For some reason, Haruno felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity.
The feeling of walking beside him, chatting about random things, and realizing their steps had unconsciously synchronized.
Though this wasn't their first meeting, it was the first time she was alone with him. At such a close distance, she felt the presence of someone named Tenkuji Yuu…
Things that were once unfamiliar became familiar, and things that were once familiar almost surfaced without her realizing, like a long-lost treasure about to return to her hands.
The empty space in her heart no longer felt so hollow and cold. The tearing pain seemed to have healed completely. A happiness and satisfaction she'd never felt before welled up from deep within.
(Why am I reacting like this? Could I really be falling for him?)
In her confusion and fear, Haruno still calmly analyzed her psychology—from the jealousy when she saw him with other girls to the happiness she now felt just walking and talking beside him. It was clearly the reaction of someone falling in love.
But was this really the person who would be her first love?
Could Haruno truly fall for a high schooler she'd only met a few times, who felt a bit strange, and who was her little sister's classmate?
If she told her past self this, she'd probably just get scoffed at.
Like when she suddenly told her mother she didn't want an arranged marriage and wanted to choose her own partner, without any strong reason. The outcome was predetermined, so everyone just accepted it.
"Really… so weird."
"Hm? What's weird?"
As soon as the words slipped out, Haruno's expression froze slightly.
(Damn, did I accidentally say my thoughts out loud?!)
(My guard's gotten so bad. Is he a reincarnated fox demon with a natural ability to charm everyone…)
She shifted her gaze from his profile. Looking toward the dance stage in the middle of the shrine, she said casually, "I was saying, the girls who come here to pray to Tamayori Hime no Mikoto for beauty are pretty weird."
"What's the point of praying? What you can't achieve naturally, achieve through effort. If you can't make up for it, develop another talent. They don't even trust plastic surgeons, so why trust a deity to do something for you without much effort?"
At the end, Haruno's tone carried a hint of mockery.
"Don't take it too seriously. In the end, it's just for psychological comfort. After praying, they'll go back to their normal lives. Only a few actually expect miracles."
As if interacting with an ordinary friend, Yuu's attitude toward her became more natural. After admiring the shrine's historic architecture, he turned and walked toward Jouyo-sho.
Jouyo-sho was a place selling various shrine charms and souvenirs.
"What? Buying a charm for your girlfriend?" Haruno followed, curiously eyeing the charms on the table with him. "Or for Yukino? Dango-chan? Are you getting one for everyone?"
"For my little sister."
Amid her barrage of teasing questions, Yuu answered flatly. From five options, he picked the most feminine and stylish one.
The charm was a small lace pouch with a tiny button bearing the shrine's Futaba-aoi emblem. He chose a light blue one, planning to give it to Sora as a gift when he returned, to show his little sister that her brother thought of her most while traveling.
It cost a thousand yen, the second most expensive among the charms sold here.
Yuu looked at it, then also bought the most expensive one. He paid three thousand yen.
As the miko wrapped the lace charm, she smiled and reminded him, "You can hang it on a bag to carry everywhere, or wear it at the waist or as a light necklace. Besides being decorative, it has magical power to pray for beauty and luck. It's perfect for a girlfriend."
From her tone and gaze, she seemed to assume Haruno beside Yuu was his girlfriend.
"Thanks." Yuu nodded in response. Too lazy to explain that he wasn't buying it for anyone or praying for his own beauty, he moved on.
In a spot out of sight, he secretly took out the Misfortune Charm, holding it with the lucky charm in his palm for ten seconds.
When he opened his hand, the charm itself hadn't changed. But the red prayer stamp inside had faded, like peeling paint. There were even faint mold-like marks.
"…Impressive."
Both the dominant power of the Misfortune Charm and the fact that this charm actually held some prayer power amazed Yuu. He pocketed both charms and looked at Haruno, who'd been hesitating for a while.
"Decided, this one!"
She picked up a black comb from the rack, held it beside her smooth face, and smiled at Yuu. "What do you think? This Black Hair Protector suits me, right?"
It was a stone charm shaped like a comb, made from sacred Nachi stone from Kumano. The top bore the Futaba-aoi emblem and Kawai-sha inscription. The box read Nuregarasu (Wet Raven). Supposedly, using it daily to comb hair would make it glossy and beautiful.
"It'd suit your sister better." Yuu gave his honest opinion.
Haruno immediately puffed her cheeks. Her fingers twirled the ends of her pink-dyed hair, and she muttered discontentedly, "I'll dye it all black when I get home and straighten it!"
After grumbling and paying, she acted as if nothing happened. Holding the stone comb in one hand, she pulled a wooden comb from a pocket close to her body. Her lively, teasing eyes locked onto his expression. She deliberately lowered her voice.
"I'll tell you a little secret—don't tell anyone."
"What secret?"
By now, Yuu was unfazed by the wooden comb's appearance. He just tilted his head, looking at her in confusion.
"Every time I brush my hair with this wooden comb, I feel like crying. I feel so sad, like I'm cursed."
Haruno waved the wooden comb but used her other hand to slowly brush her hair from top to bottom with the stone comb.
"Other combs don't make me feel this… Weird, right? Every time I use this comb, I can't hold back tears. Is it my problem or the comb's?"
She seemed genuinely troubled. Haruno sighed as she put the comb down, casually slipping the stone comb into her bag.
Without changing his expression, Yuu said disinterestedly, "Maybe it's your problem? You could ask a paranormal expert or consult the miko here for answers. I don't get weird stuff like that."
"I'd never tell anyone else about this. I haven't even told my mom or Yukino-chan. I'm only telling you, Tenkuji." Her face flushed slightly, and Haruno winked at him playfully.
The corner of Yuu's mouth twitched. He turned and walked away. "If there's nothing else, let's move on."
Haruno had anticipated his reaction. She quickly caught up and forcibly placed the wooden comb in his hand.
"So, help me brush my hair. Just brush from top to bottom, like I did!"
"If I still cry, it means the problem's with the comb. I'd feel a bit relieved… Please, think of it as a small favor for your Onee-san!"