05 - Yume

"Nnn…"
"…………"
"A-Ahhnn…"
"…………"
"It- It hurts! B-But it feels so good… a-ahnn!"
"…………"
"A-Amazi- A-Ahn!! Master!"
"…………"
"N-Nnn! W-Why are… why are you so good at this, M-Master? A-Ahnn!!"

I paused for a moment.
And closed both of my eyes.
Before eventually giving a sigh.
As I tried to calm myself down.

"You know… Umi…"
"M-Mmm…w-what is it, Master?"
"Would you stop making that kind of voice?"
"B-But it feels too good…!"
"I'm just rubbing your legs! And anyone would get the wrong idea if you keep sounding like that."

I pulled my hands back after that.
And Umi simply puffed her cheeks.
As she gazed at me with a sort of dissatisfied look.

"You don't have to be so stingy, Master."
"I'm not being stingy, I'm just-"
"You know that I can't help it, right?"

I placed a hand upon my forehead.

"So I take it that you sound like that because it feels good?"
"If you put a little more energy, I think it'd feel better."
"Stop speaking in such an ambiguous tone."
"I'm referring to the part where you massaged my legs before, Master."

I gave a sigh.
Before placing a hand to the top of her head.
And ruffled her hair.

"Still, I think it'd be better if you stop speaking in such an ambiguous tone."
"Come on~ I already told you that I can't help it."
"Ahaha, really?"
"Anyone would probably get the wrong idea anyway, so why bother changing it?"
"Well, that's exactly why I asked you to change it in the first place."

Yume

"But to come and think of it, nothing really interesting has been happening lately, huh?"

I arched an eyebrow.
Before giving a sigh.
And once again placed my hand upon the top of Umi's head.
As I shook it a bit.

"What? Are you expecting something to happen?"
"It'd be good if something interesting actually happen."
"…………"
"At least it's better than sticking around here while being bored at the same time."
"Well, this is a Shrine. You can't expect something special to suddenly occur around here."

Umi remained silent.
And I switched my gaze to her.
Only to find her looking back at me.
I can't really describe the expression upon her face, really.
But I think I could say that it's a mix between dissatisfied and amused at the same time.

"Speaking of which, Umi…"
"What is it, Master?"
"Why did you ask me to massage your legs earlier?"
"Even though I'm a Mizuchi, things like cramp ought to happen from time to time, you know."
"N-No, I didn't mean it like that…"
"Then what are you implying, Master?"

I remained silent for a moment.
As I gazed at her.
Before eventually giving a sigh.

"I'm just asking why it should be me. It's not like you can't do it yourself, right?"

I kept my gaze at Umi.
And much to my surprise, she gazed away shyly.
Before placing a hand over her mouth.

"Because it feels better to have someone do it for you."
"N-No, I don't get why you're suddenly acting all shy about it."

I then shifted my sight towards the stairs leading to the entrance of the Shrine.
As I could hear footsteps coming closer and even closer.
Until I could eventually see the one who caused it.

"Ah, it's actually rare to have a visitor at this time of afternoon."

I didn't reply to Umi's comment.
As I could guess the one who's coming.
And just like what I expected.
I do recognize the figure that's standing by the entrance of the Shrine by now.

It's a male figure.
A male figure with short and spiky iron-colored hair.
Dressed in a rather casual clothes.
That consist of gray T-shirt and shorts.
Along with sandals.

At the sight of both Umi and I, he smiled.
Before eventually waving his hand.
And called, "Yo! Been a while!"

Mamoru.

It's been almost a week ever since that incident.
Yeah, it's been almost a week since the day Mamoru tried to kill me.
We never actually run into each other after that.
But I know sooner or later I'll have to meet him.
He said that he's going to visit from time to time too anyway.

"You all seemed energetic and all. Did something good happen?"

I didn't really answer.
But I simply smiled.

"Come on, Mizuchi. What's the sour expression for?"

Upon noticing his words, I shifted my gaze to Umi.
Only to find her with puffed cheeks and furrowed eyebrows.

It might be too much for me to think like this.
But could it probably be because she's still afraid if something's going to happen to me?
Well, it's true that Mamoru tried to kill me some time ago.
But we got over it.
That… should be enough, isn't it?

"Rest assured, I won't harm him."

Umi didn't answer.

"'sides, he said that he'd be able to control it."

Umi still didn't answer.

"But still, it'd be a whole different case if something got really out of hand and I have to-"
"You don't have to."

Mamoru stopped.
And I widened my eyes slightly.

"You don't have to do anything if something got out of hand."
"Mizuchi, you-"
"I'll personally take care of it if something ought to happen."

And after saying that, I could feel Umi wrapping her arms around my stomach.
And I just remained silent.
Before giving a small sigh and smiled.
As I placed a hand upon the top of her head.

"Thank you very much, Umi."

Umi didn't reply to my comment.
But she gave a nod.
Before placing a hand upon my chest.

"What's that you're carrying, Mamoru?" I asked.

Just recently, I noticed that Mamoru's carrying something along with him.
It's a plastic bag that seemed to be filled with two glass bottles.

"Ah, this? It's an offering I recently received?"
"An offering?"
"How rude. Do you think a Tochigami wouldn't have his own Shrine?"
"N-No, I didn't think about anything like that-"
"Ahaha, but anyway, it's sake, you know, sake."

I arched an eyebrow.
Before stopping my response as I could hear Mamoru chuckling.

"But you know, it's no good enjoying sake all on your own."
"………"
"So I figured I'd come along here and ask you to drink with me."
"………"
"There's this saying that 'the more the merrier', isn't it?"

I don't really know how to answer to that, to be honest.
But nonetheless, I simply smiled upon hearing what he said.

"So what do you say?"
"I don't really mind…"
"What do you say then, Mizuchi?"

I gazed at Umi as well.
But she didn't answer.
As she simply stick her head into my chest.
And gazed away.

At that, Mamoru simply sighed, "I'll take that as a 'no' then."

I simply chuckled.
And Mamoru grinned in turn.

"Come to think of it, it's been a while since the last time I had sake."
"Been a while?"
"Yeah, been quite a while if you ask me."
"How long has it been?"
"Probably around four hundred years or so."
"That's something beyond my power to imagine."
"Don't be such a wuss, Shinki. You're going to live a long life as long as nothing wrong happened."

I didn't reply to that.
In fact, I don't really know how to reply to that.
But I gazed down.
And gave a small sigh.

He's right.
I'll probably live a long if nothing wrong happened.
If nothing wrong happened.
If.
Nothing wrong happened.

"What's the sour expression for?"

I gazed up at Mamoru.
Before gazing down once again.

"No… it's just-"
"Are you saying that you're not confident in yourself?"
"No, it's not like that-"
"You're the one who said you'd be able to control it?"
"I did, but-"
"But you're not sure if you'd be able to do it properly?"

I didn't answer.
But I simply nodded.
He's right.
In a sense, he's right.

I've always been afraid that I wouldn't be able to control the Gyuuki inside me.
If I didn't manage to control it then it'd rampage throughout the city.
It'd endanger everyone.
And even though I don't know why I'm thinking like this…

For some reason, I'm quite sure that it'd go after Umi again.

"You know, Shinki… you're worrying too much."
"………"
"Compared to me and Mizuchi, you looked like a baby."
"………"
"You're still young and you lack the experience you need to handle the situation."
"………"
"But that doesn't mean that you can't learn, isn't it?"
"………"
"Even an old fart like me learned a thing or two from our last encounter."
"…… come on, you're not that old, Mamoru."
"I'm three-thousand five hundred and seventy one years old, you know."
"… well, quite the age that's beyond my scale to imagine."

At my comment, Mamoru simply chuckled.
Before poking one of my shoulders with his hand.

"It's good to be strict and serious at times, but remember to relax as well."
"………"
"Take things at your own pace, don't rush into it."
"…… yeah."
"At least you have both Mizuchi and I around if you ever need help."

I simply smiled.

"Yeah… thank you very much."

I could hear Mamoru chuckling again.
Before taking his seat beside me upon the terrace of the Shrine.
I was about to say something.
Before I notice something.

It's a small snoring sound.
I gazed down.
Only to find Umi sleeping with her head placed upon my thighs.

I didn't say anything.
But I smiled.
Before placing a hand upon her head.
And rubbing it gently.

"To come and think of it, Mizuchi mentioned that she's not into drinking sake, huh?"
"Yeah, why is it?"
"Why do you think would happen if she were to drink alcohol?"
"Well… I'm not really sure, to be honest."

Mamoru simply chuckled.
As he pulled out one of the bottles.
Along with small cups from the plastic bag that he's carrying along.

He took his time to pour the sake into the cups.
Dividing it into two, one for him and one for me.
And after taking a sip, Mamoru chuckled.

"If Mizuchi were to drink alcohol, how do you think she'd act?"
"Like I said, I don't really know, to be honest…"
"Do you think she's suddenly act all bold and stuff?"

I sweat dropped.

"N-No, that's kind of how she is now though…"

And Mamoru laughed.
But I simply smiled.
Before taking a sip of the sake of my own.

"Well, do you think she'd act more feminine then?"

I sweat dropped again at that.

"I can't really imagine how things would go if she suddenly act like that, to be honest."

All of the sudden, I could feel a sting upon my hand.
And I instantly winced.
Before gazing down.

Only to find Umi looking up at me.
With her cheeks puffed.
"How rude. I could be feminine if I want."

I simply give a small chuckle at that.
Before eventually sweat dropping at the same time.
"Weren't you sleeping before, Umi?"

"I was."
"Ahaha, rea-"
"Before you're suddenly being rude like that."

I gave a small sigh.
Before placing a hand to her forehead.
And rubbing it gently.
As I spoke, "I'm sorry for being rude."

And Mamoru laughed again.

"It's kinda hard to believe that we're trying to kill each other a few days ago, huh?"

I remained silent at Mamoru's words.
Yeah, it's kind of hard to believe that a few days ago Mamoru tried to kill me.
And in return, Umi tried to kill Mamoru.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment.
Before eventually giving a sigh.
I could feel Umi's hand upon the hand that I placed upon her forehead.
And I just smiled.
Before opening my eyes and gazed upward.

"It'd be nice if peaceful day like today could last forever, huh…"

Both Umi and Mamoru remained silent.
But I know why they suddenly turned silent like that.
It's not like I mind, really.
After all… it's partially my fault that everything became like this.

I then widened my eyes slightly.
As Umi suddenly hugged my stomach.
And in return, I moved my hand to the back of her head.
"Umi…?"

Umi didn't reply.
And at that, I just remained silent.

"Y'know, Shinki…"

I gazed at Mamoru.
He seemed to be hesitant.
But I told him that it's not necessary for him to continue.

After all, today will be the last peaceful day for me.
No, not only for myself…

But also for Umi.