Chapter 419: Barrier Targeting Jashin-chan!
Dinner ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
Kyon-Kyon, Ran-Ran, and others who didn't participate in preparing dinner took the initiative to clean up afterwards. Then, everyone went to the living room of the hilltop villa together, waiting for the Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle).
Watching the Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve is an important custom for many Japanese people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.
This program starts at 7:15 PM and ends at 11:45 PM, with a five-minute news break in between.
The main format is to divide the most popular singers of the year into Red Team (female) and White Team (male) for a song contest, finally deciding the winner.
Besides local Japanese singers, famous Asian and even international artists are also invited.
It is a music grand ceremony!
It was Ryohei's first time watching the Kohaku Uta Gassen—
He felt it wasn't bad; the songs were quite pleasant to listen to.
"Suddenly want to do something bad."
Just then, Jashin-chan said without warning.
Everyone couldn't help looking at her.
Of course, some didn't care.
"Hey, Lucoa."
Jashin-chan suddenly stood up, pointed at the TV to Lucoa, and grinned: "Send me to this stage. I want to go up and perform a wave, stealing everyone's limelight..."
"Ho ho—! Does this count as a performance accident?" Jashin-chan raised her hand to cover her mouth, her big azure eyes curving cunningly, revealing a wicked smile.
"You can't do that, Jashin-chan!"
Medusa hurriedly stood up to stop her, only her voice was still soft and gentle, having no deterrent force to speak of.
"Don't mess around."
Ryohei looked at the scum snake speechlessly.
"Can't do that." Lucoa shook her finger at Jashin-chan, smilingly said: "I refuse to be an accomplice to someone else doing bad things, unless I want to do it myself."
"Mn? Is this right?"
Hearing the latter part, Ryohei couldn't help looking at Lucoa.
"Just kidding~." Lucoa revealed a bright smile.
(´∇｀)
"Then let me change the phrasing..."
Jashin-chan pondered, opened her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and said seriously: "I want to appear on stage and give the audience in front of the TV a surprise!"
"Give me a break!" Ryohei was the first to roast.
"You just said change the phrasing..."
Minos half-squinted her eyes, looking sideways at Jashin-chan.
( ﹁ ﹁ )
"Jashin-chan still doesn't give up, wanting to do bad things," Kyon-Kyon said with a crisp voice.
"Mmm..."
Elma held a piece of spicy beef jerky in her hand, grinding her teeth there like a hamster.
Watching TV incidentally, then looking at the few people around.
Tasty~.
And Lucoa naturally still refused.
"Eh—! So boring!"
Being rejected successively, Jashin-chan also deflated, sat back on the sofa, looking bored.
...
No more moths (trouble) were raised afterwards.
Unknowingly, the time came to 11:45 PM, and the Kohaku Uta Gassen came to an end.
"Phew... finished!"
Ryohei got up from the sofa, stretched his waist; sitting for nearly four and a half hours, his body was somewhat stiff.
Others also moved their hands and feet one after another.
"I'm going to the restroom."
Elma dropped a sentence and ran away with da-da-da sounds.
While watching the Kohaku Uta Gassen just now, she ate a lot of things. Nearly half of the snacks, drinks, and fruits prepared by Ryohei went into her stomach.
The shy Ran-Ran followed silently.
When everyone gathered, Lucoa cast a "Cognition Barrier" on everyone, then raised her hand to open a spatial passage, taking Ryohei and others to Tokyo.
"Dong—!"
A deep bell sound came, the lingering sound curling up.
This was the "Joya no Kane" (New Year's Eve Bell), a traditional bell-ringing ceremony held by Japanese Buddhism in temples nationwide every New Year's Eve.
Usually starting from 11:00 PM late at night, ringing one hundred and eight times, with the last ring falling exactly at 0:00 AM on New Year's Day. It signifies eliminating the one hundred and eight kinds of defilements in life, welcoming the New Year with a pure heart.
But was there a temple nearby?
Ryohei was a bit surprised; he didn't pay attention when he came before.
"Wuaah—! So many people!"
Kyon-Kyon, who liked humans, widened her eyes, looking at the street in front of her.
Although it was close to midnight, people were still coming and going on the street, traffic weaving like fabric, even livelier than during the day.
"These should all be preparing to go to shrines or temples for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the New Year)." Ryohei smiled and took over the conversation, then looked at the Hanazono Inari Shrine aside.
"Let's go."
He called out, lifted his steps, and walked towards the interior of the shrine following the flow of people.
"This is Yurine's family shrine?"
Minos followed with brisk steps, looking around curiously while walking.
The vermilion torii gate was still eye-catching in the night.
Stone lanterns on both sides of the sando (approach path) haloed soft light, interweaving with the city's neon lights.
"Wuaah—!"
The moment she stepped into the torii gate, Jashin-chan suddenly cried out in pain, jumping up as if her tail had been stepped on.
She rushed forward two steps, sucked in a breath of cold air with a Hiss—, turned back and said:
"This shrine is not right; I was electrocuted just now! So painful!"
She widened her eyes, looking suspicious and uncertain: "Is there... perhaps a barrier targeting demons here?"
"Eh? Is there?"
Minos turned back, scratched the back of her head, wondering: "Why am I fine?"
"I-I'm fine too!"
Medusa was made a bit nervous by Jashin-chan, holding one hand lightly on her chest and raising the other.
"I and Little Ice are fine too."
Yusa held her sister's hand, tilted her head, and said with a gentle tone.
"Mmm..."
Lucoa opened the eyelid of her left eye, looked at the vermilion torii gate, the corners of her mouth curved, then suppressed a little bit, looking at Jashin-chan with a strange expression:
"No barrier targeting demons, but there is one targeting you."
"That is correct."
Some fluctuations appeared on Pekola's face as she looked at Jashin-chan.
"Ha!?"
Jashin-chan was stunned first, then widened her eyes in disbelief: "What did you say!?"
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