After taking Hachiman Hikigaya as a follower, the long night finally passed.
The next morning arrived swiftly.
Morpheus rose early, joined the others for breakfast, and then escorted Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman Hikigaya, and their group back to their hotel.
They were met by Shizuka Hiratsuka, their teacher from Sobu High.
That morning, during roll call, Shizuka had noticed the absence of Hachiman, Yukino, Yui, and the others, nearly having a heart attack.
When she learned from other students that they'd gone out the previous night, she almost fainted.
She knew all too well what Kyoto's nights were like.
These kids were practically begging for trouble.
Just as she was about to search for them, they were brought back.
Seeing the group safe and sound, Shizuka's emotions swung like a rollercoaster—from paradise to hell and back again.
The highs and lows were too much to bear.
"You lot are absolutely reckless!"
Without hesitation, Shizuka swung her fist at one of them.
Since most of the group were girls, she directed her frustration at the boys.
Specifically, Hachiman Hikigaya. And Hachiman Hikigaya. And, well, Hachiman Hikigaya.
Thud!
The punch landed squarely on Hachiman's stomach, the force nearly making him retch his breakfast.
"Sensei, this is assault!" Hachiman protested, using the healing magic he'd just learned the night before to soothe himself.
"You're still alive, aren't you?" Shizuka retorted with a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "If it was assault, you'd be flat on the ground."
Hachiman could tell she was genuinely furious and promptly shut his mouth.
Hayato Hayama tried to interject, "Sensei, we—"
"Oh, right, almost forgot about you."
With a policy of equal treatment, Shizuka delivered a solid punch to Hayama's stomach.
His words were knocked back into his gut.
Hayama crumpled to the ground, clutching his abdomen and groaning.
Now he understood Hachiman's pain. It was brutal.
She didn't hold back one bit.
The sight terrified Yukino, Yui, and Yumiko Miura, their faces paling as they feared Shizuka's fist would come for them next.
Judging by Hachiman and Hayama's agony, that punch was no joke.
They had no desire to follow in their footsteps.
Yui, quick to fold, bowed deeply with startling vigor. "I'm so sorry, sensei! I caused trouble. Please forgive me!"
Seeing Yui cave so fast, Yumiko mentally cursed her as a traitor but followed suit, bowing and apologizing with utmost sincerity.
Shizuka turned her gaze to Yukino, her eyes asking, "And you?"
Yukino, knowing she was in the wrong, lowered her head and apologized.
Shizuka sighed and stepped forward, giving each of the girls a hug.
"You're safe. That's what matters."
Hachiman, still wincing, raised a shaky hand. "I protest. Why do the girls get hugs and the boys get punches? I wouldn't mind a hug—"
Thud!
Another vicious gut punch.
Hachiman collapsed, unable to get up.
Hayama looked at him with the awe reserved for a hero. To talk back to Shizuka like that? The guy had guts.
Shizuka retracted her fist and turned her attention to Morpheus and his group.
Yukino quickly explained, "Last night, we were in danger. These people saved us."
Realization dawned on Shizuka. She grabbed Morpheus's hand, showering him with gratitude.
Her enthusiasm was boundless.
Morpheus replied calmly, "No need to thank me. It was a small matter. Besides, Martha was the one who saved them."
Martha smiled warmly. "True, I did the saving, but without the Boss, I wouldn't have been there."
Shizuka's eyes flickered at the word "Boss" but said nothing, turning to thank Martha instead.
Finally, she said, "I know a great restaurant in Kyoto. If you're free at noon, let me treat you all to a proper thank-you. What do you say?"
"No need," Morpheus declined, waving a hand. "We're planning to explore Kyoto today. Maybe another time."
Shizuka nodded, not pressing further, but made Morpheus promise that if they met again, they'd share a drink.
Morpheus didn't refuse, agreeing to the future plan.
With that, he bid Shizuka farewell and left.
After parting ways, Morpheus and his group visited another of Kyoto's famous landmarks.
Kinkaku-ji.
Technically called Rokuon-ji, it was a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect's Shokoku-ji school, located in northern Kyoto.
Its three-story pavilion, covered inside and out with gold leaf, was known as the Golden Pavilion, and the temple itself was often referred to as Kinkaku-ji.
It was famous, but honestly, just average.
Compared to grand structures like the Leaning Tower, St. Peter's Basilica, or Notre-Dame, it paled in comparison.
But considering Japan's size, it was decent enough.
No need to expect too much.
After leaving Kinkaku-ji, Morpheus and his group headed to the Thousand Torii Gates.
Torii gates were traditional structures found at Japanese shrines.
They marked the boundary between the sacred and the mundane, acting as a kind of barrier, symbolizing the entrance to the divine realm—a "gate" of sorts.
Typically made of wood and coated with red lacquer, they consisted of two pillars topped with two crossbeams, sometimes bearing inscribed plaques.
The Thousand Torii Gates, however, were unique.
Located at Fushimi Inari Taisha, they were renowned for their sheer number.
Stretching for kilometers up the mountainside, the thousands of torii gates—over ten thousand in total—extended to the peak of Mount Inari, an awe-inspiring sight.
The abundance of torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha was tied to the deity it enshrined.
In Japanese tradition, Inari Okami governed prosperity in business.
Hence, the countless torii, offerings from those seeking divine favor.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
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