Inumori Shrine, the Small Dog with Big Ears, and the Lost Girl

I made the most of my blonde hair reflected in the mirror and put on my favorite accessories.

It’s been about twenty years since I last came to the Inumori Shrine summer festival. Even though I live in the area, there’s a good reason why I haven’t been back in so long. It’s because I have an embarrassing memory associated with it.

When I was a child, my mother took me to the Bon dance festival.
I was holding "Mimi," the dog I had at the time. Mimi was a Papillon—a small dog with big ears.

But as we were walking past the stalls in the shrine grounds, Mimi was startled by the loud noise of the fireworks and jumped out of my arms. I ran after her, but by the time I found her, I realized I was lost.

I couldn't find my mother or anyone I knew, and just as I was about to cry from anxiety, a kind older girl spoke to me. She helped me look for my mother. But by the time we finally found her, it had turned into a huge commotion involving all sorts of people.

I was scolded severely in front of a large crowd and ended up sobbing. That was incredibly embarrassing. My mother looked like her hair was standing on end, and she was truly terrifying. Because of that incident, I had stayed away from the summer festival ever since.

I passed through the first torii gate of Inumori Shrine and climbed the stone steps lined with lanterns. When I looked back from the landing, the town lights were shining like stars on the ground. It was too dark to see, but the ocean stretched out beyond them. Fireworks were going to be launched from there tonight.

I caught my breath for a moment and then stepped back onto the stone steps. I was almost at the Bon dance site.

There is a reason I decided to go to the summer festival. Part of it is the desire to overcome the negative memories of my childhood, but the real reason is to ask the gods for help. Or rather, maybe it’s not exactly asking the gods.

I applied to a fashion designer’s office. And yet, now that it’s come to this, I’m hesitant. I know it’s not an easy job, and I’m anxious about moving to Tokyo. So, perhaps I came here to seek an answer from the gods.

When I reached the top of the stone steps, the Bon dance tower and the lights of the stalls spread out before me, overflowing with people in yukata. There were various stalls lined up: shooting games, frankfurters, masks, yakitori, cotton candy, yakisoba, takoyaki, and grilled squid. It was the same scene as the festival in my memories.

Just standing in this place felt like one of my goals had been resolved. But the other one wouldn't be so easy. Even if I prayed to the gods, they wouldn't just give me the answer.

I wandered around, peering at the stalls as I walked deeper into the shrine grounds. At a stall along the way, I bought some cotton candy in a plastic bag. After all, summer festivals are all about cotton candy.

From the direction of the sea, I heard a sound that resonated in my chest—a boom. It seemed the fireworks display had begun.

I stepped slightly off the approach path and looked down to remove the rubber band from the cotton candy bag when a Papillon came running at full speed and jumped on me. While I was stunned, a girl came running after it and hugged the Papillon tightly.

When I saw the girl’s face, my breath hitched for a moment. She looked exactly like I did when I was young. She looked so much like my face and figure in the photo album. I crouched down and spoke to her.

“What’s wrong?”

The girl answered in a small voice, sniffing as if she were about to cry.

“I was chasing this dog.”
“I wonder if she was startled by the fireworks. I’m glad you found her.”
“But I don’t know where my mom is.”
“Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. I’ll help you look for her. What’s your name?”

The name the girl gave was my own.

A chill ran down my spine. Could such a coincidence really happen?
I asked her birthday, half-expecting it to be a mistake, and it was indeed the same as mine. Is this girl me? Is this dog Mimi?

Memories from my childhood came flooding back. This is 'that time.' I am in the scene of 'that time' when I got lost. I have come to the past.

My heart felt like it was going to stop. It wasn't 'this child' who was truly lost, it was me. What is going on? What should I do?

I looked around. I wanted a clue, anything at all. The scenery of a summer festival hasn't changed much from then to now. But there are people taking pictures with smartphones. There shouldn't have been smartphones when I was a child.

I didn't come to the past. 'Little me' came from the past. But what am I supposed to do now?

I have to do something, no matter what. This is 'that time.' Therefore, I am the only one who can help 'little me.' Just like the 'big sister' who helped 'me' back then. When I thought that, tension ran through me.

Even though the eras are different, how am I supposed to find her mother? No, that's wrong! I shouldn't be looking for her mother; I have to send 'little me' back to the past.

'Big sister... are you okay?'

'Little me' was looking up at me anxiously.

'I'm sorry! I'm fine. Let's go to the place where you got separated from your mother. Can you remember the last place you were with her?'

'Little me' shook her head and looked like she was about to cry again.

'It's okay, you'll definitely find her. Oh, why don't you eat some cotton candy? You like it, right?'

'Yeah.'

Just like 'that time,' I handed the cotton candy to 'little me' and held 'Mimi' instead. 'Mimi' wagged her tail and licked my face. I am holding the 'Mimi' I loved so much once again.

I buried my face in her fluffy fur and took a deep breath. She smells like 'Mimi.' I wiped away the tears that naturally spilled out, trying not to let her notice.

What is this situation? I'm holding the 'Mimi' I loved so much again, while holding hands with 'little me' who is eating her favorite cotton candy. Even though it's so strange and warm, I have to end this time quickly.

How can I send 'little me' back to her own time? I've experienced this once, so it should be fine. The answer must be inside 'me.' I have to remember how I found my mother 'that time.' ...But nothing comes to mind.

I spoke to 'little me.'

'Can you remember where you walked today? Let's try walking the path you came from, from the beginning.'

'Little me' shook her head and looked like she was about to cry again. So this is what I was like.

'Don't worry! Leave it to your big sister.'

I gripped the hand of the "little me" tightly. "Back then," where was I walking, and how? While holding the warmth in my arms, I desperately tried to trace the memories of "back then."

I remember the scene where I chased after "Mimi" well. I chased her little bottom and tail with all my heart. But, no. That's all I can remember. Other than that, the cotton candy was delicious. I was so happy about the cotton candy that my memory skipped.

I spoke to "Mimi" in my arms in a small voice. "Don't you remember anything?" "Mimi" just looked up at me with her round, bright eyes. I just love this child's scent and her body temperature.

"Big sister."
"Yes?"
"Big sister, you're so stylish. Your hair is beautiful too. When I grow up, I want to be like that."

She was looking at my blonde hair with sparkling eyes. She seemed to be relying on me completely and felt at ease. Hey, "little me." Let's try a little harder to remember the path you came from.

"Oh, I had an amulet bought for me."
"That's nice. Where was that?"

The "little me" shook her head again. By "now," her mother and the staff must be looking for the "little me" and making a huge fuss. I'm not sure if you can call it "now," though. I have to get her back soon, or "I" will be scolded severely again.

"Then, let's look for the place where you got the amulet!"

If it's a place where amulets are sold, it must be the shrine office. Nothing might change even if we go there. But I can't just stay still. If I don't do something, both the "little me" and "I" will feel anxious. We made our way, weaving through the lively crowd at the festival.

I still can't remember "back then," the time I got lost. All that comes to mind is "Mimi's bottom as she ran away." I'm useless. I can't become that "big sister." What should I do? We both sat down on a bench in front of the shrine office we had reached. Looking at my face, the "little me" said.

"Big sister, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'll find your mother soon!"
"By any chance, are you lost too, big sister?"
"I'm not. I'm thinking like a detective. Leave it to me."

After the "little me" finished eating the cotton candy, I handed "Mimi" to her. The "little me" hugged "Mimi" tightly. That's right, "Mimi" is precious to the "little me," isn't she?

The beginning of being lost was chasing after "Mimi" when she started running. Where did she start running? In my head, that "little bottom" is spinning around and around.

The next memory is the scene where I ate the cotton candy. After that, it's the scene where I was surrounded by a large crowd and scolded by my mother.

It was scary and embarrassing. Everyone right next to me was dancing the Bon Odori happily, but only I was being scolded. My mother's hair looked like it was standing on end like in a manga. Since it's impossible for it to really stand on end, maybe that was because of the tree behind her...

The tree behind her? That's it! There was a big tree. That's a cedar tree. I looked around. Beyond the shrine office, I can see a large tree. It's a vague memory, but that must be it.

I took the "little me" by the hand and walked in front of the cedar tree. That place was just a little bit outside the liveliness of the festival. Apart from the main hall, there was a small shrine, perhaps called a sub-shrine, and in front of it was a small torii gate that a child could just barely squeeze through.

That's it! This torii gate. I chased after "Mimi" and went through this torii gate. When I returned, I entered from the opposite side of the torii gate. From there, I can see the cedar tree. It's the scenery from when I found my mother! It was connected here!

I crouched behind the small torii gate and peered inside. Beyond the torii gate, a slightly different-colored landscape was swaying ever so slightly.

"Hey, try looking inside this torii gate."

"Little me" timidly peeked through the torii gate.

"Oh, I can see Mom!"
"You did it! It's okay now. Go through here and head to Mom!"
"Okay!"
"Go on quickly. I'll watch from here so you don't get lost again."
"Thank you."
"Once you pass through this torii gate, you'll be blinded by the flashlights of the people looking for you. Also, Mom might scold you, but that's just because she loves you and was worried, okay?"
"Okay."
"Oh, let me say goodbye to the doggy, too."

I crouched down and gently stroked "Mimi's" head.
"Thank you. Mimi, you came here because you were worried about me, didn't you?"

"Little me," holding "Mimi," walked through the torii gate without looking back. Her figure wavered for a moment like a heat haze and then vanished. I tried walking around to the other side of the torii, but she was already gone. I tentatively reached my hand through, but nothing happened.

I took a deep breath, returned to the bench in front of the shrine office, and sat down. I had gone to the "future" that day. To think I'm only realizing it now.

By now, "little me" is probably surrounded by people, being scolded by Mom, and crying. But it's okay. You will grow up to be a "kind big sister" far in the future. Even if I am a bit of an unreliable one.

There was no longer any need to search for an "answer." Even "little me" had come to the "future" and managed to return home safely. Just do your best, and if things don't work out, you can always come back.

The answer had been inside "me" all along.