The group continued strolling down the street.
Futaba walked at the front, occasionally turning back to say something to Chihaya. Mai was sandwiched in the middle, her hand held by Futaba. The three girls looked perfectly harmonious.
You walked inside the “encirclement” of the three.
On his left was Chihaya, on his right was Mai, and ahead was Futaba. He was trapped in the middle—no matter which way he tried to move, someone was there. But strangely, he couldn’t get a word in. The three of them were chatting about topics he couldn’t follow—things like “last time at the festival,” “so-and-so from such-and-such shrine got married,” “do you remember when we were kids?”
He gave up trying to join in and focused on walking.
Chihaya responded to Futaba’s small talk with her mouth, but her mind was entirely elsewhere.
As the next head of the Mochizuki Family, she had to consider this situation more carefully.
Futaba had appeared.
Had she followed them on purpose?
No, that should be impossible. The itinerary was set by the Moon Princess. The Tsukuyomi Family couldn’t have obtained that information. So it must be a coincidence.
What should I do? Keep her away from You?
The Divine Child of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto absolutely cannot be with someone from the Tsukuyomi Family…
Wait.
Why not?
Her footsteps involuntarily faltered.
Even miko who serve deities are ultimately mortals, not divine descendants. And unless the miko is willing, the deity cannot forcibly perform a Divine Descent.
In other words, if Futaba is sincere… there’s no reason she couldn’t marry the Divine Child.
After all, the Divine Oracle is for the Divine Child to continue the bloodline. The more people involved, the greater the strength…
Her face suddenly grew a bit hot.
‘Chihaya, what are you thinking!’
She scolded herself inwardly. Though the logic held, no one could be sure what Futaba was really thinking. What if she was actually approaching You with the goal of making Kaguya-hime descend? The risk was too high.
I still need to be on guard.
With that thought, she couldn’t help recalling the scene from earlier—
The way You’s eyes had stuck to Futaba’s legs.
She clenched her teeth silently.
‘Even if you are the Divine Child, that behavior is too disgraceful.’
‘No—precisely because you are the Divine Child, such conduct is even more improper.’
She silently added a demerit against You in her mind.
If You had mind reading at that moment, he would have cried out in injustice—he was a young man in the prime of his youth, and that was purely instinct, okay?
Chihaya pulled her thoughts back and glanced sideways at You walking ahead.
He was carrying several items Mai had picked out, looking down at his phone, completely unaware that he’d already been marked in someone else’s mind.
Then she thought of another thing.
The moment before, when Futaba had said that line and the atmosphere grew tense—
You had directly grabbed hers and Mai’s hands.
The unpleasantness in her heart dissipated somewhat.
And then there was what happened on the Shinkansen. The way he’d gotten absorbed in card games and shouted, the way he’d laughed and begged for mercy when they tickled his feet, the way he’d obediently admitted his mistake afterward…
A tiny smile curved at the corner of Chihaya’s lips.
‘They call him the Divine Child, but really, he’s just an ordinary boy.’
It was only then that she belatedly realized she had unconsciously started using the name “You” when thinking about him in her mind.
Realizing this made her face redden even more.
She couldn’t help but wonder—when had it started?
The answer surfaced from the bottom of her heart quickly.
It was the day they first met.
The moment he casually gave them the sacred artifact of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.
She could tell he hadn’t done it for any ulterior motive. It was simply that one line—
“We’re a family now.”
With the Moon Princess present, there was no way he hadn’t known how precious that item was.
Though what she didn’t know was that You really hadn’t understood the bead’s value at the time. After getting it, he’d followed his mother to Ise in a daze, then given it away without ever having the chance to ask Masako about it. So Masako was completely unaware of the whole affair.
But he had given it so naturally.
A heart like that…
She bit her lower lip.
‘Divine Child… no, You, since you have shown such sincerity, Chihaya will naturally fulfill her duty.’
‘To be your wife.’
‘As for what Futaba wants—’
‘We’ll take it one step at a time.’
Her mood inexplicably calmed.
“Mai, this really suits you.”
Chihaya picked up a bracelet from the stall, took Mai’s hand, and put it on her. The thin silver bracelet circled around Mai’s slender wrist once, and the little moon charm on the pendant swayed.
“Wow…”
Mai raised her hand, looked at it against the light, and her eyes brightened.
“Does it look good?”
“Good.”
Chihaya helped adjust its position.
Mai glanced at Chihaya and ventured, “You weren’t talking much just now, Sister. Is something on your mind?”
Before Chihaya could answer, Futaba jumped in.
“Of course not.”
She grinned at Chihaya, her tone carrying some other meaning.
“Your sister Chihaya was just picking things out for you.”
Chihaya gave Futaba a meaningful look.
Futaba’s smile didn’t waver, like a perfect mirror.
She nodded, then reached out and gently touched Mai’s soft hair.
“Sister Futaba is right. You’re overthinking, Mai.”
Mai lowered her head slightly, her eyes darting around. ‘As if it’s that simple. Sister must be thinking about Sister Futaba’s matter. Hmph, they all treat me like a child.’
She looked up with a happy smile.
“That’s good. Sister, we’re out having fun, so you should enjoy it too.”
Chihaya looked at her sister’s smile and sighed inwardly.
‘Ah, she’s still a child after all.’
‘She was so angry at Futaba a moment ago, and now she’s forgotten.’
Futaba stood to the side, hands behind her back, watching the sisters interact. Her gaze lingered on Chihaya’s face for a moment, then shifted away. Her face was still all smiles, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Just then, You, who was walking nearby, suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.
The sun had already slipped behind the mountains, leaving only a streak of orange-red on the horizon. The lanterns on the street were lighting up one by one. There were fewer tourists than in the afternoon, and the scent of dinner began to drift through the air.
He waited until all three had quieted down, then called out, “Everyone—”
The three of them turned to look at him at the same time.
“It’s almost dinner time.”
He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.
“What do you want to eat? I’ll make a reservation on my phone now.”
Futaba raised her hand first.
“I know an izakaya nearby. The food is really good.”
You objected. “Mai is still young. An izakaya isn’t suitable.”
Mai immediately protested. “I’m already eighteen! And You, you’re also eighteen, you know.”
You looked a bit awkward at that.
“Then let’s go with Futaba’s suggestion to the izakaya.”
He turned to ask Chihaya, “Is that okay?”
Chihaya nodded.
“It’s fine, but no drinking.”
Futaba laughed.
“Don’t be so strict, Chihaya. We’re all out having fun.”
Chihaya shook her head.
“No. Drinking is bad for your health.”
Futaba had to compromise.
“Fine, fine. You win. No drinking, then.”
She turned and led the way forward.
After taking a few steps, she glanced back.
You was helping Mai rearrange the bags she’d just bought. Chihaya stood beside them, reaching out to straighten Mai’s crooked hairpin.
The three of them standing together really did look like a family.
Futaba averted her gaze and continued walking.
Her smile remained unchanged, but something seemed to flicker deep in her eyes.