Here's my new chapter. It will have some information about the gate and Ash will slowly open up to religion and learn from Hana that you can believe in your own efforts and fate and religion at the same time.

The temple gate in front of them glowed in red in the last rays of the sun setting, and in the middle of it, a giant lantern, about 3.9 meters in height, was placed. It was also red, and in the middle, you could see some kanji in black. The top of the lantern was golden and attached the lantern to the top of the gate. At the bottom, there was the same golden base with an engraving. From the bottom, four strings were attached, two on each side, one fixed at the front pillar of each side, and one at the middle pillar that held the lantern in place. On the left and right side of the main entrance stood two statues that seemed to be guarding or protecting the place.

He had always wanted to visit here since it was not only one of the oldest temples in Japan but also one of the most famous and picturesque, so he was delighted to be here now. He could stand before the gate and look at it for hours. Unfortunately, they didn't have enough time for that...

Suddenly, while he had been daydreaming, someone put his arms over his shoulder from behind and leaned closer. He didn't need to look behind him to realize it was Ash. He'd recognize his scent and his gentle yet hesitant touch anywhere.

"You look happy," Ash whispered into his ear. His blonde strands tickled his ear and made him giggle.

He touched Ash's arms and leaned his head back a little so he could see his face.

"I am. I've always wanted to visit Tokyo and this temple especially." When Ash's face darkened a little, he added something. "I'm just teasing you. I've always imagined going here with you one day." Ash's soft smile immediately returned.

"With Me? Why take an atheistic American with you who doesn't appreciate religious sites?"

"I didn't take you across the world to Japan to go sightseeing without you. I promised to show you more of Japan. And you do appreciate religious sites in your own way. You might not believe in the power of temples, but you're fascinated by the history as well as the myths and legends behind them. You have an easygoing and relaxed expression, and sometimes, your eyes widen in amazement. I can tell you're enjoying this by the way you hug me right now. You rarely initiate touch, but if you do, you're usually in a good mood."

"Sorry..." Ash's smile vanished, and he let go of him.

Eiji turned around to face him and put his arms around his neck. "Ash, that was a compliment, ok? Please stop reading too much into it," he asked with a smile. Ash's features immediately softened, and his smile returned.

"Thank you. I'll try to do that more often." He just nodded in return.

"This trip was a nice idea," Ash added softly. "I learn more about Japan each day. And about you."

Before Eiji had the chance to ask what Ash could possibly learn about him, Hana stood in front of them, taking a picture with her smartphone. "Caught in the act! Perfect shot!"

"Hana, that's mean. Delete that."

"No, I won't! You look so cute together. The gods guarding this temple would strike me down for such an evil deed. And weren't you the one telling me you don't like staged photos?"

"You dug a hole for yourself with this one," Ash chuckled. "I'm curious how you wiggle out of it."

Eiji just shot him a dirty look, then turned to Hana. "Well, yeah. I guess I did say that," Eiji reluctantly admitted in a low voice.

"Show me?" Ash changed the subject, and Hana turned her phone around so he could see the picture.

"Well, it looks pretty good. Send that to me, please?" Hana beamed at him and did so.

"Ash..." Eiji started to say. He was a bit worried since photos still made Ash uncomfortable. When he took them, it was fine. Still, it was different when other people took them...

"What? We only have a few photos from both of us. We should change that," Ash reminded him.

Then, he scrutinized his face and gently touched his hand. "Relax, Eiji. You know I'm only scared of cameras, not smartphones. Thank you for looking out for me, Eiji, but you worry too much," he replied in a soft tone.

He studied Ash for a moment, as always, to ensure he wasn't hiding his pain from him. Then, he nodded and intertwined their arms, smiling at him.

"Ok, you're right. I really hadn't noticed that we don't have many photos of us together. I usually just take photos of you. You're my favorite photo motif," Eiji admitted while a soft blush colored his cheeks.

"You look cute when you're embarrassed," he whispered into his ear while Hana was distracted by browsing the photos on her phone.

"I agree with Hana, though. We should have more photos of us," he added in a normal tone, smiling at his sister.

"See? That's why I'm here. They might not be professional, but they're good enough. See?" She turned to Eiji and showed the picture to him.

"Ok, I admit it. The photo looks great," Eiji finally admitted.

"Told you so." His sister grinned smugly at him.

"Come on, I'll take a photo of you two as well," Ash suggested suddenly.

"Thank you, Ash! Come on, Eiji, Ash can take a photo of us in front of the gate," she chirped while dragging Eiji along with her. Eiji just shook his head but couldn't hide his smile. He felt Ash's grin on their backs. He could rarely say no to Hana, like he couldn't say no to Ash when he smiled like that. Hana seemed to enjoy herself, so the first afternoon in Tokyo had already been a success. Ash also enjoyed himself despite his rough start, so he was pretty happy with their beginning in Tokyo. It was a good sign.

Hana, of course, had to make funny faces, poses, and other shenanigans and pulled him into those as well while he rolled his eyes first but then reluctantly joined in as well.

When they returned to Ash, he grinned and showed them the photos.

"The photos of you two are great. You look even more alike when you smile. You have the same eye color and the same warm smile. "And the same dimples," he added with a smirk.

After that, Eiji took another look at the temple map. When he looked up again, Hana and Ash both stared at him expectantly.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, wondering what they were up to now. Hana and Ash grinned at each other, then at him.

"We're waiting for your lecture, Okumura sensei," Ash stated matter-of-factly while his eyes were brimming with amusement. "You don't want us to die stupid, right? Besides, you read several books about that temple."

"I know, I lent them to you, but you refused to read them. If memory serves," Eiji immediately shot back. He pretended to be mad but failed miserably. He saw it in Ash's eyes, which had lit up with amusement before he put an arm around his shoulder.

"Come on, don't be mad, Eiji. I just don't want to read books about topics I'm not interested in. I have a smart boyfriend with a passion for temples who can educate me," he finished with a wink at him.

Eiji gave him a dirty look and hit him on his head with the guide for the temple. It was just a lightweight foldable map of the temple, though, so it barely touched his blonde hair. He had just done it to express his annoyance at Ash's attitude towards anything religious. Still, he had secretly loved the smart boyfriend part, and Ash's eyes had that mischievous glint that told him he had noticed that, too. Ash rarely called him his boyfriend, so he cheered up instantly.

Hana grinned and said, "Ash called you his boyfriend; how cute!" she teased him. "I've never heard Ash calling you that before."

Eiji saw the guilt immediately overshadowing Ash's eyes after that comment and grabbed his hand to reassure him. Ash met his gaze and smiled knowingly at him.

"So, do you really want to know more about the gate, or are you just teasing me again?" he asked Hana.

"Both," she giggled. "You have that stupid grin on your face that you always get when you're excited about something. Your eyes turn to a softer shade of golden brown. Besides, you fiddled with the temple guide you could pick up here all the time, waiting in excited anticipation to educate us. Don't deny it."

"Thanks, Hana. I'm really overjoyed to have such a kind little sister."

"I love you, too, niichan." She gave him her most innocent smile she could muster.

"By the way, your stupid grin is kind of cute. If that helps." She grabbed his arm and smiled at him.

"Hana's right. Your eyes are practically sparkling with excitement. Please tell us more about the gate, ok, Eiji? I've only read the temple map, but it sounded really fascinating. The surroundings seem to be beautiful from looking at the photos."

"Yes, you're right. Besides the gate and the main temple, there are several smaller buildings, a garden with a lake, and even a pagoda. Hana probably knows as much as I do."

"Yes, I also read much about it. I was more interested in the temple, though, so I know more about the temple grounds. I'm pretty sure you know more about the gate itself, Eiji."

"Fine. Then, let's go and take a closer look."

Eiji smirked at them, then put an arm around both of them, moving them closer to the gate. "Come on, you two. I've been waiting for this all day!"

It was past closing time for the main hall and other buildings, so few people were there anymore. Luckily, the primary holiday season was also over, so they could enjoy the sight as long as they wished.

"When approaching the temple, you first enter through the Kaminarimon. That's the gate you see here in front of us. It's the outer gate of Sensoji Temple and the symbol of Asakusa and the entire city of Tokyo."

He had assumed going in the later evening was a great idea. Not only were the food stalls less crowded, and the sightseeing spots were more accessible, but Ash would have a much easier time enjoying himself without huge crowds that were still a challenge for him. He wanted to be careful after his rough start here. He couldn't forget the vacant look in his eyes. He didn't want to see that again...

Ash still looked a bit pale, but he was relaxed and was staring at the gate with curiosity now, so Eiji was relieved. Still, he kept an eye on Ash, just to be sure. Ash probably wouldn't tell him if he was exhausted because he didn't want to destroy their first evening here.

Ash always told him how selfless he was, but Ash acted just the same way without realizing it. He would fight his exhaustion so he and Hana could enjoy this evening to the fullest and sacrifice his own health. So, he watched him to make sure he was okay.

"On the right side of the gate, to the east, you can see a statue of the Wind God, while on the left side, to the west, there is the statue of the Thunder God. These statues are the origin of the name of the Fujin Raijinmon Gate, as it is called in Japanese. However, it seems that it was naturally easier to shorten this to the nickname of Kaminarimon. So, Kaminarimon is actually not the official name of this gate. Its official full name is Fujin Raijinmon, meaning The Gate of the Gods of Wind and Thunder. Fujin refers to the God of Wind, while Raijin means God of Thunder. The gate is popularly referred to as Kaminarimon because kaminari is the Japanese word for thunder."

Ash looked at the statues with great interest now. He loved knowledge and learning more about Japanese customs and history. Eiji loved his widened eyes sparkling with curiosity while he stared at the statues in amazement.

"Ash looks kind of cute when he's fascinated by something. He's spacing out and looks like a kid in a candy store. He looks much younger, and the color of his eyes changes," Hana observed.

"It's adorable, right? I bet Ash never went sightseeing before."

"Never, not even on a school trip?" Hana asked in surprise.

"Ash was home-schooled. Didn't he tell you?"

"No, he rarely spoke about himself," Hana replied. "But now that he told me more about his past, I understand why. So, he really never went sightseeing? Then, I understand why he looks so happy and stunned. Given his love for knowledge and learning new things, he must be in his element."

"Yes, you're right. I'd love to take him around Japan, but it will have to wait until we both get a good job and have more money. But this trip is a good start. And I'm glad I can spend more time with you. I haven't had much time for you these last few months. I'm sorry, Hana."

"I was a bit sad about that. But now that Ash told me more about himself, I understand that he needed you more. I'm also happy that you convinced Mom that I could join you. I'm looking forward to this trip. The first afternoon was a great start, Eiji."

Then, she cast a side glance at Ash again. "Are you sure Ash is fine, Eiji? He still looks a bit pale," Hana added, looking in Ash's direction again.

"Don't worry. At the moment, he's ok. I'll look out for him. Keep an eye on him for me, too, ok? Tell me if you notice anything."

Hana looked at him in surprise, then nodded. "I will."

"What were you talking about?"Ash interrupted them, having suddenly woken up from his sightseeing daze.

"You. Always," Eiji replied, winking at him. Ash blushed, looking away, and Hana and Eiji giggled.

"Hey, Ash, is it true that you've never been sightseeing before?" Hana asked him with open curiosity.

"Not really. I've never attended a regular high school. I showed Eiji a few places in NYC, and we did a road trip. That wasn't for fun, though, but to investigate something."

"We still had a great time, though. At least, for a while."

"Yes, that's true. I haven't done any sightseeing before. So, this is a new experience for me. I love seeing new places just for fun. Even temples and shrines if absolutely necessary. Sorry if I overdo it a bit. Japan and its culture and history are still new to me. It's so overwhelming sometimes. Did I slow you down? I tend to space out at times if something draws my attention..."

"No, it's fine. It's adorable. I love how you're fascinated by many things here."

"But?" Ash asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Doesn't it make you miss some things as well?" Things from the US, I mean? I usually compare my hometown to the city I'm visiting."

"Well, I don't miss the hectic of New York and the city itself. I miss some people from there. Izumo is pretty similar to Cape Cod, my hometown. Not the city itself is similar, but the sea and the strong winds with the smell of saltwater in the air. Both places are smaller towns, so it felt familiar to me. That made it easier to feel at home there. "

"Of course, I miss the hot dogs from New York. They were delicious. Eiji didn't share my passion for them, though," he added after a moment.

Hana giggled. "That's the only thing you miss?"

"You wouldn't say that if you had tasted hotdogs from New York before. Unfortunately, Eiji insists on healthy food. I like finger food like hot dogs once in a while. I miss the library, too. It was gorgeous, with marble floors and statues and murals on the ceiling. Many famous people visited and researched there. And many movies took place there."

"Really? Which ones?"

"Sorry, no clue. Actually, Eiji told me that. I rarely watch movies. I prefer books. But big libraries like that with such a vibe of ancient history and knowledge don't exist in Izumo."

Eiji felt a bit downhearted by that comment. Izumo couldn't compare to NYC. They only had small city libraries here. And one college library. Both probably weren't even a challenge to someone with Ash's intellect...

"Although the one Eiji showed me in Akita for my birthday was pretty amazing, too. I've never seen a library made out of Cedarwood. The Colosseum in Rome inspired it. I loved that."

"Yes, I've seen photos of it. It's beautiful," Hana replied.

Eiji immediately cheered up when hearing that. That had been their first real trip here in Japan. Even though it had been short, he'd never forget it. Especially not Ash's dumbfounded expression when seeing the library. That look alone had been totally worth all the planning and efforts to keep it a secret from Ash.

Still, Eiji was stunned for a moment. He had never asked Ash if he missed the US. That thought hadn't even crossed his mind. But it should have...

Ash just touched his shoulder and shook his head before smiling at him. Eiji immediately knew he had read his mind and told him not to feel bad. He immediately relaxed, just nodded, and returned the smile.

"Eiji's obsession with temples is endearing. He loves them because he's convinced that temples and charms from them influence your future life. That's why he also thinks the charm I gave him brought you two together. That your meeting Eiji was fate. So, he tends to get a bit overboard at times. I love temples, too, but Eiji's fascination for them is on another level. And what we heard was just the introduction." Hana added the last sentence to Ash in a low voice. Still, Eiji had heard it.

Ash grinned back and gave her a conspiratory glance. Eiji wanted to react to their teasing, but before he could, Ash turned serious again. Then, he asked his sister a question that Eiji would never have expected from him, which stunned him momentarily.

"What do you believe in, Hana? I'm curious."

"Me, too," Eiji announced after getting over his initial shock, deciding that his lecture could wait a bit longer. He was interested in his little sister's answer to that.

"Am I really such a nerd?" he whispered into Ash's ear so Hana couldn't hear it. "I just love temples and shrines."

"I know you do. You're a nerd when it comes to religious places, yeah. But it's adorable. Your eyes light up and sparkle golden when you're passionate about something, like a beautiful sunset. And I love learning new things. Not especially about religion but about Japanese culture and history. You know I always leave out the guidebook's part about temples. And Hana is just kidding. You see that she enjoys it. Just look at her eyes. They have the same soft and happy gaze you have."

They both looked at Hana, and Eiji saw that he was right. She stared at the gate and the colossal lantern in awe for a moment and took some pictures of some details with her phone before turning to the both of them again, answering their question.

"I'm in between you and Eiji. Eiji believes blindly in the spiritual power of temples and that every step in his life, everyone he met or will meet, and every great opportunity or failure had been decided by fate."

Eiji nodded in confirmation. "Well summarized, although it makes me sound a bit naive."

"I'd say innocent sounds better. Amazingly, your belief hasn't wavered after your experiences in New York. It shows that your belief is steadfast and unbroken. I admire that." Eiji smiled gratefully at him and stood closer to him, intertwining his fingers with Ash's.

"You, Ash, on the other hand, think rationally and don't believe in fate, religion, or other abstract concepts at all. You apply logic to everything, and religion and reason are contradictory concepts that clash. So, you deny the existence of fate or gods, which, given your horrible experiences until coming here, is understandable. You've learned only to rely on yourself to survive."

Ash nodded at her in confirmation, then looked at Eiji. "Sounds like we're not compatible when it comes to religion. I just don't like the thought that someone else controls my life. Doesn't matter if that's a vicious mafia boss or a god," he replied sadly.

"We don't have to agree in all areas. It's enough that we respect each other's opinions. And you came with us to a temple without complaining. So, if I asked you to go to a temple or a shrine for New Year's Eve, I'm sure you'd join me." Ash nodded at him but didn't say anything.

"If we agreed on everything, imagine how boring our lives would be. Arguing, bickering, and teasing each other is the spice of life." Ash smiled softly at him, cheering up instantly. Eiji saw the relief in the way his eyes lit up again.

"I think both concepts are not for me. They're too black and white. For me, a middle ground works best. I believe in charms and also in the spiritual powers of those temples. However, I also believe that you have to push your luck yourself. I think that one part is luck or fate, but the rest has to come from your own efforts. And that part comes from you, from your choices, your decisions, your actions in life. Destiny opens a path in front of you with several twists and turns, but you must decide which turn to take or where to stop or continue."

"That's a great way to see it, Hana. I think I like that compromise. Maybe it could work for me, too. Eventually," Ash replied warmly. "If I know more about religion and temples. By now, it's all still a mystery. You have way too many gods, demons, spirits, and other creatures. It's hard to keep up, even for me. And you have two religions. That makes it even harder."

"You're curious and a fast learner. You'll discover something new every day. And I'm glad that there are some areas left where I possess a broader range of knowledge and can also teach you something. Buddhism has several variations, teachings, and schools. If you're more open-minded, you'll learn more about it within time. And don't think that Japanese people know every single god or mythical entity ever mentioned in Shintoism. Even if you grew up with them, there's no way you could know all of them. Not even with your intellect. Do you honestly think I could name you all the 8 million gods?"

"That's a relief," Ash replied, then turned towards the gate again.

"The gate looks amazing! It has so many details. Do you know more about it? About its history, I mean?" Ash asked hopefully.

"Ash, please don't encourage him, or we'll never reach the food stalls," Hana pleaded. Eiji saw that she was only joking and stuck out his tongue at her. Still, he couldn't hide his happiness that Ash wanted to learn more about a temple and beamed at him.

Ash was usually annoyingly stubborn when it came to religion. However, he was interested in Japan's history, culture, and legends. Both religion and his country's culture and history belonged together and intertwined often. You couldn't separate them. Ash would learn that eventually.

"Of course! The Kaminarimon Gate itself was built for the first time in 941 by a military commander as a donation to the province of Musashi, the old name of this area. Ash, you mentioned that the height of the Sky Tree also referred to the name Musashi, remember? The gate has been reconstructed several times after being damaged by fire. The current structure of the gate dates from 1960."

"What's that thing in the middle? A lantern?"Ash asked, looking at it curiously.

"Yes, it is. The large lantern is called chochin in Japanese. It was built right in the center of the gate and is an iconic symbol of Asakusa. It is 3.9 meters high, 3.3 meters wide, and weighs 700 kilograms."

"Wow, that's huge. And heavy. What about the kanji on the lantern?"

"The kanji at the front of the lantern is 雷門 meaning Kaminarimon, so the gate's shortened and more popular name. On the back of the lantern, the official and much longer name 風雷神門 was written: Furaijinmon. You can only see it if you pass through the gate and take a look at the lantern from the back."

"Yes, that makes sense. What about the lantern itself?"

"The framework was created from bamboo harvested in the Tamba region of Kyoto, and the shape was created by wrapping 300 sheets of paper around it. Mulberry products are used for binding the materials together. This is obtained from Fukui Prefecture, so you could say that this is a completely Japanese-made lantern created by products from different regions assembled together."

'That's fascinating that many regions worked together to create it. I like the idea, Hana said. "But who assembled it all?"

"A company in Kyoto called Takahashi Lanterns specialized in making traditional chochin makes this large lantern. This company has made the lantern within Kaminarimon and has been taking care of its maintenance since 1971, and as far as I know, they remake the lantern every ten years."

"Wow, that's fascinating."

"Look at the base of the lantern, you two. What do you see?"

"Huh? Why?" Ash asked in surprise, trying to figure out what he was up to now.

"Just humor me. You want to learn something new, right? Look at what's under the lantern. You won't regret it, I promise."

"Is that an engraving?" Hana asked while looking up and inspecting it with him and other tourists. Luckily, it wasn't crowded anymore, so they could get close and get a good look at it.

"Wait, is that a dragon?" Ash asked in surprise, looking back at Eiji for confirmation, who stood beside him.

"Yes, it is. It's a dragon-shaped engraving. It's beautiful, right? It's detailed and meaningful, so many tourists also come here to see that."

"Yes, it is amazing. But why a dragon?" he asked, turning back to Eiji.

"Is there a story behind it?" Hana asked, looking at Eiji, too, who had just taken a few photos of the lantern and some other details of the temple. He hoped to use those photos for another photo project when college would start again.

"Yes, of course, there's a story behind it. The engraving is known as the Dragon Sculpture. Going back to the origin of Sensoiji Temple, legend has it that when the two brothers caught the statue of the goddess Kannon in their net, a dragon with shining gold scales appeared from the water. Therefore, this dragon carving in the lamp enshrines the dragon as another god watching over the temple."

"That's cool. So, the temple has three gods watching over it and its residents here in Asakusa," Hana replied, looking at the engraving in more detail.

Eiji stood beside Ash again and answered his question now.

"In Japan, dragons who reside in oceans are said to have power over the clouds and the rain. In the past, Asakusa was a town filled with countless wooden buildings, packed closely together and weak to fire. Being a dragon that lived in water, this dragon was revered as a god that could save Asakusa from fire with its power over water. This is another layer of meaning given to the carving at the bottom of the Thunder Gate lantern."

"That's a great story. And the engraving contains so many small details. It's an extraordinary work of art. It makes sense that many people come here to see it," Ash replied, still staring at it with fascination.

"But what do those kanji at the golden base mean?" Ash asked curiously. "Something with electric? A company, maybe?"

Hana tried to decipher it. "Matsushita Electric? What does that mean?"

"It's the name of the company that donated the lantern. The founder of said company was Konosuke Matsushita. Ever heard of him?" he asked, turning to Ash more than Hana.

When both shook their head, Eiji grinned triumphantly, pleased with himself. "Ash, since you often read the economics section of our newspaper with great interest, I assumed that maybe you've heard the name before. I'm a bit disappointed," he said smugly.

"You truly enjoy this, don't you? When I lack knowledge, and you know more than I do?" Ash complained, crossing his arms stubbornly while frowning at him.

"Yes, I truly do!" Eiji confirmed, smirking. I have to savor this rare moment for a bit longer."

"Eiji, stop teasing Ash and spill it!" Hana said, getting impatient. Hungry teenagers were scary...

"Ok, ok. Even if you don't know the person's name, you will know the name of the company he owned. Back in 1865, the gate was completely destroyed in a fire. It was reconstructed in 1960 with monetary donations by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of a company called Matsushita Electronics. Nowadays, the company is called Panasonic. The founder also donated the giant lantern, and since then, Panasonic has been tasked with the lantern's renewal every ten years."

"Panasonic, huh? Yes, I think everyone has heard of that name. Even Americans."

"Matsushita Electrics was most famous for its brand Panasonic, so they changed its name in 2008 to Panasonic Corporation. The donation and the engraving are from 1960 when the company was still called Matsushita Electrics."

"That's great that a company donated the gate and the lantern. Although the engraving and the publicity probably weren't hurting the company, either," Ash said with a smirk. "However, I like the history behind the gate. Thanks, Eiji. I wouldn't have noticed the engraving beneath the lantern or the company's name without you."

"See? I knew even if you weren't religious, you'd appreciate the details of the construction, the mythology, and the history behind it. It's fine to admire the gate's construction, the lantern, or visit the other buildings on the temple grounds. Besides the impressive gate, the temple grounds also possess a five-story pagoda and a beautiful garden with a lake, as I mentioned before. It's quite beautiful. Look at the photos here."

He showed Ash and Hana some pictures of the lake and the pagoda in his guidebook.

"Wow, that does look beautiful. Can we go to that pagoda? I've seen them in books, but I've never visited or seen one in real life," Ash asked with new interest.

"Of course." Eiji beamed at him because he finally took interest in the temple.

"But what if it gets dark? Isn't it scary?" Hana asked nervously.

"Don't worry, Hana, the temple grounds are illuminated until 11 p.m. The surroundings look strikingly more beautiful and magical in the orange lighting. I'm sure you'll like it!"

"But - "

"Don't worry, if you're scared, I'll protect you," Ash promised her, smiling encouragingly at her. Hana blushed, then looked away from him in embarrassment.

"Ash, don't make fun of me, ok?"

"Huh? I wasn't." Ash cast a confused look at him, who giggled with amusement.

"Hana, Ash wasn't joking. He truly meant that. He always looked out for people he loved, especially when they were younger than him. If you looked into his eyes, you'd see that."

Hana looked back at Ash and finally returned the smile. "Eiji's right. You were sincere. I'm sorry, Ash. And thank you."

"Of course. I'll always keep you safe. Just like Eiji. You're family, after all."

Hana just stared at him for a moment, too stunned to respond.

"I'm impressed, Ash. Hana at a loss for words is a rare sight," Eiji commented mockingly. "Let's get some food and feed some hungry, scary teenagers before they do anything drastic."

"Finally! Did I mention I'm starving?" Hana asked, instantly cheering up, her fear of the dark immediately forgotten.

Eiji and Ash shared an amused glance behind her back.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter. The next chapter is about regional Japanese food and the one after that will finally have a romantic scene at the end. Both are still about the temple. After that, some characters will reappear, and one character from the anime/manga will appear for the first time when Ibe's photo exhibition takes place.

Please leave a like or a comment if you've enjoyed reading it! Thank you for reading my story.