Since preaching the Bible and spreading the gospel usually took place during the day, Goda Church grew somewhat deserted as evening approached. Its towering Gothic cathedral felt rather empty.
Yuka Shirose, the resident clergywoman, wore a black nun's habit that made her look frail and quiet. She was bent over, repositioning the pews in the hall, intending to make every arrangement conform to symmetrical lines and restore everything to its proper, orderly state.
She was so meticulous that the nun only reluctantly felt satisfied after adjusting them seven or eight times.
Unnoticed, the shadows of the surrounding trees gradually lengthened with the setting sun, silently creeping up the flying buttresses and leaving mottled patches of shade across the rose stained-glass windows, making the interior considerably dimmer.
Yuka Shirose still wanted to continue cleaning the church's neglected corners, but because of her congenital weak eyesight, she could only stop reluctantly. Rising to her feet, she walked toward the door, muttering to herself.
I wonder how that girl's work is going.
"Splash!"
At the same time, clear splashing sounds came from the steps. Still wearing her black school uniform, Aoko Aozaki set down a bucket, gripped a mop, and lowered her head as she gritted her teeth and scrubbed the marble floor beneath her feet, cleaning away the remaining stains.
"Very good. Looks like you haven't been slacking off. The Lord will praise your devotion and dedication."
Yuka Shirose emerged from the church, lifted her slightly narrowed blue eyes toward the volunteer who was scrubbing away, and nodded approvingly.
"Very good, my ass! I came here to see Priest Fumitsuki, not to work for you for free! Where did he go? When the hell is he coming back?"
At those words, Aoko Aozaki viciously jammed the mop into the bucket. Veins bulged