CH 31

Amazing autumn leaves…

I’ve been to Kyoto a few times because my grandma lives here, and I’ve also been here with ‘my girlfriend’.

But this is my first visit to Kiyomizu temple. It’s pretty famous.

Too beautiful. These are the real autumn leaves…

It was nice. At least I got to see this scene alive…

Because Kanna looked so terrible when she got off the bus, the word “terrible” is not enough to describe how scary she was.

I’m glad I could calm her down somehow.

I seriously thought I was going to die. What was that overflowing murderous atmosphere…

It was leaking too much.

I’m still really scared because I don’t know why after all.

Well, at least things are back to normal.

Yeah, I guess so. I went to the Shimogamo shrine…. in the afternoon. Was it? Right.

If I don’t keep that promise, I’m dead.

Yeah, that’s the thing about these guys, too, if you think about it. There’s always a way out, no matter how many eyes Karen has on me.

Gals are curious. Especially the two on either side of Karen.

I should be able to get out of this.

”Hey! Karen and Yuna. Listen, listen, I’ve got an idea for a cool picture! “

”Huh?　What?　Tell me! 　Wait! Is there something on camera?　Whoa. Are they actors or something? Hey! 　Look, Karen… over there. Right there! “

”Hm? Where?”

Yeah. Huh, there are a lot of gaps now. I think I can afford this.

I wondered what to do for a while, but as far as I can see, it’s an easy mission to get out.

By the way, Shimogamo-jinja Shrine is located at…

I thought I’d heard of it before, but was it the place Karen and I were planning to go to when we came to Kyoto together because she wanted to go here?

In the end, she liked the place I took her to so much that she stayed there, and I vaguely remember that we didn’t go to this place because we ran out of time.

What kind of shrine was it?　Well, it doesn’t matter now.

Anyway, the important thing today is to get out of here on time.

I already know exactly where it is. This time I’ll be sure.

”Then we’re free to go for now! Let’s go, Karen!”

”Are you sure you don’t mind us?”

Hmm?　What did they just say?

Are we free to go?

Um, we’re already free.

So we’ll go as a group…　

”No, I don’t mind, not at all. It’s more convenient for me.”

? What’s Karen saying?

”Ah, aren’t you with Todo? I’m also going to get a guy today for sure. Let’s work hard.”

”I have a boyfriend, but Takabe asked me out. Of course, I’m going. This Takabe. When someone of that caliber asks me out, it doesn’t matter even if I have a boyfriend.”

No, no, no, hey, you guys.

”Hm, I don’t know. I think I’m going to be super serious today. I won’t let him get away from this.”

”Mazie, Karen’s seriousness is the best thing that ever happened to you.”

”That’s right. Karen’s surely the one who can win easily.”

Uh? What about me?　Did you forget I exist?

No, you can forget I exist. Wait, that’s not what I’m saying.

That’s not forgetting me, but ignoring me.

What are you three getting so excited about?　Hey.

No, that’s a violation. Violation.

”Well, I hope we all have a good result at the end.”

”Yeah. We can do it!”

”Always undefeated! We are the best!”

Don’t say ‘we’re the best!’ to me. We’re not the best!

What’s with that game-club vibe?

Stop it!

”W-wait…”

Uh, they’re going on their own…

No way.

And there’s a woman named Karen standing there, smiling at me with a big smile…

No, please, no.

”Well, I’m going to go work hard… Oh, we’ll both do our best.”

W-we’re both…

”Hmm, where are we going? Anywhere. I’ll go with you specially. Didn’t you hear what I said before?”

”What, what are you talking about?”

Why are you coming so close to me?

”I’m very serious today. I won’t let you go.”

This is…

”Come to think of it. I feel like I want to start off a clean slate… Is that the word you use when you feel like jumping off the past stage of clear water?”

( Maybe ‘Jumping off the past stage of clear water’  is some Japanese Idiom, but I don’t get it. Basically, she’s saying she wants to start with a clean slate, and she does not take account of previous mistakes or failures and make a fresh start.)

No, I don’t think so…

Umm, yeah. Not quite right…

Ugh…