After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

Ai-yin's face was almost buried in her knees, her whole body seemed a little uneasy, and her eyes would occasionally steal glances at Su-shi.

Nagasaki Motoyo had maintained a calm expression, but upon hearing Aine's words, she was momentarily stunned, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks.

She clearly hadn't expected Aine to make such a direct request, and her heart raced for a moment, her breathing becoming rapid.

"This...isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Su Shi's voice stammered slightly, and the usually calm and composed Su Shi seemed somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Her gaze wandered, avoiding eye contact with Ai Yin. The blush on her face grew more pronounced, even her ears turned a hint of pink.

The atmosphere between the two instantly became subtle, and the room was so quiet that even the sound of breathing became exceptionally clear.

A faint tension and ambiguity filled the air. Neither of them spoke, but they stole glances at each other, as if waiting for the other to break the silence first.

As the silence continued, the distance between them unconsciously shortened. Subtle movements drew them closer little by little, as if an invisible force was pulling them towards each other.

At this moment, they were so close that they could clearly count every single fine eyelash on each other's faces. Aine's large eyes sparkled, filled with some indescribable emotion, and the soft light shone on her face, making her appear exceptionally warm.

“Su Shishi…” Ai Yin’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible, carrying a hint of unease and longing.

"Hmm?" Nagasaki Motoyo hadn't fully reacted yet, and responded softly, her tone revealing a hint of confusion.

The next second, Su Shi suddenly felt something soft and moist gently touch her lips.

--------------

"How could I let Xiaoyue and Lixi live in the same room?" Miss Kurosawa Momoko lay on her bed, her brows furrowed, repeatedly thinking about today's operations, trying to recall where she went wrong.

Looking back, all the arrangements seemed reasonable, but the result left her feeling somewhat helpless.

She was lost in her thoughts when suddenly, she heard a soft pounding sound from next door.

The sound was very soft, like something being gently tapped, and it came in through the open windows of both rooms, sounding particularly clear in the quiet night with the evening breeze.

"Huh? What happened? Did they have a fight?" Momoko Kurosawa was slightly taken aback, and the thought flashed through her mind.

She sat up in bed, intending to go over and close the window, ignoring everything, when she suddenly heard faint voices coming from next door.

"Would you like to... take a look?"

"Isn't this...good?"

The two people's voices drifted into her ears intermittently. Although they weren't very clear, they were enough to pique Peach's curiosity.

She stopped and stood by the window, straining her ears to try and hear more clearly.

But she soon regretted her decision...

Actually, Ms. Chihaya Aine and Ms. Nagasaki Momoko weren't particularly noisy last night; at least... they tried their best to keep their voices down and not disturb others. But even so, Momoko Kurosawa still couldn't get a good rest.

The problem isn't entirely with Ai Yin and Su Shi. (The rest of the text appears to be a series of seemingly unrelated characters and symbols, possibly due to OCR errors.)

Peach was in a complicated mood last night because some of her little desires couldn't be fulfilled, and she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

In addition, she had a good sleep on the plane, which made her even more energetic at night, making it even harder for her to fall asleep.

So, on that quiet night, Peach's ears became increasingly sensitive, and she could clearly hear every little sound from the next room.

Although the sounds weren't loud, they became incredibly clear to Peach, who was suffering from insomnia.

I was a bit dizzy from socializing, so there might be a lot of typos.

Side Story: A Trip to Hikami Mountain: Chapter Twelve - Can Mouth-Chewed Sake Be Considered a Local Specialty?

"The air in the mountains is really cool." Hinasaki stood in front of the Hikamiyama tram station, rubbing her hands together, trying to warm herself up by friction.

A gentle breeze swept through the mountains, carrying a damp chill that seemed to seep into your very bones.

The recent rain has draped the entire mountainside in a clear, refreshing cloak. Glistening water droplets still cling to the trees along the roadside, like countless sparkling gems, shimmering softly in the dim light.

As you walk up the steps, moss quietly creeps up the edges of the stone steps, and your footsteps make a slight rubbing sound on the fine water droplets. The whole mountain is filled with a tranquility washed by the rain.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and vegetation, and the chill after the rain made the mountain forest appear exceptionally clear.

A moist breeze gently brushes against your cheeks, carrying the unique coolness after the rain, like a sprite flitting through the trees, sprinkling the breath of nature around you.

The surrounding leaves were glistening from the rain, their green color shimmering with a lustrous sheen. Occasionally, raindrops would accumulate and slide from the tips of the leaves, silently dripping onto the stone steps, like the whispered heartbeat of nature.

Occasionally, a gentle breeze would stir up wisps of white mist along the mountain path, swirling in the air and adding a hazy veil to the forest.

Although a few rays of light occasionally pierced the sky, the cool air and tranquility of the mountains made one quicken their pace.

The companions around them wrapped their clothes tighter, trying to ward off the damp cold.

The sudden rain caused the temperature to drop sharply. Even though it was summer, the coolness of the mountainside was nowhere near the warmth of the season.

Hinasaki covered her mouth with her hand and breathed softly.

Looking at the long queue in front of me, a sense of helplessness rose in my heart, and I couldn't help but complain, "Why... are there so many people coming to play in the summer? Isn't soaking in hot springs more suitable for autumn and winter?"

At that moment, Hachiman Kairin was looking down at the tourist guide in her hand. After hearing Xiaoyue's complaint, she calmly explained, "It's probably because there are festivals and fireworks displays in the Hikami area recently."

"A celebration?" Shiina Riki leaned closer to Hailing and peered at the travel guide.

“Yes.” Hachiman Kairin nodded. “It says here that the traditional festival of Mount Hikami will be held at the shrine that is currently under renovation.”

"Summer, fireworks displays, celebrations, all the classic elements are there," Momoko Kurosawa remarked.

Just as the group was discussing the celebration, a series of cheerful footsteps came from afar.

Chihaya Aine and Nagasaki Motoyo ran back carrying two large bags, their faces full of smug smiles.

Aiyin called out loudly to everyone, "Come and have some! These are some special snacks I just bought; they'll warm you up! There'll be some for everyone!"

"A local specialty snack?" Hinasaki Tsuki took the food from Aine with a puzzled look, glancing down at it with confusion in her eyes. She examined the snack carefully, her brows furrowing slightly. "How come I've never heard of... a local specialty snack like this on Mount Hikami?"

"Lenai-chan, we have matcha flavor here!"

Aine took out a matcha flavored drink that she had specially bought for Renai from the bag.

Hinasaki looked at the food in her hand and, judging from its shape and appearance, it should be a modified version of the Japanese wagashi (Japanese sweets) called "monaka".

Its cylindrical exterior is light brown, dotted with a few brownish scorch marks.

If you hold it in your mouth, it even feels like smoking a cigarette... no, I should say smoking a cigar?

However, if we're talking about unique features, its appearance is indeed quite rare. At least Xiaoyue has never seen a cylindrical shape like this anywhere else.

The moment the teeth touched the crust, a crisp cracking sound was heard; the outermost layer was so crisp that it seemed as if it would crumble at the slightest touch.

The first thing you notice is the crispness and warmth of the crust; it's freshly baked and still retains its warmth.

However, before you could even feel the heat, your mouth touched the red bean filling inside. The red bean filling was cool and moist, with a unique refreshing taste.

Two completely opposite temperatures intertwine in the mouth, creating a wonderful contrast—the warmth of the outer skin and the coolness of the red bean filling collide in the mouth.

The crispy and smooth texture fills every taste bud. The warm crust and cool filling melt on the tongue in turn, and the sweetness gradually emerges, like a mountain breeze brushing over the taste buds, gentle and refreshing.

As the warm, flaky pastry slid into my stomach, a warm feeling gradually rose in my body, as if the cold mountain air had been largely dispelled by the sweet red bean filling.

"It tastes pretty good!" Hinasaki nodded slightly, a hint of unexpected surprise flashing in her eyes.

She looked up at the cylindrical center in her hand, seemingly surprised by its taste.

The crispy outer layer and the cool red bean filling inside combine perfectly, creating a delightful interplay of two distinct temperatures and textures that makes you want to eat a few more bites.

This unique taste made Hinasaki feel a little fond of this monaka; among all the monaka she had ever eaten, this version definitely ranked among the top.

However… her gaze returned to the cylindrical shape in her hand, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, muttering under her breath, “It’s just a different shape of the monaka… does that make it a specialty of Mount Hikari?”

Although it had been a long time since she had returned to Mount Hikami, Hinasaki's memories of the place were somewhat hazy. However, when she thought of Mount Hikami's specialties, the first things that came to mind were products related to water.

But when it comes to the specialties of Rikami Mountain, the first things that come to mind are probably water-related products, right?

The phrase "Sunrise Mountain Specialty Mineral Water" sounds reasonable, but it is too bland, even somewhat ordinary and boring, making it difficult to become a truly memorable feature.

Looking at it this way, it's understandable why something like this cylindrical center can be called a "specialty of Rishang Mountain".

After all, the craftsmanship is unique, and the appearance and taste are distinctive. At least at this stage, this dessert is unique to Rishan Mountain.

Calling it a local specialty snack isn't an exaggeration. Instead of worrying about whether it's "authentic" enough, let's enjoy the deliciousness and warmth it brings.

As for the second characteristic of Mount Hikami—the shrine—the first word that comes to mind is kuchikami-zake (sake made by chewing rice).

It was an ancient brewing method, imbued with a mysterious sense of ritual, and as a sacred offering to the gods, it should perhaps have been kept separate from the daily lives of mortals.

However, it is not impossible that such wine could become one of the specialties of Rishang Mountain.

But... can such wine really be sold in the market? After all, it carries a strong sacrificial meaning and is more of a symbol of offering to the gods. Would anyone actually buy it to taste?

Hmm... Xiaoyue thought about the current social trends and realized that it might not be impossible?

Side Story: A Trip to Hikami Mountain: Chapter Thirteen - A Visit to the Shrine

Just as Hinasaki was still lost in thought about the local specialties of Mount Hikami, the queue in front of her gradually shortened, and the number of people queuing at the ticket window noticeably decreased. Before she could even react, Ms. Kurosawa Momoko, who was in charge of queuing, returned to her with 12 train tickets.

"What are you thinking about?" Momoko asked curiously, looking at Satsuki who was lost in thought, as she handed out the tram tickets.

Hinasaki looked up, as if suddenly emerging from the depths of her thoughts, and blurted out unconsciously, "I was thinking... could kuchikami sake be a specialty product of Mount Hikami?"

"Huh?" Peach's eyes widened, clearly shocked by this sudden idea. She didn't react for a moment, her face full of confusion, as if asking, "What are you talking about?"

"Why did you suddenly think of this?" Miss Momoko tried to remain calm, forcing an awkward smile as she attempted to understand Hinasaki's thought process.

"Because Aine just bought this, saying it's a specialty of Mount Hikami." Hinasaki showed Momo the middle of the two shirts in her hand.

Peach glanced down at the middle one in Xiaoyue's hand, a helpless expression on her face.

She sighed and rubbed her temples. "So, you want to present this kind of thing—chewed sake—used in rituals as a specialty of Mount Hikami?"

"Hmm...it seems like shrines all over the country can make it, so it's not really a specialty product," Hinasaki Tsuki nodded and said.

"Xiaoyue... whatever makes you happy." Seeing that Xiaoyue had given up on that outrageous idea, Taozi breathed a sigh of relief and showed a helpless smile.

------------

Riding the tram, we arrived at the entrance of Hikamiyama Shrine. The shrine is nestled in the lush greenery of the mountains, ancient and solemn. There were still traces of water left after the rain in front of the torii gate at the entrance, and the air was filled with a fresh, earthy scent.

According to their itinerary for the day, their first stop was to visit the Hikamiyama Shrine, followed by a hot spring bath at the foot of the mountain, and finally, they would go home to rest, ending their day's trip.

Hinasaki stood in front of the shrine, looking up at the ancient yet newly renovated building, feeling a little emotional: "It seems like I've never visited a shrine on Mount Hikami before, all these years ago."

"Huh? Really?" Chihaya Aine, standing to the side, looked puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "Satsuki, didn't you say you often come to Mount Hinokami during the New Year? Don't you usually visit the shrine during the New Year?"

Hinasaki shook her head slightly, her eyes showing a complex expression: "Well... actually, Mount Hikami was abandoned for a long time before. This shrine was also in a dilapidated state back then, and almost no one came here. It seems that it was only in recent years, with the development of tourism, that renovations began, and the shrine was rebuilt in these years."