Chapter 427

"Can I take a look? Wow, it's so heavy!"

Ogasawara Haruka, taking the instrument for the first time, was caught off guard by its heavy weight and her face fell. "Is a guitar really this heavy?"

That's Electric Guitar.

While keeping an eye on driving the car out of the parking space, Himemiya Chihaya.

"I told Asuka and the others at the stadium before that I prefer rock Wind Instrument Music."

"Ah, I think I did say that!"

After thinking for a moment, she recalled and continued curiously, "This is a rock instrument, it's definitely much more eye-catching and cooler than the instruments in the Wind Ensemble Club..."

"Asuka."

Ogasawara Haruka looked helpless; how could anyone belittle their own family so readily?

"Yes, the guitarist in the band uses this instrument."

He nodded in affirmation.

"Huh? So you actually formed a band?"

No, that's not true.

"Phew~ Thank goodness. If you had kept going like that, I would have seriously started to doubt whether you were even human."

"But Himemiya student should be able to play, right?"

Nakasako Kaori gently stroked the guitar's soundboard, feeling its cold, smooth surface.

"Of course I will..."

"Just how many musical instruments do you know...?"

After the others voiced their thoughts, the passenger in the next seat raised his right hand and exclaimed, "Teacher! I want to hear it!"

"Let's talk about it at school tomorrow. Can you take me around the city today?"

His tone was helpless.

As mentioned before, his first priority here is to build good relationships with them, but it's also very important to relax, have fun, and recharge!

"It's a date!"

Tanaka Asuka readily agreed.

"..."

"..."

Although it's a city in the mountains, most of the attractions aren't located here, but rather on the northern side of the mountains where they were originally situated.

With the help of a car, they arrived at this mountain city in just ten minutes.

The group quickly visited several places, including Chōfukuji, the tea factory, the Nagatani Sōen's Former Residence, and the specialty street. After taking a few photos and experiencing the local customs and culture through the street scenes, they headed back.

They spent about two hours visiting these places.

Fortunately, the remaining places are all within a one-kilometer radius, so it's quick to explore them.

They drove the car back to its original location, and the group got out and began their walking tour.

"This is Byōdō-in, the most famous temple garden in Uji. It was originally Fujiwara no Michinaga's villa, which was later converted into a temple by his son."

Tanaka Asuka proved that she hadn't eaten his lunch and dessert for nothing.

She described each attraction to him with great familiarity, her words as detailed as a professional tour guide's.

"As you can see, the building is quite beautiful. Its most famous feature is the National Treasure Phoenix Hall... ah, the one pictured on the 10 yen coin."

"That's its shrine over there..."

"..."

"This is the Byōdō-in Omotesando. Many people from other places say it's as beautiful as a paradise. What do you think?"

"The shopping street is lined with old buildings on both sides, connecting trams, bridges, temples, riverbanks and many other places. Even if you don't buy anything, it's nice to come and enjoy the scenery."

"..."

"This is Zenpōji, but it's not as amazing as Byōdō-in..."

"..."

"Alright! Now for the most important location!"

She trotted to the front, raised her arm to the side, and excitedly introduced, "Gentlemen! Please look!"

"This is the famous Uji Bridge, one of Japan's three great ancient wooden bridges!"

"After the renovation, cars and people can now drive on it! Isn't that amazing?!"

"Below lies the Uji River, a place of stunning beauty. Whether it's filming a romantic movie of lovers kissing, watching a fireworks display, or even taking wedding photos... this is a perfect place!"

"..."

Himemiya Chihaya leaned out from the bridge, her expression one of curiosity.

Although this bridge looks rather ordinary, only a little over a hundred meters long, it can't compare to large, modern bridges like the Tamagawa Sky Bridge, which is over 600 meters long and connects Tokyo and Kawasaki. However, it has a quiet and leisurely charm reminiscent of the old countryside.

But...

"Didn't we just walk over here?"

Ogasawara Haruka made a speechless comment.

They used this bridge when they first arrived here.

"I just gave a brief overview, honestly, Club President, you really have no romance at all~"

Tanaka Asuka adjusted her glasses and pouted at her lack of understanding.

"Hey hey~ I'm sorry I'm not as obsessed with romance as you are."

She responded with a sigh.

The Uji River divides this side of the mountain into two.

On one side is the area where Byōdō-in and other places are located, and on the other side is the Uji District where Kitauji is located. They just came from that side.

"Alright, alright~ Since that's the case, let's take a few photos and then go."

[Note: Kitauji's real-life counterpart is "Kyoto Prefectural Uji High School," which is located quite far north. Also, considering that Kumiko Oumae had to cross a bridge to get to and from school, her home was on the other side of the bridge.]

We've arrived at this side of the river.

With little time left, the group quickly visited several places, including the "The Tale of Genji Museum," the "Tea and Uji City Exchange Hall," and the "Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop," according to their closing times.

Meanwhile, the sky gradually darkened.

"Alright, everyone!"

Tanaka Asuka wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression heavy, her voice trembling as she clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and said, "We've finally reached the last, and biggest, hurdle!"

"Come on, ladies! Let's begin our final challenge! Night—or rather, it's almost night, isn't it? Night climb of Mount Daikichi!"

"Haa~"

X 3.

Having walked all the way and exhausted themselves from the morning's exertion, the group couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this.

"Hey, hey~ Are you tired already? As a member of the Wind Instrument Club, how can you have this little bit of stamina?"

Tanaka Asuka crossed her arms and looked at the group with a disappointed expression.

"Don't judge us by your physical strength..."

"And look at this guy? He's handling it with ease too, isn't he?"

"It would be even more outrageous if the standard were applied to men!"

"I'm sorry, I might not be able to make it..."

Kōsaka Reina's eyes were lifeless, her face ashen.

"Then you three can rest here. Asuka and I will go upstairs and take a look."

Himemiya Chihaya offered a "thoughtful" suggestion.

Let's do it this way.

Thank you for your understanding...

"Thanks..."

"Hey! Wait! Why me?! I've been explaining things the whole way, I'm exhausted!"

Tanaka Asuka stomped her foot and complained loudly.

"Really? I can't tell at all."

"... Actually, I was just pretending. If it's convenient, could you go up and take a look by yourself?"

She forced a smile, clasped her hands together beside her face, and looked at him with wide, expressive eyes.

"Look, just follow this path and you'll reach the observation deck, then you can take a few photos..."

"Hehe~ I refuse!"

"Why?!"

"Because it's too boring to be alone, and I'm quite familiar with you."

"It's just that we met a few hours earlier..."

"The reward is all the remaining snacks."

"It would be my pleasure to serve you, sir!"

She stood with her legs crossed, pointed her arms toward the path leading up the mountain, and bowed slightly in an invitation.

"..."

The remaining three people stared at the two who still had room to perform their play, their mouths slightly agape, speechless.

These two people...

"This is Uji Shrine. Like the Ujigami Shrine ahead, it was built to enshrine the Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko, who is said to Emperor Ōjin. The Tomb of Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko that we visited earlier is his grave."

"Our area is also called Udo. As you can tell from the Chinese character 'Udo,' this place is closely related to rabbits, so there are many rabbit stone statues and rabbit-shaped ema (votive tablets) around here."

"Judging from the timeline, the shrine above was built earlier and has a more antique feel... I wonder if it was just the quirky taste of the ancients, but they always liked to build shrines high up in the mountains, making believers have to climb a mountain path."

"..."

The two strolled leisurely along the way, gradually reaching the end of the road under the illumination of the streetlights and the shadows of the trees.

"We've arrived! This is the Mount Daikichi Observation Deck! Whew~"

Tanaka Asuka sighed deeply and took a deep breath.

She's not a superhero; after a whole day of running around, it's impossible not to be tired, but she's just managing to keep going.

"It's already evening, but the city's aerial view at night is just as beautiful, or even more beautiful!"

The already dim sky had completely darkened as the two climbed the mountain.

The Japan lights of the city below were fully visible to the two people standing on the mountaintop, both on this side of the bridge and the other side...

[Note: This mountain climbing process is the one that Kumiko Oumae and Kōsaka Reina climbed at night on the day of the festival in episode 8 of the first season of the anime.]

"The scenery is indeed very nice."

Himemiya Chihaya leaned against the railing of the observation deck, taking out her phone and snapping photos of the view below.

"Right?"

Tanaka Asuka smiled gently, leaned on the railing, and gazed intently at the scenery below that she had seen countless times before, falling silent.

A gentle breeze atop the mountain stirred the strands of hair that fell across her face, and the dim lamplight softly touched her tranquil mood, evoking both a philosopher's contemplation and a fairy-like, aloof beauty.

Although, fairies don't wear glasses...