-pg83-

Tale #21

The Water God

-pg84-

Alpha

I told Takahiro about meeting Ayase-san, but...

-pg85-

Alpha

Oh...
He said I should say "Hi" to you.

Takahiro

......
Hmmm....
Did he.
......

Alpha

......
Hunh?

-pg86-

Ayase

Hey, bro; this Iwatsuki?

Bro

The boat's right there.

Ayase

Naah...
I'm visiting Oomiya.
I'm gonna pray at the Water God.

-pg87-

Bro

Are you now?
I don't think they'll let you see it, though!
It's up along that coast.

Ayase

......Thank ye.
The "Water God" by Minuma cove in Saitama prefecture...I'd been told to go
see it a long time ago.
I had a letter of introduction too.

-pg88-

Ayase

Ah, excuse me...
I'd like to pray at the Water God.

-pg89-

Mouthless

I'm sorry, but I can't let you see it...
You can pray from here if you like.

Ayase

(Oh dear...)
I have a letter of introduction...

Mouthless

Really?
Ahhhh...
If you know Hatsuseno-sensei...
Go on through.

Ayase

Th-thanks...

-pg90-

Mouthless

Almost there now.

Ayase

It's not in a shrine?

Mouthless

No, sensei made us leave it in the open.

Ayase

Ahhhh...

-pg91-

Mouthless

There you go.

Ayase

Unh...

Mouthless

It's white, isn't it?
It's marble...and probably some quarzt.
........Go on over.
But no touching, please.

Ayase

Ah, okay...
Sorry if I'm a bit rough...

-pg93-

Ayase

I...
It is the Water God...

-pg94-

Ayase

It looked so like a human...
But the body was like a mass of white cotton...
And the face peered out from tussled hair as if it had just woken up into
the bright light of day.
It looks almost alive...

Mouthless

Well, it is alive.

Ayase

Eh?

Mouthless

It has brain waves.

-pg95-

Mouthless

About like a human child.
Since it was found, it hasn't moved...it seems a lot like a painting.
Around here they say that it's keeping watch on the people of the land...
"The God of the Cove" they mean.

-pg96-

Mouthless

You see...
It seems sort of timeless.

Ayase

.....

-pg97-

Ayase

No thank you.

Mouthless

Okay then.

Ayase

Well......
I'm glad I decided to come.

Mouthless

Mm...
Long way, but...

-pg98-

Alpha

I know you wanted to introduce me to Ayase-san...
But don't sulk about it!

Takahiro

Well, you didn't need to rub your breasts on me quite this much!
Ow, ow, ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow!

Tale #21: Closing