Shrine Helpers[]
Wedding at the shrine! We're helping with the prep!
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Story 1 |
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| Eli: Good morning, everyone!
Umi: Good morning. Nico: *Yawn* A meetup at 6 am on a Sunday... We are literally the only people in the world who're awake at this ungodly hour. Hanayo: I'm pretty sure there are other awake people out there, but it is pretty early. Honoka: Did you know that going back to sleep after being up for a bit feels even better than normal? *Yawn* Maki: Honoka fell asleep! Rin: Snxxzz... instant ramen... Kotori: Rin, it's time to rise and shine! Eli: Geez... Come on everyone. get it together. Honoka: Don't tell me I feel back asleep? Nozomi: Heheh. Thank you all so much for coming this morning. Did I make the meeting a little too early? Umi: No, don't worry about us. We're here to help at the shrine however we can. Eli: You wouldn't know it with so many of them half asleep, but we've all been very excited for today. Nozomi: There is going to be a wedding later today, so we're short-handed. You all are lifesavers! Maki: Are we really going to be any help at a shrine, though? Nozomi: You'll be fine! Everyone here's more than capable of doing the jobs we're in charge of. Nozomi: Oh, wait. Honoka: What is it? Nozomi: We need to pay our respects first. C'mon. Nozomi: Today I brought along some of my dearest friends to assist us. Please watch over them. Hanayo: Please watch over us. Maki: It's a pleasure to work with you. Eli: We'll do our best to make the gods proud. Kotori: Since Nozomi introduced us to the gods, somehow I feel a lot more secure. I promise to work hard today! Nozomi: All of you are my closest friends. I just wanted to make the introduction and let the gods know that too. Eli: And we're grateful you did, Nozomi. Nozomi: Don't get sentimental on me! Maki: Hehe, I think Nozomi's gonna be a lot of fun today. Rin: You look like you're having a pretty good time yourself, Maki. Maki: R-Really? I don't think I'm acting any different. Nozomi: Okie dokie, now that we've paid our respects, it's time for the FUN part. Umi: Huh? What's the fun part supposed to mean? Honoka: Breakfast? Hanayo: Breakfast! Maki: You should've eaten breakfast at home. Actually, you already ate didn't you? Kotori: Then what could it be? Nozomi: You'll see, you'll see. C'mon, everyone get moving! Kotori: You don't have to push. My legs work just fine. Nozomi: That should just about do it. It's not too tight, is it Honoka? Honoka: Nope! It fits perfectly. Hanayo: Nozomi, you're an excellent dresser. Nozomi: I wouldn't go that far. I just wear it all the time, so I'm used to it. Rin: Wait a sec, am I wearing this right? The skirt is wide open over here! Nozomi: Shrine maiden skirts are supposed to be open there. It makes it easier to put your hands in! Rin: EEK! Nozomi, get your hand out of there! Kotori: It's a different color than your usual skirt, eh Umi? Umi: Yes, I'm used to wearing these formal skirts, but the shrine maiden style has a totally different air about it. Honoka: You do look good in your archery uniform, but the shrine maiden skirt makes you look very womanly. Umi: P-Please, you're making me blush... Honoka: Why're you hiding in the corner? Umi: Sorry, when people start heaping praise on me I just... Nozomi: Hrmm... Now that everyone's changed, I've gotta say you all make gorgeous shrine maidens! Nico: The Nico-Ni in a shrine maiden outfit! What a rare treat! A super-rare spectacle! Eli: I suppose it is rare. Normally we'd never have an occasion to wear these outfits. Honoka: I was about to fall back asleep a few minutes ago, but now I'm really excited! Hanayo: Me too. I just hope we can cut it as shrine maidens. We'll need to do our best. Eli: I think we'll all have a wonderful day thanks to Nozomi. Nozomi: Heh... This is no joke. You're all getting put to work. Let's get to it! |
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Story 2 |
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| Rin: *Scrub* *Scrub* How's that?
Hanayo: Wow, the railing looks sparkling clean now! Rin: I've been cleaning long enough that I'm really in the groove now! Hanayo: Isn't it fun seeing everything all clean and pretty, especially when we're all working together? Rin: Yeah! C'mon Hanayo, let's knock the next spot out! Hanayo: Whoa, wait up, Rin! Eli: Rin and Hanayo seem to be enjoying themselves. Maybe it's more fun because it's not the usual cleanup duty? Maki: It's a beautiful day out. Maybe this isn't so bad. Nico: .................... Eli: What's wrong, Nico. Are you in a bad mood? Nico: Of COURSE I am. Nico: We shouldn't be wasting our time cleaning when we could be putting on a performance. The Nico-Ni should be sparkling, not scrubbing! Maki: P-P-Perfomance? Nico: Duh! We finally got our hands on these great shrine maiden stage outfits! Honoka: Wait... These are costumes?! Nico: Of course they are. Umi: They are not! Eli: Hahaha... Oh, Nico! Nico: We couldn't have gotten up at the crack of dawn just to clean. Think about it a little harder. Nozomi: Shrines are a place to worship the gods. We don't want to offend them, understand? Eli: Most people straighten up their houses before people come over to hang out, right? Honoka: Ohhhhh... So the shrine's not just for people to visit, but also for the gods themselves. Nico: B-But everything already looks nice and tidy. Nozomi: The gods don't get upset over little things like this. So yes, maybe a little straightening up would be fine. Nico: ........................... Nozomi: But this shrine is very important to ME. That's why I want every square inch to be immaculate. Nozomi: If I did a half-hearted job, I wouldn't be being true to myself. Nico: Nozomi... Maki: I can picture Nozomi coming here to clean up every morning before practice. Kotori: Seeing Nozomi every morning always puts me at ease. Umi: This place really is important to her. Eli: And if it's important to her, it should be important to us. Maki: Now that you know how Nozomi feels, you aren't going to complain about cleaning up any more, right? Nico: ........................... Kotori: Huh? Where're you going, Nico? Maki: You'd better not be going home. Nico: I need to refill my bucket. I'm not done washing my spot yet. Rin: We're all done with our side! Nico: I don't think so, slackers! Hanayo: Huh?! Nico: Get over here, look at the streaks on this railing. Clean it again! Rin: What the heck, Nico suddenly turned into an overbearing mother-in-law type. Nico: Less griping, more wiping. And when you're done, get to work on this! Hanayo, Rin: Y-Yes, ma'am! Nozomi: Thank you, Nico-cchi. Nico: It's not like I'm doing it just for you I want to please the gods. Honoka: We need to give it our all too. For Nozomi, and for the gods that are so important to her life. Kotori: Yeah! Maki: It's nice to hear what's on your mind, Nozomi. You never really talk about yourself. Umi: You definitely are a very centered person, even if you don't show it much. Nozomi: Aww, you're embarrassing me. It's really not that big a deal. Eli: Nozomi's usually very calm, but when it's time to get to work she really buckles down. That's probably one reason we get along so well. Nozomi: I think maybe you're buckled down a bit too often, Eli. Maybe you could loosen up a little every now and then? Eli, Nozomi: Huh?! *Snicker* |
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Story 3 |
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| Nozomi: The last step is to open the door. Hanayo, can you grab that over there?
Hanayo: Got it. One, two... Nozomi: Okay! I think that's about everything we can do. We'll leave the really important stuff to the fully-qualified shrine maidens. Eli: So there's going to be a wedding here soon. How romantic! Nozomi: I bet it really is going to be the happiest day of their lives. Honoka: Nozomi, I finished up with the hallway! Rin: My area is spic-and-span! Nozomi: Beautiful, beautiful. Honoka, Rin, you two did a great job. You're lifesavers. Honoka: Heehee. Rin: Aww, shucks. Maki: Don't the three of them remind you of a teacher and her two students? Kotori: *Giggle* It's Nozomi-sensei. Nozomi: *Giggle* Aren't I a lucky teacher to have a class full of cute girls? Eli: Nozomi, the attendants are arriving. Nozomi: Thanks, Eli. Let's all move so we don't get in the way of the ceremony preparations. Honoka: Thank goodness we got everything cleaned up before all the guests started showing up. Nico: Wow, there's a lot of people coming in. Are they all here for the wedding? Umi: There's a lot of people in street clothes. I guess there are a lot of people just coming to pray. Hanayo: I'm sure everyone's got a prayer in their hearts. Nozomi: The gods are kind and benevolent. Whether it's for better grades, a happy marriage, or healthy children, they'll always listen to your prayers. Nozomi: When I'm a fully-fledged shrine maiden, I'll pray for your bust to grow a little. Nico: Quit staring at me! Kotori: Ooooh! Hey Honoka, check it out! Honoka: Hmm? Oh, the bride! Eli: Harasho! How beautiful. Nico: That's a special white kimono called a shiromuku. Umi: It's gorgeous. It looks like a holy outfit. Maki: This whole time I've been thinking about a traditional wedding dress, but the shiromuku is pretty too. Kotori: Teehee... Rin: What're you grinning about, Kotori? Kotori: *Giggle* Trying to decide which one I'd wear if it was me. Umi: I can see why. That's a tough choice. I know either one would look good on you, Kotori. Honoka: Yup! Someday you'll make a beautiful blushing bride! Kotori: If I was gonna wear one, I'd have to at least try on the other. Nozomi: I think I'd have to go with the shiromuku, although I'd definitely like to see how I looked in the wedding dress. Eli: I'm sure either one would look good on you too, Nozomi. Nozomi: Geeeeeez, you know all this praise won't get you any prizes, right? Eli: Hehe, I'm not trying to get anything out of it. Hanayo: I bet a cute wedding dress would look perfect on you, Nico. Nico: I'd love to wear a wedding dress someday, but I'm not opposed to the shiromuku either. Kotori: Hey, for our next show we should do a wedding theme with our outfits! Hanayo: Oh, what a great idea! Nico: Okay, so I'll be the bride and you all will be the bridesmaids, right? Maki: Nico... Don't be stupid. Nico: Oh, come on! It was a joke. I thought it was funny... Hanayo: You'd make a beautiful bride too, Rin. Rin: You think? I feel like you'd look better in a wedding outfit, Hanayo. Maki: Oh please, you'd both look beautiful. In fact, I can't wait to see you in costume on stage! Rin: I'm not wearing wedding stuff unless you and Hanayo wear it too, Maki! Maki: Okay, okay. If the time comes we'll all coordinate our outfits. Rin: Yaaaaaaay! Nozomi: Didn't the bride look stunning? Nico: I guess it's okay that she was the center of attention, just this once. Rin: Nico, were you treating it like a competition? Eli: I think the smiling faces of the wedding party put all of us in a good mood. Umi: The happy couple and every single guest all looked so happy! Honoka: No one was smiling more than me. I felt like I was sharing the bride's happiness! |
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Story 4 |
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| Umi: Welcome to the shrine.
Hanayo: The consecrated area is this way. Kotori: Allow me to escort you. Rin: Nozomi, I finished wipe down the sign. Nico: There's still a smudge in this corner. Rin: *Moans* Nico's still in mother-in-law mode... Nico: Don't worry... I'll get this one for you. Rin: *Gasp* Nico, I'm so happy! Nico: Ack! Rin, get off me! Eli: After just one day they're almost like real shrine maidens. Nozomi: I can't believe how quickly everyone picked it up, but then again, they've been giving it 100 percent since this morning. Now we're almost done! Honoka: Huh? But there are still worshippers coming in. We've still got work to do. Nozomi: Hehe, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but that's enough for one day. I don't want to upset the gods by pushing everyone too hard! Honoka: Oh, cool! Eli: That's a wrap, then? Nozomi: Thank you all so much for all your hard work today! Together: You're welcome! Honoka: What a great day! Maki: It really was fun, and I'm not just saying that. Hanayo: I've never worn a shrine maiden outfit, much less done the job! I was so excited the whole time. Kotori: Almost makes you want to become one for real. Umi: Agreed. You don't get to have these kinds of experiences often. Nico: Maybe we weren't the stars of the show, like when we do our school idol performances, nut it still wasn't too bad. Nozomi: I'm so happy to hear that! Maybe we can do this again someday? Honoka: You bet! We'll all be here to help whenever you need it. Eli: Aah... Honoka: Eli? What's wrong? Eli: Nothing. Just marveling at how people are still showing up. Honoka: I guess a lot of people come to the shrine every day. I just never thought about it since we live so close by. Eli: I know this is obvious, but even though our jobs are done, the shrine and the gods continue to do their work without ever stopping. Nozomi: Yeah... The shrine is such a special place. Rin: You know, for having worked nonstop early in the morning, I'm really not too tired. Umi: I think the fun cancelled out the exhaustion. Honoka: Maybe it's the spiritual power Nozomi's always going on about? Rin: Huh?! Wait, so I have spiritual powers now? Nozomi: Actually, it was one of my goals to get you all to feel a sense of spiritual power, but... Eli: But what? Nozomi: Somehow, with all of you working so hard to help, I think I felt it more than anyone. I had so much fun! Eli: We did too, Nozomi. Truly. Nico: I hope you're grateful! Nozomi: I am. Thanks a million! Nico: W-Wow, she's being really honest today. Kotori: You could learn from her, Nico. Eli: I wish we didn't have to give back the shrine maiden outfits just yet. Nozomi: Everyone looks so cute in them. Hanayo: Why don't we take a picture before we change back? Honoka: Yeah! Let's do it! Let's do it! Nico: Oh, fine. Maki: Nico, you brought a camera and a tripod, right? Eli: Since you originally wanted to perform this morning. Nico: Oh, be quiet... Timer's set. Everyone squeeze in! Hanayo: Over here, Nico. Over here! Kotori: Honoka, you get in between me and Umi. Umi: Nozomi should be in the center today, no? Maki: Nozomi, get in here. Nozomi: Y-You want me right in the middle? Eli: Absolutely! Now stop looking around at us. Look into the lens and smile. Nozomi: Hehe... Got it. Nozomi: I can't imagine anything better than being here with all of you. |