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Chapter LXXXI: Spirituality and Reflections, Day 1
The day of the much-anticipated Kyoto trip arrives. Kota excitedly grabs his phone to notify Akiko, but a reply comes back that dampens his spirits.
“I’m stuck in bed with the flu. Can’t make itL” (Akiko)
Kota feels a pang of disappointment but quickly sends back a reassuring message.
“Don’t worry, Akiko. I’ll make sure to bring you something special from Kyoto.” (Kota)
At the park, the students start gathering. The squad, along with Toshiro and the Class Rep, wait at the fast-food restaurant nearby. Kota buys himself a hearty breakfast and lunch while Gin and Asahi opt for coffee.
As they sit down, Kota grins.
“Ready for Kyoto?”
Gin, sipping his coffee, nods.
“Absolutely. I heard the food there is amazing.”
Asahi adds,
“And the historical sites! I can’t wait to see them all.”
The shuttle finally arrives, and they depart from the city at 5 a.m. Kota settles into his seat, popping in his earbuds to listen to music.
As the shuttle travels out of the prefecture, it suddenly lurches to a halt. The bus has broken down, and the students are forced to disembark and wait by the roadside.
Satou, always resourceful, speaks up.
“Hey, I have a relative nearby. We can wait at their place.”
Meanwhile, Gin, Enmei, and Asahi decide to explore a nearby eMart. As the rest of the group follows Satou, they find themselves walking along a high, narrow concrete pathway between fields. They chat about the upcoming activities, the excitement building despite the unexpected detour.
After a bit of a trek, they reach Satou’s relative’s house near a gymnasium. They rest and chat, making the best of the delay. Gin, Enmei, and Asahi soon return, bringing back snacks and drinks.
The shuttle is finally fixed, and with Gin, Enmei, and Asahi’s help, it arrives at the gymnasium to pick everyone up. They resume their journey, spirits high once again.
As they ascend a mountainous road shrouded in fog, the shuttle overheats. The smell of the engine troubles some students, and a few decide to step out for fresh air. Toshiro, the Class Rep, and Kota, however, stay at the back, trying to remain optimistic.
The engine cools down and is declared fit to continue. The students pile back in, and they push onward. The fog gradually clears, revealing the beautiful landscape of Kyoto.
Finally, after a series of mishaps and adventures, they arrive in Kyoto. The students spill out of the shuttle, taking in the breathtaking scenery.
Kota looks around, a smile spreading across his face.
“We made it.”
Gin claps him on the back.
“And what a journey it was. Can’t wait to see what Kyoto has in store for us.”
As they head towards their accommodation, Kota’s mind drifts to Akiko. He’s determined to find something truly special for her, something that will make up for her missing out on the trip. The adventure in Kyoto is just beginning, and he’s ready to make the most of every moment.
The students arrive at a famous park in Kyoto for a quick stop-over lunch. The excitement is palpable, but they're only given 30 minutes before they have to return to the shuttle.
Gin, Enmei, and Asahi quickly team up, ready to explore. Kota, however, remains in the shuttle, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the bustling park.
“Come on, Kota! You can't just stay here.” (Gin)
“Yeah, you're missing out!” (Enmei)
“There's so much to see!” (Asahi)
Kota shakes his head, still hesitating.
“Nah, I already have lunch. I’ll just stay here.”
As the trio heads off, Kota finally changes his mind. With the 30 minutes given and his lunch already eaten, he decides to venture out and buy some souvenirs for Akiko. He carefully chooses each item, thinking about what would make her happiest. After making his selections, he heads back to the shuttle, feeling satisfied.
The other students gradually return, their arms laden with various snacks and trinkets. They look around for the driver, but he’s nowhere in sight.
“Where’s the driver?” (Katsu)
Enmei: (grinning) “Maybe he went to smoke the fog out of here.”
The driver, who had been standing right behind Enmei, smacks him lightly on the head. The students burst into laughter, and with everyone back, they continue their journey to the Rest House managed by their school.
Upon arrival, Ms. Soumei announces the room assignments. Each room will accommodate four people. To their delight, Kota, Gin, Asahi, and Enmei are placed together in Room 1-A.
As they enter their room, Enmei quickly claims the upper bunk. However, he finds a sign marked "dibs," courtesy of Kota.
“Hey, who put this sign here?” (Enmei)
Kota, grinning, “I did. Dibs on the high ground.”
Gin, joining in, “I’ll take the other upper bunk. It's over, Enmei. We have the high ground.”
Enmei throws his hands up in mock surrender.
“No fair! This isn't Space Wars!”
The group laughs, turning the room into a scene reminiscent of the iconic movie. They settle into their bunks, talking excitedly about their experiences in Kyoto so far.
“So, what’s everyone’s favorite part of the trip so far?” (Asahi)
“The park was amazing, even though we had such a short time.” (Gin)
“Buying the souvenirs for Akiko. I hope she likes them.” (Kota)
“Getting smacked by the driver was definitely a highlight.” (Enmei)
The room fills with laughter again, and they begin preparing for the upcoming activities. The excitement of the day lingers in the air as they eagerly anticipate what the rest of their Kyoto adventure will bring.
As they prepare for the activities, Kota can't resist poking fun at Gin about his love life.
"So, Gin, any secret admirers we should know about?" (Kota)
Gin, rolling his eyes,
"Ha, very funny, Kota. Shouldn't you be focusing on your own love life?"
The others join in, making it a free-for-all teasing session.
"Yeah, Kota, Akiko might be getting jealous if you keep teasing Gin!" (Asahi)
"Or maybe Gin’s just too shy to admit he has a crush!" (Enmei)
Laughter fills the room, and it quickly escalates into an epic pillow fight. Amid the chaos, Kota's phone rings. It's Akiko calling.
"Hey, Kota! How's it going?" (Akiko)
Kota, dodging a pillow,
"Hey, Akiko! It's... um... lively here. What's up?"
Before Akiko can reply, the bell rings, signaling that it's time for their next activity.
The group heads to the Lecture Hall, where the first activity is called "Opening Up: Knowing Oneself." The students are instructed to write what they see in themselves on pieces of paper. The proctor then pairs them up: Asahi with Enmei, Toshiro with the Class Rep, Katsu with Tengen, Satou with Hanako, and Gin with Kota.
Gin and Kota sit down to discuss their self-reflections.
"So, Gin, what did you write?" (Kota)
"I see myself as someone who's always trying to do the right thing, even if it's hard. You?" (Gin)
"I wrote that I'm someone who wants to make a difference, even if I don't always know how." (Kota)
They finish the activity early and start chatting about the unfair system in their class.
"You know, it's really messed up how some students get all the attention just because they're louder." (Gin)
"Yeah, it's like if you're not causing a scene, you're invisible." (Kota)
After the discussions, the bell rings for dinner. They head to the dining area where they're served corned beef with corn and a side of miso soup. Coffee is the drink of choice, and Tengen manages to overdo his coffee, turning it into a bizarre scramble.
Toshiro, laughing,
"Tengen, are you trying to invent a new dish?"
Katsu: "Yeah, coffee scramble might be the next big thing!"
With dinner done, they return to the lecture hall for the second activity: "The Light of Compliment." One person stands in front with a candle while another candle is passed around the audience. The person holding the candle must give a compliment to the person in front. Their adviser is only allowed to give a kick or a kiss as feedback.
The room becomes emotional as students give heartfelt compliments. Many are moved to tears by the sincerity and warmth of the words shared.
Back in their flat, Gin, Enmei, Asahi, and Kota continue their playful banter until it's time to sleep.
Kota: "Hey, Gin, you better watch out for those secret admirers tonight!"
Gin: "Only if you promise not to snore, Kota."
Laughter echoes in the room as they settle down, their camaraderie stronger than ever after the day's events.
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