Summer in Tokyo. If anything, children from elementary to high school and maybe college were looking forward to the season as it's a break from their studies. While events such as Comiket, the Summer Sonic festival, and the summer festival in Ueno are coming up, in the religious realm, two holidays are taking place. For the Christian faith, it's Lamma Day. A harvest day in time for the fall season. The original focus was on wheat but whatever else that is ready for harvest is harvested. Shuuichi was for it because it gave him an excuse to clear out his gardens. On the steps of Lighthouse Church, boxes and crates of fruits and vegetables sat in wait for anyone who wanted them. Children took advantage of the fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges, and tangerines. Parents grabbed eggplants, broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers and since it was from Shuuichi's garden, they knew it was good. Shuuichi took great pride in his work and was happy to share it with the community.

Another religious holiday in relation to the harvest was one based in the Kemetic faith. The epagomenal or New Year's festival. A five-day celebration in honor of the five gods born to the goddess of the skies, Nwt, and the god of the earth, Geb. The five gods were Ausar (Osiris), Auset (Isis), Seth, Nebthet (Nephthys), and Heru (Horus) the elder.

The day of Ausar was a day to celebrate life. Shuuichi joined Kiyoni and willing members of the congregation in celebrating that gift. A small statue of the Kemetic king of the gods stood in the middle of an altar that was surrounded by offerings of willow, wine, green fabrics and jewelry, wheat, beer, and bread freshly made from the harvested wheat. The outlier offering was a poster of well-known basketball player, Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls jersey. The reason why was because it was read somewhere that Osiris was associated with a bull. Also a collective birthday party was thrown for all those who were celebrating a birthday during the week. Cakes, ice cream, and finger sandwiches from the offered bread were abundant. To end the day, Shuuichi and Kiyoni visited the maternity ward of a couple of hospitals to send well wishes to all of the new parents and newborns. It truly was a day to celebrate one of the greatest gifts known to man and yokai, life.


Day two was Kiyoni's favorite day. The day of Auset. A day to celebrate womanhood, motherhood, magic, and marriage. Kiyoni was neither married nor a mother yet but she was a woman and it was a day to honor women. After building an altar filled with wine, frankincense, myrrh, carnelian, pictures of mothers with their children including a picture of Kiyoni with her brother and mother, pomegranates, sliced watermelon, hemp, and pearls donated by community members, Kiyoni wanted to have a little fun with some of the women of Lighthouse Church…at the expense of the men.

A couple of women had gotten hold of some period cramp simulator machines just to take part in a TikTok trend and Kiyoni wanted in. She believed Shuuichi only understood the surface of what Kiyoni goes through on a monthly basis. With the simulator, he may understand a bit more.

She smiled like a mischievous imp when she got her hands on one, "Ohhhhhhhhh! Is this what I think it is?"

"Yes," said another woman who grinned just as hard, "I saw these done on TikTok and I just had to get one."

"Ra's grace. This is so cool! Let's test it out!"

The simulators were tested and the end results were a bit disappointing. It was nothing compared to body-numbing, mood-changing, tear-jerking pain women go through on a monthly basis. Others who have tried it were mothers who have gone through the worst pain in contractions and labor and were disappointed in the machine as well. The consensus was mild at best. It gave Kiyoni and her new-found friend, Midori, more incentive to try it out on the men in their lives. So they did.


In the community living room, the girls brought in the guys for their little game. Others who were aware of the simulator via social media, joined in on the fun as spectators. Given the theme of the day, Beyonce's Run the World (Girls) played from a phone for background music. Midori, who was about a couple of years older than Kiyoni, had her boyfriend positioned on the recliner. He was a little chubby with chin-length hair and a light mustache. He wore a white, Jujutsu Kaisen t-shirt with a pair of black, athletic shorts and matching flip flops. He was a bit nervous over the devilish grin his girlfriend had as she set him up. Midori tied her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail and adjusted her off-shoulder, pink top to keep herself from laughing.

Kiyoni did the same for Shuuichi who was on the couch. She whimpered a little bit over the patches she had to place on Shuuichi's deliciously-looking abdomen.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing," he inquired.

"Positive, Suu'chi."

"Why are we doing this again?"

"Because it is a day to celebrate womanhood. As a man, it's important for you to understand just what we go through on a monthly basis. Even if it is through this and only for a day."

"Kiyoni, I can look at you and figure out just how much pain you're in."

"See, looking and feeling are two different things. Today, you are going to feel."

"Well, whatever I'm going to feel I'm sure it'll be a piece of cake."

"Spoken like a true man. All set, Midori?"

Midori gave the thumbs up, "Ready!"

Her boyfriend, Hiro, was ready as well.

"Ladies and gentlemen…" Kiyoni announced, "in honor of the goddess of womanhood, Auset, better known as Isis, today's activity will be the popular period simulator challenge. We have our volunteers, Deacon Shuuichi and Brother Hiro prepped and ready to go. Now, disclaimer, Midori and I along with a few other women have already put these machines to use so we already know what to expect. Gentlemen, are you ready?"

Hiro popped the recliner, "I'm ready. This will be easy."

"Suu'chi?"

"I am ready," Shuuichi responded with masculine confidence, "Do your worst."

Kiyoni rolled her eyes at the response. Shuuichi knew better than to say words like that outside of bed and Kiyoni was going to punish him for it.

"Level one in three…two…one."

Both men jolted out of nervousness which brought on some giggles. It was nothing.

"This is it," Hiro questioned, "I had Charley horses worse than this in high school."

"I'm not feeling much either," Shuuichi added.

"Alright," Kiyoni increased the level, "Level two."

"Mm," Shuuichi replied, "Okay. That's unusual."

"Yeah," Hiro followed, "Definitely…something."

"Level three," Midori called.

"Ooh," Shuuichi commented, "It's like a headache…in my abdomen. Wait a second…"

More giggles followed. Midori laughed as well. Hiro was starting to clench a bit.

"Three…two…one. Level four," Kiyoni stated.

Shuuichi tried to smile while propped up on his elbows, "Mmm! Okay, Kiyoni, you might want to mm…slow down on the timing in between…levels."

Hiro sat up as well, "Yeah. Slow down, Midori!"

"It's only level four," Midori argued with some laughter, "Ready for five?"

"Five?! Wait, wait, five–"

"Five!"

Hiro fell back in pain, "Ohhhhhh! Oh, god! Oh, god, wait…"

Shuuichi felt it too, trying so hard not to break, "Mmmmm! I can handle this…I can handle this…"

Kiyoni shook her head, snickering, "No, you can't. This is only five. There's like ten levels."

"Ten?! Ten?! Whoooo…!"

"Time for six!"

Both men were really feeling it by then. Hiro turned on his left side while Shuuichi turned right. The deacon blindly extended a hand out to Kiyoni who accepted while cackling. It was really entertaining to watch from everyone else's end.

"Hooooooooly…" Shuuichi cried, "Oh, my…ohhhhhhh!"

"Wow, Suu'chi. You're at six and this is too much for you? This is like…mild for me."

"Mild?! This is mild for you?! You're in–... You're insane!"

Shuuichi's body may still be in it but his tail was already on the verge of tapping out. Hiro was already in the fetal position. It felt like a severe bowel movement for him.

"Ready for seven," Midori affirmed.

The crowd cheered, "Se-ven! Se-ven! Se-ven…!"

Both men treated this challenge like a competition, each not willing to give up. Before they knew it, both women increased the level.

At level seven, now Shuuichi was in the fetal position and gripping the couch much to the delight of the crowd. Hiro called it in after ten seconds and was relieved when Midori turned off the machine. Shuuichi hadn't given up yet.

"Ra's grace, Suu'chi," Kiyoni assessed, "Ready for eight?"

"Haaaaaaaa," Shuuichi screamed as if he was a super Saiyan in labor, "Okay…go for eight! Go for eight!"

Reluctantly, Kiyoni went for level eight. Shuuichi roared his loudest and after fifteen seconds, tapped out with a hand and tail. The crowd both cheered and laughed at his pain.

"Suu'chi? Suu'chi, that's it. That's it…" she guffawed.

"Ahhhh…" Shuuichi gratefully wailed in the back of the couch, "Haaaaa…oh, god…oh, oh, god. Kiyoni…? Kiyoni?"

"Hehehe, yes?"

"Please…please tell me that was the worst for you."

Kiyoni rubbed Shuuichi's stomach using her enhanced hand while whispering in Shuuichi's ear, "No. No, that wasn't the worst. In fact, not even level ten was the worst."

Shuuichi immediately sat up, reaching for and sitting Kiyoni down, "Level ten?! You mean it gets worse than that?! Holy…Jesus!"

Hiro agreed, "I can't…I can't imagine…going through that…"

"Every month?! Every month…"

"For years," Midori added.

"Yep," Kiyoni concurred, "Decades. I think I'm around the ten-year mark."

"Try childbirth," said a mother in the crowd.

"My god…" Shuuichi concluded, "Kiyoni, I…I… Ladies, I cannot speak for every man that walks the earth but be assured that I respect you for your strength…and tolerance for pain. On Auset's birthday, I…you have sincerely earned my respect."

Hiro concurred, "Most definitely."

All of the women in the room applauded the two men. Kiyoni gave her man a kiss on the cheek.

"And you…" Shuuichi whispered while clutching his midsection, "I completely understand why…you…"

"Act the way that I do during my period? I hope so."

"Noted. I'm going to do some research on herbal remedies for menstrual pain. In the meantime, for you, edibles or buds, lavender oil, fruit, pizza, candles, a warm bath, and peace and solitude from now on."

"Replace a burger and fries or chocolate brownie or cheesecake flavored ice cream or anything peanut butter and chocolate or dark chocolate for pizza and that's all I ask for, Shuuichi."

"Got it. Are there any more surprises or challenges to come within the next three days?"

"Seth's birthday is tomorrow."

"Seth?"

"The fox god? Remember?"

"Meaning?"

"Well, foxes are known for their trickery, right?"

A devious, jestering smile slid across Kurama's face, "Yes. Hmm…"

"Not to mention, I do have a little, red number for you to see…with that fox mask you gave me…" Kiyoni teased while flirtatiously twirling a lock of hair in between her fingers, "and…the red dress you like."

"Say no more. Leave Seth's birthday to me. And that red number better be worth my time for today."

"It is, Suu'chi. Trust me," Kiyoni stood up, "ANKH! Let's hear it for Auset and womanhood! ANKH! ANKH!"

Everyone joins in, "ANKH! ANKH! ANKH!"