Chapter 23: The Beginning of True Feelings

The group exchanged glances, as if deciding who should speak.

Finally, Chihaya spoke up.

“You, this bead is actually a physical manifestation of divine grace.”

Her voice was more serious than usual.

“It is a manifestation of the deity’s power. This object is precious to a miko. As a miko who cultivates spiritual power, merely having divine grace within her body—even without actively using it—will extend her lifespan and increase her cultivation speed. It can also be used to cast high-level curse arts.”

She paused.

“It can basically accomplish things beyond the imagination of ordinary people. According to the records, during the Asuka period, an ancestor of the Mochizuki family used the divine grace of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto to reverse their own age.”

You felt like he hadn’t quite heard her correctly.

‘What? Rejuvenation? Isn’t this a low-martial-arts world? How did a second life come into this?’

Hitomi added,

“In the Mythological Age, divine grace was relatively common on earth. Legend has it that before Emperor Suinin, each successive emperor received divine grace from Amaterasu Omikami, so their lifespans as living gods far exceeded ordinary people.”

She paused.

“After that, divine grace became very rare. The last person recorded in history to receive divine grace was Emperor Go-Daigo during the Nanboku-chō period. In the seven hundred years since, no one has seen divine grace.”

Mai interjected,

“Sister Hitomi, isn’t there a legend that Oda Nobunaga also received the divine grace of Yamata no Orochi?”

Chihaya frowned and scolded,

“Mai, that’s just an unofficial history. How can a miko of the Mochizuki family believe in such things?”

Mai shrank her head and fell silent.

Hitomi smiled and mediated,

“What’s the harm, Chihaya? Even if it’s just a rumor, it’s fine to talk about it privately.”

Hearing this, Mai lunged into Hitomi’s arms.

“Sister Hitomi is the best!”

She truly meant to thank Hitomi for getting her out of trouble.

She even felt that this gentle older sister was truly a kind person… until her face buried into that warm mountain range.

‘Damn it, so big, so soft. I can’t accept it. But… it feels so good.’

She began to rub unconsciously.

Mochizuki Mai, defeated.

Hitomi was amused and gently patted Mai’s back to comfort her.

“Little Mai, don’t move around, it tickles.”

You saw this scene and couldn’t help but envy Mai.

‘If only it were him there…’

Chihaya’s expression was clearly darkening.

You sensed the precursor to Chihaya’s darkening and quickly shook off the lewd thoughts, trying to change the subject.

“Alright, alright, Chihaya, don’t be angry.”

He looked at the person who had been silent all along.

“By the way, Futaba, don’t you have anything to say?”

Futaba had already regained her perfect smile.

Hearing You’s question, she answered slowly.

“Lady Kaguya is a new deity who appeared only in the Heian period. There is no record in history of her ever bestowing divine grace.”

Her voice was still melodious with a hint of laziness.

“The Tsukuyomi family doesn’t know much about divine grace, Divine Child.”

But You felt a hint of sourness in her tone.

In fact, Futaba was extremely jealous inside.

‘This is divine grace. Who wouldn’t want it? No wonder Chihaya and Mai are devoted to this Divine Child. That explains everything. Who could resist such temptation?’

Her mischievous nature itched to ask You—now that he knew the value of divine grace, would he regret giving it away?

She thought for a moment and abandoned the idea.

Her gaze fell on You, waiting to see his reaction.

On the other side, Hitomi’s heart was also in turmoil.

‘Divine grace. As a miko of Amaterasu with a deep family background, I naturally know how precious this is. This future husband of mine actually gave it away without hesitation. He’s certainly not ordinary.’

‘But that was when he didn’t know its value.’

‘Now that he knows, will he regret it?’

With that thought, she too stared at You.

She didn’t know what reaction she hoped to see.

Would he take it back? Or…

Chihaya said solemnly.

“You, no, Divine Child.”

Her voice was very serious.

“Since you didn’t know beforehand that this was the divine grace of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, please take it back. It is far too precious.”

With that, she prostrated herself before You, holding the bead high above her head with both hands.

Her posture was reverent and respectful.

You watched this scene and smiled.

“Why would I take it back?”

His tone was casual, as if stating something obvious.

“Even if it’s very useful, so what? I said it was a gift to you, so it’s a gift.”

He paused.

“Don’t forget? We are a family.”

The entire room fell silent.

Four girls, four expressions.

Chihaya remained kneeling on the floor, holding the bead aloft, her entire body frozen.

She had considered many possibilities—You might hesitate, might take it back, might say something like “I’ll keep it safe for now.”

But she hadn’t expected this answer.

“We are a family.”

He had said those words the day they met.

Back then, she thought it was just something he said casually, a polite gesture.

But now she knew he wasn’t.

He was serious.

Chihaya’s eyes felt a little hot.

She didn’t lift her head, just clutched the bead tighter against her chest.

Her voice was trembling but firm.

“I understand, You. Chihaya will treasure it.”

Mai lifted her head from Hitomi’s embrace, her eyes red.

She looked at You, her lips moving as if to say something, but nothing came out.

She just blinked hard, forcing back the moisture in her eyes, then said softly.

“You… are the best.”

Her voice was barely audible, but everyone heard it.

Futaba’s fan stopped.

The smile on her face remained, but it was completely different from her usual perfect smile.

It was more genuine, livelier, and carried an indefinable quality.

She looked at You, her gaze holding something new.

Something she couldn’t name.

‘Divine grace—and he just gives it away. Even after knowing its value, he doesn’t take it back, simply because “we are a family.”‘

‘How does this person’s mind work?’

Futaba’s fan resumed its motion, her face appearing and disappearing behind it.

“Divine Child, you truly are…”

She didn’t finish, just shook her head.

Hitomi watched it all, and the turmoil in her heart settled instead.

She observed.

She had been observing from the start—observing Chihaya, Mai, Futaba, and this Divine Child.

She saw the reactions of the other three girls.

Then she looked at You.

This person was not what she had imagined.

She had assumed a “Divine Child” would be lofty, majestic, and unapproachable.

But Yuejianye You was not.

He got carried away when he won at cards, laughed and begged for mercy when his soles were tickled, and even said to Amaterasu Omikami herself, “Did you really hide in Ama-no-Iwato?”—a reckless question that could get him killed.

And after learning the value of divine grace, he still casually said, “We are a family.”

Hitomi lowered her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Divine Child.”

She looked up at You, her eyes crescent-shaped.

“I’m so glad I got to meet you.”

You felt a bit embarrassed by everyone’s reactions.

“Don’t be like that… it’s too cheesy.”

He scratched his head, picked up his teacup, and took a sip to hide his expression.

“Let’s eat, eat. The food is getting cold.”

Chihaya had already gotten up from the floor, put the bead in her pocket, and returned to her seat.

She picked up her bowl and placed a piece of grilled fish into You’s bowl.

“You, eat more.”

Her tone had returned to its usual cool detachment, but the tips of her ears were still red.

Mai also put a piece of tamagoyaki into You’s bowl and lowered her head, saying nothing.

Futaba fanned herself, smiling as she watched it all.

Hitomi also picked up a piece of vegetables with her chopsticks and placed it in You’s bowl.

Her movements were noticeably awkward.

You looked at the pile of food towering in his bowl and twitched his lips.

“I can take it myself…”

No one paid him any attention.

He sighed and buried his head in his food.

Outside, the sunlight was pleasant.

The private room was quiet, filled only with the soft clink of utensils and occasional snippets of conversation.

The wind squeezed through the cracks in the window, carrying the cool air of Mount Hakone.

As You chewed the grilled fish, he thought, ‘That was quite a meal, but… it feels pretty good.’