Prayers and promises (1)

It was always a wonder how fast time could pass. Both summer and fall came to an end in an instant. After Christmas, it was already time to go to the shrine and pray before the celebration of the New Year.

Surprisingly, not much has occurred throughout this lengthy period. The Yokai Gang occasionally got into battles with other groups, but nothing particularly violent. As soon as Makoto and Mami began frequently studying at the cafe, school life was quite laid-back. Sometimes Nakano would come along with his young sisters, and Tomoya would joyfully finish up his schoolwork on his days off.

Neither Mami nor Makoto ever spoke up about the situation in Watanabe’s household. The black-haired girl never mentioned it, and the Red Oni didn’t want to push the topic either. It was unnecessary, especially when he had felt an improvement in their whacky friendship. No longer has Watanabe forced the familiar thing on Makoto; instead, she just appeared during the day and hung out with him and other gang members. It became such a norm that Mami was treated like an honorary member of their group.

The only exception was Christmas Day, when Makoto was surprised by his parents' arrival a week before the holiday and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time together on a trip. He was glad to have some bonding time with them, so he didn’t complain and just went with their idea. But he would lie if he said he didn’t think even once about the girl while he was away.

Onitsuka wondered how Mami was spending this Christmas day. She did not have a boyfriend, so he crossed out the possibility of her going on a date, even though it wasn’t impossible for her to be asked out even a day before. It’s not like Makoto knew much about her school life, considering she was the one who always approached him, not the other way around. But just the thought of some guy asking her out didn’t sit well with him, so to have peace of mind, he immediately decided that there was no way it could happen.

Then he thought about her family. He only knew about Mami’s mother living there, and he hoped that she didn’t have to spend this day at home with that woman. Even though she was a part of her family, he couldn’t imagine celebrating with her being any fun. Then again, he was judging the woman only by hearing her for a few minutes; maybe she wasn’t as bad every day...

That’s why Makoto decided that he would ask Mami to join him and the gang to visit the shrine on New Year's, hoping that at least for this holiday she could have some fun. Gods forbid she would have to study on that day just to please her mother.

Of course, she cheerfully agreed, saying something along the lines of them not having to wait for her as she already had plans, but they would align. Mami used way more distinguished words, but that was the message she wanted to deliver.

And that was precisely why Makoto was sitting on the sofa in the living room of Matsuoka’s household, waiting for Tomoya and his sister Mai, who decided she wanted to tag along to get ready.

“Jeez, how long will you two take?” Onitsuka groaned, slowly sliding lower on the couch.

The Matsuoka siblings cared a lot about appearances, and Makoto had known them since he was a child, yet he could never get used to waiting for them to get ready to go out any time he had invited them or the other way around.

Oh, quit whining like a baby, Makkun,” Mai answered while trying to fix her brother’s long hair, which was half blonde and half brown, into a low bun.

“I know you can’t wait to see your date but it’s not like we are running late, Mako-chan~” Tomoya teased.

“Wh- I...” the Red Oni flushed red, trying to come up with some sort of retort, “We are going as a group, so there is no date, idiot!”

“Did he convince you, sis?”

“Nope, not at all.”

“Me neither.”

Sometimes Makoto wondered if he more often loved or hated both of them.

Thankfully for the red-haired delinquent, it didn’t take more than 15 more minutes for Tomoya and Mai to get ready so they could leave the Matsuoka household all dressed up in traditional clothes for this special day, ready to say their prayers in the shrine as well as meet up with their friends.

The night was cold, but it wasn’t an unpleasant coldness. There was no snow falling, nor was there a harsh wind biting on their faces. It was ideal weather for a stroll down the path, which was dimly lit by the white light of the street lamps.

Halfway to the previously decided meeting spot, the trio spotted Nakano with his two little sisters, who tugged on his hands.

“Look who it is, the teen father of two,” Mai teased the black-haired boy.

“Please don’t even joke like that. I am already on the radar of old ladies from the neighborhood,” Nakano sweatdropped.

“Come on, Nii-chan, we've got to go to the shrine!” Yukari whined.

“Yukari-chan sounds like you just a few minutes ago, Makkun.”

“I wasn’t like that at all!”

It seemed like the twins didn’t care about what the others were saying, as Kaori also had her focus only on her big brother, tugging him from the other side.

“You said Mami-sama would be there. We gotta go!”

Both of the girls were enchanted by Watanabe. If the first meeting with her wasn’t enough, over the past few months, Mami has been acting as their unofficial babysitter from time to time, which ended up with her outranking the twins’ older brother in their ranking of people they love the most. Poor Nakano had a hard time accepting this fact.

“Looks like you’re not one to be the most excited to see our little priestess after all~” This time it was Tomoya who teased his friend.

“Did you two plan to tease me to death today, or was it a spontaneous decision?” Makoto squinted his eyes at the brother-and-sister duo.

They both only gave him a Cheshire grin in response. The gang leader knew he was going nowhere trying to make them stop, so he just groaned and turned his back on them, pushing Nakano’s back to move forward on their way to the shrine.

If he can not do anything about Matsuokas, he might as well bring them here so they can be distracted by all the stalls.

The rest of the walk to the meeting spot was uneventful. When the group arrived at the place, some of the Yokai gang members were there, while the others were still missing. Among them, Makoto was able to spot Yamada, this time together with Tanaka. The gang leader wasn’t sure if he was imagining things or if they were real, but he could feel the tension between the two. They have been arguing for a while, according to what Nakano, his trusted mediator, told him. He wished those two could just get along like they used to.

The red-haired delinquent considered walking over to them to talk and possibly ease the tension, but he was stopped when a familiar voice rang through the noise created by people crowding nearby to say their prayers.

“Behold, the priestess who has arrived this time in her full power!”

Mami stood proudly in front of the members of the Yokai gang. Makoto had his hopes-

Hopes?

Makoto had a feeling that the girl would dress up for this holiday. After all, she wasn’t afraid to wear a cosplay on an entirely normal day. But he was prepared for something more like a winter yukata, similar to what Mai was wearing or the twins.

But no, Watanabe Mami wouldn’t be herself if she failed to surprise him. She was dressed up as a Miko, which, if he thought about it, he could have expected knowing how they looked for girls to volunteer to be shrine maidens for the day to help around. But that was not all that was different about Mami’s look. Instead of her classic twin braids, she had a high ponytail, and there were no characteristic round glasses on her face.

So this was what she meant when she said that she already had plans that wouldn’t be an issue.

“No glasses today?” Makoto smirked at the girl.

“Foolish Red Oni, as I formerly said, today is the day of my true power unleashed!”

“Bet she fell on her face and those poor glasses broke,” Tomoya muttered to Nakano, standing next to him.

“That is certainly not how the turn of events went!” The girl denied the accusation, but looking at how red her cheeks turned, Makoto felt that his friend guessed it right.

The boys laughed, but not for long. Their good time has been cut short by a playful smack to the back of their heads delivered by none other than Mai.

“Now, boys, try to be more gentleman-like.” She then turned to face Mami. “So you’re that girl I keep hearing so much about from Tomo and Makkun? Nice to meet you, Mam-chan!”

Watanabe gave off an oddly stunned appearance. She had never been shy before, so this felt very out of character for her. Onitsuka would start to worry if the girl's unease persisted for a while, but it appeared that it took her a few seconds to resume her original course.

“Ah, the notorious sister of the Shapeshifter, it is a pleasure to be an acquaintance of yours!”

The interaction, however, was short-lived because Yukari and Kaori jumped on the girl with black hair right away.

“Mami-sama!”

“Let’s go pray together!”