Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

The first day of the year was just as busy as the previous night.

The Amulet Office of Tone Shrine was manned by four rotating groups, who each worked an hour and a half shifts, with half an hour break in between.
The shrine maidens were free to rest however they wanted during that half hour…but there was an incentive to still keep an eye out for visitors who might need help, only if it would not be too much trouble.
…But most of the people who chose to work there tended to be kind and diligent girls, so they all would always volunteer to help anyone in need.
That also applied to Kou, Hijiri, and Kasumi, who would rush to help if they saw someone in the shrine grounds who looked lost.
Those workaholic tendencies of the older girls were baffling to the younger Hinagiku and Miyuki, who would instead go outside the shrine to hang out during their breaks.

The day went on like that…and by the third day of working as a novice shrine maiden, somehow word spread…and people began to appear who attempted to take pictures of Kou…all wondering if that was the real Ditzy Lord in a shrine maiden outfit.
Certain locations, like the shrine, restricted the ability to take pictures, meaning that without express permission from the management, it was impossible to take screenshots with an NLD. But these visitors had gone through the trouble of bringing DSLRs.
Some of them even began chasing after the shrine maidens looking after visitors during their break, starting with Kou and Hijiri, constantly requesting to take a picture together.
They promised over and over that it would be only for personal use, and that the pictures would never be posted online…but their behavior alone was enough to know for certain that they would instantly start bragging about it on social media.
As the girls searched for ways to keep them at bay…someone intervened, Kikyo, who was in charge of managing all the shrine maidens.

“We don’t allow any form of recording within this shrine’s premises. And these girls are on duty, please refrain from making such demands.”
“Then if they’re working, they should do that much as a freebie.”
“We don’t give out that kind of freebies in this shrine. Please be on your way, you’re disturbing our other visitors.”
“But…”
“Please be on your way.”

She refused to budge, even as the visitor insisted.
By the end of it, she was still smiling, but everyone nearby seemed to cower in fear hearing her.
Kou was no different, feeling like the air around her became several degrees colder, and a chill ran down her spine…almost like some ghastly blade was pressed against her neck, ready to take her life at a moment’s notice…

“…I understand.”

The problematic visitor, who had taken the brunt of it, turned pale and sweated profusely as he quickly nodded and ran away.

*Kikyo is too powerful.*

Kou, and the rest of the shrine maidens, all swore to never get on Kikyo’s bad side

***

…Such episodes repeated a few more times too.
And now, the 3rd of January at 9pm, most of the work at the Amulet Office was done, only a few visitors still dropping by.
The shrine grounds had regained its calm and silence, and everyone gathered at the dining room.

“Our New Year’s service has concluded, thank you to everyone who came to help us.”
“””Thank you so much!”””

Following Kikyo’s words, the full time shrine maidens joined in.
They had successfully gone through the first three days of the year, the busiest period for a shrine… Those who stayed there full time or had longer contracts would keep being busy, but the helpers like Kou and the rest had finished their obligations.
So Kikyo and the rest thanked them for all the help they had provided, and also organized a big dinner for them. The table was packed with rice cakes and other festive dishes.

“This is amazing, everything looks so good!”
“Heheh, my mother is the best cook in the world.”

Miyuki looked around in shock, while Hinagiku boasted about her mother’s cooking.
And surely enough…the stews were packed with flavorful broths, rolled omelettes with fish paste cooked to perfection, well balanced sweet potato and chestnut paste, fluffy black beans, and so on.
Kikyo had gone all out preparing all that, and as far as it went for Kou, they were at the same level of perfection her own mother Amari could prepare. Certainly far ahead of Kou’s own skill, as a student who was confident in her own cooking.
Everyone enjoyed those delicacies, lamented that they had to part ways again, and many exchanged contact information.

“Mitsuki, Furuya, Gotou, thank you so much.”
“I’m so glad you were all so diligent hard workers, you were a great help.”
“Sorry for dumping all of the foreigners on you.”

It was the first time for the three girls, but they had all worked with the vigor of lions, leaving a strong impression on the other shrine maidens.
Being praised like that felt a bit awkward, and the girls were not too used to it, even if it also felt a bit nice.

“Aww, I guess we really are done here…”
“Yeahh…”
“So this is it…”

Kasumi muttered that, spreading that almost melancholy sentiment to the rest. Kou and Hijiri, and the other shrine maidens nearby, all looked down for a moment.

*It was really fun.*

They had been more busy than ever in their lives, and they did not even get time to realize that as they worked.
The opportunity to wear rare traditional clothes, serving so many people and watching them leave content, all of it had been incredibly fun.

“Heheh…if you want to, I’d love to have you back for next year. You’re especially welcome to help out.”
“We’ll…we’ll have to think about it.”

Once again…it had been extremely strenuous work.
So Kikyo’s offer quickly reminded them of all that as well, so they could not give a reply right away.
Everyone around them began chuckling, watching that strong reaction to the idea.

Some time later Subaru and the other male helpers arrived, once the parking lot was clear from the final visitors.
They were soon served warm sweet half sake, as it was quite cold outside, and the feast went on past midnight…and that was the end of Kou’s hectic New Year’s celebrations…