Mount Fuji is located at the border between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture, boasting unique snow-capped mountain scenery. Although it is the height of summer, because Mount Fuji has an elevation of 3,300 meters, one can still see the vast white snowscape on the peak during the summer, making it very comfortable.
Chen Yao drove his NSX to Yamanashi Prefecture early, as the morning temperature was lower and the scenery more beautiful. After arriving at Mount Fuji around noon, he could start sketching.
The latest chapter of his manga, *Kurara of Haruta Street*, was about the cat faction and the dog faction going to Lake Motosu at Mount Fuji together. The reason he drew it this way was at the request of his editor, Isur Fuyumi; apparently, the tourism department in Yamanashi Prefecture wanted to collaborate commercially using his animation.
I've been in Japan for several years since transmigrating here, but I've never actually gone to see Mount Fuji.
Chen Yao thought to himself as he drove.
Although he could see Mount Fuji in photos or videos, this time he had to go on a field trip himself. He needed to observe the local unique scenery and cuisine to incorporate them into his manga creationthat was the essence of a field trip.
After driving for over an hour, the car arrived at the parking lot near the Lake Motosu Bus Stop. Chen Yao glanced at the time; it was only nine in the morning, giving him plenty of time to draw the area.
However, after parking his car and walking down the slope toward Lake Motosu, he saw a small house in the woods and realized that this scenic area charged an entrance fee!
This detestable capitalism...
Chen Yao reluctantly pulled out his wallet and bought a ticket. Just as he was about to enter, he heard the ticket seller at the entrance ask, "Sir, aren't you here for camping?"
Camping? No, I'm not camping. I'm an art student here for a field trip.
Chen Yao paused, then replied.
That explains it. You only have a backpack with you. This lakeside area is actually a very famous campsite. Since it's summer, there aren't many tourists coming specifically to see Mount Fuji. If you want to stay overnight here, you can also rent a tent and buy charcoal from our shop.
The ticket seller said with a smile.
I have to admit, the staff at Japanese scenic spots really know how to do business. They immediately convinced him, a tourist who clearly disliked extravagance and staying in expensive hotels. Since he also brought his own blanket, renting a tent and staying overnight here seemed like it could save him a considerable amount of money.
After careful consideration, Chen Yao rented a small, independent tent from the ticket office. Once prepared, he set up camp and got ready to head to the lakeshore to draw manga scenes around Mount Fuji.
Although the temperature in Yamanashi Prefecture was reported to be 33 degrees Celsius, walking through the woods made him feel cool. After all, this was on a mountain, so it should be quite refreshing even without a fan at night.
He walked alone through the deserted campsite, passed through the woods, and was greeted by the vast, calm lake surface and the beautiful scenery of Mount Fuji.
Chen Yao was instantly captivated by the magnificent view before him. He had to admit that seeing Mount Fuji this close made the entrance fee entirely worthwhile.
-- [Ding-dong.]
Just then, his phone rang. He opened it and saw a message from Horikita Suzune: [Senior, are you taking a vacation at Mount Fuji?]
Horikita Suzune had added him as a friend when the island exam ended. She was usually quiet and reserved in person, but she was quite chatty on Line, insisting on talking to him until eleven o'clock last night.
Chen Yao thought for a moment, replied with a provisional [Yes], and then started preparing to draw the scenery.
He sat on the sand and began sketching the front view of Mount Fuji. In that moment, he felt as if he were immersed in a Western fantasy-style mountain landscape, having to think about how to design interaction stories for the animals like Kurara while he drew.
This was the life of a manga artist: not only drawing but also cooperating with advertisers to create storylines... After drawing one side and then the other, Chen Yao finally felt tired. He figured since he was staying in a tent here, he should buy some instant noodles and fruit. He estimated it would take about three days of drawing and brainstorming.
As he was walking, Horikita Suzune sent another text message an hour ago.
-- [Horikita Suzune: Although it's a bit presumptuous, my family has recently been discussing where to travel. If you don't mind, my older brother and I might come here for a vacation too. Sorry for the intrusion.]
Why are they suddenly coming here for a vacation? Is it because I'm here?
Chen Yao was stunned, pondering while looking at his phone.
When he walked out, preparing to drive, he unexpectedly found a red-haired girl sound asleep on a wooden bench near the bus stop.
Initially, Chen Yao just looked out of curiosity, but the more he looked, the more he realized she looked exactly like his junior, Goto Hitori, and he immediately stopped walking.
Hmm?
Chen Yao was startled and leaned closer for a better look. Aside from her clothing style seeming a bit off, her hair color and appearance were exactly like Goto Hitori's... "Goto, what are you doing here? Don't sleep here!"
Hesitantly, Chen Yao tried pushing her, only to find she was still asleep, completely unfazed. He had shaken her hard, but this terrifying woman seemed capable of sleeping soundly through a magnitude ten earthquake; she simply wouldn't wake up.
That's strange. Forget how she got all the way to Yamanashi Prefecture, but why is she sleeping here? Did she see my status update and deliberately come over to hang out with me, but then had nowhere to sleep, so she just rested here?
After careful consideration, Chen Yao thought this was highly likely. Although Hitori usually suffered from Social Anxiety, when she burst out, she could make all sorts of unexpected moves. Perhaps she saw his status and deliberately ran over to surprise her senior.
What am I supposed to do now? This is the first time I've realized Goto has the ability to sleep anywhere. I really underestimated her...
Chen Yao put his hands on his hips and looked helplessly at the girl who was using the sky as her blanket and the ground as her bed. She would probably become an extraordinary person in the future.
Just then, a woman asked suspiciously, "Excuse me, is something wrong?"
Chen Yao turned his head in confusion and saw a petite, blue-haired girl, probably fourteen or fifteen, who looked quite cute, watching him warily as she pushed a light motorcycle. She was the one who asked.
Uh, please don't misunderstand. I'm this person's senior, and I was trying to wake her up, but she won't budge...
Chen Yao explained to the petite girl, who seemed to have a calm demeanor.
You're her senior... I see. I'm not very familiar with her either, but I heard she just moved here, so I didn't know she had a senior. Judging by the situation, she probably cycled over again to watch the Mount Fuji Sunrise, but failed because she got too sleepy.
This girl seemed to know Goto Hitori and explained to Chen Yao.
Moved here? Chen Yao was slightly startled. He took another look at the soundly sleeping red-haired girl. No matter how he looked, it was definitely Hitori, but why had she suddenly moved to Yamanashi Prefecture after he hadn't seen her for ten-plus days?
Something felt wrong... "So, Senior, should you notify her family to come pick her up? She might catch a cold sleeping like this."
The calm girl asked.
But I don't know her parents' phone number...
Chen Yao looked helplessly at the sleeping Goto Hitori. He remembered that if he had added her parents on Line when he met them that day, things would be much easier now.
The cute blue-haired girl was silent for a moment, then said, "There's no choice. I'll try to wake her up. It might be easier for a girl to handle this."
Thank you. By the way, my name is Chen Yao. I am a foreign exchange student. Please take care of me.
Chen Yao introduced himself politely.
Hello, my name is Shima Rin. I attend Motosu High School, the same school as Classmate Kagamihara. Please take care of me.
The girl politely bowed and then began shaking the red-haired girl.
Huh? Kagamihara? What Kagamihara? Isn't she called...
Chen Yao was surprised; he hadn't heard this strange surname before. Just as he was about to ask, his phone rang again.
-- [Ding-dong.]
Chen Yao stopped talking and pulled out his phone to check the message.
——[Hitori Goto: Master, did you go see Mount Fuji? I'm so envious. If I wasn't rehearsing for the school's music performance, I'd want to go see Mount Fuji with my family too. If I were with Master, I could probably live stream playing music there.]
"..."
A cold wind swept over Chen Yao. He looked at the message, then at the still-sleeping Hitori Goto, and felt that things were getting a bit strange.
Just as he was about to ask Hitori Goto where she was, Shima Rin had already woken the sleeping girl. Then, Shima Rin sighed and said, "Kagamihara, how did you fall asleep here again?"
"Hmm? Isn't this Rin-chan? Are you also here to see the Mount Fuji Sunrise?"
The girl's smile was both generous and happy; Chen Yao now saw that she didn't resemble Hitori Goto at all.
"Your Senior is looking for you. You shouldn't be so rude in front of your Senior."
Shima Rin pointed at the stiff Chen Yao and said.
But the girl who looked like Hitori Goto looked at him dazedly for a while and asked, "Uh, who... is this person?"
As soon as she said this, the blue-haired girl froze, and Chen Yao stood rigid. He seemed to have encountered a very strange situation; this girl who looked very much like Hitori Goto might not be Hitori Goto... However, just then, a car with a Tokyo license plate pulled into the parking lot near the station. Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu had just gotten out of the back seat when they saw Chen Yao at the station. Just as they were about to greet him, Horikita Suzune saw a dispute at the station. A blue-haired girl was shielding another girl with her hand, asking Chen Yao in a very wary voice, "Sir, you're not a pervert trying to take advantage of this girl, are you?"
Not only did Horikita Suzune show a look of astonishment, but Horikita Manabu's glasses also glinted. Both of them silently watched this unbelievable scene... Chapter 057: Rivals are always encountered.
As it approached ten in the morning, the rustling wind swept through the dense surrounding forest. Chen Yao found himself in an awkward situation. Without a word, he took out his phone from his pocket, opened his photo album, which contained a photo of him with Hitori Goto, and showed it to Shima Rin and the girl with the surname Kagamihara, saying, "No, I really do know a junior who looks exactly like her!"
As a result, the two girls saw the photo inside: Chen Yao with a girl who looked like Kagamihara Nadeshiko, and three other girls, all in a baseball setting. The girl was holding a guitar, and apart from her expression and clothing style, she indeed looked exactly like Kagamihara Nadeshiko.
"...Rin-chan, do you think I might have had amnesia before, which is why I took a photo with this Classmate?"
Kagamihara Nadeshiko looked for a long time, confirming it didn't look like a Photoshopped picture, and asked cautiously.
"I think you'd better go pray at a more effective shrine. You've encountered a Doppelgänger."
Shima Rin got goosebumps and said with a trembling voice.
"Classmate, what's the name of the girl who looks like me? She's holding a guitar, she looks really cool!"
Kagamihara Nadeshiko's mood immediately became excited. She didn't expect there to be someone in this world who looked so similar to her, she asked.
Chen Yao put away his phone and replied, "Her name is Hitori Goto, she's a band guitarist, but she's from Tokyo, and although she's a guitarist, she has a certain degree of Social Anxiety."
"Social Anxiety, what's that? I don't know if I'll be able to see her in the future, I really want to meet her!" Kagamihara Nadeshiko showed an expectant smile, as if she had encountered something very novel.
Shima Rin, who was beside her, glanced at Kagamihara Nadeshiko and thought, "Social Anxiety? How is her personality completely opposite to hers, like two extreme Kagamiharas..."
But she also knew she had misunderstood Chen Yao, so she bowed apologetically to Chen Yao and said, "I'm sorry, Senior, I misunderstood you."
"It's alright, I also mistook someone. But she really looks so similar. However, her home is in Tokyo, so I also wondered how she would come to Yamanashi Prefecture?"
Chen Yao smiled. Today was truly an adventure, to meet a second Hitori Goto; he also felt very novel.
"My name is Kagamihara Nadeshiko, and I'm currently a first-year at Motosu High School. This is Shima Rin, but I call her Rin-chan, and she's my friend. We both love the scenery of Lake Motosu and Mount Fuji. Shima Rin is also a camping expert! What's your name, Senior?"
"My name is Chen Yao, and I'm a second-year student at Sobu High School in Chiba Prefecture."
"Ah, you're a foreigner."
"Cough cough, Kagamihara, don't be so rude." Shima Rin reminded her.
"Sorry, sorry, it's my first time talking to a foreigner. You're also here to vacation at Lake Motosu, right? Can we take a photo together and send it to Hitori?"
"Are you trying to scare her to death?" Shima Rin silently glanced at Kagamihara Nadeshiko and asked.
"...But I am a bit curious about Hitori's reaction. Alright, I'll try sending it to her to see how she reacts."
Chen Yao heard the girl's suggestion, was a little curious about how Hitori Goto would react, and so he nodded in agreement.
As a result, on a scenic roadside, Kagamihara Nadeshiko pulled Shima Rin, and the three of them took a photo with Mount Fuji in the background, which they sent to Hitori Goto.
In less than a minute, Hitori Goto replied: [Master, should I go to a temple first?]
Everyone saw Hitori Goto's reply and felt that she must have been scared.
"I told you she'd be scared. Why are you still playing around like this?"
Shima Rin helplessly scolded Kagamihara Nadeshiko.
"It's okay, Hitori isn't afraid of monsters, only people."
Chen Yao smiled and reassured them.
Kagamihara Nadeshiko saw the girl's somewhat cute reaction and asked with a smile, "Senior Chen! Can I add your contact information? If there's a chance, I'd like to meet Hitori, is that okay?"
Chen Yao was silent for a moment, feeling that it was indeed a kind of fate. If these two girls met in the future, they might even become friends, so he agreed, and they simply exchanged contact information.
Meanwhile, Shima Rin watched, and also noticed the boy and girl who had been looking at Chen Yao from the highway. She blinked and asked, "Senior, are those two your friends?"
Chen Yao, in confusion, turned his head and saw Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu standing by the roadside, seemingly having been there for some time. He was stunned for a moment, initially curious why the Student Council President of Koudo Ikusei High School was also here, but then, connecting their surnames, he realized they were siblings.
Horikita Suzune bowed and said seriously, "Hello, Senior."
"Mr. Chen Yao, you're always the same; wherever you go, there's always an incident."
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and smiled.
Chen Yao looked at the siblings and said, "So, Junior Horikita is your sister, President. I suddenly understand why you asked me to participate in the Uninhabited Island Exam."
"No, please don't misunderstand. I absolutely did not ask you and the Service Club Classmates to participate in that exam to help my good-for-nothing sister. I have a deeper reason. However, this is a rare and final high school summer vacation. I heard you came to Mount Fuji to vacation, and I thought it was a good way to relax, so I followed along."
Horikita Manabu spoke as seriously and coldly as ever, while Horikita Suzune's expression beside him darkened considerably.
Chen Yao saw their relationship and recalled Horikita Suzune complaining to him on the uninhabited island that she couldn't win against her brother. He felt that there was a certain problem between these siblings... Shima Rin could tell that these three out-of-town students were all excellent students who studied very hard, had good looks, and exuded a unique aura, which made her start to feel uncomfortable, and she already planned to leave.
"Um, Senior, since it was a misunderstanding, I'm going to head to the campsite now. It was nice meeting you."
Shima Rin said to Chen Yao.