Unfortunately, in the end, none of the good lots Shinra spent money to draw were used. Miura Yumiko had good luck drawing lots; she got a 'Great Blessing' in a single draw. As for Kawasaki Saki, she wouldn't spend money on such unnecessary things.
Compared to peers who were still asking parents for money, Kawasaki Saki experienced the hardship of making money early. Of course, this didn't mean she was a person who loved money as much as her life. On the contrary, for her, as long as the money was well spent, she would spend it without hesitation.
Whether treating family or benefactors, Kawasaki Saki was quite generous. This could be seen from her treating Shinra to a meal with money saved for a month and often taking her sister to eat cake at the cake shop.
A girl like Kawasaki Saki should be a good girl most people dream of.
Originally Shinra thought Kawasaki Saki didn't draw lots, so he might as well give her a lot, but later thinking about it, he gave up. Although it was a kind intention and would likely increase favorability, for the current Kawasaki Saki, it was better to focus on studying.
If she really put her mind on him, he felt it would be a bit too much to handle.
Too many people.
In addition, Yui and Ebina also drew lots. Yui was okay, a 'Small Blessing', while Ebina was relatively unlucky, drawing a 'Misfortune', second only to Yukino in terms of bad luck.
For these two, Shinra didn't have any thoughts, so naturally, he wouldn't give his good lots to them.
Not to mention Tobe was staring covetously behind. If he misunderstood that Shinra was interested in Ebina, it would be another trouble.
Thinking this way, Shinra held the hidden good lots in his hand, crushed them gently, and when he opened his hand again, only gray ashes remained, quickly dissipating with the wind.
Anyway, they were useless now; keeping them on him would only be a disaster.
In case Yukino discovered them later, although Shinra could explain, the effect would be discounted in the end, so better destroy the evidence.
After visiting Kiyomizu-dera, everyone went to Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji. When all places were visited, it was almost dinner time.
So under the leadership of Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was covered with marriage god peripherals from various temples, everyone returned to the ryokan (Japanese inn) booked by the school for dinner.
The decoration of the ryokan was classic Japanese style. The environment was surprisingly good, with a small garden in the atrium. The rooms were also cleaned very tidily, with all bedding and sheets available, still retaining the smell of being sun-dried.
After dinner, it was free activity time.
Called free activity, but the range of activity was firmly restricted to the vicinity of the ryokan. After all, it was a collective activity; the school must be responsible for students' safety.
In addition, boys were strictly forbidden from going to the girls' rest area on the second floor. For this, PE teacher Atsugi specially guarded the only staircase leading to the second floor.
Directly cutting off some people's petty thoughts, causing wailing among boys.
Can't help it; adolescent boys and girls, if not controlled, could cause 'human life' (pregnancy/trouble) in minutes. Such cases happen almost every year; have to guard against it.
"I plan to go back to the room. What about you?" Hachiman felt a bit dizzy from eating too many carbs at dinner and planned to go back to the room for a nap.
He didn't have as much energy as Shinra. Visiting several temples successively, his physical strength ran out long ago. Now he wished to fall asleep immediately.
"I plan to take a bath first." Shinra replied.
Although he didn't sweat today, visiting various temples inevitably contaminated him with the smell of incense. He felt his whole body was almost marinated by the Buddha incense.
"Bath now? Time hasn't arrived yet, right?" Hachiman was puzzled. Did the bathhouse open so early?
"Oh, the ryokan has separate rooms for bathing." Shinra replied casually.
Although bath culture is popular in Japan, Shinra still found it hard to accept crowding in a bathhouse with a large group of people. If they were all beautiful girls, fine, but a bunch of rough men—what's there to soak with?
Regarding this, Shinra naturally chose to spend some money for a better experience. The ryokan chosen by Sobu High was a large ryokan. besides receiving group customers like them, there were also private rooms provided for high-net-worth groups.
What else could Hachiman say? To avoid squeezing in the bathhouse with others, spending money directly to open a high-end guest room with a hot spring—probably only Shinra could do such a thing.
Damn rich people.
"Then are you coming back to sleep tonight?"
As soon as the words came out, Hachiman felt something was wrong. Why did he sound like an old mother?
Sure enough, after hearing Hachiman's words, Shinra asked with a strange expression: "Why do you ask this?"
If Hachiman didn't ask, Shinra might have thought about experiencing the feeling of sleeping in a large communal sleeping area.
But since the other party asked, Shinra had to consider the motive behind the question.
"Cough, just asking casually. Look, you opened an extra room; definitely have to ask if you are coming back to sleep..." Hachiman explained forcibly.
"Originally wanted to stay, but now hard to say." Shinra looked vigilant.
Looking at Shinra's guarded eyes, Hachiman broke defense a bit.
"No, who are you guarding against?"
"Hard to say."
Joking harmlessly, Shinra and Hachiman returned to the room assigned to them by the school.
Hachiman found his bedding, laid it in the inner corner of the room, and fell asleep immediately after his head touched the pillow, not even having time to say 'good night' to Shinra.
He was exhausted today.
Shinra shook his head, took out a change of clothes and toiletries from his luggage, put these things into the bamboo basket prepared by the ryokan, and then went to the ryokan front desk to find the waiter to open another high-end guest room.
"What are you doing?"
In the interval waiting for the waiter's operation, a female voice came from beside him.
Shinra turned his head and found it was Yukino.
Looking at her appearance, she should have just had dinner and was preparing to go to the atrium for a walk to digest food.
Mm, obviously a school trip, but walking alone to digest food; can only say indeed very Yukinoshita Yukino.
Of course, he, a guy planning to open a room alone to take a bath, was not qualified to talk about others.
"Preparing to open a room to take a bath." Shinra said while handing the credit card in his hand to the waiter.
"?"
Yukino slowly typed a question mark. Opening another room to take a bath, what kind of operation is this?
"Not used to bathing with so many people." Shinra explained.
Mainly didn't like bathing with the same sex.
"Is that so..." Yukino didn't know what to say either. After all, everyone has their own preferences. Like her, she didn't like bathing with people much either, especially with those normally developed same sex.
However, Yukino didn't open a room directly to take a bath like Shinra. Instead, she planned to go to the shower room for a simple rinse and skip soaking in the bathhouse.
Too many people was one thing; chest too flat was another.
Since she was here, Shinra simply asked: "Do you want to come take a bath?"
"Wh-What are you saying!" Yukino's face turned red instantly.
Is there such a way to invite people to bathe together? Not to mention they are not boyfriend and girlfriend yet, even if they were... impossible to bathe together so soon, right?
Even wearing a swimsuit is not okay!
"Uh, I mean after I finish bathing, I'll vacate the room for you to use." Shinra explained, then added, "Of course if you want to soak together, I have no objection."
Yukino glared at Shinra grumpily, "Who wants to bathe with you! And next time better make it clear at once."
If making it clear, how to mobilize emotions and enhance feelings?
Shinra took the room card from the waiter and said to Yukino: "So coming?"
Seeming worried about the other party overthinking, Shinra said again: "After I finish washing, I'll go back to the room arranged by the school. I'll give you the room card then; only you will use this room."
Yukino obviously hesitated after hearing this, looking moved.
Actually for Yukino, opening a room alone to take a bath was nothing; her pocket money could afford such consumption completely. But she felt it was just a bath; completely unnecessary to make such a fuss.
And now Shinra provided a better choice here; Yukino had no reason to refuse.
After all, Shinra would go back to the room arranged by the school to rest directly after bathing. The room being empty was a waste. Running around all day, soaking in a bath must be more comfortable than a shower...
"Then... thank you."
Finally, Yukino chose to accept this kindness. Only Shinra; if it were someone else, let alone the opposite sex, even the same sex, she probably wouldn't accept going to someone else's room to take a bath.
"You're welcome." Shinra looked at the room number on the room card, then said: "I'll take about half an hour. Are you coming with me? Or..."
"I'll go back to the room to pack luggage." Yukino rolled her eyes. Going with you for what? Watching you bathe?
Shinra didn't expect Yukino to go back to the room with him either; they hadn't reached that stage yet.
"Then when I'm done, I'll message you."
The two separated. When they met again, it was already an hour later.
Shinra looked at Yukino looking left and right, full of sneakiness, and couldn't help finding it funny. Just handing over a room card, making it look like an underground agent meeting.
"Then I'm going." After getting the room card, Yukino stuffed it into her pocket quickly. She took two steps, then turned her head as if remembering something and said: "When I'm done, I'll message you and return the room card to you then."
Shinra stood in front of the drink machine in the lobby. Hearing Yukino's words, he didn't even raise his head, just made an OK gesture.
Actually, Shinra opened the room for three days directly, plus he was sleeping in the room arranged by the school tonight, so it didn't matter whether Yukino returned it or not.
But... doesn't this add another meeting opportunity?
Can't just return the room card, right? Then conveniently strolling in the small garden in the atrium together is also reasonable, right?
Thinking this way, Shinra returned to the guest room arranged by the school.
Most boys in the room had also returned from bathing. At this moment, they were playing mahjong in the room. Maybe because the volume was relatively loud, Hachiman was still sleeping before Shinra went out, but woke up when he came back.
"If not going to bathe now, the bath time will pass." Shinra reminded kindly.
Hearing this, Hachiman, who was sleeping a bit groggily, regained some clarity immediately. Without time to say anything, he hurriedly carried his change of clothes and ran towards the bathhouse.
Seeing this, Totsuka also covered his mouth and chuckled a few times, then looked at Shinra and said: "Shinra, where did you go just now? Didn't seem to see you when bathing."
"Maybe because I washed faster." Shinra laughed it off.
"Mori, want to play mahjong?" Seeing Shinra back, Tobe invited actively.
Although Shinra refused to help him prepare the confession plan before, presumably because Shinra wasn't familiar with him. After playing a few rounds and getting familiar with each other, wouldn't this matter be easy to handle?
Don't be fooled by Shinra not showing off usually; his relationship with the best friend beside Ebina was very good. Not to mention Big Sister Miura, even that Kawasaki Saki gave him face very much.
If having his full help, why worry about the confession cause not succeeding?
"Mahjong? Okay." Shinra didn't refuse either, agreeing smilingly.
Playing mahjong with someone having 'Photographic Memory', you are very brave, young man.
Then Tobe and his other two buddies ushered in the darkest half-game in their mahjong career. Either 'Riichi' or 'Ron'. Couldn't even make Tanyao; don't mention how painful it was.
Before East 4th Round even started, Tobe was sent flying directly by Shinra with Kokushi Musou (Thirteen Orphans) because he played a Red Dragon.
How · To · Play!
Tobe was beaten a bit silly. Ooka and Yamato also changed from winning ticket in hand at the beginning to sweating profusely.
No bro, good grades are fine, but why playing mahjong so well too?
"Want to play more?" Shinra looked at the time. There should still be some time before Yukino finished washing. If being a bit serious, probably could play two more rounds.
Mahjong, fun.
"N-No, how about we play Monopoly or Ludo instead." Tobe still had the trance of dealing into (losing points) just now, feeling he probably wouldn't touch mahjong for a while.
"Monopoly? Time might not be enough; forget it." Shinra shook his head.
"Time? Do you have something to do later?"
"Pretty much; have to get the change of clothes back." Shinra made up a reason casually.
Not entirely nonsense; his clothes were indeed thrown into the washing machine in that room. Even if not taking them back, he had to transfer the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer.
Of course, the main purpose was to see someone, but this was inconvenient to tell Tobe, this big mouth.
If Yumiko knew, she would be jealous again.
Sigh, this is the drawback of two-timing (multiple-timing).