit up at the thought of everyone having a meal together: "That's a great idea! We can make hot pot!"
She has already started thinking about what ingredients to buy!
Sengoku Sakuya nodded silently, clearly interested in the homemade dinner as well.
Finally, under the pleading gazes of the crowd, Hoshina Soshiro smiled and said, "I don't want to be a spoilsport. Let's go buy some food and go home."
They walked against the flow of people, heading in the direction where they had parked their car. After walking for a while, they stopped in front of several farmers' stalls.
Itami Koji and Sengoku Sakuya began carefully selecting mushrooms and vegetables, and even discussed the tenderness of the tofu. Tanai Sonoko excitedly pointed at a beautiful seasonal fat fish and bargained with the stall owner.
Kurozuka Kirishi followed quietly behind, his eyes sweeping over the piles of abundant harvest fruits that carried the fragrance of earth. A sense of calm and stability quietly replaced the solemnity brought by the festival.
Hoshina Soshiro did not participate in the heated purchasing discussion. He just stood a little further back, watching the team members busily selecting ingredients, with a gentle smile on his face.
His eyes would occasionally fall on Kurozuka Kirishi, but he found that she had been standing aside from beginning to end.
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
Heizhong Wushi raised his head and shook his head when he heard the voice: "I'm fine with either, as long as others buy it."
"Really?" Hoshina Soshiro arched his eyebrows. "But I remember you don't seem to be able to eat many dishes."
Seriously picky eater, Kurozuka Kirishi: "..."
Being accurately exposed, she pursed her lips and responded in a low voice: "If there is no suitable dish, I can just drink soup with rice."
Don't you like discussing this topic? Hoshina Soshiro keenly noticed her slightly curled fingertips and barely perceptible frown, and smoothly changed the subject: "So... do you want octopus balls?"
"...Hmm." Kurozuka Kirishi responded softly, accepting the proposal.
At the same time, she raised her hand and pressed her solar plexus with her fingertips, trying to dispel the sudden dizziness in her head.
In the end, everyone in the group had something in their hands.
Itami Koji held a bag of new rice like a treasure, Tana Sonoko successfully caught the fish, Sengoku Sakuya carried various mushrooms and vegetables, and Fujimine Tsukasa was responsible for carrying a box of eggs and a few packets of seasonings.
Sitting back in the car, the car was filled with happy arguments about "should the hot pot soup base be spicy or tomato" and "how long should tofu be cooked", as well as the natural aroma of the ingredients.
The car started slowly and drove away steadily from the autumn festival ground behind, which was still dotted with warm lights but gradually sank into silence.
The scenery outside the window was quickly dyed by the thick night, turning into flowing dark lines.
Kurozuka Wushi leaned against the window, letting the night wind blow through the open window onto his face, bringing a slight coolness.
However, when her fingertips accidentally touched her cheek, she was stunned for a moment.
The skin touched by my fingertips was cold, with some wet water stains on it.
Did she cry? Such an uncontrollable physiological reaction...I see.
The night wind continued to blow, she silently withdrew her hand and looked back at the endless night outside the window.
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