Inside Amagami Shrine
Petals on the old cherry tree quivered in the breeze, sprinkling a soft pink rain.
Amagami Chiharu strolled down the little shrine path with Rei Ao and her three daughters, a happiness she had not felt for years lighting her face. Every tile, every blade of grass held a memory.
"Ever since Mom and Grandpa passed, the shrine has survived only because the three of us keep it going," Yae said quietly, a trace of helplessness in her eyes.
"We've worked hard to master a miko's duties, but we still fall short."
"The flow of worshippers keeps shrinking," Yuna added, biting her lip. "Offerings barely cover expenses—soon we won't even be able to buy proper tribute for the gods."
"If this goes on, someone else will take the shrine over," she whispered. "We really don't know what to do."
Asahi clutched Yae's sleeve, her eyes full of worry. "But if Mom's here—"
Rei Ao cut in. "To the public, Chiharu is already dead. You can't expect her to resume service as a shrine maiden."
The sisters fell silent—the hard fact they had momentarily forgotten.
"Then the shrine will—"
"It's only a money problem," Rei Ao said with a smile. "Problems that money can fix are salvageable."
He pulled out his phone and called Shinomiya Kaguya.
Kaguya was lounging beneath a beach umbrella, sipping fruit juice with perfect elegance. Hearing his voice, she arched an eyebrow.
"Rei Ao‑kun, calling out of the blue—what do you need?"
"Kaguya, I'd like you to make a donation to the down‑on‑its‑luck Amagami Shrine in this region."
"A donation?" She blinked, then a mischievous heiress‑smile curled her lips.
"Oh? Is our illustrious group master initiating a trade with me?"
Rei Ao paused, then returned the grin. "Exactly. So—are you asking for the right to use my body? I'm willing, you know. Unlimited access, even."
Color rushed to Kaguya's cheeks; her heart began to race. That he would say something so outrageous—she had not expected it. Flustered, she stumbled over her words.
"Y‑you—don't talk nonsense! Who wants… that kind of term!"
She stammered. "I‑I understand what you want!"—and in panic she hung up.
Not far away, Hayasaka Ai had noticed Kaguya's odd behavior. She hurried over.
"Milady, are you all right? Did something happen?"
Kaguya jumped up, forcing composure. "N‑nothing. Just an insignificant call."
And before Ai could pry further she dashed toward the sea, diving in to cool her burning face and hammering heart. Ai stayed where she was, staring after her, thoroughly baffled.
Yuna's phone chimed. She glanced at the screen—and her eyes flew wide. Shock and delight flooded her face.
"Big Sis! Mom! Look!" she squealed. "A huge donation just hit the shrine account—enough to keep us going for ages!"
Yae and Asahi crowded in. The transfer record seemed almost unreal.
"Is… is it really true?" Asahi whispered.
"It must be Rei Ao-san—he helped us!" Yuna cried, looking up at him.
The three sisters moved to stand before Rei Ao and bowed together. "Thank you so much, Rei Ao-san!"
But Yae's brows knit with suspicion. "Why would you do all this for us?" she asked. "We're not related… What do you gain?"
"We are related now."
Rei Ao slipped an arm around Chiharu's waist. Under the sisters' stunned gaze he said, "From today on, I'm your father. Isn't it natural to help one's own daughters?"
A bolt from the blue.
Three mouths fell open, three pairs of eyes went round. They simply could not process what they'd heard.
Chiharu too had not expected Rei Ao to announce it so bluntly. For a heartbeat she froze; then a shy flush crept up her cheeks. She nodded, tacitly acknowledging his words.
Asahi reacted first, blurting, "Mom! Are you being forced?"
Yae and Yuna, recalling talk of "the price," hurried to add, "If Mom's being coerced, we refuse!"
"Yes! We won't let you be mistreated!"
Their concern warmed Chiharu's heart; her eyes misted. She stroked her hair back and spoke gently:
"At the beginning it was a trade… but now I mean it. Rei Ao‑kun is the first man who has ever made my heart beat faster."
It had taken enormous courage to say it aloud, but the feeling was real—she had been conquered, body and soul. To prove it, she rose on tiptoe and kissed Rei Ao.
He drew her closer, deepening the kiss. Beneath the cherry tree, with petals drifting around them, they embraced—utterly absorbed in each other.
The three sisters stood rooted, minds blank from the shock. They wanted to intervene—yet realized this was their mother's choice.
Powerless to refute it, they could only watch, dazed, as the scene unfolded before their eyes.
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