Kyoto is known for being a dangerous place when you make poor decisions. Especially near shrines dedicated to relationships. Kuro Kurogane quickly realized how true this was but it was too late.

The class had toured a popular shrine famous for offering the following:

Finding love through fortune telling, Blessings for relationships, Marks of couple’s fortunes.

Which translated to catastrophic events waiting to happen.

"Wow! This place is INCREDIBLE!" exclaimed Mina, with immense enthusiasm.

"That statement is an automatic guarantee you will suffer." Kuro mumbled.

Nearby there were couples walking together down the path leading through the shrine while students gathered around the charm stands and fortune-telling boards.

The atmosphere around this shrine itself screamed romance.

It couldn’t have gotten any worse.

Then Akari spotted the charm booth.And everything exploded.

"Kuro-kun!"

"...No."

"You didn’t even give me the chance to tell you what I was thinking!"

"I already know."

Too late!

Akari had already taken hold of Kuro’s wrist and was pulling him toward the colorful charm booth.

Underneath the wooden roof of the shrine were rows and rows of little charms: ,Relationship charms (many in red color) ,Friendship charms (also many are red in color) ,Protection charms (in various colors).

Kuro felt the pull of death from afar.

"Akari," he said.

"Yeah?"

"We’re going," Kuro said.

"No," she replied.

That was correct; she had no choice.

"Look at this one! It’s really cute!" Akari has just picked up two charms—both little bells, connected with a small piece of red string.

Kuro simply stared.

"These say, ’blessing for couples.’"

"Silly detail."

"VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL."

Suddenly, Mina entered from the right side.

"Oh? Blessing charm for couples?"

Kuro quickly moved back.

Danger multiplied.Mina casually picked up another pair of compatible ’couples’ charms.

"Here are better ones."

Akari’s eyes narrowed only slightly.

"Rivalry detected."

"Always."

Rika appeared near them, looking uncomfortable.

"Why do I get a strange emotional feeling about this shrine?"

Because there are rules for romantic comedies and they all lead to victimization.

"Why?"

Meanwhile, Kuro and Aoi scoured through the charms beside each other without Kuro talking.

With Aoi and Mina, she does not ’act out’ while looking through the charms.

Aoi showed Kuro she had picked all of the charms methodically, with serene calmness to her actions. The bells of the shrine rang softly close by.

Aoi stopped at a simple dark blue charm. It had little decoration, it was small, and it had a simple design.

Very Aoi.

"Are you interested in that charm?" Kuro asked without thinking.

Aoi turned to Kuro and seemed surprised.

" I’ll have to see how things go."

Mina laughed.

"Growth arc."

Kuro did not seem to care.

Yet just as bizarrely Kuro’s gaze was drawn back to the trinket Aoi was holding.

It was so basic. So peaceful. So at ease.

Something about it was a perfect match for her.

Finally, the girls settled on making a purchase of their trinkets.

Akari made numerous purchases:matching couple bells,love fortunes,blessings for stability in relationships.

Mina only purchased the most expensive romantic trinket because she wanted the pride.

Rika purchased a small academic success trinket and tried her best to avoid making eye contact with anyone.

And finally, Aoi had quietly stayed near the back of the vendor’s stall.

Eventually, Kuro happened to reach the side of Aoi again without realizing it.

"...Not going to buy one?"

Aoi glanced down briefly.

"...I’m still making a decision."

A moment or two of silence passed, but finally Aoi had displayed the charm.

A matching charm of dark blue with silver stitching, but so simple yet so beautiful.Kuro blinked.

Since Kuro had picked up the matching charm while shopping with little thought to what he was doing.

Complete silence.Both were gazing at the charms, not saying a word.

Then both turned and looked at each other.

Immediately, Kuro put the charm down.

"It was a coincidence."

Possibly.Neither of the individuals appeared to be convinced.

The elderly lady working the shrine stall suddenly beamed a huge smile to them.

"Ahh what a great pick!"

Kuro was frozen in fear.Danger.

The tiny grand ma continued to smile at them in her usual happy manner.

"Perfect for couples matching charms!"

Kuro got to experience instant death.

"WEAREN’!

The instant before dear Akari made her appearance. "WHAT!" was spoken loud enough to startle soft, innocent Rika into almost dropping her fortune teller paper.

Mina was also present.

"ARA."

Aoi remained [calm on the outside].

Somehow, that made her the most terrifying of all who were in the area.

Kuro panicked instantly and began, "It was an accident..."

Akari dramatically pointed to the identical charms.

"YOU MATCHED BY ACCIDENT!"

Mina leaned in closer teasingly.

"Kuro-kun! Your subconscious shows so that everyone will see you were in agreement."

"Please everyone be quiet."

The shrine lady gave a friendly grin.

"Being a couple is very nice."

"IT’S NOT LIKE WE ARE A COUPLE!"

Aoi quietly looked down at the matching charm she held.

In a very soft voice, she said...

"I’ll buy it."

Total silence followed.Kuro continued blinking in disbelief.

"REALLY?"

Aoi sort of nodded.

"Ya, I like it!"

Several people in the area could understand how simple her answer was.

The way she gazed at him made his heart skip a beat.

Akari easily picked up on this vibe.Of course she would.

That afternoon the group relaxed under the trees surrounding the shrine, sharing snacks while cicadas sang out loud in Kyoto’s summery heat.

While there Akari aggressively attached her matching charm to her bag; Kuro positioned it outwardly.

Mina put hers on her phone in a similar fashion.

Rika, however, slipped hers onto (the inside of) the pocket of her shorts.

At that point, Kuro saw another addition to the mix.

Aoi, in a similar fashion, had found a home for her navy-blue charm on her bag. However, it was not coincidental; it was placed there on purpose and very intentionally.

Not only that, (but) each time the tiny silver thread swayed gently in the breeze it once again caused Kuro’s chest to feel extremely warm and, for lack of a better word, dangerously frightening to Kuro.

When the group began walking toward their next sightseeing destination, Akari dashed to Kuro’s side and exclaimed, "Kuro!"

To which Kuro replied, "What now?"

Akari quickly continued, "If you ever buy something that is matching and couple-ish, with another girl..."

This he explained had been totally by accident, which Akari was obviously not buying into.

"If you do," continue Akari, "I’ll cry."

Kuro replied, "That sounds like you are trying to influence me."

Aoi replied, "It is."

That wasn’t surprising.

Aoi walked ahead of them, her charm hanging lightly off her bag as she walked in the summer sunlight.

Then, she looked back at Kuro unexpectedly and smiled sweetly.

The smile was small, private, and almost shy.

Kuro was frozen for a second.

Then, he instantly turned away from Aoi.

Kuro’s heart still pounded as he realized that there was nothing coincidental about their matching charms anymore.