After the dance concluded, Mitsuha Miyamizu knelt down together with her sister. From a wooden box, she took a handful of cooked rice and placed it in her mouth. Using the wide sleeves of her Miko outfit to cover the lower half of her face, she began chewing slowly.
As the white, translucent liquid was spat from Mitsuha Miyamizu's lips into a small square container, several school-uniformed youths of her age in the audience couldn't help but start commenting.
"How disgusting..."
"Eww, I can't believe she's doing this in front of so many people..."
"What a strange and gross ritual. Mitsuha always seemed so quiet and proper, but if she's doing something this disgusting, maybe she's actually a disgusting person too... What's even the point of such worship ceremonies? They should have been abolished long ago."
"Poor Mitsuha, she must be having a hard time..."
Hearing the audience's murmurs, Mitsuha Miyamizu kept her eyes closed, appearing expressionless on the surface, though her heart was actually quite troubled.
Chewing rice and then spitting it out in front of so many people to make kuchikamizake as an offering to the gods - this process truly made her feel deeply ashamed.
More importantly, today, the most important person to her was also present, watching.
Would Ye Xing, seeing her behave like this... also think she was disgusting, just like those other people?
Thinking this, Mitsuha couldn't help but open her eyes. Taking the opportunity while packing the container holding the kuchikamizake, she stole a glance toward the audience.
To her surprise, Ye Xing was no longer in his original position. Instead, he had his arm around the shoulder of the boy who had just called her disgusting, speaking to him with a smile on his face.
Though she was too far away to hear the conversation clearly, Mitsuha could distinctly see that the boy's expression was visibly tense. He had even voluntarily lowered his head, appearing like a terrified rabbit cornered by a tiger - pitiful and completely submissive.
...
After the ceremony concluded, Mitsuha Miyamizu didn't change out of her Miko outfit as she normally would. Instead, she waited until all the spectators had left before immediately stepping down from the stage and running up to Ye Xing, asking curiously:
"What did you say to that boy just now?"
"Oh, nothing much."
Ye Xing replied casually, smiling.
"I just told him not to casually comment on someone else's fiancée - just a friendly exchange."
"What friendly exchange? I don't believe that at all."
Mitsuha Miyamizu instinctively retorted first, then suddenly realised what he'd said, her face flushing bright red.
"You... you... what did you say? F-fiancée?"
"Yes, fiancée."
Ye Xing's smile faded as he spoke slowly.
"Now that we have time, I can tell you the entire plan."
"While you were up on stage conducting the ceremony with Yotsuha, I noticed several rather unusual people watching from below."
Hearing this, Mitsuha Miyamizu couldn't help but frown slightly, hesitating as she replied.
"Really? I didn't notice... any strange people?"
"That's because you were observing superficial things like appearance and looks - meaningless details."
Ye Xing spoke softly, like a patient teacher guiding a student.
"Mitsuha, do you know how to identify psychics?"
"Um..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu thought carefully before replying cautiously.
"From... their spiritual power?"
"And when they're not using their spiritual power?"
"Then..."
Seeing Mitsuha's expression as if she'd guessed something, Ye Xing nodded slightly.
"Exactly. While psychics may seem similar to high-level evil spirits occupying human bodies, there's one crucial difference - the aura they emit."
"How do I describe it... Evil spirits occupying human bodies, even when disguised as humans, still emit a special black aura that can be recognised at a glance."
"But psychics are completely different."
"Like me, and those around me, hiding in this town, transformed by some entity, attempting to bring catastrophic disaster to Itomori Town - as long as they don't use their spiritual power, psychics are no different from ordinary humans. Except for one thing."
Mitsuha Miyamizu asked curiously: "What is it?"
Ye Xing softly uttered a single word.
"Gaze."
"Gaze?"
"Yes, gaze."
Ye Xing explained to Mitsuha Miyamizu, as he had once taught Miko Yotsuya, how to become a professional exorcist.
"Especially on an occasion like today, everyone's gaze is focused on you and Yotsuha presiding over the shrine ceremony. But only psychics trying to find something will be looking around repeatedly, because they want to see if the guardian deity your Miyamizu family enshrines will appear here today. This abnormal gaze is their tell."
"I see."
Mitsuha Miyamizu looked as if she'd suddenly understood everything, then her pretty face flushed again as she whispered.
"Then what you said about fiancée... what does that mean? Is that also part of the plan?"
"Yes."
Ye Xing nodded, speaking with a smile.
"I need a reason to stay by your side, Yotsuha's, and your grandmothers' - to protect all three of you. That means it would be best for me to live directly in your home. Furthermore, during tomorrow's process of delivering the kuchikamizake you made to that shrine, I must accompany you. To achieve both these points without arousing suspicion, the identity of the current Miyamizu shrine maiden's fiancé is most suitable."
"So that's how it is..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu pressed her lips together and spoke with a smile.
"Those things you just said to that boy - you deliberately spoke that way so those people would hear, right?"
"Not entirely."
To Mitsuha's surprise, Ye Xing actually denied this, looking directly into her eyes with a serious expression.
"The main reason was that I didn't want to hear others speaking about you that way."
This direct attack, launched with zero frames and no wind-up, instantly shattered Mitsuha's defences.
"Ye Xing... I..."
Just as Mitsuha was halfway through speaking, Yotsuha Miyamizu - having changed into her usual clothes with her hair in two braids - came running over. Seeing her sister and Ye Xing talking closely together, she spoke with an exasperated expression.
"Hey, if you have something to say, you can say it at home. It's not like you're separating immediately. Why don't you two just stick together permanently? Ugh, is this what they call high school mating season? This is giving me a headache."
...
Meanwhile, at the inn in Itomori Town.
"Did any of you notice that among the crowd watching the ceremony, there was a boy about high school age?"
"What's strange about that? Apparently, he's the current Miyamizu shrine maiden's fiancé."
The young man codenamed Tenjō-sagari, leader of this group of psychics, frowned slightly and murmured.
"Most townspeople seem unaware that the current Miyamizu shrine maiden has a live-in fiancé. It feels like he appeared out of nowhere... Isn't the timing a bit too coincidental?"
Hearing this, a middle-aged man looked at Tenjō-sagari and said expressionlessly.
"You suspect that boy might be here to disrupt our plans?"
"Probably not."
Tenjō-sagari shook his head.
"Aside from Lady Izanami, no one could possibly know about the disaster approaching Itomori Town. Still, better to be cautious. If the Miyamizu family goes to offer sacrifices tomorrow..."
As she spoke, a distorted fanaticism and murderous intent flashed in Tenjō-sagari's eyes.
"The young, the old, and that little one - kill them all. But the first to die will be the man. If that so-called deity still doesn't appear when witnessing their divine envoy in mortal danger, it proves they don't exist at all. Once we confirm this, our plans will face no obstacles whatsoever."
...
Meanwhile, at the Miyamizu residence.
"Oh dear, Mr Ye Xing, my apologies."
Hitoha Miyamizu smiled benevolently as she placed a bundle of bedding on the floor, turning to face Ye Xing with a cheerful expression.
"I didn't know you'd be staying tonight, and haven't had time to clean a room. I'm rather tired from today's preparations for the ritual ceremony. You'll have to make do in Mitsuha's room for tonight, and tomorrow... oh wait, tomorrow we still need to present offerings to the deity. Make do for two nights, then - I'll have your room ready by the day after tomorrow."
"Sorry for the trouble, grandmother."
"Not at all, not at all."
After Ye Xing and Mitsuha Miyamizu entered the room, Hitoha Miyamizu left with a smile, gently closing the door behind her.
At this moment, Mitsuha hadn't even changed out of her Miko outfit yet.
She unceremoniously sat directly on the floor, removed the heavy-looking golden headpiece from her head, and sighed softly.
"I'm absolutely exhausted..."
Mitsuha stole a glance at Ye Xing, then looked at the bedding her grandmother had left behind, her fair cheeks slightly flushed.
"Um... sorry to make you put up with sharing a room with me..."
"Ah, don't mention it, don't mention it."
After saying this, Ye Xing promptly sat on the floor as well, completely ignoring the suggestive look Mitsuha gave him. He showed no intention of leaving the room to wait outside while she changed clothes, instead sitting there boldly and immovably like Mount Tai.
Left with no choice, Mitsuha could only blush deeply and whisper with embarrassed anger, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"You... could you please step out for a moment... I need to change clothes..."
"Just go ahead and change."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"I don't mind you taking advantage of me. Between us, who cares about such formalities?"
"You really..."
Seeing that Ye Xing had no intention of leaving, Mitsuha sighed helplessly and, fighting back her embarrassment, turned around and began untying her loose Miko outfit.
"Speaking of which..."
While Mitsuha was changing clothes, Ye Xing, being the gentleman he was, naturally watched openly and unabashedly, smiling as he spoke.
"I get the feeling your grandmother genuinely wants me to marry into your family and change my name to Miyamizu Xing."
"Yes..."
Mitsuha responded helplessly, thinking to herself how obvious her grandmother's fondness for Ye Xing was - her desire to make him their live-in grandson-in-law was too transparent.
How long could tidying a room possibly take?
Besides, the room where her mother, Futaba, had lived was always kept clean and didn't need any cleaning at all. It was clearly just an excuse.
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense.
After the incident involving Mitsuha's father, the current town mayor, who was formerly the Miyamizu family's live-in son-in-law, Hitoha had found it particularly difficult to find a suitable successor to the shrine.
Ye Xing, however, was an ideal candidate.
Possessing special abilities and having communicated with the deity worshipped by the Miyamizu family, he had reached some form of cooperative agreement.
He was practically the perfect divine envoy and live-in son-in-law candidate.
"Unfortunately, I won't be marrying into anyone's family."
"Why?"
Hearing Ye Xing say he wouldn't marry into a family, Mitsuha Miyamizu immediately asked without thinking, feeling a nervous sense of potential loss.
Was it because... he didn't like her?
But what Ye Xing said next completely baffled Mitsuha Miyamizu.
"If I really had to marry into families, how many names would I have to change? Yukinoshita Xing, Sakurajima Xing, Yuigahama Xing, Yotsuya Xing, Futaba Xing, Touma Xing, Amano Xing, Kawasaki Xing, Yurikawa Xing, Suga Xing, Shishigami Xing. I even thought of an absurd one - if it's not just changing surnames but also some tacit name, like Kitagawa Xing, then I really couldn't handle it. So we can't set this precedent."
Listening to the ridiculous names coming from Ye Xing's mouth, Mitsuha Miyamizu couldn't help but laugh.
"You're saying strange things again. But... I don't want you to marry into the Miyamizu family either."
Only after speaking did Mitsuha Miyamizu realise how strange her words sounded, quickly waving her hands to explain.
"I... I don't mean it that way. What I mean is... I don't want to stay here being a shrine maiden my whole life, so... it's not that I feel that way about you, or anything... I..."
The more Mitsuha spoke, the redder her face became, until she was so flustered she couldn't even form coherent sentences. Like she was throwing a tantrum, she quickly put on her clothes and ran to turn off the light in the room.
"Never mind, let's sleep."
...
Early the next morning, on a winding mountain path.
Seeing her older sister constantly yawning and rubbing her eyes as if she hadn't slept well, and glancing at Ye Xing walking ahead carrying their grandmother on his back, Yotsuha Miyamizu lowered her voice and showed an expression that said, 'I understand everything.'
"Last night... did you play too late?"
"Wh-what... what are you talking about?"
Hearing her sister's highly suggestive words, Mitsuha Miyamizu blushed again, fiddling with the hair by her ear as she muttered quietly.
"I was just too nervous... so I couldn't sleep, that's all."
"Hmm?"
Yotsuha looked clearly unconvinced, teasing:
"A lone man and woman, alone in a room, unable to sleep late at night, tsk tsk tsk. If you say nothing happened, I don't believe it."
"He..."
Mitsuha glanced at Ye Xing walking ahead with their grandmother on his back, her expression complicated as she said:
"He didn't have trouble sleeping. He fell asleep long ago."
"Huh?"
Yotsuha remained silent for a long time after hearing this before slowly speaking:
"Sister."
"What?"
"You're really useless."
...
Meanwhile, in the woods not far behind the group, the psychics were following.
"Should we make our move now?"
"No."
Hearing the urging from behind, Tenjō-sagari calmly replied.
"Don't forget, our ultimate goal is to find the location of the shrine where offerings are made. Killing these three shrine maidens and that live-in boy is just incidental. We'll act after we arrive."
At this point, Tenjō-sagari peered through the gaps in the forest, her gaze settling on Ye Xing, who was steadily carrying Hitoha Miyamizu along the mountain path. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said,
"I sense something off about that boy... Once we arrive, we'll eliminate him first. Use the method we practised specifically for psychics."
"Understood."
...
An hour and a half later.
"This is the place."
Hitoha Miyamizu stood on the ground, looking at the narrow entrance before her as she spoke, smiling.
"To worship the gods means to devote our body and soul. The self-made kuchikamizake represents 'half of ourselves'. Offering this to the gods symbolises our duty as shrine maidens."
Hearing this, Ye Xing chuckled lightly.
"Granny Hitoha, there's actually something I've never told you."
"What is it?"
"Well... that particular god never drinks alcohol. She says she's allergic to it."
Hitoha Miyamizu: "..."
"Er... we should still make the offering. It represents our sincerity."
To be honest, it was hard to keep a straight face.
This tradition of offering kuchikamizake had been maintained for over a thousand years, only to discover now that the god the Miyamizu family had been worshipping for generations didn't drink at all?
Wait, that's not right.
Can gods even be allergic to alcohol?
"Mitsuha, Yotsuha, and you too, Ye Xing-kun, please come inside as well."
In response to Hitoha Miyamizu's invitation, Ye Xing smiled and waved his hand.
"You go ahead. I'll wait outside."
"Very well then."
As Yotsuha Miyamizu helped her grandmother into the narrow cave opening, Mitsuha Miyamizu exchanged a glance with Ye Xing, nodding slightly to indicate she knew what to do.
This place was far from Itomori Town.
And...
There was no mobile signal here, making communication with the outside world impossible.
After the three Miyamizu family members entered the cave, Ye Xing spoke softly to the seemingly empty surroundings.
"It's in your hands now."
Red threads materialised in the air, instantly forming a sentence.
[Understood. I've already deployed a barrier at the cave entrance.]
"Good."
Ye Xing stretched lazily and looked toward the distant horizon where several small black dots were gradually approaching. He actively moved forward to meet them, walking nearly a hundred metres before finally closing the distance face to face.
"Good day, everyone."
Seeing Ye Xing coming forward to meet them, the psychics' faces broke into smiles filled with killing intent.
"Truly seeking your own death."
"Is that so?"
Ye Xing shook his head, the smile gradually fading from his face.
In the next moment, the psychics' eyes reflected dark flames, a black longsword, and that terrifyingly familiar black mask they dreaded even speaking about.
"You all... are indeed the ones seeking death."