Kanda Myojin Shrine was situated on a hill that was not particularly high, surrounded by residential areas and close to both the commercial district and the educational district.
The relatively low hill was covered everywhere with lush greenery, giving it the primitive atmosphere of a remote mountain in the countryside. It was impossible to tell at all that it was actually located in the middle of a bustling urban area. The hill also served as a park.
In spring, all things came back to life.
Fresh green shoots were sprouting everywhere on the mountain, while many beautiful flowers were in full bloom. Having such a vibrant hill amid the jungle of steel was undeniably quite astonishing.
It was the May Day holiday, so there were quite a few visitors at the shrine.
Sato and the others standing in front of the torii at the foot of the hill attracted quite a few curious glances from the visitors.
The members of the Light Music Club and everyone from Otonokizaka gradually arrived, and Sato gave them a brief introduction.
First, he pointed at Mio, Ritsu, and the others and said, "These girls are all friends from my club. Since Honoka-san and the others are preparing for their first performance next week, they can take a look at your performance today. It can also serve as a test before the official performance."
"Also, if you need any help with music in the future, you can ask them for help."
"Okay!"
Although Kosaka Honoka, Minami Kotori, and the others were somewhat nervous when they heard this, they still nodded in response.
"Thank you for your help!"
The three members of Otonokizaka bowed together.
Ritsu rubbed her chin as she sized up the three girls. Once the three of them raised their heads, she sighed with some feeling and said, "Just as I expected, every one of them is a super beautiful girl!"
"Eh?"
Kosaka Honoka and the other two looked at Ritsu strangely.
Ritsu spread her hands with an expression of helplessness and said, "I guess this explains why that guy Sato doesn't want to go out and have fun with us..."
Her tone suddenly paused. Then, she abruptly put on a sorrowful expression and threw herself against Mio beside her, wrapping both arms around her arm and burying her head against her chest.
"Uuuuu..."
"Mio! We've really been abandoned! That guy Sato really is a bad man who always favors the new and forgets the old."
"Thump!"
Mio expressionlessly gave Ritsu a blow, her face flushing red as she glared at her in embarrassment.
Where are you putting your head?!
Nicely done!
Sato stood nearby with his arms folded across his chest. Seeing this, he raised his eyebrows in delight. This Ritsu really had been becoming more and more careless with what she said lately.
"Um..."
Though the speaker had no particular intention, the listener took it to heart.
Minami Kotori suddenly looked at Sato apologetically, her face filled with guilt. Her golden-amber eyes looked clear and bright like morning stars.
"I'm really very sorry!"
Sato waved his hand and said, "This has nothing to do with you. I already had a lot of things to take care of during Golden Week. Even without this matter involving you, I wouldn't have had a chance to go out with them."
After saying that, Sato raised his head and looked at the approach ahead of them.
Walking up from here to the very top would lead to Kanda Myojin Shrine. One could see one vermilion torii after another standing majestically along the approach, nestled among the tender green branches and leaves. These brightly colored torii were completely different from the ones they had seen at Yamagoinari Shrine before.
As a shrine located deep within the bustling city, even the money offered in the offertory boxes alone was enough to sustain Kanda Myojin Shrine. Every year, during various festivals and holidays, large numbers of people came here to worship.
Not to mention, the various omamori charms and omikuji sold here were also quite popular. When he had come here during the New Year last time, he had already witnessed their terrifying sales volume. As a result, everything here looked clean and orderly.
"You come here every day to exercise?"
Sato turned around and asked Kosaka Honoka and the others. After he had proposed the idea, Kosaka Honoka and the others had taken it quite seriously.
Daily physical training was one of the things they had incorporated into their routine.
Their training consisted of climbing the approach to Kanda Myojin Shrine every day, going up and down repeatedly.
"Yeah!"
At the mention of this, Kosaka Honoka suddenly became somewhat excited. She said enthusiastically, "I've been exercising here for so long, and yesterday I suddenly realized that I'd lost five pounds!"
"What?!"
A shocked cry came from the Light Music Club.
Looking over, one could see astonishment and envy in the eyes of everyone in the Light Music Club. Then, without exception, they exchanged glances and subtly lowered their heads to look at their own stomachs.
After spring break, everyone had silently gained several pounds!
"Eh?! Is something wrong?!"
Kosaka Honoka was startled and hurriedly asked.
"No, nothing!"
Everyone waved their hands together, afraid that Kosaka Honoka would ask any further questions.
"Oh."
Kosaka Honoka scratched her head, looking somewhat bewildered.
Sato naturally noticed everyone's gazes, and his own eyes swept over their stomachs as well.
They looked perfectly normal to him!
He shook his head in confusion, secretly sighing that girls really were difficult to understand.
"If I remember correctly, the platform at the shrine is fairly large. Let's go up first. Honoka, you guys can perform there later."
"Okay!"
They followed the approach upward from the foot of the hill. From time to time, paths branched off from both sides of the main approach and wound around the hill. These mountain paths were paved with bluestone, with green moss growing thickly in the cracks.
Here, people and nature existed together in harmony.
Before long, everyone reached the top of the hill. Although there were also cherry trees on the hill where Kanda Myojin Shrine stood, there were only a few scattered ones still blooming faintly. Standing amid the verdant mountain landscape, they possessed a solitary, proud beauty.
Because of this, there were not many people here to admire the cherry blossoms.
There were a few people beneath some of the lonely cherry trees along the mountain paths, but there were simply too few cherry trees.
...
Kanda Myojin Shrine.
When they reached the platform at the top of the hill, they could see the solemn shrine buildings. Two very tall cherry trees stood in front of the buildings, and surprisingly, their pale pink and white blossoms were still in full bloom.
"So beautiful!"
Nakano Azusa stared blankly at the two cherry trees and murmured.
Everyone stood behind her, looking up at the two trees together. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, and the pale pink and white cherry blossom petals immediately poured down with a rustling sound, like a heavy snowfall of goose feathers.
Whoosh.
Sato exhaled a breath of stale air and turned around to look at the sprawling city stretching out below the foot of the mountain. He could only feel that the view was breathtakingly beautiful.
----
If you want to read up to 170 chapters ahead + Increase chapters being released, don't hesitate to visit
our patron: pat reon . com / Loverice929 (remove space)