Suijin

“We finally made it to…” Yuuji mumbled, before going silent. “I KNEW THE NAME SOUNDED FAMILIAR HAHAHA!” Yuuji shouted just moments later. His body was visibly shaking in excitement.

“Yuuji, quiet down!” Kazuma said to Yuuji as he put his hand on Yuuji’s shoulder. “We don’t want too much attention drawn to us.”

Moments later, Yuuji calmed down, but pure excitement was plastered on his face. Amilia, Allen, Kazuma and Yuuji were currently waiting in line. The line led towards a large Japanese styled arc. Two guards were guarding the entrance as they watched over people.

Soon, they were able to enter. The sides of the path they followed were littered with Japanese style houses. The people they walked past all wore some form of kimono.

As each second passed, Yuuji’s excitement only grew. His eyes were wide as he looked around quickly. ‘I can’t believe it! I knew the name sounded familiar, but I wasn’t expecting a nation that was similar to Japan!’ Yuuji thought to himself.

Amilia, looking at how excited Yuuji was, only smiled. Meanwhile, Kazuma was looking towards Yuuji with irritation. ‘I told him to not draw too much attention!’

“Hey, Kazuma, let him be excited. It’s good to let loose sometimes you know?” Allen said while glancing at Kazuma with a smile. Which caused Kazuma to groan and shake his head.

“I think it’d be a good idea to stop and rest for a bit.” Allen suddenly said, which caused the group to stop walking. The group agreed as it was a long journey.

After getting directions from a couple of people they found a tavern to rest at.

“Welcome! Welcome! Would you like a table for four?” A cheerful woman’s voice rang out as they entered.

“Oh, no thank you! Are we able to get a room?” Allen replied as he neared the counter the woman was behind. The woman looked at the rest of the group before replying

“Would you like 1 room or 2?” The woman had a small smile as she looked at Allen.

“1 room for now, 2 for later so those 2 can enjoy each others’ company.” Allen responded while pointing at Yuuji and Amilia with his thumb.

“WHAT?!” Amilia shouted as her face was red as a tomato after hearing Allen. Yuuji jumped after hearing Amilia shout as he was distracted by the board that was behind the woman.

“I’m joking, I’m joking! One room for now please!” Allen barely could get out as he held in his laughter, in which the woman gave him the key.

Soon, the 4 entered the room they rented.

“Alright, we need to gather information. We know this nation is the next target.” Kazuma said as he sat on the nearest bed.

“Well.. Does anyone know the best place to gather information?” Allen asked.

Everyone went silent for a while.

“Oh! I just remembered that religion is important to the people of Suijin.” Amilia popped up. “We can probably gather information at one of the shrines.” Hearing the word shrines Yuuji popped up as well.

“That’s perfect! Let’s go!” Yuuji exclaimed with excitement. He immediately shot up.

“Looks like someone is ready for this!” Allen laughed as he got up from his spot. Kazuma rolled his eyes as he got up.

Soon, the group left their room and prepared to leave the tavern.

“Come back soon you guys!” The woman at the bar yelled as she saw the group was leaving.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back later!” Allen shouted back with a smile. “Oh! And don’t forget to prepare the second room for us!”

Hearing Allen, Amilia’s face turned red.

Seconds later they left the tavern. They quickly asked for directions to the nearest shrine from a passerby and headed towards it.

“It’s really the same design!” Yuuji exclaimed as he saw the shrine up close. The shrine looked exactly like a Shinto shrine from Japan.

Kazuma and Allen looked at Yuuji with confused expressions, meanwhile Amilia had a small smile.

“Welcome, guests from foreign lands! What brings you to our shrine today?” A shrine maiden with a kitsune mask asked as she noticed the group. The shrine maiden had brown hair that was tied up into a ponytail, and she had fox ears on top of her head.

“Hello! We were just looking around!” Yuuji was the first one to pop up, instead of Allen.

“Oh? Only looking around?” The shrine maiden repeated with interest. “Then how about I show you around this shrine?” She offered moments later.

“That’d be perfect!” Yuuji responded with a huge smile. “Let’s go!” He said while looking towards the group.

Oddly, Allen had a slight frown on his face and a cold glint in his eyes as he was looking at the shrine maiden. He then shook his head and his expression became normal.

“Let’s go!” Allen responded with a smile.

Soon, the shrine maiden began to show the group around the shrine.

“And here, we draw sticks to determine an individual’s luck for the next year.” The shrine maiden explained as she stopped at a certain box.

“Are you able to draw mine?!” Yuuji asked with a wide smile.

“Yes, my dear guest I can. Oh, before I do that, may I ask your names?”

“My name is Yuuji Wakana!” Yuuji responded immediately.

“Oh! My name is Amilia!” Amilia responded with her interest piqued.

“My name is Kazuma.” Kazuma responded with slight disinterest.

“...” Allen looked at the shrine maiden with caution. “May I ask your name first?”

“...” The shrine maiden silently looked at Allen.

“You may call me Sakura, but my full name is Sakura Endou.” Sakura bowed as she introduced herself. “And yours?”

“Allen.” Allen responded quickly.

Sakura bowed again before laying her hand on the box. “Yuuji, your fortune is…” She put her hand in the box for a moment then pulled it out. “Greater fortune.” She read out loud before silently staring at the stick. Moments later she gave it to Yuuji

“Anyone else?” Sakura asked moments later.

“Me please!” Amilia stuck her hand up in the air.

“Alright, Miss Amilia…” Sakura brought out another stick. “Greater fortune. Oh?”

“Oh?” Amilia responded with slight weariness.

“Nothing too terrible, it also says you’ll get lucky and become partners with someone close in the near future.” Sakura explained before handing the stick to Amilia.

Amilia’s face immediately reddened after hearing the explanation. “Thank you…” She said with a low voice.

Sakura nodded her head before looking at Kazuma and Allen. “Would you two like your fortunes read?”

“No thank you.” Kazuma responded

“... Do I know you?” Allen asked in a cold voice.