Chapter Text
Yuujirou was dressed in robes of blue and wisteria purple, expensive colours that signified his family’s wealth and nobility.
Well, his Father's wealth and nobility. Yuujirou and his elegant clothes were merely an extension of it.
It was repurposed from one of his mother's kimonos, one gifted to her when she’d first married into the illustrious Someya house. She had once said that if her second child were to be a daughter, she would like for her to have it, to wear at her engagement ceremony.
Unfortunately for both of them, her second child was a son.
The Someyas were a family of renowned traditional-theatre artists, mainly Kabuki, and even Yuujirou had once had lofty dreams of joining that revered group of artists, prompting him to start training from when he’d still been very little, even ignoring enjoyment and leisure to hone his skills.
But, of course, it had all been for naught.
”Someya-sama, Yuujirou-sama,” a maid called quietly, eyes trained on the floor and hands clasped infront of her as she bowed in greeting. “The priestesses and officers have arrived.”
Yuujirou stared at the maid blankly, and only at the sudden noise of his stepfather speaking did he quickly shake his head free of distracting thoughts.
”Very well. Show them in,” ordered Tamagoro Someya. Yuujirou remained silent.
Once the maid bowed and disappeared behind the sliding paper doors again, Tamagoro snapped shut the paper fan in his hand with one harsh, swift motion.
Yuujirou flinched at the sudden sound.
”Yuujirou,” his father said quietly.
”Father.” Yuujirou turned to his father and bowed from where he sat.
Tamagoro Someya made a sour face.
”Is this the face you intend to show to the priestesses, officials, and your future spouse? Dull and lifeless? Colourless, charmless? You’ve been out of it since the beginning of the week.”
Each word should have felt like a sting, but Yuujirou was far too used to it to let it hurt him now.
Tamogoro must have also noticed how his words went in Yuujirou’s one ear and out the other, so he increased the sternness of his tone, perhaps hoping it will finally force some emotion into his step-son’s face, whether it be sadness or anger.
“This is why I did not let you further your training in theatre. It would have been for naught. What good is an actor who cannot even feign the slightest intrigue even at the most integral moment of his life? You’ve been selected for something that will bring great honour for not just this family, but the people of our land. At least act like you’re not completely miserable, Yuujirou.”
Yuujirou only took a deep breath, not loud enough to be audible, and kept bowing. The long hair at the front of his head curtained his eyes which likely looked as listless as he felt.
He wasn’t even going to make an excuse for his pathetic behaviour anymore. Nor was he going to apologise for nothing just to fill the silence, like his mother was prone to doing these days.
Noticing Yuujirou’s lack of reaction, Tamagoro seemed to give up on reprimanding him anymore, prompting Yuujirou to stop bowing and turn back to his original position.
Right on time too, because just then the paper doors slid open again, and three priestesses entered, followed by two men in officers’ robes.
Tamagoro Someya greeted them all in turn while Yuujirou stayed put, eyes still downcast.
”Is this the husband?” One of the men seemed to ask. “He's a vision. He looks just like his mother in her youth.”
”Surely not,” the other replied. “She was much more lively at his age. This one is clearly a man; you can tell just from the way he carries himself.”
Tamagoro cleared his throat.
”Gentlemen, if you will.”
Tamagoro made small-talk as all three men stepped out to the garden and yard, sliding the door shut behind them.
Finally!
Just as he’d released a sigh of relief, Yuujirou heard a loud whisper.
”Takamizawa-san!” the priestess with short hair and thick eyebrows called (in a poor excuse for a whisper) to one of the other priestesses.
“Look at the husband! He’s beautiful- as expected of a Someya- yet he looks so forlorn. I feel bad about this… I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Ritual spouse look this depressed.”
”Hiyori-chan,” the eldest girl chided. This one had long, lavender hair, and looked to be the oldest. “You must not say things like that about others, and you must have more faith in your visions. What you said was very rude.”
”Especially when the person in question can hear everything,” the third girl, one with yellow, catlike eyes informed. “Isn’t that right, Someya Yuujirou-sama?”
”E-Eh?!” The short haired priestess balked, staring at him openly now. “You h-heard everything I said?”
For the first time in the last 12 hours, Yuujirou Someya’s eyes finally flashed with emotion- all the suppressed feelings he’d been pressing down to appear collected and indifferent infront of his father and the other adults came pouring forth.
In short, he’d snapped.
”You’ve been talking since you got here, haven’t you? Do you really call yourself a priestess? That too for the most important deity in the two lands, the Guardian Goddess?”
Hiyori sat stunned, her mouth open in surprise.
He glowered at her harder. “Goodness, their standards must have fallen significantly in the last few years. Look at you-“ he shook his head in disbelief. “The circlet on your head is crooked. Your sleeves are wrinkled! And I won’t even comment on your way of talking to spare you some dignity.”
All three priestesses sat surprised, their eyes wide. The smallest one looked the most shocked, making her forget to be offended at his remarks.
Why were they so shocked? Did Yuujirou look like someone who’d stay put and let people make assumptions about him to his face?
Then certainly, two could play at that game.
”And do they really just let any bumpkin become a priestess these days? No wonder they’re having visions telling them to marry men together.”
”H-Hey!” The girl finally protested. “Don’t insult our goddess! I know I’m new, but the visions she gave me were clear about the new pair-”
”Oh, I’m not insulting your goddess,” Yuujirou shook is head. “I’m insulting you.”
Finally, Yuujirou broke his perfect sitting position and stretched his legs. He put a knee up and rested his elbow on it, holding his fingers to his temple. “This girl doesn’t even have basic listening abilities, but she’s in charge of my fate…” he muttered. “What grave sin must I have committed in my previous life?”
The lavender haired girl, likely the oldest of them, elegantly turned towards him bowed.
“Someya Yuujirou-sama, I apologise for the behaviour of my junior. Hiyori is still new, and has not yet accustomed herself to the etiquette of a priestess,” she spoke up, “But you owe us an apology as well for your behaviour towards her. I will not have you talking to any of my juniors this way.”
Yuujirou looked at the eldest priestess level him with a firm yet patient gaze, and Yuujirou saw a determination in her to defend her frazzled junior through anything he might throw.
Yuujirou felt a pang of annoyance; he’d never had anyone stand up for him the way this girl did for her junior, who she likely wasn’t even related to.
He figured it wasn’t worth the hassle to argue with such a person.
”Is that so? I must have gotten too ahead of myself just now.” Yuujirou tried for one of his perfect, gentlemanly smiles. “Since you’ve already apologised, I’ll also sincerely apologise for my outburst just now, Miss…?”
”Hayasaka,” she gave him a small smile. “Hayasaka Akari.”
”I see. I am sorry for my outburst, Hayasaka-san. As compensation, you may call me just by Yuujirou from now on.” Yuujirou flashed his winning smile again.
”That smile definitely doesn’t look sincere…” the Hiyori girl muttered under her breath.
”Now, now, Hiyori-chan…” the twin-tails girl placated.
”Perhaps you can also apologise for making baseless assumptions about me,” Yuujirou regarded Hiyori again, “and for whispering louder than an elephant's call.”
”I-I wasn’t saying anything bad! But yes, I’m also sorry…”
”Hmph.”
After this, they were thankfully able to pass a few minutes of silence peacefully.
”Ah,” the twin-tails girl with golden eyes suddenly perked up. “They’re here.”
”I don’t hear anything,” Yuujirou looked around.
“That’s her priestess ability,” Hayasaka Arisa informed. “Each of us have one.”
Yuujirou hurriedly fixed his sitting position to the one he’d been in for the last few hours next to his father, and quickly adjusted his facial expression to one of serenity and indifference, like a noble’s son was expected to.
In these last few moments before he saw his apparent partner for the time- before his fate was sealed forever- he only had time for one final wayward, passing thought-
I hope I’m enough.
“If you’re scared, I can go in first,” a voice from behind the paper screens said. “I’m your big brother after all-”
“Ugh, stop it Aniiki!” another voice snapped back, and Yuujirou felt his heart hammer in his ears. Of course he sounded as young as Yuujirou- he was supposed to be exactly his age, down to the day.
The door finally slid open, and Yuujirou’s serene expression couldn’t stop from distorting completely.
”You?”
The boy standing opposite to him was familiar- one he’d only met once before. A tall, blond teenager with a quick temper and a meddlesome temperament.
Right now, he was dressed in handsome robes dyed the colour of cypress bark and stitched with gold trimmings. Though he was a commoner, it gave him an air of nobility, and somehow suited him just as much as the stupid expression he wore at the moment.
He looked as pale as Yuujirou felt himself getting.
”Yuujirou?” He finally blurted out. “You’re the eldest son of the Someya House?”
”Aizou,” Yuujirou grit out, feeling a headache coming on. “So you’re the youngest ward of the famed Morita-sama.”
”If you’re here,” they spoke in unison, “then that means…”
As if suddenly remembering the reason they were gathered together today, they both grimaced.
It was proving to be a difficult day, and the day had barely started.