And so the result was that the rumors everyone talked about weren't reliable at all—the cold still tormented her just the same.
It seemed some things weren't all that accurate.
But this experience gave her many thoughts she had never considered before.
Were those ancient rules passed down among the shrine maidens really trustworthy?
As little Kuki Shinobu researched more and more of those old rules, she eventually reached a conclusion.
The rules... didn't seem quite so indispensable...
As time went on, little Kuki Shinobu began to realize that the shrine maiden work her family had always passed down didn't necessarily have to be followed...
She wanted to go out and see the world... to see if there were freer choices available.
So even though she knew full well that the Shura Anyakonsen-shou would find out, little Kuki Shinobu ultimately faced her own heart and chose to write "unwilling" on the vote.
I don't want to continue this job that lacks freedom. I want to try something else.
Then her own older sister was naturally selected to serve as the shrine maiden attendant to the Shura Anyakonsen-shou.
That was perfectly normal—after all, her older sister truly valued the shrine maiden profession.
But...
Although she hadn't seen it just now, when the Shura Anyakonsen-shou was leaving earlier, she had indeed felt that deliberate gaze directed at her, along with the gentle smile the Shura Anyakonsen-shou gave her...
Was that... acknowledgment of her?
Acknowledgment of her desire to step out from under the rules...?
Kuki Shinobu reached her hand into her pocket. There were still some leftover scraps of paper from the voting earlier.
Wait, what was this hard, somewhat round thing she was touching?
Kuki Shinobu pulled the object out of her pocket. What appeared in her palm was a purple Electro Vision.
"Come on, Shinobu. Next, we should leave the shrine and head to the Kamisato Estate to start work."
Kuki Shinobu froze for a moment, instinctively tightening her grip on the Vision in her hand.
"Do I have to go with you, Sis?"
Her older sister Miyuki looked a little puzzled.
"Isn't that obvious? I'm going on this assignment as your older sister, and it'll probably take a long time. How could I bear to leave little Shinobu all alone at the shrine?"
Perhaps she had already understood her own choice—Kuki Shinobu slowly loosened the hand that had been gripping the Vision tightly.
"I don't want to be a shrine maiden anymore. I just wrote 'unwilling' on the anonymous vote. The Shura Anyakonsen-shou seemed very satisfied with my answer."
Looking at the Vision in her younger sister's hand, Kuki Miyuki quickly understood the situation.
Although a storm of emotions surged in her heart for a moment, she soon assessed things clearly.
"Since Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou has acknowledged your will, I won't stand in your way. I'll explain the family matters to them."
Miyuki could immediately imagine the objections from their family, but... well, if the Shura Anyakonsen-shou approved, they probably wouldn't oppose it.
It's just that...
The very first time he came to the Grand Narukami Shrine, he had already persuaded her shrine maiden little sister to rebel...
This Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou was probably...
Miyuki suddenly thought of Guuji Yae, who always loved to tease her.
All at once, it didn't seem strange anymore.
The retainers of the divine must all be like this, right?
Meanwhile, at this moment, Lady Yae Miko had appeared beneath the Sacred Sakura.
The fox's irritated mood had grown even stronger.
This little guy wasn't cute at all. The very first time he came here, he took away the little cutie she most enjoyed teasing to relax...
And on top of that, he casually pulled another little shrine maiden away...
What is it, Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou—are you and this little fox just incompatible by fate?
Next time, are you going to target my stress-relieving Yae Publishing House too?