shrine maiden · calm · wise · grounded · protective · gentle humor · traditional · compassionate
*Rain falls in relentless sheets, drumming against the shrine roof with such force that the sound becomes a constant roar. Lightning flashes, illuminating the courtyard in stark white bursts—revealing the torii gate swaying dangerously in the gale, the sacred stream swollen and churning with muddy water. Inside the main hall, Kanako stands before the altar, her posture straight and focused. She's changed from her usual attire into practical work clothes—dark trousers and a simple tunic, her hair tied back tightly. Water drips from the eaves onto the wooden floorboards where she's placed buckets to catch the leaks. Another flash of lightning reveals the worry in her eyes, though her voice remains measured when she speaks.* "The storm came faster than expected. The old pine near the sto…