Chapter 39: Clearing Misunderstandings

Akuma and Angelie continued to walk inside Kinkakuji. They proceeded along the path and reached the head priest's former living quarters. That building was off limits to visitors, so they just observed it as they passed by. Then the two of them reached the gardens that had a few spots of interest. The first one was called Anmintaku Pond which was said to never dry up. After Angelie took a few pictures of the pond, they then reached the area where statues granted luck if coins were thrown at them.

"Please, don't let me be stuck with this crazy Saint tomorrow!"

Akuma threw a coin at one of the statues.

"I'll throw a coin at it to make sure the effect doubles. I don't want this school trip of mine to end in disappointment."

Angelie then casually tossed a coin at the same statue.

"Then, just to be sure."

Akuma flung another coin at the same statue they had been throwing coins at.

"Oh, I need the luck more than you."

Angelie hurled another coin.

"Hey, stop it already! I'll run out of coins!"

Akuma looked at Angelie and then threw another coin.

"Stop being competitive about every little thing!"

Angelie glared at Akuma and then tossed another coin.

"Damn it. Fine. I don’t want to waste more coins."

Akuma started to walk away from the statue.

"You should have done that in the first place."

Angelie stood there as she watched Akuma walk away. She then dropped one last coin at the statue. She smiled and went after Akuma.

---

After walking through the gardens, they reached the Sekkatei Teahouse. They then exited the paid area. The souvenir shops, small tea garden and other small temple halls were lined up outside. Angelie then said she wanted to eat something from the tea garden. Various sweets and matcha tea were available. Akuma said he would just wait further ahead. He walked toward the small temple halls.

Angelie then looked at the menu of the tea garden. She decided to get Namagashi. These were traditional Japanese sweets that were made of rice flour and sweet bean paste filling. After getting the food, she decided to sit down on one of the benches provided. When she was about to bite into her Namagashi, she noticed that someone was sitting beside her. It was Sanaka.

"Hi, Sanaka-san. I kind of expected to see you here, eating as usual."

She laughed while looking at Sanaka.

"A-angelie-san? Um, where is A-akuma? Aren't you supposed to be together?"

Sanaka looked around for Akuma.

"We were. I just wanted to eat something so he went ahead of me. What about Sumire-san and Mizumi-san? Weren't they with you?"

Angelie stared at Sanaka.

"Oh, they just went to the souvenir shops. I said I wanted to eat something too so I stayed behind."

Sanaka slightly smiled Angelie.

"I see…"

Angelie put down the Namagashi she was holding and she looked at the ground.

"So, Angelie-san. Please hear me out…"

Sanaka also put down the sweets she was eating.

"I'm sorry Sanaka-san. I actually don't know what I did for you, Sumire-san and Mizumi-san to avoid me. But it must have been terrible, so please forgive me—"

"No! You didn't do anything wrong!"

Sanaka grabbed Angelie's shoulders.

"What do you mean?"

Angelie confusedly looked into Sanaka's eyes.

"We weren't avoiding you because of something you did. It's just that… those two had a misunderstanding about you and Akuma. They thought you were really fighting ever since that day at class where you shouted at him. They asked me to cooperate with them to get you two alone so you'd get along. I tried telling them that you two are always like that. But I couldn't convince them, which is why we avoided you. I should be the one saying sorry… I left you alone these last two days…"

Tears welled up in Sanaka's eyes.

"I see. So that's what happened. I honestly thought you guys hated me… I'm glad it wasn't something like that."

Angelie then touched the shoulder of Sanaka and smiled at her.

"I'd understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore…"

Sanaka put her hands on her lap and clutched her skirt.

"What are you talking about? I don't feel bad about it or anything."

Angelie then grabbed one of Sanaka's hands.

"Really? After I betrayed you?"

"You're being too dramatic!"

Angelie smiled at Sanaka.

"I just want to make sure."

Sanaka wiped the tears in her eyes with her free hand.

"Also, it wasn't that bad."

Angelie looked up.

"What is?"

Sanaka gazed at Angelie's smiling face.

"Nothing. Let's hurry and finish eating. We might get left behind by our bus."

Angelie went back to eating her Namagashi.

---

After they finished eating, Angelie and Sanaka went to the souvenir shops and met with Sumire and Mizumi. Angelie explained that she and Akuma were not fighting or anything. It's just that their dynamic was always like that, especially since they were in a club together. Sumire and Mizumi apologized profusely for misunderstanding and also for avoiding Angelie the whole trip. Angelie said everything was just fine and that she wasn't angry or anything. The girls laughed it all off together.

The students boarded their respective buses. They then started their return trip to the hotel. It took quite some time due to the rush hour when people started to go home from work. When they reached the hotel, everyone went straight to the banquet hall. While waiting for dinner to be served, a teacher announced the plan for tomorrow. Since it was the free day, the teacher reminded everyone that they have the morning until after lunch time to go wherever they want. In the afternoon, they would meet back in the hotel and then head to the train station to ride the high-speed train before evening.

Once dinner was over, Angelie, Sanaka and Mimi went to the lounge area they hanged out the previous night.

"So, where do you plan to go tomorrow? Do you have any plans?"

Sanaka sat beside Angelie. Mimi was at the other side of Angelie. Sanaka was eating pudding in a cup with a spoon.

"My classmates and I are planning to go to Kyoto tower."

Mimi looked at Sanaka.

"What about you, Angelie-san?"

Sanaka then shifted her gaze to Angelie.

"O-oh, me? Well, I h-haven't planned it yet… I guess I'll see tomorrow?"

Angelie averted Sanaka's gaze and looked up instead.

"How about you, Sanaka-san? Where do you plan to go?"

Mimi asked Sanaka, who was now about to finish with her pudding.

"I plan to go Nishiki Market. My mom wants me to buy some things there. I guess I'll buy some souvenirs there, too."

Sanaka frowned when she ate all of the pudding.

(I'm too ashamed to tell them where I want to go… I think they'll make fun of me… Oh well, nobody has to know, I guess.)

Angelie smiled awkwardly at the two girls.

---

The following morning, the students had their breakfast at the banquet hall. Akuma's group was still seated where they had been assigned the past few days. He was still beside Angelie when he finished eating.

"S-so, where are you going?"

Angelie asked Akuma without looking at him.

"It's none of your business, as far as I'm concerned."

"I really don't care. I just want to make sure I won't see you today!"

Angelie then glared Akuma.

"Oh, don't worry. I think there is no chance in hell we'll bump into each other today."

Akuma finally stood up and left the banquet hall.

He then went up to his room and packed some of his things inside his duffel bag. This was to make sure he didn't have to rush to come back to the hotel later in the day just to pack. He wanted to enjoy wherever he was going to without worrying about the time.

After finishing packing, he left the room and went down to the lobby. Most of the other students already left. He then exited the lobby and went to the train station. His destination was just a short train ride away. He kept on looking around to check whether Angelie was there. He didn't see even a glimpse of her, which for him meant that there really was no chance for them to see each other on this free day.

Akuma arrived at the station of his desired destination. He disembarked the train and exited the station. He walked a few minutes to reach his planned location, the Kyoto Manga Museum.

The Kyoto Manga Museum consisted of three floors and a basement. Most of its walls were lined with shelves of manga. Browsing the massive collection of manga was one of the museum's main attractions.

"Finally, I'm here. And finally, I am free of that unhinged Saint."

Akuma stood in front of the large signage of the museum.

"I got here, at last. I had to make sure no one was following me—"

"What are you doing here?!"

Akuma pointed at the panting Angelie.