Chapter 77: Fushimi Inari shrine

After breakfast, we boarded the bus for our next destination: Fushimi Inari Shrine.

The shrine, famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates winding up the mountainside, was a sight to behold. As the bus approached, Ito-sensei gave us a brief explanation.

“Fushimi Inari Shrine is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice and prosperity. When you think of Inari, you probably think of foxes, right? That’s because foxes are Inari’s messengers. The path lined with red torii gates is especially famous. Each gate represents a wish made and an offering given to Inari.”

As the bus neared the shrine, the sight of countless red torii gates winding up the mountain took my breath away.

In my past life, the only shrine I knew was Yasukuni Shrine, a place with… complicated connotations for Koreans. And even as Kurosawa Rina, I’d never visited a shrine. Growing up in the city, shrines had always felt… distant, something I’d only seen on TV. So, after regaining my past life memories, the word “shrine” had always evoked a sense of unease. But listening to Ito-sensei’s explanation, I felt… a shift in perspective.

‘It’s… like a temple, isn’t it?’

“Fushimi Inari Shrine is a place where people come to pray for good harvests, prosperity, and more recently, business success, academic achievement, and even… romantic relationships. So feel free to make a wish.”

Romantic relationships?! My face burned, and I quickly looked away, towards the seemingly endless path of vibrant red torii gates winding up the mountain. It was more… exotic than I’d imagined. ‘Right… I shouldn’t be so prejudiced…’

The bus stopped, and we started to disembark. As I stood up, Aya gently took my hand. “Let’s go, Rina.” Her soft voice, the warmth of her touch… it eased the lingering unease, and as we stepped off the bus, I was surprised by the sheer number of people, even though it was still morning.

“Wow… so many people.”

“There are,” Aya agreed.

The street leading to the shrine was lined with souvenir shops and crowded with tourists, the air filled with the enticing aroma of street food. We followed Ito-sensei, and after a ten-minute walk, we finally arrived at the shrine’s entrance. Aya walked beside me, her long silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, drawing my gaze.

“Rina, is this your first time here?”

“Yeah… have you been here before, Aya?”

“Once, when I was little…” she said, her gaze distant, as if searching her memories, her expression so captivating, I couldn’t help but steal another glance. We reached the main shrine building, and Ito-sensei addressed the class.

“Alright, everyone, you have some free time. Be back here by lunchtime! We’ll meet at the bottom of the stairs at 1:00 PM. Those who are feeling energetic can hike to the summit through the Senbon Torii.”

As soon as he said the words “free time,” my classmates scattered, eager to explore. Mizuki, glancing at us with a knowing smile, said, “I’m going to explore on my own~! There’s something I want to see~!”

“O-Okay…” And with her departure, I realized… it was just Aya and me. Aya hesitated for a moment, then gently took my hand. “Should we visit the main shrine first?”

“Sure.” I nodded, and as we walked along the path leading to the shrine, I noticed fox statues lining the way, Inari’s messengers.

‘Red foxes…’ They were a quintessential symbol of Japan, often appearing in anime and manga. I was admiring the scenery when Aya suddenly led me towards a souvenir shop, its shelves filled with various trinkets. She picked something up, a bright smile on her face.

“Rina, want to try this?”

“Huh?” She was holding a fox mask.

“It’ll look cute on you! Let’s buy one!” She bought the mask and placed it on my face, her excitement infectious. Feeling slightly self-conscious, I grabbed another mask and put it on Aya.

And so, adorned with fox masks, Inari’s messengers, we looked at each other and laughed.

“Hee hee, it suits you, Aya.”

“No, it looks better on you, Rina.”

“No way! It suits you too, Aya!” My face burned as I said the words, the reality of this… date-like outing sinking in.

****

After our playful interlude at the souvenir shop, we arrived at the main shrine building. Several of our classmates, in their Takamari uniforms, were already there, praying. I hesitated for a moment, then followed Aya, who had stepped forward, tossing a coin into the offering box and clasping her hands together in prayer.

I quickly pulled a coin from my wallet, tossed it into the box, and mimicked her actions, closing my eyes and making a silent wish.

‘…May we always be together…’ The thought, so earnest, so heartfelt, made my heart pound, wondering if Aya was making a similar wish.

When I opened my eyes, Aya was watching me, a playful smile on her face, an expression I hadn’t seen often.

“What did you wish for, Rina?”

“Eh?! Th-That’s… a secret!” I stammered, flustered, and she chuckled, not pressing further.

She probably knew anyway, judging by my reaction… and I also knew… what Aya had wished for!

We walked over to a rack filled with small wooden plaques for writing prayers and wishes. We each took one and wrote our messages.

[May we always be together. – Kurosawa Rina]

Was that too direct? I felt my cheeks flush as I wrote the words, glancing at Aya, who was also writing something, her expression serious.

“Rina, are you done?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Me too.”

We hung our plaques side-by-side, not showing each other what we’d written. Even this small, simple ritual felt… special.

“Rina.”

“Yes…?”

“Let’s go over there.” She pointed towards the seemingly endless path of red torii gates, the Senbon Torii, a popular hiking trail. It was more crowded than I’d expected.

“They say if you walk through those gates together, your bond will strengthen,” she explained

I blurted out, “That’s… just a superstition…”

“Well, let’s find out.” She smiled, taking my hand in hers, and I blushed slightly, self-conscious about the public display of affection, but I let her lead me forward, under the vibrant red gates. The sunlight filtering through the closely spaced torii created a beautiful, almost ethereal glow. The narrow passageway, enclosing us in a world of red and shadows, felt… strangely intimate as we walked, the scent of nature, of damp earth and leaves, filling the air.

‘…Phytoncide…’

Although the scent was a bit overwhelming. Perhaps because it was a hiking trail, the higher we climbed, the fewer people we saw. And the fewer the people, the more intense Aya’s gaze became, her eyes constantly seeking mine.

“Rina.”

“Yes…?”

“Like this path of torii gates, our bond will continue, right?”

Her sudden question made me blush, and I quickly lowered my head.

“I-I hope so!” I replied, my voice small but firm, and she smiled faintly at my answer.

“I’ll remember that,” she said, a playful glint in her eyes that made my heart flutter.

As we continued our ascent, the crowds thinned, the quiet stillness of the mountain amplifying our shared presence. The scenery changed as we climbed higher, the cool breeze and sunlight revealing glimpses of fox statues and small shrines nestled among the trees. Each time we passed a fox statue, we exchanged smiles.

“They’re taking our wishes to Inari,” she said, and I blushed at her casual mention of our shared wishes, the unspoken desires hanging heavy in the air between us. We continued our walk, eventually reaching Shin-ike Pond, a secluded spot with few visitors. Despite the long climb, neither of us seemed out of breath. We paused, admiring the scenery.

“It’s… beautiful,” I murmured, the sunlight filtering through the leaves, the tranquil pond below… Aya, standing beside me, was also looking at the view, and our eyes met.

“Rina,” she said, her voice soft, and I turned to look at her.

“Yes…?”

She gazed at me intently, then whispered, “I’m so happy to be here with you today.”

She’d been expressing her feelings more openly today. I replied, my voice barely a whisper, “Me too… I’m happy to be with you, Aya.”

“Should we go to the summit?”

“Hmm… I think we have time.”

“Then let’s go all the way, make a full circle, so our bond will last!”

Had Aya ever been this assertive before? And so, we made our way to the summit, making a full circle before returning to the meeting point. It had been a long, hot climb.