Date a Live:Date Under The Moon Chapter 32 32: Festival Of Dolls (Part 2)

When noon arrived, Mikoto changed into a chihaya and put on a tenkan crown. Even though high school students could usually only work as part-ti miko, for Mikoto, who was alone at the shrine, she had to take on the duties of a full miko... and even the Kannushi.

Most of the shrine's ujiko were old folks or obaa-chanfrom the local neighborhoods, but there were also so big shots who looked very important.

"Yo, Mikoto-chan! Did you go swimming today?"

"No, Matsuto-san. And by the way, even though I know that's just your catchphrase, if you say that to a high school girl, you'll be treated as a creepy ojisan."

"Oh my, health is very important, you know. If you don't exercise a lot, you'll regret it when you reach this ojisan's age."

The one speaking was an optimistic looking middle aged man with white hair, a full beard, pink sunglasses, and an orange suit. If you hadn't seen him on TV, who would have thought this guy was the Chief of the Tengu City Police Departnt?

A big reason why Mikoto could work as the head miko while still being a high school student was that Matsuto-san was an ujiko of this shrine, so he turned a blind eye to it.

"Good afternoon, Mikoto."

Another person arrived—a plump lady wearing a black kimono. She also seed to be one of the shrine's ujiko.

"Good afternoon, Namiki-obasan. I'm very glad you could attend the festival today."

"The god of this shrine has always taken good care of our Nanko gang. Now that Tamako isn't here, if anyone dares to cause trouble for you... our Nanko gang will show them who's boss!"

As she spoke, the woman nad Namiki pulled a short sword (kodachi) out of her purse!

"Namiki-obasan, no waving weapons around in the shrine!"

"Oh my, look at , I forget myself when I get excited. Please don't be angry, Kami-sama."

[Nanko...gang... The Yakuza!?]

Standing nearby sweeping the floor, Shido almost dropped his broom.

[Tamako-obaasan actually had connections with both the police and the criminal underworld...]

Mikoto had said that the current connections were all left behind by her obaa-san. Thinking about it carefully, she really was a terrifyingly deep old lady.

The ujiko left with Mikoto. The festival was taking place at the sub-shrine, and during this ti, Shido was in charge of welcoming any visitors who might co and sweeping the shrine.

He didn't know how long passed...

Jingle! Jingle!

From the sub-shrine, the sound of Kagura bells rang out, along with the girl's voice reciting Shinto prayers.

Her clear voice seed to purify the air itself. It felt as if an invisible barrier had been set up; at this mont, the shrine truly turned into a dwelling for the gods.

[Just as Kotori said...]

When Mikoto chanted prayers or perford Shinto rituals, her Spirit energy would flow backward. This was recorded by the instrunts on the Fraxinus when Mikoto used her prayers and Kagura bells to summon the Torii gates.

[Because her Spirit energy cos from Tsukuyomi, it easily resonates with Shinto rituals. But it doesn't matter, overall, it's at a safe level.] Reine had once said.

It wasn't a severe backflow of Spirit energy. Even if it was detected, the numbers alone weren't enough to label her as a Spirit.

However, right at this mont, the girl was a miko with true spiritual power.

"The festival should go off without a hitch," Shido said with relief, feeling the quiet and pure atmosphere in the air.

"Umm... excuse , would Miko-san be willing to take a picture with ?"

"Eh?"

A voice suddenly popped up next to Shido while he was sweeping. Shido turned around and saw a man carrying a giant backpack. He was wearing a short-sleeve shirt with the words "Miko Saikou (Shrine Maidens are the best)" written on it.

"Wow! Now this is a proper white hakui and red hakama! It's completely different from those cosplay ones in Akihabara that are cut into mini-skirts just to raise the moe factor! Umm... can I take a picture with you?"

[He appeared!!! An otaku obsessed with miko!!!] Shido scread in his head.

"Sorry, no photography is allowed inside the shrine." Looking at the cara getting closer and closer, Shido felt the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Aw... what a sha. Hmm? I think I heard Kagura bells. Is there a festival today?"

"The miko living here is going to burn so cursed dolls."

"Ooooooh! Exorcism! A tenkan crown! A chihaya! Can I go in and watch? Hey, hey, it's okay, right?"

"As... as long as you don't get in the way of the festival. And also, no photos."

"Understood! Festivals and miko, here I co!"

The backpack wearing otaku dashed toward the sub shrine in one breath.

[Those kinds of fanatics... actually exist...]

Shido stood in place, sweating bullets all by himself.

"Excuse , would you like to go on a date with , beautiful Miko-san?"

The otaku had left, and Shido went back to sweeping. But soon, another voice that sent shivers down his spine rang out beside him.

"Eh?"

Turning his head, Shido saw a man dressed in an expensive suit with blond hair, looking exactly like a rich young nobleman.

"Excuse , would you be willing to go on a date with , Honey?"(Tl:Miku ahh line)

"Ho... Ho... Ho... Honey?"

"You have a tall figure, plus such a delicate face. If you go on a date with , I'll introduce you to my father's company as a model."

"I refuse! I completely refuse! Please leave right now!"

"Eh? W-Wait..."

It was no use. Goosebumps popped up all over his body uncontrollably, and Shido frantically pushed the man out of the shrine.

[People like this actually exist...]

Shido thought helplessly as he kept sweeping after chasing the guy away.

Slowly, thick smoke rose from the direction of the sub-shrine. It seed the festival had reached its final steps.

"Please, let there be no more weirdos." Shido sighed and went back to sweeping.

"Hey, girly, and my bro wanna buy so smokes. Can you take so money out of that broken box for us?"

[The weirdos actually ca!!!]

Looking at the punks in front of him—wearing nose rings, sporting wild hairstyles, and even having iron rings on their tongues—Shido despaired.

"I won't give you any money from the donation box. Leave imdiately," Shido glared at the two of them and said.

"Huh? You don't actually think we won't hit a woman, do you?" Their eyes were full of malice.

"Well, I'm very sorry, but I never thought of you two as that kind of noble people from the very start," Shido laughed mockingly. Compared to Spirits, delinquents were absolutely nothing.

"Are you asking to die!?" One of the punk teenagers charged at him.

[I'll ask Ratatoskr for help... Oh no!]

Fighting two against one was unwise, but when Shido tried to call Ratatoskr for help, he suddenly rembered—when he and Mikoto were alone, Ratatoskr would turn off all the surveillance.

"Tch! It can't be helped! Delinquent teenagers—be gone—!!!"

Shido could only raise his broom and swing it hard right at the guy's head.

TL:the amount of google searching and image seraching for these chapters are insade cause there's fkc ton of shrine, miko term that I do not know shit about.