Stories Not Forgotten

The discussion happening in the usually peaceful corner of the room was drawing the attention of several girls in the class. It was not particularly heated or charged in any way; it was just because conversation in that corner had not happened all year.

“I am worried about not checking my shrines,” Sae was adamant about the issue.

Kaho tried to calm her down a bit. “If we find out some new information, it could lead to new research.”

This made Sae pause and consider for a moment. She was not looking particularly comfortable with either idea. She clearly wanted to both check her shrines and get the new information.

“There are not many markers to check this weekend,” Kaho, sensing the issue, said. “Can’t we just check the shrines on Saturday?”

Sae finally nodded. “That is probably the best solution.”

The girls who had been watching had stunned looks on their faces.

“She is willing to talk to others?” one girl said quietly to the others.

Sae and Kaho paid them no attention; preparing to interview the town elders was too important.

Sae looked at Kaho as they exited the school. Kaho was looking at her expectantly.

“You didn’t plan out who to talk to, did you?” Sae asked.

Kaho shook her head. “I figured you have lived in this town all your life, so…”

Sae did not really do anything aside from her research, so she had to pause and think for a moment. She looked out at the town, going over her mental notes.

Farmer: Always waves.

Store: Friendly lady.

Grandma’s friend: Taught how to carve.

Postman: No longer works.

Shrine: …

“The shrine probably makes the most sense,” Sae finally settled on. “The keeper there is an elder who works with legends herself.”

Kaho started to head out. “Great, let’s go!”

She was a little too excited. Sae had forgotten she had spent every day with her since moving to town. She did not know where she was going.

“The shrine is this way,” Sae pointed to a road other than their usual one.

“Oh.” Kaho did not lose her enthusiasm as she turned to the new direction.

As they crossed the threshold of the torii gate, a long pathway stretched before them. Kaho was amazed by the sight. A low-hanging tree held its blazing leaves like a frame for the modest wooden structure at the end of the path. She took out a notebook and started to take notes.

Sae looked at Kaho, surprised at her preparing for the interview already. She took out her notebook and prepped for the interview.

The shrine keeper offered her guests some tea before sitting down across from them.

“An interview,” she pondered. “Are you from the school newspaper?”

Kaho took the lead. “No, she is a cryp…gist.”

“Cryptozoologist,” Sae helped her out.

Kaho nodded. “She has been researching Mori-no-otosan for many years now.”

“We thought you might have new information on them.” Sae felt the explanation was getting too long.

“Mori-no-otosan, I do not remember the last time someone asked about them,” the shrine lady smiled with the knowledge that the old legends were not forgotten.

“We still give offerings of rice to them at first snowfall here at the shrine,” she continued.

Sae noticed Kaho was writing everything the shrine keeper had to say. She looked down at her simple notes.

Rice. First snow.

She wondered if she was missing something.

After the tale at the shrine was finished, Sae guided Kaho to see the old postman. He was retired but knew a lot of local legends.

The retired postman sat at his table. He offered up some fresh fruit. Few people came to visit him in those days. He was happy to have guests, even if it was for an interview.

“Mori-no-otosan, eh,” the postman said as if thinking.

The two girls in front of him sat with patience as he thought about the local lore. When he finally spoke, it was more of a personal story than any real information, to Sae’s disappointment.

“I got lost one day when trying to cut through the woods,” he started off. “That is when a shadowy figure guided me to the very road I was trying to reach without a word spoken.”

Kaho was still writing everything down. Sae could not help but wonder how any of this could help her with her research. After some time, the old postman finished his story and guided the young girls out.

The two girls turned to bow after leaving the house.

“Thank you, Oji-sama.” Kaho seemed quite pleased with his story.

As they made their way to the road, Sae could not help but ask, “What are you taking notes for?”

“I am going to preserve the Mori-no-otosan online,” Kaho stated. “I like to write stories, and they help people, right? They deserve to not be forgotten.”

Sae could not argue. She too, felt it was a shame the younger generations had forgotten her savior.

After visiting the store and workshop, the two girls made their way to the final elder on Sae’s list. Sae and Kaho, each in their own way, showing quiet satisfaction with their findings so far.

The farmer was pointing to the west just south of the mountain. “The clearing where the Mori-no-otosan gather is over in that direction.”

“Oji-san, I should have talked to you sooner,” Sae said in a rare admission.

She studied her notes with satisfaction.

Shrine: Rice. First snow.

Postman: .

Store: Hate water. Warn travelers.

Woodcutter: Wooden toy offerings.

Farmer: Gather in clearing.

Two new offerings, two new actionable leads; this was a successful day.

Sae waved at the farmer, and the farmer waved back; Kaho giggled a little.

Almost like we are just walking by as usual.

They took their new intel and headed towards the forest entrance.

As they entered the forest, the leaves waved excitedly at them. Sae waved back before switching to her happy skip, usually reserved for the road to the forest.

Kaho could not help but notice the shift in demeanor.

She got something out of the interviews.

The thought brought a smile to Kaho’s face as well, and she joined in the skipping.

The girls took out their notebooks and studied them on the twig-woven bed. Sae’s notes fit on one page. Kaho had used up almost the entire notebook. Sae looked at it with a level of distrust, like a small bit of chaos intruding on her carefully organized base.

“That was a lot of information,” Kaho did not try to hide her excitement.

Sae looked back at her notes and nodded.

“We got two actionable pieces of information,” Sae seemed particularly pleased about the first, “and two new offerings to try.”

“And I got enough info to hopefully draw public interest to the Mori-no-otosan.” Kaho was dancing in her seat.

“We will do the shrines tomorrow,” Sae was not willing to give up that task.

“Of course, and try to get the investigations done too.” Kaho had already planned ahead. “Sunday, we will find a river near the clearing so we can keep an eye on both.”

Sae looked up at her map, two birds and one twig. Birds missing for one day are not uncommon; they can easily be checked on. The twig might take some time, typically the ground cover is not destroyed like that.

It was doable. They would have to spend the evening investigating though.

“We will need to do our schoolwork on Sunday night,” Sae noted.

Kaho checked how sturdy the bed was before concluding, “We should stay here Saturday night, so we can get to the clearing earlier.”

Sae looked at her bed. She had slept in it before, but was not sure if it could hold two people comfortably. The prospect of getting to the field early could make it worth it, though. She nodded in agreement with the idea.

“This will ensure we get our schoolwork done,” she came to her own conclusion.

Kaho had recalled in that moment: she did warn me before about grades and not being able to go to the forest.

“Well, then it is a plan.” Kaho buried herself back into her notes.

Sae was still unsure how she would ever organize that mess.