Put Your Worry At Bay

"I see that you've won over your destined fate, child."

"...huh?"

The disembodied voice echoed from a direction among the bushes like a gentle breeze passing by. Those words entranced Hisaki. Her eyes were locked there until she saw the small shrine hidden among the bushes.

Did she hear it wrong?

Why did the voice sound so familiar to her?

'Child, I am happy for you and also for him.'

Hisaki frowned slightly, wondering whether she heard it wrong or not.

The voice was kind of familiar...

Where did she hear it before?

A distant memory resurfaced in her mind, echoing the same voice.

The blurry images slowly unfolded, reminding Hisaki of the yard of a shrine, dancing ginkgo leaves in the air, fluttering of a white priest robe and...

Wait...

Hisaki was stunned.

Once the images regained their clarity, a familiar image of a priest in his white robe materialized clearly in her mind.