I have an unlimited number of shikigami

“Bow,” Mrs. Kasahara said, kneeling down beside her daughter. Hoshimi and her daughter, as well as Fujiwara Izaya, did the same, and so did the monk behind them.

"Why do we have to bow?" Asuka Kasahara still didn't quite understand.

"What do you mean, why...? Wearing mourning clothes makes you look so beautiful and sad, so I wanted to see Xiangxiang bowing." Mrs. Kasahara said jokingly.

"I see..."

Kasahara Asuka respectfully touched the ground with both hands and bowed towards the tombstone.

Then she raised her head, immediately reached out, touched her mother's wrist, and pulled it.

After the worship ceremony, night fell. The moon rose in the indigo night sky, seemingly waiting to enjoy the upcoming fireworks display.

The group left the back mountain and climbed the mountain path leading to the main venue.

The temperature began to cool, and summer insects chirped in the mountains. The mountain path was dark, and Mrs. Kasahara carried a lantern, holding her youngest daughter's hand with one free. Mrs. Hoshimi did the same, only Fujiwara Izaya was alone. After joining the main mountain trail, they saw many honest farmers on their way to the festival, some carrying flutes and practicing as they walked. The unexpectedly skillful flute music, with its light rhythm, brought a sense of rustic charm.

"It's finally a bit cooler here," Mrs. Kasahara said cheerfully.

Now she looks no different from an ordinary housewife who brings her family to join in the fun.

“That’s due to the terrain,” Mrs. Hoshimi said with a smile. “Didn’t you learn that in geography class? The temperature drops by 0.6°C for every 100 meters increase in altitude.”

"oops……"

At that moment, Asuka Kasahara tripped and almost fell.

"Are you alright?" In the instant Mrs. Kasahara turned to the side, the lamplight illuminated her daughter's upper body, and she caught a glimpse of her daughter's sly eyes. So she said, "Wearing wooden clogs to climb mountains is dangerous enough. Let Fujiwara carry you."

Hoshimi and her mother: "..."

"Hehe~"

Kasahara Asuka thought to herself, "Mom is truly a top-notch wingman."

"Come here." Fujiwara Rinya bent down in front of her, and she immediately threw herself onto his back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Hoshimi Rinko glanced back, the light from the lanterns in the trees shining through the green light onto her face, making it appear lush and green.

"Senior, senior, how about we don't bring my senior to play tonight?" Kasahara Asuka whispered in Fujiwara Izaya's ear, her voice playful and charming as she teased him. "Let's find a grove of trees, and Asuka will step on you."

"Be serious." Fujiwara Izaya said in a serious tone, pinching her buttocks through her mourning clothes.

Because she was being carried on his back, the originally loose lines of the mourning clothes were stretched taut, and her round, plump flesh looked incredibly beautiful when pinched.

Returning to the main hall, the two ladies offered a token bow before the simple Buddha statue. Thanks to the bright lights of the hall, their necks appeared exceptionally white, more captivating than ever against their mourning attire.

After they finished their prayers, Fujiwara Rinya curiously approached them and asked, "What wishes did you make?"

“If you say your wish out loud, it won’t come true.” Mrs. Hoshimi’s face flushed slightly.

“No way,” Mrs. Kasahara chimed in. “We’re not Buddhists, so whether our wishes come true or not isn’t Buddha’s business. Just say whatever you want.”

“Yes!” Fujiwara Izaya chimed in, “Just say it, and I’ll put in a word with Amaterasu and make sure it comes true for you.”

Mrs. Hoshimi tilted her head slightly: "Hmm?"

That adorable confused expression is exactly like the senior's!

"Why didn't you greet Omikami for me?" Mrs. Kasahara reached out to shake Fujiwara Izaya's shoulder unhappily. With a "smack," Kasahara Asuka, who was being carried on her senior's back, slapped her mother's hand away like a cub guarding its food.

"Together, your wishes will all come true." Fujiwara Izaya showed no favoritism towards anyone.

"Hmph, you're smart to know your place." Mrs. Kasahara nodded cutely. "I just made a wish that Fujiwara's younger brother will never be able to leave the three of us, mother and daughters, and that we will live happily together forever."

"

The simple, honest villagers who were worshipping nearby cast strange glances at them.

Hoshimi Rinko moved a little further away, giving them an expression that said, "I don't know them."

“My wish…” Mrs. Hoshimi’s gaze swept over the innocent and romantic Kasahara Asuka, and landed on her daughter in the dimly lit corner. “Hmm, it’s the same as Himeko’s.”

A gust of wind blew by, swirling in the air above the hall, making it seem as if the gods had granted their prayers.

Hoshimi Rinko fled the main hall as if running away, gazing up at the starry sky above the sea. She took a deep breath and murmured to herself, "Won't the gods punish me for making such an absurd and willful request?"

After leaving the main hall, the group heard a deafening roar like a tidal wave. Campfires burned on either side of the stone steps, sparks flying everywhere in the night air. The clamor ahead came through the treetops, vibrating their eardrums intensely.

“Climb up from here, and you’ll reach the main venue,” Mrs. Kasahara said, leading the way.

The wooden clogs clattered as they trod the winding stone steps. When they arrived at the mountain gate, panting heavily, they finally reached the main venue.

A spacious area nestled on the mountainside had a stage in the center and was surrounded by bustling night stalls illuminated by lanterns. It was already packed with spectators. The atmosphere was even more lively than the first night, with stalls offering all sorts of games, snacks, and local specialties. A windmill vendor was hawking his wares, his windmill handles stuck into bundles of straw. Next door was a stall selling decorative paper umbrella stickers, playing cards, and balloons. Every summer, these small vendors would purchase goods cheaply from wholesale markets in big cities and then travel from town to town to sell them.

The fireworks festival hadn't officially started yet, and people were currently browsing the stalls and looking for places to watch the fireworks. Fujiwara Izaya scanned the area, and it was difficult to find even a place to stand, let alone a place to sit.

If it's just one person, it doesn't really matter. Fujiwara Izaya can go anywhere. If there's really no place, climbing a tree to watch is also an option.

However, he came with two pairs of mothers and daughters today, and he didn't want to squeeze through the crowd with them, because he could be the only one to take advantage of them.

"Are there VIP seats?" Fujiwara Izaya asked.

“The abbot said it should be included, but I didn’t ask.” Mrs. Hoshimi looked at the bustling crowd, her face beaming with excitement. “These kinds of rural festivals are quite interesting; I’d like to explore them properly!”

“No!” Fujiwara Izaya firmly refused.

"Hmm?" Mrs. Kasahara looked at him with amusement.

"You guys sit and watch. I'll buy whatever you want to eat or play."

“That’s so boring,” Mrs. Hoshimi shook her head and refused.

"There are too many people, it's inconvenient. Sister Xingjian, don't you think about it? These country men are so rude, what if you run into a pervert?

"Oh, I see." Mrs. Kasahara smiled knowingly. "Fujiwara-kun wants to keep us like birds in a cage, right?"

"..."

“This is called a forbidden love!” Mrs. Kasahara and Mrs. Hoshimi said.

"Tsk tsk, that little pervert is too bold." Mrs. Hoshimi looked at Fujiwara Izaya with disdain. "We are the chairpersons, how dare you have such thoughts?"

“You annoying older sisters, you should give way to your cute little brother at times like this!” Fujiwara Rin also shamelessly acted spoiled.

"Haha~"

The two ladies burst into laughter.

"Alright then, if you want to shop, I'll take you around one by one." Fujiwara Izaya continued to think of ideas. "I can't take care of too many people, but it's fine if I only take one person at a time."

“This is a date alone.” Mrs. Kasahara saw through his little scheme at a glance.

"Hmm, it should be alright." Mrs. Hoshimi looked at her daughter and said earnestly, "In order for Rinko to have a date alone, I have to give up the fun of visiting the country festival."

Rinko Hoshimi was somewhat tempted.

In front of acquaintances, she truly put aside her pride, but when it's just the two of them, her junior...

"Let's go then." Mrs. Kasahara pointed to the hillside at the edge of the square. "Fujiwara-kun, clear the way!"

"Alright!" Fujiwara Izaya, carrying Kasahara Asuka on his back, squeezed into the crowded throng, moving against the current like a baby fish. People were everywhere, like walking through the Wooden Dummy Alley of Shaolin Temple. Kasahara Asuka patted his back, shouting, "Make way!", "Is that a log in front of us?", "Get out of the way!", while deftly carving a path through the crowd with a chop of her hand.

Mrs. Kasahara and Mrs. Hoshimi walked calmly forward along this passage.

Above them, the large lanterns used for sacrificial rites emitted a beautiful glow. Both ladies wore elegant updos, and the backs of their necks were faintly tinged with a golden sheen. Their faces, illuminated by the firelight, were radiant, as if polished. The gazes of those around them, as intense as the lanterns themselves, lingered on them.

Their noble and elegant demeanor, like a beautiful statue that rightfully receives all admiring glances, appeared cold and self-satisfied.

The VIP seating is located on a raised platform at the back of the square, surrounded by trees. The entrance is separated by cloth strips, and each seat is a small cubicle partitioned by screens. Due to its elevated position, the viewing experience for both the stage performances and fireworks is significantly better.

Upon entering the VIP section, food, tea, and wine were immediately served.

Expensive sakura shrimp, crispy fried oysters, steamed sea bream, sakura sushi, and salty fish and shellfish soup, among other dishes. Every dish is presented in a way that evokes the color of sakura blossoms, creating a very luxurious presentation, as if the table is covered in blooming sakura flowers.

“This is the Shizuoka Cherry Blossom Kaiseki.” Mrs. Hoshimi knelt gracefully. “It’s a pity it’s not spring, otherwise we could have enjoyed a real cherry blossom feast.”

Her voice was very soft, like raindrops tapping on a bluestone pavement on a rainy day.

"Let's come together again next spring." Mrs. Kasahara leaned against the screen rather inelegantly, her voice and expression equally languid.

“Next year, it’ll be just the two of us, senior.” Kasahara Asuka said, reaching out to pinch Fujiwara Izaya’s neck. Fujiwara Izaya retaliated by scratching her chin.

"Mmm, it itches~"

The girl curled her shoulders, ticklish, but tilted her chin slightly, accepting his teasing. In the bright yellow light, her half-closed, slightly shy eyes revealed an unconcealable joy, as if she were about to suddenly rush into the arms of her beloved, making her incredibly adorable.

"Eat something first," Mrs. Hoshimi said with a smile.

Rinko Hoshimi, standing next to him, had already picked up a crispy oyster and was chewing it elegantly.

"Aunt Miko is being naughty!" Asuka Kasahara mischievously stuck out her tongue.

Then she straightened up, knelt on the mat, covered half of her face with the sleeve of her mourning dress, and glanced shyly at Fujiwara Izaya with her pure and gentle eyes.

Rinko Hoshimi chewed the oyster in her mouth fiercely, it tasted like a bitch.

Fujiwara Izaya ate the delicate sakura shrimp, his gaze passing through the stone railing in front of him to the main stage below. A sea breeze blew in his face, the bonfire blazed fiercely, the flames dancing and flickering, their shadows constantly and erratically passing over people's faces and the stone steps. The bustling, crowded atmosphere seemed like a world apart from the VIP area he was in.

Two familiar figures flashed by in the crowd.

The woman in the deep blue yukata, exuding elegance, was Natsuki Riki. Her yukata, adorned with lilies and autumn grasses, added to its refreshing feel. Beside her, in a red yukata with a sash emphasizing her slender waist, was Kasahara Mieri. Her long, vibrant orange hair reflected the firelight, making her appear like a nighttime enchantress, strode predating her prey towards the VIP seats.

After arriving at the VIP section, the two did not enter this particular booth, but instead sat down in another booth.

very good!

What we need is to separate them.

Fujiwara Izaya was overjoyed.

You know, when women get together, it's easy for a chaotic situation to arise. The main problem right now is that his aunt is on the other side, so as long as he manages his time well and moves back and forth between the two cubicles, he definitely won't mess things up.

Even if you bump into someone while browsing the stalls, it's not a problem, because he only takes one person with him at a time.

With his eloquence, dealing with a chaotic scene involving only two women would be a piece of cake... Amidst the distant clamor, a cool sea breeze blew by. A handsome young man dressed in black mourning clothes smoothed his wind-blown bangs, a pleased smile playing on his lips. "Thank goodness Kawashima Miki didn't come..." he thought. "If my wife had come to join the fun, I might as well have jumped off the cliff."

However, before the mountain gate, where he could not see, appeared the dignified-looking Kawashima Miki.

She stood ramrod straight and walked with an elegant gait. Wearing a purple yukata and with her hair tied back, she looked like a young, elegant lady.

※※※※※

Let's go back to the afternoon.

Inside the Furukawa Kaikan, there are restaurants that exude the atmosphere of Akira, and old-fashioned electric fans replace air conditioning, blowing away the summer heat.

Kawashima Miki held a bowl of noodles between her fingers, her eyes glued to the television screen.

The news was reporting on the riots at the Nan'in Mameka Festival. She stared intently at the screen, trying to spot Fujiwara Izaya in the fleeting images. Unfortunately, the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang) kept everything completely secret from ordinary people, and he would never appear on television.