Chapter 145: Ando Mikoto 39

It's not a bad feeling to be on an island that has not been turned into a tourist destination.

I thought as I got off the ferry.

White clouds floating in the azure sky.

Blue and white. Those were the only two colors I could see.

And yet, the sky was oddly colorful.

The sea breeze was blowing my short hair.

The slightly sticky scent of the sea naturally made me stretch out.

I slung my equipment over my shoulder and rolled my bag, which contained my change of clothes, around on its tires.

Mikoto, who was a feeling a little sick from the ferry ride, also carried her luggage on her back.

Kotoe-san, who was carrying her own luggage, was conversing with a man who appeared to be the innkeeper, who must have been waiting for her.

A white van picks us up and drives us along the coastline to our lodgings.

This island is known as "Cat Island".

There were stray cats everywhere.

There were not many islanders. Most of them, however, were old men.

"Young people are leaving for the mainland."

The man spilled the beans without a hint of worry.

His own daughter had also left for Tokyo.

"Is Tokyo really such a great place?"

"I don't know. We are not from Tokyo."

Kotoe-san, seated in the passenger seat, is conversing with the man.

I, sitting in the back seat, shifted my eyes from the window to Mikoto.

"Is everything alright?"

"Nn...i'm fine..."

She must still feel sick.

However, it seems that Mikoto is indeed stirred by the scenery she sees outside the window.

It is a small island in the Pacific Ocean.

As the name "Iwakari Island" suggests, huge rocks protrude from the ground in various places. 1

All of them are so sharp that they even looked like the dorsal fins of dinosaurs.

The inn was built in a location overlooking the ocean.

It was a three-story building, not a very large inn, but it had recently been remodeled and was quite popular.

It did not have anything fancy like a hot spring, but it did have a large bath.

"Let's go take pictures as soon as we get out of the rooms."

"Can I take a rest?"

As expected, Mikoto was not wearing a jearsey, but a T-shirt and hotpants.

However, as soon as I got to a room, I changed into a jersey and lay down on the tatami mats.

After putting down my luggage, I went to the room next door where I would be staying.

I changed my clothes and gathered the bare minimum of my belongings.

"Let's go."

When I left the room, Kotoe-san was already waiting for me.

"Is Mikoto alright?"

"Leave me alone, she said. She followed me on her own. It's too much trouble to come with us in that state."

"True."

We both went outside.

Cats were everywhere without the need to look for them.

Just outside the inn, Kotoe-san took several pictures.

"Koumei. This is not going to cut it, okay?"

"Right...There are cats everywhere."

"Then again, background is also important."

"Shall I go look for places?"

I asked Kotoe-san as I left my luggage with her.

"Please do that. I need you to find me a place where I can take pictures around tomorrow."

"I understand."

"I'm going to take pictures near the inn for now."

Looking through the camera's screen, Kotoe answered.

I left the inn and started walking around the island.

I opened a map of the island and marked the points of interest with a red pen.

On the way, I asked the islanders I passed on the way to some good spots.

"Then maybe Morihimeiwa would be a good place to start."

With this information, I immediately sat out for the rock in the center of the island.

The center of the island consisted of forest and steep rocks.

There were houses and cars on the way.

However, it seemed that the further I got from the sea, the fewer people there were.

The location of Morihimeiwa was indicated on the map, and I was able to proceed without hesitation.

"Ah...This is it."

I followed a narrow path between the trees and came to a circular clearing.

I wonder if it was named Morihimeiwa because of its appearance, which remind me of a human woman.

In the center of the circular cleft. The rock was sitting there.

The rock, which was a little shorter than me, was long and slender and, depending on one's point of view, looked like a human being.

"This is no good...."

"What's wrong with it?"

Suddenly, I heard a voice.

I turned around and saw an old man, probably an islander, standing there.

His hair was pure white and the wrinkles on his face reminded me of the years he had lived.

"Ah, no....It's not that this rock is bad."

For the islanders, it might be their pride and joy.

I chose my words carefully as I spoke.

"I came to this island to take pictures of cats..."

"I see. There are no cats around here."

The old man laughed, showing his gums.

"Most of the cats are on the coast...Not in the forest."

"I see."

I asked him, for he was a pleasant old man.

"Can you think of anywhere that would be a good place to take pictures?"

"I think most of the island is like that. If you take a short walk along the beach, you'll see cats everywhere."

"Yes, but I also wanted to have a good background..."

"Ah..."

The old man nodded in agreement and started to walk away.

I hurried to follow him and the old man spoke him.

"Then there's a place up ahead that's not on the map."

"Where is it?"

"It's on the other side of where the ferry docked, where there's nothing but rocks......There's a lot of cats because the islanders are rarely more than a few feet away. I'll give you a special tip."

The place he took me to was indeed a rocky beach.

But in one corner, there was a white sandy beach surroundered by rocks and bouldders.

It was magnificent.

A cat paradise untouched by human hands.

Cats lounged and sunbathed on the flat rocks.

Kittens were dozing off and blowing their heads, using the lullaby of the lapping waves as one.

More than a hundred cats, each relaxing in their own way.

"Thank you very much."

I immediately decided to bring Kotoe-san here tomorrow.

At that moment, my cell phone rang.

It was Mikoto.

"Is everything alright?"

"I'm coming, too. Where are you?"

"Where you say....On the other side of the island, near the...um....Okusada Shrine?"

"Ah, there it is."

It seems that Makoto also has a map.

"I'm on my way, let's meet up there."

"I'll meet you there."

I thanked the old man and headed for the Okusada Shrine.

If Mikoto was coming, I thought I would show her the cat paradise before Kotoe-san.