The red hue of the maple leaves hadn't faded. Before the dense Tadasu no Mori, the Momiji Bridge (Red Maple Bridge) lived up to its name. As if the maple leaves had fallen and clung to the bridge, its red color was both melancholic and beautiful.
After crossing the Takimi River and passing the Momiji Bridge, framed by red maples, the Kawai Shrine came into view. This shrine also had a towering torii gate at its entrance. Pedestrians came and went quietly, the atmosphere peaceful and solemn.
As part of Shimogamo Shrine, like a branch office of a company, the deity worshipped here was the mother of Japan's first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, and one of the two main deities of Shimogamo Shrine—Tamayori Hime no Mikoto. The shrine had its own smaller sanctuary, reflecting its status and importance.
This shrine was dedicated to prayers for easy childbirth, child-rearing, and love bonds for women. For a single man, coming here was pointless.
With these thoughts in mind, Yuu suddenly stopped. He glanced to the side.
Haruno, walking beside him with her hands behind her back, stopped too. She tilted her head and blinked innocently with her large eyes.
"What's up?"
"…If I told you to stop following me, would you say we're just coincidentally going the same way and that I'm too full of myself?"
"Someone who says that is too full of themselves, right?" Haruno smirked mischievously, raising one finger. "But, bingo~ I was going to say exactly that. You really know me, Tenkuji~"
(Normally, she'd add -kun to my name, but now it's just my family name.)
(Maybe soon she'll use that familiar nickname, huh?)
Yuu sighed inwardly. Ignoring her teasing question, he pulled out his phone.
In his memory, if Haruno truly wanted to do something, she'd do it no matter the cost. And unfortunately, she had the initiative and ability to make things happen, like a hyena biting its prey. The old Yuu had nearly been devoured by her in several ways.
Because he was well aware of this, and seeing that Haruno, for unclear reasons, was determined not to let him go, Yuu only had a few options at the moment.
First, direct confrontation. Threaten her that if she didn't disappear from his sight immediately, he wouldn't be polite, even if she was a woman.
Though it was just a memory, Yuu couldn't hit his ex-girlfriend.
Second, escape. If he couldn't face her, couldn't he avoid her? Though a bit cowardly, it was a good way to dodge trouble. If Jojo could do it, why couldn't he?
But on second thought, not to mention his annoyance at being forced to change plans and feel restricted everywhere—if he escaped this time, could he escape the next?
From what he knew of Haruno, if she was truly chasing him, she likely already knew where he'd be staying these few days and had checked into the same place, even before he set foot in Kyoto.
Come to think of it, could that familiar laugh he faintly heard in his room earlier be…
Yuu couldn't help but shudder slightly—how creepy, and how persistent she was in pursuing!
Then there was the third option, the Secret Move: Call the Parents!
Summon Yukino here. If Haruno wouldn't leave him alone, then they'd have a family reunion in Kyoto. A dirty trick, almost like mutual destruction. Like back in childhood when you couldn't win a fight, so you'd lie on the ground yelling for the teacher to come and punish your attacker.
This trick could work. If the goal was to resolve the Haruno issue, it was the best solution.
However, for certain reasons, Yuu chose the fourth option.
*BEEP—*
After about ten seconds of busy tone, the call connected.
Besides the sound of breathing, there was only heavy silence on the line. The other party seemed to have no intention of speaking.
Yuu didn't care. His expression softened unconsciously, but his voice was flat, like delivering a business report. "Masuzu, I'm at Shimogamo Shrine now. I happened to run into a female friend who wants to walk with me. Do you think I should agree?"
"…"
The silence lasted only a few seconds.
For the second time, the call was hung up without a word, even faster than the last.
His expression barely changed. Yuu pocketed his phone and, while stepping toward the torii gate, said without looking back, "Follow if you want. If you came to find me, just say it now."
Too lazy to probe or beat around the bush anymore, he issued his ultimatum and left Haruno standing there, his calm gaze exploring the shrine's scenery.
As expected, Haruno caught up soon after, keeping a distance neither too close nor too far.
"Hooho~ Even while fighting, you still ask your girlfriend's permission before hanging out with the opposite sex?"
Hearing her slightly mocking tone, Yuu replied casually, "Isn't that obvious? How many couples fight over a lack of transparency, leading to misunderstandings that leave scars even after explanations? I'm not dumb enough to do that."
"Oh, you're so enlightened!" Haruno nodded in praise.
The next second, a low, dangerous voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
"In front of me, you're using me as your ace to mess with your girlfriend. You're pretty bold, high schooler."
Compared to Yukino's bone-chilling cold voice, hers was still smiling and gentle but carried a freezing sensation, as if one's soul could freeze at any moment.
Yuu glanced at her. In her soft black eyes, there seemed to be a hidden black hole. Deep and indifferent, without a trace of warmth.
It was an expression of slight anger.
But he didn't need to comfort her, nor was he afraid of Haruno retaliating. So Yuu just looked away and continued enjoying the surrounding scenery casually.
"If you don't like it, you can go somewhere else, Haruno-san."
"Oh my, I didn't say I disliked it." Haruno immediately smiled, shrugging without comment. "I feel like you really understand me. But there's one thing you got wrong—I'm happy you're using me as your ace."
"Why? Does that have anything to do with why you came looking for me?"
"Well… I'm not sure if it does or not." Her finger tapped the corner of her soft lips. Haruno pondered with a serious expression for a few seconds, then said uncertainly, "Maybe I was captivated by your exceptionally handsome appearance at the fall festival and accidentally fell for you?"
"For a high schooler?" Yuu was slightly amused.
"Why not? Only college guys are allowed to date younger girls? College girls can't go for younger guys?" Haruno nudged his shoulder indignantly. "At most, we're only three years apart. When you graduate, is it weird for a 21-year-old woman to like an 18-year-old guy?"
"You're right. So it's fine for a 20-year-old guy to like a 12-year-old girl, since it's not weird for a 28-year-old guy to like a 20-year-old girl."
"That's just a dumb lolicon theory…"
"So liking younger boys makes sense?"
"…Pfft! You're really interesting~"