At 8 a.m., GAKKI-chan dragged Luke out for a day of sightseeing.
Even with his master-level Japanese giving him a deep understanding of the country's customs and culture, there's no substitute for actually being there. You can read a thousand books, but you still need to walk a thousand miles.
Wearing a white sundress, GAKKI-chan first took Luke to Fushimi Inari Taisha, probably Japan's most famous shrine overseas.
Built in the 8th century, Fushimi Inari Taisha is dedicated to Inari, the god of agriculture and commerce. Worshippers come to pray for bountiful harvests, thriving businesses, and safe travels. It's one of the most popular shrines in the Kyoto area.
When Luke stepped into Fushimi Inari Taisha, even as someone from an ancient Eastern nation, he was captivated by the grandeur of the shrine's striking red torii gates and the breathtaking Thousand Torii pathway.
Gotta admit, Japan's got some impressive stuff.
No wonder they've managed to export their culture worldwide.
Luke never vacation to Japan before, but taking a trip to see places he'd only encountered in anime and video games was a fresh, exciting experience.
After leaving Fushimi Inari, GAKKI-chan led him to Gion.
The name sounds like a garden, but it's actually Kyoto's biggest geisha district—a historic street lined with traditional wooden buildings.
It wasn't the seedy place some might imagine. Honestly, it's not much different from the commercial pedestrian streets you'd find in any modern city.
Strolling through, they passed women in elegant kimonos, taking delicate steps as they glided by.
Luke picked up a bunch of beautifully crafted souvenirs and local food specialties.
This wasn't the era of online shopping yet, so bringing back gifts for friends and family was a thoughtful gesture.
He was sure directors Cohen and Johnston, Vin Diesel, Paul, and even Mr. Eisen would love his little presents.
In between shopping, the two sampled Kyoto's famous matcha and sushi, soaking in the city's unique food culture.
All along, the white-dressed girl held her camera, smiling brightly as she snapped photos, doing her best to capture Luke's best moments.
Whenever she framed him in a shot, GAKKI-chan's bright eyes sparkled with infectious energy, lifting Luke's mood without him even realizing it.
"Thanks for tagging along and showing me all these spots today. You must be wiped out, huh?" Luke said.
He'd just finished filling out addresses to have his purchases mailed out when he walked over to Yui Aragaki.
A full day of running around was exhausting, even for someone with his 17-point stamina. He could feel a slight fatigue, so he could only imagine how this delicate-looking girl was holding up.
She just smiled, shook her head, and looked at him with crescent-moon eyes, saying nothing.
Suddenly, she glanced down and said, "Luke-san, your shoelace is untied."
Before he could bend down to fix it, the girl in the white dress crouched down first.
With slender, pale fingers, she gently and carefully tied his shoelace for him.
"You didn't have to do that," Luke said, unsure of what else to say.
"I wanted to. It makes me happy," she replied.
Before he could respond, GAKKI-chan continued, "I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me these past few days. You've helped me so much, and I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"I don't have much money right now. I can't even treat you to a decent meal."
"So please, don't feel burdened. I just want to show you how thankful I am."
Her earnest gaze made Luke wonder: could his master-level acting skills ever replicate that kind of sincerity?
Maybe true, heartfelt honesty is what really moves people.
He reached out and gently patted her head.
GAKKI-chan closed her eyes, smiling as she leaned into his touch, nuzzling slightly.
"I'm not tired! One last stop—let's go!" she said, suddenly bursting with energy again as she skipped ahead.
"Come on, hurry up! It'll get dark soon, and you'll miss the beautiful view!" she called back, waving with a grin when she noticed he wasn't keeping up.
Next stop: Kiyomizu-dera.
The final destination of their Kyoto trip.
Built in 778 AD, Kiyomizu-dera is Kyoto's oldest temple.
Its most famous feature is the Kiyomizu Stage, a wooden platform suspended over a cliff, supported by 139 pillars—a national treasure of Japan.
Surrounded by lush greenery, it's a prime spot for viewing autumn foliage.
But it was spring now, and Luke had timed his visit perfectly for cherry blossom season, with pink petals blanketing the mountains.
A breeze swept through, sending cherry blossom petals dancing in the air, like something out of a fairy tale.
Luke loved this place. One big reason he wanted to visit was because it inspired the setting for Senpou Temple in Miyazaki's game Sekiro.
The game's scenery was stunning, and the real thing didn't disappoint one bit. Luke's mood lifted instantly.
Standing on the suspended stage, gazing at the endless sea of cherry blossoms below, he joked, "GAKKI-chan, the sakura in your hometown are blooming again!"
"Huh? But my hometown's in Naha," she replied, totally missing the reference but still adorably clueless.
"Even though Kiyomizu-dera's tea ceremonies are top-notch, you probably wouldn't care much for them. They can't compare to what we've got back ," the clueless girl said, tugging Luke toward the back of the temple grounds.
"I'm taking you somewhere foreign tourists don't know about."
"Oh? Where?"
Luke's curiosity was piqued. What spot at Kiyomizu-dera could be so secret that he hadn't read about it? So mysterious!
They followed a mountain path upward, passing Otowa Waterfall, where clear water flows year-round.
The waterfall is split into three streams, each said to grant a special blessing: longevity, wisdom, or health.
Plenty of tourists drink from the spring for good luck.
It's ranked as one of Japan's top ten famous springs, and the temple's name, "Kiyomizu" (Clear Water), comes from it.
"You're not taking me to drink the spring water, are you?" Luke asked.
"Nope. It's raw water—too many microbes. Drinking it might not be such a great idea."
She led him farther along the path, a few hundred meters more, until they reached a towering locust tree, nearly 100 feet tall.
The tree was adorned with colorful ribbons tied from top to bottom, some with writing on them.
"What's this?" Luke asked, unsure why the clueless girl had brought him here.
"The Prayer Tree," GAKKI-chan said.
As she spoke, she slipped off her white shoes, carefully tucked her white cotton socks inside them, and stood barefoot.
Her slender, graceful feet and ten perfectly round, pearl-like toes were, to some, straight-up gourmet.
"What are you doing?" Luke was totally lost.
"Climbing the tree!"