Chapter 84. Do You Like Shrine Maidens?
Long green hair.
A blue-and-white, thick miko dress.
Although the shrine maiden outfit didn't bare the armpits, the frog hair ornament and the snake-shaped headband on her head gave Xander a powerful sense of déjà vu.
Could it really be the person he was thinking of?
"Speaking of which, this Moriya Shrine is actually quite fated with you, Husband~"
At that moment, Kaguya seemed to recall something and suddenly laughed as she took her husband's hand.
"Mm? Tell me the details."
Bronya and Seele were also hooked by that one line and stepped closer.
"Moriya Shrine enshrines Suwa Myojin and Kanako Yasaka. Because of some connection that nobody remembers anymore, the shrine's alias is 'Masato '—the very same 'Masato ' as your family name."
Without playing coy, she met three curious gazes and said it directly.
"Huh?"
"It's the same as Brother's surname."
Seele added in surprise. After that, her interest in this shrine rose another notch—love me, love my shrine.
"What a coincidence. I've lived around here for two years, and this is the first I'm hearing of it."
Marveling at the odd connection, they soon arrived at the shrine's gate.
Even though they had gotten up early, a long line had already formed in front of the offertory box. If Reimu saw this scene, she'd probably be green with envy.
Of course, that's assuming Reimu really exists in this world.
"Huh? Kochiya-san?"
Just as Xander drew closer to inspect the shrine maiden who gave him such déjà vu, Seele suddenly covered her mouth in surprise.
Kochiya?
So it really was, huh. But Seele and Bronya actually knew her?
The shrine maiden, Sanae Kochiya, who had been carefully cleaning at the entrance, lifted her head at the sound.
A moment ago, she had already sensed Xander's gaze, but as a shrine maiden she was used to being looked at with curiosity, so she hadn't minded the group. Now, when she raised her gaze and saw Seele and Bronya, a delighted expression bloomed on her face.
"Seele, Bronya, did you come to make a prayer?!"
Leaning her broom against the wall, Sanae happily trotted over.
"You know each other?"
Xander glanced at Seele and Bronya.
"Mm. We're classmates."
Nodding, Seele and Bronya went up to greet her.
Xander didn't follow. He simply waited in place with Kaguya. But then Kaguya gently squeezed his hand and called up to him.
"Husband."
"Mm?"
"Are you interested in that little shrine maiden?"
Kaguya's words caught Xander off guard. He turned to her, puzzled.
"No. Why would you think that?"
Kaguya kept smiling.
"It's nothing. It's just that this concubine saw you staring at that little shrine maiden just now. I thought you might be interested. If you need help, this concubine can arrange it~"
"No, no, no. I was just curious about shrine maidens, that's all."
He hurriedly waved it off. There was no way he'd answer that kind of gotcha question.
His answer made Kaguya's smile deepen. Then, cheeks faintly pink, she leaned close, stood on tiptoe, and whispered:
"Then… this concubine will wear a shrine maiden outfit for Husband later. At a time like that, there's no need to take it off."
!!!!!!
"Deal!"
Xander nodded solemnly. Hesitating even one second on this kind of topic would be disrespecting his second brain!
At that moment, Seele and Bronya, having greeted Sanae, came back, and the group continued deeper into the shrine.
"Who knew Kochiya-san's shrine was right here."
Bronya sighed.
"What, is there something special about it?"
Hearing Xander's curious tone, Seele smiled and explained:
"Kochiya-san is always promoting her family shrine in class, so everyone's really curious."
"Isn't it more like, 'What kind of place never gives its shrine maiden time off'?"
Bronya tossed out a jab, remembering Sanae's situation at school.
The girl's personality was cheerful and gentle, but the busy shrine work made it hard for her to make friends. Thanks to Seele being on good terms with the class's few "top-tier" cliques, Sanae had avoided being bullied.
Cliques, little circles, bullying… These things are commonplace in a girls' school. So Sanae had always been grateful to Seele and the others who often helped her. If the ground hadn't needed more cleaning just now, she would have personally led them to pray.
Listening to Seele and Bronya discuss Sanae one line at a time, Xander only smiled without a word. Seeing that made Kaguya's gaze dim ever so slightly.
New Year shrine visits are called Hatsumōde. As the custom has grown more youth-oriented, the process has become lighter and more casual.
Following the flow of people, they soon reached a small basin of constantly running water.
Even though they could just copy the person in front, Kaguya earnestly taught Xander, hand in hand, how to ladle water to rinse hands and mouth. The whole line practically radiated sourness at the sight.
Can't be helped—Kaguya's looks were simply too dazzling.
Afterward, they rejoined the crowd and made their way step by step to the offertory box at the heart of the shrine.
The four stood in a row. Xander handed each of them a coin. Together, they tossed their coins into the box. With a clear ding, the four hands all reached for the thick rope hanging from the bell.
Feeling the wonderful sensation of three small hands overlapping with his, Xander smiled at them. Then they shook the rope together, rang the bell, and closed their eyes.
"May our family be healthy and happy every day. May our games get better and better. May our players' lives go smoothly."
Opening their eyes, four pairs of eyes met. Then, holding their own little secrets, they stepped back to the right.
Plenty more people were still waiting, so they wouldn't linger.
"What wish did you make?"
Xander leaned between the three and asked curiously.
"Seele wished that Bro—mmph…"
Obedient Seele was about to spill it without hesitation, but Bronya shot out a hand and covered her mouth. She gave Xander a reproachful look.
"Don't listen to him. If you say the wish out loud, it won't come true!"
Seele's eyes went round, and she pecked a frantic nod like a chick.
Once Bronya let go, Seele even deliberately stood as far from Brother as possible, watching him warily.
"Is that really necessary?"
Xander was a little speechless. But Seele answered in all seriousness:
"Mm. Seele wants the wish to come true. So, Brother, please don't ask again. Seele won't say anything!"
"Okay, okay."
With the flow of people, they moved to the omikuji stand. Xander stood last among the four. Just as he went to draw his lot, Kaguya suddenly called to Seele and Bronya. The three put their foreheads together and started whispering.
"..."
"Eh? Really?"
"I think it's not without reason."
"But…"
"Seele, do you still want to…"
"Uu… okay."
Murmuring softly, the three reached a consensus.
Unfolding his paper, Xander saw "Great Blessing" printed on it and nodded in satisfaction. Starting with Kaguya, among the four they drew two good lucks and two great lucks—everyone was happy. At New Year's, a shrine won't put out too many "bad luck" slips to ruin people's mood.
Only, he'd noticed that while he was drawing his lot, the three had been muttering about something. And after he finished, the looks that Seele and Bronya gave him seemed… off.
But when he walked over, the three were back to normal, as if nothing had happened—leaving Xander a bit at a loss.
After that, they reached the shrine's most bustling spot.
The classic ema corner. Everyone writes or draws their hopes for the new year on little wooden plaques and hangs them on the rack before the gods.
After buying the plaques, just as Xander was pondering what to draw, a slightly breathless, pleasant voice came nearer and nearer. Seele's and Bronya's voices soon followed in reply.
When Xander looked up, Seele waved and smiled at him. Beside her and Bronya stood Sanae, who had been cleaning earlier. Right now, the shrine maiden was looking at him curiously.
He pointed to himself. Seeing Seele nod, he walked over, a bit dazed.
Why was she calling him? He didn't even know Sanae.
Just as he was about to reach them, Seele couldn't wait any longer. She stepped forward, hugged Xander's arm, and, cheeks flushed, looked at Sanae.
"This is Seele's brother. His name is Xander. Brother, this is my classmate, Sanae Kochiya."
The sudden move stunned Xander. He looked at his arm tightly wrapped by Seele and couldn't figure out what she was up to. Just a simple introduction? Since when was Seele this bold?
He noticed Sanae's mouth open in a grin that turned a bit mischievous.
Brother, huh~
Sanae's gossiping heart thumped. What kind of brother and sister hug this close? Obviously that's a girlfriend, right? Who'd have thought the ever-popular Seele already had a boyfriend. If those gossip mongers at school heard, the whole place would explode~
Seele, Bronya, Kiana, Mei, and Sirin—their five-girl clique sat at the very top of the school. On the school forum, they were the perennial favorites.
There was no helping it. Xander could only put on a smile and say hello.
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Masato … By the way, you're quite fated with Moriya Shrine. One of its aliases is 'Masato,' you know."
Sanae smiled back kindly. For shrine visitors, she always gave her gentlest self—let alone when he was Seele's boyfriend!
Just as Sanae was about to make some small talk, Bronya's next move froze her smile in place.
Bronya stepped up as well and hugged Xander's other arm, in the intimate posture of a lover. Looking at the stunned Sanae, she declared boldly:
"Xander is also my boyfriend."
"… Huh?"
After a long silence, Sanae looked at blushing Seele, then at the not-so-natural-looking Bronya, and finally at the slightly awkward Xander.
This…
Two-timing.
Womanizer.
Cheating…
A string of words flashed through her mind and all stuck onto Xander.
Other people's private affairs weren't hers to judge, but that didn't stop her image of him from plummeting to rock bottom.
"You all…"
"We can't help it. Seele and I both can't live without this man anymore. Sigh…"
With Bronya's soft sigh, a nearly million-word web of love and hate among the three sprang up in Sanae's mind. She wanted to check Seele's expression, but saw the girl had already buried her face against Xander's shoulder.
So that's tacit admission?!
Just as Sanae steadied herself to say something more, a gentle, melodious voice sounded at her ear.
Kaguya, holding a finished ema, approached at an elegant pace. Smiling at them, she said,
"Husband, have you finished your plaques?"
H-H-H-Husband?!!
There's an even stronger contender?!
Sanae's eyes flew wide as the most beautiful girl she had ever seen in her life glided up, ignoring Seele and Bronya on either side. She stepped to Xander's front, leaned against him, eyes brimming with affection.
As if afraid Sanae might misunderstand their relationship, Kaguya even rose on tiptoe and placed a light kiss at the corner of Xander's lips.
"…"
Sanae couldn't hold it anymore. She hastily found an excuse to take her leave and hurried off.
Seeing that, Seele raised her head, Kaguya stepped back a pace, and Bronya let go of Xander's arm. The three exchanged a glance and couldn't help bursting into giggles.
"Yay~"
Then they high-fived in midair, delighted.
At that point, how could Xander not realize what these three had been plotting?
So he'd looked at Sanae a few more times. Was that really necessary? And he'd been honestly curious, too.
A little helpless, a little amused, and with a twinge of sorrow for his own credibility—no, wait, he'd probably lost his credibility on this front long ago.
After a brief hesitation, all those feelings melted into a small shake of the head and a chuckle. He tapped Seele on the head, letting the matter drop, which made Seele huff in protest and jump onto his back, demanding her brother carry her down the steps.
After they hung their finished ema, the shrine visit was done. Then it was time for the shopping trip the girls had been looking forward to.
Close to nine in the morning, Xander finally found a staffer. He handed over all his big and small bags to have them shipped home. Then he quickly asked the girls for a short leave and found a quiet, empty spot to sit down.
Right then, a call spanning half a planet rang right on time.
"Hi, did you miss me?~"
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Paid member can read 150+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts