The Dream that Transcends Today‎ (Ch1-5)

Thanks Ruelin for reviewing!
===============
-Story Tab-
Ui (Part 1)
The shopping district is sparkling! Is it okay if I take a picture?

-Challenge Tab-
Rui
Cheers bring forth the beginning of a new history. *Happy New Year.

-EX Tab-
Mikura
The first kadomatsu was cut diagonally with a bamboo spear by a famous warlord.

-100 Evil Tab-
Yuuna
Rion-san gave me a 5 yen coin to spend, it's so golden and pretty, isn't it?

=====1=====

<On a day in December>

Ui
That's the end of our shopping trip then.

Iroha
Yeah, everyone is looking forward to the hot pot.

Ui
.....

Iroha
What's up?

Ui
The shopping district... It's...like a festival.

Iroha
That's because it's almost Christmas.
There's so many pretty decorations,
there's lots of people, and music is drifting everywhere.
Just before Christmas, the entire downtown becomes lively.

Ui
It's just like what I saw on TV,
but I didn't know it would be this beautiful.

Iroha
It's more exciting when you see the real thing.

Ui
.....

Iroha
...Huh? Wh, what's wrong?
...Was I wrong?

Ui
Eh!?
No, it is exciting.
But...
This cheerful atmosphere is only until the 25th, isn't it...?

Iroha
Once Christmas is over they do clean up everything...

Ui
Thinking about that...it feels a little lonely...

Iroha
I think I get...how Ui is feeling, too.
Imagining the city suddenly becoming quiet
does feel kind of lonely.

Ui
Yeah...

Iroha
But, it's okay.
Even after Christmas ends,
the city will still be crowded; the activities aren't over just yet.

Ui
Is that so?

Iroha
That's right!

Ui
...?

Iroha
Ummm...now it's...maybe over there...
Yeah, it is after all.

Ui
W-what's up?

Iroha
Ui, follow me for a bit.
I'll show you something nice.

Ui
S-sure!

=====2=====

Ui
This...
is close to a big shrine, right?

Iroha
Yeah, it's Mizuna Shrine.

Ui
...Is there...something here?

Iroha
Seems like they're almost done with preparations. Take a look at the other side.

Ui
Eh...?

Older Man
Display this at the store's entrance.

Man
Roger that.

Distant Person
When you're done with that, lend me a hand here!

Ui
...Lots of busy people...? It looks like they're carrying something, too...
Ah, it's some New Year's decorations.

Iroha
They're pretty big shrine ropes, aren't they.

Ui
Amazing...
New Year's and Christmas are different, but they both must be so lively.

Iroha
It's not sparkly, but it is calm and beautiful, isn't it?

Ui
Yeah.

Iroha
Huhu, whether it's February, spring, or summer,
the city is always overflowing with fun happenings.

Ui
You're right, if it's like this then it isn't lonely at all.
Both Christmas,
and the New Year's after Christmas ends,
I'm looking forward to everything!

Iroha
I'm glad.

Ui
Ah, Onee-chan, look!

Iroha
Mm...? A poster for Mizuna Shrine?

Ui
They're looking for mikos to help out.

Iroha
Hehh, so they're doing something like that.
Since it's so busy around the New Year's shrine visits,
they must be looking to hire temporary help.

Ui
So even normal people can work as mikos then.

Iroha
Right, I always thought everyone that worked at shrines must be special.

Iroha & Ui
---!?

Iroha
This is...

Ui
A witch's reaction...!

Iroha
...Let's go...!

=====3=====

[Boom Bo Bo Boom Creaaaak↑]

Ui
That's a huge witch...

Iroha
Yeah, let's brace ourselves...!
First up are the familiars!
Eh!? It dodged!?

Ui
This familiar...is quick.

Iroha
If it's going to hop around like that...
I have to...aim carefully...

Ui
Look out! Onee-chan!

Iroha
Eh!?
Ku!
Ahh, I hit the familiar!?
Kyaa!?

Ui
Are you okay!?

Iroha
Just now...the witch's attack...came from above...
Both the witch and familiars are strong at attacking from above.

Ui
What do we do...?

Iroha
It's easy for this witch to attack us down here, but...
Look.
Her weakness is probably that gray circle on top...

Ui
Eh, why...?

Iroha
It may have been a coincidence, but... I aimed my last attack at that,
then the familiar used its body to protect it...so...

Ui
I see! Then if we just attack there...!

Iroha
However to do that,
we have to get to a place higher than the witch or the familiars...
But there's no nice and convenient footholds...

Ui
The hopping familiars are interfering, too...

Iroha
Yeah, it's hard to aim from below, and like this we're at a disadvantage...

Ui
Is there nothing we can do...?

Iroha
It will take some time, but we'll have to beat the familiars one by one.
Then we'll defeat the witch with one shot by combining our skills...!

Ui
Yeah, got it...!

Iroha
Ei!
Nice!

Ui
Onee-chan! There's only a few more familiars!

???
Eh... What...is this...

Iroha & Ui
---!?

Older Girl
W-what is the meaning of this... what...is this place...?
Hee...

[*Thud*]

Iroha's Voice
Go away!

Iroha
Are you okay!?

Older Girl
.....

Ui
Did she...faint...?
I wonder if she got lost and wandered into the barrier...?

Iroha
(...Because we were too slow...!)

Ui
Onee-chan! Watch out!

Iroha
Kyaa!

Ui
Ei!

Older Girl
Uu~nn...

Iroha
.....!
We have to protect this girl while...fighting the witch...?
But, we're at a disadvantage as it is...

Ui
That's it.
I'll lure the witch by attacking her,
in the meantime, Onee-chan can...

Iroha
---!? No! That's too dangerous!

Ui
Eh...

Iroha
Ui, please carry this girl and cover me from a safe distance.

Ui
O-okay...! Got it...!

=====4=====

Ui
Huu...

Iroha
Ui, you okay?

Ui
Yeah, I'm fine, but...the witch ran away.

Iroha
I'm just glad we were able to drive it away,
and that we were able to help this woman.

Ui
Onee-chan...

Older Girl
Uu, uu~nn...
.....
Huh...? Where am I...? Why...am I here...

Iroha
Are you...okay...?

Older Girl
You two are...

Iroha
Ah, umm... It looked like you suddenly fell down...
and...maybe, you're anemic...or something?

Older Girl
That's right...it went completely pitch black before my eyes...
Thank you both for looking after me...

Iroha
No, it was nothing...

Older Girl
Uu!!

Iroha
Eh!? Is something wrong!?

Older Girl
My leg...hurts... I wonder if I twisted it...

Ui
Your leg...was twisted...
~ Is it possible she... ~

Iroha
~ Probably, when she fainted inside the barrier... ~

Ui
~ .....! ~

Older Girl
Uwa...what do I do...this is...

Iroha
Are you unable to walk? We can call an ambulance here...

Older Girl
No, I'll be fine.
It hurts, but I can still walk.
I'll go to the hospital tomorrow on my own.
Though...it's kinda bad...

Iroha
Bad...?

Older Girl
I'm... working as a miko
at the Mizuna Shrine over there, but...

Ui
Eh...miko!?

Older Girl
Ah, yeah. I'm not a professional or anything, though...
I guess I'm more of a leader for young kids, more or less...?

Ui
Wonderful! ...But, that....

Older Girl
I know.
Getting an injury like this during the New Year's celebration...

Iroha
And soon...will be the first shrine visits of the year.

Older Girl
Yeah, let's hope this injury heals up by then, but
if I can't make it in time, it'll be trouble for everyone else.

Iroha
(...If only we could have beaten the witch faster...)
(This woman would never had gotten lost in the barrier...)
(And she wouldn't have gotten injured...)

Ui
Onee-chan...

Iroha
.....

=====5=====

Iroha
.....

Ui
~ Onee-chan... ~
~ We're to blame for this girl's injury...aren't we...? ~
~ I wonder...if there's something we can do about this... ~

Iroha
~ Ui... ~
(What do I do...even Ui feels responsible...)
(.....Ah, that's it!)
Onee-san.

Older Girl
What?

Iroha
...Um, if it's going to be so busy for the New Year's shrine visits,
could we maybe help out as mikos?

Older Girl
Eh!?

Ui
Ah, I see.
We saw a poster looking for people to help!

Older Girl
Eh? Ahh...that poster...
Well there is definitely a lack of helpers, but
helping out there isn't quite that easy...
It's meant more for girls a little older than you two.

Iroha
Ah...

Older Girl
I appreciate the thought, but...
I couldn't possibly trouble you,
even though you took care of me in the first place...

Ui
I-I am! Grown enough!

Older Girl
Eh...?

Iroha
Yeah, she's right.
"We sisters" are old enough to work.
We can cover for each other reliably.
We definitely won't be any trouble to you,
so please let us offer our help.

Older Girl
Eh? Eh?

Ui
...Please let us!

Older Girl
T-the heck is this positive energy...
Ah, I get it!
You were interested in being mikos from the start, weren't you?

Iroha
S-something like that!

Ui
It would help as a reference for my winter break homework...

Older Girl
...Well, if that's the case.
Besides...sisters performing the miko dance, huh... Yeah, that'll be cute.

Iroha
Miko dance?

Older Girl
Alright, I got it!
I'll ask the people at the shrine about your help.
There's still time before the first shrine visits, so I'm sure it's okay.
I'll get you guys some practice before then.

Ui
Hurray!

Iroha
Thank you so much, and please do...!
(Thank goodness...)
(I wonder if this will help Ui feel better about welcoming the New Year...)

Older Girl
Ah, but...what do I do about the miko clothes?
There's spare miko clothes, but the sizes are...only for adults...
I don't think there's a size that'll fit your sister...

Ui
No way...

Iroha
.....Ah.
That should be fine,
because I have a good idea.

Ui
Ah, Mitama-san!

---

In the shadow of this happy New Year, a mahou shoujo takes a leap forward.
The Dream that Transcends Today‎

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Miko = shrine maiden

Hatsumode is the first shrine visit one makes after the new year. Most visit between the 1st and 3rd of January.