Chapter 23 dried fruit

"Wow... so many beautiful bear hands! It's the same as what I saw on TV, so amazing... But, it doesn't look like a bear hand at all?" "Because the bear hand is a mascot, a lot of decorations have been added to it. As long as all the decorations are removed, it is really just a bamboo rake." "Mr. Kurita, have you dismantled it?" "It's my childhood." "What! You are so brave." "I was very curious when I was a child. Now I won't do such things that will be condemned by God." The weather is warm like spring, and it is refreshing to walk under the clear blue sky.

Kurita and Aoi came to Asakusa Shrine, which was crowded with tourists and pilgrims. Because Kurita promised to bring Aoi, who loves to watch the excitement, to visit Tori City, so he left the store early today after finishing the preparations, and brought Aoi to the Eagle Shrine. Aoi is wearing a beige cape-style coat with a fur collar today. In stark contrast to Kurita's rough military jacket, Aoi walked lightly in a feminine outfit, and was very happy. Although it was a weekday morning, the surrounding area was busier than expected. The territory of the Goose Shrine is not spacious, and because of the crowds, the progress of the team is slow.Kurita and Aoi waited in line while looking around.

The bright red torii gates, countless lanterns lined up high above, and the valiant and high-spirited cries of bear merchants. Although the timing has entered late autumn and the chill is gradually getting stronger, the surroundings are full of enthusiasm and vitality that makes people excited, driving away the chill. People unzipped or unbuttoned their coats.Some people are concentrating on admiring the pattern designs everywhere, and some are taking commemorative photos or asking for lottery. Some people also buy bear hands from street vendors in order to add good luck to the coming New Year.

The bear hand is like a big bird "Vulture", which can firmly grasp the prey, so it is likened to "holding good luck" or "gathering wealth". This is why people use the bear hand as a talisman. Every year, if you buy bear hands that are bigger than the previous year to decorate, you can pray for a year-to-year increase in sales——After Kurita told Aoi this knowledge, Aoi smiled innocently and said happily: "So that's... so interesting Oh……" Aoi looked up with a look of exclamation, and in front of her sight was a huge golden bear hand.The bear hands are adorned with decorations such as large and small gold coins, Dover masks, and sea bream, so luxurious that it almost borders on tacky.

"Uh...Miss Aoi, don't you want to buy bear hands?" "If you put this kind of thing in the room, it should bring good luck." "Don't, stop making trouble! If you have friends coming to play, you will be shocked. Bear hands are not something girls use to decorate their rooms." "However, it seems that some people will applaud." "Applause? Oh..." If you buy bear hands, the merchant who sells bear hands will beat time to pray for the customer, and Aoi seems to be attracted by this. Although Kurita has never bought a bear hand, someone who has bought a bear hand told him that the feeling of being blessed is very pleasant.

——Aoi does seem like someone who would like that kind of feeling. Kurita scratched his temples, and suggested: "Uh... so, how about buying a smaller one? If it's smaller, it won't be too strange to put in the room, and you can also enjoy the fun of changing it every year." "You're right! What a great idea! I'll buy it every year anyway!" Holding her cheek, Aoi nodded vigorously, seemingly happily. Kurita and Aoi first paid homage at the main hall of the Eagle Shrine, and then prayed together at Tori-ji Temple next to the main hall, also known as Chokoku-ji Temple.

In the end, Aoi bought a miniature bear hand with a simple shape that feels like a toy. However, the street vendor did not beat the time to pray for her. "--what?" Aoi froze and blinked her eyes.Kurita frowned and muttered: "Oh no." It seems that he bought a bear hand that was too small. "Cheap ones won't work..." "No way...how come..." Kurita guessed that, on the one hand, it should be because there are too many guests.Kurita and Aoi were squeezed out of the stall, and could only stand beside the vendor and look at the bear hand they had just bought.

"Sorry, Ms. Aoi... You should really want to be applauded, right?" "Oh no, I don't really want to be applauded that much." Aoi quickly shook her head with a surprised expression. "However, Kurita-san apologized to me more sincerely than I expected, which made me feel like I should be a little bit sad, but I don't feel like I need to." "It does not make sense?" "However, I still kind of want to be applauded. It feels like through that kind of behavior, I should get pleasure beyond theory. Next year I will buy a bigger one." "Oh."

"I'm not that sorry...so, please don't mind..." Aoi frowned and smiled.Kurita looked at her and spat lightly. "Really, there is no way...Miss Aoi, come here." "What's up?" Kurita ticked his index finger to signal Aoi to follow, then walked out of the shrine in the direction of Michinowa. Along the roadside, you can see a long row of fried noodles or salt-grilled sweetfish stalls, very lively.But Kurita just watched with cold eyes, and bent into the alley without stopping. Kurita turned right, then left, and headed for a sparsely populated alley.

Soon after, they came to a residential area full of traditional customs.As long as you go deeper, you can see Yoshihara Shrine. "You don't have to worry about it here." "Um... Kurita-san, what are you going to do?" Aoi asked with a puzzled expression on her face.After Kurita made her stand by the wall, he looked around alertly to see if there were any passers-by. — No problem, there is no one now.After Kurita took a deep breath, he tightened his stomach. "Let's go, Miss Aoi." The moment Kurita turned to face Aoi, Aoi widened her eyes in shock.

"--Well?" Aoi definitely didn't expect Kurita to make such a move.Seeing his movements, Aoi couldn't help but let out a soft cry, and her fair cheeks flushed instantly. Aoi frowned sadly, her body trembling. "Ah...!" Aoi stood there in a trance, and Kurita quickly tapped the time in front of her. Kurita raised his hands to the height of his chest, and clapped rudely with an expression of desperately suppressing his embarrassment. Although Kurita felt embarrassed, he felt that what he did was right. "Okay, so happy...!" Aoi enjoyed the applause while raising her slender chin, showing a satisfied expression. "Miss Aoi, are you satisfied?" "Not yet, just one more time..." After Kurita gave even more enthusiastic applause, Aoi frowned unbearably. "Probably the first time I've ever felt this way...it's amazing..." "Great." "I didn't expect such a good thing...Fortunately, I bought the Lucky Bear Hand!" Just when the two had such a warm interaction—— Kurita suddenly felt a gaze behind him.Looking back, he happened to meet a familiar figure. Kurita couldn't help letting out a groan: thinking that there is no other moment more embarrassing than this moment. "Xiao, Xiaochun!" "What are you doing?" The Japanese beauty with long black hair reaching shoulders—Sumino Koharu muttered with an unbelievable expression. Xiaochun was holding a toddler in a coat.Putting her face close to the toddler, she whispered jokingly, "These two are so funny!"