Chapter 16: 016, Openly: I didn't expect you to be like this

It is already after the New Year.

I didn't expect it to start snowing in Tokyo again, and once it started, it just wouldn't stop.

The snow fell continuously, sometimes urgently, sometimes gently.

Fine snowflakes drifted onto the city streets, slowly weaving a silver carpet. The dormant shrubs stretched out their branches, clad in white gauze veils. It seemed as though all the clamor of the city was hidden behind a white curtain, appearing gentle and tranquil.

In such weather, it is naturally best to curl up at home, lying by a kotatsu, eating hot pot while watching television.

Nagayama Naoki had been living such a decadent life for almost a week. Aside from buying daily necessities and taking out the trash, he had basically not stepped foot outside. He felt as if his entire being was about to dissolve.

At noon this day, "I can't do this anymore. If I keep being this decadent, I'm really going to break!" Naoki forced himself away from the warmth of the kotatsu, put on his coat, and headed out.

But where to go?

When you are alone, it seems like you can go anywhere, yet it also feels like everywhere is lonely.

Back when he needed "007" [referring to a high-functioning/busy lifestyle], he didn't have to worry about this kind of trouble. What's this about being lonely or not? Has the bug for this requirement been fixed yet?

Being filled with a sense of fulfillment from work all day... could that truly be a "blessing"? Hahaha.

No, I can't think about that anymore. I have to keep chasing the "big cake" my boss is painting for me into this lifetime!

Even if I'm alone, I'm going out to have fun!

Since it's snowing, I'll go see the snowy scenery at Tokyo's famous attractions~

Thinking of familiar places like Ginza and Shinjuku...

Nagayama Naoki patted his wallet. Maybe he'd skip it for now. Is there anywhere he could kill time without spending money?

He'll go to Senso-ji Temple. I heard the snow scenery is quite nice, and there are all kinds of specialty snacks. Besides, it wouldn't be bad to get closer to the Buddha. Moreover, his luck seemed to be lacking lately—his "get rich quick" plan had been forced into a delay—so he could go ask for an oracle.

In fact, Naoki was a typical "pan-believer"; whether it was Buddhism or Taoism, it was all the same. If he had a need, he would believe; if not, he'd just shrug it off.

After his reincarnation, his attitude toward faith had changed slightly, after all, he had experienced a miracle once.

However, he wasn't particularly superstitious about religion. Otherwise, if he kept believing, what if the thing that sent him here was the rumored Flying Spaghetti Monster?

Senso-ji is less than 30 minutes from Waseda. After exiting the station, Naoki walked slowly along the road under an umbrella.

He thought there would be no one else out in the snow, but to his surprise, the road was lined with tourists coming to view the snow.

Some were young students, some were young couples, some were families, and some were groups of friends...

There were also a few solitary figures, just like Naoki.

It had been over a week since New Year's Day, so logically the peak period should have passed. However, as expected of a famous temple, there was never a shortage of believers throughout the year.

The slowly falling snowflakes had already draped a layer of pure white over the surroundings of the temple, giving one the feeling of arriving at the Pure Land. From a distance, one could see the vibrant wooden pillars, white walls, and black tiles of the Senso-ji Five-Story Pagoda, which appeared even more Zen-like amidst the vast whiteness.

Entering Senso-ji, he wandered around the courtyards for a bit. Unfortunately, he didn't actually feel anything special; it was just a well-decorated temple.

After passing through the famous Kaminarimon Gate, the monks led a session for drawing fortunes.

After a series of maneuvers, he wasn't sure if he had been sincere enough, but he managed to get a number...

Holding the number he had drawn, Naoki found his fortune text—the second fortune, "Small Luck": *"The moon is obscured by floating clouds, and one's affairs become muddled. Fortunately, seek the protection of the gods, and why worry that the brows will not unknit?"*

Is it really this accurate?

His "get rich quick" plan was indeed somewhat shadowed and temporarily impossible to complete; he thought about how to get rich but lacked the determination to act, merely drifting with the tide; it seemed he hadn't yet found someone worth working hard for, otherwise, he could strive toward happiness; but it seemed good things would happen in the future, making all these worries vanish.

Naoki was a bit startled, then hurriedly tied the fortune slip in the temple's designated area.

*Bodhisattva, you don't need to guide me! I'm fine!*

*I only hope Guanyin protects me so I can get rich and never have to work again!*

Religion is something that always works if you believe. The fortune at Senso-ji was merely interpreted by Naoki according to his own subjective thoughts.

From this, it was clear that Naoki lacked any spiritual wisdom.

In this era, there were no smartphones or social media. He couldn't take photos everywhere, edit them, add some profound-sounding caption, and post them to a feed to get lots of likes.

This truly robbed traveling of a bit of its fun~

However, the commercial street leading from Kaminarimon to the Treasure Gate and the Main Hall was indeed bustling. Not only were there many souvenirs, but there were also various specialty snacks—besides takoyaki, taiyaki, oden, and various dumplings...

Naoki even saw grilled meat skewers.

*Is it really okay to do that near the Buddha?*

*Actually, it's delicious.* After filling his stomach, Naoki wandered around the vicinity again. Aside from snow, there was nothing but snow.

After killing an afternoon at Senso-ji, he finally strolled slowly back home. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about going out again in the evening, but Sanwa had called to remind him that *Night Hit* was airing tonight, and he absolutely had to watch it.

It definitely wasn't because of his wallet.

The effect of the program was completely different from the feeling of the backstage rehearsals. Naoki hadn't expected that after editing, his proportion in the program would be so large—even the footage of Seiko Matsuda going backstage had been recorded...

"I was careless. Japanese programs of this era are famously bold; I should have realized there might be hidden cameras backstage!"

Seeing the program play the segment of his intense admiration for Seiko Matsuda, he felt so embarrassed his toes were curling.

Connecting this to the fortune at Senso-ji this afternoon—is this what the hell is called "good things happening"?

At the same time, in Kiyose City, Tokyo, a family was also watching *Night Hit*.

"Akina, Akina, is that guy the boy from the dance hall last time?" Akio Nakamori could hardly remember.

Akina, who was looking at a magazine, also looked up: "Probably not. Naoki-san is very thin, not that handsome. This must be some newcomer~"

Akina Nakamori still remembered her "fan," but when the host introduced Naoki Nagayama, Akina was also surprised. It really was Naoki-san!

All four sisters of the Nakamori family were gathered in front of the TV. Everyone was curious about how that boy from the other day had actually made it onto television!

Their mother, Chieko, also became curious: "Is this young man Akina-chan's fan? I didn't expect him to be so handsome!"

As the program continued, everyone learned that Seiko Matsuda's latest single was actually composed by Naoki Nagayama. "Naoki-san is actually a songwriter!"

When the host explained that this was a song written by a fan for their idol, Akina Nakamori's expression became surprised and somewhat dejected. "He said he was *my* fan..."

And when the program began playing the footage of him meeting Seiko Matsuda, Akina Nakamori's round little face turned red with anger. "Damn it! I didn't expect you to be such a fickle, bad, scumbag man!"

The others hurried to comfort her...

Tsuruko in Shizuoka was also watching TV. She immediately called her mother, Nanako, over

"Oka-san, Ni-chan is on TV again!"

"Achoo..."

Naoki Nagayama let out a mysterious sneeze. Could it be that he had been too reckless today and caught a cold?

Truly, "good things" kept coming...

(End of Chapter)