Hanasaku Iroha – The Place That Blooms Someday Chapter 3 Petal 1

Chapter 3: Dashing Through

Petal 1: Thinking Deeply Through The Photos

TLed by: TanoshiKara

Snow with tiny hailstones had piled up ever so slightly.

Ohana, who had stayed in Tokyo for several days before returning to Yunosagi, walked down one of Kissuisou's corridors, blue bucket and cleaning cloth in hand.

"Was the first present I got from Madam Manager a bucket and a cleaning cloth again......?"

The bucket in her hand was filled with plenty of water. As the water sloshed around, Ohana turned back, feeling deeply emotional.

"To think that the situation now  would be the exact opposite of that time, when it wasn't like I came here because I wanted to work......"

—I was so, so frustrated.

She recalled the memory of that day she dashed through the corridor as she held back her tears and yelled to motivate herself.

"If I found out about this at that time, I'd be shocked"

The high schooler Ohana, who had only thought briefly about her future, had, through the days she spent in Kissuisou, gone down a path to a future she had never ever thought about.

The changes over these past few days were dizzying to Ohana.

After meeting with the person in charge at the CU and getting a favorable response for the photo exhibition, she rushed back to Tokyo and visited the employment agency to explain the situation and apologize before she resigned.

After that, she finalized the details with her uncle, Hiroshi, and the organizers of her father's retrospective exhibition, Iwasaki and Seya, and finished packing the photos that were going to be displayed.

Kouichi, who had just become a full-time employee, had helped out as well, and it was with his help that Ohana managed to send the photos to Kissuisou.

On the other side, in Yunosagi, there was going to be a discussion today, in the early morning, with the new chairman.

According to Yuina, it seems like it was finally time for the chairman to decide.

Will he or will he not give the approval for Kissuisou to be the venue?

Ohana seemed restless when she had that thought.

"......Ug, so cold!"

It seemed like she had swung the bucket too hard as she walked down the corridor, feeling frustrated that she could not attend the discussion.

Water splashed out of the bucket, returning her to her senses.

"............"

Standing here and thinking about it is useless, or so Ohana felt someone would tell her.

While smiling awkwardly, Ohana set the bucket down in a corner of the corridor and dropped the cleaning cloth into it. She wrung the cleaning cloth tightly, stood at the starting line she had set for herself, and steadied her breathing. She slowly got on all fours, put her hands on top of the cleaning cloth, and focused on the path before her.

Cleaning, once a daily routine of hers.

She knew that it was times like these that called for cleaning the corridor with everything she had. And that she could do this right now.

"Take thissssssss!"

Firing herself up, Ohana sped up rapidly. As she rounded the corner and did a U-turn, she suddenly started feeling like she did back then, and she panted, letting out white puffs of air.

After briefly wiping the corridor once, she refilled the bucket and polished the corridor carefully and lovingly.

This is my work; Done by my hand, or so Ohana thought as she saw the floorboards and pillars slowly regaining their glossiness, filling her with a sense of pride.

She also happened to notice that the floorboards were in good condition.

"Sure has been a long time"

Perhaps it was being alone in the silent Kissuisou, but Ohana felt that she could not help but talk to herself more.

It felt like the floorboards that had her reflection were talking to her, which seemed to make her happy.

Amidst the atmosphere that was different from when Kissuisou was still in business, Ohana looked at her surroundings once again.

On the day she left Kissuisou, she had felt, when she was cleaning for the final time before it closed down, that it was silent, but the silence right now, she felt, was so different from the silence back then.

She could hear the chirping of skylarks coming from a distance when she strained her ears. Spring, just around the corner. The chirping eventually turned into the voices of guests.

Just as Ohana imagined a future where Kissuisou regained its liveliness and gazed emotionally at the courtyard, Yuina's voice echoed from the other side of the corridor.

"Bonjour!" [Hello]

Yuina, who was wearing business casual attire, waved her hand energetically, and she had a bright expression as she approached.

"Yuina-san! How was it!?"

"You should try, or so he said"

"Hurray! Thank you very much! 'You should try' means that those words from the CU were true, huh"

Ohana recalled the words the person in charge from the CU said back in the Hot Spring Association's office.

—If it's only displaying 'personal possessions', it would not cost anything, and there is no need for labor. If something comes out of it, then it'd be great.

Yuina smiled awkwardly and tilted her head as she saw Ohana jumping for joy as she wrung the cleaning cloth.

"I think it's a little too early to be that happy"

"Well......we can organize my dad's photo exhibition in Yunosagi, you know! I must get Uncle Hiroshi to send the photos right away!"

Seemingly unsure of how to express her overflowing joy, Ohana walked around the corridor restlessly.

"The CU will support us. If the CU becomes an ally, then we've cleared the first stage"

"Ally, huh...... If anything, I think it feels more like they approved it because there's no harm in trying, though......" Yuina muttered, knowing that Ohana could not hear her as Ohana was on cloud nine, and sighed silently.

"......Well, guess we're good for now?"

There was a huge difference between the CU, who were not actively supporting Ohana, and how she took the news. However, Yuina smiled, feeling that she should not sour Ohana's mood by informing her of that fact.

"That's right, what did the people from the Hot Spring Association say?"

"It looked like the people from the Hot Spring Association were interested in the selfie-takers as well, since, you know, there is a cut-out of a newspaper article about the retrospective exhibition in the lobby's reception space, right? So, it seems promising"

"We can organize the photo exhibition just by Kissuisou being made available, so this is good news, huh!"

—Dad's photo exhibition will definitely cause a tailwind to blow for Yunosagi.

If the number of visitors coming to Yunosagi increases due to the photo exhibition, then there's a possibility that the number of guests staying at the Hot Spring Town would increase as well. The most important thing is that it's an opportunity for the visitors to learn about Kissuisou, which has opened its doors after seven years.

"I think a little bit of a tweak is needed if we want to compete against the impact of that turtle hotel, though—"

"It's definitely better than doing nothing at all! And, if we can cause a tailwind to blow, then I think the tides will definitely turn!"

Yuina briefly backchanneled the enthusiastic Ohana before she continued, as if she had just recalled something.

"......That's right. By the way, how did things go over in Tokyo?"

"I officially resigned from the employment agency and prepared the panels for the photo exhibition. Ko-chan also told me to fest it up until I'm satisfied......" Ohana said excitedly and looked around Kissuisou, teary-eyed.

"That's why I'm thinking of working here and managing my dad's photo exhibition"

Ohana smiled, as if she had cleared her doubts, which caused Yuina to break into a smile.

"C'est bon! In that case, I can tell you without worrying, huh" [That's good!]

"Tell me?"

Yuina put up her index finger before the blinking Ohana.

"I found a place for you to work at"

* * *

They headed down a gentle slope to the right of the bridge that continued to Fukuya Inn.

The sun was now high up in the sky after they walked, side-by-side, down the narrow path.

"It'd have been fine if Fukuya (My family) hired you, but Grandma said that it'd, on the contrary, probably be awkward for you and Madam Manager to see each other every day"

"Thank you very much!"

Under Yuina's and Enishi's arrangement, Ohana became a 'temporary worker' of the Hot Spring Association, and due to Madam Manager Shigeko's thoughtfulness, she could also sleep in Fukuya's waitress room for an extended period of time.

Amidst the scenery of paddy fields before the rice planting season and farms which stretched out as far as they could see, they walked down a path where there were weeds, drenched in morning dew, that stood out.

Before them, after they went down the slope, was an old, one-storey, concrete building.

"......Ohh, did you rent a new office building?"

"Yeap, yeap. Until now, we've been using Fukuya's office, but it has become quite cramped, so...... We're here"

Yuina pointed to the handwritten paper pasted on the frosted glass door.

"Yunosagi Hot Spring Inn Association......"

On the paper were also, perhaps in consideration of overseas tourists, handwritten visitor information in both English and French.

"Right. This is Ohana's new workplace. Now then, you can enter"

"Sorry for intruding......"

A mountain of boxes greeted Ohana after she opened the door slowly.

"Eh......? A storeroom?"

The scene of cardboard boxes piled on top of one another looked like her house on the day of the moonlight flit.

Someone called out to Ohana, who stood at the entrance, dazed, from the other side of the cardboard boxes.

"It's a mess, but I don't mind you entering"

Ohana could not see the person, but she knew that the voice was Enishi's.

"Is it just you, Young Master?"

When Ohana called out to him, a single cardboard box moved, and Enishi peeked out from the other side.

"No, with Ohana-chan joining, we now have two people. ......Things are a mess as you can see, so I'd be happy if you could help me out. Just so you know, Ohana-chan, you're, of course, mainly in charge of the photo exhibition. You could say that Kissuisou Gallery is the very first objective of the 'new' Hot Spring Association. However, I have a lot of other things to do"

Enishi broke into an awkward smile as he started explaining the situation.

"We cannot continue in our ways if we want to bring the hustle and bustle back to Yunosagi. For example, I want to cater to the demands of people outside of the tourist groups Tatsuko-san talked about previously. However, there is only so much the individual efforts of the inns can achieve. ......A town-wide 'reform' is needed. As long as I am entrusted with the position of managing director, I want to live up to everyone's expectations and strengthen the association. I don't want to wait for a tailwind to blow; I want us to cause it to blow. We don't have any leeway now, but I will eventually increase the number of staff we have—"

"Young Master....."

Enishi's fervent enthusiasm caused Ohana's voice to quiver.

"......Well then, I will be off. À bientôt~" [See you soon]

As if she was waiting for a pause in Enishi's speech, Yuina, who was standing at the entrance, said words that sounded like an incantation as she turned around.

Probably means goodbye.

While sensing Yuina's thoughtfulness as Yuina looked out for her despite being busy, Ohana saw Yuina off with a big wave of her hand before she looked at the stacks of cardboard boxes around the office.

There were quite a lot of them, but it looked to Ohana that they could put the boxes away in a day if they put in the effort

"......Well then, Young Master. Let's put them away by today," Ohana called out as she placed her hands on her hips and fired herself up.

"Ehh, you've just returned from Tokyo, so it'd be alright if we took our time......" Enishi, who could not be seen on the other side of the cardboard boxes once again, exclaimed.

"The FLOW is important for these things. Well, let's do this!"

Ohana rolled up her sleeves and opened the cardboard box closest to her. She then proceeded to silently open more cardboard boxes.

After some of the cardboard boxes had been put away, the office equipment that Enishi had put together, such as the shelves, started showing themselves.

"......Phew, we managed to do it somehow, huh. I'm glad that you helped me out, Ohana-chan"

While gazing at one of the corners, which looked more like an office than before, Enishi wiped off the sweat on his forehead with the towel hanging from his neck.

It looked like he was averting his eyes from the pile of cardboard boxes remaining, and the stacks of documents taking up the entire office desk and sofa.

"I did this when I was helping my mum out, so. ......Rather, most of them haven't been put away, you know?"

"......I see. When it comes to life skills, it really feels like my untalented sister gave birth to a talented child like you. There's the moonlight flit and the moving of homes, after all......"

Enishi muttered questionable words, perhaps out of sarcasm towards his sister, Satsuki, or, perhaps, to compliment Ohana as he gazed at her hands, seemingly impressed.

"My mum wouldn't do anything, so you could say that I'm used to it, or—"

"Ahh, Big Sis is like that, huh......"

Ohana looked at Enishi as he backchanneled, and saw that he looked tired and was resting his chin on his hand.

He had to attend the meeting with the CU early in the morning, so he's probably quite exhausted mentally too.

"......Come to think of it, Madam Manager is not staying in Fukuya's waitress room, huh"

"Yes, you were exchanging letters with her, right?"

"I did. I actually wanted to do it more often and through smartphones, though......"

—Letters and postcards suit me better than having to spend ten, or even twenty minutes selecting something that looks like a face.

Ohana suddenly realized something when she recalled one of the letter's contents.

Maybe the expression 'something that looks like a face' means that Madam Manager once tried to do it over a smartphone.

Sui choosing an emote stamp on the smartphone she was holding popped up in Ohana's mind after she thought of that, and she broke into a smile.

"......Madam Manager told me that letters suited her better"

"Hahaha, sounds like my mum alright. Well, it is a place that you can walk to," Enishi said as he laughed after hearing Ohana's reply.

This caused Ohana to laugh as well.

"But did you not think to live together?"

"She was saying that living alone suited her, and she wouldn't listen to me"

It sure is like Madam Manager to be that thoughtful. I feel like it is similar to the reason Mum didn't bring up living together to Madam Manager.

"Well, this arrangement is probably more comfortable for Tatsuko-san, so I'm thankful"

Enishi let out a troubled laugh and broke into a smile.

Ohana filed the documents into their respective files as she talked, but her hands stopped when she found photo records of the Bonbori Festival, and she turned to Enishi.

"......Ah, about the photo exhibition, thank you very much for talking to the CU!"

"No, no, this is also for the association's sake, so"

Enishi's gaze shifted to the wall, as if to show his determination.

The wall had a framed newspaper cutout of the aforementioned Bonboris and the young beauty that Mariko Sakura was in.

"Although we've yet to put the cardboard boxes away, you're fast when it comes to these things, huh"

Even as Ohana said that, she felt happy that the way he was treating the newspaper cutout was an expression of the expectation he had towards the photo exhibition.

Enishi nodded when he heard Ohana's words before he fixed his posture.

"By the way, have you talked to your uncle and the others? It can actually be organized, right?" He then asked, his clarifying tone heavily emphasizing that he had gone through great pains to lay the groundwork.

"I have gotten the approval of Uncle Hiroshi, Iwasaki-san, and Seya-san. We've already packed the photos for the day of the photo exhibition, so all that's left is to ask Uncle Hiroshi to send them over"

"......So, does it look like we can get the cooperation of Sakura-san?"

Ohana was dazed and could only blink as she did not expect to hear Sakura Mariko's name.

"Sakura-san? ......Ahh, that is a little—"

"What do you mean by 'a little?'" Enishi pressed, urging her to continue.

"Erm, there's the TV interview matter that Nakochi asked for my help with, and I did ask Seya-san, but her manager's guard was high, as expected, so it seems like Seya-san got rejected"

"No, no, that's where another push is needed"

"......Seya-san and the PR Agency Department Head, who is willing to be the intermediary, are busy people, so he said they'll find another time to ask. I'd feel kind of bad if we pressure them to give it another push......"

Enishi had a dissatisfied expression even after Ohana explained the situation.

"But it's fine, my dad's photos will—"

"No, no, no...... Isn't this where we want some additional impact?"

"That...may be the case, but—"

Ohana had no intention of denying Mariko Sakura's influence, but it was her father's photo that acted as the trigger for the current tailwind.

Feeling like the photo exhibition had been rejected, Ohana reflexively stood up and argued strongly against Enishi's suggestion.

"If we're trying to show off Yunosagi's charms, then Kissuisou will definitely not lose in that regard. I think the mere fact that Kissuisou is opening after seven years has the impact we need!"

'Kissuisou is the region's treasure,' recalling these words that the CU's former chairman said gave her the encouragement she needed.

"Hmm......that's true, but if we're thinking of garnering attention, then I definitely think Sakura-san—"

"I know right! —So, Young Master, how are Kissuisou's repairs coming along?" Ohana pressed Enishi further after he lowered his voice.

"Eh.......Ah, repairs......?"

The sudden question made Enishi shrug before he fixed his glasses. He then looked through the documents in front of him, as if he remembered something.

"Erm, some level of repairs is being performed while the fee for the regular maintenance is being paid. It's the bare minimum, but we won't get permission to use the building if we can't pass the check by a licensed architect"

"That's good to hear! The CU has put some actual thought into this, huh"

Ohana joined her hands and smiled when she heard the best answer ever.

However, Enishi had a cloudy expression.

"......Well, the CU is paying for it for now, but they'll definitely charge for this when I settle the debt and close the mortgage. Hahaha......"

"Eh?"

As always, Enishi's roundabout phrasing was difficult to understand, but simply put, his debt was growing little by little even at this very moment.

"Dealing with the bad debt is a whole other problem"

Enishi let out a dry laugh, as if to rub salt into Ohana's wound that is her simplemindedness.

* * *

Even with the concern of the loan amount, Enishi arranged for a licensed architect, and they soon received the result of the building check.

It seems like there was no need for repairs to be done on the spiral staircase, the lobby, and the hall of the first floor. There was also a note that the roof of the boiler room only needed basic repairs to ensure it held up well to the wind and the rain. 

However, they decided to postpone the repair of the boiler itself.

Ohana felt that the decision that hot spring facilities were not needed if they only wanted to organize the photo exhibition was a shame, but she had no choice but to accept it.

That said, everyone was relieved as they were now able to use Kissuisou as a venue.

The hole in the boiler room's roof was sealed up by the falling snow several days later.

"Wow, the work of a pro sure is different, huh......"

The blue tarpaulin, pasted as a stopgap, had been removed, and the hole was now covered by a simple galvanised iron roof. 

Ohana gazed at it emotionally.

She then cleaned the weather-beaten areas exposed with the broom and dustpan she had in her hand as she looked around her surroundings.

It should now be fine to show this to everyone.

She suddenly felt like she could hear the sound of an engine, so she strained her ears to find that it was merely the echoes of chirping.

"They're supposed to arrive today, though......"

Her father's photos, which she asked Hiroshi to send, were arranged to be sent directly to Kissuisou.

Ohana was excited for their arrival and had prepared herself since morning, but the time she spent in silence merely continued.

Just then, the sound of a car going up a hill reached her ears.

"They're here!?"

She sprinted to the front entrance after letting go of the broom and the dustpan.

Stopped at the parking space was not a delivery van, but a Kei minivan with the 'Sparkle TV' logo.

Ohana's eyes popped open when she saw that logo, and she shouted the name of the person who got off the minivan.

"Nakochi!"

Nako, who had a press card hanging from her neck, smiled and waved in response.

"You came to see!"

"Yes. As well as for work," Nako replied as she signaled to the minivan with her gaze.

A cameraman and an assistant cum sound man got off the minivan one after the other, and they began their checks with Nako and Ohana in frame.

"With that said, can I interview you?"

"Of course! Am I making it onto the news?"

Ohana's eyes sparkled when she heard the best request she could ever hope for.

"That's right. I feel it would be nice to spread some news that Kissuisou is opening its doors, at least, to the people of this region"

Nako smiled as she nodded, looked up at Kissuisou, and squinted as if it was blinding.

"To me, this is my beloved......and precious place, after all"

"......Thank you, Nakochi"

Ohana stood beside Nako and looked up at Kissuisou as well.

The cameraman took a photo of it, and Nako, as if she was used to this, broke into a friendly smile. She then met eyes with Ohana.

"Looking at it, it hasn't changed even after seven years, huh. ......It's still my beloved Kissuisou......"

"Yeah......"

Ohana could tell from Nako's slightly teary eyes that those words came from her heart.

Reflexively rubbing the corners of her eyes that had become hot, Ohana brought Nako, the cameraman, and the assistant inside Kissuisou.

"This will become a gallery, huh"

After Nako took off her shoes at the corner of the stepping stone, she looked around her nostalgically as she changed into a pair of slippers.

The cameraman and the assistant took off their shoes as well and pointed their cameras at Nako.

"......Yeah. We are planning to use this area, the spiral staircase, and the main hall on the second floor," Ohana explained and gestured as she walked around the cameras so as not to show up on them.

Nako looked up at the spiral staircase, squinted as if it was blinding, and moved her index finger as if she was counting the steps. She then turned back and faced the path that would lead to the main hall"

"There'll be quite a lot of works on display in that case, huh"

The main hall, with the sliding doors removed and its doors left open, was empty.

"Hmm. I want people to be able to look around leisurely, so I intend to leave some space between each of the works, and it'll be a little different from those kinda places where they pack them together, I guess"

"I see"

The cameraman and the assistant were probably prioritizing capturing the building over the people, as they walked around and took photos of the interior.

As Nako gazed at them, she took out her pen and notepad, which were hanging from her press card, and started taking notes as she repeated Ohana's words.

"In that case, will it be one where you'll be able to see the building and the works?"

"Yeap, that's right, that's right. Something like that"

Ohana replied, and she realized that she had not thought of the layout yet.

"You will be displaying the photo of the Bonboris and the young beauty, right?" 

"Ah, yeah. I can't display that big panel, but—"

"Will be displaying the photo of Mariko Sakura as well, okay"

Nako, who seemed to be drafting her manuscript, took notes and began to head back to the lobby.

The filming crew took her place and started filming the main hall.

"So when will the photos arrive?" Nako asked as she put her notepad and pen back, as if she was done with the interview for now.

"I got a call from Uncle Hiroshi yesterday morning, and he said that he sent them, so they should be here soon. Do you want to drink some coffee and relax?"

Ohana replied as she took out a can of coffee from the shopping bag at the corner of the counter, and urged Nako to take a break.

It was then that she noticed the cameraman and the assistant had returned from the main hall.

"Ah, how about you two—"

"Oshimizu-san, we're done!"

"Okayyy, I'm going over there right now!" Nako replied enthusiastically before she jogged down the stairs to the entrance.

"Sorry, Ohana-chan. I'll have coffee at another time"

"Eh, we're done already?"

"Yes. I have to drop by several other places before the evening news"

Nako, who seemed to be busy due to her interviews, put her hands together apologetically as she shut one of her eyes.

"I see...... Then please be careful out there"

As Ohana saw Nako off from the front entrance while feeling slightly lonely, Nako turned back as she was about to get on the minivan.

"Ah! Ohana-chan! How's the matter about the interview with Mariko Sakura-san coming along?"

"......Eh......"

Ohana felt, from the excitement in Nako's voice as she asked to check, that even the people on Nako's end had high hopes for Mariko.

"Yeah...... I am in the middle of......going through my dad's friend, Seya-san, to request one from her manager, Iida-san—"

"Thank you. Tell me if there is any progress, alright? I'll be waiting!"

Sensing that there was no clear answer yet, Nako did not ask anything else. She got on the minivan, and it drove off as she waved at Ohana.

"......She's gone. She really looks busy......"

Ohana felt that seeing Nako's well-conducted interview encouraged her.

"I must fest it up too!"

She could hear the sound of a car going up the hill as she declared once again.

It was the delivery van this time.

"I've been waiting for this!"

Running on the stone paving that led up to Kissuisou, Ohana noticed that there was another car, and she blinked.

"......Huh? Another car......?"

She could see that Jiroumaru was in the driver's seat of the white mini truck, and Denroku was in the passenger seat.

"Grandpa Bean!"

Ohana gave Denroku, who was in the passenger seat, a huge wave, and he gave her a small wave back.

"Thank you very much!"

The boxes that the delivery man unloaded were piled up in the lobby.

"Alright, let's do this!"

Ohana immediately started taking out her father's works from several of the large cardboard boxes.

More and more photo frames wrapped in bubble wrap started filling the lobby.

"Here, Jiroumaru-san"

The works were passed to Jiroumaru one after another, and he rushed back and forth while placing each work beside the previous one.

"Say, Ohana-chan. There's no need to rush this, right?" He called out hesitantly as he had less and less room to move about.

"What are you talking about? I must get them all out today since it's a rare opportunity where there are people here to help. Here, take this!"

Ohana passed a stack of frames with photos in them to Jiroumaru without waiting for a reply.

"Whoa. But there's......no longer any space to—"

"I'm leaving these to you for now!"

Ohana continued to open the cardboard boxes even as Jiroumaru, who took them reflexively, stood there, troubled as there was no space to put them.

"For now, huh......?"

The lobby had already been swamped by photos.

As if he was unable to watch Jiroumaru tiptoe through the gaps between the frames any longer, Denroku pointed to the main hall.

"There"

"I see, there is space there, huh"

Jiroumaru broke into a smile out of relief. He then excitedly carried the frames up to the main hall and lined them up on the tatami.

A cool wind blew into the building as Ohana wiped away the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Thank you, Grandpa Bean"

The wind could enter the building as Denroku casually opened the windows.

As fresh air filled the building, Ohana, having taken out all of the framed works from the cardboard boxes, finally let out a sigh of relief and stretched her back.

"This is everything"

Denroku walked up to Ohana as he carefully folded the cardboard boxes that were now empty.

Jiroumaru, who had been carrying the photos, had also returned from the main hall and was looking around

"This is everything? Will that large panel be delivered later?"

Ohana broke into an awkward smile and told them a summary of the situation.

Mariko Sakura's entertainment agency currently possesses the aforementioned large panel, 'Bonboris and The Young Beauty.' 

Ohana had consulted Iwasaki to see if another panel could be made, partly because of the high hopes Enishi and the others had, but Iwasaki said no. Unlike the 'Retrospective Exhibition' three years ago, the drawing of crowds to the Yunosagi Hot Spring Town is a huge aspect of the 'Kissuisou Gallery' this time. Therefore, the entertainment agency would probably not let them use Mariko Sakura to draw in crowds for free.

"We don't have that photo, huh......"

Jiroumaru was clearly disappointed after hearing Ohana's explanation.

"......Jiroumaru-san, it's not like we don't have that photo; It's just that it's not a large panel"

"Eh? We have it?"

Ohana nodded and searched the works close to her. She then found the 'Bonboris and The Young Beauty,' which had a larger frame, and pointed to it.

"Isn't this a little too small?" Jiroumaru pushed his glasses up as he blurted out, dissatisfied.

"That might be true when compared to that huge panel, but even this size is big enough"

Ohana puffed her cheeks, held up the 'Bonboris and The Young Beauty,' and flared her nostrils. The two hundred and fifty-four millimeter by three hundred and five millimeter sized photo was not small, to say the least.

"'Besides, with this size, I won't allow anyone to complain no matter how it is displayed or used. This is Ayato's work, after all—.' was what Iwasaki-san said"

"That said, won't it be lacking impa—" Jiroumaru said, still hung up on the size.

"Beautiful......" Denroku, who was beside him, muttered quietly.

"The size doesn't matter. After all, it is just so beautiful," Ohana said, voicing her feelings as she gazed at the work once again.

The 'Bonboris and The Young Beauty' emitted a mysterious charm regardless of its size.

"......Well, that's true. There's a huge difference between having this work and not having it," Jiroumaru admitted, perhaps influenced by Denroku, who was charmed by the photo.

"You think so too, right? We must thank Iwasaki-san for his thoughtfulness"

—That's why I want many customers to see this!

Just as Ohana had her resolve renewed in her mind, an unexpected person showed up.

"My goodness, you have made quite a mess here"

"Madam Manager!?"

"Things will never be tidy if you gaze at each and every work taken out from the cardboard boxes. Planning is important when it comes to these things"

Sui grumbled as she took out a thin cloth from the sleeve of her kimono and used it to tie the sleeves of her kimono to her underarms after she had tucked them in.

"Eh, you are helping us?"

"If you would please hurry up and tell me where each work will be displayed"

"Erm......can I think about it with you, Madam Manager? I am not sure about what to do with the placement of the photos—"

Packed with the works was the 'Exhibition Plan (Example)' that Iwasaki and Seya had made.

When Ohana was going through the works with Hiroshi back in Tokyo, she felt like she had enough knowledge to pull it off. However, now that the photos were here, she realized that her knowledge was lacking.

Although she could use the categories the works would be divided into, and the display order as reference, Ohana realized that she had to think about where to display each work from start to finish.

"I have an exhibition plan, but it's not like Iwasaki-san and Seya-san know Kissuisou, so I would like the opinion of Madam Manager, who knows Kissuisou better than any—"

"That is your job, Ohana. I have no intention of meddling with it"

Sui clearly turned Ohana down, but Ohana, who wanted to take the chance to convince her of the photo exhibition's significance, refused to back down.

"There is meaning in this photo exhibition being organized in Kissuisou. So please let me hear your opinion, Madam Manager"

"............"

Even as Sui was being pressed by Ohana, she pursed her lips, as if she wanted to say something. However, perhaps having second thoughts, she calmly crouched down on the spot, reached her hand out to a stack of works, held up each piece of work, one by one, and gazed at each piece of work for a while.

"......I do not know the difference between a good and a bad photo, but—this photo is somewhat different from the rest, huh," Sui then said quietly.

The one she pointed to was, as expected, the 'Bonboris and The Young Beauty.'

"Well, it is the photo with a person who would go on to become a famous actress in it, so the aura is different. I've been inspired by it too. This novel has inspired me to, perhaps, write a novel set in Yunosa—"

An unnecessary interruption by Jiroumaru, but Sui shook her head.

"That is not what I felt. I felt that this is the only photo that is different from Yunosagi in real life. I cannot explain it well, though"

Sui was gazing at the bright light coming from the Bonboris.

Thinking that even Sui, who should have seen this scenery every year, might have thought these lights were special, Ohana sat beside Sui and gazed at the photo once again.

"............"

Sui slowly raised the palms of her hands into the air and folded them as if she was wrapping them around something.

—It's the wishing plaque......

Picturing its shape from Sui's hands, she pondered about what Sui could be wishing for.

However, Jiroumaru broke the tranquil silence.

"Madam Manager, there are prized photos like these too. Depending on how you look at it, these are pretty good too......"

Jiroumaru said as he held up the three photos of Satsuki jumping into the pool.

Sui went out of her way to wear the glasses she took out from the chest pocket of her kimono before she carefully gazed at one of the photos.

"......Is this Satsuki?"

Sui asked as she looked towards Ohana, and Ohana nodded.

"I am surprised. A side of her that I, her parent, do not know about is shown in the photo......"

The thoughtful Jiroumaru lined the photos up on an empty space on the floor.

Sui walked over, crouched, and picked up the photo of Satsuki right after she jumped into the pool.

Sui narrowed her eyes, as if she was reminiscing about the past. She then broke into a smile and had a gentle expression as she sighed quietly.

Her gaze was unusually gentle, and although no words came out even as she moved her lips slightly, it seemed like she was talking to the Satsuki in the photo affectionately.

"—'I want to sparkle,' huh...... I feel like I understand why Satsuki went after that person— Although it is a little too late......"

Muttering words that were either because of her recollection or remorse, Sui took off her glasses and folded them. She had a seemingly gentle expression when she then closed her narrow eyes, took a breath, and placed her glasses back into the chest pocket of her kimono.

"......Ug"

Ohana, charmed by each and every one of Sui's actions, pinched her nose, which had started getting blocked, and started tearing up.

On the other hand, Sui sat back up and looked up from the photo.

".......Well then"

Sui looked around calmly, and she then looked towards the counter, with no one there. As she saw the clock, she quickly stood up and put her hands together.

*clap*

A sharp sound. Hearing this made Ohana straighten her back reflexively.

"It is already quite late. We have no time for idle banter. I shall start tidying things up. You, Ohana, will decide the placement. If you cannot decide now, then you can think as you move. Let us hurry"

The snappiness of her voice was as expected of Kissuisou's Madam Manager, Sui Shijima.

"Okay!"

"However, I shall say this again. I am not asking you to revive Kissuisou," Sui said as she turned around.

I am not asking you to revive Kissuisou—Sui had emphasized that point even though she went out of her way to come over to help Ohana, which was why Ohana did not understand her true intentions.

However, she did not feel the same shock as she did on that day, when she felt that she was being pushed away.

Ohana nodded, feeling oddly convinced.

—That's true; It is as Madam Manager has said.

I can just move about and think about anything I don't know.

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Thank you very much for reading, I hope that you enjoyed it!