Chapter 1: A Spring Love Letter

1

It was March 25th and we were outside of Kyoto City, on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway between the town of Kyotamba and the city of Fukuchiyama. Since it was spring break, the highway was busy, but not to the point of jamming up. The car sped northwards.

I, Aoi Mashiro, was sitting in the second row of a large van that could easily fit eight adults. I casually looked at the driver’s seat, where Kiyotaka Yagashira, nicknamed Holmes, had his hands on the wheel. Holmes is the grandson and apprentice of Seiji Yagashira, the nationally certified appraiser who owns the antique store Kura where I work part-time. He’s a grad student with an exceptional observing eye and a knack for appraisal. His nickname comes from the fact that his surname has the character for “home” in it.

“If you’re tired of driving, I’ll switch with you, Kiyotaka,” said the person in the passenger seat—Holmes’s father, Takeshi Yagashira. We call him “Manager,” but his main profession is writing historical novels.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. Everyone, please let me know if you want to use the restroom or take a break.” Holmes smiled gently at us through the rearview mirror.

“Okay, but I’m still good.” I nodded.

“I-I’m fine too,” said my friend who was sitting beside me. Her name is Kaori Miyashita, and we go to the same high school.

And behind us, in the third row...

“Gotcha. I can drive too, so you can ask me to swap in anytime, Holmes!” hollered Akihito Kajiwara, an up-and-coming actor with various ties to Kura.

“It’s all right... I appreciate the offer,” Holmes answered calmly, without looking back.

“A-Aoi, traveling with these people is kind of nerve-racking,” Kaori said quietly, tugging on my sleeve.

There were five people in the car: Holmes, the manager, Kaori, Akihito, and me. An unexpected turn of events had led to this group going on a trip this spring break. Originally, it was only going to be me and Kaori going on a short trip to northern Kansai. Now I feel bad that it turned into such a big group.

“S-Sorry, this kind of blew up,” I whispered to her.

“No, that’s not what I mean!” She shook her head vigorously. “I’m happy about this. I’m a decent fan of Akihito, and Holmes is kind of scary but he’s still hot.” She had to keep her voice low, but her clenched fists gave away her excitement.

I’m sure she’s not exaggerating when she says she’s a fan. Akihito is a rising star with good looks and a fearless attitude. It’s hard to dislike him because his naivete makes up for the arrogant things he says, and that personality seems to be popular with the public. So even though she’s only a “decent” fan, she’s not going to complain about going on a private trip with a handsome actor she likes. Oh, and although she’s quite the fangirl, she doesn’t seem to be comfortable around Holmes because he’s too perceptive. Anyway, I’m glad she’s happy even though our private getaway turned into a crowd.

Feeling content, I looked out the window at the quiet countryside. The dazzling greenery and the newly blooming cherry blossoms made for a beautiful sight. Even though we were still in Kyoto Prefecture, the spacious scenery had a completely different atmosphere from the capital to the south.

Our first stop was Amanohashidate, so we were heading for the city of Miyazu. After that, the plan was to do some sightseeing and end up at the Kinosaki hot spring, where we’d be staying at a traditional inn. As for why this specific group is traveling together...the story goes back to last December.

2

On New Year’s Eve, the Yagashira family held a party with an extravagant buffet and a treasure-hunting game where Ensho barged in and caused a fuss. But before that mess, when everyone was enjoying their meal, I was approached by Shigetoshi Yanagihara, an appraiser who was an old friend of the owner.

“Long time no see, Miss,” he greeted.

“Hello, Yanagihara. The last time we met was at your birthday party, right?” I bowed, slightly nervous. Last fall, I attended his eightieth birthday with Holmes and Akihito.

“Mmhm. You were really something, getting all of the questions right.”

“N-No, it was just a fluke.” I shook my head, flustered. At the party, the guests played an “authenticity game” where we guessed whether antiques were real or fake. I managed to win that game, but I’m pretty sure it was just luck. Despite that, sometimes people praise me like this, and the undeserved compliments make me feel awkward and embarrassed.

“You can’t call that a fluke. Trust me, you were special. People asked me afterwards who you were, and I said you were Kiyotaka’s girlfriend.” He grinned mischievously.

I instantly looked up upon hearing that. “N-No, like I said, I’m just a part-timer. There’s nothing between us,” I desperately denied. A lot of people mistook Holmes and me for a couple back then, and I was afraid that the misunderstandings would make things awkward between us.

Yanagihara blinked in surprise at my reaction. “Ah, sorry. You’d hate to have rumors go around about you and a guy you’re not interested in, right?”

“I-I wouldn’t go as far as calling it hate...” I said feebly, averting my gaze—only to catch Holmes in the corner of my eye. His forced smile suggested that he heard our conversation. Maybe he’s tired of us being mistaken for a couple too. My anxiety grew. He definitely wasn’t “a guy I’m not interested in.” It was actually the opposite—back then, I had a vague suspicion that I was attracted to him, but I couldn’t acknowledge it because I was afraid of what I might lose.

Perhaps Yanagihara noticed my discomfort, because he quickly changed the topic: “Oh right, did you use the Tsukimiya vouchers that you won at the authenticity game?”

“Oh, no.” I shook my head, coming back to my senses. The prize for winning the game was a pair of vouchers for an inn at the Kinosaki hot springs. It was a high-class establishment called Tsukimiya, and apparently Yanagihara had supervised the interior design.

“I haven’t gone yet,” I continued. “I wanted to go with my friend from school, so we were thinking of going during winter break, but...” The friend was Kaori Miyashita, whose family owned a long-established kimono fabrics store. We weren’t in the same class at school but became friends after Holmes and I got involved in the Saio-dai incident. She’s quite pretty and looks intellectual and calm, but she actually has a cute, fangirly side too. I think we could be considered best friends now, but since my previous “best friend” betrayed me, I don’t want to use that term. “The friend I get along the best with” is a better fit.

“Time passed before I knew it, and I couldn’t make a reservation...so I’m thinking spring break instead.” I slumped my shoulders, trying to recall what the expiry date on the vouchers was.

“Ah. Spring is still a ways off, but since it’s the cherry blossom season, you’ll have to make a reservation soon or they’ll be fully booked.”

“O-Oh, you’re right.”

“Now that you mention it, I’ll be staying there soon. Do you want me to book it for you while I’m there? What dates do you want? I think late March will be easier to get than April.”

“W-Wait... Let me ask Kaori—my friend.” I hurriedly took out my phone.

Akihito, who was standing nearby, peeked over. “Hey, is Kaori that girl from the fabrics store?”

“Oh, yes.” Come to think of it, Akihito met her before at the owner’s birthday party.

“Staying a night in Kinosaki in the spring, huh? That sounds really nice. You know what, I think I’ll go too. Yanagihara, do you think you can book an extra room?”

Huh?

“It’s still early, so it should be possible to get two rooms,” Yanagihara answered.

“All right then, let’s go together, Aoi.”

“R-Really? Don’t you have work?” I asked.

“Yeah, recently there’ve been talks about expanding the program beyond Kyoto City, so I wanted to check Kinosaki out anyway. If I tell my manager it’s for work, he’ll probably free up my schedule. It’s win-win—I’d have more fun going there with girls, and you two will be able to get there easier by car. I can drive us. See?” He leaned forward.

I didn’t know what to say. The ride would be appreciated, and he’d be staying in a different room, so no issues there. Kaori’s a responsible person, but she has a fangirly side, so she might be happy to have Akihito with us... But a trip with me, Kaori, and Akihito? It just seems weird, I thought, casting my eyes down.

“That would be dangerous in so many ways,” Holmes said, coming over to us. He put his hands on his hips and looked exasperated.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Akihito insisted.

“How on earth would it be fine?”

“Wouldn’t it be more dangerous for two cute high school girls to travel by themselves? I’ll just be keeping an eye on them so that nothing bad happens.”

“I...don’t think you’re mature enough for that. Besides, I’m saying that you’re the danger.”

“Wow, rude! I’m a celebrity, you know? My agency’s warned me about getting involved with minors enough times to make my ears fall off. ’Sides, if you’re so worried, you can just come with us.” Akihito grinned. His face made me think that that was his plan when he first suggested tagging along. Huh, so he’s a schemer too.

Holmes sighed, realizing what Akihito was up to. He nodded. “Fine. I’ll come too, then.”

“Huh? You will?” I asked, surprised.

“Certainly... Assuming it’s not a problem for you and Kaori.” Holmes smiled weakly.

“Of course not.” I shook my head. “We’d feel safer having you with us... Th-Thanks,” I squeaked, delighted.

“All right, Holmes acquired!” Akihito pumped his fist.

“Acquired...” Holmes shrugged. “However, this would make our group two of each gender, which may seem suspicious to outsiders. Aoi and Kaori’s parents would be concerned, and it wouldn’t be good for Akihito either, as a celebrity...” he mumbled, crossing his arms. Then, he turned around and looked at the manager. “Oh, I know. Dad, would you be able to come with us as a chaperone?”

The manager blinked in surprise at the sudden request, but he quickly smiled and nodded. “Kinosaki is a nice place, and I like staying at Tsukimiya too. You’re right that with a group of four young men and women, their parents will feel better if I’m with you. I’d be delighted to come. We can ask the owner to watch the store for once.”

“Nice, we won’t have to worry about misunderstandings then,” Akihito said. “That makes five of us, huh? I’ll borrow my family’s van.”

“Thank you, but I’ll do the driving,” Holmes said. “I won’t be able to trust you at the wheel.”

“What?! I’ll have you know that I’m at least confident in my driving. I even wanna get a Class A racing license someday!”

“That’s exactly where my apprehension comes from. And by ‘at least,’ do you mean that you aren’t confident in other things?”

“No!” Akihito exclaimed, face bright red.

Everyone burst out laughing.

After that, I checked with Kaori and my parents before asking Yanagihara to make the reservations. He was able to get us rooms for March 25th, right at the start of spring break.

3

Back to the present. We had three rooms booked: one for me and Kaori, one for Holmes and Akihito, and one for the manager by himself, so that he could focus on his writing. The vague promise I’d made with Kaori to go to Kinosaki sometime had transformed into a five-person trip.

“It really is a coincidence that the inn ended up being Tsukimiya, though,” Kaori said with a laugh, looking out the window.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Huh? How so?” Akihito poked his head at us from the back seat.

Kaori blushed and looked down. She must be nervous because he suddenly came so close. She elbowed me, prompting me to answer in her stead.

“Umm, Tsukimiya has a long relationship with the fabric store that Kaori’s family owns, and her older sister is actually working there right now to get life experience,” I said. Kaori’s sister, Saori, was the heir to the family business. Being tied to the store right after graduating from school would make her worldview too narrow, so she was working and training at Tsukimiya. That said, it was a surprise that the inn Yanagihara frequented would have close ties to Kaori’s family. It really is a small world. I guess these kinds of connections are common among Kyoto’s old stores.

Holmes seemed more surprised than Akihito. “Saori’s at Tsukimiya? She’s still in university, right?”

“Y-Yes. She’s only working there during spring break,” Kaori answered stiffly.

“Huh,” Akihito murmured, craning his neck to look at the driver’s seat. “Hey, Holmes. Do you know Kaori’s big sister?”

“Yes, I suppose. Actually, you should know her too. She was last year’s Saio-dai.”

“Oh!” Akihito clapped his hands together. “That gorgeous Saio-dai?! Oh yeah, they did say she was from Miyashita Kimono Fabrics.”

The Saio-dai is the star of the Aoi Festival, and in Kyoto, the title is synonymous with a woman gifted with both intelligence and beauty. Saori was chosen to be last year’s Saio-dai, and she became instantly famous for her looks.

“She was a real angel, huh?” Akihito continued. “Now I’m even more excited to go to that inn.” He clasped his hands behind his head and hummed a tune.

He’s really not hiding it. I smiled wryly. Holmes might secretly be happy about it too, though... I cast my eyes down, feeling a bit uneasy.

“Aoi?” Holmes called, bringing me back to my senses.

I looked up and said, “Oh, sorry, I was spacing out. What did you say?”

“It wasn’t anything important. I was just wondering if you’ve been to Amanohashidate before.” He smiled at me in the rearview mirror.

“No, I haven’t. I’ve seen it on TV a lot, though.” It’s one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan, so it often gets featured on travel shows. Since I’ve seen it so much, it feels as familiar as if I’ve been there before...

“Huh? You haven’t been to Amanohashidate?” Kaori’s eyes widened.

“Nope.” I shook my head. “What about you?”

“I’ve gone there a few times. It’s been years, though.”

“Same here,” Akihito said, poking his head at us from the backseat again. “The last time was in elementary school.”

Kaori blushed, looked down, and muttered, “Th-This is bad for my heart. It’s safer to admire hot guys from a distance.” She gave a strained smile and leaned towards me. “I’m surprised you can stay calm. Akihito and Holmes are both super attractive.”

I looked at Holmes, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, then back at Akihito, who was sitting behind us. Their types were different, but they were both blindingly handsome men. I was nervous around them at first, but now...

“Umm, I think you’ll get used to them soon,” I said quietly.

Kaori chuckled and said, “Yeah, that sounds convincing coming from you.”

The city of Miyazu was two and a half hours out from Kyoto City. We parked near Amanohashidate and got out of the car.

“This way,” Holmes said, taking the lead.

“Okay!” We nodded and started after him like kindergarteners following their teacher.

When we reached the cable car platform, Holmes turned around and asked, “We can either take the cable car or the lift to the summit. Which would you prefer?”

I craned my neck to look at the prices and saw that they were the same. “Cable car or lift... Which do you think is better, Kaori?”

“Hmm, last time I came here, I took the cable car with my family. I don’t know which is better, though. Holmes, what do you think?”

“Let’s see... Personally, I recommend the lift. It’s not too scary, and it has an excellent view.”

“Let’s go with that then,” we all agreed without hesitation.

“All right.”

We headed to the lift boarding area. Kaori and I got on first, followed by Holmes, Akihito, and the manager. It was a chair-style lift—the kind you see at ski resorts. Each chair only seated one person, so we had to sit individually. Not used to it, I clumsily got on and gripped the handrail tightly.

The lift slowly ascended diagonally. Holmes was right—it wasn’t too far off the ground, so it wasn’t scary. The sky was clear and the wind ruffling my hair felt great. I’m glad we picked the lift.

“Aoi, Kaori, please look at the scenery behind you,” Holmes said from behind us.

“Huh?” We turned around and were immediately faced with the bright blue sea and sky, backed by mountains.

“W-Wow, it’s so pretty!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Kaori said.

I gazed at the scenery behind us, holding the handrail firmly. It was then that I noticed Holmes watching us with a gentle smile. Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I faced forward. It was only recently that I admitted to myself that I had a crush on Holmes. The truth was that I’d always been attracted to him, but I desperately tried to deceive myself into thinking otherwise. I finally came to terms with it about two weeks ago. Now that I acknowledged my feelings, just making eye contact with him was enough to make me blush and cause my heart to beat faster. I always turned away immediately, embarrassed that my face was probably as red as a lobster. I’m being rude like this, right? What if I’m offending him? I sighed sadly.

Before long, we reached the summit and got off the lift. We headed for the observation deck, where we’d be able to get a sweeping view of Amanohashidate.

“It’s over there, Aoi,” Kaori said, pointing at the sign while walking at a quick pace.

“Okay.” I nodded.

Kaori, Akihito, and I jogged up to the observation deck and stopped. “Whoa!” we exclaimed in wonder at the sprawling scenery. I knew what Amanohashidate looked like from TV, and I was sure it’d be the same thing in real life...but I was wrong. Actually laying my eyes on it was exciting beyond belief, leaving me breathless. The sea, separated in half by a row of pine trees, sparkled with a blinding light. The green land bridge is called Hiryukan—“view of the flying dragon”—because it’s likened to a dragon flying up into the sky. It really does look like a dragon’s back. The contrast between the blue sea, green bridge, and bright sun was beautiful—divine, even. It gripped at my heartstrings. Amanohashidate—“Heaven’s Bridge.” Its beauty rendered me speechless for some time.

“Man, I didn’t feel much when I came here as a kid, but seeing it now, it’s amazing,” Akihito said passionately.

Kaori nodded. “It really is.”

“I didn’t think I’d be this impressed either,” I murmured.

“Indeed,” said Holmes and the manager.

“It’s worthy of being one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan,” continued Holmes. It absolutely is.

“This is definitely something you should see in person instead of on TV,” I said, gazing at the scenery. “I’m glad I came to Amanohashidate.” I clenched my fist in front of my chest. If Kaori and I had gone to the Kinosaki hot spring by ourselves, we wouldn’t have stopped by here. I’m glad I got to see this view.

“It’s good that they’re all enjoying it, Kiyotaka,” the manager said, placing his hand on Holmes’s shoulder.

“Yes.” Holmes nodded, smiling warmly.

“Huh,” Kaori murmured, looking at the two. “I didn’t think Holmes and the manager resembled each other at all, but they’ve got the same aura, huh?”

“I think so too,” I said.

“The manager seems safer, though,” she continued in a quiet voice. “No thorns or poison.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” I giggled.

Akihito ran up to us excitedly and said, “Hey, let’s do the upside-down view!” That’s a way to view Amanohashidate by turning your back to it, spreading your legs apart, bending over, and looking at it upside down from between your legs. It’s supposed to make it look like a floating bridge to heaven.

Even though Kaori and I weren’t wearing skirts, we were still reluctant to do it. We looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

“It really looks like a bridge to heaven, I swear,” Akihito insisted with glimmering eyes. He did the upside-down view with innocent glee, not caring about his age. That naivete is probably the secret to his popularity.

Next to him, Holmes did the upside-down view as well, making me and Kaori cough in shock.

“E-Even Holmes is doing it,” Kaori squeaked, bewildered.

Holmes got back up and nodded. “Yes, I make sure to do all the local customs.” He smiled and placed his hand on his chest. I almost laughed at the contrast between his elegant smile and the upside-down position he’d just assumed. But on the other hand, I also thought, That side of him is great too. Embarrassed at how blatantly in love I was, I turned away to hide my burning cheeks.

“A-Ah, you’re Akihito Kajiwara...right?” exclaimed a nearby woman.

Akihito hesitated for a moment before turning around with a smile and saying, “Yes?” He ran his hand through his bangs and I smiled stiffly at the exaggerated gesture.

The woman on the other hand blushed and said, “C-Can I shake your hand?” She timidly held out her hand.

“Hey, don’t be such a fangirl,” said a man behind her who seemed to be her boyfriend. He glared at the exchange.

The woman pouted and turned around. “B-But it’s Akihito Kajiwara! I want to shake his hand.”

Akihito grinned. “Sure, a handshake’s no problem.” He held out his hand with a cheeky smile.

“Th-Thank you!” The woman took his hand and bowed over and over, blushing furiously.

“C’mon, let’s go,” her boyfriend said bluntly, starting to walk away.

“Ah, okay.” She bowed to Akihito again and hurriedly ran after her boyfriend.

“Don’t suck up to a ham actor like that who only has his looks going for him,” he said. It was probably out of jealousy, but Kaori and I were still shocked at his harsh words.

It’s true that Akihito can’t really be called a talented actor, but I can’t believe he’d say that when Akihito is the one who cheerfully accepted a sudden handshake request during his private time. I nervously looked at Akihito to see how he was taking it.

“Oh jeez, he said I only have my looks going for me. Even men acknowledge that I’m good-looking!” He smiled happily.

Kaori and I gaped at him.

“A-Akihito, aren’t you upset?” Kaori asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “He was so rude.”

“Oh, nah.” Akihito folded his hands behind his head. “I was annoyed, but it’s true that I’m a ham actor. I can’t really complain when people call me out on that,” he said nonchalantly.

Kaori and I didn’t know what to say.

Holmes, who’d been listening from behind us, nodded and said, “Indeed, you are a ham actor.”

“Dude, don’t hit me when I’m down!”

“But you’re great at monkey see, monkey do,” Holmes immediately continued.

“What?! That’s even worse!”

“No, I’m complimenting you. You just need to incorporate that monkey imitation into your normal acting.”

“Huh?” Akihito’s eyes widened.

“Imitate the acting of an actor who fits the role. It’ll be much faster than trying to polish your own acting with your lack of skill, right? Ukiyo-e artists frantically polished their skills by copying their masters. Their paintings start out as mere imitations, but before long, they can stand on their own.”

Akihito stood there wordlessly, taking in Holmes’s advice.

Next to them, the manager nodded and said, “Yes, I agree. You and Kiyotaka have completely different personalities, but you were able to imitate him to such a great extent. You should leverage that ability in your acting.”

“O-Oh yeah? Come to think of it, I was always good at imitating my classmates and teachers. So I just have to apply that to my acting, huh?” Akihito clenched his fist and put a hand on Holmes’s shoulder. “Thanks, man. You really are my heart’s mentor.”

Holmes gently pried Akihito’s hand off of his shoulder and said, “No, I didn’t do anything worthy of thanks, and I’d like to resign from being your mentor.”

“There you go again, saying that.” Akihito laughed and smacked Holmes’s arm.

“Anyway... Shall we go for lunch?” Holmes asked, rubbing his arm.

“Okay!” we answered enthusiastically.

4

We went to a small seafood restaurant near Amanohashidate and had lunch in one of their private rooms.

When we finished eating, Holmes, holding his teacup, said, “We have time to go to Kono Shrine after this, if you’d like.”

“Kono Shrine?” Akihito and I asked in unison. Kaori and the manager looked like they thought it was a good idea.

“Is it famous?” Akihito tilted his head.

“That’s a good question,” Holmes replied. “It could be considered famous, but it’s also quite niche. It’s called the ‘original’ Ise Shrine.”

“Do you mean the Ise Grand Shrine?” I asked, leaning forward. The Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture was the most famous shrine in Japan. I’d gone there once with my grandparents, but unfortunately, I was too young to remember anything.

“Yes. Amaterasu-Omikami and Toyouke-no-Okami, the goddesses who reside at Ise Grand Shrine, moved there from Kono Shrine. It’s the only grand shrine in the San’indo region, and it boasts the highest shrine rank and a great history,” Holmes explained as usual.

“That means it’s an incredible shrine, right?” Akihito asked.

“Yes, it is. I also recommend the nearby Manai Shrine. Since we’re already here, shall we pay them a visit?” Holmes smiled.

“Okay,” we all said enthusiastically, again.

After our meal, we got back in the car and headed for Kono Shrine, a.k.a. the original Ise Shrine. Its cypress bark roof gave it a historical flair, and its form felt dignified. I let out an impressed murmur as we looked at it from a distance.

“Just like Ise Shrine, this shrine has plain wood torii gates,” Holmes said, washing his hands in the cleansing basin and lightly rinsing his mouth with it. He wiped his mouth with his handkerchief.

“Plain wood?” I asked, looking up at the archway again. I usually imagined torii gates to be vermilion, but the one here wasn’t painted any color. It was its original wooden color. Now that he mentions it, I think Ise Grand Shrine’s gates were also plain wood like this one. “That’s what this is called?”

“Yes, and this shrine also has the five colored suetama, which are only allowed to be enshrined at Ise Grand Shrine and Kono Shrine.”

“What’s that?” Akihito asked without delay.

“They’re five colored balls: blue, red, yellow, white, and black, representing the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These are considered the five great elements that make up the universe.”

“Huh, I don’t really get it, but that’s cool,” Akihito said blankly.

Kaori and the manager chuckled.

“Let’s pay our respects,” Holmes said.

We stood in a row before the main building, paid our offerings, bowed twice, clapped twice, then bowed again. I gave my thanks and looked back up.

“Oh, there’s the five colored suetama,” Holmes said, looking at the fence around the main building. The five colored balls were more vivid and beautiful than I’d imagined.

“They’re so pretty,” I said without thinking.

Kaori nodded beside me. “Yeah, I never paid that much attention to them before, but they’re really colorful.”

“Feels like we’re seeing something precious, since they can only be found here and at Ise,” Akihito remarked.

“Lucky us!” Kaori said.

Holmes and the manager watched over us with cheerful eyes as we admired the five colored balls. That father and son really do resemble each other.

“Now then, let’s visit Manai Shrine, which is just next door,” Holmes said. “That said, it’s about five hundred meters from here.”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Akihito replied. “We can walk. It’ll be good exercise.”

“Let’s do that, then,” we agreed.

“This way,” Holmes said, and we followed him towards Manai Shrine.

“Th-This is surprisingly exhausting,” I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead as I walked. Even though it was the end of March, the sun felt like early summer. It was also a rather steep slope, and I was feeling a bit out of breath.

“Aoi, are you lacking in physical exercise?” Holmes chuckled, grinning mischievously.

I looked up at him, frowning angrily. “N-No, I ride my bike, and I have phys ed at school.”

“Oh, that’s right. ‘Phys ed’ has a rather nostalgic ring to it.”

“What about you, Holmes? Do you exercise?”

“I do a lot of walking. If time allows, I’ll walk from home to university and from university to the store without a problem.”

“O-Oh. The store is pretty far from your university, right?”

“About four kilometers? It goes by fast when I’m thinking.”

Someone like Holmes probably has a lot to think about.

“By the way, my father is good at walking too.” He turned around to look at the manager who was walking right behind us, appreciating the view. “Right?”

The manager snapped back to attention and said, “Yes, I put together stories when I’m walking like this.”

“Huh,” we all murmured, impressed.

“Oh, look, we’re already here,” Holmes said, looking towards the torii gate. It was a stone arch, and instead of being guarded by stone lion-dogs... “Dragons, as you can see.”

Two guardian dragons were stationed to the left and right of the gate, and there was a sign that said “No Photography.” It was very quiet, and because of the shade under the trees, it felt nice and cool. The shrine grounds seemed to blend in with the mountain. It really felt like a special holy ground, and its dignified atmosphere had me unconsciously straightening my posture.

“Doesn’t this feel like a dragon’s den?” Holmes asked.

He’s completely right—this is the home of dragons. “It does,” I said firmly.

“Yeah,” Kaori agreed.

It didn’t feel like a trendy place where you could come for fun because everyone was doing it, so I felt guilty for coming with that attitude. The atmosphere could even strike fear into one’s heart, depending on the person. You have to come here respectfully.

“This isn’t one of those trendy so-called energy vortexes,” Akihito said with a serious face. “There’s actual spiritual energy here.” He must’ve sensed the special atmosphere too, because even he was refraining from his usual jokes. Since he’s an actor, he might be really sensitive to these things.

“Amaterasu-Omikami, Izanagi, and Izanami are worshipped here, and Toyouke-no-Okami is worshipped in the inner dwelling. In other words, this shrine is dedicated to the creators of Japan, Izanagi and Izanami, as well as the main deities of Ise Grand Shrine. This place has also been used for rituals since ancient times, making it a true holy land,” Holmes explained quietly, staring at the shrine grounds.

I gulped. It’s that important of a place. Being the unsophisticated person that I was, I couldn’t help but be awed.

“I was actually meaning to bring you all here because I wanted you to feel the special atmosphere.” Holmes smiled. “I’m glad you understood its significance.”

We all nodded silently.

I focused my thoughts, straightened my posture, and clapped my hands in prayer. I then gave my final bow with serious, sacred sentiments.

“Shall we go back to the car now?” Holmes asked.

“Okay.” We all bowed and left the shrine grounds.

“Man, that was incredible,” Akihito said.

“Yeah,” Kaori agreed.

“I’m glad we came here,” I said. “Thank you, Holmes.” I took a deep breath.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Holmes smiled happily, his eyes narrowing into arcs.

5

At last, we headed for Yanagihara’s hot spring inn of choice, Tsukimiya, which the manager frequented as well.

“Ah, there’s the hot spring district of Kinosaki,” Holmes murmured.

Everyone looked out the windows. In the center of the road were rows of cherry blossom trees surrounding a small stream. Farther down the road was a stone arch bridge. The road was lined with traditional hot spring inns standing side by side, and I could see the steam rising from them. People were walking around wearing yukata, with hand towels hanging from their necks, and I could almost hear the clacking sounds of their wooden geta sandals. It was a hot spring district straight out of the books—This must be what the phrase “good old-fashioned hot spring” means.

“Wow, what a nice atmosphere!” I remarked.

“Travel dramas get filmed here a lot,” said Kaori.

“Makes sense,” replied Akihito.

As we were looking out the windows, Holmes recited, “Towel hanging from my neck, I go to the open-air bath in the morning, hearing the sentiments of my journey in the sound of my geta.” He smiled at us in the mirror.

“Huh?” We all made confused faces.

The manager laughed cheerfully and said, “It’s the poem Tekkan Yosano recited when he visited Kinosaki. The scenery hasn’t changed since then, huh?”

“Who’s Tekkan Yosano?” Akihito asked, leaning forward.

Holmes answered, “He was a poet and university professor, as well as the husband of Akiko Yosano. You could say that he was the one who discovered her talent.” Akiko Yosano was one of the most famous and controversial woman poets of Japan. She was a pioneer of feminism, pacifism, and social reform.

Akihito immediately clapped his hands and said, “Akiko Yosano’s husband? The banana guy?”

Holmes grimaced and said, “Is that the only kind of knowledge you have?”

“Um, what’s this about a banana guy?” I asked, tilting my head.

“Well... Answering that question would be sexual harassment, so I will refrain from doing so,” Holmes said smoothly.

“Huh?” Kaori and I blinked.

“Anyway, Kinosaki has always been a hot spring beloved by many authors. The scenery itself makes you think of literature.”

We slowly drove through the hot spring district.

“It’s over there,” Holmes said, as a tasteful wooden sign saying “Tsukimiya” came into view. The inn had a temple-like roofed gate called a munamon. There were cherry blossom trees behind it.

We parked in the parking lot outside the gate and excitedly went into the spacious grounds. There were two adjacent inn buildings.

“Two inns...?” I murmured.

“Yes,” Holmes answered. “The one in the back is the main building, which has a long history. The one in the front is the new building. The main building is a high-class inn, while the new building is a more reasonably priced, standard hot spring inn. We’ll be staying at the new building tonight.”

The new building did look more modern than the main building, but unlike most fashionable establishments, it had a formal aesthetic, reflecting the long history of the original inn.

“Welcome,” greeted the proprietress, who was standing in front of the door. She must’ve seen us parking the car. “We’ve missed you, Ijuin.” She smiled and bowed.

“Ah, sorry I haven’t visited in a while.” The manager smiled and bowed back.

Now Saori came out from the inn and bowed deeply upon seeing us. She looked just like a traditional waitress in her pink kimono and apron.

“Sis!” Kaori immediately ran to Saori.

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well, Kaori.”

“Are you doing your job properly? You aren’t causing trouble, right? You can be so spacey sometimes, so I’ve been worried.”

“Please don’t worry, I’m doing fine.”

Something felt slightly off about Saori’s words. Oh right, she’s not speaking with a Kansai accent like she did before. Ever since she was chosen as Saio-dai, she’s been appearing in magazines and on TV. Maybe that’s why she’s trying to speak in standard Japanese. That said, her intonation is still off from how someone from Kanto would speak.

Kaori turned to the proprietress and bowed deeply. “Long time no see, ma’am. Thank you for looking after my sister. I’m really sorry for any trouble she caused.”

Saori and the proprietress looked at each other and giggled.

“You’re as responsible as ever, Kaori,” the proprietress said. “But don’t worry. Saori is working very hard.”

“Oh, that’s a relief. Mom was really worried too. She was like, ‘What’re we going to do if Saori breaks an expensive vase?’”

“You and Mom are so mean to me.” Saori pouted, a tinge of red on her cheeks. Her appearance was both beautiful and sweet. Somehow, she seemed much more charming than when we’d first met. Maybe it’s because she served as the Saio-dai for a year. Her mild clumsiness only added to her charms.

“Now then, show them around, Saori,” the proprietress instructed.

“Okay.” Saori nodded. “Please come this way.”

We followed her into the inn’s spacious entrance hall, where there were slippers lined up neatly on the beautiful tatami floor. The hall was decorated with flowers, large framed pieces of calligraphy, and antique works of art. At first glance, they seemed to be arranged freely, but upon closer inspection, there was a perfect, calculated balance to their positioning. It felt like a private art museum.

“Wow,” I murmured, looking around.

“I heard that Yanagihara supervised the art pieces here too,” Holmes said.

Oh, no wonder they’re so nice. Yanagihara’s skill as an appraiser was on par with the owner’s.

After the manager finished checking us in, the attendants, including Saori, led us to our rooms.

“This room is for Miss Mashiro and Miss Miyashita,” Saori said, stopping in front of a door.

Kaori burst out laughing. “Miss Mashiro and Miss Miyashita? Come on, Sis.”

“I’m working right now,” Saori explained with a giggle. “Come in.” She opened the door, revealing a large Japanese-style room. The tatami mats shone under the soft light coming from the paper lamp. The large window on the veranda side was so clear that I almost couldn’t tell that there was glass there. Beautiful cherry blossom petals were falling outside.

“Wow!” Kaori and I gasped in admiration.

“The room next door is Kiyotaka and Akihito’s, and the room next to theirs, at the end of the hall, is Ijuin’s,” Saori explained while preparing our tea. When she was done, she bowed and said, “Please enjoy your stay.” Just then, I saw something sparkle around her neck. Maybe it was a necklace?

After Saori left the room, Kaori and I looked at each other.

“She seems to fit in here, huh?” I remarked.

“Yeah, I feel a bit better now. She’s really clumsy at home.” Kaori placed her hand on her chest, looking sincerely relieved.

“She’s going to inherit Miyashita Fabrics one day, after all.”

“Well, it’ll actually be her husband that has to run the store.”

“Oh, I see.” So her husband will be taken into the family.

“But, like, despite her age, she’s still never had a boyfriend. Mom and Dad are trying to organize marriage interviews for her.”

“W-Wow, she’s never had a boyfriend? Even though she’s so pretty?” I blinked in disbelief.

Kaori nodded. “She’s kind of a coward.”

“It might be hard for guys to approach her because she’s too pretty.”

“Uh, I don’t know about that.” Kaori shrugged. “Anyway, I can see why this inn’s so famous,” she said, looking around the room.

“Yeah, it’s really nice. It’s got a great aesthetic.”

“Yep, I like the flowers in the alcove.”

I looked at the cherry blossom-themed ikebana arrangement in the alcove. There was a large piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall above it.

“Huh, it’s one of Naoya Shiga’s proverbs,” Kaori said. Naoya Shiga was a literary master who was called the “God of Stories.” Come to think of it, when we went to the Shinkokan cafe at Yoshida-Sanso Inn, Holmes quoted Naoya Shiga when he was giving advice to Kurisu Aigasa, the author.

The proverb was: “Bury the past in the past and clear the way for a new, better future — Naoya Shiga.” There’s no point in dragging out the past. What’s important is what happens from here on out. Refresh your state of mind and you can create a better future. They were very positive words.

“That’s a nice quote,” I said.

“Don’t drag out the past, huh? Sounds like it was meant for you, Aoi.”

“C-Come on, I’ve already stopped doing that.”

“Really?”

“Y-Yeah. Anyway, let’s go see Holmes’s room,” I said hurriedly, to prevent the conversation from veering towards relationship talk.

Kaori nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Yeah, let’s. Is it the same as ours?”

“Probably.”

We hurried into the hallway and saw that the door to Holmes and Akihito’s room was open. A different employee was attending to them. I peeked inside the room and noticed Akihito right up against the window, looking at the scenery outside, while Holmes was giving something to the attendant. What’s that? I craned my neck to try to get a better view, but Holmes noticed us and smiled.

“Come in, Aoi and Kaori. How was your room?”

We bowed and stepped inside. “It was the same type of room as this one,” I said.

My eyes settled on the calligraphy on the wall: “Happiness is something that should be received, not sought. If you ask for something and receive it, that is pleasure, not happiness — Naoya Shiga.”

“This one’s Naoya Shiga too,” I remarked.

“You’re right,” Kaori said.

“Naoya Shiga’s masterpiece, At Kinosaki, is said to be inspired by the Kinosaki hot spring,” Holmes explained.

“That makes sense,” I replied. “What kind of story is it?”

“Hmm... The protagonist gets hit by a train on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo and goes to the Kinosaki hot spring to recuperate. At Kinosaki, he witnesses the life and death of various creatures such as a small insect, and reflects on how his life was spared, as well as life and death in general.”

“Huh, that seems deep,” I said.

“Yeah, this quote seems deep too,” Kaori added.

“Oh right,” I said, looking up. “Holmes, you gave that attendant something just now, right? What was it? It looked like a letter.”

“Ah, that was a gratuity.”

“A gratuity...” I stared at him blankly.

“It’s a tip, Aoi,” Akihito answered immediately.

“I-I know that much!”

Holmes folded his arms and slightly tilted his head. “In my mind, it has a slightly different connotation than a tip does.”

Apparently it’s normal to give gratuities to attendants at high-class inns like this. Kaori and Akihito didn’t seem surprised. Then again, Akihito’s father was a famous author, and Kaori’s family runs a long-standing kimono fabric store. That might be why they don’t find it strange to pay gratuities at a place like this.

“U-Um, just for future reference, how much do you pay for these gratuities?” I asked quietly.

“For future reference?” Holmes smiled in amusement. “Let’s see... People usually say two thousand, three thousand, or five thousand yen. My father and grandfather give five thousand, but since I’m still a broke student, five thousand might seem to imply I’m trying to get more than my room cleaned. When the attendant left, I said, ‘Please take care of us today,’ and gave her an envelope with three thousand yen inside.”

“O-Oh...” The information was kind of overwhelming. “Is it mandatory to give gratuities at these kinds of inns?” I asked nervously.

“Not at all.” Holmes shook his head. “It’s not a rule. There are also many cases where the attendant will refuse, since you’re already paying a service fee.”

“R-Right, that makes sense.”

“However, since I grew up surrounded by old people, giving gratuities feels natural to me.”

“I guess that would be normal for the owner, since he’s a celebrity with an old-fashioned mindset...” I murmured.

Holmes shook his head. “That’s not true, Aoi.”

“Huh?”

“The owner was not wealthy to begin with. But he always says, ‘People don’t chase money; money comes to people.’ In other words, even if he doesn’t have money, he believes it’ll come to him eventually. If he pays gratuities, treats people to meals, and acts like a rich person, he really will become rich one day. A wealthy heart brings forth wealth. Setting aside whether it actually works or not, I’d like to be like that too.” He placed his hand on his chest and smiled.

I was sincerely impressed. So it’s not about whether you’re supposed to give gratuity or not—it’s that wealth will come to those who have the means and the charity to do so naturally. That’s what the Yagashira family believes.

“Basically, giving gratuities is something we do so that it’ll come around and bring us wealth. Blackhearted, right?” Holmes grinned mischievously.

I laughed. “‘Those who are kind benefit themselves.’”

“Exactly.”

We all laughed.

“Hey, let’s go to the bath, guys!” Akihito shouted, grabbing a towel.

“That’s a good idea,” Holmes said. “Shall we?”

“Okay.”

We took the yukata and towels that had been prepared for us in our rooms and eagerly headed for the public bath.

“See you later,” Holmes said when we arrived at the entrance.

Kaori and I went into the women’s bath.

“This is kind of exciting, huh?” I asked.

“It’s like a school trip,” Kaori said.

“Yeah!”

We took off our clothes in the changing room, feeling a bit embarrassed, and took our hand towels to the washing area. After washing ourselves, we tied up our hair tightly and went to the open-air bath. It was under a gazebo, surrounded by rocks. The dim sky, the rising steam, and the faint light from the lanterns gave it a mystical feel. We passed by a group of people who were just leaving. No one else was there.

“It’s empty. Lucky us, huh?” Kaori said.

“Yep.”

We poured hot water over ourselves with the buckets and slowly entered the bath.

“Phew, this is nice,” I said. The water was a comfortable temperature—not too hot. It felt soft against my skin. I touched my arm. “Wow, it feels slippery.”

“This hot spring is good for your skin. Once your skin’s all smooth, you can use it to knock Holmes off his feet.”

“Wh-What?! That’s not happening.” I sank down in the water up to my chin and looked down.

“How’s it going between you two anyway? You already looked like a lovey-dovey couple to me when you were talking to each other in his room earlier.”

“N-No, it’s not like that.”

“Are you going to say ‘I’m drawing a line between us’ again?”

“N-No, I gave up on that,” I mumbled.

“Huh?” Kaori’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“I finally realized how I really feel...” I continued, telling Kaori my honest feelings despite not being able to lift my face out of embarrassment. I told her about how even though I always liked him, I convinced myself that it wasn’t love. About how I was finally able to come to terms with my feelings.

“I see...” Kaori said after I finished. “It’s about time.”

“What?”

“I knew you were lying to yourself about your feelings. It was totally obvious.”

I glanced at Kaori without turning my head and blushed harder. “R-Right. I’m ashamed of myself.”

“So what’re you going to do now?”

“Wh-What?”

“Are you going to tell him?”

I sighed with a heavy heart. “Holmes doesn’t have a girlfriend, but apparently there’s someone he wants to be in a relationship with.”

“R-Really? Who’s that?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“H-Huh. I wonder what kind of girl she is.”

“She must be both beautiful and talented. He has a high sense of aesthetic, after all.”

“Yeah,” Kaori agreed. “But then how come they aren’t going out? I doubt anyone would pass up a chance to go out with Holmes.”

“I think so too. But Holmes isn’t interested in romance, so I get the feeling that he might be being cautious.” I think it’s only a matter of time, though.

“So you’re not going to tell him how you feel?”

“Well... I don’t want to drag it out either, so I think I’ll tell him. But first, I want to make a lot of memories over spring break. I’ll tell him when I’m a third-year, and if he rejects me, I’ll quit the job and focus on studying for entrance exams. I think I’ll be able to use the power from my broken heart to fuel my studies...” I sighed.

Kaori nodded. We sat there quietly for some time, until suddenly we heard a young woman giggling nearby. Surprised, we looked to see who it was.

“S-Sorry, I happened to overhear,” said Saori.

Kaori and I widened our eyes.

“Saori?”

“Why’re you slacking off, Sis?”

“I-I’m not slacking. My shift today was only until 5 p.m. The proprietress said, ‘Go take a bath with your sister, since she came all this way.’” Saori shrugged.

“Fine, but Aoi was serious. You shouldn’t be laughing.”

“S-Sorry. I was laughing because of Aoi’s optimism.”

“Optimism?” I stared blankly at Saori.

“Confessing your feelings without any expectations, and if you get rejected, you’ll quit your job and redirect the power of a broken heart into your entrance exams... It’s like no matter what happens, you’ll still be moving forward. If it were me, I’d probably think my life was over after a broken heart. I can’t imagine redirecting that energy somewhere else. I think you’re optimistic, Aoi, and you have a firm footing.”

“Yep,” Kaori agreed. “Aoi’s a forward thinker, and she’s responsible, like, in a calm way.”

“N-No, that’s not true. You’re the responsible one, Kaori.”

“But I think you’re the calm one.”

“Am I...?” I tilted my head. No one’s ever called me that before. Maybe I’ve changed since working at Kura. Spending time with people like Holmes and the manager every day, surrounded by antiques... Did their calmness rub off on me?

“You two really are best friends, huh?” Saori said, smiling at us.

Best friends... I’ve been avoiding those words ever since the drama with my ex-friend. But hearing Saori say that and seeing Kaori smiling happily at me makes my chest feel warm. Maybe I wasn’t avoiding those words—maybe I was just scared of them. Scared that I was the only one who thought we were best friends... But now that it’s been said, it feels like our best friend status has been recognized, I thought happily.

“You’re lucky that you get to stay close, Aoi,” Saori murmured, looking up at the sky. It didn’t seem like Kaori heard her, but I definitely did. What does that mean? Saori broke ties with her friends in the past, so is she jealous that I have a best friend? No, if that were the case, she’d say it to both of us, not just me.

Suddenly, I remembered something that Kaori once said: “My sister’s obsessed with Holmes since she thinks he’s cool, but...” Come to think of it, Saori complimented him in the past too. I thought she was just a fan, but what if she really does have a crush on him? Wouldn’t she be jealous of me since I can be with him all the time, even though it’s just for work?

I stared at Saori’s beautiful face, feeling uneasy.

◆　◆　◆

“Man, women really like taking long baths, huh?” I, Akihito Kajiwara, said. Holmes and I hadn’t stayed in the bath for long before leaving and changing into yukata. I plunked myself down on a couch in the lobby and opened a can of beer. I was actually on my second can, but there was still no sign of Aoi and Kaori coming out. I took a swig of the beer.

Holmes looked at me a bit coldly and sighed. “It’s your baths that are too short.”

“But it’s so hot in there. Don’t you feel uncomfortable after a while?”

“You’re free to feel however you want, but don’t drag me with you. Was there a need to use so much force?” He sipped his beer with an exasperated look.

When we were in the public bath, I said, “Let’s get outta here,” grabbed his hand, and basically forced him to leave with me.

“We came as a group, so there’s no fun in being alone, right? You can go in by yourself later and take your time,” I said. Then I looked straight at Holmes. “Hey, this is a good opportunity to talk man-to-man.”

“No thanks,” Holmes replied immediately.

I just about choked on my beer. “Can’t you be a little nicer?”

“I have a bad feeling about your ‘man-to-man’ talking. If you want to talk, make it about work.”

“Who wants to talk about work on their day off?! Have some tact, man.”

“Well... You have a point there.”

“So let’s talk man-to-man.”

“Fine...” Holmes shrugged, seeming to have given up.

“Aren’t you gonna go out with Aoi?” I asked directly.

Holmes frowned. “And you tell me to have tact?”

“I mean, it totally feels like you guys could get together right now. Why don’t you?”

Holmes sighed, seeming sincerely exasperated. “What on earth is wrong with you?”

“Wait, what?”

“She’s still in high school.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Even if I did have deeper feelings for her, she’s only seventeen. That’s a crime,” Holmes said flatly.

I gaped at him. “A-A crime?”

“Yes, it’s undeniably sexual misconduct.”

“Wh-What?! Well, it’s true, every time I show up at my agency, they tell me, ‘We’re not going to try too hard to control your relationships, but make sure they’re at least eighteen, or else we’re going to have problems.’ But...”

“Isn’t every time excessive?”

“I think so too. But as I was going to say, they tell me that because I’m a celebrity. Normal adults going out with high schoolers isn’t anything new, right? Obviously compensated dating is a crime, but there’s no law that says you can’t have a real relationship, right?” I insisted.

“Indeed.” Holmes nodded. “When an adult man dates a seventeen-year-old, even if they become intimate, it apparently isn’t considered a crime if they say they’re in a real relationship and it’s not just about satisfying sexual desire. Thus, if I were to date a seventeen-year-old girl and things eventually got to that point, as long as there’s an emotional connection, it won’t be considered a crime.”

“O-Oh, so it’s fine, right?” Half of that went over my head, but the point is that it’s not a crime, right? So it’s fine.

“But during an investigation, one would have to say, ‘The sexual act was not merely to satisfy my own sexual desire,’ and I’m not sure how true that can be. No matter how nicely you word it, by nature, aren’t those acts for the purpose of satisfying one’s sexual desire?” Holmes asked with a serious face.

I was lost for words. Is he really thinking about that? Like, is there anything he doesn’t analyze? Okay, but seriously... “D-Dude, you think too much for your own good.”

“I’m aware,” he responded solemnly.

Oh, so he knows. Wait, but still... “Okay, but in that case, you just have to not do those things until she’s eighteen, right?”

“Yes, of course. However, the act of dating is a dangerous rationalization.”

“A-A dangerous rationalization?”

“Yes.”

“What’s a rationalization again?”

“To put it simply...it’s a way to justify a wrongdoing.”

“Oh, I see. If you go out, then it ends up being like, ‘We love each other, so we can do anything!’”

“I didn’t mean it in such a crude way.” Holmes facepalmed.

“Huh? That’s not it?”

“Well... You’re not completely wrong.” He hung his head.

“You really do think too much, man.”

“Like I said, I’m aware.”

“Okay, so anyway, what’s the rationalization?”

“Well, the point is that it’s easier to hold back when it doesn’t reach the point of being in a relationship in the first place.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense.”

“That’s why I at least...” He had a faraway look in his eyes.

“At least what?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing. So what about you?”

“I’m always in love with someone,” I declared, clenching my fist.

“That’s just like you.” Holmes smiled, seeming pleased with my answer.

◆　◆　◆

“That was a nice long bath, huh?” I said.

“Yep. The water felt good,” said Kaori.

We exited the changing room with our hair in ponytails, wearing the yukata provided by the inn. We looked at each other and laughed awkwardly as we walked. When we reached the lobby, we saw Holmes and Akihito sitting on a couch and talking cheerfully, beers in hand. The two of them in hot spring yukata made for a picturesque sight.

“Holmes and Akihito really get along well, huh?” Kaori commented, gripping the towel around her neck.

“What? U-Um, kind of, I guess.” I nodded skeptically.

“They make a perfect picture in their yukata.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” I giggled and noticed the four beer cans on the table. Did we make them wait a long time? I worried as we walked up to them. “W-We’re here. Sorry, we must’ve kept you waiting for a long time.”

“Yeah, you did.” Akihito nodded without hesitation.

Holmes glared at him and said, “We were enjoying some beer after getting out of the bath.” He looked up and froze upon seeing me.

“Um, is something wrong?” I checked my collar, wondering if I’d worn my yukata backwards again.

“No, I was just thinking that the yukata suits you very well. You both look lovely.” He smiled softly.

“Th-Thanks,” Kaori and I said in unison, blushing and looking down.

“Oh no,” Kaori whispered. “Holmes is scary, but hearing him say that makes my heart flutter. It’s not fair.”

“I-I know, right?” I nodded.

“Now then, it’s just about time for dinner,” Holmes said. “Shall we go? They prepared a separate room for us.”

“Great, I’m starving!”

“Geez, calm down, Akihito!”

We all laughed as we walked to the room.

6

“This is our spring full-course meal, with Tajima wagyu beef as the main dish,” the waitress informed us.

The manager, Holmes, Akihito, Kaori, and I picked up the menus on the table. Our eyes lit up upon reading the contents:

Aperitif: Kasumizuru plum wine (plum juice for me and Kaori)

Appetizer

Sashimi made with locally caught fish

Fresh boiled Kasumi crab

Kasumi crab hotpot

Tajima wagyu beef loin steak with a side of seasonal vegetables

Kasumi crab gratin

Shrimp tempura

Steamed grated lotus root

Young bamboo steamed in earthenware

Bamboo shoots with rice

Pickled vegetables

Dessert

“W-Wow!” I felt like I was going to be full just from looking at the extravagant menu.

“It sounds delicious, doesn’t it?” Holmes smiled.

I nodded. “Yes. I’ll have to thank Yanagihara again.”

“Definitely,” Kaori agreed.

“This calls for a toast!” said Akihito.

“Indeed.”

We toasted with our plum wine and juice. When the food arrived, my mouth watered at the deliciousness.

“This Tajima steak is really good,” said Kaori.

“Yeah, it’s so tender that you can cut it with chopsticks,” said Akihito.

“It’s great,” I agreed. “Ahh, the sashimi and the crab are also too good!” I closed my eyes, relishing the flavors. Holmes, who was sitting across from me, smiled cheerfully. “S-Sorry, I’m overreacting.” I blushed in embarrassment.

“No need to apologize,” he reassured. “You always seem to enjoy your meals a lot, and it makes me happy to see that. Kinosaki gets a lot of fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. Northern Kansai is blessed with great meat and fish.”

“All hail northern Kansai!” Akihito exclaimed, holding up his beer. He’d already finished drinking the plum wine.

Everyone ate their food, praising it with every bite. Though there were a lot of dishes, the individual portions were modestly sized, and they were brought out at just the right intervals for us to finish everything and feel full.

After the meal, we found ourselves going to the store next to the lobby.

“Ahh, I’m stuffed,” Akihito said, rubbing his stomach.

“Same here.” Kaori nodded, giggling. It looks like she’s gotten used to Akihito. When you’re with him, you forget that he’s a celebrity. That might be one of his good traits. The guests we walked past turned their heads when they saw him, but they didn’t call out.

“Hey, Holmes, let’s have a match!” Akihito put his hands on the air hockey table in the game area and looked at Holmes confidently.

“Sure. I’ll beat you at your own game,” Holmes said with a very calm face. Kaori’s eyes widened at his response.

“Sorry, but that’s my line. If I win, you gotta say, ‘It’s my loss. I’m nothing compared to you, Master Akihito.’”

“Very well. But relax, you don’t have to say anything if I win. Lament your loss in silence.”

“Ugh, you really piss me off!”

I smiled awkwardly at their usual banter. “He never shows Akihito any mercy, huh?”

Meanwhile, Kaori, who wasn’t used to them acting like this, was panicking and looking away.

With that, Holmes and Akihito’s grand air hockey battle began...but as expected, it was an overwhelming victory for Holmes.

“Dammit, this sucks. Your playstyle’s nasty, man.”

“It’s your fault for foolishly falling for every single trick.”

“Calm down, you two,” I said.

“They were the center of attention, though,” Kaori noted.

After playing in the game area, we went outside to the courtyard, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The ones in the hot spring district were magnificent too, but these were even more beautiful. I saw the manager, the proprietress, and Saori walking around, talking cheerfully. The two women seemed to be telling him about the garden. Saori had changed into a cream-colored dress.

“So this is where the manager was,” I murmured.

Holmes nodded. “It appears so.”

There was one other person with them. “Hm?” I squinted. The fourth person was a beautiful, short-haired girl...or not.

“Kiyo!”

It was Rikyu. He noticed us and waved as he ran up to us with a grin.

“Oh!” Kaori blushed and covered her mouth with her hand. “Wh-Who is that adorable boy? An idol?”

“B-But in terms of handsomeness, I’m better.” Akihito crossed his arms, eyeing his new rival.

Holmes blinked and looked down at Rikyu. “Why are you here, Rikyu?”

“Because I heard you all went on a trip together, duh. How could you leave me behind? I wish you would’ve at least asked if I wanted to come.” Rikyu pouted.

“Ah, sorry about that. This trip was originally just for Aoi and her friend, Kaori. The rest of us tagged along.”

“Oh, okay.” Rikyu readily accepted Holmes’s answer. “Sorry for showing up without asking, Aoi.” He flashed me an angelic smile.

“N-No, it’s okay.” All I could do was shake my head awkwardly.

“Is this your friend?” He looked at Kaori, who promptly averted her eyes, flustered.

“Rikyu, Kaori is the younger sister of Saori, the Saio-dai,” Holmes explained, nodding in Saori’s direction. “Their family owns Miyashita Kimono Fabrics.”

“Huh,” Rikyu murmured. He smiled cutely and bowed. “Nice to meet you, Kaori. I’m Rikyu Takiyama. Kiyo and I are like brothers.”

Kaori looked around frantically, blushing furiously. “N-Nice to meet you too,” she stammered before bowing back.

Akihito looked back and forth between Rikyu and Holmes and chuckled. “Aww, your little brother calls you Kiyo. I think I’ll call you that too, Kiyo!”

Rikyu glanced at Akihito for a second before ignoring him in favor of Holmes. “Hey, Kiyo, do you know this guy that has no manners?”

“Yes, I know of him. He’s an actor named Akihito. His father is the author Naotaka Kajiwara.”

“What do you mean, you know ‘of’ me?!” Akihito immediately protested. Everyone burst out laughing. Even the manager and Saori chuckled as they came to us.

“You’re all such good friends,” Saori said with a giggle. She looked stunning under the cherry blossom trees, and I found myself admiring her.

“Saori’s really pretty, as you’d expect from the famous Saio-dai,” Rikyu said. “Hey, Kiyo, stand next to her for a sec.” He pulled Holmes by the hand and stationed him next to Saori. “Oh!” He clapped his hands. “Just as I thought.”

“Huh?” Holmes and Saori tilted their heads.

“I thought you’d look good together. You know, Kiyo, the proprietress was just talking about how Saori’s not taken, even though she’s so pretty. You should just go out with her.”

“Wh-What?” Saori blushed and looked down.

“Rikyu, that’s disrespectful to Saori,” Holmes chided with a strained smile.

“But I really think it’s true. You and Saori, the beautiful and smart Saio-dai, would be a great match.”

“Hmm, yeah,” Akihito agreed. “If you told me they were a couple, I’d totally believe it.”

“Exactly, Akihito. Sorry for calling you a guy that has no manners.” Rikyu smiled cheerfully. Then he looked at me and asked, “Aoi, you think so too, right?”

“Huh?” I froze at the sudden question. Kaori gave me a worried look, and Holmes had a weak expression on his face. Holmes and Saori... “Y-Yes... I think they suit each other.” I nodded. It’s true. Like Rikyu said, they look perfect standing next to each other. I honestly do think they’re a good match. My heart ached and I cast my eyes down.

“Rikyu, Saori is already in a relationship, so your commentary is disrespectful to her,” Holmes said bluntly.

“Huh?!” Saori looked up at him in shock.

Kaori and I blinked too.

“O-Oh dear,” Saori said, reverting to her Kyoto accent out of distress. “How...how did you know, Holmes?”

“Wait, it’s true?” Kaori asked. “You have a boyfriend, Sis?”

“Y-Yes, but I haven’t told anyone...” Saori looked down awkwardly.

“Sorry, I knew you were hiding it.” Holmes bowed, seemingly sincerely apologetic.

Holmes instantly catches on to things, but he doesn’t reveal the secrets he notices. He might say them out loud on purpose, but he would never do it by accident. Why did he reveal Saori’s secret this time? Was it deliberate?

Saori shook her head and said, “It’s okay. I don’t want my parents to know, but I was thinking of talking to Kaori about it, so this is a good opportunity. Plus...I was hoping to get your advice on him, Holmes, but I wasn’t sure if it’d be asking for too much.” She fidgeted as she spoke.

Holmes placed his hand on his chest and nodded. “By all means. Please allow me to make up for revealing your important secret,” he said in a firm tone. He probably does feel bad.

“In that case, I’ll take you up on that offer.” Saori smiled happily.

“Shall we go back inside first?” the manager asked. Everyone nodded.

7

We assembled in the manager’s room. Even though it was a single room, it was twice as big as the others. It seemed like a deluxe suite. We all looked around, oohing and aahing.

“Famous authors get special treatment, huh?” Akihito murmured, his hands folded behind his head.

“That’s the manager for you,” said Rikyu, sitting in a chair by the window.

“No, it’s just because we have a working relationship,” the manager said meekly.

“Dad wrote a book that took place in Kinosaki and based it on this inn,” Holmes explained, pouring cold sake into the manager’s cup. “Apparently they give him special treatment because of that.” He opened the fridge and asked, “What does everyone want to drink?”

“Oh, I can get it myself, Holmes.” I hurriedly walked up to the fridge.

“Don’t worry about it.” Holmes shook his head. “There’s cold tea and several other types of non-alcoholic drinks.”

“Okay, I’ll have tea then.”

“Me too,” said Kaori.

“I’ll have the same,” said Saori.

The three of us bowed in thanks.

Akihito quickly raised his hand and said, “Beer for me!”

“Here.” Holmes plunked a can of beer on the floor and immediately moved on to pouring tea.

“I-Is it just me or was that kinda rude?” Akihito dejectedly picked up the can.

Saori sipped the cold tea she received from Holmes and sighed. “I was really surprised. How did you know that I secretly have a boyfriend, when I haven’t told any of my family or friends?” she asked with a puzzled expression.

Holmes smiled. “My grandfather often told me that you didn’t have a boyfriend. He’d say, ‘Saori’s a real looker, but apparently she’s single. Must be ’cause she’s out of everyone’s league.’”

Saori blushed and shrugged.

“If you got a boyfriend, then your parents would surely be surprised and talk to my grandfather about it,” Holmes continued. “The news would doubtlessly reach my ears before long. However, I’ve heard no such thing. That’s why I assumed you were keeping it a secret from your parents.”

“B-But before that, how did you know I have a boyfriend at all?” Saori asked, leaning forward.

“Well... It’s a man’s intuition.” He held his index finger in front of his mouth and smiled charmingly.

Kaori, Saori, and I all gasped. Their faces were bright red, and I was sure mine was too. A-A man’s intuition?!

“Just kidding. It was the necklace.”

“Huh?”

“You were wearing that new necklace with the kimono too, right? I sensed that you didn’t want to take it off, in which case it could’ve been a gift from a boyfriend.”

Oh, I see. Even I’d felt that something was up with that necklace. It clearly didn’t match her work kimono. Saori must know that too, but she still doesn’t want to take it off. It makes sense to assume it’s a present from her boyfriend. But since Holmes didn’t hear about her getting a boyfriend, he concluded that she must be keeping it a secret. The logic checks out, but...Holmes’s perceptiveness really is a force to be reckoned with.

“You really do see everything,” Saori murmured softly, looking down at her lap. She seemed stunned. Even knowing that Holmes is like this, it’s still bad for your heart. “I bet my parents would gladly approve if it was someone like you, Holmes.” She smiled listlessly.

“Do you think they would disapprove of your partner?” Holmes asked quietly.

Saori glanced at Kaori. “My parents and my sister think too highly of me. They’re always saying, ‘Saori will definitely find a brilliant person,’ or, ‘A wonderful man will fall in love with her at first sight.’ But even though I admire brilliant people, the ones I truly fall in love with aren’t the type that generally receives praise,” she said slowly.

Anyone would be jealous of Saori’s beauty and talent. She would be a worthy partner for any man, no matter how amazing. I could understand why her family would say those things. But apparently, the person she was actually in love with wasn’t someone her parents would be happy about. When she called Holmes “cool,” maybe it was purely aspirational.

“I...volunteered at a library throughout all of last year, and that’s where I met him,” she continued. “He was skinny and had longish hair tied back in a ponytail. He had a unique aura, and since he always had paint on him somewhere, I assumed he was an art student. I was drawn to his daintiness and grace, and before I knew it, I was always watching him read at his usual window seat.”

I imagined the scene as I listened to her—a man who seemed like an art student, reading a book at the library in the rays of the setting sun, and Saori watching him in secret.

“The books he read were mainly art textbooks and detective novels. I knew he liked mystery books. Wanting to get his attention, I tried reading nearby and greeting him, but he never looked at me. Rather, whenever our eyes met, he’d immediately look away.” She sighed dejectedly.

It probably never even crossed his mind that such a beautiful woman was trying to get his attention. I smiled at their charming struggles to get onto the same page.

“That was last June. I got busier with my Saio-dai work, and my feelings grew during the time when I couldn’t see him... I finally decided to strike up a conversation. I said, ‘You read a lot of mysteries, huh?’ He looked up at me in surprise, gave a vague affirmation, and averted his eyes, much to my dismay. Still, I worked up the courage to say, ‘I like mysteries too. What books would you recommend?’”

Saori really did her best... I felt my chest grow warm at the thought of her bravery.

“Then he offered me two of the books he had with him, saying, ‘I already finished reading these. They’re very interesting.’ The books were written by Seishi Yokomizo and Akimitsu Takagi. I’d only so much as heard their names before, but I went ahead and said, ‘Oh, Yokomizo and Takagi! I love them. I read all of their works.’ Even though it was a lie, that was what led to us getting closer...”

I felt like I could understand her mindset. I’m sure she was even lying about liking mystery novels in the first place. She lied out of desperation to get closer to him.

“After that initial icebreaker, I was able to talk to him more often. I even found the courage to invite him to see a movie during summer break. I learned that he left art university and was working at an art gallery. He entered countless painting competitions but was never selected. He accepted that he wouldn’t be able to paint professionally, but deep down inside, he still wanted recognition. He even told me that he wished he could make a living off of painting, but he understood that it was a naive hope.

“Then he showed me his paintings... They were wonderful and moved my heart. I felt drawn to his sentiments, insecurity, and talent. So I bravely asked, ‘Could you paint me?’ His response was, ‘There could be no greater honor than being allowed to paint you, the Saio-dai.’ I was happy but sad at the same time.” She looked downcast as she spoke.

It’s an honor to be praised as the Saio-dai, but she must’ve wanted the person she loved to see her for herself, not her title. Most of all, the way he said “you, the Saio-dai” made it seem like there was a wall between them.

“I went to his place and he painted my portrait. Then we...um...” Saori clammed up, her blush reaching as far as her ears.

“S-Sis...” Kaori gaped at her, lost for words.

It didn’t need to be said outright for us to understand that they did the deed there. I felt embarrassed too and looked down. On the other hand, Akihito and Rikyu were starry-eyed and the manager gave a kind smile.

“That’s wonderful,” Holmes said with a grin.

“Wh-What?”

“It is. A romance between an artist and a Saio-dai is like something you’d read in a novel.” It does seem like the kind of setting Holmes would like.

“But I couldn’t introduce him to anyone, because I knew they wouldn’t approve,” Saori continued, bringing me back to my senses.

I could understand how she felt. Her parents must’ve wanted someone with a respectable background and career for her. Even if their standards weren’t that high, they still might’ve been opposed to someone who quit school to become a painter, only to never win a single competition.

“Then he said, ‘You must be embarrassed to be going out with a man like me, right?’ But that’s not true. I just didn’t want people who don’t know anything about his good points to speak poorly of him.”

I could sympathize with both of them.

“Later on, he said, ‘I want to become a man worthy of you,’ and started painting fervently as if he’d been possessed. Apparently there’s a major award in April that he’s working towards...”

April? That’s next month.

“He can paint in any style, but he’s best at ink wash paintings and watercolors. At the beginning of the year, he left for China to study there and improve his technique...” She stopped there, with a lonesome look in her eyes.

Before they could solidify their relationship, he left to study abroad. However, it was for the sake of bettering himself for her. Saori had to be happy about it, but in the end, she couldn’t help but be lonely and afraid. When we were in the bath and she said, “You’re lucky that you get to stay close, Aoi,” maybe she meant, “You’re lucky that you get to be near the person you like.”

“That must’ve been painful,” Holmes said gently. He smiled sympathetically.

“Yes. We’ve barely kept in touch, nor have we made any plans or promises. But at the beginning of this month, on my birthday, this necklace arrived, along with something else...” Saori took a hanging scroll out of the tote bag lying next to her. She placed it on the table.

“A hanging scroll? May I have a look?”

“Please do.” Saori bowed.

Holmes put on his white gloves and picked up the scroll. There was a note attached. He looked up as if to confirm if he could read it, and Saori nodded. He gently removed the note, which said:

Wanting to see the ultimate scenery, I’ve now come to Mongolia, where the ground is covered in a blanket of pure white.

As I stand in the cold wind, awed by the endless horizon, I recall the beauty of Japan’s four seasons—and you.

Saori, I’ve included in this painting my feelings and a message for you.

His letter was written in beautiful handwriting. After reading it, Holmes carefully unrolled the scroll.

“Wow!” Kaori and I exclaimed inadvertently.

It was a beautiful painting of a mountain covered in cherry blossoms. At the bottom, a small dancer wearing a traditional suikan robe was performing with a folding fan. The lines were very delicate and the colors were gorgeous.

“The cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino... This is a wonderful painting. It’s brimming with the sentiments of someone in an extreme land, longing for his beloved in his home country,” Holmes said passionately. He must’ve been moved. The painting is overflowing with emotion.

“Thank you,” Saori said. “I was moved by this painting too, but, well, I couldn’t figure out what his message was.” She looked down, ashamed.

Holmes widened his eyes, then chuckled. “I see. That’s too bad.”

“You can tell what it is, right, Holmes?” Saori asked, leaning forward.

Holmes continued to smile, neither affirming nor denying it. “Saori, what did you think when you saw this painting?” He quickly turned the scroll to face her.

“I thought it was very beautiful. Delicate, elegant...”

“Yes, indeed,” Holmes said, still looking at the painting. “Vivid colors, a radiant landscape—I think that this beauty is a sign of love. You were in love with him before you started dating, but perhaps he was in love with you as well—or to be precise, he admired you.”

“He did?” Saori looked like she couldn’t believe it.

I think Holmes is right, though. Maybe it wasn’t only the books that brought him to the library. Maybe he caught a glimpse of Saori somewhere and began to admire her. He must’ve heard the rumors that she was the Saio-dai that year and was volunteering at the library. Being a talented artist, he must have a strong admiration for beautiful things. When he went to the library, it might’ve been less of a one-sided crush and more of a pure desire to appreciate a beautiful person.

“If he truly did admire you, then it’s understandable why he behaved awkwardly when you approached him,” Holmes continued. “He was surprised and bewildered.”

“Oh...” Saori put her hand in front of her mouth. She must be recalling his aloof attitude when she spoke to him for the first time.

“He may have considered it a miracle that you talked to him. Now, what was the factor that led to that miracle?” Holmes asked gently.

Saori furrowed her brow as she thought. “U-Um, mystery novels?”

Holmes smiled and nodded. “Correct. Are you ready, Saori?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Humans are quick to lie, whether it be to keep relationships running smoothly or to protect themselves. In my opinion, there are lies that one should let slide, and lies that one shouldn’t. In the near future, you may have to either admit to him that you lied about liking mystery novels, or work towards turning it into the truth so that you can understand his interests. This is because in his eyes, mystery novels were an instrument of fate.”

“Huh?” Saori blinked.

“Never in his wildest dreams would he think that you’d lie to get closer to him, right? He seriously believed that you like mystery novels and read all of your favorite authors’ works. To him, mystery novels were what linked you two together. Thus, he used a passage from that instrument of fate to paint his feelings.”

“S-So this painting is a scene from a mystery novel?”

“Yes.” Holmes nodded.

To me, the scene in the painting looked more like something from one of the manager’s historical novels. Saori and I, both unfamiliar with mystery authors, tilted our heads in confusion. Kaori and Akihito seemed puzzled too.

“Which author is it?” Saori asked.

“Akimitsu Takagi,” Holmes answered.

“Akimitsu Takagi?”

“Yes. Among his works is a novel called The Mystery of Genghis Khan. In it, a hospitalized detective named Kyosuke Kamizuki tries to determine whether the much-discussed theory that Minamoto no Yoshitsune became Genghis Khan when he was older is true. It’s an armchair detective mystery that looks into the past.”

“What does ‘armchair detective’ mean?” Saori asked timidly.

“It’s a term for a detective who doesn’t go to the crime scene, instead basing his deductions mainly on testimony and written records.”

Saori nodded in understanding.

“The book brought up several facts, analyses, and references that suggested Genghis Khan really was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, but there was no decisive evidence. At the end, it arrived at the mystery behind the name ‘Genghis Khan.’”

Everyone gulped.

Holmes opened his notebook and wrote down the Chinese characters for “Genghis Khan” vertically. “In that book, the detective deduced that the name was an abbreviation of ‘At Yoshino, I yearn for suikan.’”

“Huh?”

“The first character is ‘at,’ the second character is the ‘Yoshi’ in ‘Mount Yoshino,’ and the third character is ‘yearn.’ The fourth character, ‘Khan,’ is a compression of the characters for suikan, a type of robe worn by nobles in the Heian period. Here, suikan refers to Lady Shizuka, court dancer and mistress of Minamoto no Yoshitsune—in other words, he put his feelings into his own name: ‘At Mount Yoshino, I yearn for Shizuka.’ He became such a grand hero because he wanted Lady Shizuka in Japan to notice his name and realize that it meant, ‘I miss you.’ That’s how the book interpreted it.”

Everyone gaped at his explanation, dumbfounded. It’s only the book’s theory, but if that hero really was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, naming himself that out of love for Lady Shizuka, then that would be such a heartrending, romantic tale.

“I presume that your boyfriend rarely said out loud that he missed you?” Holmes asked.

Saori nodded firmly. “R-Right, he didn’t. It was always me saying it. All he said was, ‘I’ll be back in spring.’”

“I’m sure he couldn’t say it when it was he who selfishly went abroad. He may have thought that he didn’t have the right to say it. However, he really was desperate to see you again, and he put those uncontainable feelings into this painting. When he was painting this, he would’ve been thinking about the upcoming spring and looking at the cherry blossoms with you after completing his training. Since you said you were a fan of Akimitsu Takagi and read all of his works, he assumed you would understand the meaning behind this painting. Just as Yoshitsune longed for Lady Shizuka in that book, he’s longing for you...and it’s already cherry blossom season now. I’m sure he’ll be returning soon.”

Saori burst into tears. “Th-Thank you.” She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

She must’ve been so lonely this whole time. Since she kept him a secret from everyone, there was no one she could share her feelings with. All she could do was pine for him.

“S-Saori... I’ll pray that he does well in the competition next month,” I said.

“Thank you,” Saori said, smiling beautifully behind her tears.

“Sis...” Kaori began quietly.

Saori cast her eyes down, seeming apologetic. “Sorry for not telling you, Kaori.”

Kaori shook her head. “No, it’s fine. Like you said, I’m sure I would’ve been opposed to him. But now that I’ve seen this painting, there’s nothing I can say. It really is amazing.”

Saori smiled, looking genuinely happy. “Thanks, Kaori. I’ll introduce him to you when he comes back.”

“Y-Yeah, I want to meet him.”

Kaori and Saori smiled at each other. The room was enveloped in a warm atmosphere.

“Now then, since we came all this way, shall we take a stroll around Kinosaki’s hot spring district?” Holmes asked cheerfully as if to change the mood.

Everyone exchanged looks and stood up.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Akihito agreed.

“Okay,” I said.

We all headed out to the street. The nighttime lights in the hot spring district gave it a mystical ambience. The river reflected their gentle glow. Steam rose from the atmospheric inns, giving the air that hot spring smell. Men and women of all ages were smiling and laughing, wearing yukata, and visiting the gift shops lining the road. It felt like we were at a festival. We all enjoyed our stroll through the refreshing, old-fashioned street.

“Whoa, there’s hot spring buns and kamaboko fish cakes!” Akihito exclaimed, eyes lighting up. “Let’s try them, guys!” He ran off.

“There’s no need to run,” Rikyu said. “They’re not going anywhere.” He gave a slightly exasperated shrug.

“Do you want to buy souvenirs for your family, Aoi?” Kaori asked.

“I think I’ll do that tomorrow,” I replied.

“Yes, I think that’s better,” Saori said. “If you bought them now, you’d have to carry them around.”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“This is good!” Akihito said when we caught up to him. He was already stuffing his face.

“Oh no, Akihito’s holding a bun in one hand and kamaboko in the other,” Kaori said. She and Saori were both laughing, while Rikyu shrugged again, saying, “He’s like a kid.”

I felt relieved as I watched them from behind. “Saori’s smiling cheerfully now, huh?” I murmured to Holmes, who was standing next to me.

“Indeed,” he said. “Good for her.”

“Saori’s parents might be opposed, but her boyfriend is definitely talented. I think their relationship is wonderful.”

“Yes. He looks soft, but he’s firm on the inside. I’m sure he’ll receive recognition one day.”

“Huh? Do you know who he is, Holmes?”

“I have a hunch, yes.”

“Wh-Who is it?”

“It’s a secret.” He held his index finger in front of his mouth. If he’s going to hint at it like that, I wish he’d just tell me. “Actually, you didn’t know who she was talking about?”

“Wait, is it someone I know?” I asked, surprised.

Holmes’s eyes widened and he rubbed his chin. “Well, I suppose it’s understandable that you didn’t figure it out, considering the circumstances.”

“Um, what does that mean?”

“I’m sure you’ll know who it is soon.”

“Fine... Anyway, that sure was a roundabout love letter. Was there a need to be that grandiose?” I sighed.

Holmes smiled wryly. “Indeed...but I can understand why he did that.”

“Huh? How come?” Why would he have to use a roundabout message like that?

“Pretentiousness is a facade for cowardice.” He looked up at the cherry blossoms with sad eyes. It almost seemed as if he were talking about himself.

I tilted my head. “Did you express your feelings in a roundabout way before, Holmes?”

He hesitated before saying, “Yes, perhaps.”

“Perhaps? Did your feelings get across?”

“Not in the slightest, apparently.” He smiled cheerfully.

“Then that means it doesn’t work, right?”

“It’s fine. I just felt like saying it, and I didn’t expect my message to get across.”

“What would you have done if it did get across?”

“That’s a good question... Either I would’ve scattered like these cherry blossoms, or I would have created a dangerous rationalization.”

“A dangerous rationalization?” I blinked, utterly confused.

Holmes smiled cheerfully again. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Uh, okay... Oh right, I noticed Saori’s necklace too, but I didn’t think much of it. I’m impressed that you instantly made the connection that she had a secret boyfriend.”

Holmes crossed his arms and said, “To be honest, I realized before I saw the necklace. I sensed it ever since I saw her standing in front of the inn.”

“Huh? How?”

“Her aura. I wasn’t lying when I said it was ‘a man’s intuition.’ When we met Saori before, even though she was past twenty, she had the aura of a young girl. But today, her mannerisms were completely that of an adult woman. I instantly sensed that she had a lover,” he said without hesitation.

I was stunned. Behind that elegant smile of his, he’s picking up on things like that?

“Ah, my apologies. That was too much information.” He put his hand in front of his mouth.

“I-It’s okay.” I shook my head with a strained smile.

“I don’t reveal all of my thoughts to other people, but when it’s you, I can’t bring myself to lie.”

Come to think of it, he said something similar before. “Um, why is that?” I asked quietly.

Holmes looked conflicted. “I...don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t understand myself.”

“O-Oh.”

“As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m incredibly two-faced. Normally I can hide my inner self, but I can’t when I’m with you. I say my thoughts out loud without thinking, and sometimes I make mistakes because of that...”

“Umm, is that because you don’t have to be considerate of me?” I asked, tilting my head.

Holmes immediately looked up and shook his head. “N-No, that’s definitely not the case.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He nodded. Then, as if he’d just thought of something, he put his hands on his hips and sighed. “And even though I say these needless things out loud without thinking, it’s not so easy for the things that matter...”

“Huh?” I looked up at him.

“It’s nothing.” He shook his head. “I recently realized that you must have a heart of gold. It’s possible that I subconsciously sense your tolerance and depend on it.”

“What?” I asked in utter disbelief. I have a heart of gold and Holmes depends on it...? “Wh-What are you talking about? My heart is copper at best,” I insisted.

“Copper?” Holmes’s expression relaxed. “That’s cute.”

“N-Not at all.”

He chuckled and smiled warmly. Behind him, cherry blossom petals fluttered in the air. I suddenly felt my cheeks heat up and quickly looked down at the ground.

“Is something wrong?” He peered into my face.

I fervently shook my head. “No, um, I just remembered that time when people were calling you ‘a beautiful young man with the grace of a weeping cherry tree.’”

“I’ll have to apologize to the weeping cherry trees.”

“Apologize?” I inadvertently giggled.

A strong gust of wind blew by, intensifying the petals’ dance.

“The wind has gotten chilly,” he announced to the group. “Shall we return to the inn?”

“Okay!” everyone answered.

“Kinosaki’s really nice at night, huh?” Akihito remarked.

“Yeah,” agreed Kaori and Saori.

We started walking towards the inn.

“Since I’m busy with work, this might be the first time I’m getting to appreciate it like this,” Saori said. Then, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“Saori?” I looked back at her and my eyes widened at what I saw. A man stood there—a man I recognized.

“Yoneyama...” murmured Akihito, beating me to the punch.

It was Ryosuke Yoneyama, the former counterfeiter who washed his hands of the business after the owner exposed him. Now he works at an art gallery. His somewhat long hair was tied back in a ponytail and he had an androgynous look. As usual, he was smiling weakly.

Oh. Saori’s boyfriend is Yoneyama. Suddenly, everything made sense. Yoneyama lost contests even though he had skill. But more importantly, Yoneyama was the one who painted that scroll. That’s why Holmes asked if I figured out who it was—because I’ve seen one of Yoneyama’s paintings before. But since it was in the style of Diego Velázquez, it was completely different from the one we saw today. Still, if I couldn’t tell that it was the same artist, then I have a long way to go. I slumped my shoulders, feeling slightly dejected.

“It’s not your fault,” Holmes said immediately, sensing my thoughts. “He’s a prodigy who can paint in completely different styles.”

Considering that such a prodigy couldn’t win any contests, it seems like skill isn’t always rewarded in the world of art.

“Yoneyama and Saori don’t really suit each other,” Rikyu mumbled extremely quietly, seeming disappointed.

“Ryosuke...” Saori stood stock-still, trembling. It was as if she thought she was dreaming.

“Saori.” Yoneyama held out his hands.

Saori ran forward and leaped into his arms. “Ryosuke!” She cried as he held her tightly.

“I’m back, Saori. I’m sorry for making you lonely.” He stroked her head.

The rest of us looked at each other, nodded, and quietly left the happy couple alone in the fluttering cherry blossoms.

It was a beautiful night in Kinosaki.