Volume 6 - CH 15

“Since we’re at this point… let’s split up the members a little bit… I’m sure there are some engaged couples who would like to be alone with each other.”

The seven of them decided to split up the group, as suggested by Ayaka.　

This is partly out of consideration for people like Yuzuru and Arisa who want to act as ‘especially intimate’…

But it was also because they felt that it would be a bit cramped and inconvenient for the seven of them to be together in a group.

“Then, let’s go look for some souvenirs”

Yuzuru said and extended his hand to Arisa.

Arisa gave a small nod and lightly grasped Yuzuru’s hand.

“Yes.”

The two began to walk, holding hands.

“I guess the safe bet is the yatsuhashi,…… but which yatsuhashi is better…?”

Arisa tilted her head as she picked up the box of yatsuhashi. (TN: A type of Japanese sweet)

Not only at Kiyomizu-dera temple, but anywhere in Kyoto yatsuhashi was sold.

And there were a variety of manufacturers.

“I think this one is good. There seems to be a variety of flavors.”

“Ah, that’s nice. It looks interesting.”

Arisa nodded and put the box of yatsuhashi that Yuzuru showed her in the basket.

She then put her hand on her chin.

“Yuzuru-san, have you decided on anything?”

“Yatsubashi for my relatives… and I’m thinking of buying baumkuchen for my family, I guess”

“Baumkuchen?” (TN: A German sweet)

Arisa tilted her head.

Yuzuru nodded with a wry smile.

“My sister said she was tired of yatsuhashi… and something about a baumkuchen flavored with matcha… She told me to buy it.”

“I see. Baumkuchen…I think I saw it somewhere… Ah!　Isn’t it that one?”

“…Yes, that’s probably it.”

And Arisa also picked up a box of baumkuchen and put it in her basket.

“Are you buying those too?”

“They are for me and my sister.”

Arisa smiled mischievously.

It seemed that the baumkuchen was more appealing than the yatsuhashi, even to Arisa’s eyes.

After buying the bare minimum of souvenirs, the two began strolling around to see if there were any other interesting items for sale.

And what Yuzuru immediately noticed was…

“Are you going to buy pickles?”

“No, I haven’t decided if I’m going to buy them, but …they look delicious.”

Yuzuru was not a great cook, but he could at least cook white rice.

Add to that pickles and items that only need to be cooked, such as boiled eggs and sausage… and you have at least the menu for one meal.

“It sure looks good. Seems like it shouldn’t be too much trouble, and I will also… ah, but there are so many different kinds…”

There were many different kinds of pickles.

Different vegetables were used and different pickling methods were also used.

It was difficult to know which one to choose.

Fortunately, some of the pickles were available for tasting.

“Yeah… this Shibazuke is not bad… what do you think?”

Yuzuru put one of the pickles in his mouth.

Then, with another toothpick, he stabbed another bite of Shibazuke and brought it to Arisa’s mouth.

Arisa took it in her mouth in one bite.

“Hmm.. sure, it’s delicious. But if you’re going to go through the trouble, don’t you want to buy something a little different?　Like this one…”

“Ugh…”

A pickle was tossed into Yuzuru’s mouth.

When he chewed it between his teeth, he felt a crispy texture.

It was followed by a strange stickiness and the taste of yuzu (TN: Japanese citron).

“Is this… yam?”

“Yes. It seems to be pickled with yuzu peel. There are many other flavors available…”

“Wow …there are so many flavors.”

Since they could sample the food, they decided to try more flavors.

They fed each other pickles and talked about how good this one was, that one was better, that one was better, etc. 

Finally, after much deliberation, they each bought two kinds of pickles that they liked–a standard pickle and a slightly different pickle.

“…Arisa. Do you want me to hold the stuff?”

Yuzuru asked Arisa.

There were pickles, yatsuhashi, baumkuchen, etc…

It was a good amount of baggage.

Arisa looked a little troubled by Yuzuru’s suggestion.

“U-um….”

“…you don’t have to hold back.”

“…Then, um”

Arisa nodded at Yuzuru’s words, and…

Her white hand was placed lightly on top of Yuzuru’s hand.

“Rather than my stuff… Please hold my hand.”

Arisa’s cheeks flushed as she looked up at Yuzuru.

Yuzuru was a little surprised by this, but smiled and nodded.

“Ah, sure”

He squeezed Arisa’s hand tightly.

Then he grinned.

“…If you fall down, you’ll only live three years,, right?”

“Ah …Y-you’re terrible!　I had forgotten about it!”

Why are you reminding me!

As if asking that, Arisa raised her eyebrows, an angry expression on her face.

“Sorry, sorry.”

“…Yuzuru-san, you are the worst. I hate you.”

“…So, shall we stop holding hands?”

“…that’s no good.”

At Yuzuru’s question, Arisa turned her face away from him, but she held Yuzuru’s hand tightly… and further intertwined their arms.

The two of them started walking to the meeting place.

“…Yuzuru-san!”

On the road, Yuzuru looked beside him when his name was suddenly called.

Arisa stared up at his face.

“Um… Can I ask you something?”

“What’s up?　Something on your mind?”

“…yes. I’m a little stuck on something.”

When Yuzuru asked, Arisa took a moment of silence and then spoke up.

“Yuzuru-san… do you feel any, uh, anxiety about your current situation?”

“Anxious?　…um, in my relationship with Arisa?”

“N-no… well, I mean, in general.”

In general.

That said, there was no doubt that she was asking about their relationship.

Yuzuru thought for a while before answering.

“Well, nothing in particular.”

There were certainly times when he felt that his values were a little different from those of Arisa.

There were times when he felt that his tastes were different from hers.

In fact, the type of pickles they buy could be different.

But …that’s about it.

For example …whether the relationship between Yuzuru and Arisa is a political marriage or a love marriage…

There remained some discrepancy regarding perceptions in that area, however, nothing serious.

It was not a serious matter.

At least, that’s how Yuzuru perceived it.

“I see…”

“Um… are you perhaps concerned about the omikuji?”

When Yuzuru asked that, Arisa laughed.

“Y-yeah… well… I heard it has a reputation for getting it right… and coming true..”

“… as Chiharu said, you shouldn’t worry too much. However, if you have an inkling of something and you think it’s appropriate, you might want to follow it.”

It may seem bland, but on the contrary, the advice given was safe.

If there was something that one thought should be improved, it would be better to do so.

Perhaps that is what fortune-telling is all about is what Yuzuru understood.

“…that’s true.”

Arisa affirmed in a small voice.