The Dream that Transcends Today (Ch 6-15)

Thanks Ruelin and Gilde for reviewing!
===================
-Story Tab-
Ui (Part 2)
Since I have to wake up early tomorrow morning, today I'll be sleeping earlier!

=====6=====

Iroha
Ui...

Ui
.....
Eh...?
Onee...chan...?

Iroha
Huhu...

Ui
Umm...what is this...?
Where am I...? Or I should say, why in this situation...?
Why am I being princess carried...

Iroha
.....

Ui
Umm... Onee-chan, why are you laughing...?
W-what happened...? Tell me...

-Bedroom-

Ui
Ha!?
.....
Morning...? Then that was...a dream...?

Iroha
Ui, you up? Morning.

Ui
Onee-chan...!
Morning...

Iroha
...? What's wrong?

Ui
N-nothing!? Nothing at all.

Iroha
That's fine, but
breakfast is almost ready, so be down soon.
The meeting is at 8:30, so we have some time to spare, but
if we're too laid-back we'll barely make it.

-Main Room-

Yachiyo
You had a dream that you were being princess carried by Iroha...?

Ui
Yeah...it surprised me, too...

Sana
Then that means that was Ui-chan's...first dream of the new year...? ¹

Ui
First dream of the new year...
I see, that must have been my first dream...

Yachiyo
The first dream is said to have many meanings,
though I wonder what that dream meant.

Iroha
Isn't it auspicious to dream of Mt. Fuji?

Yachiyo
I've heard it's because it's a play on the word buji. ²

Sana
First dream...I heard it's like...a hint about what will happen in your future after you wake up...

Yachiyo
That's right...then this dream was...

Ui
You know you don't have to take it so seriously...? I-it's kind of embarrassing...

Felicia
Whatcha talkin' about, first dreams or somethin'?
Doesn't that just mean Ui wants to be spoiled?

Ui
---!?
S-spoiled!?

Felicia
Ain't that right?
You're havin' dreams like that because you wanna be spoiled.

Ui
Uu...could that be true...

Iroha
It's okay.
Ui is still only in elementary school, so it's okay for you to be spoiled a lot.

Ui
Even Onee-chan...!
.....Yeah, I guess you're right.

Iroha
...?

Ui
Beca...I'm...ull fle...

Iroha
Ui? Did you say something?

Ui
N-nothing!? Nothing at all!

Yachiyo
Alright, you need to hurry now, hasn't too much time passed?
It's fine to chat, but if you don't get going,
you two will be late.

Sana
She's right...!

Felicia
We're not late for anythin', so we can sit back and relax a little more.

Yachiyo
There is something. The first sales of the New Year aren't waiting. ³
Besides, aren't we keeping Tsuruno waiting?
Felicia, I'll get you dressed, so come here.

Felicia
'Kaay...

=====7=====

Yachiyo
Well, everyone looks ready.
Iroha and Ui-chan have your haregi?

Ui
We do!

Yachiyo
Then, we'll come meet you in the evening.

Iroha
Okay.
After we're done helping as mikos at the Mizuna Shrine,
we're meeting at the department store to go shopping, right?

Ui
In our haregi!

Yachiyo
In the meantime, we'll be shopping in the shopping district...

Iroha
I'm looking forward to dinner!

Yachiyo
Yeah, I will definitely fight and win that A5 Wagyu beef that I can't normally afford.

Sana
By the way...
you changed your clothes rather quickly...

Iroha
That's because I didn't change my clothes, but transformed.
Since we didn't have the right miko clothing,
Mitama-san adjusting us really helped out.

<One day near the end of the year...>

Mitama
...I see, I understand your situation.
You want me to prepare Ui-chan perfect miko clothes, riight...?
With my adjustment power, I can change your appearance after transforming.

Ui
Yeah, please do!

Iroha
Also...could I ask for one as well?

Mitama
Iroha-chan wants it too?

Iroha
It's not that I can't wear the loaned ones at the shrine-

Mitama
Huhu...I thought you would ask.

Iroha
Eh?

Mitama
So that's what you meant by perfect.
Then, your adjuster shall do her best to add cute finishing touches
so you two are a perfect match~

Iroha
Ah, that's not it.
What I meant by perfect was something suitable for our sizes... ⁴

Mitama
Then why am I doing this to Iroha-chan too...?

Iroha
Well... it seems a lot of people are going to come for their first shrine visits,
and I believe that witch may appear again...so...

Mitama
You want to be able to fight at any time.

Iroha
Maybe I'm just worrying a little too much, though...

Mitama
So you had other reasons for becoming a miko, then.
I understand.
I'll prepare battle miko clothing for you and Ui-chan at the same time.

Iroha
Please do...!

Mitama
Nevertheless, this is my first time making miko clothing through adjustment...
I need to design it to be as easy as possible to move around in...
I'll need to ask around a little.

Iroha
Sorry for all the trouble...!

Mitama
Ah, hello? Kanagi?

=====8=====

Yachiyo
So that's how your miko clothes were made,
and how this all started.
...But isn't it a little showy...?

Iroha
Mitama-san...consulted with Kanagi-san...
She must have thought her cafe's outfits would help...
Ah, but Ui's skirt is like that
because a long hakama would make it too difficult for her to move around in.

Ui
Yeah, this outfit is easy to move in.

Yachiyo
...Did you confirm with the people at Mizuna Shrine if it's okay?

Iroha
Yes, they saw it when we went to the year's end practice.

-Flashback-

Older Girl
Since you're temporary help and so cute, it's OK!

-End Flashback-

Iroha
...Is what she said.

Yachiyo
They're certainly flexible...

Felicia
Hey, it's 'bout time to go.

Yachiyo
Right, in our case we're fine, but
Iroha and Ui-chan can't afford to be late.

Sana
Iroha-san, Ui-chan, we'll meet this evening...

Ui
Yeeep!
Ah, Onee-chan, are we wearing these while we go?

Iroha
We can't expect to be able to transform in the dressing room...
Though, if we find somewhere near the shrine we could transform.

Ui
Mmm...
Since that could be troublesome, maybe we should walk around in our miko clothes.

Iroha
That's right, it's still early and there's not many people out,
so let's go out as we are?

-Streets-

Ui
It's finally the day we get to help out in front of visitors...!

Iroha
Let's do our best.
I wonder, are you nervous?

Ui
Eh...I don't really think I am...
But now that I've thought about it, I might be getting nervous...

Iroha
Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything.

Old Lady
Oh my, what cute mikos you are.

Iroha
Eh, you mean us?

Ui
Thank you very much!

Iroha
We're on our way to help at Mizuna Shrine.

Old Lady
That so? That's great, be sure to work hard.

Ui
We will.
Ehehe, she talked to us.

Iroha
(Maybe she isn't so nervous after all?)
We might stand out somewhat, huh.

Ui
Stand out.....Ah!
If kids from school come for their first shrine visit, won't they see us...?

Iroha
I think they probably will, but I'm sure they'll compliment you.

Ui
.....
...Please don't let anyone in my class see me...!

Iroha
Huh?

=====9=====

-Shrine Room-

Iroha
Excuse us.

Older Girl
Ah, I've been waiting!
Everyone that's helping~ Assemble~!

Girls
Here!

Older Girl
Right, starting now for a few days we've got some new helpers.
Tamaki Iroha and Tamaki Ui.

[*Clap clap clap...*]

Older Girl
Now why don't you introduce yourselves...

Iroha
Ah...um, I'm Tamaki Iroha.
This is my first time working as a miko,
but I'll put in all of my effort...to do the best I can.
Please give me your guidance and encouragement as I work with all of you...!

[*Clap clap clap...*]

Ui
.....
Alright...
I-I'm Tamaki Ui.
Onee-chan's little sister!
Your g-guydans...? En...enrollment...? ⁵

Iroha
Encouragement.

Ui
Encouragement!
Please give me! Your encouragement!

[*Clap clap clap...*]
[So cute~] [She's so small but so nice, ain't she.]

Older Girl
Okay, thank you, and nice to meet you.
You two will be handing out lucky charms and guiding visitors around the shrine grounds.
Then after that is the miko dance...
And then I'd like to ask you to watch over the kite flying competition.
I know that's a lot of hard work to jump into, but please do your best!

Iroha
I will!

Older Girl
And then I just need to give each of you an informational memo.

Ui
Haa...

Iroha
You must have been nervous introducing yourself, but you did well.

Ui
Y-yeah...! Thank you.
Alriight, time to do my best!

Iroha
That's the spirit!
It's okay to make mistakes, because Onee-chan will be with you!

Ui
Yeah.

=====10=====

[*Chatter chatter...*]

Ui
Uwaa! There's so many people!

Iroha
It's still so early, yet there's so many lines formed already.

Older Girl
Amazing, isn't it?
Well, it's proper etiquette for the prayers to be throughout the morning,
but it's also because today is a special day.

Iroha
Ah, you mean the kite flying competition.

Older Girl
We're also the organizers for that, by the way.
I think the prayers are going to finish early so everyone can get to the park in the afternoon.

Ui
So that's why it's like this...this is hard...

Older Girl
I'm counting on you two~

Ui
Y-yes!

Iroha
Let's see...first of all...
We need to give lucky charms out to those who finished praying at the front shrine... is that right?

Older Girl
It's about time for the first group's prayers to finish.
The hamaya and talismans are a set, ⁶
so you should hand them out to the families.

Ui
Just do it like how we practiced... I'm sure...it'll be okay...

Iroha
...When so many visitors show up, it's hard not to be a little nervous, huh.

Ui
Yeah, I didn't think it would get this packed.

Iroha
I know,
I heard there's a magic spell where if you write "people" on your hand three times
and swallow it, it will calm your nerves.
Why don't we try it?

Ui
S-sure...
People...people...people... Om...
.....Huh? That might have actually calmed me down.

Iroha
That's great.

Ui
.....
Thank you...Onee-chan.
But, you don't have to spoil me.

=====11=====

Iroha
...We managed to hand out all the lucky charms.
I'm glad we didn't make any mistakes.

Ui
Yeah, I was nervous.

Older Girl
Since there's some time until the next prayer...
Could I ask you to do something else while I handle this here?

Iroha
Sure, I understand.

Older Girl
Well then...

Iroha
.....

Ui
.....
Helping out is getting more and more difficult...

Iroha
"Only on New Year! Take a tour of Mizuna Shrine, guided by miko!" ...huh.
We have to explain various spots around the shrine...
But we'll be okay,
because that Onee-san said we can do it while looking through the memo.

Ui
Yeah, and we practiced it.

Iroha
After that...I hope the visitors are all nice people.

???'s Voice
Um...I reserved a guide under the name Kaname...

Iroha
Ah, it looks like there's a customer with a reservation already.
Mm? Kaname...?
Madoka-chan!?

Madoka
Ah, Iroha-chan!
We heard you were going to be a miko,
so we came to play!

Iroha
That must mean you got the message then.

Homura
I thought you would be really nervous,
so I got a little worried.

Sayaka
Well, it seems like you're just hanging out.

Mami
I'm sorry, we're not bothering you, are we?

Iroha
Not at all...! I'm so relieved it's people I know.
Right?

Ui
Yeah!

Kyouko
Don't you two just look great?

Madoka
Definitely! You're both so cute!

Ui
All of your haregi, too! They're all so pretty!

Mami
Thank you.

Kyouko
I was fine with just my regular clothes, though...

Sayaka
If you wore your casual clothes you'd just stand out!

Kyouko
If that's all you're gonna say, then shut up.
Didn't I sit quietly and let you guys dress me up?

Mami
Come now...no fighting so early in the New Year. Let's not trouble Tamaki-san, okay?

Kyouko
.....My bad.

Iroha
Huhu, then let's take a second to regroup, then we can go on the tour!

Madoka
Yeah!

=====12=====

Ui
Umm, that big building there is the prayer hall.

Madoka
Prayer hall...? This is my first time hearing about that.

Ui
You visit that when it's time to go pray!
And umm,
it has overcome many...wars, and disasters...throughout history,
and since its founding, the shrine...still exists to this day.

Homura
Since its founding...that's amazing...

Ui
And, within this prayer hall is where...we do the inferior shrine...

Iroha
That's "interior shrine prayer." ⁷

Ui
Interior shrine prayer!
I uh, memorized the wrong pronunciation...
Let's see... To perform the...interior shrine prayer,
you go to the back of the prayer hall...and pray to the kami of this shrine~...

Iroha
Huhu.

Sayaka
Hm hm, this shrine has quite the history, doesn't it?

Ui
Phew...

Kyouko
Woah, that's a huge rock.

Mami
There's...characters engraved on the rock.
Could this be Shouchu Memorial?

Ui
Correct!
This big rock is called "Shouchu Memorial."
It was built for those who died in a bygone war...umm...
Cenotaph...was it?

Kyouko
The heck is this Shouchu anyway?

Ui
Eh!? Umm...umm...

Madoka
.....Ah.
Why don't we think about it together?

Homura
Ah, that's right.
...Could it be related to the names of places...nearby?

Madoka
Or maybe it's named after a famous person.

Sayaka
But, I feel like I've seen this Shouchu Memorial at other shrines before...

Kyouko
Mm, then we need to think broader.

Mami
Going by the characters...
Perhaps it means...those with clear loyalty. ⁸

Madoka
Ah, that has to be it! As expected of Mami-san!

Mami
Huhu, thank you.

Iroha
...Everyone, I'm sorry.
We were given a guide memo beforehand to spend time learning this, but...
We weren't able to prepare this far.

Ui
Onee-chan...

Kyouko
Nah, I confused her by asking a dumb question.

Madoka
Besides, we had fun thinking of the answer together!

Ui
T-thank you...

=====13=====

Ui
Umm...
Also, as the legend goes, the men and women that meet under the night lights here
will find an eternity of happiness in marriage...!
Huu...

Sayaka
Hm, that sounds pretty romantic.

Mami
It is fascinating.

Ui
Well, this is the end of the shrine tour!

Iroha
Thank you for joining!

Madoka
Thank you! It was fun!

Homura
Yeah, we learned a lot.

Ui
I made some mistakes, though...

Mami
Don't worry, you did very well.

Ui
Y-yeah, thank you!

Madoka
Well then...
Let's not bother Iroha-chan and Ui-chan anymore...

Sayaka
It's still early, but...want to go to where the kite flying competition will be?
It's at the park over there, right?

Iroha
Ah, if you are, there's something I'd like you to see.

Ui
Eh, Onee-chan, you mean...

Iroha
It's okay, right?

Madoka
...?

[*Chatter chatter...*]

Mami
Quite a few people here...

Homura
Something is getting a lot of attention here...

Madoka
Ah! It's starting!

[*Clang...*]
[*Clang clang...*]
[*Clang clang...*]
[*Clang...*]

Kyouko
That's the...miko dance, ain't it?

Sayaka
This is...my first time seeing it.

Mami
They're calling for Kami-sama to send them strength...
It's a type of traditional dance.

Madoka
...This is making me nervous now, too...!

Homura
Y-yeah...and we're only watching...!

Madoka
For some reason...it feels strange...
Those two are up on stage now, even though they were just with us a while ago...

Homura
Yeah...they look completely different...
Just a moment ago, Ui-chan was so nervous, but-

Madoka
Now they look so cool.

=====14=====

Announcer
[This will be the end of today's dance.]
[Thank you for watching.]

[*Clap clap clap...*]

Madoka
Iroha-chan, good work~!

Homura
That was so amazing!

Iroha
Thank you!
Ui was also amazing, you did so well!

Mami
She's right, you did quite well, Ui-chan.

Sayaka
Mmhm.

Ui
Really!?

Kyouko
Yeah, that was a great performance.

Ui
Thank you!

Mami
You two still have more work after this, right?

Madoka
I see, you two are still working, then.

Iroha
It's true.

Madoka
Then we can't chat a lot, otherwise we'll be interrupting your work.

Homura
We should have gone to the park where the kite flying competition is being held first...

Iroha
We're fine doing this for a little, but... Ah, but do you know where the park is located?

Sayaka
The map on my smartphone will tell us, so we're fine, we're fine.

Mami
When it's afternoon, let's meet up.

Iroha
Sure, until then.

Ui
See you!
.....Ehehe.

Iroha
...?
Well then, shall we go?

Ui
Yeah!

---

Rui
Let's see... I'm sure it was this area...
H-huh...? This isn't...?
Uu...
Ah...
(I know this person is a miko... I should ask her...)
Umm... Excuse me...

Iroha
Yes!

Rui
Where does one partake in the "ultimate fortune"...?
It's not in its usual place...

Ui
If that's it, we'll guide you!

Iroha
It seems to have gotten very popular, so it's been put in a new place.
It's a good thing I heard about it before I started helping.

Rui
Mm? Helping?

Iroha
Ah, yes.
We're only miko for a limited time...we're actually temporary helpers,
so we've had to ask our senpai about various things...

Rui
Eh... But...that miko dance you just did...

Iroha
Then you saw it!

Ui
We practiced hard for this New Year!

Rui
H-how the...

=====15=====

Iroha
Over here is where the fortunes are sold.

Rui
T-thank you...

Iroha
Then if you'll excuse us.

Rui's Father
Hoh, so it was over here. There's a lot of people.

Rui's Mother
The fortunes here are just so popular~ "Super Fortune," was it?

Rui
You're off, Okaa-san. It's "Ultimate Fortune."
Ultimate, that's the important part.

Father
Rui sure loves these fortunes, huh.

Rui
Otou-san's gotta try it, too. You'll see just how amazing they are...

Father
I get it, I get it. Don't pull me.

Seira's Voice
Ohh? It's Mizuki!

Rui
---!?

Seira
Hap New Year!
Today I just got back from my parents' house, so I'm in my apartment in Kamihama again~

Rui
A, awa...hap...n...new...y-year...

Seira
Mm? Sup?

Rui's Father
Oh, you're Rui's friend? Good day.

Rui's Mother
Thank you for always looking after my daughter.

Seira
I should say the same!

Rui
Wa, waaaiiit~...!

Seira
...?
~ W-what going on? You're actin' up even more...than...usual... ~
~ Ah, is it because of my senpais? This is your first time meeting them. ~
~ It's all good, they're both really nice people. ~

Rui
~ Th-that's not it... ~
~ Y-you know, when your friend group sees you with your parents... ~
~ ...Isn't it just too embarrassing? ~

Seira
~ ...Is it? ~

Mikura
Is this one of Mihono's classmates? ...Or rather, are you okay...?

Seira
Yep!
She's just embarrassed to be seen with her parents.

Temari
So that's it. I feel like I can understand...
But don't people outgrow things like that in middle school?

Rui
G-gulp...

Seira
It's just as my senpais said, you don't need to be so embarassed.
It's perfectly normal to make your first shrine visit with your parents!

Mikura
It's true, I've gone to the local shrine with my family.

Temari
Even if someone were to laugh at you,
you could always just ignore them.

Rui
T-thank you...for such kind support...
By the way, Seira-chan... W-why are you here...?

Seira
Eh, well obviously...

-Flashback (Classroom)-

Rui
Seira-chan's going home...for New Year...?

Seira
Yeah, on New Year's eve. Then I'll be doing my first shrine visit.

Rui
How nice.

Seira
What's Mizuki doing? For your first shrine visit, I mean.

Rui
For my first shrine visit...I'm going to Mizuna Shrine.

Seira
Is it still standard for the people of Kamihama City to go there?

Rui
That's right... The fortunes there are always fascinating.
They're called "Ultimate fortunes," and they're all kinds of amazing.
There's inflation now because massive luck and infinite luck are the hot topic.

Seira
Hehh~ I gotta tell my senpais!

-End Flashback-

Seira
Then my senpais said the whole club should go.

Rui
When you spread everything and anything...once it goes public, things like this happen.

Seira
Now, fortune, get your fortune! I got universal great luck!

Rui
Ah, so you already drew yours. That one is a good omen.

Reira
Mizuki's about to draw one, right? I hope you get some great luck!

Rui
Oh, I'm aiming for terrible luck.
Even more than that...the terrible luck beyond terrible luck... The murderously evil black dragon terrible luck, you know...

Seira
Ah, go for it.

Temari
The same naming as usual, I see.

Seira
She's sure got an open mind.

Rui
I've obtained it... N-now to open it.....Ei.
Lucky...

Seira
Plain and simple!

Rui
Uu...

Mikura
W-well it's not bad...right?

Temari
It's so ordinary, that it's actually more precious.

Seira
Inside! What's written inside is what's important!

Rui
Y-yeah...

[Like the scattered sakura petals throughout a world without a kami's salvation, follow the strong winds that are more pure than any love.]

Rui
---!?

Seira
What's that supposed to mean...

Temari
It means that you should stay positive even when you're in low spirits.

Mikura
That's not a bad saying.

Rui
Y-yeah... Thank you very much.
.....But...
(Scattered sakura petals... No salvation from the kami...)
(Sakura are...pink...red and white... The red and white miko's dress...!)
(Kami's salvation...the kami is...at the shrine...and salvation is...being saved...helped...)

-Flashback-
Iroha
We're only miko for a limited time...we're actually temporary helpers.
-End Flashback-

Rui
This is terrible...! Those miko-san are in danger...!
I must go see the aspect of death...!

Seira
Huh...why're you reading it again so closely...?


================
¹Hatsuyume (初夢), or first dream / first dream of the new year, is said to predict your luck throughout the new year based on what you dreamt of.

²Buji(無事) means peace / safety, hence Yachiyo saying Fuji is a play on Buji.

³Hatsuuri (初売り), or first sale(s) of the new year, is when stores sell lucky/fortune bags, which are bags full of unknown items sold by the store you purchase them from at a massive discount. You can imagine why Yachiyo wouldn't want to miss these sales.

⁴Mitama is saying ぴったり, which can mean exact / ideal / perfect / precise, so there's a misunderstanding between Mitama and Iroha. Mitama thinks she meant perfectly match each other in cute miko dress, while Iroha meant perfect / suitable to wear for their size, since Ui at least is too young to wear the clothes.

⁵Ui sounds out the word guidance and mistakes the word encouragement for boxed lunch, which I changed to something that sounds alike in english.

⁶Hamaya (破魔矢) is a sacred arrow used for warding off evil, originally used to slay a demon by Yorimasu Minamoto. Shrines keep them for good fortune and purification.

⁷Mikakiuchi (御垣内 / みかきうち) is the interior of a prayer hall where only certain individuals are allowed to enter into for special prayers. This is where the kami of the shrine is housed, and is not publicly available to pray at.
-
The honorific prefix character 御 is most often read "go" when used in Chinese compounds (such as "gokigen").  For Japanese native words, "o" is most common ("okage-sama de"), but you also sometimes read it "mi" (as in "mitama").  Her misreading of the kanji is an extremely common one that any language learner (native or otherwise) would make. - Sforzando

⁸Shouchu Memorial (彰忠碑) is made of the kanji that mean clear(彰) and loyal(忠)