How I, a Completely Ordinary Guy with No Special Traits, Risked My Life to Save Beautiful Twin Sisters, Only to Make Both of Them, Who Turned Out to Be Yandere, Fall Madly in Love with Me (REMAKE) - 78

Chapter 78: Wow~ You’re as Knowledgeable as Ever, Riona

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After a long interrogation-like session of relentless questioning from Reona and Riona, I was completely exhausted by the time we finally arrived at the parking lot in front of Kiyomizu-dera. Getting off the bus, we started walking toward Kiyomizu-dera along with the crowd. As expected of a popular tourist spot, the place was absolutely packed with people.

“Since we came all the way to Kiyomizu-dera, we have to visit Otowa Falls too, right?”

“Isn’t that place supposed to be a power spot?”

“The sacred water flowing from Otowa Falls is said to bring all kinds of blessings.”

“Wow. You’re as knowledgeable as ever, Riona.”

“I did my homework on all the tourist spots for the school trip.”

As we chatted like that while walking, we eventually saw the vividly bright vermilion gate often featured in pictures introducing Kiyomizu-dera. According to the school trip itinerary, that gate was called the Niōmon Gate.

“Oh. Since we’re already here, let’s take a photo of the three of us with this as the background!”

“Yes. I want to take a photo with all three of us together too.”

“Hey, don’t just cling to me out of nowhere!”

After climbing the slope to Kiyomizu-dera, we stopped in front of the stairs leading up to the gate. The two girls flanked me on either side. Our classmates shot us looks that were a mix of exasperation—“Ugh, them again”—and outright murderous intent aimed at me.

Then Reona quickly took a few photos. As expected from someone used to this kind of thing, her pictures looked fantastic. If she edited me out and posted only the beautiful girls—Reona and Riona—it would probably look even better.

“Alright, I’ll go ahead and post this photo on social media now.”

“Do whatever you want.”

I’d tried resisting before, but it had never worked out, so I’d already given up. Besides, she had already posted plenty of pictures with me in them, so her followers probably just think, “Oh, they’re doing that again.”

After that, we continued touring Kiyomizu-dera with our classmates. We passed through the West Gate, the Three-Storied Pagoda, and the Sutra Hall, eventually reaching the Main Hall. The place we were standing now was the famous stage of Kiyomizu-dera, well known from the proverb.

“The view from here really is breathtaking.”

“Yeah, the weather’s great too, so we can see really far.”

“It’d be even more beautiful during the fall foliage season.”

We enjoyed the view while having that conversation. From the stage, you could see the whole city of Kyoto, all the way to Kyoto Tower in front of the station. It was truly a stunning sight to behold.

“If someone fell from here, it’d probably hurt like hell, huh?”

“No, no. What awaits you down there is way worse than just mere pain.”

“There’s a thirteen-meter drop from the stage to the ground. If you’re unlucky, you could die.”

There was a Japanese proverb about “jumping off the stage at Kiyomizu,” which meant making a once-in-a-lifetime, do-or-die decision.But I wondered—just what kind of decision would require the kind of resolve to leap off from here?

After taking a group photo on the stage, we next headed to the much-anticipated Otowa Falls. The water flowing from the small shrine splits into three streams, which is apparently a notable feature. As expected of a popular spot, a line had formed for it.

“Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit. Should we just stay in line?”

“We already came all this way, so I definitely want to line up.”

“I agree with Riona. But before that, can I go pick some flowers real quick?”

“Alright. Riona and I will hold our spot in line.”

“Thanks! I’ll be right back.”

Reona handed the handbag she’d been carrying to Riona and walked off. We didn’t know exactly how long the wait would be, but we’d be fine until she got back.

“By the way, what kind of blessings can you get here?”

“From the front view, the stream on the right grants longevity, the middle one grants success in love, and the left one grants academic success—that’s the most common interpretation. But some traditions also say they bring blessings for health, beauty, and career advancement.”

“Whoa, so many options. Honestly, I want all of them.”

“You can’t do that. You have to choose just one of the three. If you try to be greedy, the gods will see right through you, and your wish won’t come true.”

“No way, that sucks.”

Romantic success wasn’t going to happen anyway, so that was fine. But losing out on the other two would’ve been a real problem. Especially since I was going to be a test-taker next year—if I couldn’t get academic success, that would’ve been the worst. 

I guess that means I mustn’t be too greedy.

“By the way, Riona, which blessing are you going to choose?”

“I’m still undecided.”

“Yeah, it’s tough when you can only pick one.”

For the record, I was also torn between two, but I’d already decided to go with academic success. The university I visited during the summer open campus—Okayama City University—was already a stretch with my current academic level. I wasn’t even sure I could reach the borderline score on the common test. So yeah, it had to be academic success, no question about it.

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