Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

The first and second day of the second semester’s midterm exams were the days Rossi-chan told her parents the truth about her anxiety and stress. I stayed out of the way, and it wasn’t until after the exams were over that we spoke again.

"How was it?" I asked.

"I don’t think I’ve cried so much in a week before."

We shared a laugh.

She continued, "Most of the crying was with my mother. She cried because I cried, but my father tried to keep his cool for the sake of the family. Fufu."

"They weren’t mad, right?"

"Far from it. My father said he’s never felt so connected to me before. All those first-place rankings I got for him could never bring us closer than that day."

"So… Are you goin’ to stop wearin’ yourself thin for exams?"

"No," she replied bluntly.

Her response put me in a daze.

"I mean, yes, but I will still try my very best."

"W-Well yeah, of course. Grades are important and everythin’, but I don’t want you secretly cryin’ yourself to sleep because of all the worries."

"I never told you I cried myself to sleep. Anyways, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and now I can continue to try my best without stressing. Thanks to you."

"Good, that’s all that matters."

"Fufu," she chuckled.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just admire how much you care for my well-being. I’m as pink as a carnation."

Pink carnations? Um… October 4th? Think, think, think… Got it! Gratitude! She’s grateful.
"You’ll turn me into a dark-crimson rose if you keep talkin’ like that."
Embarrassed…

"Fufu, that’s the goal! Hey, do you remember what’s happening this weekend?"

"Yeah, the cultural festival. Our class is doin’ a haunted house. Luckily we were in charge of buildin’ the set instead of actually runnin’ it on the days of the event."

"Right? I have an idea!"

" What's up?"

"Let’s ditch the festival!"

➼ ➼ ➼

It was November 11th; Saturday. Our high school’s cultural festival began in the afternoon, and nearly all the students were present to welcome the guests.

"Did I keep you waiting?" Rossi-chan asked while waving.

"Yeah, how dare you make me wait an extra thirty seconds."

"Fufu, nice to see you’re so punctual about time."

"I’m just super excited to spend time outside of school."

Right, we weren’t at school, nor were we anywhere near Southern Higashiyama, Kyoto. We left Kyoto Station to the other side of the prefecture, in Arashiyama, to visit the Bamboo Grove.

"The festival has started. Is Muku-chan going to visit?"

"Yeah, she said it’ll be good inspiration for her own festival later this month."

"Oh? Maybe we should visit! I’d love to see her and what she does for her project! I can’t wait!"

"I’ll let her know you’re eager about it. Now, let’s get started with our own festival."

Located at the foot of a mountain range on the northwest-side of Kyoto city, we arrived at Saga-Arashiyama Station. From the station, we took a bus to the grove. Upon reaching the entrance, we were immediately submerged in its atmosphere.

"There, there! A path starts on that side, let’s go to that one!"
Rossi-chan acted like a child at an amusement park.

We approached the grove from the side gate where there was a temple. The paths through the bamboo grove were short, yet immersive. There was something nearly magical about walking through a beige path staring at the forest of lush green and dappling light.

We weren’t the only people on the path, and yet there was a lack of humanity’s sound as we walked through. It was like we were transported into a world only filled with nature; we heard it speak to us in place of people.

The sun was directly above us to indicate midday, and that was the best time to walk through the bamboo.

Many took photos with their phones, but I noticed Rossi-chan didn’t. I don’t know why, but I liked that about her. She was into the moment, and chose to live in it. We didn’t want to rush through the path, so we took many breaks despite not being tired.

"Bamboo has strong durability to withstand the harsh weather that sometimes comes into Kyoto. No matter the conditions, this place is beyond the boundaries of beauty and magnificent."

"It’s like we shrunk to the size of ants on someone’s lawn. That’s kind of a cool feelin’, don’t you think?"
I turned to Rossi-chan, who gave me a look of disapproval of my analogy. I gifted her with an open, playful smile, not regretting my choice of words.

"There’s a villa at the top of the grove. Apparently this one has stellar gardens and views of Kyoto. Another plus is that there’s never typically a crowd there."

"Then we’re definitely headin’ there. Lead the way!" I shouted, pointing my arm in the air with enthusiasm.

An Imperial Japanese villa refurbished with modern materials was the eye-candy at the top of the grove. Trees of green, orange, and red leaves surrounded the top and sides of the place. Stone footpaths over gravel leading the way to the gardens.

"The villa was originally built with bamboo, due to its incredible strength and flexibility. It can even outlast some metals!"

We paid our respects to an ancient grave and found ourselves on the villa’s balcony; we were able to see the forest alongside the city. We squinted our eyes to see the mountains of Kyoto’s most famous shrines.

Future destination? I thought.

Since we took our time walking the path, a couple of hours passed from when we entered.

"There’s a shrine nearby where the daughters from the Imperial family used to purify themselves before becoming shrine maidens. Should we––"

"It’s this way, right? C’mon, we’re wastin’ daylight here!"

She tilted her head to the side and sighed rather disappointedly.

Unlike the villa, the shrine was quite busy. Yukata-wearing women roamed the area, praying for a fateful love to come their way. At the same time, well-built and considerate men were also present at the shine, wondering if it was the location of a destined future.

"Just like the bamboo, people want to find love that can be green all year long and resilient to anything that comes their way."

We took a seat on a public bench after buying a couple of water bottles that the shrine sold.

"Hanamaru-chan sent me a video she took of her and Atsui-kun walking through our class’s haunted house."

"Let’s see it."

Those two were sports jockeys, but apparently they weren’t too fond of the supernatural. Mitoma-kun may be superior to me in every sport but Karuta, but at least I wasn’t afraid of walking bedsheets.

The end of the path led to an array of shops that sold goods made from bamboo. Bamboo craft was a pastime for the residents of Arashiyama, and their efforts were sowed into their work.

"Hey, Rossi-chan?"

"Hmm? Did you find something you like, Verano-kun?"

"No, not yet. I was wonderin’ if bamboo has a special meanin’ like flowers do. I don’t think they were a part of your calendar, right?"

She placed a finger to her chin and shifted her eyes to the ceiling.
"Hmm, they do have special meanings. Let’s see if you can guess what their famous one is about."

"Huh? I have to guess? I asked you about it."

"It’s okay, fufu. Their meaning is closely related to bamboo. Think about all that you know about bamboo, and sum it up into a meaning."

Doing what she told me, I replayed today’s events for two reasons: One, to use what she told me and what I learned to find a commonality. Two, to relieve the entire day with her again. It was fun at every turn, and I definitely preferred that to the cultural festival.

"Did you figure it out?"

Just like bamboo, I wanted my friendship with her to be durable, resilient, and flexible. To the outside world, our friendship may be normal and mundane, but there wasn’t a day where I felt stale about being with her. I felt pure bliss that was greater than the one I felt before, and lost. Rossi-chan gave me a second chance at a social relationship, and I wanted that to last forever.

"Longevity," I answered.

Surrounded by green, with blue in the sky and brown on the dirt, her luminescent and mesmerizing gemstone eyes filled me with a wonderful warmth. "Angelic" was an adjective too simple for a girl like her, but what more could I say that could accurately tell what I saw?

Even if I did have the words, I wouldn't want to tell them, because I wanted only me to be able to use them. Perhaps that’d be too harsh of me.

"Correct," she said.
Her voice, that I used to hear crying in pain, had only been sounding calm and sweet.

As we were leaving the bamboo grove, I called out her name one more time.

"W-Would it be…okay…if we went out…for Christmas?" I asked, heart in mouth.