The Happiness That The Shinigami Gave Me - V3 Chapter 13

Volume 3 Chapter 13

“Kya! Photogenic! Insta-worthy! I’m mind-blown!”

With an SLR camera hanging on her neck, Momo-chan excitedly gazed at the Thousand Torii Gate of the Fushimi Inari Shrine.

It was the second day of our school trip. The schedule for our self-study was arranged by none other than Momo-chan. So, we were going to sightsee all over Kyoto. She scheduled an itinerary based on ‘places where Suzuno-chan would look good at’ and this place was the one she was most excited about.

The path to the shrine was a stone staircase that seemed to ascend endlessly. It was surrounded by countless vermilion torii gates. The scene was magnificent and mystifying to look at.

I could understand what Momo-chan was so excited about, but…

“What should I do, Motoyama? I don’t know what language she’s speaking…”

“Can’t relate. Unlike you, I’m a perfectly normal and healthy middle school student. I can understand what she’s talking about.”

“R-Really?”

Completely unconcerned with my befuddlement, Momo-chan kept pressing the shutter nonstop.

“You’re so cute, Suzuno-chan! Your shy act makes you look cuter!”
“It isn’t an act! I’m actually embarrassed!”

Suzuno glanced around, clearly concerned about people’s gazes on her. Meanwhile Momo-chan started a fuss as she took more pictures, gathering the attention of the tourists around us. It was a weekday, but this place was a famous tourist spot, so there were a lot of foreigners here.

This wasn’t completely Momo-chan’s fault. I let out a sigh. It had become a habit of mine since last month.

After becoming a third year, Suzuno had become more beautiful. The soft contours of her cheeks had been replaced by sleek, mature looking ones that accentuate her plump lips.

Like always, her long hair was blown gently by the wind, but nowadays it looked as pretty as a swallowtail butterfly fluttering in the air. It was a given that she caught everyone’s eyes.

“You sound like an old man, Yuuma.”

Motoyama let out a loud laugh, which irritated me. Because he said the same thing as Suzuno had once said to me.

In that instance, I could tell that they had become even closer than before.

Motoyama moved away from me and stood next to Momo-chan. Then, he began acting like a movie director, giving Suzuno instruction on how to act.

If this was the old Suzuno, she’d glare at him while throwing him a hostile ‘Haah?’ But this wasn’t the old Suzuno, she actually responded in high spirits.

I let out another sigh. At this rate, I’d drown in the sea of sighs.

‘Why am I even here?’

I turned my gaze away from Suzuno and looked up at the torii gates.

The vermilion gates lined up, leading people toward the top of the mountain. Though, from my perspective it felt like it went on endlessly. Partly because I couldn’t see the end of the path. If someone told me that the stairs would lead to heaven, I would believe it.

“It’s a little cloudy today, huh?”

Between the shots, Suzuno looked up at the sky. Thick clouds painted the previously blue sky gray.

Momo-chan pressed the shutter again.

“Good pose! The way you look up at the sky emphasizes your nice jawline!”

“Can we stop taking pictures now? It’s about to rain.”

“I guess so. Our time is almost running out anyway. Let’s go down the mountain quickly.”

Motoyama agreed with Suzuno’s concern and together, they dragged the reluctant Momo-chan with them.

The three of them laughed together as they checked up the pictures they had just taken.

Suzuno’s smile had no venom on it. The way she made eye contact with Motoyama and smiled at him looked so natural.

‘I knew it. Suzuno doesn’t need me anymore.’

My feet stopped.

While I was standing still, the three of them passed the torii gates and descended the mountain.

Plop.

A drop of cold water hit my cheek.

“It’s raining!”

Someone shouted. The three of them, other tourists including the foreigners, all rushed down, leaving me behind.

I was the only one who turned around toward the summit.

‘I don’t care anymore.’

With my body soaking wet, I walked up.

The sound of the rain blocked out any other sound and the heavy splash of water blocked my vision.

In this empty world, only the vermilion torii gates vividly lighted the path I would take.

TL: Iyo

ED: samheart564

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