Kamiyagawa had planned to talk specifically about the details of his desire to take over custody of Zashiki.

However, Ms. Natsuki's expression recovered from her trance, and she opened her mouth before him:

"Kamiya-san, is that bell really Zashiki-sama?"

"Zashiki...... My lord? Kamiyagawa raised an eyebrow, "Well, yes." ”

"No wonder." Natsuki showed an inexplicable expression of relief.

She thought back to some of her childhood memories.

If it's Zashiki-sama, then everything that is happening to your family now makes sense.

Natsuki continued to ask, "Do you want to bring Zashiki-sama to the house?" ”

"Hmm."

"I'm probably not qualified to ask, but will you treat Zashiki-sama well?"

"Hmm." Kamiyagawa couldn't figure out what the little flat-headed mother was trying to do, but he still nodded.

"I see."

"Huh?" Now it was Kamiyagawa's turn to be confused, "Aunt Natsuki, I don't understand what you mean......"

"That's ......" Natsuki helped her hearing aid and smiled a little bleakly, "You take that bell away." ”

Kamiyagawa: ?

On the way to Nagatomo's house, Kamiya almost typed a draft of nearly 800 words.

I plan to move it with affection and reason, and use an impassioned essay to give a speech, lay out the facts, and reason to persuade the mother of the elder friend to hand over the boy to herself.

But that's it!?

Auntie, are you a little too understanding?

I haven't started talking about anything yet!

Do you really not think about listening to me first?

"As you can see, Kamiya-kun." Ms. Natsuki spoke again, "My family can't receive Zashiki-sama anymore, and even if I don't take her away, she will leave by herself." ”

Nagatomo's home—

The furnishings are messy, the money is scattered, the family is not in harmony, and everyone's face is gloomy......

Zashiki boy.

The legendary god of good fortune, the guardian god of the house.

Legend has it that the family that lived in Zashiki would be protected by this little yokai and become prosperous.

But if there are people in that family who are lazy and don't want to make progress, and only think about getting something for nothing.

The shelter of the seat will be gone.

Families who have lost their protection will suffer bad luck, their money will be scattered, and their families will be discordant.

In the end, Zashiki will also be disappointed and leave to find the next suitable family to live in.

……

That was a long time ago, about 80 years ago.

The protagonist of the story is called Taro Kono.

It is a child who lives in Iwate Prefecture, the birthplace of the Zashiki legend.

Taro has no father since he was a child, and he lives with his mother.

My mother had to work in the fields during the day and earn a small amount of money by doing needlework at night. In order to provide food and clothing for the mother and son, as well as Taro's tuition.

But fortunately, Taro is a well-behaved child.

He studied as hard as his mother wanted, and every day when he came home, he would tell his mother interesting things that happened at school, and rub his shoulders for his mother, who was still doing needlework at night.

The mother and son live in poverty but happily.

Until a certain day.

Taro, who came home from school, asked with great interest, "Mom, you won't quietly give birth to a sister for me, will you?" ”

When the mother heard this, she laughed out loud: "It's not easy to raise you, where can I raise another sister?" ”

"And who's that girl in the corner?" Taro pointed to a corner of the house.

Mother looked in the direction Taro pointed, it was empty and there was nothing.

"Taro, tell mom what that girl looks like."

"Wearing a red kimono and a doll head, she looks a little smaller than me and looks cute!" Taro described it truthfully.

"Oh no, it's Zashiki-sama who has come to our house!" My mother was happy, and hurriedly took out the only snacks in the house and placed them in the corner, "Zashiki-sama, if it's really you, let's try the snacks." ”

The dim sum in the corner slowly floats in the air, disappearing little by little, as if someone is tasting it one by one.

"Mom, she said the dim sum was not delicious." Taro acts as a microphone on the side.

My mother was relieved to see the dim sum being eaten, "Yes, there are no good dim sums in the small family, but Zashiki adults often come to our house to play." ”

The next day, the Zashiki boy came again.

Like yesterday, I ate the snacks at home, and then I played with Taro for a while.

"Mommy, Mommy. Zashiki-sama is talking to me today. ”

"Well, what did she say?"

Zashiki-sama said that she didn't like people who were lazy and hardworking. If Taro is lazy in the future, she will cry and follow me. Like this! ”

Taro imitated the appearance that Zashiki had just shown, and put on a slightly funny expression.

It made her mother giggle: "After that, Taro can't be a good person who works hard, Zashiki-sama hates such a person." ”

"Definitely not!"

In the days that followed, Zashiki was often seen at the mother and son's home.

Every time Taro conveys the news of Zashiki's appearance, his mother is very happy.

That's the legendary god of good fortune.

One night, while doing needlework, my mother suddenly fell ill with lung disease and coughed very badly.

At this time, she felt a pair of small hands patting her from behind, and the strong lung cough improved.

Her mother thought that Taro was helping her relieve her cough, but when she turned her head, she found that Taro had fallen asleep beside her early.

"Zashiki-sama, is that you?" Mother asked.

But there was silence all around, and no one answered.

From this day on, my mother no longer regarded Zashiki as a god of good fortune, but as a family member.

Mother would often talk to the air and chatter. She couldn't see Zashiki's existence, but only spoke to the imaginary Zashiki-sama.

The days passed.

Taro has finally grown up, and he really doesn't have to be lazy and don't want to make progress. Taro was admitted to university and, as his mother expected, became an excellent adult and a doctor.

And also married a beautiful wife.

The home, which used to be only mother and son, has finally begun to become lively and prosperous.

"It's all due to the blessing of Zashiki-sama." Both Taro and his mother believed so.

Later, Taro had a child of his own, a well-behaved daughter, with a little congenital hearing impairment.

But it doesn't matter, the family loves this new life just as much.

They named Taro's daughter Natsuki.

Natsuki Kono.

Natsuki is slowly growing up, and Taro's mother is slowly aging.

When Konatsuki was four years old, Taro's mother finally died, and a severe lung cough was about to kill her.

When she was dying, the family gathered around the old lady.

"Taro, is she still there?" The old lady asked in a gossamer voice.

Taro Kono couldn't answer, and adults couldn't see Zashiki. And Taro has been an adult for a long time, and he hasn't seen Zashiki-sama for many, many years.

Is she still there?

Taro didn't know either.

The old lady's originally cloudy eyes suddenly cleared up a little, and she smiled and raised her thin hand.

"Don't cry, child."

After the old lady said this, she lost her breath, and the place where she stretched out her hand was empty.

At this time, the four-year-old Xiao Caiyue pulled the corner of her father's clothes:

"Dad, that young lady next to grandma, crying so sadly......"