Chapter 178: A Chance Encounter?

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At eleven o’clock, Himegami Izayoi finished her training and lazily went to the shrine, planning to chat with Minamoto Kiyomoto or Kamibayashi Miko before lunch.

The weather was very good today. The warm winter sun shone through the bare branches of the plum tree and onto the tatami in the living room of the shrine.

There was no one in the living room, and there were no signs of the three-story bookshelf against the wall having been touched.

“Where is everyone?” she asked Shirako, who was setting the table.

Shirako’s delicate little face, her delicate eyebrows, blinked delicately, “I don’t know about the piglet. Lady Miko is training.”

Himegami Izayoi nodded nonchalantly.

After eliminating the Coral Demon Moth, Kamibayashi Miko’s training speed would greatly increase in a short period of time, so she was naturally more diligent.

She left the living room and walked towards Minamoto Kiyomoto’s bedroom. As she passed the outer corridor, the sun shone warmly on her face, and her heart also warmed up…

A minute later, she came back, looking at Shirako with a smile.

Shirako had lived for many, many years and had seen many, many things, but being looked at by her, her little heart still couldn’t help but beat wildly.

“What… what are you looking at me for?”

“Where is everyone?”

“What people?”

With a “snap,” Himegami Izayoi opened her fan.

Shirako’s delicate little face trembled, not very delicately.

“He… they said they were going out to buy a gift for Ayako.”

After saying this, Shirako hurriedly added, “They went out separately!”

“I see,” Himegami Izayoi closed her fan. “I’m going out.”

“What for?” Shirako hurriedly chased after her.

“To buy a gift for Aunt Ayako.”

“It’s almost lunchtime!”

“I’ll eat out.”

“I’ve already made…” Shirako stood at the entrance of the shrine, watching Himegami Izayoi go down the mountain leisurely with a fan in the middle of winter.

The Hokkaido Miko happened to walk in, glanced at Himegami Izayoi’s back, and then at the expectant Shirako.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Shirako put away all her expressions and said as if nothing had happened, “It’s nothing.”

Rikka, who originally had nothing, stared at her expression for a while, then floated lightly towards Himegami Izayoi, every white hair shining.

Shirako took a deep breath and shivered.

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Minato Ward, Aoyama, a Nordic-style coffee and bar.

The soft sunlight shone through the window, making the inside of the shop sparkle, as if it were soaked in a sea of light.

Minamoto Kiyomoto and Kamibayashi Miko sat by the window and ordered lattes, salads, carrot cakes, and a snack platter. The gifts they had bought for Ayako were placed at their feet.

“I wonder if she’ll like it,” Kamibayashi Miko said, eating her salad with a knife and fork.

“It’s the thought that counts,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took a sip of coffee.

Kamibayashi Miko had bought a fur coat that cost more than a million yen. It was said to be very popular with some noble ladies and was a bestseller this winter.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was sure that Ayako would definitely not like it.

He consulted Aunt Tamahime, who recommended a palace dress with lamb-leg sleeves—in that shop, there were all teenage girls, and also twenty-something young women pretending to be teenagers.

The two of them were silent for a while. Kamibayashi Miko glanced at Minamoto Kiyomoto and asked him, “Have you ever been on a date with Izayoi?”

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto thought for a moment and replied.

“A 760,000 yen ring,” Kamibayashi Miko bit into a tomato in her salad and looked at him with her eyes.

“That,” Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed. “I didn’t like her at all at that time. It doesn’t count.”

Kamibayashi Miko let out a light hum of unknown meaning and glanced out the window at the lush evergreen trees.

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at her, and the warmth of the coffee welled up in his heart.

“If you give me money, I’ll buy one for you too,” he said with a smile.

“Buy one for me with my money?” Kamibayashi Miko asked back.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her, did not speak, just smiled.

Kamibayashi Miko, who was being looked at, was expressionless for a while, then turned her face away and also laughed.

“Miko, I like you.”

“How much do you like me?” Kamibayashi Miko asked him curiously, a smile on her face.

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s right hand passed through the coffee cup, the dinner plate, and the minimalist vase with tulips, and held her left hand.

The sun shone on their clasped hands, very warm.

‘This is indecent!’

As if hearing this voice, Kamibayashi Miko shyly withdrew her hand and began to enjoy her simple meal.

“Where are we going after dinner? Shibuya Sky? Disneyland? Or to an arcade, karaoke, or something like that?”

As Minamoto Kiyomoto spoke, he lightly tapped the dinner plate with the handle of his spoon.

On the dinner plate appeared the roller coaster of Disneyland, the observation deck of Shibuya Sky, and the bright red and purple lights of the arcade.

Kamibayashi Miko chose with great interest, and Minamoto Kiyomoto watched her choose with great interest.

“How about going to Disney?” his attention was all on her beautiful face. “There’s a double-decker train there, and a world bazaar full of small gifts. It’s said that once you go in, you can’t get out.”

Kamibayashi Miko raised her eyes and glanced at him, meaning: Have you been there?

“I heard it from a crow, and the crow heard it from someone who has been there.”

After Minamoto Kiyomoto finished explaining, he added another sentence, “This is my first date. Everything is new to me.”

Kamibayashi Miko had never been to any of the places that appeared on the dinner plate either.

Her sphere of influence was only Hakusan Shrine-University of Tokyo, and at most, Ueno Park.

Anyway, she couldn’t speak within ten minutes, so she wasn’t in a hurry and chose slowly.

If she had a preference, she would let Minamoto Kiyomoto explain further. At the same time, she would eat the salad, steak, and fries, and drink coffee, one bite at a time.

In the process, she discovered something. Minamoto Kiyomoto’s voice was very pleasant.

In the winter sun, watching him lean over slightly, speaking softly and eloquently, a warmth welled up from the bottom of her heart, making one want to listen forever.

Finally, the two of them decided to spend the afternoon at Disney and then enjoy the Christmas fireworks at night.

“This time when we go back, can I introduce you to my mother?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile.

Kamibayashi Miko’s action of eating salad with a knife and fork paused. After about a second, she put the perilla in her mouth and chewed it carefully.

“What introduction?” she asked as if nothing had happened.

“As a girlfriend, a fiancée would be better. It would be best to register for marriage now.”

“You’ve persuaded Izayoi to be the second wife?”

“Well,” Minamoto Kiyomoto hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ve already decided to marry her as my first wife.”

Before Kamibayashi Miko could respond, he explained:

“I don’t want to lie to you, and I don’t want to be in a dilemma. She has done a lot for me, and I have also promised her.”

“You have a conscience,” Himegami Izayoi appeared from somewhere, sat next to Minamoto Kiyomoto, took his knife and fork, forked a piece of steak that had just been served, and took a bite with relish.

Unexpectedly, Minamoto Kiyomoto was stunned.

At the same time, the Hokkaido Miko, with her hair turned black, sat opposite him, next to Kamibayashi Miko, and drank his coffee.

He and Kamibayashi Miko were squeezed to the window, their clothes rubbing against the glass.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“It’s cold,” the Hokkaido Miko put down her coffee.

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at her and continued to look at Himegami Izayoi.

“She can come, but I can’t?” Himegami Izayoi played with the knife and fork with the steak, and sized up Kamibayashi Miko with a smile.

“We met by chance,” Kamibayashi Miko pulled out the coat that was pressed under Rikka’s butt.

“A chance encounter?”

“Buying gifts.”

“Buying gifts?”

“Buying a gift for Aunt Ayako.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Himegami Izayoi asked curiously.

“Why should we go together?” Kamibayashi Miko asked back seriously.

“What do you mean, why? Haven’t we always been together?”

“Always is forever. I’m twenty years old. I didn’t know you for nineteen years. How can it be always?”

“You’re quibbling. You know what I mean by ‘always.’ This past year, which shopping trip haven’t we gone on together? Why are you alone today? And you just happened to meet by chance.”

Himegami Izayoi emphasized ‘alone’ and ‘chance encounter.’

Kamibayashi Miko looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto, “Kiyomoto, tell her for me—I was alone, and then we met by chance.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s pupils slowly dilated—You want me to say it?

“Or what?” Kamibayashi Miko gave a definite answer.

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his head and looked at Himegami Izayoi next to him. The sun shone on Himegami Izayoi’s face. She held a shining knife and fork and smiled brightly.

A chill ran up Minamoto Kiyomoto’s spine, a bad premonition.

He turned his head again and looked at Kamibayashi Miko.

“Say it,” Kamibayashi Miko looked at him faintly.

“Hiss—” Minamoto Kiyomoto took a deep breath, very much like Shirako’s.

“Kiyomoto, get me a cup of hot coffee,” Rikka said.

“Waiter!” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s hand shot up like a spring, not pressing the service bell on the table.

Kamibayashi Miko and Himegami Izayoi both looked at the Hokkaido Miko at the same time.

Rikka, as beautiful as a doll, took another sip of the cold coffee and shook her head as if it wasn’t good enough.

Himegami Izayoi put down her knife and fork, her arms crossed on the table, and asked Rikka, “Why are you here?”

Rikka raised her head and looked at the three of them—Minamoto Kiyomoto was staring at the evergreen tree outside the window with a “don’t look at me” expression, wondering why it didn’t shed its leaves.

“A chance encounter?” she tilted her head and said as if asking for an opinion.

“You too, a chance encounter?” Himegami Izayoi’s teasing was mixed with a bit of a sneer.

“My first meeting with Kiyomoto was a chance encounter, in the flower sea of Furano, Hokkaido.”

“That’s quite poetic,” Himegami Izayoi commented.

“You’re not answering the question,” Kamibayashi Miko took a sip of her coffee.

“Aren’t you talking about a chance encounter?” the Hokkaido Miko asked with confusion.

“Was it a chance encounter?” Himegami Izayoi turned her face sideways and asked Minamoto Kiyomoto with a smile.

“You know the situation at that time,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

“Then say it clearly. If you don’t say it clearly, I don’t know what you want to ask.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing.”

The waitress came up, brought four cups of coffee, was surprised by the appearance of the four of them, and was a little curious about Himegami Izayoi, who was staring at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

When she left, she even secretly looked back, as if they would start fighting at any moment.

“Was it a chance encounter?” Himegami Izayoi stared at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto held the coffee cup with both hands, trying to get warm.

“So you came to find me on purpose,” the Hokkaido Miko drank the hot coffee and nodded with satisfaction.

Himegami Izayoi turned her head to look at her. At this moment, Kamibayashi Miko laughed, and she laughed softly.

When Himegami Izayoi looked over, she picked up her coffee cup and looked out the window as if nothing had happened.

Himegami Izayoi sneered, took out her fan, opened it with a “snap,” and fanned the two of them vigorously.

“Hmm! Cold!” the Hokkaido Miko subconsciously leaned back.

Kamibayashi Miko also closed her eyes, her face blown by the cold wind so much that she couldn’t breathe smoothly.

After dealing with the two of them, Himegami Izayoi glanced at Minamoto Kiyomoto again. Minamoto Kiyomoto sat upright, his face expressionless, not smiling.

“Speak.”

“Ah?”

“Ah?”

“Ah!”

“Ah.”

The two of them laughed at the same time.

Himegami Izayoi laughed and lightly tapped Minamoto Kiyomoto’s shoulder with her folding fan.

“What are they talking about?” the Hokkaido Miko asked Kamibayashi Miko with confusion.

“Ah,” Kamibayashi Miko drank her coffee and replied calmly.

The Hokkaido Miko felt that this world was too difficult to understand.

After drinking the coffee and paying the bill, Minamoto Kiyomoto and Kamibayashi Miko accompanied the other two to choose a gift for Ayako.

Himegami Izayoi bought a belt for a kimono, black, with a flame-colored pattern.

Rikka bought a yukata and also bought one for herself. They were both white, with a light blue snowflake pattern.

Kamibayashi Miko, who had bought a fur coat, supported her chin with her hand and fell into deep thought.

“What’s wrong?” Himegami Izayoi asked her strangely.

Kamibayashi Miko slowly turned her head and looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“It’s actually nothing, cough,” Minamoto Kiyomoto was not very confident.

“Wait for me,” Kamibayashi Miko put down the hand that was supporting her chin and walked into the kimono shop.

“What did she buy?” Himegami Izayoi looked at her back and asked Minamoto Kiyomoto curiously.

“A fur coat,” Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned close to her ear and said in a low and fast voice.

About two seconds later, Himegami Izayoi laughed so hard she fell into his arms. Minamoto Kiyomoto subconsciously reached out and held her slender waist.

Kamibayashi Miko, who was choosing a kimono belt, glanced at this side, and Minamoto Kiyomoto took his hand away.

Himegami Izayoi whispered and sternly ordered, “Put it on.”

“…Sister, let me go.”

Himegami Izayoi snorted. For the sake of him being alone with Kamibayashi Miko just now and still saying he would marry her as his first wife, she let him go.

The next moment, she suddenly reacted.

What does this have to do with being the first wife? Is he really going to marry two?

Thinking again, she relaxed. Just like before, she pretended to agree and let Kamibayashi Miko toss and turn, making her look like a good woman.

But, what if Kamibayashi Miko agreed to the three of them being together and didn’t care about being the first wife? What should she do then?
“Kiyomoto,” she was deep in thought when she heard the Hokkaido Miko’s voice again.

“What’s wrong?”

“I want a hug too.”

“No.”

Yes, and this Rikka.

Himegami Izayoi, judging others by herself, did not believe that Rikka was really as simple as snow. She looked white, but once she melted, she was a black mass of mud.

Besides Rikka, there were also the Itomi sisters. It was difficult for a man to resist their temptation.

“What are you thinking about?” Minamoto Kiyomoto lowered his head and asked.

“Thinking about you.”

“…”

“What’s with that expression? Are you scared?” Himegami Izayoi said with a laugh and stood up from his arms.

People were coming and going. She was a little embarrassed. Such an intimate act had to be done under the pretense of being drunk.

“Where are you going with your Miss Kamibayashi later?” her tone was teasing and slightly questioning.

“Disney,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“So happy.”

“It’s alright.”

“Hmm—” she made a meaningful sound, then said, “You didn’t invite me.”

“This is a date between me and Miss Kamibayashi. That…”

“You didn’t invite me.”

“At least today, I want to be alone with…”

“You still didn’t invite me.”

“Let her come,” Kamibayashi Miko, who had bought a new gift, came over.

“As expected of the Divine Medium, your capacity is so great,” Himegami Izayoi clapped her hands and laughed.

Kamibayashi Miko didn’t even look at her and said to Minamoto Kiyomoto, “I also sacrificed myself for you. Shouldn’t the first wife be mine?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

He didn’t know what to say. He really didn’t care about who was the first wife. He just wanted to be with the two of them.

“You’re playing this trick?” Himegami Izayoi was stunned for a moment, then laughed, “Rikka, I’ll allow you to be with us.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto was incredulous and looked at her in surprise.

“I don’t want to be with you. The one I want to be with is Kiyomoto,” Rikka said.

Himegami Izayoi ignored Rikka. She pointed at Minamoto Kiyomoto and said to Kamibayashi Miko, “He didn’t refuse. He has this thought.”

Kamibayashi Miko’s cold gaze stared at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“No, I refused! In my heart, really! I was just too surprised and didn’t say it out loud! Believe me!” Minamoto Kiyomoto hurriedly explained.

Kamibayashi Miko suddenly laughed and said, “Then I’ll allow the Itomi sisters. Two of them.”

“Cough, cough!”

“Kiyomoto, are you okay?” Rikka patted Minamoto Kiyomoto’s back, her face showing a worried expression for the sake of being worried—that is, she wasn’t worried at all.

“Let’s not threaten each other anymore,” Himegami Izayoi said to Kamibayashi Miko. “As I’ve said before: bloodshed can be avoided.”

“Okay,” Kamibayashi Miko nodded. “This will only let him take advantage. But the matter of the first wife…”

“Master Kiyo,” Himegami Izayoi’s gaze turned to him, and she said with a smile, “Tell her for me, who is the first wife.”

“Susu, you tell her for me too—if I hadn’t been deceived, you wouldn’t have had a chance.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the Hokkaido Miko and asked her, “Are you going?”

“A love hotel?” Rikka tilted her head and asked.

“Disneyland!”