stellae pluviae (otome edition)

TL note: This event is from December 2024. I'm translating using my personal recordings of the event; I will not post them out of respect for Cybird's policy. Thank you for your understanding. 🙇🏻‍♀️

UPDATE 3/28: While translating Ch. 2, I realized I forgot to translate the last section of Ch. 1. I've just updated this post with the missing section to rectify that. I apologize, I hope you enjoy the final bit! ^^

Onmyoji - Mai and Mitsuhide define it here Shikigami - a spirit/familiar summoned by onmyoji Kotodama - the spiritual power contained in words, words can bring positive/negative energy and affect one’s fortune when said aloud

‼️reblogs are welcome! / please do not repost elsewhere or take my translations as your own (i'll cry TT)‼️

We take a leisurely ride on Mitsuhide's horses along the quiet roads of the countryside.

Mai: (It's been a while since I've gone on a trip like this for a rendezvous. I'm really looking forward to it.)

It was a few days ago that I heard about a festival held in a small region beside Azuchi. As we rode the horses to our destination, I couldn't help but feel excited.

Mitsuhide: "Mai."

Hearing my name called gently in my ear, I turn around.

Mai: "Yes?"

Mitsuhide: "You haven't noticed? You've been smirking the whole time."

Mai: "Huh?!"

Quickly, I cover my mouth with my hand. Mitsuhide shoots me a mean smile of his own.

Mitsuhide: "You look happy."

(It was written all over my face.....! How embarrassing.....)

Mai: "There's nothing wrong with that, right? Of course I'm happy! I've gone out for infiltration, but it's different this time."

Mitsuhide: "That's right. You were over the moon when you met up with me, so much so that you were smiling ear to ear the entire way here. It was very adorable."

He chuckles with amusement.

Mai: (He's always teasing me like that.....)

I remove my hand and turn around to face the front to hide my red face. At that moment, a bird suddenly crossed my field of vision.

Mai: (Ah.....just now, was that a swallow? It's flying pretty low. That must mean.....)

"It might rain soon, Mitsuhide."

Mitsuhide: "Rain.....? It does appear to be getting cloudy."

He slows his horse to look up at the sky.

Mitsuhide: "Let's go somewhere we can quickly avoid the rain."

Mai: "Right."

We found an unoccupied house nearby and went inside—

Mai: "Ah....."

Heavy rainfall suddenly began outside.

Mai: "That was close. We're lucky this empty house was nearby."

Mitsuhide: "Indeed. I searched for a place to settle down beforehand to stay dry. It's thanks to you."

Mitsuhide pets my head as if to praise me.

Mai: "Hehe.....it's nothing."

Mitsuhide: "Even so, you knew it was going to rain."

Mai: "That was because of the swallow I saw. It was flying low."

Mitsuhide: "What do you mean?"

Mai: "They say that when swallows fly low, it will rain. That's how I knew."

Mitsuhide: "Oh.....? It's as if you're an onmyoji."

Mai: "An onmyoji.....? I don't have special powers or anything."

Mitsuhide: "Special.....powers? What do you mean by that?"

Mai: "Ehhh....."

He asks me curiously, and I tilt my head in confusion.

Mai: "Is that not what onmyoji have?"

Mitsuhide: "An onmyoji observes natural phenomena to predict disasters based on abnormal changes in the heavens and earth.....another ability is to predict omens through divination."

Mai: (Huh? The image I had in my head is a little different.)

"Really....."

Mitsuhide: "I see it doesn't match with your imagination."

Mai: "Yeah. I thought an onmyoji was.....like using spiritual or psychic powers to seal away evil, or to manipulate and control *shikigami....."

My explanation is unclear, but I tried to explain it from memory.

(There's some manga that had onmyoji in them, and I think they're all like that. But what I remember is fictional, so it might not actually be accurate.)

Mitsuhide: "Shikigami? Is that so.....it's merely a legend, but there was a person who was said to have done such things.

......How fascinating."

The corners of Mitsuhide's corners curl into a mischievous grin.

Mai: "You're scheming again, aren't you?"

Mitsuhide: "Why, yes. It's all thanks to you that I came up with a great idea.

Anyway, is your body not cold from the rain?"

Mai: "Ah-....."

Suddenly, I'm pulled towards him by my shoulders, and my heart skips a beat.

Mai: "I-I'm not wet! We managed to take shelter before it even started raining!"

Mitsuhide: "But it's because of the rain that the temperature dropped."

He wrapped his arms around me and held me.

Mitsuhide: "You'll be warm here in my arms. It's likely a passing shower, so stay like this until it stops."

Mai: "Alright....."

(My heart is pounding but.....it's warm.

In the end, we never finished talking about that 'great idea' of his.)

Despite feeling as if I'd been deceived, I let Mitsuhide keep me warm until the rain stopped.

Later on—

When the rain stopped, we got back onto our horses and rode to the small province.

Mai: "Wah.....amazing!"

Mitsuhide: "Yes, it's quite impressive."

Upon seeing the large outdoor stage in it's full splendor, I couldn't help but cheer.

(It looks like it'll be a big festival. They'll probably perform dances here. If that's the case.....)

On our way here, Mitsuhide had changed his clothes.

(It's different from a yukata worn for festivals......I wonder what it is. No matter how many times I ask, he just keeps dodging the question and refusing to tell me.....)

As I stared at Mitsuhide, my eyes met his as he turned towards me.

Mitsuhide: "Your stare is so intense, it's beginning to bore a hole in my eye. My word, you must really love me."

Mai: "T-That's not it at all, it's your outfit....."

Mitsuhide: "It doesn't suit me?"

Mai: "That's not it either, it suits you very well and it's very cool but—"

???: "Hey, you two over there!"

Hearing a voice calling out to us from behind, I drop what I was about to ask and turn around.

There stood two men.

Mitsuhide: ".....May I ask who you are?"

Vassal: "I am a vassal of the lord here. What business do you have here in our province?"

Mysterious Man: ........

The vassal has a stern expression, while the other man in dazzling clothes wears a friendly smile.

Mitsuhide, who is wearing his own smile, bows before the two of them.

Mitsuhide: "Oh my, I believe this is the first time we've met. I sent out a letter the other day, my name is Koumei."

Vassal: ".....! You're the onmyoji!

(K-Koumei.....? Onmyoji.....? What is going on?)

Mai: "Um, Mitsu—nnmph!?"

The moment I try to ask, Mitsuhide pulls me in and gently covers my mouth.

Vassal: ".....Who is that woman?"

Mitsuhide: "It's nothing to be concerned with. She's just my shikigami."

Mysterious Man: *chokes on his breath* "Shikigami.....?"

(What!? Hold on a minute, this is the first I'm hearing of this!)

Mitsuhide: "However, because she holds too much power, I need to pour my *kotodama into her."

He narrowed his eyes, and while still holding me, he put his lips close to my ear.....

Mitsuhide: "Now be a good girl and behave yourself.

You'd be quite flustered to have words poured through your lips like this, no?"

Mai: "Hah....."

My cheeks flush as I imagine the scenario he whispers to me.

Mai: (What in the world are you saying in front of everyone, Mitsuhide?!)

As I stood frozen in place, Mitsuhide turned to face the men.

Mitsuhide: "Take a look, she's settled down now."

Mysterious Man: ".....Onmyojis who control spirits are but mere fantasy. Besides, from what I've heard, shikigami are normally invisible to the human eye.

You must be bluffing."

Mitsuhide: "Not at all. I figured it would be best if people can see them, so I've made her visible to you."

Mitsuhide appears unbothered as he easily dodges the man's suspicious remarks.

Mai: (You're incredible, Mitsuhide.....)

Mitsuhide: ".....That being said, these techniques of mine can be of some use to you. I would like to meet your lord."

Vassal: "A-Ahh, I understand! I can show you around."

Mysterious Man: .....

The vassal nodded as if overwhelmed and walked ahead to guide us. I moved to follow, and at that moment, the gorgeous man glanced over at me.

Mitsuhide: "Mai, come along now."

Mai: "Ah, right!"

(Somehow, things are going smoothly.....!)

With his arm around my shoulder, I walked across the outdoor stage with Mitsuhide and followed behind him.

A few moments later—

After greeting the lord, we were shown to our room and told to use it until the day of the festival tomorrow.

Mai: (Finally, we're alone together...I have no clue as to what is going on, so I'm even more nervous.

Mitsuhide: "You must be tired, Mai. You should get some rest."

Mai: "Yes, but.....Mitsuhide? What do you intend on doing? An onmyoji, shikigami....and 'Koumei'—geez, I don't get what you're trying to do at all."

I peer at Mitsuhide's face as if to question him.

Mitsuhide: "Ah, about that.....Since we've managed to sneak in undetected, let's speak about it properly. To start with, this whole thing began from a certain report."

He begins to speak with a serious look on his face.

Mitsuhide: "This province is under control by the Oda, but we have very little contact with them. There have been no particular issues, but as of late, we've been hearing some disturbing stories."

Mai: "What kind of stories?"

Mitsuhide: "The people are suffering from being forced to pay high taxes. I've looked into it, and it seems to have started when a certain man appeared."

Mai: "Eh....? Aren't taxes determined by the region's lord?"

Mitsuhide: "Correct. It feels strange, doesn't it? That man I mentioned is an onmyoji of this province. You saw him, didn't you? He accompanied the vassal from a while ago."

Mai: "Huh.....Oh!

(That gentle-looking man in gorgeous clothes?)

So he is an onmyoji?"

Mitsuhide: "Yes. However, that man is a fraud."

Mai: "F-Fraud?!"

While I was stunned, Mitsuhide's shoulders shook with laughter.

Mitsuhide: "Correct again. I've hidden my identity to infiltrate as an onmyoji to solve this dilemma.

To fight fraud with fraud.

If I can take that man's place as an onmyoji, I may be able to discern the truth."

Mai: "I get it now....."

Although I'm convinced by his explanation, I feel a pang of loneliness in my heart.

Mai: "If that's so, you invited me for a mission.....not for an outing."

(I was looking forward to going out with Mitsuhide.....but it turns out he had other plans.)

I knew it couldn't be helped. I was the only one with high expectations, and I couldn't stop my gaze from falling downwards—

Mitsuhide: "No, that's not it at all."

The straight denial had me looking up immediately.

Mai: ".....Eh?"

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