Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 171 Even a Small Mosquito is Still Meat [Fourth Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets]

After resting briefly at Yayoi's house and having some tea and snacks, Kiryu Yaya looked at the sky outside the window and stood up.

"Let's go, while it's still early, let's take a stroll around Arashiyama."

Mizuna Yayoi nodded gently and took a light-colored parasol from the umbrella basket in the entryway.

Kenta Sasaki, carrying his camera bag, exclaimed excitedly, "Arashiyama! We're finally going to Arashiyama!"

Arima Kishou walked at the back, his face expressionless.

Yayoi Kazuko stood at the door, smiling as she watched the four leave: "Mina, take good care of your guests."

"Yes, Mom, don't worry."

Mizuna Yayoi turned around, waved to her mother, and then quickly followed the three people in front of her.

The distance from the area around Nanzenji Temple to Arashiyama is not short.

Sasaki initially suggested taking the train, but considering that it was already past 9:30 when they left home, and the round trip plus the hike would be a bit rushed, they ultimately opted to take a taxi.

At this moment, Yayoi Mizuna wanted to ask the butler to drive her, but after hesitating for a moment, she didn't say anything.

Kiryu Yaya hailed a taxi.

Kenta Sasaki was the first to climb into the back seat, with Kishou Arima following beside him.

Mizuna Yayoi sat in the passenger seat, and Yaya Kiryu got in last and closed the door.

The taxi traveled westward along the streets of Kyoto.

The scenery outside the car window gradually transitioned from the quiet residences around Nanzenji Temple to the bustling street scenes of the city, and then slowly changed to the green mountains and trees in the direction of Arashiyama.

About thirty minutes later, the taxi slowly came to a stop at the Togetsukyo Bridge.

The numbers on the meter jumped, eventually stopping at a price that wasn't exactly cheap.

The journey from Nanzen-ji Temple to Arashiyama involves crossing most of Kyoto, so the fare is naturally not cheap.

2500 yen.

Kiryu Yaya took out his wallet from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and was about to pull out some cash when Yayoi Mizuna in the passenger seat handed a bill to the driver first.

"I'll pay, senior."

Kiryu Yaya's fingers paused for a moment.

"Yayoi-san, I can't accept this," "It's alright."

Yayoi Mizuna turned around and smiled gently at him: "I invited everyone to Kyoto today, so of course I should pay for the travel expenses."

Kiryu Yaya looked into her eyes, paused for a second, and then shook his head: "We agreed before we left that I would treat you."

"senior."

Mizuna Yayoi gently interrupted him, her tone unusually insistent: "You've taught me so much at the bank, and I've always wanted to find a chance to thank you. Now that we finally have the opportunity, please let me treat you."

Kiryu Yaya opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but Sasaki Kenta in the back row had already leaned over.

"Hey you two, can you open the car door before you start arguing? I'm suffocating."

Arima Kishou, sitting next to him, added expressionlessly, "You can wait under the car."

Finally, at Kiryu Yaya's insistence, he paid the 2500 yen fare.

The reason is none other than the fundamental reason he initiated this activity: "Group Activity Reimbursement Card | Reimbursement of 150% of the expenses for a single group activity under 10 yen."

According to the card's usage rules, Kiryu Yaya can be reimbursed at a rate of 150% for any expenses incurred during their activities today.

In other words, after you pay the 2500 yen fare, the system will return 3725 yen to your bank account.

Although the price difference is only 1250.

But even a small mosquito is still meat.

Just as Sasaki was marveling at Kiryu Yaya's unusual generosity today, the four of them arrived at the Oi River.

Sunlight sprinkled on the water, shimmering with tiny golden rays.

"So beautiful————"

Yayoi Mina stood by the bridge railing, her hand on the wooden railing, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains.

The mountains of Arashiyama are a deep green in this season, layer upon layer, like a watercolor painting washed clean.

Kiryu Yaya stood beside her, following her gaze: "You used to come here often?"

"Um."

Mizuna Yayoi nodded gently: "When I was little, when Grandpa was still alive, we would come here every year. In spring we would see the cherry blossoms, and in autumn we would see the autumn leaves. Then Grandpa passed away—"

She didn't continue.

Kiryu Yaya noted this down and didn't ask any further questions.

Kenta Sasaki stood in the middle of the bridge, gesturing around with his camera, muttering to himself, "This angle is good—that one is good too—Arima, come over here, I'll take a picture of you."

"don't want."

Why?

"I don't want to be ruined by your skills."

"What you're saying? My photography skills are widely recognized in the logistics department."

"A universally acknowledged waste of film rolls."

Kenta Sasaki took a deep breath and turned to look at Yaya Kiryu: "Kiryu, can't you do something about him?"

Kiryu Yaya shrugged: "He's not really under my jurisdiction."

Kenta Sasaki called out, "Aren't you the acting director?"

Kiryu Yaya mimicked Arima and said, "Temporary."

Kenta Sasaki:

The four of them crossed the Togetsukyo Bridge and walked up the stone path leading to the bamboo grove.

The roadside was gradually replaced by dense bamboo forests.

"This is the bamboo forest path in Arashiyama."

Mizuna Yayoi walked ahead, her voice a little louder than usual, with a tour guide-like seriousness: "It's about 400 meters long and is one of Kyoto's most famous bamboo groves. The movie 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter' was also filmed here."

Kiryu Yaya smiled as he watched her earnestly explain.

Kenta Sasaki was walking behind, already panting. He should have been in good physical condition, but he was carrying too much stuff.

"Why is this road always uphill?"

Arima Kishou walked beside him, his steps still steady: "What you're saying is because we're going up a mountain."

"I knew we were going up a mountain! I mean, why didn't anyone tell me beforehand that Arashiyama had a mountain?"

"Arashiyama is called Arashiyama because it is a mountain."

Kenta Sasaki was furious: "—Arima, do you think every word you say makes sense?"

"Am I wrong?"

Kenta Sasaki took a deep breath, deciding to stop talking to Arima. He quickened his pace and walked over to Yaya Kiryu, trying to win him over: "Kiryu, don't you feel tired?"

Kiryu Yaya turned and glanced at him: "I'm fine."

"Are you some kind of physical monster? Knowing kendo is one thing, but your stamina is amazing too. Is there anything you can't do?"

"I won't complain like you."

Kenta Sasaki:

'

Arima Kishou caught up from behind and added expressionlessly, "He's right."

Kenta Sasaki decided to temporarily sever ties with these two people.

When you reach the halfway point of the mountain, a small viewing platform appears by the roadside. Several rows of wooden benches are surrounded by a bamboo fence, offering a panoramic view of the Daiyen River and Togetsukyo Bridge below.

"Let's take a break."

Mizuna Yayoi stopped and looked back at Kenta Sasaki: "Sasaki-kun looks very tired."

Kenta Sasaki straightened his back and snorted, "I'm not tired! I'm just enjoying the scenery!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his leg trembled.

Arima Kishou glanced at him: "Hmm, my legs are trembling from admiring it."

"That's enough."

The four of them sat down on the wooden bench.

The mountain breeze passes through the bamboo forest, carrying the unique, refreshing scent of bamboo leaves.

Kiryu Yaya leaned against the fence, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains.

Looking down from here, Arashiyama resembles a fairytale world enveloped in greenery, so quiet it seems unreal.

The four of them admired it for a while.

Sasaki, having drunk quite a bit of water along the way, dragged Arima to the toilet.

Yayoi Mizuna, sitting next to Kiryu Yaya with the parasol still in her hand, suddenly spoke up: "Senpai."

"Um?

'

"Just now on Togetsukyo Bridge, you asked me if I come here often."

Kiryu Yaya turned his head to look at her.

Mizuna Yayoi's gaze fell into the distance, her voice soft: "Actually—I didn't come here much after that. After Grandpa passed away, Dad didn't come back for a long time either, and Mom raised me alone, so she didn't have time to go out."

"Later, when I went to high school, I was busy with exams, so I had even less of a chance."

She paused, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, a smile tinged with an indescribable melancholy.

"I'm very happy to be here with my seniors today."

Kiryu Yaya didn't respond, but just listened quietly.

The wind rustles through the bamboo forest, its sound like some ancient whisper.

"This was my favorite place when I was a child."

Mizuna Yayoi continued, "When my grandfather was still alive, we would walk along this bamboo path every time we came to Arashiyama. He would carry me on his shoulders so I could reach the tall bamboo leaves."

"Once I actually picked a leaf and I was so happy, but then I cut my hand on the bamboo leaf and cried all the way home."

She chuckled softly as she finished speaking.

"Later he wouldn't let me pick them anymore. But he would put me on his shoulders so I could see higher and farther."

Mizuna Yayoi lowered her head and gently stroked the umbrella handle with her fingers.

"And then—there was no more."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her lowered eyelashes and remained silent for a moment.

"You see more here today than you did back then."

1

Mizuna Yayoi looked up at him.

Kiryu Yaya's gaze fell on the distant Oi River: "It's different to be carried on someone's shoulders to see the world when you're a child than to walk here and see the world on your own feet. The former is a perspective given to you by others, the latter is your own."

He turned to look at her and then laughed: "It's already quite an achievement that you were able to walk this far on your own today."

"7

Mizuna Yayoi stared at him blankly.

The wind blew through the bamboo forest, causing the stray hairs on her forehead to sway slightly.

After a few seconds, she lowered her head slightly and smiled.

"That's how seniors always talk."

"What?"

"It's like—it makes you feel like everything will be alright."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and said softly, "Everything will be better."