Ever since Kanna Hyuga awakened her Reiki at the age of five, she had been taught well by her parents.

Kagome Hyuga and Yukimura Shiyin had grown up through countless battles. They knew the pain of having Reiki but not knowing how to use it, and the pain of being unable to fight back against evil monsters. Therefore, they were very strict with the little girl who had strong Reiki since she was young. No matter if it was Yin-Yang Jutsu, Boundary Jutsu, studies, or sports, they couldn't slack off. Her schedule was packed to the brim.

When Kanai was young, there were times when she was tired, and there were times when she cried because she couldn't finish her homework. Even Ryōshou thought that Shiyin was too strict with Kanai.

To this, Shiyin only responded indifferently, "I'd rather she cry in front of us now. She can hate us or hate us. At least she won't cry when she has to face those monsters who are always coveting her Reiki."

She was over thirty years old, and she relied on her female body to make a name for herself in Japan's Shinto Realm. Even her husband's family had no choice but to agree to let her keep her surname as the head of the Yukimura family. Even now, she still remembered what a monster had said to her when she was fighting against the Black Mang Tower in high school.

— — Why are they targeting me?

— — Don't you understand?

Because you're the weakest among the three of us!

Because she was the weakest of the three, because her talent was not as good as Ryōshou's, so she had to work harder than anyone else to achieve her dream and strengthen the Yukimura family.

It wasn't that he didn't know Kanai's hard work, but the path forward in Shinto Realm was full of twists and turns, and there were no shortcuts.

Even Ryōshou, who was known for his talent, and Kagome, who had the power of purification, had to go through extremely difficult battles to become who they were now.

Fortunately, Kanai was also very stubborn. Facing the classes that Shiyin and Kagome arranged for her, she didn't slack off at all and studied diligently.

Because of that, from the age of five to fourteen, she had never 'wasted' her time playing as she did now.

Kanna was just like a canary that had been obedient ever since she was a child that was suddenly released. She played with everything that she could in the amusement park.

Because she didn't need to line up, the little girl went straight to the merry-go-round as soon as she entered the gate. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were sparkling as she climbed onto a white horse. She excitedly waved at Atobe and smiled sweetly..

Atobe, who saw this from afar, could not help but laugh. He is still a child.

He was as excited to enter the amusement park as his three-year-old nephew.

Keeping his promise, other than the merry-go-round, Atobe accompanied Kanna on the rest of the rides.

When the roller coaster went straight down in the air, Kanai, who was used to being carried by Red Leaf in the air, wasn't afraid. Instead, she opened her eyes happily and let the strong wind blow her hair back.

She looked at the blue sky in the distance and the wisteria flowers that looked like purple clouds on the ground. Her heart was unprecedentedly peaceful and happy.

… So this is what it feels like to fly into the sky on a roller coaster. It's completely different from being carried by Red Leaf in the air.

This … isn't bad.

Kanai closed her eyes and revealed a satisfied smile.

When they came out of the roller coaster exit, they would pass by a photo studio. The staff would take pictures of the tourists on the roller coaster and put them on the computer screen. If there were tourists who liked it, they could buy a few of their own photos at their own expense.

Atobe pointed at the photo of Kanai on the computer screen. She looked very sweet. He said to the little girl, "See?

This is how you look to others. "

He asked the staff to print out the photo and handed it to Kanai. He rubbed the little girl's head.

"What's wrong with being an ordinary little girl once in a while?"

Kanai held the photo with both hands. She looked at herself in the photo, which was completely different from usual. She couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

There was a voice in her heart telling her that she shouldn't be like this. It's not right to play like this. Although she was a part-time witch, she should always behave properly and be vigilant … Kanna Hyuga was no longer a child.

But there was another voice that strongly pushed him: Go and play, go and play!

It's just one day. What's wrong with relaxing once in a while?

And it's also because of Senior Atobe's good intentions!

Anyway, it's just one day!

Worst comes to worst, I won't sleep at night and make up for my homework!

Comforting herself like this, Kanai, who was originally a little guilty, quickly became happy again.

The result of her happiness was that she took Atobe on the roller coaster four more times.

(Uncle Atobe in a mess in the wind: …)

When they were almost done with all the rides, the sky gradually darkened. The street lights in the amusement park lit up one by one, and the beautiful neon lights also flickered. Atobe found that the last ride that they hadn't tried yet was the Ferris wheel. He asked Kanai if she wanted to ride with him.

He naturally knew that many girls were used to using the Ferris wheel as a place to confess to their crush. He also knew that some girls who were obsessed with love wanted to give the first ride to their first boyfriend. They even said that if they kissed and confessed at the top of the Ferris wheel, they would be together forever.

Although he didn't know what those girls were thinking, and he didn't understand how people would really believe this kind of PR propaganda to deceive little girls (…), but since it wasn't easy to invite Kanai to play, Atobe decided to respect her wishes.

Who knew that the girl would ask him with a puzzled face: Why can't I play this?

What's so special about it?

Only then did Atobe realize that the little girl in front of him wasn't like the young ladies of the Ice Emperor. She wouldn't pay attention to these things at all.

After the sudden realization, he had a headache, "… I don't want to explain these messy things to you."

He thought about it and decided not to take the little girl on the Ferris wheel. He vaguely responded with a few words.

Kanai, who was very easy to talk to, immediately agreed. Anyway, the Ferris wheel didn't look as interesting as the roller coaster. It was better to ride the roller coaster one more time!

With Atobe's eyesight, it was easy to see that the little girl didn't care about the romantic Ferris wheel at all. She only knew about roller coasters and drop towers. What was exciting and what was fun? Kanai was simple-minded. She didn't have the string of love in her mind at all.

She usually pretended to be expressionless and looked like a serious witch, but in fact, she was a naive and ignorant child.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility as an older brother. He warned Kanai, "In the future, if a boy invites you to the Ferris wheel and asks you to do this or that, just beat him up. Beat him up hard, okay?"

— — He was just overthinking. Besides Kendo, who always followed Kanai to school, there were probably not many people who had the guts to confess to Kanna Hyuga in front of this protective sword.

Atobe, who had promoted himself as a good older brother, didn't know that because he took the lead in skipping classes and took Kanai to Disneyland, a group of Spirit-branded Retainers, Fu Mourning God, and even his real older brother, Tezuka Kunimitsu and Midori Shintaro, gritted their teeth and found countless reasons to beat Atobe up.

=

Not to mention these later words for the time being, Kanai, who secretly skipped class for a day and seemed to be full of spirit, took advantage of the weekend and went to Yaoyuan again to fulfill the promise she had made in front of Nightmare Tapir and accept the student named Natsume.

*

Yaoyuan is located in a hilly area, and the scenery is only better than Tokyo. Kanai walked all the way and saw a lot of blooming flowers and bright and lush trees. The monsters seem to be... far less afraid of people than those in Tokyo.

This time, she took the tram to Yaoyuan. As soon as she arrived at the station, she saw a round dumpling like monster jumping back and forth on the sycamore tree at the gate of the station. Whenever someone passed by, it jumped desperately. With the weight of its round flesh, it let the dead and yellow sycamore leaves fall on the heads of passers-by, forcing many people to hold their heads and hurriedly escape from this inexplicable tree.

The dumpling like little monster laughed arrogantly on the branch.

Kanai walked over with interest. The little monster, who was still laughing and ready to jump, just wanted to continue his prank. When he looked up and saw Kanai, his laughter suddenly stopped as if it was choked. He quickly jumped from the branch to the front of Kanai. Then he looked at Kanai with a guilty conscience and ran away like a fat rabbit.

She didn't know whether it was a pity or a funny thing. She sighed softly and walked all the way to an empty shrine according to the address given to her by Nightmare Tapir DRen.

It seems that no one has taken care of the shrine all year round, and it looks a little decadent. The doors of the main room and other rooms are locked, leaving only a statue of worship sitting in front of the main entrance of the shrine.

A skinny, brown-haired boy with his back facing Kanna was placing some sacrificial offerings on the steps of the statue. He was then worshipping the statue in an orderly manner. There seemed to be a chubby white ball sitting on his shoulder as well.

Kanai's footsteps stopped. She stood in the distance, patiently waiting for the boy to finish worshipping, and then she stepped forward a little.

"You, you, hello?"

Natsume, who just noticed Kanai's arrival, was a little embarrassed. "Excuse me, are you Miko-sama of Sunset Shrine?"

"Hello, I'm Kanna Hyuga, a part-time witch of Sunset Shrine.

You don't have to call me respectfully … "Kanai said seriously," As for why it's a part-time job … With my current ability, I'm far from being a qualified witch. "

"Hello, I'm Natsume Takashi." Natsume hurriedly bowed, "Because I've troubled Lord Nightmare Tapir and Miko-sama."

Before Kanai could say anything, the White Dumpling on Natsume's shoulder suddenly said, "Why does a witch of Sunset Shrine have the demon aura of Ibaraki Doji?"

"Kitty Sensei!"

White Dumpling narrowed its slender eyes and snorted coldly, "Natsume, you'd better be careful. There's no such thing as a god or a witch in this world who would agree to teach Nightmare Tapir just because of a dream. You can tell just by looking at that Field Shizuji … Isn't he after you?"

"Tell me!

Where did you hear about Natsume! "

Kanai, who was suspected for no reason, explained in a good temper, "Because Ibaraki is my natal shikigami, and Nightmare Tapir is my uncle's friend."

"Huh?

You should at least follow the basic rules when you're lying! "

White Dumpling jumped off Natsume's shoulder. Kanai then realized that the White Dumpling was actually an overly fat cat.

"How can Ibaraki Doji be dominated by humans?"

"Kat-sensei!"

Natsume was angry and anxious. He hurriedly picked up the cat that was walking towards Kanai and apologized profusely to Kanai.

"Let go of me, let go of me, Natsume!

You idiot! "White Dumpling struggled in Natsume's arms.

"… If you don't believe me, then there's nothing I can do." Kanai had no choice but to take out a blue talisman and whisper a few words of incantation.

Madara was about to laugh at this little girl who came out of nowhere for putting on an act, but when he turned his head and saw the blue talisman fall to the ground, a silver-haired big demon wearing black and red armor appeared from it. He was instantly speechless.

— Holy shit!

It's really The Demon Of Rashomon!!

Once Ibaraki, who was in a bad mood, appeared, things became easier to handle.

Madara didn't expect that the ghost of Rashomon would actually be willing to submit to a 14 year old girl. He was almost beaten by Ibaraki who was in an extremely bad mood. He cowardly leaned against Natsume's neck and shrunk into a ball.

Ibaraki, who was in the middle of a ranking game, was called over. He was very unhappy and stared at the culprit, Madara, with a murderous look on his face.

Every dog has its day. Madara, who used to bully other small demons, was bullied by the legendary demon this time.

Natsume had to hug Madara tightly and honestly explained to Kanai and Ibaraki why Madara was nervous and that he was a friend.

Madara's heart was also very clear that Ibaraki's Natal Shikigami will no longer look at the account of a friend. In this way, this Shikigami is really as the Nightmare Eating Tapir said, a righteous and righteous Shinto in the true sense.

"… I see. No wonder this cat is so nervous."

Kanai, who realized that she was in the wrong, immediately explained to Natsume the agreement between her and Nightmare Tapir. When it came to the Nightmare Tapir's request to teach Natsume, Kanai added: "I don't care about inheritance, but I'm afraid that you might care a little. After all, a master in the world of Shinto is also very important."

It was fine if demons didn't pay attention to it, but in the world of Shinto, apprenticeship was a very important matter. Many times, the master's character and reputation determined the height that the apprentice could reach in the future. Kanai was protected by Kagome Hyuga and her family, but it was a little too much to ask Natsume, who was one year older than her, to be her master.

Natsume shook his head and said gratefully: "I'm already very grateful that Hyuga is willing to teach me.

I don't care about these empty titles. "

"Besides … I don't want to have anything to do with Shinto."

The tawny-haired boy tilted his head slightly and stroked the cat sensei: "At first, I just wanted to return the name that grandmother took away from us."

Kanai was slightly stunned: "Natsume -kun, don't you plan to enter the shrine later?"

She could see that the boy in front of her had strong spiritual power. Compared with the sharp and sharp spiritual power of Huang Se and Atobe, Natsume's spiritual power was like a gurgling stream, clean and pure. Such Natsume was very suitable for priests and priests.

"At present, there is no such plan."

Natsume smiled, and his eyes were gentle and calm. "As long as I can return the name in my friend's tent to the demons and see the story of my grandmother and everyone, I will be very satisfied."

…

When they went home, it was Ibaraki who flew all the way from Yayuan to Tokyo with Kanai in his arms. When passing by the station, Kanai saw the meatball sitting on the sycamore tree and making trouble. When it found Kanai and Ibaraki, the meatball monster shivered and suddenly disappeared into the bushes.

Kanna Hyuga's heart moved, and she frowned slightly.

… In fact, she really wanted to pinch the meatball.

She kindly told it not to shake the tree like this. Everyone took a long car and finally returned to Yayuan, and they were very tired.

She didn't want to hurt it.

If she was an ordinary girl like Atobe said, could she go to Disneyland to ride the roller coaster every week and not care about waiting in line with others?

If, as Natsume -kun said, she only needed to be good friends with good monsters, listen to their stories, live every day gently and actively, listen to the flowers bloom, and sweep the leaves, would it be more comfortable than now?

Held in Ibaraki's arms with one hand, Kanai's hair was blown by the whistling wind, with a slight bitter fragrance of grass and plants.

… It was different from the wind of the roller coaster.