Chapter 5 part 3

July fifteenth, yoi-yoi-yama. This marks the second day before the climax of the Gion Festival.

The city of Kyoto was bustling with all of the tourists who came to see the yamaboko on display. Men and women of all ages dressed in yukata were shopping around the stalls lining the streets.

That day, I headed for Kura right after school as usual.

“Good morning.” I always say this upon entering the store, no matter what time it is. It’s the tradition in the antiques business.

Immediately, I heard a voice say, “Oh, you’re here, Aoi! I’ll help you with your yukata today.”

“Huh?”

Mieko, who’d apparently been waiting for my arrival, pulled me into the small changing area and tied a cute bow around my yukata with a vermillion sash. The yukata was the white one with red carnations that she had given me the other day.

“There we go. Now it won’t slip out of place. It looks great on you.” She nodded firmly, looking proud.

Mieko herself was wearing a vibrant light purple yukata. You could tell she was a seasoned Kyoto woman. She looked accustomed to it and she wore it well.

“Thank you. Your yukata is lovely too, Mieko.”

“Why thank you. It’s nice, right? I like this color very much.”

“It suits you well, and the one you picked for me is really cute too. I think you have great taste,” I said, touching my sash.

Mieko’s eyes opened wide. “Ah, well, perhaps I do, but the one who chose your yukata was Kiyotaka.”

“Huh?” My heart leapt.

“The owner did ask me to provide it, but I’m not familiar with what young folk like, so I asked Kiyotaka and he suggested this one. I thought something bolder would be better, but this one does suit you very well. He certainly has an eye for everything,” Mieko said cheerfully. I looked down at the floor, unable to say anything.

Mieko then hurriedly left the store, saying that she had things to do. It was back to just me and Holmes, who was sitting at the counter and doing the accounting. Today he was wearing a dark gray yukata with a black sash. I liked the dark blue one too, but this one had an even more mature look that made my heart race. Seriously, how can someone look so good in a yukata? What a real Kyoto guy!

“Was it crowded outside?” Holmes asked, still looking at the ledger. I snapped back to attention and looked up at him. I could tell I was blushing furiously. I was too happy knowing that he was the one who picked out my yukata.

“Oh, yes. It really is a big event, huh?”

“It’s already yoi-yoi-yama. You were going to meet your friends from Saitama today, right?”

This time, my heart leapt for a different reason.

“Yes, umm, at the lobby of a hotel called ‘Ryokuen.’”

“Ah, Ryokuen. That hotel has been hosting students on field trips for quite a long time.”

“I see.” I nodded and glanced at the paper bag on the counter. It was the tea bowl made by Izumi. “Come to think of it, Izumi’s coming today, right?” I was extremely curious, but asked nonchalantly as if it didn’t concern me.

“Yes. She did say that,” Holmes answered quickly, also as if it were nothing important.

Could it be that he didn’t notice her confession? No, that can’t be true. Holmes of all people would never miss that. When Holmes accepts that tea bowl, it’ll be the same as accepting her feelings. For better or worse, I’ll be able to witness it myself. And then I’ll be going to see my friends from Saitama… What a day!