Chapter 35: Unforgettable Feeling

When the students arrived back at the hotel, they went straight to the banquet hall. They sat down on their respective seats per class. While everyone was waiting for dinner to be served, a teacher came to the front and spoke into the microphone. The teacher announced that for tomorrow, they will leave early. Their itinerary was Fushimi Inari Shrine during the whole morning, while Ninnaji Temple and Kinkakuji in the afternoon.

Dinner was finally served and everyone started to eat. Akuma's group was silent the whole time. Sanaka was alternately looking at Angelie and Akuma as she was seated in front of the two. She sat in between Mizumi and Sumire. The two were just quietly eating their meal. Angelie was the first to finish and then excused herself from everyone.

Angelie wandered the hotel and then settled down on a long sofa in a lounge area. The sofa was located beside a large, curved staircase that led up to the second floor of the hotel. She relaxed her body and leaned the back of her head on the soft headrest.

"There you are, Angelie-san. I've been looking for you."

Sanaka was standing in front of Angelie. She was catching her breath a little.

"Oh, Sanaka-san. What's the matter? Can I help you with something?"

Angelie sat straight and looked at Sanaka.

"Well, not really. It's just I saw you leave, and well, I…"

Sanaka couldn't look straight into Angelie, but then she finally forced herself to look directly at Angelie.

"It's just that, I kind of feel like I should tell you—"

"Angelie-san, Sanaka-san. What a coincidence to meet you here."

Mimi passed by them while holding a towel.

"Oh, Mimi-san. Where are you going with a towel with you?"

Angelie shifted her attention to Mimi.

"Some of the girls in our class wanted to try the pool inside the hotel. I was just about to head over there myself. You two can join us, if you'd like."

Mimi then went closer to Angelie and stood in front of her. Mimi was just beside Sanaka.

"I think I'll pass for now. For some reason, I feel very exhausted after today…"

Angelie placed her head back onto the headrest.

"I see. Then I shall stay here and rest with you."

Mimi then sat down on the sofa, on the left side of Angelie. Sanaka followed suit and sat on the right side of Angelie.

"Oh, you guys. Thanks for staying with me. I just want to relax for a bit."

Angelie closed her eyes.

"I'm sure you do. After that commotion with the Demon Lord at Ginkakuji, I'm sure he annoyed you to no end."

Mimi looked over her as Angelie rested.

"Y-yeah. What happened e-exactly?"

Sanaka forced a laugh after asking her question. Angelie opened her eyes and sat straight again.

"It's that the whole day I've been stuck with that cursed Demon Lord! And especially back there at Ginkakuji! H-he grabbed my hand!"

Angelie had her hands in front of her face with her fingers twitching.

"Woah, that's quite bold. Holding hands on a school trip, huh?"

Kiba leaned over the staircase railing. He looked down towards Angelie and the others.

"H-holding hands?! That's not what that was! H-he grabbed me!"

Angelie looked up at Kiba.

"Eavesdropping is bad, you know! What if we we're talking about our crushes or what not?!"

Sanaka pointed at Kiba.

"Oh. So that's what this conversation is about, huh? Please, tell me more."

Kiba smiled at the girls while he rested and crossed his arms on the stair railing.

"That's not what this conversation is about, Kiba-kun! It's about s-sexual harassment!"

Angelie's face became flushed as she stared at Kiba.

"Really, huh? Why don't we ask the accused, then? Hey, Akuma!"

Kiba shouted at Akuma who was walking in front of the girls. The girls didn't notice he was there since their heads were turned towards Kiba.

"Eh? I can't get away from you guys even on a trip outside of school?"

Akuma let out a deep sigh after he touched his forehead with his hand.

"So, what's this about holding hands?"

Kiba stared and grinned at Akuma.

"W-what the—? What have you been telling them, you crazy Saint?!"

Akuma pointed at Angelie who was now looking at his direction.

"That you grabbed my hand without permission! It was s-sexual harassment!"

Angelie grabbed her own shoulders while having her arms crossed over her chest; her face still flushed.

"Now that's just straight up lies! And who would ever want to touch your dry, rough, and calloused hands anyway?!"

Akuma was now flustered.

"For someone who doesn't want to touch her hands, you sure do remember how those hands feel."

Kiba stood straight and smirked at Akuma.

"Stop aggravating the situation already!"

Akuma directed his attention at Kiba and pointed at him.

"My hands… are dry… and hard… and calloused… My hands… are dry… and hard… and calloused…"

Angelie kept on repeating those words as she stared at her palms.

"It would seem that the Demon Lord has broken Angelie-san. We will have to retreat for now."

Mimi wrapped her arm around Angelie's shoulder and assisted her to stand up.

"Don't worry Angelie-san. I have some hand lotions you can use to moisturize your hands. I'll give you some so you can continue to use it even after the trip."

Sanaka also stood up and joined Mimi in comforting Angelie. They went to the elevator to go up to their rooms. Akuma stared at the girls as they walked away. When he looked back to where Kiba was standing, Kiba was gone.

"Where did that blood sucker go?!"

---

The following morning, everyone was eating breakfast early inside the banquet hall. As the teacher instructed the previous evening, they would be heading to Fushimi Inari Shrine early in the morning.

Akuma's group were seated on the same place as last night. Akuma and Angelie were seated on the opposite side of Mizumi, Sanaka and Sumire. Angelie could be seen profusely applying lotion on her hands every other minute.

"Um, Angelie-san. I think you're overdoing it quite a bit there…"

Sanaka softly talked to Angelie.

"Well, you can never be too sure when an unscrupulous person will grab your hands and then complain about how rough your hands are."

Angelie glared sideways at Akuma.

"Can you give that a rest already?! It's not that big of a deal anyway—"

"It is! What if I can't get married anymore because of this?!"

Angelie now looked straight at Akuma.

On the other side of the table, Mizumi and Sumire were watching the two continue to argue. They then nodded at each other. Sanaka could only breath out a sigh as she continued to eat in silence.

---

The students and teachers went on board their respective buses after breakfast. The trip took a bit of time since Fushimi Inari Shrine was located further away than where they went yesterday.

Fushimi Inari Shrine's most famous feature was the thousands of torii gates that were placed on the mountain trails leading up to the summit. As one got closer to the summit, the density of torii gates decreased as well. Most of the torii gates were donated by people or companies. Their names could be seen on the gates themselves. The hike up to the summit and back could take up to two to three hours. Tourists were allowed to go back and not finish the trek anytime they wish.

At the shrine's entrance, one could see the giant torii gate called Romon gate. There were also a lot of souvenir shops just outside the giant gate. Directly afterwards was the shrine's beautiful main hall where visitors were expected to pay their respects to the local deity by making a small offering.

Behind the main hall was the start of the different trails that led to the summit. It would start with two main paths covered with dense torii gates. Along the way, there were other smaller shrines and even a few restaurants that offered locally themed dishes. Halfway up the trail, visitors could reach the Yotsutsuji Intersection where one could see a nice view of Kyoto. Most hikers stop at this point since the two circular routes up the summit have significantly less torii gates in them.

The buses arrived at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Everyone disembarked and started to head into the Romon gate. Sanaka, Mizumi and Sumire were already walking ahead of Angelie and Akuma. Angelie then gently slapped her face with her two hands.

"Alright, I'll join the girls today so I can be free of this wretched Demon Lord."

"By all means. It's much better to be alone and be a few steps behind you girls than to walk around with you, you annoying Saint."

Akuma yawned loudly as he walked towards the gate.

"Ok, here goes."

Angelie rushed over to the three girls in front.

"Hey, everyone—"

When she got near them, Mizumi and Sumire locked their arms with Sanaka, who was between the two of them. The three walked faster ahead without looking at Angelie.

"Um… where are you going…? I want to join you guys…"

Angelie was left behind reaching out her hand towards the girls.