In order to thank Soya for his help today, Kyoko invited him to have dinner at Sugawara's house before going back.
Sotani originally planned to refuse, but changed his mind when Tamako said, "My sister is very good at cooking!"
After realizing the true face of his first love, he now has some doubts about the so-called "love", but he still cannot live up to the delicious food.
"Then I'm sorry to bother you."
It was completely dark. After leaving the ancestral hall in the backyard, there were only two floor lamps left in the atrium of the shrine, barely maintaining the light.
The three main halls of Sky Palace, Moon Palace and God Palace were closed. When Kyoko went to check the doors and windows of the Social Affairs Office, Okoko took Soya to the money box.
Through the grid, she borrowed her cell phone to take a picture of the inside. After confirming that there was no money left, she returned the cell phone to him.
"Is the sesame oil money collected every day?" Zonggu asked.
"Yes."
Yuzi nodded, "Occasionally, homeless people come to steal the sesame oil money when the shrine is empty at night."
"A homeless person who can steal sesame oil money must be really desperate."
"You actually spoke up for a homeless man. You were so ruthless just now."
Jingzi on the other side walked over, "Tamako, where are the honorifics?"
"...I'm sorry, Brother Soya."
"It doesn't matter."
Zong Gu shook his head and answered her previous question, "I have also been a homeless man for more than a month, and I just settled down some time ago. I feel the same way."
"Eh……"
Yuzi opened her eyes wide.
"Let's go." Kyoko took her hand.
The three of them carefully walked down the steps. The stone lanterns on both sides were just decorations at the moment, but they adapted to the darkness and went down the mountain without any worries.
There was silence in the forest, except for the occasional sound of cars passing by at the foot of the long stone steps.
"elder sister."
"What?"
"The festival the day after tomorrow..."
"no."
"Woo..."
Zong Gu followed, "What kind of festival is it? Is it important?"
"No." Kyoko seemed to look back, "Although it cannot be said that it is not important, it is not too grand, and it is held once every month. This is the tradition of the shrine."
"Is it traditional?"
"During the festival, the shrine maidens perform a begging dance."
It was the mysterious dance carved on the stone slab he was currently stepping on.
"Because it's very complicated, Tamako isn't very proficient yet."
"It means it's too complicated!"
"Okja was lazy during training, which is also an important reason."
"...Only my sister can seriously dance that strange dance!"
Yuzi suddenly broke away from her hand and ran away faster.
Zong Gu issued a reminder, "Be careful..."
"It's fine."
Kyoko has become accustomed to it, "making Soya-san laugh."
The two of them walked downhill for a while, feeling in the dark.
Yuzi stopped on the stairs because she was afraid of the dark, silently held her sister's hand and continued going down.
"..."
Soya looked down at the intersection, and saw a ray of light coming from the oncoming car along the road.
Whether you are an older sister or a younger sister, it is not easy.
...
The Sugawara family's house is a two-story one-family house with a good location, and the distance to the station is closer than Soya expected.
He has passed by here several times in the past two days.
"excuse me."
"Come in, mom and dad aren't home."
He always felt that he had heard the same words recently, but he had no time to think about it because he had already been pulled into the Sugawara family's house.
After a brief reception, Sugawara Kyoko let Soya do whatever he wanted, and went back to his room to change out of his miko uniform, then into his casual clothes, and began to prepare dinner for the three of them.
"Aren't Mr. and Mrs. Sugawara usually at home?"
"The Palace Secretary is very busy." Yuzi said, "I have to attend a lot of social events."
The father of the two sisters is the priest of Fuun Shrine, and their mother probably also holds some kind of priesthood.
As soon as Soya arrived at the shrine, he followed him on a field trip. When he came back, he immediately went into the ancestral hall at the back and happened to miss it.
He also wanted to discuss part-time work, but it seemed that there was no chance today.
However, Kyoko once said that sorting out information is the work of the Spirit Awareness Agency, and it seems that it is not appropriate to discuss it with the Shrine Palace Secretary...
"...Brother Soya?"
Zong Gu came to his senses, "What's wrong?"
It was really hard to hold her head high when talking next to him, so Yuzi sat across from him.
"I'm asking, does Brother Soya live alone in that big house?"
Kyoko, who went to receive injuries last time, also went to the Kirino family's old house with her, leaving an impression on her.
"no."
Sogu shook his head and was reminded by her to send a message to Asagiri Suzu and received a reply soon.
She, Yoshikawa and Kirino Akane stayed at the school until the club recruitment meeting was over before leaving.
None of the three of them had any intention of joining a sports club, they were just joining in the fun under the leadership of Kirino Akane.
Soya: Be back before nine o'clock.
Sugawara Kyoko declined Soya's help, spent some time, and prepared a rather sumptuous dinner by herself. It was all delicious and delicious, just waiting to be tasted.
"I hope you won't be offended by the simple meal."
"No, no. I'm starting."
After just one taste, Sogu felt that his visit was not in vain, and Kyoko, who was sitting opposite, became much more pleasing to the eye.
With such cooking skills, no matter how serious or old-fashioned your temperament is, you are still worthy of forgiveness.
"I heard that the food there has no taste, is it true?" She hadn't moved her chopsticks yet.
"it is true."
Sogu nodded so hard that both sisters were stunned for a moment.
"Even if it's white rice, it's chewy and a little sweet, but the food there doesn't have a hint of flavor whatsoever."
Because of this, after escaping from hell, he refused to accept any delicious food.
"Yeah."
Jingzi said no more and picked up the chopsticks.
"I'm gonna start now."
Soya was concentrating on savoring the food, while Kyoko hardly spoke during the meal, and Tamako, who was used to it, would not find anything to talk to during the meal, so the dinner was very silent.
After the meal, Zonggu tried to help wash the dishes, but was refused, so he took the opportunity to say goodbye.
"I'll take Soya-san to the station."
"Ah, no need, I know the way."
Jingzi ignored it, washed her hands and came out.
"Let's go."
"Come back next time." Yuzi waved at the door.
Zong Gu was still thinking about it and said casually: "It will come."
Kyoko glanced at him.
The night in early spring was still a bit cool, and there were few pedestrians on the road. Zonggu raised his eyes and saw the station at the end of the road in the distance, with a tram slowly leaving.
"Will Soya-san come over tomorrow?"
"No. Tomorrow afternoon it should be the recruitment meeting of cultural clubs, and I want to go and see it. After that, I have to work part-time in an izakaya."
Soya said and looked at Kyoko, "I know what Sugawara-senpai wants to say. The meal just now is regarded as today's part-time payment."
"Senior sister has also seen my abilities. If you are satisfied with it, you should have prepared a part-time plan next time I come here, right? I will carefully refer to it before making a decision."
"The reward will definitely satisfy Soya-san," Kyoko said, "but...does Soya-san only care about money?"
Zong Gu looked at her for a few seconds and said, "At this time, it would be better to just talk about money."
"In the izakaya where I work, the manager, his wife, and their daughter take great care of me. When it comes to relationships, even if the hourly wage is much lower, I still prefer that one."
Jingzi stopped, took a few steps, and looked back at her.
"Sotani-san has no intention of considering himself a member of the spiritual awakeners."
"Of course. Are you familiar with each other?"
"..."
"When I see the daughter of Huangquan, I feel more friendly than when I see you."