BHSAF 175 School trip 3

　Yu and the others walked side by side along the lush green road towards the shrine.

"Hmmm..."

　Yui slowly follows behind her classmates, looking around curiously.

"Is something wrong?"

"picture?"

"I was looking at it with some interest."

"It's so calming. I don't know what the best way to describe it is, but... this is what they call wabi-sabi?"

　My classmates were talking with their friends around me, and I could hear sounds from far away, so it wasn't exactly quiet. Still, there was a certain calm atmosphere, something that stimulated my Japanese spirit.

　There aren't many places with this kind of atmosphere in Yu's hometown. If he had to choose, the closest place would be a library with a unique atmosphere.

"Ah... This kind of feeling is certainly nice."

　In order to preserve this unique atmosphere and scenery, Kyoto Prefecture has imposed restrictions on the height of buildings and prohibited excessive decoration.

　Because of this, they hadn't seen any skyscrapers or apartment buildings since coming to Kyoto. The convenience stores and chain stores they did see were all in muted colors. While stores usually have colorful accents to make them stand out, these were in brown tones to subtly accentuate the atmosphere.

　This was something that Yu and his friends, who came from outside the prefecture, found unfamiliar and very interesting.

"Do you understand, Yu-kun? This is wonderful, isn't it?"

　Seeing her classmates chatting away without any interest in such things, Yui worried that she was the only one who felt this way, but she smiled happily, realizing that she had found a friend.

"In this kind of atmosphere, I can't wait to see you in a kimono."

　It's not that Western clothes don't go well with Japanese buildings, but it would look even better if Japanese styles were paired together. It's also because Yu simply wants to see Yui in a kimono.

"……my?"

"Yeah. Actually, I'm not interested in seeing other people in kimonos. ...Maybe you don't like it?"

　In fact, they plan to visit several shrines and temples and then try on a rented kimono. Yuu was looking forward to seeing Yui in a kimono, but if she isn't keen on it, he won't be the only one enjoying himself.

"It's not that I don't like it, but... you know, they say it doesn't suit you if you have breasts... right...?"

　Yui shifts her gaze slightly downwards and looks at her chest.

"It's okay."

"picture?"

"When Yui wears any outfit, it looks like it was custom-made."

"When I'm with Yu-kun, I feel so spoiled that I almost get the wrong idea..."

　It's not that I dislike it, but I'm a little scared that if I continue to take those words at face value, I might end up ruining myself.

"I'm not flattering you. I'm saying it because I want you to be happy, Yui-chan, but I'm not lying; I'm just saying what I think."

"Yu-kun, you always say what I want to hear, thank you. If you say so, maybe I should wear a kimono."

　However, when someone you like praises you, it's still nice and you want to live up to their expectations.

"Plus... I'll get to see how cool Yu-kun looks in his kimono, so even though I'm a little unsure, I think I can bear it."

"If Yui-chan said she wasn't confident, the other classmates would get mad at her."

　It must be a nuisance for her female classmates. Yui is still the type who strictly follows the school rules when it comes to uniforms, so she can wear them casually or with some other arrangements, but the same cannot be said for kimonos.

　If they're both wearing the same clothes, it's all about what's inside. In that state, there's no one in this school who can beat Yui.

　This is especially difficult for female students who have a crush on someone in their class. After all, Yui has now broken up with Takuya and is single. They may be worried that the boy they like will be captivated by her appearance.

"…………Ah, look, Yui-chan. I can see it."

　As they continued walking and talking, the shrine that was their destination came into view.

"It's big..."

　There is a shrine in the area where Yu and his friends live, but there is a shrine there that is even larger and more impressive.

"It's a place with a lot of history, so it's going to be fun."

"Yeah"

　Although the wooden shrine is huge, it has a strangely gentle atmosphere and is not intimidating. Yu and the others gather around their homeroom teacher, who had arrived earlier, and after receiving an explanation, they take turns going inside.