A Boring Story About A Boy Who Can Manipulate Reality By Doing Chores

The familiar, ancient scent of cypress wood and burning incense filled the air of the Ameno family estate, a stark contrast to the modern bustle of Yukemuri City. Sagiri knelt on a tatami mat before her grandmother, a woman whose eyes, though aged, held the sharp, discerning gaze of generations of ninjas.

"Grandmother," Sagiri began, her voice unusually hesitant, "I believe I've been cursed."

Her grandmother, who had been calmly sipping her tea, merely raised an eyebrow, her expression utterly deadpan. "A curse, you say? And what manner of curse is this, my dear Sagiri?"

Sagiri swallowed, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "It's… it's about Shigeno Ren. One moment, I felt nothing but suspicion towards him. The next, after I felt that strange spiritual surge at school, I saw him, and… and I fell in love. Instantly." She recounted the incident at the back of the school building, the overwhelming spiritual pressure she had sensed, which she had later dismissed as an overactive imagination due to stress or overwork. "It was like a switch flipped. This isn't natural, Grandmother. My heart… it feels like it's been tampered with."

The grandmother continued to gaze at Sagiri, her expression unreadable. She listened patiently as Sagiri described the inexplicable, sudden onset of her affections for Ren, her granddaughter's face alight with an uncharacteristic, almost dreamy, expression of infatuation. She's here just to talk about how she's in love with this 'Ren Shigeno', the elder miko thought, a faint sigh escaping her lips.

However, as Sagiri reiterated her conviction that she was under a curse, her grandmother's seasoned senses stirred. A curse, especially one powerful enough to instantly alter emotions, would leave a miasma, a lingering spiritual residue. Yet, she had felt nothing, not a single tremor of dark energy since Sagiri's arrival. This 'Ren Shigeno' had managed to captivate her disciplined, emotionally guarded granddaughter without any discernible spiritual manipulation. That, in itself, was a curiosity.

A subtle smile touched the grandmother's lips. Despite her outward sigh, a quiet joy bloomed in her heart. Sagiri, who had always been so focused on her duties, had found a man. And if he could inspire such profound, albeit bewildering, affection, he must be a remarkable individual. "Stay here, Sagiri," her grandmother finally said, her voice gentle. "I will find a cure for this… affliction." She knew, of course, that love was not a curse to be cured, and certainly not by any spiritual means. Time was the only healer, or perhaps, the only solidifier, of such feelings. But she was happy for her granddaughter.

The grandmother then reached for a small, ornate bell on her low table and rang it. Moments later, the sliding door opened, and another girl entered. She bore a striking resemblance to Sagiri, with the same sharp features and dark hair, but her frame was noticeably smaller, and her chest, while not lacking, was certainly less ample than Sagiri's. This was Hibari Ameno, Sagiri's cousin.

"Hibari," the grandmother said, her gaze firm. "I have a mission for you. There is a young man, Shigeno Ren, who lives at Yuragi-sou. He is the new owner there. I need you to bring him here, to the village, to meet me." She provided Hibari with the basic information about Ren and the inn's location.

Hibari's eyes, usually bright with a competitive fire, narrowed almost imperceptibly as she listened. "I understand, Grandmother. I will succeed." Her voice was calm, polite, but beneath the surface, a storm raged. Sagiri… you've even surpassed me in love! she fumed internally.

Hibari Ameno was a fiercely competitive girl, driven by a one-sided rivalry with her cousin, Sagiri. Growing up in Chuuma Village, both had been trained as Chuuma Ninjas, but Sagiri always seemed to be a step ahead, naturally better at everything. This constant comparison had fueled Hibari's jealousy, even though, deep down, she was a kind and polite person. Their grandmother had always emphasized the importance of looking beautiful and cute to secure a good husband, a lesson Hibari had taken to heart, hoping to one day outshine Sagiri in romance. But now, finding out that Sagiri was living with a man – a man her grandmother seemed to approve of as a "good husband" – Hibari felt a surge of indignation. A sexual deviant! she thought, even as a part of her knew Sagiri wasn't like that. She just wanted to feel validated, to finally win.

As Hibari set off, the directions to Yuragi-sou proved a little more challenging than she anticipated. She got lost a few times, navigating the unfamiliar streets of Yukemuri City, but her ninja training eventually guided her, and she finally found the quaint, traditional inn. Her mission was clear: bring Ren back to the village. She had two options: force him, or ask peacefully. But a third, far more appealing idea, blossomed in her mind. She would try to seduce him. She was beautiful, undeniably so, even if she lacked some of Sagiri's more prominent features. This was her chance to prove she was better, to win the ultimate prize. She would use the peaceful approach, giving her ample opportunity to charm him on the way.

With a determined breath, Hibari raised her hand and tapped the doorbell.

The door slid open, and the person who answered was exactly as her grandmother had described, yet utterly unexpected. His eyes, a striking shade of brown, met hers, and in that instant, Hibari's heart seized. It wasn't just admiration, or even calculated seduction. It was an overwhelming, undeniable force.

Hibari Ameno, the competitive ninja, the girl who had meticulously planned her romantic conquest, fell in love at first sight.