Ride on Time

Chapter 14

Shri decided to go out alone since Shruti insisted on finishing a book that she had started.
"Go lah, I wanna read," Shruti shooed him. "All this while you go alone only, what."
Shri shrugged. "Fine..."
"Nah, take this map," Shruti tossed a map at him. "So that you don't sesat somewhere for no reason."
Shri rolled his eyes, told his mother that he was going out, and left the apartment. He wasn't even planning to go that far, just walk around and admire the Shirakawa Canals and maybe have a snack or something.
When came the bridge, Shri silently admired it. The railing was far too short so he didn't dare to lean over it, afraid of falling over and getting lost in the canals like how Shruti had once joked.
But he did take pictures, though. He remembered how this was the place where he first met Misao, standing up for her when a tourist harassed her by trying to touch her hair and kimono.
Shri admired the scene for a little while longer and eventually wandered off to get a gift for Misao. After all, both he and Shruti felt kinda bad for not getting her anything when she had given them something. He felt like he had to give her something in return.
So he went to an accessory shop and tried to see if there was anything he could get her, a kanzashi or a piece of jewellery or something like that. In the end, he decided on getting her a necklace with a green comma-shaped pendant. It was a simple necklace, made of imitation jade— the shopkeeper claimed that it was real but Shri didn't think so because of the low price— but it was really pretty and he thought that Misao would like it.
After that, he went to a cafe to get something to eat. He kinda felt a thrill when sneakily snacking without his family's knowledge. It was like going on an adventure alone, eating something good when they weren't looking.
He smirked and ordered himself some coffee and Melon Pan before taking his large book out to continue his story. Maybe now he can get the inspiration he needed when sitting in a cafe instead of easily getting distracted at the hotel. There was Shruti, always talking about something or watching something far too interesting that it somehow manages to drag his attention away from the book and pull him there, or there's this really tempting book just staring at him from across the table and he would just have to stop and read to see what it was about.
Well, none of those were here so he could peacefully write without any interruptions as he nibbled on his melon pan and sipped on his coffee. Alone and peacefully writing his story.
That was until a familiar face walked in.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Shri found himself muttering when he spotted Misao's red kanzashi. Not that he didn't like her, but the fact that he's always seeing her around was starting to creep him out a little.
He thought about holding his giant notebook up to cover his face but thought otherwise. He had bought her a necklace and now seemed like the perfect time to give it to her, especially since he was alone and Shruti wasn't there to make snide jokes about him in love with Misao or something.
So he just sat, pretending to write in that notebook of his, and casually pushed his glasses up his nose.
"Hey, look! It's him!" Shri didn't really understand since Misao said it in Japanese. But he knew it had something to do with him because Misao was grinning straight at him.
Again, he acted casual and just continued writing in his book.
"Shri!" Misao called, waving at him.
Shri looked up, seeming like he only just noticed her. "Oh, hi, Misao!"
Misao grinned and came over with Kumiko. "Can we join you?"
Shri shrugged. "Sure."
They sat in front of him, with Kumiko grinning widely. Misao groaned but tried to ignore her.
"Fancy seeing you here," Shri chuckled, closing his book and pushing it aside. "Never thought I'd meet you today."
Misao chuckled. "Same. Oh, by the way, this is Kumiko. My roommate and fellow geisha. She works in an ochaya not far from the Ryōtei that I work at. You should see her in action some day."
Shri nodded at her with a polite smile. "Well, I don't think I can get in. I'd have to be recommended in, right?"
"That's where I fit it, Shuri-san," Kumiko grinned. "Why need a regular customer to get in when one of the geishas herself can let you in?"
Misao glared at her before turning to Shri with a grin. "Never mind that now. Shri, your sister didn't come?"
"She stayed behind, reading her book," Shri shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. He licked the coffee off his lips and continued. "By the way, I really like the pen you got me yesterday. It's really nice."
Misao was very happy at this remark. "Thanks! I'm glad you like it."
Shri smiled and reached for the box with the necklace he got for her and pushed it towards her. "I got this for you as a thank you for all the help you've done for me."
Misao looked at him in surprise. "But Shri, it was nothing. I didn't even do as much as you did for me, saving me from Chikan and whatnot."
Shri shook his head. "No, Misao. If it wasn't for you, we would've permanently lost our way back to Yumemite. I'm not even kidding."
Misao shook her head. "Actually, no. You two were making progress when you found that directory."
"Aiya, Misao!" Kumiko groaned. "He's giving you a present! Just take it!" She said in Japanese.
Shri just sat there, confused and not understanding a word she said.
Misao smiled and opened the box. She looked at the pretty necklace in awe. "Whoa... it's... it's beautiful..."
Shri smiled. "You like it?"
Misao nodded excitedly and took it out of the box to try it on. Kumiko gasped, looking more excited than the recipient of the gift. "Oh! It's a magatama!"
"What's that mean?" Shri asked curiously. "The shop lady kept saying it but I had no idea what it meant."
Misao chuckled and held up the necklace. "This pendant is called a magatama. Notice it's shape? That's the most unique characteristic of a magatama."
"It looks really good on you, Misao," Kumiko grinned, helping her to put it on for her. She then turned to Shri with a grin. "Shuri-san! Is this the Yasakani no Magatama? Did you break into the Kashiko-dokoro just to get it for Misao?"
"Yasakani?" Shri said in surprise. "I thought I saw it in some game... in The King of Fighters?"
Kumiko grinned in triumph. "The Yasakani no Magatama is real. The game is based on a legend. The magatama is part of the The Imperial Regalia of Japan, the Sanshu no Jingi. And the storyline of KOF is kinda inspired by it, giving the jewel to Yagami Iori."
"Oh..." Shri nodded, fascinated. "Well, though I didn't steal the actually imperial treasure of the Yasakani, I know that a magatama is still really special."
Misao chuckled, lifting the jewel slightly to look at it. "The magatama is said to protect you from evil if worn around the neck."
Shri grinned. "So I chose the right necklace, then. I'm glad you like it."
"I shall treasure this," Misao smiled, holding the green pendant in her fist. "Thank you, Shri."

Yes, I had to add that KOF reference. But it's true. The Yasakani no Magatama, Kusanagi no Tsurugi and Yata no Kagami are a part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, the Three Sacred Treasures. I thought it was just something out of KOF lol. Also, right after writing this, I couldn't help but go online and order myself a magatama necklace too🤣🤣
After all, it is said that wearing a magatama protects you from unwanted things.