Chapter 4: A Long Autumn Night

1

It was a very quiet Saturday evening at Kura. I was doing my usual odd jobs when Holmes casually said, as if it were no big deal:

“Aoi, would you be able to do an overnight trip?”

“Huh?”

Overnight? What does he mean by that? Is he really inviting me on a trip with him? Holmes asking me to go on a trip... What? Why? I was so confused I didn’t know what to say.

“Sorry, Aoi.” Holmes smiled apologetically. “It looks like I caused a misunderstanding.”

“Huh?” I squeaked.

“You see, I’m going to be appraising some antiques for Akihito’s aunt soon. They’re in an uninhabited house, and since there are so many of them, Akihito insisted that we stay the night. I’m quite opposed to the thought of spending a night alone with him, so I was wondering if you’d be willing to come too.”

I stared at him blankly. The context was so different from what I was imagining. He has to stay at Akihito’s relative’s empty house with him, so he invited me to come. Ahhh, I jumped to conclusions just because he called it an overnight trip! Of course there’s no way he’d invite me on a vacation. I-I’m so embarrassed. That said, going on an overnight trip with Holmes and Akihito does seem fun.

“Is that all right with you, Aoi? It’s next Saturday.”

I came back to my senses and nodded firmly. “Oh, yes. Please bring me with you. Where does Akihito’s aunt live?”

“He said it was near Tofuku-ji Temple. The house belongs to the older sister of the author Kajiwara. She apparently decided to sell the house after her husband passed away, but first, she wants to sell the things inside.”

I see; the house is probably too big to live in by herself. But still... “Are there so many antiques that you’d have to stay overnight?”

“Her late husband was a collector, and he said he didn’t mind if she sold his antiques after he passed. Well, I don’t think it’d require staying overnight, but Akihito probably wants to spend that day with us.”

“What do you mean?”

“The first episode of that TV program is airing that day.” Holmes grinned.

“Oh!” I clapped my hands. “The program about Kyoto!” I could imagine him wanting to watch it with Holmes.

The phone rang and Holmes quickly picked it up. “Hello, this is Kura.” After a moment, he nodded and said, “Yes, this is Kiyotaka Yagashira speaking.” I continued my usual cleaning, but couldn’t help but listen in. “No, it was nothing... Yes, that’s true.” He smiled. “Ah, all right. I understand. I’ll talk to you later, then. Bye.” He hung up and put the phone back.

Who was that? It didn’t seem like a customer.

“That was someone from Akihito’s agency,” Holmes answered, reading my mind as always.

“You mean the talent agency?” If I recall correctly, it was a famous one called AK Company.

“Yes. It was his manager who called.”

“Why would Akihito’s manager be looking for you?”

“Apparently, he was checking the first episode before it goes on air, and he was surprised at how well done it was. When he talked to Akihito about it, my name came up, so he called just to thank me.”

“Really? He must be a diligent person.”

“I think that diligence and thoroughness are necessary traits for working in that industry.”

Oh, that makes sense. I sometimes hear that even though entertainers act chaotic on TV, staff prefer to use the ones that are low-key and diligent behind the scenes.

“You said you’d talk to him, right? Is he going to call again?”

“Yes. He asked if he could call again tonight because he wanted to consult with me about Akihito. I’m expecting him to ask me to go with Akihito again before the next filming and give him advice.”

“Wow, the first episode must’ve been really good, then. I’m looking forward to watching it.”

“Indeed.”

We looked at each other and chuckled.

2

The next Saturday, our plan was to take a look at Tofuku-ji Temple, where Akihito’s next filming would take place, and then go to his aunt’s house.

“If you’re visiting Tofuku-ji Temple in autumn, you must not go by car,” Holmes declared while driving the company’s Jaguar. I was sitting in the passenger seat and Akihito was sitting in the back. The three of us had met up at Kura, then gone to the underground parking lot on Oike Street. Now we were on our way to Tofuku-ji Temple...by car. Akihito and I silently exchanged glances.

“Uh, Holmes, aren’t you contradicting yourself?” Akihito asked, leaning forward a bit. I nodded in agreement.

“Naturally, I won’t be driving directly to Tofuku-ji Temple. Your aunt came to Kura the other day to lend me the house key, so I’ll be parking the car at the house and then walking to Tofuku-ji from there.”

“Ohhh, I get it now.” Akihito nodded.

Holmes dropped me and Akihito off near the temple first. “I’ll head over as soon as I park the car, so you two can start walking first,” he said before driving off to Akihito’s aunt’s house.

“Man, he’s a smooth guy, huh? If it were me, I would’ve parked at my aunt’s house first, and then the three of us would’ve walked to the temple together.”

“He really is. It might be because he’s always attending to the owner.”

“I thought so too. Sounds like a tough job though.”

“The owner is a free spirit, after all.”

We continued to talk as we walked towards the temple gate.

“Aoi, is this your first time going to Tofuku-ji Temple?” Akihito looked at me. He really was a tall, handsome guy. But for some reason, I don’t feel anything when I look at him.

“Yes. What about you?”

“I only came once in elementary school, so I don’t think I remember any of the specifics. Well, let’s look at the Sanmon gate first, since it’s a National Treasure of Japan and everything,” Akihito said lightly, leading the way. He folded his hands behind his head as he walked, saying, “But even though it’s a National Treasure, there’s no way it’ll beat Nanzen-ji’s Sanmon gate.”

Nanzen-ji was the temple featured in the program that was going to be airing tonight. I heard that Holmes went there with him to check it out beforehand.

“Was Nanzen-ji’s Sanmon gate that amazing?”

“Yeah, I was floored. Wait, you haven’t been there before, Aoi?”

“No, not yet.”

“You really should. The aqueduct was really good too.”

“I’d like to.”

“Sorry, Aoi, I ended up going on a date at Nanzen-ji with Holmes before you could.” He peered at my face with a mischievous grin.

My face went bright red. “Wh-What are you saying?!”

He laughed and I glared at him as we passed through the Rokuhara gate, which was the entrance to the temple grounds.

“The Sanmon gate’s over there...” Akihito said.

“Wow!” I exclaimed the moment I looked up at the towering gate in front of us. It was huge, and the dark brown roof contrasted beautifully with the white walls. It was so tall and wide that it seemed to be saying, “This is the entrance to another world.” I was overwhelmed. It might’ve been the grandest of all of the gates I’d seen so far.

“I-It’s really impressive. The Sanmon gate at Nanzen-ji was even better?”

“Well, they’re both amazing in their own way. But if I had to pick one, I think Nanzen-ji’s was superior.”

“Really?! It must be incredible.”

Akihito took out his phone and started taking pictures. While he praised the gate, I stood a short distance away, gazing up at it.

“Sorry to keep you waiting—you’re still here?” came Holmes’s voice from behind us. We turned to face him.

“Hey, Holmes. Nanzen-ji’s Sanmon gate was great, but this one is too,” Akihito said, putting his hand on Holmes’s shoulder in an overly familiar way.

“This Sanmon gate is said to be the oldest one in Japan, and it’s a designated National Treasure,” Holmes explained as usual. “This hand is quite unwelcome.” He lightly brushed Akihito’s hand away.

“Ah! Now that’s just mean.”

I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Geez, you’re so unfriendly,” Akihito sulked. “Hey, does that mean that this one’s better than Nanzen-ji’s?” He looked up at the huge gate, seeming to have pulled himself together.

“It’s a matter of personal preference, but unfortunately, Kyoto’s ‘three great gates’ are at Nanzen-ji, Chion-in, and Higashi Hongan-ji. Tofuku-ji’s isn’t one of them.”

“For real?” Akihito asked, surprised.

“Wow.” I was also impressed.

“However, as with all things, you should decide with your own heart. Instead of ranking one above the other, I think they both have their merits.” Holmes placed his hand on his chest and smiled gently.

I was touched by his words. It’s true that social standings and popularity exist, but everything comes down to your own preferences. Just like he said, I’ve seen a lot of shrines and temples now, but I never thought to rank them. They were each amazing in their own ways.

“I see. It’s like that with women too, right?” Akihito said. “You have your own preferences, but they’re all good in their own ways.” He nodded.

I didn’t know what to say. Geez, this guy...

“Now then, let’s continue,” Holmes said, ignoring him and starting to walk.

“Okay,” I said, giggling and hurrying after him.

“Hey, wait for me!” Akihito frantically ran to catch up with us.

We headed towards the main building.

“Tofuku-ji Temple was founded by Michiie Kujo. He wanted it to be as large as Todai-ji Temple and as magnificent as Kofuku-ji Temple, both of which are in Nara City. Thus, he combined the two names into Tofuku-ji. The temple has suffered many fires, but as you can see, it’s been restored. You could say that it’s loved by the people.”

While listening to Holmes’s explanation, I made a praying motion to the beautiful golden statues of the Gautama triad and gazed up at the dragon painting on the ceiling. Then, we headed to the temple’s main attraction: the Tsuten bridge.

“I’ve been looking forward to Tsuten-bashi,” Akihito said excitedly, holding a brochure.

“It’s pronounced Tsuten-kyo. Please be careful when you’re talking about it on TV,” Holmes snapped.

Since it was autumn, quite a few people were there to see the colorful leaves. To be honest, I wasn’t anticipating much when I stepped onto the bridge.

The elegant wooden roofed corridor crossed a valley and was higher up than I expected. It was like a midair observation deck that passed right through the fall foliage. A path surrounded by vivid red. The beauty rendered me speechless.

Red leaves floated on the river far below us. It felt like I was witnessing a marvel of nature. Red leaves floating on a river... Oh, now I remember. This temple was an important place for Izumi and Holmes. Izumi had been moved by the beauty of the red leaves floating down the river, and she recited the first part of “Chihayaburu” by Ariwara no Narihira: “Even in the ages of gods and miracles, I have never heard of the Tatsuta River...” She forgot the rest of the poem, and Holmes finished it for her: “The Tatsuta River’s waters dyed in such crimson.” Yeah, that would make anyone fall in love. Having someone like Holmes complete her poem in such a lovely place would’ve been like an arrow through her heart.

“Even in the ages of gods and miracles, I have never heard of the Tatsuta River’s waters dyed in such crimson...” I murmured, looking down at the river dyed red from the fallen leaves.

“Ariwara no Narihira, I see,” came Holmes’s gentle voice from behind me.

I flinched. Ariwara no Narihira wasn’t the issue here... This was the poem that brought Holmes and Izumi together. I accidentally said it out loud when I remembered that, and he just had to hear me. Knowing him, he realized that I said it because of Izumi, right? Oh no, this might get awkward.

“U-Umm, sorry. I just happened to remember,” I admitted, shrugging.

Holmes chuckled. “It’s all right. Thank you for your concern.”

Oh right, it happened a long time ago for him. Maybe I didn’t need to be nervous.

“There’s a poem of Ariwara no Narihira’s that I like more,” he continued.

“Huh?” I was surprised by his nonchalant response.

“It goes, Through you, I learned and I wonder: doth the people of this world call this ‘love’?”

Even I can interpret something like that. Let’s see... “I learned this feeling because of you. Is this what people call ‘love’?” It’s a heart-fluttering love poem.

“You like that poem?” I looked at him, surprised. I hadn’t expected that.

Holmes gave a small nod. “Yes, I admire it. I’d like to experience such feelings one day, too...but I’m sure it’s not possible,” he whispered to himself, gazing into the distance with his right hand on the railing. There was sorrow in his eyes.

My heart stung when I looked at him. I think I understand now. He might’ve put his feelings for Izumi behind him, but he still remains traumatized by her betrayal. For Holmes, who has the ability to see into people’s minds, it must’ve been shocking to witness his girlfriend being swayed and then taken away by another man. After all, he said that he was so shocked, envious, and frustrated that he considered going to Mount Kurama and becoming a priest. It must’ve destroyed his self-esteem. And now...he might be rejecting the idea of love.

“I think I understand,” I said.

“What?”

“I’ve...gotten over Katsumi, but I think the scars are still there. I feel too cowardly to fall in love again.” Thanks to what Holmes said, I finally understood myself. Even if things happened that made my heart skip a beat, there was a barrier in place that prevented my feelings from going further. It’s because I don’t want to be hurt again. “I hope our wounds will heal.” Our gazes met, and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Indeed...” he murmured softly. The pain in his voice made my heart ache. The two of us silently continued to look down at the bright red leaves floating down the river. It must be the beautiful scenery that’s making my eyes well up.

“Oh, Aoi, did the autumn leaves move you to tears?” Akihito said cheerily, walking up to us.

I hurried to wipe my tears. “Y-Yes. The scenery was so breathtaking... I was thinking that if any of my friends visit Kyoto in autumn, I’ll make sure to tell them to see Tofuku-ji Temple,” I said earnestly.

Akihito folded his arms. “I see,” he said, seeming impressed. “‘If any of your friends visit Kyoto in autumn, make sure to tell them to see Tofuku-ji Temple,’ huh? I like that. Can I use it?”

“Huh? Um, sure?”

As soon as I nodded, Akihito took his phone out of his pocket and wrote the sentence down. I guess he’s going to use it during the filming. Despite what we say about him, he is an enthusiastic worker. I can tell that he’s betting on this job.

After enjoying the view from the Tsuten bridge for a while, we went to see the head priest’s rock garden and then left the temple.

3

Akihito’s aunt’s house was only a few minutes’ walk from Tofuku-ji Temple.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t been to my aunt’s place since I was a kid,” Akihito said quietly as we walked.

“What’s it like?” I asked.

“It’s a Western-style house.”

“Like Holmes’s?”

“It’s not that crazy. It’s a normal, cozy little house. It’s just around that corner.”

We turned the corner, and I was stunned when I saw the house. Size-wise it was “cozy,” but the exterior was covered in ivy to the point where you could barely see the walls. There’s no way this is “normal.”

“Umm, Akihito, it’s that house, right?”

“Y-Yeah, probably. Holmes’s car is there.” Indeed, the Yagashira family’s Jaguar was parked in front of it.

“‘Probably’? It’s your own aunt’s house, right?” I tilted my head.

Akihito’s face stiffened. “Uh, there wasn’t that much ivy before, so it seriously threw me off. I bet the kids in the neighborhood think it’s haunted.”

“It has a nice charm to it,” Holmes said. “The ivy prevents the walls from receiving direct sunlight, so it’ll be less hot inside in the summer.” He took the house key out of his inner pocket. It was the one he’d received from Akihito’s aunt beforehand.

“Um, does this house still have working gas and water?” I asked.

“Yes. It was lived in up until ten days ago, and there are still things to be moved. The gas and water will be running for the rest of the month,” Holmes answered as the door opened with a click.

The rather wide entrance area was dim, so I couldn’t see inside. Holmes quickly switched on the breaker near the ceiling. The foyer lit up, immediately revealing a row of three antique dolls on the shoe rack.

“Oh! That surprised me.”

“Y-Yeah, me too. Dolls, huh?”

“Ah, Jumeau bisque dolls.”

The dolls had porcelain skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and bright red dresses. Holmes quickly put on a pair of black gloves. I could tell from the eagerness in his voice that he was excited.

“Jumeau?”

“A famous French atelier. I was surprised that they’d leave these right by the front door, but they’re in very good condition and have been treated well.” He took a notebook out of his pocket and started taking notes. He was probably writing down the prices that Akihito’s aunt would get for them. I took a peek and was shocked to see that he’d written: “Bisque doll at entrance, red dress: ¥1,500,000.”

“O-One-point-five million?”

“Yes. It appears to have been created in the late 1850s.”

“A-Are the other two also worth that much?” Akihito asked, leaning in excitedly.

Holmes shook his head. “No, the two beside it are replicas. Thirty thousand for both of them, perhaps.”

“Aw, so only one of them was worth a fortune.”

“That said, there seem to be more treasures hidden away here than I’d anticipated.” Holmes looked into the house from the foyer, his eyes gleaming enthusiastically.

Indeed, the house was crammed with old-looking things. The walls were covered in paintings, a porcelain flower vase sat atop an antique chest, and a small chandelier hung from the ceiling. It felt like the house belonged to the antiques now that the homeowner was no longer present.

“I’ll be appraising every last thing, so you two should tidy up the place to make it more comfortable,” Holmes declared.

“Okay!” Akihito and I answered in unison. That said, the house wasn’t messy; it just had a lot of things in it. Is it time for my specialty, dusting?

First, I opened the living room window to let in some fresh air. There was a garden outside—not big, but sizable enough that you could grow some vegetables.

Ahh, a garden. How nice. We lived in an apartment when we were in Saitama, and our current house can barely fit a parking space in front, so we’ve never had a garden. I’m not going to be envious of the ivy-covered walls because they look difficult to maintain, but it’d be nice to live in a house this size with a garden like this. It’s small, but it’d be like my own little castle. If I get married one day, I want to live in a house like this... The moment I thought that, Holmes appeared in my mind. I shook my head.

“Hey, Holmes!” Akihito shouted. “You said to clean up the living room, but it’s already clean.”

“In that case, please weed the yard.”

“Wh-What? Why do I have to do that?”

“I received permission from the homeowner to have a barbeque in the yard tonight.” Holmes grinned, notebook in hand.

“Oh!” Akihito and I exclaimed.

“Seriously? Aw yeah, leave the yard to me!” Akihito sprang towards the front door like a monkey. He’s probably too old to be frolicking like that, but I guess that’s how he always is.

“The barbeque supplies are in the car trunk, so please start setting up once you’ve taken care of the yard.”

“Will do!”

I couldn’t help but smile at how cute he was.

“Aoi, could you help me with appraising? There are more treasures than I thought.”

“Ah, okay.”

Holmes took a binder of lined paper out of his bag and handed it to me. “Sorry, but if you could take notes for me.”

“No problem.” I nodded and held my pen firmly.

“Now then, let’s begin.” Holmes, still wearing his gloves, touched an antique lamp on top of a chest. “This is the work of the Muller brothers, who were French glassmakers. It uses many layers of glass to form the gradation in color, and the bronze pedestal is wonderfully designed as well,” Holmes explained passionately.

I stared intently at the lily-shaped lamp. “It’s beautiful,” I said, my vocabulary as lacking as always. It was my honest opinion, though. It looked like a lamp you’d find in an elegant French hotel.

“Could you please write ‘Antique lamp, Muller, three hundred thousand’?”

“O-Okay.” Th-Three hundred thousand. I’ve somewhat gotten used to these numbers, but it’s still surprising.

“The lamp beside it is also beautiful, but it’s a modern work, so it doesn’t have any value as an antique. I don’t think that Akihito’s uncle was solely interested in collecting valuable antiques—instead, he collected works that he was drawn to. I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

It’s like we were saying earlier about temples and shrines: society places value on titles and standings, and people tend to think that expensive things are better. But I think it’s great to be able to obtain what appeals to you rather than being swayed by those considerations.

“Kura has a lot of East Asian antiques, so it feels kind of new seeing you appraise Western ones.”

“Indeed. Thanks to the owner’s preferences, I can’t call myself an expert on Western antiques.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes,” Holmes said, picking up a small object. “Western paintings are particularly difficult for me.”

“I didn’t know there were areas you struggled in,” I said bluntly.

“Of course. For three-dimensional works like vases and tea bowls, it’s easy to identify counterfeits because the deceitful lines are easy to spot. As for two-dimensional works, I grew up seeing genuine Japanese paintings and calligraphy, so I’m capable of sniffing out copies of those to some extent. But when it comes to Western paintings, not only am I lacking in experience, but the enemies are quite formidable. Back then...if Ensho had challenged me with a Western painting, I don’t know if I would’ve seen through it,” he murmured to himself.

My heart leapt. I’d heard about Ensho, the master counterfeiter they encountered at Nanzen-ji Temple. He was definitely going to challenge Holmes again.

“I need to study harder,” Holmes said quietly.

I didn’t know what to say. His voice was calm yet intense. I could tell that he didn’t want to lose to that counterfeiter, no matter what.

“By the way, Aoi...”

“Yes?”

“Do I look like a ‘sheltered boy’ to you?” he asked, his expression serious.

“What?” I squeaked. I never would’ve expected that question.

“Pfft!” came a voice from outside. Akihito, who was mowing the lawn, must’ve heard our conversation.

“Never mind. Next is a Copenhagen ornament...”

“Ah, okay.” What was that about?

4

A small rectangular charcoal grill had been set up in the tidied-up yard. The flames crackled loudly. Above us, the autumn sky had become completely dark. The yard was lit up by a lantern that Holmes had brought. I sat on a camping chair and excitedly accepted the juice that was offered to me.

Akihito opened a can of beer, laughed, and pointed at Holmes. “Man, Holmes. You’re still bothered by what the assistant head priest said to you?”

“Please refrain from pointing fingers at people.” Expression unchanging, Holmes carefully took meat out of a storage container and placed it on the grill. He’d brought five containers in all: Wagyu beef, Iberico pork, chicken marinated in herbs, vegetables, and lastly...

“I also made rice balls, if you’re interested.” Holmes held up the container with a smile. His perfect form made my face stiffen.

“You’ve got a girly side, huh?” Akihito said quietly. To be honest, I completely agreed.

“I’m not a girl, though.”

“Right, you’re a sheltered boy. Hahaha!”

Holmes openly frowned, which was a rare sight. Well, it might be pretty common when Akihito’s involved.

“Um, what’s all this about being a sheltered boy?” I tilted my head.

“I’m glad you asked, Aoi!” Akihito leaned in more than necessary. “The other day at Nanzen-ji Temple, this guy was about to chase after the counterfeiter, but the assistant head priest said, ‘A sheltered boy isn’t going to be able to catch him.’ I still crack up every time I remember that uncomfortable smile he had on his face.” Akihito chuckled.

Holmes sighed, seeming honestly annoyed. “Yes, it was very unpleasant. My grandfather is self-centered, and my father is nice but marches to his own beat. I have to take care of them and their houses, manage the store, sometimes I’m a cook, a driver, a baggage handler, a bodyguard, a translator, a butler... You’ll not find any sheltered boy like this,” he said, reverting to his Kyoto accent at the end. The sizzling meat started to char.

Akihito and I went pale. I held up my hands in an attempt to calm him down. “I-It’s okay. The assistant head priest doesn’t know how much you’ve been through.”

“No, I do understand. Compared to Ensho, I’m sheltered. I’m just frustrated that he was able to determine that.”

Holmes must’ve thought about a lot since meeting Ensho. Even though Ensho won the battle, that victory might’ve been more dangerous than we’d thought.

“What kind of life did Ensho lead?” I asked.

“Hmm... At a glance, his mouth was raised to the left, which is a common trait in people with emotional instability and drastic mood swings. However, he looked me straight in the eye and spoke without hesitation, so I knew he had self-confidence. I believe that his emotional instability comes from his early childhood, and his self-confidence comes from his own talent.

“Then there was his skill at imitation. It could be that he’s always been conscious of what others think. Based on that, I think he likely had to make use of his talent to get through an unfortunate childhood,” Holmes said smoothly. “It’s hard to imagine an ordinary person suddenly taking up counterfeiting, so I believe that one of his close relatives...perhaps his father, was a painter. That would’ve led to Ensho taking up art as well. Then, his father would’ve noticed his son’s talent and encouraged him to make forgeries. However, considering that Ensho took up priesthood after mastering his counterfeiting, he may no longer have any relatives he can depend on. Or perhaps he broke ties with them...”

Akihito and I were stunned. As always, he was too incredible.

“Is something the matter?” Holmes looked at us quizzically.

“Nah, I was just thinking that you really are ‘Holmes,’” Akihito said, dumbfounded.

I couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Yeah.”

5

After that, we stuffed our faces with rice balls, ate delicious grilled meat, and chatted around the fire. It was a lot of fun.

At 8:50 p.m., we excitedly gathered in front of the TV. We’d finished cleaning up, and Akihito’s program about Kyoto was going to start at 8:55. I sat on the floor with my knees up, the way you would in gym class. My heart was beating fast as I watched the commercials. Even though it’s not me, I’m really excited! It was going to be my first time seeing someone I know on TV.

“I-I’m kind of nervous.”

“D-Don’t be silly. I’m the nervous one here,” Akihito said, whirling around to face me. I flinched.

Holmes chuckled and said, “But it’s not your first time appearing on TV, right?”

“It’s not, but before it was always a quick glance. This is my first time being the main focus.”

Then, the screen changed to a view of autumn foliage with music playing in the background.

“Classical music arranged in jazz style. Very nice,” commented Holmes.

“R-Right?” Akihito seemed proud, but his response was awkward because of his nervousness.

As the familiar-sounding music played, the camera slowly panned from the beautiful red leaves to Nanzen-ji Temple’s Sanmon gate. Akihito stood in front of the gate, wearing a dark gray kimono. The kimono was very chic, making him look even more attractive and removing any sense of his frivolousness.

“W-Wow, a kimono! It really suits you, Akihito!” I exclaimed.

Akihito gave an embarrassed laugh. “W-Well, it was the first episode, after all. I had to look good.”

“Nanzen-ji Temple is the highest ranked of all of the Zen Buddhist temples in Japan. When I first saw this towering gate, I was overwhelmed by an indescribable aura. It’s even more exceptional in autumn. Look at these wonderful red leaves.”

There was a refined smile on Akihito’s face as he looked up at the foliage. Then he walked up to the balcony, and the screen was filled with red leaves and the city of Kyoto. It was presented beautifully—even an amateur like me could tell that the camerawork was great.

“Now, this Sanmon gate is known for being the location where Goemon Ishikawa says ‘A magnificent, magnificent view’ in a kabuki play. However, it was actually built after Goemon Ishikawa had already died. Nevertheless, the people of Kyoto must have been so fascinated by the view from here that they incorporated it into a play,” Akihito said passionately, gazing down at the landscape.

“As for the aqueduct, which was a great accomplishment of the Meiji era...” Next, he talked about the beauty of the aqueduct.

And finally... “Nanzen-ji Temple was also known for once being haunted. The emperor at the time was at a loss. He asked Fumon Mukan, a Zen priest from Tofuku-ji Temple, to drive the ghosts away somehow. It is said that even though the priest merely did the same things he did regularly at Tofuku-ji Temple, the ghosts disappeared. The priest said that ghosts cannot win against virtue, and evidently that was the case. Next time, I’d like to introduce you to Tofuku-ji Temple.” Akihito smiled as the camera zoomed out with the music playing in the background. The program came to an end.

The footage was so beautiful that it touched my heart, and Akihito did a really good job of making me want to go there. But...he was totally imitating Holmes, right?

A commercial came on, and we automatically looked at each other.

“Akihito, you were totally imitating Holmes, right?”

“Akihito, if you misrepresent yourself to that extent, you’re going to have a difficult time in the future.”

“N-No I won’t! I’m an actor performing my role on the show!”

“An actor performing his role... That’s a good way to put it.” Holmes chuckled, smiling knowingly.

“Why don’t you go on the show, Holmes? You’re just as good-looking as Akihito.”

“H-Hey, Aoi!”

“No, I’m not interested in television work. After my grandfather’s clash with that business, I decided that I wasn’t suited for the world of show biz. I don’t like to be in a public-facing position.”

I see. Since he’s so perceptive, he might’ve instantly realized that he wasn’t suited for TV after experiencing it through the owner.

“Ahhh, since I was so nervous, now I gotta go pee. I’m going to the bathroom.” Akihito stretched and left the living room.

“Gotta go pee”... So much for being an attractive actor.

Some time after Akihito had left, the lights suddenly went out.

“Huh?” It wasn’t just dark. It was pitch black, possibly because of the light-blocking curtains.

“It looks like the power went out,” Holmes said calmly in the darkness.

“R-Really? Did we use that much electricity?”

“I’m not sure. It’s a good thing we have the lantern that we used for the barbeque.” Holmes picked up the battery-powered lantern from the floor and switched it on.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the hallway—more importantly, it was Akihito’s voice. The living room door opened with a bang.

“W-We’ve got a problem!” Akihito barged in, his eyes wide.

“You’re overreacting. It’s just a power outage,” I sighed, exasperated.

“I can imagine a sudden blackout being scary when you’re in the restroom of an unoccupied house, though.”

“N-No! That’s not it! After I left the bathroom, a doll came walking at me from the other end of the hallway, and it was laughing,” Akihito said, sounding like he was struggling to breathe.

I froze. “A-A doll?” Holmes and I exchanged glances.

“When you’re paranoid, even a willow tree will look like a ghost. I’m sure that your fear from the blackout made you think you were seeing the doll walking and laughing,” Holmes said.

“N-No way! This is completely different from a tree looking like a ghost! Go and see for yourself!”

“If anything, I’ll check later when I do need to use the restroom.”

“Seriously, what the heck was that? I need to know!”

“Like I said, I’ll check later.”

“No, please do it now. I’m begging you, Holmes. Zen priest Holmes!” Akihito knelt on the floor and clapped his hands together, trying to get Holmes’s attention.

“Sorry, I’m not a Zen priest; I’m a sheltered boy,” Holmes said with a smile. He was always more open with his black-hearted, “wicked Kyoto guy” side when it came to Akihito.

But now that it’s come to this... “U-Um... I need to use the restroom too...” I said quietly, looking down. It’s really embarrassing, but I’m scared to go alone now.

“All right,” Holmes said. “I’ll take a look then. You stay here, Akihito.” He picked up the lantern and stood up.

“Wait, you’re taking the light with you?” Akihito asked.

“Of course. I’m also going to check the breaker, so please wait here.”

“O-Okay.”

“Don’t worry, Akihito. There’s nothing to be scared of.” Holmes patted him on the back a few times.

“Y-Yeah.” Akihito looked really conflicted about Holmes’s mocking form of encouragement, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Now then, let’s go, Aoi.”

“O-Okay.”

I left the living room with Holmes. Moonlight shone in from the hallway window, so it was brighter there, much to my relief.

Holmes checked the breaker in the foyer and said, “The breaker is fine. Perhaps it’s an issue with the wiring.”

“I see...” I looked towards the other end of the hallway and flinched when I saw a doll. “H-Holmes, the doll is there!” Maybe Akihito was right!

Holmes silently picked up the doll. It was a boy with the face of Fukusuke, a traditional china doll associated with good luck.

“Ah, this is a mechanical doll.”

“M-Mechanical?”

“Yes, so there’s nothing strange about it moving. There’s nothing to be afraid of, so take your time. I’ll wait right here.” He smiled gently.

Okay, so there’s nothing wrong with a mechanical doll moving. But why did it suddenly start moving in the first place? I decided not to dwell on it.

“I-I’ll go now, then. Sorry.” I bowed and was about to go into the restroom when Holmes said, “Take this. It’s scary when it’s dark, right?” and offered me the lantern.

“Th-Thank you.” Holmes really is nice.

Still nervous, I used the restroom, washed my hands, and came back out.

“Sorry and thanks again,” I said.

“Let’s go back.”

The moment I passed the lantern to Holmes—

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Akihito’s scream rang out again. Did something else happen?

I stiffened up. “Holmes...”

“Really, that man... He might be suited for a suspense drama,” Holmes said, exasperated. I relaxed a bit hearing him say that, feeling the fear subside.

“What happened, Akihito?” Holmes opened the living room door. Inside, Akihito was clinging to a big stuffed animal. “Really, what on earth happened to you?”

“Th-There was...a white silhouette of a woman! It showed up for a second and then disappeared,” Akihito wailed.

“Wh-What? Really?” I asked.

“Yeah! It happened after you two left!”

Hm? Something felt off, but before I could figure out what, the sound of noisy footsteps came from the second floor. Akihito screamed again, and I froze in place. Wh-Why are there footsteps coming from the empty second floor? This place really is haunted!

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared,” Holmes whispered in my ear before the fear could set in. My heart skipped a beat.

Wait, huh? Something’s definitely not right.

“Th-This is weird,” I said. The other two looked at me, surprised.

“I-I know it’s weird! This place is swarming with evil spirits!” Akihito exclaimed.

“N-No, that’s not what I mean. After your show ended and you went to the bathroom, the power suddenly went out and a mechanical doll started moving once you went into the hallway... Then, when Holmes and I were in the hallway, a white silhouette appeared in the living room...” It’s almost as though they were trying to spook Akihito without letting me see anything scary. “I don’t think this is the work of spirits.”

“Wh-What is it, then?!” Akihito raised his voice, clearly panicking.

There’s...only one person who could do this.

I gulped and turned around to look at Holmes.

“Holmes, this was your doing, right?” I declared.

The living room fell silent for some time.

Akihito was the first to speak: “Wh-What are you talking about, Aoi? How could Holmes make spirits show up?”

“I-I don’t know, but it wouldn’t be impossible for him.”

I stared fixedly at Holmes. He looked calm, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his expression. He received the house key in advance, so he could’ve come here beforehand...and most importantly, he made it so that I wouldn’t see any of the ghosts. That way, I wouldn’t get scared...

“But why would he do that?!” Akihito lamented.

Right... Why would he do that?

Then, Holmes chuckled and clapped his hands. “Well done, Aoi. I slipped up at the end there. Rather, it’s hard for me to be ruthless when there’s a girl present, so my cover was blown.”

As I thought, the supernatural incidents were Holmes’s doing.

“S-Seriously, Holmes? Why would you do this? Do you hate me that much?” Akihito asked with tears in his eyes. I felt so bad for him.

“No, not at all. If I hated you and wanted to make you suffer, I wouldn’t use such a bothersome method. I’d find an easier, crueler, more brutal way,” Holmes said, nonchalantly mixing in those mean words. “What happened tonight was my doing, but I’m not the main culprit.”

He did it but he wasn’t the main culprit? “Huh? Does that mean there’s a mastermind?” I asked.

“Yes. Someone asked me to do this.”

Someone asked him...? Suddenly, I remembered the phone call he received at Kura. The person on the other end also said they’d call him again later...

“Is the mastermind Akihito’s manager?” I asked quietly.

Holmes nodded. “Correct. That day, he said to me, ‘Akihito was great in that program, but he was trying too hard to imitate someone, and none of his own personality came through. I do think it was a good fit for that episode, though. That said, it’s definitely going to be a problem down the road if the viewers are under the impression that Akihito is such a well-behaved man. So, I want to show the viewers his true self. I’m going to show them what that elegant Akihito Kajiwara is really like, and I could use your help.’”

Akihito and I gulped. So that was the truth.

“Wait, but...does that mean...”

“No way, right?”

We inadvertently looked around the room.

“Correct: this is a TV prank. By the way, he said it’ll be aired as a New Year’s special. Oh, and don’t worry, Aoi. Our faces will be hidden,” Holmes said nonchalantly.

Akihito and I gaped.

“Wh-What? Does that mean they’re going to show me being humiliated?”

Holmes nodded. “Yes. Those screams were quite impressive, so it might lead to more work.”

“Are the staff waiting around somewhere?” I asked, quickly looking around the room.

“No, he said they couldn’t spend that much money on a beginner like Akihito. There are only hidden cameras and the tricks I set up in advance. I was the one operating them.”

“H-Hmph.” Akihito looked unhappy to be told that they “couldn’t spend that much money” on him, but he also seemed relieved. He plopped himself down on the sofa. “Thank god that’s over, though. You’re not gonna pull anything else now that the cat’s out of the bag, right?”

“Yes. I had more prepared, like a doll falling from the ceiling and a child’s crying voice, but unfortunately, now that it’s been spoiled, the fun’s over. I did get some great reactions out of you though, so I think your manager will be satisfied. You have a good partner.” Holmes smiled warmly.

“I-I guess.”

Then, the gonging sound of a bell rang out, making us flinch.

“Dude, stop it with the tricks!”

“Yeah!”

Holmes shook his head. “No, that wasn’t me.”

“H-Huh?” Akihito and I reacted in unison.

“That was Tofuku-ji Temple’s late-night ‘sending’ bell,” Holmes said with a smile.

“Sending bell?”

“Yes. It rings eighteen times every night at 11:45 p.m.”

“Th-This late at night?”

“Yes. The late-night bell has been a tradition since the temple’s founding. The head priest at the time, Enni, was also the head priest of Kennin-ji Temple, so he would go to Kennin-ji when he finished his business at Tofuku-ji. When that happened, Tofuku-ji would send him off with the ‘sending’ bell, and Kennin-ji would welcome him with the ‘receiving’ bell. It’s been seven hundred and fifty years since then, and the tradition is still kept alive.”

The gonging continued. I couldn’t believe that they’d ring a bell in the middle of the night when it wasn’t New Year’s Eve. And it was every night... But then again, this local tradition has continued for seven hundred and fifty years. I was impressed that Kyoto was able to protect it for so long, and I hoped they’d continue to do so. I felt unexpectedly moved when I encountered these local customs.

“Now then, my mission is over, so let’s have another toast to Akihito’s future success.” Using the light from the lantern, Holmes poured wine and juice into our glasses.

“Y-Yes, let’s.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

The three of us raised our glasses. “To Akihito’s success! Cheers!”

We toasted as the bell rang out. The chimes being sent from Tofuku-ji to Kennin-ji felt like they were symbolizing Akihito’s journey into another world. The bell stopped after exactly eighteen chimes.

The three of us exchanged glances and laughed.

“Man, that was really scary, right, Aoi?” Akihito said, taking a swig of his wine.

“Yes.” I nodded. “The footsteps upstairs scared me a lot. After we found out the truth, I thought there were staff on the second floor.”

“Ah,” Holmes said, looking at me. “I actually didn’t set up the footsteps upstairs.”

“Huh?”

“It’s possible that I upset some apparitions with my man-made phantoms.”

“Wh-What?”

“Well, when Tofuku-ji Temple’s former head priest Fumon Mukan drove away the ghosts at Nanzen-ji Temple, he said that ‘ghosts cannot win against virtue.’ So, as long as you keep that in mind, you should be fine.” Holmes grinned, placing his hand on his chest.

Akihito and I looked at each other and screamed, “Gyaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I’ll never forget this long autumn night.