Chapter 294: Yae Miko
With a warm, welcoming smile, Thoma began to enthusiastically lay out their next destination. "The scenery at the Grand Narukami Shrine is truly something else," he said, "and everyone can even have their fortunes drawn. It's not often you all get to visit Osaka, and we didn't get a proper chance last time. This time, the Kamisato Clan can finally play the part of proper hosts."
Hearing this, the children immediately erupted in a chorus of cheers. "Yay!"
Heiji Hattori, however, suddenly recalled something, and his brow furrowed. He turned to Thoma, a look of disbelief on his face. "Hold on a minute! Why are you so quick to agree to let us see your clan head this time? Weren't you just giving us the runaround before?"
Thoma met Heiji's suspicious gaze with a placid, slightly confused blink. "Actually... I never stopped you from seeing the head of the clan, Mr. Hattori. The truth is, both the clan head and the young lady were genuinely not at the Kamisato Residence."
He gestured vaguely in the direction of the mountains. "But the Grand Narukami Shrine has always been open to the public. While it doesn't get many tourists, people go there almost every day to admire the cherry blossoms or have their fortunes told. If you wanted to see the Guuji, you could have gone on your own at any time. No one would have stopped you."
Heiji felt a sharp, accusatory stare boring into him from his side. A few beads of cold sweat trickled down his temple as he felt Conan's silent judgment. "Then—uh—why didn't you just tell me that directly? You made me waste several trips!"
"Well..." Thoma coughed, a hint of hesitation coloring his voice. "I assumed that since you're a local of Osaka, Mr. Hattori, you would have already known about it, so I... My apologies."
The weight of Conan's increasingly disdainful gaze became almost unbearable. Heiji felt his face flush with heat and couldn't help but turn away, muttering under his breath, "I only heard the name 'Grand Narukami Shrine' for the first time today. How was I supposed to know I could just show up..."
Seeing the genuine embarrassment on Heiji's face, Thoma tactfully changed the subject.
After a brief discussion, the allure of seeing the legendary cherry blossoms up close won over most of the group.
Only a few decided to stay behind. Kogoro Mouri had no interest in hiking up a mountain, Dr. Agasa admitted he was a bit tired, and Ai Haibara simply wasn't interested. Klee, having been there before, cheerfully volunteered to stay and keep Haibara company.
Okiya Subaru gave it a moment's thought, then, seemingly ignoring the way Haibara's expression instantly darkened, offered, "Then I shall stay behind as well. It's a good opportunity to look after the children."
In the end, the rest of the group, led by Thoma, set off in a grand procession toward the distant mountain shrine.
"We're... finally here!" Sonoko Suzuki gasped, bracing her hands on her knees as she stared up at the first of many towering torii gates. A wave of relief washed over her. She hadn't expected the mountain path to the Grand Narukami Shrine to be so rugged and difficult to climb; no wonder there were so few tourists.
Thinking of this, she let out a derisive snort. "Heh, if the view from this shrine isn't worth all this effort, I swear I'll tear it down myself!"
"It's just because you don't exercise enough, Sonoko-neesan," Genta said as he breezed past her, looking down on her poor stamina. "That's why you're out of breath after just a few steps."
"What did you say, you little brat!"
Just as Sonoko straightened up, ready to teach the annoying child a lesson, a soft, alluring voice drifted from behind them.
"Oh my, oh my, what is this I hear? To think that the very first thing I'd be greeted with upon returning home is someone threatening to tear down my shrine. How truly, deeply heartbreaking."
Everyone turned to see a woman standing just behind them. She was dressed in elegant red and white shrine maiden robes, her feet clad in simple wooden clogs. Long, sakura-pink hair cascaded down her back, framing a face of stunning beauty. With one sleeve raised to her eyes, she put on a dramatic show of being utterly devastated.
From her words, it was clear she was the proprietor of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lady Guuji." Thoma stepped forward and bowed his head slightly before introducing her to the group. "Everyone, this is the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine—Lady Yae Miko."
Conan's eyes were immediately drawn to the shimmering Vision that hung from her ear like an ornate earring. By now, however, he was quite calm about it. It was obvious this shrine had a close relationship with the Kamisato Clan, so encountering another person who possessed a Vision was perfectly normal.
Having been caught red-handed bad-mouthing the place by the owner herself, even the brazen Sonoko felt a pang of embarrassment.
"Um... I was just speaking casually," she stammered, bowing in a flustered apology. "I'm really sorry, Lady Yae."
Yae Miko couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, lowering her sleeve. As expected, there wasn't a trace of genuine heartbreak in her amethyst eyes.
"Very well, I shall forgive you then, little sister." Her gaze flickered to Natsume, and she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "And... since you are Natsume's friends, you may simply call me Miko."
With that, she glided past the group and started up the path. "Today is a rare occasion indeed. Usually, the number of people who visit my shrine can be counted on one hand, yet today so many have come all at once."
"Then why don't you fix up the path a bit, Miko-neesan?" Conan asked, slipping easily into his childish persona. "Wouldn't that attract more tourists?"
Hearing his question, Yae Miko laughed. "Little one, you don't understand." She slowed her pace, lowering her head slightly to look down at Conan, who had trotted up to her side. Her eyes narrowed into a sly, knowing crescent.
"Because it is not necessary," she said, a faint, mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Those who wish to come will find their way here regardless. As for the others..." She let out a theatrical sigh, a hint of feigned distress in her voice. "Too many people would only disturb me while I'm reading my novels."
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