shrine.

There are social objects dedicated to various gods. The so-called gods are existences with mysterious powers... They can be gods in legends, ghosts, demons, warriors who died in battle, or even humans.

The deities enshrined at the shrines in the Kozokuma area.

It's actually a cat.

Legend has it that many years ago, Ozokuma Town was covered with dense forests, and the local residents were also close to the forest. But a fire changed this place. Many people in the village were trapped in the fire, and the thick black smoke and fire

The road was almost blocked. At this time, a cat appeared and saved the place——

It found a secret cave. Although it was also affected by the fire, it was still possible to travel to the other side of the mountain.

A large number of residents fled the fire under the leadership of the cat, but the cat's figure disappeared forever in the chaotic flow of people.

Some people say that the cat died in the fire because when it led the residents to the cave, it turned back again as if looking for something.

Some people also say that the cat left long ago after it came out, so it cannot be found.

But no matter what the explanation is, it can't change the gratitude of local residents.

Everyone built a shrine for this cat and named this shrine Hosui Shrine. But over the years, more local residents prefer to call this shrine affectionately the cat shrine.

The reason——

"Because there are indeed a lot of cats in the shrine." Futaba Makoto looked at the torii in the distance and couldn't help but smile.

The torii is a type of archway building that looks like a big door, representing the entrance to the shrine. Of course, from the moment you step into the torii, it also means that you have entered the divine realm.

He and Nana Asama passed through the torii gate, walked up the shrine, and finally arrived at the shrine.

Several buildings came into view, not too big, even a little old, but very clean.

A shrine like Neko Shrine only has a main shrine dedicated to the deity and a worship hall for people to worship. After all, it is not big, so there are not various shrines like in large shrines.

The Kagura dance of the Tenjin Festival is held at the festival, and there is no separate Kagura hall or dance hall.

"Everyone must be hungry," Nana said in the morning.

"Maybe."

"Purify your heart." In the morning, Nana pointed to the hand water house on the side - the so-called hand water house is a place for cleaning after entering the shrine. It looks a bit like a pavilion. In the middle is a small pool and a bamboo ladle.

.

This is the most basic ritual.

Standing in front of the water house, Nana seemed to be a different person in the morning. She had a solemn expression and then picked up the wooden ladle.

Get water, pour it to your left hand, do it again in the opposite direction, pick up the water with your hand, put it into your mouth, and drain the water.

After doing all this, Nana wiped her palms with a handkerchief in the morning.

Futaba Makoto on the side was naturally very familiar with it, and took the same steps as Nana Hayama.

"Want to pay homage?" Nana asked in the morning.

"Okay." Looking at the worship hall not far away, the two of them walked over.

"Ding ding." After standing in front of the incense money box and shaking the bell, Futaba Makoto touched his pocket and found that he had forgotten to bring the coins.

"Here." Morning Nana took out a 5 yen coin and handed it to Futaba Makoto.

With a crisp sound, the coins were put into the incense money box.

Two salutes, two claps and one salute are the most basic steps in worshiping the temple, which means bowing twice, clapping twice and bowing once.

"Papa." Futaba Makoto and Hayama Nana put their hands together and began to make wishes.

"I hope everyone is in good health."

"I hope that Cheng and everyone can be happy and free from illness."

After the two people have made their wishes, they bow once to end the worship.

"What wish did you make?"

"I hope everyone is in good health."

"What a coincidence, so am I."

…

"It seems that it's because uncle doesn't have time to take care of it. The place is full of dust." Futaba Cheng was holding a broom and thinking about how to clean it, when he noticed a girl wearing a red and white miko uniform out of the corner of his eye.

Came in.

The white kimono coat is paired with the red kimono skirt, which is Hakama. Nana is wearing white footbags and straw sandals in the morning. Even her long hair is wrapped in paper and tied with strings. Her smooth neck is white and her ears are

A light blush.

In the morning, Nana changed her previous temperament. Her face was calm and dignified. Her big round eyes were drooped a lot, and she looked like she had matured.

A man relies on his clothes and a horse relies on his saddle. This miko costume fits her as if it was tailor-made for Nana in the morning. It also makes the girl seem to be a different person.

They obviously have the same face, but after changing their clothes, they give people a completely different feeling.

Dressed in a miko uniform, Nana Asaka is not inferior to Yu Miyashiro's unique appearance. If one is the ceiling of beauty, then Nana Asaka at this time can be said to be the ceiling of temperament.

"...What's wrong?" Nana's tone seemed to have changed in the morning.

Compared to Nana's rap-like tone before, her speaking speed now is more like Suzuki's unhurried feeling.

To be honest, Futaba Makoto has seen Nana wearing a miko costume several times, but every time I see it, I feel amazing. And as the girl matures, her temperament becomes more and more intense.

"It just feels like Nana, you feel like a different person every time you put on the miko uniform." Futaba Makoto smiled.

In the morning, Nana nodded slightly and held the broom in her hand:

"Nana is always Nana, let's clean up first."

"Um."

Sure enough, Nana was completely different from usual. Of course, this girl had no awareness of her behavior or anything wrong.

Futaba Makoto is also used to it.

He was sweeping the fallen leaves in front of the shrine with a broom, and then he found three cats approaching begging for food.

"Nya Nei."

"Pfft."

"Meow~"

The cats in the shrine are all stray cats, and there are a lot of them. Coupled with the history of this shrine, it is indeed normal for local residents to like to call this cat shrine.

Seeing Futaba Makoto still holding the broom, several cats lay down and exposed their furry bellies. This is a behavior that is defenseless to humans. After all, the cats here live a good life and are almost unwary of humans.

"Even if you expose your belly and let me touch it, I won't have anything to eat." Futaba Cheng laughed.

The few kittens seemed to understand. They sat up, meowed uninterestedly, then twisted their buttocks and left.

"It's really reality. If you don't have anything to eat, you won't act like a spoiled brat." Futaba Cheng said helplessly.

Looking at the cats jumping on the fence, he couldn't help but think of Merlin.

Although there are many wild cats in the shrine, there is also a kind of cat that has lived here for generations - Merlin's family. According to legend, the descendants of the gods worshiped here are Merlin's lineage. Of course, this is just a rumor, but

Among all cats, the cats in the Merlin family are indeed the smartest ones, and they are also the mascots of the cat shrine. Some old people firmly believe in this.
Chapter completed!