Gingitsune (ぎんぎつね)

I feel bad for the priest.

Makoto-chan's only four years old.

She still needs constant care.

Your name's Makoto?

You can see me?

That makes you the 15th.

That was how I first met Gintaro.

Silver Fox

The 15th Successor and Gintaro

My home is a small Inari shrine

that's been around since the Edo period.

Our shrine is dedicated to the god of agriculture, Uka-no-Mitama.

Wait, what?

Man, what happened?

There's my father the shrine priest, myself,

and Gintaro, the herald who serves as a messenger of the gods.

The three of us live together.

Hey, Makoto.

Can you keep the noise level down when you wake up?

Oh, Gintaro! Good morning!

Oh, is Gintaro-sama on the roof?

Yup.

I'm not fortunate enough to see him, since I married into the family.

I hope that you will continue to put up with Makoto.

Gintaro is a herald, so normal people can't see him.

I can see him because I am a true successor of this shrine.

Anyway, Makoto, don't you need to go to school?

Right! Can you take this, Dad?!

Bye!

Be careful now.

Heralds typically come in pairs,

but it sounds like his partner left a century ago,

so Gintaro is the only herald at our shrine.

Still, what's important is that you have faith,

so our shrine isn't any worse off.

Wait! I need to...

Here's a special charm.

This will help you get better.

Yep.

Oh, it's Makoto-oneechan!

Good morning, onee-chan!

Good morning, Sa-chan and Aki-chan!

What happened to that cat?

She's hurt,

so we're going to take care of her together until she's better.

Her name is Mi-chan.

I hope she gets better soon.

Uh-huh!

Oh!

I need to be somewhere, so I'll talk to you later!

Bye-bye!

She must be late again.

Shinto West Public High School

Stand.

Bow.

Saeki, see me in the faculty office.

Busted!

Seriously?

And the new term just started...

Saeki.

Oh, um...

I'm Yumi. Ikegami Yumi.

We need to talk.

Wh-What is it?

I hear that you can tell fortunes.

Gin!

Gin!

Where are you?!

Gin?

Gin?

Fool.

Gintaro!

Why would I be down there?

I need you to look at a classmate for me!

Do you understand what it means to be a herald?

I'll give you an orange.

Don't mess around. Ordinary people can't see you.

She got in a fight with her boyfriend?

Well?

Eh, she'll probably be fine.

Really?

Yeah, her boyfriend is also sorry.

But I'd warn her:

This girl is pretty stubborn.

She needs to be humble when approaching...

Really?! Awesome!

Great news, Yumi!

See? Aren't you glad you talked to her?

Um, try to be humble when you apologize...

See ya around, Saeki.

Thanks.

Be humble!

Try to be humble...

Man, you're the first oracle to abuse a herald like this.

Yuuko was more composed and ladylike.

Don't compare me to Mom...

Anyway, I'm never doing anything like this again.

Oranges or not.

Fine.

Give me another one.

I'm out.

What?!

Really?

I wonder why he likes oranges.

Oh, Ikegami-san...

Fraud! You said everything would be fine if I apologized!

I apologized just like you said!

I even said I was sorry!

No way...

The girl you just looked at said that my advice made things worse!

You said she would be fine!

Huh? That's not my problem.

The future isn't set in stone.

How can you say that?

Everyone comes here asking for help because you're always right!

You're the one who's always asking me for help.

Besides, you didn't give her the entire message.

Well...

Man, some people make me laugh.

They never visit shrines,

but when in trouble, they turn to the gods?

Give me a break.

What's wrong with that?!

That's what this shrine is for!

It's a place for people to come when they're in trouble!

It doesn't help when you can't tell fortunes the way Yuuko did.

Well!

You call yourself a herald, but you're just a stupid fox!

Yeah, that's right.

I'm just a mischievous old fox.

I fooled you all good.

Serves you right.

Wh-What's that?

Stupid Gin!

I hate you!

Go away!

Oh, really now?

You need me more than I need you.

I don't care!

Just leave!

Offering Box

Makoto-oneechan!

We can't find Mi-chan!

Mi-chan disappeared!

Are you talking about the cat that was in the park?

She's almost recovered from being hit by a car.

Please help us! You can find her, right?

You helped me find my mom's ring!

But that was because...

Onee-chan?

It's okay.

I'll help you look for her.

Can you tell me where Mi-chan might be?

Uh-huh.

Wow, it's filthy.

This tiny shrine should be outside of Inari's jurisdiction.

There used to be Inari shrines all over the place...

This place has changed quite a bit.

Oh, it's the cat lady!

Sa-chan! Aki-chan!

Onee-chan!

Did you find Mi-chan?!

No, I can't find her.

Ugh, Saeki?!

Ikegami-san?

Are you friends?

She took Mi-chan to the hospital.

What do you want me to do?

I'm not going to leave an injured cat lying around.

Anyway, let's look for Mi-chan!

Uh-huh!

Don't just stand there, Saeki!

What's wrong, John?

What are you barking at?