Shō had finally finished unpacking the last of the boxes from the moving truck and had stacked them inside of the house, he sighed as he looked around he was so glad to be back, the memories of the summers he had spent there, and of Arrietty.
Hara the caretaker of the house, had moved away to be closer to her sickly daughter, but Shō also assumed that she was tired of people not believing her about the little people who lived around the house and the meadow in the back.
Shō's mom and aunt didn't want the house and Sadako his great aunt couldn't take care of both the old house and her place back in the city, Shō had just graduated from high school and was looking for a place to live anyway so he asked if he could have the place, Sadako agreed right away, she wanted the house to stay in the family and since no one else wanted it she was happy when Shō said he wanted to live there, she knew how much he loved spending time there, he had spent every summer there since the first time he came here so she gave the house to him.
"I'm glad that you're staying here, but are you sure that you will be fine here alone?" Sadako asked as she walked over to him.
"Thank you but no, I'll be fine," Shō replied before he hugged her.
Sadako sighed before she nodded her head, "I know that you like it here, it will help your health as well."
"Yes the air is so clear here," Shō replied.
Sadako smiled before she looked down at her watch, "I'm sorry Shō but I have to go now, you just let me know if you need anything okay."
"Don't worry I will," Shō replied.
Sadako smiled again before she hugged him one last time before she turned and walked towards her car.
Shō waved goodbye as she left down the driveway, Shō sighed as he looked around, he took another deep breath the air was fresh and clear not like back in the city, it was so strange he had been gone from this place for seven months but coming back was the only thing he could think about.
Shō walked over to the meadow that was in the backyard and laid down on the bright green grass, the flowers were in full bloom, it reminded him of the first time he saw Arrietty, Shō reached up and touched the chain that was around his neck, hanging from the end was the small orange clip that had belonged to Arrietty, she had given it to him just before she left, that was the last time he saw her.
All of a sudden Shō felt something rub against his hand, he looked down laying beside him was Niya.
"Niya!? you're still here?" Shō said as he looked down at the gray cat.
Niya just stared up at him before he started cleaning himself.
"Have you seen Arrietty?" Shō asked, he felt a little strange talking to a cat but Niya did find Arrietty the first time Shō had asked about her.
Niya looked around the meadow as though he had understood what Shō mean, but he soon went back to cleaning himself, well it was worth a try Shō though before he stood up and walked towards the house.
He walked inside boxes were stacked around the room, he sighed as he stared at them and the thought of carrying them up the stairs, he had surgery on his heart and was taking medication now but he still had to be careful when he did things.
Shō sighed again before he grabbed a box and carried it upstairs to the room where he usually stayed, the dollhouse was still sitting on the table in that room, Shō looked inside hoping he would see Arrietty there... but as he had expected she or her family was nowhere to be seen.
Shō tried turning on the lights but nothing happened, he examined the house more before he picked it up and carried it downstairs and into the kitchen.
He set it down on the countertop and started looking through the kitchen cabinet drawers, he pulled out a screwdriver and started working on it, he wanted to keep it in good condition for Arrietty and her family if they ever returned.
