Story:

Peach held the microphone for a moment, then lowered it into her lap.

“Before anyone makes me sing, I should finish the introductions properly.”

Violet looked faintly disappointed. Peach ignored her and turned toward the twins.

“This is Ai, and this is Mai. We’ve known each other since we were little. They’re training as miko at Tensho Jinja.”

Ai straightened immediately. Mai followed half a second later.

“Thank you for inviting us,” they said, nearly together.

“And Shiki-san is their senior at the shrine. She helps with the training and with running the place.”

Shiki gave an easy nod. “Mostly keeping these two out of trouble.”

Mai looked up at her. “You told us yesterday that we were exemplary pupils.”

“An exemplary pupil can still climb onto a cupboard.”

“I dropped something.”

“From on top of the cupboard.”

Reika smiled, but her gaze lingered on the three shrine residents with fresh interest.

“Three real miko,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever spent an afternoon with even one.”

“Same here,” Irina said. “Wouldn’t have guessed if you hadn’t told me.”

Her eyes moved briefly over Shiki’s tattoos, then toward the twins’ carefully coordinated clothes.

Shiki shrugged. “We do own things other than shrine robes.”