146 A Girl's Resolve to Uphold Her Duty 

After leaving the worship hall, Yukino retraced her steps along the corridor.

As she turned a corner near an auxiliary hall, she was startled by the unexpected sight before her.

A long line of townspeople, many of whom played various roles in the community—stood quietly in the hallway outside the side hall.

Seeing such a solemn queue at this hour, in the dimly lit atmosphere of the shrine, sent a chill down her spine.

Even though this was the shrine of the god she revered, the sight unsettled her.

The people in line also noticed her, and among them, Yukino recognized an elderly woman who often gave her fresh vegetables.

The old woman merely nodded at her with a gentle smile, still adhering to the silent formality of the line.

Yukino returned the gesture with a slight bow, instinctively lowering her footsteps as she walked past, afraid that even the dust under her feet might disturb the quiet air.

She kept her head down, intending to leave the oppressive atmosphere as quickly as possible.

However, as she passed by the entrance of the side hall, a voice from within caught her attention.

She slowed her pace and turned her head to look inside.

The interior was brightly lit, making everything as clear as if it were daytime.

So, this is where Mitsuha had rushed off to.

Yukino saw Mitsuha Miyamizu, dressed in a red and white miko outfit, kneeling on a cushion.

Her expression carried a warmth capable of soothing hearts as she gently held an elderly woman's hand, speaking to her in a soft voice.

When the old woman spoke, Mitsuha would fall silent, her brown eyes calm and unwavering as she listened intently.

Yukino recognized the old woman as well—someone known for her sharp tongue.

During her time in Itomori, not everyone she encountered had been friendly.

"She doesn't look like a good person… Who knows what she did out there to end up hiding here?"

Yukino could still remember hearing those words from an older lady who, despite her seemingly kind appearance, had spoken them so casually when Yukino greeted her with a smile and a bow.

That night, Yukino downed three cans of beer, but she still couldn't shake off the sting of those words.

For three nights in a row, those cruel remarks echoed in her dreams.

And yet, facing that same woman now, Mitsuha showed no hint of impatience.

Yukino could clearly see how the elder's wrinkled hand gripped Mitsuha's delicate, pale fingers so tightly that deep red marks had formed on her skin.

But even with the pain, Mitsuha's smile never wavered—it remained just as warm as before.

"That brat, he's just waiting for me to die so he can inherit the money my mother left me. I won't let him get what he wants."

The old woman's sharp, bitter voice rang through the room.

The moment Yukino heard it, it felt like a nightmare rushing back to her.

She instinctively wanted to leave, yet at the same time, curiosity kept her rooted in place, she wanted to see how Mitsuha would respond.

"That's not true. Every child loves their parents."

Mitsuha's voice was different from usual. The clumsy, hurried tone she often had was gone, replaced by a steady, soothing cadence that compelled people to listen.

"Then why don't you and your sister live with your father? Isn't it because you don't want to serve your own parent either?"

That was too much!

Even someone as gentle as Yukino felt a surge of anger. Was this really a confession of one's troubles to the gods? This old woman was just here to pick a fight!

But to Yukino's surprise, Mitsuha's smile only grew softer.

She even reached out her other hand, clasping the elder's frail, age-spotted hands with both of her own.

Leaning forward slightly, she spoke with a sincerity that could melt even the hardest heart.

"It's because I love my father, and I love my mother… That's why I stayed here."

"To serve my grandmother in their place, so that neither my mother in the afterlife nor my father, who left for his own path, would bear the sin of filial neglect."

Yukino could listen no longer.

If she stayed any longer, she feared she would burst into tears.

Covering her mouth lightly with one hand to suppress any sound, she turned and hurried away from the side hall as quickly as possible.

It wasn't until she had walked a fair distance that she managed to steady her emotions.

She owed Mitsuha an apology for her earlier thoughts.

When Yotsuba had mentioned that Mitsuha's guidance sometimes went well and sometimes didn't, Yukino had assumed that Mitsuha only succeeded when the god possessed her body.

But now, she realized Mitsuha was capable of guiding people even on her own.

Only now did she begin to understand the circumstances of the Miyamizu family.

Mitsuha's mother, Futaba Miyamizu, had passed away early.

Her father, Toshiki Miyamizu, had left the family and entered politics, leaving only Mitsuha, her aging grandmother, and her younger sister in the shrine.

To say the family had collapsed might be an exaggeration, but for a little girl, it was nothing short of a disaster.

Yet, instead of following her father and living under his protection, she chose to stay. She remained at the shrine to care for her grandmother and raise her little sister.

'Caw— Caw—'

A sudden sound startled Yukino out of her thoughts.

She looked up just in time to see a shadow flapping its wings, soaring across the dim night sky.

"Sometimes, I get scared by those sounds too," Yukino recalled Yotsuba's words from earlier.

She wondered on those nights when Yotsuba was frightened by unfamiliar sounds, did Mitsuha really rush to her side as Yotsuba had described?

Did she wrap her arms around her little sister, whispering reassurances?

Did she clumsily sing lullabies, mimicking the mother they had lost, softly lulling her sister back to sleep?

The thought made Yukino realize why the gods had chosen such an ordinary girl to be their shrine maiden.

Upon arriving at the reception room, she found Miyamizu Hitoha sitting upright, sipping tea while watching television.

Despite being alone, she still maintained the strict, formal posture that made others uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Yotsuba was engrossed in a manga.

"Yukino, you're done?"

As soon as Yotsuba noticed her, she immediately tossed the manga aside and beamed with excitement.

Ever since Yukino had first visited the shrine, Yotsuba had admired her elegance.

Now, having the chance to talk with her at home felt like a dream come true.

"Yeah."

With newfound admiration for Mitsuha, Yukino's gaze softened when she looked at Yotsuba.

After responding to her, she turned to Hitoha and bowed respectfully.

"It's getting late, so I'll be heading out now."

"Eh? You're leaving already? Don't you want to wait and say goodbye to my sister?" Yotsuba pouted, clearly reluctant to let her go.

"Mitsuha seems like she'll be busy for a while. I'll just see her tomorrow at school. Could you let her know I'm sorry for not saying goodbye?" Yukino smiled.

"I guess that's true… Alright then, be careful on your way home!" Yotsuba sighed, glancing toward the side hall where a long line of townspeople still waited.

She couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for her sister.

"I'll make you some snacks tomorrow." Yukino smiled at Yotsuba's reluctance, resisting the urge to stay a little longer.

She then politely bid farewell to Hitoha as well.

"Alright, you should start getting ready for bed too."

Watching Yotsuba linger at the doorway, still looking out for Yukino, Hitoha chuckled.

"But we haven't practiced the Kagura dance yet!" Yotsuba protested.

"Well, that's because you kept getting distracted during practice. Tomorrow, we'll train twice as much."

"Aww, but Yukino was here! I just wanted to spend more time with her!" Yotsuba pouted.

"Enough, off to the bath with you."

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