Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 111 8. "Going to Kyoto! (3)"

The line moved very slowly. After waiting in line for more than 20 minutes, the six people finally arrived in front of the flowing spring called "Otowa Taki".

Masumi couldn't help but wonder if the rule restricting drinking was also intended to prevent tourists from staying too long.

"Hualala~" the sound of flowing spring.

The three streams of water flowing down from the waterfall in front of you represent career (study), love and health achievements from left to right.

Kurokawa Mio walked forward without hesitation and chose the middle path.

Rin and Mami chose the spring on the far left.

Qianai glanced at Masumi calmly, her eyes lingering briefly on the spring on the left. After hesitating for a moment, she finally followed Kurokawa.

Masumi walked to the spring on the far right, which is the spring that blesses health and longevity.

But he was simply trying to save trouble.

Despite the tourist brochure's exaggerated descriptions, the on-site signage not only offered no such information but also explicitly stated, "All three streams flow from the same source."

So it’s still those lucky numbers, the placebo effect and that kind of thing.

Masumi scooped up some spring water with a ladle and took a sip. After waiting in line for so long under the sun, any water would taste good as long as it didn't contain chili peppers, let alone the ice-cold mountain spring water.

After slightly moistening his throat, he felt it was not enough and subconsciously took another spoonful. Then he belatedly remembered what was said in the travel guide and was slightly stunned.

"stare--"

The jellyfish girl stood behind him, staring at him.

"Uh, do you want to drink this spring water too?"

"Um……"

"I see." Masumi said as he made room and took out a new, clean ladle from the sterilizer and gave it to her.

"……May I?"

"As long as you haven't tried anything else, it's fine." Masumi thought for a moment, then added, "Even if you have, it doesn't matter. After all, it's just superstition..."

Before he could finish his words, Haiyue suddenly came closer and wrapped her lips around the place where he had just drunk water from.

"Hanekawa?"

Unfortunately, he had already drunk up all the spring water.

The girl opened her eyes wide, like a little deer, with doubt flashing in her starry eyes, and she froze with her head tilted.

The pink tip of her tongue, like a deer drinking water, emerged from her lips and probed into the air.

"You can't steal other people's achievements." Masumi was helpless. He held the new ladle and scooped a spoonful of spring water for her.

"Give."

"Masumi...feed me..."

"Drink it yourself."

Masumi felt that this couldn't go on - meaning that her spoiled and willful demands were met without limit, "If you don't drink now, Kurokawa will see you later, and she will be the one feeding you."

"Woo..."

Her flaxen hair cast shadows on her cheeks, and Haiyue obediently took the ladle and drank the spring water.

She seemed to be really thirsty and drank very quickly.

"Drink slowly."

Masumi reached out and brushed her hair away from her ears to prevent the ends from falling in.

The bottom of the ladle was quite deep, and the girl's mouth was very small. The little liquid that overflowed drew a crystal clear line from the corner of her lips, and her white throat rose and fell slightly.

What am I doing now?

Macheng sighed, and suddenly heard the staff's dissuasion voice in his ears:

"—Tourists, this is very dangerous. Come down quickly. Also, you are not allowed to take the spring water back to drink!"

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Mami and Kurokawa Mio standing on the stone railing in front of the altar, tiptoeing, stretching their arms as far as they could, using empty bottles to collect the spring water from "Otowa Taki".

The staff nearby tried to dissuade the two people in a panic, but they did not dare to get close to them physically.

Masumi rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.

Please, Buddha, have mercy on me.

He silently apologized to Guanyin on behalf of the two of them.

◇

Kyoto, formerly known as "Heian-kyo", was built in imitation of Luoyang and Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty. The streets are as neat as a chessboard, and ancient temples are scattered among the streets. Not only are the roads straight, but even the corners are ninety degrees.

Leaving Kiyomizu-dera Temple, walk along Kiyomizu-zaka until you reach a stone slope called "Sannenzaka", which is also one of Kyoto's signature attractions.

The streets are lined with old wooden townhouses from the Edo period, selling food, handicrafts and souvenirs. Even the Starbucks store is an antique building with a lot of charm.

"Ah, it's the real-life town of Hoori."

Asami's eyes lit up as she blurted out lines that were probably from an anime that Masumi hadn't seen.

Foreign tourists wearing rented kimonos, carrying small bags and wearing wooden clogs can be seen everywhere on the streets, taking photos with each other.

"It's so tiring. It must be very hot to take photos in a kimono in this season."

Under the scorching midday sun, her voice became lazy and languid.

"This is the true Kyoto style." Qian Ai said seriously, "Apart from Kyoto, it's rare to see such scenery."

In fact, even Kyoto locals rarely wear kimonos except on traditional occasions such as tea parties and coming-of-age ceremonies.

"Hey, can Chiai-chan wear a kimono?"

"I wear it every New Year's Day, and I also wear a yukata to fireworks festivals. I really like this traditional clothing."

"Yukata!" Asami perked up. "We're going to the fireworks festival this time too, so why don't we wear yukata together?"

"Did you bring a yukata?" Masumi asked.

"No." She shook her head, revealing a slightly troubled expression: "I bought that yukata when I was a freshman in high school, and it no longer fits me."

Masumi nodded: "After all, it's the age when you grow taller."

He himself developed a little later than others. His height only grew rapidly after he entered high school, and since then he has grown taller than many of his peers.

Asami scratched her ear a bit embarrassedly, "Uh...actually I haven't grown any taller since I started high school."

"..."

Glancing at the plump curves that were clearly visible even through the clothes, Masumi seemed to know the reason.

He tactfully stopped talking, letting Mami's sigh drift away in the summer air.

"..."

To break the silence she had started, she raised her face with a bright look and suggested:

"Oh right! Kyoto must have a lot of beautiful yukata for sale. How about we all go buy some new yukata together and wear them to the fireworks festival?"

Qian Ai seconded the proposal with great interest: "I agree!"

"Watching the fireworks together in yukata is like celebrating summer!" She smiled happily.

“…I don’t need it.”

Linyin shook her head slightly, then she lowered her eyelashes quietly.

"Yukata and other things..."

The rosy lips opened and closed several times, but nothing said, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

"Why?" Asami was puzzled. "Rinne-chan is so pretty, she'll definitely look charming in a yukata!"

"That's right." Qian Ai also nodded repeatedly.

"That's not the case..."

"Hey, come put it on." Asami continued to pester, and put on the yukata for Rin in her mind without her permission:
"A snow-white neck, the delicate, graceful gait of a willow as she walks barefoot in wooden clogs, and the curves that even a yukata can't hide... Ah~ It's pure bliss!"

"Sister Mami, you are so disgusting..." Qian Ai said with a look of disgust.

"No way! This is just a serious appreciation of beauty. Ah, I also want to see Kaizuki-chan and Mio-san dressed in yukata! They're definitely very charming too."

Asami has completely entered the state, her fists clenched, her eyes shining brightly, and she is so excited that she can hardly contain herself. This area is completely her home court.

Then she turned to Masumi and pressed the issue, "Masumi-kun, you'd definitely want to see it, right? Yukata beauty!"

"I didn't..."

"You really want to see it, right?"

"Let me first..."

"You really want to see it, don't you?"

It seemed that she had no intention of letting herself finish her words. Masumi nodded with a sigh:

"If it matches the atmosphere of the fireworks display and creates summer memories, it would be great."

"Did you hear that? Masumi-kun said he wanted to see you guys in yukata."

Mami excitedly conveyed this to the girls, but the content of her message was entirely her own imagination.

Kurokawa Mio and Asami exchanged glances, smiled, nodded, and said, "Since it's Masumi's wish, I will fulfill it." I didn't make such a wish.

"Great! It's settled then!"

As she said this, her eyes were fixed on Rinyin, and her eager eyes made Rinyin say helplessly, "I know."

Asami and Chiai high-fived and cheered.

"I...can't wear...a yukata..."

"It's okay, we can all help Kaitsuki-chan wear it, right? Masumi-kun."

"I don't know how to wear a yukata for women."

"Hehe..." Asami made a victory sign and grinned triumphantly, "Masumi-kun, you owe me a big favor now."

"Oh." Masumi's reaction was very calm, or perhaps this was the only way to calm Seno down.

"Then, please have some snacks."

"Oh, is it that simple?"

"Don't forget it."

"I didn't say no."

"Let me think, ah, I want to eat Kyoto-style wagashi!"

Knowing that they were going to Kyoto, Miss Shionji kindly recommended a Japanese confectionery shop called "Midori Matsuya". Unfortunately, the shop was not on their itinerary, so they had to give up.

The group bought a box of Namahashi at a dessert shop on Sannenzaka. This is a Japanese confectionery made of rice flour, sugar and cinnamon mixed into triangular pieces with red bean paste in the middle. It is also a famous product of Kyoto.

The nearby sign reads, "Our Yatsuhashi is made with Koshihikari rice from the snowy land of Niigata, premium red beans from Hokkaido, and the famous water of Wakasa, Fukui Prefecture, Kuwabari no Mizu. This condenses the essence of the island nation's flavors into a single serving of fresh Yatsuhashi."

Whether it is for a tea party, a banquet, or as a gift, it is an excellent choice.

Masumi doesn't have the "Tongue of God", or rather, only has the incomplete "Tongue of God. Coffee ver", so you can't tell where the ingredients of the pastry are from, but this raw Yatsuhashi tastes really good.

The chewy texture is similar to mochi, and Masumi's cake is made with matcha, so it doesn't taste too sweet at all.

"It's so soft and delicious! Let's add raw Yatsuhashi to the dessert menu."

Asami chewed the snack in her mouth, pressed her cheek and sighed, then suddenly suggested.

"How's it going? Little Rinne."

"I can consider it." Lin Yin nodded: "However, I don't have the confidence that I can do as well as this store."

"It's okay. If you have any questions, just ask Saori-senpai. She's an encyclopedia in the field of wagashi."

Rinne shook her head gently: "I can't keep bothering Miss Shionji. After all, she's only doing this out of kindness for Sister Asami..."

"That's not the case." Asami said with a smile, "Saori-senpai really appreciates juniors with cooking talent. She definitely did this because she likes Rinone very much. Rinone should have more confidence in herself."

“Many times, a person does something not because another person does it, but because of the person himself.”

She had intended to say this in a normal tone, but it sounded a bit emotional.

Haiyue, who had been chewing the raw eight-bridge food silently beside him, looked over when he heard the words, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What's wrong? Xiao Haiyue."

"Chew, chew~Hmm..."

"What is she talking about?" Kurokawa Mio frowned.

"At least swallow it first, Haiyue."

Lin Yin thought thoughtfully: "Is she..."

"There's nothing you can do with raw eight bridges." "You can't chew raw eight bridges."

The sounds overlap.

The two people who spoke in unison were a little surprised. Rinyin glanced at the stunned Masumi, calmly withdrew her gaze, and then looked at Haiyue quietly.

The emotion in her eyes can be described as doting and protective, like a troubled mother facing a child who can do nothing as long as he is alone.

Kurokawa Mio's expression looked strange, or rather a little confused.

"No, no matter what, it's a bit hard to chew raw Eight Bridges..." Qian Ai thought for a long time, but couldn't find the right words to describe it. She complained: "How is this possible..."

"Well, she's Xiao Haiyue after all."

Mami didn't seem surprised at all: "Come to think of it, besides bread, Haiyue's favorite dessert is also yokan. I've never eaten the red bean glutinous rice cakes baked by Parfait."

"Wow~ I'm so tired..."

After finally swallowing the raw eight bridges, Haiyue wiped the sugar on her lips with her fingers, and then rubbed her cheeks with both hands, rubbing the sugar all over her face.

It would be bad if he got stained with this smell. On the rest of the way, Masumi always felt that the faint sweet fragrance at the tip of his nose was coming from Haiyue.

"My throat...it's itchy..."

"It's sugar, it's okay, it will melt."

"Oh……"

Haiyue coughed cutely twice, but it still didn't seem to get better, and she showed a distressed expression.

Seeing this, Rinyin handed her the oolong tea she bought from the vending machine.

“…Feed me.”

"Drink it yourself."

I had tempura udon at a restaurant for lunch, and my destination in the afternoon was Kinkaku-ji Temple, which I got there by taxi.

The public buses to popular tourist spots are like sardine cans, both in terms of being packed and smelling.

It was summer, and there were many white tourists in Kyoto at that time, so you can imagine how strong the body odor released by them was mixed with sweat.

Masumi didn't want to be elbowed and stepped on by the people next to him while several people's breathing overlapped, and he thought the girls probably felt the same way.

For the above reasons, the six people called two taxis and took them to Kinkakuji Temple.

The ticket is 500 yen per person. The ticket stub is in the style of a goshuin, with the words "Kinkaku Shariden Gokugo" written in black on white paper, and a vermilion square seal printed on it. Next to it are some blessings such as "happiness and longevity" and "good luck and fortune" written in small characters.

Walking through the approach to the temple and entering the grounds, the first thing that catches your eye is the three-story pavilion building covered with gold foil.

"Then, I saw the Golden Pavilion, which I had longed for. Simply like that, it revealed its entirety to me."

"It's amazing, it's really sparkling." Qian Ai exclaimed.

The three-story Golden Pavilion on the opposite bank of Jinghu Lake faces the sun. The afternoon light is very good, and the eaves of each floor are shining brightly.

The treasure-shaped roof, Fashuiyuan, Chaoyin Cave, Jiuding, and Shuqing Pavilion are in the front left, half hidden... casting exquisite and beautiful reflections on the surface of the pool.

As usual, we took a group photo, then took individual photos, and then walked to the Golden Pavilion on the other side of the pond while chatting, and repeated the above process.

The tour of Kinkaku-ji Temple is over.

"It's too fast!" Qian Ai complained.

Masumi shrugged. "Isn't that what traveling is all about? This way you can visit more attractions."

"That's right, so where's the next stop?"

"The closest one to here should be Kitano Tenmangu Shrine."

"Oh, it's the shrine dedicated to the god of learning."

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, which enshrines the god of learning, Sugawara no Michizane, is the head shrine of all Tenmangu shrines in Japan. Every year, many candidates come here to pray for blessings.

"Well, Kuon and Inukai are both high school students. I want to buy some amulets, amulets, and other gifts for them when I get back."

After all, Ema and the like seem to be of little use if you don’t write them yourself.

"Oh my, Masumi-kun is quite thoughtful." Asami smiled, then naturally spread out her palms: "What about our gifts?"

"Didn't I take you out for a trip?"

"Eh—" she teased, "Masumi-kun, do you mean that the gift is you? How narcissistic."

"I didn't say that."

Masumi sighed, then reached out and pressed down the hand that was groping upwards from the hem of his short sleeves.

"Kurokawa, what are you doing?"

"Opening presents."

She said in a nonchalant tone as she slipped her fingers between his.

The body temperature and love that spread through the skin and into the palm of your hand are even hotter than summer.

"Now it's a public place."

"Then... we'll tear it down tonight."

Kurokawa Mio blinked.

"You're not allowed to open it at night. I'm not a gift."

His helpless tone, which couldn't be harsh, could only elicit a charming smile from Kurokawa Mio.

Those beautiful eyes, like a mirror lake, ripple with the summer in Kyoto at this moment, and the sparkling emotions in them are more dazzling than the Golden Pavilion.

(End of this chapter)