My sister joined us at the table, hair still wet from her bath. Wordlessly I passed her a glass of water and some painkillers, which she took from me with a muttered thanks and downed quickly.

“Wow, yeah, I feel a little better now, but my head still hurts…” she complained, sitting down between Eri-chan and Shaeula.

Our mom brought over breakfast, bowls of steamed rice, miso soup and plates of grilled fish, along with some side sauces and vegetables. I had offered to help, as had Eri-chan, but mom wouldn’t hear of it, treating us as guests.

“This looks pleasing indeed-indeed.” Shaeula smiled, digging in with her chopsticks. At first she had struggled with them, but with a combination of practice and her improved motor skills from levelling, she now ate like a traditional Japanese. “I worked up quite the appetite last night-night.”

“Oho, really?” mom said, eyeing her. “How very bold of you Shaeula dear. Eri-chan really has to up her game or she’ll be left behind.”

“I don’t find that funny.” I admonished my mother, as Eri-chan hid her face again. “You know we didn’t do anything like that.”

“Don’t be such a spoilsport. A mother is supposed to embarrass her children. Besides… I don’t think I could say for certain you wouldn’t, could I? A mother can tell, and this one knows you like each other more than you let on!” she put her hands on her hips in a pose of triumph. Shaeula snorted in laughter even as she was stuffing her face with food, unconcerned.

Beside her my sis let out a long sigh. “Oh wow, my head hurts too much for this so early in the morning. Can we give it a rest please. Big bro has already told us they just slept, he wouldn’t lie to me… he better not, anyway!”

“Poor little Ai!” my mother commiserated. “Today you are British, I remember the first time I drank underage… I was sick everywhere and my parents were not happy at all. You’ve done better than I did. Still… your father is very strict on rules, so it’s lucky Shaeula here drank him under the table and he isn’t here to see this…” she looked at Shaeula again. “For someone so small she can sure tuck it away.”

“She sure can.” I agreed. I remember myths saying that the fair folk or faeries were very fond of alcohol, I guess they might be right…

Over the rest of breakfast we talked and joked with each other, Aiko gradually perking up as having some food in her and the painkillers had started to clear her hangover. As we cleared the dishes (I insisted I would help, and Eri-chan also joined in) we started to discuss the upcoming game.

“So, you are definitely in for the baseball game?” my sister asked. “I know a few people who’d want to see that.”

“I’m not sure why anyone would be interested in me, but yeah, I might as well since I’m here.” Besides, it’d be a good chance to run another test on my improved stats. This year I wouldn’t get laughed at for being so bad at sports…

Perhaps seeing what I was thinking my sister grinned. “Don’t be getting a big head bro, you may have been working out, but that won’t make you any better at baseball. Just don’t embarrass me okay? If girls were allowed to take part I’d show up most of those idiots…”

Oh yeah. My sister didn’t really get on with the baseball team. She was in the volleyball team, their rivals, for one, but worse… a lot of guys on that team tried to ask her out, some more than once. My sister hated pushy guys. She turned them all down of course, but some of them didn’t appreciate being snubbed.

“You’ll be on the town team then.” Mom said. “We almost never win against the ‘pro’ team, so don’t feel too bad when you lose.”

“Lose?” Shaeula spoke up from where she was lying on some cushions, patting her stomach contentedly. “What foolishness. There is no way Akio can be defeated-defeated. Not by such rabble.”

“Well damn, big bro.” Aiko was impressed. “No way you can suck with such high expectations weighing you down. Best of luck I guess…”

My mother laughed too. “Oh, such pure faith. It’s very romantic. You had best do your best then Aki.”

Beside us Eri-chan also spoke up, her words tumbling out of her. “I know you can do it, big brother. I believe in you too, more than Shaeula does!”

As we all laughed and Eri-chan got redder and redder we finished getting ready. It was time to head to the shrine and take part in the annual cleaning…

********

Dozens of people were milling around the steps of the shrine, sweeping away dirt and rinsing it down with water. Others were hanging up chains of decorative lanterns which would light up the path tomorrow night during the festival. My father was still not up, so my mom had stayed back to nurse him back to health, assuring us he’d be out to watch the baseball match later.

I led the way, with Shaeula, Eri-chan and my rejuvenated sister following. It was quite the eye-catching group, me and three very pretty girls. I saw a few people I recognised, passing them by with reserved greetings. Reaching the top of the steps the shrine proper was packed, various people setting up the stalls that would be used tomorrow, or placing lanterns, or other general tasks. Directing them all was a familiar face to me, Marika-chan. She was in traditional shrine maiden attire, red and white, with matching ribbons in her hair. She was directing people to position various stands and furniture, looking very dignified.

On catching sight of me her face brightened, and she raced over. “Akio-sama, it is an honour to see you here today. And this must be Shaeula-sama!” her face brightened as she looked at Shaeula with interest. She bowed deeply. “It is such a great honour to meet one such as yourself. Please continue to grace our shrine with your blessings.”

“Uh, what the hell is going on, big bro?” my sister was confused at the sheer enthusiasm Marika-chan was radiating. Beside her Eri-chan was looking equal parts confused and annoyed.

I can feel a headache coming on… Shaeula was explaining she did not care for honourifics, but Marika-chan was refusing to budge, saying it would be disrespectful to her to omit them. Marika-chan turned back to me and spoke again, words that caused me to choke.

“I am very much looking forwards to being in your care in Tokyo, Akio-sama. I shall strive to do everything you ask of me to be worthy of your trust. However…” her face fell. “… my mother is unhappy at the move. My honoured grandfather has tried talking to her, but… if you could speak to her, I know she would relent.”

“Wow, wowowowowowowow! Hold on a minute here!” My sister was bouncing up and down, agitated. “I can’t let that pass! Just what does she mean… in your care? Moving to Tokyo? When I joked about you not picking flowers from the shrine I didn’t think you would… and wow, she’s still in elementary school. I know you like young girls, but I draw the line at this. No brother of mine will be a shameful lolicon pervert!” her volume by the end was way too loud, and a lot of the townsfolk tidying the shrine had stopped to watch, many of them with amused faces.

Damn, I recognise some of you. I’ll get you back for laughing at my misfortune later, I swear!

Marika-chan froze, realising she had said too much. Not that it is her fault, she is young and excited, and has no reason to think my sister isn’t aware of what is going on…

Smiling reassuringly at my sister who was bright red with anger, I spoke. “Calm down please Aiko.” At her name, which I didn’t use often, she hesitated. “I’m working with various shrines in Tokyo as I said before. I’m mediating an exchange with them, Marika-chan will be studying with Shirohebizumi shrine as part of her shrine maiden training. I’m just in charge of making sure everything goes smoothly. Nothing more.”

“Oh really…” her tone was icy. “It sure didn’t sound like just that. Besides, you work in IT, right? What does that have to do with mediating shrine business? And what does archery have to do with your work?”

Archery? Huh?

My sister continued. “There is too many strange things going on. Your sudden wealth, a beauty like Shaeula following you around, now this… big bro, I thought we were close. You can’t lie to me like this…”

What do I do, even if I tell her, this is not the place for sharing secrets. We have quite the annoying audience…

My mouth flapped open, unsure of what to say, when I felt a soft hand in mine. Shaeula had taken my hand. My sister looked to the side, her eyes widening, and then she sighed. “All right then. I’ll ignore this for now. But we WILL be talking about this later…”

Ugh, this I could do without. Still, we avoided the worst case scenario. It was then I felt someone take my other hand. I turned, to see a shyly smiling Eri-chan. She whispered in my ear. “I also want to know what you have been keeping from us, big brother. Whatever it is… I’ll listen, and I won’t judge… but… she’s too young, it’s no good, all right?”

Uh, what? Does Eri-chan and my sister really think I’m picking up elementary schoolers? I’m hurt…

Sorry for the chaos she had caused, Marika-chan clapped her hands together, drawing all eyes. “Many apologies for this unsightly scene. My immaturity has caused me to misstep, but if you could all get back to work I would be most grateful. It would be a great shame if we were not ready for the festival tomorrow, would it not?” she bowed deeply once more, and with smiles and laughter everyone went back to work, except for someone I recognised, who wandered over, a broad grin on his face.

“What’s up Oshiro-san? It’s been a long time.” A fairly handsome guy in his early twenties approached, accompanied by a younger woman, who was decently pretty enough, holding a baby that looked only a few months old in her arms.

“It sure has, Imai-san. Not since the class reunion a few years ago I think.” Imai-san was in the same class as me back in school here, and we were, if not friends, definitely acquaintances, we used to hang out with a few other guys now and then. He was always more popular with girls than me though, and it doesn’t look like that had changed. Seeing where my gaze was going he smirked.

“You might not remember Chiyoko, she was in middle school still when we all graduated. But yes, we are married.” He showed off his wedding ring. Chiyoko-san bowed politely to me and gave a soft greeting. “And yes…” he continued. “We do have a kid. We hit it off after the last class meet. I was going to say you should have spent more time mingling too, rather than hanging around your sister and her friend, but…”

He looked at me, a flower in each hand. “I guess you’ve grown up after all. I was worried you’d just throw yourself into your job and die a lonely old bachelor.”

I could see from Chiyoko-san’s nervous smile she was worried her husband was being too rude, but I waved it off with a smile. “You’ve not changed at all, have you Imai-san? It’s almost refreshing.”

“No, I have not. So I’ll be blunt. Which one’s your girl then? No way you have the guts to two-time them to their faces, right?”

Ouch. Everyone around us was working away under Marika-chan’s instructions, but I was sure I could tell everyone was straining to hear. My sister and Marika-chan looked particularly interested.

“They are just good friends. You know I’ve been friends with Eri-chan forever, and Shaeula here is a work colleague.”

Eri-chan’s hand tightened in mine uncomfortably for a moment, but when I looked over her face was blank. Behind me my sister sighed loudly.

“Oh really? Sure doesn’t look like just friends to me.” Imai-san then grinned. “But you know, it is the festival tomorrow. I think I get it… should be a bloodbath, we’ll have to go watch it, right darling?” He said to his wife, who bowed apologetically again.

Man, his wife is wasted on him. “Oh yeah, that reminds me…” Imai-san continued. “I hear that you’ll be playing baseball this year. I’m on the town team too. I hope you won’t drag me down, those damn idiots on the ‘pro’ team have been really annoying as usual. I want to teach them a lesson.” He looked me up and down. “I can see you’ve finally stopped being a scrawny punk and put on some muscle. No wonder you are more popular with the girls. Still, I remember your sporting talent.. or should I say, shocking lack of it?”

Word travels fast it seems…

“Of course Akio will triumph.” Shaeula piped up, defending me again. “Compared to the foes he has faced down, these… pro-pro fools will be ground to dust.”

“Oh man, she’s really into you.” Imai-san laughed. “And she’s gorgeous too.” He earned a sharp look from his wife at that.

“This is all well and good…” I interrupted, feeling the hot gazes of everyone around on us. “…but I did come up here to help with the preparation for the festival, and I haven’t done anything yet…”

“Oh no, I cannot in good conscience ask you or your honourable friends to labour here, Akio-sama.” Marika-chan said. “Please take a seat and relax. I shall bring you all some tea and snacks.” As she was going to hurry off I grabbed her arm.

“No, I don’t think you need to do that… we don’t need special treatment.”

“Akio-sama? What the hell…” Imai-san burst out laughing, causing his child to wake up and start crying, annoying his wife. Around us people were sniggering, and I wished that something, anything would be a distraction from this…

“Oh cool, Ai-chan and Ri-Ri are over there with …. Whoa, is that Akio-kun? No way!”

Looks like wishes do come true…