Chapter 4
Kyoto, the former capital of Japan and one of its largest cities, beckoned with its rich history and cultural heritage. The city boasted a plethora of ancient landmarks, majestic shrines, and serene temples, all scattered throughout its captivating landscape. As a result, Kyoto had gained renown as a prime tourist destination, attracting visitors from both within the country and beyond.
After an hour-long journey on the shinkansen from Tokai, the third-year students of Asahiyama High School finally arrived in the vibrant city. As they disembarked from the train, the students were promptly guided and assembled by their teachers in the central area of the station. It was there that they would receive a briefing about the day's schedule and be informed of the designated time and location to reconvene at their hotel after their exploration.
"You're free to explore anywhere within the city," the first teacher announced.
"All students must return to the hotel by 5 PM," the second teacher explained firmly. "Failure to be present during the attendance check will result in consequences and disciplinary actions."
"Furthermore, your luggage and any other large items will be transported directly to the hotel. Make sure to carry your valuables with you," the third teacher added, their tone authoritative. "Those are all the announcements for now. You may go."
With the final announcement made, the students dispersed from the train station, setting off in various directions toward their desired destinations.
As for the quintuplets, as Nino had stated earlier on the train, they had unanimously agreed to follow wherever Fuutaro's group would be heading. Nino had kept her eyes fixed on Fuutaro and his groupmates ever since the end of the announcements, intrigued by their chosen destination.
"Hmm... I wonder where Fuu-kun's group will go. It would be boring if they end up at some old, dull temple," Nino mused loudly, contemplating their possible destination.
"Well, this is Kyoto, and many of the interesting places to visit are temples or shrines," Ichika replied, glancing at her phone while searching for captivating locations in Kyoto.
"I don't mind visiting a temple or shrine! Last time we were here, we visited quite a few of them, didn't we?" Yotsuba chimed in cheerfully.
"I do not particularly care about the specific location of Uesugi-kun's group. As long as it is an interesting place for our trip report, I am content with going anywhere," Itsuki stated with an indifferent expression, though her true feelings contradicted her words. Turning her attention to Fuutaro, she could see that he and his groupmates already left the station. "Ahh, Uesugi-kun's group has already left the station! Hurry, let's follow them!" With quick strides, she led the rest of the sisters, and they set off in pursuit.
"I wonder where they'll be heading..." Miku murmured softly as she trailed behind her four siblings, tightly clutching a paper bag filled with bread intended for Fuutaro. "I hope I can find a moment alone with him to give him this bread... It would be difficult if we're always in a group..." She contemplated the possibilities, her grip on the bag tightening as she continued to follow the others.
Meanwhile, Fuutaro and his groupmates had decided to visit Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine, as they had discussed earlier. Opting to save money and explore the city along the way, they chose to walk to the shrine instead of taking a taxi or bus, despite the considerable distance from the station.
Maeda, visibly discontent with the decision to walk, expressed his frustration. The distance to Fushimi shrine was quite far on foot, and this was not his preferred destination in the first place. "Why do we have to walk to the shrine?" he complained. "There's a bus stop near the station, and we're just ignoring it. Look, there's even a taxi stand over there, about 50 meters away from us. Takeda, you have enough money to pay for a taxi, right? Let's take one and get to the shrine quickly."
Takeda responded with a knowing smile, crossing his arms and explaining the rationale behind their decision to walk. "Relax, paying for a taxi isn't a big deal for me, but you're missing the point," he said. "By walking, not only can we save some money for souvenirs or other things we want to buy, but we can also immerse ourselves in the sights and atmosphere of Kyoto." Placing his hand on Maeda's shoulder, he gently tapped it to emphasize his point. "Besides, walking will provide us with more material for our trip report. We can describe the city's ambiance and the interesting places we encounter along the way."
Maeda shrugged off Takeda's hand, still irritated. "I don't really care about all that. As long as my trip report is acceptable, I'm pretty much satisfied," he retorted. "Plus, I know you two are the smartest students in the school, so I can always take a few notes from your report if I get caught slacking."
Takeda chuckled playfully, enjoying the banter with his groupmate. "We'll definitely help you with the report, but don't expect to plagiarize our work. It'll get us into trouble if the teacher notices," he teased, looking over at Fuutaro for agreement. "Right, Uesugi-kun?"
"Yeah…" Fuutaro nodded absentmindedly, seemingly unfazed by the conversation as he focused on capturing the essence of the streets and buildings with his digital camera. Through his camera lens, he noticed a sidewalk across the street that seemed strangely familiar, causing him to come to a halt.
"This is really nostalgic... I think I passed that street five years ago…"
Immersed in a wave of nostalgia, he instantly recalled that sidewalk as the very spot where he had first encountered Rena, or whatever her real name was. A faint smile graced his lips as he gazed at the sidewalk, reminiscing about that unforgettable moment.
"That's right... It's the same sidewalk where I met her five years ago. It was such a delightful time…"
"Hey, Uesugi-kun! What are you doing?" Takeda, who had already walked ahead, shouted to the quiet boy who was still lost in his thoughts, fixated on the sidewalk across the street.
Startled by the loud call, Fuutaro snapped back to reality and hurriedly caught up with his groupmates. "Ahh… Yeah, my bad."
After a lengthy walk that seemed to drag on, Fuutaro and his groupmates finally reached their destination, the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine. As soon as they set foot in the complex, they were greeted by the magnificent sight of shrines, temples, and the famous Senbon Torii gates. True to its reputation as a popular tourist spot, the shrine was bustling with visitors, though not as crowded as during the holiday season, it still surpassed the usual tourist spots. Among the sea of tourists, they also spotted some of their fellow schoolmates who had chosen the shrine for their first day's outing.
"So, this is Fushimi Shrine… Quite interesting," Takeda remarked, surveying the complex and nodding in approval, clearly intrigued by the place.
"Heh... It's like your typical shrine or temple, only bigger," Maeda commented with a lack of enthusiasm as he made his way towards a nearby vending machine. "Although, I do want to see the Senbon Torii since it's the highlight of this place. And the academic shrine, to see if your claims hold any truth." He inserted a coin into the machine and retrieved a can of soda.
"Easy there, Maeda-kun. You need to take your time and be patient to fully appreciate the sights in this place," Takeda advised, heading towards a direction board that displayed a map of the shrine complex. He studied the map, using his finger to locate the academic shrine. " It seems the shrine is this way… Anyway, let's start with the academic shrine first so that Maeda-kun can stop complaining and become smarter right away." With that, he began walking in the direction of the academic shrine, with Fuutaro and Maeda following suit.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Maeda shot him an irritated look and took a sip from his soda.
Fuutaro, who had remained quiet for most of the time, was not particularly engaged in the conversation between his groupmates, trailing behind them at a slow pace. He let out a small sigh, regretting his decision to form a group with Takeda and Maeda. Moreover, he had only recently gotten to know them, and he always found it challenging to interact with new friends due to his indifferent attitude towards new acquaintances and his history of having few to no friends in the past.
Fuutaro found solace in exploring places and sightseeing alone, as it provided him with serenity and freedom from distractions. However, he did enjoy the company of those he liked or knew well, such as his family members or the quintuplets...
Speaking of the quintuplets, Fuutaro wondered where they had gone, as he had not seen them since this morning at the Tokai train station. He had not asked about their plans for the first day of the trip since he had been busy with his own preparations. His attention had been fully occupied by his groupmates, especially Takeda, for the past few days.
"I wonder where those five went..."
"I haven't seen them since this morning..."
"If they were here now, I bet they would be pointing in every direction and making a lot of noise..."
A slight smile appeared on his lips as he pictured the first quintuplet in his mind. Fuutaro could imagine her cheerful and playful demeanor if she were here, walking beside him.
"Especially you..."
"With that mischievous expression of yours and your constant teasing..."
"I kind of want to walk with you..."
Meanwhile, not far behind Fuutaro's group, the quintuplets were quietly trailing the boys from the station to their current location. They walked slowly, occasionally blending into the crowd or hiding behind statues to avoid being noticed by Fuutaro. They all shared the same goal of not revealing their presence, as it might give the impression of stalking him and his group, especially since they had not disclosed their own plans or the places they intended to visit.
"*sigh* Why did he choose a place like this? There are other interesting places to visit, and yet he decides to explore an old and dusty shrine..." Nino sighed and facepalmed, expressing her dissatisfaction with their tutor's choice of location.
"Well... Knowing Fuutaro-kun, I bet he chose this shrine because of its historical value and significance for the school trip report," Ichika replied with a weak chuckle. "You can't blame him, as he always focuses on the academic aspects in almost every situation."
"Yes, I agree with that. Fushimi Shrine has a rich history dating back to the Nara period," Miku nodded. Drawing from her extensive knowledge of history, she proceeded to explain a brief history of the shrine. "Did you know that the Romon Gate and the giant Torii at the entrance were built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a gesture of gratitude? He prayed for his sick mother's recovery, and his prayer was answered by God."
"Wow! That's amazing, Miku! You really know a lot about history, don't you? No wonder you always score high in Social Studies!" Yotsuba exclaimed, awed by her sister's explanation and eager to boost Miku's confidence.
"Umm… It's nothing," Miku quickly looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed that her passion for history had emerged so suddenly. She always felt eager and enthusiastic whenever someone talked about history, especially the Sengoku era. However, she often suppressed her excitement, fearing judgment for having such a deep interest in history Lately, she had become more comfortable discussing it with her closest confidants, although she still felt somewhat uneasy. "I've read about it on the internet, and there were also explanations in our textbooks."
"Hmm... I have seen you watching documentary programs about the Sengoku period on TV a few times," Itsuki remarked. "I suppose you really do love the subject of history, don't you, Miku?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Well, I suppose it's a good thing, considering your knowledge can help us with the school trip report," Nino stated in a monotone voice, seemingly uninterested in Miku's explanation of the place. "Just make sure to help us, okay?" She looked at Miku, who responded with a small nod.
The girls stopped once again and hid behind a wall, observing Fuutaro and his groupmates as they stopped at a shrine to pray. Since there were not many people around, they had to find a nearby object to hide behind, ensuring they would not be seen. It took about a minute for Fuutaro's group to finish praying, and then they continued walking. This time, the three boys made their way upward, climbing the stone stairs that led to the top of the mountain.
Following their tutor again, Nino let out a small sigh and a quick yawn, growing bored of the place since she was not initially interested in visiting temples or shrines. "It's pretty boring, isn't it? There's nothing interesting to do here besides praying and sightseeing old shrines..."
"Now, now... Let's not get all gloomy and bored. I'm sure there's a certain charm to this place that we're not seeing yet," Ichika said, opening her phone to find more information about Fushimi Shrine. "If I'm not mistaken, the main attraction here is the Senbon Torii, and many reviews online mention how beautiful and mesmerizing the Toriis are." She browsed a travel website, reading some of the posted reviews.
"Come on, let us follow Uesugi-kun's group before we lose them." Itsuki increased her pace, followed by Ichika and Nino as they headed in the direction Fuutaro and his group had gone earlier—the path to the mountain where the Senbon Torii was located.
With the three sisters walking ahead, Miku and Yotsuba trailed them from behind, in a slow pace. The fourth sister tried to cheer up the third sister.
"Don't worry, Miku! I'm sure you'll have a chance to talk to Uesugi-san alone and give him the bread!"
"Thank you, Yotsuba," Miku replied. "But still, acting in a group is my biggest obstacle. I'm not sure if I'll have a chance for some alone time with Fuutaro as long as we're still moving as a group..."
"Hehe... No need to worry about it!" Yotsuba let out a proud chuckle, putting her hands on her hips. She confidently informed Miku that she had sought Ichika's help and explained the situation to her. "And... she agreed to help us!"
"Ehh... Ichika? Are you sure she's okay with it? Considering... you know..."
"Yup! Don't worry about her. Ichika is cool, and I trust her with this," Yotsuba nodded eagerly, reassuring Miku. "She has already come up with a plan for you to have a conversation with Uesugi-san alone, without any interruptions from Nino, Itsuki, or his groupmates."
"I-Is that so?"
"Yeah... Don't worry, Miku. Ichika and I will support you and find the perfect time for you to have some alone time with him!" Yotsuba grinned widely and started to walk faster. "Anyway, let's go catch up to them!"
Miku mustered a weak smile and nodded. "Yeah... Thank you again, Yotsuba." She also quickened her pace to catch up with the other three sisters.
Making their way up the mountain, the quintuplets were amazed by the sight of the Senbon Torii lining up endlessly in front of them. Torii after Torii kept appearing as they slowly ascended the steps, admiring this breathtaking view of the landmark. They also took occasional breaks from climbing the steps.
"Wow! These Torii just keep going and going," Nino exclaimed, looking ahead at the seemingly endless line of Torii, which left her amazed. "I take back what I said earlier, this place definitely has some charm. I never thought a Torii could be this cool."
"There are thousands of Torii lining up from the bottom all the way to the top of the mountain, where smaller shrines are located," Miku shared another fact about the place. "That's why it's called Senbon Torii..."
"Yeah, yeah... You really know a lot of things about history, don't you?" Nino replied with a disinterested tone once again. "I would never be interested in it even if you tell me thousands of historical facts."
"I have seen these Torii in photographs, but they are even more magnificent to see in person," Itsuki remarked in awe, gazing at the enormous Torii surrounding her.
"Yeah, this view is truly amazing," Ichika nodded as she snapped a picture of the Torii with her phone. "Last time we were in Kyoto, we didn't have a chance to visit this place, did we?"
"Well, that was because Yotsuba went missing for a whole day, and the teachers kept us at the inn," Nino looked at Yotsuba, who was a few steps ahead. "We missed the chance to visit this place because Mom and some teachers got worried and searched the city to find you," she recalled, her annoyance evident as she remembered that moment from five years ago.
"Ahaha... My bad..." Yotsuba responded with a weak laugh.
"Anyway, now that we're here, let's take some pictures." Nino prepared her phone and asked the four sisters to line up for a photo. "I'm going to take a picture of you four first, so flash those peace signs."
"Oh, that reminds me, I don't think we have any pictures of all five of us together," Yotsuba commented. "Or do we have one? I can't seem to remember about it."
"Hmm... Didn't we take one at the fireworks festival last year?" Ichika looked at Yotsuba, wondering if they had taken any group photos last year. "I swear we did take one."
Itsuki shook her head. "No, I do not think so. If I remember correctly, we have not taken one since our school trip back in elementary school." She checked her phone for a group picture and found none. "That was such long time ago…"
"If that's the case, now's the time for a picture of all five of us together," Nino switched her phone camera to selfie mode and raised it in front of her. "Gather around, everyone. This will be the first time in five years that we take a picture together."
"Say cheese...!"
After climbing the steps for a long time, the quintuplets reached a rest area situated in the middle of the mountain. The area had a small souvenir shop and a traditional Japanese restaurant, with vending machines placed outside the shop. Due to the arduous climb from the base of the mountain, many people had gathered at the rest area, taking a break from their ascent. Some were eating at the restaurant, buying souvenirs, or simply sitting on the benches scattered around.
The quintuplets, too, were exhausted from the climb and decided to take a short break before continuing to follow their tutor.
Yotsuba let out a loud groan as she settled onto one of the benches. "Wahh... That was really tiring."
Miku, panting from the strain on her untrained physique, immediately found a seat beside Yotsuba. "My legs are so tired... I don't think I can walk anymore."
Ichika approached them, offering a cold can of green tea to the third sister that she had obtained from one of the vending machines. "Here... a cold green tea for you," Turning to her own fatigue, she grabbed an energy drink, opened it, and took a refreshing sip. "Wahh... That feels good! I haven't been this tired in a while."
Nino expressed her discomfort, massaging and stretching her right leg. "Yeah, no kidding. Climbing all those steps made my legs go numb. We're only halfway through, and I can't even imagine the climb back down... I feel like going back to the hotel already." She stretched her other leg and headed toward a vending machine to buy a drink.
Meanwhile, Itsuki glanced at her phone and noted the time. "Hmm... It's already noon, so I suppose it's time for lunch..." She mumbled to herself, her gaze shifting to the traditional restaurant before her. "Hey, let's take a break and have lunch here! I'm famished!" A bright smile lit up her face as her stomach growled in agreement, enticed by the sight of the restaurant.
Nino raised an eyebrow, looking unimpressed. "Huh? You just had a cup of ramen and some snacks back on the train, and now you're already hungry?" Nino gazed at Itsuki, baffled by her seemingly insatiable appetite, which always caught her off guard. Aware that stopping for lunch meant potentially missing her chance to encounter Fuutaro, the primary purpose of this school trip, Nino contemplated the situation. "If we stop for lunch, I won't have an opportunity to run into Fuu-kun, and that would be a significant loss for me," she pondered.
"W-Wait...! About lunch..." Miku interjected spontaneously upon hearing their plan to stop for lunch.
"What's wrong, Miku? Do you want to eat something else?" Itsuki asked, looking with curiosity.
"No, it's not that..." Miku replied quietly. Worry and nervousness were evident on her face. "It's just..."
Upon noticing Miku's anxious demeanor, Yotsuba grasped the gravity of the situation. If they were to pause for lunch now, Miku's chance to meet with Fuutaro would slip away. Yotsuba had not been keeping track of time since they began their ascent, but she knew that a substantial amount had passed, and their tutor was likely already at the mountain's summit. They were halfway there, and the opportunity still awaited them. Yotsuba was determined in not allowing this golden opportunity slip away, having committed herself to supporting Miku in every possible way.
"This is bad
"If we stop for lunch, Miku won't have a chance to meet with Uesugi-san..."
"I need to talk to Ichika about this..."
Without hesitation, Yotsuba hurried over to Ichika, who stood not far from them, before a directional board showcasing a map of the area.
"Hey, Ichika, what do we do?" Yotsuba's face displayed restlessness as she spoke in a hushed tone. "If we have lunch now, Miku won't have an opportunity to meet Uesugi-san. Who knows if he'll still be at the summit by the time we arrive."
"Don't worry about that." Ichika offered a reassuring smile and directed her gaze back to the board. "Take a look at this map, Yotsuba."
"Hmm… What about it?"
"There are two paths leading up the mountain." She pointed at the board, which depicted a left path and a right path to the peak. "From what I can gather, the left path is the shortest route to the summit. Meanwhile, the right path appears to be longer, requiring more time to reach the top compared to the left path."
Yotsuba studied the map for a moment, nodding repeatedly as she seemed to grasp Ichika's point. "I think I understand your idea..."
"Good. So, my plan is to persuade Nino and Itsuki-chan to take the right path. As for us, we'll take the left path," Ichika explained, raising her index finger as she continued elaborating. "By doing this, our chances of reaching the summit before them will be greater. I'm quite sure that Fuutaro-kun will still be there when we arrive."
"Wow! That's an excellent idea, Ichika!" Yotsuba exclaimed in admiration, impressed by the meticulousness of the plan.
"Hehe… Thank you. But, there's an obstacle to this plan…"
"What is it?"
"I'm certain that if we ask them to split up, Nino and Itsuki-chan will become suspicious and definitely refuse," Ichika expressed her concern. "I've been thinking of a reason for a while now, but I can't seem to come up with a good one to persuade them."
"You're right... So, what should we do?" Yotsuba placed her fingers on her chin, closed her eyes, and contemplated a reason or approach that would convince her other two sisters to take separate paths. After a few moments of reflection, a solution suddenly dawned on her, and a wide smile adorned her face. She clapped her hands together with enthusiasm, reveling in her profound revelation. "Ahh! I've just discovered the perfect solution!"
"Ehh? Tell me about it."
Yotsuba leaned in closer to Ichika and whispered, revealing her solution. "Remember back on the train when I..." She continued to explain the details of her plan in a hushed voice. "And that's it! This should work, right?"
"Ahh, yes, I completely forgot about that," Ichika chuckled, visibly impressed by her fourth sister's idea. "Great thinking, Yotsuba! I can't think of a better approach. It may raise their suspicions, but they'll have no choice but to follow our plan once you explain it to them."
"I really hope it works. Miku has been putting in so much effort, and I want to see her reap the rewards of her hard work."
"Yeah, onee-chan want to see it too," Ichika nodded. "Anyway, let's go and tell them about it."
"Yeah!"
Yotsuba and Ichika exchanged a high-five with wide grins, feeling ecstatic about their plan and filled with confidence that it would work. Without wasting any more time, Yotsuba swiftly returned to the rest of her sisters to put the plan into action. Meanwhile, Ichika remained by the direction board, observing how their plan would unfold.
"Hey, Ichika and I aren't hungry yet. How about we postpone lunch until after we descend from the peak?" Yotsuba suggested as she rejoined her sisters.
"Yeah, I agree with Yotsuba. I'm not hungry either," Nino replied, starting to walk towards the left path. "Shall we continue our hike? I'm sure Fuu-kun is already at the top of the mountain."
"But wait! Before we proceed, let's split into two groups," Yotsuba eagerly proposed, causing the other three sisters to wear puzzled expressions. "Ichika, Miku, and I will take the left route, while Nino and Itsuki will take the right route."
"Hey, hold on a minute! You can't just make that decision on your own!" Nino exclaimed in surprise, displaying clear disapproval.
"Yeah! What is the basis for that? Can't we stick together? Why do we have to split up?" Itsuki protested irritably.
Yotsuba grinned mischievously and chuckled. "Hehe... There's no particular reason for it." She then continued, "Besides, we'll still encounter Uesugi-san when we reach the top."
"No, I outright refuse... I won't go along with your absurd suggestion," Nino stated firmly, shaking her head and crossing her arms, her disapproval still evident.
"You have to! Because... I won that round of cards, remember?" Yotsuba reminded them of the card game they played on the train, where she emerged as the winner. A cheeky and cocky expression replaced her previous grin, intensifying her intimidating presence. "So I have the right to give any order I want!"
Nino's mouth opened slightly in disbelief as she was reminded of that disastrous card game round where Yotsuba had triumphed. It had been Nino's chance to gain an advantage and spend some alone time with their tutor, but luck had betrayed her, leaving her with the worst possible card combination. "Ughh... I forgot about that..." she grumbled, giving the fifth sister a sharp glare, who responded with a weak, guilty chuckle as she was responsible for suggesting that condition in the first place.
"Well, if we're all settled, we'll be on our way," Yotsuba announced cheerfully, tinged with a trace of cockiness, before proceeding towards the left path. "See you at the top!" She waved goodbye to her two sisters.
Observing the success of the plan, Ichika finally made her move and approached Miku. "Be careful, both of you. If you encounter any trouble or need assistance, don't hesitate to call one of us," she advised. "Let's go, Miku." Ichika extended her hand to the third sister, who was still seated.
"Yeah..." Miku accepted the hand and stood up. The two of them headed towards the left path, catching up to Yotsuba, who had already set off.
As the other three sisters made their way to the mountain top through the left route, Nino let out a big sigh and facepalmed in response to Yotsuba's unexpected move. Meanwhile, Itsuki remained silent, wearing an embarrassed and guilty expression as she gazed down at the ground. It seemed that she, too, had not anticipated this turn of events, as her earlier suggestion had been intended to benefit her but had backfired when Yotsuba won the card game.
Nino approached the still quiet Itsuki and lightly tapped her shoulder. "Nice job. Your little game really messed things up."
"Ahaha... I am sorry," Itsuki responded, a hint of apology in her voice.
"*sigh* Anyway, let's hurry up and reach the top of the mountain," Nino said, walking towards the right path. She paused for a moment to glance at the motionless fifth sister. "I know you wanted to spend some alone time with him too, right? Let's move quickly before they beat us to him."
"Y-Yeah..." Itsuki nodded quickly and followed Nino along the right path.
A/N:
There's not much for me to say about this chapter since it's pretty similar to the main series, but with slight differences such as more appearances of Fuutaro and his groupmates, and a change in the mountain path decision thanks to Ichika's different behavior compared to the original. As for the next chapter, you can probably guess what's going to happen, and Miku fans won't have to wait until the third day of the school trip.
I've decided to use a real-life location for this story, as it would feel weird to use a fictional one. I apologize in advance if there are any inaccuracies or mistakes regarding the name, place descriptions, or other related details in this or future chapters. I've gathered information from various articles, websites, and Google Maps street view.
The next chapter is expected to be released in mid-February or the second week of February. There will probably only be one chapter release in February, but there's a small chance of another chapter by the end of the month.
Thank you for reading this chapter, and I'll see you again in February!
If you enjoy the story, feel free to review, follow, and favorite it!