Chapter 141: Yurine's Family!
The engine hummed softly. The car window was halfway down, letting in a warm summer breeze laced with sunshine. It was just after eight o'clock on a Saturday morning, and the streets were far less hurried than usual. The traffic lights changed colors lazily. The sun cut across the high-rise buildings at an angle, casting geometric patches of light onto the windshield.
...
Ryohei Tanaka, wearing the matching couple's outfit they had bought last week, held the steering wheel with one hand, waiting leisurely for the light to change. He glanced at the car's navigation system; they were almost at Yurine's family shrine.
"Yurine, we're almost at your house. I'm starting to get nervous. What should I do?" Ryohei asked, his eyes crinkling with a smile as he turned to look at her in the passenger seat.
Today, she was a rare sight without her eyepatch. Her long, reddish-brown hair cascaded down like a waterfall, shimmering like silk in the morning light that streamed through the windshield. Her delicate face was half-hidden by her hair, her long eyelashes lowered. One hand rested lightly on her flat stomach while the other propped up her cheek, giving her an air of relaxed and captivating charm.
Hearing his words, her beautiful reddish-brown eyes swept over to him. The corners of her mouth turned up. "I don't see you being nervous at all, Tanaka-kun."
"No, really, my heart is beating fast. If you don't believe me, you can feel it," Ryohei said without missing a beat.
"Is that so? I really don't believe you."
Yurine actually leaned over, reaching out a slender hand to feel his chest. Then, as if in retaliation, she gave his pectoral muscle a firm squeeze. "See? You're lying. It's not fast at all!"
The numbers on the traffic light counted down, turning from red to green. Ryohei released the brake and stepped on the gas, not the least bit embarrassed. "It was fast a moment ago, but then you reached over, and I miraculously calmed down."
"Oh? So I have a 'Forced Calm' ability?" Yurine asked, twirling a strand of hair around her fingertip, her tone playful.
"I'm sure that's a feeling Jashin-chan knows all too well," Ryohei joked.
Yurine just rolled her eyes at him.
...
At that very moment, Jashin-chan, a bulging wallet hanging from her neck, arrived excitedly in front of an arcade called "Life Theater."
"My horoscope said I'm going to win big today! I'm going to win back everything I lost, with interest!"
"Let's do this!"
Jashin-chan pumped her fist, her eyes gleaming with excitement. With a slither of her snake tail, she zipped into the "Life Theater." It was time to change her life!
...
Ryohei soon arrived at Yurine's family shrine. Following her directions, he parked the car in the shrine's parking lot. They both got out. Yurine retrieved a bouquet of carnations from the back seat for her mother, who loved flowers. Ryohei went to the trunk and took out a fruit basket and the alcohol he had prepared for her father and grandfather.
"Hanazono Inari Shrine..."
Walking to the entrance, Ryohei glanced at the name of the shrine carved into the stone pillar, then looked inward through a vermilion torii gate.
The main path, or sandō, stretched straight into the depths of the shrine grounds. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the stone-paved path. Stone lanterns stood silently on either side. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of incense mixed with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees. About a hundred meters in, he could see the outline of the main worship hall, its eaves curving gracefully upwards.
Several stone fox statues sat on either side of the path. Some held stalks of rice in their mouths, others had scrolls under their paws, their eyes bright and watchful, like silent guardians.
"Your family's shrine is pretty big," Ryohei said with some surprise, turning to Yurine. He teased, "And in this neighborhood, too. I never knew you were a little rich girl."
"It's just a small to medium-sized shrine..." Yurine said, holding the carnations and humbly waving her hand. "I'm no rich girl. I'm actually quite poor; I'm still working for you, remember?"
"Let's go," she said, and then began walking gracefully into the shrine. Ryohei followed, carrying the fruit and liquor.
The shrine had a decent amount of foot traffic, likely because it was the weekend. As they walked, they ran into a few neighbors. They would smile and greet Yurine, then look at Ryohei with surprised and curious eyes, asking if she had brought her boyfriend home. With their matching outfits, one holding flowers and the other carrying gifts, it was a very convincing sight.
There was no reason to hide it, so Yurine admitted it openly. Ryohei stood just behind her, smiling and nodding at the middle-aged women he didn't know, a simple greeting.
Soon, she led him to the shamusho, the shrine's administrative office, which was located next to the worship hall. This was where they handled prayer requests and sold charms, arrows, and prayer plaques—it was also where the priests and shrine maidens rested. Yurine's family lived here.
Ryohei was led into the reception room. Yurine motioned for him to sit at a low table, then set down the carnations. She took her phone out of her shoulder bag and sent a message to her family's group chat: "I'm home with my boyfriend."
A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.
A young woman in a miko (shrine maiden) uniform entered the room. She had long brown hair and bore a resemblance to Yurine, though she appeared more mature.
"Okā-san!" (Mom!)
Seeing her, Yurine immediately stood up and handed her the carnations. "Tanaka-kun bought these for you."
"Oh, you children, you shouldn't have!" Mrs. Hanazono said, accepting the bouquet with delight. Her gaze moved past Yurine to Ryohei, who had also stood up. Her eyes lit up with interest.
"Good morning, Auntie. I'm Yurine's boyfriend, Ryohei Tanaka."
Following the local custom, Ryohei bowed slightly with his hands in front of him, introducing himself to his future mother-in-law with composure.
"Hello. I'm Yurine's mother, Hanazono Yo," she replied with a gentle smile, returning the bow. "Tanaka-kun... Hmm, is it alright if I call you that?"
"Of course," Ryohei answered quickly.
"What a fine young man." Hanazono Yo held the carnations and lightly covered her lips with her hand, a classic "mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law with growing approval" expression on her face. She smiled and said, "Please, have a seat. I'll just go to the kitchen. I've already made some tea, and I made some wagashi this morning. You can try them and see if you like them."
"Let me help you get them," Ryohei offered diligently.
"No, no, you and Yurine stay here," she said, waving her hand. "Her father and grandfather are on their way over."
Speak of the devil.
Just as she said that, a handsome, middle-aged man in a kannushi (Shinto priest) uniform and an elderly man in the same attire entered the reception room.