Chapter 66 Interlude – The Inari Spirit’s Fierce Battle (Kagura’s Side)

The Battle of the High School Girl and the Little Fox Kagura Momoe is a high school girl who loves urban legends and scary stories. However, due to her mother’s upbringing, she is also the type to cherish faith and etiquette, a girl who would never visit haunted spots just for fun, unlike many young people. But recently, a small, strange incident occurred at her home. It began with a truly trivial event… the fried tofu offerings placed for the Inari god enshrined on the household altar disappearing.

“Oh dear… Could it be mice?” (Chisato)
“Eeeh! Mice?!” (Kagura)

Her mother, Chisato-san, muttered the words, and Kagura overreacted… She liked small animals, but hated pestilent mice. Thinking this, she decided to set up a camera in the room with the altar starting that day. However… the fast-forwarded footage showed no signs of mice or any other pests or vermin………… and yet, the offering of fried tofu had vanished again. This led her mother to conclude, “There must be mice or something where the camera can’t see,” and she began placing mouse repellent goods throughout the house the next day… but her daughter had a different reaction.

『Could this be… maybe… a paranormal phenomenon!?』

Reaching this conclusion, her excitement soared. Furthermore, when she talked about it at school, a casual comment from a friend poured gasoline on her burning curiosity.

“It disappeared from the altar without being caught on camera… Just going by the story, doesn’t that mean the Inari god really ate it?”

Those words struck Kagura with the force of a revelation. …What filled her at that moment wasn’t fear of strange or supernatural phenomena, but a peculiar sense of duty.

『Lord Inari!? Th-That’s right! That must be the correct way to think about it!! An Inari god has come to our house!!』

Although she was a commendable modern high school girl who revered gods and Buddhas, she also had a personality trait of going a bit too far once she got an idea in her head. In her childhood, she had prepared sweets to invite Zashiki-warashi into her home, and brought cucumbers to the riverside to treat Kappa… she had always been a little bit eccentric. This tendency had gradually settled down as she grew older… but perhaps due to the recent resolution of friction with her mother, her childish nature had resurfaced. And… just this once, her guess happened to be correct.

That day, as soon as school ended, instead of her usual after-school routine of studying and test prep at the library, she headed towards the shopping arcade in front of the station. At a full sprint, no less…

“Wow… there’s already a line… The end of the line is… I can still make it!!” (Kagura)

And so, she lined up, catching her breath, to get her hands on a limited-edition product from the shopping arcade that always had a queue and was often sold out.

『Momo-chan, what were you rushing for?』 (Konoha)

During this time, Konoha, the Inari god naturally protecting her as her guardian deity, had run alongside Kagura… But upon seeing their destination… she was astonished.

『Wha!? Hwah!!? What is this divine aroma wafting from this shop!?』 (Konoha)

Then, seeing the limited-edition item Kagura purchased from the shop, she received an even greater shock. Kagura held the product, which seemed to radiate a halo even through the wrapping paper (from Konoha’s perspective), with a triumphant smile.

“Yes… I thought I might not make it after school… but I did. Matsumura-ya’s limited 100 pieces of super high-grade Inari sushi… Three pieces of the 800-yen stuff… Hehehe, with this…” (Kagura)

『Wh-Whawhawha!? S-Super high-grade Inari sushi… is it…!?』 (Konoha)

The Inari god, invisible to her host, looked up from Kagura’s feet to her hands… unable to stop the drool overflowing.

…………And so, that night arrived. The little fox Inari god was conflicted. The room with the altar was on the first floor, a Japanese-style room with tatami mats… She had only just reflected on what she had been doing for the past few days. Having partaken of the fried tofu offerings daily, she had resolved to protect the Kagura household discreetly, yet just days after starting her guardianship, she was on the verge of being discovered by her host… She had intended to lie low for a while. However………… today, the offering placed not on the altar but on the low table in the Japanese room was shaking her resolve…

『N-No, I mustn’t… This is… a trap set by Momo-chan!!』 (Konoha)

Calling it a trap was a slight misunderstanding; Kagura herself was only thinking, ‘The best offering for the god!’… But even while thinking that, Konoha’s gaze remained fixed on the Inari sushi. She herself remained perched on the low table, staring intently~~~~~ at the three pieces of Inari sushi for hours. The Inari sushi, thoughtfully covered in plastic wrap to prevent drying and maintain freshness, seemed to whisper gently to Konoha…

So tasty~ Eat me, eat me~~~.

『No… Even if you ask… Such delicious-looking… aroma… Ugh… N-Nooooo…』 (Konoha)

And after repeated struggles, around 2 AM… the little fox finally succumbed to temptation. It seems various excuse-like supporting arguments like ‘It’s already late night’ and ‘It’d be a waste’ occurred during the conflict… Skillfully peeling off the plastic wrap, the moment she took a bite of one Inari sushi, Konoha’s entire body glowed golden.

『D-Delicious!! What is this Inari sushi!? From the balance of the vinegared rice to the preparation of the fried tofu pouch, it’s perfect work!!』 (Konoha)

From there, it was non-stop. Following her heart’s delight, the little fox deftly used her front paws to devour all three 800-yen Inari sushi pieces………… and lay down on the low table with a wonderful sense of fullness. Overcome with emotion, she didn’t even notice she had undone her power of invisibility…

『Oh, that was delicious~. To think such Inari sushi existed…』 (Konoha)
“Did it please you? Lord Inari.” (Kagura)

『It was wonderful… Among all the Inari sushi I’ve eaten, this was the best…………』 (Konoha)

Lying on her back, Konoha’s eyes met Kagura’s, who was smiling as she peeked through the sliding door of the Japanese room, having appeared sometime unnoticed………… Konoha reflexively tumbled off the low table.

“Pfft………… Are you alright? Lord Inari.” (Kagura)

『M-Momo-chan!? No, it’s not! This is…!?』 (Konoha)
“Wow! You can talk, and you even know my name, how thrilling!!” (Kagura)

Kagura couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable sight of the tumbling little fox, but she was unexpectedly moved by seeing the strange phenomenon for the first time. What kind of being was this adorable little fox before her, and why was it in her house? Kagura, full of curiosity, was about to say something………… but the little fox, flusteredly trying to cover things up, suddenly twitched her ears.

Not near, not far… From the west, Konoha, being an Inari god, could sense a large, explosive wave erupting.

『!? Wh-What is this… this abnormal wave!?』 (Konoha)
“H-Hey, hey Lord Inari? Can I just take a quick photo? Bffh!?” (Kagura)

『Fast and large… I won’t make it… HAAAAAAA!!』 (Konoha)

And the next moment, Konoha clung onto the face of Kagura, who was nonchalantly operating her smartphone, and instantly activated a barrier to protect them. To shield at least her host from the wave that originated from somewhere unknown and enveloped the entire city…