CH 36

”Hmm? Well, I’m a little lost, or rather, I lost everyone.”

”What? Did you get lost? “

Right now, I’m in the middle of some things and sitting next to a woman.

Hirose-san, who is sitting next to me on a city bus in Kyoto.

”Yeah. Yeah. And I saw someone I knew, so I just ran after him. I’m sorry. I scared you, didn’t I?”

I was so confused by everything going on that I was also suspicious of her. But now that I think about it, she had nothing to do with it. Of course, it’s not.

Because surprisingly, I have almost no memory of being involved with Hirose as ‘him’.

I know. My fears were completely unfounded.

I need to clear my head. No, now it’s the other way around. I shouldn’t think about it anymore.

I can’t think about it.

”And besides, I finally got ahold of the situation. I just thought maybe I’d take this bus back to the others. I might be getting off in a little while.”

”Oh, I see. That’s good to know.”

”Mm-hmm, yeah. You’re supposed to be talking to me like I’m your friend. Why are you using honorifics?

”Oh, yes. I’ll get used to it. Ahaha.”

And from the looks of it, I’ll get to Kanna’s safely by myself, just like I promised.

That’s good. I’m so glad.

If I piss Kanna off any more than I already have, I will have to endure her kick…

Just thinking about it is too much.

Hmm? But is that normal?

”So, why are you alone, Kazama?”

”Huh? Ah, yeah, I’m a little lost too.”

”Oh, really? Then we’re the same.”

”I guess so.”

Well, we’ll get separated. We might get separated.

Yeah. Don’t think too much. When we get separated, we get separated.

I’d be in trouble if I didn’t.

But I guess I’m not afraid of morning horoscopes anymore. Is it wearing off?

I didn’t know lying could work so well.

Luck is completely on my side now.

Or maybe the lie is on my ally now. Ha-ha-ha.

”Wow. Look, look, out the window. A maiko. She’s so beautiful.”

”Yes, she is.”

Yes. Of course, a maiko is a maiko, but it’s different if it’s Sayaka.

A real maiko.

”Oh, speaking of maiko, I thought I heard some women fighting before I got on the bus. Do you know anything about it? 　I was chasing after Kazama so hard that I didn’t know what was happening.”

”Uh? Well, I don’t know either. Sorry.”

”Okay? But why were they fighting? Did I hear a guy’s name? “

Ugh… Well, it’s okay if it’s her.

Yeah. it’ll be fine.

”Oh, wow. I see. I was kind of desperate for getting on the bus myself, so I don’t know.”

”Hmm, is that so?”

Good. Everything is okay.

”So, where are you going to meet up with the others? From the looks of it, Kazama seemed to be in a hurry, so he was already in touch with the other group members, right? “

”What? Uh, well, yes. I’m going to… probably the Shimogamo shrine?”

”Heeー, I see.”

Hmm? Should I have lied here too?

No, but it’s her. It doesn’t matter what I say.

I didn’t say anything about Kanna.

”Wow, there are a lot of couples here. Here. “

Oh, this is the place.

There are a lot of couples here. It’s weekdays, so college students?

Or high school students who skipped school?

Anyway, the view from the bus window is the Kamo River.

A couple is sitting on the riverbed at equal intervals.

”Hmmm, maybe you’ve been here before, Kazama?”

”No, no. I haven’t.”

”Really? or is it because you’re talking to me?”

”No, it’s true.”

What… What does that mean?

Well, I’m sure she’s just teasing me, right?

Yeah. Yeah. That’s all she’s saying.

I guess I’m a little paranoid right now.

Because she doesn’t know and she can’t know our switch.

”Heeー, oh, I gotta get out of here. Okay, bye! Kazama.”

”Here? Yes. See you later.”

Are you actually meeting your boyfriend here instead of with your group?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Now I’m safe and sound. I just have to go to Kanna.

Hmm? 　Are you asking the driver something before you get off the bus?

Express? 　Do I think I heard such a word?

Oh, so she’s not meeting here but changing buses.

Well, I guess you want to meet up with him as soon as possible.

Anyway, I hope you’ll meet up with him there and enjoy the rest of your trip.

”See you later! Bye, Kazama. Have a nice trip!”

”Yes! You too. “

She waved me down with a huge smile on her face.

Well, I guess I’m on my way to Kanna’s place today.

Hmm? 　What’s that?

I can see a weird hat a little bit from Hirose-san’s bag…

I think I’ve seen this somewhere before….?

Uh, maybe it’s just a hat you can find anywhere.

Whatever.

Huh? 　Speaking of which, why is my surname suddenly called Kazama instead of Kazami…

Did she just notice that somewhere?

Yeah. Let’s not think about unimportant things so much.

Anyway, what I should think about now is.

Kanna.

Good. Let’s go to Shimogamo Shrine.