Chapter 159 School Trip (8)
There is an anecdote about Kyoto: "Jumping off the stage of Kiyomizu Temple."
Kiyomizu Temple is a temple built on a mountain. If you jump off a cliff and survive, it means you will have good fortune in the future and your wishes will come true. Once you die, you can be taken to the Western Paradise by the Bodhisattva, which is not a bad thing.
It is said that about two to three hundred people have done this in the past 150 years, mostly men, and quite a few of them survived.
On the bus to Kiyomizu Temple, after Watanabe Toru finished telling the story, he said to Kunii Osamu, who was staring at his phone screen, "Do you want to try it?"
"Do you think I'm a fool?" On Kunii Osamu's cell phone screen was the group photo taken at Kyoto Station.
First row, Kunii and Saito;
The two men bent over, fingertips touching fingertips, in a combined pose of Kakarot and Vegeta;
The second row: Kiyono, Watanabe, Mai, and Ichiki Aoi;
From the way they stood, one could vaguely see the awkward atmosphere at the time, as they were standing an arm's length apart from each other.
"This involves another allusion: "People in love are all fools." Watanabe Toru continued, "The location is also in Kyoto, but it's the Kifune Shrine. It is said that in the Heian period, Izumi Shikibu, a female poet famous for writing waka, secretly had an affair with a royal prince after getting married..."
"Where do you get so many anecdotes?" Kunijimasu was overwhelmed by love and interrupted him impatiently.
"Don't worry about him, Watanabe, just continue talking." Saito Keisuke turned around, half-standing, leaning on the back of the chair, "What did Izumi Shikibu do with the prince? What happened to her husband?"
The squad leader sitting next to Toru Watanabe pushed his glasses up and looked like he was listening attentively.
…
When we arrived at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we took another group photo in front of the majestic red Niomon Gate.
After the class photo was taken, Toru Watanabe quickly left.
"Teacher Koizumi, let me take a picture for you!"
Watanabe Toru was clearly speaking to Koizumi Aona, but Akiko unceremoniously handed the camera to him first.
Under Toru Watanabe's lens, the two young female teachers are transformed into teenage girls, posing in poses that are cuter than the other.
"How are the photos ?" Akiko took the camera and checked the photos.
"It will definitely be no problem," Toru Watanabe answered confidently, "In order to prepare for the cultural festival, I have learned video editing and studied lighting."
"What are you filming?!" Akiko said dissatisfiedly, "Aina, take a look."
"What's wrong?" Watanabe Toru took the camera and pointed at the photo. "Look at the light, the composition, and the colors. It's morning now. When taking landscape photos at this time, you should use side backlighting to get a better sense of three-dimensionality and layering. Look, the main subject in the picture - Niomon - is depicted so beautifully and charmingly."
"But, Watanabe," Koizumi Aona stretched out her hand and slid it across the camera twice. Her body rubbed against Watanabe Toru's arm, and the originally faint fragrance suddenly became stronger. "If you don't zoom in, we can't see both of our faces clearly."
"But look at the light, the composition, the..."
"Okay, okay, forget about the lighting and composition." Akiko patted Watanabe Toru's shoulder, "Just take a good picture of the two of us, understand?"
"……clear."
After taking photos that satisfied the two female teachers, everyone entered Kiyomizu Temple.
The first popular spot we arrived at was the Kiyomizu stage mentioned by Toru Watanabe.
This is the most popular attraction in Kiyomizu Temple. Everyone wants to take pictures. Students gather here in large numbers, and ordinary tourists also crowd here.
Several classes overlapped again.
"Watanabe." Kunii Osamu called out in a pleading tone.
"No."
"Why?!"
"I don't have anything I have to accomplish even if I die, so why would I jump?"
"Ah?" Kunihime was stunned for a moment, "Who told you that? How about we go take a photo with Kazuki-san?"
"Well, you should have said that earlier."
"Of course it's this! How is it?"
"No."
"..." Kunii Osamu went to instigate Saito Keisuke and the squad leader again.
Toru Watanabe walked forward a few steps and stood in front of the wooden railing.
The maple trees that dye the mountains red appear to be a pile of red, yellow and green at a simple glance, but each piece and cluster is different. No matter the color, shape or density, when they are naturally piled together, they are indescribably beautiful.
The tender green of the maple leaves is bright and shining;
The color of red maple is like fire and blood;
The yellow leaves seem to neutralize the impact of red and green, just like golden sunlight lighting up the picture.
Looking into the distance, you can see the street scenes of downtown Kyoto.
The above is Toru Watanabe's later recollection and description after careful consideration of the details.
"Wow, it's so beautiful—" This was my feeling about the scenery at that time.
Of course, Toru Watanabe was just thinking this in his mind. The people who said this were the four Chinese-speaking tourists nearby.
She was very beautiful, wearing a brightly colored rented kimono , carrying a small cloth bag embroidered with paper cranes, and wearing wooden clogs.
They took a few photos of the scenery, and suddenly started talking in low voices. Accompanied by giggles, they walked towards Watanabe Toru.
"Kunishiwa ," he said in broken Japanese, "Can you take a photo with us?"
"Okay." Watanabe Toru replied in Chinese.
"Can you speak Chinese?" The girl wearing cherry blossom-colored clothes pointed at Toru Watanabe in disbelief.
“I’m an international student.”
“Is this true or false?”
"Yeah, have you ever seen a high school student from an island country who speaks Chinese so well?" Toru Watanabe replied with a smile.
"He can even say '6', he must be Chinese!" One of the girls turned her head away early and didn't see Watanabe Toru's smile, so she made an excited conclusion.
Another girl in a crimson kimono came to her senses, looked at Watanabe Toru and said, "Um, can I ask your name?"
"Watanabe," Toru Watanabe said with a smile in the light from the building above, "Watanabe at the ferry."
All four young women were fooled, and they didn't even have time to complain about the name 'Watanabe' before they just stood there in a daze.
"Watanabe-san." Kiyono Rin walked over here.
She has a pretty face, a slender waist, and black hair swaying in the breeze. This Qingshui stage seems to set off her.
Watanabe Toru hurried over to prevent her from coming into contact with the four young women: "What's the matter?"
Qing Ye Lin glanced behind him and said, "I didn't expect there would be so many people at the Qingshui stage. I'm afraid it will be difficult to make any progress."
"R-san, I think so too."
"So you just do nothing but chat up foreign female tourists?" Qingye Rin said with a smile.
"They asked me to take a photo with them. If they want to flirt with me, they have to be as cute as you, R-san, for me to take the initiative."
Kiyono Rin has almost become immune to Watanabe Toru's nonsense.
She crossed her arms and said, "The next attraction is the Jishujinja Shrine. According to the plan, Ikki-san will invite Asuka Mai to worship together. We will be responsible for separating the others."
Jishujinja Shrine is a shrine in Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It is the only shrine in the island country that prays for love luck and is quite famous.
After saying that, Kiyono Rin walked back to Class 1, and was immediately asked by Tamamo Yomi to take a photo together.
Toru Watanabe looked at the noisy scene over there and felt dissatisfied with Kiyono Rin for doubting his memory and deliberately coming to remind him.
It’s just an immature plan that the two of them came up with. Who can’t remember something like this?
"Please shout out the name of the best player in the country!" Watanabe Tetsuya could only think about it in his mind.
"Student Du, who was that just now?" Four young women came over.
"He's from the same club, a very good friend." Toru Watanabe replied.
"She's so beautiful, I thought she was your girlfriend."
“My girlfriend is beautiful too.”
"You have a girlfriend?" The four of them were both incredulous and frustrated.
"Of course." It was a rare opportunity to meet fellow villagers, so Toru Watanabe took out his cell phone and showed them photos of Miki Kujo.
The four of them praised him repeatedly and were full of envy.
"Watanabe." Koizumi Aona walked over.
Next to her, Akiko pointed her camera at Watanabe Toru and the four young women and took this photo: "He's flirting with girls again. What Miyuki said is true. He's a playboy."
"I'm a tourist from China. I'm curious about the high school students on the island and wanted to take a photo with me." Although it didn't matter, Toru Watanabe still decided to explain.
If the news gets to Kujo Miki, she won't care who finds who.
"Chinese?" Akiko became interested and said to the four people in the only Chinese sentence he knew, "Nihao."
"Kunishichiwa." The four of them answered in broken Japanese and bowed like the Japanese.
Watanabe Toru reminded the four people in Chinese: "Didn't you just say that we wanted to take a group photo? Let's hurry up, there are still many people waiting to take photos."
Asking Akiko to help them take a group photo, the four young women smiled and said to the photo: "I thought we could take a photo with high school students from an island country, but who knew they were Chinese."
They said 'Ah Rigato' to Akiko, and asked Toru Watanabe, "Watanabe-san, are they your teachers?"
"She's a teacher and also my girlfriend."
"Both?"
"Both."
"But..." The four pointed at the pocket where Watanabe Toru put his phone, "The photo just now..."
"In an island country, it's normal to have more than two girlfriends."
The four of them looked at each other in disbelief: "Is this true? Are you kidding us?"
Watanabe Toru turned to Koizumi Aona and Akiko and said in Japanese: "Teacher, they praised you for being pretty and said you look like high school students."
Koizumi Aona was more reserved, smiling and nodding to the four people; Akiko was equally as cute, chattering away, bowing and praising the four people in Japanese.
"See?" Toru Watanabe said to the four young women.
He was so frank that the four fellow villagers could only swallow their saliva and say, "The Japanese...are really amazing. You are awesome too."
Niupi...a word I haven't heard for a long time.
Leaving the Kiyomizu stage, groups of Kamikawa students began to move towards the Jishu Shrine.
In the eyes of tourists, these teenagers in neat uniforms are also part of the scenery.
On the way, Akiko said regretfully: "I just forgot that I am an English teacher and should communicate with them in English!"
"It's okay, I've already conveyed your message." In order not to get involved in Kunii Osamu's affairs, Watanabe Toru has completely separated himself from the students and mingled with the teachers.
"Watanabe can speak Chinese?" asked Koizumi Aona.
"That girl Kiyono can speak all the official languages of the United Nations. I am still far from her," said Toru Watanabe.
"If students are too good, it will embarrass the teacher. You should act dumber." Akiko held the back of her head in her hands, not like a lady at all.
"It would be very difficult for even me to pretend to be as good as you."
"Qingnai, don't stop me, I must deal with him today!"
Watanabe Toru clenched his fists and made a gesture as if he was ready to punch at any time: "Teacher Koizumi, please let her go. Today I will let her know what it means to 'learn things in order and specialize in skills'."
"Watanabe!" Koizumi Aona cursed with a smile.
As soon as she was distracted, Akiko took the opportunity to break free and chased Watanabe Toru to beat him.
Of course Toru Watanabe couldn't fight back, so he had to use Aona Koizumi as a shield.
As he dodged, he said, "Teacher Akiko, if you do this again, I will go to the principal and complain that you are corporally punishing students!"
"Not to mention the principal, even the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology can't save you!"
The scene was like an eagle catching chicks.
Watanabe Toru hid behind Koizumi Aona and put his hand on her shoulder: "Teacher Koizumi! Stop her quickly, someone is trying to bully your beloved student!"
Koizumi Aona tilted her head and pretended to be troubled: "I want to help you, but anyway, Watanabe, you just went too far."
"Why is this happening?! I like you so much, Teacher!"
"I've told you many times, don't say that!" Koizumi Aona said to Watanabe Toru, and reached out to stop Akiko, "Okay, forget it, there are so many people watching us."
Akiko snorted, "Aona, just protect him. I don't know how many girls this guy has told that he likes her."
"Everyone says it's not like that!"
"No, the only teacher I like is Koizumi Aonai!"
"Watanabe, just wait for the class division in the second year of high school. When it comes to my hand, I will let you know what 'the correct love of a teacher' is." Akiko said with a deliberate grin.
"Teacher Koizumi, she said your love is wrong."
"Alright alright, that's enough you two!"
After much fuss, we finally arrived at the Jishu Shrine.
As a shrine for matchmaking, young men and women will not miss this place.
For example, drawing lots, love divination stones, etc.
The so-called love divination stone is actually two stones ten meters apart. It is said that if you can walk from one stone to the other with your eyes closed, your love will be successful.
Does closing your eyes imply that love is blind?
Becoming blind and losing common sense, but still insisting on keeping going towards the goal does make sense considering the current situation.
But ten meters is too much for love, right? It should be at least a thousand meters.
As a man with a girlfriend, Toru Watanabe has no interest in this at all. Even if he is interested, it is not his turn - there are too many people.
Not to mention the tourists, the line was made very long just by the students from Kamikawa High School, because there were so many classes coming to Kyoto today.
Yes, this is also love’s fault.
The large force stayed here just in time to implement the plan.
Watanabe Toru said sorry in his heart to Kunii Osamu who was groping towards another stone.
Saito Keisuke and the other boys from Class 4 gave Kunii Osamu completely opposite instructions while trying not to laugh.
"Huh? On the right? Are you sure? On the left? Which side? Behind?!"
…
Toru Watanabe left the crowd and walked towards the shrine's worship hall.
Kiyono Rin, Asuka Mai and Ikki Aoi have already arrived.
According to the plan, Ikki Aoi successfully persuaded Asuka Mai to stay here by saying "there are too many people here now, let's wait a little longer", and then "accidentally" met Watanabe Toru who was also planning to pay homage.
"Are you going to pay homage?" Watanabe Toru asked naturally.
"Yeah, Watanabe-kun is going too?" Ikki Aoi's acting skills are far inferior to his.
Times create heroes and the sea trains sailors. This is not just talk.
"Well, together?"
"Okay, okay!"
The four people pretended to meet by chance and walked to the end of the worship team.
The shrine is visited in groups of two at most, so it was natural for Aoi Ikki to stand together with Mai Asuka.
Watanabe Toru looked back and saw that the people standing behind him and Kiyono Rin were indeed unfamiliar Kamikawa students, a boy and a girl, which was really enviable.
Watanabe Toru stood there doing nothing.
Kiyono Rin was watching the conversation between Ikki Aoi and Asuka Mai with great interest, nodding from time to time.
The team moved quickly and it was their turn soon.
Ikki Aoi and Asuka Mai stepped forward.
According to the plan, Toru Watanabe and Rin Kiyono deliberately stood farther away from them, so that the Kamikawa students behind them were also farther away and could not hear their conversation at all.
It's not a confession, just some ambiguous words while making a wish.
The degree of ambiguity is controlled to exceed the admiration of the junior girl for the senior girl, but below love.
Let Asu Mai realize Ikki Aoi's true thoughts. Under this premise, in the subsequent travels, Asu Mai continues to accept Ikki Aoi's invitation to go out and play, which proves that there is a great chance.
At the same time, it also gives Asu Mai time to think before confessing.
The above is the plan of Ikki Aoi and Kiyono Rin.
The biggest flaw in this opportunity is that with Toru Watanabe here, all of Mai Asu's requests will be agreed to.
Toru Watanabe has been persuading Aoi Ikki to give up, because he couldn't bear to see her see hope and then despair.
As for Kiyono Rin, she probably doesn't care whether Ikki Aoi fails or succeeds. She just wants to learn some ways to make Watanabe Toru fall in love with her from this process.
Apart from Toru Watanabe, Kiyono Rin has no friends and hates liars, and Ikki Aoi is no exception.
While he was daydreaming, the two had already finished their worship. Ikki Aoi's face was flushed, while Asu Mai's expression was calm.
"Guess what she said?" Toru Watanabe walked forward.
"If you're curious, just ask directly later." Qingye Rin threw a five-yen coin into the box.
"If you knew the answer directly, life would be much less fun. Guess?"
Qingye Rin ignored him, clapped her hands twice, closed her eyes and made a wish.
Toru Watanabe took out his wallet, took out the 500 yen coin he had prepared long ago, and put it into the cash box.
This was his own plan: the landlord shrine that existed before the founding of the island nation, the coin with the largest face value, plus the presence of the god Qingye by his side would definitely change his fortune!
"System, open!"
