Chapter 139: The Night’s Moon

---

At eleven o’clock at night, Minamoto Kiyomoto left.

A little while later, Itomi Sayaka and Hanyu Chika also left.

The streets of Izumo, neither Chiba nor Tokyo, felt both familiar and strange.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Itomi Sayaka turned her head and smiled at Hanyu Chika.

Since just now, Hanyu Chika had looked preoccupied and hesitant to speak.

“Sayaka, did you… did you really fall for him just now?”

“Fall for who?”

“Minamoto Kiyomoto.”

Itomi Sayaka looked up at the bright moon in the sky. It was a clear night, and the moonlight was bright, but it didn’t bring any warmth to the dark night.

“Chika.”

“Mhm.”

“A capable person will be kind, but never gentle,” Itomi Sayaka said as if talking to herself. “Everything they do succeeds. Growing up in such a life, how can a person be gentle?”

“You mean,” Hanyu Chika was slightly stunned, “Minamoto Kiyomoto doesn’t really want to help us?”

From her observation, no matter how she looked at it, even though her brother had died at his hands, she still couldn’t deny his charm. He didn’t seem to be lying.

“I don’t know,” Itomi Sayaka replied.

“Then?” Hanyu Chika was even more puzzled.

“He might be deceiving us, using us, and will kick us away after he achieves his goal. Or he might genuinely want to help us.”

“What does that have to do with you deliberately showing that you like him?”

“It does,” Itomi Sayaka laughed. “That kid might deceive everyone and not care about anything, but there are only three people he won’t deceive and will definitely care about.”

“Which three?”

“His mother, the Divine Medium, and the Ise Miko—he only cares about his family and the people he likes.”

“You want him to fall for you?” Hanyu Chika looked at her friend in shock.

“That’s not important,” Itomi Sayaka kicked a stone at her feet. “I’m going to become his family. That way, me, you, Rabbit and the others, and my sister and parents, will all be on his mind.”

The night fell silent, the atmosphere heavy.

“Sayaka, you—”

“Don’t misunderstand,” Itomi Sayaka interrupted her friend. “Like I said just now, at least half of what I’m doing is for myself. And he’s good-looking, has high cultivation, and is about to become a Shinto Lord. There’s no harm in being with him, right?”

“But… I still hope you can be with someone you like.”

Itomi Sayaka stopped, and Hanyu Chika also stopped.

The two looked at each other, one with a smile, the other with unconcealable worry.

A car of an unrecognizable model stopped at the intersection behind them, waiting for the traffic light. Its high beams pushed away the darkness around them.

“How do you know I don’t like him?” Itomi Sayaka asked with a smile.

“You like him?!”

“Mmm—” Itomi Sayaka made a thinking sound and continued to walk forward, as if she found the car’s high beams glaring.

Hanyu Chika quickly followed, her eyes fixed on her friend’s mature and pretty face.

“I wouldn’t say like, but I have a good impression. After all, he’s so handsome, capable, and a medical student.”

“A medical student,” Hanyu Chika couldn’t help but laugh a couple of times. “You still haven’t given up on inheriting the hospital?”

“Of course not. It was originally mine. How could I just give it to my stupid sister?”

The car from just now caught up, and its glaring lights ran over them.

“…Chika, don’t blame me,” Itomi Sayaka said softly amidst the sound of the wheels.

“What?” Hanyu Chika had actually heard, but because of the noise, she still asked subconsciously, “Blame you for what?”

“For being with your enemy.”

“It’s okay,” Hanyu Chika took a deep breath of the cold air. Although it was cold, it was very fresh. “Compared to my dead brother, isn’t it more important to let everyone leave the Shinto sect alive and go back to their old lives?”

“And,” she turned her face and smiled at Itomi Sayaka, “if Sayaka can sacrifice herself, why can’t I let go of my hatred?”

“Do I count as a sacrifice?” Itomi Sayaka also laughed. “I don’t think so.”

“By the way, have you thought about how to make him fall for you? Your rivals are the Divine Medium and the Ise Miko!”

“No, I’ll take it one step at a time. Maybe he’s not as bad as I thought.”

“How can that be? I’ll come up with ideas for you!”

“…Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic?”

“In terms of strength, we’re no match for the Divine Medium and the Ise Miko, but when it comes to snatching a man, we’re not afraid of them!”

“You’re wrong. They don’t need to snatch. Minamoto Kiyomoto likes them.”

“Is that so?! Mmm—, a bit difficult. Let me think about it.”

“Don’t think about it. There’s nothing to think about. I’m not in a hurry to have children. I’ll talk about it when I’m thirty.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Sayaka, you’re almost thirty!”

“I… I’m only 26!”

“No, 27.”

“Then Chika, you’re also 27!”

“I’m seventeen.”

“Fine, fine, you’re forever seventeen. Want to get a late-night snack? I’m a little hungry,” Itomi Sayaka caressed her flat and firm abdomen.

“Should we call Minamoto Kiyomoto back and ask him to join us?”

“You’re really worried about him, aren’t you?”

The two of them laughed and joked, and they were back to their days at Juntendo University.

At that time, they didn’t know what yokai were, nor did they need to feel wronged or sacrifice themselves for others. They read fashion magazines, their greatest pain was exams, and their greatest fear was dissecting frogs.

◇

In the dark Mount Yakumo, in the orange light of Izumo-taisha, Minamoto Kiyomoto played with his fox mask and walked leisurely from the approach.

“You’re back?” Himegami Izayoi, in a black and red kimono, stood under the eaves of the side hall, her small, snow-white face smiling at him.

“Why are you waiting outside? Are you cold?” A smile appeared on Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face. He walked forward, and with the hand not holding the mask, he went to put his arm around her shoulder.

Smack! Himegami Izayoi pressed his wrist with her fan.

“Go and hug your Sayaka. I’m not cold,” her smile disappeared, and she said coldly.

“What’s wrong?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked with a smile, puzzled.

“You know yourself,” Himegami Izayoi turned her face away and didn’t look at him.

The light from the side hall shone on her side profile. It was bright and elegant, radiant, a yellow tulip. Minamoto Kiyomoto was mesmerized for a moment.

Himegami Izayoi opened her folding fan with a swish, covering her face. From between her rose-like lips, she let out a light “humph.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help but wrap his arms around her slender waist and kiss her through the fan.

“Izayoi, you’re so cute,” he said in a low voice.

“I’m acting,” Himegami Izayoi said irritably, half-leaning against his chest.

“Cute when you’re acting, elegant when you’re not, and most charming when you’re half-acting.”

Himegami Izayoi glanced at him, a slight smile on her lips, “Stop with the sweet talk and explain what happened just now.”

“You saw everything. What else is there for me to explain?” Minamoto Kiyomoto blew in her ear.

The warm breath tickled Himegami Izayoi’s heart, and she couldn’t help but shrink in Minamoto Kiyomoto’s arms.

“If you let me know you’re with another wild woman—” halfway through, she reached out and pinched Minamoto Kiyomoto’s waist hard.

“Hiss—, that hurts, big sister,” Minamoto Kiyomoto pretended to be very wronged.

“Cut it out. Your answer?”

“I swear, if I’m with another woman again—wait, Miss Kamibayashi doesn’t count, right?”

Himegami Izayoi pinched his waist again.

“I’m talking about her!”

“That’s not okay,” Minamoto Kiyomoto refused sternly. “Just like Miss Kamibayashi told me not to mind you, I won’t agree either.”

“She told you not to mind me? You didn’t agree? What was her expression then?” Himegami Izayoi asked with great interest and a chuckle.

“I was just making an analogy.”

Himegami Izayoi rolled her eyes at him, bored and irritated.

That cute and charming expression made Minamoto Kiyomoto unable to resist lowering his head and kissing her on her snow-white side profile.

Himegami Izayoi smiled sweetly, turned around, and wrapped her arms softly around his neck, her eyes moist as if with water.

Their heartbeats began to accelerate, their moist breaths intertwining.

Just as their four lips touched, before they could use any force, Himegami Izayoi suddenly pushed him away.

She pulled at the collar of her kimono, turned to the side as if angry, and fanned herself vigorously, her bright face flushed red.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was puzzled. Kamibayashi Miko walked out of the hall.

“You’ve been back for a while and haven’t come in. What are you doing?” Kamibayashi Miko asked Minamoto Kiyomoto faintly.

“…Isn’t it because you’ve been watching me with your butterfly shikigami the whole time? Izayoi is here to check on me.”

“I was watching, but I didn’t show her.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s gaze slowly turned to Himegami Izayoi.

“You were bluffing me just now?” he asked in disbelief.

“It’s so hot tonight,” Himegami Izayoi said to herself, fanning herself as she strolled into the hall like a noble lady.

After she was gone, Minamoto Kiyomoto finally withdrew his gaze that wanted to eat her.

“Miss Kamibayashi, I was deceived,” he complained.

“You’ve been back for a while and haven’t come in. What were you doing just now?” Kamibayashi Miko continued to ask.

“You don’t care about me?”

“Mhm, I’m a heartless woman. What were you doing just now?”

“Let’s not talk about that,” after a slight pause, a smile appeared on Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face, and he called out softly, “Miss Kamibayashi.”

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at him, meaning: What is it?

“You promised me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took a step forward, his smile even more ambiguous. “After we deal with the Shinto sect, you’ll let me hug you.”

“Didn’t you hug Izayoi enough just now?” Kamibayashi Miko turned and walked into the hall.

“You don’t know? Why are you still asking me? And, whether you’re really jealous or just pretending, you have to keep your promise, right? You have to let me hug you!” Minamoto Kiyomoto chased after her.

These two women!
“One of you is bluffing, the other is going back on her word. You just know how to bully me, an innocent young boy. I’m telling you, neither of you will get away!”

“So noisy. Be quiet,” Himegami Izayoi was drinking tea.

“Then you promise me, you’ll marry me together with Miss Kamibayashi!” Minamoto Kiyomoto said unreasonably.

“Okay,” Himegami Izayoi agreed casually with a smile.

“Good. Say no more. It’s settled,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s voice was so crisp and clear that one could faintly hear the “thump” of a seal.

“Miko, I’m going to marry him. What are you going to do?” Himegami Izayoi asked Kamibayashi Miko with a smile, holding her teacup.

“Someone promised me,” Kamibayashi Miko’s tone was leisurely, “that before he gets me, he won’t be with anyone else, and he won’t leave me alone.”

“You said that?” Himegami Izayoi’s gaze turned to Minamoto Kiyomoto.

The smile on her charming face remained, but the teacup had been put down. That was a sign that she was about to get physical.

“Ah, it’s so hot,” Minamoto Kiyomoto fanned himself with his mask. “Why is it so hot tonight?”

“Come here. I’ll fan you,” Himegami Izayoi picked up her fan.

“No, it’s okay. I’m actually not that—”

“Come here.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Kamibayashi Miko. Kamibayashi Miko didn’t even look at him. She was indeed a heartless woman.

“One.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto moved one step at a time, carefully walking over.

When he got close, Himegami Izayoi reached out and pulled Minamoto Kiyomoto down, making him lie in her lap, his head resting on a soft part.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t dare to move. This wasn’t the fake “dare not move” when he was wearing the fox mask and pretending to be Turdidae. This was a real “dare not move.”

“Is it comfortable?”

The expected thunderstorm didn’t happen. Instead, a gentle breeze blew in his face, carrying a flower-like fragrance.

Himegami Izayoi fanned him affectionately, her expression gentle, her voice soft, and she looked at him with affection.

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s heart was filled with infinite tenderness.

“…I know,” he said.

“Know what?” Himegami Izayoi asked softly.

“I clearly made a mistake, but instead of scolding me, you’re being so gentle with me… this is war.”

“War?” Himegami Izayoi laughed happily.

“Once I surrender, you’ll win the war, and you won’t be so gentle with me anymore.”

“Then how will I treat you?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto took the fan from Himegami Izayoi’s hand, closed it, and pointed at the spot where he had just been standing.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto,” he said, “kneel.”

As he spoke, he even took a sip of Himegami Izayoi’s teacup, looking like a furious Mrs. Minamoto.

Himegami Izayoi’s body trembled with laughter. This time, Minamoto Kiyomoto enjoyed the soft massage with peace of mind.

After laughing enough, she took back the fan and scolded with a laugh, “Nonsense. How could I make you kneel?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto was about to speak with a grin when he suddenly caught sight of Kamibayashi Miko looking at him coldly. He coughed a couple of times and stood up.

“Where are you going? I’m still hot,” Himegami Izayoi pulled him back into her arms.

“Shouldn’t we separate if it’s hot?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“My heart is hot, but my body is cold. You warm me up,” Himegami Izayoi crossed her arms in front of his chest.

“The kimono will get wrinkled.”

“Stay still,” she hugged him a little tighter. “I’ll tell you about the ‘Honshu Shinto Lord’.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at Kamibayashi Miko. She was drinking tea and not looking this way—this was another Mrs. Minamoto’s angry look.

One was a short, fierce summer thunderstorm, the other was the continuous plum rain in June.

One was beautiful and alluring, the other was pure and fairy-like.

With the two of them by his side, who cared about the world.

The bright yellow light in the hall, Kamibayashi Miko’s red and white shrine maiden’s attire, Himegami Izayoi’s magnificent red and black kimono, their black hair, fair skin, and delicate features.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t hear clearly what the “Honshu Shinto Lord” was.

Before going to bed at night, Kamibayashi Miko warned the drowsy Minamoto Kiyomoto:
“I think it’s better for you to be more serious in your lifestyle. What do you think?”

“Besides you and Himegami Izayoi, the rest—”

“I’m talking about you and the two of us.”

“I seem to have heard this somewhere before. Forget it. No, I just want to be close to the two of you. I just want to be close to you.”

“Then the hug doesn’t count.”

“No problem. From now on, I’ll be serious,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said quite seriously.

Kamibayashi Miko looked at his feigned sincere eyes, hesitant to speak.

Finally, she didn’t say anything, just gave Minamoto Kiyomoto a doting and helpless glare, and gently poked his waist with her hand.

Minamoto Kiyomoto suddenly discovered that among the three of them, his ability to flirt was the worst.

He loved them, and was hopelessly so.