The day dawned beautifully, the sun's rays streaming in through the gaps in the windows of the inn's rooms. Ruki had already gotten up and gone into the bathroom to take a shower, to start the itinerary of visits that he had been planning since he left Japan. Kai was still lying in bed, pretending to be asleep so he wouldn't talk to his roommate. He was very angry that he had disturbed his meeting with Reita, forcing him to return with them to the inn.
Ruki came out of the bathroom with only a towel around his body, looking for his boxer shorts in his suitcase. He hadn't yet had time to put his clothes in the wardrobe in the hostel room. He'd also sorted out some comfortable clothes for the hot day. Naturally, without remembering that there was someone else in the room, he tossed the towel aside and put on his boxer shorts with his back to the other bed.
_ Taka-san, is this striptease in the morning an apology for disturbing my date last night? _ Kai said, looking straight at his colleague, who had his back turned and was startled by his colleague's question.
_Gomenasai Kai-san, I was afraid to stay here alone yesterday. I think I dozed off at the table yesterday, I had a bizarre dream that scared me... _ Ruki turns to answer his friend, who is lying shirtless with his arms behind his head, looking him up and down.
_ You know, Taka-san, I never realized that you have a nice, well-defined body. Have you been working out? _ Ruki, embarrassed by Kai's words, quickly puts on his pants and T-shirt, wraps up his bath towel and throws it at the brunette.
_ You woke up already mocking me, Kai-chan. I didn't know you were vindictive. _ Kai is looking at Ruki, smiling mischievously with his dimples showing. _ If you take too long, we'll miss our coffee break.
_ Vengeful? I don't understand that. I just don't know how Ruki-san hasn't found a partner yet. He's got a lot of attributes, he's intelligent, he's got good taste in clothes, very attractive by the way... _ Kai sits on the bed while he talks to Ruki, who has already stepped out from behind a shoe, his face flushed.
Kai finally gets up and goes to the bathroom. He takes another look at his friend, who is putting on his shoes. As he passes by, he hisses at Ruki, who gets more nervous.
Stop it Kai-san! It's not funny._ Ruki complains to the brunette, who continues laughing towards the bathroom.
_ Your only fault is that you're always complaining about everything, but apart from that you're pretty hot. _ Kai teases his friend, who is changing color and looking very embarrassed.
_ Kai-san, you must still be hungover, stop saying things like that... Aff... _ Ruki is ready, standing by the bedroom exit door, his face still red from the brunette's comments _ I'm going ahead to meet Uruha-san. Meet us there.
Ruki doesn't even wait for an answer and leaves, leaving Kai talking to himself in the bath. He leaves thinking about what the dimpled brunette said about him. So Kai has already noticed him, Ruki walks off and smiles because he's been noticed, he just needs the courage to declare that he likes the brunette too.
Near the entrance, Ruki sees Uruha waiting for him to go to the cafeteria.
-OHAYOO Ruki-san ! Did you sleep well together?_ Uruha says good morning with a double meaning, making an irritated Ruki reply in the negative.
_ You're going to make fun of me today too... _ Ruki says nervously as he continues walking to the cafeteria. _ Kai-san must still be drunk to make such fun of me...
_ He woke up attacked Taka _san. I just asked if you slept well, what's wrong with that? _ Uruha looks around for Kai. _ Where's Yutaka-san, anyway?
_ That pervert Kai-san, he kept changing and then he'd show up for coffee... _ Ruki is still indignant with the brunette.
_ What did he say to make you look like that? _ Uruha said, looking at his friend in front of him. Kai, who was coming up behind, leans on his shoulder and replies.
_ Kou-san, all I said was that he's intelligent, attractive and really hot, if it weren't for his habit of always complaining, he'd have found someone by now. _ Kai replies with a smile, making Uruha smile too, turning Ruki even redder.
_ You've taken the day off to make fun of me, it's not possible... _ Ruki takes his coffee and bread with cheese and goes to the table with two other chairs. _ I thought you were my friends...
Uruha heads to the breakfast table, helping himself to a glass of orange juice and a piece of cake. Kai also helps himself to a coffee with milk and some cold cuts, and follows his friend to the table where Ruki is sitting.
Ah... So much drama! Ruki-san doesn't even seem to know how to accept a compliment._ Kai says, taking a seat at the table, they're the only ones in the cafeteria at this time of day.
Ruki-san, it's good to have a bit of fun too. You only know how to stick your face in books, take advantage of the opportunities that come your way." Uruha said to his friend, who looked him in the eye with a small smile.
_ Uruha-san, do you agree with what Kai-san said about me only ever complaining? _ Ruki says, still with his head down, sipping his coffee, waiting for their answers.
_ Yes, I agree. It's part of your way of being, but sometimes it gets annoying... _ Uruha replied, looking at his friend's astonished face. _ Apart from that, I really like you, Ruki-san.
We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you helping us pass the course." Kai says, finishing his coffee. _ So what's our schedule for today? I'm sure you've prepared everything, as you said so cleverly.
I don't even know what to say! ... Without your company I wouldn't even have finished college yet, I'm glad you're my friends."_ Ruki finished her coffee and her mood improved, after all, they had come for a walk and to discover new places.
Ruki takes out a folder from her backpack with some printed sheets of the places in the city that they can visit on foot. Because the castles are further away from the city and require transportation, some fortified churches can only be reached by car and then only on foot or by cart.
_ We can take advantage of the fact that it's still morning to visit the Citadel Square, a medieval village at the entrance to the city integrated with the Historic City Center, then the Hill Church, which has a crypt under the altar and an ancient cemetery. There is an excursion called The Dracula Investigation where the guides tell the story of Vlad Tepes with an audiovisual display of his life, ending at the house where he was born, where there is a restaurant and the Weapons Museum. The Clock Tower with a steep circular wooden staircase with 5 floors to see the clock working and from the top you can see the whole city. The Tower has been renovated and now houses the History Museum.
Ruki-san, you can't see all this in just one day. _ One more thing, we're not tourists with our days numbered, we've come to study the region and we can visit these places little by little...
Breathe... Ruki-san! There's no need to despair, we're going to see all this, yes... but not all of it today._ Kai laughs, showing his dimples because Ruki is so excited about all the places, in his leaves. _ Can't we skip straight to the History Museum?
_ Kai-san is interested in the history of the city. What's in the museum? _ Ruki looks happy, interested in his friend's question.
No... that's for you, who likes relics. _ Kai doesn't give the answer Ruki was expecting, and gestures to find out why. _ Reita-san said you'd be there at the museum, I really want to meet you again.
_ Kai-san, will our host Shiroyama Yuu be there too? _ Uruha says with a face in the clouds, wondering what he must be like and if he's gay like Reita.
_ It's just you guys thinking about your love affairs. Kai-san, it'll have to be in the afternoon because of the opening hours of 15:00 to 18:00. _ Ruki replies to him, who's a bit upset that it's only in the afternoon _ Let's go to the Citadel Square, before the sun gets too strong to walk...
The friends get up from the table and walk past the coffee counter, each taking a bottle of water to hydrate themselves, as it's going to be a long walk. Then they leave the inn to explore the medieval town.
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Sighisoara is probably the most beautiful city in Transylvania. The citadel is the entrance to the city with a fortified stone arch with other towers around it. It has the best-preserved medieval historic center. The citadel began to be built using the ruins of previous walls in the 12th century and is part of the group of seven fortified medieval cities in Romania.
They were staying in a hostel near the Tower of the Radiator, but it wouldn't be open until the afternoon, so they went down through the archway inside the tower that gives access to Citadel Square, with streets still made of stone blocks, making for a nice circular walk between some of the citadel's nine defense towers, preserved to this day.
They are Blacksmiths' Tower,
Butchers' Tower,
Cobblers' Tower,
Furriers' Tower,
Ropemakers' Tower,
Tailors' Tower,
Tanners' Tower and
Tinsmiths' Tower.
The English names represent each of the trade guilds that operated in the city and were responsible for defending the walled city.
Ruki was euphoric, he didn't stop for a minute, he walked around all of them taking photos and reading all the plaques about the history of each one, dragging Kai and Uruha who couldn't stand it any longer and listening to how happy his friend was, they had already been visiting the towers for more than two hours.
Hunger was already taking its toll on the two friends, who asked Ruki to stop and find a restaurant nearby. The tiredness was visible on the faces of Kai and Uruha, who just wanted a chair in the shade to spend the rest of the afternoon. That little guy didn't seem to tire, they weren't willing to be dragged to any more towers, ruins or churches today.
— "How slow you are, you're getting tired very quickly. We've still got half the day and lots of places to see." Ruki says to his friends, who are clearly tired.
_ What part of we don't need to see everything in one day don't you understand Ruki-san? _ Kai says, looking for a place to sit in the citadel square.
Ruki-san, I'm not taking another step, I'm starving before lunch. Let's find somewhere to eat... _ Uruha says, looking around for a nearby restaurant.
_ All right... let me look here on my sheets for the best options. _ Ruki starts to turn over the leaves and Uruha gets impatient.
Aff... this is going to take a long time. Kai-san logs on to his cell phone and looks for a restaurant in the area. Uruha tells Kai, who takes his cell phone out of his pocket and starts looking.
According to the location found on Maps, they were much further away than they had imagined, all those narrow streets and twists and turns took them away from the center where the restaurants were. They were already in the lower part of town near the entrance to the grand staircase that led to the Church on the Hill. It was located at the end of a dead-end street that connected the Citadel Square with the Hill Church.
The Students' Staircase, as it was also known, is an interesting piece of medieval architecture that was built to protect the students from the cold and rain, as in the past the church was a place of study.
Ruki knew very well where she was, she wanted to get to know the place and the old Saxon cemetery that was in this church. The staircase was long, it had 175 steps, after the renovation it originally had 300 steps, it was made entirely of wood and stone, it was closed and covered in wood, which made it very scary, giving meaning to the expression "finding the light at the end of the tunnel".
_ Uruha-san has nothing here. The restaurants are all in the center of town._ Kai said, showing the place they were in on his cell phone, while looking at them intently with a piece of paper in his hand. _ Taka-san, you've brought us to a dead-end street, just this staircase to a church, the only way is back towards the clock tower.
_ Actually, yes, but we're not lost, I want to visit the Church on the Hill, which is just up those stairs. _ Ruki speaks under their incredulous gazes. _ Kai-san, there's a place here where we can eat and visit the underground, which Uruha-san will love.
I'm out of patience for guessing games, Ruki-chan. Speak up!_ Uruha is getting nervous with the calmness of the short blond man in front of him.
_ The place is called Teo's Cellar right there, in that wooden doorway with lots of flowers at the entrance, which is also an inn and serves meals. _ Ruki indicates the place to his friends, who head there. The cellar is in the basement, where you can taste the country's traditional drink, tuicã, as well as other distillates made from plums, pears, apricots and apples. They say the plum brandy is great, and they also have a craft beer.
_ Ruki-san, at last your research has been useful. You've found a place that pleases our taste buds. It was good to bring you along. _ Uruha gives Ruki a hug. Kai gives him a smile, showing off his dimples.
_ So you're not... mad at me anymore? Ruki is embarrassed by the hug Uruha gave him. _ Then can we go upstairs and visit the Church on the Hill?
_ Why would we be angry without your research, we'd be lost needing a guide. _ Uruha nods to Kai, who agrees _ If I'm still fit after the tasting, we can think about it, can't we, Kai-san?
_ That's right, Uruha-san. Now let's eat or I'll get sick with the sun on my head. _ Kai is already on his way in, followed by his other two friends, who are greeted by the owner of the winery.
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That afternoon was very fruitful, after lunch and the tasting of wines, spirits, cognac and liqueurs, they didn't even know what they were tasting anymore. Although they were a little drunk, Ruki managed to convince them to climb the stairs to the Church on the Hill, sometimes stumbling on a few steps, Kai and Uruha helped each other up, but finally they reached the top of the hill and the view was wonderful, the sun hiding between the towers giving an incredible sunset effect.
From the top, they could see a good part of the city, which looked very large from above. Inside the church, its interior had been beautifully restored, Ruki admired the fragments of murals from 1483-1488, the period before Martin Luther's Reformation, and Renaissance-style furniture..., while Kai and Uruha sat resting from their climb.
There were three carved wooden coats of arms, found in the ante rooms on the side walls, belonging to Mathias Corvin and his wife Beatrix, the Transylvanian prince Stephen Bathory of Nyir (1479-1493) and the king of Poland and Hungary, Wladislav the 3rd. Originally a Catholic church, it became the main church for the Saxon inhabitants of Sighisoara, who switched from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism after the Reformation in 1547.
Next to the church was an old Saxon cemetery, with stone and marble gravestones with very old writings on them. Ruki asked his friends if they wanted to go with him to see it, but they just told him not to take too long, as they wanted to get there in time to go to the History Museum. It was already past 3pm and they had a long walk back, and Kai really wanted to meet Reita.
After a while Ruki returned, calling them to leave. Despite being tired, Kai and Uruha really enjoyed the adventure and were even happier to be heading back, which they did by taking the stone path on the side of the staircase to enjoy nature and go faster as the way back was only uphill until they reached the Clock Tower. As luck would have it, they spotted an excursion convoy heading for the tower, so they got a lift to rest their feet from all the walking.
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It took them more than an hour to reach the Clock Tower, because the train was a horse-drawn carriage, which was very common in that city, and also because there was a lack of buses. It was after 5 p.m. The museum was open until 6 p.m. There was some doubt as to whether they would have time to stop at the hostel for a shower or go straight to the museum, as there were another 100 steps to get to the top.
They opted to go straight on, they were already there and if they went to the hostel there was a risk of falling into bed and not waking up until the next day. The museum itself wasn't spectacular, but it showed the evolution of crafts in Transylvania and had a collection of Renaissance furniture, medical instruments, ethnographic artifacts, fine art and a collection of antique clocks.
The most interesting part was the torture room, the same room where prisoners were tortured and confessions extorted during the Middle Ages. Some of the incredible instruments and methods of torture were on display.
What makes the tower so popular is the 360-degree view from the top, which offers an excellent view of the whole of Sighisoara. The tower's clock has been working since the Middle Ages.
When they get to the top, they are amazed by the view, with statuettes of the clock that are two angels: one representing the day appears in the morning to ring the bell and an angel holding two lit candles symbolizing the night.
Just as agreed, Reita appears in the Tower to the delight of Kai, who has been waiting all day for this meeting.
_ Konichiwa, Kai-san! Uruha-san, Ruki-san. How was your day?_ Reita spoke to Kai, who smiled and showed his dimples to the newcomer.
_ We visited the Citadel Towers, the staircase and the Hill Church. _ Ruki, next to Uruha leaning on the wood of the tower's observatory, radiantly recounted the places they had ventured. Ah ... also the cemetery on the hill and now the Museum.
_ So it was fun? _ Reita approached, kissing Kai, who had been smiling since he arrived, and tasting the drinks. _ Uhmm... Well... I see you've been to Téo's Cellar. What did you think of it?
_ For me, it was the only place that made all this walking worthwhile. _ Uruha talks about tasting the drinks in the cellar. _ The cognac and liqueurs are magnificent... Was the only way to get up those steps.
While Uruha was talking about his tasting, a swarthy man with straight black hair of medium height, wearing well-shined black dress shoes, black dress pants and a linen shirt with silver buttons and holding a pate in one hand, approached Reita, making Uruha and the others look directly at him.
_ Gomenasai, I didn't realize Yuu-san was here next to me _ Reita turned to the brunette next to her _ Let me make the proper introductions. Shiroyama Yuu, curator of the Bran Museum, this is Yutaka-san, Takanori-san and Takashima-san, the students from Japan.
Nice to meet you! You can call me Yuu. _ Yuu greets them with the customary Japanese curtsy, bowing to them. When she goes towards Uruha, her gaze goes up to him, smiling at how handsome the blond is, and she also looks directly at him.
_ It's my pleasure, but you can call me Kou or Uruha, it's easier that way._ Uruha speaks without taking his eyes off the enigmatic brunette in front of him. _ Was that you at the bar the other day?
_ Uruha-san can call me Aoi if you like. _ Yuu moves closer to the blonde, passing Ruki in the middle of his friends. _ I didn't arrive from my trip today, Reita came ahead to welcome you and get you settled in at the inn.
_ Yuu-san, are you staying in a hotel here in town too? _ Ruki asks, trying not to be ignored and feeling like he's holding a candle to the newly-formed couples around him _ I've just had a Dejavú. I think I've seen you somewhere before...
_ I'm not staying in a hotel, I live here. Look at that house on the hill, that's where I stay when I come to town. _ Yuu stands next to Uruha and points to two houses on a hill near the citadel square, leaning Uruha's hand on the wooden eaves of the tower and turning to answer Ruki. Maybe in a distant dream, Ruki-san...
_ How do you know our surnames, Yuu-san? _ Ruki asks puzzled by his answer, as he doesn't remember mentioning his surname when he was introduced.
_ Akira-san, you've told me all about you, even your surnames. _ Yuu gives a small smile to the suspicious blond boy _ Would you be hungry after all this adventure today?
_ Too long... I'm really hungry. _ Uruha turned to his friends. _ Let's go! I've had enough of the Clock Tower. Yuu-san, there's a place nearby that's good for you. My feet can't stand it anymore.
_ Uruha-san, if it hadn't been for that ride on the cart, I wouldn't have made it up here, there are too many steps... _ Kai says laughing and looks at Reita beside him, holding out her hand.
Wow, you're boring. There wasn't an elevator in the 12th century. _ Ruki says as she heads down the circular staircase, leaving her friends and their romantic encounters behind. _ I'll go ahead so as not to stall the couple...
Uruha and Kai can't contain their laughter at Ruki's words, who is always picking on them no matter where they are. Together with Yuu and Akira, they begin their descent from the tower, chatting until they reach street level and meet Ruki heading for the nearby restaurant, to complete the evening's adventures...
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