Chapter 61: A Person Who Knows What’s on Their Mind

Uehara Moe was wrong. She had taken it for granted that Ayako would arrange for Kamibayashi Miko and the others to dine in the restaurant.

In fact, to accommodate the shikigami, Ayako had arranged for the dining location to be on the fifth floor.

The fifth floor was the living area for the mother and son. It was decorated like an ordinary family’s home, with a living room, a kitchen, a separate bathroom, and even a study.

As for the room where Minamoto Kiyomoto was punished by kneeling, it was the place where Ayako herself practiced flower arrangement and calligraphy—thinking about it now, it might have been a meditation room for secretly practicing divine power.

The four of them, plus Shirako and the little butterfly, ate around the dining table.

“Don’t Fuyuarashi and the others eat?” Minamoto Kiyomoto picked up a piece of thick egg roll with his chopsticks and asked as if he had just remembered.

“Painting-type shikigami only need to replenish their divine power,” Himemiya Izayoi ate a piece of salmon—first marinated in miso paste, then grilled with a blowtorch, the taste was very delicious.

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his head to look at Ayako.

“Mother, does our family have this kind of shikigami? Give me one, so I don’t have to waste time washing clothes and cooking.”

“I left Kyoto and severed all ties with my family and the Minamoto clan. Besides you and a few kimonos, I didn’t bring anything,” Ayako ate her salad as usual.

Her movements were not as rigid as those of a noble, but anyone who saw them would find them very elegant.

In professional terms, it was called heavenly nobility, a person who was naturally noble. Himemiya Izayoi also had the same temperament.

Kamibayashi Miko was drinking pork miso soup, Shirako was eating small red sausages, and the little butterfly’s food was a plate of assorted fruits.

“Tell me about what you’ve been up to during this time,” Ayako said, glancing at her son as she ate.

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took a sip of pork miso soup and thought about his words.

His memory was excellent, and his eloquence was even more so. He was well-read, and his voice was pleasant. His stories were vivid and captivating.

Even Shirako and the little butterfly would sometimes forget to eat because they were listening so intently.

By the time he finished speaking, the meal was over.

Everyone sat by the window, enjoying the sea breeze and drinking last year’s olive tea.

“Your father pursued power. You’re even better. Not only do you pursue power, but you also want to change the world,” Ayako could now say this calmly.

The people from the Minamoto clan had come to her and told her about Minamoto Kiyomoto’s deeds in Hakone. She had almost fainted on the spot.

As long as they were official cultivators, they had all cultivated since they were young and only participated in the “battle” at the age of eighteen.

Minamoto Kiyomoto had only cultivated for a few months, and he was already going to the battlefield with these people. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t deceive herself that her son would be fine.

She hated the Divine Miko who had deceived her son to the extreme, even if the other party had taught him many profound curses that even the Minamoto clan did not have.

The only comfort was that her son’s talent in cultivation was as outstanding as his other achievements.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Minamoto Kiyomoto knew his mother’s concerns and comforted her. “I’ve already surpassed many cultivators who have participated in ‘ten battles.’ When I’ve mastered the first curse of the ‘Minamoto Clan’s From the Heart School,’ I’ll be at the Kosen level. Your son is undoubtedly a person who will change the world.”

“A person can’t be without confidence, but they can’t be arrogant either. The fuller…” Ayako scolded.

“Yes, yes, the fuller the ear of rice, the more it will bow its head,” Minamoto Kiyomoto had heard this proverb since he was a child.

As for the reason, it was naturally because he had been too confident since he was a child.

Ayako glanced at her son, then turned her gaze to the two miko.

She said to them:
“Kiyomoto has been called a ‘child prodigy’ since he was young. From elementary school, his grades have always been A’s. If the Minamoto clan is a group of crows, then he is the phoenix that came out of the crows.”

“My dear mother, if you say that, the people of the Minamoto clan will be angry, and they will come to the school gate to block me again,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile.

Ayako looked over. Before she could say anything, Himemiya Izayoi spoke first, “Besides you, the Minamoto clan is indeed a group of useless crows.”

Seeing that she had spoken her mind, Ayako continued with the topic she had just been on:

“He won a gold medal in painting; he had never surfed before, but after watching others play, he played better than the professionals;
“In middle school, he was beaten up. He could have fought back the next day, but he said that to prevent others from constantly retaliating or ganging up on him, and also to learn something, he went to learn judo and ended up winning first place in the four prefectures of Shikoku—I only found out about this after I made him kneel as punishment.

“When he was taking the university entrance exam, he got a guaranteed admission to Waseda University early on, but considering the tuition fees of a private university and that Waseda was not as good as the University of Tokyo, he didn’t go in the end. When he took the exam, he only submitted his reference materials to the University of Tokyo and didn’t apply to any other universities.”

“What’s the point of saying all this?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was embarrassed.

Ayako looked at the two miko and stated her purpose:

“He wasn’t born into a wealthy family, but his life has been like sitting on a conveyor belt. He doesn’t have to think about anything, and he can do whatever he wants. He hasn’t suffered, and he hasn’t had any setbacks.

“And if a person doesn’t suffer and doesn’t experience setbacks, as they get older, they will become more and more blind and arrogant.

“You are the most outstanding people among the cultivators. I hope you can often strike Kiyomoto and admonish him from time to time.”

Ayako’s voice, in the end, had become a request.

“Aunt Ayako,” Kamibayashi Miko put down her tea, “it’s not that I don’t want to persuade him, but it’s useless no matter how much I say. He doesn’t listen to me anyway.”

“Kamibayashi Miko, don’t talk nonsense!” Minamoto Kiyomoto protested. “When have I not listened to you? If it were a driving school test, I would be a good student who still walks around the car once before getting in, even after the test is over!”

“I can testify,” Himemiya Izayoi said, “he is disobedient.”

“Hey!”

Himemiya Izayoi ignored Minamoto Kiyomoto, who had a ‘what nonsense are you talking about’ look on his face, and continued with a smile, shaking her fan:
“Aunt Ayako, if you allow a little bit of violence, I guarantee I’ll discipline him well and make him bow his head like an ear of rice.”

“Please don’t be polite!” Ayako agreed without thinking.

Shirako’s hand rested on the bell at her waist, a wicked smile on her face.

The little butterfly flew in mid-air, waving her small fists with a “ho!” “ho!”, as if she were boxing.

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

“He’s disobedient, but I don’t think we need to worry too much,” at this time, Kamibayashi Miko said.

“Miss Kamibayashi—” Minamoto Kiyomoto was about to cry. “It’s not in vain that I’ve always considered you a confidante!”

“Why don’t we need to worry too much?” Ayako asked Kamibayashi Miko.

Kamibayashi Miko looked at the eager Minamoto Kiyomoto and replied with a smile:

“He has a clear goal and works hard for it every day. For example, in the matter of Shintoism, he knows very well what he should do. It’s not a problem to say that he is far-sighted. He will not underestimate his enemies, and he knows how to make trade-offs at critical moments. He is decisive and ruthless in his actions and will not be bound by emotions…”

“Wait,” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised his hand, confused. “It’s not a problem to be decisive, but ruthless?”

“Threatening your girlfriend with her sister,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

“I said it was a fake threat, and speaking of ruthless, you’re even more ruthless. You can’t let the leader of the ninth group live.”

“Why did I kill her?” Kamibayashi Miko retorted.

“Who knows?” Minamoto Kiyomoto quickly changed the subject. “And Izayoi!”

“What about me?” Himemiya Izayoi closed her fan.

“Hakone, you killed that Kosen.”

“It wasn’t for you, you heartless man. I might as well have killed you too,” Himemiya Izayoi said hatefully.

“Anyway, I’m the purest, the kindest, and the least ruthless. Mom, don’t listen to their nonsense,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

The three of them argued, and Ayako thought about what Kamibayashi Miko had just said.

After hearing Minamoto Kiyomoto’s experience, she hadn’t thought that much at the time. She only wanted her son to be low-key and humble and live a good life.

Thinking about it carefully, her son was indeed not a foolishly righteous person. As long as he could achieve his goal, he would not care about despicable means.

She was slightly relieved, but she still scolded him:
“As the saying goes, ‘a good rider falls from a horse, a good swimmer drowns in water, a good drinker gets drunk on wine, and a good warrior dies in battle.’ You’ve been too confident since you were young. Now that your strength is weak, you know to be cautious. In the future, you’re bound to get into trouble.”

Ayako turned her head and once again entrusted Himemiya Izayoi:

“If Kiyomoto does anything dangerous, please discipline him well.”

“Okay,” Himemiya Izayoi looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a grin.

The summer sea breeze blew, but Minamoto Kiyomoto felt a chill in his heart.

“Alright,” Ayako said, “Kiyomoto, take them out for a walk. Don’t be like before, lazing around in bed like a seal, rolling around and sleeping all day as soon as the holidays start.”

“A seal?” The little butterfly asked with curiosity.

“Rolling around?” Shirako said, slowly turning her head to look at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi also looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a look of ‘I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person’.

Minamoto Kiyomoto opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he decided against it.

The image of a child in a mother’s mouth was always exaggerated. He only occasionally lazed in bed.

The three of them, along with Shirako and the little butterfly, walked out of the inn together.

“Shall we go and see that Angel Road?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked tentatively.

In his eyes as a local, it was just a sandy path.

When he was a child, he could ignore the tourists and go swimming directly. Now, he was too embarrassed to do so.

And most of the tourists who came were women—this seemed to be the same everywhere.

“Let’s go and have a look. There’s nothing to do anyway,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

Shirako and the little butterfly had already run over. Because there were tourists around, they played by themselves.

The three of them hadn’t taken a few steps when an orange cat walked out of the fence of the next house.

“This is Olive,” Minamoto Kiyomoto introduced. “It’s especially afraid of Moe’s group because it often bullies Rabbit.”

Himemiya Izayoi had seen Uehara Moe bully this cat before.

The orange cat named Olive had no intention of making way for the three of them.

It stood in the middle of the road, its body tense. After a big yawn that almost dislocated its jaw, it slowly jumped onto the breakwater and walked into the distance along the breakwater.

The birds on the breakwater flew up in a panic.

Olive ignored the birds, walked with an elegant cat-like gait, and strolled leisurely on the breakwater, looking very unrestrained.

The flying birds landed on the telephone pole and, together with Minamoto Kiyomoto’s group, watched the cat go into the distance.

At this time, the three of them continued to walk towards the seaside.

“Your family doesn’t seem to be poor,” compared to when she first came to Shodoshima, Himemiya Izayoi’s mood was a little better. “Why did you end up taking a night bus?”

“It just looks that way,” Minamoto Kiyomoto pulled a foxtail grass that was growing in the crack of the breakwater. “Shodoshima is famous for its soy sauce and olives. Tourism is only a peak season in summer.”

He looked up at the sky. The other two followed his gaze. Besides the sun and the blue sky, there was nothing else.

The blue sky here, compared to Tokyo, seemed infinitely high and distant.

“In addition, my mother hired a few laid-off female workers, which increased the cost. Basically, we don’t make any money,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s tone was leisurely, and his movement of waving the green foxtail grass was also very leisurely.

“Then you have to work hard,” the creditor, Kamibayashi Miko, reminded.

Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed twice.

“When I was in the third grade of elementary school, I stood alone by the sea, facing the rising sun of the Seto Inland Sea, and said:
I will live a dignified life alone, not relying on anyone. I will get everything I want by myself, persevere to the end, go all the way up, plan as much as I can, and fight with all my might, no matter what means I use. I swear!”

“You were hopeless in the third grade of elementary school?” Himemiya Izayoi said.

“I didn’t say that.”

“It’s all from books,” Kamibayashi Miko nodded.

“Hey!” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with confusion. “Haven’t you seen ‘For N’? It’s a work that won the 83rd Academy Award!”

“I haven’t,” Himemiya Izayoi fanned herself, her bangs swaying gently.

“You’re so ignorant. It’s not useful to just read books!”

“You saw that a long time ago, right? You haven’t seen a single movie since you started cultivating,” Kamibayashi Miko said with certainty.

“Are you spying on me?!”

“I can guess this kind of thing.”

“Is that so?” Minamoto Kiyomoto pinched off the tassel of the foxtail grass with his fingertips, spread his hand, and let the sea breeze blow it away.

When they reached the “Angel Road,” Minamoto Kiyomoto threw away the bare grass stalk and said:
“This sandy path appears and disappears with the rise and fall of the tide every day, from narrow to wide, and then from wide to narrow, disappearing into the sea. It is said that if lovers walk hand in hand, they can get eternal love.”

“What about not being lovers?” Himemiya Izayoi asked.

“I don’t know about that,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“Can’t you get something else eternal?”

“It probably has to be lovers.”

Shirako and the little butterfly had already arrived and were picking up small crabs on the “Angel Road.”

The “Angel Road” connected three small hills.

When the tide rose, the sea would submerge the road, and the three small hills would be separated; when the tide fell, the road would reappear, and the three small hills would meet.

The three of them walked around. It didn’t even take five minutes. Instead, the observation deck called “Yakusoku no Oka” was more interesting to look down on the “Angel Road” from.

Shirako and the little butterfly liked it here very much, so they went to a nearby coffee shop and chatted while watching them play.

Sitting on the terrace of the coffee shop, there was an 8- or 9-meter-tall palm tree above their heads. The shade of the tree fell on the table, giving it a very summer-like southern country style.

“When are you meeting up with Itomi?” Kamibayashi Miko stirred the ice cubes in her glass with a straw, making a clattering sound.

“I don’t know. I’ll wait for her to notify me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto crossed his left leg over his right. It didn’t look like he was home, but like he was on vacation.

He looked at the sea and continued, “Actually, I had an idea at the beginning, which was to secretly tell the Divine Lord of Kyushu about the competition.”

“You want the Kyushu Divine Lord to weaken the strength of Shintoism?” Himemiya Izayoi immediately guessed his thoughts.

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto withdrew his gaze. “The Kyushu Divine Lord is in a mess right now. As soon as the Summer Festival in August starts, he will have to go to Kyoto to apologize. If he can severely damage Shintoism or capture Yanagi Michiko at this time, it will be a great achievement.”

“Then why didn’t you do it?” Kamibayashi Miko asked with curiosity.

“He feels sorry for his girlfriend,” Himemiya Izayoi said with a laugh.

“Yanagi Michiko is easy to deal with. Just tell her in advance and let her not go. But the other members of the ninth group, it’s impossible for all of them not to go. If they go, with their strength, it’s impossible for all of them to survive, so I just gave up.”

After saying this, Minamoto Kiyomoto explained:

“Itomi Sayaka is already a member of our organization. We can’t do anything to make her feel difficult, or even sad.”

“I said it,” Himemiya Izayoi said to Kamibayashi Miko, “this kid feels sorry for his girlfriend.”

“I call this ‘valuing,’ ‘unity,’ ‘gentleness,’ and it has nothing to do with ‘feeling sorry.’ I am devoted to Miss Kamibayashi, just like this Angel Road. No matter whether the tide rises or falls, it is always there. Sometimes you can’t see it, and sometimes you can.”

“I know,” Kamibayashi Miko nodded. “This is revenge.”

“Hahaha!” Himemiya Izayoi laughed happily. “Someone is so glib all day long, their credibility is swept away, and no one believes them!”

“Are you talking about yourself?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

“I—” Himemiya Izayoi was about to say something when her smile suddenly froze.

She pondered.

“So that’s how it is,” she nodded as if she understood. “Is this the reason why you’re devoted to her and not to me? Are you afraid that I’m playing with you?”

“I have a professional name for this kind of behavior with Miss Kamibayashi—creating a false atmosphere of love.”

“Alas,” Himemiya Izayoi sighed. “How could I deceive you? I truly love you.”

“Please put away your foxy smile before you say such things.”

“Hahaha!” Himemiya Izayoi laughed happily.

After laughing, she propped her elbow on the table, supported her chin with one hand, and asked Minamoto Kiyomoto, “Am I beautiful?”

Her voice was enchanting. Just listening to this voice was enough to ignite desire.

“Not beautiful,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“You see,” Himemiya Izayoi spread her hands gracefully. “You lie all day long. If you suddenly say you like someone, who would believe you?”

“Beautiful.”

“Alas, a man who changes his mind at the drop of a hat and has no willpower is the worst. Please jump into the sea, be reincarnated, meet us again, and start over.”

“Is there no hope for me in this life?”

“No, Young Master Kiyoshi,” Himemiya Izayoi replied crisply.

“Impossible!” Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t believe it and turned his head to look at Kamibayashi Miko.

Kamibayashi Miko stirred the ice cubes with her hand, thought seriously for a while, took a sip of coffee, and said:
“Actually, amnesia is also an option. You don’t have to be reincarnated.”

“…”

Perhaps it was because they hadn’t been out for a long time, or perhaps it was because they liked the sea, but it was not until dusk that Shirako and the little butterfly had had enough fun.

“Lady Miko!” The three of them looked in the direction of the sound. Shirako and the little butterfly were waving and running towards them, their hair flying in the wind.

Amidst the sound of cicadas, they returned to the inn and had dinner.

“Mom, did you get the birthday cake I ordered?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked as soon as he entered the door.

“I got it. It’s in the fridge,” Ayako replied.

“Birthday cake?” Himemiya Izayoi looked over.

“It’s your birthday today. You didn’t forget, did you?” Minamoto Kiyomoto took out the cake and said with a smile.

“Of course this miko remembers.”

This time, they still lit twenty-one candles, not one less.

After blowing out the candles and while they were still dividing the cake, Himemiya Izayoi held out her hand, “Where’s my present?”

“I bought a set of coffee utensils. I’ll give them to Fuyuarashi later,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

“And you?” Himemiya Izayoi’s gaze turned to Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“Wait a minute!” Minamoto Kiyomoto went back to his room and came back with a box containing a hairpin.

“I’ve always thought that you were most beautiful under the cherry blossoms at Gotokuji Temple,” he said as he opened the box. “Now you don’t have to worry. I’ve left the cherry blossoms in your hair forever. Izayoi will always be at her most beautiful.”

Himemiya Izayoi glanced at the cherry blossom hairpin and smiled without saying a word.

“Come, come, let me put it on for the birthday girl,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took out the hairpin and gently inserted it into Himemiya Izayoi’s beautiful black hair with a smile.

“Do you know how much the cheapest hairpin on my hair costs?” Himemiya Izayoi asked.

“7,160 yen, which is the price of this hairpin,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said proudly.

“Actually, it’s only 7,150 yen,” Kamibayashi Miko corrected.

“Miss Kamibayashi, this is called sentiment,” Minamoto Kiyomoto pretended to complain.

Himemiya Izayoi looked at him with a smile.

“It’s a little cheap,” Minamoto Kiyomoto put on a smiling face again and said with high spirits, “but it’s also a token of my affection. When I become the number one in the world, I’ll plant Konohanasakuya-hime at your doorstep.”

“How dare you say such things!” Ayako scolded.

Minamoto Kiyomoto still had a playful smile on his face.

“Are you satisfied?” he asked Himemiya Izayoi.

Himemiya Izayoi tilted her head to the left, revealing the hairpin, and asked him, “Is it beautiful?”

“Hmm—” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the ceiling, a thoughtful expression on his face.

During this time, Himemiya Izayoi waited for him with a grin.

After a while—actually, only three seconds—Minamoto Kiyomoto withdrew his gaze and said word by word:
“In the spring morning, the beautiful mountain cherry blossoms bloom among the clouds and mist, their vibrant colors spreading everywhere. She is a peerless beauty.”

“After thinking for so long, you still used a line from ‘The Tale of Genji’,” Himemiya Izayoi shook her head, the hairpin swaying with her movement, looking very disappointed.

“I have thought all day, but it is not as good as a moment of learning. A gentleman is not born different, but is good at using things.”

“Alright, alright, you’re so long-winded and noisy,” Himemiya Izayoi picked up a piece of cake with her fork and stuffed it into Minamoto Kiyomoto’s mouth.

“Mmm!” Minamoto Kiyomoto ate the cake. “Now you can tell me why you were angry, right?”

At this point, Himemiya Izayoi could no longer say that the reason she was angry was because she thought he had forgotten her birthday.

She had even said during the day that Minamoto Kiyomoto was definitely in the wrong.

Just as she was determined to be unreasonable and deny it, she turned her face and saw the smiling Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“…You guessed it, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Guessed what?”

“I heard that there’s a special way to play with birthday cakes—” Himemiya Izayoi, out of shame and anger, picked up the cake in her hand and smeared it on Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face.

Kamibayashi Miko ate her own piece of cake and quietly watched the two of them.

(End of Chapter)