"You've got to be kidding me! Shirone looks small, but she's a high school student! And Kokunoe is basically equivalent to a fifth grader in the human world!"
If anything, I'm the one constantly getting dragged around by the Yasaka family's… extremely liberal sense of sexuality!
After that, we all proceeded to complete the main purpose of the visit, our New Year shrine prayers.
I silently wished for something like divine protection that might boost my combat ability.
With Trihexa looming, I need to secure world peace with my own hands. If there's any blessing that raises stats or enhances strength, I'll take it—please.
Of course, even after waiting for a while, I didn't feel any noticeable change.
At the shrine grounds, members of the Sitri peerage were also present, and we exchanged New Year greetings.
Saji seemed to be aiming for the vice president position of the next student council and was earnestly praying for election success.
Apparently, things between Saji, Sona, and Hanakai-san hadn't progressed at all… mainly because Saji once shouted something like "shotgun marriage!" and completely ruined the atmosphere between them.
No one could bring it up anymore because of how awkward things had become.
I understood the discomfort, but Sona would be graduating soon, so I patted Saji on the back and told him to settle it before then.
Elsewhere, Xenovia and Hanakai-san were sparking off each other at dangerously close range.
Both of them were running for student council president—so in this election, they were rivals.
"I have no intention of losing, Xenovia-san."
"Ah, Momo. If we're doing this, I'll give it everything I have. And I will win."
They shook hands while grinning fiercely at each other.
"Woooah! So this is what youth is like!" Kokonoe's eyes were sparkling with excitement.
Well… yeah. Watching a heated school drama in real life would do that to you.
Then Yasaka-san quietly approached me from behind and whispered near my ear.
"[Fufufu… about Kokonoe, I've arranged with Rias so she can enroll in Kuoh Academy at the equivalent age of a human middle schooler. We originally considered this spring, but I assume Ikki-dono and Kuroka would prefer another year of freedom to indulge without concern for bodies, yes? Before Kokonoe is sent to your peerage, I shall also provide proper… education.]"
What is this woman saying?!
I mean—yes, having Kokonoe live with us would make things… harder in certain ways, so I can't say I don't appreciate it, but still!
"[However, in compensation for such education, Kokonoe living in your home may end up with pent-up… energy. If you possess Kuroka-dono's magic, you may act upon it if needed.]"
"I absolutely will NOT!"
Please don't give permission to assault a middle schooler!
Even if I'm technically in university age now, that doesn't change anything!
I will maintain a completely healthy relationship!
"Hmm… but that may also be difficult for Kokonoe. Being gently cared for by the man she loves… emotions growing day by day… eventually overflowing into desire… and in the end, she might even push Ikki-dono down herself… yes! I could write a book from this!"
"DON'T WRITE IT!"
Stop fantasizing about your own daughter as material for erotic novels!
Who would even read that!?
Still being mentally battered by Yasaka-san's usual questionable jokes (it's a joke… right?), we finished visiting all the shrines.
From there, everyone planned to tour other shrines around Kyoto.
Different shrines offered different blessings—household safety, exam success, business prosperity, and so on.
Xenovia, of course, said:
"It costs nothing to pray. I'll pray for children at every shrine!"
Issei immediately sighed, already exhausted on New Year's Day.
"Seriously, what kind of wish is that…"
"Is it? Devils have a hard time having children anyway. Might as well pray now."
"Don't side with her! I'm not ready to become a father as a high schooler!"
Well, that's fair. That's probably why Kuroka developed contraception magic in the first place.
"Wait… does that mean you're already thinking seriously about marriage?"
"Sounds like you're ready to be a father someday."
"Ah—well, my dream is to become a Harem King. Rias, Akeno-san, Asia, Xenovia, Irina, and even Rossweisse-san who's been getting closer lately… they all said they like me. I can't just leave them without an answer forever… though I'm still only preparing myself mentally."
Oh? Is Issei actually growing up a bit?
…Why?
"You know… it's thanks to you, Ikki."
"If I can't dedicate myself to making the girls I love happy, I can't call myself a Harem King."
So that day… when my parents discovered the truth and I declared I'd make Kuroka and the others happy—that's what he remembered?
Somehow I've become part of his model for becoming a Harem King… I didn't intend that.
We stopped walking.
"Then… I guess this is where we part ways."
"Yeah. Not just you, but Shirone-chan, Kuroka-san, Ravel… and even your parents, Ikki. What is Yasaka-san planning?"
Right. The group Issei mentioned would now split off and head to "hidden Kyoto."
"I don't know the details, but with this lineup… maybe it's some formal greeting for engagement relations? Like asking for future cooperation."
"Family-to-family diplomacy, huh… what about Ravel's parents?"
"The Phoenix House is one of the highest-ranking noble devil families. They'll probably be busy with New Year parties. We'll visit them during the first three days of the year though."
We had already arranged for Ravel to handle the formalities.
"Seriously? You always move fast when it comes to this kind of stuff."
"It wasn't me. My parents suggested it. They're just worried about etiquette since Yasaka-san and the Phenex are way above our status."
"I guess I get it… if I were your parents, I'd worry too."
Issei's parents had already interacted with Rias's family before, but mine had almost no real knowledge of the supernatural world beyond hearsay.
Meeting high-ranking youkai and devils? Of course they'd be nervous.
Still, Yasaka-san and Lord Phenex were both friendly enough that things should be fine once they actually met.
We parted ways and entered hidden Kyoto.
The cityscape had an Edo-era feel, with youkai visible everywhere, making my parents visibly overwhelmed.
Yeah… Shirone and Ravel are here too.
"Rias-sama would probably be thrilled by this traditional Japanese atmosphere."
"President Rias… or former President… she actually collects Japanese items in her castle in the Gremory territory. Though they were all discarded during a New Year cleanup by Venelana-sama, which left her depressed."
So that's what that was about…
Rias-senpai probably resisted until the end… and still lost.
I almost wanted to see what kind of chaos her room must've been in for Venelana-sama to throw everything away.
Eventually, we arrived at Yasaka-san's mansion, but instead of entering, we walked around to the back.
Naturally, everyone looked suspicious.
"Yasaka-san… where are we going?"
"No need to rush. You'll understand soon enough."
Following her, we arrived at a large rounded sacred rock wrapped in shimenawa rope, surrounded by a ritual stone structure.
"This place is where the head of hidden Kyoto performs New Year divinations and connects directly to the gods of this country. A kind of… hotline."
Oh? So she's going to read our fortune directly?
"—Which is why I will now connect to Amaterasu-Omikami."
"…Huh?! The sun goddess?! The top deity of Japan?!"
Wait—what kind of casual announcement is that?!
"That's normal. You've met Odin before, haven't you?"
That's not the point!
Even if I had met Odin and other top gods before, meeting a deity like this without warning is still stressful!
My parents… yeah, they were completely frozen.
They've mentally shut down…
Guess I'm the only one handling this again…