Chapter 5: After the Festival

1

A cheerful rhythm could be heard as I walked through town: kon-chiki-chin, kon-chiki-chin. It’s played by the Gion Festival musicians to drum up excitement for the coming festival.

Although “kon-chiki-chin” is the traditional onomatopoeia for the Gion Festival’s distinctive rhythm, personally, I can’t hear it that way. It sounds more like “pyo-pyo kon-kon kan-kan-kan.” I honestly have no idea what part of it is supposed to sound like “kon-chiki-chin,” but that’s what everyone else calls it, so I guess I should too.

The Gion Festival is the most famous of Kyoto’s three major festivals. The city was filled with a joyous air leading up to the biggest event of the summer. I was excited for it too, but... Right now, something else had my attention. I was in a state of shock from a text message I received out of nowhere.

I took a deep breath and stared at the yamaboko that were already starting to be set up. Yamaboko are a type of festival float with a long spear or polearm atop a mountain-shaped platform. During the climax of the festival, there is a procession featuring many of these floats.

The city is packed with tourists every year at this time. It’s probably natural to think that if you’re going to visit Kyoto, you should time it for the cherry blossom season, the autumn leaves, or the Gion Festival.

I took another deep breath and entered Teramachi-Sanjo’s “Kura” as usual. The door chime rang through the store.

“Oh, hey there, Aoi,” someone said at the same time. In the cafe area was a handsome man grinning and raising his hand. Next to him was Mieko, who had a relaxed smile on her face. That handsome man was...

“Akihito?” I said. That’s right—it was Akihito, the actor and second son of the Kajiwara family who we met around ten days ago at the Kurama mountain lodge. “Wh-Why are you here?”

“He said he came to see dear Kiyotaka. Kiyotaka’s good-looking, but Akihito is quite handsome too. I was so surprised to hear that he’s an actor,” Mieko said excitedly. I could understand her enthusiasm. Akihito was attractive, although he seemed a bit—no, very frivolous despite already being twenty-five. Holmes was much more mature than him in comparison.

“I came on behalf of my family to give our thanks again, although I wanted to come earlier than this,” Akihito said. There was a large box of sweets on the table.

“Where is Holmes, anyway?” I asked.

As I looked around the store, Holmes came out from the kitchenette in the back and said, “Coffee’s ready.”

I gasped when I saw him—he was wearing a dark blue yukata, the casual summer version of the kimono. Holmes looks so good in a yukata! It complemented his lustrous black hair and elegant neck, adding a hint of sensuality to his usual charming self. O-Oh no, my heart is racing.

“I’ll make your café au lait right now, Aoi,” Holmes said with a smile that pierced straight through my heart.

I stood frozen in place, lost for words.

“Is something wrong?” Holmes tilted his head.

“Oh, no, I was surprised by the yukata.”

“Ah, the owner said to wear it from the tenth until the end of the Gion Festival. Apparently it’s how people who do business in Kyoto show their festive spirit. My father also wears one when he comes to the store,” Holmes said with a chuckle.

I see. Good job, Owner!

“Oh yes, it was Seiji who asked me to come here, too. He said to give this to you,” Mieko said, handing me a paper bag.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“He told me to prepare a yukata for the ‘cute part-timer.’ You’ll be wearing one too,” she explained with a mischievous grin.

“A yukata? For me?”

“Yes! I brought it from my store.”

Oh right, Mieko owns a women’s clothing store in the same shopping street as Kura.

“Kids these days don’t know how to put on a yukata by themselves, so I adjusted the length for your height, like we do for children’s yukata. Try putting it on by yourself first. I’ll teach you how to tie the bow on the sash another day, but for now, you can use a pre-tied one.” Mieko eagerly held out the bag and I accepted it, still taken aback.

“I-I see. Thank you very much.” I passed through the kitchenette to get to the changing room.

“Looks like I came at a great time! I get to see Aoi in a yukata,” Akihito said loudly enough that I could hear. Well, that’s embarrassing. I’m amazed he can say that so easily. That aspect of his personality probably doesn’t sit well with Holmes. I imagined Holmes frowning in disapproval and smiled.

All right, let’s do this. I’ve worn a yukata with my friends before in Saitama, so maybe this won’t be too disastrous, I thought, taking the yukata out of the bag.

“Wow, this is cute!” It had a clean yet flashy design, with bright red carnations on white fabric. I didn’t know Mieko had such good taste. That’s a clothing store owner for you.

Umm, it goes right side first, right? I thought as I put on the yukata. Since Mieko adjusted the length for me, it was easier than I expected. I then put on the simple, pre-tied sash and straightened it.

“I-I’m done,” I said softly, gingerly stepping out.

“Oh, how cute!—Wait, you’ve become a ghost!” Mieko immediately said upon seeing me.

“Huh? A ghost?” My eyes widened in confusion.

“Your yukata is backwards, Aoi,” Holmes said, chuckling. Oh no. I’d put the kimono on in the way a dead body is dressed for a funeral.

My face flushed. “H-How silly of me. W-Wait, but I thought kimono are worn right side first.” That’s why I put the right side on top of the left.

“‘Right side first’ means having the right side on the inside,” Holmes explained gently.

“Yep,” Akihito said, nodding and standing up. He went around behind me. “An easier way of understanding it is, when a man hugs you from behind, you want his right hand to be able to easily slide in.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and peered around into my face.

“U-Um...”

“Kimono are designed in a dirty way,” Akihito said with a suggestive grin. My cheeks were burning. H-His face is so close. He really is a playboy!

“Excuse me, but could you refrain from sexual harassment in our store?” Holmes quickly grabbed Akihito’s wrist and twisted it.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! I-I get it, okay?!” Akihito pulled away from Holmes and rubbed his wrist.

“Ahaha, you got your just deserts, Akihito. Aoi, go and fix your yukata. You don’t deserve such an early death,” Mieko said, laughing.

“Oh, right.” I hurried back to the changing room.

G-Geez, Akihito’s something, all right. But thanks to him, I don’t think I’ll ever forget how to wear a kimono. “When a man hugs you from behind, you want his right hand to be able to easily slide in.” I imagined being embraced from behind by the person I like. His hand slides under the kimono, onto my chest...

Suddenly, Holmes’s face came to mind.

A-Ahhh! What am I thinking?! I shook my head to clear it and fixed my yukata.

“Geez, didn’t realize you had a jealous streak, Holmes,” I overheard Akihito saying in an amused tone. My heart skipped a beat. J-Jealous?

“It was the natural course of action to take against someone harassing our valuable part-timer.”

“Part-timer? Does that mean you and Aoi aren’t going out?”

“Correct. She’s a student working part-time at our store.” Holmes’s nonchalant answer made my chest ache a bit for some reason. It’s the truth, though.

“Huh. Well anyway, yukata sure are nice. Now I want to wear one too. And then have a girl slide her hand inside from behind.”

“Why don’t you shove your own hand in?”

“You are mad at me, aren’t you?!” Akihito exclaimed.

I secretly smiled to myself. Holmes’s sharp remarks were more pointed than usual. My condolences, Akihito. Holmes dislikes guys like him to begin with, since they resemble the person who stole his former girlfriend. But if he still dislikes that personality type now, does that mean he has lingering feelings for her? My chest tightened ever so slightly. What was that?

I pulled myself together and came back out. “I fixed it.”

“Ooh!” everyone exclaimed.

“Lovely!”

“Yep, you’re a real cutie, Aoi.”

Mieko and Akihito openly praised me. But what does Holmes think? I surreptitiously looked towards him.

Holmes met my gaze and smiled. “Very cute. It looks good on you.”

“Th-Thank you.” Ahhh, my cheeks are burning up.

“Good, good. Ghost incident aside, you wear it very nicely. Since there’s nothing to worry about, I’ll be returning to the shop. I’ll prepare a few more for you, so keep it up until the festival is over, okay?” Mieko gulped down the rest of her coffee and hurried out of the store. She was like a small typhoon.

After she left, Akihito chuckled. “Man, that was a lively old woman, huh?”

“She runs a clothing store on this street. She’s also an old friend of my grandfather,” Holmes said, placing my café au lait on the table with a clunk.

“Since Akihito brought konpeito from Ryokujuan-Shimizu, let’s have tea.” Konpeito is a type of sugar candy that comes in different colors and flavors.

“Ryokujuan-Shimizu?” I tilted my head.

“Huh, you don’t know them? Their premium konpeito is famous in Kyoto.” There was a hint of pride in Akihito’s smile.

“Ryokujuan-Shimizu is a shop located in Sakyo-ku that specializes in konpeito. They were founded in 1847, meaning that they’ve protected their traditional manufacturing technique for over a hundred and fifty years. Even the Imperial House purchases from them, so it’s certainly high class. They have many different flavors, but all of them taste delicious and refined,” Holmes explained cheerfully.

“Ugh, this is why I hate educated guys,” Akihito said, clicking his tongue.

“My academic background is unrelated to konpeito. Could you not take out your insecurities on me?”

“I-I’m not insecure!” Akihito snapped.

Holmes grinned. “Forgive my rudeness then. Oh, but since you chose the path of entertainment, it’d be good to develop that further. That path is one where if you have even the slightest complex, you can use it to stimulate your career.”

Akihito clammed up for a moment, perhaps overpowered by Holmes’s smile and words. “Y-Yeah. I’m gonna take Dad’s parting words to heart and become the best damn actor you’ll ever see.”

The author Kajiwara had left Akihito the painting “Dragon Over Mount Fuji” by Hokusai. It contained his hope for Akihito: “If entertainment is your passion, then master it.”

“Was Ayako all right after we left?” Holmes asked quietly.

Right. That day, Ayako ran out of the mountain lodge before Holmes could finish explaining Kajiwara’s gifts. I was worried about her since we left without seeing her again, and it seemed that Holmes was concerned as well.

“Yeah, after I dropped you guys off at the station and went back to the lodge, she was already there in the living room. Afterwards, Fuyuki talked to her alone. He said she broke down in tears when he told her the meaning behind the aquamarine ring. Maybe she felt guilty all this time,” Akihito said, a bit hesitantly.

Holmes and I silently nodded along.

“My parents were really close. Even I thought Mom was like an ideal wife, and Dad loved her a lot. But it’s like, now I’m wondering if they were only like that because of guilt, and I don’t know how to feel about that.” Akihito sighed.

True, that’s complicated.

“That’s a problem between them,” Holmes said gently. “It’s not for you to bear, Akihito. I’m certain that the happiness you saw between them as a child was the real thing.”

Akihito clammed up again before collapsing onto the table with a thud. “Wait, Holmes. How old are you again?”

“Twenty-two. Why?”

“I gotta get myself together...” Akihito muttered, still face-down on the table.

Pretty much... I thought. It would be way too rude to say it out loud.

Afterwards, we enjoyed the premium konpeito and engaged in silly conversation.

“Come to think of it, don’t you live in Kanto, Akihito? Are you able to stay here for so long?” Holmes asked.

“Yeah, I have a job over here. The Gion Festival’s starting soon too, so I might take it easy this year and check it out.”

“That’s good. Please enjoy the festival.” Holmes smiled happily as if he were a tourism ambassador.

“Gion Festival, huh...?” I said. “All of my classmates said not to go, because it’s too crowded. But even though they said that, they gladly went to the festival at Demachiyanagi’s shopping street.”

Akihito laughed. “I get it, though. That’s just how locals are. Back when I lived in Kyoto, I didn’t go out of my way to see the Gion Festival either.”

“Perhaps, but personally, I’d love to get a close look at each of the yamaboko. They call them a moving art museum, after all.” Holmes had his usual smile on, but he declared that rather strongly.

“A moving art museum?” Akihito and I asked in tandem.

“Yes. The Gion Festival originated over a thousand years ago. During the festival, the yamaboko were taken around the town to purify it and ward off disasters.” Holmes retrieved a heavy book from the bookshelf behind him and placed it on the table where we could see it. He flipped it open to a photo of a yamaboko resembling the ones I’d been seeing around town lately. “The Gion Festival’s yamaboko have been in the custody of the thirty-three neighborhood associations for a thousand years. They appear to be identical at first glance, but they all have differences. Please look at these.”

Holmes pointed at photos of two yamaboko named “Yamabushi-yama” and “Taishi-yama.” The decorations on the sides clearly didn’t look Japanese.

“Oh, this one looks kind of Chinese,” I murmured, looking at the photo.

“Yeah, and this one looks Indian,” Akihito remarked.

Holmes nodded. “These wall hangings were brought over from China’s Ming dynasty, while this yamaboko came from India. There’s also an extremely intriguing one named Koi-yama.”

The tapestry in the photo he pointed at had to be European. It depicted a king wearing a crown.

“Is this from Europe?” I asked.

“Even though it’s at the Gion Festival?” Akihito asked, surprised.

Holmes nodded again. “This was created at the start of the seventeenth century in Brussels, Brabant—in other words, Belgium. The design depicts a scene from Homer’s Iliad, featuring Priam, the King of Troy, and his queen, Hecuba. It was brought to Japan and wound up being used for the Gion Festival. It’s still in use to this day.”

“Wait, but wasn’t Japan closed to foreigners during that time?” I asked.

“Yes. However, it’s said that the tapestry passed through Holland, which is now part of the Netherlands. It was the only European country that Japan traded with.”

“Why was it only Holland, anyway?” Akihito asked, even though his question was blatantly unrelated to the Gion Festival. It was a completely ordinary matter of history...but while I’m ashamed to admit it, I’d also wondered the exact same thing. Why was it only the Dutch that were allowed to trade with Japan?

“The extremely short answer is that they didn’t bring Christianity with them.” Holmes’s response was indeed extremely short. It was so straightforward that both of us nodded firmly and said, “I see.”

“Next, ‘Tsuki-hoko’ is decorated with a rug from the Mughal Empire. The Metropolitan Museum of Art requested it once, so it was displayed there for a period of time.”

“Wow, the Met!”

“The yamaboko that leads the procession is ‘Naginata-hoko.’ It’s not clear where this rug originated from, but it’s suspected that it may have come from the Mongol Empire. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the world that has the same one.” Holmes pointed at a brown rug on the side of the float. “It’s practically a miracle that Yamabushi-yama’s tapestry and this rug from the Mughal Empire have been preserved in such good condition. The neighborhood associations have maintained them very carefully for the past thousand years, only displaying them during the festival. We’re blessed with the opportunity to see wonderful, historical works of art, the likes of which the Metropolitan Museum of Art would request. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the Gion Festival is a festival of miracles,” Holmes said with an intense look in his eyes.

I was floored. It...really could be called a moving art museum. A festival of miracles. That’s how amazing it was.

“Now that you know this, I think you’ll have a different experience participating in the festival. Since you live so close, you really should go and take a close look. The yamaboko parading through the streets are treasures that were lovingly crafted by townspeople a thousand years ago.”

I felt my heart grow warm.

“Thanks for the lesson, Holmes. I feel like being around you makes me smarter,” Akihito said seriously. I unintentionally giggled.

Akihito looked at the grandfather clock and said, “Oh, that’s it for me. I have to go to practice.” He stood up to leave.

“Practice?”

“I’m doing a play in Osaka right now. Feel free to come watch.” He took out a flier from his bag that was headlined “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“Shakespeare?” I asked.

Holmes took the flier and examined it with great interest. “Akihito’s role is Lysander, I see. That’s a good fit.”

“Lysander?”

“To put it simply, the character is a ladykiller.”

“Oh, I see.” It made perfect sense. Holmes’s explanations are always so easy to understand.

“I do think I’ll go see your play,” Holmes said with a smile, making Akihito scratch his head bashfully. Maybe Holmes likes all forms of theater, not just kabuki. It’s art, after all.

“Yeah, feel free. See you later, guys.” Akihito waved goodbye and left Kura.

2

After Akihito left, the store suddenly became much quieter, with only the soothing jazz music playing in the background. Holmes was organizing documents and I was putting the empty coffee cups on a tray.

“It really is hard to get used to wearing a yukata. I think work will be slower than usual.” The sleeves kept getting in the way. Maybe I should tie them back?

“It’s not what you signed up for, so you don’t have to work too hard during this period.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that. One of my classmates works at a small restaurant, and she said she has to wear a kimono all the time. If she can work hard in that, then I will too.”

Holmes chuckled. “Your sincerity is commendable.”

“Huh? Sincerity...?” No one had ever called me sincere before.

“Yes. Even though my father and I always say we’re grateful just to have someone to watch the store while we’re gone, you try to find ways to help out because you want to work for your pay. I can see that you stick to your virtues.”

“I-It’s nothing that impressive. If I listened to you two and got paid to sit around doing nothing, I wouldn’t be able to handle the guilt. And besides, it’s boring to do nothing.” It was embarrassing hearing his overestimation of my character. “Plus, I’m not sincere. I get swayed by the most minor of things.” I started wiping the table with a tea towel so that I wouldn’t have to make eye contact with him. If I did, he’d probably see through me...

“You haven’t seemed too happy lately. Did something happen?” Holmes asked quietly.

Oh, he already did. I smiled in self-deprecation and stopped wiping the table. I looked up and saw the throng of people walking outside the display window. The tranquil store interior made me feel like I was in a different world.

“You see... umm...”

Just as I hesitantly opened my mouth to speak, the door chime rang. A young woman in a dress had entered the store. She had a slim figure, wavy hair that reached her shoulders, and a sweet aura, but she also had a somewhat scared look in her eyes. I was so surprised by her sudden appearance that my greeting was delayed by a moment.

“Izumi...?” Holmes said, seeming surprised.

“H-Hello, Kiyotaka.” The woman shrugged her shoulders.

Holmes looked ever so slightly bewildered for a moment before returning to his usual smile. “Long time no see. I’m glad you seem to have been doing well.”

“Oh, don’t be so stiff,” she said, seemingly troubled by his attitude.

Holmes simply continued to smile. “I heard you’re getting married. Congratulations.”

Married. I had a hunch, but that word convinced me. This was Holmes’s ex-girlfriend. Her name was Izumi, and she was beautiful and sweet. Her frail aura felt similar to Saori, the Saio-dai.

“I actually have something I’d like you to appraise.” Izumi fidgeted as she walked up to him.

“Please have a seat,” Holmes said, standing up and pulling a chair out.

Izumi hesitated before sitting down. “Thanks.”

The store was consumed by an indescribable tension. I silently went to the kitchenette and started making coffee. Holmes always does it when he’s here, but...for some reason, I didn’t want to let her drink his delicious coffee.

“As you said, I’m...getting married.” I could hear her strained voice from here.

“Congratulations,” Holmes repeated in a calm tone.

“Thanks. So, I received tableware as a celebratory gift from my aunt in Kobe. My fiancé said to find out how much it’s worth...” She seemed hesitant to ask.

To be honest, I was surprised. It was a gift from her aunt, right? Not her fiancé’s? And yet he told her to get it appraised? It was a bit hard to believe. Well...maybe he had no intention of selling it and was just curious about how much it was worth? I smiled wryly as the coffee dripped into the pot. Its fragrant aroma drifted through the store.

“Here it is.” Izumi gently placed a box on the table. Holmes put on his usual white gloves. I wanted to see it too, so I hurriedly poured the coffee into cups and set them on the table.

“Allow me to take a look, then,” Holmes said, carefully opening the box. Inside was a square dish with a landscape painted on it. The colors were pale and elegant. It was clearly from the West—did Holmes know how to appraise Western antiques? The store had items from all sorts of countries, but thinking about it, I’d never seen him appraise a Western antique before.

“Royal Copenhagen, I see.”

“Oh, so it really is. That’s what my aunt said, but we only knew Royal Copenhagen for their Christmas plates.” Izumi shrugged sheepishly.

When you think of Royal Copenhagen, you think of their yearly Christmas plates. Sadly, my knowledge was on par with hers.

“Indeed, the Christmas plates are their most famous products. After all, the tradition has continued since 1908 without fail,” Holmes explained with ease.

“Oh, really?” Izumi looked surprised. Was this her first time seeing Holmes doing his job like this? Although to be honest, I was also secretly impressed that Holmes was knowledgeable about Western antiques as well.

“My fiancé said, ‘Copenhagen always has cobalt blue designs, so this might be something else.’”

“It’s true that Royal Copenhagen has long been heavily influenced by Japan’s Imari ware from the Edo period. They’re known for their hand-painted cobalt blue patterns, but they also have many other products. This one is from a series created over sixty years ago, depicting various European landscapes. As for the price... There are a lot in circulation, so I’d put it at twenty to thirty thousand yen.”

“Twenty to thirty thousand...” Izumi nodded. She looked neither happy nor disappointed. “I’m glad I found out. It’s a lovely plate, so I’ll take good care of it.” Her tone of voice became more formal, perhaps due to Holmes’s influence.

“Please do.”

I breathed a small sigh and turned away to dust a shelf a short distance away from them.

“Kiyotaka...that was amazing. I knew you could do appraisals, but I didn’t think you’d be this good.”

“Well...it’s the family business.”

“You said ‘long time no see,’ but for me, that’s not the case,” Izumi said boldly. I instinctively stopped in my tracks.

“Huh?” Even Holmes was confused.

“I’ve passed by this store several times and caught sight of you. I’ve also been to Kyoto University’s campus. You’re going there for grad school, right? That’s amazing.”

Holmes hesitated before saying, “Thank you.”

“I-I’ve actually considered breaking up with my fiancé many times. He keeps cheating on me...” Izumi cast her eyes down, her cheeks bright red.

Holmes said nothing in response. Apparently the “pushy, egotistical, good-looking man” hadn’t changed his style and was using the same approach on other women as well.

“But every time I caught him, he said, ‘You’re the only one for me’...and I just went along with it. But each time, I remembered you and wanted to see you again. It was too late, though, so I always passed right on by.”

Holmes continued to remain silent as he listened to her pour her heart out.

“But then, when I finally couldn’t tolerate his two-timing anymore and told him I was breaking up with him, he cried and apologized and asked me to marry him. I was touched at the time and agreed, but I’m worried about when we really do get married. Will he keep cheating on me either way? Is this really the right person for me? And whenever I think about marrying him, your face always comes to mind. You treated me so well, but I was too young to understand. I was such a fool.” Izumi trembled as she spoke, tears streaming down her cheeks. This was that weakness—that vulnerability that stirs up a man’s protective nature... I felt uneasy.

Just as Holmes opened his mouth to speak, Izumi cut him off. “You don’t have to say anything. I know I’m being stupid.”

Holmes closed his mouth in understanding.

I assume she’s feeling worried before her marriage and came here to vent. But is that really all it is?

Amidst the silence, Izumi wiped the tears in her eyes and sighed. “Kiyotaka, do you still like classic poetry?”

“Classic poetry...? Yes, I suppose.”

I’d been listening attentively to their conversation, and her sudden irrelevant question confused me greatly.

“Please look at this too. I’ll be back in two days to pick it up, so before then,” Izumi said, taking a small box out of a paper bag.

“By the day after tomorrow?”

In other words, the fifteenth.

“Yes, please take your time looking at it... It was made on a mountain in Shiga prefecture.” Izumi quietly stood up.

“A mountain in Shiga...” Holmes knit his brows ever so slightly.

Izumi placed her hand on the door and turned around to face him again. “Thanks for today. I’m glad I made up my mind to come here. That yukata suits you really well,” she said with a smile.

“Thank you.”

Izumi left the store. Without saying a word, Holmes opened the small box she’d left behind. Inside was a pale orange matcha tea bowl with a design of green...

“Are these leaves?” I asked without thinking.

He nodded. “Yes, it’s Japanese mugwort.”

I leaned in a bit. “Is this valuable?”

Holmes said nothing in response and continued to squint at it. It didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about its value at the moment.

“You like classic poetry, Holmes?” I asked, changing the topic.

He smiled slightly at that and said, “To a normal extent. Classic poetry...was how we got to know one another.”

“Really?”

“Yes. In our second year of high school we went to Tofuku Temple as part of a school trip. It’s in Higashiyama-ku, which is famous for its autumn leaves.”

“A school trip...” I was a bit startled.

“When she saw the bright red leaves floating down the creek, she said, ‘Oh, this reminds me of that famous poem! Even in the age of gods and miracles, I have never heard of the Tatsuta River... Um, how did the rest go again?’ and I answered, ‘The Tatsuta River’s waters dyed in such crimson.’ It was the famous poem ‘Chihayaburu.’ After that, she apparently fell in love with me, thinking that I liked classic poetry.”

“I-I see.” Having such an attractive guy complete her poem while she was already moved by the sight of the river covered in bright red leaves was bound to rouse her heart.

“But, while I liked classic poetry, I didn’t love it to the extent that she thought I did.” Holmes shrugged sheepishly and I couldn’t help but giggle. He only said the line because he knew the answer.

“Women are easily swayed, huh?” he murmured to himself, holding the tea bowl.

I sighed. “You might be right.” I get swayed by minor things all the time.

“Oh right, we were interrupted earlier.”

“Huh?”

“We were discussing how you seemed unhappy lately. What happened?”

“Oh...well, my previous school in Saitama...is apparently coming to see the Gion Festival as part of a school trip kind of thing.”

Holmes’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s for cultural research or something. So, a girl from my friend group texted me saying she wanted to see me, and she asked me to go to their hotel lobby. My ex-friend’s in that group too, so I’m scared that I might run into my ex...but I do want to see my other friends, so I ended up agreeing to go.” I laughed hollowly.

“I see...” Holmes stood up slowly. “I think it’s a good idea. You still feel uneasy, right? Since they’re coming here, you might be able to get the closure you need without having to go all the way to Saitama yourself,” he said, looking down at me with a firm gaze.

“Yes...you’re right.”

“When are you going?”

“The fifteenth—yoi-yoi-yama. She said to come to the hotel on Shijo-Muromachi Street at 7:30 p.m.”

The days leading up to the Gion Festival’s main procession are a countdown, with yoi-yoi-yama being two days before. Food stands and illuminated yamaboko line the streets, celebrating the start of the festival. On that day, I have work at Kura until 7 p.m., so I’ll be able to head straight there afterwards.

Just like Holmes said, I thought it was a good opportunity. Still, I couldn’t shake my fears.

“Don’t be so anxious. Remember, action is worry’s worst enemy.” Holmes patted my head and smiled warmly.

My chest tightened. “Holmes...”

Just then, his smartphone buzzed. He looked at the screen and said, “Right, I need to deliver some documents. I’ll be right back, so please watch the store while I’m out.” He took out a brown envelope from a drawer and hurried outside.

“Oh, okay,” I replied, though he was already gone by then.

My eyes gravitated towards the tea bowl that’d been left on the table. Japanese mugwort... I’ve been working at Kura for a few months now, and my eyes have been trained a considerable amount in this time. This tea bowl...was clearly made by an amateur. Was it made by Izumi, then? Did she want him to appraise her own work?

“Kiyotaka, do you still like classic poetry?”

That’s what she said before presenting this tea bowl. She also said it was made on a mountain in Shiga... It might have something to do with a poem. Right, that has to be it! It contains a message based on a poem!

I immediately looked up and turned to the bookshelf and its neat assortment of reference materials. I took out an atlas first to see where Shiga’s mountains were. They were listed in alphabetical order in the index. Mount Bungen, Ibuki, Kanakuso, Oike, Shirakura... There were many more than I expected.

“I can’t tell which one...” I stared at the names for a while but nothing came to mind at all. Shiga was famous for ceramics and Shigaraki ware anyway, so maybe the Shiga mountain part wasn’t too important. Let’s try Japanese mugwort, then.

“Mugwort is called ‘four-directional grass’ in Japanese because its roots grow in four directions. It goes by a variety of other names as well, and is called sashimogusa in classic poetry. It’s mentioned in two poems from Hyakunin Isshu.”

“Hyakunin Isshu...” That was an anthology of one hundred poems by one hundred poets—the same one that “Chihayaburu” was from.

This time, I opened up a poetry compilation. Sashimogusa... Sashimogusa...

Before long, I found the two poems that contained the word.

“My life relied on vows that were as dew on sashimogusa. Alas, another autumn has passed. — Fujiwara no Mototoshi”

And the meaning...

“Your words of promise were as transient as the dew on mugwort. I lived a long life believing in them, but in the end, my wish was not granted.

“Explanation: The author asked for his son to be promoted, but his wish was not granted. The poem was written as a complaint.”

Uh... it’s probably not this one. Let’s take a look at the other one.

“Though I am like this, I cannot say. Like the sashimogusa of Ibuki, unknown, my feelings burn. — Fujiwara no Sanekata”

The sashimogusa of Ibuki... Shiga’s Mount Ibuki. I looked up the meaning with a trembling finger.

“I love you so much, but I can’t say it. Since I can’t say it, you must not be aware. My feelings burn for you like the mugwort of Mount Ibuki.”

My heart leaped. This tea bowl...contained Izumi’s wholehearted confession. She must’ve thought that giving him a tea bowl linked to a classical poem would reach his heart more than simply saying “I still love you; I can’t forget you.” Like when she fell in love with him after he finished her poem.

She wanted him to look at this tea bowl, sense her feelings...and accept them. That’s why she’s coming back in two days—to hear his answer.

Holmes would’ve identified the message at first glance. What is he going to do? He loved her so much. He’d have to be swayed by such a sweet confession wrapped in a riddle, right?

“I love you so much, but I can’t say it.”

Cold sweat formed on my forehead as I quietly returned the books to the shelf. I sat dazed for a while before the door chime rang, signaling Holmes’s return.

“Sorry, that took longer than expected. Was everything all right?”

“Yes. There weren’t any customers, and no one called.” I smiled, picked up the feather duster, and turned away.

On the fifteenth, the streets will be adorned with yamaboko for yoi-yoi-yama. By a strange coincidence, I was also going to have to settle something for myself that day.

3

July fifteenth, yoi-yoi-yama. This marks the second day before the climax of the Gion Festival.

The city of Kyoto was bustling with all of the tourists who came to see the yamaboko on display. Men and women of all ages dressed in yukata were shopping around the stalls lining the streets.

That day, I headed for Kura right after school as usual.

“Good morning.” I always say this upon entering the store, no matter what time it is. It’s the tradition in the antiques business.

Immediately, I heard a voice say, “Oh, you’re here, Aoi! I’ll help you with your yukata today.”

“Huh?”

Mieko, who’d apparently been waiting for my arrival, pulled me into the small changing area and tied a cute bow around my yukata with a vermillion sash. The yukata was the white one with red carnations that she had given me the other day.

“There we go. Now it won’t slip out of place. It looks great on you.” She nodded firmly, looking proud.

Mieko herself was wearing a vibrant light purple yukata. You could tell she was a seasoned Kyoto woman. She looked accustomed to it and she wore it well.

“Thank you. Your yukata is lovely too, Mieko.”

“Why thank you. It’s nice, right? I like this color very much.”

“It suits you well, and the one you picked for me is really cute too. I think you have great taste,” I said, touching my sash.

Mieko’s eyes opened wide. “Ah, well, perhaps I do, but the one who chose your yukata was Kiyotaka.”

“Huh?” My heart leapt.

“The owner did ask me to provide it, but I’m not familiar with what young folk like, so I asked Kiyotaka and he suggested this one. I thought something bolder would be better, but this one does suit you very well. He certainly has an eye for everything,” Mieko said cheerfully. I looked down at the floor, unable to say anything.

Mieko then hurriedly left the store, saying that she had things to do. It was back to just me and Holmes, who was sitting at the counter and doing the accounting. Today he was wearing a dark gray yukata with a black sash. I liked the dark blue one too, but this one had an even more mature look that made my heart race. Seriously, how can someone look so good in a yukata? What a real Kyoto guy!

“Was it crowded outside?” Holmes asked, still looking at the ledger. I snapped back to attention and looked up at him. I could tell I was blushing furiously. I was too happy knowing that he was the one who picked out my yukata.

“Oh, yes. It really is a big event, huh?”

“It’s already yoi-yoi-yama. You were going to meet your friends from Saitama today, right?”

This time, my heart leapt for a different reason.

“Yes, umm, at the lobby of a hotel called ‘Ryokuen.’”

“Ah, Ryokuen. That hotel has been hosting students on field trips for quite a long time.”

“I see.” I nodded and glanced at the paper bag on the counter. It was the tea bowl made by Izumi. “Come to think of it, Izumi’s coming today, right?” I was extremely curious, but asked nonchalantly as if it didn’t concern me.

“Yes. She did say that,” Holmes answered quickly, also as if it were nothing important.

Could it be that he didn’t notice her confession? No, that can’t be true. Holmes of all people would never miss that. When Holmes accepts that tea bowl, it’ll be the same as accepting her feelings. For better or worse, I’ll be able to witness it myself. And then I’ll be going to see my friends from Saitama... What a day!

4

It felt like time was passing much slower than usual. The shopping street was full of people, but no one stopped by Kura. It wasn’t the kind of store that one would casually drop into on a whim, especially with an event going on. Since there were no customers, time was trickling by. There was no sign of Izumi either.

Due to the festival, Kura was going to close at 7 p.m. today. It’s usually open until eight, but Holmes said there weren’t going to be any customers anyway.

Time passed and it was now 6:50 p.m. Izumi had yet to appear. Why isn’t she coming? Did she change her mind? I was restlessly wondering when she’d show up, but Holmes seemed the same as always. Maybe she already texted him saying she wasn’t coming? I felt the anxiety coming on and shook my head to clear it.

It was almost seven. I took a breath and said, “Um...I should change out of my yukata now.”

Holmes looked up at the clock. “Oh, it’s already time. Since it’s the Gion Festival, why don’t you keep the yukata on?”

“Huh?”

“Your friends are here to experience the festival too, so they might be wearing yukata as well.”

“Oh...you’re right.”

“And most importantly, it looks good on you.” Holmes grinned.

My face went red. “R-Really? Okay, I’ll go there like this, then. I have a drawstring purse too, so this works.”

Then, the door chime rang. It was Izumi.

“Kiyotaka...” she greeted hesitantly.

“Welcome. Please have a seat,” Holmes said with his first-rate smile. I felt a sting in my chest.

“Thanks.”

“It looks like the festival’s in full swing.”

“It really is.”

They exchanged smiles. The tension from last time was gone... There was a friendly atmosphere between them.

Oh, maybe she knew we were closing at seven and purposely came at the last minute? Maybe she thought they could enjoy the festival together. Maybe they had already agreed to beforehand. Either way, I was the third wheel, and it was time for me to leave.

“Um...I’ll be going now. See you.” I bowed and fled the store. The moment I stepped outside, I winced at the hot summer air. Crowds of sightseers were moving to and fro beneath the dim sky.

There were thirty minutes left until our scheduled meeting, so I walked slowly towards the hotel. Is this heavy-hearted feeling because I might run into my best friend and ex-boyfriend? Or is it because of Holmes and Izumi? Everything’s bothering me, and I have no idea what I’m hoping for. Maybe it’s because I’m like this that I can’t be happy, I thought, a self-deprecating smile rising to my face.

Kon-chiki-chin, kon-chiki-chin, went the festival rhythm. Colorful yamaboko contrasting with the darkening sky, paper lanterns illuminating the road... It was such a Japanese scene, and yet it felt magical, as though I’d wandered into another world. I had to walk slowly because I wasn’t used to the yukata, so even though the hotel was close by, it took almost twenty minutes to get there.

I checked the sign that said “Ryokuen” and entered the lobby. It was a small, old-fashioned hotel that didn’t look particularly traditional. The moment I stepped in, I heard a delighted voice: “Oh, it’s Aoi!” Surprised, I turned towards the voice and saw the group of friends I used to hang out with. I looked around for Sanae, my best friend who’d snatched away my boyfriend, but I didn’t see her. Relieved, I smiled back at my friends who I hadn’t seen in a long time. Holmes was right—they were all wearing yukata. I was so glad that I’d kept mine on.

“Long time no see, everyone!”

“You look like you’re doing well, Aoi!”

“Aoi, you look so cute in your yukata!”

They greeted me with bright smiles. I was so happy to see that they hadn’t changed. I’m glad I worked up the courage to come here, I felt from the bottom of my heart.

“Hey so, Sanae and Katsumi said that they really want to talk to you about something,” one of my friends said with a serious face.

My heart leapt. “Huh?”

The very next instant, as if they’d planned this in advance, my ex, Katsumi, and my best friend, Sanae, came out from behind a pillar. They both wore grave expressions on their faces. My heart was beating a mile a minute at their sudden appearance, and to be honest, it was a struggle to even remain standing.

They walked up to me with pained looks.

“Sorry, Aoi.”

“We’re so sorry.”

Both of them bowed deeply.

“You’ve probably already heard, but the two of us are going out now,” Katsumi said, revealing the truth that I didn’t want to hear. My heart sank.

“After you left, Katsumi and I were really lonely without you, and we ended up hanging out a lot since we both wanted to distract ourselves from missing you...”

“Wait, I’ll explain. I really am sorry, Aoi. Sanae and I both loved you, so it was really painful losing you...and we started going to karaoke and stuff as a distraction.”

“I-It was my fault. I ended up falling in love with Katsumi.”

“No, it was my fault for not being able to distance myself from Sanae...”

“We really are sorry!” They bowed over and over again, as if competing to see who was more remorseful.

My friends chimed in, as if covering for the two. “Aoi, we thought it was terrible at first too, but Sanae really was thinking about you too much, to the point where she wasn’t eating enough.”

“Yeah, and besides, they didn’t start dating until after Katsumi broke up with you.”

What’s the meaning of this...?

Oh, I see. So that’s how it is. My friends said they wanted to see me, but that wasn’t the real reason they called me here... Those two just wanted to clear their feelings of guilt. No one here cares about me anymore.

If they apologize profusely and I say, “It’s okay,” then they won’t have to feel bad about their relationship anymore, right?

What should I do? Well...I clearly don’t have a choice but to smile and give them my blessing. But what would happen if I said, “Isn’t that just your excuse? Think about how I feel having your apologies forced onto me!”

It’s all a farce. They’re doing this assuming that I’ll forgive them.

I clenched my fists to try to hide my trembling. I felt like I could cry at any moment, but I managed to hold my tears back and form a smile.

“I-It’s okay. It didn’t work out between us because we got separated, so...” I wasn’t saying it for their sake. It was for myself, because I didn’t want to feel any more miserable. “I honestly feel conflicted about my ex-boyfriend going out with my best friend...but there’s nothing I can do if you fell in love with each other.” I’ll tell you what you want to hear the most, so please, get out of my sight. “Don’t worry about me. I hope it goes well for you.” I was positive I was able to maintain my smile until the end.

“Oh!” my friends exclaimed.

“Thank yooou!” Sanae cried, and Katsumi gently patted her on the head. It left a bitter taste in my mouth and I could feel tears starting to well up. Now what? I really am about to cry. It’s so frustrating. I’m pathetic. I hate this...

“Aoi, you’re so cool!”

“Yeah, I admire you!”

“Hey, does everyone wanna go to the festival together?”

They can say those things because they’re excited. Please...just stop. I wish I could leave. It took everything I had to hold back my tears.

“C’mon, let’s go!” one of my friends said, holding out her hand.

“Aoi?” Holmes called out, his voice echoing across the lobby.

“Huh?” I turned around, and sure enough, there was Holmes in his yukata. My mind went blank. Why was he here? The only thing I could hear in my bewilderment was my racing pulse.

His sudden appearance didn’t go unnoticed.

“Who’s that? He’s really good-looking!”

“Guys in yukata are so cool!”

“Do you know him, Aoi?”

My excited friends exchanged looks.

“Oh...yeah, I do.” I nodded hesitantly.

Holmes walked right up beside me and smiled. “Hello, I’m Kiyotaka Yagashira. Thank you for coming all the way from Saitama to see our Gion Festival,” he said, with the air of a tourism ambassador. Why does he always take responsibility for promoting Kyoto and works of art?

“Umm, do you work for the festival?” a friend asked. It was a reasonable suspicion.

Holmes chuckled. “No, I’m a university student studying philology and literature. Oh, you’re all in high school, right? If you’re interested in Kyoto University, feel free to visit. I’ll show you around.”

“Wait, Kyoto University?”

“Whoa!”

Everyone exchanged glances, hands over their mouths in shock. As I stood there astonished, Holmes looked down at me, gazing intently as if he were seeing into my heart. “Are you finished here?” he asked.

“Oh... Yes.”

“Shall we go see the festival, then?” he said, holding out his hand. I felt like I was going to cry. No one here understood me, but Holmes...Holmes knew. He could tell that I wanted to get away. I was on the verge of tears, but I wasn’t going to cry here.

“Yes, let’s go.” I nodded firmly and took his hand.

Everyone’s faces lit up.

“I see how it is, Aoi! So that’s why you’re wearing a yukata!”

“I can’t believe you have a hot boyfriend that goes to Kyoto U! I’m so jealous!”

“And you’re going on a festival date! Tell us all about it later!”

As they were all chattering excitedly, Sanae seemed relieved yet conflicted, while Katsumi looked dumbfounded and didn’t say a word.

“O-Okay. See you next time, guys.”

“Let’s go, Aoi.”

I took Holmes’s hand and we were about to leave when Katsumi sprung forward and grabbed my wrist. “A-Aoi!”

“Huh?”

“What’s the meaning of this? We only just broke up, but you’re already dating a guy from Kyoto U?”

Everyone, not just me, was shocked by his words.

“Wh-What are you trying to say?” I asked, bewildered. But before I could defend myself, everyone else stepped in.

“Hey, Katsumi! What’re you saying when you already have Sanae?”

“And you’re the one who betrayed Aoi in the first place!”

“Yeah! But you regret it now that you know she’s hitting it off with a super hot guy from Kyoto University? Are you serious? I can’t believe you.”

My friends criticized him in unison, and Sanae ran away, unable to endure it.

“Sanae, wait!” Katsumi panicked and chased after her.

What on Earth? First it was a farce, and now it’s turned into a soap opera...

After the shock passed through me, I smiled weakly. It felt like everything that’d been bottled up inside me had disappeared in a flash. Is this what they call “getting over it?” I was glad, though. Now I felt as though I’d truly, truly managed to settle my past love. There was no need to pretend anymore.

As I stood there in place, Holmes said, “Aoi.”

“Oh, right.”

He held my hand firmly and led me outside the hotel.

We walked out onto the street and explored the bustling, festive town...while still holding hands. The paper lanterns hanging in the air illuminated the streets with their warm light.

“It’s too crowded. We’ll be able to walk more easily if we cut through here,” Holmes said, slipping into an alley. It was a very Kyoto-esque narrow path that could only be passed through in single file. It was so peaceful and quiet in there that it was hard to believe we’d just gotten out of a flood of people.

“I-I’m surprised you came, Holmes.” There were so many things I wanted to ask him about, like what happened with Izumi after I left, but those were the first words that left my mouth.

Holmes stopped walking. “I was a little worried. I had a feeling...that you were crying.” Those words pierced my heart. He...really does see through everything.

“Y-You really do know everything, Holmes,” I murmured. He silently turned around and looked at me gently. “I was at my limit. They forced their apology on me, and all of my friends sided with them. No one would consider my feelings... That’s when you showed up, and I was really so surprised.” He’d truly saved me. “I-I gave them my blessing, but the whole time I was thinking, ‘This is for my own sake, not yours.’ That’s...wrong, right? If I was going to give them my blessing, then I should’ve said it sincerely. But it wasn’t possible for me... I’m glad, though. I’ve been an indecisive coward all this time, but now, I’m finally over it. Thank you for being worried about me and coming to save me.” I managed to put on a smile before bowing.

Holmes sighed deeply. “You don’t have to force yourself to smile. That was utterly ridiculous,” he declared in a somewhat angry Kyoto accent.

“Huh?” I looked back up at him, surprised. He was frowning.

“If they felt guilty and genuinely wanted to apologize, then they wouldn’t have had to get your friends to back them up. The way they went about it was absolutely rotten.”

It was hard to believe that that strong language was coming from the calm and elegant Holmes. From those words, I could tell that he was genuinely angry. He was angry...because of what happened to me...

“Holmes...” The burden on my heart was lifted, and warm joy took its place. I’m so happy that Holmes came for me... The moment I looked down, a large hand tenderly patted my head.

“It must’ve been hard, Aoi,” he said gently.

Suddenly, the dam holding back my tears burst. “Holmes...!” I cried.

“Let it all out. You deserve it,” he said, patting my back softly.

Before I knew it, I’d flung myself into his chest and started bawling loudly. I’m...not going to try to hold it in anymore. It hurt so much seeing my ex, best friend, and even the rest of our friend group distancing themselves from me. I couldn’t cry in front of them. I absolutely did not want to let that happen. But here, it was okay to cry. Holmes!

I was enveloped in his warm chest and the gentle motions of his hand. There was a faint, sweet scent coming from his yukata. The red lanterns were blurred by the tears in my eyes.

Somewhere nearby, the sound of the festival rhythm softly rang out.

5

Afterwards, we walked around and looked at the yamaboko before returning to Kura in Teramachi-Sanjo. I’d remembered that I’d left my school uniform and shoes there.

The shopping street was quiet at night. Kura was the only store showing signs of life, lit up by a dim lamp.

“Enjoy.” Holmes made my usual café au lait.

“Thank you.” I lifted the cup and brought it to my mouth, feeling the warmth of the delicious drink seep through me. I then looked at the counter and saw that Izumi’s tea bowl was gone.

“Holmes, did you notice the message in Izumi’s tea bowl?” I asked tentatively.

Holmes widened his eyes, looking slightly surprised. “Yes, but I’m impressed that you did too, Aoi.”

“Oh, well, um. Yeah.” I couldn’t exactly say that I’d secretly done my research. “So, um, what was your answer?” I asked, quickly moving on so that he wouldn’t press further.

Holmes gently put down his cup. “When I received the tea bowl from her, I sensed that she was expecting a response poem. So, I provided one.”

That means he replied with a classic poem, right? That’s Holmes for you!

“Wh-What was it?”

“’Twould be lamentable to submit to a whim, and sully my name for a mere summer night’s dream. I modified a poem by Suo no Naishi and gave it to her together with her tea bowl.”

“And...what does that mean?”

“The original poem goes, ’Twould be lamentable to rest upon your arm, and sully my name for a mere spring night’s dream. It means ‘I would hate for unsavory rumors to spread about us simply because I used your arm as a pillow for a moment as fleeting as a spring night’s dream.’”

“I-I see.” So that means...“I would hate for unsavory rumors to spread about us simply because I followed your whim, which is as fleeting as a summer night’s dream.” In other words, he turned her down. He always manages to be graceful yet sharp. That’s a Kyoto guy for you.

“B-But, weren’t you swayed? It was a wholehearted confession from someone you used to love dearly, right?”

“I wasn’t. It’s true that I once wanted to get her back, but that desire already disappeared long ago. Plus, even though it looked like a wholehearted confession, the lines on the tea bowl showed strong signs of selfishness and hesitation. It told me that her rekindled feelings for me were nothing more than escapism.”

“The lines...” I gulped.

“Yes. All works of art reveal the artist’s true nature—the same goes for my father’s books. After giving her my frank answer, I also gave her some unsolicited advice: ‘If you’re that hesitant about getting married, have a serious talk with him and his parents again, or else you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.’ Then she pouted and left in a huff.”

“I...see.” Holmes really was calm and composed. Instead of falling for her whimsical confession, he saw through to her true character... Then again, in his mind, it was truly over between them. Realizing that made me somewhat relieved, which confused me. Why was I relieved?

As I was thinking, it occurred to me that I’d been crying my eyes out on Holmes’s chest, and my face flushed.

“Is something wrong, Aoi?” He suddenly peered into my face and I reflexively recoiled.

“N-No, it’s nothing. Really.” My heart was beating a mile a minute. What’s gotten into me?

Suddenly, the door swung open with a clang from the chime.

“Huh, was wondering why there was a bit of light coming from here. Door’s open.”

“It must be Kiyotaka.”

The owner and the manager came in. They were both holding paper fans; presumably they were on their way back from the Gion Festival.

Upon seeing us, the owner perked up. “A young man and woman alone in the dark? What naughty things are you up to?”

“Get your mind out of the gutter. You’re being rude to Aoi, you know? Anyway, I’ll make coffee,” Holmes said, standing up. He was immune to the owner’s teasing.

As for me, I didn’t know why, but my heart felt like it was going to explode. Why is this happening?

“What did you think of yoi-yoi-yama, Aoi?” the manager asked in a kind voice, bringing me back to my senses.

I looked at him and answered, “It was wonderful, like something out of a fairytale.”

“This year was busier than last year,” Holmes said, emerging from the kitchenette with a tray. As he was placing the cups in a row on the table, the door opened with a clang again. This time, it was Mieko popping in.

“I noticed the light was on, and you’re all here! I caught Ueda and Akihito at the festival, so they’re here too.”

“That coffee smells good!”

“I came to see the Gion Festival, as promised.”

Ueda and Akihito came in after Mieko, chattering all the while. It was somewhat relieving to see the usual cast.

“Can you make us coffee too, Holmes?”

“I could go for wine.”

“Yes, yes.” Holmes nodded before looking at me again. “Would you like a second café au lait, Aoi?”

“Oh... Yes, please.” My pulse quickened again. Okay, seriously, why is my heart beating so fast? It must be because I cried on Holmes’s chest. Because of his broad chest, sweet scent, and large, warm, gentle hands. Remembering it made me nervous, but at the same time, it was a really nice feeling...

I think I’ve finally gotten over the past once and for all. I’m going to use this festival as a turning point. I’ll say farewell to the me who was always looking back. From now on, I’ll walk forward. I nodded to myself and smiled as I sipped the café au lait.

It was a lively and fun night in Teramachi-Sanjo—the time of happiness that comes after the festival.