Hina finished making paper dolls when a voice said, 'I'm home!'.
Hodaka was astonished to find the owner of it was the boy who was sitting with a girl one after another in the bus.
'Nagi, wash your hands. I'll make a bowl of ramen.' Hina stood up.
The boy was her little brother. Hodaka was jealous of him, he lived with her.
Nagi came back to the kitchen giving him a cold glance.
'Oh, you guys, the first time to see each other, this is my brother, Nagi. Nagi, this is Hodaka. We met at my working place.' Hina looked unperturbed while she lied she was still working.
A blue drop swang on her throat, Hodaka remembered her strange power. He wanted to buy something for her. He determined to ask Suga to pay for his labor. When he went back to Suga's office, a brief sunshine had already gone and the grey clouds were low, the rain started sprinkling.
'Oi, you and Natsumi visit some power spots tomorrow and collect items for my column. Do you eat a cup ramen?' Suga poured boiled water.
'No, thank you. Natsumi-san said it was not healthy to eat a cup ramen. I'll make salad.' Hodaka opened the fridge. A quarter of a cabbage was lying at the bottom. Remembering how Hina cut vegetables, he clumsily held a knife and began cutting.
'Don't cut your fingers. I can't afford your medical insurance.' But Suga's words sounded affectionate.
His salad was not perfect, each piece was not seperated here and there. He put soy sauce in them.
'Not bad. Try some carrots next time. After the data collection about the power spots, I will pay for your work. Oh, don't expect too much. You'll be disappointed at the sum.'
Hodaka didn't care, 'Thank you! I'll do my best doing research.' He was fantasying he would drop by at Hina with a small box in his hand.
Natsumi drove her motorcycle in a light rain to Nagano prefecture. They took many pictures of the power spots. Their last destination was a legendary shrine, its ceiling painting, the rain god was famous. It was suitable for Suga's article of the mystery magazine. The priest was a good old man, he guided around all parts of the building. The best was the dragon painting on the ceiling. His blazing eyes, talons and fangs were full impact. The intensity of the gradation of various grey and indigo colors was marvelous with red for its tongue and gold for those eye balls. The dragon god was dancing in the center of the typhoon and a shrine maiden in white and red kimono was painted at the corner.
'You see the maiden pray for the crops and people. With much rain, we could harvest and celebrate our life.' The priest explained.
'Look at the beautiful carving out of lapis lazuri.' Natsumi fixed her eyes on a stone statue of the dragon near her. Hodaka took some pictures of the ceiling. The shrine maiden reminded him of Hina. He was thinking if he could buy a lapis lazuri blue pendant for her.