On the subway back to the shrine, Fujiwara Reya opened Line to check.
[Asuka: What do you mean, Senior?]
[Asuka: Are you getting along well with my sister?]
[Asuka: Did my sister ask you to say that?]
[Asuka: Why aren’t you reading this, are you with my sister?]
[Asuka: Aaaahhhh (frustrated.jpg)]
[Asuka: How am I not as good as my sister!!!]
[The user "Asuka" retracted a message.]
Over twenty messages were sent back and forth, with three retracted, which might all have been curse words. Fujiwara Reya imagined the junior’s frantic jumping around as he finished reading the messages, leaving them all on read without a reply.
After getting off the subway, he wandered around a nearby supermarket and bought a bunch of food.
Carrying a large paper bag back to the shrine, he wrapped each of the vegetables and meats in cling film and placed them into the refrigerator. The afternoon was spent completing all of his Golden Week homework, and for dinner, he had pickled mackerel and a green salad.
The next day, May arrived.
Fujiwara Reya got up at seven in the morning to make sandwiches in the kitchen.
He toasted the bread, then placed a fried egg on top. Without washing the pan, he melted some butter in it and then slow-fried the ham and beef until golden brown before placing it on top of the egg.
He squeezed an appropriate amount of salad dressing on it, and finally topped it with another slice of toast, making a delicious sandwich.
He clapped his hands together, said it into the air, and took a bite, feeling completely happy.
"Senior senior senior—"
Fujiwara Reya choked.
After coughing several times, he turned and looked out, seeing Kasahara Asuka running in from the main hall toward the dining area, her long white dress blooming like a flower in the dim hallway.
This overly familiar person!
Could you stop treating Asakusa Shrine like your own home!
Kasahara Asuka ran up to Fujiwara Reya and stood firmly in front of him, clenching her fists and striking a pose of cute-girl rage—very adorable.
After ensuring the Wooden Senior understood her emotions, she made her next move, raising her fists and leaning forward to hammer at his chest.
"You’re such a player!"
"Senior, why do you and my sister team up to bully me?"
Fujiwara Reya thought, for money, of course.
"I hate you I hate you I hate you—"
"I’ll beat you! Beat you! Beat this scumbag!"
"Kasahara Asuka, please calm down," Fujiwara Reya held her shoulders, pushing her away, "As a professional priest, I have to keep my distance after receiving money!"
Kasahara Asuka looked up at him with her delicate face: "Remember that! Hmph~"
"I remember," Fujiwara Reya nodded, "Please stay 1.22 meters away from me, it’s the maximum leniency of the basic social distance."
"I won’t leave, bleh bleh bleh~" Kasahara Asuka stuck out her tongue at him, then quickly forgot the earlier unpleasantness, showing a super sweet and obedient smile, "Senior, shall we go shopping today?"
"I’m busy," Fujiwara Reya refused.
Undeterred, Kasahara Asuka asked, "What are you doing? Is it fun? Take Asuka with you."
"It’s not fun," Fujiwara couldn’t help but reach out and knock her on the forehead like scolding a child, "I have a funeral to attend today, don’t cause trouble for me."
Kasahara Asuka pouted.
Acting as if she were feeling terribly wronged, she lightly tugged on Fujiwara Reya’s sleeve: "Asuka wants to get her nails done, can’t you accompany her? She’s so pitiful, her mother forces her to study all the time, her sister even tries to steal the man she likes, and if Senior ignores her anymore, she’ll run away from home."
"The man she likes?" Fujiwara Reya was a bit taken aback.
"Hehe~~" Kasahara Asuka grinned mischievously, her bright eyes full of spirit.
Just by seeing this smile, he knew she was lying. Fujiwara Reya pushed her away irritably, turning to walk toward his room: "I’m going to change and go out, if you don’t leave, stay here and watch the house."
Kasahara Asuka cursed at his back.
"It’s just a funeral, it’s not like I can’t go... I don’t believe you can have a funeral all day long..."
After changing clothes, Fujiwara Reya emerged to find no sign of the junior.
He thought she had left, but when he walked out, he found her standing under the torii gate, lost in thought, seemingly waiting for him.
"Why are you still here?" Fujiwara Reya walked over to the Honda Cub.
Just as he started it, Kasahara Asuka ran over at a trot.
Under the bright sunlight, her skirt fluttered. Though it was only May, there was already a summer vibe.
"Going to the funeral with Senior~" Kasahara Asuka replied with a bright smile, "I’ve never attended one as significant as this before, Asuka’s first time will be with Senior."
Her words carried a subtle orange fragrance.
It turned out to be orange-flavored gum.
"Want one, Senior?" Kasahara Asuka pulled out gum from her pocket.
"No." Fujiwara Reya shook his head.
"Alright, I’ll take one."
To avoid an endless tug-of-war, Fujiwara Reya had no choice but to give in.
"Good Senior, open your mouth and let the junior feed you." Kasahara Asuka unwrapped a piece of gum.
Fujiwara Reya opened his mouth.
A piece of gum was tossed inside.
After a few chews, a refreshing sweet taste filled his mouth, tinged with a bit of tartness.
"Next time, be this obedient too." Kasahara Asuka patted his shoulder with a satisfied look, her words filled with joy. Then she sat sideways on the back seat of the Honda Cub, one hand on his shoulder, spiritedly exclaiming: "Silver Dragon, let’s go—"
Fujiwara Reya remained still.
"Senior! Do you need me to hug your waist before we can set off?"
Fujiwara Reya reached back, exasperatedly saying, "Put on the helmet."
"No," Kasahara Asuka shook her head vehemently, looking disdainfully at the helmet he was handing over, "This helmet is too ugly, it doesn’t match Asuka’s beauty!"
Fujiwara Reya couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.
He simply flipped his wrist and plonked the helmet onto her head, threatening, "Either wear it properly or get off and walk."
"Annoying, annoying, you’re as fussy as my sister!" Kasahara Asuka grumbled in dissatisfaction, finally putting on the, in her eyes, extremely ugly helmet. She placed her hand on his shoulder once more: "Silver Dragon, let’s go—"
"Why call it Silver Dragon?"
"銀の龍の背に乗って,届けに行こう命の砂漠へ"
(Riding on the back of the Silver Dragon, to the desert of life.)
Kasahara Asuka sang in response.
Although not as heavy or emotional as Nakajima Mika’s original, her youthful, sweet, and vibrant voice did the job.
"This is a white bike."
"...Tomorrow, paint it silver!"
"I’ll pay double, Asuka will pay! "
"Hahaha, Senior is so money-hungry..."
"I’m not just money-hungry, but also a lecher."
"No perversion allowed!"
"I should be the one telling you that."
"Oh, in that case, let’s be perverted together, Asuka won’t back down haha..."
The Honda Cub slowly rode toward Adachi Ward, leaving behind a string of crisp laughter, like colorful bubbles shining brightly, marking the start of summer.