Chapter 156: The Legend of the Obon Festival
"Ah! Hello, Mom? Is something the matter? ...Am I coming home for the Obon Festival this year? Regarding that, I'll have to think about it... What! I have to come back? Fine, fine, I understand...
"I should bring Chishima-kun too? I get it, I'll ask him... It's not like that, Mom, you shouldn't force people! ...How far has our progress gone?
"Mom! What are you thinking? Do you really think your daughter would be that shameless! ...I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I really am not listening! Don't say another word, I... I've already made my choice with him... Okay, I'm hanging up now, that's enough. I'll send you a message later."
After ending the call with her mother, Shizuka exhaled sharply and rubbed her burning cheeks. Her eyes were wavering with intense emotion. Honestly, what were Mom and Dad thinking? To actually tell me to be more proactive... Am I... am I really that kind of person!?
Even if they want to hold a grandchild soon, hmph, they can just wait. Wait a few more years before bringing that up.
"Shizuka, was that a call from your aunt? What was she talking about? I heard you talking while I was still in the bathroom..."
Akishin, dressed in light blue pajamas and wearing fluffy bear slippers, walked over while drying his hair with a towel and sat down beside Shizuka.
"It was nothing, just..."
Shizuka sat cross-legged on the sofa, her fair legs exposed to the air. A flash of panic flickered in her eyes the moment she saw Akishin, but she regained her composure quickly.
She asked in a hesitant tone, "Do you have any plans for the Obon Festival?"
Shizuka basically knew everything about Akishin's situation. Since this was his hometown, he didn't have to join the Great Migration to return home like everyone else.
His parents had passed away when he was very young, his grandparents from the previous generation had left even earlier, and he had no other relatives. He was truly all alone—of course, this was all information Akishin had told her, and it wasn't a lie; it was the simple truth.
Because of this, she felt she could naturally pull Akishin over to the Hiratsuka household to celebrate the festival without any hesitation.
However, she still felt the need to ask. What if Akishin didn't want to go to the Hiratsuka house for Obon? It wasn't like it was New Year's, after all.
"Plans for the Obon Festival?"
Akishin blinked, momentarily stunned, before smiling. "Didn't I already say? I'm going to accompany you on a stroll, watch the firework display, and also..."
Confess my feelings to you and officially establish our relationship!
Akishin didn't say that last part out loud, but Shizuka understood. She gave him a coy, spoiled look, her face flushing red with embarrassment. "That's just a play-pretend scenario. Do you have any official business?"
This guy is teasing me again. How annoying, annoying... He's clearly not good at flirting, yet he still tries to act all mature. I won't be fooled, I won't, I really won't...
Official business?
Akishin pondered for a moment, reflecting on the meaning of the Obon Festival in Japan, then looked at Shizuka and asked in confusion, "Shizuka-chan, do you mean memorializing the deceased?"
The Obon Festival is one of the three major festivals in Japan. The festival period falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar every year. It is also known as the Obon Gathering—which is the Zhongyuan Festival in China, or the Ghost Festival, a festival to commemorate those who have passed away.
It should be noted that, in a certain sense, the Zhongyuan Festival belongs to Taoism, the Obon Festival belongs to Buddhism, and the Ancestor Worship Festival in mid-July belongs to secular folk traditions. It entered Japan during the Asuka period, and since Buddhism was quite popular in Japan, this festival became highly regarded.
Obon is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word "Ullambana," which originally referred to "saving one from being hung upside down." Buddhist scriptures say the suffering of the deceased is like being hung upside down, thus they must be rescued immediately.
The day of the Obon Festival is the day of that rescue.
Legend has it that Sakyamuni had a disciple named Mulian, who was known for his filial piety.
However, Mulian's mother, Lady Qingti, was a wealthy woman who was stingy and greedy. Every day while her son was away, she would slaughter livestock and eat luxuriously, harboring no good intentions toward her son, let alone performing acts of kindness...
After she died, she was cast into the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering severe punishment.
Mulian dreamed of his mother suffering in hell and couldn't bear it. However, due to the sins his mother committed during her life, she couldn't escape the realm of hungry ghosts. He tried to feed his mother, but before the food could reach her mouth, it turned into burning coals.
Mulian had no other choice, so he pleaded with the Buddha.
The Buddha instructed Mulian to hold an Obon Gathering on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, using the power of monks from the ten directions so that his mother could eat her fill—some also say he took a hundred fruits and five flavors to offer to the hungry ghosts in the ten directions.
Mulian followed the Buddha's instructions, allowing his mother to be freed from the state of a hungry ghost and reborn into the animal realm as a dog. Afterward, Mulian recited sutras for seven days and seven nights for his mother, eventually freeing her from the body of a dog so she could enter the heavenly realm and attain the position of an Asura...
This story tells us the importance of having supporting connections... ah, wait, that's wrong! Since then, the Obon Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar came to be.
In Japanese legend, this day is also when deceased relatives return to reunite with their families. They stay with their family for three days and depart after the third day.
However, since this falls under religious legend, the stories and such might not be entirely accurate, but that isn't very important.
What matters is that the Obon Festival is an official holiday in Japan. Every year around the fifteenth of August in the solar calendar (since Japan changed it), there is a holiday of about one week for everyone to return home and gather with their departed loved ones.
Every year during this period, the population in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka decreases drastically. Transportation becomes incredibly busy as everyone heads to their hometowns.
In Japanese newspapers, there is a specific term to describe this phenomenon: the 'Great National Migration'—it can be considered the Japanese version of the Lunar New Year rush in China.
Of course, Akishin's hometown was right here.
And during those few days, tradition dictated the consumption of vegetarian dishes, so Chishimaya would have to close.
Thus, after receiving instructions from her mother, Shizuka happily agreed. Since she had to go home anyway, leaving Akishin to stay all alone in the house accompanied only by 'the deceased' would be far too cruel!
Ugh, that's not allowed. It's better to let Akishin come home with me to celebrate the festival. There really isn't any other motive...
"That's only one part of it. What I'm asking is whether you have any other official business or not? If you don't... then of course you should celebrate it at my house! Naturally, this is my mother's invitation to you; I'm not forcing you..."
Shizuka's face turned slightly red as she shot a sharp glare at Akishin. This guy is usually quite smart!
Why did he have to become so dense at a time like this?
Akishin, being originally Chinese, thought the Obon Festival might have other important matters involved and was wondering if he had forgotten something.
But after hearing Shizuka's words, he was stunned for a moment before it clicked. So that was it. He let out a light laugh. "Regarding the invitation from your mother, of course I should go. I was actually wondering if Shizuka would be going home or not..."
I thought the data I searched for a few days ago was wrong!
Even though the Obon Festival is a time to reunite with the deceased, it isn't a somber festival. The Japanese tradition is to treat death like life; at that time, there are many joyous activities—traditional dance festivals, palanquin parades, various open stalls, snacks, fireworks, and mountain bonfires...
In reality, it's a day full of excitement, almost the same as the worship festival they attended in Itomori Town back then.
The family that returns to reunite should feel joy, even if they are the ones who have passed away. This doesn't mean a lack of respect; rather, it's an embodiment of appreciation.
Every festival in every country has its differences. You might not like it, but you have no right to judge it, let alone the right to interfere.
The Obon Festival was only two days away, meaning it was very close.
At that time, Akishin would make offerings, pour water, sweep the graves, and release lanterns for the original owner of this body as well as the original owner's parents... This was his promise to the original owner, and it was the only thing he could do for him.
"In that case, fine. Let's celebrate the Obon Festival at your place that day, and then go back to my house two days later."
Shizuka was worried that Akishin would be mourning his parents, and that he would be very sad during that time!
She decided to stay by Akishin's side through that day to tell him: you are no longer alone; you still have me.
Finishing her sentence, Shizuka looked at Akishin's hair, which was still a bit damp. She skillfully picked up a hair dryer, pulled him closer so he was leaning against her thighs, and began to dry his hair with careful, gentle strokes...
...
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
50 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —