Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

He will come back to retrieve his true form later, so naturally he will leave himself an escape route.

"That's good."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro was worried that she would make a wasted trip.

Although the fifth level of the Takamagahara Ruins is very large, it is still difficult to find ruins of similar size, and she did not want to waste any more time.

The collaboration between the Tsuchimikado clan and the Izumo Shrine in exploring the ruins was already rather unusual.

If this goes on for too long, it might arouse the suspicion of that fifth-tier demon.

"Leave in half an hour."

Hoshino Aoi slowly stood up and said calmly, "I'll go and inform them."

She left the tent.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro turned to look at Tsuchimikado Mari and blinked.

The meaning is clear.

Tsuchimikado Mari glanced at Haruhiko, then got up and followed him away.

She also went to inform Tsuchimikado.

In the end, only three people remained.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro frowned slightly, turned her head, and looked at Hoshino Hotaru.

She was puzzled as to why she hadn't left yet.

Hoshino Aoi has already left, so why is she staying?

She and Haruhiko have no connection whatsoever.

As far as Tsuchimikado Mashiro knows, the girlfriend that Tsuchimikado Mari often talks about is Hoshino Hotaru's older sister.

In fact, based on their brief time together, she understood why it was Hoshino Rin.

Because Hotaru Hoshino is practically a carbon copy of Aoi Hoshino, exuding an aura that keeps strangers at bay.

It would be abnormal for someone like that to have good relationships with others.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro suddenly paused.

She noticed that although Hoshino Hotaru's face was expressionless, she was constantly looking at Haruhiko.

what's the situation?

A sense of crisis arose in Tsuchimikado Mashiro's heart.

But Haruhiko was even more panicked than her.

This chaotic scene was even stranger than I had imagined.

"Auntie Mashiro".

Haruhiko quickly changed the subject, asking, "Where is my tent?"

"I'll take you."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro suppressed her thoughts for the time being and said...

Haruhiko breathed a sigh of relief, gave Hoshino Hotaru a look, and then got up and left.

Because he was male and had a special status, he had a separate tent.

"I'll come and get you in a bit."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro stood at the doorway, but suddenly felt a pang of fear and did not go in.

Haruhiko nodded.

The setup inside the tent was quite good.

There is a bed and a table.

It's definitely the kind of bedside table, the smaller kind.

Haruhiko was a little tired after walking for so long, so he lay down on the bed to rest.

But a few seconds later, he felt a soft, fragrant body squeeze into his bed.

Soon, Hotaru Hoshino's head popped out and rested on his arm.

A faint, pleasant fragrance filled the air.

Haruhiko glanced at her, and what met his eyes was her delicate little face, which was expressionless, but he could feel a sense of tranquility and longing.

To be honest, he wasn't surprised.

It would be strange if she didn't come to see him.

Of all the people Haruhiko knew, only Hoshino Hotaru was truly dependent on him.

He didn't speak, and then closed his eyes again.

But I didn't sleep.

After all, it's only half an hour.

And Tsuchimikado Mashiro will be coming over later.

If she were to see this, Haruhiko could hardly imagine how she would react.

Twenty minutes later, he opened his eyes again.

Since he started practicing the Snow Maiden Breathing Technique, his physical fitness has improved dramatically.

One aspect of this is timing.

This is quite useful in battle.

Sometimes, a few seconds can decide life or death.

"firefly."

Haruhiko reached out and pinched her cheek.

He didn't sleep, but Hotaru Hoshino really did drift off to sleep.

She always felt this way, especially relaxed around Haruhiko.

Hotaru Hoshino slowly opened her eyes.

She sat up, the blanket fell back down, revealing the shrine maiden's outfit underneath.

Because the rest time was short, she didn't take off her clothes.

Although she really wanted to, she wasn't completely clueless.

I understand the priorities.

Even if she doesn't care, she will still consider Haruhiko's feelings.

"A few more minutes."

Haruhiko brought over the small table next to him and took out a bottle of soda from his spatial ring.

The cola that Tsuchimikado Mari gave me last time.

He thought it tasted good, so he asked for an extra box and put it in his spatial ring.

Have you ever drunk Coca-Cola?

Haruhiko unscrewed the bottle cap and asked.

Hotaru Hoshino shook her head.

She was raised at Izumo Shrine from a young age, and the food she ate was always carefully selected.

There's no way that snacks like cola are available.

Moreover, given her personality, she wouldn't be interested in eating any particular snacks.

"Then you should try it."

Haruhiko handed over the cola.

Hotaru Hoshino did not answer.

She leaned forward, grabbed Haruhiko's arm, opened her mouth, and revealed her tongue.

The meaning is self-evident.

Haruhiko lifted the cola bottle and gently poured it into her mouth.

Hotaru Hoshino swallowed hard.

For some reason, Haruhiko also swallowed hard.

He always felt that this scene was unsettling.

"what about the taste?"

Haruhiko didn't pour any more, but took a sip himself and asked.

"It's a little weird."