Chapter 37: Everyone’s Thoughts

If one were to use the word “unpleasant” to describe it, Minamoto Kiyomoto felt that he had never had a more unpleasant day in his life.

The sermon was over. He walked alone by the shore of Lake Ashi. The night was hazy and the air was cold.

In the surviving temple in the mountains, the people from the Onmyo Bureau were dealing with the death of the Kosen—the person who had been burned to death and sunk into Lake Ashi. After someone reminded them, an official from the Onmyo Bureau said, “Oh right, there’s another one.”

From this sentence, one could probably tell that this conversation, which couldn’t even be called a “deliberation,” would end very quickly.

And that was indeed the case.

Before Minamoto Kiyomoto’s mood had recovered, Himemiya Izayoi had already walked down the mountain as if nothing had happened and gracefully came to his side.

“Are you waiting for me?” she asked with a smile.

“If I’m not waiting for you, who else can I wait for?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked behind her. “Where’s Miss Kamibayashi?”

As the Divine Miko, she played the role of a jury, an inspector, and even a judge.

“You have no conscience. I killed someone for you, but all you know is that woman.”

“You went together, and one of you was missing when you came back. No matter who it is, I have to ask.”

“A person who can talk like you would have been beheaded long ago in Kyoto, but I don’t hate it, big sister,” Himemiya Izayoi said with a smile. “She has something to do with the people from the Onmyo Bureau. It seems to be about exterminating Shintoism. She ordered them to gather intelligence.”

On the ‘Romancecar’ to Hakone, Kamibayashi Miko had indeed mentioned this matter. The leader of the ninth group could not be allowed to live.

By the lake, which was dyed silver by the moon, the two of them waited for Kamibayashi Miko together.

“That Ken… whatever his name is, I’ll leave him to you,” Himemiya Izayoi said.

“I don’t plan to kill him.”

“Oh?” Himemiya Izayoi tilted her head to look at him. Her long black hair, which blended with the night, swayed gently.

“It’s easy to kill a person, but it’s hard to conquer a person. Starting with this person, I want everyone to be convinced by me, and then I will have a decisive battle with Shakyamuni.”

“With your arrogance, it’s reasonable to do so. What are your specific plans?” she became interested.

“Let me tell you a story you may have heard.”

“Yes,” Himemiya Izayoi’s voice was lazy, with a hint of warmth.

“The north wind and the sun argued about who was stronger, to see who could make the traveler take off his clothes. The north wind blew hard, but instead forced the traveler to put on thicker clothes. The sun shone its warm sunlight, and the traveler took off his clothes himself.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s voice was clear and pleasant. Because it was night, he spoke in a lower voice, which added a bit of magnetism and gentleness.

Listening to him speak eloquently, as if he were reciting a poem, Himemiya Izayoi couldn’t control her heartbeat for a moment.

She looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto’s handsome profile. This kid, even without his looks, just his voice was enough to seduce most women.

If it were someone else, they would have already leaned into his arms, right?

“This is ‘The North Wind and the Sun’ from ‘Aesop’s Fables’,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“And then? What does it have to do with you making the world convinced?” Himemiya Izayoi asked nonchalantly.

But with her intelligence, to ask such a question after hearing the story was no longer ‘nothing’.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t notice and talked eloquently, “This story tells me that to achieve a goal, there are many ways that are more effective than force.”

“Specifically, what about that… Ichiro?”

“Cultivate hard,” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised an eyebrow. “When I’m as strong as you, Izayoi, this Ken… whatever his name is, will naturally take off his clothes obediently under Young Master Kiyoshi’s sun-like radiance. Of course, I’m not interested in men. If he really dares to take them off, even someone as benevolent and merciful as me can only send him to see the Buddha.”

Himemiya Izayoi laughed twice, sounding amused.

She thought of her own racing heart just now. An ordinary girl would indeed take off her clothes under Minamoto Kiyomoto’s radiance.

“By the way,” Minamoto Kiyomoto remembered something. “You’re so domineering and casual. It’s not good for your goal of ‘becoming the master of Japan’.”

Himemiya Izayoi smiled sweetly, her eyes looking at him and saying:

“So I hope you will be promising, big sister, and be above ten thousand people. In the future, the two of us will rule Japan together. You will be the emperor, and you will use benevolence and righteousness to convince everyone; I will be the empress, and I will be responsible for dealing with those who refuse to submit.”

“That’s good, but I want to be with Miss Kamibayashi.”

“I’ve never understood this,” Himemiya Izayoi asked with great confusion. “Why don’t you like me? Am I not as good as her?”

“Not at all,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “In Gotokuji, in the midst of a cherry blossom rain, you were wearing a gorgeous kimono, and you gently blew the petals on your fan, along with your breath, onto my face. I was already moved.”

“Then why do you always resist me?”

“Miss Himemiya, I have been wandering the world all my life. I don’t know when I will die. I don’t want to drag you down—”

Himemiya Izayoi’s folding fan, with a “pa” sound, was held to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s neck like a sword.

Minamoto Kiyomoto paused and said, “Because I’m weak, have no money, and have no status.”

“Just because of these?”

“Men care about these things a lot. Even if they like someone so much, because they have no money and are useless, and can’t give her a happy life, they can be ruthless and not even look at her.”

“This time it’s a little more real, but it’s still fake.”

“Because I don’t know if you’re sincere, so I don’t dare to like you.”

“It’s a little more real again. Continue.”

“I don’t want to be distracted. I want to cultivate hard.”

“Then what’s with you always teasing Kamibayashi Miko? That makes me very angry.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto felt that Himemiya Izayoi seemed to be really a little angry.

Did she like him? Or was it a competition between beautiful women? It should be the latter, he speculated in his heart.

“Miss Kamibayashi, as the Divine Miko, cannot be with anyone else, so even if I really fall in love with her, it won’t delay my cultivation.”

“Can’t be with anyone else?” Himemiya Izayoi was a little confused. “Why?”

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was about to explain, Kamibayashi Miko walked down from the path.

The beautiful red and white miko outfit, her hands hanging down on both sides of her body. Under the blowing of the night wind by the lake, her sleeves billowed, and her long hair, which was tied in a bun, was blown backwards.

“No matter how high the green mountains are, they can’t stop the river’s determination to flow into the sea; no matter how dark the night is, it can’t hide Miss Kamibayashi’s beauty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto was convinced.

The next moment, Himemiya Izayoi’s folding fan aimed at his waist and, with a “pa” sound, struck him painfully.

Minamoto Kiyomoto bent over, his face contorted in pain as he looked at Himemiya Izayoi.

“Hmph!” She crossed her arms and turned her head away angrily.

The unpleasantness disappeared in the pain. On a high plateau night that was about to enter summer, Lake Ashi was very beautiful, and the miko were also very beautiful.

The next morning, the three of them returned to Tokyo. The time was May 16th.

The two-day May Festival was on its last day today.

“Shall we go for a walk? It’s a good time to cancel my leave,” Minamoto Kiyomoto suggested.

“Okay,” Himemiya Izayoi immediately agreed.

“You don’t need to cancel your leave, do you?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No.”

The three of them crossed the crosswalk and entered the campus from the main gate.

The originally spacious ginkgo avenue was crowded with all kinds of people.

Not to mention the students from the various faculties and clubs of the University of Tokyo, the most important were the various outside tourists.

There were high school students in uniforms, fashionable female tourists, male tourists with backpacks, and also students from other universities, couples, and so on.

There were many stalls.

International students were selling Chinese xiaolongbao, 3 for 300 yen, 6 for 500 yen;
The most sold was beef skewers for 400 yen a skewer. The entire row in front of the Faculty of Law and Letters Building 1 was full of them;

A guy in a panda costume was selling a photobook of beautiful women from the University of Tokyo;
Minamoto Kiyomoto’s class was performing a play called “How Vaccines Work.”

On the large stage in front of the Yasuda Auditorium, a group of boys were wearing women’s clothes and dancing a cute-style dance under the big sun and in full view of everyone—the ones cheering below were also all boys;

In front of the library, cute girls were wearing white idol outfits that looked like sailor uniforms, performing Nogizaka46’s three summer singles from last year.

The cheering boys let out a uniform “Ooh—hai! Ooh—hai! Ooh—hai!” cheer, and there were also some who danced along. A few of them were holding up merchandise scarves.

There were also elegant programs. A group of people were wearing black formal wear, holding violins, and it was unknown where they were going to perform.

Minamoto Kiyomoto planned to go to the Love Research Institute to participate in Mana Sakura’s book club.

While he was hesitating whether to use the excuse of going to the toilet or going to see a classmate, Kamibayashi Miko suddenly said, “You should be careful of her. This person is more mysterious than I expected.”

Her gaze was on Himemiya Izayoi, who was trying out archery at the archery club.

The archery club of the University of Tokyo was divided into the ancient archery club and the Western archery club. Himemiya Izayoi was playing with a modern bow.

“What’s wrong?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

“She killed that… what was that Kosen’s name yesterday?”

“You don’t even know, how would I know? Let’s just call him Long Spear. What’s wrong with Izayoi killing Long Spear?”

“That move was not right,” Kamibayashi Miko’s eyes showed a thoughtful expression. “That move was very strong. With the help of the yokai’s bones, the power of the ‘Divine Power Transformation Curse’ was multiplied, and it also fused three curses: ‘Fire Thunder,’ ‘Rending Thunder,’ and ‘Crimson World’s End.’ But it could only seriously injure that… that Kosen.”

“Let me ask, Miss Kamibayashi, how many moves would it take for you to kill Long Spear?”

“If he doesn’t dodge, it would take at least three moves.”

“…Should I get a little stronger?”

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at Minamoto Kiyomoto, “If you can get stronger, I will also be more at ease.”

This was the most reassuring thing Minamoto Kiyomoto had ever heard.

In this world, the only person who hoped for his well-being from the bottom of their heart without any hesitation, besides his mother, was probably the woman before him.

He stood beside Kamibayashi Miko, watching Himemiya Izayoi hit the bullseye with every arrow, causing a round of cheers from the men and women around.

Just as he had forgotten about Mana Sakura and was about to stay, his phone suddenly rang.

He looked at it. It was a Line message from Itomi Sayaka.

“Old place, 11 o’clock.”

“The school is holding a festival today. I’m not working part-time.”

“200,000.”

“This is not about money.”

“500,000.”

“It seems to be urgent? As your fiancé, I have a responsibility and an obligation to help you. Wait for me.”

“Miss Kamibayashi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said as he put away his phone. “Something came up at my part-time job. I’m leaving first.”

Ten minutes had not passed yet. Kamibayashi Miko ignored him.

Leaving the school gate, he took the Namboku Line and came to a French home-style restaurant called “AUX BACCHANALES.”

In the terrace area in front of the door, Itomi Sayaka, with her delicate short hair, sat on a rattan chair with the air of a city beauty.

A white shirt, a stylish gray women’s suit, and an elegant half-skirt. Her whole person was fashionable, grand, and outstanding.

Looking from afar, she looked like a cover girl from a magazine.

Everyone passing by on the street would definitely take a look.

“Office style?” Minamoto Kiyomoto sat down opposite Itomi Sayaka.

Before Itomi Sayaka could speak, he said to the waiter, “A strawberry tart, a steak and fries, and a cup of coffee, thank you.”

“Okay, please wait a moment.”

After the waiter left, Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned back in the rattan chair, crossed his legs, rested his elbow on the armrest of the rattan chair, and crossed his ten fingers in front of him, sizing up Itomi Sayaka.

Her small, oval face was crystal clear, and her features were as delicate as her short hair, as if they had been carefully adjusted by God.

Her skin was as white and smooth as porcelain, and her temperament was elegant and fashionable.

However, Minamoto Kiyomoto preferred her younger sister, who had the aura of a literary girl—perhaps because the other party was a bit like Kamibayashi Miko.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked.

Itomi Sayaka’s fingers pinched the tall, triangular cup. Her gaze was on the zelkova tree across the street as she took a sip of the white drink.

Her fingers were white and tender.

“Nothing, just a routine date.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded and asked again, “How is Yuki lately?”

Itomi Sayaka’s peripheral vision glanced at him, her eyes showing little emotion.

“I’m sorry,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

The two of them were silent for a while. Soon, the waiter brought the steak and fries, the strawberry tart, and the coffee.

Minamoto Kiyomoto picked up his knife and fork, took a bite of the strawberry, which was sweet and sour, and then began to cut the steak.

“Say something,” Itomi Sayaka said.

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto ate the steak in his mouth. “How have you been lately?”

“Not good.”

“What’s wrong?” Minamoto Kiyomoto forked a french fry and ate it without any sauce.

“A friend lent me an old record.”

“Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3?” This time, he ate it with sauce.

“No,” Itomi Sayaka lit a cigarette and held the thin cigarette holder between her lips as if she were pursing them.

After taking a drag, she slowly exhaled a puff of white smoke, her gaze still on the green zelkova tree.

“The Beach Boys’ ‘California Girls’,” she took another drag, then exhaled. “I was supposed to go and get it myself, or my friend was supposed to send it to me, but her brother suddenly had to help.”

“And then?” Minamoto Kiyomoto felt that fries were better with sauce.

“On the way here,” Itomi Sayaka finished her third drag and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. “He died in a car accident.”

The shade of the zelkova tree gently caressed her bright face. The half-light, half-dark light revealed a sad silence.

“I see,” Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t know what to say, but he had lost his appetite for steak. He picked up his coffee and took a sip.

A green leaf fell from the zelkova tree above and happened to land where the coffee cup had been.

Minamoto Kiyomoto picked up the leaf, which was as thin as water, and placed it on the ground by his feet.

“You can’t blame yourself for this. You can’t blame anyone,” after a pause, he added, “If you have to say who’s at fault, it can only be the California girls.”

Itomi Sayaka smiled, a weak smile.

She picked up the cigarette case and held another one between her red lips.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was one step ahead. He picked up the lighter in front of her and lit her cigarette for her.

“Thank you,” she took a drag. “I’m not a person with great ambitions. My only wish is for my parents to be healthy and happy, and for my sister to live a happy life.”

“You can take on the family business for your sister, and constantly go on blind dates that you hate, and marry someone you don’t like in the future. Such an ambition is not great, but it doesn’t stop it from being amazing.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto weighed the IMCO lighter in his hand, adjusted the gear, and turned the flame down to a very small size.

“Even a small flame, no one will look down on it,” he said to Itomi Sayaka.

Itomi Sayaka stared at the flame for a while, then her gaze shifted slightly upwards, past the flame, and looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“What about your ambition?” she asked him.

“I used to want to marry a wife who was younger than me.”

“Used to? What about now?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto switched the lighter between his left and right hands and said in a light tone:

“I want to be a decent person, live a decent life, and train myself as much as possible to become a person who can withstand any hardship.”

“Stronger than me,” Itomi Sayaka’s voice was calm.

“Ambition, you can say whatever you want. Whether you’re strong or not still depends on the actual situation,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile.

The two of them sat for a while longer. Itomi Sayaka smoked three cigarettes.

“Thank you,” she stubbed out the last cigarette, picked up her bag, and stood up to leave.

“Your lighter,” Minamoto Kiyomoto also stood up and handed her the lighter in his hand.

As Itomi Sayaka was putting the lighter into her bag, she suddenly asked, “Should I go and trouble that person? The person who ran over my friend’s brother.”

“That depends on the traffic responsibility, right?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked with confusion.

“What if I must make the other party pay the price?”

“Then we’d better not see each other for a while. I’m a law-abiding good citizen,” Minamoto Kiyomoto sat down. “Also, don’t do anything that would make Yuki sad. When I saw her last time, I could tell that she really likes you, her big sister.”

“…You’re my boyfriend, but I don’t want to hear the name ‘Yuki’ from your mouth,” Itomi Sayaka put away the lighter and closed her bag.

Minamoto Kiyomoto shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

It will be on the shelves on September 1st.

There will probably be no extra chapters (I want to, but I can’t). Even the updates will be at the usual time (10 or 11 pm).

Thank you all for your support, but there is no need for a friendly first subscription. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to subscribe. Friends who read books elsewhere also don’t need to make a friendly first subscription.

A high first subscription is meaningless.

I hope everyone is happy.

(End of Chapter)