"Onii-chan, hurry up!"
Reiko turned back to urge him on, her face radiant with an expectant smile. "If we're any later, we'll miss the best time to offer our prayers!"
Hayashi Shuichi, stumbled as he was hauled along by her grip, could only scramble to keep pace.
Eri Kisaki and Yukiko were not about to let Reiko have Shuichi all to herself for the prayers. They immediately quickened their steps to keep up. Bringing up the rear were Tomizawa Chikage and the others, who were mostly there to enjoy the spectacle.
"Women are truly terrifying," Rei Furuya remarked, watching Shuichi being flanked and cornered by the three women. He instinctively pulled his neck into his collar. "I think I'll just stay single forever."
"That bastard deserves it for getting entangled with so many people at once," Chikage pouted, crossing her arms. "If he were just faithful to one, he wouldn't be in this mess."
"I suppose that's true…"
Rei nodded subconsciously, but then felt something wasn't quite right. He opened his mouth to argue, but ultimately just let out a heavy, weary sigh that seemed far too old for his years.
Inside the Okutsunomiya Shrine, the group finished their prayers in sequence. Afterward, they tilted their heads back to admire the lifelike mural on the ceiling of the worship hall—the famous Happo Nirami no Kame, the "Turtle Glaring in Eight Directions."
Under the flickering candlelight, the golden turtle shell shimmered with a mysterious luster, looking as though it might swim right out of the painting at any moment.
Once they finished admiring the mural, Reiko impatiently dragged Shuichi toward the "Bell of Dragon's Love."
The Bell of Dragon's Love was situated right next to the Dragon Palace, near the Okutsunomiya. The stone steps leading to the palace were lined with cherry trees; though the blooming season had passed, the lush emerald leaves still swayed gently in the breeze.
At the entrance of the Dragon Palace sat a vivid stone carving of a divine dragon, with dragon pearls tucked into its mouth and beneath its right front claw.
"Onii-chan, do you remember the legend I told you on the way here?" Reiko tilted her small face up, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
Shuichi rubbed her head playfully. "Of course. It's that story about the stupid dragon who was blinded by the celestial maiden's beauty, right?"
"What do you mean 'stupid dragon'!" Reiko stomped her foot, huffing. "It's a romantic love story!"
According to folklore, Enoshima had always been the dwelling place of a dragon. Hundreds of years ago, an evil dragon lived here, terrorizing the countryside and causing great suffering to the people.
The celestial maiden, Benzaiten, descended from the heavens to subdue the beast. However, the dragon was so captivated by her beauty that it fell in love and wished to be with her.
To prove his devotion, the evil dragon turned over a new leaf, ceased his wicked ways, and began to protect the local residents instead. To show their gratitude, the people built the Dragon Palace.
This was the story Reiko had excitedly shared with her brother during their journey.
"He was basically just a 'simp' dragon," Shuichi said with a look of pure disdain. "All he cared about was the maiden's pretty face. If that's the case, why didn't he just kidnap her? That's more the style of an evil dragon. Now look at him—the 'Dragon of Terror' has turned into a fat housecat…"
"Onii-chan!" Reiko's eyes widened, her pink lips trembling slightly. "How can you say that about such a beautiful legend?"
It was only then that Shuichi realized that not only Reiko, but Eri and Yukiko were also staring at him with shocked expressions.
Eri's brow was furrowed deeply enough to crush a fly, while Yukiko had her hand over her mouth, looking utterly incredulous.
Shuichi coughed awkwardly. "I was just speaking off the cuff. I mean, he's an evil dragon. They don't usually reform that easily."
"And why did you call the dragon a fat cat?" Eri asked, adjusting her glasses with a puzzled look. "What do dragons have to do with cats?"
"I told Reiko a story once," Shuichi improvised on the spot. "In that story, there was a creature called a 'Dragon-Cat' (Totoro). It was the result of an affair between a dragon and a cat."
"Onii-chan… is that really where Totoro comes from?" Reiko was stunned. "An affair?"
"Adult fairy tales are just dark like that," Shuichi said, patting his sister's head. "You'll get used to it when you grow up."
"You can't call that dragon a simp!" Yukiko argued indignantly. "After he changed his ways, the maiden accepted his proposal. It's a happy ending!"
"The dragon got a house and a government job, of course the maiden was willing to marry down," Shuichi muttered under his breath. "Just wait until the day the Dragon Palace faces demolition for redevelopment; the maiden will be filing for divorce and suing for half the assets immediately…"
"…Onii-chan!"
Finally snapping out of her confusion over the origins of Totoro, Reiko's face turned bright red with anger. She was like a ruffled kitten, waving her small fists in fury. "Stop saying such mood-killing things!"
"Yes, yes… I surrender."
Shuichi raised his hands in a gesture of defeat, allowing Reiko to drag him past the so-called "Dragon Palace" until they arrived at the "Bell of Dragon's Love."
The first thing that caught their eyes were the countless "heart-to-heart" padlocks fastened to the wire fence. Each lock held a heart-shaped piece of paper inscribed with the names of lovers and their wishes.
In the center stood the famous bronze bell, its surface intricately carved with dragon patterns, the bell rope adorned with red and white shimenawa (sacred rice-straw rope).
"Shuichi? You guys are here too?" a familiar voice called out.
Shuichi turned his head and saw Kogoro Mouri standing by the fence with Ruri. The two of them were carefully holding a golden padlock together, preparing to hang it on the wire mesh.
"No wonder I couldn't find you earlier," Shuichi said with a smile as he walked over. "So the two of you were hiding out here."
"Heh, Ruri and I already rang the Bell of Dragon's Love," Kogoro said, winking triumphantly, his smile so bright it was almost blinding. "Once we hang this lock, we'll be together forever."
Ruri lowered her head, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "Kogoro, don't waste time. Just hang the lock."
"Right!"
Kogoro nodded vigorously, and together with his girlfriend, he fastened the lock to a prominent spot on the fence.
Behind Shuichi, the girls couldn't help but let out envious sighs at the sight.
Eri instinctively gripped her sleeve, Yukiko's eyes sparkled with longing, and Reiko bit her lip, stealing a secret glance at her brother. Even Chikage, Midori Orikasa, and Akane Koizumi were watching with faces full of envy.
As soon as the lock was secured, the girls swarmed Ruri, peppered her with questions about the details of ringing the bell. Though Ruri's face was flushed red, she couldn't hide the happy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Kogoro pulled Shuichi into a corner and lowered his voice. "Shuichi, have you lost your mind?"
"What's wrong?" Shuichi looked at his friend's frantic expression with confusion.
"You actually brought all three of them to a place like this?" Kogoro rubbed his hands together in a panic. "They're going to start a fight any minute! Take my advice: you should have brought them separately. One by one, ring the bell, hang the lock…"
"Master, do you need me to help lure the Mistresses away?" Rei Furuya suddenly appeared out of nowhere, asking with a completely serious face.
"Get lost!"
Shuichi didn't hesitate to give his apprentice a sharp flick to the forehead. "So you can frame me later, right?"
"Hehehe," Rei rubbed his forehead with a dry laugh. "I was just pushed to my limit by the Mistresses earlier, I didn't have a choice…"
(End of Chapter)
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