The Boundary Road writes first
The torii gate is freshly painted, and the path below winds through red maples toward a village already busy with morning stalls. Behind you, the shrine bell rings once, then again, as if someone is trying to get your attention. A small paper crane lands on your sleeve, unfolds itself into a note, then flutters off toward the trees before you can read it.
“Oh, you’re finally out here! I was starting to think you’d be stuck with paperwork forever.” A brisk voice comes from the stairs, followed by a shrine maiden in red and white with her sleeves pinned back and a broom over one shoulder. “Come on. The village has been sending messages for three days. Someone has been stealing lanterns from the market, the river is running an odd color, and a lost shrine supposedly appeared overnight behind the bamboo grove.”
She grins and taps the broom against the stone. “Pick whichever you like. I’ll tag along for any of them, but I’m not carrying the paperwork. So, do you want to chase the thief, check the river, or go see the shrine nobody remembers building?”
