My Stepsister in Kyoto

In Kyoto, there were many temples and shrines that opened a flea market for the public. In that place, many people could come to sell and buy many unique things, whether it was food, kimono, or even garbage. 

Everything could be found on the flea market. 

Yume watched as many people came in and out as they walked around, checking the items sold by vendors who displayed their items under the stall. She looked at this scene in a novel since it was the first time she had come to this kind of place. 

"Are you going to sell something here?" 

Yume asked since she thought that Mizuto was going to open a business in this flea market, but what was he going to sell? After all, he didn't seem to bring anything except for his clothes, wallet, and smartphone. 

"I am not going to sell, but I am going to buy something." 

"Buy? What are you going to buy?" 

"I can't say for sure. Let's see after we enter."

"Okay." 

Yume nodded and thought that Mizuto really had changed. If it was in the past, she knew that he would avoid this type of crowded place, but now, he has taken the initiative, which made her even more curious about him, wondering why many changes had happened to him. 

They had been separated for a year and had also dated for a year, but in that span of time, he became so much different from her memory. 

"What's wrong?" Mizuto asked in confusion. 

"Nothing." 

Yume felt complex since she felt like she was the one that was only attracted to him, making her feel like she had lost, but then when she thought how he took the initiative to kiss her, hold her hand, and also show such a reaction she felt better for some reason since she knew he liked her.

So, there was nothing to worry about, right?

Mizuto looked at Yume strangely and checked her by using the "Identify" skill, feeling weird as she wasn't in her period, but then he shrugged her shoulders and checked various items sold by the vendors within the market. 

Yume followed him obediently, holding his hand as she was afraid that he might get lost. Nevertheless, she also looked around curiously since it was her first time. There were many unique things, from cute Western dolls, old books, colorful plates, strange masks, vintage items, and even broken potteries. 

"...is that a broken pottery?" 

"Yes." 

"Does someone buy something like that?" 

"You might be surprised that there are so many people in the world." 

There were many things in the world that existed outside of their understanding, like how he couldn't imagine that there was such a sexy, beautiful, and mature married woman who could become a molester. 

"Is that a postcard?"

Standing by his side, Yume looked at Mizuto, who held an old postcard in his hands, but that wasn't the only one, as there was a box filled with many old postcards inside, which made her wonder who would buy such a thing. 

After walking for a while, they stopped at the vendor under the big tree that sold old books from domestic to international. 

Yume thought that Mizuto would check the books since she knew how much he loved to read, but it seemed he was more interested in the old postcards, which confused her. 

"Yes." 

"Who will buy such a thing?" Yume was in doubt. 

"The value of something is different from one person to another." Mizuto didn't get impatient or angry at Yume's question and explained to her patiently. "It's like the mystery book that you love. In another person's eyes, it is just like any other book instead of something that you love the most." 

"I see..." Yume nodded. 

"But isn't this interesting?" Mizuto chuckled when he read the postcard. "We can communicate with each other instantly with chat applications or an email, but people in the past need to wait for a while until their letter is accepted." 

"I can't imagine that." 

If someone couldn't read the chat that she sent in at least ten minutes, she started to get worried, but people in the past used to wait a few days, which made her think that they were really patient. 

Still, as they looked at the old postcards one by one, they couldn't help but laugh at them as the contents of the postcards were kind of funny.

"Oh, right, Yume, do you know the shortest letter in the world?" 

"Huh? Is there such a thing?" 

"Yes, it's from a famous writer, Victor Hugo." 

While Yume often reads books, it is limited to mystery books, and she is different from Mizuto, who keeps many books. "What does the letter say?" 

"Well, he was worried about the sales of his book, so he sent a letter to the publisher that only had a question mark." 

"Then, what happens?"

"Then, the publisher sent back a letter with just an exclamation mark." 

Yume smiled. "I can tell that his book sold a lot." 

"Well, he is a legendary French writer, but you know, it is because Hugo and the publisher had such a close relationship; one symbol was enough for them to understand each other." 

"I see, so that's the world's shortest letter." 

"But don't you feel that this story is like us?" 

"Huh? What do you mean?" 

"I mean... at the entrance before, you know that I want—" 

"Don't say such a stupid thing to the public!" 

Yume blushed and closed his mouth tightly, feeling embarrassed, but at the same time, was happy as he told her that they knew each other well. He might have changed, but even so, she still knew him well. However, if there was something that worried her, she wondered why he became more perverted. 

"By the way, what is the book that he wrote?" 

"His book is quite thick. Do you want to read his book?" 

"Why not? It seems quite interesting." 

"There should be one of his books in my room. You should come to my room later." 

"....." 

Their understanding of each other was high. Even with such a subtle message, Yume knew what kind of plan he had when she entered his room at night, but she didn't reject him and even anticipated it. 

"Excuse me, how much is that plate for?" 

"Huh? Are you going to buy a plate?" 

Yume thought that Mizuto was going to buy books, but somehow, he decided to buy a plate. 

Mizuto looked at her and put his finger before his lips, telling her to be quiet. 

Yume pursed her lips, but she followed his words and looked at the plate that interested him. The plate had a gentle sea blue color with a Christmas-like design on it. 

"It's 100 yen each." 

Hearing the price, Mizuto didn't change his face. Only he frowned and asked, "It's expensive. I will buy all of them. Can you make it cheaper?" 

Yume was surprised that Mizuto was going to buy so much, but she still remembered his message telling her to be quiet, so she didn't say anything. 

"You are going to buy all of them? Well, if that's the case, I will make it 50 yen each." 

"I will take them then." 

"Thank you very much." 

The vendor was happy that Mizuto bought all the ten plates that were displayed on the table. All ten plates with similar gentle sea blue colors and various different Christmas pictures were bought by Mizuto for 500 yen. When the transaction was completed, they didn't waste their time and left. 

"Why did you buy so much? Is there something special about those plates?" Yume asked curiously. While the pictures of the plates were so unique and lovely, she felt like he bought too much. 

"All of them are the Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates. One of them can fetch 20,000 yen to 30,000 yen." 

"Wh-What?!" Yume was shocked, and then she realized something. "Then, did you...?" 

Mizuto laughed and said, "I made a lot of money." Those plates that could be sold for 20,000 yen to 30,000 yen each were bought with 50 yen each. He made a lot of profits! 

"...." 

Yume fell in silence, but she didn't blame him since she knew that it was the fault of the vendor for not knowing the value of those plates. At the same time, she was amazed by his knowledge and wittiness, but she didn't feel surprised since she knew that his rank had been number one for the entire year, and she had never been able to defeat him a single time during their third year. 

"So this is how you get your money?" Yume asked speechlessly. 

Mizuto only smiled and didn't say anything. 

Yume pouted, but in her heart, she was amazed by him. 

Nevertheless, due to her competitive nature, she kept asking him what was that and what was this. His broad knowledge surprised her and made her move even closer to him, holding her hand tighter, stickier like she wanted to tell everyone in this flea market that this man was his. 

It wasn't until he suddenly stopped at a certain vendor that he bought an item again. This time, he bought an old calligraphy for 150 yen before he left with a smile. 

"What is it this time? How much can it be sold?" Yume quickly asked when they left the vendor, but this time, she asked quietly as she was afraid that their conversation would be heard. At that moment, she acted like a robber who had just stolen a noble house. 

Mizuto was speechless and lightly flicked her forehead. 

"Ouch!" 

Yume quickly covered her forehead as she looked at him with grievance. 

"Don't act like a thief. I am not doing anything bad." 

Yume pursed her lips, but she didn't say anything. 

"But, for lunch, do you want to eat a yakiniku or an eel?" 

"...." 

With that question, Yume knew that Mizuto had made a lot of money. 

---

To make it easier to understand, 100 yen equals 1 dollar.

Lastly, don't expect me to update this novel for two chapters every day, okay?