Ashiyama Academy is a well respected institute of secondary education, with only one unique rule that sets it apart from other all-girl schools—there are no bathrooms! Instead, students must find creative places to relieve themselves, though it is forbidden to intentionally take care of one's business on the floor of any classroom or hallway. It is not uncommon for girls to be seen squatting in bushes or even behind trees as they go about their daily routines. The school has been this way since its founding in the late nineteenth century by a man named Sōsaku Ashiya, who was inspired by the teachings of an ancient Buddhist monk named Dengyo Daishi.
The story goes that Ashiya was walking through the forest when he came across a young woman who had just relieved herself. She looked so happy and at peace as she squatted down and let out her final drop, that he knew he wanted to build a school to help others achieve that same sense of happiness. He went home and wrote a letter to his friend, the famous Zen master Eihei Dōgen, asking him if he would design such a school. Dōgen replied, "Of course." And thus the school was founded.
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It was early December and the weather was cool but pleasant. There were several girls in the room wearing light jackets and many were chatting excitedly to one another. There was a little dusting of snow on the ground, and there are few things the Ashiyama Academy girls like more than coloring the white powder with their urine. Although the school encouraged creative solutions for bladder relief, it was frowned upon to openly urinate in front of others, so the girls who liked to dirty the snow would often sneak away to do so behind some bushes or trees. Others among their number preferred to find innocuous objects to use, stepping into an empty classroom with a potted plant or water bottle and relieving themselves inside of it.
"Ugh, I really don't feel like going all the way to the back of the school to pee," said a girl named Mashiro, sitting on top of a desk in the center of the room.
"I know what you mean," said Rin, "It's sooo far... maybe I'll just go