When Kotomi Izumi returned to the presidential suite, Mashiro Shiina was sitting quietly by the floor-to-ceiling windows. With a pencil in one hand and her sketchpad in the other, she was sketching the cityscape before her.
Whenever she drew, a calm serenity would spread across Mashiro's face. Even if she didn't smile, her delicate eyebrows would always relax gently. But now, even though her pencil hadn't paused once, her brows remained slightly furrowed—she didn't seem to be in the zone.
Kotomi tiptoed closer and happened to glance at the sketchpad. She paused, stunned, then sighed in awe.
—Even when she's off her game, a casual sketch from Mashiro could probably win a grand prize.
Seeing the effortless work of a genius can be crushing. But Kotomi had never dwelled on it too much. She just gave a mental nod or an admiring whisper: "That's amazing."
Partly it was because she had a good attitude, but mostly it was because Kotomi had no intention of becoming a traditional painter. She leaned more toward being an illustrator or manga artist.
If not for the goal of earning a recommendation for university, Kotomi likely wouldn't have taken up oil painting at all.
Because she had no strong ambition to become a world-renowned fine artist, she rarely felt pressured when spending time with Mashiro. And if she ever did feel pressure, it was only a fleeting moment of awe at Mashiro's skill—gone as quickly as it came.
Simply put, there wasn't much competition between them. And even if there was, Kotomi wouldn't care much about winning or losing—not when her rival was Mashiro.
If Mashiro hadn't been drawing, Kotomi would probably have rushed up and hugged her from behind already. But now clearly wasn't the right time. Hugging her suddenly could break her creative flow.
Even when it looks like an artist is just doodling, it's best not to interrupt.
Waiting quietly nearby until they finish is a silent act of respect.
However, just as Kotomi settled onto the nearby sofa, Mashiro turned to her at once. She tossed aside both her sketchpad and pencil. The lifeless look in her eyes as she stared out the window disappeared instantly, replaced by sparkling light the moment she saw Kotomi.
"Kotomi, you're finally back!" Mashiro clapped happily.
"I wandered around Kyoto a bit. There are a lot of fun places. If you're interested, I can take you now. It'd be a waste to stay inside drawing the whole time while we're here."
Kotomi extended the invitation, though she didn't expect much. Mashiro was even more of a homebody than she was.
Kotomi liked staying in during vacations too, but she still made a habit of walking outside for at least an hour each day. It wasn't like hitting the gym—something she had to force herself to do. She genuinely enjoyed strolling while listening to music on her headphones.
After dinner, she planned to do exactly that: take a walk while listening to music... and maybe grab a late-night snack.
Unfortunately, since she was in Kyoto, Kotomi couldn't go on walks with Phoenix like she usually did. Walking with her cute kitten always attracted plenty of attention—especially from beautiful girls.
Recently, thanks to Phoenix, Kotomi had been approached by 36 gorgeous onee-sans while out for a stroll.
Lately, she had also remembered a song she'd heard in her second life. She planned to sing it to Phoenix during their next walk, just like she had with "All the Way North" before.
The song was called "Over."
How could I blame you for your mistakes? It was my freedom that overwhelmed you...
Leaving you lonely, drawn into a whirlpool of emotion...
How could I let you suffer so? It was my freedom that went too far...
If you want to fly, I'll bear the pain...
Just from the lyrics alone, it was obvious how fitting this song was for Phoenix.
Hopefully, she would like it~
And calm down a bit. Lately she'd been bouncing around like a little skyrocket—one moment you see her, the next she's on the roof tearing off tiles.
"Sure! Let's go out shopping, Kotomi," Mashiro replied without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Then I won't force—Wait, what? You mean... you actually want to go out with me?"
Kotomi blinked in disbelief. Mashiro actually didn't want to stay holed up inside?
Feeling Kotomi's heated gaze, Mashiro looked down slightly, her cheeks faintly pink. In a rare, bashful voice, she whispered, "I want to explore Kyoto with you... Is that not okay?"
Kotomi nodded so fast she looked like a bobblehead. "Of course it is! If it weren't, I wouldn't have invited you! Kyoto has so many cool places. Where do you want to go first?"
...Just not Gion.
Kotomi silently added the caveat in her mind.
After being invited by the oiran and then immediately fleeing, she hadn't told a soul about it. The story alone would be enough to send anyone into hysterics.
They'd laugh and say, "Oh, Kotomi-chan, still too young to handle the deep waters of Gion~"
Even if Mashiro wouldn't tease her, Kotomi had no plans of telling her either.
She wasn't sure if she was just overthinking it, but something told her Mashiro might not be too thrilled to hear about it.
So just to be safe, it was best if no one knew she'd been invited by Gion's top oiran.
Let the moment fade away with time, leaving no trace.
It was probably just a chance encounter between her and Ayane Kikou, never to be repeated.
After all, how many people in the world catch a single glimpse of someone, never speak a word, and never meet again?
Mashiro stood and went to change clothes.
While drawing, she'd been wearing her pajamas.
Kotomi was tempted to half-joke, "Want me to help you change?"
But she held her tongue. If Mashiro took her seriously and got upset, it wouldn't be worth it.
Still... Kotomi was quietly curious. If she had said it out loud, would Mashiro have accepted? Or gotten mad?
Mashiro changed clothes slowly. It wasn't because she couldn't decide what to wear—after all, she only packed a few outfits for the three-day trip. There weren't enough choices to agonize over.
She was just naturally slow at changing clothes.
That was fine. Kotomi waited patiently on the sofa.
It was already 4 PM. Now that it was autumn, the sky darkened earlier.
And since it had just rained yesterday, today's skies were still a little gloomy. The breeze had picked up too, no longer a soft wind but something stronger and cooler.
Kotomi took the chance to lock the balcony door and shut all the open windows.
She thought about calling Hibiki Naegi to see if she wanted to come along.
But then she remembered the deep dark circles under Hibiki's eyes that morning, and her expression that screamed exhaustion. She had said she was going to nap, and Kotomi figured she might not wake up until morning.
So she put her phone down and decided not to disturb her sleeping friend.
As it turned out, Kotomi had guessed right.
Back in her room, Hibiki had collapsed into bed the moment she returned. She woke briefly around 3 p.m., her stomach growling a bit. She tried to get up to find something to eat, but her newly regained sliver of energy gave out before she could even sit up.
So she flopped back down and slept straight through—still fast asleep even now.
That alone spoke volumes about how exhausted she must've been last night with Seiko.
Even if Kotomi had called her earlier, Hibiki wouldn't have heard a thing. That's how deeply she was sleeping.
You could probably light fireworks in her room and she wouldn't stir.
She might even sleep better.
Meanwhile, Kotomi waited for Mashiro to finish changing. When she finally heard footsteps approaching and saw Mashiro walking over, Kotomi couldn't help but smile.
It was worth the wait.
Mashiro wore a soft white dress with a shirt-style design, cinched gently at the waist with a belt. Though Mashiro usually seemed indifferent to her surroundings, she had still noticed how chilly it was outside and had pulled a light jacket from her suitcase. Her white cotton socks, trimmed with lace, looked adorably cozy. Her whole outfit radiated a perfect autumn charm.
Kotomi stared at Mashiro's feet for a long moment before saying earnestly, "Mashiro, your feet would look amazing in stockings."
"If you like them, I can wear them just for you," Mashiro replied softly, her cheeks flushing pink at the slightly embarrassing topic.
Unable to resist, Kotomi reached out and gently pinched Mashiro's cheek.
Sometimes Kotomi forgot her own strength. What looked like a gentle squeeze could still hurt a little—and this was no exception.
Realizing this, she quickly let go. "Did that hurt?"
"A little," Mashiro admitted.
Kotomi sighed. When it wasn't about art, Mashiro could be a bit clueless.
"Then why didn't you say something?"
Mashiro just giggled shyly, her cheeks still pink. She didn't want to admit she liked having Kotomi pinch her cheek.
Kotomi grabbed the folding umbrella and headed out with Mashiro. They strolled along the streets near the hotel.
There were plenty of quaint shops in the area—perfect for tourists wanting a taste of Kyoto's charm.
During her afternoon wanderings, Kotomi had learned about a few popular spots. She didn't take Mashiro to any of them right away, though, for one simple reason: the weather.
Though the skies had only looked a bit overcast earlier, now the clouds were thick and heavy. The kind of clouds that screamed incoming downpour.
Kotomi could already tell: this would be a serious rain.
With clouds that dark, you never knew when the skies might open up.
Just in case, Kotomi had brought along a folding umbrella, which her dear little sister had thoughtfully packed for her.
Thinking of Aimi warmed her heart. If not for her, Kotomi would've had to buy a new umbrella in Kyoto.
With the threat of rain hanging overhead, Kotomi wisely chose to stay close to the hotel for their walk.
Even with an umbrella, you couldn't go too far in this kind of weather. Sometimes, even an umbrella wouldn't help—rain paired with wind never played fair.
Sticking to the nearby streets made sense. That way, if the rain started pouring, she and Mashiro could make a quick dash back to the hotel.
Thankfully, the street was lined with small shops and eateries. A stroll here would hardly feel boring. In fact, some people trying to lose weight would intentionally avoid this street.
After all, a walk meant to burn calories could easily become a calorie binge. One moment you're strolling, the next your hands are full of snacks and drinks.
For most people, walking here meant losing money and gaining weight.
"Mashiro, is there anything else you want to eat?" Kotomi asked while sipping the bubble tea she couldn't resist buying.
"Nope... I need to finish this giant squid first!" Mashiro said determinedly, glaring at the massive deep-fried squid in her hands like a hungry kitten.
What had started as a scenic walk through Kyoto had now turned into a full-on snack street adventure.
"Mashiro."
"Hmm? Kotomi, what is it?"
"I'll be honest—I went out earlier this afternoon to get you a little present," Kotomi said, glancing at Mashiro with a soft smile.
Only the girl on the receiving end could understand the impact of such words.
Mashiro rarely blushed, but by now she'd lost count of how many times she'd turned red today.
"What kind of present?" she asked shyly, her cheeks still glowing, clearly both embarrassed and excited.
"That's a secret for now~" Kotomi teased. "I mailed it home ahead of time. Be sure to check it as soon as you get back, okay? I hope you like it. Oh, and when you open the package, look carefully—there might be a letter inside."
Mashiro, already brimming with curiosity, now looked like she couldn't wait to get back home. All she wanted was to find out what Kotomi had given her.
"Kotomi, I want to give you a gift too," Mashiro said softly, her amber-red eyes glowing with emotion.
"A gift in return? I'd love that. I can't wait to see what you choose."
At some point, the two had naturally linked hands.
They got back to the hotel at the perfect moment. As soon as they stepped into the presidential suite, thunder rolled outside, and the long-brewing storm finally burst.
Kotomi was glad she'd locked the balcony door and shut the windows before leaving.
Though technically a walk, they'd wandered a street filled with food stalls. By the time they returned, they smelled like they'd toured an entire food court.
Mashiro wrinkled her nose and decided to take a bath. Just before she entered the bathroom, she asked, "Kotomi, want to bathe together?"
Kotomi was tempted to say yes.
If only she hadn't just realized there was no Pepsi in the minibar.
A presidential suite with no Pepsi?!
Unacceptable!
Kotomi turned down the bath invitation (with great restraint), taught Mashiro how to use the shower controls, then headed down to the hotel's convenience store.
Prices might be higher than outside, but a night without soda would be a tragedy.
On her way to the shop, Kotomi noticed a group of teens about her age.
Judging by the badges they wore, they were also participants in the first-phase art exhibition.
In many fields, the gender ratio skews one way or another, but art seemed more balanced. The group—two boys and two girls—had clearly just met but were chatting comfortably thanks to their shared artistic interest.
They probably intended to head out for dinner, but the downpour had trapped them in the lobby.
Kotomi didn't hesitate. Since they were all participants in the same exhibition, and she happened to see them here, it only made sense to say hello and introduce herself.
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