I Was Sleep-Deprived at a Matchmaking Meeting and Ended Up Engaged - Chapter 29

“Did you go to the wedding venue alone?”

That evening, Keiki received a report from Ayato over the phone that she had visited the wedding venue.

This is…

He thought she might be getting enthusiastic about the marriage.

But she said she just went to check on the invitation because her senior was concerned.

Though he wondered why it was someone from Ayato’s company, not them, who was concerned about the invitation, Keiki simply said,

“I see.”

Then Ayato fell silent.

What’s wrong!?

As he braced himself,

“Um, Shirakami-san, how do you plan to live through the weekend?”

Ayato asked.

“Huh?”

“Ah, sorry.

I was lost in thought and misspoke.

What are your plans for the weekend?”

That’s how Ayato rephrased it.

She seemed to be asking about his schedule.

While thinking he’d like to go somewhere with her,

“Nothing in particular,”

he said, and

“Um, I’m going to visit the family grave.

If you’d like, would you care to join me?”

Ayato said.

“Huh?”

“Ah, if you’re busy, it’s fine.

It’s just that my parents said, ‘You haven’t visited the grave recently, so why not go and report your marriage while you’re at it?'”

Elated by the phrase “while reporting the marriage,”

“Ah, well then, I’ll join you,”

Keiki nodded.

Reporting to Ayato’s ancestors, huh.

It kinda feels like the marriage is getting closer.

But now that I think about it, the Fujimiya family is an old, established lineage, right?

It seems like we’re just visiting the grave, not stopping by the main family or anything.

Perhaps because he was thinking such things, he had a strange dream.

A dream where Ayato guided him to an ancient tomb, saying,

“This is my ancestors’ grave.”

He woke up while wondering if there was an admission fee for grave visits or something.

It was a fairly refreshing awakening.

“The nice weather has me feeling cheerful.”

Saturday.

Driving along the bay road with Ayato, who said that.

It certainly felt like a little trip and was fun.

It felt like a gift from Ayato’s ancestors.

When he told Ayato about the ancient tomb dream,

“No, no, I’m sorry to disappoint your expectations.

It’s just a regular grave.

In my memory, rather than an ancient tomb.

it’s more like the Peach Blossom Spring.”

Peach Blossom Spring!?

Why!?

“My aunt said something that sounded like, ‘Your great-grandfather liked nectar, so pour it on the grave.’

So, when I poured nectar from the head of the grave, the area was filled with the scent of peaches and became like the Peach Blossom Spring.”

I got scolded like crazy, Ayato said.

“Though it sounded like she said to pour it. Well, the grave became a sticky mess.

If it were a sugar-free drink, it might have been okay.

But if it’s sweet, ants would probably swarm, right?”

That’s not really the issue, Ayato seemed to imply.

We visited the ordinary grave on the mountain normally, didn’t pour any nectar, and offered sweets still in their bag.

“We can’t leave these here.

Because crows will come.

Let’s eat them here.

I brought tea too.”

Saying that, Ayato took out well-chilled bottled tea from a cooler bag.

Eating the manju buns and drinking the cold, slightly bitter tea while overlooking the seaside town made him feel refreshed.

…Even though it’s a graveyard.

But since Ayato was also saying things like,

“The breeze is nice,”

Keiki thought, well, it’s fine.

“Speaking of graveyards—”

“Don’t start with scary stories.”

“…Then I’ll stop,”

Ayato said disappointedly.

She seemed to have wanted to talk about it…

He was a bit curious, but Ayato started a different topic.

“Speaking of haunted houses—”

…That’s quite a leap from graveyards.

“Sometimes there are haunted houses where real ghosts appear, right?

What’s up with that?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s up with that’?”

“But it’s a fake haunted house.

Recently built.

Even though there’s no history or connection, what kind of spirit would appear there?

The spirit of someone who was left behind when their friend got scared by a ghost and ran off?”

That’s specific. Is this from personal experience?

Besides, the person left behind probably isn’t dead…

“Or maybe it’s the spirit of the person playing the ghost who was killed by a frightened customer fighting back?”

“That would be a major incident.”

It would be in the newspapers, Keiki said when

“Ah, that reminds me,”

Ayato said.

She thought of something again.

Just when he thought it would probably be something trivial, Ayato said while searching on her smartphone,

“That reminds me, I believe there’s that famous statue nearby.”

That statue of the monk being punched is nearby!?

If we go see that, the reason for this trip would be gone, Keiki panicked.