Purple hydrangea, hibiscus and gentian;

golden malachite and calendula;

A bunch of red, pink peonies, four-color peonies, pure white gardenias and lilies.

Wearing a white floral kimono and a long and gorgeous black kimono coat, Mrs. Kujo stood on the dripping eaves and admired the garden in the rainy season.

The sound of kimono sleeves swaying came from behind.

She didn't look back and said softly: "It's that time of year again."

Kujo Miki took a step forward and stood a palm's length behind her mother, looking at the garden that could almost be called a maze.

His eyes swept over most of the flowers, and finally landed on the rose.

Starting from White Day this year, Jimbocho Villa will receive a bouquet of roses every day.

There was also the May rose that her mother used to take a bath. When she opened her eyes, Toru Watanabe took it to her bedside, and the two of them hid under the quilt and smelled it.

She also wore a kimono, wisteria color, with the Kujo family crest embroidered in gold thread on the back.

The mother and daughter stood together, with the servant standing far behind. From a distance, it looked like an ancient aristocratic ukiyo-e.

The sense of beauty was broken by the thumping of heavy footsteps.

"Master, Miss," Kujo Shinsuke stopped two meters away, "All preparations for the ceremony have been made, and the monks from Kyoto have been arranged at Gotokuji Temple."

"Thank you for your hard work." Mrs. Kujo said calmly.

Kujo Shinji remained silent and bowed silently.

The rain was pouring, and there was a faint mist in the yard, which was covered in white. The white flowers were the first to hide themselves.

"There is something else I want you to do."

"yes."

◇

June 19th, Saturday.

It was sunny for two days this week, and then it started to rain again on Saturday and Sunday.

"I can't go today, please take leave." Toru Watanabe called Rin Kiyono.

"Reason?" On the other side of the phone, Qingye Rin stopped dressing.

"Miki asked me to go there because it seems to be the anniversary of the death of the previous head of the Kujo family."

Kiyono Rin continued to put on his clothes: "You are not related by blood to the Kujo family, and you are not married by marriage. What are you going to do?"

"Gathering together the number of people?"

"I see."

There was nothing to say next, but the call did not hang up.

Watanabe Toru looked at the Meiji Shrine forest in the rain, listening to the sound of hands reaching into sleeves, pleated skirts being zipped, and bows being tightened on the phone.

After Qingye Rin got dressed, he said coldly and softly: "Pervert."

"Beep", she hung up the phone.

"I don't believe you don't know that the phone has not hung up." Watanabe Toru said to Meiyu.

After taking a shower and changing clothes, he left a note on the table for Asuka Mai, who was still sleeping.

"Go to Miki's house and tell Mr. Koizumi for me, Watanabe."

Put the pen down on the paper, pick up the [umbrella] and go out.

This was the first time he went to the Kujo family's mansion alone. In the past, either Kujo Miki would come to pick him up, or he would go to Jimbocho first, and then the two of them would go together.

The taxi parked at the bottom of a steep slope. Beyond that was a private residential area and driving was prohibited.

Toru Watanabe paid the fare and climbed up the hill alone holding an umbrella.

Going up the slope, I saw the deep courtyard of the Kujo family, with majestic walls and lush green branches and leaves inside.

There were many cars parked at the front entrance, and many men in black suits and women in plain kimonos entered the house.

Watanabe Toru walked over and these people quickly greeted him.

Once inside, Tetsu Watanabe didn't go to the lobby, but ran to Miki Kujo's bedroom first.

She slept here last night and must not have gotten up yet, and every time he comes here, he must be asked to change into a kimono - the one he will wear today is probably already hanging on the kimono rack.

Pushing the door into the bedroom, Toru Watanabe was a little surprised when there was no one there.

But on the kimono shelf, there was a kimono prepared for him.

When I was taking off my clothes and getting ready to change, the door opened.

"You scared me!" Toru Watanabe took off his pants and put them back on.

"You are so afraid of me, what have you done to make me sorry?" Kujo Miki closed the door and walked over.

"My body belongs to Miki, so of course it must be protected." Toru Watanabe took off his kimono and put it on one by one.

"That's nice to say." Kujo Miki put her hands around his waist and tied his belt.

After putting it on, Toru Watanabe noticed that his piece also had the crest of the Kujo family.

"This is?"

"From now on, you will be a member of my Kujo family." Kujo Meiji helped him arrange the undergarment collar and black feather fabric, "Let's go, honey."

"When you put on your kimono, shouldn't you be called prince or something like that?" Toru Watanabe hugged Miki Kujo as she turned to go out.

"let go!"

"You look really good in this black kimono. It's different from before."

Kujo Miki patted the hand he put into the front of her kimono: "Don't mess it up!"

"Then use the same posture as last time?"

"Today is the death anniversary!"

"oh."

"Listen to me!"

Watanabe Toru originally wanted to fight quickly, but Kujo Miki simply let go after playing with it.

After the two of them took a shower, put on their kimonos again, and slowly arrived at the Buddhist hall, it was already past ten in the morning.

The Kujo family's private Buddhist hall is as big as a tourist attraction, grand and splendid.

Sandalwood curls, the sound of wooden fish comes and goes, and dozens of monks chant in unison.

In front of the Buddhist hall, relatives of the Kujo family, whom they had met once during the Chinese New Year, were kneeling and sitting there.

Watanabe Toru followed Miki Kujo to the front and knelt down next to Mrs. Kujo.

"Good morning, mother." Toru Watanabe lowered his head to greet her.

Mrs. Kujo slowly opened her eyes, glanced at him, and just nodded slightly.

At this time, she was completely different from the one who drove a car, wore jeans and a baseball uniform. She had the same beautiful face, but it gave people the impression that they were two different people.

The ritual ceremony officially started at eleven o'clock and lasted for the entire day. It was only during dinner that Toru Watanabe had time to rest.

"We will continue at night." Miki Kujo said in the bedroom.

"Still kneeling?" Toru Watanabe said in surprise, "I have never knelt for so long in my life!"

"Get used to it as soon as possible, you will have to kneel for a long time in the next life." Kujo Miki leaned on the elbow table, looking also tired.

"I'll give you a massage." As long as Miki Kujo nodded, Toru Watanabe immediately redeemed this month's [Massage] skill.

Because of her previous "massage" routine, Kujo Miki, who had obviously misunderstood, waved her hand: "Don't bother me. Go out and walk around by yourself. I'll take a nap."

"I'm serious."

Kujo Miki said nothing and closed her eyes to prepare for sleep. Watanabe Toru had no choice but to go out.

The plum rain is still falling outside. Compared with when it came in the morning, it is neither heavier nor lighter.

How amazing is nature to be able to control the amount of rainfall for such a long period of time - Toru Watanabe stood under the eaves in front of Kujo Mihime's house, because he had nothing to do, and began to think wildly.

"Master, Master Watanabe!"

Watanabe Toru withdrew his gaze and looked at the source of the voice: "Uncle Shinsuke."

Calling each other by name does not depend on how close the two are. Just like what Rin Kiyono said during a family trip: 'The Kujo family is all Kujo. If you don't call each other by name, you won't know who to call.'

Kujo Shinsuke also wore a kimono, which was quite stylish, but compared with Toru Watanabe, who said "everything suits him", he was far from it.

"Thank you for your hard work today!" Shinsuke Kujo said enthusiastically.

"where."

"There's still an hour until the start. Do you want to go out and get some fresh air?"
To be continued...