After lunch.
Yuzuru stood under the temple corridor, gazing at the fiery red maple forest in the distance, while the sounds of Bei and Kuroba Chikage, master and apprentice, debating new techniques of disguise filled the air.
"Nan."
A clear, crisp call interrupted his thoughts.
Xiao Lan jogged over, holding a delicate pink amulet in one hand, with the four small golden characters "Peace and Joy" embroidered on it, and a travel guide in the other.
"Could you hang it on the tallest maple tree for me?" Xiaolan blinked her clear, big eyes. "The guide says that if you hang the amulet on the tallest maple tree, your wish is more likely to come true!"
Just as Yuzuru was about to reach out and take it, a hand with burgundy nail polish beat him to it.
"Of course, my Angel~"
Sister Bei had turned around at some point, accepting the amulet with a face full of doting affection, her eyes so tender they could melt your heart.
"Oh..." Xiaolan scratched the back of her head sheepishly, "Ms. Sharon, you're too kind."
For some reason, she felt that Aunt Yukiko's friend was being a little too nice to her, as the friend had been putting food on her plate during the meal.
Eri, the mother, couldn't help but twitch at the sight.
Whose daughter is this?
As Yuzuru watched this scene, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
He knew, of course, why Bayonetta was so special to Ran—it was Ran's innocence that saved the fallen angel's soul that night.
"Little brother~"
Bei turned to Yuzuru, and in front of Ran, she changed her form of address, while taking out a dark red amulet from her trench coat pocket. "Can you hang one on your sister too?"
He smiled and shook his head, preparing to take off, when he suddenly felt his clothes being tugged again. Looking down, he saw Ayumi holding a mini amulet, her big eyes blinking brightly: "Brother Nan..."
"Alright, alright, hang them all up." Yu Sheng Nan rubbed the little girl's head, and when he looked up, he found that Ai had also silently handed him a black amulet.
The haughty little girl turned her face away: "...Just doing it on the spur of the moment."
Yuzuru: "..."
He looked around and realized that something was wrong—the women present seemed to have received some kind of signal and began to pull out all sorts of amulets from their bags, pockets, and even sleeves, in various colors and sizes, as if by magic.
"No, when did you prepare all this?" Yu Shengnan said, both amused and exasperated.
Sonoko squeezed in with a grin: "We secretly planned this last night while we were soaking in the hot springs! My sister booked the entire scenic area not just for viewing the autumn leaves!"
Even the usually serious Eri Kisaki took out a dark purple amulet from her suit pocket and elegantly placed it on top of the pile of "prayer items".
"Is your naughty little brother going to open a special store for amulets?" Yukiko gloated from the side, her eyes curving into crescents. "Do you want your big sister to sponsor you a few more?"
Yuu Nan looked down at the mountain of amulets piled up in his arms, sighed, and carefully put them into his bosom: "Alright, I'll be a messenger of prayers today."
He put on the bamboo dragonfly and slowly rose into the air.
The tallest ancient tree in the maple forest is over thirty meters tall and is said to be over three hundred years old. Its fiery red canopy shines brightly in the sunlight.
"Tie it to the sunniest branch!"
"knew!"
Yuzuru responded, then suddenly realized a problem—there were too many amulets, but only a limited number of ideal branches.
He pondered for a moment, then took out a red string from his pocket and cleverly strung all the amulets together, weaving them into a colorful amulet wreath, which he then solemnly hung on the thickest branch at the top of the tree.
That's good.
Yuzuru spoke softly to himself.
He stared for a moment, then suddenly snapped his fingers. A barely perceptible golden light flowed from his fingertips and wrapped around the branch—the sacred code of an angel, ensuring that no matter the wind, sun, or rain, these amulets that carried the wishes of women would suffer the slightest damage.
After all, more amulets will be added to this wreath in the future.
"Tsk~ I'm really... greedy."
...
As evening fell, the group gathered in the temple's tea room to rest.
The wooden room exudes a faint sandalwood scent, and the maple leaves outside the window appear even more vibrant in the sunset.
"I heard the fortune sticks here are incredibly accurate!" Sonoko mysteriously pulled out several sticks. "I secretly drew some for everyone!"
Because Ayako Suzuki booked the entire venue, the monks at Katsuo-ji Temple provided VIP-level service, and even the fortune slips for finding a partner were personally written by the abbot.
The Buddha does not save those who are not destined to be saved.
Xiao Lan curiously took hers, her eyes immediately lighting up.
"Let me see~" Kazuha snatched it away quickly, "Red leaves convey affection, a match made in heaven... Wow! A very auspicious sign!"
"Give it back to me!"
Xiao Lan lunged to grab it, and the two of them started playfully wrestling.
Yuzuru took the fortune slip from Sonoko, unfolded it, and raised an eyebrow—it depicted two overlapping maple leaves with the words "Two leaves of one heart" written next to it.
It's also a very auspicious sign.
It represents good fortune, family harmony, and the fulfillment of all wishes.
"What about mine?" Ai suddenly reached out her hand.
Sonoko winked deliberately: "Kids shouldn't watch this!"
"Heh." Xiao Ai sneered, pulling out her fortune slip from somewhere. "'The clouds part to reveal the moon'... It seems some people are going to be in trouble."
Yuzuru: "......"
He glanced subconsciously in Eri's direction and saw her putting the fortune slip into her suit pocket; the reflection from her glasses made it impossible to see her expression.
"Eri~" Yukiko leaned closer, "What was your fortune slip?"
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