001 - What Makes it Hard to Go Home ?

Sturm and I were currently on the observation deck at the top of Kyoto Tower.... I borrowed some money from Rias because I didn't have currency from this world and I'm sure they wouldn't accept Sky Realm currency.

Sturm seemed to be having fun, looking at the views from up here using the telescope available here.

I felt happy seeing Sturm looking delighted at all this scenery. I'm sure the views here is really different from the floating islands in the Sky Realm.

"Wow... I've never seen so many buildings and vehicles before," Sturm murmured as she used her telescope.

"Yeah, Compared to the Sky Realm, the views in this world are really different. Everywhere you look, you won't see a chasm leading to the edge of the sky below. Here you also don't have to worry about falling off an island so you can go anywhere... except in the areas with annoying supernatural creatures."

"Hmm hmm," Sturm hummed and switched the telescope to look in another direction. Since no one else is here Sturm could use all the telescopes in this place without having to wait for her turn.

Because I used mind control to make the tourists here leave for a while until Sturm and I finished here....

After Sturm had enjoyed the view from up there, the two of us then continued our date by walking to several places. We also tried a variety of foods in this city and saw a very large hotel named Kyoto Sirzechs Hotel... who the hell named their facility with their own name.

Then there was also a hotel still under construction named Kyoto Serafall Hotel... wow, so original. I wonder how she came up with that name...

We also visited several shrines because at every corner of the city, we could find a shrine there.... I don't know how many times I've seen shrines while Sturm and I were walking.

But even so, Sturm and I still have fun on this date. Visiting the shrines is also an interesting experience because the shrines we visited is really different from the shrines in the Sky Realm.

Shrines in the Sky Realm is only small shrines as they didn't have enough space to build larger ones, compared to the shrines here that we visited they were really huge compared to those in the Sky Realm.

"How many shrines have we visited since this afternoon..." Sturm said to me as we both exited one of the shrines.

"Hmm, maybe 4 times, but each shrine has a different atmosphere and accessories, so all the shrines we visited is still interesting."

"Now, there is only one shrine left that I want to visit. If I'm not mistaken, this shrine is the largest in this city, named Yasaka Shrine," I said to Sturm, then took her hand and headed towards that place.

As we were heading towards the shrine I wanted to visit, Sturm suddenly stopped walking, making me stop abruptly as well and turn towards her. "Sturm? What's wrong? Why did you stop all of a sudden?"

But when I looked at Sturm, I could see she was staring in a certain direction, so I followed her stare and saw an ice cream shop (?) where many children and parents were gathered to buy ice cream at that place.

"Hmm, it's very crowded there, I'm curious how it taste. Do you want that ice cream, Sturm?" I asked her.

"No, Rei, I'm not looking at the ice cream shop but beside it," Sturm said to me and pointed towards the side.

Hmm? I then turned to where Sturm was pointing, and immediately I spotted a little girl with golden blonde hair tied in a ponytail and matching eyes. She stood out among the people around her because she was wearing a Miko outfit from a shrine and tall geta with white tabi.

The girl seemed to be eyeing the ice cream shop nearby, specifically the ice cream that the children there were eating.

"It seems that little girl wants ice cream, but I can't see her parents nearby. Maybe she got lost?" I said to Sturm as I tried to locate the girl's parents. Because the girl had unique clothing and appearance, I was sure her parents would look the same, so I thought I could find them easily. However, all I saw were people in regular clothes.

But suddenly Sturm let go of my hand and walked towards the little girl.

Here we go again... Sturm always hated seeing children in trouble so she always wanted to help them.

"Hello, do you want that ice cream?" Sturm asked the girl while smiling to the girl.

I simply followed Sturm from behind and let her handle this situation.

The girl then turned towards Sturm but she just remained silent and appeared cautious as she looked at Sturm... Hmm, I'm sure this girl couldn't sense our auras but why is she suddenly increasing her guard?

Wait a moment... as I think about it, that girl looked familiar, like I had seen her before...

As I tried to remember where I had seen the girl before, Sturm and the girl still staring at each other. Sturm staring at the girl with a puzzled expression because the girl didn't respond. Meanwhile, Kunou is looking at Sturm, trying to see if the girl in front of her had any malicious intent towards her or not.

Despite Kunou's appearance making her seem pure and innocent but she actually different from that description. Kunou always acted like a princess and responsible co-leader despite her young age.

Kunou could sense someone's intentions just by looking into their eyes. As the daughter of the leader of the Youkai, from a young age many people wanted to take advantage of her, thinking she was just a helpless little girl.

But when she looked into Sturm's eyes, she couldn't sense any malicious intent from her at all. So she decided she can lowered her guard little bit towards Sturm and replied, "Yes, but I didn't bring any money because I came here without my mother's knowledge..."

"You... if you silently going out without telling your parents what if they find out you suddenly disappeared? You will make them worry," Sturm said to Kunou in a gentle tone.

'ahhhh so this is Yasaka's daughter!? They rarely appear in the visions shown to me by Akasha, so I almost forgot about them' I then looked up at the building behind me.

"But if I tell my mother, she will send many guards to protect me..." Kunou replied to Sturm while kicking a pebble under her.

"Then how about I buy you ice cream, but after that, I want you to go home immediately before your mother panics and sends more guards to find you," Sturm said to Kunou while gently patting her head.

"I want ice cream!" Kunou nodded quickly after hearing that Sturm would buy her ice cream, seemingly not bothered that a shorter girl than her is patting her head.

Sturm looked happy to see the little girl pleased, then she turned towards me but I was currently focused on something else.

"Rei... just ignore them, we have something more important than that," Sturm said to me while I was staring at them.

Hearing Sturm's words made me sure that Sturm also knew about them but because she said to ignore them, I let them be... at least until Kunou returned home.

I then walked towards the ice cream shop to buy ice cream for Sturm and Kunou.

"So, what's your name?" Sturm asked the girl.

"Um, my name is Kunou."

"Kunou? Such a cute name, it really suits you. My name is Sturm, nice to meet you," Sturm said then stop patting Kunou's head.

"What about the name of the older brother with you?" Kunou asked, looking towards Rei who was buying ice cream.

"Ah, that brother's name is Rei, he is my Fiancee."

After hearing Sturm's words Kunou immediately looked surprised, "Huh? Fiancee!? You already have a Fiancee!? Even though you are younger than me!?" Kunou asked Sturm quickly.

"Eh?" Sturm looked confused by what Kunou meant... then she realized that she was shorter than Kunou, which made Kunou think she is younger than her...

"...I'm not a child like you," Sturm said to Kunou while shaking her head.

After buying the two ice creams, I then approached both of them and gave them their ice cream.

Sturm happily accepted the ice cream, but when I gave it to Kunou, she just stood there silently and didn't take it...

Kunou then started walking towards me(?) And when she was close to me, she started to sniffing me "Kunou, what are you doing?" Sturm asked after she noticed Kunou's strange behavior.

But Kunou continued to sniffing me... which made me slightly uncomfortable and people around us began to pay attention to us, as seeing a little girl sniffing someone like this is really a weird sight you rarely see...

"This scent... Your scent is really nice brother Rei," Kunou said to me as she stared at me with her sparkling eyes.

"Eh? Scent!?"

"Yes, this aroma makes me feel really comfortable, it's like the scent I usually smell from my mother," Kunou said and then ran around me.

...I could feel more and more people paying attention to us... so I used my magic to make them ignore us and continue on with their own matters.

"Alright, alright, here's your ice cream, eat it before it melts," I gave her the ice cream and Kunou happily accepted it and ate it.

"mmm, tasty!" Kunou had a very pleased expression when she ate the ice cream.

"So, do you know why Kunou can smell that scent from you?" Sturm suddenly whispered something to me.

"I'm not sure... Maybe she's smelling the blessings I received from Grace..." I don't know because this is the first time i met a Yokai in this world.

"So, are you going home now?" Sturm asked Kunou, who is still licking her ice cream.

"Aaaa? but I still don't want to go home yet," Kunou looked disappointed when she heard Sturm's words.

"You need to go home Kunou. You agreed to go home after eating the ice cream, besides, it would be dangerous if you're alone like this," Sturm said gently to her.

"It's okay, besides, I'm strong so I can protect myself," Kunou shook her head, still wanting to explore and enjoy the city.

Sturm looked unsure of what to do, then she turned to me as if asking for help.

"What if the two of us escort you home, then you can ask your mother for permission to go out, and if your mother gives permission, you can explore the town with both of us," I suggested to Kunou.

"Eh really? Are you both going to accompany me?" Kunou asked excitedly.

"Yes, that's fine with me, but only if your mother gives permission," Sturm said to Kunou.

"Yay, let's go to my house," Kunou immediately held my hand and Sturm then led the two of us to a certain direction.