Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 372 People Who Love
Jun Matsueda's first impression of Kyoto was its heat.

"It's even hotter than Tokyo."

As he stepped out of the station, the scorching sun blazed down on his face, leaving no corner untouched.

"I told you to wear sunscreen." Mochizuki Haruka walked up to the boy with a can of sunscreen spray.

"Come closer to me."

Jun Matsue bent down, and the cool spray hit his cheeks, then his neck, chest and arms.

"Jun-ge got sprayed with pepper spray~" Miyamura Aya walked past the two of them, chasing after Kurusu Yosei who was walking ahead.

Jun Matsuoka's second impression of Kyoto was its high price.

"This is the first time I've ever encountered a tourist attraction that requires paying a accommodation tax," Jun Matsueda complained to the girls around him as he walked out of the hotel.

"There's nothing we can do about tourist cities," Yosuke Kurusu shrugged. "Let's see where we can eat."

"They don't charge this fee in Hokkaido." The boy shook the small fan the shopkeeper had given him, and his fondness for Hokkaido grew even stronger.

My first meal in Kyoto was an all-you-can-eat wild game buffet. The term "all-you-can-eat" is similar to a buffet, meaning you can eat as much wild game as you want.

The tour group sat at a bar-style table, and Jun Matsue first took a bite of the venison steak placed in front of him.

The outer layer had a slightly charred aroma, while the inside was soft, tender, and juicy with a rich fragrance. His dissatisfaction with Kyoto immediately disappeared by more than half.

The boy took out his phone, took a picture, and sent it to Natsumi Imokawa, who was still in Tokyo.

"We haven't been to Nara yet, but we've already had venison."

"Huh?" Yu Chuan replied quickly, sending a shivering penguin emoji.

"Why would you eat a deer when it's so cute?"

"It's really not good. I didn't order this dish. I'll criticize Cai Jiang for you later."

As Jun Matsue said this, he took another bite of the venison steak and nodded with satisfaction. "I feel like I'm looking forward to Kyoto again."

“I picked this restaurant myself.” Mochizuki Haruka, sitting next to him, leaned closer. “It’s not just Tomatsu Yuka who knows what you like to eat.”

The girl's tone carried a hint of smugness. Jun Matsue paused in his chewing, realizing he hadn't yet told Tomatsu Yuka about his trip to Kyoto.

However, Caijiang and the others have a group chat and posted updates, so she will definitely see it, he told himself.

Jun Matsue rarely initiates conversations with Yuka Tomatsu now, because he still remembers the promise he made to the girl—that if he ever found someone he liked, he would tell her immediately.

But if he were asked that question now, he would probably have no choice but to remain silent.

Freshly fried shrimp and cream croquettes were served, and the slight clinking of the plates brought the boy back to his senses. He sighed inwardly, trying to refocus his mind on the sweltering heat of Kyoto.

During dessert time after dinner, the girls discussed their plans for the afternoon.

"We were originally planning to go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple first, but it's so hot now, how about we go to Kifune Shrine first?" Yosei Kurusu said, scooping up his rum ice cream.

"The altitude is higher over there, and there are more forests."

“Then we can go to Shimogamo Shrine first, it’s just halfway there.” Mochizuki Haruka licked the ice cream from her lips. “It’s relatively close, and they’re having a summer festival there.”

Jun Matsueda listened to the girls' chatter and opened his phone. Maki Yami had already replied to the message he had sent earlier.

"We had somen noodles for lunch, but Matsueda's lunch was more appetizing~"

The boy looked up and saw the girls still talking. He quickly looked down and sent a message.

"Where are you now, senior?" The chat interface paused for a moment. "I'm currently at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but the interior is not open to the public right now."

Jun Matsue thought for a moment, "We're going to Shimogamo Shrine later, is there a chance we'll run into each other?"

"It's near the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but we're leaving soon."

"Then we'll just have to leave it to fate."

The chat ended with a regretful emoji from his senior. He put his phone back in his pocket and stared blankly at the chef behind the bar.

"Matsue, time to go." Kurusu Yosei patted him on the shoulder. "First, we'll go to Shimogamo Shrine and the Old Book Festival, then we'll see where to go next~"

Jun Matsue viciously devoured the last slice of salted cucumber and followed the girls back into the Kyoto heatwave.

As Jun Matsueda was taking the train to Shimogamo Shrine, his cell phone vibrated again in his pocket.

Yamami Maki sent a photo of a simple stall with a green canopy, where an elderly silver-haired man wearing a hat sat behind the counter, surrounded by a dense array of books.

"I've passed by Shimogamo Shrine! I left a surprise for Matsueda-kun; please ask this grandma to collect it~"

The noise in the crowded carriage instantly faded away, and Jun Matsueda zoomed in on the pictures on his phone, noting down every detail.

What if I can't find it?

"No way!" the girl sent a bird puffing out its chest emoji. "If all else fails, you can just tell the stall owner your last name is Songzhi~"

"I'm going up the mountain later, the signal won't be very good. I'll contact Songzhi later~"

Unexpectedly, his senior had prepared a surprise for him first. Jun Matsue shook his head and looked at the green trees rushing past the car window.

Shimogamo Shrine is located in the "Tadasu no Mori" on the upper reaches of the Kamo River. It is a wildly growing woodland in Kyoto City where the Takano River and Kamo River on both banks merge to form the Kamo River, which is an essential part of Kyoto's life.

"The ancient book festival here seems to have appeared in a book by a famous author."

Walking lightly beside the boy, Mochizuki Haruka moved through the crowd, surrounded by a market filled with the scent of books and ink.

"Most of our troubles come from dreaming of another possible life."

"Placing your hopes on something as unreliable as your own potential is the root of all evil. You must accept that you cannot become someone else."

"You can't possibly enjoy the so-called rosy student life. I assure you, so stay calm."

The girl slowly repeated the words from the book, her voice carrying a profound meaning.

“Kyoto is just like that kind of city.” Jun Matsueda watched as Yosuke Kurusu and Aya Miyamura, who were walking ahead, disappeared into the crowd.

"Yukio Mishima's Golden Pavilion, Yasunari Kawabata's ancient capital, and Natsume Soseki's residence and writing here are what make Kyoto Kyoto, not Tokyo."

He stopped and looked at a patch of green not far away. It wasn't the green of a forest, but the green of a pergola.

The silver-haired old man was behind the counter, but he didn't go up to him. Instead, he slowly strolled around the book stall.

Jun Matsue believed in his and his senior's understanding; the girl would always find a way for him to find it.

Sure enough, the boy spotted a familiar green color in the corner of the bookshelf—a matcha milk candy lying quietly on an open book.

Jun Matsue put away the candy, then picked up the book and carefully wiped away the fine dust from the cover.

He looked at the elegantly colored cover in his hand; it seemed to be a gift from his senior.

"The People Who Love," by Yasunari Kawabata.

(End of this chapter)