"..." Mitsuha.
Are these words coming from someone like you who lives in a lake?
"Are you a tourist?"
Mitsuha asked.
"... About." Oreki nodded. "I came here four years ago..."
"But looking at it now, it seems that the environment has not changed much." Oreki said. "This lake is still so beautiful."
"That's what most people who come here say."
Mitsuha said. "But it would be false to say there has been no change."
"A lot has been developed from four years ago to now, and Itomori Lake has become a tourist attraction."
"Then, I was cleaning up the trash today."
Mitsuha said.
And classmate Oreki noticed that there was a bag and pliers on the side, and there were some cans inside.
It must have been thrown away by tourists.
Oh.
This is the tragedy of the environment.
Opening up can bring trash.
"But it's winter now, and guests don't like to come. Why are you here?" Mitsuha said again.
"Actually." Oreki originally wanted to say that he was here to look for Takari, but he felt a little uncomfortable asking in front of Mitsuha, so he changed his explanation and said, "I am looking for God."
"God?"
Mitsuha is the witch of the Miyamizu family.
And the Miyamizu family worships the shrine and worships the body of the god.
So I am very sensitive to this topic.
"I want to know if there is a god here." Oreki said.
"..." Mitsuha.
As a miko, Mitsuha doesn't even know. "If you want to know, just ask my grandma."
She said. "Maybe grandma will know."
Classmate Oreki had already asked her about this.
However, Mitsuha was talking and seemed to be taking classmate Oreki home, but classmate Oreki still followed behind.
While on the road, I occasionally see a few new faces who look like they are traveling.
"By the way, these tourists are carrying drawing boards on their backs," said classmate Oreki. "Is the oil painting here developing well?"
'Ugh!"
Mitsuha's body seemed to be suddenly grabbed by something.
"Ah..."
"This, how should I say it--"
Mitsuha Can't say it.
"Is it because your paintings are so famous? Then you became famous in various ways, and then your father used it as a gimmick to develop tourism. Then many tourists who came here wanted to come and paint."
Oreki classmate said.
"Why do you know!" Mitsuha looked confused.
"I said I came here four years ago, so of course I know everything."
"But this is our official first meeting."
"Hello."
Classmate Oreki stretched out her hand, "I am Houtarou Oreki."
Houtarou Oreki?
Mitsuha is unfamiliar with this name,
But strangely, she vaguely felt that classmate Oreki seemed... a bit familiar.
"... I am Mitsuha Miyamizu."
Mitsuha did not hold his hand, but introduced himself, "I am currently in my third year of high school in the city."
"I'm from Kyoto, a freshman in high school." said classmate Oreki.
"Are you younger than me?" Mitsuha seemed to have discovered a blind spot.
"..."
Indeed.
When classmate Oreki came here four years ago, Mitsuha was still in the second grade of junior high school.
Now she is a third grade senior.
So the two of them went to Miyamizu's house together.
There have been some changes in the surrounding houses.
Many houses have been renovated.
It has become a coffee shop, family restaurant, etc.
Or a small shop, etc.
It really developed with the development of tourism.
But the Miyamizu family has not changed.
It is almost exactly the same as in the memory of classmate Oreki. You need to walk up a long staircase to reach it.
"Mitsuha, you're back..."
"Who is this?"
On the first floor, an old man is knitting Kumihimo with dexterous hands.
"A... well, a person passing by," Mitsuha introduced.
She is wet now and needs to change her clothes.
"I'll give you this first."
"You need to boil water to get hot water, so wait a moment." Mitsuha added, bringing a towel to classmate Oreki.
Oreki classmate wiped his face.
"It turned out to be a guest..."
"Oh..."
But Mitsuha's grandma Hitoha Miyamizu pushed up her reading glasses. "You are the one who is destined to Mitsuha."
"You asked me before if there is a god, right?"
"I think there is."
"!?-"
This grandma is too strong.
Oreki classmate was surprised to find that this grandma actually knew him.
Oh no.
It should be said that we know each other.
Because, he said before that the performance of the pretended Mitsuha is completely different from the original Mitsuha.
"By the way, isn't Yotsuba at home?"
Oreki classmate asked.
"She went to school to deliver something to the teacher. She should be back soon."
Oh.
Oreki classmate nodded, then sat down obediently.
"If you are looking for God, you stay. I will go to the mountain with Mitsuha tomorrow."
"Go and see the divine body."
"You can go and take a look." Grandma said.
Oh.
Although he is very interested, Oreki's current goal is not to seek God.
"You can take a shower now."
After a while, Mitsuha, who changed into casual clothes, came over and said.
"Wear my father's clothes first." Mitsuha handed him the men's clothes.
Oreki classmate nodded.
It seems that their family has reconciled.
Miyamizu's father joined Miyamizu's family, but instead of inheriting the shrine, he wanted to become the mayor. It was indeed strange.
"What about your dad?"
"He went to the shrine."
"Isn't he the mayor anymore?"
"I gave up the election this year." Mitsuha added.
"So has the shrine become more lively now?" Oreki asked.
Although less than an hour had passed for him, it felt like he was revisiting his old place.
?
Mitsuha looked at him a little surprised, but still answered honestly,
"Well, it also serves as a tourist spot."
"Tourists often visit."
"And there are more temple fairs being held."
So that's it.
Oreki classmate understands.
What is this mayor father thinking?
Before Mitsuha they were dissatisfied that their father gave up inheriting the shrine and became the mayor, but the mayor said he would not inherit, but in fact he already understood.
Something needed for the existence of Miyamizu Shrine.
A few years ago, there was a fire.
Many classics and even parts of the shrine were burned down.
So Miyamizu Shrine has declined.
And he became the mayor and vigorously developed, financially supported, and implemented strategies to support Miyamizu Shrine.
And now Miyamizu Shrine has become the symbol of Itomori Town.
So.