Travel through the daily life of the dragon clan

Chapter 588: The Azalea and the Boy on the Mountain (1)

If you were to talk about your favorite season, what would it be?

summer.

Sure enough, it must be summer. The first thing that comes to mind is summer.

I met her when the sun was scorching and business was booming.

Lightness.

Vague.

Fluttering and floating.

The season when alpine rhododendrons bloom brilliantly.

Summer is the season when the sun shines brightly and everything looks hazy.

When talking about summer, which color comes to people’s minds first?

It is said that on the other side of Sagami Bay, under the buildings that are taller than the mountains here, the cheerful orange color of sunflowers is everywhere.

On the other side, on the other side of the endless ocean, I heard that in winter the land is covered with the pure and flawless white of bougainvillea.

In some places, the trees are dark green and the green mountains and forests overlap with each other at different heights.

to me.

Speaking of summer.

That is the alpine rhododendron.

Located in an area of ​​the Izu Peninsula, there is a sudden red color. This is a mountain range in the sea, like a giant's rope across the sea, cutting off the continuous ocean currents and winding through them.

This mountain range became world-famous because of the movie "The Dancing Girl of Izu". It is Mount Mihara, a composite shield-shaped volcano on Izu Oshima Island and an active volcano.

When the flowers bloom, the place is decorated with camellias and azaleas, making it look as beautiful as a bride.

The sky is blue.

The sea is blue.

Only here was the pink color spread out like a hazy pink ribbon. If the gods lowered their heads and witnessed this scene in the human world, they would probably be amazed.

There are some large and small buildings scattered on Sanyuan Mountain. Because it is not connected to the land, it is basically a mountain range, and there is an active volcano inside, so it is not a suitable place for settlement and gathering.

But thanks to this, hot springs and hotels in the mountains are common here and easy to engage in business.

If it can be called a career.

Even though it’s not something that will make you rich or famous, it’s the only thing I can be proud of.

In summer, many visitors come from outside to see the pink mountains.

This season is not outside the peak season for hot spring tourism, so tourists also have demand. So my business is also good, and this store can continue to exist here.

I was born and raised here.

In a small world like mine.

In such a small story of mine.

I met her.

"Hello, is this Mr. Kitayota? We have booked a hotel. I heard they offer a flying steamboat. Is it still open this season?"

I am waiting for guests here as usual, because Mihara Mountain is not connected to the land, so I need to wait for guests here.

This couple who looked very much in love were one of my guests.

"Of course. There are three types of flying steamers: Love, Dream, and Rainbow. All are in operation."

I spoke the usual words.

The young lady in front of me looked very happy, and her husband, whose arm she was hugging, also seemed very happy.

In my little world, their happiness is also my happiness.

"That's great, Shuichi, that's great, Rei-chan..."

"Please find a place to sit down first, Sa Chizi. Romanov also needs to rest."

"It's ok."

In my world, which was as narrow as a nutshell, foreign objects suddenly appeared.

"Then let's get on board first! Um - there's not enough room, Ling-chan, sit with me."

"Don't be willful, Sa Chiko. Romanov is in trouble."

"Eh, is that so?"

"..."

She was a petite girl standing behind the couple, who had only uttered three words so far.

"Sorry, although it is a very hot summer, it is also the season when azaleas and camellias are in bloom, so there are many customers. There are still seats at the front."

"Thank you."

This is the second sentence.

That girl.

"Can I pay a deposit first? It'll probably cost this much."

"No problem, Xiuyi, pay quickly, quickly."

The young lady, or should I say young mother, urged her husband like this.

In this summer that I have been accustomed to for more than ten years.

"I need to record the names of the guests. Could you tell me your names?"

"Of course, please."

Myself and her.

"Utsunomiya Sachiko, Utsunomiya Shuichi."

That's how we met.

"Zero Razumovskaya Romanov."

"..."

To be honest, her charm seemed to make my time stop for a moment.

It was the flower season, and the harbor was crowded with people. There were also many guests waiting for the boat to depart nearby, and of course there were many men and women with outstanding looks like the couple in front of them, but she still looked so unique.

No matter what the background, she herself is enough to be called an alien.

Whether you are in a busy city or an alley, whether it is dark or sunny, even if you are surrounded and crowded by countless people, your sight will be attracted involuntarily.

It's not just because of her beauty, but because of the aura that distinguishes her from other living creatures.

Even though she was standing in a crowded crowd or queue, she was like a wild beast hiding inside.

Correct.

A beast hidden among the crowd. A beautiful beast.

The crowded line in front of me was still very long and there were still many customers waiting, but my eyes couldn't help but stare at her.

Such a beautiful little beast, yet it seems like it is about to be swallowed by the crowd.

It would be the same for everyone.

The beast had deep blue eyes and light blond hair.

"That's my name."

"Ah, okay."

His voice was clear and cool, and his manner was quite simple.

"…Is there anything strange about me?"

"No, no, not at all. That's not the case at all."

I'm not someone who can't read the atmosphere. She is filled with a sense of mystery that makes her difficult for others to approach.

Even so, it's hard to leave a bad impression.

A blue top, off-white jeans, a wide white belt, and what looked like winter Martin boots. It was rare for her to dress like that in this hot season.

Even if you don't understand these, you can still see the style of the outfit, but on her, it gives people a beautiful and lovely feeling.

I remember having a doll like this when I was little. She is really a doll-like woman.

Perhaps because of this, and also because the name itself is so endearing and very suitable for her, when it is spoken aloud, one cannot help but want to hum it out loud.

"Ms. Zero Razumovskaya Romanov, all right... registered. Then the three guests, please wait inside the steamer."

It's a name I have never heard of.

Like the royal family or nobility of a country.

Although I have never been to other countries nor met any nobles, I had this feeling when I saw her.

"plz follow me."

As an amphibious steamer that can fly on the sea, the flying steamer allows tourists to enjoy the sparkling waves on the sea while seeing the mirage-like beauty.

This is a possession that I am proud of.

I have seen many guests, both men and women, eager to board it, full of anticipation.

But Romanov was different.

She walked silently at the back, not looking at anything, as if waiting for me to take her to the seat.

Then she sat down quickly on the boat, and it seemed that nothing could attract her attention.

It was a bit frustrating to be honest.

Is she a daughter of a noble family or a princess? I consoled myself.

Work, work, and there is still work to be done.

"Thank you for choosing my inn. Please follow me. We are about to sail now."

I said this to the last two guests who arrived.

The next step is my job - start the steamer and lead the guests to my hotel. During this process, the guests will look out the window with enthusiasm and sigh, and then at some point they will be shocked by the pink color all over the mountains and become quiet.

It is so beautiful in summer.

Today its beauty is lost.

The azalea petals outside the steamer fluttered lightly in the sea breeze. She just glanced at them briefly and then quietly withdrew her eyes.

She seemed to be concentrating on something, or perhaps she felt sleepy and closed her eyes quietly.

I positioned the steamer and listened to the voices of the guests behind.

The sun shines in from the south.

The sea breeze carries a little moisture.

Everything is just right and pleasant.

At a certain moment, a pink mountain range appeared before everyone, and then the soul-stirring silence began.

I slowed the steamboat down proudly.

Behind me are dozens of pairs of sparkling eyes, their pupils reflecting pink, and camellias and rhododendrons blooming in their eyes.

Perhaps she noticed my gaze, or perhaps the silence broke into her dreams.

She suddenly opened her deep blue eyes. The surrounding scenery did not change, but she looked around like a startled animal. Yes, she was like a deer lying by the lake for a nap, suddenly awakened by the movement in the forest, and then immediately stood up and looked around vigilantly.

"Guest, did you have a nightmare?"

I ask her.

She suddenly turned and looked at me, and there was a color in her beautiful eyes that I couldn't understand.

Even so, I almost realized that this might not be something as simple as a "nightmare", but even so, I couldn't continue to ask.

After a while, she replied quietly, "No."

She looked like she was hiding something.

Although this is just my bias, I feel I should say something.

This may make college students in the city laugh... I have been receiving guests since I was thirteen years old, and I have my own way of observing people's expressions. The frequency of a person's blinking, the way he speaks, and even the ups and downs of his voice can all tell the truth about his inner feelings.

But in this girl, these are extremely rare.

But, I can understand it.

it is true.

At least when she looked around, I understood her emotions.

It was emotions like panic and uneasiness.

"Are you hiding from something, or is someone chasing you?"

If she really is a noble or a princess, there are many such plots in TV dramas, I asked her in a low voice.

"..."

This is a taciturn guest, and I don't think she will answer the innkeeper's question.

After that, the steamer gradually became lively.

As Miss Romanoff is someone who makes a deep impression on people the first time they meet, I often hear her mentioned in the back, and I gained this information from her.

She is currently a first-year student at the Tokyo University Affiliated High School in Tokyo.

·She appeared here as a homework assignment for a Tokyo school, which was said to be a simulated family exchange or something like that.

The simulated family of three will probably go back tomorrow.

The above is a wonderful memory just by listening to it. With her appearance, it is inevitable that she will have a wonderful life.

I couldn't help but think of myself.

I have been working since I was very young to support myself, but it is just a job like this. The hotel is my parents' legacy, and I have not contributed much. I just don't have the knowledge to go somewhere else.

I think in the eyes of the guests, they probably can't tell that the lady and I are the same age. Even if I wear a straw hat often, I can't avoid sunburn, so it's not surprising that they would be mistaken for an uncle.

Having said that, what can I do when I see girls of similar age blinking and blinking?

Honestly, just comparing this makes me feel ashamed... No, forget about the appearance, even other aspects...

No, no, after all, there is a lot of income, this is a very easy job. Now I have to work, work.

...

...

"Are we going back now? It's already late. How about tomorrow? It would be better in the morning. We can also watch the sunrise over the sea."

That night, she suddenly found me.

"No, no, no, this is not about money. Okay, I understand. Miss Romanov must have something important to tell you. Then please follow me."

In addition to her unwillingness to communicate, I discovered another characteristic of hers.

Stubbornness, or persistence.

I don't know what happened, but since it was the customer's request... after all, the customer is God.

Similar to when she came, she got on the boat silently and once again chose the front seat to sit down, as if waiting for me to take the boat.

The couple who came with her didn't seem to be leaving together.

That is, there were only two of us on the steamer.

Unlike when she came here, she kept looking at the front of the steamer, and the feeling of being out of place and alienated faded a little.

Now, I feel more anxious.

It was a silent journey. Although the guests seemed to have no interest and were in a hurry for something, I wanted to make this journey worth remembering.

It was difficult to deal with someone like her who was unwilling to communicate, but I still spoke.

"Although there is not much time left, there is still time. You can turn back for a moment. Now is the time to enjoy the cuckoo."

"Is that so?"

She is indeed a very strange girl, and there is no emotion when she speaks.

I had no experience in this kind of conversation, but in order to keep the conversation going, I continued speaking.

"You must have something important to do, but there's no point in being anxious now, why not just enjoy it. Although it's not worth mentioning, for me, this period of time is the most beautiful time here, and every time I see that kind of scene, I feel very lucky."

"..."

(End of this chapter)