Chapter 2: Time of Aoi

1

It’s now mid-April, and the city of Kyoto was suddenly abuzz with the announcement of this year’s “Saio-dai.”

“My, did you see the news? This year’s Saio-dai is a student at that university for wealthy young women, and her family owns a long-standing kimono fabric store! They picked quite a pretty one this year.”

Mieko, who was visiting Kyoto Teramachi-Sanjo’s antique store Kura, spoke enthusiastically about this year’s “Saio-dai.” That’s right, Mieko, the elderly woman who was there when I first got this job. She manages the women’s clothing store diagonally opposite from us, so she occasionally comes over to kill time. She said she was an old friend of the owner’s, but despite that, it doesn’t seem like she knows anything about antiques.

Mieko lifted her cup of Holmes’s brewed coffee with a look of anticipation, but then turned to me as though she’d suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, Aoi. Do you know why dear Kiyotaka was able to guess where you lived solely based on your name?”

“Oh...yes, I found out,” I murmured, blushing. Mieko and Holmes chuckled.

Right, it happened on the day I was offered this job. After hearing my name, Holmes asked, “Does your family live in Sakyo-ku, close to Shimogamo Shrine?” and I said, “Yes, how do you know that?” all wide-eyed in shock. Back then, I was amazed that he could pinpoint where I lived just from my name, but I found out why immediately afterwards. Up until then, I’d been taking the bus to school. I didn’t start riding a bike until I got the part-time job at Kura. Doing that showed me things I hadn’t been able to see before.

“Aoi Elementary School,” “Aoi Dry Cleaning,” “Aoi Apartment,” “Aoi Bookstore,” “Aoi Cafe,” “Aoi Building”; the list went on and on. How do I put this... The area around Shimogamo Shrine was overflowing with the name “Aoi.” If I were from Osaka, it’d make me go, “Y’all love ‘Aoi’ too dang much!”

Apparently, it’s because of one of Kyoto’s three major festivals, the “Aoi Festival.” Now, even I’d heard of the Aoi Festival before, but I didn’t know this neighborhood had that many Aoi names.

So I realized that there was nothing strange at all about Holmes guessing where I lived based on my name. It was one of those things that all of the locals knew: Aoi = Shimogamo neighborhood.

Coincidentally, the “Saio-dai” that Mieko was so excited about was the star of the Aoi Festival. This year’s Saio-dai was announced the other day, and the locals were quite enthusiastic about it.

“Being chosen as the Saio-dai is a really big deal, huh? I was surprised that there was even a press conference for it on Kyoto TV,” I said to myself, but Mieko swiveled around to face me.

“But of course! Being named the Saio-dai is the greatest honor a Kyoto woman can have!”

“Th-The greatest honor?”

“Mhmm. After all, only the most refined of women can be chosen, with emphasis on intelligence, character, and pedigree. It isn’t a superficial beauty pageant. Their looks vary because of that, but everyone’s high class. And this year’s Saio-dai sure is pretty—the ceremonial kimono will look wonderful on her. I’ll have to take a picture,” Mieko explained passionately, while I made vague sounds of acknowledgment throughout.

Holmes smiled in amusement at my inability to relate to her excitement. “The Aoi Festival is a tradition dating back to the Heian period, and it appears in The Tale of Genji as well.”

“Wait, it does? I’ve read The Tale of Genji before, but I didn’t know that.” It was a manga adaptation that I read, though.

“Do you know the scene where Hikaru Genji’s legal wife and his mistress both go to see a festival and fight over carriage locations?”

“Oh, do you mean the conflict between Lady Aoi and Lady Rokujo?”

It was a scene where the mistress (Lady Rokujo) was overpowered by the wife (Lady Aoi) and backed down. Wives are strong, no matter the era. Wait, that’s not what we were talking about.

“Yes, and that festival was the Aoi Festival. Supposedly in the Heian period, saying ‘festival’ implied the Aoi Festival.”

“I see. By the way, what’s the ‘Saio-dai’ supposed to represent?” I figured it was a stupid question, but I still asked.

“Well, she’s the star of the show! During the parade, she wears a traditional twelve-layered kimono and is carried in the portable shrine,” Mieko answered, looking proud.

I felt somewhat relieved knowing that there were people who’d lived in Kyoto all their lives and still didn’t know what exactly they were getting so excited over.

Holmes explained in her place: “The ‘Saio’ refers to a shrine maiden from the Imperial House. In the Heian period, an unmarried imperial princess would be chosen to serve Kamo Shrine or Ise Grand Shrine as a shrine maiden, and such a woman was called the ‘Saio.’ Today, the ceremony is only for the festival’s sake, so a local woman is chosen, and she’s called the ‘Saio-dai.’”

“Oh, I see, the suffix is because it’s a substitute role.”

“The one chosen to represent Kyoto is always a refined woman of the proper lineage, and the term has become synonymous with ‘a woman gifted with both intelligence and beauty.’ It’s certainly a great honor to be selected.”

“Yes, they even say that a woman who’s been chosen as Saio-dai will never have trouble finding a husband!” Mieko piped in.

“R-Really?! But how do you get chosen?”

“The process is not made public, but I’ve heard that the shrine approaches them,” said Holmes.

“I heard that tea ceremony and ikebana teachers go around to their students!” Mieko said. Ikebana is the traditional art of flower arranging.

“Wow...” I was kind of overwhelmed by their words. There really are a lot of things that only the locals know. An ordinary person like me wouldn’t feel any connection to the Saio-dai just from watching the festival... But little did I know, this ordinary me was going to get involved with the Saio-dai thanks to Kura.

2

Several days later on a weekday, I was helping out at Kura after school as usual.

“All right, Aoi. I think it’s time we changed the window display, so could you take down the current one for me?” Holmes asked, approaching me with a box.

“Sure,” I nodded enthusiastically. My duties here generally only consisted of cleaning and watching over the store, so I was happy to get a more meaningful task. Even cleaning didn’t make me feel useful at all, since the place was already clean when I got here. Holmes and the manager were apparently more grateful to have someone to keep watch than I would’ve thought, because they both had the tendency to want to suddenly leave the store—but I still wanted to be of more use, so I couldn’t have been happier.

The window display had tea utensils arranged in it. One by one, I dusted them off, wrapped them in paper, and placed them inside the box. The tea utensils were cherry blossom themed.

“Kyoto’s cherry blossoms are ending soon, huh?” I murmured while staring at the patterns.

Holmes, who was doing the accounting, quietly answered, “Yes,” with a nod.

“What will be going here next?”

“I was thinking we’d theme it around the Aoi Festival.”

“Oh, I see.”

As we were talking, I noticed an elderly man determinedly walking towards the store. Just as I was wondering about him, he opened the door rather forcefully.

“Hey, Kiyotaka.”

Whoa, what’s with this person?

He had a mustache and wore traditional Japanese clothes and a hat with a visor. He looked totally retro but radiated a “chic” fashion sense and cleanliness. There was something intimidating about this gentleman.

Holmes gaped at him before saying, “Owner.”

“Huh?” My eyes opened wide as well. Owner? This person is Kura’s owner? The nationally certified appraiser, Seiji Yagashira?

In other words, Holmes’s grandfather?

“Hey, looks like you’re doing well.” The owner smiled heartily and glanced at me. “Huh, you got a girlfriend? Now that’s exciting.”

I was startled, but before I could deny it, Holmes responded, “This is Aoi Mashiro, who’s helping us with the shop. I told you over the phone that we hired a high school girl as a part-timer. Did you forget?” Holmes sighed, exasperated.

“Oh yeah, you did say that. Aoi, my grandson is a real oddball, but please bear with him.”

The owner extended his hand for a handshake, and I hesitantly shook it, saying, “Yes, please bear with me as well.”

The owner withdrew his hand and said, “What a cutie. Would you like to get coffee at that cafe over there?”

“Huh?” My eyes widened.

Holmes instantly cut in. “Please don’t hit on the high school girl who’s here to work.”

H-His grandfather was hitting on me?

“Don’t say it like that. I was just trying to be friends,” the owner pouted, not looking very happy.

Holmes closed the accounting book and sighed. “More importantly, you brought something troublesome here again, right?”

“Now that’s my grandson,” the owner said, folding his arms and looking proud.

“I see a mother and her daughters looking nervous outside the shop. You invited them here, right?”

The owner quickly turned around and opened the door for them, like a gentleman. “You came! Welcome.”

“Hello.” The group bowed as they came in. There was a middle-aged woman dressed in an expensive-looking kimono, a pretty woman in a dress who looked around university age, and a girl who looked around the same age as me.

Wait...that last one looks familiar. As I was squinting at her, she asked, “Are you...Mashiro from Class 1?”

“Y-Yeah, you’re Miyashita from Class 2...right?” Now I remember; she goes to my school and we’re in the same year. We’re in different classes so I don’t know what she’s like, but I know her name and face because we’ve been in combined classes before. Her name is Kaori Miyashita.

“Why are you here, Mashiro?”

“I-I work here.”

“Oh, I see.”

As we were having our awkward conversation, the owner smiled and said, “Oh, you’re friends with Miyashita’s youngest daughter? What a coincidence!”

Um, I wouldn’t say we’re friends...

Ignoring my hesitation, he continued, “Come and take a seat, Miyashita.” He guided the guests towards the sofa. “Kiyotaka, prepare tea. Aoi, bring the standing signboard inside and put up the ‘Closed’ sign.”

“O-Okay.”

Wow, he’s closing the store. What on earth is happening?

Feeling a bit anxious, I changed the front door’s sign to “Closed” and brought the signboard inside.

3

“Nishijin’s Miyashita Kimono Fabrics is a long-standing store with three hundred years of history, after all. You handle everything from kabuki and traditional Japanese dance costumes to kimono for influential enka singers,” the owner began talking as he sat down on the sofa.

I’d just brought the signboard in and was in the process of closing the door when his statement caught me by surprise. Wow, three hundred years! The oldest stores I’d seen in my hometown were only a hundred years old at most. That’s Kyoto for you; even their stores have impressive histories.

“It’s only because we’re old. Even though we opened a store in Roppongi, I wouldn’t say it’s gone the way we would’ve liked,” Miyashita’s mother said with a wry smile.

It seems that they opened a branch store in Roppongi. Still, Miyashita’s family must be amazing if they receive kimono orders from influential enka singers. I began cleaning, pretending not to listen in on their conversation.

“Miyashita Kimono Fabrics, was it? Congratulations,” Holmes said with a smile, bowing his head.

What was he congratulating them on?

“Why thank you. It’s always been my dream for my daughter to be the Saio-dai.” Miyashita’s mother gave a posh laugh, placing her hand on her cheek.

S-Saio-dai? Startled, I turned around and saw Miyashita’s older sister huddled up in embarrassment. Come to think of it, Mieko was saying that this year’s Saio-dai was the daughter of a long-standing kimono fabric store. It’s Miyashita’s older sister, then. I could see why Mieko was so worked up about her looks—she was an elegant beauty. Miyashita was also pretty with a nice face, but her sister was exceptionally eye-catching.

“So, your business today has to do with the Saio-dai. What might it be?” Holmes said with arms crossed. The three Miyashitas twitched in surprise.

“Kiyotaka. After the Saio-dai was announced, Saori began receiving suspicious mail,” the owner informed him in a low voice. Holmes frowned.

Saori, the older sister, shrank back. Seeing as how the younger sister’s name is “Kaori,” perhaps fabric stores are fond of using “ori,” which means “weave.”

“Suspicious mail, you said?” Holmes asked.

“Yes,” Saori answered with a slight nod, taking a brown envelope out of her handbag. “This is it.”

“Would you mind if I took a look at it?”

“No, please do.” Saori bowed.

Holmes put on his usual white gloves and picked up the envelope. He looked at it intently before taking out the white sheet of paper inside.

“You aren’t fit to be the Saio-dai. Announce your withdrawal immediately.”

“They cut out letters from a newspaper and glued them onto printer paper? This really is a stereotypical harassment note,” Holmes remarked, seeming slightly impressed. I stiffened up. Miyashita’s mother probably hadn’t noticed, but I could tell that Holmes was amused.

“Did you talk to anyone else about this?” continued Holmes.

Miyashita’s mother shook her head. “It’s too disturbing. Perhaps it would’ve been better to go to the police, but the sender didn’t write any threats, and we didn’t want to cause an incident right before such an important festival. I asked my husband, and he suggested talking to Seiji’s grandson.”

I see. So, the owner and Miyashita’s dad know each other. Maybe it’s because they’ve both done business in Kyoto for so long.

“U-Um, my father said that you’re very smart, and that people call you ‘Holmes,’” Saori suddenly spoke up enthusiastically. Her cheeks were flushed, which caught me by surprise. Holmes is a bit of a bully and a weirdo, but he has a refined aura and is extremely good-looking. Perhaps even this year’s Saio-dai was no match for his outward charms.

“Not at all. They only call me ‘Holmes’ because of my surname.” Holmes responded with his usual answer...even though it wasn’t the truth. “How did you receive this letter?”

“It was inside my bag.” Saori shrugged.

“Your bag?”

“Yes. I came home from university, and when I was emptying my bag, there was an unfamiliar envelope inside.”

“Did you stop by anywhere else?”

“My ikebana class.”

“Also, was this the only letter?”

“Oh, no.” Saori shook her head.

At the same time, their mother leaned in, saying, “When I first saw the letter, I was ever so disturbed—I didn’t know what to do. However, nothing came of it, so we thought it was simply someone being jealous. But then, we received another one.”

“This is it,” said Saori, this time bringing out a white sheet folded into four. Holmes took it and opened it with care.

“Hurry up and withdraw. You’re an eyesore.”

“This one is made with newspaper clippings too, I see. Did it not come in a brown envelope?” asked Holmes.

“No, it came as-is. It was placed inside my bag, too,” answered Saori.

“I see. From what I gather, you have an idea of who the culprit is, right?” Holmes asked, looking her in the eye.

Saori startled. “Wh-What makes you think that?”

“You seem remarkably calm despite receiving these letters, which wouldn’t be the case if you had no idea who the sender was. In your mind, you’re thinking, ‘It could be that person,’ right?” Holmes explained. That sounded right to me.

I could hear Saori gulp from all the way over here. She hesitated before saying, “Yes. There’s someone I think it might be.”

“My! Is that so? Why didn’t you tell me?” the mother exclaimed in surprise.

It was then that my schoolmate Kaori spoke up for the first time. She looked angry. “It’s because you make a big deal out of everything even when you don’t have proof. Remember when you went over to some girls’ houses and yelled at them just because Sis was being left out? That was so embarrassing. After that, she got picked on even more! You just don’t get it, Mom.”

“Kaori...” Their mother looked surprised, while Saori looked troubled.

“It’s fine, Kaori. Holmes, I actually think it might be that girl’s family who did it,” said Saori with a sad look. Holmes remained silent and waited for her to continue. “I was friends with two girls in high school. One of their families ran a small restaurant while the other ran a Japanese-style inn. Since they were both from well-known long-standing establishments as well, they went to the same ikebana school as me, and we were a friendly group of three. A minor thing led to me getting left out, and I was really worried about it... So I asked my mother for advice, but she got enraged, stormed over to both of their houses, and started screaming, ‘How dare you shun our Saori from your group! We’ll never do business with your store again, and we won’t refer customers to you, either!’”

I frowned as I listened to her story. Whoa, that’s some extreme helicopter parenting.

“It destroyed my friendship with them, but I couldn’t avoid them, because now we go to the same university and the same ikebana school,” she continued.

Now that’s a shame. I wouldn’t have been able to stand it.

“When I was selected as Saio-dai, I told my ikebana instructor. She was delighted for me and announced to everyone that someone in our class had been selected. I think those two girls misunderstood, because they looked really excited, as though they thought their own names might be called.”

Mieko’s words flashed through my head: “I heard that tea ceremony and ikebana teachers go around to their students.” That rumor might’ve given them the idea that the teacher was going to approach them.

“Right after that, she said, ‘It’s Saori Miyashita!’ and I’ll never forget the looks on their faces. Up until then, they’d simply been giving me the silent treatment, but now they’re being openly mean to me...” Saori cast her eyes down.

“I see,” Holmes said with a nod. “Would I be able to meet those two?”

Saori’s eyes widened. “Are you going to ask them directly?”

Holmes shook his head. “No, I’d like to meet them without revealing that I’m acquainted with you.”

“In that case...our ikebana class is presenting an exhibit this weekend. All of the students will be there.”

“That sounds great. I’ll be sure to drop by,” Holmes said with a smile.

4

After the Miyashitas left, Holmes remained seated and stared intently at the two letters. His eyes were serious, but his lips were curled in a smile.

“Did you figure something out?” I asked.

“Yes, somewhat.” He stopped at that, and I understood that he wasn’t going to explain further.

“Well then, I’m counting on you, Kiyotaka,” the owner said while putting on his hat.

Holmes didn’t hide his frown. “Where are you going?”

“Oh, just Ponto-cho.”

“Good grief. Just when I thought you finally decided to pay us a visit, you push a problem onto me and then immediately go off to play. Why did you bring me this case in the first place?” Holmes sighed in exasperation, holding the letters.

The owner laughed heartily. “Well, Miyashita didn’t wanna make a big deal outta it. She didn’t want any rumors to start up either, so she couldn’t go to the police. Since she was in a bind, I went, ‘In that case, you can ask my grandson. He’s the Holmes of Kyoto!’ without really thinking.”

“Would it kill you to think first? First of all, this is your store, but you’re never around, and yet you don’t want to close it either. You’re so selfish. Father and I have our own work to do, too; meanwhile, you’re pretending to be a busy appraiser and going on overseas trips with women. On top of that, you even tried to hit on our part-timer Aoi.”

As Holmes went into his lecture, the owner covered his ears. “I can’t heaaar you!” Is he a child? “Did you forget that it was me that developed your talent? You should be thanking me, not lecturing me.”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“Anyway, that’s how I am. Refining my sensibilities is part of my job, whether it be through meeting people or talking to the ladies. Now then, I’m off to the Hanamachi.” The owner dashed out of the store as though running away.

“I had to check something with him, too. I’ll have to call him later,” Holmes said to himself with a sigh. I wonder what it is?

Moving along...

“You and the manager have similar auras, but the owner is completely different, huh?” I murmured.

Holmes smiled wryly. “Indeed. My father and I do respect him, but sometimes it’s hard to refrain from laughing.”

“I-I see. By the way, he said he was going to Ponto-cho at first, but when he left, he said Hanamachi instead. Which one is he actually going to?” I asked.

“Ponto-cho is also called Hanamachi.”

“Oh, is that so? I thought Hanamachi referred to Gion.”

“Yes, that is also correct. There are six geisha districts that are called Hanamachi: Kamishichiken, Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Shimabara, Ponto-cho, and Miyagawa-cho. Together, they’re known as ‘Kyoto’s Six Hanamachi.’”

“I didn’t know that.” I’d only heard of Gion and Ponto-cho before, but knew of the refined impression presented by these districts of Kyoto.

“Oh! Aoi, could you accompany me to the Saio-dai’s ikebana exhibit? A lone young man would stick out like a sore thumb there,” Holmes said with a smile.

I nodded fervently. “Ah, okay. I was interested too, so I’d love to.”

“Hmm, now it seems like I’m the one hitting on you, albeit not as brazenly as the owner,” Holmes said with a chuckle. I clammed up and felt my cheeks get hot. “I’m just kidding,” he continued right away. “There’s no ulterior motive, so don’t worry.”

I felt the strength leave my body. “You really are wicked,” I said, slumping my shoulders. Another grin rose to his face. It felt like he had me in the palm of his hand, and it was a bit frustrating.

How much has Holmes grasped about this case? When we go to the exhibit and meet the two supposed suspects, I’m sure he’ll figure out something new. I suddenly got excited at the thought. I was really looking forward to it now, for more reasons than one. It was probably disrespectful to be enthusiastic when the Saio-dai was being troubled by harassment mail. But I also hoped we could resolve this case quickly for the sake of clearing her anxiety, and clenched my fists tightly as I prayed.

5

Saturday arrived. Leaving Kura in the hands of the manager, Holmes and I headed for the hotel where the ikebana exhibit was being held. The venue was an event hall in Kyoto Hotel Okura, which was located near city hall. In other words, it was within walking distance of Kura.

“Aoi, did Saori’s younger sister say anything to you at school?” Holmes asked as we walked.

“Ah, yes.” I nodded. “The next morning, she was waiting at the entrance, and when she saw me, she warned me, ‘Please don’t tell anyone about yesterday.’”

“Understandable. If the girls at school heard about the Saio-dai receiving suspicious letters, I imagine the news would spread like wildfire. Was she nervous that you might’ve already told someone by then?”

“I think so. But either way, I didn’t tell anyone, and I wasn’t planning on it,” I answered with a strained smile.

Holmes squinted. “Do you have any friends you trust at your current school?”

I hesitated before answering, “Not at my current school.” Ever since I was faced with the fact that my closest friend was dating my boyfriend behind my back, I kind of lost faith in the idea of friendship. If all I do is go to school, make small talk, eat lunch with people, wave goodbye, and go home, then nothing will go wrong. Since I don’t talk to anyone about my worries and pain, I also don’t have any friends I can share secrets with.

“You and Katsumi make a really good couple! I’ll watch him to make sure he doesn’t cheat on you, so don’t worry about going to Kyoto.”

The words of my once-best friend Sanae rang in my head, and I felt a stinging pain in my chest. Why, Sanae? Why would you go out with Katsumi? You should’ve known how I felt, right? Did you think it didn’t matter since I wasn’t around anymore? Or were you only pretending to support us, when really, you’d always liked him? Were you suffering? In that case, were you happy when I went away?

I started having trouble breathing. This always happens. I keep questioning myself, unable to find an answer. It hurts, I can’t stand it, and I’m dying to know the truth.

“Isn’t the weather nice today, Aoi?” Holmes asked cheerfully, looking up at the sky.

I came back to my senses and looked up. The cloudless, bright blue sky looked like it was shimmering. “You’re right, it is.”

Come to think of it, ever since I started working at Kura, it feels like I’ve been spending less time trapped in my painful thought loops. It’s as though every time I fall in, Holmes’s nonchalant words lift me back up.

I looked over at Holmes, and he smiled back. My cheeks flushed. It’s scary how perceptive he is, but he’s also saved me many times. It was wrong of me to try to sell my family’s belongings, but I’m truly glad that I went to Kura and met Holmes.

After some more walking, we arrived at the event hall in Kyoto Hotel Okura. At the entrance was a sign that said “Hanamura School Ikebana Exhibit.” I’m sure it must’ve been written by an esteemed calligrapher. Visitors were greeted by a large flower arrangement in the center of the hall, and the students’ works were lined up on all four walls of the room.

“Spectacular,” Holmes said, looking fondly at the central flower arrangement, which was wider than the average arm span. I assume he likes flowers.

“It looks like this is the teacher’s work,” I remarked.

“Yes, it depicts the brilliance of spring in Kyoto. Despite its size, it manages to be both delicate yet bold. I can sense the artist’s passion for this exhibit.”

I looked at the flowers again. At first, I’d only thought, “Wow, it’s huge!” but after hearing him say that, I realized that it was delicate despite being so big. Just like the pattern on the Yuan blue and white pottery, it felt like there were nerves reaching to the tips of the leaves. Flower arrangement is profound too, huh?

“As expected of the school’s head. The exhibit is a success, too,” Holmes continued.

“It really is,” I replied. Most of the visitors were women in traditional clothes. Many of them were elderly, but I also caught sight of students like us, as well as the school’s students, including Saori Miyashita.

“Umm, we’re pretending not to know her, right?”

“Yes. For now, let’s look at the displays.”

“Okay.” I nodded and looked at the creations laid out on the white cloth. Each student had two works on display. As I was looking at everyone’s arrangements, I overheard someone speaking.

“My, it’s the work of this year’s Saio-dai. How lovely.”

I spotted Saori bowing thankfully to a visitor. She paused for a moment when she saw us, but then bowed gracefully like she did to everyone else. We bowed back and turned to her works.

One of them was a dynamic piece that used tall flowers. The other was small, but displayed a perfect sense of balance with its horizontal branches and small flowers. It looked delicate and fleeting, yet gave off a feeling of steadiness.

There’s something about these two works... I absentmindedly crossed my arms.

“These two works give quite the different impressions,” Holmes murmured softly, apparently thinking the same thing as me.

Saori heard him and began to speak, but was interrupted by a firm voice coming from behind us: “That’s because they were made in different ways.”

Surprised, I turned around and saw a middle-aged woman in a kimono smiling cordially at us.

“Ah, Hanamura-sensei,” Holmes said with a bow. My eyes widened at him in surprise. So, this person was the ikebana teacher. Wait, Holmes knows her?

“My, is this Kiyotaka from Seiji’s place? You’ve grown up,” said the teacher.

“Long time no see.”

“You attended the prefectural university, if I recall correctly?”

“I’m at my dream school now, Kyoto University.”

“Oh, you got in for grad school? Impressive!”

“It’s fine; go ahead and call it sneaky.”

“Why, I would never!”

I felt overwhelmed by their cheerful conversation. Apparently, he knew this ikebana teacher through the owner. Kyoto really is impressive with all of these connections.

Holmes looked toward the two flower arrangements and changed the subject. “These are the Saio-dai’s works, right?”

The teacher nodded emphatically. “The large one was created in the classroom, while the small one was brought home to work on. Miyashita’s talent seems to manifest when she’s focusing at home by herself, so the small one has better craftsmanship.”

I inadvertently nodded at her explanation. It was true that the small one was much better. It showed the same attention to detail that I’d sensed from the teacher’s work. Perhaps Saori couldn’t maintain her composure in the classroom where her ex-friends were present. It’d be hard to get into the mood for elegant flower arrangement when you’re next to people who might’ve sent you harassment notes, after all. It’s only natural that she’d be able to make something better alone at home. I had no doubt that it was like lying on a bed of nails for her.

“The work of young artists is so nice and lively. Are there any works by young people besides the Saio-dai?” asked Holmes nonchalantly.

The teacher chuckled. “Young people’s work? You talk like an old man, Kiyotaka.”

“You know how my grandfather is. I guess I’ve finally ended up the same way.”

“That I understand. Seiji’s a rascal, after all. Right, besides Miyashita, we have two other university students,” said the teacher before walking away briskly and stopping in front of the works further ahead. Two university-aged girls dressed in kimono were there, possibly the two that had sent Saori the letters. Their eyes lit up when they saw Holmes.

“Oh no, he’s hot.”

“Ah, he’s coming this way!”

“Kiyotaka, this is Keiko Kawase—her family owns a Japanese restaurant in Ponto-cho—and Yuuko Mikami—her family runs a long-standing inn in Gion,” the teacher said.

Keiko and Yuuko. They seemed completely ordinary—it was hard to believe that they could’ve sent the letters. They were so normal that I might not have been able to tell they were from honorable families if it weren’t for the kimono.

“Girls, this is Kiyotaka, the grandson of a famous appraiser named Seiji Yagashira. He attends Kyoto University and assists at Kura, an antiques store in Teramachi-Sanjo with a long history.”

After the teacher’s introduction, the two girls bowed and said, “It’s nice to meet you.” Holmes returned the gesture with grace, and they both blushed.

Then, as though having just noticed my presence, the teacher smiled and said, “Kiyotaka, is that lady beside you your...?”

“No, she’s a high school student working part-time at our shop. She’s here with me today for educational purposes,” answered Holmes.

“Ah, I see. A high school student—how cute! Please enjoy the exhibit at your leisure.” The teacher smiled warmly at me and I hastily bowed in response, saying, “Th-Thank you, I will.”

“Allow me to take a look at Keiko and Yuuko’s works.” Holmes immediately set his eyes on the arrangements, which had their flowers and branches reaching towards the sky. They seemed vibrant and full of life. Perhaps it was because I was used to seeing Kura’s antiques? Is this what they call youthful energy? They lacked detail, subtlety, and any sense of transience, and the craftsmanship itself may have been poor, but I felt myself being drawn to them.

“They convey your enthusiasm,” Holmes said with a graceful smile. The girls blushed again as though they’d been shot through the heart.

“Indeed. Only today’s youth could produce such works,” said the teacher with a chuckle.

“You must be proud that one of your students was selected as Saio-dai.”

I was startled by how suddenly he dived into the heart of the matter. H-He’s already going to ask? I immediately peeked at the girls, who now looked somewhat unamused.

At that moment, Holmes went, “Ah,” and took out his smartphone. “Sorry, I received a phone call. I’ll have to excuse myself. Aoi, please stay here.”

I stood there dumbfounded as Holmes sped out of the hall, holding up his phone. What was that all of a sudden? With Holmes gone, the teacher said her courtesies and left as well. I stood there all alone, not knowing what to do, until I received a text message:

“Aoi, I think there are things that girls will only reveal to other girls, so please ask Keiko and Yuuko some questions. I’d appreciate it if you could ask, ‘Aren’t you frustrated that someone else from your class got chosen as Saio-dai?’”

It was from Holmes. I stared at it for a bit.

Wait, what? He was planning on using me from the very start! And first of all, how could I possibly ask something like that?!

As I was glaring at the phone screen, someone suddenly called out to me, “Hey, high school girl.”

Surprised, I turned around. “Y-Yes?”

“Are you going out with that guy?” It was Keiko, smiling yet looking dead serious. I felt outmatched.

“N-No, I’m just a part-timer. Really.”

The two looked at each other gleefully.

“Thank goodness! You don’t come across good-looking guys like that every day.”

“Yeah, and he goes to Kyoto University!”

I was rendered speechless by their lack of tact.

The two then hushed their voices.

“Wait, oh no! She’ll hear.”

“Yeah, I saw she had her eyes on him.”

“Are you talking about the Saio-dai?” I asked meekly.

“Yeah. Look, it’s her.”

I peeked over at Saori.

“She’s super pretty, right? She’s always been popular with the boys.”

“She always gets the spotlight. And now she’s the Saio-dai.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe it.”

I was rendered speechless again, this time by how they could be so open in front of someone they were meeting for the first time.

“I-It’s frustrating that someone else from your class was chosen, right?” I didn’t think there was any way I’d be able to ask it, and yet it came out surprisingly easily.

“It’s nothing new.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“We’ve been frustrated for a long time already.”

“The guys all like Saori the best. The ones we liked also said they were into her.”

“We were done being her foils, so we cut her off, and then her mom came and yelled at us.”

“Seriously, it was ridiculous. But thanks to that, we got to break ties with her. I’m glad we’re not stuck making her look better anymore.”

“Yeah, it sucks being with the pretty girl who gets all the guys.”

“And now she’s the freaking Saio-dai. Can she be any more perfect?”

“Isn’t her family overreaching, too? Going for Saio-dai when they aren’t as influential as they used to be?”

“Uh huh, there’s nothing special about them now. She only got picked because the store’s name is famous.”

“Her mom’s a big show-off, too.”

They spoke frankly as though they’d forgotten I was there. I was stunned.

Saori, Keiko, and Yuuko were good friends in high school, but Saori was much prettier than the others, and everyone’s eyes were always on her. When the guys Keiko and Yuuko had crushes on praised Saori, the girls’ pent-up jealousy exploded, and they cut Saori from their group. When Saori’s mother found out, she got angry and stormed over to their houses. That severed their friendship for good.

Now they turned to me. “Anyway, what do you think of that guy?”

“Do his good looks make your head spin?”

The two started pressing me for answers, as though they’d suddenly remembered why they were talking to me in the first place.

“W-Well, he certainly is good-looking.” Honestly, he does make my head spin sometimes. “He’s...kind of eccentric.” The moment I said that, the girls stiffened up. Huh, was it that off-putting?

“I’m sorry to hear that, Aoi,” said Holmes from behind me. This time it was my face that went pale.

6

“S-Sorry, Holmes,” I said apologetically for a second time, putting my hands together. We had left the venue and gone to the cafe adjoining the hotel’s first floor lobby.

Holmes smiled. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t bother me all that much.”

“R-Really?” He’s not angry behind that smile, right?

“Yes, my relatives often treat me as an eccentric, so I’m used to it. In fact, I’ve even been thinking about making ‘Eccentric’ my middle name,” Holmes said nonchalantly, bringing his cup of coffee to his mouth.

My eyes widened in shock. “I-It is bothering you! Look, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just meant you weren’t an ordinary person!”

Holmes burst out laughing at my frantic excuses. “I’m just kidding, Aoi.” He continued to chuckle, and I felt my cheeks turning crimson. H-He got me again.

“This is what they call ‘wicked Kyoto guys,’ huh?” I pouted as I drank my coffee.

“Aoi, it’s ‘Kyoto men,’ not ‘Kyoto guys.’” He held up his long index finger and spoke in a chiding tone, but his mouth was smiling.

“Oh, is that so? But, for some reason, I feel like ‘Kyoto guy’ suits you more.” Right, an elegant but somewhat mean guy from Kyoto.

“That phrase doesn’t exist, but I do like how it sounds softer than ‘Kyoto man.’” Holmes seemed amused, narrowing his eyes into arcs. I guess he likes it.

“So, did you hear anything from Keiko and Yuuko?” asked Holmes.

“Ah, yes. More than expected.”

“Oh? How so?”

“They were blabbering on and on. I was so surprised.” They were so unreserved that I was hesitant to tell Holmes everything. After all, they’d set their sights on Holmes, and I wouldn’t want to get in their way. But, this was an important investigation, so I relayed to him every last detail.

“I see. They were very open about their jealousy towards Saori, then. That’s surprising.” Holmes nodded, crossing his arms.

I impulsively leaned forward. “R-Right? You wouldn’t normally say those things to someone you met for the first time, right?”

“Indeed. This essentially means that those girls are used to speaking poorly of Saori on a regular basis.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It further proves how Saori was and is the school’s idol. Since she’s so brilliant, they don’t feel guilty about it.”

Since she’s so brilliant, they don’t feel guilty about it?

“Umm, what do you mean?”

“It’s similar to how ordinary people are fine with speaking poorly about idols. Those girls may be justifying it in their heads as, ‘Saori’s so pretty and popular with the opposite sex. She has lots of positive feelings already, so it doesn’t matter what bad things we say.’”

It’s a similar philosophy to ordinary people saying bad things about popular idols, huh? I can’t believe it’d happen between close friends, too... Or maybe their jealousy was magnified because they were close friends.

“But even then, how could they say those things so openly?” I lamented.

“You’re right; it’s poor behavior. If anything, they probably don’t care if Saori hears them herself. They might want to cause her discomfort.”

“What?! I feel so bad for Saori.”

“Likewise.”

“Wait. Saori is pretty, but is she really the type to be that popular with guys? To the point of making other girls that jealous?” After all, some say that beauty is only skin deep, I added mentally.

“Well,” Holmes said, taking a sip of his coffee. “It could be that the combination of her delicate beauty and air of vulnerability stir up a man’s protective nature.”

In other words, she has something that makes men want to protect her.

“Holmes, do you prefer girls like Saori too?” I asked.

“Who knows?” Holmes tilted his head.

“Why are you dodging the question? You do think she’s pretty, right?”

“Perhaps I do, but my principles dictate that when I’m with a lady, I shouldn’t praise another,” Holmes said with a smile.

“Huh?” My eyes widened. Was he...referring to me as that ‘lady?’ I blushed the instant I realized. “Wh-What’re you talking about? I don’t qualify as a ‘lady,’ right?”

“You’re not a lady, Aoi? Please excuse my rudeness.”

“Wait, I definitely am!”

Holmes laughed at my angry outburst. Ugh, he really is mean. A wicked Kyoto guy through and through. I sulkily puffed my cheeks, and Holmes continued to chuckle at me.

“Kiyotaka!” I heard a woman’s voice from behind me and quickly turned around in surprise. Saori, Kaori, and their mother were all there. Kaori was wearing a dress, while the others were in kimono. All three looked nervous.

Holmes quietly stood up, and I followed suit. We went over to them.

“Thank you for going out of your way to come here today,” began their mother. The three of them bowed.

“No, I was delighted to be able to encounter such fine works,” Holmes said, gracefully smiling and placing his hand to his chest. His whole body exuded elegance. Honestly, that aspect of him was deserving of respect. Maybe that was what made his eccentricities stand out so much.

“My, is that so?” The mother paused before continuing in a hushed voice, “So, um, did you learn anything?”

Holmes nodded. “Yes, but I’d like to take the time to have a proper chat about it. Are you free tomorrow, preferably in the morning?”

“I have an appointment with Shimogamo early in the morning.”

“When is it?”

“It starts at nine, and then I have to be back at this exhibit from noon onwards.”

“In that case, let’s meet at eight, in Shimogamo Shrine’s ‘Tadasu no Mori.’ There shouldn’t be anyone there at that hour, so I think it’ll be ideal.”

“A-All right.”

The three nodded, but looked confused at his proposal.

“Um, did you figure something out?” asked Saori.

“Yes, I did,” Holmes answered readily.

The Miyashitas and I were all surprised. “Huh?” we said in unison.

“W-Wait, how much did you figure out, Holmes?” I asked.

Holmes took out the folded letters from his jacket’s inner pocket. “I know who sent these, of course,” he said with a smile.

7

After returning to Kura, I impatiently exclaimed, “H-Holmes, do you really know who the culprit is?”

Holmes frowned. “Please don’t say the word ‘culprit’ so loudly. People will think this is a dangerous shop.”

I gasped and covered my mouth. The manager, who’d been watching the store, chuckled. “Ever the lively one, I see.” He smiled warmly as he wrote in his manuscript with his favorite pen.

Holmes and the manager really do resemble each other—you can tell that they’re father and son. The grandfather’s completely different...but let’s ignore that for now.

“I-I’m so sorry,” I said with a bow.

“Take a seat for now, and let’s have some coffee.” Holmes walked to the back room with light steps. Feeling restless, I sat down on the sofa.

“How was the exhibit?” the manager asked gently.

“Oh, it was wonderful. The students’ works were full of energy, and the teacher had a large arrangement at the entrance that blew me away,” I answered.

“I see. Perhaps I should have a look too.”

“Okura’s within walking distance, so that makes it easy.”

“After seeing the exhibit, I want to eat their famous cream-filled red bean buns before coming back.”

“Cream-filled red bean buns?”

“Yes. There’s a cafe connected to Okura that has them, although they’re dine-in only. The cream isn’t too sweet, and it complements the red bean paste superbly.”

“Wow, I guess they make a surprisingly good combination!”

As we were chatting, the smell of coffee tickled my nose. I looked up, and Holmes had arrived with a tray.

“Good work today, Aoi,” he said, placing the usual café au lait in front of me.

“Thank you.” I couldn’t help but grin—I love this café au lait so much.

Holmes set the rest of the cups down on the table and then sat down on the sofa.

“U-Um, can I come to Tadasu no Mori tomorrow, too? It’s like, I’ve already come this far, so I can’t help but be curious...” I asked, finding it difficult to explain the feeling.

Holmes nodded with a bright smile. “By all means. You’re already a full-fledged member of the investigation, after all.”

Phew. I really want to see the truth for myself.

I leaned in and asked in a quiet voice, “So, who do you think sent the harassment notes?”

Holmes took the letters out of his inner pocket again and laid them on the table. “Aoi, could you take a close look at these?”

“You’re not fit to be the Saio-dai. Announce your withdrawal immediately.”

“Hurry up and withdraw. You’re an eyesore.”

They were both composed of newspaper clippings.

“Do you notice anything about them?” asked Holmes.

I stared at them intently for a bit, then said “Oh! There’s something different between them.” In the first one, each letter had been carefully cut out and pasted, but the second one was more sloppily put together.

“Do you feel anything when you see these?”

Holmes’s eyes lit up, but I didn’t know what to say.

8

“Tadasu no Mori” is the name of the forest that covers much of Shimogamo Shrine’s grounds. At the shrine’s Mikage Street entrance is a large stone monument that says “World Heritage Site.” A straight path extends from there to the main shrine, and Tadasu no Mori is the vast, old-growth forest surrounding that path. I’ve heard that the forest itself is part of the World Heritage Site.

While I’m at it, this place is also considered a famous energy vortex. To be honest, I used to think that those were a hoax. It wasn’t until very recently that I changed my mind, after moving to Kyoto. Visiting places like this deserted Tadasu no Mori—especially early in the morning—makes me feel like I can understand why they’re called energy vortexes. They have a special, tranquil atmosphere, as if I’ve entered a deep forest or climbed a high mountain, even if I’m on level ground.

I arrived at the forest ahead of our scheduled 8 a.m. appointment and took a short walk, breathing in deeply. Ah, this feels great. Dazzling rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves while the chirping of birds echoed all around me. I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds of the forest. It really did feel like I was in a dense woodland.

Just then, I heard soft footsteps approaching me.

“Good morning, Aoi. You’re early, I see,” came the sound of Holmes’s voice.

I opened my eyes, turned to face the source of the voice, and there he was. A sight for sore eyes indeed. In this empty forest, he had the appearance of a prince—no, an aristocrat from the Heian era.

“G-Good morning. Yes, I live nearby, so...”

Holmes came right up to me and peered at my face. “Your eyes are a bit red. Were you so curious about the truth that you couldn’t sleep well?”

I blushed. “O-Of course I was curious. It’s only natural.” I’d asked him again after yesterday’s events, but he’d dodged my question, saying, “I’ll explain everything tomorrow.” How could I not be curious?

“You’re right. And it looks like our other curious parties have arrived,” Holmes said, straightening up and looking back over his shoulder. Startled, I did the same. Behind us, I saw the Miyashita family entering the shrine grounds with concerned looks on their faces.

The forest was empty aside from us, with only the chirping birds and rustling breeze breaking the silence until they were joined by the footsteps of the approaching Miyashitas. They stopped about three steps away from us and bowed deeply.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. My apologies for calling you here so early in the morning,” Holmes said, placing his hand to his chest and bowing his head. Standing behind him, I bowed as well.

“So, um, is it true that the culprit will be coming here?” the mother asked, looking around the quiet grounds.

Holmes smiled. “Yes. In fact, they’re already here.”

The three Miyashitas opened their eyes wide in shock. Holmes took one of the letters out of his pocket and directed his stern gaze towards a certain person.

“The person who created this anonymous letter...was you, right, Kaori?” Holmes declared, looking at her intently.

The mother was obviously surprised, but I was too, and instinctively went, “Wh-What?” Kaori? The Saio-dai’s younger sister and my schoolmate, Kaori?

Holmes didn’t react to my bewilderment, maintaining his calm expression. Kaori remained frozen stiff at first but then began to tremble.

“Wh-What makes you think that?” she asked in a shaky, high-pitched voice.

“Let’s see. First, there was something I simply found suspicious. Saori attends a famous private university, but Kaori attends a run-of-the-mill public high school. Why is that the case? I’m sure anyone else would wonder the same.”

I nodded at his words. It was true that I’d also wondered the same thing. Why does Kaori go to a regular school when her older sister goes to a school for wealthy young women?

Holmes continued, “After asking my grandfather, I found out that you both went to the same private school until middle school, and it was starting in high school that you switched to a public school. You begged your parents to let you go to Oki High, saying that several of your good friends were going there. Oki High is a regular public school, but it’s still fairly reputable with a long history. So, your parents permitted it without any particular fuss.”

Their mother nodded in silent agreement. Come to think of it, Holmes said there was something he wanted to check with the owner. It must’ve been this—the reason why Kaori switched to a public school.

“But that wasn’t the real reason, right? Kaori, when you were in your second year of middle school, Miyashita Kimono Fabrics opened a branch store in Roppongi as a friend had suggested. However, business went poorly and they withdrew from the market after a year. Did you decide to switch to a public school out of consideration for your family’s finances?” Holmes asked in a gentle tone.

Kaori clenched her fists, not saying anything in response.

Holmes continued, “Then, Saori was selected as Saio-dai. Were you not worried for your family?”

“Hm?” I furrowed my brow. “U-Um, why would Saori being selected as Saio-dai make her worried about her family?”

“I’m not sure how much of this is true, but I’ve heard that the preparations are mostly paid for by the girl’s family. It’s rumored that the costume alone costs five million yen, and the total expenses come out to ten million.”

“T-Ten million...”

“They say that that’s the reason why only the daughters of distinguished families have ever become Saio-dai.”

I see. So that’s why Keiko and Yuuko said her family was overreaching.

Accepting her defeat, Kaori grit her teeth and swung her face back up to look at him. “That’s right! Our store is old and famous, but we’re in the red! Sure, a long time ago we made outfits for a bunch of famous singers that wore them to the biggest musical event of the year, but that’s all in the past. No one comes to expensive places like us anymore! Despite that, we got tricked into opening a store in Roppongi and failed miserably! And just when I thought we’d finally recovered, Sis was selected as Saio-dai! You’ve gotta be kidding me! Mom and Dad were too prideful to turn it down, so I thought making that letter would be for the greater good! I made it, but...!” Kaori choked.

Holmes narrowed his eyes in a gentle smile. “Ah, so I was right about that, too.”

“Huh?”

“You made a letter, but you didn’t send it. Right?” Holmes said.

He must’ve been spot on, because Kaori was visibly taken aback. She clenched her fists and nodded.

“Yes. I finished making it, but I was still hesitant. Then, Mom and Dad said, ‘Saori being chosen as Saio-dai is the lucky break we needed. It might cost money, but it’s a cheap price to pay for that much exposure.’ When I heard that, I realized how short-sighted I was... I wanted to throw out the letter, but...” Kaori looked down at the ground as she spoke.

“But, at some point you lost the letter and it wound up in your sister’s bag?” Holmes said.

Kaori gulped and nodded. “It was still in the brown envelope, so it might’ve gotten put in there by mistake for some reason.”

“I don’t think so. Saori found the letter and put it in her bag herself, right?” Holmes asked, quickly turning to look straight at Saori, whose face had gone pale with shock.

Their mother exclaimed, “Huh? Really? How come? Weren’t you happy to be Saio-dai? You were all worried when the harassment note came!”

Saori looked down with a pained expression.

“Furthermore, Saori created another one herself. That’s what this second note is,” Holmes said, taking the second letter out of his pocket.

After a short period of silence, Saori quietly answered without looking up from the ground, “How did you know?”

“It was the two flower arrangements at the exhibit. The smaller one that was done at home—that was made by Kaori, right? Not you.”

Saori and Kaori both looked up quickly, as though caught off guard. “H-How did you...?”

“The instructor said they were ‘made in different ways,’ but that’s not the issue. The smaller one looked like it had to have been created by a different person. I came to the conclusion that if the one created during class in the teacher’s presence was yours, then the one created at home must’ve been the work of another.

“Then, there’s the issue of these harassment notes. The first one shows an astonishing amount of precision in how the letters were cut and pasted. However, the second one doesn’t show the same attention to detail. I suspect the creator also realized this, because they kept the message short. So, two people created the notes, and two people created the ikebana pieces. Naturally, Kaori and Saori came to mind. However, it would appear that they had different motives for constructing the letters,” Holmes explained calmly.

I gulped. Right, Kaori’s motive was in consideration of their family’s finances. In that case, what about Saori? I stole a peek in her direction. She hung her head, looking crestfallen, and seemed to be on the verge of tears.

After a short silence, Saori murmured almost inaudibly: “I-I...didn’t want them to hate me even more.” She paused before continuing, “In high school, Keiko and Yuuko suddenly started avoiding me for some reason, and our friendship was broken for good when Mom yelled at them. But, I always wanted to go back to the way we were before. After a while, their hostility finally died down, and I thought we might be able to become friends again soon, but then I was chosen as Saio-dai. I hoped they might congratulate me and we could reconcile, but it had the reverse effect. They completely hated me... It hurt so much. I thought maybe, if I got a threatening letter and withdrew, they’d be nice to me and show some sympathy. Maybe then, we could go back to being friends.” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she told her story.

I didn’t know what to say. I knew she’d been suffering, but I hadn’t expected her to go to such lengths for her friends’ pity. First of all, those two are so jealous of her that I don’t think anything can make them friends again. It’s like, their shallowness puts me at a loss for words.

But when I looked at Saori, who was trembling and crying her eyes out, I was reminded of myself. I had tried to return to Saitama by selling my late grandfather’s belongings. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s a hopeless cause, but to the person involved, it can mean everything. Saori had been studying alongside her ex-best friends at the same university and ikebana school, suffering the whole time.

“Sis, you idiot!” I looked at Kaori in surprise as her voice seemed to reverberate through the forest. “I thought you did it because you were worried about the money too, but that’s why?! That’s so pointless! I’m gonna cry!” Whoa there, Kaori. I can sympathize, but that’s still harsh.

“You wouldn’t understand, Kaori! You don’t know how I’ve felt this whole time!”

“Exactly, I don’t understand! Why would you cling to those jerks? You don’t even like ikebana that much, but you still kept studying it just because you wanted to make up with them eventually! Stop obsessing about those idiots who only badmouth you because they’re too blind to see your good traits! Move on to a new, better world! Become the most beautiful Saio-dai ever, so that one day, those two will brag about how they used to be friends with you!” Kaori shouted with all her strength.

I was overwhelmed. Her words seemed to resonate with Saori’s heart too. “Kaori...” she whispered before starting to cry again, her face bright red. The group fell silent.

Suddenly, Holmes began clapping his hands. “That was brilliant, Kaori.”

Kaori blushed, as though his words had brought her back to her senses.

“So, I’ll be returning these to you,” Holmes said, offering the two letters to their mother.

“This is truly embarrassing. Thank you very much,” their mother said sullenly, taking the letters.

Saori and Kaori bowed their heads to Holmes, saying, “We’re very sorry for the trouble, Kiyotaka.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Holmes replied, shaking his head. “Saori, I agree with what Kaori said. Please strive to become a stunning Saio-dai who captivates all who set eyes on her.”

Saori nodded, wiping her tears with a fingertip.

“And Kaori, there’s something I wanted to ask you,” Holmes continued.

“Y-Yes?” Kaori replied with a slightly wary look in her eyes. She was probably scared because of how much Holmes had guessed correctly.

“You switched to a public school for your family’s sake and you arranged flowers for the benefit of your sister. What made you so devoted? Why did you let your sister take the ikebana lessons even though you enjoyed the art yourself?”

Kaori stared at him in surprise for a moment before chuckling. “Oh, well, I’m the second daughter, so one day I’ll be able to leave the house and become free. But my sister will have to get married and inherit the store. That’s why I think it’s only natural for her to go to a good school and take lessons, since it affects our family’s prestige. I respect her, but I also feel a bit bad for her, so I want to support her as much as I can. She’s pretty, but she’s actually completely useless when it comes to everything else.” Kaori spoke with a cheerful smile, and I felt my mood brightening up too.

Kaori looked at her wristwatch and said, “Mom, it’s time to go to the shrine office,” startling both Saori and their mother.

“You’re right. Kiyotaka, you have my humblest apologies for troubling you with our family affairs. Um, if possible, please don’t...” their mother trailed off.

“Worry not. I won’t tell anyone,” Holmes replied.

The three looked relieved at his answer. They bowed deeply and walked off towards the main shrine.

As I watched their retreating figures, I inadvertently opened my mouth to call out, “K-Kaori!”

She turned around, presumably wondering what I wanted. I suddenly got really nervous. Wait, why did I stop her in the first place?

“U-Um, I heard that Hotel Okura has cream-filled red bean buns. A-And, they’re dine-in only. I-I can’t go by myself, so um, would you like to go someday?” I said in a squeaky voice.

Kaori looked a bit surprised, but smiled and said, “I’ve heard about Okura’s famous buns! I wanted to try them too, so I’ll definitely go with you!”

“Th-Thanks!” I waved goodbye, my heart pounding with joy.

“I’m glad you were able to meet someone you clicked with,” Holmes said with a gentle smile. I quietly nodded. Right, there wasn’t any particular reason for it. I just spontaneously thought, “I want to be friends with this person.”

I took a deep breath and looked at Holmes again before saying, “I’m glad the incident was resolved peacefully.”

“Indeed. The location may have also helped them be honest.”

“Oh yeah, this place has a really sacred atmosphere.”

“That’s true, but do you know the story behind Tadasu no Mori?”

“Huh? What story?”

“It’s said that the name comes from ancient mythology. Shimogamo Shrine’s enshrined deity Kamotaketsunumi-no-Mikoto carried out trials here, hence ‘Tadasu’ which means ‘to investigate.’ This place was the courthouse of the gods,” Holmes explained as he looked up at the sky.

My eyes opened wide. The courthouse of the gods... I didn’t know Tadasu no Mori was such a sacred place.

A cool breeze blew by. “Now then, shall we make a visit to the main shrine?” Holmes asked.

“Oh, sure. We’re already here, after all.” I nodded and we walked along the shrine path.

Past the bright red torii gate archway, I could see a grand two-story gate of the same color. And in front of us to the left was a mysterious tree that was the product of two trees that grew together into one trunk. Apparently, it’s known as the sacred tree of marriage.

We passed through the next gate towards the main shrine, and surrounding us were the rows of shrines dedicated to the god of the twelve zodiac signs. Up ahead was the large main building of the shrine, which didn’t have the usual bell. I once heard a tour guide say that many shrines that’ve been around for a very long time don’t have bells.

After praying at the shrine, Holmes checked his wristwatch and said, “It’s still before nine. Would you like to get breakfast, Aoi?”

“O-Oh, sure. I actually haven’t eaten anything yet.”

“Great. I know a good cafe nearby.”

“Ooh, I’m looking forward to it. Oh, but before that, can I draw a fortune?”

“By all means. Shimogamo’s fortunes have proverbs written on them too, so they’re very interesting.”

“You really do know everything, huh?”

We chatted like that, drew our fortunes, and left the shrine.

9

May fifteenth was the day of the Aoi Festival.

The Aoi Festival is formally known as the Kamo Festival, and it’s one of Kyoto’s three major festivals—the other two are the Gion Festival and the Jidai Festival. It is said to be Japan’s oldest festival.

During the Asuka period, there was a time when Japan was devastated by natural disasters. Concerned for his people, Emperor Kinmei consulted with a renowned fortuneteller and was advised to hold a festival in honor of the Kamo deities. That was supposedly how the Kamo Festival began.

After the Heian relocation of the capital, Emperor Saga sent his beloved daughter, Imperial Princess Uchiko, to serve as a shrine maiden at Kamo’s shrine. The ritual became a national festival called the “Aoi Festival,” where an imperial princess was offered as “Saio” to devote herself to serving the gods. She would ride in a palanquin to the shrine building while the people gave her their blessings. In modern times, a young, unmarried Kyoto woman is chosen as a substitute. This “Saio-dai” rides the palanquin and is the star of the festival.

Learning the full history reaffirmed for me that it was an honorable position. And after all that happened, Saori made up her mind to be this year’s star. When the palanquin emerged from the Imperial Palace, everyone sighed in awe at the beautiful Saio-dai dressed in the traditional twelve-layered kimono. She looked divine. I sensed strength from her expression, as though she’d broken free from the past.

The Aoi Festival is usually only covered by Kansai media outlets, but Saori was so stunning that she made national news. It wasn’t long before she was even requested to make an appearance on TV, but that’s a story for another time.

As Holmes and I watched her from the spectator area, I felt glad from the bottom of my heart that the suspicious mail incident had been resolved cleanly, without any strange complications. The fresh, early summer breeze felt soothing in this time of Aoi.