The cherry blossoms beside the riverbank always bloom earlier.
The cement is paved on the road, the grass on the shore is lush, and unknown white and purple wildflowers curiously climb onto the cement road.
The road extends up and down far and near, and the earth slope standing at the corner is tightly wrapped by piles of stones, forming a triangular posture, diagonally expanding in a direction.
Baiyunshan stood at this corner, looking up at the road ahead.
"You can't drive here. The road is too small and you can't drive up there, so you have to walk up step by step. But don't worry, the journey won't be very far. It's just up there."
As Baiyunshan spoke, he turned to look at Mai Fukawa who had just gotten out of the car behind him, and asked, "Do you find it troublesome?"
Mai Fukawa shook her head gently: "No."
"That's good."
Baiyunshan nodded, and then the two of them climbed forward along the slope path.
The path has steps made of bricks and stones, but because there are many tall trees growing nearby, their surfaces are covered with dust, fallen leaves and moss accumulated over the years. It rained a few days ago, so it creaks when walking, so it is not difficult. Walk, but it is indeed more strenuous than walking on ordinary roads.
The weeds on both sides grow stubbornly, and the sunlight shines through the gaps in the trees, turning into spots focused on the grass blades, just like when I was a child, using a magnifying glass to shine on the leaves of waste paper.
The free chirping of birds in the air you breathe in the forest sounds joyful.
The two of them did not move forward with their heads down, which would be too tiring. Instead, they followed one after another as if they were walking in the mountains in the afternoon, and then talked about some topics to pass the time in a relaxed tone.
"I never thought there could be a place with such good air here. Baiyun Sang is really awesome!"
"Really? Ah, it's in the mountains after all! Strictly speaking, it's not a mountain, it's just a higher slope. But the terrain here is quite high, so the empty slopes and open spaces here are regarded as mountains. It’s no problem, and if you look over there, the scenery looks familiar, do you recognize where it is?”
Baiyunshan said and pointed in a direction.
Mai Fukawa looked in the direction of her finger, slightly identified the features and guessed: "Is it a cemetery?"
Baiyunshan nodded: "Yes, it is a cemetery."
It was the cemetery he often visited.
Baiyunshan continued.
"I come to the cemetery here every year, so I'm quite familiar with the nearby roads, otherwise I wouldn't have discovered this place."
"Hey~ I see. Does Baiyun Sang come to the cemetery every year to sweep the grave?"
"That's right. I thought before that I would be too busy and not come here. But from now on, I will insist on coming here every year and take a look at the scenery here."
"Thinking about it this way, the somewhat sad tomb-sweeper will become hopeful. Should I say that he is indeed Baiyun-san——"
"Haha, don't praise me too highly, I will get carried away."
"No, Baiyun-san is really awesome!"
"I don't think so, Fukawa, I have something to ask you."
Baiyunshan shook his head slightly, and then said.
"What's up?"
"It's about the under group. It's already the second single period. In the past, Iwase helped take care of the members. Now that she has entered the selection, you are the eldest among the remaining members. So I want to ask you Please help take good care of the members, especially those like Asuka who fell into the under group as a result of the selection, or those who are younger like Wada, okay?"
Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Fukawa Mai shook her head and said, "No."
Bai Yunshan was puzzled and stared at her quickly and asked, "Why?"
Mai Fukawa didn't look at him, but looked at the scenery down the ramp. A car the size of a matchbox was parked on the side of the road, and the leaves rustling in the spring breeze made her feel even more gentle.
"Because it's not needed."
Baiyunshan was stunned.
Then he understood.
No need, does not mean no need for care and attention, but no need to remind.
Even if Baiyunshan didn't say so or asked her to do so, the kind-hearted Shizuoka girl would still do what he said, or even do it better.
Because she has been doing what she thinks is right. Specifically, these things are no different from taking care of them, and this does not require anyone's reminder or request. This is just her insignificant daily life, integrated into every word and deed. It’s just a habit in every move.
Mai Fukawa is such a person.
Baiyunshan looked slightly relieved, then smiled, lowered his head and continued to move forward.
"It's just that I was negligent. This kind of thing is really not necessary. Thank you, Fukawa."
"You're welcome, I think--ah!"
Suddenly, Mai Fukawa, who was following behind, exclaimed and stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Mai Fukawa smiled sheepishly: "No, I was a little unsteady when I left just now, I'm sorry."
"Ah, it's okay. I'm sorry. This road was not so difficult to walk in the past, probably because it rained recently. The stone steps on this road will be a little slippery when it rains, and some places have already grown It’s really difficult to walk because of the moss. But we’re already here, just in front, so come up and have a look.”
Baiyunshan said, then turned a corner and instead of continuing along the stone stairs, he took an ordinary mountain road to the left.
After walking a few steps, I felt that the space in front of me suddenly opened up. It was like a resting place. The limit of the surrounding trees had reached its limit. Only the shadows of one or two big trees were left, covering the shadows on the grass below.
The grass spreads out, only about the size of half a classroom. A platform protrudes from the front, surrounded by obstacles made of tangled vegetation and vines, wrapping up the place. And where the grass spreads, a large area of asters blooms here, with white, purple, and yellow dots everywhere. The colors are not very bright, they are all light, and everything is as indifferent as spring rain.
Mai Fukawa watched this scene with wide eyes. After a long time, she came back to her senses and sighed: "It's so beautiful!"
Baiyun Mountain asked her to go forward because the scenery ahead was better.
When we came to the front platform, there were asters blooming in the place surrounded by plants and vines. This area was obviously visited by people more often. The traces on the ground were very obvious, revealing the solid brown land without weeds. grow out.
At a glance, the scenery down the hillside is unobstructed. The bustling high-rise buildings of the metropolis are juxtaposed with the retro ordinary houses and alleys, coexisting on a piece of land, which makes people have mixed feelings.
Further away, the majestic Mount Fuji stands firmly there. The white peak is vaguely visible in the clouds and mist. Looking up, taking advantage of the spring breeze to take in the beautiful scenery, it also makes people feel it in an instant. One's own insignificance and loneliness.
