Chapter 27: I Like Her

Kyoko’s eyes widened instantly, uncontrollable joy bursting across her face.

Almost reflexively, she sprang up from her cushion, nearly knocking over the teacup in front of her.

“That’s amazing! Nobuhito, you did it!” she cried happily, completely forgetting the composed demeanor expected of a shrine maiden.

“Ahem.”

Grandma Rumiko coughed lightly, though a trace of approval flashed through her eyes.

Kyoko’s face immediately reddened. She hurriedly restrained her overly excited reaction, but the smile tugging at her lips simply would not disappear.

Like a nimble little deer, she trotted quickly onto the veranda and stopped beside Nobuhito, who had just finished reciting the mantra.

The moment the boy opened his eyes, Kyoko thought she saw an extremely faint, crystal-clear gleam flash through them—something different from his usual calmness, as though his spirit had truly undergone a brief cleansing and renewal.

Although his face looked slightly pale from exertion, his eyes were brighter than before.

“I succeeded, Grandma,” Nobuhito said, turning toward Rumiko in the tea room, his voice carrying a trace of relief.

Grandma Rumiko nodded slightly, a genuine, gentle smile appearing on her face.

“Not bad. Your concentration is excellent, your comprehension decent, and you possess some talent in sensing ‘qi.’ You truly do have the potential for cultivation.”

The moment her words fell, silence descended outside the veranda.

The expressions of the shrine descendants who had been waiting to watch him embarrass himself instantly became colorful mixtures of shock, disbelief, awkwardness, and restrained humiliation before undeniable reality.

Sato Go and Akiyama Aya looked especially awful, as though someone had slapped them across the face in public.

“Beginning next week, you may come to the shrine every weekend and study the foundational lessons together with Kyoko and the others.”

Grandma Rumiko had made her decision.

Her gaze swept calmly across the youths outside with their varied expressions.

“Since you are entering this path, you must follow the shrine’s rules, cultivate diligently, and never grow lazy. And all of you should remember this as well—spiritual cultivation values righteousness of heart above sectarian prejudice.”

The final sentence was clearly directed at the narrow-minded shrine descendants.

Several of them hurriedly lowered their heads in acknowledgment.

Nobuhito bowed deeply and solemnly toward Grandma Rumiko.

“Yes! Thank you very much. I’ll definitely study hard.”

He knew this door had only opened a tiny crack.

The road ahead would certainly be filled with thorns, and true sorcery training would be anything but easy.

But no matter what, he had finally taken a solid step toward gaining power and protecting those important to him.

The sun fully disappeared, and night spread across the sky like soft black silk.

Inside the shrine, paper lanterns beneath the eaves lit up one after another, casting warm orange halos through the darkness.

Nobuhito solemnly bid farewell to Grandma Rumiko and Kyoko before setting off toward home.

Inside his mind, the rhythm of the Heart-Purifying Mantra flowed like clear spring water, washing away the exhaustion of the trial and leaving behind an unprecedented sense of subtle clarity.

More than half an hour later, he returned home.

Warm light and the aroma of food greeted him immediately.

A lavish dinner had already been arranged on the low dining table: perfectly grilled mackerel glistening with oil, silky chawanmushi, refreshing spinach dressed with sesame, and a small steaming pot of tofu miso soup.

His mother, Risa, was busy bringing the final small dish—pickled vegetables—to the table.

His “father” had apparently just returned as well, still carrying a hint of the cool night air on him.

“I’m home,” Nobuhito said at the entrance.

“Ah, Nobuhito’s back! Perfect timing, dinner’s ready,” Risa called out, sounding lighter and more cheerful than usual, a smile on her face. “I made a few extra dishes today… to make up for the scare we had earlier.”

As she spoke, she smiled a little awkwardly.

Perhaps because of the unexpected breakthrough at the shrine that had eased his mood somewhat, or perhaps because of the rare warmth surrounding the dinner table, Nobuhito unusually took the initiative to chat with his mother about ordinary school matters while eating.

The topics were simple, but they made Risa visibly happy. Even her eyes brightened.

That caused Nobuhito’s hand holding his chopsticks to pause slightly.

A trace of guilt quietly crossed his heart.

Had he… normally been too silent?

Had he spoken too little with his mother?

Was such an ordinary conversation enough to make her this pleasantly surprised?

Just then, his “father,” Nakano Masao—who had been quietly eating and rarely participated in idle conversation—suddenly set down his chopsticks and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

His calm gaze turned toward Nobuhito.

“Nobuhito,” he said quietly, “if I remember correctly, that classmate you mentioned—Oda-san—is a shrine maiden from Koami Inari Shrine, yes?”

Nobuhito’s heart tightened slightly, though his expression remained calm.

“Yes, Father.”

“You went to the shrine to see her this afternoon?”

The man’s tone carried no obvious emotion, as though he were simply making casual conversation.

But Nobuhito’s thoughts accelerated instantly.

Two consecutive days spent at the shrine, staying for long periods each time—and with the “Eye Cages” unable to penetrate the shrine barrier to observe what happened inside…

His actions had indeed attracted his “father’s” attention and suspicion.

He needed a reasonable explanation.

One that could also be maintained long-term.

In a flash, an idea surfaced.

Although it was somewhat risky and… embarrassing.

Right on cue, a faint blush appropriate for a boy his age appeared on his face.

He lowered his head, his voice becoming softer and more hesitant with embarrassment.

“Sorry, Father… I… I like Kyoko. So… I wanted to visit the shrine more often to see her and talk with her…”

“Pfft—cough cough!”

Beside him, Risa—who had just taken a sip of miso soup—immediately choked on the completely straightforward confession.

Covering her mouth, she stared at Nobuhito with wide eyes, shock practically overflowing from her expression.

Whoa! Seriously?!

According to everything she knew before transmigrating, weren’t ten-year-old elementary school boys supposed to still be playing in dirt, watching cartoons, and worrying about homework and snacks?

Even if they matured early, shouldn’t it just be vague puppy crushes at most?

But this… this had already escalated into openly saying “I like her” and frequently running to the shrine for what basically sounded like dates?!

Were Japanese elementary schoolers really this “open” and action-oriented?

As his nominal mother, her brain was short-circuiting.

According to conventional parenting logic, wasn’t she supposed to launch into some lecture about “puppy love affecting studies” and “you’re both still too young”?

But seeing Nobuhito’s embarrassed yet strangely determined expression, she also felt that forcefully separating young lovers somehow seemed wrong.

Then… should she encourage him?

No, that seemed even more wrong!

She had absolutely no experience with this!

Help!

After a barrage of frantic thoughts flashed through her mind, Risa barely managed to recover her voice.

“Um… Nobuhito… do you… really like her?”

The moment she asked, she immediately wanted to cover her face.

That question sounded so stupid.