Holmes of Kyoto (京都寺町三条のホームズ)

Aoi-san. I...

You gotta ask about it!

Y-You think?

Totally!

It's gotta be something important.

He mighta been tryin' to tell you he likes you!

L-Likes me?

N-No way...

Holmes-san would never... Not someone like me.

Still, it don't cost nothin' to ask.

I can't believe you spent a month not askin'.

The guy's so sharp, I have trouble bein' around him.

But he's a good guy, so I'm behind ya, Aoi.

Especially with Christmas comin' up!

Christmas, huh?

Holmes of Kyoto

Episode 8

"Christmas Eve Tears and a Broken Alibi"

C'mon, I'm beggin' you!

You just gotta!

Aoi-san! You're here early.

Y-Yeah...

Ueda-san, is something the matter?

You gotta back me up, Aoi-san.

I keep askin' Holmes, but he won't agree.

He wants the two of us to work part-time at a cafe he's opening.

Just the first week'll do.

You're both handsome fellas.

You'd bring in customers like pandas!

Please don't compare me to a panda.

What kind of cafe is it?

One of those sweets cafes that're so trendy these days!

But the waiters're all attractive men,

so you could call it a hunk cafe!

A hunk cafe?

That's not a bad idea...

Where is this cafe?

As a matter of fact, it's on Kitayama Dori.

Kitayama Dori?

Kitayama

That's close to my house. It's a really nice place.

Yes. It's in a very artistic area with botanical gardens and a concert hall.

It's a wonderful place.

Adult: 1,000 yen

I particularly like the botanical gardens.

Their annual passport is a mere 1,000 yen,

so I buy one every year.

R-Really?

You're always sayin' you'd like to make this place a cafe someday.

I think it'd be good experience.

Still... a week is a long time.

How about three days?

Let's make it four! Right up til Christmas Eve!

Very well. That's acceptable.

Hell yeah! You got yerself a deal!

I'll be countin' on you both!

Both? Does he mean me, too?

It appears so.

Rikyu, bring tea for Aoi-san.

Fine.

Coming right up!

Um...

Is something the matter?

About what you were saying back at Genko-an...

That's right. How to put it...?

I wanted to thank you.

Thank me?

Yes. You've encouraged me so much. I owe you a great deal.

I wouldn't go that far...

If it would be all right with you, I'd like to take you out somewhere you'd enjoy.

Well, I'm a little busy right now...

Do you mean... with that mixer you mentioned before?

Oh, I already turned them down.

I just wasn't into the idea.

I see... But of course.

I just need to focus on my studies right now.

Your studies?

My last round of test scores was pretty bad...

My mom said if I don't get them up,

I'll have to quit working here and go to cram school.

I'm terribly sorry.

I didn't think a job here would end up affecting your grades.

This is a serious problem.

Oh, it's just because I've been slacking. That's all.

Too bad.

I'll just take my old job back, then!

You can be quiet now, Rikyu.

Kiyo-nii, you're just too cool!

I've asked you to work on nights before tests,

so I feel I should take responsibility.

Responsibility?

Aoi-san, do your studying here from now on.

I'll watch over you.

He's so close!

As a token of thanks for all you do, I will improve your grades!

O-Okay. I'd appreciate that.

Ah, Holmes-kun's really here!

My, my! What brings you girls out all this way?

Seein' you, Holmes-kun.

Yeah, we're actually on our way to the Sanjo theater.

Sounds nice. I'd sure like to hit up a movie myself.

You oughta come with us!

Can't on such short notice.

How about lettin' me know the next time you go?

Sure thing! It's a date!

Kiyo-nii's surrounded by girls, as usual.

Y-Yeah...

Two Weeks Later

I don't believe it...

Your grades are up across the board!

Pays to have Holmes as a personal tutor, huh?

He was really helpful...

But when I told my mother that a Kyoto U student at my job was tutoring me...

she said we should have him over to thank him.

Score! You can introduce him to your folks and get their approval.

I-It's not like that!

Apparently, all he really wanted was to thank me.

So that's why he was helping me study.

Aw, that's all it was?

Yeah.

I think I was under a misapprehension.

A misapprehension?

Holmes-san is always kind and gentlemanly,

so I got it in my head that I was special to him...

But I think I had the wrong idea.

I've come to realize that's just how Holmes-san is with women.

I'm not special. I'm just a part-time coworker.

He even speaks formally around me.

Feelin' heartbroken?

Oh, no, I wouldn't go far as that, exactly...

I-I just feel like...

I should keep my distance

and simply go back to admiring Holmes-san like I did before.

But after I said that...

I ended up in this situation...

It's quite a lovely room.

Um, please excuse my mother's aggressive politeness earlier!

The apple pie from Baikal and mame-mochi from Demachi Futaba were both delicious.

W-Well, that's good, at least...

And I'd always wanted to have a look at your grandfather's antiques.

But you came all this way,

and everything in the house turned out to be reproductions...

There wasn't anything of real value.

That just confirms how incredible you are, Aoi-san.

You singled out those Hakuin scrolls amidst all that.

You really do have a good eye.

R-Really, I just got lucky...

But being in a girl's room at home with family does take me back...

Take you back?

Does it remind you of your old girlfriend... Izumi-san's room?

No.

I never actually saw Izumi's room,

though I did visit her house in Matsugasaki.

Matsugasaki? That's the luxury development near here, right?

Yes.

Her parents were strict,

and they didn't like the idea of us being in her room alone together.

Back then, I was so desperate to impress her.

We oughta respect your parents' wishes.

We can have tea in the living room.

It was so thoughtless of me.

Honestly, the thought of you desperate to impress someone...

Well, as a result of that, she dumped me hard.

Oh... But you're always so observant, Holmes-san.

Why weren't you able to make up with her?

Aoi-san, I may be on the observant side,

but when it comes to romance, I'm completely hopeless.

What do you mean?

When my own feelings and expectations come into play,

I lose my ability to make objective judgments.

I-I see...

I'm afraid that's what happened the other day.

The other day?

You mean... you were interested in starting up a relationship?

I'm not sure.

Each time I try, I'm met with a reply I never expected

and it throws me off.

That's right, Aoi-san.

I'm interested in getting a look at that cafe.

Would you like to accompany me?

Oh?

Someone's here wantin' to see Holmes.

Kiyotaka-kun...

Izumi-san!

I'm awful sorry.

I saw her out front plumb lookin' like she was on the verge of tears.

I asked what was up, and she said she just had to talk to ya.

It's been some time, hasn't it?

Y-Yes, it sure has...

U-Um...

Kiyotaka-kun, I was wonderin' if you could look into somethin' for me.

Look into something? What, exactly?

An alibi.

I see.

So you broke up with your last partner.

Your parents arranged a new match, and now you're marrying him.

Then, the other day

during your engagement party at your home in Matsugasaki,

your fiancé left for an hour

at around 9 PM.