Morning came, spilling soft golden light through the paper screens. The air was cool and smelled of cedar and damp earth.
Makoto was the second one to wake up. Mika was already sitting gracefully by the window, fully dressed in a fresh yukata with a tourist map of the local area spread out before her. She sipped her tea with the kind of focused concentration usually reserved for final exams rather than family vacations.
Yuna sat up, her gray twin tails sticking out at odd angles. She rubbed her eyes, scowling at Mika's back. "Morning already?" she grumbled. "I was having a dream where I won the bet, and Mika had to sleep on the porch."
"Good morning to you, Yuna," Mika said without turning around. "Try not to be so grumpy, you can have your revenge later."
Mafuyu woke up with a soft gasp, her hands immediately going to her stomach. "Oh my… good morning, everyone. Did you all sleep well?"
Ayane stretched her arms over her head with a loud yawn. "I feel amazing! All that cleaning last night really did the trick! Good morning, husband!" She winked at Makoto.
Mika finally turned from her map, wearing a satisfied smile. She looked directly at Makoto. "Good morning, darling. I trust you're well-rested," she said, her tone calm but her eyes gleaming. "Breakfast is in half an hour. After that, the Hakone-gu shrine awaits our wholesome family trip."
After breakfast, they started walking to the shrine. "Let's hope it's not too crowded," Makoto said. "I read that their charms work well, so they're easily sold out."
The path to the shrine was a beautiful, winding trail of ancient stone steps, shaded by a canopy of massive cedar trees. The morning air was crisp, and the only sounds were their footsteps, the distant cry of a cicada, and the cheerful, chaotic chatter of his family.
"Wow! It's just like in that isekai anime where the hero gets a blessing from the god of swordsmanship!" Ayane shouted, pointing at a moss-covered stone lantern. "Do you think they sell a charm to increase your stamina? If they do, I'm buying it for you, Makoto!"
"Don't be stupid," Yuna scoffed, clinging tightly to Makoto's arm as they navigated a particularly steep set of steps. She was out of breath but trying her best to hide it. "Those things are just tourist traps. They're probably mass-produced in a sweatshop anyway."
Despite her words, Makoto could see her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the serene, ancient atmosphere.
"They are not mass-produced, Yuna," Mika said calmly, walking a few steps ahead with her usual effortless grace. "Hakone-gu is one of the most important shrines in the region. The omamori (charms) are consecrated by the priests. The one for safe childbirth is particularly renowned, which is why, as Makoto said, they are often sold out by mid-morning."
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at the path ahead. "But you don't need to worry about that." She patted the elegant handbag hanging from her shoulder. "I called ahead yesterday and arranged for a set to be reserved for us."
"You WHAT?!" Ayane and Yuna shrieked in unison. Mika just smirked. "There's a reason Makoto let me manage the harem, girls."
Mafuyu, who had been walking quietly beside them, clasped her hands together in delight. "Oh, Mika-chan! That's so wonderful!" She looked at Makoto, her eyes shining with sincerity. "I was going to pray for all of us. For your health, for the babies, and for our complicated little family to be happy."
They reached the top of the steps and passed through the massive vermilion torii gate. The main shrine complex opened up before them: imposing wooden buildings, a vast purification trough, and a crowded courtyard bustling with worshippers and tourists.
"Okay," Ayane said, her voice dropping to an awed whisper. "I retract my isekai comment. This is a high-budget JRPG hub area."
It took Makoto's breath away for a second. "Wow, I didn't expect it to be so crowded in the early morning. Stick together," Makoto said, stepping up to cover them. He grasped Yuna's and Mafuyu's hands firmly.
The command was simple, but the effect was immediate. As his hands closed around theirs, the chaotic energy of the crowd seemed to quieten around their protected bubble.
Yuna immediately squeezed Makoto's hand with a smirk on her face. She subtly positioned herself in front of him, using her body as an additional shield. "Hmph. Good idea," she muttered, loud enough for the others to hear. "You'd get lost without me, big bro. Or worse, you'd wander off with the first busty shrine maiden you see."
Mafuyu let out a soft, happy sigh, leaning against his arm. The crowd, which she'd been finding a bit intimidating, now felt like a gentle backdrop to the warmth of his hand holding hers. "It's okay," she whispered, her eyes shining up at him. "I'm right here."
Mika, observing Makoto's protective maneuver with an amused glint in her eyes, took a step back. "Stay close. The purification trough is this way, follow me." She turned, her posture straight and confident, effortlessly navigating a path through the sea of people.
"Hey! No fair!" Ayane protested, seeing him holding two hands and leaving her out. Without a moment's hesitation, she jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"Help, I have been captured!" she shrieked into his ear, loud enough to turn a few heads. "I'm being abducted for a lewd ritual in the woods! Someone save me! Or don't! I'm enjoying the ride!" She nuzzled his neck, giggling manically. "See? Now we're all stuck together. It's much more efficient this way."
Makoto was now a bizarre, four-handed, six-legged creature, carrying Ayane piggyback while holding hands with his pregnant little sister and his childhood crush, with his harem's manager leading the way through the ancient, sacred crowd.
He chuckled as they followed Mika, taking in all the sights and sounds: a young couple was praying for babies near the offering box. Some weeb guy was wishing for a harem full of cosplayers.
Behind him, a domineering woman and her meek-looking husband were praying that their cute, innocent daughter wasn't being fooled by her lecherous boyfriend. The woman reminded him of someone, but he couldn't place it. Further down, a poor guy just wanted his favorite VTuber, Mi-sensei, to reply to his chat.
"Did you hear that guy, boss?" Ayane shrieked in his ear, pointing dramatically. "A harem of cosplayers! He's a man of culture like you! We should go give him some tips!" She bounced on his back, making him stumble slightly. "Maybe he can be your best man at the wedding!"
Yuna scoffed, tightening her grip on his hand as she glared at the young couple praying by the offerings box. "Look at them! Praying for a baby as if that's all there is to life," she muttered, but her free hand subconsciously rested on her own slight belly. "We're already way ahead of them without any divine intervention."
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mafuyu whispered, her eyes glistening as she looked around the courtyard. "Everyone is here with their heart's desire. They're all just hoping for a little bit of happiness."