I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo

Toshima-ku, Sugamo-cho.

This ward is located in the northwest corner of Tokyo.

Its name comes from the ancient name of Toshima-gun in Musashi-koku before the island country abolished the feudal system and established prefectures.

When Tokyo expanded its administrative area, four towns that originally belonged to Kita-Toshima-gun were merged into Tokyo and named Toshima-ku.

Hundreds of years ago, this was the location of many temples and shrines; today, it is home to a large number of traditional small shops and various specialty shops: all kinds of handicrafts can be found here.

The shops on both sides sell all kinds of products for the elderly.

Hot-selling products include thermal underwear, hearing aids, and health socks. All the way. There are all kinds of antique pharmacies everywhere, even two funeral companies, and a karaoke bar from the 1970s.

"This place has a sense of the times."

The squad leader Nao pushed her glasses and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Well, it feels like traveling through time and space - I don't know how long these shops have existed."

From the 'Bunkyo-ku' where schools are lined up and young people are everywhere; suddenly coming to this street that maintains a 'traditional' style, surrounded by old men and women walking slowly in traditional costumes, Qiu Riyou couldn't help but touch his chin.

"Tennu, are you working here?"

"Hehehe~~"

"It's even older than this place."

The petite and lively Tennu Ying greeted the oncoming old people while raising her hand to the front.

"We still have to walk about a thousand meters."

"Then I'll wait for you here."

Hearing that there was still more than a thousand meters, Qiu Riqiong stopped immediately.

She was already weak and sickly, and with her otaku personality and the annoying Iina Nao beside her, she had no motivation at all.

"How about I carry you,"

Qiu Riyou was worried about leaving Qiu Riqiong here alone.

"Hey?"

"I'm not a kid."

"Then, give me your schoolbag, I'll help you carry it."

Facing the hand that his brother stretched out, Qiu Riqiong finally handed over the schoolbag.

"Do you want it too--"

"No, Youjun."

"Hehehe~~ I don't need it even more."

Class monitor Nao and petite Tiannvying both refused Qiu Riyou to help them carry their schoolbags: one of them is the main force of the school swimming team, and the other walks this road every day, so physical strength is not a problem at all.

Twenty minutes later,

"Is this Qiong okay?"

The four of them came to the foot of a small hill, looked up at the long stairs, and Qiu Riyou turned around.

"I"

"I'll push Xiao Qiong."

Before Qiu Riqiong could say anything, the energetic Tiannvying pushed her from behind and began to climb up.

Sister, your physical strength is too poor, isn't it?

Thinking about whether to give Qiu Riqiong some mana, the four of them walked up the stairs in the forest, and after more than ten minutes, they reached the top of the mountain.

The vermilion "kai" torii gate is at the end of the stairs. After passing through the torii gate, a small shrine appears in front of everyone.

"Xiaoqiong, we are here~~"

Tennyuying walked to the front of everyone and turned around to signal:

"Welcome to Inari Shrine."

In front of us is a small shrine with a few meters of approach and only two stone lanterns.

The small main hall, worship hall, hand-water pavilion, and ema. The whole shrine is not as big as a basketball court.

Although this place is also called "Inari Shrine", it has nothing to do with Fushimi Inari Taisha: the densely packed vermilion "Thousand Torii Gates" are one of the most representative landscapes in Kyoto.

Because Inari God is the god of agriculture and commerce and is widely worshipped, there are more than 9,000 "Inari Shrines" all over the island country!

"Is Tennyu classmate the only one here?"

Class monitor Nao looked around and spoke with some surprise.

This place is on a hill, and there is nothing else except the shrine.

It's a good place to visit, but as a place to live, living here alone in the dead of night?

Just thinking about it makes class leader Nao feel cold.

"Of course,"

"Grandpa used to live with me,"

"Since grandpa left, I've been taking care of this place by myself."

After saying that, Tiannv Ying first asked everyone to wash their hands in the 'hand-washing house', and then sat down in the 'social affairs office' next to it, and then she pulled the wooden door and entered the room inside.

"Clang clang clang, Miko Ying appears~~"

A few minutes later, the girl, who changed into a white and red miko costume, came out full of energy.

"Come, I'll take you to visit the shrine."

"This is the worship hall,"

The small and exquisite 'worship hall' is located in front of the main hall, where people can worship and make wishes.

Put in a 5-yuan coin symbolizing 'destiny', clapped her hands twice and put them together, class leader Nao and her sister Akihiko bowed and lowered their heads, thinking of things to pray for in their hearts.

I hope Xiao Qiong can accept me.

I hope the bad woman will leave my brother.

After making opposite wishes in their hearts, the two of them started to talk nonchalantly.

"Ahem, next, do you want to write 'Ema'?"

"It's free."

The shrine maiden Tiannuying suggested,

Ema, Ema, as the name suggests, is a wooden sign with a horse painted on it.

However, this is the original form of Ema, and the patterns of Ema later became more and more abundant: for example, the Ema of Inari Shrine are all fox patterns. On these wooden signs, which are about 15 cm long and 10 cm high, write down your wishes, offer them to the gods, and pray for the protection of the gods.

"Hey, this is too expensive."

"You're welcome, I did it all myself."

Monitor Nao subconsciously declined, and Tiannu Ying answered without thinking.

"Are these all made by Tiannu-san herself?"

Facing the ‘Ema’ handed over by the lively girl, the monitor looked at it carefully and sighed:

"So exquisite."

"Hehehe~~ These are all things my grandpa taught me."

Each of the squad leader Nao and her younger sister Qiu Riqiong were given an Ema, but Qiu Ri Yu didn't pick it up. Amid Tiannu Ying's puzzled expression, Qiu Ri Yu smiled slightly.

"my wish?"

"Inari God probably can't achieve it."

?

"elder brother,"

"Yu-kun, you can't say that in a shrine."

It is probably impossible to say that the class monitor and my sister believe that there is a god in the world.

But in a shrine, it is somewhat inappropriate to say such things and this is also the place where classmate Tiannuying works part-time.

"Sorry, Tenna-san."

"I don't mean to be dismissive, it's just——"

As a being who would plant a sacred tree in the future and travel the universe physically, Qiu Riyu didn't think there was anything worthy of his worship in this world.

"It doesn't matter, the shrine is just a place for spiritual sustenance."

"Pray for a bumper harvest, a prosperous business, and a safe family. In the end, these are people's best wishes."

And if you want to realize your wish, it is more important to practice it personally.

As an abandoned baby, Tiannu Ying has been aware of this since she was a child.

"well said!"

Giving the girl a thumbs up, Qiu Riyu nodded.

"Heaven moves vigorously, a gentleman strives for self-improvement, and heavenly girls live a free and easy life!"

"How can I be as powerful as you say?"

After leading everyone to visit the small shrine, everyone began to clean the shrine - originally this was the daily life of Tiannuying and Nagisa Yiye. Yes, the eldest lady came here every day to take care of the shrine with Tiannuying. If Unless there are special circumstances.

"Tenonna-san,"

While cleaning the fallen leaves, Akira Yuu chatted with the girl.

"If there really is a 'god', what kind of wish would you like to have come true?"

"Yu-kun, don't you believe in God?"

Regarding this question, the miko in white and red skirt pointed her finger at her chin and thought about it.

"I am very satisfied with my current life. If I have to say one wish, I would finish high school and college with Xiaoye, and then watch her walk into the church~~"

"What kind of old lady are you talking about?"

While he couldn't help but complain, Qiu Riyu flicked his finger.

A piece of white paper flew out quietly, passed through the closed door of the main hall, and entered it.

The main hall is empty, and there is no ‘god statue’.

This is a characteristic of Shintoism:

Non-idolatry.

In the concept of Shintoism in the island country, although all things have spirits, the gods are invisible, and the gods and humans live in different worlds. The shrine is just a place where the gods may rest. The collapse of the torii of the shrine means entering the realm of the gods, but the gods may not be there.

It's just that although there are no sculptures of gods enshrined in the temple, some shrines enshrine 'gods' bodies, such as mirrors, magatama, and long swords, using these things to represent the gods.

In the main hall of this 'Inari Shrine', a fox mask is enshrined.

The paper flew over and covered the mask.

The next second,

The mask suddenly became active.