Saturday morning, Makoto packed his things and headed to the station early. At the meeting point, he encountered many others who, like him, were paranormal enthusiasts.
"Hello, I'm Dave." A self-familiar, middle-aged man with a stout build approached Makoto.
"Oh, hello... you can just call me Makoto," Makoto said, feeling a bit stiff. As an otaku, social interaction wasn't exactly his forte.
"Makoto, I picked you out from the crowd at a single glance." Dave chummily threw an arm around Makoto's shoulder and took a sniff. "That's right. This air of stagnant seclusion... You're an otaku, aren't you?"
"I... I suppose so." Makoto tried to break free from the hold, but due to the sheer difference in size, his efforts were futile.
"So, your goal is that as well, isn't it?" Dave nudged him with a lecherous waggle of his eyebrows.
"That? Aren't we all here for the same reason?" Makoto nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, great minds think alike." A glint flashed in Dave's eyes as he lowered his voice. "A miko, long black hair, noble and cold... a true masterpiece."
"What are you talking about?" Makoto's eyes widened. "Mystery, power, the unfathomable, those are the things we should be pursuing!"
Mentioning his "faith" transformed him; he suddenly became fervent and serious.
"Little brother, you're still too young." Dave's gaze turned weary, his voice heavy with feigned wisdom. "Those things are too ethereal and fleeting. It's better to grasp the reality right in front of you. You'll understand once you're older."
"Hmph, my faith will not waver!" Makoto stated firmly.
"Alright, alright, let's drop it." Dave laughed and changed the subject. "So, where do you think this event is taking us?"
"It has to be the shrine," Makoto said, having guessed as much long ago.
"Based on my years of experience, I bet he'll take us to a few haunted spots first. He'll observe our reactions while showing off his skills to make us loyal followers." Dave shrugged. "Actually, if he just let the miko girl come out, most of the people here would fall for him instantly."
The participants arrived one after another, totaling about twenty people, mostly male.
"True." Makoto nodded. With the sense of mystery surrounding the miko, few paranormal fans could remain indifferent.
When it was time to gather, the representative of the organizers finally appeared. To Dave and Makoto's great disappointment, it wasn't the miko, but a middle-aged man with a mustache.
"Hello everyone, I am Kogoro Mori," Ditto said, following Aomori's instructions. "Today, I will take you to the shrine to have an audience with our Kami-sama."
"Of course, the miko will also be there to welcome you all."
"Hooray!" A loud cheer erupted from the crowd at the mention of the miko. Dave was beaming with joy.
They boarded a chartered bus and headed toward the shrine. At the foot of the mountain, they disembarked and followed Ditto up the trail. Makoto looked at the familiar scenery and murmured, "Isn't this the place I went to when I was looking for the legendary shrine last time?"
"Could it be... that this is the shrine?" Makoto's heart raced as the word "destiny" crossed his mind. It was all fated!
As they walked, several people began to complain about the climb. Ditto called out, "We're almost there."
"Almost there?" They looked around, but it was all wild mountain forest, no sign of a shrine anywhere.
"I know!" Makoto interjected. "A Barrier Technique, right? That's why we can't see it."
"Hm." Ditto gave him a slightly surprised look and nodded. "As this gentleman said, the shrine is protected by a powerful barrier to maintain its purity. Only those destined may enter. Since you are all members of the [Alliance of the God's Destined], you are naturally qualified."
"Whoa!"
"No way, is there really a barrier?"
Many found it hard to believe. However, facts spoke louder than words. When Ditto opened a hole in the barrier wide enough for two people to pass, everyone was forced to believe.
I just wanted to see a cute miko... many thought in shock. But others were ecstatic: It's real! Does that mean the God is real too?
Makoto was beyond words. After searching for ghosts and monsters for so long, today he would finally see the real deal! In the crowd, Dave smiled inconspicuously. Hm, interesting.
Passing through the barrier, they saw a long stone staircase. With pounding hearts, they followed Ditto up the steps and soon reached the summit.
"So beautiful..." Makoto gasped at the sight of the magnificent main hall.
"So beautiful..." Dave echoed, though his eyes were fixed on the miko standing before the hall.
Long black hair, miko robes, and a fox mask, her attire was exactly as it appeared in the videos. The group rushed toward her, mesmerized by her presence at such close range.
"Thank you for coming," the miko said in a crisp, clear voice. "A God's grace cannot be squandered; only those destined like yourselves may receive it. The Kami-sama, in His mercy for the hardships of the world, has allowed you to receive His blessing. Now, follow the desires of your hearts and make them known to Him."
The crowd was stunned.
"Does this mean we can make a wish?"
"Is there really such a good thing?!"
Since she had said it, there was no harm in trying. They formed a line to enter the main hall one by one.
"Haha, I'm first!" A short, stout man shouted excitedly and pushed open the doors.
The moment he entered, he saw the divine statue on the high altar. A majestic aura washed over him, making his heart heavy with awe. His giggling face turned solemn, and his legs trembled until he sank onto the prayer mat.
What's happening? When he looked up again, the statue had transformed into a living being glowing with golden light.
"It... It's the real Kami-sama!" He pressed his face to the floor, not daring to look further.
"Speak your wish," an ethereal, solemn voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Kami-sama, can I wish for anything?" he asked nervously.
"Of course. But you must pay a small price."
"A price?"
"As you make your wish, I will tell you the price. You may then decide if you wish to proceed."
"It's not forced? That's good." He breathed a sigh of relief and thought hard before finally settling on a wish. "Kami-sama, I wish for lots of money and..." He looked into the God's eyes, and under that all-seeing gaze, he couldn't finish his sentence.
"No, that's not it. Those aren't what I really want!" He suddenly changed his mind. "Please, make me taller! I don't want to be laughed at anymore!"
"Very well. The price is that a certain part of your body will shorten accordingly. Do you accept?"
"Ah... well..." The man's expression shifted as he weighed the options. Finally, he steeled himself and nodded. "I accept!"
Taller is better!
"Granted. I have heard your wish. It shall be as you desire!"
He saw the God scatter a shower of light. Suddenly, his perspective shifted upward. Looking down, he saw his pant legs had shortened to his calves.
"I really... I really grew taller!" Overjoyed, he thanked the God repeatedly and left the hall, resisting the urge to check his pants.
"How was it? What happened?" The crowd swarmed him.
"Hey, you look a bit taller."
"Wait, your hair! What happened to your hair?"
"Hair?" The man rubbed the top of his head. It was perfectly bald and incredibly smooth.
"So that was the body part... well, I guess it's a fair trade." Tears of joy filled his eyes as he shouted, "It's real! It's all real!"
Seeing his delight, the others became even more excited, their doubts vanishing. One by one they went in, some came out laughing hysterically, others looking regretful or dejected.
Soon it was Dave's turn. He gave Makoto a thumbs-up and walked in with his chest out. A moment later, he emerged with a stack of photos, looking triumphant. "This Kami-sama... no complaints! A real stand-up guy!"
Makoto was curious about the wish, but it was his turn. He took a deep breath and stepped into the main hall. Seeing the majestic God on the altar, wreathed in a golden aura, he was instantly captivated.
"So beautiful... so magnificent. Yes, this is what I've spent my life searching for."
Seeing this "destined one" lost in his own world, Aomori had to wake him up and explain the wish.
"A wish?" Makoto thought for a long time. "Seeing You was my greatest wish. I don't think there's anything else I particularly want."
Now that's high emotional intelligence, Aomori thought. This kid had a bright future. "Are you giving up your chance?"
"Giving it up seems like a waste." Makoto suddenly remembered something. "I noticed the decorations outside. It doesn't look like they're just for us. Is there another event?"
"You noticed," Aomori nodded. "Tonight, there will be a festival here."
"A festival?!" Makoto's eyes lit up. "Can I stay for it?"
"Is that your wish?"
"Yes!"
"Very well. The price for this wish," Aomori paused, "is that you must work for me during the festival."
"Deal! Thank you, Kami-sama! I accept the price!"
…
The event was a success. Except for Makoto, everyone was escorted back to the station by Ditto.
Miko, who had been standing outside the hall smiling for hours, finally collapsed with a sigh of relief. "I'm so tired."
Kikyo, standing beside her, patted her hair. "You did very well."
"Really?" Miko asked, covering her face.
"Really," Kikyo smiled. "You have the aura of a true miko."
Aomori appeared before Miko and gave her a thumbs-up. "Being praised by Kikyo the Priestess is a big deal. Keep it up for the rest of today!"
"Un!" Miko laughed happily.
Makoto, the temporary laborer, was assigned odd jobs. Absol and Nibi stood at the mountain foot to welcome guests, while Pidgeot and Ditto were responsible for transporting them. Darkrai was put to work as well, hauling a massive amount of food and sake up to the shrine.
By evening, the first guests to arrive were the local yokai.
"What's with that human?"
"The way he's looking at us is... wrong."
"A bit scary, actually."
Makoto, who had his eyes fully opened by Aomori, was staring at them with glowing eyes. If he didn't have a shred of logic left, he might have lunged at them.
"Makoto, don't just stand there. Serve the drinks to the guests."
"Yes, sir!"
Next came Natsume, Nyanko-sensei, and the others. Along with Toru Taki and Tanuma, there were two other yokai—a small, shy fox cub in human form hiding behind Natsume, and a beautiful masked woman in a yukata, said to be a swallow yokai.
"God-kid! Bring out the good food and drink already!" Nyanko-sensei jumped onto a table and shouted rudely.
"Coming, coming. I promise there's plenty," Aomori laughed.
"Hehe, I like your attitude. I'll cover this place from now on."
"Much appreciated."
Yato, Hiyori, and Fūki arrived next. Seeing the luxurious shrine, Yato wept tears of envy. "Curse you! Why does this guy have such a huge shrine?!"
"It would be weirder if he didn't," Hiyori added. "Unlike you, he actually gets things done."
"Curse you!" Yato decided to turn his jealousy into appetite, intending to eat until Aomori went bankrupt.
Shortly after, Mob, Reigen Arataka, and Dimple arrived, invited by "Kogoro Mori." They were, after all, former comrades-in-arms.
"So many yokai and spirits... Can I be friends with them too?" Mob watched the joyful scene with longing.
Reigen bit into a large piece of meat and said muffledly, "Why not? We shouldn't discriminate. Just think of them as cats and dogs. Look, there's a big fat cat over there."
"Un." Mob thought that made sense.
Once the guests had mostly arrived, Aomori floated into the air. "I won't waste words. Everyone, eat, drink, and have fun to your heart's content tonight!"
"OHHHH!"
Amidst the laughter, massive fireworks bloomed in the sky, illuminating the entire shrine.
"So beautiful," Miko said, entranced.
"It truly is," Kikyo agreed, a smile gracing her lips as she watched the colorful display.