Riona and I waited in line, and the queue advanced — and Reona was nowhere to be seen as we neared the front.
“Nee-chan isn’t back.”
“What’s she doing?”
I pulled out my phone and called Reona; a ringtone played from inside her handbag.
“Wait — she didn’t take her phone?”
“Which is why she hasn’t messaged.”
We were worried but our turn arrived with no Reona, and with a long line behind us, we drank our water as a duo.
“Maybe she’s gotten into trouble. Let’s split up.”
“Got it. I’ll go this way, Ryouya, take that way.”
“Text the moment you find her.”
We split. Kiyomizu-dera has three bathroom locations, so splitting was efficient.
I checked the one nearest Otowa Falls — not there. Headed toward the one near the entrance.
On the way, I spotted Reona — but she was not alone. Three European-looking men were blocking her path.
All three were massive, easily over 190cm, ripped — facing them was suffocating-pressure level. Reona was not getting abandoned. I cut in between them.
“Wait — Ryouya-kun?!”
Reona looked startled. The three men started saying something; Reona was responding in English, and her face did not contain fear.
I’d thought I was rescuing her from a hostile pickup attempt. Apparently that was not the situation. My English was not strong enough to follow, but nothing about the dynamic looked like an argument. The three men waved cheerfully and walked off.
”…Who were those three?”
“They wanted to get to Fushimi Inari next and asked for directions, so I was explaining. Without my phone it was a slog.”
“That’s why you didn’t come back.”
“Right. I couldn’t just leave them stuck.”
So she had not been in trouble. Relief. Let me text Riona that Reona’s been located.
“Oh — were you thinking I was being hit on?”
“With that scene, anyone would.”
“So you came to rescue me?”
“For nothing, in the end.”
Coming in heroic to rescue someone who didn’t need rescuing is — let’s say — slightly embarrassing.
“Even the thought made me happy.”
“That helps.”
“But — never, ever do that for any other girl.”
For a second I could swear there was something deeply terrifying behind Reona. We met up with Riona at the bottom of the Niō-mon stairs.
“Ah — we never got to drink at Otowa Falls. Pity.”
“Reqeueing would push past the deadline. Can’t help it.”
“But Riona and I are one being, so if Riona drank, the blessing should also apply to me, right?”
“Hopefully.”
While we were having that conversation Riona appeared, holding a paper bag.
“Sorry to keep you.”
“What’s in the bag — souvenirs for Mom and Dad?”
“No, for Nee-chan.”
She pulled out a tall box that read Otowa Spring Water.
“Oh — is that what I think it is?”
“Yes. Otowa Falls water.”
“Wait, they sell it?”
“Riona, thank you.”
Reona broke into a huge smile and hugged Riona. Watching them was picturesque. Pretty-girl-on-pretty-girl framing is just visually correct. I now understood why the third wheel between the yuri gets glared at.