Don't Nail Your Love 〔Filler〕

【POV: Mari】

Kiyomizu-dera. Word among the human masses is that chugging the sacred water here is basically a cheat code for granted wishes, perfect romance, and academic success.

A long line of people snaked beneath the Otowa waterfall, dividing into three tiny trickles. Holding onto those comically long dippers, they desperately caught every single drop and gulped it all down.

「Hey, quit looking at them with those pitying eyes.」 Tetsu nudged my arm and whispered.

「I don't pity them. Just admiring the sheer power of the Placebo effect.」

We were currently standing on the temple's renowned wooden platform. The ancient floor was polished smooth by millions of footsteps passing through over the centuries. A gust of wind blew my hair around.

Akari-sensei shifted into her dramatic zone again. She leaned her back against the wooden railing, patting a giant pillar while gazing out distantly at the city of Kyōto below.

「Do you kids know what makes this stage so magnificent?」 Her voice deepened, losing all of that ridiculous hype from when we were by that waterfall shower.

「No nails were used?」 Riku threw out a blind guess.

「Wrong.」 Sensei shook her head. 「No nails were used.」

The whole group was dumbfounded. What the heck? Didn't we literally come here last year? Don't tell me she's about to repeat the exact same lecture...

「These 139 giant columns support a massive feat of engineering hanging off a cliff. It has withstood earthquakes and fires for ages... yet not a single metal nail holds any of it together.」 She gave the pillar another firm pat—Thud, thud. 「They are joined using traditional wood-locking techniques. They stand firm simply by leaning on one another.」

Akari-sensei turned back to face the class, her keen eyes pinpointing every couple trying to sneakily hold hands amidst the crowd. 「The same goes for your relationships.」

Thank Me, Sensei had enough brain cells to whip up a brand-new lecture.

「Pricey gifts, high-end meals, clout-chasing photos on Instagram, and even those cringe-worthy vows...」 Akari-sensei listed them off, her voice dripping with irony. 「Those are the "nails".」

「They're hammered into your relationships, desperately trying to pin two separate pieces together. It might look secure from afar, but the wood is splitting open from within...」

She approached the group, tapping the shoulders of a few dazed-looking guys.

「Try asking yourselves. If you stripped away all the nails... would your relationship be able to stand firm like this temple? Or would it collapse instantly because the pieces never actually fit?」

The atmosphere grew heavy. My classmates were beginning to exchange some very awkward looks.

「Spot on.」 Yuria emerged from the back. 「But Sensei, a good fit isn't the whole story. For wood to stay bonded, it needs more than just joints—it needs "friction".」

And so it begins. I waited with bated breath for whatever crackpot theory she was about to drop.

「If the surfaces are flawless, then even a gentle breeze will cause them to slide apart.」 Yuria pressed her fists together, rubbing them back and forth. 「You need some grit to create the grip that holds it all together.」

She turned to look at Tetsu and me, giving us a meaningful wink. 「A relationship that's nothing but sugary-sweet talk and "lovey-dovey" vibes... is basically trash.」

I chuckled. 「Eloquent as always, Yuria. So that's your excuse for constantly roasting me? To increase the friction of our legendary friendship?」

Yuria tossed her hair and tilted her chin up. 「Exactly. I'm helping the whole gang reinforce the foundation. Be thankful.」

Tetsu let out a long sigh, shaking his head. 「That friction theory of yours is fine in spirit, but keep it up and you'll end up grinding the wood into sawdust.」

Akari-sensei laughed out loud, clapping her hands. 「Exactly! 10/10 for Kanda and Mori!」

〈Mari's Note for Mortals〉

Well, no matter how much the author tries to sound all literary and philosophical, he's still gotta write filler, right?

Listen up, you readers: any chapter with 〔Filler〕 is a filler. Filler as in "it doesn't move the plot forward", but if you're just here for the comedy or some fresh insights, go right ahead.

That't about it. This chapter is short as hell, so there's really nothing else to say. Bye!

Edit: Look, the author is a total dumbass in English. 「Don't nail your love」 means "don't force it", not "don't f*ck it". Get your minds out of the gutter, you thirsty perverts!