Vol 2 Chapter 5 Part 2

Then it was Sunday. Holmes was driving us to Suzumushi Temple.

“We’re going pretty early, huh?” I asked from the passenger seat. It was 8:00 a.m.

“Aoi, don’t underestimate Suzumushi Temple,” Holmes said in a low voice.

“Is it that popular?” Akihito asked, leaning forward from the backseat.

“Yes. You’d best stay away during Golden Week and other holidays, or else you’ll have to wait three hours.”

“Th-Three hours?” Akihito and I asked in unison.

“If you’re going, then aim for a weekday during the off-season. Honestly, I didn’t want to go on a Sunday during the peak of autumn. Since it’s early in the morning, we might be okay.”

“I-Is it that bad?” Akihito and I both asked, exchanging glances.

What does he mean by having to wait? Is it like when you go to a shrine on New Year’s Eve? I tilted my head.

“But hey, that means it actually works, right?” Akihito grinned.

“Well, they say that fame begets reputation. The more people that gather, the stronger the shrine’s energy becomes,” Holmes said smoothly, nodding.

“All right! Akihito Kajiwara, twenty-five years old, is gonna give it a shot!” Akihito clenched his fists.

“Hm?” Holmes squinted. “Akihito, you’re still twenty-five?”

“Yeah? What of it?” Akihito asked, confused.

“Since your name has the word for ‘autumn’ in it, I thought you would’ve been born in autumn.”

He has a point. We met Akihito in early July, and he was twenty-five then. Because of his name, I’d also assumed his birthday was in September or October.

“No, my birthday is June 30th,” Akihito answered bluntly.

“Huh?” I turned around. “B-But then why is your name ‘Akihito’?”

“Ah,” Holmes said, nodding as though he’d instantly figured it out. “Your life was conceived in autumn.”

“Yup. Apparently that’s when they made me.”

“I’d assumed it was a completely unoriginal name, but I suppose some sophistication did go into it.”

“I guess that was my dad’s style. I’m impressed you realized right away though, Holmes. I bet you’re a closet perv, thinking about that stuff.” Akihito grinned.

Holmes smiled back. “Could you not use such unpleasant language? I’ll have you know I’m a gentleman, unlike you, constantly spewing out sexual remarks like you’re some kind of animal.”

“That’s slander!”

“That’s my line.”

Sh-Should I laugh, or would that be a bad idea? Not knowing what face to make, I sat there with a stiff face and flushed cheeks.

“Sorry, Aoi,” Holmes said. “We’re almost there.”

The car headed into Arashiyama. I saw a sign saying “Matsuno’o Taisha Shrine” and a large vermilion torii gate.

“This is my first time seeing Matsuno’o Taisha too,” I said. “It’s really nice, huh?” I pressed my face to the window as I looked outside.

Holmes nodded. “This is another high-ranking shrine with a long history.”

“How high?” Akihito asked.

“How high…? After the relocation of the capital, it and Kamo Shrine to the east were titled ‘Strict God of the East and Fierce Spirit of the West.’ It was considered the Imperial tutelary shrine of the west.”

“Huh, I should write this down.” Akihito took out his phone. “What’s the Kamo Shrine, by the way?”

“It’s the collective name for the Kamigamo Shrine and the Shimogamo Shrine.”

“Huh, I see. Okay so, after the relocation of the capital… Kamo shrine… Ugh, using my phone while we’re moving is making me carsick.” Akihito covered his mouth, his face pale.

Holmes and I wordlessly exchanged glances and laughed.

At last, we entered Suzumushi Temple’s parking lot.

“I’m glad there’s room,” Holmes said, seeming relieved. There were quite a few parking spaces available, but more than half of them were already taken.

We got out of the car. The path to the temple led deeper into the mountain. It was surrounded by colorful trees. After crossing a bridge over a small stream and walking a bit more, we saw a stone monument that said “Temple of the Bell Crickets” and a line of people that were taking up half of the stone staircase leading to the entrance. It was 8:35 a.m. and the temple wasn’t even open yet. There are this many people lined up so early in the morning?

“Ah, we’re lucky that it’s this empty. We might be able to squeeze into the first session,” Holmes said, sounding relieved again.

“Huh? This is considered empty?” Akihito grimaced. I was thinking the same thing.

“Yes. I hear that when it’s busy, the line extends past that stream, all the way to the parking lot.” Holmes pointed far in the distance.

Akihito and I gaped.

“S-So, what did you mean by ‘the first session’?” I asked.

“The head priest gives lectures in the reception hall. He tells a nice story and explains how the talisman wishes work. All in all, it’s a little under thirty minutes, I believe.”

“What, if we don’t listen to the story, we can’t buy the talismans?”

“Correct.”

“If the explanation is half an hour long, how many hours are we gonna have to wait? Can’t they just write that stuff in a brochure?!” Akihito complained loudly.

“Perhaps your wish won’t be granted that way? I wonder if the great Jizo heard your shouting just now.” Holmes looked up the stairs regretfully.

“Wait, I take that back. Please allow me to listen to the story. I humbly apologize, O great Jizo.” Akihito frantically put his hands together in prayer.

The people around us giggled.

“Hey, isn’t that the person from the Kyoto sightseeing show?” one of them whispered.

“Yeah right. He looks similar, but his aura’s completely different. The guy on TV looked calm and smart.”

“Yeah. Those two guys are cool though, right?”

Hmm, it really is him, though… It’s just that he copies Holmes when he’s on TV.

“Well, his true colors will be exposed soon,” Holmes said, making me laugh. Right, that prank episode is going to be aired next month. He’s acting well-mannered for now, but his true nature is going to be revealed to the whole country.

“Ahh, at this point, I wish it’d happen sooner. Even outside of the show, people are expecting someone like Holmes, and it’s a real pain.” Akihito’s shoulders slumped.

“I told you it was going to be difficult later on.”

“Sh-Shut up! Couldn’t you have told me that before the filming?”

“I didn’t think you were going to take the ‘monkey see, monkey do’ approach.”

“D-Don’t call it that!”

Thanks to their fun (for me at least) conversation, time passed fairly quickly. Before long, it was time for the temple to open. By then, there was already a long line snaking behind us. I realized that Holmes hadn’t been exaggerating. Suzumushi Temple really is this popular…

Awed, I climbed the stairs. The Jizo statue was waiting for us at the top. It wore a red shawl and held something that looked like a staff. There was a fence in front of it preventing us from getting closer.

“That’s the Jizo of Happiness. Let’s wait until after the lecture to make our proper visit,” Holmes said, making a praying motion at the statue. Akihito and I did the same before entering the temple grounds.

Inside, a priest guided us. “Good morning. Please come this way.”

We paid the entrance fee, took off our shoes, and entered the building. We found ourselves in a large room with tatami flooring. The sounds of bell crickets chirping echoed throughout. There were glass tanks on one side of the hall, which seemed to be where the crickets were kept. There was also a row of long tables with teacups and teacakes on them.

“Please have a seat. Make sure to fill all of the spaces,” a woman instructed.

The three of us sat down. Before long, the hall was filled with people and the sliding door was closed.

“Good morning, everyone,” greeted a smiling priest. “Please feel free to sit however you like.” After giving his introduction, he began to speak about Suzumushi Temple’s “happiness talismans” that can grant any wish. The talismans were rectangular and smaller than playing cards. They were yellow with red text saying “Happiness Talisman.”

“There is a manifestation of Jizo inside these,” the priest explained. “His head is right around where the character for ‘Happy’ is printed. So, when you go to his statue, hold the talisman like this, with the ‘Happy’ in front. Make sure to tell him your name, address, and a single wish. You don’t have to say them out loud, although you can if you want everyone to hear.

“As for why he needs your address, this Jizo is special. He wears sandals, you see. When you make a wish, he’ll visit you to grant it. So, he needs your address, but don’t worry—he doesn’t need your postal code,” the priest said lightheartedly. The audience laughed.

“Many people come to this temple to have their wishes granted. You’re welcome to wish for anything at all, but for example, if you want to get married, I would suggest saying, ‘Please allow me to form a connection with someone who is suitable for me.’ Saying you want to marry so-and-so idol isn’t possible because that person has their own circumstances. It’s important to ask for someone suitable.

“You also must not change your wish on a whim. It happens all the time; people coming to us and saying they want to cancel the wish they just made. It’s just not possible, so commit to your wish before making it.

“Also, for couples wishing for the treasure of children, you must both wish for the same thing. If the mother is praying ‘Please let us be blessed with a child’ with all her might, and the father is beside her praying ‘Please let me win the lottery next week,’ it just won’t work out.”

The priest’s witty speaking had the audience constantly laughing. I was surprised by how he skillfully used humor to make us remember the rules.

“Lastly, use your wish to bring happiness to yourself and others. Making a wish that tries to cause harm to another will erase all of the good karma you’ve earned through your struggles in life. Resentment, envy, and entrapment will make you lose your own good fortune, so keep your wishes to those that will make you happy.”

I see…

“While we’re here, allow me to explain the difference between the two types of talismans, omamori and ofuda, since there seem to be quite a few people who don’t know. Omamori, which is what ours are, essentially protect a person, so keep it with you at all times. The prayer is only good for one year, so it loses effectiveness after that. When a year has passed, please return the talisman.

“Ofuda are placed in the house. They protect the home, so please place them facing the direction of the sunrise. However, you must not pierce them with a thumbtack, for that would be stabbing the god inside. Find a proper way to affix them. Ofuda are also generally effective for one year, but if it’s your unlucky year, you ought to keep them up until the end of the following year.”

I see, so talismans are only effective for one year. I feel like we still have some faded ones in our kitchen…

The priest’s lecture was intriguing, educational, and above all, entertaining. Time went by in a flash.