‘It’s quiet.’
Perhaps because it was early, the garden behind the inn was serene.
With the cool autumn breeze, the red maple leaves rustled and fell into the pond.
Holding a cider in one hand, I walked along the path, taking in the scenery.
‘Huh?’
However, contrary to my expectation of being alone, there was one other person in the garden.
It was Hattori Ayame, who had recently transferred from Osaka.
Surprisingly, she was surrounded by a flock of sparrows, happily chirping and perching on her arms and legs.
Honestly, it was a sight hard to believe even when seen with my own eyes.
Because it was my first time seeing wild sparrows following a person so closely.
I was staring at her, lost in thought, when...
“Who’s there?”
Sensing the gaze on her, she turned her head towards me.
Our eyes met for a moment.
She then smiled and waved her hand.
“Hi, Kim. Why are you standing there, dazed?”
“Uh, well...”
Even though I hadn’t done anything, I felt as if I was caught doing something wrong.
‘I was just amazed and watching.’
But that wasn’t something I could easily say.
“I was just passing by.”
I tried to respond as neutrally as possible to avoid the situation, but Hattori didn’t seem to let it go that easily.
“Why don’t you come over here?”
Having no chance to escape, I reluctantly approached her.
As I got closer, Hattori showed me the sparrow perched on her palm and said,
“This is Chosuke. I’ve been raising him since I was young.”
As if understanding human speech, the sparrow on her palm spread one wing and chirped.
It was something out of a manga, but considering the world we were in, I accepted it as possible.
“That’s cute.”
“Right?”
As if she herself had been complimented, Ayame, who was delighted, seemed to realize she was too close and coughed awkwardly, stepping back.
“I couldn’t take him to Tokyo, so I left him at my family home, but it seems he flew from Osaka to Kyoto with his friends to see me.”
Chirp!
If what she said was true, I could only remark on the remarkable loyalty.
Even though Osaka and Kyoto were close, it would still take several hours to fly with those small wings.
I stroked its head with my index finger, appreciating its valor, and Chosuke closed its eyes, seemingly enjoying it.
‘...So cute.’
With a fanboy smile in my heart, I sincerely thought so.
Suddenly, Ayame, beside me, burst into laughter.
“????”
“...Isn’t it just about asking for phone numbers?”
“...Is that it?”
Though I had promised to join Satoru, neither Ryuji nor I really knew what ‘hunting’ entailed.
One has to have done it to know.
Anyway, knowing that our hunting intentions might not be well-received by the girls, we quickly followed Satoru.
“Ryu-chan, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Maybe he urgently needs the restroom.”
“Hmm, maybe?”
Karen replied to Rika’s puzzled muttering.
Having spent the first day wandering alone while the others in her group hung out together, Karen was quite excited about this rare free time.
Having already signaled to her group members, there was nobody to bother her today, even if she played with her friends from class B.
“Anyway, now that we’re at the movie village, let’s rent kimonos. Kimonos!”
“Wait! You’re too excited, Karen-chan!”
Excited Karen was trying to be calmed down by Rika, but unfortunately, Karen wasn’t listening.
Watching them, one of the remaining three, the Class President, chuckled, “Haha, she’s full of energy.” Sasha nodded her head, saying,
“That’s what you call a musclehead.”
Finally, Hattori, with her insider vibe, pushed the two’s backs and said,
“Don’t be like that; how about we also go try on kimonos? When else can we wear them?”
Sasha, a foreigner, agreed with her.
“Not a bad idea.”
The Class President, who appeared stern but was flexible in her own way, felt the same.
“Well, all these are memories, after all.”
Led by an excited Karen, the group of girls headed to the costume rental room to rent kimonos.
Somewhere in Kyoto.
“...Only one day left.”
Kumiko, who had come to Kyoto, where the Saionji family’s main house was located, for the engagement ceremony tomorrow, sighed deeply as she looked out the window.
By now, Kim Yu-seong, whom she secretly admired, would be enjoying his school trip in Kyoto.
Before she could even feel sad about being under the same sky but not being able to meet him, a familiar voice came from beyond the threshold.
“Miss, the Chairman has arrived.”
“Tell him to come in.”
“Yes.”
Minami, her servant’s voice, faded away, and soon light footsteps approached.
Creak!
The tightly shut sliding doors then opened, revealing an elderly man with white hair.
His white hair and wrinkles around his eyes showed the passage of time, but his eyes still shone brightly.
“It’s been a long time, Kumiko.”
As the old man spoke, Kumiko bowed slightly in greeting.
“Have you been well, Grandfather?”
The old man was none other than Saionji Harunobu, the 27th head of the Saionji family and Kumiko’s paternal grandfather.