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Chapter LXXXII: Spirituality and Reflections, Day 2
It's 12am, and Akiko lies in bed, staring at her phone. She's worried about Kota and tries calling him, but there’s no answer.
Switching to Kyoto, the scene reveals Kota fast asleep. However, the persistent ringing of his phone wakes up Gin.
Gin: (groggily) "Who is calling at this ungodly hour?"
Back at Akiko's place, her brother notices her distressed expression.
Akiko's Brother: "What's going on, Akiko?"
Akiko: "I'm trying to reach Kota, but he's not picking up."
Akiko's Brother: "He's probably asleep. Don't worry about it."
Akiko reluctantly nods, but she keeps her phone nearby. A few minutes later, she gets a text message. It’s from Gin, explaining that Kota is asleep and also mentioning the agenda for tomorrow. Relieved, Akiko finally drifts off to sleep.
The next day, Gin, Enmei, Asahi, and Kota wake up at 6am. With only one bathroom in their room, a comical debate ensues about who should go first.
Enmei: "I call dibs on the bathroom!"
Asahi: "Too late! I already claimed it in my dreams!"
Kota: "Let’s settle this like civilized adults... Rock, paper, scissors!"
After a quick and intense game, Asahi wins and dashes to the bathroom, leaving the others to prepare their belongings. Once everyone is ready, they head to the dining hall for breakfast.
At their table, the four friends recall the previous night’s activities.
Kota:"Can you believe the compliments we got last night? I thought for sure Tengen was going to roast me."
Gin: "Same here. But instead, we found out we’re actually considered pillars of the class."
Asahi: "Yeah, that was pretty touching. I guess we’re not the outcasts we thought we were."
Enmei:"Remember when Satou said we bring the fun to the group? I was not expecting that!"
The flashback to the previous night's activity brings a warm smile to each of their faces. They continue to joke and talk about memes, the latest songs, and their plans for the day.
Ms. Soumei, along with the coordinators of the retreat house, announces a group picture. The entire class gathers, and after a few minutes of organizing, they take a memorable photo together.
Ms. Soumei: "Alright, everyone! You have 30 minutes to take pictures around the retreat house. Have fun!"
Kota rounds up the squad—Gin, Enmei, and Asahi—for some group photos.
Kota: "Alright, let's get some epic shots. We need something for YourBook and InstaBox"
Enmei:"How about we recreate that iconic The Crickets crossing photo?"
Asahi: "But there’s no crosswalk here, genius."
They laugh and strike various poses, taking turns behind the camera.
Kota: "Okay, Gin, it’s your turn to shine."
Gin steps forward and attempts a dramatic pose, but slips on a patch of wet grass and rolls down the hill, ending with a soft thud against a large pine tree.
Enmei: "Gin! Are you okay?"
Gin groans but then gives a thumbs up, causing the squad to burst into laughter.
Kota: "That's definitely going on YourBook!"
After ensuring Gin is fine, they continue taking more pictures, capturing their fun and silly moments. They eventually return to their room to pack their bags, ready for their next adventure.
Enmei: "I hope the mall we’re stopping by has some good food courts. I’m starving already."
Asahi: "You just had breakfast!"
Kota: "Don't worry, Enmei. We'll find something to munch on. And maybe some cool souvenirs too."
They load their luggage onto the shuttle and prepare to leave. As they settle in their seats, the anticipation for the day's activities builds.
Gin: "Hey, do you think we’ll have another shuttle breakdown today?"
Enmei: "Let’s hope not. But if we do, at least we know how to find the nearest eMart."
Asahi: "And maybe avoid more high ground debates."
The shuttle starts, and they begin their journey towards the mall. The squad shares stories, jokes, and laughter, making the trip an enjoyable one despite the previous day’s hiccups.
As the shuttle navigates through the scenic roads of Kyoto, Kota takes out his phone and snaps a few pictures, thinking about how much Akiko would have enjoyed the trip. He makes a mental note to bring back some great souvenirs for her.
Kota: "This trip is turning out to be pretty awesome."
Gin: "Yeah, just imagine how much more fun it’ll be with more 'high ground' arguments and surprise visits to the eMart!"
Laughter fills the shuttle as they look forward to the rest of their trip, ready for whatever comes next.
As they near the mall, the sky is clear, and the day looks promising. The group feels a renewed sense of excitement, eager to explore, shop, and create even more memories together.
The shuttle parks at the enormous central park, and the students get off, grouped by their preferences. Ms. Soumei, learning from previous mishaps, assigns everyone into their squads to prevent anyone from getting lost.
Ms. Soumei: "Stay with your groups, everyone. Remember last time? We don't want a repeat of that chaos."
Enmei, Asahi, Gin, and Kota head towards the nearby mall. The hilly roads and sidewalks prompt Kota to complain.
Kota: "Can we just get a cab? My legs are already tired."
Gin: "Come on, Kota. A little exercise won't hurt. Plus, the mall's not that far."
Asahi: "Yeah, think of it as a warm-up for all the shopping we're about to do."
Enmei: "Besides, we don't want to miss anything interesting along the way."
They arrive at the mall and decide to enter through the backside, near the parking building. The mall’s geography is hilly, and its many terraces and cold climate mean it doesn't need any air conditioning, well except for some stalls.
Kota: "This place has changed a lot since the last time I came here. Look at all these new stores."
They head to the third floor, where all the tech and gadgets are located. Inside a tech shop, Asahi and Enmei buy equipment for their gaming setups.
Asahi: "This new keyboard is going to make my game so much better."
Enmei: "And this mouse has the perfect sensitivity settings. Can't wait to try it out."
As they pass by various stalls, Kota is mesmerized by the changes and the products.
Kota: "Wow, everything here looks so high-tech now. It's like stepping into the future."
Something catches his eye, and he tells the group he's going to the department store below.
Kota: "I’m heading to the department store on the second floor. Need to find something special."
Gin: "Alright, don't get lost. It's just one floor down."
Kota goes to the department store and is overwhelmed by the expensive items. Meanwhile, Toshiro, Katsu, Tengen, and Satou arrive at the mall. Toshiro and Katsu joke about Satou, which annoys him, and he walks away.
Toshiro: "Hey, Satou, did you finally find that perfect hair gel?"
Katsu: "Yeah, because your hair needs all the help it can get."
Satou: (glaring) "Very funny. I'm out of here."
Hanako passes by and wants to talk to Tengen. He hesitates, but Toshiro and Katsu encourage him.
Toshiro: "Go on, man. She's been trying to catch up with you."
Katsu: "Yeah, don't be a chicken."
Tengen reluctantly joins Hanako. Meanwhile, Kota exits the department store holding a paper. On the escalator, he bumps into Satou.
Satou: "Watch it, Kota."
Kota: "Sorry, Satou. Hey, what's up?"
Satou: "Just needed some space from those jokers. How about you?"
Kota: "Looking for a gift for Akiko. Everything here is so pricey."
They chat briefly before parting ways. Kota finds a Dairy King and orders a promo, delighted because it's his first time trying it.
Kota: "One Dairy King special, please. This is gonna be great."
With his ice cream in hand, Kota heads to the terraces to find the squad. He discovers they are at the top terrace and makes his way there. Reunited, they all decide to explore the ground floor next, eyeing a doughnut shop.
Enmei: "I've got a craving for doughnuts. Who's in?"
Asahi: "Count me in. Let's get a dozen."
Gin: "Definitely. And maybe some coffee to go with it."
They order a variety of doughnuts and then head to the park to buy something more substantial to eat. They pick up four onigiris and four sushi rolls.
Kota: "These onigiris look delicious."
Gin: "And you can't go wrong with sushi."
With their food in hand, they head back to the shuttle, satisfied with their purchases and ready for the next part of their trip.
As they settle into the shuttle, Kota reflects on the day's events.
Kota: "This was a pretty awesome day, despite all the walking."
Gin: "Yeah, and we got some great stuff too."
Asahi: "Can't wait to try out my new gear."
Enmei: "And those doughnuts were worth every step."
The shuttle starts up again, and they continue their journey, looking forward to more adventures and laughs ahead.
The shuttle departs from Kyoto, and the windows fog up from the cold climate outside. Kota puts on his headphones, listening to his favorite songs, while most of the others drift off to sleep. The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic movement of the shuttle provide a calming backdrop for the journey.
As the city lights start to appear on the horizon, the shuttle stops at a bright and colorful mall with a fast food restaurant. Kota, eager to stretch his legs, hops off the shuttle and crosses the street without hesitation. In his haste, he nearly gets hit by a truck.
Asahi: (grabbing Kota's arm) "Whoa, watch it! You almost became roadkill."
Kota: (startled) "What? I didn't even see it."
Asahi: (jokingly) "Well, that's one way to get out of buying dinner."
Gin, Asahi, Enmei, and Kota find a table inside the restaurant. Kota orders a hot chocolate and pasta, while the others opt for the dinner buffet promo.
Enmei: "This buffet is a steal! I can eat like a king."
Gin: "Just don't overdo it, we still have a trip to finish."
Asahi: "Yeah, we don't want another bus breakdown with all that extra weight."
As they enjoy their meal, they share stories and jokes, filling the restaurant with laughter. Once they are all stuffed, they head back to the shuttle, their spirits high.
Inside the shuttle, Katsu connects his phone to the shuttle's Bluetooth and plays a video. The screen lights up with a familiar scene.
Katsu: "Hey, everyone, check this out!"
The video shows Tengen singing in the shower, completely unaware that he was being recorded.
Tengen: (mortified) "What the—? How did you get that?!"
Toshiro: (laughing) "Your secret is out, Tengen! You’ve got a future in karaoke."
The entire shuttle erupts in laughter. Tengen, red-faced, tries to snatch the phone from Katsu, causing a playful ruckus. The Class Rep and Ms. Soumei step in to restore order.
Class Rep: "Alright, everyone, settle down! Let's not get carried away."
Ms. Soumei: "And no more unauthorized videos. Understood?"
Toshiro: (still chuckling) "Totally worth it."
Amidst the chaos, Kota receives a message from Akiko.
Akiko: "Hey, where are you guys now?"
Kota: "We're almost back in the city. Should be home soon."
As the shuttle rolls into the city, the students begin to gather their belongings, ready to disembark. They say their goodbyes, promising to keep in touch and share their memories.
Gin: "This trip was something else. Never a dull moment with you guys."
Enmei: "Yeah, let's do it again sometime. Maybe with fewer shuttle breakdowns."
Asahi: "And less singing in the shower."
Kota smiles as he heads home, looking forward to sharing his experiences with Akiko and giving her the souvenir he carefully picked out. Despite the challenges and near-misses, the trip was filled with unforgettable moments and strengthened friendships.
As Kota walks through his front door, he feels a sense of accomplishment and contentment. He made it through the journey, and now he has stories to tell and memories to cherish.
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