The Original *Miko* (Shrine Maiden) Attire

The attire worn by the *Hikami* priesthood is the original *miko* (shrine maiden) costume, inherited from the *Himiko*—the female spiritual leaders of the *Hime-Hiko* system from the Kofun period. It embodies the pride and sublime allure of a woman who bears children. Although the generative AI obscures the details, the outfit consists simply of a sheer *hitoe* (unlined robe) and sheer *hakama* (trousers) worn directly against the skin. This explains why Kaori’s bust appears to sit slightly lower than it does when she wears her standard uniform. At the time—in the spring when she was twenty-one—Kaori was three months pregnant. In Hikami, where the community has long cooperated to support childbearing women, there is no need for half-measures like "maternity leave." A support system exists that allows women to give birth and raise children without undue strain while continuing to work—a fact the citizens accept as a matter of course. This is a point of pride for Hikami, a society centered around its ruler, "Hikami-sama"—herself a young woman who bears children. Endpoint: fal-ai/gpt-image-2, image_size: 1024x1536, Quality: medium, Duration: 48.04596s, Cost: $0.1829=29.96yen/4piece