On the outskirts of Kyoto,
before a secluded shrine,
a girl in a pale green dress crouched on the ground, gently stroking an orange kitty as she muttered:
"Peach Blossom, did you deliver the gift to that person safely and intact?"
"Hehe, as expected of this great deity's apostle. None of those vicious evil ghosts in the Ghost Domain managed to eat you."
"Ah, ah, ah, of course I'll protect you. If those guys dare bully you, I'll definitely beat every last one of them flat!"
"What? You want dried fish as a reward?"
The girl's hand, which had been stroking the cat, suddenly paused, and a troubled look appeared on her adorable face.
However, that unnatural expression soon faded away. She continued rubbing the little fellow, whose back had begun to tense, and said earnestly:
"Mhm. As this great deity's kitty, you mustn't let worldly desires blind you!"
"You can sense the apology and unease in my heart. I'm truly sorry for coming to worship after being covered in blood."
So everything the little deity it served had said was true!
[Nothing unexpected will happen, right?]
[Will my first festival be held smoothly?]
"Takamagahara, go back first. I'll go see what happened."
Facing Enmusubi's flustered expression and even her attempt to send them away, Arata was not angered. He calmly explained why he had come, borrowing Kidomaru's name.
The fact that a Shura evil ghost could cherish their friendship so dearly truly surprised and delighted her.
However, through the divine message sent up by her believer Kidomaru and Peach Blossom several decades later, they could at least be considered acquainted. Coupled with the face-to-face distance between them now, the girl immediately recognized who had come.
"Eh? Is that so?"
Suddenly, its little nose twitched involuntarily. It was that scent