The Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine
Then Thoma launched into an enthusiastic introduction of the Grand Narukami Shrine. "The scenery up there is lovely, and you can all try drawing a fortune slip. Since you've come all the way to Osaka—and we didn't have time last visit—allow the Kamisato clan to play the proper host this time."
The children erupted in cheers at once. "Yay!"
But Hattori Heiji suddenly remembered something. Brow furrowed, he rounded on Thoma in disbelief. "Hold on! Why are you so agreeable about letting us meet your clan head this time? Weren't you stalling us every chance you got before?"
Thoma blinked at him, genuinely puzzled. "Actually... I've never stopped you from meeting the clan head, Hattori-san. The clan head and the young lady genuinely haven't been at the Kamisato estate."
"But the Grand Narukami Shrine has always been open to visitors. We don't get many tourists, sure, but almost every day someone makes the trip specially to see the cherry blossoms or draw a fortune slip. If you wanted an audience with the clan head, you could simply go there yourself. Nobody would stand in your way."
Sensing Conan's reproachful stare boring into him from nearby, cold beads of sweat broke out on Heiji's forehead. "Then—uh—why didn't you just tell me that directly? I made all those trips for nothing!"
"Mm..." Thoma gave an awkward cough, hesitating. "I assumed that as an Osaka native, you'd already know all this, so... My apologies."
Heiji's embarrassment only deepened—and with Conan's contempt growing more withering by the second, he couldn't help turning his face away, muttering under his breath, "Today was the first time I've even heard of a shrine called the Grand Narukami Shrine. How was I supposed to know I could just walk right up and knock..."
Seeing the mortification on Heiji's face, Thoma graciously changed the subject.
After a brief discussion, most of the group—having heard how beautiful the shrine's cherry blossoms were—wanted to see them up close. Only Mouri Kogoro had no desire to climb a mountain; Professor Agasa was feeling a bit tired; Haibara Ai simply wasn't interested. And Klee had already been before, so this time she stayed behind to keep Haibara company.
As for Amuro Subaru, he thought it over for a moment and—heedless of how Haibara's face abruptly darkened—said, "Then I'll stay behind too. That way I can look after the children."
In the end, apart from that group, everyone set off for the Grand Narukami Shrine with Thoma leading the way, a great procession winding up the mountain.
"We're almost there!" Sonoko came to a halt before the long rows of torii gates, hands braced on her knees, utterly spent with relief.
She'd had no idea the mountain path to the shrine would be this grueling. No wonder they didn't get many tourists.
At that thought, Sonoko let out a cold snort. "Heh. If the view up there doesn't justify all this effort, I swear I'll tear the whole place down!"
"That's just because you don't exercise enough, Sonoko-nee-chan. A few steps and you're already out of breath." Genta squeezed past her, openly scorning her stamina.
"What did you say, you brat?!" Just as an indignant Sonoko moved in to teach the insolent little punk a lesson, a soft, sultry voice drifted up from behind them.
"My, my. And what do I hear? I come home after all this time, and the very first thing I catch at the gate is someone threatening to tear down my shrine. How heartbreaking."
Everyone turned—and there behind them stood a breathtakingly beautiful shrine maiden with long pink hair, dressed in red-and-white ceremonial robes and a pair of wooden geta. She held one sleeve up to her eyes as if she truly were heartbroken.
Given what she'd said, it was obvious she was the mistress of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lady Guuji."
Thoma stepped forward and introduced her to the group. "Everyone, this is the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine—Lady Yae Miko."
Conan's eyes were drawn instantly to the Vision hanging from her ear like an earring.
Truthfully, though, his heart had long since gone still on the matter. This shrine was clearly deeply connected to the Kamisato clan, so encountering someone wearing a Vision hardly came as a surprise anymore.
Having her casual trash-talk overheard by the lady herself would have embarrassed anyone—even Suzuki Sonoko.
"Um... I was only joking just now," Sonoko stammered, bowing awkwardly. "I'm terribly sorry, Lady Yae."
Yae Miko couldn't hold back a "pfft" of laughter. She lowered her sleeve—and sure enough, there wasn't a shred of sorrow on her face.
"Very well, I forgive you, little miss. And as for the rest of you..." She arched an eyebrow at Xia Yu. "Since you're friends of Xia Yu's, just call me Miko."
With that, she swept past the group toward the shrine. "How unusual. On an ordinary day I can count my shrine's visitors on one hand, yet today an entire crowd descends on me all at once."
"Then why doesn't Miko-nee-chan just fix up the road properly?" Conan piped up, all wide-eyed childish curiosity. "Wouldn't that bring even more visitors?"
At the boy's question, Yae Miko gave a soft laugh. "Ah, little one, that's where you're mistaken." She tilted her head down slightly, gazing at Edogawa Conan—who had, at some point, wandered right up to her side—and her eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"Because there's no need," she murmured, the corners of her mouth curving upward. "Those who truly wish to come will come, no matter what. As for everyone else..." She heaved a small, put-upon sigh. "Too many visitors would only disturb me while I'm reading my novels."