Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Gion.
The setting sun disappeared behind Mount Aihong, and an indigo curtain of night fell.
Everywhere, men and women in brightly colored yukata walked in pairs, all talking and laughing loudly, their spirits high and their eyes shining.
"..."
Dressed in a jet-black yukata, Uchiha Naruto walked calmly beside the kyudo prince, Fujiwara Masataka, who wore a plain white yukata.
Fujiwara Masataka's gaze flickered, his expression uneasy and awkward.
Ahead of them, Matsudaira Chiyo and Yasero Saki, also dressed in pretty yukata, chatted and laughed like a pair of close girlfriends.
After the Tokyo Metropolis Kyudo Federation tournament ended, Uchiha Naruto and Matsudaira Chiyo had stayed in Kyoto for the Gion Festival.
It was summer vacation for Japanese universities, so they had plenty of time.
The Gion Festival celebrations lasted a week. After several days of sightseeing in Kyoto, Matsudaira Chiyo had actually invited Yasero Saki out, along with Fujiwara Masataka.
Matsudaira Chiyo had exchanged contact information with Yasero Saki at the tournament.
The four of them were on a double date.
The four attractive young men and women drew plenty of attention, but since they were in mixed company, no one dared approach them casually.
Fujiwara Masataka looked uncomfortable. He had only just said that he looked forward to seeing Uchiha Naruto again at Ise Grand Shrine and would certainly make him see him in a new light, yet here they were meeting again after only a few days. He could hardly avoid feeling a little embarrassed.
Uchiha Naruto, however, thought nothing of it.
He looked up, his gaze falling on the rows of lanterns outside the shops.
Lantern after lantern crowded the streets and alleyways, blazing with light. The stalls along the road offered a dazzling array of goods: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, cotton candy... The lights