“Oh my goodness… so many people…” It was already past noon when Shion finally pushed open the living room door and collapsed onto the sofa.
Ayane and Shigure were still at the dining table, chatting and laughing.
Ayane was clearly the more lively one, continuously introducing new topics. Shigure, being somewhat introverted, had initially hoped to bond with Ayane, but now found herself overwhelmed by the sheer number of conversations.
Upon seeing Shion finally return, both girls immediately rose from their seats, hurrying over to help her.
“Shion-san, you’re back! You must be exhausted! I… I’ve made dinner, would you like to…”
Before Shigure could finish, Shion waved a dismissive hand. “Iori-san, just let me sprawl here for a moment…”
With her remaining strength, she tugged at the hem of her skirt, ensuring her undergarments wouldn’t be directly exposed to Ayane and Shigure.
Ayane, meanwhile, pulled out her phone, clearing her throat slightly as the camera focused on Shion. “I think it’s necessary for everyone to see what the solemn Miko of Hoshimori Shrine looks like behind the scenes… Then, I feel like I could even launch Sis’s debut!”
“Ah, Ayane! If you dare…”
“It’s too late to talk about dinner now! Iori-san has already made it for me! So Sis’s threats are useless!” Ayane activated her ‘Insight’ ability in advance, striking back with a decisive blow.
Shion was momentarily stunned, speechless, and quickly turned her gaze to Shigure.
“Well! I saw some ingredients in Shion-san’s fridge, and since Shion-san was still receiving visitors, I went ahead and cooked,” Shigure quickly explained, nervously wringing her wrists. “If Shion-san doesn’t mind, please have some too.”
“Dinner is the only way I can stop Ayane from running wild…” Shion wailed, her face crumpled. “If Iori-san provides Ayane with dinner, Ayane will only become more arrogant!”
“Eh? Is that so? I’m sorry…” Shigure began to apologize, but then realized she didn’t know how.
*Growl…*
“Sis, your stomach is rumbling, isn’t it?” Ayane reached out and poked her sister’s tummy.
“Alright, alright!” Shion struggled to pull herself up from the soft sofa. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”
****
Shigure’s cooking skills were indeed excellent, comparable to her own. Shion thought to herself, nodding in approval.
However, Shigure’s culinary talent was actually perfect. It was unclear whether Shion gave her the same score as herself because she worried her sister might be ‘snatched away’ by Shigure, or for some other reason.
“Hey, Shion-san! Ayane-san! Are you home?”
A loud, boisterous voice echoed from outside the door.
Just by the sound, Shion knew it could only be Nanami.
Shion was still burrowed in the sofa, munching on a fried chicken cutlet. “Ayane, go get the door!”
“Iori-san, could you please?”
“No problem!” Shigure quickly sprang from the sofa, taking the steps to the door two at a time.
“How did you end up ordering Iori-san around?” Shion rolled her eyes at Ayane.
Ayane stuck out her tongue. “We’re all friends, what does it matter!”
When the door opened, Nanami was gasping for breath, clutching two large boxes. Shigure quickly took one of the boxes from Nanami, but nearly stumbled under its weight.
“Th-this heavy?” Shigure’s hands began to tremble. Ayane and Shion quickly rose from their seats, helping to take both boxes and placing them on the floor.
“Iori-san, you’re here too. *Phew*~” Nanami wiped the sweat from her cheeks and promptly collapsed next to Shion on the sofa.
“Ah, Nanami-san! You’re all sweaty, don’t come near me!” Shion patted Nanami’s back, her hand sticking slightly to Nanami’s sweat-soaked clothes.
“Ugh! How gross!” Shion immediately used her foot, attempting to push Nanami away. But Nanami had already slumped onto the sofa like a small, blue slime, and Shion couldn’t budge her an inch, even with a kick.
“So tired, so tired, Shion-san, let me rest for a bit…”
“You can rest! But, but… don’t lean on me!!!”
Shigure also hurried over, trying to pull Nanami away from Shion, one on each side. As she tugged, Shigure said, blushing, “Nanami-san, really! You should have a little more decorum when you’re a guest!”
“Waaah, you two! Just let me lie here next to Shion-san for a moment!”
****
Approximately five minutes later, Nanami finally finished resting (which mostly involved being pulled from both sides). She propped herself up from the sofa, and Shigure quickly took her place, snuggling close to Shion.
Ayane seemed unusually quiet during this time. Normally, if anyone got too close to Shion, she would definitely shoo them away in her capacity as a younger sister. But now, she was simply staring at her phone, making Shion feel a chilling suspicion that she might be posting photos of her on the school forum.
Before Shion could ask what her sister was doing, Nanami had already carried a large box into the kitchen. Skillfully, she picked up a kitchen knife and performed a stylish flourish. “Shion-san, mind if I borrow your kitchen? I need to process these two big boxes of salmon before nightfall.”
“Why didn’t you process them before bringing them over!” Shion retorted sharply.
“I only caught them yesterday, to keep them fresh,” Nanami scratched her head sheepishly. “I also went to bed early yesterday, so I had no choice but to do it at your place.”
“You went to bed early yesterday, and you’re only coming now?” Shion immediately saw through Nanami’s lie. “It’s already past noon. You probably didn’t wake up until eleven this morning, did you?”
“Uh… isn’t sleeping twelve hours a day perfectly normal…?”
Shion was about to continue her chiding, but at that moment, her phone suddenly rang.
“I’ll take this call first. You wait a bit; let Ayane and Iori-san do the complaining…”
As soon as Shion pressed the answer button, Sakuya’s voice came through the phone: “Shion-san, save me!”
“Wh-what’s wrong? Where are you now?” Hearing Sakuya’s cry for help, Shion’s mind immediately tensed, and she began to consider all possibilities. Was she surrounded by evil spirits? Was she lost in the mountains? Or had she encountered some major trouble?
“I’m… I’m climbing the path to the Autumn Festival stalls…” Sakuya panted.
“Hmm, so… what’s the trouble?”
“I can’t climb any further, I’m exhausted! Shion-san, quickly come and save me!!”
So, it was *that* kind of cry for help!