Chapter of the week: 1/2
Translator: Reizenchuu
Editor: Kenny Stryker
After the foxes show ended awkwardly, Yato and Karen left the shrine and went back home. Obviously, there is no need to talk about how Karen was satisfied in her way back while Yato was totally exhausted. The little foxes said that playing with her was fun, but that only made Ouka’s feelings even more complex.
“Ouksama, what are you doing?”
“Nayame…”
Later that night, one of the little foxes walked towards Ouka who was standing alone outside the shrine. It was Nayame, the fox who was saved by Yato and brought him to meet Ouka. Ouka looked in the direction from where Nayame’s voice was coming, though she quickly turned her gaze to the night sky.
“I was praying…”
“Praying…?”
Nayame tilted his head when he heard that unexpected answer. He never saw Ouka praying until this day. Or at least, he never saw her standing alone outside the shrine like this. Nayame couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“It is finally tomorrow, after all.”
Ouka uttered while still fixing her gaze at the starry sky. The s.h.i.+ning light of the full moon serenely illuminated the shrine from the darkness of the night. Although this place was in a different dimension, the moon was still visible from within it. It was indispensable for this quite and mysterious place that lacked light.
“You will be okay, Ouksama!!”
“Fufufu, that is right. Thank you.”
After receiving Nayame’s cheers, Ouka revealed a gentle smile back and pulled herself together. At that time, she dropped her sight to look at the thing she held in her hand. It was a handkerchief with ‘a tiny robot’ drawn on its edges. It looked quite old, but it wasn’t sullied at all. Apparently, Ouka was previously taking care of it.
It should be alright, I am sure.
She said to herself while holding the handkerchief with a little force. Ouka knows well that not all humans are evil. The reason for her belief was because she was once saved by one. Ouka was earnestly worried about whether she will
succeed in fortifying the seal or not, but once Yato and his little sister showed up, her worries got considerably allayed.
I am going to receive help from humans again, but I hope we will succeed.
“It will get cold tonight, let’s go back.”
“Okay~”
Ouka and Nayame turned around and walked back towards the shrine. The place they left behind got overwhelmed with stillness, but the full moon continued to illuminate it.
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So it’s finally that say, huh.
I casually thought about it while eating breakfast. The evil apparition may resurrect at this very time, but strangely, my daily life didn’t show any sign of changing. The whole family was enjoying the breakfast of my grandmother as usual.
Well, that’s only natural. They don’t know anything about the situation, after all. Karen, too, didn’t seem nervous or excited. That is the way she reacts to almost everything, so it can’t be helped. As I continued to eat my breakfast, my mom seemed to have recalled something and announced.
“Come to think of it, there’s a festival today.”
I almost forgot about the festival. Although this place is located at the heart of the countryside, it still has festivals. They’re not as large as the ones held in the city, but that gives them their own charm and ambiance. They also have fireworks which make the event one of the largests in this area. I remember when I attended it two years ago.
“That’s right.”
“Why don’t you attend it together?”
My mom suggested and I revealed a troubled expression in return. That’s because the time of fortifying the seal of Souki will most likely coincide with the second half of the festival. Too bad, I’m going to have to pa.s.s it.
“I’m actually busy this—”
“I’m going.”
Before I was able to refuse, Karen interrupted me saying that she will go. I looked at her with a startled face and she looked back at me with a nonchalant expression on her face.
“Then it’s decided.”
“Let me get you a yukata.”
Everything was decided in the blink of an eye, and both my mom and grandmother started having a pleasant conversation about what should they make Karen wear.
Aaah, this is no good. I have
have no means to stop them at this point.
They reacted exactly the same way they did two years ago when Karen told them that she wanted to attend the festival. I guess their love for cute things didn’t change despite all this time flowing by.
Just why did she say that knowing that we need to fortify the seal today?
I was a.s.saulted by the urge to ask her for an answer, but of course, I couldn’t do that on the table and instead finished eating my breakfast without speaking a word.
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While I was waiting for a rational explanation, she answered me without hesitation.
“It’s less suspicious that way.”
To my surprise, her answer was quite simple but was lacking a lot of explanation.
“What do you mean?”
“If we left telling them that we aren’t going to the festival they will definitely start wondering about where we are going.”
“Well, yeah.”
“Then we just have to tell them that we’re leaving for the festival.”
I couldn’t help but make a troubled expression. I don’t think there was a need for her to go this far. According to Ouka, fortifying the seal shouldn’t take too much of our time, the only problem is the risk of something happening in the middle of the process. If we were to stay there until the middle of night, it will surely make our family worried. Well, I guess it can’t be helped. I let out a long sigh and replied to Karen.
“Alright, fine.”
Nothing will change from complaining, anyway. Mom and grandmother should be in the middle of choosing what to make Karen wear for the festival now. It can’t be helped, I will have to go now that things are decided. And besides…
“That’s better than me leaving you all alone in the night, I guess.”
“Why?”
As Karen was unable to understand what I meant, she tilted her head and asked.
“Well, it’s too worrying to leave you alone in a festival at night, you know.”
Even though we’re in the middle of the countryside, I’m not that stupid that I’d leave a girl alone in a festival. Besides, Karen is my cute little sister, I can’t allow anyone to come hit on her
on her like that time. For some reason, Karen who guessed my intention revealed a shocked face.
(ED: Did someone hit on her? When? Where? O.O)
“If you only went in that direction…”
“What direction?”
When I asked her back, she turned away and refused to speak while seeming upset. I wonder what she meant by that. Did she probably mean that I should never leave her alone or something like that? That would be a hard task, honestly.
“Anyway, don’t do anything strange to the little foxes next time we go.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t train them to perform any weird moves, that’s what I mean.”
“Eee!?”
Karen replied with an utterly displeased voice. I won’t let her refuse; not after the moment I saw Ouka’s bitter smile.
“If you don’t agree, I won’t take with me.”
“… Okay.”
She finally agreed to my proposition with a reluctant face. That’s just great. Well, I wasn’t intending to leave her anyway, but at least I managed to make her promise that she won’t make more soldiers out the little foxes.
“Then can I teach them to dance?”
“No, don’t teach them any skill.”
“But dancing is not a skill.”
“Just stop your words play.”
Rejecting her suggestion to teach the foxes how to dance, Karen made a displeased face. It looks like she is not intending to give up.
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Finally, the night arrived, Karen and I were in the middle of preparation to go out for the festival. Well, the one who was preparing is Karen and not me. She is now getting dressed by mom and grandmother in the room. As I was waiting for her to finish at the entrance door, the door of the room finally opened up.
“I’m here.”
When I turned towards the direction of the voice, I saw a lovely princess dressed up in a gorgeous outfit. The yukata she was wearing had a beautiful red pattern and her hair was properly done. It even looked like she had put up some makeup. My mom and grandmother were making a satisfied expression behind her.
“How wonderful.”
“You’ve been dressed well.”
Even my dad and grandfather had their attention s.n.a.t.c.hed away by her, and they revealed a warm smile while complimenting smile while complimenting her. I was the only one there who couldn’t say a word because I was overwhelmed by how good she looked in that dress. I felt as if the dress was much better than the one she wore two years ago.
“Alright, let’s go.”
As I kept gazing at her without letting a single word out, she spoke to me. It looks like my silent reaction was enough to satisfy her. She wore her wooden clogs with her usual expressionless face and opened the door.
“Alright then, we’re going now.”
“Have a nice time.”
“Be careful.”
After bidding farewell to my mom and grandmother, I followed Karen and we left the house. We then walked to the place where the festival is being held. There is still a little time before the fortifying the seal so we decided to go the festival first before teleporting to the shrine.
“Your dress is pretty amazing this year.”
“Grandma told me that she worked on it for 2 years because we didn’t come last year.”
So, that’s the reason for her dress to be this amazing. Come to think of it, our grandmother was the most excited to dress Karen this morning. No wonder the dress looked wonderful. This is the first time I find myself unable to express how amazing a dress is made. I kept staring at Karen on our way for a while until she noticed my gaze.
“… What?”
“Nothing, I just thought that the dress was beautiful.”
“Is that so.”
She replied to me with a cold att.i.tude. Even that, I know very well that she is actually happy on the inside that I complimented her dress. Her lips are faintly twitching on the sides, after all. I couldn’t help but smile from watching her trying her best to hide her emotions.
Let’s get done with that seal as fast as possible.
I said to myself while looking at Karen all happy wearing her new dress. It would be kind of sad if she couldn’t enjoy the festival in this opportunity and besides, I’d like to walk around with her in this rare event. That’s why I should get done with sealing Souki as fast as possible.
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