A couple of days later, preparations for the Festival were in full swing. Some of the stalls with food, games, and everything else were already lining the streets, while some others were still being set up.
As her last class of the day had been canceled due to the professor falling ill, Eva had returned earlier than expected and was promptly conscripted to help with setting up things on the shrine grounds. After quickly dropping her things in her room, she watched outside as a group of helpers from the neighbourhood association directed a small truck reversing up to the outermost Torii.
Walking up to one of the helpers, identified as such by the light blue and red happi coats they were all wearing, Eva decided to strike up a conversation while they waited.
“Hello. Do you know what they are delivering there right now?” she inquired, while slipping on an identical coat and tying her light brown hair into a ponytail.
“Ah, you’re the exchange student helping out this year right?” The young man greeted her while turning towards the new arrival. “Yamada volunteered himself to transport equipment from the Association’s community center to the shrine.”
“Ah, so how can I lend a hand?”
“Well the more people help with unloading the sooner she can drive off to get the next load. The wooden screens should be dropped somewhere over there,” he explained, motioning towards the decent sized, for Tokyo at least, lawn between the stream flowing across the grounds and the fence separating the shrine from the sidewalk.
“The rest can just be put down right here for now.”
“Alright” Eva replied somewhat enthusiastically as she walked over and lined up to grab one of the wooden panels that had just begun to get unloaded. While the individual panels weren’t actually that heavy, their sheer size, about twice as long as Eva was tall, and a little wider as well, still made it awkward to carry them around.
Half an hour later, the truck’s first load had been off loaded. While Mrs. Yamada took off to get the next set of materials from storage, the Kitsune had been handed a pair of wrenches. Together with a couple volunteers with basic knowledge of how to use said tools, they were assembling the panels into one long wall.
Which was rather strange, as all the stalls were supposed to be outside on the smaller streets and sidewalks.
“So what is this wall going to be used for.” Eva inquired of a nearby volunteer as she stood up and let her hazel eyes wander, spotting another group of volunteers stomping around on some fresh earth.
“It’s to make sure no stray arrows end up hurting someone.” A friendly voice from behind her informed her. Looking over her shoulder she noticed it was the same guy from earlier that had coordinated the offloading. “After all the local middle schools Kyudo club will be holding the main showcase this year, not to mention the fact some over enthusiastic amateurs will give it a try.”
As she leaned down, Eva loosened the nut holding another small bolt in place while thinking how obvious that was. If one did not forget about the Kyudo and Sumo events people mentioned when explaining what would be happening.
“Of course.” Eva replied as she slid the bolt through it’s hole to connect the next wooden panel. “Then the group over there is preparing the Sumo ring?”
“The foundation of it, yes.” Came the prompt reply as the man finished tightening a different bolt. “Though they’re also spreading that dirt to where the food served at the conclusion of the official part of the festival will be cooked. They started that a couple years ago after some dried leaves caught fire to make sure any such flames can’t spread as easily.”
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“That must have been quite dangerous.”
“Indeed. But luckily the Kami was watching over us all that day. Just as the grass looked like it would catch fire as well, an unexpected rainshower started.”
As Eva was about to respond, their conversation was interrupted by a young boy approaching them with some snacks. Seeing as the boy looked exactly like a younger sibling of Toya’s usual disguise, the Kitsune assumed it was him handing them an Onigiri each before moving on to hand out food to the other volunteers.
While they quickly ate, Mrs. Yamada returned, prompting them to leave the rest of the as of yet unconnected pieces be, and instead go over and help offload once more. While most of it was the remaining panels for the Kyudo area, the rice-straw for the sumo ring had also been squeezed in.
When Yukiko joined them setting up the second and third wall, Eva decided to inquire about what else she’d forgotten about the Festivals proceedings already. As the only thing she could clearly recall was that there would be a procession across the neighbourhood, and some form of small feast for the volunteers and staff as it’s conclusion.
“Well for one there’ll be a small Sumo competition held by the Sumo clubs of the local schools.” The Yuki-Onna began to explain in a low voice. “According to Komaki, originally it was just two volunteers wrestling while dressed up as a fox and a merchant. But over the centuries, as Sumo became more widespread and popular, the more theatrical mock fight was replaced with it.” She finished with a sigh.
“Why were they dressed as a fox and a merchant before?” Eva asked, head slightly tilted to the side as she looked up from her work.
Before answering her clearly, Yukiko mumbled something, but the only thing the Kitsune could make out was ‘Kurt’. “That goes back to the story behind the festival’s establishment people tell.” was finally the rely, the stress put in the end reminding Eva that they were talking in public.
“In case you forgot, the Legend goes that after a fire ravaged this part of Tokyo, foxes would break into those storehouses that had survived, and would drag sacks of grain to the outside for the locals faced with the approach of winter and no way to earn their share of food to find. As they believed those foxes were guided by this shrine’s kami, they created the festival to give their thanks. Part of which they decided would be a reenactment of what they were grateful for.”
“And the Archery thing?”
“That was added during the Meiji-period.” Yukiko offered with a shrug. “Komaki never really bothered with why the locals wanted to add it in, as long as they made sure to provide the material needed to do it.”
But before Eva could inquire any further, they were both called over to help hold the first two finished walls as they were joined into a corner.
Just under an hour later, everything had been finished, with the three thin, wooden walls surrounding a trio of archery targets to stop stray arrows. Besides this improvised archery range was a pair of Sumo rings flanking a small barrel, which Eva was told would contain the salt thrown into them before each match.
Off to the side a trio of gas burners had been set up with a small wooden roof and couple simple tables, one of which was already lit and heating up a pot of soup. As she slurped on her own bowl of steaming hot Miso Soup, the young Kitsune looked over the shrine grounds, and began to wonder just how this all would look like when the festival itself was in full swing. And when Komaki would tell her what she will be doing during it.