Twin Maids and the Sickle Weasel
“Look carefully! Seriously! Why are you always like this?!”
“Yeah, yeah. I know, sis.”
Two identical beautiful girls are chatting away. Plump twin maids in outfits blending kimono and maid attire—pure Japanese style. What a day to really feel like I've come to Japan. After Gokon and JKs, maids are just another super common job here for the wapanese crowd.
Twins as maid characters, no less.
Maid characters often come in twins. They look the same but have opposite personalities—total cliché. Aren't they breaking child labor laws starting at that age? But nah, they're generational servants to the master's family, so it's safe.
Anyway, they seem to be having some trouble, so I approach.
“Hey there.”
Aaah, that kindness that can't ignore someone in need. That's the visual novel protagonist for you. Plus, conquering the maids first should give me a connection to the young miss, right?
The twins turn to me almost in sync the moment I speak.
“S-Suspicious guy?”
The twin sister startles from my sudden approach.
“Heh... Lolita-complex bro?”
The twin little sister smirks like she finds it amusing.
“Neither. Absolutely not.”
I correct the little sister's assumption. That's not my lane.
“So, what business does big bro have with us?”
“I'm Natsunashi Yuuki. I came to my mom's hometown, Utsuromura Village, three days ago. You looked like you were in a bind, so I figured I'd say hi.”
The twin sister's attitude softens.
“I'm Shuna. This is my little sister, Kiyo.”
“ShinaSisters, the two-in-one package. Nice to meetcha, big bro~.”
“W-We don't have a nickname like that, Yuuki-sama.”
Shuna & Kiyo sisters. The more demure one's the big sis, Shuna. The cheekier one's the little sis, Kiyo, I guess.
“So, what's the trouble?”
“Kiyo got distracted by something around here, and the chicken escaped.”
“Couldn't resist the Makogashiya Snack Shop.”
Kiyo slaps the back of her head nonchalantly, and Shuna squeals in protest.
“Kiyo!”
“Shuna-sis likes the snacks too.”
“Anyway, we gotta find that chicken before we can head home.”
“Sigh... If we don't, it'll get eaten. Wanna just skip out?”
“Ki~~yo~~. You wanna say that?”
“Don't pinch! Sis's hands are sneakily spicy.”
Argument complete. Classic rural game fetch quest, huh? Do favors for villagers to build rep.
“I'll help out.”
I tell the Shuna & Kiyo sisters.
“Eh!? No, Yuuki-sama must be busy... You don't have to...”
“Not busy at all. More people searching means we'll find it faster.”
Jackpot—friend +2 double-up chance unlocked. Loving it.
“Eh, whatever. This bro's got spirit. Let's leave it to him.”
Shuna hesitates but nods at Kiyo's nudge.
“Th-Then, thank you so much, Yuuki-sama.”
Q. Find the Twin Maids' Chicken.
Quest accepted.
“Hold up. Natsunashi Yuuki. Don't you dare leave me behind!”
Right on cue, Mitsurugi Tsurugi comes running up.
“This elite big sis is joining the hunt too, so you two search over there.”
“Ugh, seriously. Keeping up with you is a workout. Hmph. As a Kiryuen night watchman, I can handle anything, y'know?”
Tsurugi grumbles but puffs up with pride. Elite night watchman or not, her brain's pretty straightforward.
“More importantly, those girls are from the Black Church, right? Better not get involved.”
“What? That's a cool name!”
Hey now, slapping “Black” on a church makes it sound badass. Gotta be named by someone in the know.
“Some folks came to Utsuromura for convalescence recently and borrowed the crumbling church. How long they planning to squat?”
My guess hits the mark. Utsuromura's got killer views, fresh air, and hot springs. Natural spot for recovery.
Rural visual novels can't skip the frail beauty heroine! That fragile, candle-flicker charm...
If Shuna & Kiyo tell her I helped with their chicken side gig, maybe she'll wanna meet. Nice.
But where the heck did this chicken go?
Did it wander into Guki-san's coop? I talked big, but failing to find it would suck.
As I scan around, something rustles—a shadow moves in the field.
Weasel...?
Squawk. A chicken thrashes, gripped by the neck. Is that the twins' bird!?
Weasels snatching chickens ain't weird, but... its limbs and tail are all scythe-shaped. Like the maggot rabbits at the village entrance—a local breed?
“Kamaitachi...”
Tsurugi draws her katana with a shring at the sickle weasel, face twisted in annoyance as she assumes a stance.
“Hanging with you, Natsunashi Yuuki, is bad luck! Yokai don't come out unless it's night. Kiryuen-style Ippin—!”
Ooh, calling out the technique name already. Finally showing off that killer swordplay?
The countryside's wilds. Sorry, sickle weasel, but stealing human livestock is...
ヘ(◕。◕ヘ)
Big, pleading eyes stare back. It's limping a bit, probably hurt. No wonder it couldn't escape well.
Cute!? Kill that!?
Is this girl a barbarian!?
“Wait. Stop. Miss Mitsurugi!”
I block her path as she swings at the weasel.
“Natsunashi Yuuki! What the hell? I almost sliced you!”
“Let's talk it out.”
“Be serious! How do you talk to a yokai...!?”
I pull a melon bread—no, meropan—from my pocket. The bag crinkles open, releasing a savory fish scent.
“Weasel. Drop the chicken, and this is yours.”
Chicken's tasty, sure, but meropan? Deep-sea luxury only at fancy restaurants. Weasels love raw stuff more than humans, so jackpot.
“Didn't you turn in the bread to Suzuki earlier?”
“Had an extra.”
Was gonna test it on Tsurugi first. Gotta be thorough—could be junk food.
“Natsunashi Yuuki, you...”
The tempted weasel sniffs eagerly.
“Hungry anytime? Hit up the house at the west end of the village. No more stealing.”
It finally releases the chicken's neck, snatches the meropan, and bolts for the hills.
Cluck cluck. The chicken snuggles up to me.
Twins helped, weasel satisfied, chicken saved. One stone, three birds.
“Not thrilled you let the kamaitachi go... but Natsunashi Yuuki. Facing a yokai without flinching? Impressive.”
Tsurugi sheathes her blade and beckons.
“You might have night watchman potential?”
Night watchman material? Sounds off-putting.
“That's a compliment, Miss Mitsurugi?”
“Tch, 'course it is! I don't praise half-outsiders lightly.”
( ⸝⸝⸝⩌⤚⩌*)
Tsurugi's face turns grumpy.
Anyway, back to the twin maids. Hand over the chicken, and they light up with (?)-(!) excitement.
“Alive! What a relief. Thank you, Yuuki-sama.”
“Big bro. Wanna grab donburi before you go?”
“D-Don't say weird stuff to our benefactor, Kiyo.”
“Heh. What? I meant buy it at a restaurant. What're you thinking, sis?”
I flash the twin maids a proud grin.
“If you're grateful, let's stay friends from now on.”
“Duh~.”
“Gotta head out today, but we'll treat you to tea. Promise!”
And just like that, five friends in Utsuromura. Wait, six with the weasel. Mission complete.
Grind. Crunch.
Crack, squeeze! Crunch. Squeeze!
Bones pulverizing, chewed alive—horrific sounds.
Groooan. Burp to finish.
“Young miss. Enjoy your meal?”
“Heh... Noisy one.”
“Kiyo!”
“It's quiet now. Sis's voice is louder.”
The twins relax as their “frail young miss” quiets down. Without Yuuki's help, one of them might've taken the chicken's place.
“Thanks to big bro Yuuki.”
“Yeah... Good call being honest.”
“Shuna-sis, your face is red?”
“Wha—no. Let's go pray.”
In the chapel they enter, the Mary statue's face... is a black goat.