/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>47033067

It was a strange feeling, getting a lap pillow from a goddess, a goddess who could still make a case to sit on Hana’s lap comfortably. At the very least, up here on the onbashira no one else could see her… she hoped… she was hoping Kanako, who was probably still sitting on the winds up above and watching her domain, was too busy to notice. She dreaded the teasing if Kanako chose to bring it up, or if Sanae chose to bring it up… oh no, it wouldn’t even be malicious either!

Hana must have tensed up, because in response her patron… friend… playmate… or something, stroked her hair. While Hana was long past embarrassment, she still loathed how this simple action calmed her like turning a dial down. Suwako spoke lightly, yet her casual slightly-croaky voice naturally carried over the wind, speaking of the wind it grew rather gentle as the evening progressed… surely coincidence, “And so, I was telling you how Yuuma-san told that crow, you know Aya-san, right? Anyways, she was telling me that she told her how she was gonna eat her pregnancy as a joke right? Well guess what? Those red eyes Yuuma-san has must have scared her like some kind of pigeon, because Aya-san acts like a frog with half-eaten legs every time she sees her!”

Chuckling politely, Hana half-listened to her rambling stories and just enjoyed hearing her speak. Suwako laughed at her own little joke without reserve, the laughter caused a smile to form on Hana’s own face. Still, she’d never seen this side of Suwako before, it reminded her of the granny that ran the bathhouse she frequented, in how she’d go on and on about her grandkids and neighbors. It was sort-of calming, kind of like how Yuuka could get sometimes when she visited.

A thought crossed her mind, of if those girls in the frog troupe got this treatment often, she was a bit jealous if that was the case. Suwako’s scratchy voice caught her attention again, her casual tone was unchanged, but there was an inquisitive note in it, “I take it you’re worried about something? You were so much earlier, after all. Tell me all~ about it. I won’t tell another soul if it’s a secret!”

Punctuating her words with a light caress to the miko’s scalp, Hana became putty in the goddess’ hands. Why had she come here…? She didn’t want to be alone, sure, but more than that… She knew Suwako was different, she was wise yet chose to live a childlike existence in her whimsy. She was crass at times, especially when she wanted to tease someone or she gave advice, and while Hana didn’t expect this level of coddling from her it wasn’t unwelcome.

Still, she did have a reason for why she wanted to talk. She needed to talk to someone that could be honest, Sanae would coddle her too much and try to shelter her; while it was a reason to love her normally, it wasn’t what she needed now. Kanako undoubtably could give her amazing advice, she was experienced and wise to boot, but she didn’t want the goddess’ perception of her to change. Suwako was the only one that would give her real advice without bias, she was certain.

With a ‘ahm-hmn~!’ Hana cleared her throat and woke her voice up; she’d spent too much time nodding along and watching the sun crawl towards the mountains. After a just couple more hours the lights in the village would spark and that little meeting between Keine and that Hardass Heida would take place, she couldn’t wait till Sanae came home… ideally with delicious souvenirs of that impromptu festival thing that’s been the talk of the faithful and sightseers alike. Sanae seemed adamant she couldn’t go, but it was her duty to maintain the balance and she had the charms and all, so it’s not like she couldn’t slip out...

Nearly shaking her head to dismiss the thoughts that distracted her, Hana tried to hide the concern in her voice, “It’s just, I did want to talk to you, yeah… Cause, well. I already know what Sanae-san would say… And I don’t want Kanako-sama to think less of me…”

A gentle stroking encouraged Hana to continue without words, fixing her thoughts in place along with her hair, “It’s about all of this, I-I-…” Hana couldn’t help but ball her hands up, she brought them close to her chest, “Every time I try to do anything it only makes things worse; Father, Kasen-nee, Marisa-sensei, Sanae-san, and everyone else… All of them have to go through so much grief because of me, all because I was too dumb to see the writing on the wall!”

Already tears formed in the corner of her eyes, a sorrowful anger warmed her heart, “I tried everything I could to make it work… I trained and trained to get him out, only to realize that there’s no way to make up for all the time I missed! I let Yukari-san trick me and use me, I believed all her lies about father and almost got everyone killed! I-I even betrayed Kasen-nee for her… I accused her abandoning me, then… then I just made everything worse for her… and now Kotei-san is…”