章 27: Chapter:27 Full Schedule
[Notification]
[Status: Restless]
.
.
.
'Fuck!'
[07:00 AM]
Renko woke up groggily, realizing that her attempt at getting a good night's sleep had failed... yet again!
She grumbled to herself, forcing her way out of the fluffy bed, determined to go through her schedule for the day without fail. After all, she had almost four appointments for the day.
After a quick shower and a strong cup of coffee, Renko glanced at her schedule for the day. The driving school appointment was at 5:00 PM, and the visit to the shrine cabin was scheduled for 4 in the evening. With some time to spare, Renko decided to make the most of her morning.
She headed to school, her eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep, weaving her way through the somewhat familiar streets, contemplating all the tasks she had for the day ahead.
[08:00 AM]
Renko arrived at school, greeted by the familiar hustle and bustle of students. As she made her way to her classroom, she couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversations about the upcoming school trip. There was a general atmosphere of excitement in the halls of the school.
"Hey, Renko!"
Hori waved at her from across the hallway. waiting for her to change into her school shoes.
"Hori."
Renko nodded at Hori, too tired to even offer a proper greeting.
Hori noticed Renko's tired demeanor and raised an eyebrow.
"Another rough night?"
Renko let out a small sigh,
"Yeah, couldn't sleep much. Too many things on my mind."
Hori gave her a sympathetic smile,
"Well, hopefully, today goes smoothly for you. By the way, did you decide how your trip to Kyoto would be?"
Renko sighed tiredly,
"Don't know, but I probably won't be going on the trip with you lot."
Hori looked genuinely concerned,
"Really? Is everything okay?"
Renko nodded,
"Yeah, just got a lot on my plate right now."
Truth was, she simply felt it would be a pain in the ass to go on a field trip that would last three whole days.
Hori nodded understandingly,
"I get it. Well, you gotta do what's best for you. If you need any help or someone to talk to, you know I'm here, right?"
Renko managed a small smile, appreciating Hori's concern,
"Thanks, Hori. I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, I better get to class. See you later."
As Renko entered her classroom, she couldn't shake off the exhaustion that clung to her. The day seemed to drag on, each class feeling longer than the last. The excitement around the school trip buzzed in the air, but Renko remained focused on her own priorities.
[12:00 PM]
Lunchtime finally arrived, and Renko bought a couple of bean buns and found herself a quiet spot in the courtyard to eat in silence.
Hori joined her, breaking the silence,
"Hey, Renko. You look like you're about to fall asleep on that bun."
Renko chuckled weakly,
"At least I am not sitting on a toilet."
Hori laughed,
"Fair point. But seriously, are you okay? You've been dragging yourself around all morning."
Renko sighed,
"Just a lack of sleep. I'll manage."
Hori raised an eyebrow,
"You really need to take care of yourself, you know. Lack of sleep isn't good."
Renko nodded, taking a bite of her bun,
"I know, I know. I'll try to catch up on sleep when I can. That, and I have driving school starting today. It's a lot to juggle."
Hori's eyes widened,
"Driving school? You didn't mention that before. Why are you suddenly getting into driving?"
Renko smirked,
"Well, walking everywhere is starting to get on my nerves. Plus, I have this quest in my life to acquire a driving license and a vehicle."
Hori raised an eyebrow,
"A quest? Are you turning your life into a game now?"
Renko chuckled,
"Keeps things interesting, doesn't it? Anyway, after this, I have an appointment to check out a shrine. Yeah, a shrine for sale. Don't ask."
Hori laughed,
"That joke's quite funny, Renko. But seriously, be careful not to overexert yourself."
Renko winked tiredly,
"The show must go on, right?"
Hori shook her head in amusement,
"Alright, just promise me you'll take it easy when you can. Don't want you collapsing from exhaustion."
Renko saluted jokingly,
"Understood, Captain Hori. Now, let me finish my bun in peace before I pass out on it."
Hori chuckled,
"Alright, take care of yourself, Renko. And good luck with the driving."
[03:30 PM]
The school day dragged on, and Renko found herself counting down the minutes until her appointments. As the final bell rang, she met up with Hori at the school gate.
"So, off to the shrine first or driving school?"
Hori asked.
Renko checked her schedule,
"Shrine first. The appointment is at 4, and then I'll rush to the driving school at 5. It's a packed day."
Hori shook her head with a smile.
"Well, have fun at the shrine. Try not to buy anything too eccentric."
Renko smirked,
"No promises. If the shrine calls out to me, who am I to resist?"
Hori laughed,
"Just be careful, okay? And don't forget to update me on how it goes."
Renko nodded,
"Will do. See you later, Hori."
As Renko made her way to the shrine, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. The day had been a whirlwind of activities, and there was still more to come.
[04:00 PM]
Renko arrived at the real estate agency just in time to spot the agent walking out of the front door.
"Good afternoon, um... are you Ms. Renko?"
Renko nodded,
"That's me. Renko Ivanov. You must be Mr. Kurosawa?"
The agent seemed somewhat hesitant,
"Please, feel free to call me Kurosawa. But, are you sure you are Ms. Renko who wishes to purchase the Back Mountain property?"
Well, that is to be expected. She was an 18-year-old high school after all. On top of that, she was still wearing her student's uniform. Anyone would suspect her as a prankster.
Renko chuckled, understanding the skepticism,
"Yeah, I know it sounds a bit unusual. But I'm serious about it. Let's not waste time; I want to see the place."
Kurosawa nodded and led the way to his car. The drive to the shrine cabin was relatively short, and as they approached the foothills of the mountain, the noise of the city faded into the background and the rustling of leaves replaced the bustle.
The shrine wasn't very far from the foothills, quite close in fact. It took them roughly ten minutes to get there and Renko was pleased to see that her choice had been perfect.
The clearing around the shrine was surrounded by ancient trees, even the clearing almost had knee-high grass. A single stone pathway led to the shrine, not only that but there was also a small pond on one side of the path.
Kurosawa gestured towards the shrine,
"Here we are, Ms. Renko. This is the Back Mountain property."
Renko took a moment to absorb the surroundings. The shrine had a strange, rustic beauty to it, and the peaceful environment was quite the bonus too.
"I like it,"
she said, her voice didn't betray even a single hint of emotion.
Kurosawa seemed slightly troubled but was relieved to hear her question nonetheless,
"I'm glad to hear that. But have you read its history? Are you sure you want to buy this place?"
Renko nodded causing him to heave a sigh.
"Very well then, let me introduce the inside of the shrine."
As they entered the shrine, Renko noticed the simplicity of the interior. It was a wooden structure alright, and the soft sunlight managed to easily filter through the paper doors.
Kurosawa explained the history of the shrine, something about it being a couple of centuries old and the legends regarding its relation to Bishamonten and, surprisingly, to Izanami as well. Renko listened but somewhat half-heartedly.
After the tour, they stepped outside, and Renko took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.
"I'll be honest, Kurosawa, I'm seriously considering buying this place."
Kurosawa raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Renko's suicidal tendencies.
"I can't say I'm delighted to hear that, Ms. Renko. However, if you are sure, then the price is negotiable, and I'm sure we can work out a deal that suits both parties. However, I must inform you that any damage to you and yours will not be the responsibility of the Shrine management, the former owners, the government, or the real estate office."
Renko shrugged,
"Fine by me."
He hesitated for a moment before answering,
"And the shrine requires regular maintenance, and the legend surrounding it might affect its resale value."
Renko raised an eyebrow too,
"And what if I wish to tear down this shrine to build a house?"
Kurosawa hesitated for a moment, his expression slightly conflicted.
"Well, Ms. Renko, that's certainly within your rights as the potential buyer. However, given the historical significance and local sentiment, it might not be received well by the community. There are regulations to consider, and it could impact the property's value and the yearly taxations."
Renko nodded thoughtfully,
"But I thought there was a sudden lack in local popularity, the murderous fate of its previous owners, and the government not wanting to do anything with it were the reasons that led to this place being sold off. Or was I mistaken?"
Kurosawa sighed,
"You're correct, in a way. Those reasons led to the decline in interest and popularity of this property, and it had been a challenge to find any buyers for the property. However, tearing it down might still be met with resistance from those who hold sentimental value for the place."
Renko frowned,
"I do hope I will not be receiving visitors daily regarding a price raise once I survive owning it."
Kurosawa chuckled,
"Well, that's a possibility you might have to consider. But negotiations can be made, and we can draft up a contract of no refunds from either side. Perhaps you might consider preserving the shrine's structure and functioning while accommodating your plans for the property."
Renko frowned yet again,
"It is non-negotiable. I will not entertain any visitors on my property once I purchase these lands."
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