CH 34

It was the long-awaited Sunday.

I left the house in one of the two cars my parents own, the liter car that my mother often uses.

The mini-wagon was for my father’s golf trip.

I arrived at Kemigawahama Station on the JR Keiyo Line.

There were still more than 15 minutes until the appointed time of 8:00, but Touko-senpai was already waiting for me.

“Good morning. You’re early. It’s still quite early.”

“You always come earlier than the appointed time, you know. so I thought I’d come ahead and wait for you sometimes.”

As she said this, she got into the car and fastened her seatbelt.

“So, where are you taking me today?”

I’ve thought about it a lot, but I want to take a lot of pictures, so I’m thinking of going to Minamiboso.

“Oh, you’re going to take pictures?”

I want to take a lot of pictures.

“Yes, I will give all the photos to you at the end. I want you to look at them and use them as a reference for what I consider ‘cute’.”

She made a dissatisfied expression, but

“I understand.”

She replied.

As soon as I started the car, I headed for the highway.

First, I headed for Kisarazu.

I would take the expressway to Futtsu.

Which part of Minamiboso are you going to?”

Touko senpai asked me.

“I’m thinking of going from Sawayama to Tateyama, then to Okinoshima, the southernmost island, and then back to Katsuura.”

“You mean halfway around Minamiboso. As a resident of Chiba Prefecture, I guess it’s pretty standard.”

Then Touko-senpai laughed.

“I wasn’t sure about this one,” she said, “but I thought there were few places in the Tokyo area where I could take photos in a relaxed atmosphere, despite the crowds. I really wanted to go to Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, but the flowers in bloom at this time of year were not that great.”.

The National Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture is a famous photo spot with “hills covered with flowers.

In spring, the hill is dyed blue with nemophila, and in autumn, it is dyed pink with kochia.

Unfortunately, in mid-November, the kochia season has already passed.

“It’s okay, isn’t it? I’d rather go somewhere where I can relax a little than spend my days off in the crowds in Tokyo. Besides, Minamiboso seems to be warm even this time of year. And the weather is fine today.”

“Yes, I’m glad it’s sunny. By the way, we’re going to walk a lot today, are you okay with that?

“Don’t worry, you told me beforehand that we’d be outdoors, so please wear comfortable shoes.

We got off the Tateyama Expressway at the Futtsu Kanaya Interchange.

From there, we took National Highway 127, and on the way, we entered the Sawsan Mountain Climbing Expressway, which took us to the Nihonji Temple in the middle of Sawsan.

“This might be my first time to visit Mt.”

While saying this, Tonko looked around with great interest at the large Buddha carved into the quarry, the various Buddha statues, and the 100-foot Kannon.

She showed a surprisingly childlike expression.

“It was good. I was worried that girls would not be interested in temples and Buddhist statues.”

I was worried that girls wouldn’t be interested in temples and Buddhist statues. There are a lot of girls who like to visit shrines and temples these days.

I took a picture of Touko-senpai the moment she turned around.

In the background was the trail leading up to Hyakushaku Kannon, a cool place with steep stone walls on both sides.

The shadows of the trees also added to the atmosphere.

“Hey, you’re suddenly taking pictures without warning?”

Touko-senpai’s voice twitched in frustration.

Yes. I want to take pictures in a natural atmosphere if possible. It’s just Touko-senpai as seen from my perspective.”

“Mmm ……”

She still looked dissatisfied, but didn’t say anything more.

From there, we ascended to the top and arrived at “Jigoku Nozoki”.

This is the place where a rock juts out over the eaves, and below it is a 30-meter vertical slope.

“Looking down from the top is called ‘Jigoku Nozoki’.”

When I said that, Touko-senpai showed an uneasy look on her face.

“I’m not very good at heights. ……”

“I’m not good at high places. But even though we’ve come all this way, what’s the point if we don’t get to see it?”

Touko-senpai looks at me with a grudging look.

Let’s go together. I’ll hold your hand.”

She hesitated for a while, but then silently held out her hand.

“Just so you know, the ‘suspension bridge effect’ doesn’t work on me.”

Even as she said this, she held my hand tightly as we walked hesitantly to the top of the rock.

We proceeded to the tip of the rock that protruded along the fence.

“This is the bottom of Hell Peephole.”

As I said this, I too looked down, but the sensation of being thrust into the empty space beneath my feet certainly made me feel as if my knees were losing their strength.

Touko-senpai also unconsciously squeezed my hand.

I also took a picture of her anxious profile.

The sound of the camera beeping made Touko-senpai realize that her picture had been taken.

“You’re taking pictures of this part too?

“I want to take pictures of various expressions.”

She turned her gaze away, looking embarrassed.

“Make sure you erase it all later.”

I chuckled and changed the subject.

“This is where the old monks and others did their training. To train their mental strength and concentration.”

“I don’t see the point in doing that.”

“If an earthquake happens now, we will be screwed. If this whole rock were to collapse, we’d go straight down.”

“Stop it!”

If an earthquake happens now, we might be out of luck. If this whole rock collapses, we’ll go straight down.

“Hey, stop it!”

Touko-senpai turned to look at me.

Her face was quite angry.

This is bad.

“I’m sorry, I was just kidding.”

“Ugh!”

“But if something like that happens, I will definitely save Touko-senpai.”

Touko-senpai glanced at me.

Then, in a small voice, she said.

“I told you the ‘suspension bridge effect’ doesn’t work.”