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Holmes of Kyoto Light Novel #11
Holmes of Kyoto: Volume 11
It’s Aoi’s second summer as a university student, and Kiyotaka has earned a short vacation before his next term after completing his training at Daimaru Kyoto. He decides to spend it at Kura, meaning the couple finally gets to work together again. During their time at the store, they’re visited by an old classmate of Kiyotaka who recently quit his job. Kiyotaka takes him to Eikan-do Temple, which is famous for its fall foliage. It seems like a strange destination for the middle of summer, but turns out there’s a good reason for it. And on top of everything else, Ensho’s past is revealed!
- GenresLight NovelMystery
153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2019
1 person is currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Mai Mochizuki
88 books324 followersMai Mochizuki was born and raised in Hokkaido and now lives in Kyoto, and originally wrote Alice in Kyouraku Forest as a series of novels. She's written numerous other titles, including 4th Kyoto Book Award winner Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes which was turned into a manga and anime series.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 18, 2024
“I thought back on Mrs. Yashiro’s words: “You never know when a new life will begin.” It’s true. I smiled and set off again.
Después de no haber leído por más de medio año, esto era justo lo que necesitaba. Si bien este volumen se centra más en el desarrollo de personajes en lugar de una trama específica, es un aspecto de la historia que amo.
“This time, rather than incidents, the focus will be on antiques, the city of Kyoto, the characters’ pasts, and the continuation of their arcs. As the subtitle suggests, it’s a peaceful summer vacation with memories of the past”
Luego de haber estado más de medio año en sus pasantías aprendiendo de diversos rubros, Holmes regresa en vacaciones para pasar tiempo con Aoi, quien ya está por ingresar a su segundo año universitario, como PAREJA COMPROMETIDA.
“I was relieved by how happy you were when I came back,” he said.
I turned to face him.
“At the same time, as we worked together, I was worried that you’d be sad on the last day,” he continued.
I nodded silently.
“But it doesn’t seem that way at all. I thought you were prone to loneliness, but suddenly you seem aloof, as though you don’t care that I’m leaving. Sometimes I don’t understand you, and it confuses me to no end.” He placed a hand on his forehead.
“Th-That’s not true. I definitely care. I was actually afraid I’d be lonely too, but I seem to be fine.”
“Fine?
“I think the main reason is that I got to be with you all summer. You taught me about antiques and took me on a lot of dates, so it was really fulfilling. I’ve fully recharged, so I’ll be able to endure for a while again,” I said, clenching both fists.
Es más, volviendo el tiempo atrás, un relato trata sobre una “fiesta de compromiso” organizada por el jefe de Holmes de su pasantía en ese momento. Adoro como personajes externos hacen notar claramente el amor de Holmes hacia ella (aunque lo ridiculicen por eso).
“We were chatting in the employee cafeteria when she asked, ‘Kiyotaka, how was the trip with your girlfriend?’ and I cheerily said, ‘Correction, Taniguchi. Aoi isn’t my girlfriend anymore. She’s my fiancée.’”
“F-Fiancée?!” I blinked.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I know I haven’t formally discussed it with your parents yet,” Holmes hurriedly added. “I proposed to you and you said yes, so in my mind, you’re my fiancée.”
Siguiendo con el volumen, se exploran nuevas historias de personajes externos a la pareja y también se retransmite a tramas ya conocidas desde otros puntos de vista. Tal y como la breve “relación” entre Kaori (mejor amiga de Aoi) y el Manager (padre de Holmes). Volúmenes atrás se viene tratando el crush de ella hacia él y en este volumen finalmente se trata directamente hasta darle un punto.
“I...realized at that moment,” she said. “I loved him, but I hadn’t really seen him as the opposite sex. I just admired him and wanted him to spoil me like my uncle did. By saying that, I made him realize it too. I did a terrible thing and hurt him, even though I really did love him.” She sobbed.
“Kaori...”
“And even so, he was nice to me until the very end when we broke up. I really am a horrible person.”
Aoi gently hugged her friend. “I’m sure he understands everything.”
“Everything?”
“He knows that you genuinely admired him and that you feel guilty about hurting him.”
Por otro lado, y siguiendo con las perspectivas de otros personajes, en una pequeña “su trama”, volvemos nuevamente el tiempo atrás para tratar el punto de vista del Owner (Seiji, abuelo de Holmes) en el terrible momento de la ruptura de Holmes y Aoi. Es como otra mirada a su relación.
“I haven’t accepted Aoi, but I accepted their relationship a long time ago.”
“Eh? Whaddya mean by that?” Seiji folded his arms and tilted his head.
“I still think there’s someone better for Kiyo. But remember when they broke up? When I saw how careless he became after that, I realized he might need Aoi after all. Ever since then, I’ve accepted their relationship,” Rikyu said with a displeased sigh”
Finalmente, hay un gran apartado narrado desde el punto de vista de Ensho, y es increible notar el desarrollo y arco de redención que tuvo al punto en el que es difícil pensar en él como antiguo “villano”, aunque siempre lo haya considerado más como un “antihéroe”, la otra cara de la moneda de la historia. Se remonta al principio de su encuentro con Holmes y desarrolla desde su perspectiva algunos de los acontecimientos de volúmenes anteriores hasta ahora.
“What the hell is this guy?” At the same time, a shiver ran through my body at the realization that he and I were of the same breed. I shoved him away, stole his fan, and ran off, laughing all the way. I didn’t know why I was laughing. Thinking about it now, I was probably overjoyed that someone had discovered me. Someone had dragged me out of the shadows and thrust me onto the stage. I was startled, confused, and most of all, absolutely ecstatic.
That’s how it started. I sighed.
I began challenging that man with my counterfeits, not knowing whether I wanted him to see through them or not. Thinking back, there wasn’t anything to it. I must’ve wanted him to see through everything. I wanted to be found. It was frustrating every time he exposed my tricks, but at the same time, I felt proud of him for some reason.”
Explora sus verdaderos sentimientos hacia Aoi, que parecen navegar entre una admiración jamás sentida hacia una mujer, amor desde el punto de los celos hacia Holmes y varios otros sentimientos imposibles de desempacar.
“Too greedy for my own good, eh? “It’s true,” I muttered to myself in the empty room. Even though I made a clean start, I keep trying to go down painful roads. Even when it comes to my first-ever faint feeling of love.”
“I know you’re attracted to Aoi, and I don’t think those feelings are a lie...but how do I put this? I feel like what you’re most attracted to is ‘the Aoi who’s loved by Kiyo.’”
Y vemos un poco más de él queriendo “empezar de 0”,estando ahora en el “buen camino” como nuevo aprendiz, sus frustraciones completamente humanas al no avanzar al ritmo que él querría para alcanzar a Holmes. Siempre fue alguien con mucho talento al que la vida no le dio la oportunidad de explotarlo por sus circunstancias.
“The artist’s personality shows, huh? I crossed my arms. Since I was confident in my painting skill, I used to wonder why works like these were highly regarded and kept for posterity. After all, mine were better. But I don’t think that anymore. Sometimes a painting’s worth can’t be measured by technical skill alone. There are those that radiate an aura even if they aren’t that good. It could be “surging passion” or “comforting kindness.” In other words, the creator’s soul is contained in the work. Those kinds of paintings don’t need technical skill or logic to capture people’s hearts. I guess the unfortunate thing is that a lot of the time, it doesn’t happen ’til after the painter dies. Actually, maybe it’s because they died that their attachment to the work is heightened, giving it more power.”
Adicionalmente, hay una última parte que narra el primer encuentro entre Aoi y Holmes desde el punto de vista de él, es interesante ver donde estaban ubicados sus pensamientos y qué hizo invitarla a trabajar juntos en Kura. La verdad, todo muy nostálgico.
“And that’s how you came to work here,” Holmes said in a nostalgic tone.
Thinking back to that time gave me mixed feelings, so I couldn’t say anything.
“At this point, I really think it was fate that our sign caught your eye, embarrassing as it sounds.” With a faraway look in his eyes, he gazed out the window at the standing floor sign that said “Do you have any antiques hidden away at home? We buy and appraise.”
“Actually, I sometimes wonder if my grandpa brought us together. I was his first grandchild, so he spoiled me a lot. Before he passed away, he often said, ‘I’ll give all of my treasures to you, Aoi.’”
“I see.” Holmes nodded. “I’d be very happy if he was our matchmaker.”
“Same.”
BUENO, ESTA ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ QUE ESCRIBO ESTÁ RESEÑA PORQUE LA ANTERIOR SE BORRÓ Y ESTOY ENOJADA, LA PRIMERA ERA MEJOR PERO ESTO ES MEJOR QUE NADA
Después de no haber leído por más de medio año, esto era justo lo que necesitaba. Si bien este volumen se centra más en el desarrollo de personajes en lugar de una trama específica, es un aspecto de la historia que amo.
“This time, rather than incidents, the focus will be on antiques, the city of Kyoto, the characters’ pasts, and the continuation of their arcs. As the subtitle suggests, it’s a peaceful summer vacation with memories of the past”
Luego de haber estado más de medio año en sus pasantías aprendiendo de diversos rubros, Holmes regresa en vacaciones para pasar tiempo con Aoi, quien ya está por ingresar a su segundo año universitario, como PAREJA COMPROMETIDA.
“I was relieved by how happy you were when I came back,” he said.
I turned to face him.
“At the same time, as we worked together, I was worried that you’d be sad on the last day,” he continued.
I nodded silently.
“But it doesn’t seem that way at all. I thought you were prone to loneliness, but suddenly you seem aloof, as though you don’t care that I’m leaving. Sometimes I don’t understand you, and it confuses me to no end.” He placed a hand on his forehead.
“Th-That’s not true. I definitely care. I was actually afraid I’d be lonely too, but I seem to be fine.”
“Fine?
“I think the main reason is that I got to be with you all summer. You taught me about antiques and took me on a lot of dates, so it was really fulfilling. I’ve fully recharged, so I’ll be able to endure for a while again,” I said, clenching both fists.
Es más, volviendo el tiempo atrás, un relato trata sobre una “fiesta de compromiso” organizada por el jefe de Holmes de su pasantía en ese momento. Adoro como personajes externos hacen notar claramente el amor de Holmes hacia ella (aunque lo ridiculicen por eso).
“We were chatting in the employee cafeteria when she asked, ‘Kiyotaka, how was the trip with your girlfriend?’ and I cheerily said, ‘Correction, Taniguchi. Aoi isn’t my girlfriend anymore. She’s my fiancée.’”
“F-Fiancée?!” I blinked.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I know I haven’t formally discussed it with your parents yet,” Holmes hurriedly added. “I proposed to you and you said yes, so in my mind, you’re my fiancée.”
Siguiendo con el volumen, se exploran nuevas historias de personajes externos a la pareja y también se retransmite a tramas ya conocidas desde otros puntos de vista. Tal y como la breve “relación” entre Kaori (mejor amiga de Aoi) y el Manager (padre de Holmes). Volúmenes atrás se viene tratando el crush de ella hacia él y en este volumen finalmente se trata directamente hasta darle un punto.
“I...realized at that moment,” she said. “I loved him, but I hadn’t really seen him as the opposite sex. I just admired him and wanted him to spoil me like my uncle did. By saying that, I made him realize it too. I did a terrible thing and hurt him, even though I really did love him.” She sobbed.
“Kaori...”
“And even so, he was nice to me until the very end when we broke up. I really am a horrible person.”
Aoi gently hugged her friend. “I’m sure he understands everything.”
“Everything?”
“He knows that you genuinely admired him and that you feel guilty about hurting him.”
Por otro lado, y siguiendo con las perspectivas de otros personajes, en una pequeña “su trama”, volvemos nuevamente el tiempo atrás para tratar el punto de vista del Owner (Seiji, abuelo de Holmes) en el terrible momento de la ruptura de Holmes y Aoi. Es como otra mirada a su relación.
“I haven’t accepted Aoi, but I accepted their relationship a long time ago.”
“Eh? Whaddya mean by that?” Seiji folded his arms and tilted his head.
“I still think there’s someone better for Kiyo. But remember when they broke up? When I saw how careless he became after that, I realized he might need Aoi after all. Ever since then, I’ve accepted their relationship,” Rikyu said with a displeased sigh”
Finalmente, hay un gran apartado narrado desde el punto de vista de Ensho, y es increible notar el desarrollo y arco de redención que tuvo al punto en el que es difícil pensar en él como antiguo “villano”, aunque siempre lo haya considerado más como un “antihéroe”, la otra cara de la moneda de la historia. Se remonta al principio de su encuentro con Holmes y desarrolla desde su perspectiva algunos de los acontecimientos de volúmenes anteriores hasta ahora.
“What the hell is this guy?” At the same time, a shiver ran through my body at the realization that he and I were of the same breed. I shoved him away, stole his fan, and ran off, laughing all the way. I didn’t know why I was laughing. Thinking about it now, I was probably overjoyed that someone had discovered me. Someone had dragged me out of the shadows and thrust me onto the stage. I was startled, confused, and most of all, absolutely ecstatic.
That’s how it started. I sighed.
I began challenging that man with my counterfeits, not knowing whether I wanted him to see through them or not. Thinking back, there wasn’t anything to it. I must’ve wanted him to see through everything. I wanted to be found. It was frustrating every time he exposed my tricks, but at the same time, I felt proud of him for some reason.”
Explora sus verdaderos sentimientos hacia Aoi, que parecen navegar entre una admiración jamás sentida hacia una mujer, amor desde el punto de los celos hacia Holmes y varios otros sentimientos imposibles de desempacar.
“Too greedy for my own good, eh? “It’s true,” I muttered to myself in the empty room. Even though I made a clean start, I keep trying to go down painful roads. Even when it comes to my first-ever faint feeling of love.”
“I know you’re attracted to Aoi, and I don’t think those feelings are a lie...but how do I put this? I feel like what you’re most attracted to is ‘the Aoi who’s loved by Kiyo.’”
Y vemos un poco más de él queriendo “empezar de 0”,estando ahora en el “buen camino” como nuevo aprendiz, sus frustraciones completamente humanas al no avanzar al ritmo que él querría para alcanzar a Holmes. Siempre fue alguien con mucho talento al que la vida no le dio la oportunidad de explotarlo por sus circunstancias.
“The artist’s personality shows, huh? I crossed my arms. Since I was confident in my painting skill, I used to wonder why works like these were highly regarded and kept for posterity. After all, mine were better. But I don’t think that anymore. Sometimes a painting’s worth can’t be measured by technical skill alone. There are those that radiate an aura even if they aren’t that good. It could be “surging passion” or “comforting kindness.” In other words, the creator’s soul is contained in the work. Those kinds of paintings don’t need technical skill or logic to capture people’s hearts. I guess the unfortunate thing is that a lot of the time, it doesn’t happen ’til after the painter dies. Actually, maybe it’s because they died that their attachment to the work is heightened, giving it more power.”
Adicionalmente, hay una última parte que narra el primer encuentro entre Aoi y Holmes desde el punto de vista de él, es interesante ver donde estaban ubicados sus pensamientos y qué hizo invitarla a trabajar juntos en Kura. La verdad, todo muy nostálgico.
“And that’s how you came to work here,” Holmes said in a nostalgic tone.
Thinking back to that time gave me mixed feelings, so I couldn’t say anything.
“At this point, I really think it was fate that our sign caught your eye, embarrassing as it sounds.” With a faraway look in his eyes, he gazed out the window at the standing floor sign that said “Do you have any antiques hidden away at home? We buy and appraise.”
“Actually, I sometimes wonder if my grandpa brought us together. I was his first grandchild, so he spoiled me a lot. Before he passed away, he often said, ‘I’ll give all of my treasures to you, Aoi.’”
“I see.” Holmes nodded. “I’d be very happy if he was our matchmaker.”
“Same.”
BUENO, ESTA ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ QUE ESCRIBO ESTÁ RESEÑA PORQUE LA ANTERIOR SE BORRÓ Y ESTOY ENOJADA, LA PRIMERA ERA MEJOR PERO ESTO ES MEJOR QUE NADA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2025
Ensho’s Soliloquy's was by far the most memorable chapter of this book for me. It re-tells all the events of the previous books from Ensho's perspective. Not only does this add a whole new layer of depth to the story, but also from my own experiences and people I've known in the past, it felt realistic. I found myself empathize with him by the end.
September 21, 2022
Volume 11 are a couple of flash backs to previous events from the perspectives of other people such as Ensho. For this kind of book, it was surprisingly interesting read: slice-of-life, romance and tour guide to Kyoto. It was a bit short though. Still a good read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews