The Glass Forest was in the mountains of Hakone, about twenty minutes by bus from the inn.
The entrance was a stone archway covered in vines, giving it a distinct otherworldly feel.
Once inside, the view opened up—a large pond with water as calm as a mirror, reflecting the clouds in the sky and the surrounding trees.
The pond was lined with clusters of flowers in purple, pink, and white, blooming vibrantly.
Most special were the glass objects.
Glass bells hung from the branches, tinkling in the wind.
Glass sculptures stood by the pond—some abstract geometric shapes, others resembling flowers, birds, fish, and insects.
Sunlight came from different angles, refracting into colorful patches of light on the glass, scattered everywhere on the ground, on the water’s surface, and on people’s clothes.
“So beautiful—”
Mai was the first to speak up, her eyes sparkling as she tugged at Chihaya’s sleeve and pulled her inside.
Chihaya, being dragged along, stumbled slightly but had a faint smile on her lips.
Hitomi followed behind, pulling out her cell phone to take a few photos.
Futaba walked at the very back, her fan closed and held in her hand, occasionally looking up at the glass objects and occasionally down at the stone path underfoot.
You walked in the middle.
But his mind was completely off the scenery.
The new information he had just learned was making him itch with curiosity.
He remembered what Chihaya had said when they first met:
“The Miko’s legacy only includes these support-type curse techniques. For offensive curse techniques, the Onmyoji should have them.”
And then:
“I’m not really sure about the details either. In modern society, there haven’t been reports of ghostly beings or yokai for a long time, so the Onmyoji’s heritage has also declined.”
So then, this Miss Tsuchimikado likely possesses the essence of combat curse techniques?
No.
He shouldn’t get his hopes up too much.
After all, Chihaya had just said the Tsuchimikado family’s legacy might be incomplete.
And besides, she had already left—what use was thinking about it?
He shook his head, abandoning the unrealistic thoughts.
Futaba, walking beside him, seemed to notice his distraction.
She sidled up with a smile, her tone light, lazy with a hint of coquetry.
“Lord Divine Child, are you still thinking about that Miss Tsuchimikado?”
She tilted her head.
“Could it be that having the four of us here with you isn’t enough? What a greedy man.”
As soon as she said this, the gazes of the other three young ladies immediately shifted over.
Chihaya’s gaze was faint but carried a hint of scrutiny.
Mai’s gaze held a bit more wariness, and her grip on You’s sleeve tightened.
Hitomi’s gaze was relatively calm.
You suddenly felt a headache coming on.
He looked at Futaba’s signature smile and the schadenfreude in her eyes, venting wildly in his mind.
‘You, Futaba, you’re such a troll. I’ll remember this. Once I successfully win you over, I’ll make you taste my power in bed!’
While thinking this, he quickly explained aloud.
“Don’t listen to Futaba’s nonsense. I was just thinking about curse techniques.”
With these words, he felt the pressure around him lighten.
He paused, a sudden flash of inspiration.
Wait, isn’t this the opportunity I’ve been waiting for?
Now’s the perfect time to test her.
He looked at Futaba and smiled.
“Futaba, you’re so sensitive—could it be that you’re jealous?”
Futaba’s expression was flawless.
“That’s right, I am jealous.”
Her tone was still light.
“Isn’t it enough for the Lord Divine Child to have us four fiancées?”
You seized the flaw in her words and stepped forward.
“Since you say you’re my fiancée, then why do you still call me ‘Lord Divine Child’?”
He stared into Futaba’s eyes.
“Isn’t that too distant?”
Futaba’s smile remained, but a flicker of panic passed through her eyes.
Very brief—if You hadn’t been watching her closely, he wouldn’t have noticed.
“Doesn’t Hitomi also still call you ‘Lord Divine Child’?”
Her tone was still light, but the attempt to change the subject was too obvious.
You thought to himself, not good.
She’s changed the subject.
If I press on now, will Hitomi cooperate?
He glanced at Hitomi.
Hitomi, upon hearing that, smiled.
‘They’re dragging me into this again. Everyone thinks I’m easy to push around, huh. Enough is enough. I’ll change my address sooner or later, so I might as well do it now.’
She walked over to You on her own and linked her arm with his.
“You-kun—”
Her voice was soft, tender, as if cotton candy were melting on the tongue.
You was hit by a double impact of this gentle voice and the enormous softness wrapped around his arm, making his nose feel hot.
‘Oh my god, is this what big breasts feel like? Too stimulating.’
He felt something surging in his nasal cavity, quickly took a breath, and suppressed the heat.
Chihaya frowned, the pressure around her dropping.
She watched Hitomi holding You’s arm, her lips moving.
But she couldn’t find an excuse to act out.
Mai, meanwhile, was grinding her teeth again, the sound of gnashing audible, though not loud—but Chihaya beside her heard it.
‘Damn, I envy You-kun… No, Hitomi-nee is too dangerous. She’s making a move on You-kun.’
Futaba saw this and finally her smile cracked.
‘I didn’t expect Hitomi to be no pushover either. Damn, I was careless. I lost this round.’
She was silent for a moment, then spoke, her voice a little unnatural.
“You… You-kun.”
You snapped back to reality and smiled at Futaba.
“That’s right, Futaba.”
Futaba’s smile returned, but You felt it was a bit stiffer than usual.
And the tips of her ears were slightly red.
A very faint red, almost invisible in the morning light.
In his mind, he gave himself a thumbs up.
This round, I’ve evened the score.
The four of them continued walking forward.
Hitomi didn’t let go of You’s arm.
Chihaya walked on You’s other side, keeping a moderate distance.
Mai walked beside Chihaya, occasionally glancing at You.
Futaba walked on the outside, her fan open again, swaying slowly.
The sun shone directly overhead, shrinking their five shadows very short, trampled underfoot.
You walked in the middle, with Hitomi’s gentleness and softness on his left, Chihaya’s cool silence on his right, Mai’s occasional glances from behind, and Futaba’s back as she fanned herself ahead.
Futaba walked at the very back, opening and closing her fan, opening and closing.
“You-kun.”
She suddenly called out.
You turned his head.
“Hm?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to say it.”
Futaba smiled, and this time her smile was more natural than before.
You didn’t respond, turning back to continue forward.
It seemed this was only the beginning, and there was still a long way to go.
Each of the young ladies had their own thoughts, especially Futaba.
Walking ahead of You, her smile remained unchanged, but her heart was in turmoil.
Calling him “You-kun” a few times just now was only her counterattack to prove she hadn’t lost.
But why, after calling it a few times, did she feel a slight wavering inside?
That couldn’t be possible.
It must be an illusion.
‘How could I fall so easily? And for this person clouded by lust who disregards Lady Kaguya’s threat.’
She couldn’t help but silently recite a few times in her heart, ‘The wise do not enter the river of love,’ and finally managed to calm her heart.