Qinglong: Ah, MC. How nice to see you again.
Amanojaku: H-hi MC, Touji. I'm glad to see you.
Reverse Amanojaku: BUT NOT REALLY
Guess who?
Qinglong: How is everyone? Busy with school work?
MC: Hey! Oh wait, phone call from Sensei, excuse me!
Qinglong: Heading for the stalls? Let's go together.
Later
Mononobe: Hello MC, we can finally talk now.
MC: Thanks for coming, Sensei! / (introduce everyone) / (hug Mononobe)
(C) Mononobe is surprised but okay with this.
Mononobe: So you know MC? I hope they didn't put you through any shenanigans.
Qinglong: Oh no, they're a great help.
Yig: What is your relationship with MC, Mononobe!?
Mononobe: Uh, homeroom teacher and legal guardian.
Yig: (gasp!) And how did that come to be!?
MC: It just happened.
Yig: (GASP!)
Mononobe: Your school paperwork's finally processed. Have you thought about whether you'd be a student or teacher? Also, have you contracted with someone yet?
Touji: Oh, right, I forgot that you are a Stray.
Takeminakata: Ahh, and now you can do some Sort Of Familial New Year customs with your guardian here. Such a capable leader.
Yig: WHAT
Mononobe gives exposition.
Yig: Y-you already have a father figure MC? And this contract would put you above me???
MC: what
Yig: This strange man referred to his muscles as some Buddha Sensor nonsense and asked where I was going before saying he'd be back next semester. I wanted to be a father, but what even is that anymore?
Some weirdo spitting pointed asks! And now some replacement's in front of him.
MC: Um, wanna contract? Or we could go look for someone to take you. (holds out hand)
Yig: O-okay.
Yig takes MC's hand. MC's phone gives an error message!
MC: WHAT? ...zero type?
Zero types have no unique role/power combos. Yig's fangs autotarget anyone not his children. Anyone not tagged as his children is defined as an enemy. Logic error, identity crisis! Yig goes out of control and starts crushing MC's hand!
Qinglong: Wait, Yig or whatever your name is. What disturbs you so?
Reverse Amanojaku: What the fuck is up with those fangs!?
Mononobe: Is it reacting to MC or my All type!?
Touji and Takeminakata: MC!
MC: wait WHAT HELP
Touji and Takeminakata run in to help when Yig wraps around MC! MC gets saved and a battle area deploys before Yig tears something off!
Yig: wait what was I--
The battle area deploying draws Yig's power out and returns his mind! But he's still unable to control himself...
Yig: OH NO HELP
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Yig: NOOOOO
MC: Too fast! Protect Sensei!
Mononobe: I'll be fine, I can defend myself.
Touji: He'll grind us down at this rate! Yig, hold on!
Yig: My fangs unconsciously curse anyone I see as an enemy!
Qinglong: Hmmmm. That means MC can conveniently solve this and end the battle.
Takeminakata: How'd you figure that out!? And how do we do that!?
Touji: Business as usual. We'll create an opening.
Mononobe: But the elemental type chart!
Amanojaku: Oh no, MC! Look out below!
Some fang animates into a snake and jumps out! Another flanks from behind!
MC: OH NO
Mononobe shoves MC out of the way!
Yig: YOU
Yig's fang snakes attack Mononobe!
Qinglong: Leave him, focus on Yig! Amanojaku, go!
Amanojaku switches to Reverse Amanojaku!
Reverse Amanojaku: Reverse magic!
Reverse Amanojaku causes the fang snakes to switch targets to Yig!
Reverse Amanojaku: It'll last that one attack!
Qinglong: Well then, I trust you to follow up after me.
Takeminakata: wait what do???
Qinglong: Noble Phantasm activate, Azure Dragon's Protection!
Takeminakata: Ooh, I get it now! Sumo wrestler's lucky tradition thing!
Takeminakata grabs Yig and slams him down!
Yig: OOF
Touji: Right. Don't mess this up, MC.
MC: Plot sword, activate! (POW)
Amanojaku: (gasp!) So violent!
Mononobe: Well damn MC, hold back a little.
Flashback!
Jizo: What does thou seek and wish to be sought for? And for whom?
Present
Okay, battle over.
Later
Yig is handing out apology food.
Qinglong: Such delicious sweets. Also well done back there, Amanojaku.
Amanojaku: Ehe, thanks for believing in me.
Takeminakata: It all ended okay. Dang MC, all your friends are strong.
Touji: MC pulls us into enough nonsense to kill us if we didn't get stronger.
Mononobe: MC, are you okay? You seem fine from the outside...
MC: Yeah. What about you? Sorry you got caught in that thing.
Mononobe: All that matters is that you're okay...but yeah I'm fine, thanks. Let's have snacks then.
Yig stares. MC looks happy to be spending time with Mononobe. Mononobe seems happy spending time with MC, maybe? Qinglong and Amanojaku are...something he can't place.
Yig: I guess you win, Mononobe.
Mononobe: At what? I lose like all the time.
Yig: What?
Mononobe: The other day I was so lost my students had to help me. And I struggle with being a legal guardian. Maybe we can learn together?
Yig: Hmm...always studying to be a father? I never thought of that. Is that what he meant...?
Inari: Hello! I had some downtime and thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Inari. Agyou told me about you, Yig. You on break?
Yig: ...no I'm about to reopen. Sorry guys, I'll talk more and thank you later since I chose to do this work myself.
Touji: And I have shrine customs to get ready for.
Qinglong: I'll go see the bonfire. See you later.
Amanojaku: Later!
Mononobe: I'll check out the charms on sale.
Takeminakata: I have no plans. Anyone need help?
Touji: Help me cook New Year's food then?
Takeminakata: Okay!
MC: (help Yig) / (help Takeminakata) / (hang with Mononobe)
[Yig's Section]
Yig: You want to help me? Well...okay. Can you handle the money and sales while I cook?
Procession of mobs!
MC: People are coming and saying it's good. How much did you practice?
Yig: I was up all night. Here, more snacks are up.
Yig: (blush)
Yig: Wow it's really nice being helped by someone who might become my child. You can sit on my tail if you're tired!
His tail is crawling over already. Cold, smooth, and a little stretchy.
Yig: Hmm. I've changed after contracting you and I believe I know why after what happened. I do not qualify as "father" and am now just Yig. I identify as a father figure, but I originally was just there. The world changes, then so does my identity. Good enough for now. I'm still going to be the best dad ever!
And so Yig and MC have a sort of family experience and sell out their things.
MC: (go see Takeminakata) / (go see Mononobe) / (go see the gang)
[Takeminakata's Section]
Helping Takeminakata since there's time before other New Years event stuff!
Takeminakata: Okay yeeeeah there's a ton of stuff to move so thanks! You know, I'd love to make a huge pot of stew.
Time to chop meat and veg.
Takeminakata: So the New Year's mochi is a wish for money and health. Which means my job is symbolically supporting those wishes. Anyways, we boil this with the dashi and then we're done. Thanks for helping MC, we should make stew together next time.
Boiling time! Takeminakata seems shy all of a sudden.
Takeminakata: It's just us now so...here's my autographed hand print. For good luck.
MC: Thanks! I'll hang it up. (hug)
Good times. Takeminakata looks after the pot and MC wanders off.
MC: (go see Yig) / (go see Mononobe) / (go see the gang)
[Mononobe's Section]
Mononobe looks surprised MC is coming to see him.
Mononobe: Aren't you going to hang with your friends? You want to be with me? Well okay, I'll buy you a charm. For whatever it's worth given the stuff you get up to.
Mononobe and MC walk through the shrine. Lots of people, so Mononobe puts a hand on MC's shoulder to guide them over to the line.
Mononobe: As your teacher and guardian, I do have to tell you to stop getting into shenanigans, but part of me thinks that's cool too. Like earlier today.
MC: It's because you're here. / You'd fight for your students. / You saved me, Dad.
Mononobe: Heh, oh you. Well let's just say I'm old. I'll try to keep up until you graduate...stop looking at me like that, I'm just saying that you little weirdo.
Later
Mononobe: Okay, these good luck charms then.
MC: (put them on) / I think I'm good now / wait I really should pay!
Mononobe: Charms are supposed to work when someone gives them to you. Besides, not like I can do much else for you.
Calming aura.
Mononobe: Well we still have time, so how about we get in line for the shrine visiting? Nothing serious, I just have little time to be with you because of my job. A little family time would be nice.
When MC and Mononobe get in line for the shrine box...
Solomon: Psst, Master...you look happy. Must be nice, but it's fine since I'm your butler. I'll do you and Father proud so--
Solomon and Mononobe AR scene!
Solomon: UHHHH
Mononobe: Happy New Year, Salmonis. And good job.
Solomon: O-oh, happy...New Year...Father...
Mononobe: I bought good luck charms for you too. MC? Let it go for today. I'm so glad we all got to greet the new year together.
A prayer for happiness that will withstand the flow of time...
MC: (go see Yig) / (go see Takeminakata) / (go see the gang)
[Moving on!]
Almost time for the new year's mochi! Yig gets to the meeting spot first.
Yig: My child MC, I ran out of food but that let me get here early. I have to thank Inari for his help. Also I was going to tell your guardian, but I think I'll go attend Shinjuku as well since you're there. Your guardian might teach me to be a better father too.
MC: Kouhai? / No kidnapping, okay / Call me your child
---
(A) Yig: Kouhai, father, either works.
(B) Yig: I DID NO SUCH THING AND I WILL NOT SAY OTHERWISE...I'll be your kouhai, father, whichever.
(C) Yig: Heh, if that is what you want then no one will stop us! ...I'll be your kouhai, father, whichever.
---
Yig: And the guild thing? I'll join yours and make it my home. Any invaders must die, yes guildmaster?
Handshake! The underground snake who stood in for the sun and a father but was never either not ever saw the sun sits beneath the new year's sun now.
Yig: I am Yig, father and student! Time to learn what kids these days are saying!
Where will he go in his bright new future? What does he hope for? Nobody knows.
The End
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