Although I can see that he is provoking me, Kutsuji's driving skills are too much for me.
[player]I have motion sickness.
[Kutsuji]Oh... what a shame.
[Kutsuji]In that case, let's go to our destination.
[Kutsuji]You'll find out when we get there.
A thundershower starts just as we turn around to drive back. I remember seeing a blue rainstorm warning in the morning, but I was in the dojo at that time and never thought it would be relevant to me.
The torrential rain starts suddenly, drenching me like a bucket of water over my head. However, the outrageous thing is that nothing happened to Kutsuji, who is right in front of me. There is only less than ten centimeters between us, but the rain curtain has separated us into two different worlds.
To avoid getting rained on as much as possible, I press my body toward him and try to get as much of my head out of the rain curtain as possible. I remember a monkey I saw at the zoo in the past and think I look like that monkey after it stumbled into a ditch and was about to drown... Blergh! It's insulting to think about myself in that way.
[Kutsuji]I have something to say.
[Kutsuji]Can you stay away from me? Don't lean against me, you've gotten my back all wet.
[player]Drive faster then. Can't you see the rain right behind us?!
[Kutsuji]Hey... This is an urban area. My license will be suspended if I speed here.
[player]It doesn't matter since it's not my license anyway.
[Kutsuji]Hah!
The pouring rain follows us all the way until we pass through an underground tunnel and reach the other side. I look at my fully drenched self and at Kutsuji, who is only wet around the back area, then I squint my eyes.
[player]You must have done that on purpose.
[Kutsuji]I'm innocent. I'm sure you know that One Han City is famous for its unpredictable weather. I didn't expect this to happen at all.
[Kutsuji]All I can say is that you're really special after all. I won't be surprised no matter what miracle happens to you now.
Kutsuji comforts me while he drives. When we finally stop, I realize that we're at the entrance of Chaque Jour.
[Kutsuji]To make amends, you can pick any outfit you want, and I'll give it to you for free as an apology.
I clean my hands quickly after entering the store and then start looking through the clothes. I decide to forgive him after looking at the price tags. After all, there's no bad blood between good partners.
After I get dressed and follow Kutsuji to the destination he mentioned, I realize that it is a teahouse diagonally opposite Countless Springs. I'm quite familiar with the scenery in these parts now since I've been here twice recently. Kutsuji leads me into the teahouse from the back door and goes straight to a private room on the second floor.
[player]Why did you suddenly want to come here?
[Kutsuji]I've brought you here to show you a brilliant performance.
[Kutsuji]This is the best place to watch the performance. Whenever there's a performance, reserving this spot is as difficult as winning that auction last time.
I sit by the window and look out the window. The window of this private room faces the street where the main entrance of the teahouse is located, and it is densely packed with approximately as many people as the day of the auction for the cut flowers.
[Kutsuji]Have you heard of the geisha parade before?
[player]Yes.
Kutsuji casually spins the plate of snacks in front of him and seems lost in thought. After a while, he looks up at me and starts explaining the situation.
[Kutsuji]Countless Springs also has a custom like that. Every once in a while, it selects an auspicious day for the most popular geisha to wear her exclusive costume. She will walk from the entrance of Countless Springs to the end of the street and then return to Countless Springs. This is called the geisha parade.
[Kutsuji]One reason it is held is to highlight the unparalleled beauty of Countless Springs's geisha. Another reason is that Countless Springs owns all the businesses here, and only the most popular geisha is qualified to manage Countless Springs and take over these businesses.
[Kutsuji]So this parade also symbolizes an inspection tour of their own businesses and is a demonstration of their sovereignty.
[Kutsuji]Kurone Toujou has been the manager of Countless Springs ever since she conquered everyone with her talent and beauty when she was still a young girl more than ten years ago.
[Kutsuji]She is also the geisha who is in charge of the geisha parade every time it is held now.
[player]Huh? Doesn't that mean today is that auspicious day?
[Kutsuji]You're so smart.
[Kutsuji]You deserve a reward for getting it right. Your reward will be this plate of a snack called "cardamom."
As he speaks, he decisively pushes the plate of snacks he has been spinning around for a while toward me. At the same time, the faint fragrance of durian wafts over, telling me exactly what this snack tastes like.
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