Once she had regained some strength, Shigure immediately settled Shion onto a chair in the living room to rest. She then reheated the bento she had prepared that morning, before returning to the kitchen to continue cooking, stirring up dishes over the flame.
According to Shigure, she intended to properly thank her savior today. Therefore, Shion would be staying at her place for dinner tonight. Ever the devoted older sister, Shion, after finding an excuse to send her sister out for dinner, agreed to Shigure’s earnest request to dine at her home.
“Hoshimori-san! Tonight’s dinner is cream stew with curry pork cutlets. I hope you’ll enjoy it!” Shigure had prepared the dishes with great care, presenting them before Shion.
“Ah, Iori-san, there’s no need to go to such trouble…” Shion watched Shigure flitting back and forth between the kitchen and living room, bustling about, and felt a touch of embarrassment.
Shigure shook her head, placing another glass of iced fruit juice by Shion’s hand. “Hoshimori-san just saved me, you know. You’re my savior, after all. No amount of gratitude is too much.”
For some reason, Shigure then added in a hushed tone, “If Hoshimori-san needs it, even if it means offering myself…” As Shion registered what she’d heard and cast an inquisitive look at Shigure, Shigure quickly shook her head, refocusing her attention on the plating in her hands.
After bustling about for quite some time, Shigure finally settled down beside Shion. The two girls, since their last study session, were finally sharing a meal together again after a long interval.
Shigure’s cream stew was incredibly generous with its ingredients; with just one bite, Shion felt her mouth fill with the rich aroma of cream. The fried pork cutlets, too, were perfectly cooked, yielding a satisfying crunch with every bite—utterly delightful.
However, despite the exceptional deliciousness of Shigure’s cooking, Shion couldn’t shake off her unease.
She couldn’t comprehend why Shigure would be afflicted by those malevolent spirits. First Iori Grandma, and now Shigure… it was almost as if…
At that moment, a slightly terrifying possibility dawned on Shion. ‘What if this is some kind of family curse?’
A sharp intake of breath escaped Shion as the thought solidified. Indeed, she had already struggled to understand Iori Grandma’s affliction by malevolent spirits, and her current abilities were utterly insufficient to strip away the spiritual essence from Iori Grandma. It was fortunate she had arrived in time today, otherwise Shigure, too, would have suffered greatly at the hands of these malevolent spirits.
“Um, Iori-san, I…” Less than half the rice in her bowl had been eaten, but Shion could no longer suppress her inner anxieties. She spoke softly to Shigure.
Hearing Shion’s hesitant words, Shigure also set down her half-eaten pork cutlet. Her golden eyes dimmed slightly, much like the setting sun outside the window, slowly descending to let night engulf the sky.
“I don’t know why those terrifying things would come for me. My grandma, too…”
“Wait, Iori-san, can you see those black auras?” Shion immediately realized something.
Shigure nodded. “Yes, I think ever since Hoshimori-san came to find me during the cultural festival, I’ve been able to see those black things. What exactly are they? Hoshimori-san seems to have a way to deal with them.”
Shion pondered for a moment. Since Shigure was already involved, it was only right to be honest with her. Thus, Shion disclosed to Shigure both her duties and abilities as a shrine Miko. Shigure, listening beside her, went from wide-eyed astonishment to covering her mouth, her face a picture of utter disbelief.
“Ho-Hoshimori-san! You’re practically the town’s hero! No, Hoshimori-san *is* the town’s hero!”
“Oh, it’s nothing… I’m just doing what I ought to do.” Shion felt a blush creep up her neck after such praise from Shigure. She certainly couldn’t admit that if she let the malevolent spirits run rampant, her own ‘game’ would be a direct ‘game over.’
“However, while I can temporarily help Iori-san get rid of malevolent spirits, I can’t strip the spiritual essence from Iori Grandma. Does Iori-san know anything?” Shion was eager to glean any information from Shigure.
“If it’s about ‘family curses’ or things like that… I know Grandma is entangled with malevolent spirits. My parents left town when I was very young, and I don’t have any contact information for them. But if leaving town is a way to escape being entangled by malevolent spirits… then perhaps my parents are fine, which would be wonderful.” As Shigure spoke, she lightly patted her chest, as if breathing a sigh of relief for the parents she barely knew.
Shion nodded. “I understand then. It seems we might only get answers by asking Iori Grandma. I’ll accompany you to deliver her meal later, and we can see if we can find a solution.”
Shigure nodded emphatically, a joyful smile spreading across her face. “Yes, we can be together again, Hoshimori-san!”
And so, the two girls quickly finished their dinner. Shigure didn’t even wash the dishes, merely soaking them in water for now. Then, grabbing the bento, she naturally took Shion’s hand.
Though Shigure’s heart still involuntarily quickened when she held Shion’s hand, she was far braver than the Shigure of a few months ago, who wouldn’t even dare to invite Shion to her home.
The two of them walked along the evening streets. In the distance, the last rays of the setting sun painted the clouds a fiery crimson, transforming them into a gentle twilight glow. Along the street, the lampposts were lighting up one after another. The deserted street was somewhat silent, with only the distant sounds of weary birds returning to their nests…
‘Wait, why is there no one around?! At dinner time, one should at least encounter a few elderly people out for a stroll!’
Shion gently but firmly pulled back Shigure, who had been walking a little anxiously ahead. Shigure turned, her small eyes filled with confusion as she looked at Shion. “What’s wrong, Hoshimori-san?”
“Stand behind me.” With a slight pull, Shion drew Shigure behind her. Then, she focused her attention, her consciousness rapidly expanding with her abilities. In mere moments, countless black dots appeared on the mental map formed by her awareness.
Shigure felt a pang of fear, her right hand tightly gripping Shion’s. However, Shion gently squeezed Shigure’s hand, a silent signal for her to relax.
“Iori-san, it might get a little dangerous soon. Stay behind me, don’t leave my side.” Shion’s words carried a definite resolve. She took a deep breath. ‘It seems these malevolent spirits aren’t planning to let them go today. Whether Shigure is their target or not, it doesn’t matter. She must protect Shigure.’