The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

‘Escalator’ is, after all, what ”esukā’ refers to.

We ride the escalator inside the facility, heading upwards.

“It’s not like a ropeway where you can enjoy the view, is it?”

“Instead, there’s a bunch of advertisements lined up.”

“It feels like I’m learning about society. Is this the educational aspect of a field trip?”

“I doubt that’s the case…”

We can’t see the scenery, but this space has a sense of the extraordinary, almost like an attraction, which is interesting in its own way.

Such an escalator ride ended in a flash, and we arrived at Hetsu-miya.

Seeing the shrine pavilion, we truly felt that we had come to a shrine since passing through the torii gate.

Using the escalator for it gave us a slightly strange sensation, though.

“The blessings of Hetsumiya at Hetsu Shrine include financial fortune, luck in contests, and warding off evil.”

“For students who don’t have a part-time job, financial fortune is a bit iffy. There’s no salary, and we don’t gamble, so there’s not much chance of a big sum of money coming in.”

“That’s true. Then, how about luck in contests? Next year is exam season, after all.”

“Hmm, I wonder if the blessings can be carried over until next year. The exam date is actually the year after next, though.”

“Well then, how about a charm to ward off evil spirits!”

“I wonder…”

If Koido were here, she’d probably say something like, ‘It’s perfect for you, senpai, since you have the sign of troubles with women!’ And I can hardly affirm that.

“Hey Seko. Didn’t you just think about another girl?’

“That won’t do, Rento-kun. Right now, you should only think about us.”

After all, it’s sad to think about the girls beside me drifting away.

***

Having finished our prayers, we set out for our next destination, Nakatsu-miya.

We walked along a flat path for a while, and just after climbing a few steps, there it was.

It was surprisingly easy and a bit anticlimactic. Perhaps the only difficult part was the first set of stairs.

“Hinata-sensei, what kind of blessings does this place offer?”

“Hehehe. Leave it to me! Nakatsu-miya (Shrine) offers blessings for improvement in the arts, business prosperity, and beauty!”

“Blessings for beauty, you say?”

“Yes, it’s the blessing of beauty! Misa!”

“Oh, we really have to pray earnestly then.”

The two exchanged glances, nodded simultaneously, and began to stride towards the offertory box.

I too started to hurried after them.

After waiting in line for a bit, it was our turn, and we tossed five-yen coins into the offertory box.

We bowed twice, then clapped our hands twice. After that, we pressed our hands together, closed our eyes, and made our wishes.

However, since the blessings I had heard earlier didn’t include what I was looking for, I just prayed for good health in a perfunctory manner and opened my eyes.

Perhaps because my prayer was brief, the two were still praying with their eyes closed when I looked to the side.

With her eyes closed, I could see Misa’s long eyelashes clearly, and I couldn’t help but think how alluring they were.

“Ugh… please, let me grow taller… and have a beautiful figure…!”

“Please grant me a powerful weapon… especially in the upper body…”

Perhaps because they were so earnest, their wishes were slipping out of their mouths.

I pretended not to hear them and slowly started to move away.

However, I couldn’t get far.

“Rento-kun”

“Seko”

The two who were supposed to have been praying until just a moment ago had grabbed my arms.

In that state, I was led aside and confronted.

“You heard our wishes, didn’t you?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Seko, you’re so easy to understand… So, what did you think?”

“T-think about what?”

“Do you think our wishes are necessary for you too, Rento-kun… I mean, are you dissatisfied with our body as it is?”

“That’s not true. I’ve always thought that Misa’s long and beautiful limbs are just like a model’s. Your overall balance is good, or should I say, it feels like a perfect figure.”

“I-is that so. Then there was no need for me to make that wish… fufu.”

“And what about me? Honestly, sometimes I feel a bit short…”

“While Hinata might be shorter than average, I think you’re cute. Plus, you’re toned where you should be, and, well, you got curves where they, um, should be.”

“…Seko, you’re such a pervert. But well, since Seko praised me in his own way, I guess I’ll be happy about it.”

As I praised their figures, Misa and Haru became cheerful and released me from their grip.

I couldn’t help but think that they had deliberately spoken their wishes out loud.

I couldn’t evade answering if they made it sound serious enough to ask a god.

But looking at them now, in a sense, I could say their wish has been granted.

After all, the beauty one seeks is perhaps about being satisfied with oneself.

With my full praise, they have come to be satisfied with their own bodies.

Perhaps the deity residing in this ‘lovers’ sanctuary’ ‘wanted to convey just that.

As I developed such theories in my head, I felt as if I heard the voice of an unknown god protesting, ‘That ain’t it’

***

Leaving Nakatsu-miya behind, we head for the final shrine, Okitsu-miya.

Along the way, I climbed a lighthouse with an observation deck and enjoyed the view spread out below.

Looking back at the photos I took casually, I laughed, thinking that maybe they could even outdo the pictures Koido sent me.

After enjoying the view, we proceeded further into the depths.

“Man, the path suddenly got narrow.”

“The slope is pretty steep too. There are even stairs prepared.”

“We need to be careful.”

“I’m most worried about Hinata though.”

“Hmph. Don’t underestimate me! I’m not going to trip-and-fall at my age!”

“No, didn’t you fall at the pool last year?”

“Ah… uuu!”

“Please stop with that inarticulate protest. It’s demoralizing.”

“In a way, it’s the strongest.”

While having such a conversation, we carefully watched our steps and continued walking.

Upon entering an area lined with shops, Haru spotted something and stopped.

“Look, look. It’s a ‘woman and husband (女夫)’ manju.”

“Oh, the kanji is different, isn’t it? It’s not the characters for ‘husband and wife. (夫婦)’ ”

“It seems there’s a reason for that. I forgot though.”

“You forgot?”

“Yeah, because the other meaning is more important to me… Anyway, let’s try them! It looks like they’re sold individually.”

“They do seem famous. Let’s do that.”

“Agreed.”

We line up in front of the store, pondering whether to order the white or brown one, as there are two varieties available.

“The difference between tsubuan (chunky bean paste) and koshian (smooth bean paste). Hmm, I don’t really have a preference for either.”

“Th-then, why don’t you go with white one, Seko? I’ll take the brown one.”

“You planning on splitting them half and half with me?”

“N-no! You’re supposed to eat one each, that’s the point.”

“Oh, then why did you decide on a different one for me than for yourself?”

“Th-that’s because, um…”

Puzzled by Haru’s hesitation to answer, I tilt my head. Was it such a difficult question?

Observing Haru’s demeanor, Misa seems to have realized something.

“…Hmm, I see. In that case, maybe I’ll go with brown too.”

“Eh? M-Misa, didn’t you say before that you preferred the Koshian?”

“Yes. But somehow, I’m drawn to the brown one today.”

“I thought a fair-skinned person like Misa would suit the Koshian.”

“Choosing the opposite of what you normally would is part of the fun of traveling, isn’t it?”

“…Ugh.”

Without a chance of winning the argument, Haru watched as Misa actually ordered the brown manju.

I didn’t understand why Haru was so stubborn about Misa’s order, but as Haru had told me, I ordered the white one. And as declared, Haru went ahead and bought the brown one.

The Manju we received was steaming hot, looking delicious yet also seeming quite hot.

I broke mine in half with my hands, releasing even more steam, and thought maybe it was a good idea to do so.

When I took a bite, the rich sweetness spread in my mouth, delightfully delicious.

Not just the filling, but the dough itself was subtly sweet, seeping into my tired body from all the walking.

While my mood was uplifted by the snack, Haru had been looking slightly down since earlier.

I knew the cause but not the reason.

Therefore, I couldn’t comfort her even if I wanted to.

But eating delicious food makes you feel happy.

“Haru”

“W-wha-!? S-Seko. Are you calling me by my name and──mmph!”

Surprised, Haru turned around only to have the rest of her manjuu stuffed into her mouth.

Haru stopped moving for a moment, but as she realized the Manju was in her mouth, she began to chew and eventually swallowed it.

Then──

“Come on, Seko! Don’t just shove it in my mouth all of a sudden! And didn’t we agree to have one Manju each?”

“Well, well. I apologize for putting the Manju in your mouth without permission, but you know, delicious things are meant to be shared. The Koshian was good, wasn’t it?”

“…Yeah. It was delicious.”

“That’s good then.”

“…Ren.”

Before I knew it, Haru’s eyes had gone soft, and she accidentally called me by my name, reaching out to hold my hand.

As I was wondering what to do, considering there were no students around, Misa stepped in between me and Haru.

“If that’s the case, Rento-kun, I’ll share my manju with you too. Here, say ‘ahh’.”

“Huh, oh, ahhn”

“How is it? Tasty?”

“Y-yeah. The Tsubuan is good in its own way.”

“Fufu. Right. I usually prefer Koshian, but the Tsubuan here is also delicious… Sharing flavors like this is fun, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Haru, did you also find the Tsubuan tasty?”

“…Eh? Oh, yeah. Both were tasty!”

Haru’s reply came with eyes that had returned to their usual round and bright expression.

Having replenished our energy with sugar, we began walking again towards Okutsu-miya.