623 – The Loyal Return to Kyoto

The clear river water flowed gently between the stepping stones as Sakura skipped forward, hand in hand with Kyousuke.

It was as if she’d truly returned to her childhood.

The moment she landed on the opposite bank, she turned around and hopped back again—almost like she wanted to show the person she loved how she once ruled the playground with her impressive river-jumping skills.

Or perhaps, with every playful leap across that ancient river, she was trying to take Kyousuke back into her childhood, filling in the years they had never shared.

Even though they were already the kind of childhood friends that made Eriri green with envy, Sakura still felt it wasn’t enough.

For her life was far too short, why did she have to wait until she was nine to meet Kyousuke?

Why couldn’t they have met the moment they were born?

They crossed the river again and again, hopping from stone to stone until their pants were splashed wet from the water.

Sakura still wanted to show off her childhood fishing skills, but Kyousuke talked her out of it, promising that next time they’d bring along Momotarou, their dog, so he could learn how to “fish” too.

By the time they finished playing, the sun was already tilting westward.

Locals had finished dinner and were out for their evening strolls.

Unlike people on Tokyo who preferred unwinding with TV and a cold beer, people in Kyoto seemed to cherish the soft glow of the setting sun over the Kamo River.

The riverside walkway was filling with pedestrians, but what caught Kyousuke’s attention were the riverbanks, which, at some point, had quietly filled with couples.

The Kamo River was the perfect spot for that. Unlike most rivers that were fenced off by steep embankments, its banks sloped gently covered in green grass that practically screamed, “Come sit here!”

Above the sloping grass lay a stretch of lawn, and above that, a walking path.

Couples sat side by side on the grassy slope, heads touching, whispering to each other as they watched the shimmering river.

‘Hold on… I haven’t even started showing off with Sakura yet, and you guys are already at it?’

Kyousuke felt irrationally indignant.

“Hehe~ That’s called the ‘Kamo River Spacing Rule,’” Sakura said with a teasing smile, noticing his expression. “This area’s right next to Kyoto University, it’s been a famous dating spot for over a hundred years.”

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she tugged him down the slope.

“The ‘Kamo River Spacing Rule’ means that couples who come here all instinctively keep a certain distance apart.

Based on my personal research and observation, that distance is exactly 3.2 meters! If it’s any closer than that, the sound of kissing and... moaning might be overheard by the next couple.”

“...Huh?” Kyousuke blinked, utterly baffled.

‘Wait—how the hell would you know that?!’

Sakura, naturally, picked up on his telepathic protest.

She stopped, turned around, and with those wide, sparkling eyes, said proudly:

“I told you! I researched it myself! I’d find couples who were kissing, then slowly sneak closer.

At four meters, you can vaguely hear them talking; at three and a half, you can make out the words, but only if you stop talking yourself.

And at 3.1 meters—bam! You can hear the kissing sounds! That’s fieldwork, Kyousuke! Science!”

Her little face beamed with pride, practically shouting ‘I’m amazing, praise me!’

Kyousuke couldn’t help but laugh.

Any normal kid might’ve just been nosy, but Sakura… she probably approached it like a researcher chasing a grand discovery.

Hoping to have her name engraved somewhere on Kamo Bridge for “scientific contribution.”

“And then~~”

Sakura’s voice suddenly lifted as she yanked him forward, boldly plopping down between two pairs of couples.

Just like that, the neat pattern of boy-girl boy-girl became boy-girl girl-boy-girl-boy—and the once-comfortable “safety gap” between couples was now gone.

“Ahhh~” Sakura sighed blissfully, stretching her legs. “When I was little, I used to think—once I have a boyfriend, I’m gonna sit right next to other couples and let them see just how happy we are together!”

She announced it loud enough for everyone to hear.

The two couples beside them were still reeling from the sudden invasion of their private space when Sakura’s bold declaration hit them like a second shockwave.

Kyousuke met one of the guys’ stunned gazes and grinned. “Hey there.”

“...Uh, hey?” the guy in a plaid shirt replied, still dazed.

Meanwhile, Sakura was already chatting up the other couple and had somehow learned the girl’s name and major within a minute.

As it turned out, both pairs were students from Kyoto University.

Since the campus was just a few hundred meters away, this riverside spot was practically their backyard.

Though Kyoto University had a reputation for being open-minded and free-spirited, even these students looked a bit overwhelmed by the chaotic energy of Sakura and Kyousuke.

But the longer they talked, the more the atmosphere loosened up.

Sakura’s contagious energy and Hojou’s natural charisma made it impossible to stay awkward for long.

The girls were curious about Sakura’s boldness, her ideas, and how she’d landed such a handsome boyfriend.

The guys were fascinated by Kyousuke’s easy confidence, wondering how he’d never shown up here before and how he managed to handle a girlfriend like Sakura.

But before long, Sakura lost interest in her new “friends.” Wrapping her arms around Hojou’s arm, she laughed brightly and declared:

“This is my boyfriend!”

The couples blinked. “Uh… yeah, we figured that out already.”

“Hehe~ I just wanted to say it again!” she chirped with a grin that could melt ice.

The two girls exchanged looks that screamed “Seriously?” while Kyousuke chuckled, covering her hand with his and replying:

“And she’s my girlfriend.”

“Ugh—yes, yes, we get it already!” one of the other girls groaned.

Sakura just giggled and snuggled her head into Kyousuke’s chest, humming happily as he laughed.

The other couples rolled their eyes in unison, but Sakura only laughed harder—then grabbed Kyousuke’s hand and dragged him off to “conquer” the next romantic battlefield.

“Hey there, have you eaten yet?”

“Yeah, I have. Good, you don’t want to catch a cold breeze from the river on an empty stomach.”

“Ah—there’s a bug under your butt.”

“The stone’s freezing. Kyousuke, hold me for warmth.”

Like a mischievous spirit wandering a haunted castle—or maybe a local tour guide on caffeine, Sakura dragged Kyousuke along the Kamo River, gleefully breaking every unspoken rule of polite dating space.

To outsiders, she looked completely unhinged. But strangely, no one was annoyed.

Most of the couples along the riverside were Kyoto University students.

People famous for raising cows in dorms, installing their own vending machines to sell drinks for profit, and even cosplaying aliens at graduation ceremonies.

Compared to that, Sakura’s antics were nothing. In fact, some even called out, enthusiastically recommending that the two of them definitely apply to Kyoto University someday!

If the couples sitting along the riverbank were already a slap in the face to the city’s lonely singles, then Kyousuke and Sakura were a slap to those very couples.

Everyone admired Sakura’s infectious energy and respected Kyousuke’s patience.

Watching them so sweet it made your teeth ache—felt like overdosing on sugar.

Soon, even the couples who hadn’t been “disturbed” were waving them over, eager for their turn.

Kyousuke kept Sakura’s hand tightly in his, half afraid she’d trip into the river, half afraid a couple mid-kiss would take revenge.

When asked if it was exhausting having such an energetic girlfriend, he only smiled—a gentle, indulgent smile that said everything without a word.

And when curious students asked how they’d gotten together—

“Love at first sight! The moment I saw him, I just knew—he’s the one!”

“It was mutual. She chose me, and I chose her.”

The evening light poured down like a dream.

From afar, the silhouette of Mount Daimonji looked as if it had descended from sky, and the Kamo River shimmered as though it flowed straight into the sky.

Hues of rose and violet rippled across the water and painted the faces of those watching.

Kyousuke saw the sunset reflected in Sakura’s eyes.

Sakura saw herself reflected in Kyousuke’s.

“Hehe, Kyousuke, why are your eyes full of me?”

“Because I’m looking at you.”

“Idiot, you’re supposed to say, ‘If I wasn’t looking at you, how would I know you’re looking at me?’”

“Alright then—I know you’re looking at me,” Kyousuke said, smoothly playing along.

When the two finally tired of their mischief and returned to the walkway, one of the couples they’d “bothered” earlier, a guy named Mikazuki Okawa, frowned while watching Kyousuke’s tall figure walk away.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re still mad at those two?” his girlfriend asked.
“Nah, I just think that guy looks… familiar.”

Mikazuki took out his phone and started searching. A second later—

“Ah! I knew it! It really is Hojou Kyousuke!”

He gawked and showed his girlfriend the screen.

There, among the 2015 Honya Taisho (Bookstore Award) winners, stood a young man with striking looks and perfect posture—Hojou Kyousuke, unmistakably.

“Wait—seriously? Why does he look even more handsome now that I know who he is?” his girlfriend blurted out.

Before she could finish, Mikazuki jumped up and ran toward Kyousuke.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

“Getting an autograph! That’s Hojou Kyousuke—the youngest ever winner of the Mystery Writers Association Award!” he shouted without looking back.

“Didn’t they not announce the winner yet…” she muttered, but still followed him, both of them being mystery novel fans.

“Hojou-sensei! Wait up!”

Mikazuki’s voice drew everyone’s attention.

Phones came out instantly.

“Hojou Kyousuke!”

“It is him!”

“No way! I knew someone that good-looking couldn’t just be a regular guy!”

“What’s he doing in Kyoto?”

“His girlfriend’s from here!”

“Hell yeah! Kyoto just claimed Hojou Kyousuke!”

The murmurs grew into a crowd. Kyousuke turned and froze.

His scalp tingled.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Sakura’s hand and prepared to flee but she didn’t move.

In fact, she stopped completely.

“Hey, Kyousuke,” she said with a playful smile, “why not treat this as our apology for bothering all those couples earlier?”

He hesitated, then sighed.

“Well… I guess we can, but…” He frowned slightly. “This was supposed to be our walk.”

“Hehe~”

Sakura giggled at his pout, hugging his arm tightly.

“Just a minute, okay? It makes me happy to see how loved you are in my hometown.”

“Alright then.”

His expression softened.

It wasn’t that he disliked meeting fans, he just didn’t want their date to be interrupted.

But if this moment was part of their time together, then it was perfectly fine.

He took the photo and pen Sakura handed him—then blinked.

“Wait… where did you even get these?”

“Geez, Kyousuke, you really have no self-awareness, huh?” Sakura grinned. “This is Kyoto, Even the old grandpas and grandmas on the bus give you their seats. Of course I’d come prepared!”

She bent forward with a teasing smile.

“Here, you can use me as a desk.”

Kyousuke rolled his eyes.

The approaching fans went wild when they saw that Hojou-sensei already had photos and pens ready.