Chapter 183: Sightseeing (Long Chapter)
Akishin woke the three of them up. Before the electric train had even departed, they had already mentioned wanting to see Mount Fuji.
People from the other side of the carriage began crowding toward their direction.
Shizuka pulled out her phone to take a commemorative photo.
Totsuka Saika pressed his entire body against the window, pointing at the massive mountain with a soft finger. "Hachiman, look! It's Mount Fuji!"
"So we've finally made it this far, huh?"
"You probably can't see it clearly from your seat, right? Here, come a little closer." Totsuka waved at Hachiman, inviting him over to get a better look.
Hachiman hesitated for a moment before leaning in.
Totsuka Saika's face was right in front of his eyes. In an effort to let Hachiman get closer to the window, he awkwardly twisted his body in the cramped space, turning his face to the side and stealing glances at Mount Fuji.
"Hachiman, let me borrow you for a second."
At that moment, Yui came running over again. Her hands pressed down on Hachiman's shoulders, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Ah, I want to see too!"
Yui leaned forward, almost resting against Hachiman's back, creating a position that looked as if Hachiman were giving her a piggyback ride...
Hachiman's body went stiff as he caught a whiff of a faint, incredibly familiar perfume.
He couldn't exactly shake her hands off without making a scene, and in truth, he was a bit flustered, so he could only remain frozen in his current position.
"..."
Perhaps because Yui was so captivated by the view, she remained still for a long time, the only sound being her shallow breathing.
Akishin and Shizuka watched the two of them with meaningful smiles. Shizuka gave Yui a supportive nod.
It was a clear sign of encouragement.
Yui noticed, her face flushing slightly. Her smile grew sweeter as she gave a light push, letting out a cute "heisyo~" sound as she finally pulled away from Hachiman.
"Ah~, Mount Fuji is so beautiful. I'd really love to see it from the summit... Thanks, Hachiman."
"... Oh."
Hachiman feigned composure on the surface, but the reality was that his heart was racing. Yui, you can't just do things like that out of the blue. It's a recipe for making a guy get the wrong idea...
Hachiman didn't dare glare at Yui, nor did he dare glare at his teacher—much less his teacher's future wife. After looking around, he settled on glaring at Zaimokuza, who was craning his neck from nearby to see what was happening.
Zaimokuza: "??"
To cover up his self-consciousness, Hachiman looked at Yui, who had sat down beside him, and spoke up. "I say..."
"Ah, it's time for me to head back!"
But before he could finish his sentence, Yui scrambled to her feet and hurried back to her original seat, looking as proud as a little squirrel that had successfully stolen a nut.
"..."
Why do I feel slightly happy about this?
Shaking his head, Hachiman let out a quiet sigh, trying to flush the chaotic emotions from his system.
"U-um, Hachiman, could you stand up?" A voice like a small bird chirped from Hachiman's lap.
Looking down, he saw Totsuka still curled up against him, seemingly uncomfortable, with the corners of his eyes beginning to water.
"Whoa! Sorry!"
Hachiman immediately scrambled back into his own seat, his back hitting the rear handle with a heavy thud.
Bang!
"Ow~~"
"Ouch! Hachiman, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine..."
"Are you really okay?"
"I'm seriously fine, don't worry about it."
Hachiman waved his hand, maintaining an expression that insisted he was unhurt.
In truth, it hurt like hell.
Akishin watched the interaction between his student and Totsuka with a slightly strange expression. This kid isn't going to grow up with a skewed preference, is he? Though, Totsuka is undeniably cute.
...
The Shinkansen departed from Tokyo and arrived in Kyoto about two hours later.
The group disembarked, stepping into the autumn chill as they walked toward the sightseeing bus stop. As late autumn set in, the temperature in Kyoto had dropped significantly; it was only going to get colder from here.
The city sat in a basin-like terrain, making it scorching in the summer and freezing in the winter. Because of these drastic seasonal shifts, Kyoto boasted distinct beauty across all four seasons:
Spring offered pink cherry blossoms covering the mountains and fields; summer provided the cool riverbanks of the Kamo River amidst lush greenery; autumn brought the sight of maple leaves painting the peaks fire-red; and winter offered the dance of snowflakes over white-capped mountains.
November marked the end of the maple leaf season. Looking toward the small hills in the distance, a fiery red hue filled the vision.
And before long, snow would fall here, replacing the burning red of the maples.
According to today's schedule, the first destination was Kiyomizu-dera.
Kiyomizu-dera is located on the slopes of Mount Otowa in eastern Kyoto. Construction began in 778, making it the oldest temple in Kyoto. It has burned down and been rebuilt several times and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. Its popularity abroad is immense.
Akishin and Shizuka worked with the teachers of each class to maintain order, watching as the students boarded their respective tour buses. The seating arrangements were largely the same as they had been on the Shinkansen.
Hayama sat with Tobe; in the same row were Miura and Yui, while on the other side sat Ooka, Yamato, Saki, and Ebina.
Hachiman was still tucked away at the very back with Totsuka Saika.
Akishin and Shizuka boarded the bus reserved for teachers.
The vehicle moved through the city streets, and after a sharp turn, a sloping road appeared before them.
The parking area here was vast, filled with tour buses from various groups. The Sobu High bus pulled into line. Subsequently, everyone disembarked to climb Sannenzaka—a small, stone-paved slope—on foot toward Kiyomizu-dera.
Even though the peak of the maple season had passed, the crowd at Kiyomizu-dera could still be described as a sea of humanity.
First, everyone took a group photo in front of the Niomon gate.
Once the successive photos were finished, the next agenda item was visiting in class units, with permission for independent movement.
Akishin and Shizuka, joined by Hachiman, Yui, Totsuka Saika, and Zaimokuza trailing behind, climbed the stone steps. Passing through the main gate, the towering Five-Story Pagoda appeared before the six of them, a stunning sight. Looking down at the Kyoto cityscape below, the atmosphere of the ancient capital flooded their senses.
The entrance for worship at Kiyomizu-dera was already packed with students and tourists who had arrived early, requiring a bit of a wait to get inside. At the group ticket entrance, several classes were also lined up.
"Hachiman, did you forget?"
Yui stepped out of the line, walking over to Hachiman's side to ask.
"Get back in line properly. Be careful not to get left behind. And as for that matter, don't be in such a rush; we're just assistants."
"Besides, the line isn't going to move much anytime soon. I found an interesting spot, want to go see?"
"Later."
Hachiman, who was completely hopeless when it came to romance, gave a flat rejection.
"Ugh~" Yui wasn't pleased with his response, puffing out her cheeks and glaring at him. "I think it's better to get the job done first."
"When traveling, it's better to forget about work..."
"Not allowed."
Without further explanation, Yui pulled Hachiman away. "Be a little more proactive! I even went and looked for Tobe and Hina!"
Akishin watched as Hachiman was dragged by Yui into a small Buddha hall.
Shizuka sighed. "Young people really are energetic... No, that's wrong. I'm young too. I am young." She tapped her chest, wearing an extremely confident expression.
Today, Shizuka was wearing a white turtleneck sweater, topped with a cute cream-colored trench coat. Below, she wore elegant black trousers and a pair of small, grey, round-toed leather shoes.
The entire look made her appear both intelligent and adorable.
Akishin offered a gentle suggestion. "Let's go look elsewhere, somewhere higher up." He took Shizuka's hand, waited for her to perform a simple prayer, and then they walked to another area for their own observation.
They climbed the mountain, entering the main building of Kiyomizu-dera. Daikokuten is enshrined here, alongside exhibits such as iron shoes and a tin staff.
Because there were too many visitors, there was no chance to touch them directly.
Walking further ahead brought them to the famous Kiyomizu Stage.
This is the most popular spot at Kiyomizu-dera, crowded with students and tourists taking commemorative photos.
"Wow, it's so beautiful..."
Shizuka leaned against the red wooden railing, letting out a breath of admiration.
Looking out from here, one could enjoy the view of the great mountain covered in red maple leaves, as well as the Kyoto city streets. A view like this had likely existed for centuries—it was the sediment of history. Being at such a height naturally made one's heart feel lighter.
Some things remain forever, and some things change with time—this was the assessment of many travelers who visited the ancient city.
Akishin had to admit, letting the students have their School Trip here was a very good thing.
He stared at the scenery, lost in thought.
Shizuka suddenly said happily, "That's right, Akishin, let's take a picture!" She pulled a camera from her pocket. The sleek black body indicated it wasn't some cheap trinket.
"A photo? Sure, leave it to me."
"I mean, let's take one together."
Shizuka pulled Akishin close, hugging his arm. She raised the camera and pointed the lens toward both of them.
Their faces appeared in the frame, pressed close together.
"Come on, say 'Peanut'."
Click!
Shizuka pressed the shutter. Akishin smiled, doing an inverted V-pose as the image froze. Shizuka's face was slightly flushed, smiling like a small, rosy sun.
She took several photos in a row.
"There~ the photos turned out quite well. Really good."
Releasing Akishin, Shizuka looked at the photos with a glowing face, looking happier the more she scrolled.
"Ah, I really am cute..."
"By the way, why do you have to say 'Peanut' when taking a picture?" Akishin only just realized that Shizuka hadn't said 'Eggplant'.
"Don't you know? When people from Chiba Prefecture take photos, everyone says that word..."
"Really?"
Akishin found that hard to believe.
"Anyway, don't overthink it... this is a rare opportunity, let's go take photos at other spots too."
Shizuka took another step closer, gently hugging Akishin's arm.
Akishin looked around, spotting a group of Sobu High students also gathered together with cameras for selfies. Most were couples—for high schoolers today, this was likely a standard ritual.
"Yumiko, Hina, let's take a group photo!"
Yui's voice drifted from a distance. She was with Miura Yumiko and Ebina Hina. The three of them were hugging and taking flashy photos while shouting "Yeah~".
"Hayama-kun, you guys come here too!"
Yui called over Hayama's group. The pack immediately swarmed over, including Tobe, Ooka, and Yamato.
After that, Yui took photos for many of them.
Yumiko knew exactly how to pose to look beautiful. Even though she changed her pose for every shot, the 'haughty' expression on her face remained unchanged.
Hayama looked entirely natural; he was so accustomed to being watched that he didn't even need a special pose to look photogenic.
As for Tobe, he was still Tobe—deliberately striking poses seen only in fashion magazines, looking quite flamboyant and truly showing off his own style.
And then there was Ebina, who maintained the same smile from start to finish. Her expression didn't change at all from the first photo to the last...
One really had to wonder what that kid had gone through in the past.
Akishin sighed, pulling Shizuka along toward another area...
Continuing their visit along the path, they eventually arrived at Jishu-jinja.
Jishu-jinja, located within Kiyomizu-dera, is another popular spot. This is a shrine related to couples—the popularity of the God of Matchmaking is immense, and many come here to pray for their love to bear fruit.
Essentially, any young person visiting Kiyomizu-dera wouldn't skip this place.
Especially for students on a School Trip; everyone swarmed around the shrine, buzzing with excitement like a hive of bees.
Akishin made a point to offer a brief prayer here.
Things like love should always be faced with sincerity.
After the prayer, next was buying protective charms and drawing fortunes.
"Akishin, Akishin, how about this one?" Shizuka happily brought over a protective charm, her face flushed as she held it up to Akishin as if seeking a reward.
Are you still a child?
Akishin accepted the charm with a smile, looking at the colorful geometric patterns on it, and said, "It's very nice. Let's buy it." So he pulled out money to purchase several charms.
"Ah! Over there you can make a wish and draw a fortune. Let's go there too." Shizuka found something new again, dragging Akishin toward it...
Ting-ting-tang-tang...
Tossing in a five-yen coin and shaking the rope, the large bell let out a melodious sound. Then they took a white fortune slip from the box recommended by the Miko.
In the end, both Akishin and Shizuka received 'Syo-kichi' (Small Luck), which was quite good. The fortune was written in Kanji, and Akishin could read it. It stated his work was stable and his talent was average. Shizuka's was a 'plain love, but very happy.'
Elsewhere, Ebina gave her fortune to Tobe. Tobe stood on his tiptoes, tying the fortune to the highest possible spot...
Ebina sighed. "Truly worthy of being called a man."
Akishin and Shizuka walked leisurely while linked together, enjoying the stage of the main building from Okunoin, then descending the stone steps to the path leading to the Otowa Waterfall.
The waterfall's flow was crystal clear, known as Holy Water, which was the origin of the name Kiyomizu-dera.
The front of the three divided streams was also packed with tourists.
The three separate lines were incredibly long, even winding back several times.
"This is the Otowa Waterfall." Akishin took out the guidebook, checked it for a moment, and smiled. "The three streams provide protection for academics, love, and longevity, respectively."
"Then let's go to the love one."
Without hesitation, Shizuka pulled Akishin toward the middle stream representing love. A soft breeze ruffled Shizuka's long hair, carrying a faint fragrance.
Amidst the flickering light and shadows, looking at his blissful partner, Akishin felt this moment was truly beautiful.
...
Today was spent visiting Kiyomizu-dera, Nanzen-ji, then walking to Ginkaku-ji to enjoy the beauty of the maples, and taking a stroll along the Philosopher's Path by the canal. The atmosphere was exquisite, though unfortunately, the student named Tobe Kakeru had still not confessed his love...
After the travel schedule ended, everyone arrived at the inn for dinner. Since there was a division between males and females, Akishin didn't eat with Shizuka.
After finishing his bath, Akishin left the room he shared with several male teachers. He walked to the vending machine to buy a can of beer, then sat in a lobby chair, sipping it slowly while enjoying the Kyoto night through the window.
It wasn't much different from Chiba...
However, I've heard the night view in Kyoto is quite special. We really walked a lot today, and Shizuka is exhausted. I'll have to take her out to see the night scenery another time.
"Sensei, you're here too?"
Hachiman emerged wearing a Yukata. He bought two cans of plum juice from the vending machine and handed one to Akishin.
Akishin looked at the beer in his hand, then accepted the juice.
"Any progress?"
"None at all. But they've found a spot for the confession—a very beautiful bamboo forest."
"If they don't succeed, what's your plan?"
"Heh, then I'll be the one to go and confess first!"
"Ho~, so you like Ebina-san. You have a bright future ahead of you; Sensei will support you~"
"That's a lie! It's just a lie! This is just acting, don't talk nonsense. It wouldn't be good if a misunderstanding happened..."
"Whose misunderstanding are you afraid of? Yui's or Yukino's?"
"..."
"Want a drink? My treat."
"... I'm an underaged."
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