"So many people, huh? Luckily, we have Mika arrange it in advance," Makoto said.
As Makoto praised her, Mika glanced back over her shoulder with her eyebrow raised. A tiny smile touched her lips. "Just doing what I need to do, darling. But your appreciation is nice to hear."
Yuna glanced at the long line of people waiting their turn at the main charm stalls. "I guess it's better than having to wait in that stupid line. So… whatever. Thanks, Mika, I guess." The last part was mumbled into her shoulder.
Mika led them to the large stone purification trough. She stopped and turned to the group, acting like a tour guide. "Alright. Before we approach the main hall, we must purify ourselves."
"The process is simple." She demonstrated with effortless grace, scooping water with the long-handled ladle, pouring it over her left hand, then her right. She then poured a small amount into her cupped hand, rinsed her mouth, and spat the water discreetly onto the ground. Finally, she tilted the ladle vertically, letting the remaining water run down the handle to clean it for the next person.
"Whoa," Ayane said from her perch on Makoto's back. "So that's how you purify a body destined for sin!" She hopped off, grabbed a ladle, and proceeded to make a mess. "First, I shall cleanse these hands of mischief!" she declared, sloshing water everywhere.
"Then, I shall purify this mouth that has whispered so many filthy things!" She gargled loudly, earning several disapproving stares from nearby elderly women. "BLARGH! Sin be gone!"
Yuna stepped up, mimicking Mika's movements with irritated impatience. She splashed water on her face, muttering, "It's cold." Mafuyu followed, her movements slow, careful, and deeply reverent. She bowed her head after rinsing, her lips moving in a silent, earnest prayer.
Finally, it was Makoto's turn. He tried to scoop the water, but with no free hands, it was awkward. He tried to pour it over one hand, nearly dropping the ladle. A strong hand steadied his. It was Mafuyu. She guided the ladle with a gentle smile, her touch warm and reassuring.
Once Makoto was done, Mafuyu silently took the ladle from him and returned it, her movements full of a quiet grace that put the others' antics to shame.
"Well, that was clumsy of you, boss," Ayane declared, grabbing Makoto's arm again. "Now, let's go get those charms before someone tries to buy the entire stock! Mika, lead the way to the loot!"
They followed Mika to collect their charms and blessings. Mika, as predicted, didn't lead them to the main charm stalls. Instead, she guided their little group down a narrow, less-traveled path to the side of the main hall, to an unmarked wooden counter.
A serious-looking miko in pristine white and red robes was waiting there. "Reservation for Ayasato family," Mika said as if she were checking into a five-star hotel.
The miko bowed deeply and disappeared behind a curtain, returning a moment later with a small lacquered box. She opened it to reveal five beautiful, identical silk pouches, each with intricate, hand-stitched golden cranes.
"The anzan omamori for safe childbirth," the miko explained, her voice soft and melodic. "Consecrated this morning."
"YES! LOOT!" Ayane cheered, reaching for the box.
"Hold on, Ayane," Mika said, stopping her with a single look. She took the box and thanked the miko with a polite bow. She then distributed the charms, one by one.
Mafuyu accepted hers with both hands, her eyes welling up with tears. "Oh, it's so beautiful," she whispered, clutching it to her chest. "Thank you, Mika-chan. Thank you."
Yuna took hers, trying to act unimpressed. "Hmph! The embroidery is decent, I guess," she muttered, but her thumb immediately started stroking the silk crane protectively.
Ayane snatched hers with a grin. "Awesome! Now my baby has a cheat code for a safe birth! I'm gonna pray she inherits my luck and my husband's stamina." She wiggled her eyebrows at Makoto, making the poor miko blush.
Mika handed Makoto the last one, then took her own. "Let's not cause a scene," she murmured, though her own expression was one of quiet satisfaction.
She then led them all to the main hall. It was immense, filled with the scent of ancient wood and incense. She instructed them all on the proper etiquette: the bowing, the clapping. They all lined up before the offertory box.
After tossing in a coin, each of them closed their eyes to pray.
Yuna, despite herself, prayed with fierce concentration: "Please make our baby strong and healthy. And please, please make her a girl who looks just like me so my stepbro will love me forever."
Ayane's prayer was practically shouted in her mind: "Hey, big shrine god! Thanks for the charm! Please make my baby a girl who's into gaming and cosplay, and please let me win the next harem war! Also, please let me find a limited-edition figure of Anya and Yoh later today!"
Mafuyu's prayer was a silent, tearful stream of selfless love: "Please… please protect them all. Protect Makoto-san, Yuna-chan, Mika-chan, and Ayane-chan. And let all our babies be born healthy and happy. I don't need anything for myself… just for them to be safe."
Mika's prayer was short: "Grant me the wisdom to manage my loving family and the strength to endure their chaos. And grant Makoto the health and stamina he will need for the next eighteen years. And… please don't let my mother kill him."
Makoto prayed for their health and happiness, for the babies, and for a little bit of sanity. His harem wishes were already fulfilled. He wasn't sure he could handle another crazy addition to the group.
The moment of solemnity was, as expected, broken by Ayane. "Alright! Mission accomplished!" she declared, clapping her hands together. "All blessed up! Now, let's go get some holy ice cream! I saw a stand on the way up that sells soft-serve with kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup)!"
Yuna immediately perked up. "Ice cream? Fine, get me the biggest one, big bro. The Main Wife needs the most fuel."
Mika checked her watch. "We have time. And it's on the way to the trailhead for your dates." She gave Makoto a look that said, "Enjoy your freedom while it lasts."
Makoto just shrugged and followed the girls out. "Let's buy some ice cream and head to that soba place after lunch, then? My treat."
Yuna ordered a large swirl of vanilla matcha soft-serve, drenched in kuromitsu and covered in toasted soybean powder. She attacked it with aggressive, messy bites, getting a smear of brown on her nose. She glared at anyone who looked at her, as if daring them to comment.
Ayane ordered a monstrous portion: a triple swirl of vanilla, strawberry, and matcha, topped with red bean paste, a whole dango skewer, and more kuromitsu. She ate it with pleasure, making happy moaning noises that attracted attention from passersby. "Husbands!" she called out to a group of passing tourists. "Get your wives the religious ice cream! It's an aphrodisiac!"
Mafuyu got a small, simple vanilla cone. She ate it with neat little licks, her eyes sparkling with simple joy. It was the most wholesome thing Makoto'd ever seen.
Mika, of course, got a single-formed scoop of rich black sesame soft-serve in a paper cup. She ate it with a small spoon, each bite a measured motion. She was analyzing the flavor profile, he could tell.
As they finished, Makoto spotted the cold, domineering woman again. She was standing near the parking area, her meek husband fumbling with a map. She turned her head, and for a split second, her pink eyes locked onto his. Then she turned and was gone, disappearing into a black luxury sedan.
A sudden shiver ran down Makoto's back, but he shook it off. He had more immediate concerns.