/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44938736

The sun had fallen from its apex in the sky casting a deep and warm hue over the village, the wooden buildings caught the light below her as the lift ascended the mountain without any hiccups. The autumn trees below them shook in the gentle breeze shedding their leaves slowly, Hana valued this moment to clear her mind further.

The trio of girls were largely silent during the ride, just a few hours ago they left the HSE trying to ignore the lingering effects of the incense without any proper release. It had been a rather awkward time as they pretended they didn't feel the way they did letting the disgusting drug leave their system. There was no way they would see Sanae like this, a collective sense of guilt let them all come to that conclusion without needing to speak it.

Now it was mostly gone, or at least that's what everyone claimed. Hana's mind for one still drifted back to... that... way too often for it to be normal, at the very least Aunn was an oasis. Her innocence was something she noticed even her stalwart teacher taking shelter in as Marisa absentmindedly stroked the head or back of the docile girl.

Not being alone was for the best today at any rate, the small talk they made and the games Aunn insisted they played to pass the time was a godsend for staving off the effects. Still, Hana just couldn't help but appreciate how Marisa endured this every week all alone and without help for who knows how many months.

Hana's musings were cut short as the tram reached the top, there were much less people here now, with only a miko attendant sweeping the grounds as the barely disguised kappa and human merchants chatted amongst themselves as they stowed away their belongings for the night. Hana couldn't help but feel a tinge of discomfort at seeing such blatant intermingling but she declined to comment, it was the youkai mountain after all.

As they passed by the now empty lakeside, its blue waters lapping gently against its shore with a small river running down the mountain like a delicate ribbon, Hana heard footsteps walking towards the shrine with them. This presence... she glanced at her companions but they didn't seem to notice anything, it felt divine and Hana spun around as she felt it get only a single step behind her...

...Just in time for her world for her world become purple.

With a muffled yell that only met the belly of the small god Hana fell backwards onto some surprisingly soft dirt that was as fluffy as if it was tilled. Her world was dark until the small earth god hopped up and straddled her belly with a frown. Aunn let out a bark in surprise and Marisa couldn't help but bust out laughing upon seeing her student in such disarray. Suwako herself didn't wait for Hana and merely let out a complain, "Hey now, what kind of shrine maiden are you if you can't even amuse a god huh!?"


The girls found themselves inside before long, this time it wasn't just Sanae, Kanako, and even Suwako had joined them. Though Hana wasn't sure if Suwako was set to partake in conversation or merely getting scolded as Sanae stood over the young looking girl like a mother would, "Really Suwako-sama, scaring our friend like that and causing a ruckus on the shrine grounds in front of everyone! What would that shifty reporter think if she saw you acting spoiled like that trying to appropriate another shrine's maiden like that just because you wanted a piggyback ride!?"

Kanako was sipping sake from a large sake bowl as she ignored the display off to her side, Suwako turned her gaze like a guilty child, "Auuu.... You know it isn't really a problem my cute descendant~ I merel-"

Sanae interrupted her speech, "Don't give me that 'cute descendant' nonsense, really Suwako-sama! What am I going to do with you if you keep bothering others!?"

Suwako sighed letting the defeat show on her face, she took off her hat and looking up at Sanae said, "I'm very sorry Sanae-sama, I didn't think it'd be a bother, honest! I won't do it again. I promise~! please forgive me just this once?"

Kanako smirked at watching this display but refrained from commenting as Sanae continued with a tone that had some of its fire pulled out, "Really now... I'm not forgiving you this easily you know!? There won't be any dessert for you tonight since you won't learn your lesson otherwise!"

Suwako's face froze for a second, "geh!" she exclaimed with a shocked expression. Sanae walked off, "Now you just sit there and think about what you done, I want to hear you apologize too!"

Right as Sanae turned the corner to the kitchen Suwako stuck out her long tongue at her back setting an amused grin on the trio's faces. Kanako drank from her bowl, "I suppose the mighty curse holder has gotten cursed herself~ what a dilemma for you~"

Suwako squinted her eyes as she shot out her tongue at Kanako, who avoided it with ease leaning to the side. Suwako's target wasn't her though, and her tongue landed in the sake bowl. Suwako let out a devilish grin.