Vol. 2 Chapter 12: Day one. — Part 2

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

After having lunch at the hotel, we returned to the Kyoto Station. It was as huge as the name suggested, seeing as its name was the same prefecture it was in. Many stores ranging from restaurants and souvenir shops, were crammed into the large, vaulted premises as if part of a Tetris game.

“Did you know that this station has the longest platform in Japan?”

“Eh, really? You know a lot of stuff, don’t you Katayama-kun?”

“R–really? Well, it’s all thanks to the Internet.”

Katayama and Iwashiro seemed to be hitting it off quite well, so I looked forward to how their relationship would eventually develop. That’s well and good, but in contrast to Katayama’s joy, I was left perplexed.

“…Asakawa, why are you linking your arms with me?”

“…Can’t I?”

“I don’t think so. You’re basically a celebrity, so you crossing arms with a random boy could be captured by a random camera somewhere.”

“I’m wearing a mask, so no worries there. Oh, and unlike idols, I don’t have to hide my love life from the public eye. They’ll probably say we’re a good match,[ either way, Miyamoto-kun.”

“That’s not the point…”

Her liking me was already public knowledge at this point, but even so, wasn’t she being a bit too forward with it by suddenly grabbing my arm and hugging it? Not to mention we were surrounded by other students.

One more thing, please don’t say that idols are forbidden from falling in love. Rather, don’t say that they hide it in the first place.

“Then I’ll remove my arm if something happens. Is it okay now?”

“Uh, well…”

“I’m glad then. Oh, Miyamoto, your arms are surprisingly muscular.”

“I’ve been training every day since summer vacation, so I’m gradually getting bigger.”

Once growth is experienced, you cannot stop. If you do, you’ll revert back to the starting line. I can’t afford to lose all that I’ve worked to achieve, and I’ll keep working as hard as before. Nay, even harder.

“Hehe, good job, Miyamoto-kun,” she said, pulling me tighter and closing in our distance.

“…Thanks.”

Maybe due to the fact Asakawa was taller than me, or because her body was so thin it seemed like it’d break if I grabbed it, I felt completely enveloped by her embrace. There was also the sweet tender of her perfume wafting from her artful body.

At school, no student usually wore perfume because they were warned not to do so, hence why even the fashion-conscious Asakawa had never worn perfume until now, at least in front of me…

Huh, does this mean she’s actually trying to make some progress in our day-to-day lives? Oh, this may also be part of some plan… Good I realized it.

“Which perfume is that, Asakawa?”

“It’s called Rose Bouquet by Fior. I’ve started using some lately, so I’m surprised you’ve noticed.”

“I would totally notice though, I mean, it smells great. Maybe I’ll buy some for me next time.”

“I’ll give you some recommendations. Let’s shop together!”

“Well, when we’re back from the trip. Looking forward to it.”

If I used her perfume, it might give me an effeminate impression since it was a rather sweet, flowery scent. Even though I liked it, it could also be annoying for others, so I decided I’d take up her offer to help me since she had a good nose for it. I don’t want the people around me to hate my very presence after all. Katayama probably hasn’t even tried perfume yet, so I’ll even teach him a thing or two when the time arrives.

The observation deck of the Kyoto Tower is about 100 meters above ground, and it’s said to offer one the best panoramic views of Kyoto and all its famous sites.

Indeed, the view through the tempered glass was enough to steal our breaths, and it was so grandiose you could almost see as far as Osaka.

“I don’t really know since I’ve never been to the Tokyo Tower or the Tokyo Skytree, but I bet the view here is completely different from there.”

“Probably, yeah. I feel calm here.”

Though it may seem like I’m exaggerating, I believe the colors I saw here were wholly different than the building lights you looked at from below. It was a whole other experience.

“Nah, you two are just drunk on the Kyoto atmosphere.”

“You’re horrible, Asakawa-san. What do you think, Iwashiro-san?”

“I, I’m not very good with, erm… heights.”

When I looked back at her, I saw her quaking in her boots. She was scared stiff of heights. Seeing this, Katayama approached her from the side.

“I’ve enjoyed the view already, so let’s talk over there. Slowly.”

“Eh, but… Sorry…”

“No biggie. Yo, bro, I’m going over there for a minute,” he turned to me.

“Gotcha. We’ll be around here for a while, so take your time.”

As soon as he finished listening to me, she took Iwashiro away to a place they couldn’t see the view below.

“Katayama-kun is so kind,” Asakawa noted.

“Yeah. I have a lot to learn from him,” I said.

Despite Iwashiro being the one he’s set his sights to, even when talking to a normal group of people, he’d always try to include others in the conversation so no one felt left out. Seeing Iwashiro scared of something, he couldn’t sit still. He had to help her.

It’s also admirable that, despite him enjoying the view from up here, he never let her feel guilty,

“Miyamoto-kun, you’re great just the way you are, so there’s no need for you to follow someone else’s examples.”

“…You think so?”

“Yeah. Though if I had to name a weak point, it’d be that there are lots of girls who’d kill to have you.”

“No comment.”

You’re an attractive girl, all right.