“Tomorrow I have to go patrol around the foot of the mountain.”
If no one comes, that’s great, but I have to warn anyone that does. But can I do that? I’m kind of anxious. If they don’t listen to me, I’ll have no choice but to call the police box in the village. Coming into private property without permission is unlawful entry.
I have a few no trespassing signs on the other side of the fence. Entering a place where entry is clearly stated to be prohibited without a valid reason falls under item thirty-two of the first article of the minor offenses act. Also, taking living things growing on the mountain is theft (criminal law article two hundred thirty-five).
There are things that have monetary value, but the rest is forest theft, which falls under article one hundred ninety-seven. Be careful when you go to a mountain. Who am I talking to?
“I’m going to pick wild vegetables tomorrow.”
Pops says over the phone, and I tell him yes without even needing to think about it. It’s fine if someone has permission. It’s not just pops either, other people I know can come pick things, and I don’t mind. I don’t even know how to cook or prepare them anyway.
It’s the second day of the golden weak, and I’m patrolling like I was planning.
And as I do that, I get a call from pops.
“I picked bamboo shoots, so come by tomorrow.”
He says. Apparently they can be picked at the start of May. It depends on the location though. Yes… There’s a bamboo thicket close to the foot of my mountain. I think it’s around the border with Aikawa’s.
We talked about that border yesterday, but suffice to say, we couldn’t agree on anything precise. There are signs in some places warning of dangerous animals, no trespassing, and warning about bees and stuff like that, but Aikawa’s snakes eat the pit vipers. Do snakes eat other snakes? I guess they do. I’m pretty sure those two snakes are the real dangerous animals though.
It’s tough, because if some stranger trespassed and my chickens hurt them, I’d be the one who would be liable. But it’d be hard to put up a fence around the whole mountain too. I thought owning mountains would be nice and easy, but the owner has a lot to take care of.
But I like these mountains. Looking after them isn’t easy, but I can get by with my chickens.
And as I start to get emotional, I’m contacted through Line. It’s Katsuragi.
“…Yes?”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I don’t know who else to ask! Please! Come here… Help!”
My mind goes blank. She sounds like she’s in trouble.
“…All right, where? I’ll go as fast as I…”
“My mountain. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
“…It’s fine, just calm down. What about the people in the village that were looking after you?”
“…I can’t ask them. I’m sorry.”
“Okay. I’m on my way.”
It sounded like Katsuragi was in a state of panic. I doubt it was just trespassing, considering how panicked she was. I turn to the other side of the fence.
“I’m going to Katsuragi’s place. What about you guys?”
I ask my chickens, and Tama and Yuma step forward. I guess these two will be coming along.
“All right Pochi. Patrol around here.”
Pochi raises its head high. It’s like it’s saying I can count on it. My chickens are so reliable.
After taking the mini truck outside the fence, I make sure to lock it, and leave a note saying to call if someone has any business with me. Well, not that I think anyone will come, but just in case.
Tama and Yuma hop on the passenger seat, and I message Katsuragi on Line. And then, I’m off.
I was already around the foot of the mountain anyway, so I don’t have to rush too much to get there quickly. I say that, but it actually takes me ten minutes to reach her chain-link fence.
I get down from the mini truck when I reach it and check the smartphone. Apparently it’s open. Yes, it’s hard to tell unless you look at it closely, but it is.
After taking the mini truck inside, I lock it. I just somehow feel like I should.
“I should’ve asked.”
I always mess up the small details. But I don’t have time to chastise myself.
Like she said before, Katsuragi’s mountain is steeper than mine. The land from the east to the north of this mountain is like a gently sloping hill, and apparently Katsuragi owns it too. Does she also own two mountains then? Is what I think about as I drive, until I reach a somewhat open area.
I see a compact house, so apparently I’ve reached my destination.
When I stop the mini truck, Katsuragi comes running out.
“Sorry! I made you come all the way here… I’m sorry!”
She bows, looking really apologetic. I’m sure it must’ve been unavoidable.
“Don’t worry about it, just tell me what happened.”
“Ah… Hum…”
She’s trembling a lot. Her house has a veranda, so I ask her if we can sit down.
“Katsuragi, where’s Tatsuki?”
“Ah… Next to the house…”
The dragon is in the shade. Its sheer size is bad for the heart if you’re not aware of it.
“Hello Tatsuki. Thanks for having me. Can my chickens go eat bugs?”
The dragon opens its eyes slightly, and lightly nods. I figured I should greet it, since it’s undoubtedly at the top of the ecosystem of this mountain. And Aikawa’s snakes are at the top of theirs. I think the same could be said for my chickens. Well, I’m pretty much just copying what Aikawa did yesterday, when he asked for permission.
“Tama, Yuma, you can go.”
I open the door to the passenger seat, and the two chickens come down. They look at the dragon from a distance, and after coming to some sort of understanding, the chickens start walking around the house.
Then I notice that I’m completely ignoring Katsuragi, so I turn to her.
She’s crying for some reason.
“…Thank you… Thank you… I’m sorry…”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing.”
Something really strange must’ve happened. And so, Katsuragi and I sit on the veranda, with some distance between us.
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