It has been two days since I took the test. I was told that I would be the first to receive the results and to stay nearby since the vice president, Nagahiro, would like to speak with me.
I've done exactly that. It has been an exciting experience to wander the streets of this beautiful, unfamiliar city. To add to the adventure, I've been fortunate enough to be here during two famous events happening over these days.
On the evening of the test, after I finished, Misaki-sensei advised me to visit a specific place to rent a kimono for the evening and suggested I take a stroll. She didn't seem to be planning anything sinister; even if there might have been some hidden agenda, it didn't appear to be anything malicious. At worst, she could be directing me to one of her family members' shops to buy something due to the unique circumstances.
This didn't deter me. After all, if it was just for me, there must have been a good reason behind it. If I was right, I could claim I had done her a favor, which could implicitly give me a chance to ask for one in return.
Anyway, I went to that shop to rent a kimono. As the owner helped me dress, she began telling me how people would admire my outfit during the festival. When I inquired about what she meant, she shared details about the Zuiki Matsuri, one of the most famous festivals in Kyoto.
The streets of Kamishichiken would be filled with mobile shrines dedicated to a deity named Kitano Tenmangu, each adorned with dry vegetables and fruits arranged to form mythological scenes or creatures. Moreover, the streets would be alive with geishas and maikos, who would even perform rituals and dances.
I was captivated by her description of the festival, especially since I had never attended one in my life. I had never gone to Japan before, and now my family is too busy to visit such events. I could have convinced my grandfather to take me to a festival, but the nearest one to my town was over two hours away by train, and I knew he would have struggled during the journey. Although he often played the role of a lively old man, I was aware that traveling and walking would not be beneficial for his health.
So, due to unfortunate circumstances, I had never had the chance to go to one. But since I was here now, I put on the kimono and set out to explore the festival. What greeted me was a vibrant and cheerful street.
The shrines were scattered around, with groups of six to ten people moving each one, all dressed in traditional clothing reminiscent of characters from anime. The few shops were open, and when I spoke with some of the shopkeepers, I learned that they chose to stay open not until the usual 8 p.m. but until midnight, with some even later. This was a smart decision, as many tourists were walking around, some in their everyday clothes and others dressed in beautiful kimonos.
There were various stalls scattered throughout, selling cotton candy, takoyaki, traditional Japanese sweets, and games like shooting and fish-catching. Some stalls were run by locals and shops.
That night, I wandered around, sampling food from different stalls. Before I realized it, the vendors began closing, so I hurried to return the kimono and made my way back to the hotel by 2 a.m.
The next day, I skipped breakfast since I woke up late and decided to grab a meal while I walked. I visited several gardens, including the Kyoto Gyoen, which felt like a little slice of heaven for lovers of Japanese gardens. I roamed around while enjoying some ramen from a nearby stand; it was one of the best bowls I've ever had.
Since it was late enough, I returned to the festival, hoping to see a geisha dance. I had missed one the night before because I arrived too late. It turned out that many of the dances and performances were held in the afternoon, with just a few scheduled for the evening at designated locations.
Once again, I wandered and admired the festival. However, this time, I found... companionship. And, quite unexpectedly, I discovered traces of the supernatural world around me.
---
Today, I am visiting a nearby shrine: the Yasaka Shrine. As with all my previous visits, I don't have a guide. I was wandering around, taking photos, when I heard the sound of leaves rustling nearby. The noise came from a pile of leaves, and I could see some movement, so I approached, thinking it might be a cat.
There's a reason my [Headpatting] skill is at level 63 – not that Yuki hasn't earned some of them. I waited in front of the pile, expecting to see a stray cat, but then I heard a familiar sound.
"Kon-kon!"
"…You're not a cat."
A yellow fox appeared, likely a young one. I could see the moment it froze, realizing I was there. The fox just stared at me, not moving much. This was my chance. I crouched down and slowly extended my hand.
"Hey there… aren't you a bit young to be here without supervision?"
The fox's gaze didn't change; it still seemed frightened. But maybe foxes are similar to dogs? I hoped so, because it wanted to sniff my hand as a dog would.
When my hand was close enough, I stopped moving and waited. In less than a minute, the fox was sniffing my hand, just like a dog would. I gently moved my hand to the top of its head. Although it appeared wary of me, it didn't have much choice but to enjoy the affection from someone with high-level [Headpatting] and [Massage] skills.
For a minute, I could see bliss in the fox's gaze, and it began to purr in the way that foxes do. Unfortunately, our time together was soon interrupted. I noticed people approaching.
"Well, little fox, it seems visitors are coming, so it's time to say goodbye."
The fox immediately became alert, shifting its gaze from me to the sidewalk where a group of nine people was walking our way. Then, it swiftly darted away into the nearby trees.
"Ah…"
Before disappearing, the fox turned back and nodded at me. I blinked, and a little revelation struck me. I had my status screen open, and I checked my skill list. There it was:
//
Kitsune Lover Lv.6
Kitsune are more attracted to you.
//
Well, there it is: my second encounter with the supernatural.