"So this is the statue of Frigg, it's really beautiful! But at the beach people usually worship gods of the sea or wind, right? Why is the port here dedicated to the goddess Frigg?"
Arriving with Nakano Yu in front of the statue of the Norse Queen, Katsura Kotonoha looked up at the statue and asked somewhat confused.
Usually at the beach and in the port, gods who control strong winds and the sea are worshiped. Strong winds are for smooth sailing, so that fishermen do not run aground, and the sea so that big waves are avoided and a rich catch is ensured. However, the bronze statue in the port on the Faroe Islands was a statue of the goddess of family and marriage, completely unrelated to wind and sea, which left Kotonoha somewhat puzzled.
"Maybe it has some other meaning. Frigg, as the goddess of 'marriage' and 'family', is also the mother of Baldr, the god of 'light', and Hodr, the god of 'darkness'. Raising this statue here may mean a prayer for peace both day and night, in her role as a mother."
After carefully looking at the statue, Nakano Yu said so. He was also quite curious why Frigg was worshiped at the beach, because her divine rank has nothing to do with the sea.
"I understand. Nakano Yu, look, this statue is really worn."
Nodding, Katsura Kotonoha said that and placed her hand on the statue, flinching at the rough surface.
"It's by the sea, exposed to wind and sun, so that's completely normal."
Stepping closer, Nakano Yu said that. The surface of a newly cast bronze statue is indeed smooth, but this statue of Frigg has stood here for who knows how long, so it is normal that it looks like this.
"Nakano Yu! Kotonoha! Come play! We rented a boat!"
At that moment Yotsuba's excited voice was heard. Hearing her, Nakano Yu immediately replied:
"We're coming!"
"Let's go, Kotonoha, Yotsuba and the others found something fun."
Turning toward Katsura Kotonoha, Nakano Yu took the girl's hand and said.
"Mm!"
Nodding, the two of them left.
However, just after they moved away, a snow-white tail feather suddenly appeared, fluttered lightly in the air and landed on the statue of Frigg.
"Nakano Yu! The boat we rented is actually a speedboat, it was really cheap! And on the way we ran into Dad, so he reimbursed the cost for us."
Walking beside Nakano Yu, Yotsuba laughed while recounting the interesting things that had happened, while Nakano Yu and Katsura Kotonoha simply smiled at the girl, saying nothing.
Soon, under Yotsuba's lead, the three of them arrived at a part of the port on the Faroe Islands. There were not many boats, only a few white yachts could be seen in the distance.
From afar, Nakano Yu spotted Ichika and the others waiting there.
"Nakano Yu! Hurry up, we're ready to set sail!"
While they were discussing what to do with the yacht, Ichika noticed Nakano Yu and the two of them not far away and quickly waved to them.
Seeing that, Yotsuba became even more excited and ran toward Ichika first. Nakano Yu and Katsura Kotonoha also quickened their pace to join them.
"Why did you suddenly want to go out to sea? And do you even know how to operate a yacht?"
Arriving at Ichika, Nakano Yu noticed there was no staff nearby and, remembering that Ichika did not even have a driver's license, asked.
"We rarely come abroad, so of course we have to go out to sea and have fun! And as for operating the yacht… that's why Yotsuba went to find Nakano Yu."
Ichika said that as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then playfully stuck out her tongue, a little embarrassed.
"So you found Nakano Yu to be your driver."
Hearing that, Katsura Kotonoha smiled and said.
"As always, nothing good comes when you look for me. Where is Dad? Didn't Yotsuba say he was here too?"
As if he had already expected Ichika's answer, Nakano Yu twitched his lips slightly. After saying that, he looked around but did not see Nakano Maruo, so he had to ask.
"Dad is paying, he went with the staff."
Nino walked over. Nino had been looking around earlier, and now she had a white hat with a floral pattern on her head that matched her clothes nicely.
"Which way did they go? I'll go check."
Hearing that, Nakano Yu asked.
"There, by that pavilion."
Nino pointed into the distance. Not far from the yacht rental place there was a small pavilion.
"Alright, then Kotonoha and I will go there first. See you later."
After learning where Nakano Maruo was, Nakano Yu nodded, said that, and left together with Katsura Kotonoha.
"The two of them are really inseparable, aren't they?"
Watching them walk away holding hands, Nino ran her hand through her hair and said.
"Indeed."
Even Miku nodded. After saying that, she gently pressed her lips together, and in her eyes there was envy toward Katsura Kotonoha.
Noticing the change in mood of Nino and Miku, Ichika patted their shoulders and smiled:
"Don't worry, we will too! Hey! Yotsuba, don't try to catch fish!"
After saying that, Ichika suddenly noticed Yotsuba next to the yacht with a fishing net she had found from who knows where. After comforting Nino and Miku, she quickly went to stop Yotsuba who was already ready to fish.
Exchanging a glance with Miku, Nino helplessly rubbed her forehead.
Ichika was obviously the most irresponsible person in the family, never cooking nor cleaning, but Ichika was still the eldest sister among the five sisters.
"Come on, Nakano Yu will be back soon."
Glancing at Nino, Miku said that, then walked toward Ichika who was lecturing Yotsuba beside the yacht.
Nodding, Nino said nothing more.
On Nakano Yu's side, he had already brought Katsura Kotonoha to the pavilion and immediately saw Nakano Maruo sitting beneath it.
"Yu? Why are you here? Kotonoha, long time no see."
Nakano Maruo, who had been sitting under the pavilion thoughtfully looking at a photo of Nakano Reina, quickly put the photo away when he saw Nakano Yu and Katsura Kotonoha and greeted them.
"Good afternoon, Nakano-san."
Seeing that Nakano Maruo addressed her, Katsura Kotonoha politely returned the greeting.
"So you've already met? I thought you, Dad, were too busy to meet Kotonoha."
Hearing the tone in their words, Nakano Yu, who had always thought that Katsura Kotonoha and Nakano Maruo had not met, slightly pressed his lips and said, leading Kotonoha to sit beside Nakano Maruo.
"Recently I ran into a bottleneck at work. The researchers and the people from the Yumen-in family have quieted down, so my workload has decreased significantly, so I finally had time to meet your fiancée."
Nakano Maruo said that, and his somewhat gaunt body leaned back, resting against the back of the long bench.
"Did you pay? Won't you go out to sea with Ichika and the others?"
Hearing that, Nakano Yu nodded, not dwelling too much on that topic, but instead asking about Nakano Maruo's plans.
Nakano Maruo said that he currently did not have much work and was free. It had been a long time since he had spent time with the five sisters, so Nakano Yu still wanted Nakano Maruo to spend more time with them.
"No, I'm getting old, I won't disturb you young people. And I don't really like going out to sea. If Reina were here… she would probably be overjoyed to follow Ichika and the others, wouldn't she?"
Shaking his head, Nakano Maruo said that. Although he was only a little over forty, in the prime of his life, his body was much weaker than his peers due to long-term stress and other reasons.
Hearing that, Nakano Yu did not respond, only sat quietly. Katsura Kotonoha, seeing the silence between father and son, became even more restrained and did not dare to speak, afraid of disturbing the current peace.
"Hey, Yu, let's go together later to visit your mother. I haven't yet had the chance to tell her about your engagement."
Taking a deep breath, Nakano Maruo did not have the habit of smoking. Feeling depressed at that moment and not knowing how to release it, he simply started a conversation with Nakano Yu.
"Alright."
Nakano Yu did not refuse to visit Nakano Reina. Although Nakano Reina did not give birth to him, she certainly raised him, and he sincerely regarded her as his mother.
"Kotonoha, could I ask you to go first to Ichika and the others? I have something to say to Yu."
Turning toward them, Nakano Maruo suddenly said.
"Alright, Nakano Yu, I'll wait for you there."
Katsura Kotonoha nodded, indicating that she would wait for Nakano Yu not far away, and then left.
After Kotonoha left, under the pavilion only Nakano Yu and Nakano Maruo remained, father and son.
"Tell me, what's troubling you so much?"
After Kotonoha left, Nakano Yu sat upright and looked at Nakano Maruo.
Nakano Yu already had a rough guess in his mind. When he had brought Kotonoha earlier, he saw Nakano Maruo looking at something, and without thinking knew it was a photograph of Nakano Reina.
It must be admitted that Nakano Maruo might not have been a qualified father, but he was definitely a qualified husband.
Ten years after Nakano Reina's death, Nakano Maruo never thought about remarrying nor about bringing a stepmother for the five sisters and himself. In fact, during those ten years, Nakano Maruo devoted himself entirely to medical technology, and every woman who approached him he rejected.
Nakano Yu could not understand that level of pure love, but he deeply admired it. Compared to his great love, Nakano Maruo's love was truly pure.
"Yu, you are with Ichika and the others, aren't you? You didn't make a choice, but want all of them?"
Looking at the back of Katsura Kotonoha as she walked away, Nakano Maruo said that. He knew everything, and he knew it very clearly. However, he did not attach much importance to it. Rules bind only ordinary people, and Nakano Yu is the one who sets the rules. Those restrictions are useless to him.
Moreover, entrusting the five sisters to some unknown young man in the future was less safe than entrusting them to Nakano Yu.
"Yes. I don't like letting go. I want to keep them, to keep everyone, by my side."
Nakano Yu nodded. In that regard he had always been dominant. No matter what kind of being tried to influence his thoughts, it would not succeed, not even the most powerful fallen gods.
"That's good. I thought the same about Reina back then…"
Hearing that, Nakano Maruo smiled, suddenly recalling how beside the hospital bed he told Nakano Reina that he would definitely keep her by his side, but now…
Composing himself, Nakano Maruo looked seriously at the young man beside him, with the last trace of hope and expectation:
"Yu, you are extraordinary. You can do things that people cannot even comprehend. So I want to ask you once more: can people truly return to life after death?"