After school, Kazuo hurried to leave the building, skillfully dodging the students still lingering in the hallways. His mind was fixated on one thing: Asami's shrine. He needed answers, and he knew Yoshinori Miyahara, Asami's grandfather, was the only one who could give them to him.
The shrine wasn't far from the school, tucked away in a small forest on the outskirts of town. As he crossed the streets, Kazuo felt the atmosphere shift. The noise of the city faded, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. The place seemed to breathe serenity.
When he finally reached the red torii gate marking the shrine's entrance, he took a deep breath. The place, while peaceful, carried a mystical aura that left him feeling slightly uneasy.
"Yoshinori-san must be here…" he murmured, climbing the stone steps leading to the shrine's heart.
