Makoto's mind was still reeling from the cultural exchange he had experienced the previous day. The memory of the hot spring's soothing warmth, his conversation with Lily, and the chaotic misunderstandings that followed lingered in his thoughts. But today was different. As he awoke to the soft, melodic sounds of birds chirping and the faint rustle of the village coming to life, he couldn't help but feel an unsettling mix of excitement and dread. He had learned so much in such a short time, but he had also unknowingly walked into a web of traditions and customs that had only just begun to reveal their true complexity.
"Makoto! Good morning!" came Lily's voice, bright and cheerful as always. She was standing in front of the entrance to his small hut, her delicate features lit up by the morning sun. The sight of her, with her shimmering fur and soft, gentle smile, made Makoto feel a strange sense of both comfort and impending doom. It was as if she had become a guiding light through the fog of this strange world—yet the more he learned, the more he realized how little he understood about the customs of the neko village.
"Morning, Lily," he replied, rubbing his eyes as he stepped outside, still wrapped in the robe he had been given. The air was fresh, filled with the earthy scent of pine and moss, and the sight of the village bustling with activity seemed oddly comforting. However, deep down, he couldn't shake the sense that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Lily noticed his apprehension and tilted her head, her cat-like ears twitching. "Are you alright, Makoto? You seem troubled."
Makoto chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, nothing really… It's just, well, I'm still trying to process everything that's happened. The hot spring, the traditions, the fact that I apparently proposed to you in front of the whole village…"
Lily's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. "Ah, yes, the misunderstanding. I must apologize for that. It's just… well, our customs can be quite different from what you're used to. What you said yesterday, about the hot spring being so relaxing and enjoyable—it was seen as a very sincere compliment, one that, in our village, is often interpreted as a proposal."
Makoto froze, his eyes widening in horror. "Wait, what?" he exclaimed, his voice rising in panic. "You mean… when I said it was nice, and that I was relaxed, that was basically me asking you to marry me?!"
Lily nodded slowly, her ears flicking back slightly. "Yes, in our culture, words like 'relaxing,' 'enjoyable,' or 'beautiful' are often taken as proposals, especially when spoken in the context of a shared experience like the hot spring. I should have explained this to you sooner, but I didn't want to overwhelm you."
Makoto's face went pale as he began to process the enormity of his unintentional blunder. "I didn't mean to propose to you! I swear! I just wanted to say the hot spring was nice and I was… you know… relaxed!" His hands flailed helplessly in the air as he tried to convey the confusion that was rapidly consuming him.
Lily looked at him, her face softening with a mix of amusement and empathy. "I understand, Makoto. And I don't want you to feel pressured. We will work this out. However, I think you should speak with the village elders to clear up the situation. They are the ones who will be able to guide you through this."
Makoto groaned inwardly. "The village elders? Oh, great. That's exactly what I need right now—more people to misunderstand my complete lack of knowledge about this place."
Lily smiled kindly. "They're good people, I promise. They understand that you come from a different world, and they'll be patient with you."
With a resigned sigh, Makoto reluctantly followed Lily toward the center of the village. The path they walked was lined with tall, ancient trees whose roots seemed to twist and curl like the fingers of time itself. As they walked, villagers waved cheerfully, offering greetings and small gifts of food or handcrafted trinkets. Makoto, still in his robe and feeling more out of place than ever, waved awkwardly back, trying to keep a semblance of composure.
"Don't worry, Makoto," Lily said, glancing back at him with a teasing smile. "They're not judging you. In fact, I think they're all curious to meet the man who so boldly proposed to me without even knowing what he was doing."
Makoto's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Please don't say it like that! You're making it sound worse than it is!"
Lily's laughter filled the air, light and melodious. "It's alright, Makoto. You're doing fine. You'll get through this. But there's one thing you should know before we reach the elders."
Makoto raised an eyebrow, his nerves on edge. "What's that?"
"Now that you've made a proposal, the customs of our village are clear," Lily said, her voice soft but with a serious undertone. "If a man proposes to a neko woman, it is customary for the man to offer his commitment, regardless of whether the proposal was intended or not. That means…" She hesitated, glancing up at him, her ears twitching. "That means you may have to marry me, Makoto."
Makoto stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes bulged in shock, and he blinked rapidly as if trying to process what she had just said. "Wait, what?! No way. No, no, no. I didn't sign up for this!"
Lily shrugged, an almost mischievous glint in her eyes. "In our village, it's a tradition. If a proposal is made, there's no backing out. It's considered a blessing from the spirits. And once a man proposes, he must honor it—either by marrying the neko or by making a formal declaration that he was mistaken."
Makoto took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "Okay, okay, I need to get this straight. So because I accidentally gave you a compliment about the hot spring, I now have to either marry you or publicly announce that I made a mistake?"
Lily nodded solemnly, her face serious. "That is the tradition. But don't worry, there's a way to navigate this. If you choose not to marry me, it won't bring dishonor to either of us. But it will involve speaking with the elders and explaining the situation in front of the village."
Makoto could feel his stomach twist into knots at the thought of facing the entire village to explain his accidental proposal. "I… I didn't mean to cause any trouble," he mumbled, looking down at the ground, embarrassed by the absurdity of it all.
Lily gave him a reassuring smile, her eyes softening with understanding. "I know, Makoto. And I'm not upset. It's just the way things are here. We'll handle it together."
As they reached the village square, where several wooden structures and tall, intricately carved totems stood, the atmosphere shifted. The air was thick with anticipation, and the villagers had already gathered around a large stone fire pit in the center of the square. The village elders, dressed in flowing robes adorned with symbols of wisdom and the spirit of the land, were seated on low platforms, their eyes turned toward the approaching pair.
"Ah, Makoto, Lily," one of the elders called out, his voice rich with authority. "We've been waiting for you. Please, join us. We need to discuss the matter of the proposal."
Makoto swallowed hard as he walked toward the elders, his mind racing. This was it—the moment of reckoning. He could feel the weight of the villagers' gazes on him, their eyes filled with curiosity, expectation, and a hint of amusement. Lily, by his side, was the epitome of grace and poise, and he couldn't help but admire her despite the crushing pressure he felt.
The elder, a tall neko with silver fur and an air of dignified wisdom, gestured for Makoto to sit. "We have heard of your words, young man. We understand that you have made a proposal to Lily, and we would like to hear your side of the story."
Makoto opened his mouth to explain, but no words came out. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, frustration, and sheer panic. How could he possibly explain that all of this was a colossal mistake? That he never intended to propose to anyone, especially not someone as beautiful and enigmatic as Lily?
Lily's voice broke the silence, calm and reassuring. "Elder Aki, Makoto did not mean to propose. It was a misunderstanding born from our customs. He simply meant to express his appreciation for the hot spring and the comfort it gave him."
The elder nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A misunderstanding, you say? This is indeed unusual. But, as with all traditions, the path is set once the words are spoken. Now, Makoto, the question remains. Do you stand by your words, or will you declare that you were mistaken?"
Makoto's heart was pounding in his chest. His mind raced as he glanced at Lily, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. It was now or never. The decision before him felt impossibly heavy, yet somehow, he felt strangely compelled to honor the customs of the village—if only to avoid causing more chaos.
"I… I was mistaken," he said, his voice shaky but determined. "I didn't mean to propose to anyone. It was just a compliment. I didn't know that's how it worked here. I'm really sorry if I caused any confusion."
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Some villagers nodded with understanding, while others seemed amused by the mix-up. Elder Aki, however, remained solemn, his gaze fixed on Makoto as if weighing his words.
"Very well," the elder said, his voice deep and steady. "We acknowledge your explanation. However, in accordance with our traditions, the matter is not so easily resolved. You have made a public proposal, and now you must offer a public statement of rejection. If Lily agrees, the matter will be considered settled. But remember—once a bond has been spoken, it cannot be undone without the mutual consent of both parties."
Makoto turned to Lily, his stomach in knots. She gave him a soft smile, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding.
"I accept your apology, Makoto," she said gently. "And I think the village will understand. It's a small misunderstanding, and we'll all have a good laugh about it in the end."
Makoto let out a relieved sigh, realizing that he had narrowly avoided a situation that could have spiraled completely out of control. As the village elders nodded in agreement, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, replaced by the lighthearted laughter of the villagers. It seemed that, despite the cultural shock, the neko village was filled with more kindness and patience than he had expected.
"Well, I guess that's that then," Makoto said with a wry smile, looking at Lily. "No marriage proposals for me, huh?"
Lily grinned, her ears twitching playfully. "Not today, at least."
And with that, the misunderstanding was cleared, but Makoto knew that this would not be the last of the cultural shocks he would encounter in the neko village. The journey of learning, missteps, and laughs was only just beginning.
Please support me on patreon
patreon.com/Jenkins444