/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44924744

Hana had been lead up to the ropeway by Marisa with Aunn in tow. Not like they could've asked Aunn to leave Hana's side in anyway, she seemed stuck to her as tightly as a seal. Hana didn't mind, she didn't have much but business planned for today and spending time with Aunn felt natural, like it used to be when she was a child.

Hana couldn't help but letting a smile grow as she held Aunn's hand and watched the Komainu play guard dog, watching for threats that didn't exist. It reminded her of all those times she snuck away off the shrine's grounds away from the watchful eyes of her father when she wanted a little solo adventure. No matter where she strayed it'd always been Aunn that was her companion at those times.

At the very least it felt natural having her at her side, as they stood on the ropeway going up Marisa simply enjoyed the sights and aside from some of the other goers talking amongst themselves it was quiet. Hana placed her hand on the Komainu's head stroking her long curly hair, just as fluffy as she remembered~

She got lost in the sensation until the tram came to a halt at the top of the mountain, where everyone quickly disembarked lest they head down for another ride to the bottom.

Aunn still stuck to her side as Marisa lead the two girls up the path to the shrine grounds proper, they walked past the little booths manned by barely disguised kappa or human merchants who hawked faith. The wide and expansive lake where a priest, part of Kanako's expansion projects it seemed, led a sermon as he sprinkled water on some of the faithful as to purify them in the name of goddess of storms.

As always she was quite impressed by the scale of her shrine, way beyond what she ever saw her home accomplish except during the new years visits. A part of her was feeling competitive as she saw the sights she rarely only saw during her early childhood and in recent times as a guest when she worked odd jobs here.

Before she knew it Marisa's voice pierced the solemn air near the offering box as a small line of faithful gave their offerings and prayers to the gods of the mountain. Marisa called out for Sanae, breaking the atmosphere eliciting some glares that she pointedly ignored.

What Marisa couldn't ignore was Hana and Aunn's, who circled to Marisa's other side, elbow that landed into her flanks at such a speed and short distance that she couldn't easily dodge. Marisa yowled, "Now what was that for?!"

Hana and Aunn pulled her back in sync as they Aunn growled, "Marisa-san you can't just ruin other peoples prayers like that, its not right you know!" Hana joined in as well, "Kanako and Suwako are busy enough without you making trouble, sensei!" Marisa scratched her head after being let go, "Sheesh sorry sorry, but you know gods don't pay attention unless you barge in like that ze..."

Despite their misgivings it did seem to get Sanae's attention rather fast who was manning the front of the line giving blessings. The green haired miko called over an assistant miko, a younger girl from the village, to take over while she jogged off to join the group.

Sanae may have been around the same age as her mother and Marisa but perhaps it was due to her being a living god that she seemed preserved into looking like a women in her prime. Her face was clearly mature but her skin, hair, and way she moved her body all screamed of a perfectly healthy 20some women.

She stopped just short of the girls with an irritated smile on her face as she seemed to contemplate taking a swing at Marisa herself. Fortunately for the short witch, Sanae wasn't willing to break with her business smile as she complained politely, "Kirisame-san, not only are you late missing our meeting time but you even decide to bother our faithful it seems!"

Marisa was on the backfoot again still rubbing her sore sides and with an impish smile she muttered, "Shesh it was a mistake you know... Besides it did get your attention didn't it?" A swift and almost invisible kick landed on Marisa's shin as the witch hopped on one foot before kneeling and clutching the bruising bone, "alright alright! I'm sorry for bothering you ze, i'll make a donation so let me off will you?!"


The group of girls headed inside, Sanae was her usual bubbly self as she hummed a strange tune she heard dad sometimes sing that was from the outside. She lead the group into the private residence behind the main shrine where she visited before during that festival, seemed new if Hana was any judge of things now that she saw it closely in the daylight.

The group all sat down at a table in the main living area after Sanae flicked on small wall mounted switch bringing better lighting into the main room, something Hana rarely saw even out of the village.

Sanae called out from the kitchen as everyone saw down, "Hana, I don't believe you've had coffee before have you? Kanako-sama's been working on growing here recently. I'd love if you could test it out before we distribute it!"