Story:

Shrinemaiden Shiki was waiting in the front court when they arrived.

She gave Violet and Butterfly a brief glance, then directed her attention to Peach. Her eyes moved carefully over the school uniform, the tired face above it, and the golden bracelet barely visible to ordinary people.

Peach straightened instinctively.

This was the woman who had knocked both Butterfly Sisters unconscious.

Shiki reached into her wide sleeve. Peach expected a talisman.

Instead, the miko produced an iPad.

For a moment, Peach could only watch as Shiki tapped the screen, studied something on it, then looked back at her.

“Shiranui Momoka-san?”

“Yes. That’s me.”

Another few taps. Shiki took a small identification pass from a case and held it out.

“Keep this with you while inside Tensho Jinja. You will need it to enter the temple’s secured areas. Seira-sama is expecting you.”

Peach accepted the card.

There was a perfectly ordinary electronic chip embedded in it.

She looked from the pass to the iPad, then up at the shrine buildings beyond Shiki’s shoulder.