November 5th, 10:00 a.m.
Shido ca to Mikoto's shrine, planning to go with her to the shopping district and buy so ingredients.
"Oh my... I'll be counting on you then, Mikoto-chan."
"Not at all. I'm the one who should say that. Matsuto-san has taken good care of during this ti."
From a distance, he could see Mikoto, dressed as a shrine maiden, talking with a middle aged man in an orange suit.
"Let see... Tomorrow at nine o'clock, at the urban legend program production team's Third Studio. No problem?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then I'll leave it to you."
After recognizing the person talking with Mikoto as Chief Matsuto, Shido walked over. The two seed to have just finished their conversation, and Shido's eyes t Chief Matsuto's just as he was turning to leave.
"Oh my, if it isn't Shido-kun. How have you been? Gone swimming lately?"
When Matsuto saw Shido, he clapped his hands and said this.
"Um... I don't go swimming all the ti."
Since the man was one of the shrine's parishioners, they had beco familiar with each other after seeing each other several tis.
"That won't do. Young people need to exercise more."
Matsuto said with concern.
"No... um... Right, did you co here to see Mikoto-senpai?"
Shido asked.
"Ah, that's right. There were those rumors about this place being so kind of adult establishnt a while back, weren't there? I told Mikoto-chan not to worry, that the police would take care of the matter properly.
Oh, right, I also ca here to draw an omikuji1. The fortunes at this shrine are very accurate, you know."
Shido noticed that Chief Matsuto was holding an omikuji in his hand. The words "Beware of spiky hair" could faintly be seen written on it.
[What is that supposed to an? Mikoto-senpai's omikuji really feel like they don't follow the usual pattern.]
Shido thought with a wry smile. As for the rumors, those were the product of Natsumi's prank not long ago. Although they had caused no small amount of trouble, they were far too illogical, so as long as the police were willing to help, they should die down quickly.
[Well... No one would believe that a shrine turned into an adult establishnt or a palace overnight anyway.]
He thought.
After saying goodbye to Chief Matsuto, Shido went to Mikoto's side.
"Ah, Shido."
Seeing him, Mikoto showed a happy smile.
"Um, did Matsuto-san need sothing from you, Senpai?"
Shido asked. He felt that, aside from the matter with Natsumi, the two of them seed to have talked about so kind of program.
"Mm, actually, Matsuto-san invited to take part in this program. Apparently, a friend of his on the production team hopes they can invite soone with real spiritual power to join."
Mikoto handed Shido the flyer she had just received.
[Urban Legends! At This Very Mont, Let Us Gather the Hidden Spirit Ability Users Among the People!]
It was a promotional poster for a supernatural program production team. It seed to be an event inviting various spirit ability users to appear on the show.
"Are you going to participate, Senpai?"
Shido asked. He felt that Mikoto was not the type who liked appearing on television.
"Mm. Matsuto-san has helped the shrine quite a lot these past few days. Thanks to that, its operation was not affected in the end."
Mikoto said.
"Ah..."
Shido understood. In other words, it was what people called owing soone a favor. Since she had been helped, it would be hard to refuse when asked for sothing like this.
"But will it be okay?"
After all, Mikoto was a Spirit. If she was exposed, it might beco national news.
"It will be fine. I think, at most, I'll just bend a spoon or sothing."
Mikoto smiled. Even in a world without Spirits, supernatural enthusiasts could always find rumors about people here and there being able to bend spoons. It was not sothing that would create a huge stir. To people who did not believe, they would only laugh it off as a trick.
"Ah, right, Shido."
Looking at Shido, Mikoto seed to think of sothing.
"Mm?"
"Actually, that program allows each participant to bring one assistant."
Mikoto clasped her hands together and gave Shido an adorable smile.
"Ahaha, I understand. If you don't mind having , Mikoto-senpai."
Shido scratched his cheek. Although the girl did not say it directly, he imdiately understood what she ant.
"Hehe, I would never mind having Shido."
Mikoto took Shido's hand and said happily. Feeling the soft touch of the girl's fingertips, Shido's face turned red.
_______________
November 6th, 8:45 a.m.
Shido and Mikoto arrived at the studio near the TV station. After explaining their purpose and submitting the proof provided by the production team, the two successfully entered.
"It looks amazing."
The mont they entered, what ca into view was a stage similar to that of a variety show. Shido guessed that he and Mikoto would probably stand there as guests later.
"I wonder which people are invited spirit ability users and which ones are staff mbers."
Mikoto looked around, trying to figure out who, like them, had been invited as guests.
"Ah... Mikoto, and Dar...mmph..."
At that mont, the two heard a familiar voice. They turned their heads and saw Miku, whose mouth had been covered halfway through her sentence, and Natsumi, who was too short to reach and had to jump onto Miku to barely cover her mouth, preventing the word "Darling" from being exposed in front of everyone. (TL:kekw~ how did Natsumi even agreed to this?)
"Miku, and Natsumi too. Why are you here?"
Shido ran forward and asked in surprise.
"Dar...ouch...S-Shido-san, really. I'm an idol, you know. What's strange about taking part in a variety show?"
Miku was pinched by Natsumi and finally changed "Darling" to Shido's na. It seed the production team had really spent a lot of money, since they had even invited a big-na idol like Miku.
As for Natsumi...
"Um, will Natsumi be okay?"
Mikoto asked. Natsumi being here obviously ant Miku had brought her as an assistant. But what Mikoto cared about more was her ntal state. After all, this was television. If Natsumi's spiritual power flowed backward...
"Relax, relax. I'll protect Natsumi-san properly."
Miku waved her hand casually. As expected of a proper idol, she appeared completely at ease on a stage like this.
"I-I'll do my best."
Natsumi lowered her head slightly and said shyly.
Aside from the unexpected surprise of Miku and Natsumi, there were no other people they knew in the entire production group. The four of them chatted for a while, and then the program officially began recording.
Through the host's introductions, Mikoto discovered that, aside from Miku, who was there to guarantee ratings, the rest of the people were all sorts of supernatural field figures—monks from Mount Koya, onmyoji, and others.
"Next, let us welco Yakumo Mikoto-san and her assistant, Itsuka Shido-san. Yakumo-san is a shrine maiden from right here in Tengu City. She has once used exorcism arts to discipline delinquents, and is a proper shrine maiden with spiritual power!"
Finally, the host shone the spotlight on Mikoto.
fortune telling paper
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