Chapter 3 Transmission

Chapter 3 Transmission

Japan may be small, but it has a high population density, and so the degree of crowding on public transportation was no joke. This wasn't Hikigaya's first time experiencing that sensation.

After riding the crowded train for a few stops, Hikigaya led Komachi, following the crowd that was flowing out of the ticket gate, down a slope and arrived at a shrine.

This shrine was called Asama Shrine, though Hikigaya didn't quite understand what the name meant.

He only knew that since ancient times, Japanese people have revered the frequently erupting Mt. Fuji, considering it the dwelling of gods and Buddhas, and thus developed a unique culture of Mt. Fuji worship. In ancient times, the Japanese even believed that by climbing from the Fuji region to the summit, worshipping along the way, and going on a pilgrimage through the sacred grounds at the foot of the mountain, they could receive the spiritual power of the gods and Buddhas dwelling on Mt. Fuji and eventually achieve a rebirth or nirvana. For this reason, they built Asama Shrines at the mountain's base.

There are a total of eight large and small Asama Shrines in the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures surrounding Mt. Fuji, but this one in Chiba should not be counted among them.

After walking past the large torii gate, Komachi beside Hikigaya began looking around curiously.

But judging from her expression, she definitely wasn't sightseeing.

"Found them! Found them!"

Suddenly she pushed through the crowd and squeezed forward.

Just as Hikigaya was about to call her back, she let out a joyful "Wah!" and jumped into a girl's embrace.

"Happy New Year, you two! Yahallo!" the girl whom Komachi hugged said cheerfully, her bright tea-colored bun-shaped hair swaying with her movement.

Can someone please tell him what the heck "Yahallo" even means?

"Happy New Year," Hikigaya walked up and greeted them.

The girl wore a beige cable-knit cardigan and a long scarf wrapped around her neck. Her raised hands were covered in mittens.

In another world, this girl liked Hikigaya Hachiman.

Her name was Yuigahama Yui.

But she wasn't alone.

Next to her, Hikigaya saw many familiar faces.

The class clown, the bespectacled fujoshi, the flashy blonde who's popular but not a cheater—please forgive Hikigaya for referring to them by nicknames, but he found them far too fitting, almost as accurate as real names.

Excluding the fujoshi of a different breed, there were two other girls present.

Yukinoshita Yukino wore a white coat on top and a plaid mini skirt on the bottom. Her exposed legs were wrapped in black tights—tsk, it suddenly reminded him of Pantyhose Taro from Ranma ½.

As for the whole "style over warmth" thing, Hikigaya didn't say that to her, because someone nearby truly embodied that idea even more.

Miura Yumiko's upper body looked appropriately dressed for the season, but her lower half, exposed beyond the short skirt, left her fair and long legs completely bare.

Feeling Hikigaya's surprised gaze, she fiddled with her golden curls with her fingertips. Her long legs, stretching from her short skirt, pressed more tightly together, and with that movement, the skirt seemed to flutter slightly.

Hikigaya really wanted to ask if she was some kind of Russian girl in Japanese skin…

Like, seriously, were you born in Siberia?

"Yumiko, aren't you cold?"

Hmm, judging by the tone, this must have been asked already.

"Not at all, just regular cold," Yumiko replied, confidently stretching out her curly blond hair into straight strands.

Just as she said that, she gave a small sneeze. Seeing the slightly embarrassed Yumiko, everyone showed an amused expression.

Even Hikigaya let out a silent chuckle—this girl sure loved to act tough when ghosts weren't involved.

"Happy New Year." A soft greeting came to his ears. Yukinoshita Yukino had buried her face into her scarf. Though her greeting was formal, she seemed a bit embarrassed.

Although he didn't understand what there was to be embarrassed about, Hikigaya still returned the greeting.

That said, with everyone just standing here exchanging New Year's greetings one after another, it started to feel a little silly.

"Alright, let's go."

The one who ended the exchange was Komachi. She spoke and took the lead into the crowd, and the others followed after seeing her move.

Hikigaya lagged slightly behind and walked alongside Miura, transferring a bit of warmth to her.

Young girls really didn't understand how dangerous this was. Doing that could easily hurt your body, and as you age, some problems might start to show.

"Thanks," Miura said softly.

Ever since the last incident, Miura had come to believe he wasn't just some martial artist as he claimed, so it wasn't strange she noticed his actions.

"No problem. Actually, you could just wear tights like Yukinoshita does," Hikigaya said as they walked slowly.

"Oh, I'll wear them next time." Miura's voice sounded a bit dejected for a moment, but Hikigaya didn't say anything further.

After all, he couldn't just say, "Your bare legs are nice to look at," could he?

They continued moving with the crowd, and the stalls lining the road drew the attention of Yuigahama and Komachi for a moment. But with Yukinoshita's suggestion of "let's come back after praying," they gave up and returned to the path.

After a while, the group climbed the stone steps and entered the shrine grounds. Here, the crowd was less dense and there were no food stalls.

This was the place of worship—the shrine's main hall.

"What are you all going to wish for?"

"New Year shrine visits aren't about making wishes, right? It's not Tanabata…"

"Yeah, today isn't the kind of festival for making realistic wishes."

"Uwah—you two are so boring."

The girls chatted as they arrived in front of the shrine.

Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were the first to toss coins, ring the bell, perform the two bows and two claps, and then quietly closed their eyes.

In this solemn atmosphere, the rest of the group followed suit.

Hikigaya glanced around—everyone had their eyes closed peacefully, exhaling softly, silently muttering something.

Of course, he wouldn't pray.

Shrines with such thriving incense offerings were bound to house some spiritual entity in the main hall.

Since it hadn't done anything to bother him, he wouldn't disturb it either.

Tamamo-no-Mae didn't come this time—she apparently had no interest in this kind of shrine.

As Hikigaya looked around, he noticed that in the spacious shrine courtyard, there were many serious-looking shrine maidens, and as he glanced at them, they all bowed slightly toward him.

The committee really was everywhere.

Finally, everyone finished their prayers and began walking back.

Now it was playtime. The roadside stalls were there for that purpose.

Watching Komachi happily darting about, Hikigaya honestly worried she might slip and fall flat on her face...

"Hikigaya-kun."

Hikigaya suddenly felt someone tug at his sleeve.

He turned his head—it was Yukinoshita Yukino.

"What is it?"

"Um…"

Yukinoshita seemed a bit hesitant.

"It's a message from my sister. Would you be able to come to my house tomorrow? Father apparently has something important he wants to ask of you."

"Oh?"

After a moment's thought, he agreed. Though he didn't understand why the Yukinoshita family didn't have Haruno tell him directly, there was no harm in agreeing.

But then he heard Yukinoshita Yukino ask, "You and my sister… you're really not in that kind of relationship, right?"

"You know what your sister's like… don't worry, we're not like that. I really can't handle her."

"Is that so…" Yukinoshita Yukino seemed slightly displeased, but quickly returned to her usual cool expression and walked off to the side.