"I always feel that the streets here are very quiet."
Kazuo remarked as he walked.
"Even though Fuchu Racecourse is right next to it, this side has quiet, secluded paths, just like a mountain forest."
"This is the Fuchu Hachimangu Shrine I mentioned to Asama-kun before. Although it's a small shrine, because it's right next to Tokyo Racecourse, whenever there's an important Horse Racing event, people come here to pray, hoping to receive protection."
"I see… Hachimangu, then it should be dedicated to Emperor Ojin, right?"
"That's right. Also, there are dog-shaped Ema here, which are especially suitable for making wishes, you know?"
At this point, Kazuo understood why Miss Hayakawa wanted to bring him here.
"Is that so… Then I'm truly indebted to Miss Hayakawa. Since we're here, let's make a wish."
"Consider it a blessing before the exam~"
The two walked to the end, where the cherry blossoms in the garden bloomed like a dream. The largest ancient tree in the Central stood majestically, its trunk, thick enough for four people to embrace, adorned with a Shimenawa.
Walking to the torii gate, they saw tourists queuing up to worship and pray.
Just as Miss Hayakawa said, during Horse Racing events, even more people would come here to pray.
On the Central shrine for worship, there was a money box and a Shimenawa.
Water filled the hollow bamboo tube, pouring down with a crisp, clanking sound. A row of 'shishi-odoshi' (deer scarers) rose and fell, striking rhythmically.
Next to it were a purification fountain and a prepared incense burner. After the two followed the steps, they arrived in front of the enshrined shrine.
Kazuo put a coin into the offering box, then calmed his mind, closed his eyes, and prayed earnestly.
After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes and rang the bell on the shrine.
The crisp sound of the bell echoed through the quiet shrine, signifying that Emperor Ojin had heard his wish.
After completing their worship, as Miss Hayakawa and Kazuo walked down the steps, Miss Hayakawa smiled and said, "Students from the academy often come here to pray when they participate in their first Horse Racing event. I heard it's quite effective."
"Is that so? Miss Hayakawa, you really are thoughtful…"
Kazuo said, his gaze already shifting towards the giant display board not far away, densely covered with various written Ema.
Ema, originating from the Nara period, are votive offerings, usually small pentagonal wooden plaques. One writes their wish on them and offers them to the gods, hoping for protection.
The last time he came to a shrine to worship was on New Year's Day, when he, Miss Ayako, and his sister watched the sunrise in front of a small shrine on the island, praying for Kazuo's successful entrance exams.
Although Kazuo did achieve good results in the end, he still gave up on those due to livelihood issues.
However, the 'good luck for exams' amulet Miss Ayako gave him at the time, he still keeps with him to this day.
As Miss Hayakawa said, Kazuo saw many small dog-shaped Ema wooden plaques here. On them, he could see many delicate handwritings wishing "I hope to win!" "Good luck with exams!" and even "I hope to be with so-and-so" — such innocent yet beautiful wishes.
Miss Hayakawa had already bought several Ema wooden plaques from the miko in charge nearby. She handed a permanent marker to Kazuo.
"You can write anything you wish for on it, and you'll receive blessings."
Kazuo smiled as he took the marker and said, "Hmm… what should I write…?"
After thinking for a moment, he uncapped the pen and earnestly wrote his wish on the wooden plaque.
After hanging the Ema on the display board, Kazuo clasped his hands together and clapped, praying devoutly as if making another wish.
He had grown up now, needing to bear more responsibilities and having more bonds. His prayers were no longer simply for successful exams—
Instead, they carried many of his wishes for others.
Looking at the wish written on Kazuo's Ema, Miss Hayakawa also repeated what she had once said to Kazuo.
"Asama-kun truly is a very gentle and kind person…"
Kazuo, somewhat embarrassed, rubbed his nose and smiled wryly, "No… it's just that as I've grown, I have more to care about. With age, one understands many things, learns many things, and also becomes 'greedy'… With so many wishes, I wonder if the myriad gods can grant my wishes…"
"They definitely will. After all, these are not selfish desires but wishes for others… They will surely be granted."
Miss Hayakawa said with certainty. Finally, before leaving, the two bought a few more amulets.
However, Kazuo alone bought five amulets—
And none of them were for himself.
After the two of them left, two people peeked out from the side and came over to the display board. Even Daijin was curious about what Kazuo had written as his wish.
Kazuo's ema was hung in the very front row, making it very conspicuous.
On the cute puppy wooden board, four lines were written with a black marker:
---
I hope my sister grows up healthy.
I hope I can fulfill my promise to Xiao Hai Wan.
I hope Daijin can also find her own Trainer.
I hope Rice Shower-classmate can become more cheerful.
— Asama Kazuo
---
For a moment, both of them fell silent in unison, their expressions a bit subtle.
After a while, Xiao Hai Wan smiled, "Oh… this is Asama-kun, isn't it? It's just like something he would do."
Daijin averted her gaze, her tone softening: "Well… it's just unnecessary worrying…"
"Daijin-chan? How about we give Asama-kun a surprise tonight? Make a lavish dinner to reward him for studying so hard?"
Xiao Hai Wan suggested this. Normally, Daijin would have flatly refused, but today was a little different. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently.
"Then we'll have to head back to Odaiba early."
Xiao Hai Wan made to leave, but Daijin held her back.
"Oh… since we're already here, why don't we make a wish with an ema too?"
"Daijin-chan is right!"
Xiao Hai Wan's eyes lit up as she nodded in agreement. This was indeed a good suggestion.
After they both finished writing their ema wishes, they both looked at the wooden plaques in each other's hands in unison.
When they saw what was written, they both smiled knowingly.
The two puppy ema wooden boards were hung on either side of Kazuo's board.
Only one sentence was written on each side.
---
I hope Asama-kun / Teacher passes his exam smoothly.
— Super Creek / Narita Taishin
---
----------------------------------
I've updated the latest 30–40 chapters of the story on Patreon!
If you want to follow the next developments and support me at the same time, please visit here: [patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you for always supporting and loving the work!