"Hello, I'm Maki Kagura."
Maki offered Cloud a slight smile and performed a flawless, impeccable lady's curtsy.
That smile was like bathing in spring breeze—enough to intoxicate any man.
"Chizuru tells me you're from the Kusanagi family?"
"Yes, Miss Maki."
Cloud also dropped his "playboy" act and respectfully returned the greeting to this unfathomable "perfect wife."
"I'm Cloud. Just an... insignificant branch family member."
"Is that so?"
Maki simply smiled at this, saying nothing more.
But a meaningful glimmer passed through those deep eyes.
...
And so, Cloud settled into this shrine—home to only two beautiful shrine maidens—under the ridiculous pretense of being a "lost Kusanagi branch family member."
The days passed in heavenly comfort.
By day, he would accompany the lively, energetic Chizuru on "strolls" through Tokyo's streets.
He'd use his twenty-first-century sense of humor—full of internet memes and witty remarks—to make this usually haughty "queen" double over with laughter.
He'd take her to eat "malatang" and "yakitori" she'd never tried.
He'd teach her arcade games she'd never played.
Under Cloud's "modern person's dimensional crushing," this young lady from an ancient family saw her Affection skyrocket!
[Ding! Target Chizuru Kagura's Affection change: +5... +20 (Oh my god! How can there be such an interesting, fun man in this world?! He... doesn't seem that annoying anymore...)]
In the evenings, he would sit with the gentle, graceful Maki under the shrine's eaves, watching stars and moon, discussing everything from "poetry and literature" to "philosophy of life."
He marveled at Maki's extensive knowledge and exceptional wisdom.
Maki, in turn, found his "modern" thinking and wild ideas novel and admirable.
Living with these two sisters of completely different personalities but equally extraordinary charm, Cloud felt his heart melting.
He even entertained the degenerate thought: "Maybe... just living here forever as a live-in husband... wouldn't be so bad?"
Yet a massive storm capable of overturning the entire world—and shattering this peaceful daily life—was quietly approaching.
The man called "the Priest" had already turned his cold, destruction-hungry eyes toward this tranquil shrine.
The days of "freeloading" at Kagura Shrine proved even more comfortable than Cloud had imagined.
There was none of Kusanagi Castle's tense atmosphere of "battle" and "duty," nor South Town's noisy chaos of "money" and "crime."
Here there were only morning bells and evening drums, birdsong and fragrant flowers.
And two delectable shrine maidens.
Cloud felt he'd achieved his dream "retirement" life ahead of schedule.
By day, he would "reluctantly" accept Chizuru's endless competitive challenges.
"Hey! Playboy! Dare to race me at tree-climbing?"
"Hey! Pervert! Dare to compete at chopping firewood?"
"Hey! You Ling-whatever! Dare to see who can eat more takoyaki in one go?!"
Facing this "problem child's" endless challenges, Cloud would always win by a "very narrow," "extremely slight" margin.
Then, amidst Chizuru's "puffed-up," "refusing-to-accept-it" adorable expressions, he'd enjoy the victor's "spoils"—
Such as having her massage his legs and shoulders.
Such as having her feed him all day.
Or perhaps...
"N-no way! Absolutely not!"
In the shrine courtyard, Chizuru's face flushed crimson as she clutched her chest protectively, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Just moments ago, she had once again lost to Cloud in a game of "Truth or Dare."
And Cloud had proposed a... mortifyingly embarrassing "dare" as punishment.
"T-take off... a piece of clothing?!"
"That's right."
Cloud wore an expression of "pure innocence," looking exactly like the wolf grandmother tricking Little Red Riding Hood.
"Rules are rules. A bet's a bet."
"You... you shameless rogue! Pervert! You... don't even think about it!"
Chizuru's face was red as a ripe apple, her bright phoenix eyes practically shooting fire.
"Sigh, how boring."
Cloud sighed with theatrical disappointment.
"And here I thought the fearless Wangan Queen was a true heroine who'd own up to her bets. Turns out... she's just a little girl who can't take a loss."
His "provocation strategy" was simple and crude—but devastatingly effective.
"Who... who says I can't take it?!"
If there was one thing Chizuru couldn't stand, it was anyone questioning her courage!
She gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, as if making some monumental decision!
"Fine... I'll do it!"
She turned around, back to Cloud, hands trembling as she slowly pulled down the zipper of her athletic jacket...
Cloud's eyes gleamed with triumphant mischief as he prepared to appreciate a side of this "queen" that no one had seen—
Whoosh—!
An object carrying a girl's scent... a white sock... flew past his eyes and landed precisely on his face.
"D-done!"
Chizuru's voice was full of "grievance" and "embarrassment."
Cloud: "..."
He removed the still-warm sock from his face and looked at the girl with her back to him, shoulders slightly trembling.
His heart felt... very tired.
...
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