Meet the Goddess

Summer is the perfect time to experience various exciting festivals in Japan!

Summer festivals are annual events held throughout Japan in the middle of the year, from fireworks festivals, Bon-Odori (traditional dances), to small portable temples (Mikoshi).

Now that it's the end of August, most of the big festivals in Tokyo have been held, but that doesn't mean all the festivals are over.

Most small temples hold festivals at the end of August to avoid no visitors.

Akira with the quintuplets are walking on the sidewalk in a residential area.

"I heard that the Miko of Amagami Temple are three beauties, do you know anything, Akira-chan?"

Walking in front, Ichika looked back with a smile on her face.

"How would I know? Ichika-Nee asked the wrong person." Akira shrugged and looked unconcerned.

"Isn't Akira-chan an encyclopedia that knows where pretty girls are?"

"Where did Ichika-Nee hear that slander? I'm not a pervert."

Akira felt his other sister glance at him with a look wondering if that was true or not.

"I once knew one of the Miko there." Yotsuba suddenly raised her hand.

"Oh, I didn't know Yotsuba liked going to temples." Nino looked at her in surprise.

Yotsuba shook her head and explained the chronology.

"Not like that. While I was jogging, I helped a middle school girl who had lost her way, then escorted her to Amagami Temple. Her name is Amagami Asahi, she seems to be the ACE of the track team at her school. By the way, she's a pretty girl."

As she said that, she couldn't help but glance at her little brother. After all, the way she saw him, Akira was a man who lusted after any pretty girl.

"...?!"

Akira didn't understand why Yotsuba was staring at him.

"The other two sisters are Amagami Yae who is an art collage student, and a high school student named Amagami Yuna."

Itsuki's statement made everyone stare at her.

"W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked nervously.

"How did you know about that, Itsuki?" Miku asked in a low voice.

"That's surprising... It turns out that Itsuki is interested in something other than food." Ichika expressed her exaggerated surprise.

"All this time, I thought that apart from studying, Itsuki's brain was just filled with meat buns." Nino doesn't miss the opportunity to tease Itsuki.

"Y-You two bullied me!"

Itsuki puffed out her cheeks, then quickened her pace leaving them.

"Don't tease Itsuki-Nee too often." Akira said lightly.

"As the youngest child among the quintuplets, Itsuki is naturally bullied." Ichika said innocently.

"I agree with Ichika." Nino nodded her head.

"I will catch up with Itsuki."

Worried that Itsuki might get lost, Yotsuba chased after her.

Walking in the last row, Miku said: "Since Itsuki recognizes the two Miko of Amagami Temple, she knows the way there, right? There is no need for Yotsuba to chase her."

Finally, they met Itsuki and Yotsuba who were waiting at a crossroads. This time, Ichika and Nino stopped teasing her.

"By the way, how does Itsuki-Nee know the Miko of Amagami Temple?" Asked Akira to relieve boredom on the way.

"I want to know too." Yotsuba showed interest.

"Regarding that matter, I've never missed buying talismans before exams. In the end, they and I slowly got to know each other and got along well." Itsuki was blunt.

"So that's it..." Akira nodded.

Because he had [Photographic Memory], he never worried about school grades. But it was different for the quintuplets, especially Itsuki who prioritized studying and grades.

Akira was indeed invited several times to visit the temple to buy an amulet, but he refused on the grounds that he didn't need it.

(I really don't understand the contents of Japanese people's thoughts... Even though Japan is a country that doesn't believe in God at all, they pin their hopes on God... This is a contradiction.) Akira thought.

As an Indonesian citizen in his previous life, his mindset is still the same and has only changed slightly.

According to him, Japan is a country that is technologically advanced but spiritually messy.

For example, Japanese people will marry according to Christian or Shinto regulations, pray to the god Tenjin to pass school or university exams, and be buried according to Buddhist rituals.

They profess to be atheists but practice various religions which they think fit their culture.

Akira thought everything was strange.

"Soon we will arrive."

Itsuki's voice snapped Akira out of his reverie.

"Are you all right, Akira? You look dreamy." Miku asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, Miku-Nee, just thinking about a life change."

"???"

Miku didn't understand what her little brother was talking about.

Akira and the quintuplets run into other people walking in the same direction as them or wearing yukata, indicating they are also going to the festival.

Finally, they arrived at the steps leading up the hill.

"Amagami Temple is upstairs, let's go!" Yotsuba said excitedly.

"Don't get left behind, Miku." Nino said this to her on purpose.

"Don't underestimate me, Nino herself don't sweat." Mkku doesn't want to lose.

"Ahem, stop fighting, don't Nino-Nee and Miku-Nee want others to see?" Akira cleared his throat and reminded them that this was not their home.

"Humph, come on Itsuki."

"W-Wait Nino, I can go up myself."

Nino ignored her protests, took her hand, and walked up the stairs.

Only Ichika, Miku, and Akira were left, then they also stepped onto the stairs.

"Well, did you find anything mystical here, Akira-chan?" Ichika whispered.

Miku strained her ears when she heard this.

"Want to hear a lie or the truth?" Akira asked with a faint smile.

"You really like playing this game, Akira-chan. Of course frankly, you think the same, right, Miku?"

"Um."

"Okay, I'm not going to joke anymore. To be honest, I feel an aura of divinity."

Akira looked up as if his gaze could penetrate anything.

Japan is known to have 8 million gods and goddesses, even more and an infinite number. This term refers to the Japanese religious and belief culture which involves many gods or spirits who are respected in various aspects of daily life and nature. These deities represent different elements of nature, professions, and social aspects, and they are worshiped and respected through Japanese temples and religious practices.

Akira himself was surprised to feel how strong the divinity he felt was. That was quite surprising, considering that Amagami Temple was only a small temple, but the gods residing in this temple were no weaker than famous gods like Amaterasu, Susanoo, Ebisu, etc.

"Oh, it seems the goddess of Amagami Temple is watching me."

"Are we in danger?"

Ichika regrets asking her little brother this.

In her opinion, the god is a symbol of invincibility.

"Let's just go home?" Miku was even more anxious.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, the goddess is just observing us without any malice. Look over there."

Following the direction Akira pointed, Ichika and Miku saw a girl dressed in Miko's clothing consisting of a red hakama and a white yukata, with her face being hidden by a fox mask.

When the two girls found the girl, both of them hid behind Akira. After all, before them was a god.

"No offense, we only intend to enjoy the festival at Amagami Temple."

After Akira said that, the goddess disappeared.

"Phew~... It's a thrilling experience." Ichika rubbed her forehead.

"So that's what a goddess looks like..." Miku muttered.

"Look? It's okay, come on up soon. Itsuki and the others have probably arrived already."

Akira held the hands of the two of them and climbed the stairs without a care.