The next day, we enjoyed the lavender farm and ranch and enjoyed riding horses. Even I could handle these experienced horses.

"I messed up. Should have had the jingiskan at this ranch instead of last night…" Kikuno-chan said, rueing that she missed having the fresh jingiskan, but I wouldn't have wanted to have mutton after playing with these cute sheep. Kikuno-chan has some guts.

The Lavender Farm was still blooming, so we could see the field full of flowers. We bought lavender related products like oil and soap, and had lavender ice, also. The taste was… well, better than the rose jam I had long ago… The ice cream made from fresh milk was very delicious.

As we were choosing ham and cheese at the gift shop, Fuyuko-sama chuckled, "Fufufu."

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I was thinking about how fun it was to go on a trip and eating out with friends…" Now that you mention it. Fuuko-sama was otherworldly, so even when the others were talking excitedly, she was merely there, staying quiet and uninvolved, so I didn't think she was seeking to be involved. I assumed that she wasn't interested in trivial matters we usually chatted about. Now, I understand that she was interested, but was too gently to cut in and talk about it herself. Of course, I'd still can't answer if we could talk freely with one another… especially about the occult.

"I'm glad I decided to talk to you that time, Reika-sama."

"That time?"

I've known Fuyuko-sama since grade school. We're both Pivoine members and she was in my group, so we've always gotten along, but we became friendly after she invited me to that suspicious spiritualist on a weekend. She probably means that. Was it Ryuleya, the high-class healer under the protection of whatever?

"Fuyuko-sama, just to confirm, you've cut yourself off from Ryuleya-sama and her ilk?"

"Yes. After you convinced me, I've distanced myself from Ryuleya-sama and the others. Don't worry." Good. "Fufu. Thank you for worrying about me. After you said it, and after Kaburagi-sama taught me, my eyes were opened."

"I see." Kaburagi the realist's refutation of the spiritual had some effect on Fuyuko-sama. He was useful for a change. Fuyuko-sama still likes the spiritual, but she's closer to the norm, now.

Speaking of the spiritual, when I awake, there was a crystal on the table next to the bed. It's supposed to suck in ill will according to Fuyuko-sama. A talisman to ward off evil and a crystal to suck in malice… Fuyuko-sama's spirituality is still within the norm… probably…

But I can't have Serika-chan and the girls seeing that. I guess that I'm stuck rooming with her again, now that I'm accustomed to her hobby.

I was thinking about how to deal with the talisman and crystal tonight when Fuyuko-sama smiled, and stated, "It's like a dream to travel with friends."

"It is." I was repulsed by her back then, so I never imagined that we would be friendly enough to go on trips together. But maybe Fuyuko-sama admired the spiritual and became interested in the magical because she wanted friends, so it's a good thing that she seems happy now. "Let's go again with everyone."

"Yes," she replied smiling.

"Reika-sama, Fuyuko-sama, we found cheesecake."

"What? Cheesecake!?" Freshly made cheesecake from a ranch, I need to buy some as gifts! I grabbed Fuyuko-sama's hand and rushed to Serika-chan. I arranged to have the many gifts I bought delivered to my home, and dinner was seafood. I wanted to have Hokkaido's specialty ramen, but the Zuiran ojou-sama aren't even aware of ramen. I wonder if they've even had ramen before. Not that I have a problem, sice I like sea urchin and crabs.

"This trip was so much fun. But there are so many more places that I wanted to visit. Too bad we can't stay longer."

"Let's come back in the winter someday. And we can see the ice drift."

"Sounds nice! And we can see Lake Shikotsu lit, like Fuyuko-sama wanted!" Fuyuko-sama didn't want the romantically lighting, but the occult horror… She remained silent, simply smiling. She does choose people…

We checked into the hotel and opened our luggage we had delivered, and Fuyuko-sama immediately readied the talisman and crystals. She even added a wall hanging wood carving of a luck god that she bought today. She wanted to buy a matching set with me, but I respectfully declined. Using feng shui, she used a compass to determine where to place the wood carving. She has no intention to hide her interests from me. She shows no hesitation in arranging.

"That reminds me, Reika-sama. Speaking of Ryuleya-sama, didn't you say that a tanuki had possessed you that time?"

"Did I?" Just an excuse to escape being brought in.

"What happened to the spirit of that tanuki."

"He's fine." To improve his girth, even a little, I gave him a low frequency wave device to wrap around his waist, that the commercial said would build up his abs for father's day. He used it too much and had burns, though. I guess I can't help it. I'll have some crabs delivered to that gourmand tanuki.

As I took out tomorrow's clothes from my bag, I felt something coarse on the bottom. Oh, no, the salt was spilled! I should have used a sealed bag.

Since I took a bath first last night, I let Fuyuko-sama go first today. When she disappeared to the bathroom, I opened my scheduler. I jot down things from today before I forget. Umm… lavender ice, ice cream, cheese cake,… Fuyuko-sama uses mirror writing for spiritual reasons, but mine's for encryption…

The 3 days and 2 nights trip of eating and playing around in Hokkaido during the day and listening to horror stories while I covered my ears at night came to an end. I arrived at the airport and a lonely spirit of a tanuki was there to pick me up.

Father, why aren't you working?