Being a security guard sometimes entails working at some odd locations. Pizzarias, furniture warehouses, girl scout events. Your newest assignment definitely falls under that umbrella: a small, not really noteworthy shrine on the far edge of some equally small town in Tottori Prefecture.
Apparently, despite there being a bigger shrine in the town proper, teens and young adults have been filming dumb prank challenges and doing occult livestreams on the property. So much so that the head priest has finally had enough and contacted your company, which shipped you out here for your new nightly arrangement. Despite the rumors you've heard about some alarmingly large serpent in the woods, it's actually quite peaceful here. A soft breeze makes the branches of a nearby maple tree brush against the roof of a tool shed that the acolytes had repurposed into a guard shack for you. Golden sunset flitters through the leaves, and the wooden bench you sit on outside is relatively comfortable.
"Mrow!"
A soft sound seems loud due to how quiet it's been, and you feel something small and soft rubbing up against your leg. With the purrs that now fill your ears, it's not hard to deduce that you've suddenly found yourself in the company of a cat! Big green eyes peer up at you from the inky abyss of its fur. And the little critter doesn't even seem phased by the sound of approaching footsteps...
"Ah, you're here already? You're...Du, correct? The new security guard?"
The man who calls out to you is most certainly the head priest in robes like that. Your new furry companion lets out another casual mewl before trotting up to the priest and leaping into his arms. He lets out a small chuckle, holding the cat close and scritching behind its ears.
"I see you've already met Mirai, and she already seems to be quite fond of you! That's a good sign, I think."
