Michaelmas

Haruki spent the next few weeks helping out with finishing up all the harvest work. After they finished with all the wheat, there were also some other fall crops and vegetables that they had to harvest.

Finally, around the middle of September all the harvesting for the year was completed. They had made good time this year, although it surely had nothing to do with the little additional assistance that Haruki offered.

As much as he wanted to get the horrible work over with, deep down Haruki dreaded the end of the harvest and didn’t want it to be over.

Johannes had agreed to let him stay until the harvest work was completed. Now it was only a matter of time until he would have to leave and go elsewhere. His only hope was that somebody else would be generous enough to hire a worthless nobody like him.

He had tried to not worry about this for the past couple weeks and only live in the present moment, but his mind always had a way of returning to these negative thoughts and catastrophizing about the worst possible outcomes.

Unlike in his previous life, nothing in this world was guaranteed for him, it was down to the whims of fate whether he’d live to see another day. There is nobody there to catch him if he falls down; the fact that Johannes had saved him that one time was sheer luck, not something he could ever count on happening again.

The night after the harvest work was all completed, Haruki decided to finally ask his two hosts about it.

“So I was wondering… now that we’re all done with the harvest, if that means it’s time for me to go,” Haruki said, hesitantly.

“Well, you’re always free to go whenever you want,” Johannes responded. “However, everyone who helps out in the harvest also has the right to attend Michaelmas.”

“Michaelmas…?” Haruki had never heard of this before.

“A couple of the local villages get together each year to throw a big harvest festival at the end of September!” Lillianna exclaimed, a glow of excitement visible in her eyes. “There will be lots of food, games, and music!”

“Michaelmas is our reward every year after completin’ all the hard work during the harvest, you deserve to attend it just as much as anybody else,” Johannes said.

Haruki was very happy to hear this news. He wasn’t expecting to get to stay another couple weeks, let alone be invited to a festival. Though, he couldn’t help but wonder why the holiday is called that.

“So, who exactly is Michael?” Haruki asked.

“I dunno, some god or hero or something,” Lillianna said. “Michael isn’t really what matters though; Michaelmas is all about having a good time. It’s tons of fun, I bet you’ll enjoy it!”

“Sure, I’d be very happy to go, if that’s alright with you two.”

“Of course, son. You’ve earned it just like everyone else,” Johannes said. “However, all of us will have to help out with the preparations over the next couple weeks, and we’ve still got plenty of farm chores around here too.”

“I’d be glad to help!” Haruki replied.

The next two weeks were spent preparing for the festival, as everyone in the area was expected to contribute. Before they knew it, the day of the festival soon arrived. The three of them dressed in their finest clothes (which weren’t that fine) and headed off.

It was late evening by the time they arrived at the festival, and the merriment was already in full swing.

There were rows of booths lined up offering a variety of games, food, and of course—alcohol. Music could be heard emanating from a large building in the center, wafting over the surrounding grounds.

The atmosphere was lively and cheerful, children scurried around their feet and there were already several lads drunkenly singing.

The smells of a hundred different foods simultaneously assaulted their senses. Johannes immediately headed off for the alcohol, while Haruki stuck with Lillianna and they got caramel apples.

They made their way around together, sampling various foods and observing all the different festivities. At one tent several couples were bobbing for apples together, at another booth families were playing a game of trying to knock over bottles by throwing little balls.

Haruki thought this all looked remarkably similar to the Japanese festivals that always managed to make an appearance in one episode of every slice of life anime. He’d been to a couple as a child himself, but was never particularly keen on social events like that once he got older.

“Hey!” They heard a loud voice through the noise of the crowd. They turned around and saw Rudolph waving as he approached them.

Haruki sighed. Just when I’m alone with Lillianna, Mr. Adonis shows up.

“It’s nice to run into you two here,” the big man said.

“It’s good to see you too,” Lillianna said, cheerily.

“Likewise,” added Haruki, not particularly enthused by his appearance.

The three of them continued around the festival together, sampling the food and games. Lillianna and Rudolph chatted together excitedly the whole time, while Haruki mostly just walked silently behind them, his mood dampened by this unexpected third wheel.

Surely a tall and strong man like Rudolph is the type of guy she’d be interested in, Haruki thought to himself. Compared to him, I’ve got nothing.

As the sun set the lanterns flicked on, lighting up the festival in the darkness.

After they’d finally had their fill of the food and games around the festival, they headed to the large building in the center.

The music got louder as they approached the dance hall, the energy of the people moving around inside poured out through the doors, wrapping around them and pulling them inside.

Inside the large barn were at least 50 people, half formed a large ring around the outside clapping to the music, while the other half danced in pairs in the center. A small group of musicians were up on a stage opposite of the entrance, all playing stringed instruments.

Their music was unexpectedly loud and fast-paced. It didn’t sound at all like what you’d expect from medieval rustic music, it sounded more as if a modern pop song was being played with fiddles and drums. One musician was even playing a hurdy-gurdy.

They made their way to the inside of the circle to watch the dancers.

It’s a wonder that they can dance so energetically in front of all the other people, Haruki thought. If I were in there, I'd be too afraid of messing up and embarrassing myself in front of everyone else. 

As the song slowed down to a stop, the dancers took a short break before the next piece began.

“Alright, which of you two want to dance with me?” Lillianna asked.