Numata City is an inconspicuous small town in Kanto. Among the scenic spots, in addition to Fukiwari Falls and Tamara Lavender Park, it is most famous for its ancient buildings related to the Sanada family.
Fukiwari Falls has been visited many times when I was in school in Numata; Lavender Park is 1,300 meters above sea level. It is not midsummer yet and the snow has not yet completely melted. After thinking about it, the two of them visited Numata Castle built on the mountain, Haruna Shrine, and the business district in the city center.
The Haruna Shrine in Numata is different from the Haruna Shrine on Mount Haruna that has a history of more than a thousand years. It was rebuilt by Nobuyuki Sanada, the eldest brother of Yukimura Sanada. The shrine does not occupy a large area and is not famous. There are very few tourists coming and going, making it seem extremely deserted.
At the entrance of the shrine, there is a stone Komatsu dog standing on the left and right sides of the stone torii gate. On the platform the two stand on, the word "Enjoy" is engraved on it.
Amamiya Souri didn't really believe in the shrine, but since he passed by it while wandering around, there would be no loss in paying a visit.
Mai Shiraishi put a 5-yen coin symbolizing "fate" into the money box, grabbed the drawstring, shook the bell, then bowed twice, clasped her hands together and high-fived twice, silently made a wish in her heart, and then bowed again. A standard visit to worship was completed.
"What wish did you make?" Amamiya Sori, who was standing aside, put his hands in the pockets of his coat and asked.
"Nogizaka, come to Music Station as soon as possible." Mai Shiraishi answered seriously, facing the money box.
"Hey~~" Amamiya Sōri drawled her voice. She could feel Shiraishi Mai's love for the team. "Don't you have any personal wishes?"
"Of course," Shiraishi Mai smiled at her, "I hope Xiaozhi can pass the exam smoothly and be admitted to Tokyo University."
"Oh..." Amamiya Sori did not expect that what Mai Shiraishi made was not the wish to protect the health of her family and the success of her career.
"Thank you..." she muttered quietly.
Amamiya Sōri imitated Shiraishi Mai's movements and bowed gracefully.
She was not familiar with the gods of this shrine. She heard that they were worshiped by the same gods enshrined at the Haruna Mountain Shrine, which could bless "peace in the world," "good harvests," "prosperous business," and "good marriages."
After inserting a 5 yen coin, ringing the bell, and silently making a wish in his heart, Amamiya Sōri completed the brief ceremony.
"What is Xiaozhi's wish?" Shiraishi Mai asked curiously.
"Three wishes."
"I mentioned so many things at once. God will be angry~"
"I'm not forcing the gods to complete it, I'm just making a suggestion." Amamiya Sugawara said, "The first is for academic success, and the second is for world peace."
The first one is fine, but the second one sounds like he's pushing the gods because the world has never been at peace.
"What about the third one?"
"I won't tell you." Amamiya Soi pretended to be mysterious.
"Eh?" Mai Shiraishi pursed her lips, and the mole on her lips raised slightly, expressing her dissatisfaction, "Is there anything I can't say?"
"Secret." Amamiya Shiori put an index finger to his mouth, "A secret that cannot be told."
"Hey~ stingy."
Amamiya Sōri found Shiraishi Mai's pouting look very cute. She pretended to be fierce but not lethal at all, which was impressive.
The two of them drew lots again. One was lucky and the other was lucky. They were pretty lucky.
Afterwards, the two of them went shopping in Numata's business district.
Although the business district of the small city is far less prosperous than Shinjuku in Tokyo, it is also a place where young people from Numata gather.
The two had a meal of fried pork cutlet rice, sang karaoke again, and even went to a CD store to see how their debut single was selling. In the end, Amamiya Souri reluctantly took a photo with Shiraishi Mai at her request.
When returning home, the two of them carried the soy sauce and eggs that Shiraishi Natsuki asked to buy.
The sun was setting, and there were few pedestrians on the road I used to take after school.
The large gilt characters "Numata Municipal Numata Junior High School" reflected the afterglow of the setting sun. The two of them stopped in front of the middle school where they had stayed.
"I miss you so much." Mai Shiraishi stood outside the school gate, looking at the playground in trance.
There are many building materials piled in the corner of the playground, and excavators and cement mixers are also parked. In the distance, a rough building surrounded by layers of scaffolding appears to be a new school building being built.
"Speaking of which, I haven't asked yet, Mai, how are you doing after I moved away?" The school door was locked, and Amamiya Shiori glanced at it a few times. She didn't miss this place. "I mean, no one in school is giving you a hard time, right?"
"No," Shiraishi Mai shook her head, "After Xiaozhi transferred to another school, no one came to bully me. Those 'seniors' also left because of further studies. And I quit the tennis club long ago and made new friends. . I have lost all contact with the original people.”
"Oh, that's good." Amamiya Shiori nodded. There are only 400 students in Numata Middle School, and there are only three or four classes in each grade. Although the circle is not large, it is enough for Shiraishi Mai to find new friends.
"What a pity..." Shiraishi Mai suddenly said.
"What?" Amamiya Shiori was puzzled.
"The flower bed in the atrium was demolished, and there is still that bench," Mai Shiraishi pointed to an open space and murmured, "The bench where we first met."
"Benches? Oh, you still remember," Amamiya Shiori thought for a moment and responded, "Just tear it down. There's nothing such a pity about it."
"But..." For Shiraishi Mai, it was a painful and beautiful memory.
"In the future, I will have the opportunity to go to more places and see more things. For example, I will attend MS, perform at the Tokyo Dome, and hold concerts overseas. There will be places full of memories." Amamiya Sugawara consoled her.
"Such a thing is too far away from now, and it's different." Shiraishi Mai obviously did not completely agree.
"It's getting late, let's go back." Guang stood outside the school gate and couldn't get in, so it was better to go home early.
"Yeah~" Shiraishi Mai nodded.
After living in Numata for three days, Amamiya Shiori regained the joy of spending summer vacation in the countryside when he was young.
Amamiya Shiori and the Shiraishi family went to play baseball and have a picnic. Although Shiraishi's father is nearly fifty, he is still a very handsome uncle. Because of his daughter, he has been watching Nogizaka series. When asked which member he recommended, his answer was Hashimoto Nanami.
Amamiya Shiori and Shiraishi Mai asked him why he didn't push them. Shiraishi's father replied seriously: Because he was too familiar. One is his own daughter, needless to say; the other is his daughter's friend in middle school. She often comes to his house to play and eat, just like a neighbor's child.
The happy time is always short. After waving goodbye to the couple, Amamiya Shiori and Shiraishi Mai took the JR at night and returned to Tokyo. The recording of the series, the production and promotion of the second single are all coming one after another.
