Living in the Heart of Tokyo

Kyousuke and the Miyamizu sisters had gone off to change clothes, and the once lively living room suddenly fell into silence.

The abrupt change in atmosphere felt a little unfamiliar, even to Yukinoshita Yukino.

A sudden drop in noise was something she had grown used to.

In school, no matter what her classmates were discussing before, the moment she stepped into the classroom and sat down, the room would instantly fall silent—like they thought she was a robot programmed to explode if noise levels exceeded 30 decibels.

Only after three to five minutes—perhaps because they couldn't suppress their urge to gossip, or because they started treating her like a lifeless rock—would the chatter slowly resume.

Seriously, what's the point of going silent at all if they're going to start talking again anyway?

Even as the smartest girl at Sobu High, Yukino still couldn't figure out the answer to that question.

"Yukino-chan~~"

A soft, affectionate voice called out to her.

From behind the sofa, Sakura leaned over the backrest and wrapped her arms around Yukino's neck.

Moving with surprising agility, she flipped herself onto the seat.

Katou Megumi quickly scrambled to the other side of the couch to avoid being caught in the chaos.

"You poor Yukino-chan," Sakura said, tightening her hug. "They do that because they want you to leave faster, you know."

As Sakura revealed this truth, both Megumi and Yukino glanced at Yukinoshita with curious, almost amused eyes.

'I never expected Yukinoshita-san to be like this at school...' Megumi thought with interest.

Just yesterday, Yukinoshita had given the impression of being smart, strong, and confident.

But seeing the confusion on her face now, Megumi couldn't help but find her adorable.

Yukinoshita Yukino.

The snow beneath the snow.

Like a princess trapped in a castle tower—pure, untarnished, and untouched by the world.

Yukino seemed to embody that perfectly.

Hojou-kun always says I'm untainted by the filth of the world, but this Yukinoshita girl is even more innocently clueless.

Regardless of what the two girls were thinking, Yukino herself looked even more puzzled by Sakura's words, her brows tightly furrowed.

If her hands weren't pinned by Sakura's firm grip, she probably would've struck her usual thinking pose.

"Why would they think staying silent would make me leave? If they wanted me to go, why not just tell me?

Besides, that's a classroom—it's a public space for everyone. If they wanted to discuss something private, shouldn't they choose a more secluded place instead?"

Yukino tilted her head back, desperately trying to escape Sakura's sudden empathic embrace, which had seemingly leveled up to max.

The serious, intimidating weight of her questions was completely ruined by this struggle.

'I'm so glad I'm barely noticeable...' Megumi thought to herself with quiet relief.

She couldn't understand how Yukino could sit in such a suffocating atmosphere and still ponder such matters calmly.

Who has the mental strength to think this way while their classmates are silently trying to drive them away?

"I'm starting to see you in a new light, Yukinoshita-san."

Having changed into a light summer pajama set, Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke with her usual cool, seductive tone, tinged with a teasing smile:

"Only cowards let themselves be crushed by the so-called 'atmosphere.' If anyone should be driven away, it's them, not you."

On this matter, Utaha was undoubtedly an authority.

Even Eriri—who pretended to be a high-class lady at school—knew her nickname was "Yukionna" (Snow Woman).

It said everything about the fearsome presence Utaha had at Toyogasaki.

If someone tried to suppress her with a heavy atmosphere, she'd simply turn into a blizzard and freeze them all solid without hesitation.

In this regard, she felt Yukino had handled things perfectly.

"No. The strong should show compassion and extend a helping hand to the weak. Perhaps they have some secret troubles. If their request is reasonable, I wouldn't mind stepping away for a while," Yukino calmly retorted.

"..."

That comment silenced even the ever-gentle Yukino-sensei, let alone Utaha, who looked absolutely floored.

Only Sakura kept rubbing up and down against Yukino while mumbling, "Yukino-chan, you're just too kind..."

She really was kind—proud, sure—but if you ignored that pride, she was probably as easy to handle as a grade-schooler.

She'd probably even clean your lawn without you having to bribe her with ice cream.

To her surprise, Megumi caught herself thinking such a wicked thought.

Using Yukino's kindness to get her to do chores?

No wonder Eriri had shamelessly asked her to wash her brushes yesterday.

It was nearly impossible to resist taking advantage of Yukinoshita's naivety.

She suddenly remembered Sakura's "100 Ways to Use Yukinoshita" from yesterday and couldn't help but worry for her new friend.

"Yukinoshita-san, you know, when you keep talking about 'the strong' and 'the weak' and 'compassion,' you sound awfully childish... like one of those dumb boys in their second year of middle school syndrome."

Utaha sighed, massaging her temple.

Even though their house was overflowing with manga artists, light novel authors, voice actresses, and fashion designers—otaku of the highest concentration—this level of chuunibyou was rare even here.

"Second-year boys? Is that... some special group?" Yukino asked, frowning.

Katou Megumi blinked.

"Chuunibyou... you've never heard of it, Yukinoshita-san?"

"What is that?" Yukino turned to her, waiting for an explanation—her hands still trapped by Sakura's relentless hold, unable to reach her beloved Google for help.

"Well, it's..."

Megumi began explaining in a quiet voice.

Yukino had to awkwardly drag Sakura closer to hear better, nodding along with the occasional "Mm, mm, I see."

Judging by her expression, she looked truly shocked—as if a long-standing mystery in her life had finally been solved.

"Truly, the potential of humanity is limitless," Yukino murmured with wonder.

She completely ignored the alien-like stares of Utaha and Yukino-sensei.

She wasn't some chuunibyou herself, after all—it made perfect sense she wouldn't know about it.

"I simply have a clear understanding of myself. I'm not the type to indulge in wild fantasies like you're suggesting. I know that changing the world may sound like a pipe dream to you all, but I am steadily working towards that goal, step by step."

'Sigh. That's what you called chuunibyou Yukino-chan...' Sakura thought with exasperation.

She really needed to expand her vocabulary.

Now would've been the perfect moment to shout:

"Anyone who mocks another's dreams—I, the Justice Hero, will never forgive them!"

And of course, she shouted it aloud, mimicking Yukino's serious tone perfectly.

"Pfft—"

Megumi couldn't hold back a laugh and quickly covered her mouth, turning away—only to see Utaha-senpai openly chuckling, her amusement clear.

Yukino watched the deeply frowning Sakura and sighed in defeat.

If anyone here was a chuunibyou, it was this girl.

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

"By the way... isn't tomorrow Hojou's first award ceremony? Who's going with him?"

Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't usually the gossiping type, but she was dying to see how the ever-proud Kasumigaoka Utaha would handle such an event—or what kind of reaction Eriri would have.

Most importantly... how would Hojou deal with it?

"Oh, this? I've already decided. I'll go by the order in which I met everyone," Kyousuke said, appearing on the staircase just in time to pick up the conversation.

Phew… close call. Is Yukinoshita being corrupted by Sakura now?

Why does she keep tossing trouble my way?

"Order of when you met them? If you're really going by time, you—the one who's about to lower the average age of award recipients by at least three levels—should be the first to get kicked out," Yukino snapped back sharply, unwilling to let him gloss over the issue so easily.

"Are you questioning the very foundation of Japanese society now? As expected of the girl who dreams of changing the world, Yukinoshita-san. Your ambition is truly breathtaking," Kyousuke shot back with equal sarcasm.

"No way, Kyousuke! Justice Hero will never tolerate anyone mocking another's dream—even if it's you!"

Sakura jumped in, holding up her arms in front of her chest and making a big "X" sign.

At least she finally let poor Yukino go.

Kyousuke glanced at Yukino, who wore a complicated expression, and mimicked Sakura's serious tone:

"Dreams are sacred and untouchable!"

"What about you, Kasumigaoka-san? What's your opinion?" Yukino turned to Utaha, clearly giving up on making sense of Sakura.

'Me? Of course, my answer is that none of you should go.'

You should all stay here in the living room and watch my beautiful figure gracefully appear in the audience via the TV screen, elegantly applauding Kyousuke from afar.

And if Kyousuke needs it, my father could prepare a convoy worth over a billion yen for us.

If the TV station refuses, we can always rent one privately.

With these thoughts in mind, Utaha kept her usual serene smile, one so expertly crafted that even the perceptive Yukino couldn't read her intentions.

Like I'd ever say that out loud.

I'd instantly become public enemy number one.

I'll leave such stupidity to someone more suited.

"Hmm... my thoughts?" Utaha dragged out the words, her gaze slowly drifting to the glass sliding door of the living room.

"Sawamura-san, what about you? Would you like to accompany Hojou to the Bookstore Awards ceremony tomorrow?"

It's been a whole afternoon—no matter how dense you are, you better have figured it out by now. Use that pawn brain of yours properly, Sawamura Spencer Eriri!

"Huh?"

Just then, Eriri—content and satisfied after stepping into the room—was sitting on the floor brushing bits of grass off her toes.

She turned her head in confusion, eyes locking sharply onto Kyousuke.

Her bright blue eyes clearly demanded: "Explain. What's this task you're talking about?"

"Tomorrow is the Awards ceremony. There are four open slots. I figured, for things like this in the future, we'd just decide by the order I met each of you," Kyousuke explained.

The order he met them?

Eriri glanced around the room, her clever mind quickly piecing it together.

Her blue eyes shifted thoughtfully to one side.

First, obviously, was Sakura. Then... Shouko and Naoka from elementary school...

As she counted in her head, her fingers absentmindedly played with her round toes, as if tallying things up.

The way she tilted her head and fiddled with her toes made Yukino suddenly think of a cute little panda.

So adorable... The hearts of the Cat God Cult's first, second, third, and fourth shrine maidens were about to melt.

...Naoka, Shouko... then... then it's me!

Eriri's head shot up, surprised and delighted.

She was still in the top tier of the list!

Tomorrow she'd accompany Kyousuke to the award ceremony.

The day after, to his company. How wonderful!

The perfect weekend!

"Order of acquaintance? I think that's perfectly fair."

A soft, husky voice joined the conversation, its charm instantly capturing everyone's attention.

Damn it! Why is she allowed to cheat time and space like this!?

Eriri grumbled as she turned toward the staircase.

Mitsuha appeared, slowly descending the steps dressed in a traditional red and white shrine maiden outfit.

Her jet-black hair shimmered with luxurious golden ornaments that exuded an air of mystery.

With each step she took, the wide white sleeves of her robe fluttered gracefully like white waves.

The golden accessories in her hair gently swayed and chimed with a clear metallic sound.

Miyamizu Mitsuha descended without hurry, her face wearing a gentle smile.

Yet the moment she appeared, a solemn air settled over the room, as if everyone had suddenly been transported to an ancient ritual.

Leaning against the sofa back, Kyousuke watched her—this impossibly beautiful Mitsuha—and his thoughts slipped into that other world.

A fully opened kagura stage... sparks swirling in the air... the sound of flutes and drums...

Mitsuha barefoot, her snow-white feet light against the floor as she danced, swinging her wide sleeves in rhythm with the tinkling bells, performing an ancient dance passed down through the ages.

That phantom Mitsuha had now stepped into reality—stepping toward him.

Without thinking, Kyousuke moved forward, reaching out to gently take her hand as she stepped off the last stair.

"Careful on the steps."

Such a pointless line—so dull that even two middle-school space-cases couldn't help but roll their eyes.

Yet Mitsuha's face bloomed with a radiant smile.

"Mm." She answered softly.

"Wow… she's so beautiful..."

Breaking her usual rule of never disturbing the mood, Katou Megumi gasped in awe.

Though she visited shrines with her family every New Year and saw shrine maidens often, she had never seen one this stunning.

As expected... none of the girls around Hojou are normal.

Except for me, maybe.

"Hmph. What's the big deal? A blonde shrine maiden would be way more unique. If I wore that outfit, I wouldn't lose to Mitsuha at all!"

Eriri muttered under her breath, but her bright blue eyes betrayed her—they were locked on Mitsuha, blinking rapidly as if capturing mental snapshots.

So pretty! Even the top cosplayers online couldn't compete!

The blonde ojou-sama seemed to have turned her eyes into a camera, snapping away.

If not for the last shred of her pride, she'd probably have raised her hands and made a picture frame with her fingers.

Such a beautiful shrine maiden... not even in anime do you see one like this!

Yukino studied Mitsuha in her red and white shrine maiden attire.

From the white kosode robe on top to the crimson hakama below—even someone like her, who judged clothes only by tugging at their seams to check fabric quality, could tell these were exquisitely made.

And over all this, Mitsuha wore a chihaya—an outer robe reserved for sacred dances and ceremonies.

Yukino vaguely remembered seeing something similar at a ground-breaking ritual her family's construction company hosted; but unlike those, this one bore almost no decoration, save for two simple ties at the collar.

She was born to wear a shrine maiden outfit.

Yukino suddenly imagined her fantasy Cat God Cult.

The image in her mind—of shrine maidens serving the fourth generation Calico Cat Pope—had quietly morphed into Mitsuha's face.

So beautiful.

Even Yukino, proud as she was, had to admit it: Miyamizu Mitsuha and the shrine maiden attire were a match made in heaven.

She looked like she'd stepped straight out of a museum painting—or maybe, long ago, there really had been a shrine maiden like her who brought blessings to people by the will of the gods.

No wonder Naoka had been so enthusiastic about this project.

A good model really did make the outfit a hundred times more dazzling.

"No fair! Naoka! You've been hiding such a gorgeous outfit and never let me try it on?!"

Sakura was the first to catch onto the secret behind Mitsuha's beauty—and immediately aimed her righteous fury at Ueno Naoka, the one who'd kept this treasure hidden from her.

Naoka rolled her eyes playfully in exasperation.

When a pretty girl does that, it comes off as charming and graceful—but as one's looks drop, that same gesture quickly becomes "ugly."

With Naoka's stunning blue-violet eyes flashing white before returning to normal, it was nothing short of captivating.

"Ugh, this habit of yours—accusing others before they can speak—you'll never fix it, will you? Go open your closet right now and check the bottom. I bet there's an identical shrine maiden outfit hidden in there!"

They'd all gone to the Sakura Festival together.

When Mitsuha started talking about shrine maidens and kagura dances, everyone had been present.

Later, when Naoka began designing and selling clothes, Sakura immediately hounded her about making a shrine maiden outfit, pestering her non-stop.

"What do you mean accusing? I'm telling you—the first rule of fighting is to strike preemptively! Hehe~~"

Sakura glanced triumphantly at Kyousuke.

In matters like this, she was clearly a worthy disciple of Kyousuke's own teachings.

Even the thickness of their skin seemed evenly matched.

Without another word, she abandoned the poor Yukino and hurried over to Mitsuha, smoothly taking her hand from Kyousuke's grasp and pulling her toward the sofa.

All the while, she kept muttering nonsense like:

"Oh Great Shrine Maiden, please bless me with eternal life and perfect test scores forever..."

"Sighhh~~~"

A long sigh escaped from Miyamizu Yotsuba, who had been completely forgotten in the room's excitement.

If I don't say my full name soon, they'll probably start wondering if I'm even related to this goddess-like Mitsuha—or whether we're actually real sisters at all, Yotsuba thought to herself.

Her hair was braided in the exact same style, adorned with identical golden ornaments.

But somehow, all her shine had been completely overshadowed.

"Yotsuba, you've really grown into a fine young lady."

Kyousuke bent down and gently pinched Yotsuba's nose—a habit he'd picked up back in Itomori.

Doing this to the always-serious, little-old-lady-in-a-child's-body Yotsuba gave him an odd sense of satisfaction.

Even if Miyamizu Toshiki always scolded him for it.

Not that the old man had a beard—but when he puffed up his cheeks in frustration, the air he blew out could practically lift the stiff, gelled hair on his head.

"What's the point of growing up if I'll never be as pretty as my sister? Grandma and Dad always say I look just like Mom—that I'll be just as beautiful when I'm older."

Yotsuba's tone wasn't just sulky—she sounded genuinely crushed.

Kyousuke figured her mood was probably made worse by her two friends.

The same girls who'd promised to help her build an online shrine were now shamelessly swarming around Mitsuha like crazed fans.

"They weren't lying, you know. I still remember Mitsuha back in middle school—she wasn't even as pretty as you are now. And back then, she didn't have the courage to stand in front of everyone dressed like a shrine maiden, either."

Kyousuke smiled gently as he spoke, reaching out to adjust the golden crown nestled in Yotsuba's hair.

It was tucked into her bun—and if she moved too much, it would tilt out of place.

That's why performing kagura dances was such a technical challenge for shrine maidens.

And he wasn't just saying this to comfort her. The Miyamizu shrine maidens were not only rumored to inherit mysterious powers—beauty seemed woven into their bloodline too.

Even Miyamizu Ichiba, their grandmother, could be called a gentle and dignified old lady.

As for Yotsuba—youthful, full of life—she had all the potential in the world.

Kyousuke had just checked her YouTube channel, and her latest video, uploaded only yesterday, had already hit 130,000 views.

The only thing separating her from Mitsuha was experience.

And that wasn't something that simply came with age.

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