And We Set Forth To Our New Daily Lives Part 3

MIKOTO

"(・・) The other world?", Nanami repeated.

"Eherm", I cleared my throat. It's time to do the narrator's work.

"The other world, located in the depths of the shadowy jungle, is guarded by total darkness at its entrance. All the darkness in this world is the entrance to that world. It is a world residing between ours and the underworld where demons roam freely. Adjoining our worlds, it harbors darkness so black that a single peek will make you lose your way. It's the demon world, am I correct?" I diligently recite how much I remembered the anime described that netherworld.

I heard clapping from the two spirits. "Mikoto-dono, you're so knowledgeable!", they praised me.

"So it IS true? Wow, how did you know that? Nanami asked me in curiosity.

"..ahehehe", I sweatdropped. I guess I messed up a bit.

"I guess it's just a piece of common knowledge for me because of my godfather", is the only excuse I thought of. I hope Mikage-sama will forgive me for dragging him into this.

"I see..", Nanami replied half-convincingly so I decided to divert her attention to something else.

     (▼ω▼) !!(￣'Д'￣)9 "Why? Are           "N-No!" you scared?" ↑                  ↑ Mikoto Nanami

I giggled at her cute reaction.

"Oh, stop it Mikoto", Nanami pouted. "Just because I wanted a home, I almost destroyed someone else's home. So even if that place is scary, I still need to see Tomoe and apologize to him", she brightly smiled trying to hide her nervousness.

"Well then, take care on your way", I said with a smile and waving my hands to Nanami

"Ehhh?!".she reacted in a confused way.

"I'll stay here to watch over the temple while you three fetch Tomoe back here to make him as your familiar", I told her before I faced the direction where I feel the shrine spirits' energy. "And then Kotetsu and Onikiri, you know what to do. You must protect Nanami at all cost in that dangerous place", I reminded them.

"Yes, Mikoto-dono", the two beamed without hesitation.

Of course, I wanted to go with them and experience it in real, but I'm afraid I might intervene only between Nanami and Tomoe's fate, just like I always read in some fanfictions.

Hey wait, is this life just a fanfiction too? It does sound like one, right?

"No way, Mikoto!. You're going with us!", Nanami protested as she grabs my hand and smiled.

"Why?" I asked. I'm aware the story between her and Tomoe will proceed perfectly even without me by her side but it's still heart-warming when I heard Nanami's response.

"Please go with me so I can apologize to Tomoe without feeling nervous", is what she said.

Even though I know she can do it without me...like in the anime

Then she pulled me gently and we started to walk outside the temple

"Wa-wait Nanami", I stopped on my feet because I remembered something very very important. "Ummm...I think we need a change of clothes first? For example, I can't run nor climb a tree with this outfit"

Nanami looked puzzled, "Why do we need to run and climb?"

"Ahahaha.. Σ(￣。￣ﾉ) Just think of it as a figure of speech", I played tai-chi over her question. "Look Nanami, it's like my way of saying I'm not accustomed wearing these."

Before we set to our journey to the unknown land to us, Nanami asked me to wear a plain yellow long-sleeves shirt, jean pants, and her shoes, pairing with a brown beret. Even though it's very embarrassing especially since she's taller than me that's why her clothes were a bit longer for me, Nanami still insisted me to wear these so I won't have any other reason not to accompany her. Luckily her feet are just the same size as mine so I didn't have a problem with the shoes.

"Awe, you're so cute at that outfit, Mikoto", she teased me as we follow Onikiri at Kotetsu in our way.

I pouted and protested inside my mind, "She treats me like a little sister again."

Even though I tried to suggest to Nanami to change clothes, she still wore a plain black long-sleeved shirt with a violet coat and a scarf over it, a khaki-colored skirt and brown long boots.

Sigh~

I hope she won't regret it in the end.

I wondered a little before when I watched the anime, how did Nanami and her shrine spirits reach their destination? I never thought we'd go down in an old well behind the Mikage shrine. It's all dried up so we didn't get wet and since we seek for this land of darkness, the path between the two words opened. Nanami and I got amazed when we've reached the entrance of our destination.

" (・_・;) This is....", Nanami uttered.

"Yes, this is the demon's world", Onikiri finished her sentence for us.

I felt shivers on my spine. I tell you honestly, the anime didn't portray well how really spooky the atmosphere of this place is. The darkness is like in the middle of the night even though it's still actually midday and there are also thick black fogs in the surroundings which makes the lantern Kotetsu carries only shines dimly. No wonder any human will really get lost here.

"First, we must think where Tomoe-dono went", Kotetsu said our group.

"We can check all the places where Tomoe-dono usually goes", added by Onikiri.

Nanami nod in agreement, "Okay let's do that then".

"Wait, we don't have that enough time, I think. It might be dangerous for us to stay here too long", I gave my opinion since I know according to the anime where Tomoe really is.

I just hope they won't think any suspicion towards me

"Where do you think is Tomoe's most favorite place here where he usually goes to relax?", I let the fire spirits of the shrine give us the answer.

After a few seconds of silence between the two, they told us, "uhh.. we think it's Sister Mizutama's place".

"A girl's place?", Nanami curiously asked.

"Yeah, seems so", I replied with a smile but deep within my head, I let out a deep sigh of relief.

It will put me in deep trouble of these two said a different place.

"Okay, let's check that place first and if Tomoe isn't there, we can just check other places", Nanami suggested and I second the motion so Oniki and Kotetsu swiftly lead us...

...to a place that shocked Nanami. Well, actually it surprised me too to see such a huge place for the first time.