Chapter 136: Suzuka’s Visit to the Set

“This amulet is said to bring romantic fortune. Young lady, you’re so charming—wearing this might help you meet the prince of your life very soon.”

“You look like a student, right? Then I recommend this academic success amulet. Take it with you to your exams, and you’re sure to achieve excellent results!”

“Elder sir, here are amulets for health and safety. Why not buy a few for your family?”

Dressed in white robes, a kimono undergarment, and crimson hakama, with her hair tied into a side ponytail using red sandalwood paper, Suzuka wore a practiced commercial smile as she spoke to the visitors coming to purchase amulets.

Though it felt somewhat off that a youkai was selling amulets at a shrine.

Still, during the Gion Festival, the number of people visiting Shimogamo Shrine had noticeably increased.

“Come on, you’re already quite skilled at this,” Asano Ariko said, broom in hand, glancing over.

“If you have time to make snide remarks, why don’t you come help instead?” Suzuka pouted.

“All right, all right. I’ll finish sweeping here and then come over.”

Asano Ariko looked around the shrine.

Although the sacred tree of fate in Tadasu Forest had been burned down, Shimogamo Shrine itself also had a sacred tree of fate, which had actually boosted business for the shrine.

Most visitors were young women, probably visiting Kawai Shrine nearby as well.

It had been three weeks since the training under Mr. Kyohashi began.

Starting this Monday, shrine maidens like Araki Maki had completely relocated to Matsuzaki Nishiyama and no longer returned.

Though somewhat worried about whether the teacher might do something untoward with five shrine maidens surrounding him, Asano Ariko ultimately chose to trust him.

After a busy morning, Shimogamo Shrine rarely displayed a closed sign that afternoon.

Partly because the shrine’s buildings were scheduled for regular maintenance, and partly because Asano Ariko and Suzuka planned to visit Araki Maki and the others up in the mountains.

After all, these were girls their age living deep in the mountains—it must be tough.

When the training first started, Araki Maki and the others would say a few words during meals.

Later on, they became expressionless and silent.

Was the teacher’s training really without fault?

Asano Ariko packed some skincare products and snacks into her bag and took a taxi to Matsuzaki Nishiyama with Suzuka.

“This mountain is huge, and the cell signal is terrible,” Asano Ariko remarked, holding the map Kyohashi had given her.

Unlike ordinary tourist maps, this one had detailed contour lines emphasizing the terrain.

“I’ve seen this story before!” Suzuka, who had become exhausted after a brief climb, suddenly exclaimed, standing still to catch her breath—showing none of the vigor expected of a youkai.

“There was a teacher and five students trapped in the mountains, and because of the teacher’s physical advantage, in the end, the five students all… %￥#@￥……”

Asano Ariko quickly covered Suzuka’s mouth.

“Suzuka, you’re a streamer; don’t always make crude jokes. It’d be terrible if you accidentally said something like that on air.”

She quickly stopped herself and let out a long breath.

“Shouldn’t it be around here?”

Half an hour later, Asano Ariko peered at the map with doubt.

She felt she had already examined the tree formations here more than three times.

“Hey, Suzuka, do you think we’re lost?”

Suzuka, who had regained some energy after entering the forest, followed behind Asano Ariko without gasping for breath.

“How could we be lost? Haha, this isn’t a movie.”

Asano Ariko studied the map carefully.

“Hm? Look at this — isn’t that the water bottle I just finished drinking from?”

Suzuka pointed to a bottle lying beneath a tree.

“You actually littered!”

“No, that’s not the point here…”

Suzuka picked up the bottle; it was indeed the one she had just thrown away.

“So, we really are lost!”

“No, actually, I came back deliberately to remind you not to litter.”

Asano Ariko turned her face away.

“Hey, that’s obviously just an excuse you made up.”

Suzuka pulled out her phone.

No signal outside the coverage area.

“Oh no, could the next part of the story be that two clueless girls are captured by a group of masked men and taken to an abandoned shrine, then after some #￥%*…!”

“I told you, those topics are off-limits.”

Asano Ariko stuffed a piece of bread into Suzuka’s mouth.

At that moment, a bush beside them suddenly rustled.

“!!!”

The two girls tensed completely, staring fixedly at the low shrubbery.

“Suzuka, you’re not tasty at all…”

“D-don’t come closer!”

A figure emerged from the bushes.

The person stepped in front of them.

“Asano Miko, Suzuka, so you’re here.”

A familiar voice reached Asano Ariko’s ears, and only then did she dare look at the figure.

It was Kyohashi.

He wore camouflage clothing and a helmet, holding a rifle — at first glance, it was hard to distinguish him from the surroundings.

“Teacher! Waaaaah!”

Asano Ariko immediately rushed forward, and Suzuka, unwilling to be outdone, followed suit.

“I thought you were lost since you hadn’t arrived by the scheduled time. Based on Asano Miko’s usual thought patterns, I deduced this location and came to find you.”

Kyohashi paid no mind to the two girls clinging to him, briefly explained, and then turned to lead the way.

“The night sky here is surprisingly clear. You can easily identify the Summer Triangle. If you ever get lost, you can use it to find your direction — it’s very convenient.”

Kyohashi spoke casually as he walked.

“Wow, I’d love to see that.”

Asano Ariko looked up but saw only lush tree shadows.

Living in Tokyo, nights with visible stars were rare. Though she grew up hearing the tale of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd and celebrated Tanabata, she had never truly seen those two stars.

“If you get the chance, you should experience it.”

“Hey, Suzuka wants to see it too! I want to see! I want to see!”

The three chatted casually as they walked. After another fifteen minutes, they finally arrived at a clearing without trees.

“???”

The two girls stared in confusion.

Was this really deep in the mountains?

Before them stood three army green tents, alongside an obstacle course, a shooting range, and a series of training fortifications — all things that should not be here.

Wait, you’ve only been training here for less than three weeks, right? Isn’t this construction speed a bit too fast?

“Attention!”

Kyohashi shouted.

From a distance, several people engaged in obstacle training immediately jogged over.

Their formation was swift and precise, far beyond what Asano Ariko had imagined.

Was this really the Maki-san who couldn’t even line up properly a few weeks ago?

Moreover, each shrine maiden had noticeably tanned skin, dressed in green long-sleeved camouflage uniforms. Their faces bore only the faintest expressions besides their camouflage paint, and they didn’t even glance at Asano Ariko. They stared straight ahead, motionless, like statues.

“Asano Miko and Suzuka have brought you some comforts. Take a ten-minute break. Then begin preparing lunch. We’ll eat promptly at two o’clock.”

Kyohashi glanced at his timer.

“Yes, sir!”

The shrine maidens responded in unison but showed no sign of relaxing.

“?”

Asano Ariko tilted her head.

Something about Maki-san and the others felt different.

“Maki-san, Maki-san, I brought sunscreen for everyone.”

Asano Ariko looked at the five lined-up shrine maidens and produced several tubes of sunscreen from her backpack.

“Thank you very much.”

Araki Maki accepted the sunscreen, then said,

“However, Comrade Asano, sunscreen breaks camouflage and has a distinct scent that can lead to exposure while moving in the mountains.”

“Political commissar Kyohashi said we must not take even a single stitch from the masses. We appreciate your kindness.”

Comrade? Political commissar?

“???”

This Maki-san seemed a bit off.