"Temple... Temple Nissan. The little girl stood timidly at the door, raised her head and wanted to look, but she didn't dare to look at Beichuan Temple, so she had to scream softly in a thin and soft voice.

"Hmm." Kitagawa Temple nodded and raised the oden in his hand, "I was a little hungry just now, Eri, do you want to eat some?" ”

"No, no. I just heard a movement at the door and door, so I went downstairs to take a look, good night, Monastery Nissan. ”

The little girl bowed deeply to Beichuan Temple, and when she was done, she fled upstairs like a frightened little mouse.

Looking at the back of the other party going upstairs in a hurry, Beichuan Temple just looked indifferent, and calmly closed the door and came to the living room.

In the living room, a middle-aged man with gentle pale cheeks is looking at the Beichuan Temple in stride.

"Temple, how many times have I told you, don't go out so late, what is Eri scared? You're an older brother, so you have to protect Eri. The middle-aged man knocked on the table in front of him and said in a half-reproachful tone.

The middle-aged man sitting at the table was Kitagawa Temple's father, Kenichi Kitagawa.

"I know, it won't be like this in the future." Kitagawa Temple wiped the table with a rag, and then took out the oden that was still steaming:

"Do you want to eat?"

"Ahh Oden, that's my favorite eater. ”

Kitagawa laughed.

"Hmm." Kitagawa Temple responded softly and put the oden down.

"Although it's winter vacation recently, you can't relax at the temple, you have to complete all the homework that should be completed, and remember to take Eri to the New Year's worship when you have time."

"Okay." These are just small things, and of course Beichuan Temple has to agree.

But Kitagawa Kenichi is like a little girl, big and small things have to be nagged with Kitagawa Temple, and after Kitagawa Temple answered a few times in succession, he no longer responded, and turned his back to listen to the other party quietly.

The other party's words are probably some of the words that parents will talk about when they are separated - remember to cover the quilt, eat and eat regularly, the temperature plummets, and you need to add clothes...

Kitagawa Temple listened carefully.

Suddenly, Kenichi Kitagawa's voice stopped.

"Temple."

"Huh?" Beichuan Temple listened to the call behind him, and the action of opening the shrine was also stagnant.

"Later... I'll leave this home to you. ”

“......”

"I'm sorry... Father... So useless. Kenichi Kitagawa's voice faded in.

“......”

"In the past few years... I'm so sorry for you, and I've worked hard for you. ”

“...... I've never felt like I've had a hard time. ”

After being silent for a long time, Beichuan Temple finally spoke, and his expression was still calm.

This is the truth, although the predecessor was confused and sad, he never felt that he had worked hard.

"Actually, there's a lot more I want to say... But time was running out. ”

Ken Kitagawa burst into tears as he spoke, and he couldn't stop crying.

He didn't wish time had slowed down until now, slower, slower, and let him say a few more words—

"I, I... Love you... We..."

Kenichi Kitagawa behind him gradually lengthened, swirled, tore, and disappeared.

Kitagawa Temple took a deep breath and raised his hand to open the small shrine.

Above the shrine is a black and white photograph. Kenichi Kitagawa in the photo is smiling gently, just like just now.

The oden is placed next to the shrine, and it is still a little hot, which makes people feel appetizing.

This is Kenichi Kitagawa's favorite food to eat.

After looking at Kenichi Kitagawa for a few minutes, Kitagawa Temple took out the chime that he had often wiped, took a thin hammer, and tapped it.

Zheng –

After a burst of Sanskrit sounds, Beichuan Temple inserted the incense offering lit in his hand into the incense burner, closed his eyes and concentrated.

A few years ago, Kenichi Kitagawa died in a traffic accident, and the Kitagawa family received a large amount of compensation, but they also lost the breadwinner of the family. Perhaps it was from that day that Kenichi Kitagawa has been waiting by the shrine, quietly guarding the family.

The reason why the hanging girl on the ceiling, the ghost shadow by the mirror of the washstand, and the wriggling pieces of meat at the dining table have not hurt Kitagawa Eri and Kitagawa Temple all the time, and there should be his efforts.

Some people often complain about their parents, feeling that they are in charge of everything and have no freedom for themselves.

But time flies so fast. Often when you are not paying attention, the sound that is often in your ears has disappeared unconsciously.

Son, want to raise but don't wait.

Kitagawa Temple sat quietly on the cushion, and did not make the slightest sound.

Temple Nissan...

I don't know when, Eri Kitagawa who has gone and returned, is hiding by the door of the living room with a complicated face, secretly watching Kitagawa Temple.

She sighed deeply.

Since Kenichi Kitagawa passed away, Kitagawa Temple, which didn't talk much, has become even more silent, and his mother's work as a designer abroad is really busy, so he hasn't noticed the changes in Kitagawa Temple.

This change has been until high school, and the situation in Beichuan Temple has intensified, and Cheng Tian has a gloomy face, silent and doesn't know what she is thinking, and even her younger sister can't say a few words to Beichuan Temple.

In such a situation, Eri Kitagawa didn't dare to touch the moldy head of Kitagawa Temple, and when he saw him, he would retreat three points, and he was extremely well-behaved.

But they are always brothers and sisters who are related by blood, and Kitagawa Temple is sad, and she will also worry about it.

But recently, Beichuan Temple doesn't know what's going on, and when I see her, I will take the initiative to say hello. Will take the initiative to help with household chores.

It feels like a sudden change of person, the other party's whole person is a little less gloomy, and there is more of a unique sense of youth coldness.

And while Eri Kitagawa was thinking about these things, Kitagawa Temple, which had been sitting quietly, suddenly opened his eyes and looked sideways.

"Eri, are you free tomorrow morning? If we have time, we will go to the New Year's shrine tomorrow. ”

"Huh?" Eri Kitagawa widened her eyes, not expecting Kitagawa Temple to say this.

"My father died in a traffic accident a few years ago, and no matter how sad it is, it should be over."

The voice of Kitagawa Temple is still steady.

"The Beichuan family still has you, me, and my mother. The Beichuan family has not collapsed yet. ”

Ignoring the stunned Beichuan Eri, Bai Fan just turned around silently and lit a bouquet of long incense again.

Where do people go when they die?

Kitagawa Temple is not clear.

But those who are immersed in the sorrows of the past will not be able to take steps again, just like the previous ones.

Kitagawa Temple promised Kitagawa Kenichi that he would shoulder the Kitagawa family, so he had to do it.

In life, there are always one or two conventions that cannot be broken.

In that case, let's start with a New Year's visit.

"I... I have time tomorrow! Looking at the figure with her back straight in front of the shrine, Kitagawa Eri only felt that there seemed to be a place in her heart that had been touched, she clenched her fists hard, and took the initiative to invite for the first time.

"Monastery Nissan, tomorrow... Let's go to the New Year's shrine together! ”

"Hmm."

After hearing Kitagawa Eri's answer, Kitagawa Temple nodded, and he looked up at the gentle smoke that lingered on Nagaka-

Have a safe trip.