The sun was shining over the trees, and the fresh breeze carried a scent that seemed nostalgic to the lovely couple.
"I remember coming here with Tsukasa and Okudera-senpai a while back, but I never thought that air here was so fresh!"
Mitsuha looks back at him, hiking stick in hand, "Walk a little faster. I'm the only one between us who knows their way around here, and I'll damned if you get lost under my hands."
Like a bulter addressing his madam properly, Taki politely answers, "Yes, Miyamizu-san, I will stick by you closely!"
Inching onward, the terrain began slowly getting steeper, as well as Taki's pace. He clasps his knees, trying to hold his weight. He regains his composure, and wipes the river of sweat on his face.
"How are you so fit?" He says as he heaves to catch his breath, "I thought I was in good shape, but you're an animal, Mitsuha!"
"I told you I was in a basketball team, remember?"
Suddenly Taki gets a flashback. From his point of view, Taki was dribbling a ball across the court, blindingly passing by the defense. With the basket straight ahead, Taki takes two dribbles before raising his arm for a layup. The crowd went in an uproar. His teammates gathered to congratulate him. He couldn't help but notice that his teammates were all girls. His chest bounced as the team were jumping up and down in celebration. He brushed his hair back and grabbed on what seemed to be a ponytail. He pulls his hair to his face. It was soft to the touch, and shined a dark, black hue. Though he was sweaty, his hair smelled rather pleasant. It was familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He turns around to face the audience. All the boys seem to be staring at him. Others were chanting "Mitsuha, you're so kawaii!" Furious, Taki couldn't help himself and yelled out to the crowd.
"Oi, you bastards! Don't stare at a winner, especially when her boyfriend can kick your ass!" Rather than a receptive crowd, a lone squirrel was starring Taki in the face, tilting his small, round head in confusion.
"Eh?"
"What are you doing? We're not gonna reach the shrine before sunset if you're goofing off like that. Let's go!"
Taki looks back at the squirrel pointing his two finger towards the squirrel, "I'm watching you!" Threatened, the squirrel proceeds to throw the berry it was holding at Taki. All Taki could do was walk away and wipe his face in shame.
The two sat down for lunch underneath the shade of an old tree. Afar, Taki can see the Miyamizu shrine. From the outside it looked like a boulder that was naturally guarded by the stream that wraps around it. Taki can't help but be impressed at the grandeur of this place. He took a deep breath to soak it all in. Despite Tokyo being only a few hours away, to him the mountains were like a completely different domain whose contents were not tampered by mankind's endeavors, but respected.
"Here," Mistuha hands him a drink. Taki gulps the iced tea. The cool, dark taste quenches and refreshes the weary traveler. "Actually, Oba-chan used to say that sharing a drink is Musubi."
"Can I have some too?" a familiar voice calls out to Taki.
"Sure" Taki turns to hand his drink, "Yotsuha!" he yells out in shock. By his side was young Yotsuha holding out her hands, waiting for him to give her the cup of iced tea. He turns neck to see Oba-chan right in front of him smiling.
"That is also Musubi." she says happily
"But I thought your old bones make it hard for you to walk here?"
"Taki-kun? Taki-kun?" Taki looks at Mitsuha.
A puzzled Mitsuha looks at her boyfriend "Taki-kun, are you alright?" Concerned, she places the back of her hand on his forehead. "The heat shouldn't affect you, it's autumn." Taki gently removes her hand from his forehead.
"Yeah, I just saw something familiar."
The two continue their journey to the shrine. Once inside both of them shined their flashlights at the altar that stood before them.
"So this is it, huh?"
"Yup, this is where I offer my saliva sake to the gods," Mitsuha says proudly.
Taki strokes his chin in curiosity, "I wonder how kuchikamizake taste like?"
Mistuha couldn't but picture herself on a billboard, shaman robe and all, selling her saliva liquor. The thought of her loved ones congratulating her on her strange, but lucrative success made her blush. "It breaks the Liquor Tax Law!"
"What?" Taki tilted his head confused by his girlfriend's response. Mitsuha's face became even more red.
"Nevermind what I said, let's go back to the top of the crater. I want to see the sun set before we go home."
"Yes, my kuchimaizake princess"
Face puffed with embarrassment, Mitsuha takes the lead, when she suddenly missteps on a slippery rock. Everything went black...
Mitsuha opens her eyes. Everything seemed blurry at first, but she was able to recall where she was. A sharp pain radiated from her head. As she held her hand, she noticed something was off.