By the time Serena left the training room, evening had completely settled over the White Fox Temple.
The last traces of sunlight had disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the temple grounds bathed in the warm glow of rows of paper lanterns. Their soft light spilled across the wooden walkways, illuminating the polished floorboards and the stone paths that wound between the temple buildings. Beyond the grounds, the surrounding cedar forest had become a dark silhouette beneath the deepening blue of the evening sky.
The air was cooler now.
A gentle mountain breeze carried the scent of cedar through the open corridors, while the distant chirping of insects filled the quiet spaces between the buildings.
Serena walked beside Tamayo, still feeling the effects of her first lesson.
Her legs were tired from sitting in the same position for hours, her shoulders felt heavy, and her mind was almost as exhausted as her body. She had spent the entire afternoon trying to manipulate something she couldn't even properly see, and although she had finally succeeded, the effort had left her completely drained.
If Tamayo told her to perform another exercise tonight, Serena was fairly certain she would simply lie down on the floor and refuse to move.
Fortunately, Tamayo seemed to understand her limits.
"Dinner is ready," she said.
Serena's stomach immediately growled.
The sound echoed embarrassingly through the quiet corridor.
Tamayo slowly glanced sideways at her.
Serena immediately looked away.
"...Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
Tamayo smiled.
"I was merely going to point out that you apparently have more energy whenever food is involved."
Serena crossed her arms.
"Of course I do."
Tamayo gave a quiet laugh.
"I suppose that's one way to recover from training."
"Food is important."
"I won't argue with that."
They continued walking.
The closer they got to the dining hall, the stronger the smell of food became. The aroma drifted through the wooden corridors, warm and comforting after the long afternoon of training.
Serena's steps gradually became faster.
Tamayo noticed.
"You're walking faster."
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm hungry."
"I know."
Serena didn't bother responding.
She simply walked faster.
When they finally reached the dining hall, the warm sounds of conversation and dishes filled the air.
Several shrine maidens were already seated around the long wooden tables. Some were quietly eating, while others were talking among themselves about the day's work. When Tamayo entered, they immediately noticed her and offered respectful bows.
"Good evening, Lady Tamayo."
"Good evening."
Tamayo returned their greetings with a polite smile.
Serena followed behind her.
A place had already been prepared for her near the end of one of the tables.
She sat down with a relieved sigh.
One of the shrine maidens approached carrying a wooden tray.
"Here you are, Serena."
"Thank you."
The shrine maiden carefully placed the tray in front of her.
Serena glanced down.
Her expression immediately changed.
"Is that...?"
The shrine maiden smiled.
"Lady Tamayo told us it was one of your favorites."
Serena stared at the dish.
Sake Chahan.
Salmon fried rice.
The rice had been stir-fried until each grain was warm and fragrant, mixed with tender flakes of salmon, softly scrambled egg, finely chopped green onions, a small amount of soy sauce, and a touch of sesame oil.
The aroma rose gently from the bowl.
For a moment, Serena simply stared.
She hadn't expected this.
Her gaze softened as an old memory surfaced.
She remembered being much younger.
She remembered sitting around the family table after training, still wearing her practice clothes and complaining about how tired she was. She remembered being told to eat her vegetables and stubbornly pushing them to the side of her plate.
She even remembered sneaking pieces of salmon from her siblings' plates whenever nobody was looking.
Those memories felt strangely distant now.
So much had changed since then.
Yet the smell of the fried rice was exactly the same.
Serena picked up her chopsticks.
"...Tamayo."
Her sister had already taken a seat nearby.
"What?"
"You remembered."
Tamayo looked at the dish and then back at Serena.
"Of course I did."
Serena lowered her eyes toward the food.
For a brief moment, her usual stubborn expression disappeared.
"Thanks."
Tamayo didn't tease her.
She simply smiled.
Serena carefully picked up a portion of the fried rice and took her first bite.
The familiar flavor spread across her tongue.
Her eyes immediately brightened.
"It's still good."
Tamayo laughed softly.
"I'd hope so."
Serena took another bite.
Then another.
The exhaustion that had weighed down her body only moments earlier seemed to become less important with every mouthful.
For the first time since her training had begun, Serena looked completely relaxed.
Beside her, Stud floated lazily through the dining hall.
Apparently, he had recovered from his earlier encounter with Tamayo.
Mostly.
He still kept a cautious distance whenever he passed near her, but his usual confidence had returned.
Stud looked around the dining hall.
Several shrine maidens had been watching him ever since he entered.
He noticed.
Slowly, he floated toward them.
"Hello."
The shrine maidens looked up.
Stud raised his tiny tentacles in what appeared to be a formal greeting.
"I mean no harm."
One of the shrine maidens blinked.
Stud nodded seriously.
"I'm an ally."
The girls exchanged amused glances.
"I'm friendly."
Another maiden smiled.
Stud seemed encouraged by the reaction.
"I've been told I'm quite charming."
Serena nearly choked on her rice.
She lowered her chopsticks.
"Who told you that?"
Stud completely ignored her.
He floated around the table as though he were introducing himself to an important audience.
"Anyway, I have an important question."
The shrine maidens looked at him curiously.
Stud paused for dramatic effect.
"Where's the television?"
Silence fell over the table.
The shrine maidens exchanged confused glances.
Then one of them started giggling.
Another quickly covered her mouth.
Stud blinked.
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you laughing?"
The shrine maiden shook her head.
"There isn't a television here."
Stud stared at her.
"...What?"
"There isn't one."
He looked around the room.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
Stud's expression slowly changed from confusion to disbelief.
"...What?"
Serena continued eating.
Stud turned toward her.
"Serena."
She didn't look up.
"What?"
"Where's the television?"
"There isn't one."
Stud froze.
"...There isn't one?"
"No."
"At all?"
"This is a temple."
Stud slowly looked around the dining hall.
The wooden walls.
The paper windows.
The traditional furnishings.
The shrine maidens.
The lanterns.
Not a single television could be seen anywhere.
His expression gradually collapsed.
"But..."
He looked back at Serena.
"...What am I supposed to do?"
Serena took another bite.
"Talk to people."
"I've been talking to people."
"Then read."
"Read what?"
"Books."
Stud stared at her as though she had just suggested something completely unreasonable.
"You want me to read?"
Serena nodded.
"Yes."
Stud floated upward dramatically.
"Nooooooo!"
His cry echoed throughout the dining hall.
Several shrine maidens burst into laughter.
Serena covered her face with one hand.
"You're unbelievable."
"This is a sacred temple!" Stud shouted.
"Exactly."
"That's the problem!"
Stud flew toward Serena.
"We need to leave."
Serena slowly lowered her hand.
"Excuse me?"
"We're leaving."
"No, we're not."
"There must be another temple somewhere with a television."
"Stud."
"I refuse to spend the rest of my life without entertainment!"
Serena sighed.
"You survived a Calamity-Class Poltergeist."
"Yes."
"You've fought actual monsters."
"Yes."
"You survived being hunted by Geists."
"Yes."
"And television is where you draw the line?"
Stud immediately answered.
"Absolutely."
Serena shook her head.
There was simply no reasoning with him.
Stud descended onto the table and planted his tiny tentacles firmly against the wooden surface.
Then he began smacking the table.
"Television!"
Tap.
"Television!"
Tap.
"Television!"
Tap.
"Television!"
Serena stared at him.
"Stop."
"No!"
"Stud."
"No television!"
"You're embarrassing me."
"Television!"
The shrine maidens were struggling to contain their laughter.
Some had already lowered their heads toward the table, their shoulders shaking as they tried not to laugh aloud.
Even Tamayo was watching the spectacle with an amused expression.
Serena finally picked up her chopsticks again.
"Ignore him."
"I'M RIGHT HERE!"
Serena continued eating.
Stud continued his tantrum.
For a few moments, the dining hall returned to its usual rhythm, with Stud's complaints becoming little more than background noise.
Then—
A small voice interrupted him.
"Serena?"
Serena stopped.
The chopsticks in her hand remained suspended above her bowl.
The voice had come from behind her.
She slowly turned around.
A young girl stood several steps away.
She appeared to be around Serena's age, perhaps slightly younger. Her short green hair framed her face neatly, with a few loose strands resting against her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and curious, and there was a familiar warmth in her expression.
She wore the same traditional clothing as the other temple residents, although her smaller stature and slightly hesitant posture made her seem younger.
The girl stood there quietly, as though she wasn't completely certain whether she should approach.
Serena blinked.
"...Yes?"
The girl smiled.
"Do you still remember me?"
Serena stared at her.
Something about the girl felt familiar.
Very familiar.
The face.
The eyes.
That small smile.
Even the way she tilted her head when she spoke.
Yet the memory remained just beyond Serena's reach.
Serena lowered her chopsticks.
She studied the girl more carefully.
The longer she looked, the stronger the strange sense of familiarity became.
The girl took another small step forward.
"You don't?"
There was a faint hint of disappointment in her voice.
Serena's expression changed.
"Wait..."
She leaned forward slightly.
The girl's smile returned.
"You remember?"
Serena's eyes widened.
"I..."
She stopped.
Something clicked.
A distant memory surfaced in her mind.
It was old.
Older than most of the memories she carried with her now.
She remembered a younger version of herself running through the temple grounds.
She remembered spending time at the White Fox Temple when she was much younger.
She remembered playing with someone.
Someone who had always followed her around.
Someone who had once been familiar enough that she never needed to question who they were.
Then life had changed.
Her training had intensified.
Her father's protectiveness had grown stronger.
Her visits to the temple had become less frequent.
Eventually, those childhood days had become little more than memories.
Serena slowly stood.
Her eyes remained fixed on the girl.
"...It can't be."
The girl's smile widened.
"It is."
Serena stared at her.
The memory finally came together.
Those eyes.
That smile.
That familiar voice.
There was no mistake.
Serena's expression brightened with disbelief.
"You're..."
The girl smiled warmly.
"It's been a long time, Serena."
Serena couldn't believe it.
After all these years, someone from her childhood was standing right in front of her.
Someone she had thought belonged only to a distant part of her past.
And judging by the girl's expression, Serena wasn't the only one who remembered.
The girl remembered her too.