The dirt path stretched out before us, lined with trees that scattered their petals in the breeze. Ailany walked with a light, effortless rhythm, as if she belonged in this place. In contrast, I felt like my shoes were gathering more dust than they ever had in Tokyo.
"So, Haruki…" she started casually. "What brings you here?"
"I already told you. The farm," I replied bluntly.
Ailany glanced at me with a playful smile.
"Yeah, yeah, but I mean the real story. I don't think someone like you would leave the city on a whim."
I fell silent for a few seconds. I wasn't in the mood to talk about my family situation with a stranger, but I couldn't exactly say she was wrong, either.
"Let's just say… unforeseen circumstances," I answered evasively.
She let out a small laugh.
"Mysterious."
I didn't respond.
The path started to slope upward, and in the distance, I could see a hill with a wooden fence surrounding a stretch of green fields. From here, the farm itself wasn't visible yet, but the peacefulness of the place was undeniable.
"My grandparents will be happy to see you," Ailany continued. "They've been waiting for your arrival for days."
"Waiting for me?" I frowned.
"Well… sort of. They said a man was coming to see the farm, but they didn't know exactly when. My grandfather kept saying you'd show up sooner or later, like it was inevitable."
That choice of words made me stop for a moment.
"Like it was inevitable…"
It wasn't the first time someone spoke about the farm with a mysterious air. First my grandfather's letter, and now this.
Ailany noticed my expression and tilted her head.
"Something wrong?"
"No… nothing."
There was no point in asking questions until I saw the place for myself.
We kept walking in silence.
As we rounded a bend in the path, a traditional house came into view.
The wooden house had a nostalgic feel to it. Its traditional architecture, with dark tile roofing and a small porch with rolled-up tatami mats, reminded me of the countryside homes I'd seen in documentaries. Surrounding it, small vegetable gardens and crops hinted at a quiet, self-sufficient life.
Ailany ran up to the entrance with energy.
"Grandpa, Grandma! The visitor you were waiting for is here!"
Footsteps echoed from inside, and moments later, an elderly couple stepped out to greet us.
The man was tall and thin, his gray hair tied back in a small ponytail. His face bore the marks of time, but his dark eyes held a sharp glint. The woman, on the other hand, was shorter and sturdier, with a warm and kind expression.
The old man studied me from head to toe, his gaze sharp and assessing.
"So… you're Hiroshi Kiryuu's grandson," he said in a deep voice.
"Yes, my name is Haruki Kiryuu," I introduced myself with a slight bow.
The old man crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
"Hmpf… you have his eyes."
"You knew my grandfather?"
"In a way," he replied vaguely. "He wasn't an easy man to deal with, but in the end, he understood what needed to be done."
A slight chill ran down my spine at his words.
The old woman, in contrast, smiled kindly.
"You must be tired from your journey. Come, sit inside."
Ailany grinned at me.
"Come on, Haruki, my grandparents' hospitality is the best."
I had no reason to refuse, so I followed them inside.
The house was filled with antique furniture and bookshelves packed with old tomes and tools. There was a comforting atmosphere, as if every corner held years of stories.
We sat around a low table, and the old woman served us hot green tea.
"I imagine you have a lot of questions," the old man said, taking a sip from his cup.
"Yes, but I think the most important one is… what role do you two play in all this?"
The old man set his cup down and looked me straight in the eye.
"We're simply the keepers of something your grandfather entrusted to us."
"The chest and the journal?"
He nodded.
"Correct. Your grandfather asked us to safeguard them until the right time came. And that time has arrived."
The old woman stood up and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a dark wooden chest.
It was smaller than I had imagined—about the size of a shoebox—with intricate carvings covering its surface.
"This chest contains what you need for your journey," the old man explained. "But you can't open it here."
"Yeah, I know. My grandfather made that clear in his letter."
The old man gave an approving nod.
"Good. Then you also know that the journal is the key to understanding what lies ahead."
The old woman handed me a leather-bound book. It looked fragile, but when I held it, I felt an unexpected weight, as if it carried more than just words.
"You won't be able to read it until you reach the village of Uke Mochi," she reminded me gently. "It's a rule you mustn't break."
I nodded slowly.
There were too many mysteries surrounding this farm, but for now, all I could do was follow the instructions my grandfather had left me.
I carefully took the chest and the journal.
"Thank you for keeping these safe."
The old man gave a faint smile.
"Don't thank us just yet. You still have a long road ahead."
Ailany watched me with a mix of excitement and curiosity.
"So… what will you do now, Haruki?"
I glanced down at the journal in my hands, then at the closed chest.
"I guess the next step is finding the village of Uke Mochi."
My words lingered in the air, sealing my decision.
Whatever this 'Spring Charm Farm' truly was, I had to find out for myself.