Animania: Everyone Loves Me

AmbitiousTransltor

Описание

As a transmigrator, this was already his second time transmigrating.

In his first life, Kaito had just graduated and, while job hunting, saved a little girl on her way home from school, only to get hit by a red-light-running truck and flung into the air.

Perhaps due to the saying good deeds reap rewards, when Kaito opened his eyes again, he had already physically transmigrated to a fantasy world and was chosen by a passing cold fairy to be her disciple, joining Courting Death Sect, the number one sect in the Nine Provinces.

His first life, though he received love letters until his hands went soft, was so busy studying that he never even held a girls hand before being lovingly sent off by a truck.

Second life, cultivating the Path of Ruthlessness, he only wanted to glimpse the mysteries of the great Dao. Women? What a hindrance.

Unfortunately, he missed one step in the final tribulation to ascend and failed to become immortal.

Now came the third life.

Gotou Hitori: Obviously, I was the one who came first, whether its knowing Kaito-kun, or becoming friends with him Nijika, why you?

Nagasaki Soyo: The bitterness, oh the bitterness? Its already over. Dont contact me again. Im afraid Kaito-kun will misunderstand.

Yukinoshita Haruno: You said you have a girlfriend? Then is the position of fiance empty now?

[Worlds: Bocchi The Rock!

My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected(Oregairu)

BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!

COMING SOON....

[Schedule: 2 Chapters/Day]

  IT'S A TRANSLATION  

RAW:

AUTHOR:

Character Illustrations

KURUMIZAKA KAITO

MIURA YUMIKO [Oregairu]

HIRATSUKA SHIZUKA [Oregairu]

TOGAWA SAKIKO [MYGO]

GOTOU HITORI [Bocchi The Rock!]

COMING SOON...

Chapter 1: The Beautiful Boy by the Window

April, just the time of the school season.

[Private Shuka University]

The spring wind rose suddenly, a few early cherry blossoms on the branches swayed slightly, lightly floating down onto students' shoulders, the crowd lively and boisterous.

In a certain classroom on the fourth floor of the teaching building, in the seat by the window, a boy in a white uniform tilted his head, lost in thought as he gazed at the distant scenery. The wind messed up his clean short hair, revealing those light chestnut-colored eyes, like a sky full of stars.

A high nose bridge, beautiful lip linesjust a side profile was enough to make one's heart flutter with its beauty.

A few girls fooling around as they entered the class suddenly paused their steps, even their playful voices came to an abrupt halt.

"Yumiko, you you pinch me," one of them spoke like she was sleep-talking.

The girl called "Yumiko" had long hair down to her waist, like golden silk spread flat. At this moment, her light green pupils shrank slightly, staring dazedly at the boy by the window for a long while, unable to return to her senses.

Clearly such an improper display, yet the other classmates in the class didn't mock it. Instead, they revealed expressions of deep empathy.

"Another poor soul enchanted by Kurumizaka-kun."

"Actually, your reaction just now wasn't much better than hers."

"Damn it, I just wasn't mentally prepared! Doesn't count!"

"What a joke. It's everyone's first day. You make it sound like we were prepared."

"Guess how long she will stay dazed?"

"Five minutes? If no one wakes her, maybe even half an hour."

"Too exaggerated"

"Because you were dazed for ten whole minutes just now, and even lunged like a pervert trying to take advantage. I had to stop you with great difficulty."

"Damn you! You ruined my moment!"

Such conversations echoed throughout every corner of the classroom.

Enter class, get beauty-struck by the beautiful boy by the window, daze, then get snapped out of it.

This set of procedures had already become the subconscious code written into every new student. It looped continuously, regardless of gender. Anyone who looked got muddled.

Even the homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, known as the Invincible Iron Fist, was no exception.

Like a pervy old man, she stared at Kaito, the student, for ages, even let out disturbing "hehehe" laughter.

Finally woken by other students, perhaps because she felt too embarrassed to face them, she gave a quick self-introduction and escaped back to the office like fleeing.

"Um, classmate? You can snap out of it now?"

Miura Yumiko and her group were still dazed, blocking the classroom door tightly. Finally, a student who couldn't bear it any longer stepped up and patted the blonde girl on the shoulder.

Finally regaining clarity.

Realizing what she had done, Miura Yumiko's face turned bright red.

Being mentally charmed by a beautiful boy you just met she's not that kind of looks-judging pervert girl.

Forcing herself to act calm, Yumiko led her friends into the classroom and found empty seats in the front row.

Yet in her mind, that stunning scene still echoed.

Yumiko wasn't someone who hadn't seen handsome guys. Her high school classmate Hayama Hayato was a rare sunshine-type handsome guy who'd never lacked girls confessing to him since childhood.

But compared to that unknown beautiful boy by the window, it was like the difference between a firefly and the bright moon.

'No! Yumiko, you have to control yourself!'

Miura Yumiko tried hard to stay sane, even bit the tip of her tongue.

But her eyes didn't listen.

'Just one more look.'

'Only one.'

'Last look!'

'Damn it,' her body felt like it had auto-aim turned on, and the crosshairs moved over automatically.

'I am NOT the kind of girl who gets lustful just from seeing a pretty face!'

April. Spring. The time when cherry blossoms bloom.

Miss Miura Yumiko, the top-tier Queen of Flame from high school, let out the above unwilling, angry roar in her heart on the first day of enrollment.

As for the stares around him, whether direct, bold, shy, or greedy, Kaito had long gotten used to it.

As a transmigrator, this was already his second time transmigrating.

In his first life, Kaito had just graduated and, while job hunting, saved a little girl on her way home from school, only to get hit by a red-light-running truck and flung into the air.

Perhaps due to the saying 'good deeds reap rewards,' when Kaito opened his eyes again, he had already physically transmigrated to a fantasy world and was chosen by a passing cold fairy to be her disciple, joining Courting Death Sect, the number one sect in the Nine Provinces.

In just four hundred years, he broke through realms repeatedly and rose to become a mighty Nascent Soul Lord.

Even within Courting Death Sect, he was a famous handsome youth throughout the nine heavens and ten earths.

Countless fairy ladies and demon girls fell for him at first sight and threw themselves at him. Even if he dual cultivated with a new woman each day, it would be enough to last him two hundred years.

But at that time, Kaito practiced the Path of Ruthlessness and had no worldly desires.

Even his fairy master once complained that he was nothing but an 'emotionless cultivation puppet,' and had even tearfully said, ("You stinky disciple, I hate that you're like a wooden log!")

At that time, Kaito didn't understand what she meant.

Actually, even now he was a bit clueless, probably, maybe, perhaps she was urging him to find a Dao companion?

That touched upon Kaito's knowledge blind spot.

Counting this life, he could barely be considered having lived three lives.

His first life, though he received love letters until his hands went soft, was so busy studying that he never even held a girl's hand before being lovingly sent off by a truck.

Second life, cultivating the Path of Ruthlessness, he only wanted to glimpse the mysteries of the great Dao. Women? What a hindrance.

Unfortunately, he missed one step in the final tribulation to ascend and failed to become immortal.

Now came the third life.

'I probably failed my tribulation last time. My master must be heartbroken, right?'

Maybe she even hides in her cave at night, secretly crying while angrily cursing her useless disciple.

As her only disciple, not being able to serve by her side was one thing. But now, facing his master's only remaining wish, Kaito really wanted to fulfill it.

[A/N: Insert a clarification notice here.]

In the eyes of the world, practitioners of the Path of Ruthlessness are often labeled 'cold-blooded.' Killing wife, child, father, and mother to prove the Dao has seemingly become their standard routine. Anyone blocking their Dao must die! I'll kill kill kill kill kill!

But that's just stereotypes talking.

The Path of Ruthlessness might gradually erase a cultivator's desires, but it doesn't turn them into sunset vampires or morning demons.

It also won't drastically change their nature or make them abandon their loved ones.

They're just devoted monks chasing enlightenment, not some demonic tyrant of the cultivation world.

'Back to the main story.'

'Life-saving grace. Teacher's kindness. These must be repaid.'

'Since master hopes I find a Dao companion, then I'll look for one.'

'Also fulfill the bond of master and disciple.'

That said, Kaito was not a man who'd just settle.

At least according to his simple view of love, the other half must be someone with mutual affection.

A connection without emotional foundation was just a cold exchange of benefits, he had to refuse.

"So complicated," At this thought, Kaito sighed.

'Love is such a hassle. If only it was as simple as cultivation.'

"Kurumizaka-san," A clear female voice suddenly came from above, as if pretending to be calm.

'Hm?'

In front of him stood a girl with long golden hair, her features exquisitely drawn, slender legs and narrow waist. From any angle, she was undoubtedly a flawless beauty.

At this moment, her pretty face was blushing strangely, her voice no longer the confident one she used with others.

"Is there something you need?", Kaito straightened up and met those evasive eyes directly.

"I'm Miura Yumiko."

Just a side profile earlier had already caused a 100,000-point critical strike to her heart.

Now facing him head-on, Miura Yumiko could even more deeply feel that unreasonable charm.

The Queen of Flame's gaze shifted. The blush on her pretty face deepened, "Can we exchange Line accounts?"

Like a guilty thief, not even waiting for Kaito to answer, she hurriedly added

"II'm asking on behalf of a friend!"

[A/N: All characters in this book are of legal age; all schools are universities. This is a cross-anime worldview. Some character settings have been altered; please understand. MC is basically close to invincibility; refuses to be humiliated.]

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Chapter 2: The Path of Ruthlessness? Not Even a Dog Would Cultivate It!

"Friend?", Kaito slightly furrowed his brows, noticing that quite a few people's gazes had already landed over here.

He didn't care, just calmly said, "What a pity, I don't have a LINE account."

This wasn't an excuse.

Kaito had transmigrated to this world three days ago, but the body was still his own, with even the lightning tribulation scars still covered him.

Rather than calling it transmigration, it was more accurate to say he replaced the original owner's existence force.

The original owner was a student from neighboring country who had gotten into a car accident. Due to untimely rescue, both his parents passed away.

To relieve his grief, and also to leave that place of sadness, after the college entrance exam, he didn't choose to stay in the country. Instead, he crossed the ocean and came to Japan, becoming an international student.

Because of this, the original owner more commonly used domestic social software and hadn't had time to register a LINE account.

Kaito was telling the truth, but in the eyes of others, this kind of truth was undoubtedly a polite rejection.

LINE, as Japan's most beloved social software among young people, had a status basically equivalent to the whatsapp and penguin from the neighboring country.

It's understandable if a young person doesn't use one of them. But to not use either?

Any normal person would think this is just an excuse to reject.

Miura Yumiko, who had already gotten used to rejecting other boys' attempts at conversation, was experiencing for the first time the taste of being rejected.

She felt a bit ashamed and indignant. Especially now, with so many classmates watching, it was easy for others to treat her as a laughingstock.

But...

Just looking at that face, as if it gathered all the beauty from every world into one, Yumiko found it hard to even feel displeased.

"I-I see", The girl awkwardly smiled a bit, "Sorry, I disturbed you."

"No problem," Kaito nodded at her, his expression still unchanged.

Yumiko turned and left. After she returned to her seat, her impatient friend immediately sighed, somewhat disappointed.

"Didn't expect even Yumiko to get rejected"

"But instead, doesn't that make classmate Kaito, who's like a flower on a high peak, even more attractive?"

"Right? Right? So handsome, I wanna lick him!"

Ignoring the friends' whispers, Yumiko blankly gazed out the window, slightly dazed.

She really hadn't lied.

Asking for contact info was done at someone's request.

But just how much of her own desire was mixed in, even she didn't know.

It seemed people realized: though the pretty boy in the class was absurdly good-looking, he was also cold to an extreme.

In any case, many classmates restrained their gazes a bit, and no one dared go up and strike a conversation again.

Failing to get his contact info was one thing, being seen as a frivolous girl and causing a dramatic drop in favorability, now that would be devastating.

Because today was the first day of school, the main goal was helping students get familiar with the campus environment. There weren't any classes arranged.

So once school ended, Kaito didn't linger too long.

Under the unwilling gazes of the crowd, he picked up his bag with one hand and gracefully left.

In this life, the family's financial situation could only be considered average.

The inheritance from the car crash and the compensation obtained through legal means totaled a bit over two million.

Sounds like a lot.

But this was Tokyo, one of the highest cost-of-living cities in the world.

Two million, converted into yen, was about forty million or so.

Not even enough to reach a small goal.

Kaito's current residence was near Ikebukuro West Exit, in a standalone house less than ten years old.

The layout was a common 3LDK. Standard three bedrooms and one living room, with a dining area and separate bath and toilet.

The reason for choosing this place was simple. First, convenient transportation: only a ten-minute walk from the nearest train station.

Second, the atmosphere in Ikebukuro was fairly similar to his previous country layout.

The only downside might be the rent being a bit expensive.

Just the rent alone cost several hundred thousand yen a month, not something an average working-class person could afford.

But for Kaito, this wasn't really a problem. As a cultivator, there were simply too many ways to make money.

Of course, as a disciple of a righteous sect: a gentleman loves wealth but takes it the right way.

Kaito didn't plan to do things like robbing and plundering. He was going to stick to his old trade: exorcising demons and slaying spirits.

This world did indeed have malevolent spirits, and likely contained some supernatural power.

It's just that due to the scarcity of spiritual energy, the ceiling was destined not to be high.

The reason he was so sure was because, on the day he transmigrated, Kaito discovered a female ghost seeking lives hovering in his bedroom.

Though his body was riddled with Dao injuries from the heavenly tribulation, and his cultivation had plummeted, that low-level ghost was still easily slapped to death by Kaito.

What surprised him was that after the female ghost died, she actually gave him a wisp of merit.

Although pitifully small, merit was not a mortal object. It was a reward directly issued by the Heavenly Dao.

Just that nearly imperceptible strand of merit was equivalent to him cultivating bitterly for a whole month, and even nourished his Dao wounds.

Starting an exorcism business could both earn considerable compensation and collect merit, helping him recover faster.

'This is a win-winmeaning I win twice.'

Still, daily cultivation couldn't be skipped. Though healing by circulating energy was inefficient, over time it added up, and the results weren't to be underestimated.

"It's already nine o'clock, huh", Exiting cultivation, Kaito glanced at the time on his phone, then casually headed to the kitchen, planning to make some dinner.

Truth be told, with his current cultivation, he had long reached the stage of not needing food. Even not eating for decades wouldn't be a problem.

But in his previous life, he cultivated bitterly for four hundred years. Either in seclusion or in combat, extinguishing all desires, he lived like a machine that only knew cultivation.

So this life, Kaito planned to live a bit more relaxed.

Sleep when he needed to sleep, eat when he wanted to eat. Cultivation, of course, couldn't be abandoned. But there was no need to pour all his energy into it like last time.

As for the Path of Ruthlessness?

Not even a dog would cultivate that.

"Out of ingredients already?", Looking at the empty fridge, he rubbed his brow, "Forget it, better go downstairs and buy some."

He took off the Shuka Academy uniform, changed into a clean outfit. White short-sleeved shirt, and long denim pants.

Very casual attire, but his charm didn't lessen a bit. In fact, it added a refreshing youthfulness.

Next to the residential area was a commercial street, with lots of convenience stores open 24/7.

"Drinks, snacks, wagyu get some ribs too, and stock up on water", Carrying big and small bags out the convenience store's door, and rejecting the sixth beautiful girl's attempt at striking up a conversation, Kaito was about to leave, when his footsteps suddenly paused.

"Yo, handsome guy, all alone?"

"Wanna come play a fun game with your big sisters? We can even teach you how to ascend the DUA throne~"

"Hey hey, give me your contact info. I'm really into you~"

A few tanned, black-skinned gyaru girls with colorful hair and playful expressions came close with fiery eyes, clearly surrounding him with bad intentions.

Kaito: "..."

As a former Nascent Soul Heavenly Lord, an awe-inspiring existence infinitely close to the word "Immortal"

Even though he was now heavily injured, with his cultivation greatly reduced, his life level had not changed.

In other words, the weaker the existence, the more easily they were attracted to him.

And this was already with Kaito deliberately suppressing his aura. Otherwise, at first sight, ordinary people would instantly go "aba aba" and fall into chaos, worship him as a god, and be willing to sacrifice anything.

Even now, though he remained extraordinarily attractive, people would still be amazed and stunned. But wouldn't lose all rationality, drooling like fools after recovery.

Those who could make it into Shuka Academy at least had basic discipline.

Even if their hearts were screaming to fast-forward into harmonious unity with Kaito, they wouldn't immediately run up and beg for mercy.

But these gyaru wandering the city's shadows weren't nearly as restrained.

A super top-tier hottie.

Simply hundreds or thousands of times more handsome than any celebrity idol.

If they could sleep with him once, they'd profit for three yearseven dying would be worth it.

In this life, Kaito didn't resist romantic or intimate matters. If he met a suitable Dao partner, he wouldn't refuse.

But this kind of rotten peach blossom served on a platter? No thanks.

Just as he was about to use a little trick, like a Bewitching Spell or something, to make them scram back to where they came from, a cold female voice suddenly rang out beside him.

"Hello? Is this the police? Yes, there are a few nymphos hereplease send someone immediately The location is"

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Chapter 3: Togawa Sakiko

Togawa Sakiko has been in a very bad mood lately.

Losing his position as a council member and her father being kicked out of the house, she didn't stay in the Togawa household to continue being an ignorant rich young lady, but instead chose to leave with her father.

Originally, she had hoped her father could pull himself together and take back everything that belonged to him, but he ended up like a stray dog with a broken spine, losing all his spirit.

He didn't go out to work and support the family, becoming a useless drunk who spent every day in a daze, drowning in the numbness of alcohol and unable to escape.

Even so, Togawa Sakiko silently carried the heavy burden of life, balancing her studies while also busy with part-time jobs.

Rent, utilities, and her lousy father's beer money, all this heavy pressure fell upon the immature shoulders of this eighteen-year-old girl, making her unable to breathe.

Especially tonight.

During her part-time job as customer service, she encountered a troublesome caller, got scolded harshly and even got complained about, resulting in her bonus for this month being deducted.

'So hungry I haven't eaten anything all day.'

But after just paying the rent, the money left in her pocket wasn't even enough to buy a half-price pork cutlet bento.

'That bastard dad's dinner isn't settled either'

Togawa Sakiko wandered aimlessly along the bustling streets of Tokyo, looking at the endless stream of cars, and suddenly had the impulse to dive into them headfirst.

'Living is really exhausting.'

From the corner of her eye, she unintentionally caught sight of a boy wearing pale-colored clothes walking out from the front of a convenience store nearby, carrying large and small bags.

'Those bags are stuffed full all food?'

'So hungry'

'But it's okay, tomorrow is payday.'

'Sakiko, hang in there!'

Just as Togawa Sakiko collected her emotions and was about to leave, she saw several gyaru girls with tanned skin approaching the boy with ill intentions, surrounding him in the middle.

Even though there was some distance, and she couldn't hear what they were saying, it was definitely not a friendly greeting like, "Have you eaten?"

'Is it sexual harassment?'

Sakiko sighed, but in the end, she still couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

"Hey! You bastard, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Hearing someone had called the police, the red-haired gyaru in the lead panicked a little and retorted fiercely but weakly.

"We were just inviting him to hang out, that's all!"

The other two gyaru also chimed in.

"Yeah, yeah, just a normal invite to hang out!"

"Mind your own business!"

"You can say all that to the police later."

Togawa Sakiko crossed her arms, her beautiful eyes cold as ice and snow, "Of course, whether they believe you or not is another matter."

"Damn it! I'll remember you!"

They were just ordinary gyaru after all. Though unwilling, they had no way to deal with Sakiko, who now radiated the full aura of a noble lady.

After throwing out a useless threat, they fled quickly.

"Are you okay?", After confirming the three gyaru had all run away and disappeared, Togawa Sakiko finally put away her phone and looked at the boy beside her.

Or more accurately, looked at the bag in his hand.

Looking closer now there really were a lot of high-end ingredients inside, and also very fresh bottled water

"I'm fine," Kaito shook his head, "Thanks for your help."

The girl in front of him had blue hair, styled in a rare over-the-shoulder double ponytail, looking pretty like a doll. Only her amber pupils lacked energy, carrying an aura like an old soul.

"I'm Togawa Sakiko," Sakiko finally managed to pull her gaze away from the bag in Kaito's hand. When speaking, making eye contact was part of her upbringing as a Togawa family member.

Then, the girl froze.

Kaito was used to people showing that infatuated look when facing him, especially women.

No matter what, Miss Togawa had helped him a bit just now, even though he didn't need it. Still, kindness from strangers was always precious.

"A little token of appreciation," He handed several ten-thousand yen bills in front of Sakiko, speaking concisely, "It's nothing, please accept it."

Although the girl thought her sneaky gaze at the bag just now was subtle, it didn't escape the sharp eyes of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Not to mention the little gulp she secretly swallowed

'You're really hungry, huh? Even reacting to a pile of unprocessed ingredients.'

"S-Sorry! That was rude of mestockings!"

Sakiko snapped out of it like waking from a dream, even accidentally blurting out her old catchphrase.

'I actually stared blankly at a stranger boy for so long?'

Even if the other party truly had a world-class face, staring at him like that without blinking was definitely not what a proper lady should do.

Just as the bowing Sakiko looked up again, she saw the ten-thousand yen bills in front of her and instinctively frowned.

"Thanks for your kindness, but no need," She saved him just to save him, not for a reward.

Maybe that seemed a bit lofty, but even after being beaten down by society, Sakiko didn't want to change her principles of being a decent person.

Besides

Accepting this money gave her a shameful feeling of being given charity.

"Perhaps you misunderstood something," Seeing the girl's face didn't look too good, Kaito thought for a moment and said again, "Have you heard the story of Zigong redeeming a captive?"

Zigong ransomed a captive but refused to accept the official compensation. When Confucius heard of it, he said what Zigong did was wrong. Doing good without accepting rewards would discourage people's enthusiasm for doing righteous deeds.

As the former young lady of the Togawa family, Sakiko not only had excellent grades but also read classical texts from various countries. With a little thought, she understood Kaito's point.

But she still shook her head, her soft wavy hair swaying with the motion, "I just did a trivial thing, this money is too much."

Like a stubborn and rigid little blue octopus.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard the octopus girl's mouth was, her empty little belly still felt soft to the touch.

"Grr grr", The sound of a hungry stomach quietly rang out.

Though not loud, it was enough for both of them to hear clearly.

Sakiko: "..."

Kaito tried to ignore her reddening ears and pretty face, pretending nothing had happened.

"In that case, how about I treat you to a meal?"

Sakiko really wanted to refuse, but already thoroughly embarrassed, she now had a bit of a self-destructive attitude.

'Anyway I already turned down the money.'

'It's just one meal, no big deal, right?'

"This is my home."

After leading Togawa Sakiko all the way home, Kaito casually opened the door.

"Miss Togawa can rest on the sofa for a bit first. I'll go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Any allergies?"

"None," Togawa Sakiko shook her head. After changing shoes at the entrance, she sat upright, hands instinctively holding her skirt hem, looking a bit reserved.

She hadn't expected that this beautiful boy she randomly met on the street actually lived so close to her.

To be precise, their homes were only separated by a single streetjust a few steps away, and they could visit each other.

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Chapter 4: Good Night

"Don't be so nervous."

Kaito made her a cup of black tea, comforting her, "Just treat it like your own home."

He had a good impression of Miss Togawa.

Clearly in dire straits, unable to even get enough to eat, and yet still able to summon the courage to extend a helping hand to a stranger on the roadside.

This kind-heartedness was rare and precious.

Without a doubt, Togawa Sakiko was a good person.

And good people should be rewarded.

Seeing that staying here would only make Miss Togawa uncomfortable, Kaito chatted with her for a bit more, then excused himself to handle the ingredients and turned to enter the kitchen.

Only after he left did Sakiko finally let out a breath of relief.

Come to think of it, for a delicate girl like her, meeting a strange boy for the first time and entering his home was actually quite a dangerous thing.

But after some hesitation, Sakiko still agreed.

And the thing she hesitated about wasn't even concern for her own safety. Rather, she was worried about causing trouble for him.

The reason was simple.

'With Kaito-senpai's looks'

'If he really wants a girlfriend, the number of girls lining up to apply would probably stretch from Ikebukuro to Mount Fuji, right?'

Togawa Sakiko even seriously considered, 'Compared to the possibility of Kaito-senpai having ulterior motives, the chance of me, myself being seduced by his looks seems even higher.'

And that was exactly the case.

Kaito personality was just like his appearance. He could only be described as beautiful and kind.

Not only that, he was also an excellent cook.

Even ordinary high-end ingredients, once handled by him, became visually appealing, aromatic, and delicious, and seemed to faintly glow with golden light.

But Sakiko chalked that up as a hallucination from her hunger.

By the time she came back to her senses, she realized her stomach had already been filled up.

Satisfied, she rubbed her bulging belly. The girl's amber eyes sparkledvisibly happy.

"Thank you so much for the meal!"

"As long as it suited your taste."

"Dinner was delicious!"

Togawa Sakiko pressed her palms together, looking at him very seriously, "That was the most delicious meal I've ever had. Despite being around the same age as me, to have such amazing cooking skillsKaito-senpai, could you be from a legendary chef family?"

"No, it's just a little hobby of mine."

To be precise, Kaito had developed this cooking skill not long after joining the Courting Death Sect.

At that time, he had just started cultivating and hadn't reached the stage of fasting, and since there were no other forms of entertainment, he had no choice but to delve into cooking as a way to pass time.

Later, as his cultivation grew, so did his understanding of detachment from emotions.

It had been a long time since Kaito last picked up the familiar pots and pans, but luckily, the skill hadn't rusted.

"Ah, it's already almost eleven!", Glancing at the wall clock, Togawa Sakiko was startled, and immediately lost the interest to keep chatting with Kaito. She'd been too happy eating just now and had forgotten that that bastard of a father was still home alone.

So she hurriedly said goodbye.

Kaito didn't try to keep her, nor did he have any intention of asking Togawa Sakiko to stay the night.

Since it was a brief encounter, it was enough to leave it at that. If the girl misunderstood and thought he had other intentions, that wouldn't be good.

He simply handed her the small shoulder bag she had left on the sofa, "Your thing."

"Thank you very much."

Sakiko smacked her head in annoyance, 'How can I be this careless? So impolite.'

Then she gave Kaito a slight bow, once again expressing her thanks, and finally turned to leave.

She was once again walking alone down the quiet street.

But Sakiko's mindset was completely different from before. Now filled with life, full of hope.

"Kaito-senpai really is a wonderful person."

The girl couldn't help but think, 'He isn't just unmatched in looks, even his personality is so gentle.'

If she were still that carefree girl of the past, perhaps she would've fallen for him and never gotten out.

But

Things had changed. She was no longer that naive young lady. She and Kaito-senpai were people from two different worlds.

He was a stunningly handsome boy from a well-off family.

And she was just a nobody working part-time in Tokyo.

The gap between the two of them was as wide as the heavens.

"That bastard old man still hasn't had dinner", She sighed, no longer thinking about these meaningless worries, and turned her attention to another problem.

Though she had just been treated to a full meal by Kaito-senpai

Out of pride, she absolutely couldn't ask for a takeaway portion.

But the money in her pocket was pitifully little. She couldn't even afford a half-price pork cutlet bento.

Originally, if she hadn't run into Kaito, Sakiko had planned to use all her money to buy a bento for that bastard father.

As for herself, she'd already gone hungry for a whole day. Missing another meal wouldn't matter.

As long as she held on until tomorrow's payday, everything would get better.

But after being treated to dinner by Kaito, Sakiko, though full and satisfied, also felt guilty for enjoying the food alone.

After hesitating for a moment, the girl still walked into a nearby convenience store, planning to see if there was any cheap food she could afford. She couldn't let that bastard starve.

After carefully picking through, she finally found a fully vegetarian bento, just within her budget.

"One set, 98 yen. Thank you for your patronage."

The young store clerk scanned the item skillfully and then looked up, only to find the customer staring blankly at his shoulder bag for some reason.

"Miss? Miss, hello? Are you ready to check out?"

Helpless, he waved a hand in front of the blue-haired girl.

"Eh? Sorry, I spaced out," Togawa Sakiko finally snapped out of it. After hurriedly paying, she left the convenience store.

When she got home, she opened the shoe cabinet at the entrance and habitually called out "I'm home", but naturally received no response.

The dim living room light wasn't turned on. A middle-aged man in a wrinkled dress shirt was lying on the floor, snoring like thunder, surrounded by toppled beer cans.

"You bastard old man, here's your dinner," With a cold face, Sakiko tossed the shopping bag at the man she was supposed to call "father," then headed straight for her bedroom without looking back.

Leaning wearily against the wall, she slowly squatted down, staring blankly at the five ten-thousand-yen bills in her hand.

She had found them in her shoulder bag. At some point, someone had secretly tucked them into the side pocket.

'Didn't we agree, after one dinner, we are even?'

'And yet, he still took it upon himself'

'Is it charity? Or pity?'

She clearly hated being treated like a weakling. She had even refused Komugi's help.

Yet at this moment, a strange and unprecedented feeling stirred in her heart.

A little sour and a little sweet.

She blinked hard, not wanting the tears to fall.

But the emotions surged like a tide, like a rock rolling down from a mountain, once it started, it was hard to stop.

Sakiko thought she was strong.

When her parents divorced, she didn't cry.

When her father was kicked out of the Togawa family, she didn't cry either.

When her father turned into a useless drunk, when she lost her carefree rich girl life, when she had to maintain her studies and bear the burden of life, even under the suffocating pressure, Sakiko still didn't cry.

She just clenched her teeth, telling herself: just hang in there a little longer, just a little longer, and it'll get better.

But now, just a few bills, bills that once meant nothing, completely broke Sakiko's emotional dam.

Like a young man who just got fired pretending everything's fine while reporting to family, only to completely fall apart at a single "come home if you're tired" from their mother, heart shattered in an instant, no longer able to pretend.

The suppressed sobbing lasted a long, long time.

When Sakiko finally composed herself, she gently smoothed out the bills, making sure there wasn't a single crease.

Then, she carefully tucked them into her most treasured diary, like hiding a one-of-a-kind treasure.

The tidy bed was soft, lifting the girl's exhausted body.

Her sea-blue hair spread out like coral, and she held the diary tightly in her arms, as if she were holding the entire world.

Outside the window, the moon hung high. The spring night breeze brushed gently, unexpectedly soft.

In the pin-drop silence of the room, only a faint whisper echoed.

"Kaito-senpai"

"Good night."

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Chapter 5: Grass Guardian

A rare clear day, with not a single cloud in the sky.

Brilliant morning sunlight spilled into the room through the floor-to-ceiling window, coating the sleeping figure on the velvet bed with a soft halo, like a layer of golden shards scattered on the floor.

When Kaito woke up, the clock had just struck eight.

Many schools in Japan practiced "happy education," with a very relaxed class schedule.

The first class in the morning started at nine, and students were dismissed as early as three-thirty in the afternoon. Shuka Academy was no exception.

Of course, no matter where, there were always "grinders" and "slackers."

In his past life, Kaito belonged to the grinders.

Even if school started late, when it came to cultivation, he was the most diligent among many disciples of the same generation.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a Celestial Sovereign in just four hundred years. This was, of course, due to his outstanding talent, but it was also inseparable from effort and sweat.

There was still an hour before the first class.

But Kaito didn't seem to be in a hurry. His home was not far from Shuka Academy, only about ten minutes by train.

He got dressed, got up, washed up, and went to the kitchen to make a simple breakfast.

By the time he finished everything he needed to do, the wall clock had only turned half a circle.

After finishing the last slice of bread with blueberry jam, he changed into shoes at the entrance.

Only then did Kaito, carrying his shoulder bag, slowly walk out the door, ready to go to school.

But at the train station, he saw a familiar figure.

"Togawa-san?", Blue twin-tails, black inner layer matched with a light-colored school blazer, the ribbon on her chest tied into a beautiful bow.

The girl stood gracefully in the wind, like a narcissus flower, her skirt fluttering, her hair dancing.

"Good morning, Kaito-kun~", Togawa Sakiko slightly lifted her skirt and gave a lady-like greeting.

Gone was the nervousness and unease from yesterday. The girl's pretty face wore a gentle smile, her large and spirited eyes sparkling like gemstones, putting people in a good mood.

"Fancy seeing you again," Kaito nodded at her. As if remembering something, he asked, "You live nearby too?"

"That's right," Togawa Sakiko pressed her lips lightly together, "My house... is just across from Kaito-kun's place."

Not only did they live next to each other, they even wore the same Shuka school uniform.

'Perhaps this is the guidance of fate?'

"I see," Kaito nodded with understanding, "I just moved in not long ago. Since it's such a coincidence, I'll come by and visit someday."

In Japan, people generally had the custom of visiting new neighbors after moving in.

It helped build relationships with those next door and also symbolized a new beginning in life.

Although Kaito wasn't interested in visiting strangers, since he already knew Togawa-san, spending a little time wouldn't hurt.

"No need for a visit," Togawa Sakiko decisively refused. Not because she wanted to distance herself from Kaito.

Simply because... she didn't want him to see that drunkard father who only knew how to drink.

Worried Kaito might misunderstand, Togawa Sakiko hesitated for a moment and added, "How about I come visit you instead, would that be okay?"

"Of course, no problem."

The two chatted for a few more moments before the train finally arrived.

The carriage was fairly spacious, though there weren't many empty seats left.

Sakiko reacted quickly and pulled Kaito to sit in a corner seat.

Their close posture could easily be mistaken by outsiders as a school couple.

Especially since both had extremely high attractiveness, drawing plenty of amazed stares from passersby.

In this world, the male-to-female ratio was very abnormal, about 1 to 4. The number of female students in school was obviously much higher than male students.

So the office workers on the train were mostly OL big sisters in black tights and pencil skirts, rarely any men in suits.

Because of that, handsome guys drew even more attention.

If it weren't for the dazzling presence of Sakiko beside him making these OL big sisters lack confidence, someone would've already come up to strike a conversation.

Even so, the fiery, burning gazes from people around made Sakiko's willow brows slightly furrow.

Then, without drawing attention, she stood up and used her body as a shield, standing in front of Kaito.

Since they were in a corner seat, when Sakiko stood up, she happened to block out most of the outside gazes.

'Girls these days, is their possessiveness always this strong? That is way too protective!'

Facing the OL big sisters' discontented gazes, Togawa Sakiko didn't back down one bit.

Her amber eyes were cold like ice and snow, staring back at each one.

Perhaps because her attitude was too righteously confident, or perhaps because peeking was unjustified to begin with, in any case, this round was Sakiko's victory.

It wasn't until the train reached the next station that Sakiko lowered her head again. Looking at the handsome boy just a step away, she softly said: "Kaito-kun, time to get off."

Kaito had been thinking about how to start a spirit-exorcism business and hadn't paid much attention to the undercurrents on the train.

He always had the attitude of 'being stared at a few times doesn't matter, it's not like I'll lose a chunk of flesh.'

Walking out of the carriage with Togawa Sakiko, the school gate of Shuka was just a short distance away.

But suddenly, the girl stopped in her tracks, apologetically saying: "I just remembered I forgot to buy something. Kaito-kun, go ahead. No need to wait for me."

That was a lie.

Though she had great affection for Kaito-kun, Togawa Sakiko understood very well.

If she just walked through the school gate with him like this, it would only stir up troublesome gossip and bring trouble to Kaito-kun.

Moreover, with her current situation, she didn't even have the qualifications to take a further step.

Even if she boldly pursued love and decisively confessed, what then?

She couldn't even guarantee basic food, clothing, and shelter. Even if they dated, she'd only become a burden to Kaito-kun.

So she had to endure.

The current Togawa Sakiko, the only thing she could do, was help Kaito-kun block the stares from the obsessed women on the train.

Of course, this situation wouldn't last long.

Sakiko already had a rough plan in her heart, a plan that would let her gain financial freedom and no longer be a burden.

'As long as I form a new band and quickly commercialize it afterward, I can escape the current situation!'

'Band members... maybe I can ask Uika and Mutsumi for help?'

'But that's not enough. I still need to recruit other members. I must find suitable candidates as soon as possible.'

A hundred thoughts swirled in the girl's heart, but none showed on her face.

After bidding farewell to Kaito and watching his back gradually disappear into the distance, she finally stepped forward again and walked toward the school gate.

The moment he stepped into the classroom, the originally noisy classmates immediately fell silent.

Ignoring the gazes from all directions, Kaito's expression remained calm.

He walked to his seat and casually put down his shoulder bag, only then noticing that his desk had been stuffed full of love letters at some point.

Most were pink envelopes, occasionally mixed with a few blue ones, full of girls' affections.

'Wait a second...'

Recalling the slightly unnatural behavior of a few male classmates earlier, Kaito fell into thought.

'Maybe... even some boys?'

He had no intention of opening them.

From first-life experience, love letters, either read them all or read none at all.

If he picked only a few to read, it might give someone unrealistic hopes, ["He read my love letter. Does that mean he likes me?"]

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Chapter 6: The Rain Wont Always Fall, But the Head Will

Kaito had understood a certain truth a long time ago: the rain won't always fall, but the head will.

It's always said that teenage boys are like monkeys in heat, but honestly, girls aren't much better.

Just placing homework together with the person they liked, one up, one down, they could fantasize an entire hundred-thousand-word sweet romance novel. Some even had the school picked out for their future kids.

Back then, Kaito was obsessed with studying and had no way of stopping others from liking him. The only thing he could do was maintain distance from everyone.

At the very least, not give them any room for fantasy.

Stacks of love letters took up too much space. Kaito simply gathered them all and tossed them straight into the trash can.

Quite a few girls secretly watching from nearby were a bit disappointed when they saw this.

Even if they didn't expect Kaito to actually accept their confessions at least a glance would've been nice.

But they weren't angry about Kaito throwing away their letters.

In this world, not only do beautiful women have privileges, handsome guys do too, especially the kind handsome enough to attract both men and women.

So what if the male god is cold and aloof? That kind of ascetic flavor is just their thing.

The morning class was Modern Japanese taught by the homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Wearing a white lab coat and looking completely unkempt, the iron-fisted female teacher's eyes would occasionally drift toward the back row by the window.

That was Kaito's seat.

Just thinking about her humiliating performance yesterday made Hiratsuka Shizuka curl her toes in embarrassment.

'Thankfully, Kaito didn't take it too seriously'

'Otherwise, my career as a teacher will probably be over, right? Sob!'

Because she just couldn't concentrate, her lesson this period was a bit all over the place.

Luckily, many students weren't focused on class anyway. Their eyes were secretly darting toward a certain figure by the window.

Finally, the lunch break arrived. She clutched her chest like she was freed, then knocked on the podium.

"Class is dismissed. Uh, Kaito come with me to the office for a bit."

The teachers' office was very quiet.

Hiratsuka Shizuka casually sat on a chair. She had originally wanted to light a cigarette, but when she saw the handsome boy in front of her furrow his brows slightly, she pulled her hand away from the lighter.

"Teacher Hiratsuka, is there something you need from me?", Kaito's attitude was calm. In a country like Japan, where the hierarchical order is strict, this was a bit out of place.

Low-grade students had to maintain respect even toward higher-grade upperclassmen, or they might get bullied. Let alone a teacher.

But Shizuka wasn't the type who liked putting on airs. In fact, when faced with that face of his that seemed like a vortex emitting infinite gravity, she unconsciously straightened her back.

Just like a newcomer in a company facing a senior, she placed herself in a slightly lower position, "It's not really anything serious."

Wearing her white lab coat, she sat up straight and lightly cleared her throat, "Kaito, you're an international student, right?"

"Have you gotten used to life on campus? Or encountered any difficulties?"

"If there's anything, feel free to say it. As your teacher, I have a duty to help you solve any issues during your time studying abroad."

This righteous excuse was something Shizuka had stayed up thinking about for more than half the night.

'It's normal for international students to not get used to life abroad, right?'

'With no shared language, they're left isolated and may even develop psychological issues over time!'

As a righteous teacher of the people, Hiratsuka Shizuka could not just stand by.

"I'm doing fine. Life on campus is very satisfying. Thank you for your concern, Teacher Hiratsuka."

Kaito nodded slightly, "Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going."

"Wait, wait, wait!", Seeing him turn to leave, Shizuka quickly grabbed his hand, then let go like she'd been shocked, her face blushing unnaturally.

"Um, it's already been two days since school started. Have you thought about the club activities yet?"

Japanese schools have a strong club culture. Most students join a club they're interested in and do club activities after class.

Of course, there are also a few who prefer to be alone and refuse to join any club. Commonly referred to as the "Go-Home Club."

"I'm not interested in the school clubs," Kaito didn't have many hobbies. Cooking was one of them, but he didn't plan on joining the cooking club at school.

The reason was simple: the cooking club was almost entirely made up of girls.

There's an old saying in his country: ["Throwing a meat bun at a dogit won't come back."]

Unfortunately, based on the current situation, if he joined the cooking club, he'd be that meat bun that never came back.

However

"Teacher Hiratsuka, even if I'm a new student, I should still have the right to create a club, right?"

"If you're a first-year student, not yet."

Hiratsuka Shizuka shook her head, "Maybe at other schools, but here at Shuka, only second-year students and above are qualified to create clubs. It's school policy."

She paused, then grew a little curious, "Why do you ask? Don't tell me you're thinking of starting your own club?"

"That's right," Kaito was a bit troubled.

He had planned to create a Paranormal Studies Club, as a trial run for opening an exorcism business. But he got stuck on the grade requirement.

"Actually, if you really want to start a club, it's not entirely impossible," Shizuka stroked her chin, her face turning serious, "I can help you out. After all, helping students with their troubles is a teacher's responsibility."

Though she looked like a disheveled, aging female teacher, Shizuka was not your average person.

What ordinary person can afford an Aston Martin Vantage?

And in her garage, she had at least three more luxury cars like it.

With the sudden turn of events, Kaito didn't refuse, "Then I'll thank you for your kindness, Teacher Hiratsuka."

"Oh come on, don't mention it!"

Shizuka waved it off carelessly, "Just leave it to me."

Leaving the office.

It was lunchtime, and Kaito planned to head to the cafeteria to get something to eat and try out the flavor.

Although Japanese students often brought bento from home, not everyone could do that, so naturally, the school still had a cafeteria.

But before he could take more than a few steps, he sensed a strange aura.

'Is there a ghost nearby?'

Kaito furrowed his brows.

As a disciple of the Courting Death Sect, a proper orthodox cultivator, eliminating demons and ghosts was his duty.

Though he wasn't the kind who believed all supernatural beings should die, real-world experience had shown that even if you killed nine out of ten, one might still slip through the cracks.

In any case, now that he'd encountered one, he couldn't just ignore it.

Not to mention the karmic merit rewards.

Kaito quickly followed the faint ghostly aura to its source.

It was an apparently abandoned classroom. The desks and chairs were all piled in the corner, already gathering a thin layer of dust.

In the center of the room, a girl who looked familiar, seemingly a classmate, was crouching down with her head in her arms, wearing a pink tracksuit, her pink hair shaking as her tiny body trembled uncontrollably.

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Chapter 7: The Visible Bocchi

For the girl named Gotou Hitori, this was supposed to be an ordinary day.

An ordinary wake-up, an ordinary breakfast, an ordinary two-hour one-way commute by train to school, then an ordinary lonely day, and finally, an ordinary return home to rest and wait for the next day to arrive.

But this script, plain as clear water, went wrong right at the first act.

When Gotou Hitori opened her eyes, what she saw wasn't the familiar ceiling of her own home, but a terrifying ghost face smeared with bright red lipstick, face bluish-purple, with fangs protruding outward.

Seeing her awake, that ghost face asked excitedly, "You can see me? You can see me?"

Her brain short-circuited instantly, and Bocchi's face froze in a daze, even losing the ability to make a sound.

The ghost face pestered her with questions for quite a while, but never got a response. Maybe it thought this pink-haired slime hadn't woken up yet. Eventually, it lost patience and floated elsewhere.

Finally snapping back to reality, Bocchi, worried for her family's safety, ran downstairs in her pajamas.

When she reached the living room, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Dad was sitting on the sofa watching TV, Mom was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and her little sister was happily playing with Jimihen. [T/N: Jimihen is the Shiba Inu of Bocchi]

Everything seemed perfectly normal, except for that ghost face floating beside her dad.

'It seems only I can see it?'

Despite being within arm's reach of the ghost face, her father's expression remained calm. He even curiously asked why she was up so early today.

Relying on some mysterious intuition, Bocchi had a strong feeling that if the ghost face found out she could see it, something really bad would happen.

So she stammered through some vague answers, ate a breakfast full of anxiety, and was soon rushed out the door by her mom, worried she'd be late for school.

It wasn't until she got on the train, looking at the compartment that was no different from any other day, warm sunlight pouring in through the clear windows, that things finally felt peaceful again.

Gotou Hitori almost thought she'd imagined it al, 'Maybe this morning's incident was just a hallucination?'

But just as she let out a breath of relief, she encountered another monster near the school.

Wearing a school uniform in black and white, with long bare legs bouncing lightly, it looked just like any cheerful high school girl you'd see around.

Except it didn't have a head.

'Ki-Kidoko!' [T/N: Ghost of Misery]

That was the first word that flashed through the girl's mind.

It was said to be a monster born from the anxiety of adolescent female students, quite a well-known urban legend in Japan.

Just like the ghost face at home, this Ki-Kidoko also walked with light steps, occasionally hopping up beside passing students and whispering softly into their ears, "You can see me?"

God knows what organ a headless monster even uses to speak.

Gotou Hitori wanted to turn and run, but that Ki-Kidoko had already locked onto her. Though still seven or eight meters away, it appeared beside her in the blink of an eye.

Then, it leaned in close, "Can you see me? Can you see me?"

As a weak, pitiful, and helpless social anxiety sufferer, Gotou Hitori barely had any experience interacting with humans, let alone ghosts.

As expected, she gave herself away, and was promptly chased by the excited Ki-Kidoko.

Little Bocchi ran for her life, quickly dashing out of the school, and in a panic, darted into a small alley, trembling beside a garbage bin.

'C-Come to think of it'

'It's been a while now, that Ki-Kidoko should've given up the chase, right?'

Yeah, right.

From Kaito's perspective, the pink-haired slime squatting with her head down was radiating a faint black aura all over her body. Especially around her eyes, which were shrouded in thick black mist.

In other words, she had ghost-blindness.

Thinking she had escaped campus, she'd actually run straight into a trap. A secluded, abandoned classroom. Probably, even if she died here, it'd take ages before anyone found out.

As for that ghost

It was actually standing right beside Gotou Hitori, holding a bloodstained box cutter, greedily absorbing the thick aura of fear pouring off the girl.

Sensing the presence of a living person, the Ki-Kidoko turned around, toward the classroom entrance.

Then, it couldn't wait and dashed over.

"You can see me? Can you see me? Can you see me?"

'This ghost doesn't seem very bright.'

'Completely unaware of the situation. Doesn't even see me as a threat.'

Kaito raised his hand, lightning crackling.

A simple palm thunder, a required course for every disciple of the Courting Death Sect.

It's usually just for teaching beginners the basics, but in this case, it was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

The headless JK in front of him disintegrated into ash in an instant.

At the same time, the black aura wrapped around Gotou Hitori mostly dispersed, and her sky-blue eyes returned to normal.

"Eh?", Still crouched by the garbage bin, trembling, Little Bocchi blinked in confusion.

'Why did the surroundings suddenly change?'

Not only thatshe also saw a familiar figure.

'That is Kurumizaka-kun?'

The most popular guy in class suddenly appearing didn't make Gotou Hitori feel dazzled by his beauty.

Instead, she panicked and rushed over, grabbing his hand and trying to run away.

"K-K-K-Kurumizaka-kun! This place is d-dangerous!"

Of course, with Little Bocchi's strength, trying to drag Kaito was pure fantasy.

Seeing she couldn't move him at all, the girl looked like she was about to cry.

"Don't worry," Seeing that she might burst into tears any second, Kaito's voice carried a strange calmness that soothed her heart, "The ghost that was chasing you is already scattered to the wind."

"Eh?", Gotou Hitori looked up slightly, a little dumbfounded.

Anyway

After spending about two minutes explaining the situation briefly, Little Bocchi gradually understood.

"T-Thank you for s-saving me I-I-I can't repay you enough", Once she confirmed she was safe, Gotou Hitori's social anxiety took over again.

Especially since the boy in front of her was the most popular in the grade. He'd become famous throughout the school in just two days since the semester started, even had a fan club with tons of members already signed up.

Little Bocchi gave a deep bow, then pulled out a piggy bank shaped like a small piglet from who-knows-where and respectfully offered it to Kaito, "This is the money my mom saved for my wedding please, you must accept it"

"I-If it's not enough, please tell me a number, Kaito-kun! No matter how much, I'll gather it all!", Her emotions suddenly flared up.

Despite being such a scaredy-cat, her gratitude was surprisingly sincere.

Kaito pondered for a moment, then reached out and accepted it.

Not because he was greedy, but because the girl in front of him seemed to be at her limit. This action had clearly taken all of her courage. If he refused her now

He had a feeling she'd fall to her knees sobbing, then go home and secretly hang herself at his doorstep in the middle of the night.

And he was probably right.

Even though she'd handed over a huge sum of money, Gotou Hitori didn't feel any pain at all. Instead, she looked relieved.

"K-Kurumizaka-kun, c-could I ask you for one more f-f-favor?", The girl cautiously peeked at his expression from the corner of her eye, ready to drop to her knees and apologize at any moment.

"I already said yes."

Little Bocchi stared blankly at him, "B-But I haven't told you what it is yet"

"You've probably encountered other ghosts too, haven't you?", Kaito didn't keep her in suspense.

After destroying that Ki-Kidoko, although most of the ghost aura around Gotou Hitori had dissipated, a portion still remained.

And that remaining aura was clearly stronger than the one from the Ki-Kidoko.

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Chapter 8: So This Is How It's Solved?

There actually weren't that many ghosts and monsters in this world, at least for now.

Counting the Ki-Kidoko that was just taken down, Kaito had only encountered two of them so far.

And yet, Gotou Hitori just kept running into ghosts one after another, even awakening her yin-yang eyes all on her own. Clearly, she didn't have any special constitution. Should one call it luck, or misfortune?

"That's right!", Little Bocchi nodded like a bobblehead and hurriedly recounted everything that happened at home.

Although at the moment, her mom and dad didn't seem to be able to see the ghost face, and things were temporarily still safe... this kind of thing was unpredictable. If something suddenly changed one day, just thinking about the terrifying consequences turned Bocchi's face pale.

'To protect my own warm and happy little family, even someone as useless as me, even more useless than a paramecium, can muster courage!'

So...

"Please, Kaito-senpai, you must exorcise that evil spirit for me. Whether it's money or anything else, as long as it's something I can do, anything is fine!"

Watching the girl prostrate herself in a full kowtow, respectfully knocking her head against the ground, Kaito's expression became a bit strange, "That won't be necessary."

Since he had already agreed to help Gotou with the exorcism, he wasn't going to go back on his word.

As for whether or not he could handle it?

Judging by the ghostly aura still lingering on Gotou-senpai's body, even a beginner disciple from the Courting Death Sect who had trained for just three days could beat that ghost into a spinning top with a copper-buckled belt.

For him to take action now, it's like asking: 'Can the Great Sage Equal to Heaven defeat a backwoods zombie?'

It was currently lunchtime, with one more PE class in the afternoon.

Because she was worried about her family's safety, Gotou Hitori made a terrifying decision.

She was going... to skip class.

For a little social recluse who couldn't even make eye contact when talking to people, any behavior that violated school rules was like a Damocles' sword hanging high above, enough to pierce right through her.

'Ugh... If the teacher finds out, they'll definitely kill me, right? I'll definitely be killed, right? The charge will be something like "arrogantly attempting to escape the holy infusion of knowledge"...'

'But! For the safety of Dad, Mom, Futari, and Jimi Hendrix!'

Little Bocchi's blue eyes seemed to ignite with blazing flames.

Even someone like her, gloomy, withdrawn, useless like a paramecium, had something she wanted to protect.

"Let's go. I've already asked Teacher Hiratsuka for leave," A sudden voice interrupted the girl's tragic resolve.

Bocchi blinked blankly, "A-asked for leave?"

'So... this kind of solution exists too?'

In the end, they boarded the train home.

Gotou's home was very far from Shuka Academy. The one-way trip alone took two hours.

In other words, just the time spent commuting by train every day was at least four hours.

There weren't many passengers on the train at this hour. After randomly finding an empty seat, Kaito noticed Gotou still looked very nervous. To help her relax, he casually started a conversation.

"By the way, Gotou-senpai, why did you choose Shuka Academy, which is so far away, instead of a school closer to home?"

"Just commuting every day must be such a hassle, right?"

"Be-because", Hugging her guitar case a bit shyly, Little Bocchi mumbled, "I wanted to find a new school where no one knows the old me"

She just wanted to change her environment, start fresh, and ideally become a normie.

For that reason, during junior high she practiced guitar for six hours every day, thinking girls who could play music were popular...

But even though the school year had already been in session for two whole days, she still hadn't made a single friend. Not even one

"I see."

Kaito murmured thoughtfully, "So Gotou-senpai is the type who enjoys solitude, like me."

'That's not it at all'

Little Bocchi sneakily used the corner of her eye to observe the radiant, divine-looking boy beside her.

Both were isolated.

But being ostracized by the class and choosing to isolate oneself from the class were clearly two completely different things.

Though from what she had observed, Kaito didn't seem to have any friends either, that was only because he liked being alone.

'If Kaito wants to, with just a wave of his hand, there will be countless boys and girls scrambling to be his friend, right?'

'Even the most normie of the class, Miura, couldn't help but try to exchange contact info with him, only to be turned down.'

'If the class is a pyramid, Kaito will undoubtedly be the Pharaoh at the top.'

'Never thought that someone as useless and invisible as me will one day get to associate with such a big shot'

'Hehehe'

Watching Gotou showing that familiar dumb smile on her face, clearly lost in a wonderful fantasy, Kaito didn't say anything more, deciding to wait until the train reached their destination to wake her up.

.

.

.

Two hours flew by.

Waking up Little Bocchi, who clearly had some kind of sweet dream and even drooled a little at the corner of her mouth, the two walked another five minutes before finally arriving at an unremarkable detached house.

"Th-this is my house", Little Bocchi rang the doorbell. Not long after, a gentle-looking lady with the same pink hair tied in a bun, who bore a 90% resemblance to Gotou Hitori, opened the door.

"Excuse me Hitori? Why are you home so early today?"

"Uh, that I invited a friend over", Little Bocchi glanced nervously at the handsome classmate beside her, afraid he might suddenly contradict her and say something cruel like "I'm not your friend."

Fortunately, Kaito didn't ruin the act.

He waved politely and greeted with courtesy, "Hello, Auntie. I'm Gotou-san's friend, Kaito."

"Oh", Gotou Michiyo finally saw the boy's face clearly and couldn't help but let out a "Oh ho!" of surprise.

"You're Kaito-kun, right? Thank you for looking after Hitori at school."

Gotou's mother took her daughter to the kitchen to cut watermelon.

Gotou's father was in charge of entertaining the guest in the living room. At the moment, he was wiping tears from the corners of his eyes with a little handkerchief, a deeply moved expression on his face, "Never thought the day would come where Hitori actually made a friend Pardon me for asking, Kaito-kun, but you're not one of those rented friends Hitori paid money for, right?"

"Of course not," Kaito subtly glanced toward Little Bocchi, who was still in the kitchen slicing watermelon.

'Gotou-san, is your image in your family's mind really that tragic?'

'Even your friends are suspected of being paid hires?'

"Big brother, hug!", A little girl named "Gotou Futari" had just turned five this year, but her personality was the complete opposite of her shy sister.

Her adorable little face was beaming with a bright smile, and she didn't hesitate at all to make the hug request that her sister Hitori wouldn't even dare dream of.

The Gotou family's pet dog, a Shiba Inu named 'Jimihen', also barked once, enthusiastically lying at Kaito's feet, tail wagging non-stop.

Though he hated bratty kids, well-behaved little girls clearly didn't fall into that category.

Even Kaito didn't act cold; he easily lifted the little girl and let her sit on his thigh, then gave the Shiba Inu a few pats before continuing to chat with Mr. Gotou.

Although the reason he came today was to exorcise a spirit, and the Gotou household definitely did have an evil spirit.

That ghostly face that scared Little Bocchi half to death was currently floating all around the house, unwilling to give up, constantly asking, "Can you see me?"

But for handling a minor ghost like that, there was really no need to make a big deal out of it.

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Chapter 9: Grabbed in One Hand, Refined Instantly!

Kaito stretched out a hand without leaving a trace, gently probing forward.

The ghost face that had already floated into the kitchen and was frantically repeating in front of the two girls, was like being sucked into a level ten tornado, easily caught into the palm of his hand.

'Saved!'

Little Bocchi, who was nearly scared out of her soul but still had to pretend not to see anything, had tears in her eyes.

'Uwuuwuw, did Kaito-kun notice the commotion here and come to help? He's so gentle, I'm going to cry to death!'

The ghost face clearly hadn't realized what had just happened.

Evil spirits like this had such low intelligence, with nothing but harmful thoughts in their heads. Keeping them around for even one more minute was a waste of air.

'Though, evil spirits doesn't seem to need to breathe?'

But that didn't matter. What mattered to him was a world without evil spirits.

Kaito gently clenched his fist, and the ghost face in his palm disappeared like a bubble, silently.

"Was there something lacking in our hospitality?", Mr. Gotou noticed his strange action and became a little nervous.

He'd finally made a friend, and it was such a flawless pretty boy. If he scared him off, he'd really have to commit seppuku in apology.

"No."

"Just... squashed a bug, that's all."

After taking care of the ghost face, a strand of golden light invisible to ordinary people suddenly burst out.

Then, it drilled into Kaito's body.

The ghost face was clearly stronger than the Ki-Kidoko, and it provided a bit more merit too.

Kind of like the difference between a sesame seed and a mung bean.

The purification was already complete, and Kaito was planning to find some excuse to leave.

But the Gotou family was far too enthusiastic. The two kids also clung to his legs, blinking their big sky-blue eyes and softly pleading for "big brother" to stay for dinner, or even spend the night, that was fine too.

Kaito thought about it. Other than training when he got home, he didn't have much to do, so he nodded and agreed.

Mrs. Gotou was clearly very happy.

Specifically, during dinner, she enthusiastically picked dishes for Kaito and opened up a stream of chatter.

"Where is Kaito-kun from?"

"Do you have any hobbies?"

"What do you think of girls with pink long hair, blue eyes, a shy personality, and who can play guitar? Are you thinking about dating?"

"It's okay if not yet. Feelings can be cultivated over time~"

Social anxiety, timid, and never daring to reject others' requests

Her daughter Hitori's personality meant it would be hard for her to form a normal romantic relationship in this lifetime.

As long as she didn't get scammed out of her money and body by some frivolous playboy, that was already success.

'But no worries, Mama Gotou will step in!'

Having been through it herself, Mama Gotou knew: good men are like good jobs. You have to actively fight for them.

Especially in Japan, where matrilocal sons-in-law were common, and ordinary people didn't have much prejudice against it either.

Boys from ordinary backgrounds but with outstanding looks or abilities were already targeted during school. Once they graduated, they'd be snatched up, with zero availability on the market.

The Kaito her daughter brought home had looks that were just too exceptional. Even someone like her, a mature housewife, couldn't help but blush and feel her heart skip a beat.

Since Hitori was willing to bring Kaito home, she clearly had a good impression of him.

It was rare to see her daughter like a boy this much, how could Mama Gotou miss such a golden opportunity?

"M-Mom! What are you even saying!"

But Mama Gotou clearly overestimated her daughter's tolerance.

Hearing her mother's unfiltered matchmaking, Little Bocchi was both shy and annoyed, her face heating up to an unbelievable degree.

'Even though it is true that I have a huge crush on Kaito-kun but someone like me, rustic and not cute at all, should just keep those fantasies inside her head. Blurting them out would only invite ridicule, right?'

In her mind, Kaito's disgusted expression seemed to appear: "I only helped out of classmate friendship. To think Gotou-san harbored such filthy thoughts about me. It's truly disgusting."

'Dame! I don't want something like that to happen!'

Bocchi mustered up her courage and stammered to correct: "I-I and Kaito-kun are just normal classmates."

'Mhm mhm mhm, yes yes yes,' Mama Gotou just smiled without saying a word, but understood her daughter was shy and didn't press further on the topic.

She merely looked toward Kaito beside her and sincerely said, "My daughter Hitori is rather shy. Please take care of her at school, Kurumizaka-kun."

Gotou Futari also blinked her big sky-blue eyes and asked with her childish voice, "Big brother, can you take care of my sister?"

Even though Gotou-san was timid, she had a loving family who cared about her deeply.

Kaito was slightly dazed, but quickly nodded and agreed.

All were happy.

After dinner, Mama Gotou even warmly suggested he stay the night, but since it was the first visit, Kaito casually declined with an excuse.

Mama Gotou didn't insist. She just held Kaito's hand tightly and repeatedly emphasized that he must come visit again in the future.

Mr. Gotou also coughed and solemnly said, "Hitori, Kaito-kun is leaving. Aren't you going to see him off?"

"If Onee-chan doesn't want to, Futari can go instead?", The little loli beside him looked full of anticipation, and Jimihen at her feet barked with his tongue lolling out.

"N-n-n-no need! Let me do it!", Bocchi, who had just been on the verge of backing off, suddenly perked up and stammered at Kaito beside her, "T-then Kaito-kun, I-I'll walk you to the station"

"Then I'll trouble you, Gotou-san," Kaito smiled at her, and the two of them left the house under Mama Gotou's giggling gaze.

It was dusk.

The warm spring sunlight was slowly setting in the west, casting tens of thousands of rays of sunset glow across the earth, dyeing even the sky a shy orange-red.

"Thank you for everything today," After a brief silence, Bocchi summoned her courage and said quietly, "S-sorry for troubling you, Kurumizaka-kun, riding the train for such a long time, just to help exorcise our house"

She really wanted to take out more money to thank him, but she had already given him the piggy bank her mom had set aside for her wedding.

She wasn't completely broke but was indeed pitifully poor.

"I'm eternally grateful! Please, Kaito-kun, don't hesitate to order me around in the future. I-I can do anything!"

'Where did this old-school drama line come from?'

Seeing Bocchi's face turn red, even her ahoge trembling, Kaito gently shook his head.

"'I can do anything' that kind of line is too heavy. Don't make such promises lightly."

"Especially when facing a classmate of the opposite sex, Gotou-san."

'B-but, Kaito-kun is clearly a gentleman, right?'

'A-and someone like me, gloomy and old-fashioned, there's no way anyone would like me'

"Gotou-san, it seems you don't have a clear understanding of your own charm," Kaito actually found it odd, too.

The girl in front of him was clearly beautiful. Even with bangs covering her eyes, he could tell her facial features were delicate, and because she stayed indoors so much, her skin was even fairer than most girls her age.

As long as she dressed up a bit, she definitely wouldn't lose to the class queen Miura Yumiko. In fact, based on Kaito's keen eyes, Gotou-san's figure was even better.

Yet this obvious beauty acted like a sewer rat.

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Chapter 10: Dont Leave After School

'Ugh'

'Kurumizaka-kun, are you complimenting my looks?'

Gotou Hitori felt her cheeks gradually heating up. Hot enough to fry an egg on them.

She couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, yet also a little panicked.

'Could it be Kurumizaka-kun is just trying to comfort me?'

"We've arrived at the platform."

They came to a stop.

Kaito looked at the pink-haired girl still lowering her head, and couldn't resist reaching out to gently ruffle that soft, long hair, "Gotou-san, you don't need to walk me any further."

Suddenly getting head-patted, Bocchi felt the warmth on top of her head and transformed into a steaming girl.

Her brain blanked out, as if short-circuited.

The last thing in her vision was the beautiful boy who looked like a painting, curling his lips into a small smile. Like a star falling into a lake, rippling softly across the water's surface.

The next day, Shuka Academy.

Have to admit, Hiratsuka Shizuka's efficiency really was top-notch. She had said to leave the club stuff to her, and she really handled it all in just one night.

"All the procedures are complete. This will be your club room going forward. I'll be acting as your club advisor, but I still suggest you recruit a few more members as soon as possible. Ideally at least three or four people."

She brought Kaito to a certain office on the sixth floor, pulling out the key while speaking casually, "If you can't maintain the minimum number of club members for too long, there's a risk the club might be disbanded."

"I understand," Kaito thought for a moment, 'The lack of club members is definitely a problem.'

'Maybe Gotou-san can be invited. After all, she has personally experienced a paranormal event and should be familiar with such things, so she probably won't reject me.'

'As for the rest of the members there is no rush. I can take my time picking them.'

The two of them entered the club room together. It was a small room with limited space.

But it was well-equipped: a solid wood bookshelf, a desk, a genuine leather sofa pretty much everything one would expect. A light layer of dust covered things, and many unused cardboard boxes were piled in the corner, making it obvious the place had been abandoned for quite some time.

"What do you think? Not a bad environment, right?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka crossed her arms and looked a little smug, "This room used to be the old location of the Literature Club years ago. It's been vacant since they moved out. A bunch of clubs applied for it, but all were rejected by the principal. I had to really put in some effort to get it."

"Thank you for your help, Miss Hiratsuka."

"Ah, don't mention it, brocough cough, I mean, as your teacher, helping a student with their problems is only natural."

Hiratsuka cleared her throat, almost letting her usual tomboyish bestie energy slip out.

She quickly changed the subject, "Don't forget to keep the key safe. If you lose it, getting a replacement is super troublesome. I won't bother you any longer, gotta head out."

"Goodbye," After seeing her off, Kaito watched the back of the white-coat-wearing teacher vanish around the hallway corner, then returned to the club room.

He then snapped his fingers lightly.

A gentle breeze suddenly stirred inside the once quiet room. Dust in the corners and on furniture seemed to be swept away by invisible hands. In the blink of an eye, the entire club room was refreshed. The wooden floor shining like it had been waxed, reflecting the light.

'A cleaning spell. A trivial little technique, but very practical.'

Not only could it clean rooms, it could wash dishes, clean toilets always useful for house chores, or covering up a murder.

After doing all that, he took out his phone and sent a text message to a certain pink slime.

[Don't leave after school.]

During break time.

The classroom was a bit noisy. Students gathering in small groups, energetically chatting about gossip, food, or hot guys.

As the queen of the popular clique, Miura Yumiko naturally had a crowd of girls around her. At the moment, one of them leaned in mysteriously and gossiped, "Hey hey, did you guys hear? It seems like Kurumizaka-kun is starting his own club!"

As the super handsome guy who'd already become famous across the entire school just days after the term started, "Kaito Kurumizaka" was a name that naturally drew attention, everyone perked up instantly.

Even Miura Yumiko at the center of the crowd subtly twitched her ears, clearly curious.

"Could it be a rumor?"

"Who cares if it's true or not? Hit me with that tea!"

Some doubted. Some were eager for the gossip.

"It's 100% true!"

The girl who spilled the news looked proud of herself:

"My upperclassman happened to overhear Miss Hiratsuka requesting a club room in the principal's office yesterday, and she mentioned Kurumizaka-kun's name."

"And", she lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously, "Didn't you notice? Right after the previous period ended, Miss Hiratsuka immediately called Kurumizaka-kun out."

If that had been the only part, it might sound like a made-up story. But combined with Miss Hiratsuka's behavior earlier, the credibility had definitely gone up.

Many girls looked visibly excited.

"What's the club called?"

"Seems like Supernatural Research Club?"

"Eh? Kaito's into urban legends and stuff?"

"A ten-year horror fan has entered the chat. No way I'm missing out on this club~"

"Is it still too late to catch up on horror movies now?"

Amid the chaos, someone turned to the blonde girl in the center, "Yumiko, are you thinking about joining Kurumizaka-kun's club?"

If you had to pick the prettiest girl in class, Miura Yumiko definitely had the edge.

Not to mention, she clearly had some interest in Kaito. She'd even approached him at the start of term, though she'd been gently rejected.

"Me?", Miura Yumiko hesitated a bit, but eventually shook her head, "I'll pass. I'm not really into ghost stories and that kinda stuff."

She was feeling kind of conflicted now.

On one hand, her first impression of him had been dazzling, still etched in her heart, slowly taking root and growing.

On the other hand, getting rejected after boldly making the first move had embarrassed her. She couldn't swallow her pride. What if she tried again and got turned down? She'd become the class clown.

Not that she didn't feel a little bitter inside.

'So what if you are handsome? You think being good-looking means you can do whatever you want?'

'I, Miura Yumiko, would rather DIE than go talk to you again! I'll jump out this window before I say another word to you!'

Her face-off between 'pretty-boy weakness' and 'tsundere pride' was reaching a boiling point. But clearly, the former was winning out.

'Is everyone talking about Kurumizaka-kun again?'

'Clubs an essential part of the popular high school experience but someone like me probably doesn't belong there'

'Ugh but I still really want to join'

In a quiet corner, a timid pink slime girl lay depressed on her desk, like a mushroom sprouting moss.

Bzzz~

Her phone suddenly vibrated. Gotou Hitori listlessly pulled it out and saw a new message from her "Special Focus" contact.

[Kaito: Don't leave after school]

Gotou Hitori: "???"

Gotou Hitori: 6д9!!!

'Th-th-this is this some kind of weird challenge to a fight?'

Little Bocchi was startled. Visions of creepy, horrifying scenes flooded her mind: whips, stun batons, candles

Maybe some people would enjoy that, but for Gotou Hitori, that kind of art was way too advanced.

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Chapter 11: Sakiko Pays a Visit

'No, no, that's not right! Kuramizaka-senpai is not that kind of awful guy! There must be some kind of misunderstanding!'

Bocchi secretly tried to cheer herself up in her heart, then fearfully replied.

[Gotou Hitori: Kuramizaka-senpai, is there something you need?]

A new message quickly came from the other side of the screen.

[Kaito: There is indeed something important I want to talk to you about.]

[Kaito: Anyway, let's meet later at the abandoned clubroom on the sixth floor.]

'Something important?'

'Could it be a confessionconfessionconfessionconfession.... confession?'

Little Bocchi's face turned red with a 'whoosh'.

If this were drawn in manga form, the girl would probably already have mosquito-coil eyes with visible steam rising from her.

She finally made it through P.E. class and barely endured until school ended.

Little Bocchi, carrying her guitar bag, sneaked her way to a certain room on the sixth floor of the school building like a thief.

Then, she gently knocked on the door.

"Come in," A calm voice came from inside.

"S-sorry to bother you," Bocchi-chan tiptoed into the room sneakily, instinctively keeping her footsteps light.

In the center of the room, a familiar figure was sitting on a leather sofa. On the coffee table in front of him were two cups of black tea, still steaming lightly.

"Um, u-uh Kaito-senpai, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Little Bocchi didn't even dare to lift her head, stammering as she drew circles on the floor with her toes.

"It's not really a big deal," Kaito pushed one of the black tea cups toward her, "But let's sit down and talk."

"O-okay," Bocchi-chan carefully sat on the sofa, only daring to sit with half her butt, her little hands having nowhere to go as she tightly clutched her clothes.

"After the last exorcism, there haven't been any strange happenings at home, right?"

Kaito's tone was very natural, like it was just a casual chat. The nervous pink-haired girl felt a bit more at ease and answered softly, "There haven't been any strange things happening, thank you for helping last time, senpai."

Actually, she still occasionally saw scary evil spirits on the way to school, but those times were very rare, and as long as she pretended not to see them, nothing happened.

She didn't feel comfortable bothering Kaito over such small matters, especially since he exorcised her house for free last time.

'If I keep owing him favors, I might only have the option of repaying with myself, right?'

'Though that will basically be rewarding me but Kaito-senpai definitely won't be interested in someone as plain as me, so it is better not to fantasize.'

"Forget it, I won't beat around the bush," Kaito originally wanted to ease into it, but felt there was no need, being long-winded didn't suit his personality, so he just got to the point, "Gotou-san, would you be interested in joining a club I just created?"

Bocchi froze, "Eh? Me?"

She felt like she had just been hit by a jackpot. If this opportunity got out, the girls in her class would probably fight over it until someone bled, right?

Kaito nodded slightly, "The Supernatural Research Club. You don't need to do anything troublesome, and there aren't any weird club activities. Just need you to be a member."

He thought for a bit and added, "If Gotou-san isn't willing, I of course won't force you. Just go with your heart."

"I-I-I", Bocchi's face turned bright red from nervousness, nodding quickly, "Of course I'm willing!"

"Then thank you, Gotou-san."

Kaito smiled and handed her an application form, "Just fill out the contents."

Warm spring sunlight streamed in along the windowsill, wrapping the smiling boy in a golden veil. He looked like a holy child from an oil painting, about to lower his head and kiss his lamb.

'U-ugh, that smile should be illegal!'

'Ugh my brain, my brain is going to overheat.'

Bocchi, feeling dazed, took the A4 paper, filled in her info while still dazed, and then dazedly left the clubroom.

Even on the way home, passing through a certain park, she kept smiling like an idiot.

At the same time, not far away, a blonde girl in little red shoes happened to see the guitar bag on Bocchi's back, her eyes lighting up, "A guitar!"

When Kaito got home, dusk had already deepened. The brilliant clouds on the horizon looked like layers of continuous flames.

After playing games in his room for a bit, he took a moment to glance out the window, only to realize it was already dark without noticing when it happened.

Then he went to the kitchen and made dinner for two. Mapo tofu, stir-fried chili pork, and fish-fragrant eggplant just some classic homemade dishes that paired well with fragrant white rice, appetizing just by sight.

Ding! Dong

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Seeing the blue-haired girl clearly dressed up, Kaito was a bit surprised, "Togawa-san?"

"Sorry to bother you all of a sudden," Togawa Sakiko tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and offered a finely wrapped gift box, "This is a visiting gift, please accept it."

Actually, Sakiko could've come earlier, but she suddenly had overtime last night. By the time she got home, it was nearly midnight. She couldn't possibly knock on Kaito's door at that hour and say, "We agreed I'd visit, so I'm here now."

"Togawa-san, you're too polite."

Kaito took her gift, then said, "Come in and have a seat. Slippers are in the shoe cabinet. They're all new, feel free to pick any."

Togawa Sakiko nodded.

She bent over to take off her rounded leather shoes, revealing her small feet in white lace-trimmed socks, then changed into a pair of dark-colored slippers and obediently followed behind Kaito.

Perhaps because she had just bathed before coming, she carried a faint, unknown fragrance. Her long blue hair was still slightly damp, and her fair, delicate face looked like a peeled egg, radiating that unique softness of a youthful girl.

Seeing the still-steaming dishes on the table, Togawa Sakiko felt a little awkward, "Did I come at a bad time?"

After all, not everyone liked being disturbed during meals.

'What if Kaito-kun thinks I am trying to mooch a meal?'

"It's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks," Kaito didn't mind at all. He went back to the kitchen to get another bowl of rice and placed it in front of Togawa Sakiko.

"T-then, I'll gladly accept," Togawa Sakiko discreetly swallowed a bit of saliva.

Her cooking skills weren't good. After her family's decline, she was busy working part-time to earn money and didn't have time to learn cooking. She usually ate out for all three meals.

Ever since she tasted Kaito's cooking last time, it felt like someone who had been forced to eat bland food for years suddenly got to eat gourmet dishes again.

That regained joy, combined with the delicious food, was hard to put into words.

Like most girls, Sakiko had a small appetite. She usually felt full after eating two-thirds of a convenience store bento.

But

Looking at the empty rice bowl, not even a single grain left, Kaito naturally took it and served her another full bowl of rice.

This was already the fourth time she had asked for more.

At first, Sakiko felt a little embarrassed and wanted to maintain her image as a refined lady, but her hands had their own ideas.

A big plate of fish-fragrant eggplant was eaten clean by her.

And that was only because she couldn't handle spicy food. Otherwise, the other two dishes wouldn't have been spared either.

But humans have limits after all.

After finishing four whole bowls of rice, Sakiko put down her chopsticks in satisfaction, clasped her hands together, "Thanks for the meal. Today's dinner was just as delicious as always!"

Looking at the empty plates, the girl's face turned a bit red, "Um did I eat a little too much?"

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Chapter 12: The First Request

"No, it's okay."

For a chef, an empty plate is the recognition from a diner.

Kaito offered, "If it's not enough, I can go to the kitchen and make a few more dishes."

"I'm already full~"

Togawa Sakiko's smile was slightly shy. Only here, only beside a certain someone, could she rest for a moment and find the carefree self she once was.

Kaito didn't insist. He chatted with the girl for a while longer, then took the initiative to offer help in cleaning the dishes.

Eating a free meal was already quite ungraceful; she couldn't possibly let someone else clean up the tableware too.

Normally, for this kind of cleanup job, one cleaning spell would be enough to make even the greasiest bowls and chopsticks look brand new.

But seeing the girl's eager gaze, as if she couldn't wait to do something for him, Kaito didn't refuse.

She tied her shoulder-length hair into a neat ponytail, put on the apron hanging on the wall, washed all the used bowls, chopsticks, and wok clean, and even took the opportunity to tidy up the entire kitchen.

After doing all that, Sakiko finally said her goodbye.

Kaito walked her out and kept watching until the girl returned to the old house across the street, then turned and went back inside.

Perhaps because of this visit, over the next few days, the relationship between the two slowly became familiar.

Because they lived nearby and went to the same school, they would always run into each other at the train station.

Sakiko would take the initiative to greet him, not engaging in excessive small talk, and when on the train, she would always use her body as a shield to block the stares from the pervy girls toward Kaito.

Just like a dutiful knight, shielding the princess from all the coveting gazes of the outside world.

Though this kind of protection always made Kaito feel a bit weird, he didn't really mind it.

Because, there were more troublesome matters waiting for him to deal with.

[Sixth Floor, Club Activity Room]

Looking at the pile of club application forms in front of him, a rough glance showed at least a hundred or two, most of them from girls.

Kaito couldn't help but sigh.

Since the establishment of the Supernatural Research Club, there hadn't been many real requests, but plenty of obsessive harassment.

Some even came directly to the door, shyly saying they might've been possessed recently and urgently needed a strong exorcist to "purify" them physically.

That kind of scheme was too obvious, Kaito rejected them outright.

'Speaking of which, lately Gotou seems to be quite busy as well. Is she also getting harassed?'

'Better ask her another day just in case.'

Thinking this, Kaito leaned back in the soft chair. Just as he stretched lazily, there was a knock on the door.

"Um excuse me, is anyone here?", The visitor had golden hair down to her waist, but her beautiful face looked slightly haggard.

"Miura-san?", Kaito raised an eyebrow and sat up straight.

In his perception, a faint black aura lingered around the girl before him. It was nearly identical to the situation when Gotou Hitori had encountered a ghost.

'After waiting for so long, finally a real case.'

Miura Yumiko sat on the chair across from him. Her pretty features still faintly showed dark circles under her eyes, her face full of fatigue, as if she hadn't rested well.

"I heard Kaito-san is quite interested in ghost stories and similar things"

The girl bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then continued, "Lately, I keep feeling like there's an invisible person in my house."

The fridge door would be mysteriously opened. The curtains she had drawn before going out would be tightly shut when she came home. The items in the washroom would sometimes shift positions for no reason.

These were all little details that were easy to overlook if not paying attention, but once noticed, they sent chills down her spine.

Miura Yumiko had even reported to the police, but after a thorough investigation, the officers didn't find any trace of an intruder. Everything seemed normal.

She thought it might just be her imagination.

But this morning when she woke up, Miura Yumiko found a strange bloody handprint on her ankle.

It wasn't the kind left by someone grabbing her, more like a natural birthmark. Almost fused with her skin.

As a girl living alone, encountering such a supernatural event, one could imagine her feelings.

To make things worse, both her parents were abroad and wouldn't return until next month. She didn't even have anyone to consult with.

In a state of utter confusion, Miura Yumiko suddenly remembered a conversation her friends had some time ago.

'Kaito-san is really into ghost stories, even founded a dedicated club. Maybe just maybe, he might be able to help?'

However, after actually arriving at the Supernatural Research Club and recounting the strange things that had happened to her, Miura Yumiko began to regret it.

Founding a Supernatural Research Club could also just mean he's a fan of ghost stories.

'Sure, Kaito-san is indeed handsome but being handsome can't put food on the table, and it definitely won't make evil spirits kneel and beg. What if I drag him into trouble?'

'Maybe it'd be better to consult a shrine or temple'

Thinking this, Miura Yumiko was about to take her leave, but the boy in front of her lightly tapped the table.

"I roughly understand the situation. If you don't mind, could I take a look at that bloody handprint?"

"Ah huh?", Miura Yumiko hesitated a little, but since she was the one who came here to request help, walking away now felt a bit too rude.

So she nodded, "Of course, no problem."

But this led to a bit of a problem.

To hide the bloody handprint on her ankle, Miura Yumiko was currently wearing black over-the-knee socks.

And she had even deliberately chosen a high-denier pair.

Since she had to let Kaito-san see the bloody handprint, she would definitely have to take the socks off.

'But taking off socks in front of a guy'

'It justit just feels way too embarrassing, what should I do?'

Miura Yumiko's pretty face turned a little red, and her gaze started to avoid his.

She seemed to have completely forgotten there were options like "ask Kaito-san to turn around" or "go to the bathroom to take them off." After a tough inner struggle, she quietly bent down.

First came the black round-toed leather shoes.

Maybe because she lost the protection, the toes wrapped in 120D over-the-knee socks curled up uneasily, then slowly relaxed.

Miura Yumiko let out a soft breath, grabbed the edge of the sock, and slowly pulled it down

Let's skip the unnecessary details for now.

The only flaw in this otherwise perfect scene was the crimson handprint on the girl's ankle, almost deeply fused into her skin, exuding undisguised malice. Just looking at it gave off a bad feeling.

"Kaito-san, are you done looking yet?", Miura Yumiko felt like her face was burning.

Even worse was

'Yesterday I just took a bath, and I only changed these socks this morning. They probably don't smell, right?'

'But leather shoes aren't breathable, maybe I just can't smell it myself?'

[T/N: Guess what, guys. Kaito got his FIRST girlfriend. Stay tuned for "Chapter 35: I Crave Your Body, I'm Being Honest!"]

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Chapter 13: Delicate Pretty Boy

"Wait a moment," Kaito reached out and gently tapped on the spot of the bloody handprint on the girl's ankle.

The bloody handprint indeed carried a strong yin aura and resentment. It was a kind of mark, or more like a curse.

Just like some confident criminals would send a warning letter to the victim before committing a crime, clearly telling you, "You've already been targeted by me."

Judging by the aura alone, the fierce spirit that left this handprint should be the strongest evil spirit he had encountered so far.

'However, it's not a big problem.'

Kaito had no intention of taking advantage, his mindset was more like that of a doctor facing a female patient, with his attention mainly on the illness.

Even so, Miura Yumiko's face still flushed red.

Ever since she entered elementary school, even her dad hadn't touched her feet.

The intense shame came second. In order not to make strange sounds, Yumiko had to bite her lip tightly, using the pain to warn herself, 'You must endure! You absolutely must endure!:

After confirming the aura of the bloody handprint, Kaito transmitted a strand of spiritual energy.

Like the first thaw of frost and snow, the aura left by that unknown evil spirit was easily crushed by the blazing spiritual energy, which was like the brilliant sun.

Since being marked by the bloody handprint, Yumiko had felt dizzy and weak all over, with a bit of chilliness, somewhat like symptoms of a severe cold.

After the bloody handprint disappeared, she felt like a shivering traveler in a harsh winter who had finally welcomed the warm spring sun.

While her body and mind felt comfortable, her whole self also felt much more relaxed.

"Mm", Yumiko's beautiful brows slightly relaxed. Looking at her ankle, which had returned to its fair complexion, she twisted it a few times and was somewhat surprised, "It really disappeared?!"

There was no longer that heaviness, that feeling like she couldn't lift her foot. Her whole self felt more energized, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

"How much is the fee? I'll gather the payment as soon as possible," The girl quietly calculated in her heart. Her family was in decent condition, and since childhood, the pocket money she had saved up was no small amount. Taking out tens of thousands should be doable.

She just didn't know if it was enough.

"We can put the matter of payment aside for now," Kaito shook his head and added, "Although the curse of the bloody handprint has been lifted, the source of the curse is still there."

"You mean", Yumiko snapped out of it, and her fair face, which had just regained some color, turned a little pale again.

"As long as that evil spirit who targeted you is still around, handprints like this will appear again sooner or later."

Kaito said calmly, "My act of erasing the mark might have already enraged that evil spirit."

"So"

The girl swallowed hard, her emerald eyes flashing a hint of panic, "My current situation is actually more dangerous now?"

"Not quite more dangerous."

Kaito raised his head and glanced at the sky outside the window, the sun was about to set.

In Japan, there's a saying about the "twilight hour," meaning that onmyoji (exorcists) believe dusk is the time when ghosts and gods are most likely to appear. It's the time of day with the heaviest yin energy, when one is most likely to see things they shouldn't.

"In any case, let's go to your home and have a look first."

Half an hour later.

"This is my home."

In front of a high-end apartment, Miura Yumiko stopped and entered the code to open the door.

The layout was a typical 2LDK Japanese-style apartment, but the interior was delicately decorated. Upon entering, the kitchen and dining room were on the left, and slightly ahead was the living room. Since the lights weren't turned on and the curtains were tightly drawn, the interior was a bit dim.

"Since I live alone, there aren't any male slippers at home."

Yumiko apologized, "So, Kaito-kun, please just come in directly, no need to change shoes."

Kaito didn't mind such minor details and just nodded casually, letting his gaze fall on the various corners of the room.

Miura Yumiko followed beside him like a little wife, then suddenly furrowed her brows slightly and looked at the window ledge not far away.

"I remember I didn't close the curtains before leaving this morning", She trailed off, stuck mid-sentence. She didn't know when it started, but suddenly a cold, ghostly wind began to blow through the room, icy to the bone.

Even though it was spring, the indoor temperature dropped close to freezing. Wearing only a short skirt and over-the-knee socks, Yumiko quickly began to shiver from the cold, "S-So cold"

Even the most slow-witted person should realize something was off by now.

Yumiko clutched her arms, rubbing them for warmth, her voice slightly trembling, "Kaito-kun i-is it here?"

Kaito didn't answer. He just slightly shifted his gaze to a spot beside the sofa not far away.

There was a faint, shadowy black figure crouched there. Its blurry outline vaguely showed that it was on all fours, reminiscent of something like a spider.

At the same time, a faint click sound came from behind them.

Yumiko instinctively turned around, only to see that the door, which had just been open, had now closed.

A dark room, bone-chilling wind, a door that closed on its own.

Everything was maxed out, every element was in place.

Yumiko tried to reopen the door, but the doorknob felt like it had been welded shut, completely immovable.

She then pulled out her phone, only to find that there was no signal at all.

She tried dialing the police, but only got the busy tone "doo-doo-doo."

Even though just downstairs was a bustling city full of traffic, this little apartment building seemed to be surrounded by some mysterious force, severed from the noisy real world, becoming a dead zone with no way to call for help.

"Kaito-kun", Yumiko's voice was clearly laced with sobs.

After all, she was just an ordinary girl who lived in an ivory tower. At most, she was slightly popular in real life, and her biggest worry was probably that her crush didn't like her back.

Now, suddenly encountering such a horror movie-like bizarre situation, she finally understood what "so scared your legs go weak" really felt like.

But

Thinking that it was because of her request that Kaito-kun had been dragged into such danger, Yumiko clenched her teeth, pulled a self-defense fruit knife out from the shoe cabinet by the entrance, and stood in front of the weak and delicate pretty boy from her class.

"Kaito-kun, I I will do my best... do my best to hold it back"

The figure of the evil spirit gradually became clearer.

Its thick black hair was like sticky ink, covering most of its body. Its eight limbs were thin like bamboo joints, sprawled across the floor, making one think of disgusting arthropods.

Yumiko's breathing became even more rapid, but she still took a deep breath. Like a knight buying time for her prince to escape, her pretty face showed determination as she turned her back to him, "So, please make sure to find the right momentrun!"

Kaito: ""

'Although I appreciate the thought, Miura-san aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?'

'Come to think of it, Miss Togawa was like this too.'

'Could it be I am born with a face that really makes people want to protect me?'

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Chapter 14: Too Much Hair, Too Weak to Resist Fire

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Although she didn't really need protection, Miura Yumiko's actions were certainly commendably brave.

After all, not everyone is willing to stay behind and cover others when facing life-and-death danger.

Most people still hold onto the mentality of 'better them than me,' distancing themselves from anything not directly their problem.

'To be able to interfere with reality, making it so that even normal people without Yin-Yang Eyes can see it, this evil spirit is indeed quite powerful.'

'But that is all there was to it.'

Though the evil spirit before them looked terrifying, it was only at the level of an ordinary vengeful ghost.

To ordinary people, of course, it was a catastrophic disaster. They wouldn't even have a way to escape. But to most cultivation sects, it was just an experience bag for new disciples to practice on.

The evil spirit clearly had some intelligence, but not much.

The curse had been removed, and its emotions were purely anger. It wanted to go berserk and start killing indiscriminately.

But as a predator, its instincts told it that the strange human beside its prey was extremely dangerous.

Even though he looked full of flaws, it felt like the moment it made a move, it would be destroyed.

Fear and anger tangled together, making the evil spirit hesitate.

It wanted to go but felt unwilling.

It wanted to fight but feared something would go wrong.

It was stuck there, unable to advance or retreat.

"Why is it just standing there?", Miura Yumiko had been really scared, and the only reason she wasn't collapsed on the ground was because of sheer willpower.

But after waiting for so long and not seeing the long-haired evil spirit charge, it was like it had frozen. Just crouched in place with no movement for a long time.

Kaito didn't answer. He simply stepped forward.

Finally, the long-haired evil spirit reacted, taking a step back, still keeping a distance of around five meters from Kaito.

Miura Yumiko: "..."

'Is that backward step seriously?'

Kaito continued forward, and the evil spirit kept backing away.

Like two parallel lines that would never intersect, always keeping the same distance.

But the room was only so big. Soon, the evil spirit had nowhere left to retreat.

This made it increasingly anxious, letting out an ear-piercing shriek that cracked the glass with spiderweb-like fractures.

This kind of sonic attack was far too much for ordinary people to handle.

Miura Yumiko couldn't help but press her hands tightly against her ears, but it didn't help much. Her brain still felt like it was being stabbed with needles.

Kaito had originally wanted to observe this evil spirit, which, up to now, was the strongest he'd encountered in this world. To see if it had any unique traits.

But after scanning it thoroughly with his spiritual sense, he could only say it was painfully ordinary. Nothing noteworthy at all.

That meant it had no reason to keep existing.

"Burn," Just a simple syllable.

Several basketball-sized fireballs suddenly emerged from the air in front of him, blazing like little suns, exuding intense heat.

With a casual point of his finger, the fireballs merged together as if they had a life of their own, instantly transforming into a slender dragon shape, mouth wide open, impatiently pouncing on the long-haired evil spirit before it.

Big body, weak defenses, too much hair. Maybe it was from playing too many games lately, but the moment he saw the inky black long hair of the evil spirit, he instinctively went with a fire-based spell.

Though, it didn't really count as a spell. Just a simple manipulation of spiritual power, molded into the form of a dragon.

Even so, the long-haired evil spirit had no resistance whatsoever, and in the blink of an eye, it was devoured by the flaming dragon. It didn't even have time to scream before its entire body turned to ashes with a "crackle pop."

At the same time, the eerie chill in the room dispersed, and the temperature gradually rose.

Miura Yumiko glanced at her phone. The signal suddenly showed full bars.

The girl was still a bit stunned, "Th-that's it?"

It had looked so grotesque and terrifying, and yet Kaito had casually wiped it out.

Especially that dragon made of flames he summoned. It looked vividly alive, like a real creature.

Thinking back to how she had acted like it was the end of the world, even volunteering to stay behind Yumiko's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"It's gone," Kaito shook his head, "Just a little ghost. Not worth mentioning."

This long-haired evil spirit had clearly given a bit more merit in return.

If the previous two exorcisms had earned merit about the size of a sesame seed or a mung bean, then this one was more like a sunflower seed. Though shelled, of course.

"I just didn't expect Kurumizaka-kun to be this powerful", Yumiko gave an awkward smile, now looking at him with a bit more reverence in her eyes.

This was a natural instinct when humans were faced with something beyond their understanding.

A super handsome classmate, who was secretly a powerful exorcist, and had just saved her life.

If this were a manga, next would be the beloved teen romance comedy arc, right?

"Thanks for the compliment," Kaito mercilessly shattered her fantasy, "The exorcism fee is a friendly five million yen. How would you like to pay?"

To be fair, the price wasn't unreasonable.

According to official Japanese surveys, the average monthly salary of a typical office worker was around 330,000 yen. Five million yen was just under two years' worth of wages.

Two years' salary in exchange for a life. This was a deal 99% of people would take without hesitation.

If Kaito wanted, he could've easily asked for more. But since this was the first commission accepted by the club he just founded, offering a slight discount was normal.

Besides, even though Kaito hadn't needed her to stand in front of him, he still appreciated Yumiko's earlier action.

"Five million, huh", Yumiko pursed her lips, quickly calculating her savings in her head before letting out a breath of relief.

Her family was doing fairly well. Her parents both did business abroad, not exactly ultra-rich, but decently well-off.

She had saved up a bit over eight million yen since childhood, just enough to cover the fee for this commission.

"How do you have over eight million?", Looking at the notification of funds received on his phone, Kaito raised an eyebrow.

"Because I have something else I'd like to ask of you," Yumiko bit her lip, a little embarrassed, "Can I trouble you to stay the night here?"

Even though the evil spirit that had been targeting her had been slain and burned to ashes, the girl still felt uneasy.

As the saying goes, "Once bitten by a snake, you'll fear ropes for ten years." The pressure an evil spirit gave off was ten times worse than any venomous snake.

She kept feeling like there were still other dirty things lurking in the dark corners of her home, waiting to emerge after she fell asleep at midnight.

In short, she felt very unsafe.

Yumiko was even planning to talk to her parents soon about moving into a cleaner apartment. She never wanted to experience something like this again.

As the one who slayed the evil spirit, Kaito's presence was like a branch in the eyes of a drowning person.

A normal reaction would be to cling onto it, and never let go.

Just his presence, even without doing anything, gave Yumiko genuine peace of mind.

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Chapter 15: Pots and Pans, Submit to Me!

"Of course, it's also okay if you don't agree."

Miura Yumiko kept carefully watching Kaito's expression, "The extra two million yen just think of it as my little token of appreciation"

She really wanted to cling to this golden thigh.

Even if nothing could happen between them, she at least wanted to maintain a good relationship.

After all, ordinary people facing evil spirits were as weak as babies, with no power to resist.

Although the long-haired evil spirit had been easily burned to ashes by Kaito's fire spell, Yumiko didn't think the spirit was actually some weak small fry.

Just its special effects when appearing, able to block electronic signals and control temperature, put it at least on the elite boss level in horror games, the kind with dedicated CG scenes.

No one ever knew when they might have bad luck and run into the supernatural.

Yumiko was just a freshman in college. Her life was still long ahead of her, and she couldn't guarantee she'd never encounter another terrifying evil spirit again.

Though there were many shrines and temples around Tokyo, who knew how many frauds were among them?

Meeting a truly capable spiritualist was a rare and lucky fate. Definitely not someone you should let slip away easily.

"Actually, you don't need to worry," Kaito casually glanced around the room and said, "The only evil spirit is already dead. There's no trace of any others here."

Evil spirits in this world were still quite rare, not some common thing you'd bump into on every street corner.

Most people probably wouldn't even encounter one in their entire lifetime, never seeing the other side of the world even at death.

That said, fear had always been a primal instinct of humans. Something not easily overcome.

Just like how everyone knows the ghosts in haunted houses are just staff in costume, but people still get scared.

Not to mention, Yumiko had encountered a real evil spirit.

"Forget it," Looking at the girl still wearing that bitter, pitiful expression, Kaito shook his head, "It's fine if I stay here for a night. Do you have a guest room ready?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Of course there is!"

Yumiko lit up with joy, her little head nodding furiously, almost shaking her brains loose.

Her voice was bright and lively, eyes sparkling, "Kaito-senpai, please follow me!"

The guest room wasn't anything special.

Although it was clean and tidy, with brand new bedding, perhaps because no one had lived in it before, it looked more like a hotel room. Lacking a sense of home.

After confirming the location of the room, Kaito returned to the living room.

As for Miura Yumiko

The girl was currently showering in the bathroom.

She had been so flustered when the long-haired spirit appeared, but once it was gone, she realized, belatedly, that she'd broken out in cold sweat. Add in the incident at the clubroom that afternoon. In short, her current condition could be summed up in six words: Strong smell, no need to elaborate.

Though it wasn't exactly unpleasant, and to certain people with specific tastes, it might even be stimulating.

But Kaito clearly didn't have that kind of weird kink.

To maintain her image, a shower was essential.

The process was calm and uneventful. None of those clich romantic-comedy accidents like "forgot the towel" or "slipped in the bathroom."

By the time Yumiko came out, more than half an hour had passed, and that was only because she didn't take time to dry and care for her waist-length blonde hair, worried Kaito would wait too long.

Otherwise, double the time would've been normal.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kurumizaka-senpai," The girl had changed into a white camisole, revealing her pale shoulders and arms, her round chest forming a beautiful curve.

Below, she wore simple denim hotpants, exposing two long, snow-white legs like chopsticks.

Since she'd just gotten out of the shower, her skin was crystal clear with a few drops of water still clinging to it. Like a lotus emerging from clear water.

But even with this cool and refreshing outfit, Kaito only gave her a casual glance before looking away.

Yumiko was a little disappointed by his reaction.

Though she looked like the perfect example of a "gyaru" girl, blonde, fashionable, outgoing. Deep down, she was quite conservative. She'd never even held hands with a boy before.

Even when going out, she didn't wear revealing clothes. This camisole and hotpants combo was something she only wore when home alone.

She thought she could reclaim her image as a goddess this way, but Kaito's indifference made her doubt her charm.

'Aren't boys this age supposed to be full of youthful passion?'

Still, Yumiko quickly perked up again, determined to take a different approach.

Her mom once said: ("If you want to win a man's heart, first win his stomach.")

And she deeply agreed.

So, excitedly, she put on an apron, planning to let Kaito-senpai taste her cooking.

But Yumiko clearly didn't have much cooking experience.

Before entering the kitchen, she was full of confidence. Even patting her chest, saying she'd give him a surprise.

Then she couldn't even figure out how to use a kitchen knife, and when trying to julienne a potato, she cut her hand instead. It was hard to watch.

"Um looks like I messed up."

Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep. After disinfecting, Yumiko carefully covered it with a band-aid.

The girl looked embarrassed, scratching her cheek awkwardly, "How about I change clothes, and we go out to eat instead?"

Watching all those cooking videos gave her the false sense that cooking was easy.

But actually doing it, she realized how hard it was. She wanted to julienne potatoes, but what she ended up with looked more like potato chunks, didn't it?

"Forget it. I'll do it," Kaito thought for a moment and rejected her suggestion.

Even though Yumiko's cooking skills were painful to watch, her house was well-stocked with ingredients, which made his fingers itch to cook.

'So, so skilled!'

Watching Kaito-senpai put on an apron and walk into the kitchen, Yumiko covered her mouth softly in amazement, her emerald eyes full of awe.

All kinds of heavy kitchen tools seemed to obey his every command.

Even the way he stroked the cutting board looked like a king inspecting his domain.

She couldn't help but feel that, if Kaito-senpai were to suddenly shout "Pots and pans, submit to me!" it wouldn't feel out of place at all.

And also

'S-so handsome!'

If his usual demeanor was elegant and reserved like a lazy, noble lion-cat, then now, wearing an apron and seriously cooking, he had an irresistible "husband aura."

Soft white lighting shone on his face, like an angel bowing to gently kiss his cheek.

Miura Yumiko leaned quietly against the doorway, staring without blinking, nearly greedy with admiration.

Who knew how much time passed, until her legs even started going numb, before the beautiful boy, wearing a cat-themed apron, finally stopped and smiled softly, "All done."

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Chapter 16: The Second Club Member

Guobaorou, fish-flavored shredded pork, spicy boiled beef, plus a crucian carp tofu soup.

A very typical three-dishes-one-soup configuration.

Miura Yumiko actually preferred sushi, with a lighter taste, and usually had to maintain her figure, so she wasn't very interested in oily and spicy dishes.

But...

She unconsciously touched the corner of her mouth, only to find her hand wet.

"Come and try the taste."

During the time she had been spacing out, Kaito had casually taken off his apron and carried all the dishes to the table in the living room.

"Th-thank you for the food, then," Even though she was in her own home, Yumiko felt inexplicably reserved, sitting obediently at the dining table like a primary school student, her back straight.

She gently picked up a slice of fatty beef roll with her chopsticks and put it into her mouth.

'Mm! So delicious!'

The girl let out a sharp cry in her heart.

At first, she wanted to maintain a ladylike demeanor, but she quickly couldn't resist the temptation of the food, and her chopsticks moved like a whirlwind sweeping up fallen leaves.

In the end, most of the dishes ended up in her stomach, and Kaito hardly ate much.

'Uh-oh I think I ate a bit too much,' Looking at the mess of plates, Yumiko lamented inwardly.

Girls more or less have the habit of maintaining their figure. After all, not everyone has a body type that doesn't gain weight no matter how much they eat.

Usually, her dinner would be a vegetable salad or just a few slices of bread to get by.

But tonight's cooking was simply too delicious. By the time she came back to her senses, she had collapsed on the sofa, without even the strength to lift a finger.

Beneath the cool camisole, her fair lower belly was faintly visible, forming a rounded curve.

She couldn't go back now.

The principle of "easy to go from frugal to extravagant, hard to go back" applied everywhere.

After tasting such supreme delicacies, asking her to torture her taste buds again for the sake of maintaining her figure would be way too cruel.

She really wanted to hire Kaito to cook for her for a lifetime.

But it seemed she couldn't afford that kind of salary...

After all, his actual profession was exorcism, and the fees weren't cheap. Each case cost hundreds of thousands.

If he took one case every three days, that'd be ten cases a month, with a net income of tens of millions.

The Miura family was indeed somewhat well-off, but at best they were just middle class, not even nouveau riche, and definitely couldn't afford it.

Might as well pack herself up and sell herself, being a workhorse would be fine too, as long as it came with three meals a day.

Yumiko seriously considered the possibility of this idea.

Kaito, who wasn't daydreaming like the girl, happened to glance over and notice the PS5 placed beside the LCD screen, and was a little surprised, "You usually play console games?"

"Eh?", Yumiko looked over in response to the voice, and subconsciously answered, "That was something my dad bought when we first moved in. I've only played it a few times."

The console game industry in Japan was very developed, and among the three major game consoles popular worldwide, two were made by Japan companies.

"Since you've played before, then it's easy."

Kaito shook the controller in his hand, "Want to play a game for a bit?"

It was still early, just past 9 PM, and for modern college students, nightlife hadn't even started yet.

It's not like they were going to sleep at this hour. Finding something fun to do was perfectly normal.

And it could help with digestion too.

Of course, Yumiko didn't refuse.

There were quite a few games downloaded on the PS5, but most were single-player, with few online PvP ones.

In the end, the two of them picked an anime-style fighting game with beautiful visuals and flashy effects.

It was Kaito's first time playing the game. His character was totally random, but he still picked it up quickly.

In contrast, Yumiko was kind of stunned.

Even though Kaito was trying his best to hold back, and only used the hand speed and vision of an average person, he still easily pulled off a 1v3 sweep.

Then he even sent a head-pat emoji to encourage her.

It actually helped ease the girl's mood. Even if she lost, she wasn't angry. Instead, her fighting spirit was ignited.

Like that, they played for almost three hours straight before reluctantly putting down the controllers.

"That's enough for today," Looking at the blonde girl beside him who had already started yawning uncontrollably, tears even forming at the corners of her eyes, Kaito turned off the console and said goodnight.

But not long after he had just laid down in the guest room, the door was knocked again.

Yumiko stood outside hugging a blanket, looking weakly at him, "The light in the bedroom seems to be broken."

"..."

"Could I maybe stay in the guest room for the night?"

After a pause, Yumiko carefully added, "Um, I can just sleep on the floor"

She hadn't meant to bother Kaito.

But perhaps because of the long-haired evil spirit from earlier, the light in the bedroom had mysteriously broken, no matter how she tried, it wouldn't turn on.

Sleeping with the light off felt a little scary, like there were still evil spirits hiding in the darkness.

"Forget it, come in."

The girl's pitiful look was just too much. Kaito stepped aside and let her in.

"Thank you! That really helps a lot!"

Yumiko let out a sigh of relief.

If Kaito had rejected her, she would've had to make do on the living room sofa.

But how could the living room compare to the sense of safety next to Kaito?

The room returned to silence.

Though it was pitch dark, just listening to the faint breathing nearby gave a sense of calm and reassurance.

The girl closed her eyes and silently said goodnight to someone in her heart.

.

.

.

Time flew by, like a white steed passing a gap.

The club activity room on the fifth floor was still the same as always, just with one more new member.

Blonde hair, blue eyesit was Miura Yumiko.

Not long after that exorcism, the girl came knocking again.

But this time, it wasn't a request. She brought a club application.

Considering she was his first client and promised to help bring in more clients for the club, Kaito didn't refuse.

Thus, the Supernatural Research Club welcomed its second member, basically escaping the crisis of being disbanded.

"By the way, President, Gotou-senpai said she'd bring a friend today. Do you know any details?"

After carefully cleaning the room spotless and making two cups of black tea, placing one on Kaito's desk, Miura Yumiko showed no trace of her "Queen of Flames" tsundere self, and instead looked like a diligent little maid.

"No idea," Kaito shook his head slightly, his eyes never leaving the manga in his hands, "You curious?"

How could she not be curious?

Gotou Hitori. Miura Yumiko had heard of this quiet student.

She always carried a guitar bag, didn't talk to anyone, and at first glance seemed cold and aloof, but was probably just severely socially anxious, right?

In any case, a weirdo.

But this exact weirdo managed to surpass everyone else and became the first member of the Supernatural Research Club, even she had to call her senpai.

According to the president, Gotou Hitori had also experienced a supernatural event herself, and even awakened spiritual sight on her own.

Anyone chosen by her to be a friend must surely be some kind of elite in this field, right?

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Chapter 17: Kita Ikuyo

Just as she was thinking, the door to the clubroom was suddenly opened.

Gotou Hitori, dressed in an old-fashioned pink tracksuit, walked in. Beside her was a red-haired girl full of curiosity.

"Good afternoon, Gotou-senpai!", Yumiko greeted them with a naturally polite attitude.

Japan is a country with a clear hierarchy. Junior students must address senior students as 'senpai,' and newcomers in the workplace must respect their seniors. Otherwise, it's easy to be targeted.

"Mi-Miura-san, good afternoon," Gotou Hitori answered softly. Hearing the word "senpai," the corners of her mouth uncontrollably lifted.

'Hehe, senpai... senpai...'

'I never thought that even someone as useless as me would one day be called senpai'

'And by Miura-san, who's at the top of the class's social hierarchy! I have no regrets left in life!'

"This is...", Yumiko turned her gaze to the unfamiliar red-haired girl beside her, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Kita Ikuyo from class C next door. I'm Bocchi-chan's friend. Please take care of me!", The girl named "Kita" smiled brightly, like a small sun full of life, radiating light and warmth without restraint.

'What a strong normie aura!'

Miura Yumiko felt a kindred spirit and gave a brief self-introduction in return.

"Sorry for the sudden visit."

Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands together and said with a cheerful smile, "Since I recently formed a band with Bocchi-chan and heard she joined an interesting club, she's been so distracted during practice that I got curious. So I asked her to bring me here to take a look! I hope you don't mind!"

Of course, the curiosity was real.

But the bigger reason was that she was worried Bocchi-chan was being deceived.

Supernatural Research Club just hearing the name makes it sound shady.

Bocchi-chan is timid, shy, and hopelessly introverted. She totally seems like the perfect target to be tricked into some shady business. Even if something happened, she definitely wouldn't resist, just silently endure it. She might even be forced into "support X" and then be dumped into an alley after being drained of every last bit of value, left to become a stray dog's lunch

As a friend, Kita couldn't rest easy. She decided she had to see for herself.

If it turned out to just be a group of ghost story lovers, fine. But if someone had ill intentions. She touched the small bottle hidden under her skirt, feeling more at ease.

Anti Wolf Spray, Tired of those puny single sprays? Introducing the latest anti-wolf spraysix times stronger. A must-have for any single woman who dares to go outside without a personal SWAT team.

'But judging from the current situation, maybe I am overthinking?'

'Miura Yumiko is famous across the entire first-year class. A stunning blonde-haired, green-eyed beauty with countless admirers. Since even she joined this club, it probably isn't anything sketchy.'

'As for the other one that must be the club president Bocchi mentioned?'

'Was his name Kurmizaka? Supposedly an incredibly rare, once-in-a-generation beautiful boy?'

Thinking of how excited her friend was when telling her about him, almost screaming, Kita got curious.

She had heard the name Kaito before, but never seen him in person.

There were a few sneak shots on the school forum, but they were taken from too far away and the resolution was blurry. She could barely make out a silhouette.

Kita's brilliant golden eyes landed on the figure not far away, reading a book.

The warm afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, casting colorful light and shadow on him. A few soft cherry blossom petals floated down with the breeze, landing gently on his shoulder. Even the flowers seemed to be dancing for him.

'But why is it only a side profile?'

Kita felt like a thousand little cats were clawing at her heart, itching to rush forward recklessly.

As if hearing her thoughts, the boy, whose attention had mostly been on the manga, finally looked up. His light chestnut eyes met hers.

CRACK!

"K-Ku"

After zoning out for a full two and a half minutes, Kita finally regained her voice.

"Kita-san, nice to meet you," Kaito nodded slightly at her, "Please take care of me."

"Please take caow! That hurt!", Kita was still a bit dazed, like she had just downed a dozen shots of high-proof sake. She accidentally bit her tongue.

'Ugh so embarrassing!'

Tears welled in the girl's eyes, and the ever-predictable Miura Yumiko laughed to smooth things over.

"I've been meaning to ask. Why does Kita-san call Gotou-senpai 'Bocchi-chan'? Is there some special meaning?"

"Be-because the name Hitori means being alone, right?"

Kita scratched her cheek in embarrassment, "Being alone is lonely, and 'Bocchi' is a phonetic translation of 'alone.' It's a nickname given by a senior in the band."

'That's not wrong but the name "Bocchi" kind of sounds more like a name for a dog, doesn't it?'

Yumiko resisted the urge to roast and looked at Gotou Hitori, who was almost turning into a pink whack-a-mole.

"Sounds like a very cute nickname. Just like Gotou-senpai herself."

"Bocchi-chan, can I call you that too?"

Little Bocchi weakly nodded.

As fellow normies, Yumiko and Kita got along well.

Even though they had just met, after chatting a bit, they quickly became familiar.

When girls talk, the topics always revolve around makeup, food, shopping, traveling, and, of course, handsome guys.

Actually, Kita really wanted to talk about Kaito, but since the person himself was right there, she felt too embarrassed. So she settled for discussing with Yumiko which dessert shops near school were best, and which store made the most well-crafted skirts.

Kaito wasn't interested in the girls' talk.

But seeing Gotou Hitori crouching in the corner like a mushroom, drawing circles with a gloomy aura screaming "I should be under the car, not in the car".

He thought for a moment and waved at her, "Gotou-san, want to come chat?"

After all, she was the first club member he personally brought in. It was important to check on her mental state.

Otherwise, it would feel like one of those scummy guys who pick up a stray kitten or puppy from the street, bring it home, and then completely ignore it.

As if a meat pie had just fallen from the sky and hit her on the head, little Bocchi was flustered but pleasantly surprised as she sat down.

"I heard from Kita-san that you formed a band recently?"

"Y-yes."

"No wonder I haven't seen you around much."

Kaito's gaze fell on the black guitar case on the girl's back, clearly interested.

This world didn't just have a weird gender ratio; its musical scene was ridiculously vibrant too.

All-girl bands were as common as crossing a river, but they were usually just friends messing around. Very few actually made it commercially.

'Could could it be that Kaito is subtly expressing dissatisfaction?'

'Just like how the Shogun in historical dramas would hint at disobedient subordinates ugh, at this point, only a full dogeza (prostration) can express my sincerity!'

"I-I'm truly sorry for neglecting club activities!", Like she had a spring installed, Bocchi suddenly bounced up from her chair and was about to throw herself on the floor.

Fortunately, Kaito had fast reflexes and stopped her. Looking at the girl acting like she was facing a deadly crisis, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I'm not blaming you," He shook his head, "When I invited you to join, I already said I wouldn't force you to participate in club activities. I just needed the headcount, that's all."

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Chapter 18: Bocchi, Lend Me Some Rice!

'Y-yeah'

Little Bocchi also realized and sat back down somewhat embarrassed.

"Having someone you like is a good thing."

Kaito reached out and patted the girl's little head. The soft touch was a little addictive, "Go for it. No need to worry about any club matters."

'Ugh so warm'

The big hand on top of her head carried a gentle warmth, turning Gotou Hitori into a steam princess.

But she didn't show any sign of resisting. She quietly rubbed against it a bit, like a pink-haired puppy in love, and said in a small voice:

"U-um"

"Kaito-kun, are you also interested in bands?"

"It's alright, I guess," Kaito withdrew his hand and picked up the manga on his lap again, which made Bocchi a little disappointed.

He thought for a moment and smiled, shaking his head, "But compared to modern guitars and basses, I actually prefer traditional instruments like the guzheng and konghou."

Back in the Courting Death Sect, there was an inner sect elder who played a fine guqin. It had the effect of calming the mind and expelling evil. He'd sometimes play at the martial arena, always drawing many disciples to watch.

When Kaito had just joined, he also joined the crowd a few times, but as an amateur, he couldn't understand any profound insights. Just thought the melody was indeed beautiful and refreshing.

"If you're interested in bands, then hey hey!", Even though Kita had been chatting with Miura Yumiko, she had actually been secretly paying attention to what was going on over here.

Seeing her chance to jump in, the red-haired girl raised her hand, speaking with great enthusiasm, "Kaito-kun, do you want to come with me and Bocchi-chan to the live house where we perform? It's super fun!"

Bocchi also looked over expectantly.

Though the little social phobic didn't dare invite him herself, Kita had already paved the way.

Summoning her courage, she quietly added, "The ticket money I-I'll pay for it!"

"No need for the ticket money."

Bocchi-chan blinked her big eyes, pitifully staring at him. It was just too cute.

Kaito raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, "After all, I just made a lot recently."

"Besides, didn't you already give me your dowry money? Where would you have any spare cash?"

Last time, he got a piggy bank from little Bocchi. The scattered money inside totaled about 430,000 yen.

It might not sound like much, but for a student who hadn't become financially independent yet, it was practically her entire fortune.

Though Bocchi did make music online, since she didn't have her own bank card, the video revenue was collected by her dad. She didn't actually have much money in hand.

The piggy bank was already her entire savings. After giving it away, she could barely afford food, so she had no choice but to work at STARRY, the shop run by Nijika's family.

'Wait, what the heck is this about a dowry?'

Kita was stunned. Yumiko also froze.

The two of them looked at Bocchi in disbelief, 'She seems like the least aggressive one, but is that just a disguise?'

"I-it was just a token of thanks!", Bocchi's little face turned red under their strange gazes, and she shyly explained in a panic, "Because K-Kurmizaka-kun helped me a lot before, so so"

'That scared me,' Yumiko finally sighed in relief.

After all, she had experienced a supernatural event herself. With a bit of thought, she more or less understood what had happened behind the scenes.

Kita was still half skeptical, but she wasn't going to nitpick over this.

Time quickly passed and school was over.

Since Miura Yumiko had plans to go shopping with friends, she left first.

As for Kaito and the others, they got on a train heading to Shimokitazawa.

Speaking of the name Shimokitazawa, it's hard not to imagine some strange things.

But actually, this place was very popular among young people in Japan. The streets were full of fashion boutiques, secondhand clothing stores, and daily goods shops. Coffee and bars were naturally essential too. The band atmosphere was strong, and it even had the nickname of "music town."

All in all, it was a great place to relax and chill.

The live house where Bocchi and Kita performed was in a basement. Following the stairs down, the walls were covered in rock-style posters, and there was a neon sign that read "STARRY."

Right now, there was a long line at the entrance. Groups of people waiting to check in were mostly schoolgirls in uniform.

"Apparently a really popular all-girl band is performing tonight, so they drew a lot of fans. Even the tickets sold out fast~"

Kita's voice was bright, "But since we're staff, we don't need to line up Ah! It's Ryou-senpai!"

She pointed with her small hand. At the check-in counter not far away sat a blue-haired girl with a blank expression, maintaining order in a bored manner.

Hearing her name, the girl named "Yamada Ryou" turned her head, just in time to meet Kita's eyes.

"Ah, so it's Kita," Though the tone was meant to express surprise, the way she said it felt like she was just reading lines.

She then looked toward the pink-haired girl beside her. Her golden eyes lit up slightly, "And Bocchi!"

"R-Ryou-senpai, good evening"

Being stared at so intently, Bocchi didn't even dare lift her head. She nervously greeted her.

"Evening," Yamada Ryou slightly raised the corners of her mouth and skillfully stretched out a soft little hand, speaking seriously, "Bocchi-chan, lend me some rice!"

"Ah uh uh uh", Bocchi nervously pointed at her finger and whispered, "But I only have 4,000 yen on me"

"That's fine, I don't mind!", Yamada Ryou's eyes sparkled, just about to push her luck further

Smack!

"Ow!", Yamada Ryou held her head, pitifully looking at the blonde girl who had appeared beside her without anyone noticing.

"You little punk, cut it out already!", Ijichi Nijika pulled back her fist and gave her a glare, "Picking on Bocchi-chan the moment you meet her. Hurry up and pay back the money you borrowed last time before anything else!"

After disciplining her unreliable best friend, Nijika finally turned to look at Kita and Bocchi, flashing a radiant smile. "Can't let this idiot run wild. The shop's gonna be busy tonight eh? Who's this beside you two?"

She finally noticed Kaito standing next to Bocchi. Her orange-red eyes blinked, and then she froze.

Yamada Ryou, who was still rubbing her head and muttering to herself, found it strange, 'Why did Nijika suddenly stop talking?'

Curious, she looked up.

And so, another stone statue appeared in the room.

.

.

.

[Five Minutes Later]

In a practice room deep within the live hall.

"I deeply apologize for the earlier rudeness! Please, Kaito-kun, don't take it to heart!", Shimokitazawa's Archangel bowed at a ninety-degree angle, her crisp voice laced with shame. To think she'd fangirl over a stranger at first sight, and in front of her friends too.

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Chapter 19: Matchmaker Mode Kita, Deploy!

[ Shoutout to Mythical_Jacob & Knight_204 for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

"It's fine," Kaito didn't care about this kind of situation at all.

If he had to fuss over every person who fell head over heels for him, then he might as well give up doing anything else for the rest of his life.

Compared to this kind of trivial matter, what intrigued him more was another small detail.

The girl in front of him had long, one-sided ponytail hair, looked about eighteen or nineteen years old, yet somehow had a very gentle aura, making people associate her with a loving mother.

But that wasn't the main point.

The main point was, the triangular ahoge on top of her head was actually floating in the air.

Where's Newton? Save us!

But thinking carefully... since even evil spirits existed in this world, a mere magnetic levitation ahoge didn't seem like a big deal.

"Not even blinking, is boyfriend-kun enchanted by Nijika's figure?", Yamada Ryou spoke indifferently from the side.

The blue-haired girl, after getting over her initial embarrassment, was the first to regain composure.

Maybe she was used to showing no emotion on her face daily, so even though her plump earlobes were slightly red, it wasn't very obvious.

'Figure?'

'Feels... not as good as Bocchi's.'

Although the girl named "Ijichi Nijika" did have a beautiful face and was full of vitality, making people naturally like her, still, nothing special.

"Ryou, what are you saying!"

Girls are actually quite sensitive to gazes from the opposite sex.

Even if Kaito just subconsciously glanced at her and then quickly looked away, it still made Nijika's pretty face flush red instantly.

To cover up her awkwardness, she raised her fist and pretended to be angry.

But her soft movements, rather than expressing dissatisfaction, looked more like a girl being shy after her thoughts were exposed.

"Ah ah, it can't be helped, after all, Nijika has already grown up."

Yamada Ryou held her face, on the verge of tears, "Wanting to form a warm family with the boy she likes is only natural, so even if you throw me away like a useless dirty rag, it's okay. I'll wash myself clean and reappear beside you"

"Like hell that kind of thing exists. And why the heck have you already defaulted to still clinging to me even after I get married!"

Nijika was both shy and angry. It was just a random bit of fangirling, how did it spiral into something like this.

And even if she did fangirl a bit, it's not like it's her fault.

Even Ryou herself stared in a daze for a while, how could Nijika be any different?

"Nijika really has fallen in love, actually disliking me for another guy," Gremlin Ryou pulled out a handkerchief from who knows where and started wiping away her 'tears' sadly.

"Even without Kaito-kun, I'd always dislike you anyway, so please don't push the blame onto someone else."

"You're not even denying the 'fallen in love' part anymore," Ryou muttered quietly, glancing at the calm-faced pretty boy, then at Nijika, with a hint of implication.

"Stop saying nonsense! Or I'll really get mad!", An angry, puffed-up archangel still had quite the intimidating presence.

Seeing that she'd finally suppressed Gremlin Ryou, Nijika patted her chest and showed an apologetic smile, "Sorry, Ryou's just like this... But she doesn't mean any harm, she's just purely a weirdo."

"I can see that," Kaito agreed deeply.

'Although she looks like a cold, expressionless ice queen, her personality is surprisingly different?'

From how she immediately borrowed money from Gotou Hitori upon meeting, she probably had some unreliable qualities too.

Might as well not call her Yamada Ryou anymore. Ryou Beggar seems more fitting.

"Hum hum~", Gremlin Ryou crossed her arms proudly.

"Which is exactly why I'm not praising you anymore!"

Nijika rubbed her forehead helplessly, already used to her friend being shameless and even proud of it.

"Tada~! We've brought back the drinks~"

Just then, the door to the practice room swung open. Kita and Bocchi entered with arms full of drinks, smiling.

"Please help yourselves! My treat!"

Nijika let out a sigh of relief and returned to her gentle smile, "Just think of it as an apology for earlier."

Kaito casually picked up a can of ginger ale. It sounded like some dark cuisine, but after taking a sip, it was surprisingly refreshing?

"Speaking of which, isn't the performance about to start?"

Looking outside through the practice room window, they could see the stage not far away and a crowd of spectators beneath it.

Although the lighting was dim, the atmosphere was clearly lively, with many people holding glow sticks, all looking excitedly toward the stage.

"Very soon, just two more minutes."

Nijika spoke, her tone a little envious, "No matter how many times I see it, I'm always shocked. Such insanely high popularity"

Also as band members, but compared to her, Bocchi, Kita, and Ryou's group "Kessoku Band" was like a newborn baby. Hadn't even had its first real performance yet, let alone gained any real fans.

Will the Kessoku Band also one day have a moment like this? The audience packed with loyal fans who came just to see them, flowers and applause everywhere they went.

While Nijika was still daydreaming, a huge cheer suddenly erupted from the performance hall outside.

Several girls in glittering stage outfits entered one by one, they were tonight's main act.

Although they hadn't been a group for long, each member was very skilled and cute, so they quickly attracted a large fan base and rose to fame.

After a short opening speech, a passionate and exciting performance followed one after another.

It was clear this band knew how to interact with fans, and they quickly fired up the crowd.

Having gotten used to the tranquil sound of the guzheng, experiencing a modern-style live performance for the first time was definitely refreshing for Kaito.

"Is boyfriend-kun very interested in live shows?", Yamada Ryou suddenly spoke from the side.

"Not really, I just find it fresh and new," Kaito casually replied, then felt a bit odd, "But Yamada-senpai, why do you keep calling me boyfriend-kun?"

"Obviously because... aren't you and Bocchi dating?"

Gremlin Ryou blinked her golden eyes, "Did I misunderstand?"

As soon as this topic came up, Nijika quietly perked up her ears, feeling a strange, subtle nervousness.

Like discovering a priceless gem by chance.

Just when she was amazed by it, if suddenly told it already belonged to someone, it was hard not to feel regret.

"That's totally not true!", Before Kaito could explain, Kita already jumped in to clarify.

Under the strange gazes of her friends and Bocchi's teary-eyed expression, the red-haired girl finally realized her reaction might've been a bit too much.

She quickly waved her hands and explained incoherently, "I-I-I I didn't mean Bocchi-chan is bad!"

"Even though Bocchi-chan is really cute, and if she dressed up properly she could totally debut as a girl idol, and Kaito-senpai is super handsome, the two of them really do look good together"

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Chapter 20: Ill Play Bass and Support You

'I match well with Kaito? Me?'

'No no no, KiKita-san must be just comforting me!'

Gotou Hitori's small face grew redder and redder as she silently lowered her head, but the little deer in her chest was helplessly thumping away.

Realizing that she seemed to be digging herself into a deeper hole, Kita grew a bit desperate, "Forget it, just pretend I never said anything, sob sob sob..."

"I indeed do not have a romantic relationship with Gotou-san," Finally unable to bear it, Kaito cleared his throat lightly and pulled the topic back, "We are just ordinary classmates and members of the same club."

"So, you're still single then?", Gremlin Ryou always had a way of extracting the keywords she was interested in from irrelevant information.

"In that case...", A pair of golden eyes lit up, the girl spoke in a solemn tone, "Please go out with me!"

Kita: "..."

Bocchi: "..."

Nijika: "..."

"I appreciate the thought, but please allow me to refuse," Compared to the girls who were stunned speechless, Kaito's reaction was much calmer.

Compared to the female demons in his past life who only had one thing on their minds. Knock him out and drag him back to the cave to get married, Yamada Ryou's methods were undoubtedly far too immature.

Drugging, ambushing... he had seen all kinds of illegal methods starting at three thousand years minimum, maximum death penalty. A mere confession from a little girl was hardly enough to stir his heart.

"Why are you refusing?", Yamada Ryou showed not a hint of shyness and said seriously, "I can play bass and support you."

"I'm not lacking money."

"Then you can support me instead."

Kaito: "?"

He shook his head, "Dating without a foundation of feelings is a castle in the air. Illusory and fragile."

That was a clear rejection.

"I see", Yamada Ryou pinched her chin in a pondering pose, "So it's a rare pure love type?"

"No problem!", She clenched her right hand into a fist, suddenly slammed it into her left palm, and declared righteously, "Doing children purely is also pure love! If we do it a lot then... mm... mm!"

To prevent this fool from saying anything even more outrageous and completely shattering the girls' beautiful ideals of love, Nijika acted decisively, immediately covering Ryou's mouth. Years of drumming had trained her arm strength, which a mere fragile bassist couldn't hope to break free from.

"Ahaha... Sorry, Kaito-san, I forgot to mention, Ryou actually suffers from severe mental illness. She's currently in an episode. I'll be sure to educate her properly."

"Mm mm! Mm mm mm mm!", Gremlin Ryou's voice was muffled, seemingly trying to argue something.

Nijika's face didn't change. She just turned her head slightly, her wine-red pupils seemingly devoid of highlights, "One more word and I'll shark you."

Yamada Ryou: "..."

The blue-haired girl finally calmed down.

Kita also laughed awkwardly on the side, trying to smooth things over and move past this scene.

After the featured band of Starlight's Night finished their performance, the mood of the bands that went on afterward noticeably dropped.

Not only did many audience members leave, but the atmosphere also couldn't compare to that of the earlier bands.

Two hours passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already 7 p.m.

The last trace of sunset disappeared into the steel-structured modern city, and the fiery red sky gradually dimmed, replaced by ink-like darkness.

When parting with the others, the girl was still a bit reluctant and even wanted to ask for a photo of Kaito-kun to frame and hang up in the shop.

Firstly, it was eye candy. Secondly... maybe it could even attract more customers?

After all, most of the main customer base for STARRY was students from nearby schools, the majority of whom were girls.

But considering this was their first meeting, such a request would inevitably seem a bit too forward, so she suppressed the thought.

After leaving STARRY and returning to the apartment, as usual, he soaked in the bath for a bit.

It wasn't until Kaito put on his bathrobe, sat on the sofa, and habitually reached for the controller that he realized something serious.

'I... Seem to be getting lazier recently?'

He didn't even feel like doing his daily cultivation anymore.

The modern city was truly corrupting. Without making a sound, it had eroded the heart of a Nascent Soul Heavenly Lord.

'Forget it, better play a few rounds of games to calm down.'

.

.

.

In the days that followed, it was peaceful.

Classes as usual, reading manga in the club room. Leisurely like retirement.

It was Miura Yumiko who seemed particularly enthusiastic.

She hadn't forgotten the promise she made when applying to join the club and went around gathering information about urban legends or strange happenings, trying hard to bring Kaito some business.

Unfortunately, although ghosts and monsters did exist in this world, their numbers were too few, and they weren't that powerful.

Relying on her strong social skills and wide network, Yumiko did initially hear quite a few ghost rumors.

But after a little investigation, they all turned out to be unreliable. Mostly just hearsay and baseless gossip.

After enough false alarms, Yumiko couldn't help feeling discouraged, even venting to Kaito, "Damn! Why is everything fake! I feel like I've been wasting my efforts..."

"Totally normal," Kaito picked up the black tea in front of him and took a light sip, "It's not like evil spirits are cabbages. If monsters and demons were everywhere, the human world would've already been renamed the underworld."

"Then why did I encounter one?", Yumiko pouted, still unconvinced.

"Because you're unlucky," Kaito shook his head, then looked in a certain direction, "Besides, there's someone far unluckier than you."

Poor Bocchi, who was curled up in the corner like a mushroom and suddenly got caught in the crossfire:

It was bad enough to awaken spirit sight for no reason... One evil spirit at home, and another encounter with the Lucky Child at school. If Kaito hadn't happened to be there, Bocchi-chan's seventh-day death ceremony would've already passed.

While the few of them were chatting, the clubroom door was suddenly knocked on, then someone came in.

"Yo, everyone's here, how convenient," The iron-fisted female teacher in a white lab coat glanced around the room, her smile slightly awkward.

"Hiratsuka-sensei?", Kaito raised an eyebrow and put away the manga in his hand.

"Is there something you need?"

"Can't I just come to check on you all?", Hiratsuka Shizuka lightly coughed, feigning dissatisfaction, "After all, I am technically the advisor of the Supernatural Research Club."

"As you can see," Kaito waved his hand, and Bocchi obediently came over to sit beside him. Miura Yumiko wasn't to be outdone and took the seat on the other side.

"The club is doing well, and the members get along harmoniously. There's nothing that needs concern."

It was more than harmonious. With the sisterly love and respectful vibes, it wouldn't be strange if you called it the shogun's inner palace.

Hiratsuka suddenly hesitated, 'Was coming here today really the right choice?'

'But after thinking it over... that child's situation is already terrible, it can't get worse than it already is, right?'

'Besides...'

Her eyes subtly swept across that flawless face.

Even if something did happen, who's taking advantage of who is still up for debate.

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Chapter 21: I Dont Understand, I Cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness

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"So Hiratsuka-sensei, if you've got something to say, just say it," Seeing her hesitating and fumbling, Miura Yumiko felt a bit of a headache.

As a normie, she had lots of friends, and naturally among them were the type who wouldn't say things straight, but had to first ask, "Can I ask you something?"

Answering "You can," might lead to a troublesome request, which would then be hard to refuse cleanly.

But ignoring it wouldn't help either. Leaving a message on read without replying only makes things more awkward, who even invented the "read" function? They should be sacrificed to the gods!

"Was it that obvious?", Hiratsuka Shizuka scratched her head and decided not to beat around the bush anymore, putting on a serious face, "There's indeed something I need your help with."

Then she turned to look toward the door, and raised her voice, "Yukino, come in."

As her voice fell, a long-haired girl in uniform walked in, her expression seemed somewhat helpless, "Hiratsuka-sensei, I appreciate your good intentions, but I really don't"

Her sapphire-blue eyes happened to lock with a certain figure sitting on the sofa, and it was like ten thousand stars of Pegasus fell down, her breath caught.

"Haha, what did I say? I didn't lie to you, right!", Hiratsuka Shizuka let out two loud laughs and gave the long-haired girl's soft shoulder a firm slap, looking smug, "Didn't I tell you, just follow me and you won't be disappointed. Hmph! So how do you feel now? How do you feel, huh!?"

All her awe and amazement were scattered to the wind by that merciless slap.

Yukinoshita Yukino rubbed her shoulder, and her usually cold and calm face briefly showed a flash of pain. Her voice was as cold as ice, "Hiratsuka-sensei, using violence on students at will; I think I need to reassess whether you're still qualified to be a teacher."

"Sorry, sorry, forgot to hold back," Hiratsuka Shizuka was covered in cold sweat, trying to please her by massaging her shoulder, like a lackey serving a noble lady.

At a key moment, Miura Yumiko stepped up and changed the topic.

"Yukinoshita Yukino?", The blonde girl had a strange expression on her pretty face, "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Miura-san?", Yukinoshita also slightly frowned, though her demeanor seemed a bit calmer, "It's been a while."

Speaking of which, this was a bit of a twisted fate.

They had been classmates in elementary, middle, and even high school.

There had been some conflict when they were younger, though it ended quickly with Yumiko's defeat.

Since then, their relationship had always been lukewarm, never developing into the deep friendship typical of childhood companions who grew up together.

Later in college, Yumiko heard Yukinoshita had gone abroad to study and thought she wouldn't see her again for the next four years.

Who would've thought, after all the twists and turns, they'd end up reuniting at Shuka.

So many years had passed. The minor friction from back then had long since become history. Yumiko wasn't that petty.

She just didn't expect, that Yukinoshita, always cold and proud like a flower on a high peak, would actually have a day when she got lovestruck over a boy?

"No need to look so surprised," Yukino's pale cheeks faintly showed a blush, but it vanished in an instant.

"Humans are shallow creatures obsessed with appearances. The instinct to reproduce with stronger and more beautiful mates is deeply embedded in our DNA. It's just like how we eat when hungry, or drink when thirsty. It's only natural."

"The biggest difference between humans and animals lies in our ability to suppress instincts through rationality. I do the same."

Sounds reasonable on the surface.

But it still felt like she was going on a rant just to save face?

Beside her, Hiratsuka Shizuka instinctively tried to pat the girl's shoulder again, but shrank back under Yukino's terrifying death glare and quickly changed course, patting Kaito beside her instead, "Anyway, Yukinoshita just transferred here recently. As you can see, because of her personality, she still hasn't made any friends and is always alone. It's honestly pretty pitiful."

"Hiratsuka-sensei, please don't describe me like I'm some kind of problematic child."

Yukinoshita sighed, "I'm simply used to being alone, that's all."

'That might fool the older ladies, but don't deceive yourself too.'

'We'll believe you, sure. It's not like it costs us anything. But just hope you don't cry yourself to sleep hiding under the covers tonight.'

Hiratsuka Shizuka pouted, then turned to Kaito and said, "So, I hope you can help her fit in better with her surroundings. Ideally, even make a few friends."

"Of course," she paused, then added, "If you find it troubling, it's totally fine to say no. I'll figure out another way."

Hiratsuka-sensei's attitude was very good, with no sense of forcing him.

Plus, considering her huge help in creating the club, it was a favor that couldn't be ignored.

Kaito rubbed his forehead, "Since it's Hiratsuka-sensei's request, of course I can't just sit by and do nothing but for this kind of commission, I don't think I can help much, honestly?"

If it were a request to exorcise evil spirits or monsters, that'd be no problem, right up his alley.

Sadako, Kayako, whatever. Just hit them with a Five Thunder Curse and poof, all evil gone.

But helping a transfer student fit into class

'I don't understand, I cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness.'

"After all, you're the most popular person in our class," Hiratsuka Shizuka said this like it was obvious, "So this kind of thing shouldn't be hard for you wait a second."

She suddenly realized something, and looked a bit regretful.

Back then, she didn't think too much about it, she just naturally assumed that since Kaito was so popular at school, he'd definitely have lots of experience with this kind of thing.

Helping Yukinoshita integrate and make friends should be a piece of cake, right?

But thinking about it more carefully now, the reason he was popular seemed to be purely because he looked really good.

Even if he did nothing and just sat there quietly, people still liked him.

That kind of experience wasn't something others could use for reference. Even though Yukinoshita was also beautiful, her beauty was still within the realm of human standards.

At most, people would look and say, "Wow, what a pretty girl," and that's it. It didn't make people dazed and awestruck.

Plus, the male-to-female ratio at Shuka was one to four, the school had no shortage of pretty girls.

"Looks like Hiratsuka-sensei also realized the root of the problem."

Kaito gave a helpless smile, "I really don't know where to start, but I'll try my best."

"No worries, the fact that you're willing to help already means a lot."

Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand, a bit embarrassed, "Then I won't disturb you two anymore. Yukino, I'll leave her in your hands."

''Leave in your hands', what kind of weird phrasing is that?', Yukino was already tired inside. After confirming that Hiratsuka Shizuka had left, she turned to face Kaito.

The girl, beautiful like falling snow, lowered her gaze to avoid looking at that face that made her heart race, and spoke with deliberately distant politeness, "About Hiratsuka-sensei's earlier request, just pretend you didn't hear it. As the subject involved, I have no intention of engaging in pointless socializing."

"Of course, I'll also inform Hiratsuka-sensei of the cancellation. Sorry for the sudden disturbance."

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Chapter 22: The Cat Under the Snow

The warm spring sunset spilled into the quiet corridor along the window sill, as if laying out a golden carpet.

After leaving the Supernatural Research Club's clubroom, she walked alone through the empty hallway, accompanied only by the sound of "tap tap" footsteps.

Yukinoshita, however, did not feel lonely. On the contrary, she preferred the quiet environment.

Because it was helpfull in thinking.

Thinking, that is the secret by which humanity has come to stand above all other living beings.

'A silent, deserted afternoon is the best time to ponder profound philosophical questions. Like the end of the universe, or the meaning of human existence.'

'...As if.'

She couldn't forget, absolutely couldn't forget.

Whether her eyes were open or closed, that stunning face always lingered in her mind.

Yukinoshita had already been trying hard to divert her attention, but her hippocampus clearly had ideas of its own.

'The pursuit of beauty is indeed human nature, and emotions born from beauty will eventually transfer to another object when a more beautiful one appears.'

'Such feelings are, without a doubt, fake, and extremely shallow.'

Yukinoshita patted her face, trying to snap herself back to reality.

It was at that moment that a rustling sound suddenly came from not far away.

Yukinoshita returned to her senses, and only then realized that, at some point, she had walked into a secluded garden.

The sound came from behind a nearby shrub.

Yukinoshita didn't want to meddle in other people's business. Although she had trained in Aikido and knew a bit of martial arts, her physical strength was rather poor, she wasn't athletic.

If something truly happened, relying on Aikido alone would hardly be enough to protect herself in a dangerous situation.

But

"Meow~ meow~"

A faint meowing sound, seeming very weak.

Yukinoshita stopped in her tracks instinctively, suddenly unable to move forward.

As a devoted cat lover, her affection for cats had already reached a hopeless level.

Though her mother strongly objected to keeping cats, so she never had one, she often came to the garden to feed stray cats.

'Such a faint meow, could it be injured?'

'I have to check.'

With this thought in mind, Yukinoshita walked toward the source of the sound and soon arrived at the shrub.

She parted the messy branches, and the moment she saw the small figure curled up in front of her, she instinctively held her breath.

'It is a kitten.'

It looked not quite fully grown yet, kind of like a silver shaded breed, with silver-white fur all over, not a single trace of impurity.

Only its paw pads were tender and pink, the kind that made people want to reach out and touch them.

Judging by its appearance, it was undoubtedly extremely cute, but Yukinoshita's gaze became serious.

The kitten's hind legs seemed to have been bitten or torn by something, a bloody mess, extremely horrifying.

Just looking at it made her feel pain. With such a serious injury, it had to be treated immediately.

Yukinoshita took a deep breath and softened her voice, "Kitty, don't be afraid, I'm here to help you."

Injured cats were prone to stress reactions and might attack anything approaching indiscriminately.

Yukinoshita did want to help the injured kitten, but she couldn't just pick it up directly. Getting scratched was no joke.

First, she had to soothe the kitten's emotions, at least confirm that it wouldn't attack her before she could take action.

The kitten did seem afraid, its small body trembling slightly.

But it showed no intention of resisting. As if it had intelligence, it quietly stared at the unfamiliar human in front of it with big, glistening eyes.

It didn't bristle or hiss, so obedient it made the heart ache.

Yukinoshita tentatively reached out a hand, 'Good, the kitty isn't showing any sign of attacking.

"Meow~", Hearing this meow that sounded like a plea for help, Yukinoshita finally couldn't hold back anymore and carefully picked up the kitten.

Then she hurried to the nearest pet hospital, paid the fees at lightning speed, and waited anxiously.

.

.

.

.

A long while later.

A female doctor in a white coat walked out of the examination room and gave her a small nod, "It's been basically treated. Judging from the marks, it looks like it was bitten by some animal. Fortunately, you brought it in just in time."

"As long as it's okay," Yukinoshita was relieved and quickly asked, "Can I go in and see it?"

"Of course you can," The female doctor stepped aside, a bit emotional, "The kitten you brought has a really good constitution, and it's very obedient. It's the first time I've seen such a sensible cat."

During the wound treatment, it didn't make a fuss at all, as if it knew these humans were helping it. It didn't resist in the slightest.

Compared to those Hakimi cats that make a scene just from getting a bath, this one could be called a legendary, supreme cat.

'It really is well-behaved,' Talking about this, even Yukinoshita couldn't help but smile.

But she quickly restrained her expression and turned to walk into the ward, seeing the kitten whose hind legs had already been bandaged.

When it saw her enter, it meowed and a flash of gratitude appeared in its green pupils.

'Was that just an illusion?'

She had a feeling that this kitten's intelligence was a little too high.

Yukinoshita shook her head, tossing those strange thoughts away, then found herself troubled.

Though the kitten's wound had received basic treatment, it would definitely need time to rest and regular bandage changes.

In this situation, there was no way she could let it continue wandering.

A kitten with an injured hind leg and difficulty moving simply didn't have the ability to survive in the city.

But if she were to adopt it, her mother would be a huge problem.

Although she had already moved out and lived alone, her sister and mother would occasionally drop by to visit.

If they discovered that she was secretly raising a pet

Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a wet sensation on her fingertips, making Yukinoshita instinctively lower her head.

Turns out the kitten lying on the bed had, at some point, struggled to move closer and was now sticking out its pink little tongue, licking her fingertips gently.

Such an affectionate and sensible kitten, to a cat lover, it was like an SSR-grade rare card.

Yukinoshita's gaze gradually became firm.

There are always some things that are hard to make up your mind about.

But once decided, it becomes very easy.

When she left the pet hospital, Yukinoshita had a big cat carrier in her hands.

The kitten was curled up inside. Perhaps it was the relaxation after the rush of survival, it was now sleeping deeply.

It was the first time the girl was raising a cat. Amidst her joy, she couldn't help buying a ton of pet supplies: a cat bed, a cat tree, cat toys, cat food, cat treats

She ended up buying so much that it was hard to carry it all alone, so she just left her address, the pet hospital would arrange a delivery later.

'Yukitan's wound is no big deal for now. Just needs a few more bandage changes and it'll be fine.'

'Mm Spaying should be planned soon too, but that can wait. Let's focus on recovery first.'

By the way, "Yukitan" was the name Yukinoshita had given the kitten.

Back at the hospital, she had already carefully checked. There were no little lychees hanging under Yukitan, so she was a little lady.

Looking at the small life sleeping soundly in the cat carrier, Yukinoshita's lips curled slightly, "From now on, let's get along well."

[T/N: Ahoy~ brothers and sisters, check out my latest novel, "One Piece: The Living Devil", an EVIL MC on the Grand Line with devil fruits, danger, and lust. If you're hooked, don't forget to drop a Powerstone and add it to your Collectionevery bit of support keeps the journey alive and the story blazing forward]

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Chapter 23: The Piano Sound in the Midnight Classroom

Yukino walked away in a hurry, her attitude especially resolute, clearly not intending to integrate into the class.

Kaito naturally wouldn't force her and was happy to take it easy.

This little episode was quickly tossed to the back of everyone's minds.

Kaito continued reading manga, while Bocchi kept squatting in the corner like a mushroom.

As for Miura Yumiko

The girl leaned on the sofa, still holding her phone and scrolling through forums, trying to find a truly paranormal event.

She didn't have much hope at first, but as she scrolled and scrolled, she actually found a post that seemed kind of real.

'A beautiful piano sound suddenly echoed from the empty music classroom late at night Eh? There's even an audio recording attached?', Yumiko was a bit curious. She wanted to click and listen immediately but was afraid she might break some kind of taboo.

After all, the trope of a cursed tape killing people is a classic plot in Japanese horror films.

She couldn't help but trot over to Kaito's side, presenting her phone screen like a treasure, "President, look at this post!"

Kaito glanced at it from the corner of his eye, not taking it seriously.

"If you're curious, it's fine to listen. No need to be so scared."

"Then I'll play it?"

Yumiko thought for a moment, then ran to the side and pulled Bocchi over too.

"Let's listen together, the three of us!"

Bocchi: o(ЇЇ)o

Bocchi: 'Thank you so much for always thinking of me. You're really so considerate!'

'This should count as a rare club activity too, right?', Yumiko rubbed her fists together, and with Kaito by her side, she didn't feel as nervous anymore.

Shuka Academy had many clubs, and each club had its own things to do.

Academic clubs were busy studying, sports clubs were busy training, dance clubs were busy practicing. But the Supernatural Research Club, though it had been established for a while, hadn't had a single proper club activity.

The president even took the lead in slacking off. Either reading manga or playing on his phone. With immeasurable influence on the members.

"What kind of club activity is this?", Kaito was a bit speechless, "It's just listening to a recording."

"How is it not?", Yumiko argued confidently, "After all, the purpose of the Supernatural Research Club is to deal with these weird and mysterious things. Since this audio clip might be related to ghosts or something similar, it definitely counts as a club activity."

"Right, Bocchi-chan?"

Bocchi: o(ЇЇ)o 'No objections here.'

Seeing her react like that, Yumiko stuck out her tongue and didn't press further. She tapped the screen lightly and opened the audio file in the post.

The first sound that came was a soft, slow melody.

The music was touching, the tune pleasant, gradually rising. Even an outsider like Yumiko could tell the player's skill was extraordinary.

The only flaw was the audio included a bit of rapid breathing, like a drop of thick ink on white rice paper, ruining the atmosphere quite a bit.

It was probably the recorder's own breathing. Clearly, their emotions weren't calm while recording.

"This piece sounds, sounds like Beethoven's 'Fur Elise'?", As a music blogger with thirty thousand followers online, although Bocchi's best instrument was the guitar, she still had some understanding of this world-famous piece.

"Indeed," Kaito also nodded slightly, though his expression showed some confusion.

The piano piece did have a calming effect, but perhaps because it was coming through a screen, the effect was very faint.

Seems like they encountered something real.

The recording wasn't long, just a bit over ten seconds, and it ended quickly.

While flipping through the post, Yumiko said, "According to the original poster, she was so absorbed in drawing that day, and when she snapped out of it, it was already completely dark outside. Her art clubmates were all gone."

"She packed up her tools and was planning to leave when she heard piano music coming from the music room upstairs."

"She got curious, thinking someone else was also obsessed with practicing and forgot the time, so she went up to take a look."

"But she found the music classroom completely empty, and the piano was playing by itself."

"She got scared, quickly recorded a bit of audio, and ran away in a panic."

"No video?"

Speaking of this, Yumiko was a little helpless, "She said she was too scared at the time and was worried she'd see something she shouldn't on the camera, so she didn't dare to film."

This kind of thinking wasn't surprising.

Cameras often get tagged as "spirit-sensitive" equipment in horror games, movies, and even novels.

"President, judging by your expression, don't tell me this poster was telling the truth?", Yumiko looked a bit nervous.

After being tricked so many times before, she was suddenly faced with a real paranormal event. It was hard not to get excited.

But at the same time, she worried. After listening to this recording, would a ghost or evil spirit latch onto her

"It's definitely true," Kaito nodded. Seeing her instinctively hug her arms tightly, he chuckled, "Don't worry. There's no curse. In fact, after listening to this piano piece, your sleep quality tonight might even improve."

Just from the poster's experience, a completely ordinary female student was able to escape unharmed and even had time to record. It was obvious that the invisible pianist in the music room had no malicious intent.

If it had been a murderous evil spirit, there's no way it would've calmly played such a soothing tune.

"The poster's IP address is from Moon Forest!", Yumiko kept scrolling, her emerald-green eyes sparkling, "That's the famous ojou-sama school! I heard all the students there are super rich, and it's not even far from Shuka"

"President, President, should we go take a look?"

"Curiosity killed the cat."

Kaito didn't even look up, turning his attention back to the manga, his tone lazy, "Weren't you just being all cautious and scared? Now you're suddenly not afraid?"

"That's because you're here!"

Yumiko couldn't help tugging a corner of his shirt, dragging out her voice, "President~ President~ President~"

"What does Gotou-san think?"

Kaito ignored her whining and instead turned his gaze toward the pink-haired girl next to them.

'Eh? Me?', Always being invisible, only able to silently admire Miura-san's boldness in her heart, little Bocchi froze.

She was used to going with the flow, so suddenly being asked her opinion

Bocchi hesitated for a moment and softly said, "I-I'll go with whatever Kurumizaka-kun says"

Actually, she was also curious about the mysterious piano sounds in the music room, just too afraid to say it out loud.

For someone with social anxiety, refusing others' requests and making requests of others are both unforgivable sins.

Though Bocchi's tone was vague, her eyes showed anticipation. It was obvious she was interested too.

Kaito thought for a moment, 'The Supernatural Research Club has been idle for so long. It won't hurt to take this chance and have a proper club activity.'

"Then it's decided: the club's first group activityMidnight Exploration of Moon Forest."

"Yay!"

Yumiko was overjoyed, but also a bit sour.

'He completely ignored my flirting but paid so much attention to Bocchi-chan's opinion. Isn't the double standard way too obvious?'

But thinking about how Bocchi arrived before her and how her personality was like a pitiful little self-conscious kitten, she let it go.

'Hmph~ Just a little Bocchi, with a weak presence and even weaker guts, nothing to worry about!'

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Chapter 24: Leave the Ghost Alive

According to the poster's own account, the piano music that rings out in the middle of the night happens at exactly 10:30 PM.

Right now, it was only 5 in the afternoon, five and a half hours to go.

Naturally, Kaito wasn't foolish enough to wait around for that long.

Bringing Yumiko and Goto Hitori along, the three quickly got on a train and arrived at their destination: Tsukinomori Women's University.

This was a very famous aristocratic school in Tokyo. The students who studied here were either rich young ladies, top-tier talents who had won major competitions, or children of high-ranking officials.

Yumiko's family was merely middle class, while Bocchi's family was an average salaried household.

They hadn't thought much of it before arriving, but the moment they stood in front of the Tsukinomori gates, the two girls began to hesitate.

"This is the legendary ojou-sama school They must be really strict with outsiders, right? Can we really get in?"

Bocchi weakly pointed in a direction, "The security guard over there seems to be looking this way."

At this time of day, school was already over. The entrance was deserted, so Kaito and the others stood out like a sore thumb.

"What do we do, what do we do", Yumiko looked nervously at the approaching security guard, "Club Prez, Club Prez, hurry up and use your invincible Fire Dragon Bomb to think of something!"

"Stop shaking me!", Kaito smacked her lightly on the head in annoyance, but didn't make any other moves. The security guard who had looked like he was about to confront them suddenly froze mid-step, went blank for a moment, then calmly turned around and walked back to the security booth.

"What just happened?", Yumiko was dumbfounded.

"I temporarily influenced his thoughts and made him forget what he was about to do."

Kaito strode toward the school gate, "For the next two hours, he'll ignore our presence, so we can just walk right in."

"You can even do something like that?", Yumiko didn't know what she was imagining, but her face flushed bright red.

'Influencing thoughts? Isn't this basically that 'altering common sense' plot from anime?'

'If Kaito ever use that power on me'

'No! She can't keep thinking about it!'

Bocchi wasn't doing much better. Her head seemed to be steaming, and her eyes had turned into swirls.

Thunk!

"Ow!" x2

Ignoring the resentful looks from the two girls, Kaito calmly withdrew his fist.

'That'll teach you not to let your imaginations run wild!'

If he really wanted to do something, back in his previous life, he only had to crook his finger and plenty of female cultivators would've willingly joined him on the path to enlightenment.

The group quickly entered Tsukinomori.

As expected of a prestigious aristocratic academy, not only was the campus larger than Shuka's, but the facilities were also much more luxurious.

There was even a specially cultivated garden filled with all sorts of exotic flowers, along with a few pots of fresh, glistening cucumbers.

Though it was their first time here, with Kaito around, they didn't get lost.

Spreading out his divine sense, it didn't take long for him to locate a room in the large campus that clearly stood out from the rest.

Crossing the courtyard, the group arrived at a music classroom on the seventh floor of the academic building.

Coincidentally, even from a distance, a soft and pleasant piano melody drifted over.

'Looks like the poster wasn't lying.'

The music was enchanting. The moment it entered their ears, the tense and expectant emotions of the girls were magically soothed.

Their bodies and minds felt lighter, as if they had returned to the warm embrace of their mothers.

Pushing the door open, the mellow afternoon sunlight spilled through the window frame, casting a golden veil over the classroom.

At first glance, the classroom looked nothing out of the ordinary. Only at the piano sat a long-haired girl with chestnut-colored hair, her eyes tightly shut. Her slender fingers danced gracefully like butterflies flitting among flowers, passionately playing "Fr Elise."

"There's actually someone here?", Yumiko looked a bit disheartened. Judging by the brown-haired girl's uniform, she was clearly a student of Tsukinomori.

'Was it another false alarm?'

But Kaito shook his head, "It's not that simple."

The girl playing the piano was indeed a real, living human.

But her condition was far from normal. Though her hands were pressing the keys, it wasn't of her own volition.

In Kaito's vision, clinging to the girl's back was a ghostly girl in a matching school uniform, her skin translucent.

The ghost girl was controlling the brown-haired girl's limbs like a puppeteer manipulating a marionette.

Clearly, this rendition of 'Fr Elise' was being played by the ghost girl using the girl's body as a medium.

Miura Yumiko was just an ordinary person, so of course she couldn't see the eerie scene before them.

But Bocchi wasn't the same, she had long since activated her Yin-Yang eyes. The terrifying sight before her made her tremble, and she couldn't help but hide behind Kaito, tears welling in her sapphire eyes.

"K-Kurumizaka-senpai!"

"I'm here," Kaito remained calm.

Though the ghost girl was incredibly skilled on the piano, her spirit was clean, with no ominous or bloody aura.

Obviously, she hadn't had any malicious intentions until now.

But that was then, this was now.

The brown-haired girl's current condition was akin to being possessed. While not immediately life-threatening, prolonged possession would severely drain her life force, and she'd fall seriously ill afterward.

Kaito naturally wouldn't let this go on. Just as he was about to act, the music suddenly stopped.

The brown-haired girl, still lost in the trance of her performance, suddenly stood up. A moment later, like a puppet that had lost its strings, she collapsed.

Miura Yumiko jumped in fright and rushed forward to catch her.

At the same time, the ghost girl also floated over. Under Bocchi's anxious gaze, she performed a perfect tiger-drop prostration.

"P-please don't kill me, sir! I'm a good civilian! No, a good ghost!"

'Such a textbook dogeza!'

'Such a practiced plea for mercy!'

Bocchi was utterly shocked.

She'd expected a fierce battle, but before it even began, the opponent had already waved a white flag.

Considering the ghost girl's pure spirit form, Kaito didn't immediately send her off to reincarnation. Instead, he spoke succinctly.

"Explain everything. Why are you here?"

The ghost girl breathed a sigh of relief.

The young man before her was so handsome it made her heart skip a beat, but the deep, oceanic pressure radiating from him felt like a mountain pressing down on her head. Like a lamb meeting a tiger, she didn't even have the will to resist, which was why she had instantly begged for mercy.

Since he'd given her a chance to explain, that meant he was reasonable. At least for now, her life was safe.

She was just about to speak when

"Wait a sec!", Miura Yumiko raised her hand.

As the only one present who couldn't see spirits, what the hell was with this "everyone else gets it but me" vibe?

She couldn't help but look eagerly at Kaito, "Club Prez~"

Kaito sighed but still reached out and lightly touched her forehead with a finger.

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Chapter 25: The Ghost Girls Commission

"Ehhh?", Only now did Yumiko realize that at some unknown point, a transparent black-haired girl had appeared beside her, and she immediately jumped up in fright.

"Gh-ghostghost! So close!", That sudden jump caused her to instinctively let go of the brown-haired girl she'd been supporting, who was still unconscious.

Thankfully, Kaito moved swiftly, catching the brown-haired girl by the waist and holding up her soft, limp body, preventing her from falling headfirst to the ground.

At the same time, he commented speechlessly, "You're making a fuss. Weren't you the one who requested this?"

'Well yes, that is true, but, turning your head and suddenly seeing a ghost staring at you from what was previously an empty space, any normal person would be startled, right?'

Miura Yumiko's delicate face turned slightly red, and she murmured a quiet excuse, "I-I just wasn't prepared"

"Forget it," Kaito shook his head and looked toward the ghost girl in front of him, "Continue. I'll decide how to deal with you depending on the situation."

"Thank you, sir," The ghost girl gave a deep bow and began recounting her story.

Her name was Mizusaki Aki. She was once a student of Tsukinomori.

Born into a wealthy family, she practiced piano diligently from a young age and was a famously gifted musical prodigy.

However, she failed in a competition, and after returning home, she had a big argument with her mother over a trivial matter. Upset, she came alone to the school's music room to practice piano.

Unexpectedly, she suffered sudden heart failure, and in the depths of regret and despair, she slowly stopped breathing.

After death, Mizusaki Aki spent a long time in a mindless state, like a newborn baby, unaware of her surroundings. No one could see her, and she couldn't interact with the outside world.

Until a few days ago, for some unknown reason, she suddenly regained many memories from her life. Her mind gradually cleared up, and aside from still being transparent, she became no different from a normal person.

Mizusaki Aki had thought about visiting her home, but no matter what, she couldn't leave the music room.

After countless attempts failed, she had to give up the idea of leaving. Her only daily entertainment was playing her favorite piano pieces after school.

"So, how did this girl get involved?", Kaito pointed. He was referring, of course, to the brown-haired girl who'd been possessed to play the piano.

The ghost girl looked a little nervous but still explained in a low voice, "She was attracted by my piano music and voluntarily entered the classroom. My spirit isn't particularly strong, so it's hard for me to influence reality. Usually, I'm exhausted after just one piece unless I find a compatible medium"

"But I really didn't mean to hurt her! I just wanted to use her body to play the piano to my heart's content!"

"A-and I even gave her compensation. Maybe because I was good at piano when alive, the pieces I play now have a stress-relieving effect. They let her have sweet dreams! And her mind becomes much sharper for a while!"

"You're not wrong, but the living and the dead walk separate paths."

Kaito's expression showed no emotion, and his tone was calm, "Taking over her body consumes her vitality. It doesn't threaten her life in the short term, but it will definitely cause minor illnesses and bad luck."

"S-sorry I didn't know it would have such consequences", Mizusaki Aki lowered her head, looking guilty.

She really hadn't meant any harm, just wanted to enjoy playing the piano.

After all, it was her first time being a ghost. She didn't know the professional rules, and no one had told her.

But a mistake was still a mistake. Mizusaki Aki was afraid this handsome boy in front of her might just slap her into oblivion, so she quickly said, "I-I'll make it up to her! As long as it's something I can do, anything is fine!"

"In that case, why not ask the victim herself?"

Kaito lowered his head. The brown-haired girl in his arms was still unconscious, but her long, slender brows furrowed slightly.

It wasn't too serious, she hadn't been possessed for long. She was just a little weak.

He passed a wisp of spiritual energy into her, replenishing her drained vitality. The next second, the girl slowly opened her sapphire blue eyes, filled with gratitude.

Though she had just fainted, she'd actually still been conscious. Able to hear everything that happened around her, but unable to speak.

Now finally free of the restriction, she originally wanted to express her thanks immediately, but before she could open her mouth, she saw the handsome boy so close to her and froze up.

"Can you stand up on your own?", Kaito, unfazed, simply asked this. Seeing her nod in a daze, he let go without hesitation, showing no intention of taking advantage.

The warmth of his spring-like embrace left just like that, leaving the brown-haired girl with a sense of loss, while also making her aware of her inappropriate reaction.

"Um my name is Nagasaki Soyo. I'm a student at this school," Nagasaki Soyo tucked her hair behind her ear and tried to make her voice sound sweet and pleasant, "Thank you very much for your help. May I ask your name?"

"Kurumizaka Kaito."

After a brief pause, Kaito added, "Let's save the long introductions for later. Miss Nagasaki, as the victim, what do you think?"

'My opinion?'

She'd only come back to campus to retrieve something she'd left behind, and ended up being possessed by a ghost.

Nagasaki Soyo was still somewhat frightened, but after a moment's hesitation, she looked at the trembling Mizusaki Aki.

"Senpai Mizusaki, I've heard your name before."

As a famous piano prodigy, Mizusaki Aki was once well-known at Tsukinomori. But after her early death and the school's efforts to suppress the news, people gradually stopped mentioning her.

Nagasaki Soyo had only heard the name by chance from a senior.

Though Mizusaki Aki was technically her senior's senior, she didn't actually seem that old, only nineteen when she died, and with her petite figure, she looked more like a middle schooler.

Now she was looking at her with wide, puppy-like eyes, like a child who'd made a mistake

Nagasaki Soyo's heart softened. She quietly said, "This time it was an accident. Let's just pretend it never happened."

"Wahhh! Nagasaki kouhai, I'm so sorry!"

Mizusaki Aki burst into tears, wanting to throw herself into a hug. But afraid that getting too close would drain Soyo's vitality, so she just hovered in place, motionless.

'Since the victim herself isn't bothered, and nothing terrible really happened, this matter is settled.'

But after a moment's hesitation, Mizusaki Aki raised a new request to Kaito.

"You want to pass on?"

"That's right", Mizusaki Aki looked a bit downcast.

Passing on didn't mean becoming a Buddha or god. It was just a euphemism for the dead in Japanese culture.

Remaining in soul form, with intelligence, might seem similar to living, but was that really living?

If you called this living, her soul was trapped in this tiny music room, like a prison.

No, even worse than prison.

At least in prison you could chat with your cellmates, or get time outside.

Her only entertainment was playing the piano. And not even to her heart's content. Just one piece left her exhausted.

The rest of the time, all she could do was daze off.

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Chapter 26: Forgot the Front, Forgot the Back, In Any Case Its Hard to Let Go

After all, humans are social animals and need to interact with others.

Even someone as socially anxious as Bocchi can still vent her surplus desire for communication online.

Of course, there are indeed people in this world who can truly endure loneliness, but a young girl like Mizusaki Aki clearly doesn't have that kind of mindset.

Only a few days into her dull and tasteless ghost life, and she was already fed up.

No phone, no internet, the days were just too hard to bear. Thinking that this kind of daily life might continue for a month, a year, ten years

The future was pure darkness.

It was one thing when she had no choice before, but now that she finally encountered a real and skilled exorcist, of course she couldn't let such a great opportunity slip by.

She wanted to reincarnate. She wanted to transmigrate. She wanted to become a princess.

"I know this request might be a bit presumptuous...", Mizusaki Aki bit her lip and said seriously, "So, I can pay!"

"But aren't you currently a spirit? Where would you get money from?", Yumiko Miura couldn't help but interrupt.

"Right now, I don't have any," Mizusaki Aki put her palms together sincerely and said, "But my family has some modest assets, definitely enough to offer a reward that would satisfy Lord Kaito."

The Mizusaki family couldn't be considered a top-level wealthy household, but they did have assets worth several billion yen. Not the best, but certainly not the worst.

As the only daughter of the Mizusaki family, Mizusaki Aki was deeply loved by her mother.

As for her father her parents divorced when she was very young, and he now had another family.

A business that came knocking on the door, Kaito had no reason to refuse.

He really liked generous clients, so he simply nodded, "I'll take this commission."

"Thank you so much, Lord Kaito!"

Mizusaki Aki bowed deeply, then when she lifted her head, she seemed a little hesitant again, "Actually, I have one last, small wish"

"Before I pass on, may I trouble Lord Kaito to let me see my mother one last time?"

If, after losing that competition back then, she hadn't taken it out on her mom, hadn't had a huge fight and then come to school alone to practice piano, would the ending have been different?

Her life was already nearing the other shore.

But some guilt, no matter what, Mizusaki Aki still wanted to find her mom and apologize to her.

Generally speaking, as a bound spirit, Mizusaki Aki's soul was tightly locked. With her obsession unresolved, she couldn't leave this music classroom.

However, this wasn't a problem for Kaito.

There were many ways to help Mizusaki Aki break free from the chains on her soul.

The simplest method was brute force. Using great spiritual power to forcibly cut off the invisible chains binding her.

Alternatively, he could choose a suitable person to act as a medium for possession.

Mizusaki Aki could temporarily return to life using someone else's body, and of course then she could leave the music classroom.

In fact, even before Kaito came, Mizusaki Aki could control Nagasaki Soyo's body and leave the room to do what she wanted.

But due to past experiences, she had imposed a mental seal on herself, thinking she 'absolutely couldn't leave,' so she never even considered it.

"In that case", Upon hearing this, Nagasaki Soyo let out a soft breath, "Why not let Mizusaki-senpai use my body one more time?"

Also had parents who divorced when she was young. Also lived with her mom.

Mizusaki Aki's situation always reminded her of herself, so Soyo could deeply empathize.

The brute force method sounded simple, but it gave off a crude feeling. She was a bit worried something might go wrong.

By comparison, the latter method clearly seemed gentler.

Although ghost possession harms the body, if spiritual energy is replenished in time, the side effects aren't too severe, just some fatigue.

Since even Soyo herself didn't mind, Kaito naturally had nothing more to say, "Then let's do that. But, for the sake of your body, it's best if you hold onto my wrist."

Passing spiritual energy over and over again was too troublesome.

In folk legends, even boy's urine and black dog's blood had some exorcising effect, let alone a former Nascent Soul Heaven Lord?

Even with just simple physical contact, the yang energy radiating from his body was enough to neutralize the side effects of ghost possession.

"Th-this way?", Nagasaki Soyo's pretty face flushed slightly, shyly said, "W-wouldn't that be too forward with Lord Kaito?"

She had always gone to an all-girls school, and had never had close contact with boys her age.

But

She secretly lifted her head, and used the corner of her eye to glance at that soul-stirringly handsome face.

Nagasaki Soyo quietly clutched her chest.

'Maybe it's not so bad?'

"Actually, I can do it too!", Yumiko Miura raised her hand, 'This kind of open, upright chance to take advantage of ahem, I mean, a good opportunity to act bravely. How could I possibly turn it down!'

Off to the side, Bocchi also weakly echoed, "M-me too"

Kaito was a little speechless.

'You guys think being possessed by a ghost is a good gig or something?'

'Why are you all fighting over it?'

"Thank you both for your kindness, but with Nagasaki-kouhai's help, it's already enough," Mizusaki Aki already felt guilty toward Soyo, and now she was reciprocating the favor and fiercely wing-manning her.

Since even the person involved said so, the matter was settled.

Moments later.

Mizusaki Aki's soul floated in front of Nagasaki Soyo, and gradually merged into her

Perhaps because she already had possession experience, nothing went wrong.

Soyo remained conscious and could perceive the outside world, but control of her body had shifted to Mizusaki Aki.

And just as Kaito said, after possessing Soyo, Mizusaki Aki tentatively controlled the girl's body and took a step outside the door.

But this time, the force that once trapped her here didn't appear.

However, after possession, Nagasaki Soyo's spiritual energy rapidly depleted. If it wasn't replenished in time, it would be exhausted in about an hour. She wouldn't die, but she'd probably fall seriously ill, and Mizusaki Aki would also be expelled.

To avoid that outcome, Mizusaki Aki acted swiftly and grabbed Kaito's hand.

As soon as their skin touched, a magical warmth spread through her entire body, lifting her spirits.

'It really workes!'

Mizusaki Aki instinctively tightened her grip on Kaito's hand. Already very close, now they interlocked fingers completely.

'W-what a strange feeling'

Although her body was being controlled by Mizusaki, Soyo still retained sensation. Everything Mizusaki Aki felt, she could feel too.

Her parents divorced when she was young, and she grew up with her mom, having had very little contact with boys.

This was her first time holding hands with a boy her age. Fingers interlocked at that.

'It is practically just like a real couple.'

'Didn't he say just to grab his wrist?'

On the other side, staring at the two's interlocked fingers, Yumiko Miura's mood was very complicated.

'I clearly came first'

'Whether it is knowing him longer, or joining the club first'

'And yet now the fruit was picked by this Nagasaki Soyo. So hard to let go.'

But she didn't seem to have much ground to stop it, so she exchanged glances with Bocchi, a sort of mutual understanding between defeated dogs

'Ptu! Ptu! Ptu! Who're you calling a defeated dog, huh?'

'Classmates and clubmates, don't you know how valuable it is to be close to the water and get the moon first?'

'That Nagasaki Soyo is just a background character. Nothing to fear!'

'This round, the advantage is mine!'

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Chapter 27: Your Daughter Is in My Hands

After leaving the Tsukinomori, Kaito planned to personally visit Mizusaki Aki's mother.

But before that, it was best to first make a phone call and probe the situation.

After all, it had been nearly five years since Mizusaki Aki's death.

In such a long time, anything could have happened. Perhaps the Mizusaki family had already moved away.

"Please pick up", Looking at the still-ringing phone in her hand, Mizusaki Aki was a little nervous.

She still remembered her mother's number, but feared her mother might have changed it.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not occur. Not long after, a cold female voice came from the other end of the call, ["Hello?"]

"Mom! It's Aki! Mom, can you hear my voice? It's me, Aki! I really missed you!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Mizusaki Aki could no longer suppress the excitement and emotion in her heart and was about to pour out the pain of separation.

But for Mrs. Mizusaki, those words were far from friendly.

Her daughter had clearly been dead for several years, and suddenly someone called claiming to be Aki?

["I don't care how you found this number. If you dare use Aki's name to provoke me, then you'd better be ready for my revenge."]

["I'll find you, and then make you regret it, you bastard."]

After saying these two lines, the call was directly hung up, leaving only a busy tone.

"Wait, wait a second!", Mizusaki Aki still wanted to stop her, but she was a step too late.

She also realized that her previous actions were a bit impulsive, and could only look helplessly at Kaito.

"Lord Kaito"

"Calling her 'Mom' right away. No wonder Mrs. Mizusaki got angry," Kaito rubbed his temples with some frustration, "Call again. This time, explain clearly."

"I'm sorry...", Mizusaki Aki pouted a little awkwardly, forgetting that she was currently using Soyo's body.

Clearly styled as a gentle and mature big sister, yet showing such a childish expression, it had a strangely cute contrast.

Calling Mrs. Mizusaki again, this time, the call was hung up directly.

Dialing again, this time it went straight to the blacklist.

There was no other way. In the end, they had to try one by one using other people's phones, and finally managed to get through.

This time, Kaito didn't give Mrs. Mizusaki a chance to flare up, and simply said, "I know the truth about your daughter's death."

Just a few short words, but they were extremely effective.

For parents, even knowing it might be a scam, if it concerns their child, hope still rises uncontrollably.

Sure enough, Mrs. Mizusaki didn't say much. After a long silence, she said, ["What exactly do you want?"]

"Just to fulfill the wish of a lingering soul."

Seeing she was finally willing to talk, Kaito didn't keep her guessing and briefly explained the entire sequence of events.

The daughter who had been missing for years was actually already a lingering spirit, trapped in the music classroom of Tsukinomori and unable to leave?

Such an outrageous story, of course Mrs. Mizusaki didn't want to believe it.

But after Kaito accurately described a few little secrets that only she and her daughter knew, she began to feel unsettled.

To say the other side was a scammer but he could even describe the incident when her daughter wet the bed at age nine and secretly got up at night to wash the sheets for fear of being found out.

What kind of scammer is that omniscient?

But the story of spirits was just too bizarre and unbelievable

Torn between logic and emotion, Mrs. Mizusaki hesitated for a moment and still said, ["Is it convenient to meet somewhere later?"]

Whether true or not, as long as there was even the slightest chance of seeing her daughter again, she didn't want to give it up.

"No problem," Kaito suggested, "How about meeting at the Mizusaki house?"

["That's fine. I'll head home right now. Give me ten minutes."]

Mrs. Mizusaki had a straightforward personality. After giving them the address, she hung up the phone. One could faintly hear hurried footsteps.

The Mizusaki residence wasn't far from Tsukinomori. One of the reasons Mizusaki Aki chose that school back then was also the convenience of returning home.

They took the train, and after a little over half an hour, they finally arrived at their destination.

It was a luxurious villa district.

All the buildings were large houses with walls and private gardens, looking very grand. The security was strict, and it was hard for outsiders to get in.

However, perhaps because the guard had already been notified in advance, when Kaito and the others mentioned "Mrs. Mizusaki," they weren't stopped.

Under Mizusaki Aki's guidance, they arrived in front of a certain standalone villa and rang the doorbell.

Ding! Dong~

As if expecting them, the door quickly opened. A mature woman in a ladies' suit appeared, about in her forties.

Though not young, one could still see her former beauty. However, there was a sharp air between her brows, making her seem not easy to get along with.

She was clearly stunned by Kaito's appearance for a moment, but with a strong mind, she focused more on her daughter.

After a slight daze, she came back to her senses and led the group into the villa.

"Sit wherever you like."

She made tea for them, then sat back on the sofa. After pondering for a moment, she finally said, "The idea of ghosts it's just too vague and fantastical. I find it hard to believe."

Such thoughts were not surprising.

Mrs. Mizusaki had lived for over forty years and had never seen ghosts or spirits. Now being told that the world wasn't purely material. Of course she would be skeptical.

Kaito didn't intend to explain either. No amount of words could match the impact of witnessing it firsthand.

So he looked at Soyo beside him and softly said, "Classmate Mizusaki, you can come out now."

Just as the words fell, a faint white light emerged from Soyo's body. In the next second, a transparent figure appeared.

"Mom!"

Mizusaki Aki's voice carried sobs, wanting to rush into her mother's arms and act spoiled.

Though Mrs. Mizusaki was just an ordinary person and couldn't see the spirit before her, she instinctively covered her heart.

Her expression subtly changed, "I I think I heard Aki's voice?"

"You didn't mishear," Kaito was also a little surprised, 'Clearly with no cultivation at all, yet she can vaguely hear her daughter's voice. Is this the bond of blood?'

He shook his head, not thinking further, and opened a temporary spirit-seeing eye for Mrs. Mizusaki.

"Aki!", Seeing her tearful daughter suddenly appear floating in front of her, Mrs. Mizusaki could no longer hold back the surge of emotions, tears flowed freely.

.

.

.

.

With such a rare mother-daughter reunion, Kaito had no intention of being a third wheel.

He took Soyo and Yumiko to the garden to wait, giving this mother and daughter space and time together.

Half an hour later

Mrs. Mizusaki walked out of the villa, her eyes still faintly red.

She first expressed her gratitude to Kaito for allowing her to see her long-deceased daughter again, then seriously stated her willingness to offer ten million yen as payment. She also promised that if they ever encountered trouble, they could call her at any time. As long as it was within her capabilities, she would never refuse.

The Mizusaki family may not have been a top-tier aristocratic family in Tokyo, but they were still relatively well-off.

At least for most ordinary people, getting this connection was something that could not be found even with a lantern.

But to Kaito, it was of no real use. He nodded slightly and then said seriously, "Mrs. Mizusaki, it's about time."

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Chapter 28: Encounter Beneath the Snow

Mrs. Mizusaki was silent.

In the past half hour of talking with her daughter, she naturally understood her daughter's intention to pass on.

Unwilling to part?

Of course. Ever since Aki passed away, and she was once again left all alone, Mrs. Mizusaki had poured all her energy into work.

Only this way could she briefly forget the pain of losing her daughter and barely support her motivation to keep living.

Now, after being lucky enough to reunite with her daughter, she was once again facing separation.

Mrs. Mizusaki's face showed a pleading expression, and she said softly, "Mr. Kaito, is there really no other way to let Aki stay?"

The pain of eternal separation from a loved one always stirs people's hearts.

Several girls turned their gaze toward Kaito, faintly carrying a look of anticipation.

Among them, Soyo was the most nervous. Looking at Mrs. Mizusaki, she always thought of her own mother.

Such a strong woman, and yet one who also deeply loved her daughter.

If possible, she truly didn't want to see Mrs. Mizusaki, who had just reunited with her daughter, lose her again.

Kaito thought for a moment and asked, "Is there something Mizusaki-sensei was most familiar with before her death? Preferably something she used frequently."

"Of course there is!"

Seeing that things seemed to have taken a turn for the better, Mrs. Mizusaki looked happy, "The piano in the practice room. Aki used to play it for four to five hours every day. It should be the thing she was most familiar with."

"Then it can be done," Kaito nodded, "I can transfer Mizusaki-senpai's place of haunting from the music classroom in Tsukinomori to inside the piano. However, long-term contact with a soul can damage your life energy."

"That's okay!", Mrs. Mizusaki was overjoyed.

Although her daughter would still remain a bound spirit, being imprisoned at home versus outside, how could those be the same?

As for damage to life energy

As long as she wasn't possessed frequently, even if there was some damage, it would be limited and not life-threatening.

After informing Mizusaki Aki of this, the ghost girl no longer intended to pass on and become a princess.

If she could stay with her mom, even being a bound spirit would be something to look forward to.

What came next was simple.

Kaito helped Mizusaki Aki move to a new home and also took a drop of Mrs. Mizusaki's heart's blood and dripped it onto the piano, establishing a connection between the two.

After doing all of this, Kaito left amid Mrs. Mizusaki's countless expressions of gratitude.

The commission payment had already been transferred to his account: a full twenty million yen, twice the previously discussed amount.

Converted to dollars, it was nearly two hundred thousand or so, definitely very sincere.

Although Kaito didn't particularly value money, he also didn't mind having more of it.

The only flaw was that, because this commission didn't involve exterminating an evil spirit, there was no merit reward.

Leaving the villa area

"Today's experience really was full of ups and downs"

Although Yumiko said this, her beautiful eyes sparkled brightly.

To witness the other side of the world with her own eyes and even participate, this feeling was simply addictive.

"Although there were some twists, the outcome was good in the end," Nagasaki Soyo gently brushed the hair beside her ear, her smile warm, "It's all thanks to Kaito-kun."

"It was just a transaction," Kaito didn't take credit. Glancing at the sky, dusk was already falling.

Soyo also realized it was getting late. Normally, it wouldn't matter, but tonight her mom had already mentioned coming home early to rest. Though regretful, she still said goodbye.

However, before leaving, she still deliberately exchanged contact info with Kaito.

Looking at the contact list and the cute pink stuffed cat avatar, Soyo seemed lost in thought.

Normally speaking, one's avatar and ID can reflect their preferences.

After all, no one would use something they hate as their avatar, right?

'So that means Kaito-kun actually really likes cats?'

Secretly noting down this bit of information, the smile at the corner of her lips grew deeper. Like a delicate flower holding dew, soft and fragrant.

[The Next Day]

It was lunchtime. Friendly students took out their lunchboxes and gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing about recent fun topics.

In a corner seat, the stunning black-haired, blue-eyed girl also took out a bento from her desk. Even though she was all alone, her back remained perfectly straight.

It had been more than half a month since the new semester started.

Japan is a country with a strong tendency toward cliques, and as a microcosm of society, schools are no exception.

Usually, within just a few days of the new term, people with similar personalities and interests would form their own circles. It was very difficult for outsiders to join halfway through.

As a transfer student who had only arrived a few days ago, Yukinoshita Yukino, though remarkably beautiful, had a rather cold demeanor.

Because of this, few dared to approach and talk to her.

Yukino had long been used to a solitary life.

When she was young, her looks were so cute that they stirred jealousy and isolation from the girls around her.

Now, she already had the power to protect herself, but still had no interest in making friends.

Especially after encountering Yukitan, her attention was more focused on that cat.

Thinking of the clever and well-behaved cat at home, Yukino's gaze softened without her even realizing it.

For most pet owners, raising a cat or a dog is not much different from raising a child.

You have to worry about its food, water, and toilet needs, and also its health.

Thankfully, Yukitan was really very well-behaved.

It never randomly hissed, and more than that, Yukino only taught it once how to use the toilet, and it had learned how to do it, and even knew to press the flush button afterward with its paw.

When bathing it, it didn't resist or cry. It just quietly crouched there. Anyone who saw it would praise it as an excellent cat.

'I already filled the food bowl this morning, and added water too.'

'I wonder what Yukitan is doing now?'

Yukino sighed, 'I still have two more Japanese literature classes this afternoon. What a torturous day.'

Just as she was preparing to wash her empty lunchbox in the water room, a shy classmate came up to talk.

"Yukinoshita-san, Teacher Hiratsuka asked you to come to the office."

"Alright," Yukino nodded and thanked the messenger before heading to the office.

"You're here?", Hiratsuka Shizuka was still in her familiar white lab coat, currently munching on a piece of bread.

Hearing the door open, she quickly stuffed the remaining crumbs into her mouth, chewed a few times, then grabbed the cola next to her and took a huge gulp, finally letting out a satisfied burp.

"Buurrp~ So full!"

Yukino: ""

She already knew the word "lady" didn't apply to Hiratsuka-sensei, but this eating manner was simply too wild.

She sighed and got straight to the point, "Hiratsuka-sensei, why did you call me here?"

"Just wanted to check on you."

Hiratsuka Shizuka also sighed, "After all, you're living far from home, studying alone out here, and you're such a pretty girl. It's worrying."

"This was my sister's request, right?", Yukino's mood was a bit complicated. When it came to Yukinoshita Haruno, her full-blooded older sister, she couldn't say she hated her, but she definitely didn't like her.

Thanks to the teachings of that strong and cold mother, the relationship between these two sisters had never been close since childhood.

At least, that's how Yukino saw it.

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Chapter 29: Theres a Demonic Aura

"Well, well, it's not entirely because of your sister," Hiratsuka Shizuka clicked her tongue. She and Yukinoshita Haruno were once university classmates and had always had a good relationship. Even after graduation, they stayed in touch.

The two of them would occasionally go out for drinks. Haruno would complain about her eccentric clients, and Shizuka would vent about the weird men in the arranged marriage market.

Often, after getting completely drunk, a lot of stress would be relieved.

Because of this relationship, Haruno's younger sister, in Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes, was no different from her own little sister.

Adding to that, since Yukino was also her student, whether in public or private matters, she wouldn't leave the lonely Yukino unattended.

"I understand your good intentions, Hiratsuka-sensei, but it's really not necessary," Yukino had a bit of a headache. She thought Hiratsuka Shizuka was still not giving up and wanted her to make more friends and integrate into the class quickly.

But she truly wasn't interested in useless social interaction. These days she didn't even have enough time to pet her cat, let alone chat with others.

"Don't overthink it," Hiratsuka Shizuka scratched her head. "I called you here purely out of concern, and also to ask if you've encountered any difficulties in your daily life"

Little Yukino's personality was actually a bit stubborn. She hated being forced to do things she didn't like.

Hiratsuka Shizuka had also come to understand, 'As long as Yukino isn't being bullied, then no friends means no friends. With me around to look after her, even if trouble comes up, there'll be someone to help.'

"I'm doing fine," Yukino nodded slightly. Hiratsuka Shizuka chatted with her a bit more, simply asking about her daily life, and was about to end the conversation.

But

She frowned, staring at the faint dark circles under the girl's eyes. If she hadn't observed carefully, it would have been easy to miss.

"Did you stay up late last night?"

Yukino shook her head, "No, I went to bed early."

In an era where most college students still follow the motto "If the moon's not sleeping, neither am I. I'm the little treasure of King Yama," she was one of the rare few who didn't stay up late.

She paid attention to her routine, always maintaining the good habit of going to bed early and rising early.

"If not, then not," Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't think much of it. Aside from the faint dark circles, Yukino seemed to be in good spirits.

Besides, she was still young, pulling an all-nighter was normal. Even she herself stayed up late at times.

That should've been it.

But Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

As the days passed, Yukino's dark circles didn't fade, they grew darker.

Even her spirit started to slump. She even dozed off twice during class.

Falling asleep in class might be normal for other students, no big deal.

But for Yukino, who had always excelled in both character and academics since childhood, it was practically unheard of.

Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't sit still anymore. She once again called the girl to the office, but this time her expression was much more serious, "Yukino, what exactly have you been doing lately? You're even nodding off in class now?"

Only a few days had passed, but Yukino looked noticeably more haggard.

Her originally smooth and shiny black hair had now lost its luster, appearing dull.

Although still beautiful, with a kind of fragile beauty like a sickly heroine, her overall mental state was clearly not good.

If she didn't trust Yukino's character, Hiratsuka Shizuka would have started to suspect the girl might be sneaking out to go skating or something.

Otherwise, it made no sense.

"I really haven't done anything," Yukino rubbed her temples, looking somewhat tired. Her daily life was the same as usual. Resting at ten at night, waking up at six the next morning, washing up quickly, preparing her lunch, and refilling the empty food and water bowls for her cat

But she could clearly feel her energy draining.

It was like she'd overused water magic(mast*rbation). Powerless, with back pain and weak legs, constantly groggy, and all she wanted was to sleep deeply.

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Hiratsuka Shizuka was still a little suspicious.

But with Yukino in this state, she definitely couldn't let it continue unchecked.

So she simply drove her to the hospital, intending to get a full-body check-up.

Unfortunately, the results were minimal.

They took all kinds of scans. When the test results came back, the doctor didn't find any serious problems.

He just assumed Yukino wasn't getting good rest and prescribed her some sleep aids.

"Looking at your current state I'll request a few days off for you," After leaving the hospital and starting the car, Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed, "Don't go to school for the next few days. Rest well at home."

Yukino hesitated for a moment, but didn't refuse. She softly said, "Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei."

"If anything comes up, make sure to call me," After reminding her a few more times, Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't say much more and drove her home.

On the way, Yukino was very quiet.

Only when they arrived in front of the apartment building did Hiratsuka Shizuka unfasten her seatbelt and turn her head.

Only then did she realize. At some unknown point, the girl had already fallen asleep.

She woke Yukino up, and the two of them went upstairs together, soon arriving at an apartment on the twenty-ninth floor.

Opening the door, a soft "meow-meow" sound rang out.

Looking down at the fluffy little creature, Hiratsuka Shizuka was a little surprised, "You have a cat?"

"Mm"

Though her eyes were so tired she could barely keep them open, at the mention of her cat, Yukino still showed a happy smile. She squatted down and rubbed the little head of "Yukitan."

"I named her Yukitan," The kitty wasn't shy at all. It widened its curious eyes, staring at the stranger in the white coat with a puzzled expression.

Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't have much feeling toward pets, neither fond nor annoyed.

Seeing Yukino looking so exhausted, she helped her to the bedroom, poured her hot water, tucked her in, gave her a few more reminders, and left the apartment so as not to disturb her rest.

As she left, the little cat named "Yukitan" followed her to the door as if to see her off, stopping only when it reached the entrance. It even gave her two "meow-meow" calls.

Hiratsuka Shizuka was a little surprised, 'Are cats these smart nowadays?'

In the end, she couldn't resist reaching out to scratch the little one's chin, which made it purr in satisfaction.

'Not bad, it feels pretty nice.'

'No wonder Yukino loves cats so much,' Even Shizuka was a little tempted to get one for herself.

'But thinking it over it's already hard enough taking care of myself. Adding a cat?'

'Forget it. Can't afford it. Goodbye.'

She went downstairs, got into her sports car, started the engine, all in one smooth motion.

On the way back to school, Hiratsuka Shizuka several times thought about calling Haruno. After all, Yukino was her little sister.

But thinking about it carefully, Yukino was just lacking in energy. Even the doctor couldn't find anything unusual. Calling Haruno suddenly felt like making a fuss over nothing.

Besides, Haruno seemed to be busy with a very important major project recently.

Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't want to disturb her friend's serious work and distract her.

In any case, she'd observe for a few more days first.

However, this thought was quickly shattered after returning to Shuka High.

"Hiratsuka-sensei?", Coincidentally, she bumped into a familiar figure in front of the school building. Kaito's eyes narrowed, "There's a demonic aura on you."

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Chapter 30: If My Lord Does Not Abandon Me, This Kitty Is Willing To Swear Allegiance As An Adopted Child!

"Demonic Aura?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka's mind was full of thoughts about Yukino. Upon hearing this, she looked confused, "What Demonic Aura?"

"Of course, I mean it literally."

Kaito was also a bit curious, "Demonic Aura means the aura of a Yokai. Where did you go? How did you get tainted with this kind of thing?"

In this world, spiritual energy was already quite scarce, and it was not far from the end of the Dharma age. Yet, in this tiny Japan, there were both ghosts and Yokai.

'And, as always, the Demonic Aura is weak.'

'It is probably just a little Yokai that hasn't even taken human form yet. Not worth worrying about.'

"Yokai?", Hiratsuka Shizuka was startled. If it wasn't Kaito saying this, she would have thought the person had gone crazy from fever.

She couldn't help but let out an awkward laugh,."In the real world, where would there be Yokai?"

'Kaito looks reliable on the surface, but is he actually some kind of weird chniby?'

"Just think of it as chniby."

Kaito wasn't angry, only raised an eyebrow slightly, "Hiratsuka-sensei, may I ask, what did you just come from, what did you do?"

'The Demonic Aura on sensei is still very faint. This means she has come into contact with that little Yokai not long ago.'

"What I did?", Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated. If any other student dared to pry into her private life, she'd definitely give them a taste of her iron fist.

But facing that face, she felt no one could say no, "Yukinoshita seemed to be sick, so I took her to the hospital for a checkup, then drove her home to rest."

Didn't sound like anything was wrong.

Kaito continued asking, "During that time, did anything strange happen?"

"I don't think so?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka pinched her chin, thinking, "The hospital was normal, Yukino's home was normal too, and there was a really cute kitten there."

"When I was leaving, that kitty even walked me to the door," Speaking of this, her expression was a bit odd, "It felt all fluffy to touch, no wonder so many people like to keep pets."

'Kitten?'

'Seems like I found the culprit.'

"What, are you really that interested in Yukino's illness?"

Seeing his pensive expression, Hiratsuka Shizuka simply suggested, "I'll be going to her place again after school. Since you're curious, why not come along and check on her?"

'Though Yukino always says she is fine on her own, the look in her eyes when she first saw Kaito was definitely not fake.'

'If Kaito can visit her, Yukino's mood might improve a bit too?'

"Then I'll be in your care, Hiratsuka-sensei," Kaito thought for a moment and didn't refuse.

He was also quite curious, 'What differences might there be between the Yokai of this world and those from the cultivation realm?'

The afternoon class just so happened to be Hiratsuka Shizuka's classical literature lesson.

After school, the two went together to the parking lot and stopped in front of a silver-gray Aston Martin Vantage.

Vroooom!

With the thrilling sound of the engine roaring, Hiratsuka Shizuka gripped the steering wheel with one hand and used the other to dial Yukino's number.

"Hello? Yukino."

"You're already awake What, my call woke you?"

"Ahem! Don't sweat the details. I'll be at your place in a bit. Anything you feel like eating?"

"No appetite? Sorry, I can't seem to buy anything called 'no appetite,' so I'll bring you a large bowl of tonkotsu ramen."

"Alright, alright. That's it then. See you later."

Listening to the repeated busy tone in her ear, Yukino felt a little helpless.

Hiratsuka-sensei was the same as always, doing things her own way.

But she didn't mind too much, just shook her head and put her phone back on the bedside table, intending to nap a bit more.

Half an hour later

The car stopped in front of a high-end apartment building, "This is the place."

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned off the engine and got out of the car, carrying the tonkotsu ramen she just bought at a roadside shop, and led Kaito to Yukino's door on the 29th floor.

Ding! Dong!

After pressing the doorbell, they waited about half a minute before sounds came from inside.

Yukino rubbed her eyes and weakly opened the door, "Hiratsuka-sensei and Kaito-kun?"

Faced with her surprise, Kaito didn't reply.

He simply cleared his throat and subtly turned his gaze away, as if something indecent lay before him.

The girl was only wearing tight-fitting pajamas. Though the design wasn't too revealing, maybe because she just woke up, her appearance was a little disheveled.

Yukinoshitaher slightly exposed skin was just like her name, as flawless as fresh snow.

The only minor flaw was the overly flat curve of her chest, flat enough to land a plane on.

Hiratsuka Shizuka's personality was always straightforward. She didn't notice anything inappropriate, carrying the ramen straight inside.

As she entered, she spoke, "Ran into Kaito-kun when I returned to school. Heard you were sick, so we wanted to check in on you."

"So that's how it is," Yukinoshita slightly nodded, but her pretty face flushed faintly.

Only then did she realize her current outfit might be a little improper. After settling the two in the living room, she returned to her room to change into more conservative loungewear.

"This is the ramen I brought for you. Eat some while it's still hot," When the girl came out of the bedroom, Hiratsuka Shizuka pushed the takeout box toward her and urged her.

Actually, Yukino was a bit hungry too.

But leaving guests aside to eat by herself, that would be far too impolite.

"By the way where's your cat?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't press her, just looked around curiously. But there was no sign of that fluffy creature anywhere, which was odd.

"It was in my room just now. Should've followed me into the living room."

Yukino found it strange too.

She was sure she'd seen Yukitan by her feet just after changing. Why had the kitty suddenly disappeared?

A bit worried, she searched around and finally found it in an inconspicuous corner of the kitchen.

"So you were here!", Yukino let out a breath of relief. She thought the kitty had slipped outside while she wasn't paying attention.

She was about to pick up Yukitan when the usually obedient cat avoided her hand.

Instead, it let out a string of urgent meows, its soft fur bristling like needles, and those glowing green eyes stared unblinkingly at something behind the girl.

As if it had seen its natural enemy.

"Yukitan?", Yukino was a little worried. She subconsciously turned to look behind her, but aside from Hiratsuka-sensei and Kaito-kun, there was nothing strange.

Her worry deepened, and she was just about to say something to calm it down when the kitty suddenly darted forward in quick little steps, running up to Kaito-kun. First, it affectionately rubbed against his leg, then lay on its back, belly exposed, in a completely unguarded, submissive posture.

Yukino: ""

Hiratsuka Shizuka: ""

This series of smooth actions made the two feel, for a moment, like they could see the kitty practically begging, "If my lord does not abandon me, this kitty is willing to swear allegiance as an adopted child!"

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Chapter 31: What Bad Intentions Could a Kitty Possibly Have?

Kaito's lips curved slightly as he couldn't help but smile.

Though just a little demon who couldn't even take human form, it was somewhat clever.

Clearly scared when it first saw him just now, perhaps thinking it couldn't escape anyway, so it chose to act cute and beg for mercy.

Yet that smile was like blossoms flooding the city. Pure-white pear blossoms in the snow. Hiratsuka Shizuka clutched her chest, feeling as if her heart had just taken a critical hit.

Yukino also seemed a little dazed and murmured, "Looks like Yukitan really likes you."

"Likes me?"

Kaito neither confirmed nor denied, his smile fading as he casually grabbed the scruff of the cat's neck, staring straight into its eyes, "Are you going to come willingly, or shall I help you?"

The two girls looked a bit confused, exchanged glances, and saw puzzlement in each other's eyes.

"Meow~", Yukitan tried to keep pretending, widening its innocent eyes with effort. What bad intentions could a kitty possibly have?

But seeing the faintly unfriendly look on Kaito's face, it immediately shivered and lowered its head a bit pitifully.

The next second

A faint layer of black mist suddenly emerged around its body, visible to the naked eye. Its pupils gleamed with a strange light, and its teeth grew sharp at a speed visible to the naked eye.

At the same time, behind Yukitan, a brand-new tail suddenly sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

"W-what is that thing?!", Hiratsuka Shizuka was clearly shocked by the sudden change. She instinctively shielded Yukino behind her and swallowed hard.

"According to local Japanese belief", Kaito shrugged, "This should be a bakeneko."

Hiratsuka Shizuka: "?"

The iron-fist teacher's mind was full of question marks.

She suddenly recalled what Kaito had said earlier on campus.

Back then, he looked at her once and said she had Demonic Aura on her.

'Wait a sec, dude.'

'I thought he was just another chuunibyou case, but turns out he was serious?'

Yukino's pretty face also showed a faint trace of red.

The scene before her clearly shattered her worldview.

'There are actually real monsters in the world? And it is my own obedient, sensible Yukitan?'

"Could it be some mistake? Yukitan has never had the intention to harm me."

Even Yukino felt her own hollow defense was too weak and unconvincing.

The evidence was clear, and she saw it with her own eyes. How could it be a mistake?

"It certainly didn't intend to harm you."

If it had been a malicious monster with ill intent, Kaito would have suppressed it the moment he saw it.

By now, it probably would've been turned into a cat pancake or maybe Catball-chan?

It was precisely because he didn't sense the unique bloody scent of man-eating monsters on Yukitan that he gave the kitty a chance.

Kaito paused, "But even if it does nothing and just stays by your side, it's already harming you."

Monsters have Demonic Aura, ghosts have ghostly aura.

Ordinary people approaching them rashly would only deplete their own vitality. That's the origin of the phrase "humans and monsters walk different paths."

Even Mizusaki Aki, who was merely a regular earthbound spirit with little strength, still severely drained Nagasaki Soyo's vitality after possessing her, and Kaito had to step in to recharge her.

Though Yukitan was a bakeneko who couldn't even shapeshift yet, just a little monster. Even so, its strength far surpassed Mizusaki Aki's. Therefore, when Yukino interacted with it, her vitality depleted even faster.

Fortunately, she hadn't raised Yukitan for long yet. The only symptoms so far were fatigue, and with some proper care and rest, her lost vitality could recover naturally.

But if more time passed and the Demonic Aura seeped deeper into her body, it might even damage her foundation.

This statement hit like an earthquake, shaking Yukino and Shizuka's worldview to the core.

"Classmate Kaito, do you have any solution?", The first to lose patience was Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Yukino was, after all, her best friend's little sister. No different from her own in terms of closeness.

Seeing the girl's life at risk, there was no way she could stay calm.

"It's quite simple."

Kaito raised his brow, "To untie the bell, you must find the one who tied it. Since it's Yukitan that caused Miss Yukinoshita to become like this, just send it away."

That was indeed the best solution. To solve the problem at its source.

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked serious as she turned to the girl beside her, "Yukino."

She knew Yukino really loved cats. But pets could be bought anywhere. Send this one away, and the next could be even more obedient.

"But", Yukino still hesitated.

Though they hadn't been together long, emotions didn't necessarily depend on how long.

Some people click at first meeting.

Some people know each other half their lives and still find each other unbearable.

Reason told Yukino that sending Yukitan away was the optimal solution. After all, Kaito had made it clear. Humans and monsters walk different paths.

But emotionally, she couldn't bear it. It was too hard to make the decision to abandon Yukitan.

After hesitating for a long while, Yukino finally whispered, "May I ask if we send Yukitan away, where would it go?"

After all, this wasn't an ordinary kitty. It was a real, bona fide bakeneko.

You couldn't just treat it like a pet cat and release it somewhere random, right?

The most convenient method, of course, would be to kill it directly.

She was afraid of hearing that kind of answer from Kaito.

To Kaito, anything that harmed humans, whether monster or ghost, deserved to die.

But from what it looked like, Yukitan had no intent to hurt anyone, nor had it caused a major incident, so it didn't deserve to die.

He thought for a moment, then simply proposed, "How about you let me take it?"

Humans and monsters do walk different paths, that much was true.

But as someone who had once reached the Nascent Soul stage and was infinitely close to the level of 'immortal,' Kaito could be called half an immortal even without transcending tribulation.

'So then what does the path between humans and monsters have to do with a half-immortal like me?'

"Really?", Yukino's beautiful eyes lit up.

'Kurumizaka-kun can see through Yukitan's real identity at a glance and even made Yukitan fluff up in fear. He is clearly not ordinary.'

'Yukitan's Demonic Aura harmed me but couldn't harm Kurumizaka-kun.'

'He really is the most suitable person to take Yukitan in.'

"It's no trouble at all," Kaito opened the cat carrier and placed it in front of Yukitan.

The silver-white kitty seemed to understand that it had found a new owner. After a soft "meow," it stuck out its pink little tongue and licked Kaito's fingertip, then eagerly dove into the bag.

Seeing this scene, Yukino opened her mouth but said nothing.

She knew this was the best outcome, but her feelings were still complicated.

Like sorrowfully pushing your own wife into another man's arms. Only you yourself could understand the bitterness.

'You little ungrateful thing'

'I spoiled you so much, even bought high-end cat food by the box.'

'And now you switch sides without a second thought.'

"Don't be so sad," Perhaps her expression was too full of resentment, so Kaito said with a smile, "Even though Yukitan has a new owner now, if you have time, you're welcome to come to my place to visit."

Yukino was pleasantly surprised but still hesitant, "But won't I be affected by the Demonic Aura?"

"Once in a while is fine."

Kaito shook his head, "Just like how Miss Hiratsuka has also been around Yukitan but is fine. It's not just because her constitution is better than yours, but also because the time she's been exposed to it is short."

The better one's physical condition, the stronger one's qi inside. That is to say, more durable.

If Miss Hiratsuka had adopted Yukitan instead, she too would've been affected by the Demonic Aura, but not to the point where she couldn't last a few days like Yukino.

[ Shoutout to Hope, David, Vinayak & Joshua for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

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Chapter 32: Give Me a Transformation!

With the matter here settled, Kaito had no intention of staying long and thus proposed to take his leave.

Although Yukino still wanted to persuade him to stay a bit, she also seemed to have thought of something and, in the end, didn't speak rashly.

She simply expressed her thanks to Kaito once again and took the opportunity to exchange contact information with him.

The way back was still by Hiratsuka Shizuka's car.

When Kaito went downstairs and once again sat in that silver-gray Aston Martin Vantage, the iron-fist female teacher looked somewhat absent-minded.

She even forgot to insert the car key.

Kaito could understand how she felt.

Anyone whose worldview constructed over a dozen years was destroyed overnight would naturally be shocked, confused, or even on the verge of collapse, totally normal.

However, understanding is one thing, for the sake of safety in communication, he still tactfully reminded, "Hiratsuka-sensei, we can go now."

"Huh? Oh oh, oh!", Hiratsuka Shizuka snapped back to her senses and finally realized her behavior was somewhat improper.

She hurriedly gave a dry cough, started the engine, but kept sneaking glances at him from the corners of her eyes from time to time, her face full of expressions that seemed like she had something to say but couldn't.

Seeing her like she had a bellyful of questions she wanted to ask but didn't dare to, Kaito simply spoke, "Hiratsuka-sensei, if there's something, just say it directly."

"Ahem Then I'll go ahead and ask?", Hiratsuka Shizuka looked a little embarrassed, but in the end, her curiosity overwhelmed everything else, and she couldn't help but ask, "Things like Yokai are they common?"

'Yukitan's appearance doesn't differ much from an ordinary cat.'

'At most, it just looks smarter, seems to have more spiritual presence.'

'But intelligent and spiritually aware pets are plenty, surely they all can't be Yokai, right?'

"Of course, they're not common," Kaito organized his thoughts and slowly said, "There are only a few ways for Yokai to be born. Perhaps an ordinary animal cultivating into a spirit, or maybe awakening bloodlines through some coincidence But regardless of which method, the probability is low. Their number might be even rarer than ghosts."

"W-Wait!", Hiratsuka Shizuka swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "You mean, in this world there are not only Yokai, but also ghosts?"

Kaito nodded.

"Let me take a moment," Hiratsuka Shizuka really wanted to cover her face, but thinking she was still driving, she barely restrained that impulse.

She could only sigh inwardly, how come the world suddenly turned into something unrecognizable.

'It really was tough on me to have grown up safely for the past dozen years.'

"If there are Yokai and ghosts, then there must be onmyoji as well, right?", After thinking a bit, she posed another key question.

"Maybe there are," Kaito shrugged. "Though I've never met one myself."

Hiratsuka Shizuka: ""

She just couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't very reliable.

Still, she silently decided in her heart to go pray at a nearby shrine or temple later.

And pick up a few protective charms while she was at it.

Whether they worked or not, at least it'd put her mind at ease.

The sports car soon stopped in front of a familiar detached house.

After bidding Hiratsuka-sensei farewell, Kaito carried the cat bag and turned into the bedroom.

Releasing Yukitan from the bag, the cat had already returned to a harmless-looking form, and its tail was also back to just one.

Seeing his figure, she quickly trotted to his feet in a fawning manner, her little head rubbing repeatedly.

Kaito casually petted a few strokes. That fluffy touch was pretty addictive.

Then he seemed to remember something and flipped Yukitan over.

The cat lay on her back, limbs in the air, looking a little awkward, but didn't dare struggle. She only meowed in grievance, looking pitifully at her master in hopes of receiving a bit of mercy.

"So you're a little female cat," On the other side, Kaito had also confirmed the information he wanted.

Since ancient times, Japan had legends of bakeneko. In traditional imagery, bakeneko were often evil Yokai that fed on humans.

But there were also stories of kind bakeneko, who often turned into girl-like forms to get close to humans, with gentle personalities and a love for eating fish.

Yukitan's situation clearly belonged to the latter.

But speculation was still just speculation.

Upholding the principle of serious verification, Kaito cleared his throat, pointed at the cat in front of him, and solemnly ordered:

"Give me a transformation!"

Yukitan tilted her head, looking innocent.

'Boss, what are you saying? This kitty doesn't understand, nya~'

One man and one cat, silently staring at each other.

"Legends really aren't reliable," Kaito sighed.

'But it's fine, even if she can't become a catgirl now, that doesn't mean she won't in the future.' [T/N: Man of culture, I see. Ahem!]

He fed Yukitan a handful of dried fish, this was something Yukino stuffed into his hand, along with a few emergency packs of cat food he'd brought back.

The cat was quite happy eating, not even willing to lift her head.

Once she was finally full and satisfied, Kaito tucked both hands under Yukitan's armpits and lifted her into the air.

Then he sat back on the sofa and began extracting intel.

As a cultivator, it was easy to communicate with animals.

It's just that most animals weren't very intelligent, worse than three- or four-year-old toddlers. So the conversation wasn't that meaningful.

But Yukitan was different. As a bakeneko, although she couldn't speak, her intelligence wasn't low. Roughly equivalent to a twelve- or thirteen-year-old child.

"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~"

"You're saying you're a little Yokai born in the mountains and forests, your parents died early, and you grew up alone as a cat?"

"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~"

"You're saying your home was taken over by a very bad, very big dog, and you were even bitten by it, barely escaped after struggling, and have been wandering ever since?"

Another piece of intel on a Yokai.

'If there's time, might as well go take a look.'

Kaito pinched his chin and asked again, "You must've had your own name before, right? What is it?"

The cat nodded, then meowed twice, and scratched lightly on the sofa with her claws, leaving several shallow marks. Vaguely, the word "Kirara" could be made out.

Looking at the newly bought sofa getting scratched like that, thankfully not too deeply, Kaito's mouth twitched.

He angrily scrubbed the cat's head, rubbing her until Kirara was dizzy and disoriented, not even knowing where she was, before he finally stopped.

[The Next Morning, At the Train Station]

There weren't many passengers waiting on the platform, but among them, a blue-haired figure stood out.

A proper lady's dress, matched with light blue lace short socks and black leather shoes, the girl named "Togawa Sakiko" was as graceful and beautiful today as ever.

"Good day, Kurumizaka-kun," Even her greeting sounded sweet like a noble lady's.

"Good morning," Kaito responded as usual.

Sakiko was only 155 cm tall. Among Japanese girls who averaged around 158 cm, she belonged to the shorter category.

But her body proportions were perfect, and her temperament outstanding, so when standing beside Kaito, the overall atmosphere felt very harmonious.

Since they lived nearby and often took the train together, the two had become much more familiar compared to their first meeting.

Usually while waiting for the train, Sakiko would chat with him a bit.

But today, after greeting him, the girl didn't start a conversation. Instead, she was muttering to herself as if memorizing something.

Noticing Kaito's puzzled gaze, Sakiko gave an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I didn't bother you, did I?"

After getting a negative answer, she patted her chest and explained, "The first test since entering school is coming up soon, so I wanted to take advantage of the time waiting for the train to review my lessons."

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Chapter 33: Party Ronin " Hitori Gotou

With Togawa Sakiko's grades, she could actually go to a much better university.

It's not that Shuka is bad, but compared to those top-tier first-line universities, it does fall a bit short.

The reason Sakiko chose this place is very simple: the scholarship is very high.

Shuka was formerly a noble academy, wealthy and generous.

Take this test as an example. The top three can receive scholarships of 200,000, 150,000, and 100,000 yen respectively.

To Sakiko now, this money is very important.

Not only can it improve her living conditions, but also free up more part-time job hours, which she can use to scout for band members.

Right now, Kaito is not short on money. Just the commission earned from Yumiko hasn't even been touched yet, let alone the 100 million yen later transferred by Ms. Mizusaki. [T/N: I changed the comission to 100]

Going to school is just for life experience; he isn't really concerned about exams.

But while he may not care, others can't afford not to care.

Ever since hearing the news about the upcoming exam last night, Bocchi had been restless.

Since middle school, her grades had always been less than ideal.

It wasn't that she didn't try. Bocchi had once worked hard, neglecting sleep and food, burning the midnight oil, but in the end, she could only barely pass.

Even getting into Shuka wasn't through academic merit, but because of her guitar skills, via the special admissions route.

Although her parents didn't have high expectations for her grades, if she were at the bottom of the class, wouldn't she become a laughingstock to the others?

She might even get pointed at

Just imagining that terrifying scene of being at the bottom of the class made Bocchi lose all color, as if a gust of wind could turn her to ashes under the sunlight.

--

"Hey, hey, Bocchi-chan."

[After School, In the Clubroom]

Yumiko looked at the pink-haired girl in front of her and couldn't help but complain, "It's just a regular test, right? Even if you do badly, there's no punishment. No need to be this scared, right?"

Bocchi-chan still maintained her slumped, despairing posture, facing the wall like a cold statue.

Getting closer, you could faintly hear her mumbling, "I'm a mushroom I'm a mushroom I'm a mushroom"

Yumiko couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright, stop shutting down."

She pulled Bocchi up and coaxed her like a child, saying, "The test is next Tuesday. There are still three days left. During this time, how about I help you review a bit?"

"R-Really?", Bocchi held her hand excitedly, and in her sapphire blue eyes, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.

"Why would I lie to you?", Yumiko was full of confidence.

Though she couldn't compare to study elites like Yukinoshita, back in high school, she had always ranked within the top ten of her class.

Tutoring a single Bocchi-chan was more than manageable.

"Uwuu, Miura-san", Bocchi teared up with gratitude.

Her goal wasn't high; she'd be happy if her grades were just average.

In a class, the most inconspicuous people are usually those whose grades are neither good nor bad.

Not good enough for teachers to be proud of, nor bad enough to make them shake their heads.

For Bocchi, that was the perfect ecological niche.

The tutoring location was decided to be the Gotou residence.

After some thought, Yumiko turned and looked at Kaito nearby, and extended an invitation, "By the way, President, you should come too."

"I don't really need to, right?", Kaito didn't look too interested.

He didn't care about grades, but as a cultivator, his senses were sharp and his thinking was more agile than most. Photographic memory was practically a basic skill.

Even if he didn't pay much attention in class, just rote memorization was enough to get decent grades.

"Of course you have to come!", Yumiko put her hands on her hips and righteously declared, "The Supernatural Research Club is a collective. We advance and retreat together, even tutoring is no exception!"

"And besides, you being there can also serve as supervision, to keep us from slacking off."

Bocchi also looked hopeful and softly said, "W-Welcome, Kaito-kun to my house"

Ever since their last meeting, her parents and even her sister had asked several times about Kaito.

Bocchi had also wanted to invite him over again, but every time the words reached her lips, she would shrink back, and could only cheer herself on in her heart, ["Next time for sure, next time for sure"]

And then it got delayed until today.

Faced with the girls' sparkling, expectant gazes, Kaito couldn't bear to let them down and nodded.

"Yay!", Yumiko happily pounced forward, like a friendly golden retriever.

--

[Saturday Morning]

A rare day off, the train station platform was a bit quiet.

Kaito was waiting for someone.

They had agreed yesterday morning to go to Gotou-san's house for tutoring, but that night, Yumiko sent another message, saying she wanted to meet in Ikebukuro first and then ride the train together.

Ding~

With a crisp chime, the train quickly arrived at the station.

A familiar blonde figure got off and looked around for a bit before quickly spotting the person she wanted to see.

Her pretty face bloomed into a big smile as she ran over, "President, good morning~"

"Morning."

Kaito greeted her and paused before adding, "That outfit suits you well."

The girl in front of him had clearly dressed up carefully.

A pale yellow shirt, matched with a beige coat, and a stylish gray pleated skirt on the bottom, paired with slightly sheer black thigh-highs, together forming an irresistible absolute zone.

"Hehe~", Yumiko grinned proudly like a smug little fox, glad she woke up early to do makeup and pick clothes.

Very naturally, she stepped closer and hugged Kaito's arm. Her earlobes turned a little red, but she pretended to be calm, "Let's go!"

.

.

.

.

[Two Hours Later]

This wasn't Kaito's first time at Bocchi's house, but the sight before him still made the corner of his mouth twitch.

In front of the ordinary single-family home, a huge horizontal banner with black letters on a white background hung high on the wall.

[Warmly Welcome the Members of the Supernatural Research Club for Guidance!]

Below that was another line in smaller text: [We hope everyone can enjoy a moment of healing here]

"This is too over the top, right?", A few black lines appeared on Yumiko's forehead, "It's just simple tutoring, come on"

Kaito also thought it was a bit much but didn't say much. He just looked at Yumiko who was still tightly clinging to his arm, "More importantly, when do you plan to let go?"

It was one thing to be clingy on the train, but they were about to be guests at the Gotou household, so it was time to show some restraint.

Yumiko understood this well, but even when she let go, she still looked reluctant.

The doorbell was pressed, and not long after, a panicked voice came from inside.

"J-j-j-j-just a moment! I'm coming to open the door!"

As the door opened

BANG!

A burst of party poppers exploded before them, and colorful confetti rained down.

Bocchi, dressed in a pink tracksuit, stood at the entrance, looking like a completely different person.

She wore a Santa hat, glowing star-shaped glasses, and a fake black beard.

She also had a sash that said "One-Day Patrol Captain" slung diagonally across her chest.

Party Ronin " Hitori Gotou, grand debut!

[ Shoutout to Tiago for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

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Chapter 34: Stick your head over, Ill give you a buff

'This kind of welcoming ceremony really is quite unique,' Miura Yumiko laughed with a "haha," showing an awkward yet polite smile.

Seeing that the atmosphere seemed to be turning awkward, Bocchi stood frozen in place, her brain trembling.

'D-Did it fail'

'Even though I practiced a few times last night, it still didn't work out after all?'

'Ugh I wanna go back into mom's womb'

At the critical moment, the Gotou family, who could no longer bear to watch, stepped in.

"Ara~ So the Kaito-chan that Hitori's been looking forward to since yesterday is finally here? And this must be Miura-san, right?"

"Big brother, big sister~"

"Welcome, welcome, come on in~"

Mrs. Gotou, Mr. Gotou, and little Hitori who was holding Jimihen the dog.

The three of them displayed a completely different level of overwhelming social prowess compared to Bocchi-chan, saving the scene and smoothly bringing Kaito and Yumiko into the living room.

Serving up fruit, making conversation, full of enthusiasm, it was almost too much for Yumiko to handle.

In contrast, Kaito was much more composed.

After all, he'd already experienced this kind of hospitality once before.

After exchanging simple greetings with the Gotou couple and playing with little Hitori for a while, he hadn't forgotten today's main task: tutoring.

Mrs. Gotou had already heard about Kaito and Yumiko's visit from her daughter Hitori. She smiled warmly and said, "If that's the case, Kaito-kun and Yumiko-chan, go on up to Hitori's room~ It's the first door to the left at the corner on the second floor."

"Hitori and I will cut up some more fruit and bring it up in a bit."

"Okay."

Kaito nodded and went upstairs with Yumiko. Their figures disappeared around the corner.

Once the two were gone, Mrs. Gotou immediately grabbed her daughter Hitori's arm and pulled her into the kitchen, "Hey Hitori, who exactly is this Miura-san?"

"Miura-san?", Bocchi-chan was a little confused and replied reflexively, "She's my classmate, and also a member of the same club."

"Come on now, who asked you that!"

Mrs. Gotou gave her daughter's little head a disappointed tap, "What I mean is, what's the relationship between your Miura-san and Kaito-kun."

Her daughter was naturally shy and introverted, and it hadn't been easy for her to meet a boy she liked. As her mother, of course she hoped she'd get her wish.

But Miura Yumiko's appearance had set off alarm bells for Mrs. Gotou.

She was glad her daughter could make new friends, sure. But only if those friends didn't become romantic rivals.

It was obvious, this beautiful girl with long, straight golden hair, outgoing and generous, wasn't lacking in any aspect compared to Hitori. If anything, she might even be a notch above.

"Ugh we-we're just normal friends, I think?"

Bocchi felt a little guilty, "Probably? Maybe?"

Kaito and Miura indeed weren't in any kind of close relationship right now.

But that could change. They looked good standing together, and both were single. If they spent a lot of time together, who knows what might happen.

'If that day really comes'

Just imagining the two of them holding hands, fingers interlaced, made Bocchi feel a bit sour. Her whole person wilted like a withered bok choy, listless and gloomy.

This mood lingered for quite a while, even during tutoring. She was completely out of it.

"Bocchi-chan? Bocchi-chan?", A hand waved in front of the pink-haired girl's lifeless eyes. Miura Yumiko stretched out her voice, "Comebacktoearth"

"Umu!", Bocchi shivered and quickly bowed her head, "S-Sorry! I was spacing out"

"Did you run into some kind of problem?", Yumiko tapped the worksheet on the desk with a slightly troubled look, "You've spaced out six times in the past half hour."

"I-It's all my fault", Bocchi lowered her head even further, almost burying it in her chest.

Yumiko sighed.

She wasn't trying to scold Bocchi-chan. She just wanted her to talk about whatever problem she was having so they could figure it out together.

But since Bocchi-chan clearly had no intention of opening up, she couldn't exactly force her.

So she simply stood up, "I'll go to the bathroom first, be back in a bit."

Once she left, the only ones left in the room were Kaito and Bocchi.

Looking at the distracted pink-haired girl, Kaito thought for a moment and decided to step in himself.

Although he didn't know what inner conflict the Gotou girl was struggling with, she was clearly in no state to focus on studying.

Since he was already here, instead of wasting time, he might as well do something helpful.

"Hitori, is it okay if I call you that?"

"U-Of course you can!", Little Bocchi's pretty face turned red, and she sat up straight in a flash.

'Kaito-senpai actually called me by my name?'

'Hehe hehehe'

Though she was timid like a useless little bug that liked to hide in dark corners, she could still get carried away and lost in fantasy from others' praise or affection.

'Maybe that is part of Bocchi-chan's unique charm?'

With that thought in mind, Kaito continued, "Hitori, stick your head over, I'll give you a buff."

"Eh-eh-eh?", Little Bocchi blinked, not really understanding what he meant.

But she still obediently scooted over, lowering her head slightly to reveal a neck as pale as a swan's, untouched by sunlight.

Kaito placed his hand about five centimeters above her head. A faint white light began to glow in his palm.

Light Blessing Spell.

A minor spell that could slightly change a person's fortune for a short time, also useful for boosting clarity and dispelling negative energy.

The soft white glow split into sesame-sized particles of light, quickly surging into Bocchi-chan's body.

The girl suddenly felt her mind clear. Questions she didn't understand before started making sense. Like her brain had been replaced with a smarter one.

"Th-this is?"

"A little trick to help improve your grades."

Kaito casually patted her little head and smiled, "How do you feel now?"

"Super good!", Bocchi nodded hard, her blue eyes sparkling.

Not only did she feel much sharper, even her memory seemed a bit better.

If she could stay like this, she could totally reach the middle tier of the class. She wouldn't have to worry about being criticized for bad grades ever again.

Overcome with emotion, the girl stood up in a flash, wanting to bow deeply in thanks.

But maybe because she had been sitting cross-legged for too long, her legs had gone numb. The moment she stood up, they lost all strength.

Then, her whole body toppled forward.

A soft whiff of body wash filled the air.

Kaito reached out instinctively, just holding her out of politeness.

Clack!

"I'm back!", The door opened. Yumiko, standing there, looked at the scene before her.

The jade-like clarity in her emerald-green eyes faded completely.

[T/N: Lol]

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Chapter 35: I Crave Your Body, Im Being Honest!

Silence. Pin drop silence.

Silence fell over the Gotou household.

Kaito had a bit of a headache. If he'd known this would happen, he should've done a fortune reading before leaving the house.

Although he and Bocchi were perfectly innocent. Heaven and earth could testify. This scene right now was simply too misleading.

"Actually, this is a misunderstanding," He thought for a moment and still decided to offer an explanation.

Miura Yumiko didn't answer, only returned a gaze full of quiet grievance.

Kaito coughed awkwardly and naturally let go of his hand.

Unexpectedly, due to her shyness, Bocchi's brain had gone into overload. Without support, she was about to fall over.

To prevent a tragic head-smashing incident, Kaito had no choice but to reach out and catch her again.

Miura Yumiko: "..."

She had only seen the result before, but now even the process had been filled in.

"Bocchi-chan, Yumiko-chan, and Kaito-kun, you can come downstairs now"

When it rains, it pours.

Mrs. Gotou just happened to come upstairs at that moment to call everyone down for a meal, and caught this classic white-school drama scene.

PUPIL EARTHQUAKE!

'The future son-in-law I have long set my sights on is now having intimate contact with my daughter. That's good.'

'But what is going on with Miura-chan watching from the sidelines?'

'Is this what young people do these days?'

'Or is it just that I've gotten old? I can't keep up with the times anymore?'

Mrs. Gotou began to doubt life.

But after all, she was a mature, gentle housewife with lots of experience. She quickly calmed her mood and smiled, "Ara~ Ara~ seems like I came at a bad time?"

.

.

.

.

[Twenty Minutes Later]

[In the Living Room]

The dining table was full, with five people seated.

Mrs. Gotou, Mr. Gotou, the two girls, Kaito, and Yumiko.

As for Bocchi

After recovering from her shy-induced brain crash and learning that her most embarrassing moment had been seen by her mother, Bocchi-chan promptly fainted.

Even when Mrs. Gotou tried to wake her, it was no use. The girl had hid herself inside the closet of the bedroom, refusing to come out no matter what, let alone come downstairs to eat.

As for tutoring clearly, that couldn't go on either.

Since Yumiko also felt it was a bit awkward to continue staying, after having lunch at the Gotou house, she dragged Kaito along to leave.

The afternoon street was very quiet.

Gentle wind and warm sunshine poured down, softly scattering across their faces, slightly intoxicating. The sky in the distance was as clear as if washed clean, and now and then, the crisp chirping of birds could be heard.

After leaving the Gotou house, Yumiko became very quiet.

But this quiet was definitely not calm; it was brewing something.

Finally

"President no, Kaito-senpai."

She stopped walking, turned around, took a deep breath, and smiled brightly, "I like you."

"I know you might think all of this is too sudden, but it's fine even if you treat this as useless rambling. I just want you to know, there's a girl named Miura Yumiko who really likes you."

"It's the kind of like where I want to be in a relationship with you, holding hands, going on dates, riding the Ferris wheel, watching dolphin shows at the aquarium."

"And someday later, I'll wear a wedding dress covered in crystal rhinestones, hold your hand, and you'll put a ring on me."

That scene at the Gotou house really shocked Yumiko.

She once wanted to go slow and steady, to let feelings build over time.

But Bocchi's appearance was like a great bell sounding, instantly waking her up.

Love is warchanging in a heartbeat.

You never know when a surprise will strike. Like a cat sneaking in and stealing affection from above, winning with overwhelming advantage and becoming the champion, watching the defeated ones howl in regret.

Then your carefully cherished boy would be claimed by another girl, and all you're left with is midnight dreams and tear-soaked pillows, wondering if things would have ended differently had you been just a little braver.

'Maybe confessing too early is a terrible move.'

'But, rather than do nothing, I'd rather make a mistake.'

"This is everything a girl named Miura Yumiko feels for you," The girl clasped her hands behind her back, a faint blush covering her porcelain-white cheeks. But still, she tried her best to smile, her charming eyes more dazzling than ever.

"Kurumizaka-kun, what's your answer?"

Kaito was unusually silent.

How did he feel about Yumiko?

Honestly, even he wasn't sure. Maybe he liked her. Maybe he only saw her as a friend.

But there was one thing he could be certain of, at the very least, he didn't dislike her.

And often, not disliking was enough.

After a long, almost suffocating silence, Kaito looked up and met her eyes, "To be honest, you're an excellent girl. Beautiful, great figure, nice personality."

He paused, then added, "I don't know if I really like you, but I can give it a try."

"So you're sayingyou're saying yes?"

Yumiko had kept her eyes tightly shut like a prisoner waiting for sentencing.

Upon hearing this, the girl opened her eyes, filled with surprise and joy.

She hadn't held too much hope. After all, this was so rushed, and there hadn't been time to develop their feelings more.

It was a decision made in the heat of the moment, yet she really got a happy ending?

The emotions she had desperately held back suddenly burst like a dam breaking.

She no longer held back, nor needed to. Her lovely face full of joy, she dove into Kaito's arms.

Yumiko looked up, her emerald eyes blinking, and her slightly parted red lips seemed to be expecting something.

Kaito said nothing. He gently wrapped his arms around the girl's slender waist and lowered his head.

For a long time, until Yumiko was a little out of breath, they slowly pulled apart.

Very sweet.

Her soft lips carried the pleasant scent of oranges, leaving a taste that lingered.

It even stirred up a stronger desireto want more, to claim more. [T/N: Insert Grinch Grin GIF]

Kaito took a deep breath and suppressed the urge, lowering his head to look at the girl in his arms.

Yumiko still looked a bit dazed.

Maybe it was due to a lack of oxygen, her porcelain-white cheeks were tinged with rouge, and her rosy lips still looked slightly moist, like morning flower petals kissed by dew.

It was a first for both of them, and their movements were very awkward.

But Yumiko was very satisfied, 'So this is what a kiss feels like the taste really is wonderful.'

Her only regret was that she had been too nervous just now and forgot to use her tongue

She really wanted to try again, but was afraid it would make her seem too indecent, like some kind of super thirsty girl.

'Fine, cards on the table. I am a thirsty girl.'

'I crave Kaito-kun's body, I'm being honest!'

Seeing that some passersby had already been attracted by the commotion and were pointing fingers, Yumiko felt a little embarrassed to stay in his arms, but still clung tightly to Kaito's arm.

"It feels like a dream", She couldn't help but sigh.

"Is it really that exaggerated?", Kaito looked at her dazed expression, both helpless and amused.

"Of course it is!", Yumiko rolled her charming eyes at him and huffed, "Back on the first day of school, I came to strike up a conversation with you, but you said you didn't have a LINE account At least come up with a better excuse! That really hurt my self-esteem!"

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Chapter 36: Only Then Can It Be Called Healthy

"Actually, I really didn't have a LINE account at that time."

Kaito coughed, "After all, I came to study abroad from the abroad, and I had never used LINE before. I should be thanking you for reminding me back then."

"S-So that's how it was"

Yumiko looked a little embarrassed. She had secretly remembered for a long time how she had been politely refused when she asked for his contact info, 'So it was all just a misunderstanding?'

She quickly changed the topic, "By the way, President, about what happened today, can we not tell Bocchi for now?"

"What happened today?", Kaito thought for a moment, a bit surprised, "You mean us dating?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Yumiko nodded hard, shyly twirling a strand of hair beside her ear around her fingertips, then sighed.

"Because, with Bocchi-chan's personality, if she finds out that the only other two members in the club started dating behind her back, she'll definitely hold back her tears, smile through it like a little abandoned animal, and say something like 'I wish you happiness,' then go home at night and cry her eyes out, wailing in grief..."

Just like how many bands forbid their members from dating each other, this kind of thing doesn't just affect the band's development. But, if it gets serious, it could even lead to the band breaking up completely.

Bands disbanding because of romantic entanglements isn't even news anymore.

Yumiko was greedy.

She wanted love, and she wanted friendship too. Only then could it be called healthy.

But Kaito didn't agree with this idea, "If the truth brings pain, lies will only make things worse."

Paper can't wrap fire, this is a basic truth.

Yet Yumiko stubbornly insisted on this belief. Kaito didn't want to argue further and simply nodded in agreement.

Only then was the girl satisfied, gripping Kaito's hand tightly and interlocking fingers with his.

The two continued strolling down the street. As it was late April, the cherry blossoms along the roadside were in full bloom. When the wind blew, countless petals danced in the air, like enchanting pink butterflies fluttering up and down, never stopping.

They walked in silence for a while. Perhaps feeling the mood was a bit too cold, Yumiko couldn't help breaking it.

"By the way, what do you think of Bocchi-chan, President?"

'What do I think?', Kaito fell into thought.

"Though she is a bit shy and socially anxious, Bocchi is still a very good girl overall, never causing trouble for anyone."

"Not to mention, she is also pretty cute. Just has bad fashion sense."

Who would hate someone like that?

At least Kaito didn't.

Not to mention, Bocchi was the first girl he invited. And who agreed to join the club.

A man always holds special feelings for the girl who took his "first."

This kind of half-hearted answer made Yumiko puff up her cheeks, like an angry little pufferfish.

"I knew it! You treat Bocchi-chan differently!"

'You go out of your way to care about her feelings, worry she'll be left out, and even chat with her.'

'Back at the Gotou house, you even hugged her right in front of me!'

'If you guys dare hug when I'm around, I don't even want to imagine how bold you get in private!'

The more she thought, the angrier she got. Yumiko ground her silver teeth, her gaze scanning over Kaito's shoulder and arm, as if searching for the best place to bite.

"What are you thinking?", Kaito lightly knocked her on the head, annoyed. How did he not notice she was such a jealous little vinegar jar? Jealous over something that didn't even happen.

Yumiko was indeed a bit jealous, but she had no intention of cutting off a potential rival in love.

The reason was simple: she couldn't do it, and it wasn't realistic.

It had been mentioned before, the gender ratio in this world was extremely imbalanced, about one to four.

Outstanding men were usually pursued by several, even dozens, of passionate women.

Because of that, the laws surrounding marriage were very open, polygamy wasn't prohibited. As long as you had the ability, you could marry as many as you wanted.

Of course, there were women who disliked harems, but people had already grown used to it.

For Yumiko, since she had already claimed first place and was eating her fill of meat, it was still within acceptable limits to let others have some soup.

"I have only one request," Yumiko seriously raised a slender index finger, "Even if something really happens between you and Bocchi, I don't mind. But don't keep it from me."

Though Kaito felt things between him and Bocchi were completely pure, he still nodded after a moment of thought.

After that, the two didn't part right away.

After all, they had just started dating, it was the time when they couldn't get enough of each other.

Yumiko had never dated before, but she'd heard her friends share their own experiences.

So she dragged Kaito to go shopping, to her favorite dessert shop for milk tea, feeding each other sweets.

In the afternoon, they watched a movie she had wanted to see for a long time, sharing a bucket of popcorn.

When they came out of the theater, it was already dark.

'U-Usually after watching a movie, the next step is the hotel, right?', Yumiko was a little tempted. Coincidentally, a love hotel lit with neon signs was just a few steps away

'No, no! No matter how you look at it, doing that kind of thing on the first day of dating is way too fast!'

'At least a month No, half a month No, at least a week, right?'

Besides, she really wasn't prepared. She hadn't even worn the "final battle" lingerie she bought in secret.

"I'll walk you home," Kaito, on the other hand, wasn't thinking about any of that, and naturally spoke.

It was worth mentioning, Yumiko wasn't living in the same apartment he had visited last time.

After the haunted incident, she had lingering fears and quickly contacted her parents.

Of course, she didn't mention the evil spirit, just used the excuse of being unaccustomed to the environment and wanting to move.

As the only daughter of the Miura couple, Yumiko was very doted on, so she easily received a generous moving allowance.

Her empty little savings jar also got a boost. At least she didn't need to work part-time anymore.

Standing below her apartment building, the two were about to part.

Though it had only been one night, Yumiko was reluctant, holding onto his arm and not wanting to let go.

After some hesitation, the girl threw her shyness away and said hesitantly, "Kaito-kun, w-would you like to come up for a cup of tea?"

A man and a woman, alone, late at night.

This kind of invitation needed no translation.

Kaito coughed, "Wouldn't I be bothering your parents?"

Yumiko lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Her face felt burning hot.

She whispered, "Stupid President, did you forget I live alone? Mom and Dad are abroad, they won't be back until next month."

'Things has already gotten to this point, if I refuse her brave invitation, it will hurt her, right?"

Kaito quickly made up his mind, "Then I'll take you up on that."

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Chapter 37: Weak but Loves to Play

"No, no more!"

"Let me rest a bit just a bit! Five minutes!"

"Uuu Healing magic, that's cheating"

.

.

.

.

[3 A.M.]

A few hours ago, the arrogant blonde girl who had loudly proclaimed to drain him dry was now deeply asleep. Traces of sweat still lingered faintly on her forehead, and a few strands of messy hair stuck to her lips, silently speaking of how fierce the battle had been.

Kaito let out a light sigh.

'The path of man. Finally, I have opened the door to a new realm.'

Unfortunately, the gap between the two was too great. And with the girl experiencing this for the first time, it was like a farmer holding a shotgun encountering Raditz who had just arrived on Earth. The result was obvious.

And this was even with him using spiritual power to help the girl recover her strength.

Looking at the exhausted sleeping face of Yumiko in his arms, Kaito smiled silently and closed his eyes as well.

.

.

.

.

'Ugh'

'The sunlight is so bright'

Miura Yumiko was awakened by the scorching afternoon sunlight.

She opened her eyes in a bit of a daze, the lingering fatigue wouldn't go away, making her want to sleep a bit more.

Her jade-like arm, completely bare, unconsciously groped around, but found nothing.

'Eh?'

'Where's my big boyfriend?'

Yumiko instantly became a lot more awake.

After giving away the most precious thing she had, girls would usually feel more insecure, craving the company and affection of their lover.

If at this moment, they encountered a cold-hearted scumbag who just pulled out and left, it wouldn't be surprising if they swore off love and sealed their heart in concrete.

But Kaito was clearly not that kind of person.

Click!

The door opened, and a familiar figure appeared in her vision.

The handsome boy, picturesque as ever, walked in carrying freshly cooked porridge. A light pink apron tied around his waist added a touch of everyday warmth to his beauty.

"How was your sleep?"

"It it was fine", Yumiko's small face flushed slightly. She instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around herself, covering the large expanse of fair skin exposed.

Even though they were already intimately familiar, small things like this still made her shy.

Kaito didn't mind. He placed the red date porridge in front of her, "Try it. How does it taste?"

Red dates nourish and replenish blood, very suitable for Yumiko, who had lost a lot of blood last night.

The porridge was cooked just right, the rice grains soft and sticky. One mouthful, and her whole stomach felt warm.

Yumiko was deeply satisfied. Her previously weak body slowly began to warm up, like drinking ginger tea on a freezing day. Her spirits were lifted.

Even though she had said she didn't mind Kaito and Bocchi doing something, if they had really gotten together, Yumiko would've still felt sour inside.

But now, that thought was gone.

There was no helping it. The firepower she endured daily was just too strong. One person simply couldn't handle it. Absolutely couldn't.

For the sake of her physical and mental health, she could only let Bocchi suffer. She'd take the blame and curses herself.

[Monday]

Today was the day of their first test since enrollment.

Stepping into the classroom, the usually noisy and chatty classmates were unusually silent. Everywhere she looked, students were clutching textbooks in a last-minute cram session.

Feeling the much more solemn atmosphere compared to usual, Togawa Sakiko was, for once, a little relaxed.

'It is finally here.'

Whether there was a test or not didn't matter much to Sakiko.

But what did matter, was the scholarship behind it.

Shuka Academy was formerly a private aristocratic school. Wealthy and generous.

Take this test, for example, the first place scholarship prize was a whopping 200,000 yen.

With that money, she could quit her tedious part-time jobs and free up more time to look for band members.

Then she'd quickly make her debut, become commercially successful, rise to fame in one shot, and escape financial crisis.

By that time, she could also throw aside useless concerns and boldly pursue the boy she liked.

Sakiko had great confidence in her grades.

When she was still the young lady of the Togawa family, she had undergone many years of elite-style education.

Music tea ceremony flower arrangement even equestrianism, a skill rarely used in modern society.

The Togawa family had been committed to cultivating her into a top-tier, all-around talent.

From childhood to now, Sakiko had always maintained the top spot in her grade. She was the Togawa family's brightest pearl, and the universally recognized "child from someone else's family."

Her grades at Shuka were undoubtedly among the very best.

So, sooking out the window in a certain direction, the blue-haired girl's gaze gradually turned determined.

'Very soon.'

'Kaito-kun, wait for me.'

This test would take two days.

The difficulty was moderate. Not easy to the point where just having hands was enough, but not hard enough to make you want to bite your pen out of frustration.

When Kaito finished and left the exam room, it was just 4:30 p.m.

'Wonder how Yumiko and Bocchi are doing now'

Shaking his head, he was about to head to the clubroom to wait, but after taking only a few steps, he saw a familiar figure at the corner not far away.

Old-fashioned pink tracksuit, matching pants with a dark gray pleated skirt. Such despair-inducing fashion sense, you'd be hard-pressed to find a second person like this in all of Shuka.

"Bocchi?", The sudden voice made the pink-haired figure freeze entirely.

She turned around timidly, glanced at him, then quickly lowered her head and muttered in a small voice:

"K-Kurumizaka-kun g-good afternoon"

"Good afternoon."

Kaito walked up and stood next to her, raising a brow, "Finally not hiding anymore?"

Maybe it was because of the incident at the Gotou house, it had left a deep shadow on the pink-haired girl.

Anyway, Bocchi had been deliberately avoiding him and Yumiko these past few days.

Head down in class, vanished the second class ended, and even skipped club time after school.

"Uuu", Bocchi's little face turned even redder.

She recalled that embarrassing scene from a few days ago, and even her chest felt slightly hot. Her heart's little deer wanted to bash itself dead.

Seeing she was about to retreat into her shell again, Kaito didn't press her. He changed the subject, "By the way, how did today's exam feel? Were the questions hard?"

"S-Still okay", Talking about this, Bocchi's tone lifted quite a bit.

The effect of the Light Blessing spell was amazing, it was like turning on a buff that doubled learning efficiency. Problems she couldn't understand before, now she could grasp easily.

The only pity was that such a powerful buff had a time limit. It wore off this morning.

Still, two days of review gave her a huge boost in academic power, like a young swordsman in a martial arts novel breaking through in the heat of battle, fighting back from the edge and beating the test boss to a pulp.

"A-Anyway, thank you very much, Kurumizaka-kun, for your help," Of course, the polite Gotou-san hadn't forgotten her true benefactor.

A 90-degree bowperfect form.

Her careful and cautious appearance made one really want to bully her.

"Just a thank-you and you think that's enough?"

Kaito said seriously, "Don't you have something more practical as a reward?"

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Chapter 38: Why the heck are you blushing like a bubble teapot!?

"Uuu the actual compensation", Bocchi watched his expression uneasily and said in a small voice, "I-I've been saving up some private money recently"

She'd always been working part-time at the livehouse run by Nijika's family, and with her parents' allowance added in, it totaled around 60,000 yen.

"I'm not interested in money."

In psychology, there's a phenomenon called "cute aggression syndrome."

Simply put, when people face something cute, they sometimes feel a desire to destroy or bully it, and feel a twisted pleasure from doing so.

It's a dark side that exists in everyone to some extent.

Kaito's current mentality was just like that.

It's hard to learn to be good, but one slip and it's easy to go bad.

He recalled how he used to be so upright, single-mindedly seeking the Way, and keeping away from women.

But ever since he and Yumiko opened the door to the forbidden realm, his views had started to shift ever so slightly.

'How joyous and worthy of celebration no, how pitiful and lamentable.'

"B-but", Bocchi looked troubled. As an ordinary female college student, aside from her private savings, she didn't really have anything worth offering

'W-wait!'

She looked down, but not at her toes. Bocchi's little face flushed red, a watery mist forming in her eyes, and her legs felt weak.

"I-if Kaito-senpai doesn't mind", She trembled as she spoke, too shy to even lift her head, "I'll try my best not to make any noise"

'Uh, what?'

'Why the heck are you blushing like a bubble teapot?'

Kaito had only meant to tease her, but who would've thought that with just one normal attack, the other side would flash and ult all at once, looking ready to give it up completely.

But looking at Bocchi-chan, her eyes already closed, long lashes trembling slightly, her breathing growing rapid from nerves, she looked like a small, timid beast, separated from the warmth of its mother's embrace, now facing the apex predator.

That aura of "weak, pitiful, and helpless" made one want to break her, to see that cute face melt into an expression of dreamy delirium.

If it were a different time, a different place, that'd be one thing.

But here in the corridor of the school building, there could be other students passing by at any moment.

This kind of exhibitionism play was still a bit too advanced for him. After pondering for a moment, Kaito was just about to change the subject when a surprised voice suddenly rang out:

"Ah hey, Kurumizaka-senpai, and Bocchi-chan!", They turned toward the voice and saw a red-haired girl full of energy waving her arms vigorously, then running over.

"I-it's Kita, good afternoon," Bocchi flusteredly opened her eyes and greeted her with a guilty look.

"Good afternoon," It wasn't until Kita Ikuyo got closer that she noticed something was off.

'Why is Bocchi-chan's face so red all of a sudden?'

And her gaze kept darting around, unable to look straight at her.

'She totally looks like she is hiding something'

Bocchi shrank under the suspicious gaze of the cheerful girl and worried that she might figure out what had just happened, so she quickly changed the subject, "K-Kita, did you come looking for me for something?"

"Can't I come find you even if it's nothing? I thought we were bandmates," As expected, Kita's attention was diverted. She wrinkled her cute nose and pretended to be annoyed.

But she soon showed a bright smile, sneaking a glance at Kaito with the corner of her eye and said seriously, "Today's our band's first team-building day since we formed. Ryou-senpai just messaged to hurry us to the STARRY gathering point."

"Oh right", Bocchi remembered too, but before she could say anything, Kita's cheerful voice interrupted with an eager invitation.

"Hey hey, Kurumizaka-senpai, do you want to come too?"

"Me?"

Kaito thought for a moment, then chose to decline.

'It is supposed to be an internal band event. Won't it be weird for me to just jump in?'

"Eh?", Kita looked a bit disappointed but still tried to persuade him, "Come on, come on~ It'll be more fun with more people. Group dinners are really fun, you know~?"

"No thanks," Kaito shook his head and smiled politely, "Hope you all have a good time."

Though his gentle smile was nice to look at, Bocchi had seen him enough as a classmate and clubmate to have built up some resistance to his charm.

But not Kita.

The last time she saw Kaito was well, the last time.

She couldn't bring herself to stalk him like some creepy fangirl, and now this smile had her head spinning. She even forgot what she was trying to say and just stood there grinning like an idiot.

Unable to keep watching, Bocchi surprisingly took the lead for once, quickly said goodbye to Kaito, and dragged Kita away.

Watching the two girls disappear around the corner, Kaito took out his phone. There had been a message notification beeping for a while.

The sender was labeled as [Nagasaki Soyo].

[Kaito-senpai, do you have time right now?]

The message had been sent fifteen minutes ago.

Kaito recalled quickly and remembered who it was.

'Ah, it is that poor girl who was possessed by that ghost.'

[What is it?]

The girl on the other end seemed to be watching her phone closely and replied almost instantly.

[You helped me a lot last time, and I still haven't thanked you.]

[If you don't mind, could I treat you to a meal as a thank you?]

High-rise duplex, sea and river view.

In a bedroom with giant floor-to-ceiling windows, a brown-haired girl still wearing her school uniform lay sideways on the bed, nervously staring at her screen.

This was the first time Nagasaki Soyo had invited a boy her age to go out.

She'd been struggling over this for a long time, even looked up "100 ways to invite a guy out" online, but none of them seemed reliable.

In the end, Soyo decided that sincerity was the strongest secret weapon.

Staring at the big [Read] label on the screen but getting no reply for a long time, Soyo started to doubt herself.

'Was I too forward?'

Finally, the phone buzzed.

[Sorry, I probably won't have time today.]

Soyo felt a bit disappointed.

But she quickly composed herself and typed again.

[No problem, of course your work comes first.]

[I won't bother you then, Kurumizaka-senpai~ Bye~]

She even added a cute cat emoji waving its paw.

[Elsewhere]

Kaito put his phone away and looked at the absolutely stunning girl with waist-length black hair in front of him, slightly surprised.

"Yukinoshita-san?"

It had only been a few days, but Yukino's condition had clearly improved.

With Kirara's demonic aura gone and her schedule back in order, the dark circles under her eyes had vanished, and her ink-black hair had regained its shine.

"Good afternoon, Kurumizaka-kun," Yukino greeted him softly, a rare look of hesitation on her pretty face.

There weren't many things that could make this ice-cold, snow-like girl falter, and Kaito quickly guessed what was going on.

"You came because of Kirara, right?"

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Chapter 39: Slit-Mouthed Woman

"Kirara?"

Yukino revealed a confused expression.

"That's Yukitan's real name."

Kaito smiled, "Of course, if you're not used to it, continuing to call her Yukitan is fine too."

"I'd rather not," Yukino shook her head, also showing a satisfied smile, "Kirara, that name is very nice."

She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Kurumizaka-kun, if it's convenient... can I go see her?"

As the ancients said, ["One day apart feels like three autumns."]

Even though it had only been a few days of separation, Yukino worried every night before going to sleep.

Has Kirara been eating and sleeping well? Will she be uncomfortable in a new environment? Has she been mischievous?

So, as soon as she had recovered her energy, she couldn't suppress the anxiety in her heart and took the initiative to visit.

Kaito: "Of course."

After all, it had already been agreed before: if Yukino was willing, she could come pet the cat anytime.

"Thank you very much," Yukino visibly let out a sigh of relief.

The two of them left school, planning to take the train home.

On the way to the train station, perhaps because the atmosphere felt a bit heavy, Yukino hesitated but still took the initiative to speak, bringing up a popular topic circulating at school recently.

"Kaito-senpai, have you heard the rumor about the Slit-Mouthed Woman?"

This was a very famous urban legend in Japan, even quite well known around the world. There had been many movies made on the subject.

According to the legend, she's a woman with disheveled hair wearing a mask, who stands at intersections and asks passersby, ["Am I pretty?"]

If you answer yes, she takes off her mask to reveal a terrifying mouth slit all the way to her ears, and asks again, ["Am I still pretty?"]

Then she uses scissors to cut the passerby's mouth into a shape like hers.

If you say no, she gets angry and kills the person on the spot.

Yukino originally didn't believe in such supernatural nonsense and scoffed at it.

But Kirara's existence made her realize the world wasn't so simple.

If even Yokai could exist, then one more Slit-Mouthed Woman didn't seem like such a big deal.

However... the rumor about the Slit-Mouthed Woman had circulated in Japan for at least decades, but had never been proven.

'It must be fake again this time, right?'

"Slit-Mouthed Woman?"

Kaito raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on a street corner not far away, "You mean, that thing over there?"

Yukino froze, then followed his gaze. Only to find a woman in a light-colored trench coat standing under a streetlight ahead.

The woman had her back to them, so her face couldn't be seen, but her figure was very tall.

In a country where the average height for girls was 158 cm, this woman under the streetlight was at least 190 cm tall.

Such a towering height was oppressive even among men. But the most eye-catching thing was still the enormous scissors in her hand, nearly half her own height.

"N-No way we're that unlucky... right?", Yukino was a little dumbfounded.

Whether it was the physique or those gigantic scissors that seemed capable of slicing someone in two, it was clear this woman wasn't ordinary.

But that wasn't the unluckiest part.

The trench coat woman seemed to have been attracted by their presence and slowly turned around, revealing a face covered by a mask.

Clearly, they were still more than ten meters apart, yet in an instant, she was gone.

Yukino blinked once, and the woman who had just been under the streetlight was now standing right in front of them, her pleasant voice asking, "Am I pretty?"

As she approached, a thick malice seemed to take physical form and rush at them.

Ordinary people would just feel short of breath, a chill through their body, and their mind going blank.

But for Kaito, the Slit-Mouthed Woman in front of him also emitted a strong stench. Like someone forcing you to smell something awful while asking, "Does it smell good?"

With a frown of disgust, he lightly waved his hand and flicked out a spark of fire.

WHOOSH!

In an instant, the spark turned into a lifelike flaming dragon, swallowing the Slit-Mouthed Woman whole, leaving not even ashes behind.

Though it was a famous urban legend in Japan, the Slit-Mouthed Woman wasn't actually that powerful. She never displayed any notable abilities in the stories, at most just being very strong.

Unlike ghosts, which are spiritual beings, she was more like a type of yokai and had a physical form. So even ordinary people could see her.

Yukino watched as the tall Slit-Mouthed Woman turned to ash before her eyes, the massive scissors in her hands also devoured completely by the fire dragon.

A single Slit-Mouthed Woman had given Kaito a sesame-sized bit of merit.

To him, this was just a minor yokai casually suppressed, not worth mentioning.

But for Yukino, it was her first time seeing a supernatural power that belonged to humans.

Though she had long known that Kaito's identity couldn't be simple. After all, their first meeting had scared Kirara into an explosion. Even though she was a yokai, she had no pride and immediately bowed.

'Still... to casually summon a fire dragon. That scene was just too shocking.'

'Was it onmyodo?'

'No, no, Kaito-senpai is from China. Then it must be Daoist?'

For ordinary people, it was natural to be curious upon their first encounter with legendary supernatural powers.

Yukino was no exception, like a hundred claws scratching her heart, she really wanted to ask clearly.

But she also understood clearly that her relationship with Kaito wasn't that close. At most, just classmates.

It would be rude to ask a bunch of nosy questions like some curious baby.

This conflicted emotion lasted a long time.

Finally

"We're here," They stopped in front of a standalone house. Kaito led her inside. After changing into indoor slippers at the entrance, they entered the living room, and he softly called out, "Kirara."

A silver-colored cat shot out from an inconspicuous corner like an arrow, circling around his feet nonstop, letting out soft, cooing meows.

Yukino's gaze was also drawn over, finally remembering the purpose of her visit today.

Kirara clearly still recognized this old friend.

The long-separated girl and cat quickly regained their former closeness.

It was a rare visit, and Yukino happily indulged in petting the cat. So much that she forgot the time.

When she came back to her senses, it was already quite dark outside.

"Sorry... I ended up bothering you for so long!"

The girl was a little upset, 'Will Kurumizaka-kun think I am a girl with no sense of boundaries?'

"I don't particularly mind."

Kaito shook his head, "But your constitution isn't strong to begin with. Being around Kirara too long might have some effect on your body."

"S-Sorry", Yukino looked a little embarrassed. Like a girl who had eaten too many ice creams and got caught red-handed by her dad.

"If you don't mind, stay for dinner."

It was already 8 p.m. Kaito stood up, getting ready to cook something in the kitchen.

Yukino was originally planning to decline. But at that moment, her stomach let out a loud gurgle.

Her pretty face turned red with embarrassment. She could no longer bring herself to say no and mumbled, "Then... I'll trouble you."

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Chapter 40: Small Ones Are Cute Too

Dinner, as usual, was Kaito's native cuisine. Because there was a guest, Kaito made four dishes and one soup.

Yukino had always been skilled in cooking. She always got full marks in home economics class, and even the teacher couldn't stop praising her dishes.

Even today's dinner still surprised her with its taste.

It was only because of her good upbringing that she maintained an elegant eating posture, but her eating speed was not slow at all.

However, she soon put down her chopsticks.

It wasn't because she was full, but because she noticed the eager-looking Kirara beside her.

Since dinner started, the corner of the cat's mouth hadn't stopped drooling.

That look of longing made Yukino find it both cute and funny, and she couldn't help but ask, "Can I feed it a little something?"

If it were an ordinary cat, because of their sensitive digestive system, they couldn't eat human food, especially food with additives and seasonings.

But Kirara was a Yokai, not so fragile. Even if she ate some, it wouldn't matter.

Kaito just nodded and didn't refuse.

Getting his permission, Kirara was obviously very happy and planned to jump into Yukino's arms.

Maybe she was too excited, and accidentally used too much strength, jumping directly onto the dining table. Her little white-gloved paw just happened to knock over the plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes closest to the girl, splashing soup all over Yukino.

Yukino: "..."

The girl was both angry and amused. Looking at the guilty culprit shrinking back, she couldn't help but bite her silver teeth.

Then she looked at Kaito beside her, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Sorry I'll clean it up later. May I borrow your bathroom?"

The smell of scrambled eggs with tomatoes on her wasn't the biggest problem. The key thing was that a lot of soup got on her clothes, making her body feel sticky too.

For someone as clean as Yukino, she couldn't stand even a second more in this state.

"Borrowing the bathroom is no problem, but I don't have any clothes suitable for girls your age."

Kaito thought for a moment and said, "But I do have two unopened bathrobes."

"Bathrobes are enough," Yukino sighed in relief. After apologizing, she quickly took the bathrobe and walked into the bathroom.

Once her back disappeared from view, Kaito looked at the cat in front of him.

Kirara obviously realized she had caused trouble, looking a bit guilty as she came over, sticking out her soft pink tongue and licking his fingers in a flattering way.

"A Yokai, and you knocked over a plate because of too much strength?"

Kaito remained unmoved, lifting the cat by the scruff of her fate, speaking in annoyance, "Say it, did you do it on purpose!"

Kirara returned an innocent look, 'What bad thoughts can a cat possibly have, nya~'

Arguing with this silly cat made him feel like he was becoming dumb too.

Kaito sighed and still dutifully helped her clean up.

For him, it wasn't really troublesome. With one cleansing spell, no matter how messy the scene was, it would become squeaky clean.

However, just after tidying up the messy table, a somewhat suppressed voice came from the bathroom.

"Kurumizaka-kun, could you come over for a moment?"

Yukino was feeling quite annoyed right now.

Maybe she had spent too long petting the cat earlier, and the Yokai energy had entered her body. Not long after entering the bathroom, she started feeling a bit dizzy.

If it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad. But Yukino quickly discovered her body suddenly couldn't move.

Other than that, there were no other abnormalities. She just felt completely powerless, not even able to lift a pinky.

God knows how long this situation would last

After hesitating for a while, Yukino decided to ask Kaito for help.

After all, Yokai energy was something she didn't understand at all. Maybe, like a disease, the longer it dragged on, the worse it would get?

In a stroke of luck amidst misfortune, before she completely lost mobility, Yukino barely managed to wrap herself in a bathrobe.

Although, since she hadn't changed into a clean bra, it felt rather chilly inside, but it was still much better than being completely naked.

"It's indeed an aftereffect caused by the Yokai energy invading your body," Kaito quickly made a diagnosis.

Yukino's physical fitness was just too poor. Among all the girls he knew, she ranked near the bottom.

No need to mention Yumiko. She'd been in the tennis club since middle school, with outstanding athletic ability.

Bocchi practiced guitar at high intensity every day. Without excellent stamina to support her, she wouldn't have lasted this long.

Even the once delicate ojou-sama Togawa Sakiko, who used to not lift a finger, had done a lot of part-time work after falling into hard times. She was no longer that weak and fragile heiress.

As for Hiratsuka Shizuka?

A humanoid mother tyrannosaurus. A prime candidate for body cultivation. She was in a whole other category.

Compared to these people, Yukinoshita, who would be out of breath after running just ten meters, really was a small fry.

Yukino blushed and said nothing.

She was only wearing a white bathrobe. Though the design wasn't too revealing, quite a bit of snowy skin was still exposed. Coupled with the debuff of total body weakness. She was just like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

'If Kurumizaka-kun really wants to do something to me'

Though she knew that was very unlikely, Yukino still couldn't help but get nervous.

Seeing the girl tense up like a drawn bowstring, Kaito shook his head.

'The bathrobe outfit may be breezy, but it also depends on the person.'

'Yukino is indeed pretty. Her features are upright, with a face so cute it feels illegal.'

'But as for her figure'

'Oh well, small ones are cute too.'

'Even with an A cup, she is doing her best.'

Somehow Yukino felt that Kurumizaka-kun was thinking something very rude?

Her gaze was a bit suspicious. The sixth sense of a girl was activating.

Facing the girl's probing gaze, Kaito kept a straight face and simply reached out, tapping her forehead lightly.

"Nn"

'W-wait a second, this feeling!'

It was like something warm entered her body.

Yukino clenched her teeth, almost using all her willpower to stop herself from making any weird noises.

To her relief, that warm feeling came fast and left just as quickly.

In just a short moment, her body that had been attacked by Yokai energy recovered its strength, back to full HP.

"Thank you very much," Feeling her arms and legs regain strength, Yukino breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Her current posture was way too embarrassing. She immediately tried to get up, but forgot that although she was wearing a bathrobe, she had only wrapped it around herself, the belt at her waist wasn't tied.

With the sudden movement, the bathrobe couldn't handle the strain anymore and slid down along her smooth snowy shoulders.

Even the air went quiet.

Kaito: "..."

Yukino: "..."

The girl, as cold as ice and snow, seemed to turn into a stone statue.

Although Kaito had turned away immediately, his photographic memory still firmly engraved that glimpse deep into his mind.

'Even though Yukinoshita-san's figure is a bit flat'

'Still, her long legs and slender waist makes up for those shortcomings.'

'Moreover'

Kaito's expression turned a bit subtle.

'I never expected that Yukinoshita-san was a rare mythical beast?'

Yukino quietly squatted down, put the bathrobe back on, and after a long time, finally whispered, "Kurumizaka-kun could you, please turn around first?"

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Chapter 41: Heavy Rain

Kaito turned around.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered offering some comfort, like, ["Actually, I've always been extremely nearsighted. Can't tell people from animals beyond three meters."]

Or perhaps, ["Due to some indescribable mysterious power, the holy light just now blinded my eyes, so you don't need to worry about it."]

But such excuses were too clumsy, there really was no need to say them.

Yukino fell silent again, faint rustling sounds came from behind, probably from her getting dressed.

After a while, she softly said, "Kurumizaka-kun, sorry, can you let me be alone for a bit?"

Under the absolutely correct snow, she would never do something like taking her anger out on someone else.

She knew very well that this accident had nothing to do with Kurumizaka-kun, it was only her own carelessness.

But, though she could accept it rationally, emotionally, she still couldn't avoid the shame.

In this current awkward situation, the only thing Yukino could think of was to bury her head in the ground like an ostrich and temporarily escape from reality.

Kaito, of course, didn't refuse, leaving the space for her to be alone.

.

.

.

[Half an Hour Later]

The bathroom door was opened again. Having adjusted her mood, Yukino stepped out, the bathrobe tightly secured.

A faint blush still lingered on the girl's pretty face, and her sapphire-blue eyes were slightly evasive, never daring to meet the boy in front of her directly.

Seeing that Kaito didn't bring up the earlier accident again, Yukino obviously breathed a sigh of relief, and simply treated it as if nothing had happened.

As for the dirty clothes she had taken off earlier, they had already been tossed into the washing machine, and would probably take all night to dry, so she could only stay over for the night.

After chatting a bit in the living room and playing with Kirara for a while, Yukino quickly found an excuse to rest and returned to the guest room.

As for Kaito, he also didn't stay long and brought the cat back to his room to sleep.

[The Next Day, Wednesday]

It was the last day of exams.

As the pleasant sound of the dismissal bell rang out, the first test of the semester at Shuka Academy finally came to an end.

Handing in the test paper and neatly packing the scattered stationery on the desk, the blue-haired girl with shoulder-length twin ponytails let out a breath of relief.

'It is over.'

The questions weren't hard. Even though she had been busy with part-time jobs lately and had little time to review, Togawa Sakiko had a solid foundation.

During the exam, she rarely got stuck, and the questions were basically within her grasp.

If nothing unexpected happened, getting into the top three should be no problem.

Even just ranking third would yield a full 100,000 yen in prize money, which was undoubtedly a huge sum for someone like Togawa Sakiko.

With that money, she could quit handing out flyers and free up more time to look for band members.

She could buy a few cases of beer for that bastard old man and make him behave for a few more days.

She could finally go to the shop and have beef rice again, extra meat and extra egg.

Shuka's efficiency was fast.

The test ended on Wednesday, and by Thursday, the results were already out.

Standing in front of the bulletin board, Togawa Sakiko unsurprisingly found her name in the second position.

First place was a student named "Yukinoshita Yukino."

A bit of disappointment, she hadn't been able to get the biggest prize.

But since she'd been busy working and had little time to review, second place wasn't surprising.

Leaving the teachers' office, Togawa Sakiko had an envelope in her hand.

Inside was the prize money for this exam, a full 150,000 yen.

For a corporate drone, the happiest day of each month was payday.

Sakiko was no exception. A faint smile hung on her doll-like delicate face, causing passing students to look surprised.

Since the start of school, Togawa had always looked like someone who kept others at arm's length.

It was rare to see her so happy.

As school was nearing its end, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky.

Fortunately, the rain wasn't heavy, nothing a person couldn't handle without an umbrella.

Returning to her old, dilapidated apartment and opening the door, Sakiko suddenly frowned.

A strong smell of alcohol wafted from inside, faintly accompanied by the sound of cursing.

From the entryway to the living room, Sakiko's good mood vanished in an instant.

In front of her was a chaotic mess. The trash can had been kicked over, and leftover bento boxes were scattered across the floor.

A tall man was panting heavily, rummaging through her bedroom, cursing as he went.

"Where's the money? Why can't I find it anywhere?"

Seeing a diary nearby, he was about to flip through it when an angry shout suddenly rang out behind him.

"You bastard old man! What are you doing?"

"Oh, it's Sakiko?", Seeing his daughter, the man didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he boldly stretched out his hand, "You got paid last month, right? Hurry up and give Dad 100,000 yen. Dad's got an emergency!"

"I don't have 100,000 yen to give you!"

Sakiko snatched the diary from the man she was supposed to call "Father," hugging it tightly to her chest.

The 50,000 yen Kurumizaka-kun had secretly put into her bag, she still hadn't been willing to spend a cent. She had tucked it between the pages of her diary, thankfully, it hadn't been stolen.

"You clearly have several part-time jobs, don't you?"

The middle-aged man laughed shamelessly, "Customer service, convenience store clerk, sometimes I hand out flyers. How could you not even have 100,000 yen? Sakiko, be good, Daddy has serious business to do."

"Your serious business is going out drinking and playing pachinko?"

Sakiko stared at him coldly, amber eyes filled with undisguised disappointment, "Dad... what will it take for you to pull yourself together?"

"Shut up!", The middle-aged man seemed stung by her gaze and flew into a rage, "Even your life was given by me, so what if I ask for some money?"

He stepped forward with big strides. His once-handsome features now twisted like a demon, "What's that in your hand? An envelope? Does it have money in it? Hand it over! Don't force me to use violence!"

"Don't even think"

SLAP!

A loud slap.

The middle-aged man froze for a moment, staring at his hand in disbelief.

He looked up, his lips twitching, seemingly wanting to say something.

But his craving for money quickly overwhelmed the little guilt he felt. His gaze turned fierce again, he shoved his daughter to the ground, snatched the envelope from her hands, and eagerly tore it open.

Seeing the fifteen crisp bills inside, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Then, without even glancing at his devastated daughter, he strode out the front door, ignoring the increasingly urgent rain, disappearing into the night.

'It seems like the rain is getting heavier.'

Big raindrops pelted against the window with loud splashes, like a passionate symphony.

Kaito looked out at the curtain of rain. The neon lights continued to flicker in the downpour, the dark sky like a massive curtain, shrouding the whole world.

This kind of weather was perfect for sleeping.

Kaito had been planning to do just that. Stretching lazily, for once ready to sleep early, but then his gaze suddenly froze.

In the pitch-black rain curtain, a figure with long blue hair flickered faintly.

[ Shoutout to Vester_1, Klaszot, Rob & Somanagumo for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

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Chapter 42: Hard, My Fists Are Hard

'Clearly, life has already started getting back on track, so why did it suddenly fall into the abyss?'

The burning pain of the slap on her face couldn't compare to the wound in her heart.

Togawa Sakiko wandered aimlessly on the empty street. The rain was pouring so hard not a single pedestrian could be seen, but she couldn't be bothered to care anymore.

'Living is really exhausting.'

'I have clearly worked so hard, so hard to live.'

'So why do I always encounter this kind of thing?'

Sitting on the edge of the soaked pedestrian bridge, it was a little chilly. The girl's calves swung slightly under her skirt.

'If I jump down from here, won't it all be over?', Looking at the cold asphalt ground beneath her, Sakiko suddenly had this thought.

The distant sky was still dark and gloomy. The new sun wouldn't rise for a long time, so long that she had no strength left to hold on.

'If only I can see Kurumizaka-kun one more time, that will be enough.'

'No appearing in such a pathetic state will only make people disgusted, right?'

'Better to leave quietly, alone.'

She stood up. Her thin body in the pouring rain looked like a swift, petite, slender, on the verge of collapse.

"If there really is a next life, that'll do."

Sakiko gave a faint smile, "Kurumizaka-kun goodnight."

She closed her eyes, letting gravity pull her, soaring toward the ground

The pain she imagined didn't come. Her falling body came to a sudden halt.

Someone had grabbed her hand.

A handsome boy with delicate features was holding an umbrella, those light chestnut eyes quietly gazing at her, speaking in a calm tone, "Togawa-san, good evening."

"Kurumizaka-kun?"

Sakiko was a little dazed.

'Could it be a god heard my heart's voice?'

The girl lowered her eyes, not daring to look into those eyes that she couldn't bring herself to reject, "Why are you here?"

"For the same reason you are."

"I came for a walk."

"Maybe it's a cultural difference."

Kaito said blandly, "In my country, walks don't usually involve jumping off buildings. Is this a unique tradition of Japan?"

"..."

Sakiko turned her face away. After a long time, she said in a low voice, "It's just my own habit."

'This girl's mouth is really hard.'

Placing both hands on the railing, Kaito was silent for a while, then said, "For humans, death is a holiday that inevitably arrives."

"..."

"What I mean is."

Kaito sighed, "Togawa-san, you really don't have to rush it."

He raised his head, gazing into the girl's evasive eyes, "Can you tell me the reason?"

Sakiko remained silent.

She didn't want to tell Kurumizaka-kun these filthy things. It wasn't just because of pride, but more because she didn't want Kurumizaka-kun to have even the slightest connection to that disgusting man.

"Forget it, just come with me for now," Seeing her like this, Kaito didn't get angry.

He brought Sakiko home. The girl had been out in the rain for too long, her clothes were completely soaked.

Using a clean towel, he helped dry her hair, then brewed a hot cup of ginger tea. Sitting on the soft sofa, Kaito pondered, "Let me guess, is it because you didn't do well on an exam?"

In the warm room, holding the hot ginger tea in her hands, Sakiko seemed a little more lively, quietly retorting:

"I'm not that weak"

"I figured as much."

Kaito knowingly nodded, then casually said, "Then it's because of your father?"

"..."

The reply was a long silence.

But silence itself was an answer.

Kaito had known Sakiko for a while. Even though he hadn't deliberately investigated her family background, he'd picked up bits and pieces from the surrounding neighbors.

Sakiko was a tough girl. Hardships from the outside world wouldn't easily knock her down.

The only ones capable of making her lose hope in life and choose the most decisive way out, could only be those closest to her.

"So, Togawa-san," Kaito stared directly into the girl's amber eyes, and once again asked, "Can you tell me the reason?

"*Sniff* *Sniff* Wahhhhh! *Sniff!* *Sniff!* Uwahhhh!... T-today....."

.

.

.

A taut bowstring, no matter how tightly strung, always has a limit.

In the end, the girl named "Togawa Sakiko" had just come of age, not even two months ago.

Maybe she was strong, like a stubborn little blue hedgehog, but that was just a helpless camouflage.

Once that tough shell was peeled away, her soft inner self was laid bare.

In his 400-year cultivation journey, Kaito had seen many newborns.

He had seen wicked cultivators massacre entire cities just to refine the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.

He had also seen wolves in sheep's clothing, turning on their saviors for the sake of treasures and opportunities.

But what Sakiko's dad had done still managed to make him hard.

His fists were hard.

Making his still-schooling daughter earn money to support the family was one thing. But to shamelessly steal her scholarship, even resorting to violence just to go out drinking and play pachinko?

Kaito rarely got angry.

But this time, he was truly a little pissed.

"Get some rest. It's okay now," He carried the still-sobbing girl onto the soft bed, tucked her in, and turned off the lights.

"I'll be back soon."

"Damn it! Just a bit more! Just a bit more!"

Covered in bruises, Togawa Kiyotsugu staggered out of the casino under the contemptuous gazes of the thugs, finally hiding in a remote alley, cursing and swearing only after confirming they were out of sight. He gave a hard kick to a trash can, "A bunch of bottom-feeding trash dares to lay hands on me? Just wait till I make a comeback, I'll make you bastards kneel and lick my shoes!"

He gnashed his teeth, "Yeah, a comeback! All I need is 100,000 yen no! Just 100,000 yen! Give me another 100,000 and I'll definitely turn the tables!"

'Whether it is that nearly-successful council seat, or the massive wealth of the Togawa family'

'In the end, it is all that damned bitch's fault!'

He had just accepted some small tributes using his position, and accidentally killed a few peasants during a forced demolition, only to be maliciously reported and lose his seat.

If only he'd used the Togawa family's connections, all those scandals could've been easily covered up.

But that heartless woman disregarded their years of marriage and directly kicked him out of the house.

Togawa Kiyotsugu's expression was full of venom.

'What is mine, I will take back sooner or later!'

"I'll go get some money from Sakiko again. I've been raising her for months, she should be able to give me a mere 100,000," Togawa Kiyotsugu calmed himself. Seeing the rain lighten, he prepared to rush home in one go.

"I thought you were complete human trash," A casual sigh echoed from the dark alley, "But I guess I still gave you too much credit by thinking of you as human."

"Who's there?", Togawa Kiyotsugu jumped in fright, thinking it was one of his old enemies trying to act tough, "I warn you! I'm the son-in-law of the Togawa family! Lay a finger on me and the Togawa family won't let you off!"

"You're the Togawa family's son-in-law?", The voice from the shadows sounded confused, "Does the Togawa family know about this mess?"

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Chapter 43: You Dont Actually Know You Were Wrong

Togawa Kiyotsugu tried hard to see who was coming.

But his swollen eye sockets were all blurry; he could only make out a vague silhouette.

'It seems to be an unfamiliar boy?'

"My name is Togawa Kiyotsugu. I inherited the Togawa family name. If you know what's good for you, get lost now!", Togawa Kiyotsugu tried to scare the other person off, but with no confidence in his voice, he looked more bark than bite.

Kaito no longer wanted to waste time on this newborn.

He walked forward step by step, his handsome features calm, yet inexplicably unsettling.

"I warn you! Stay away from me!", Togawa Kiyotsugu still hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation, still trying to threaten, but soon let out a painful groan.

To avoid punching this scum into minced meat, Kaito had deliberately held back his strength, but Togawa Kiyotsugu, who was used to a pampered life, had zero resistance to blows. His hunched body curled up like a shrimp.

"Does it hurt?"

Kaito grabbed his hair and lifted him up, the indifferent look in his eyes only deepened the fear in the other's heart, "W-Wait Spare me, I'll give you money! I can give you money!"

"I asked you, does it hurt?", Kaito ignored him, calmly repeating the question.

'Lunatic!'

Togawa Kiyotsugu cursed in his heart but didn't dare provoke him. He could only answer honestly, "It hurts, it hurts a lot!"

Another punch.

This time it landed square on the bridge of his nose. Togawa Kiyotsugu's head snapped back from the blow, hot liquid flowed from his nasal cavity, and he seemed to see a kindly old woman before his eyes.

"How about now?"

"It doesn't hurt! Not at all!", He nearly cried, hastily changing his words.

"Good, you're a tough guy," Kaito nodded in approval and delivered a fierce knee strike, ruthlessly smashing into his lower abdomen.

Togawa Kiyotsugu let out a muffled groan.

His once handsome features were now twisted in agony, too pained to speak, his stomach churning violently.

But it wasn't over yet.

Kaito flicked his fingers, and a surge of invisible energy burst into the man's limbs and bones.

This energy wasn't fatal, but it was like a thousand ants devouring his heart, making life worse than death.

Togawa Kiyotsugu rolled on the ground in agony, blue veins bulging under his skin. It felt like invisible worms were crawling all over inside. Within moments, he was drenched in sweat, his suit pants soaked with a yellow, foul-smelling liquid.

This torment lasted about five minutes or so.

Seeing the time was about right, Kaito crouched down and patted his face, "Where's the money you used for gambling?"

"Gone I lost it all!", Togawa Kiyotsugu looked like a wild dog with a broken spine, eyes filled with the desire to live, "But my daughter has money! My daughter is still very pretty! I'll sell her to you! You can do whatever you want with her!"

"Please, spare me. I really know I was wrong now"

"You don't know you were wrong," Kaito shook his head, "You just know you're about to die."

He stood up and turned to leave. Spiritual power surged around him; though the rain poured, it was completely blocked outside.

He had no intention of killing Togawa Kiyotsugu, after all, the man was Sakiko's biological father.

But sometimes, death is actually a release.

With energy surging through the body, every two hours he would endure pain like being cut by a thousand knives, incurable.

Even a man made of iron wouldn't last three days before collapsing into a pile of mush, begging for death.

If Togawa Kiyotsugu really had the will to cling to life even while suffering worse than death, Kaito might look at him with some respect.

The wails behind him continued, echoing in the dark alley.

But clearly, he didn't have that kind of courage.

"No Don't!"

Togawa Sakiko woke from her dream in a panic.

Once again, she had seen that ferocious father, as if ready to devour anyone.

Those pupils the same color as her own no longer showed the gentleness of the past, no guilt or pity for his daughter, only calculation and greed.

Sakiko stared in a daze for a long time, her expression gradually dimming. She wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her little head deep in her arms.

'Dad No, Togawa Kiyotsugu.'

'That man, just when did he start to change?'

Maybe it was the day he lost his position as a councilor, or maybe it was after being kicked out of the Togawa family.

To this day, Sakiko still didn't understand why her mother had ruthlessly driven him out of the house.

She could've stayed in the Togawa family, continued being a carefree young lady, but she was willing to leave with that man.

'Because Dad used to be such a good person.'

He would patiently teach little her to play the piano, tell bedtime stories, and secretly buy her the cake she'd been craving, behind her strict mom's back.

"Why did it turn out like this?"

Click!

The dim room lit up as someone casually flipped the light switch, illuminating the lonely girl.

Sakiko looked up, and the first thing she saw was a familiar envelope, followed by a calm and reassuring voice, "Returning this to its rightful owner."

Seeing the girl remain motionless, seemingly still dazed.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, "If you don't snap out of it, I might just pocket this for myself"

He had intended to make a joke to lighten the mood, but suddenly paused.

Sakiko didn't take the envelope. Instead, she lunged into his arms, tightly hugging the boy's bamboo-like waist.

She didn't speak, but her tears quickly soaked through the fabric of his chest.

Kaito sighed, but didn't push the girl away. He gently stroked her soft, blue long hair, "It's okay now. It's all over."

Sakiko was a very strong girl.

But precisely because she was too strong, used to bearing everything alone, her emotions rebounded more intensely once she had someone to rely on.

The stifled crying lasted a long time.

When she finally left the warm embrace, her doll-like delicate face had already become a messy, tear-streaked little kitten.

Sakiko hesitated, then still softly asked, "Dad Togawa Kiyotsugu, that man what happened to him?"

"I had a nice, friendly chat with him. He deeply realized his mistakes."

Kaito shrugged, "He felt too ashamed to see you again, decided to live somewhere else, and should already be on his way now."

'Still lying to me.'

If a friendly chat could really make that man suddenly repent, Kaito would've long been qualified to apply for a job as a confessional priest, right?

Sakiko carefully held his right hand, where a faint trace of blood stained his knuckles.

"Does it still hurt here?"

'Careless. I should've checked before coming back.'

Kaito coughed lightly, "Doesn't really feel like anything."

After all, it wasn't his blood.

"Sorry for troubling you again."

Sakiko pushed the envelope back, "This money please let Kaito-kun keep it. It's fine if you spend it."

"Are you worried about Togawa Kiyotsugu?"

Kaito thought the girl was afraid the money would get stolen again, "Don't worry, I'm quite confident in my negotiation skills. He won't drag you down anymore."

After this incident, that man was already finished.

Even if he miraculously survived, the rest of his life was only worthy of becoming a stray dog with no home to return to.

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Chapter 44: Soft and Mellow Little Sakiko, Grand Revival

"No, it has nothing to do with that," Sakiko gently shook her head, those amber-colored eyes shimmering with a moist glow, revealing a faint smile.

'I just... found something much more important.'

"If that's the case then"

Kaito thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we treat this money as rent? The tenant in the next room recently went abroad, so you could move in."

"Though it's a bit small, it's more than enough for one person to live in, and the rent is cheaper. Only thirty thousand yen a month."

Actually, he had considered inviting Sakiko to live with him.

After all, a 3LDK apartment was meant for a family of three, and living alone was a bit too spacious.

But thinking it through, this kind of behavior wasn't much different from cohabitation. Even if he didn't mind, that didn't mean Sakiko wouldn't either.

Sakiko hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse.

The apartment she was currently renting was not only small, but the water and electricity were unstable. It was hard to even take a proper bath. The only advantage was its low cost, but even so, it still cost her nearly twenty thousand yen per month.

Now with this scholarship, she no longer needed to live so tightly like before. She could totally afford a better living environment.

"Oh right," Kaito paused and then added, "There's one more thing that might need your help."

Sakiko immediately perked up, straightened her back, and looked serious, "Please say it. As long as it's something I can do, anything is fine."

Having received so many favors, she now desperately wanted to repay Kurumizaka-kun and had made up her mind.

Only, it was unexpected.

"Interested in becoming my secretary?"

Hearing that, Sakiko was briefly stunned.

'Secretary?'

'Is it the kind of secretary I imagine, the kind that does all sorts of tasks?'

"I'm planning to open a spirit-exorcising agency. One person might not be able to handle it all," Kaito briefly explained his plan, "Calling it a secretary is more like an assistant, helping with some miscellaneous tasks. Of course, it's best if it's someone I know well."

Actually, he had previously considered asking Yumiko and Bocchi for help.

But then thought better of it. Not to mention the former, even just Bocchi

The shy little girl couldn't even talk to him without stuttering, let alone go out and run errands.

Compared to that, Sakiko was obviously more suitable for the 'assistant' role.

She had rich part-time job experience, had worked in customer service, and knew how to communicate with people.

She used to be a young lady, so she wasn't lacking in personal connections either.

"You're the most suitable candidate, and I also believe you can handle the job."

"The monthly salary will be set at 300,000 yen for now, with eight days off per month. Regular holidays will also be observed. If your performance is outstanding, a raise can be considered."

"The daily work includes contacting clients and selecting commissions you find suitable."

"What do you think? Want to consider it?"

'What generous pay!'

Toyokawa Sakiko found it hard not to be tempted.

Her current part-time customer service job was exhausting and full of scolding, yet she could only earn a few tens of thousands of yen a month.

And her manager was not easy to get along with either, a middle-aged woman in her 40s going through menopause, always finding excuses to deduct bonuses and wages. It made her want to smash her headset into that mean face.

"Such benefits are too good," Sakiko gave a slight bitter smile, "I bet if you just spread the word, there'd be a ton of people lining up to apply, right?"

Not only was there no overtime, but the boss was also a stunningly beautiful young man. Even without salary, many would be willing to work just for his looks.

"Posting a recruitment notice is too much trouble."

Kaito sighed, "You said you'd do anything, and now you're rejecting such a simple request?"

A very basic provocation tactic.

But Sakiko had no way to refute and could only weakly respond, "Even so the salary is too high."

A monthly salary of 300,000 yen was on par with a white-collar worker at a large company, and the work even sounded easier.

This money burned in her hands.

"You mean to say?"

"I'm fine with just 100,000 yen"

That amount wasn't too much and was more in line with what an assistant should be paid.

Having seen many part-timers dissatisfied with their salary, he'd never seen someone proactively lowering their own wage.

'What a naturally born workhorse saint.'

'Might as well stop calling her Togawa Sakiko and rename her Camel Sakiko.'

"I'm not some black-hearted boss who squeezes employees dry."

Kaito crossed his arms, "I said 300,000, and not a yen less. If you talk back again, I'll raise it to 400,000."

Having seen black-hearted capitalists who squeezed every penny, it was the first time seeing someone use a raise as a threat.

'Kurumizaka-kun really is a weirdo.'

Under the softly warm white light, tiny glimmers fell onto Sakiko's fair cheeks, where even fine fuzz could be seen.

Droplets still hung on the girl's long eyelashes, like a baby bird had flown into her heart, warm and soft.

"...Kurumizaka-kun, please take care of me from now on."

"A promising child," Kaito nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly changed the subject, "What do you call me?"

Sakiko froze for a moment, hesitated briefly, then tentatively asked, "Boss?"

"Just kidding."

Kaito's lips curled into a smile. He casually reached out and rubbed her silky blue hair, "No need to be so formal. Just call me whatever you like."

Being head-patted by someone of the opposite sex for the first time aside from family, Sakiko could feel her cheeks heating uncontrollably.

Soft and mellow Little Sakiko, grand revival.

"S-Since that's the case, Kaito-kun, please don't call me Togawa-san anymore. It sounds too distant."

The girl pretended to be calm and brushed her hair by her ear with her small hand, using the motion to hide her true feelings. "Just call me by my name."

"You mean like this?"

Kaito feigned seriousness, "Sakiko? Or maybe Little Saki?"

"Little Saki" wasn't an uncommon nickname. Back when she was in a band, everyone in the group used to call her that.

But

A name she had long grown used to suddenly felt incredibly embarrassing when called by Kaito.

Her pretty face flushed like she was drunk, but the soft and mellow Little Sakiko forced herself to say, "Since I'm now your employee, Kaito-kun, I'll resign from my current part-time company as soon as possible."

"As for now l-let's exchange contact info first, so we can keep in touch"

Kaito had no objections, of course. Although they'd known each other for some time, their relationship had always been platonic, so they never deliberately exchanged contact info.

Setting the boss's account as pinned and specially cared for, Sakiko put away her phone, already entering work mode.

"As for the agency's business, what exactly does it include?"

"Hm? A spirit-exorcising agency, of course it's spirit exorcising."

Kaito thought for a moment and added, "Professional ghost-catching, exorcisms, slaying monsters, and banishing demons. As long as a client confirms they've encountered a supernatural event, we can take the case."

"Eh?"

Sakiko looked at him a little blankly. She had focused all her attention on that 300,000 yen monthly salary earlier and hadn't noticed the "spirit-exorcising" prefix of the agency at all.

'But do evil spirits and monsters really exist in this world?'

'Could Kurumizaka-kun have been deceived by a scam group?'

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Chapter 45: It Feels Great to Be a Hands-Off Boss for a While

"Don't overthink it," Kaito didn't even need to read her mind. Just looking at the sudden nervous expression on the girl's face, he knew she was definitely misunderstanding something.

With a casual snap of his fingers, the next second, a cluster of pale blue flame appeared at his fingertips.

Before Sakiko could even be surprised, the flame suddenly shot up like it had a life of its own and merged with her.

The girl only felt her whole body lighten.

She had just been caught in heavy rain and was feeling a bit chilled, her nose a bit stuffy.

But now, that trace of illness vanished without a trace.

'So so magical'

As the former young lady of the Togawa family, Sakiko wasn't someone with little exposure, but she had never heard of supernatural powers truly existing in the world.

Regardless of the complexity in the girl's heart, Kaito stood up and gave instructions, "Go take a shower first. I picked up a few changes of clothes for you while I was out earlier. They're in the bathroom."

"I'm not sure if they'll fit you perfectly, but make do for now."

"I'll transfer you some money later, consider it the startup capital for the agency."

"As for the agency's paperwork, I'll leave it all to you to handle. That includes how to promote the business, how to contact clients, how much to charge, everything will be your responsibility."

'It sounds like I have full authority, but isn't this just treating me like a total workhorse?'

'No wonder he offered a high salary of 300,000 yen'

Sakiko had never managed something like this before. Just doing customer service normally left her completely exhausted, and dealing with difficult callers who yelled at her was a daily routine.

Now she suddenly had to shoulder the development of an entire agency. Suddenly, that 300,000 yen monthly salary didn't seem so "hot to the touch" anymore.

Kaito even patted her shoulder, with an expression like he was watching a show, "Good luck, little Sakiko."

"I believe in your abilities. You definitely won't let me down."

Work is clearly the best cure for emotional problems.

Not long ago, Sakiko was utterly hopeless, had lost the will to live, and just wanted to leap into the air and be free forever.

But now, all she could think about was the complicated paperwork needed to start the agency, leaving her head spinning. She didn't even have the mood to think about Togawa Satoru, that man, let alone sigh sentimentally over the past.

'Whatever,' After thinking for a long while, the girl sighed, 'Things have come to this point, I might as well go take a bath first.'

There's no trouble in the world that a comfortable bath can't fix.

If there is, just get a massage afterward.

By the time Sakiko came out of the bathroom, the wall clock had just completed a full circle.

The clothes Kaito bought for her surprisingly fit very well, even the bra was just right, like it had been tailored to her measurements.

This made Sakiko both shy and a little suspicious.

'Isn't this too much of a coincidence?'

An innocent, naive girl obviously couldn't imagine the methods of a shameless cultivator.

With one sweep of divine sense, not to mention measurements, he could see clearly how many legs a female mosquito had even a hundred meters away.

But there was no need to tell Sakiko such things. Looking at the girl still drying her hair with a towel, Kaito leaned on the sofa, casually stroking the fat cat in his arms, and said, "We're out of ingredients at home. I didn't have time to restock. Let's just have some egg fried rice to make do tonight."

Since she had already sold herself to him, Sakiko didn't bother being polite. She sat beside him and softly said, "Mm."

Kaito got up, originally intending to go cook, but after weighing the fat cat in his arms, he couldn't help frowning, "Kirara, have you gotten fatter again lately?"

Maybe all females are sensitive about their weight.

Even little female cats were no exception.

Kirara meowed in protest and lightly brushed the back of his hand with her soft tail.

'Where am I fat? Don't say things like that, okay? Being a cat is hard enough already. I've been the same weight all these years, it's just my fur's a little fluffy, has nothing to do with being fat.'

'Come to think of it, it isn't surprising.'

Since coming to his house, this fat cat had been feasting on high-end cat food every day, happy and carefree.

If she wasn't eating, she was sleeping. After a while, it'd be strange if she didn't put on weight.

Not to mention, sometimes when Kaito was cultivating, she'd actively rub against him to absorb the spiritual energy around him. At night, she also loved burrowing into his bed.

Her strength had increased quite a bit, and at this rate, the day she turned into a catgirl wasn't far off. [T/N: Man with a mission]

"What a cute kitty", Sakiko couldn't help asking, "Can I pet her?"

Girls, in general, had no resistance to fluffy little animals. Even if Sakiko wasn't a cat-lover, who could say no to a sleek, shiny, lazy fat cat lying in front of them?

"I'll leave dinner to you," Kaito tossed Kirara into her arms. The cat had no objections.

To her, it was just napping in a different place.

Though dinner was just simple egg fried rice, it all depended on who made it.

Egg fried rice cooked by a national banquet chef versus one made by a street vendor, obviously, they couldn't compare.

Kaito's cooking might not be divine-level, but after decades of practice, if he wanted to earn the title of 'God of Cooking' in this world, it wouldn't be a problem.

Golden in color, each grain separated and distinct, the appearance alone was top-notch.

Sakiko contentedly patted her belly and suddenly thought, 'Even without the salary, even if I am not swayed by my boss's good looks, just this unique meal alone might be worth working for free.'

Just as she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly pinged with a crisp notification.

["Your account 114514XXXXX has received a transfer of 5,000,000 yen. Please check."]

'How much?'

Sakiko didn't hold her phone steady, and it slipped, landing right on Kirara's head, who was napping on her lap.

The cat looked utterly confused, 'What the heck is your problem!'

"Sorry, sorry", Sakiko awkwardly scratched its chin, then looked at Kaito and said with a bitter smile, "Kaito-kun, isn't this amount a bit too much?"

'He really isn't afraid I will take the money and run?'

"Too much?"

Kaito was opening an agency for the first time too, and didn't really have a concept of money. Making money was just too easy for him, it wasn't even worth worrying about, "It's already transferred, so just accept it. Let me know if you need more."

" I'm convinced," Sakiko hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse, "As for promoting the agency, I already have a general plan in mind. I'll get it done as soon as possible."

"Go for it," Kaito patted her shoulder, "I believe in your ability."

'Being a hands-off boss is fun for a while. Being one all the time is always fun.'

'Having a capable assistant really puts the mind at ease.'

Sakiko had to run around tirelessly every day for business, but Kaito, sitting in the boss's chair enjoying the AC, had a lot to think about.

Not only did he have to drink tea, pet the cat, read manga, he also had to go on the occasional date with Yumiko.

'All in all, today was another hard day for me.'

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Chapter 46: A New Commission

Sunday, nearing the end of April, cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The morning sunlight was warm and golden. Young girls in sailor uniforms walked in groups of two or three, their long legs beneath their skirts pale and dazzling. Even the air was filled with the scent of youth.

Kaito stood at the intersection, replying to messages while waiting for the red light to change.

[Togawa Sakiko: This commission is a bit complicated. The client works in finance. Some time ago, one of her subordinates jumped off a building due to a relationship issue. Since then, many strange things have happened in the company.]

[Togawa Sakiko: She tried seeking out priests and monks from nearby temples to perform rituals to appease the spirit, but in the end, it didn't work. Instead, the priests and monks were so terrified that they fled the company in a panic and refused to go back no matter what.]

[Togawa Sakiko: On top of the original reward, the client added another several million. She's willing to offer 15 million yen to thank the exorcist.]

[Togawa Sakiko: Boss, do you have confidence in handling it?]

Sakiko-chan really was a capable assistant.

She had just started the job not long ago and had already brought in the first commission, with a very fitting reward too.

Of course, Kaito wouldn't refuse. He asked Sakiko to set up a time to meet with the client.

Perhaps it was really urgent.

Not long after Sakiko contacted the client, the other party immediately said they could meet today.

So, two hours later, a taxi stopped in front of a caf. Kaito got out and easily spotted Sakiko.

The girl wasn't in her uniform but had changed into a relatively formal lady's dress. A black satin ribbon formed a beautiful bow on her chest. Even among the comings and goings of customers, she was the most eye-catching.

After meeting, the two entered the reserved private room and quickly met with today's client.

She was a capable-looking middle-aged woman, with long black hair. Even with age, she retained a touch of charm.

But she didn't look in good spirits. There were faint dark circles around her eyes, as if she had stayed up too late.

Well, it was understandable. Anyone dealing with such unlucky matters would struggle to stay in a good mental state.

When the pair, both young, entered the private room, the client was visibly stunned.

Especially after meeting eyes with Kaito, her daze turned into a blank stare.

Fortunately, Sakiko quickly reached out her hand to break the awkwardness, "Nice to meet you, Miss Nagasaki."

Nagasaki Asuna came back to her senses and, while shaking hands, looked a little embarrassed.

'Already at my age, with a daughter in college, and I am still crushing on a young handsome guy? How shameless!'

But she was, after all, a strong woman who had built her career from scratch. Her mental fortitude was exceptional, and she quickly hid her momentary lapse, smiling and making small talk.

Once the atmosphere had warmed up, she got straight to the point, "You've already heard the details before, so I won't repeat myself."

"I'll just say this, if this incident can be resolved, I'm willing to add another five million as a bonus, making it twenty million in total, as my thanks to the two of you."

"Of course, even if it can't be resolved, you'll still receive a ten-thousand-yen hardship fee. I won't let you come for nothing."

Miss Nagasaki was indeed very generous.

Her surname also reminded Sakiko of someone from the past.

But Nagasaki was a very common surname in Japan, just like Yamamoto or Kato, you could grab a handful at random, 'It is probably just a coincidence?'

Shaking her head, Sakiko brushed away these trivial thoughts and also went straight to the point, "In any case, please take us to the scene, Miss Nagasaki."

Miss Nagasaki's company was located in the busiest part of Roppongi, occupying a floor of an office building.

They took the elevator up, but didn't see a single employee. It was completely empty.

Noticing Sakiko's puzzled expression, Miss Nagasaki smiled wryly, "Because of the recent haunting, the employees are all on edge and can't concentrate on work. I had no choice but to give them two days off."

'So that's how it is.'

Sakiko understood and then turned to the tall boy beside her, asking with her eyes, "Have you found anything?"

Kaito nodded, his gaze fixed tightly on an inconspicuous corner where a window had been sealed shut.

Following his gaze, Miss Nagasaki explained, "That's the place where Nakamura jumped."

Nakamura Shinnathat was the deceased's name.

Thinking back to the scene at the time, the strong woman still felt a bit shaken.

She had only argued with her boyfriend over the phone and threatened to jump if he dared to break up with her. When he refused, she really did jump without hesitation from the 34th floor, scaring her coworkers into shock. They forgot to even try to stop her.

If she had that kind of resolve, couldn't she have done something better with it? Why throw her life away for a man?

And her family wasn't easy to deal with either. After learning their daughter died at the company, they came and made a scene, blaming the company for her death and demanding a huge compensation.

It took great effort to settle things with the grieving family, and then the company started experiencing hauntings. This series of upsetting events left Nagasaki Asuna exhausted both physically and mentally.

She didn't even dare go home, afraid of bringing the bad luck with her and infecting her loved ones.

"There really is something dirty here," Hearing Kaito's words, Nagasaki Asuna tensed.

She used to not believe in ghosts. But this time, the events were just too strange.

Even the two professionals she invited, a well-known priest and a respected monk, were so terrified during the exorcism that they wet themselves and ran away screaming, completely losing the aura of spiritual masters. They cried for their mothers and crawled away, swearing never to come back.

Their fear definitely wasn't an act. As charlatans, even when acting, they'd only try to portray themselves as powerful. There's no reason to show such cowardice.

Not to mention, even Nagasaki herself sometimes felt like she was being secretly watched.

She was sure, there was definitely something unclean in this building.

Now that Kaito had confirmed her suspicions, the woman suppressed her inner anxiety and pleaded earnestly, "Master, could you please deal with it? Money is not an issue!"

Before she finished speaking, Nagasaki Asuna suddenly felt her heart skip a beat. A chill crept up her back. It felt like someone was glaring at her with hatred from the shadows.

In the unseen world of darkness, a female ghost with messy hair and bloodstains all over her body, her face twisted, her pupils nothing but whites filled with malice, was staring at her intently.

Nagasaki Asuna swallowed nervously, feeling a coldness over her entire body. She couldn't help but rub her arms, only to find them covered in goosebumps.

"Ma-master, you see", She was just about to say something when she noticed a faint warm glow radiating from the back of the boy next to her. The coldness lingering on her body met this light and melted away in an instant, like spring sunlight melting snow.

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Chapter 47: A Perfect Match for My Daughter

'Master!'

'A true master!'

This was the first time Nagasaki Asuna had seen such a scene.

If it were just ordinary light, perhaps it could be explained with props or tricks, but the warm feeling on her body couldn't possibly be faked.

At first, seeing Kaito so young, although she was amazed by his appearance, she still had some doubts in her heart.

'Such a handsome and beautiful young man, shouldn't he be in the entertainment industry as an idol or something? Why would he come to be a Taoist priest? Is he really reliable?'

But now she no longer thought that way. Instead, her heart was burning with enthusiasm, and even her posture became much more humble.

Kaito noticed the change in Ms. Nagasaki's attitude but didn't mind.

He just furrowed his brows and looked toward Nakamura Shinna not far away, whose gaze was full of resentment. It was rather strange.

Although the other party was just a small ghost he could easily eliminate, the resentment was way too intense, and it was growing with each passing moment.

If it weren't for Nakamura Shinna's current inability to interfere with reality, Nagasaki Asuna would have already been taken by the vengeful spirit.

Thinking for a moment, he simply asked, "Ms. Nagasaki, do you have any other grievances or grudges with the deceased?"

Nagasaki Asuna was stunned for a moment. Although she didn't understand what the master meant, she still answered honestly, "There was no conflict between Nakamura and me, nor was there any reason for enmity."

She was considered a pretty good boss. Although the company often required overtime, the overtime pay was never delayed. If employees ran into trouble and wanted to take leave or ask for an advance, she wouldn't make things difficult on purpose.

Who would have thought that after hearing these words, Nakamura Shinna in the corner became even angrier. The gloomy energy around her surged, and thick blood light even emerged from her pale pupils.

As if she would transform into a fierce ghost in the next second.

Nagasaki Asuna was completely unaware of this change. Thinking a bit, she suddenly added, "However, some time ago Nakamura did ask me for an advance on a year's salary. Considering that she had already received an advance for three months previously, and that there was no hardship at home, I refused her."

"This shouldn't really count as a grudge, right?", Thinking of the look Nakamura gave her at that time, she wasn't so sure anymore.

But Kaito shook his head, "Whether it is or not, we'll know by asking."

He didn't speak further. With a thought, his divine sense sealed off the entire office floor, and Nakamura Shinna's soul was temporarily revealed in the real world.

Nagasaki Asuna was startled by the sudden appearance of the female ghost, and Sakiko next to her was also nervous, hiding behind Kaito.

"You can see me! You can see me!", Nakamura Shinna went crazy, trying to pounce and kill, but it felt like a giant mountain was pressing down on her. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't move an inch forward.

At first, Nagasaki Asuna was a bit afraid, but when she realized the other party couldn't hurt her, she quickly calmed down, though she was still confused.

"Nakamura, I believe I've treated you decently. Your death had nothing to do with the company either. What exactly are you so dissatisfied with, that you won't even let me go after dying?"

Hearing this, Nakamura Shinna's eyes filled with more resentment and madness, "It's all you! It's all because you wouldn't give me the advance! That's why Hiroto broke up with me!"

"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!"

Nagasaki Asuna froze for a moment and then laughed out of anger.

She had heard gossip from subordinates about Nakamura Shinna's relationship. Apparently, she was dating a good-looking boyfriend who was a big spender and always asked her for money.

Nakamura had no choice. After draining all her savings, she came to ask for an advance from Asuna. Once wasn't enough, she came a second time, and this time she even wanted a whole year's salary in advance.

After understanding the situation, Nagasaki Asuna firmly refused.

Who would've thought that just because of this, the other party would hate her so much, even after jumping off a building, still unwilling to let her go.

Sakiko also couldn't understand.

'This Ms. Nakamura, is there something wrong with her brain?'

'It is the boyfriend who broke up with her. Even if she wants to hate someone, shouldn't she hate him? Why hate the boss instead?'

"It's all your fault! All your fault!", Nakamura Shinna was still shouting, "If you had given me the money, I could've bought the mountain bike Hiroto liked for a long time! Then he wouldn't have broken up with me!"

"It's all your fault! I'm going to kill you!"

'Sounds logical, huh like hell it does!'

'Damn idiot!'

Even with Nagasaki Asuna's good temperament, she couldn't help but curse in her heart.

She took a deep breath, stopped paying attention to that brain-dead fool, and looked sincerely at Kaito:

"Master, please take care of it."

Kaito didn't refuse.

Though he made money by exorcising spirits, he wasn't someone who only cared about money.

If it were a case of injustice or wrongful death, then the commission's content would naturally need to change.

Doing justice on behalf of Heaven was one thing, but if a ghost had died with injustice and he blindly suppressed it without reason, that wouldn't bring merit. In fact, he'd probably gain karma instead.

But Nakamura Shinna's situation clearly wasn't one of those.

She was just a bizarre case, whose only value was to make people sigh at the diversity of species.

He raised his hand slightly, and lightning flashed.

As a top-tier genius with both lightning and fire dual spiritual roots, Kaito specialized in both of these spells.

And because his swordsmanship cultivation was also impressive, when he first entered the cultivation world, he once made a name for himself with the title "True Lord of Thunder and Fire Sword."

It's just that his cultivation level later grew so high that the "True Lord" title could no longer keep up with his status, so no one used it anymore.

Nakamura Shinna's power wasn't strong. Among the evil spirits Kaito had encountered so far, she was among the weakest and couldn't resist at all.

With a miserable scream, her soul turned to ash.

After seeing Nakamura Shinna's soul scatter with her own eyes, Ms. Nagasaki visibly let out a breath of relief.

Because of this damn matter, she hadn't slept well for three straight days. If it had gone on any longer, she might've just died suddenly.

Such a life-saving grace couldn't go unthanked, only money could do.

Ms. Nagasaki was very efficient. She arranged the transfer immediately, and within minutes, Kaito received a deposit notification on his phone.

Onlythe amount wasn't the promised twenty million, but thirty million.

To be able to build up such a massive business empire from scratch as a housewife, Nagasaki Asuna understood well the principle of "no one resents too much courtesy."

Especially after personally experiencing a supernatural incident, she clearly knew, if a little more money could build a relationship with a real Taoist master, that was a profitable investment.

Moreover

It wasn't that Nagasaki Asuna had any ill intentions. She was already old enough to be Kaito's mother, so she definitely wouldn't go after a pretty boy young enough to be her son.

'No matter how handsome, it is a matter of principle!'

But just because she wouldn't make a move didn't mean others couldn't.

For example, her daughterNagasaki Soyo.

Just like all adults who worried about their children's marriage, when she saw an outstanding junior, she couldn't help but want to bring him home.

Nagasaki Asuna was no exception.

'So young, yet already so powerful. Exorcising ghosts is easier for him than drinking water.'

'Plus, that flawlessly handsome appearance'

'This Kaito-kun really is in his prime, isn't he?'

'He's a perfect match for my Soyo!'

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Chapter 48: Pulling a Radish

Ms. Nagasaki was very enthusiastic.

Not only was she generous with money, but she even booked a private room at a nearby high-end hotel to treat the two of them to a meal.

However, it was politely declined by Kaito. He wasn't used to dining with strangers.

Although Ms. Nagasaki was a bit regretful, she didn't force them. After exchanging contact information with him, she personally escorted the two of them downstairs. Her attitude was impeccable.

After that, seeing the transaction notification on her phone, a full two hundred thousand yen, Togawa Sakiko was a little surprised.

"Boss, this is"

"To celebrate the first successful completion of a case at the agency, your bonus."

Kaito wasn't a stingy boss. Just this one case had earned him thirty million from Ms. Nagasaki. A mere two hundred thousand was nothing but a drop in the bucket.

He had seen Sakiko's busy efforts these past few days. For a capable employee, appropriate rewards could also inspire enthusiasm.

"This is too much"

Clearly, she had only done what was within her duties. Honestly, she felt unworthy of receiving it.

"Just take it," Once Kaito gave something away, he had no habit of taking it back.

Seeing his easygoing attitude, Sakiko thought for a moment and didn't refuse again.

'Kaito-kun's favors are piling up and up. I can never repay them all, not even close.'

She already owed him so much; one more debt wouldn't make much difference.

The only thing she could do was fulfill her role as secretary and not let him worry about these trivial matters.

After the two of them left the office building, they found a fairly authentic hotpot restaurant nearby. The hotpot base was a dual-flavor pot.

Sakiko took care of all the miscellaneous tasks herself. Mixing the dipping sauce for Kaito, fetching water, putting in the meat, and when it was cooked, carefully placing it in his bowl. Meanwhile, she barely touched her own chopsticks.

This scene was noticed by a nearby couple, leaving the boyfriend deeply aware of the gap in the world.

'We both are couples, why is that guy's girlfriend so obedient, considerate, and beautiful, while my own girlfriend is unreasonable and hard to please?'

But then he saw the other guy's face

'Bro, you smell amazing.'

At first, Kaito was a bit unused to this kind of meticulous care.

But Sakiko just gave a gentle smile and continued doing things her way.

After a few attempts to dissuade her failed, Kaito had no choice but to accept the girl's service like some pampered nobleman.

The hotpot meal lasted a little over an hour. As they left the restaurant, Sakiko's phone suddenly rang.

She answered and chatted briefly. After hanging up, an apologetic look appeared on her pretty face, "An elder just returned from out of town and wants to meet me. Sorry, I might need to leave for a bit."

Ever since cutting ties with the Togawa family, Sakiko had also broken contact with most of her old social circle.

But the person who called was different, it was the mother of her good friend Wakaba Mutsuki, Mori Minami.

Little Mutsuki wasn't talkative, and she and Sakiko were childhood friends who had grown up together. Even before meeting Kaito, Mutsuki had been the person Sakiko trusted the most. Almost like half of her own self.

Thanks to that bond, she was also close to Mutsuki's mother, Mori Minami.

The other party had watched her grow up. Recently, she had been busy filming, flying all over the world. Now that she finally had some free time, she just wanted to see her once.

And just like that, the considerate little secretary left.

It was dusk. The golden glow of the setting sun lit up the clouds on the horizon, like cotton candy soaked in orange soda, dyed with warm colors.

Though it was still early, there wasn't much worth browsing nearby. Kaito originally planned to take the train home but paused as he passed a certain remote park.

In a patch of grass not far away, a blue-haired figure was lying on the ground with her butt in the air, doing something unknown.

"Yamada Ryou?"

With a brief recall in his mind, Kaito quickly remembered.

'Seems like one of Bocchi's bandmates?'

He remembered she was quite a pretty girl, just had a bit of a "gremlin" personality.

Even when she heard footsteps behind her, Yamada Ryou didn't move at all, maintaining her mysterious prone position, like a little mole focused on digging a hole.

"Yamada-san?", Kaito hadn't planned to meddle, but he held back and held back and still couldn't resist his curiosity.

"What are you doing?"

His voice was naturally clear and magnetic, very pleasant, and very recognizable. Once heard, it was hard to forget.

Yamada Ryou's tense body relaxed slightly. She sounded uncertain, "Boyfriend-kun?"

"I'm just friends with Bocchi never mind," Kaito sighed, too lazy to explain more, and asked again, "So, what are you doing?"

"As you can see."

Ryou's voice sounded cool at first, but only someone very familiar with her could notice the faint embarrassment hidden deep within it.

"I was lured by an orange cat and accidentally got stuck in the bushes. I can't get out now."

"...", Kaito was silent.

His understanding of this girl called "Yamada Ryou" being unreliable deepened once again.

Just then, a small orange figure suddenly darted out from nearby, carrying an unopened sausage in its mouth, strutting proudly over while casting a contemptuous gaze at the two-legged creature stuck in the bush.

"That's it!"

Enemies meeting, eyes blazing with fury.

Ryou stared hard at the unopened sausage in the orange cat's mouth, swallowing a bit of saliva subtly.

She had been eating grass for three days straight. She desperately wanted to comfort her little temple.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been lured by a sausage.

But she had clearly forgotten, Cat's reaction speed was two times that of a human.

The girl pitifully said, "Kind passerby, could you please have mercy and free me from this bush seal? Onii-san, I'll do anything!"

There were many crossed branches in the bush. Ryou was dressed lightly, and the exposed skin on her face and arms had red scratches, likely left by her earlier struggles.

Kaito didn't refuse. He crouched down and began carefully moving aside and breaking the obstructing branches, very gently.

Their bodies were very close, separated by only a tiny space. Ryou couldn't move and was still lying on the ground with her butt up. She couldn't see what was behind her and could only feel the unfamiliar masculine presence enveloping her, carrying a faint grassy scent, refreshing and pleasant.

Though it smelled nice, this was her first time being so close to a boy. Naturally, she felt uncomfortable and could only stay silent, pretending to be a Buddha statue.

Fortunately, the awkwardness didn't last long. Soon, all the obstructing branches were cleared by Kaito.

Yamada Ryou cautiously tested her movement. There was no more stuck sensation. Her pretty face lit up with joy, and just as she was about to climb out of the bush, a surprised voice came from behind.

"Kaito-san, and", A blonde girl with a floating ahoge suddenly widened her eyes, "Ryou?"

Looking at the two people stacked tightly one on top of the other, she went into a system crash.

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Chapter 49: Embarrassing! Get off the battlefield right now!

"What the heck, so it was just a misunderstanding. I thought...", Five minutes later, at the park swings, Ijichi Nijika patted her flat and rather barren chest, genuinely letting out a sigh of relief.

'You can't blame e for overthinking. Those two just now were way too... the morals of society are going downhill.'

'Come to think of it, although Ryou always acts unreliable and scatterbrained in front of people she's close to, she's also the kind of scummy woman who likes to borrow money and not return it, always freeloading off others, with a laundry list of flaws that can't even fit in one basket. But in front of outsiders, she's got that ice-cold beauty image, she won't act so casually.'

'As for Kurumizaka-kun... even though we haven't met many times, Bocchi will occasionally bring him up when talking about the band. Aside from club members, no one has ever said he was especially close with any girls.'

'These two together don't seem like they'd spark some kind of fiery romance no matter how you look at it, right?'

"Thought what?", Scummy Ryou had already gone back to her usual self and said seriously, "You immediately jumped to lewd conclusions. Nijika, have you been secretly peeking at the R18 manga I left at your place, mhm... mmph..."

The red-faced, flushed blond girl clamped her mouth shut with both hands, shouting things like, "How could you slander me like that?"

And "I-It was just during cleaning, I saw it by accident so that doesn't count as peeking,"

And "Wait! I didn't even look at it!", all sorts of confusing stuff, filling the air with a cheerful atmosphere.

The girl's still too naive. Clearly a joke or two would've let her skate past the topic, but instead she had to get all serious about it.

Still, Nijika quickly realized, this kind of denial was pretty much the same as admitting it.

Her delicate features flushed red at a visible speed, like blazing sunset clouds in the sky, and those wine-red eyes seemed to be spinning in circles.

Seeing that she looked like she might faint from embarrassment any second now, Kaito gave a light cough and changed the subject, "Anyway, it's a good thing the misunderstanding's cleared up. But Ichiji-san, what brings you here?"

Gentle, thoughtful, and always smoothing things over, that's always been Nijika's role. It was her first time being the one getting bailed out by someone else.

She let go of Ryou's mouth, now a little embarrassed, and fiddled with the ponytail beside her ear.

"I was out shopping with a friend, but then my sister called and asked me to help out at the store, so I was planning to take a shortcut from here to catch the train home..."

Saying that, she turned to look at her friend, those wine-red eyes flashing with a dangerous glint, "Since I ran into you like this, Ryou, you're coming with me too!"

"W-Wait a sec!"

She hadn't expected karma to strike so quickly.

A rare flash of panic swept across Yamada Ryou's usually calm, pretty face, "I just remembered Kita moved into the ICU..."

"You already used that excuse once! And I literally talked to Kita-chan on the phone just thirty minutes ago to ask her to help at the store!"

Nijika ruthlessly exposed the scummy woman's lie and slammed down the verdict, "No escaping! You're coming with me to the store!"

No one knew where Ryou pulled it from, but she took out a handkerchief and wiped at the corners of her eyes, her fragile look pitiful and tearful.

Unfortunately, Nijika, who knew her true nature all too well, wasn't moved at all. Heart of stone.

After suppressing this scummy Ryou, Nijika once again showed a brilliant smile, turning toward Kaito and inviting, "Kurumizaka-kun, would you like to come along too? There's going to be a super popular band playing at the store tonight, it's a rare opportunity!"

"You're not trying to rope me in as a laborer, right?"

"O-Of course not!"

Nijika waved her hands in a panic, "You're a guest, and also Bocchi-chan's friend, so we have to treat you right."

Kaito thought for two seconds. Since there was nothing to do at home anyway, going to check it out sounded fine, "Then I'll be imposing, Ichiji-san."

Forty minutes later.

At STARRY in Shimokitazawa.

The store usually starts selling tickets at 5 p.m. It was currently 4:12 p.m., so there weren't many customers yet.

After descending the stairs and entering the underground live hall, there was a woman with waist-length blonde hair who looked ninety percent like Nijika sitting next to the counter, sipping apple juice through a straw.

Hearing footsteps, the swivel chair under her did a 180, and she turned sideways to greet them, "Yo, you're finally back."

"Let me introduce you," Nijika took the lead but ignored her sister's greeting, instead turning around and introducing, "This is Ijichi Seika, my older sister, and the manager of this place."

Kaito took a quick look at the manager Seika in front of him. He hadn't seen her last time he came here, but now that he did, she looked just like Nijika was made from the same mold. Even the flat chest ran in the family. The only difference was that she was a size taller.

Unlike her charming and gentle younger sister, Ijichi Seika had no expression on her beautiful face and carried an intense aura of world-weariness. She didn't seem easy to get along with.

"Bringing another new friend...", Seika followed her sister's gaze and happened to meet the eyes of the handsome young man on the stairs. The boxed apple juice in her hand"plop"dropped straight to the floor.

"Sis! That's so rude!", Nijika hurried to grab a broom and dustpan, cleaning up the trash on the floor.

After finishing that, she put the tools away and then pointed to the long-haired woman sitting at the table nearby, "That's the store's sound engineerjust call her PA-san~"

PA-san was also a stunning beauty, sporting traditional hime-style long black hair, like a princess from the Sengoku era. She wore a loose, ultra-long-sleeved coat and at the moment had her mouth slightly open, revealing a rare sight, her snake-like, forked pink tongue.

"Hello, I'm Kurumizaka Kaito, Nijika's friend."

Kaito only glanced briefly and then looked away, offering a plain and simple greeting.

"Ahem, Kurumizaka-kun, was it?"

Seika came back to her senses and awkwardly coughed. A suspicious blush remained on her cold, world-weary pretty face, "Nijika's friends are my friends too. Want some apple juice?"

'You're already that old, stop acting like a lovestruck schoolgirl, Sis!', Nijika held her forehead in exasperation. Nearly thirty years old and still going all starry-eyed over a hot guy.

'Embarrassing! Get off the battlefield right now!'

But then again, thinking back to how she acted the first time she saw Kurumizaka-kun... maybe she wasn't any better than her sister.

Shimokitazawa's Archangel quickly shifted the topic with a guilty conscience, "Oh right, Sis. Kurumizaka-kun's ticket money can be deducted from my staff pay. Same for any extra drink purchases."

STARRY may be a live house for watching performances, but it actually operated under a restaurant license.

In other words, it was technically a restaurant by name. Customers who wanted to watch a show had to order a drink, basically a clever little legal loophole.

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Chapter 50: Four Members, Three Flat Chests

"No need to waive the bill," Kaito gently refused. He wasn't short on money right now, so there was no need to take advantage of the girl.

"Just treat it as an apology for last time! Please, please!", Nijika put her hands together in a pleading gesture, just as she was about to say something else, the wind chime hanging at the entrance rang, and two girls walked in.

One had medium-length red hair and vivid green eyes full of vitality. Her aura was so intense it almost hurt to look at her.

The other wore an old-fashioned tracksuit. Her long pink hair had a cowlick on the right side, and a blue hair accessory shaped like hard candy. Her whole body emitted a gloomy aura of "I don't want to be here."

As Kita entered and was about to greet them, she saw the back of someone she admired. Her face lit up instantly, "Eh? Kurumizaka-kun, why are you here?"

Hearing that familiar name, Bocchi, who had been downcast, also suddenly looked up. Her blue pupils sparkled, "Squad leader!"

Little Bocchi looked just like a puppy seeing its owner, too cute. If she had a tail, it would definitely be wagging happily right now.

Kaito smiled slightly too, "Good afternoon."

That smile was like the moon breaking through clouds, spring snow melting, reminding one of the mythological beauty Adonis, whom even the goddess of beauty fell for.

Nijika clutched her chest, struggling to look away. She was honestly a little worried about her own heart.

Taking this chance, she glanced around at the other people in the store. As expected, everyone's face was red, like they could bleed from it, yet no one was willing to blink even once.

'Seriously can't let my guard down even for a second...'

Thinking this, Nijika pulled a drumstick from under her skirt and gently tapped the bar. A crisp sound echoed in the narrow studio.

"Hey hey hey~ Snap out of it, everyone!"

Like a grand bell echoing.

Everyone was startled by the sound of the drumstick and tacitly chose not to mention their lovestruck expressions from a moment ago. The atmosphere in the studio seemed to return to normal.

"Long time no see, Kurumizaka-kun. What brings you to the shop today?", The first to speak was Kita. The cheerful girl's friendliness had long reached MAX level. Though she had been stunned for a moment, she quickly bounced back, full of enthusiasm.

"I heard from Nijika that there's a performance tonight, so I came by," Kaito didn't hide his reason and then looked at Bocchi, who was standing beside her.

"I just didn't expect... that even when coming to the shop on the weekend, you'd still be dressed like this. That tracksuit look is really recognizable."

"Ehehe, I think so too."

Kita chuckled a bit, then couldn't help but comment, "Bocchi-chan is so cute, yet she's always in that tracksuit. Is there something special about it?"

As the conversation turned to her, the little socially anxious girl got a bit nervous. But since everyone here was a familiar face, it was still within what she could handle. She hesitated a bit, then softly said, "If there's anything special... it's probably that it's especially expensive?"

That seemingly plain pink tracksuit was actually a high-end item she had bought on impulse for several hundred thousand yen. A major brand. But she regretted it right after buying it, and couldn't return it either.

Impulse buying really ruins lives.

That was the shopping decision Bocchi regretted most. At first, she wore it thinking "I bought it already, might as well wear it." After a while, she just got used to it.

"Boyfriend-kun must want to see Bocchi in other outfits, right?"

Gremlin Ryou suddenly spoke up, "I remember we still have a maid outfit in the shop. Kita wore it last time!"

"You're the one who wants to see it! Don't drag Kurumizaka-kun into your fantasies, you jerk!", Nijika's hand itched. She really wanted to bonk Gremlin Ryou on the head, but worried it would make her look like a violent girl, she barely held herself back.

"Actually", Kaito pondered for two seconds, then said seriously, "I'm kind of curious too."

It was understandable.

That unflattering tracksuit had almost become part of Bocchi's core identity. Since he met the shy girl, Kaito had never seen her wear any other type of outfit. At most, she changed the bottom half. Sometimes she wore a skirt over the tracksuit pants, sometimes just the skirt.

"Nijika, say something!", Gremlin Ryou crossed her arms proudly, with a "I totally called it" expression.

The angel looked a bit awkward and whispered, "Sorry for misunderstanding you."

'Still a maid outfit is just way too much...'

Gotou Hitori's instinct to escape kicked in, and it felt like she was about to turn into a soft-bodied creature and slide under the table.

Her blue eyes wandered around, soon locking onto a nearby box labeled "Mango Mask."

If she could just hide in there...

"Bocchi, you don't want to disappoint Boyfriend-kun, right?", Gremlin Ryou stared at her with shining eyes, perfectly exploiting the weak point of the little introvert. An effective and precise critical hit.

"Uuu...", Bocchi let out an adorable whimper.

But still, she braved her shyness and softly said, "I-I got it!"

Ten minutes later.

Kaito sat at the bar, sipping on the apple juice Manager Seika had generously provided.

Bocchi had gone into the back room to change, with Nijika and the others helping her. They still hadn't come out.

From the dressing room, muffled squeals and laughter could be heard, mixed with Bocchi's shy, trailing voice, making people even more curious about what was happening inside.

Kaito thought about it but decided not to use his spiritual sense to peek.

Controlling everything might be satisfying, but sometimes, keeping a little mystery was nice too.

Good thing they didn't make him wait long.

Soon, Gotou Hitori, fresh from the dressing room, was pushed out by the girls.

Black-and-white maid outfit. The classic style. Kita had worn it once before.

But the same outfit looked completely different on someone else.

End of the band: four members, three flat chests.

'Bocchi, you are not one of them!'

The gentle Nijika Ichiji, cute and cheerful, was a beautiful girl who understood others well.

But even the gentle and kind "Angel of Shimokitazawa" had her eternal pain.

Despite already being a sophomore in college, she was still as flat as a grade-schooler.

Nijika had comforted herself, saying, 'It's okay, no rush. I still had time to grow.'

But then she looked at her older sister Seika, nearly thirty years old, and their figures were practically the same.

'Is every girl in the Ichiji family doomed to be a landing strip?'

'And Bocchi is two years younger than me...'

'Kita isn't doing any better.'

She and Nijika-senpai both had pancake-tier proportions. It didn't bother her much when showering alone, but with Bocchi for comparison, the gap became glaringly obvious.

Bocchi-chan, between us now lies a sorrowful wall of thickness.

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Chapter 51: I Can Be the Mistress Too

Let's not talk about the two grumbling flat-chested girls.

Looking at the completely new and transformed Gotou Hitori in front of him, Kaito truly had a sense of being pleasantly surprised.

Little Bocchi's looks were actually quite pretty, she was even once evaluated by Kita as "someone who could debut as an idol."

On top of that, since she usually didn't like going out and preferred staying in dark, lightless environments, her skin was even fairer than the average girl's.

It was only because she always kept her head down outside, never dared to look people in the eye, wore plain and unremarkable tracksuits that covered her figure, and walked hunched over with poor posture, that she didn't stand out much. At most, just the level of a fairly pretty girl you'd spot on the street.

Now, after changing into a cute maid outfit, her hidden charm was instantly revealed.

'I feel like the clothes are tight, especially around the chest area, like I can't breathe...'

'A-also, I wonder what Kurumizaka-kun thinks...?'

'No response at all... ugh~ It must be because I look awful, right?'

'As expected, someone like me, a pill bug with no presence, should just stay in a damp, dark corner and grow mold...'

Pushed out onto the floor, Bocchi didn't even dare raise her head, but a storm was already raging in her mind.

Still not hearing any comment from Kaito, she became increasingly anxious and uneasy. At this rate, she was about to melt like a slime.

Click

The clear sound of a camera shutter went off, and then it followed up with four or five more times in quick succession.

"Eh?", Little Bocchi instinctively looked up, just in time to catch the blue light flashing from the camera lens, causing her to blink subconsciously.

"Sorry," Kaito still maintained his photo-taking posture, waved his phone slightly, and smiled gently, "You looked so cute, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures for my collection. That's okay, right?"

"O-of course it's okay!"

Gotou Hitori revealed a silly smile, 'Hehe... I got called cute...'

Kaito casually rubbed her head, and for some reason, it felt even better than petting the chubby cat at home.

Time passed slowly, and soon it was almost five o'clock.

The audience began arriving one after another, and the once-empty broadcasting hall gradually filled with people.

Manager Seika had already assigned tasks earlier. Nijika and Bocchi were behind the bar making drinks for customers, Ryou was at the entrance checking tickets, and as for Kita, she was in charge of cleaning; just giving a quick sweep wherever there was trash.

Kaito also found a quiet corner to sit in, and before long, a plate of snacks appeared in front of him.

Fried fries, fried chicken nuggets, tempura... along with various dipping sauces, it looked quite plentiful.

"What's this?"

"Did you forget, Kurumizaka-kun?"

Nijika beamed brightly, "This is an apology gift for the incident last time~"

The girl clasped her hands behind her back, her petite body leaning slightly forward, and her long side ponytail fell like silk, adding a soft charm to her, "Besides, even without the apology, you're Bocchi-chan's friend, which means you're basically my friend too, and since you're a customer, it's only right to treat you."

"That's right, boyfriend-kun, just accept it," Out of nowhere, the gremlin Ryou added seriously, "You're Bocchi's boyfriend, and by rounding off, that makes you Nijika's boyfriend too, so no need to hold back..."

BAM!

With a lump forming on her head, gremlin Ryou tearfully went back to ticket-checking at the entrance.

Retracting her fist, Nijika's cute face turned crimson, and she tapped her toes on the ground, a little embarrassed as she said, "Ryou always says weird things, please don't mind her."

"No problem," Kaito picked up a fry with a fork, "But Nijika, you must usually have it pretty tough, huh?"

Tough doesn't even begin to cover it.

It seemed that every girls' band needed a "mom" role.

And clearly, Nijika had taken on that role.

Even though she herself was a lively, youthful girl, she lived like a single mom in her forties raising three kids alone.

Eldest daughter Ryou was a problem child, anti-social, kept her distance from people, and always blew her allowance early, surviving on weeds.

Second daughter Bocchi was a little shut-in, timid, introverted, and shy, she couldn't be left without care.

Third daughter Kita was cheerful and enthusiastic, the least worrisome, and sometimes even helped out.

Even so, taking care of two problem children every day, preparing for the band's training, dealing with customers at the store, these endless chores piled up, wearing Nijika-mom out both physically and mentally.

But such complaints were fleeting. Under the warm lights of the broadcasting hall, the girl's soft and pretty face glowed gently. Nijika lightly tapped her pink lips with a slender finger and smiled softly, "Life is a bit too fulfilling, indeed, but... once you get used to it, it's actually not bad."

As the two were chatting, a stylish office lady in black stockings and high heels suddenly walked in. Her refined face was flushed with red, apparently from drinking. She wobbled as she walked.

Worried she might fall, Nijika quickly stepped forward to help her, "Miss Satou, be careful."

"Oh, it's little Nijika?"

The woman named "Satou" seemed to be a regular at the shop. Without any formality, she patted Nijika's shoulder and laughed heartily, "So sweet, so sweet. I really want to steal you from Seika and make you my little sister instead."

Not far away, the manager typing on her laptop paused and shot her a cold glare. The meaning was clear, 'You wish, you delusional woman!'

OL big sis didn't care, tilted her head, and just happened to notice Kaito nearby, her eyes lit up.

"Ooh, what a handsome young man. Nijika, is this your new staff member?"

Before Nijika could answer, the office lady had already walked over in high heels, eyes burning, completely unashamed of her intentions, "Hey hey, little brother, do you have a girlfriend? If not, would you mind having one? If you do... would you mind having another?"

'Is this what a socially aggressive woman is like?'

'Isn't this a bit too bold?'

Nijika was stunned for a second, but quickly came to her senses and rushed to block the way, "Miss Satou! You've misunderstood! Kurumizaka-kun is not a staff member!"

The girl stood protectively in front of the handsome boy like a mother hen, glaring at the woman with full vigilance.

Miss Satou blinked, her gaze shifting between the two, and she seemed to figure something out, "Oh, so he's your little boyfriend, huh..."

She looked a bit regretful. If it were someone else, maybe she would've given up, but Kaito's looks were just too good. It really made her itch.

After a moment's hesitation, she probed, "Actually, I can be the mistress too."

Miss Satou ended up leaving.

She didn't even stay to watch the night performance, retreating under Nijika's puffed-up glare.

Of course, the manager Seika's murderous gaze also played a key supporting role.

Only after Miss Satou's sighing silhouette finally disappeared did Nijika realize, 'My relationship with Kurumizaka-kun has been completely misunderstood... and I couldn't clarify it in time!'

The girl shyly twirled her long side ponytail with her fingers, her red shoes drawing little circles on the floor in embarrassment, murmuring to herself.

[T/N: If you're liking this story, I just started a new one: "Pokmon: Gardevoir Harem with Tag System." As evident from the name, a Pokemon fanfic, OP MC and OP system, check and throw some Powerstones while you are at it. Have a great read ]

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Chapter 52: Cats Shall Never Be Slaves

Fortunately, the awkward atmosphere didn't last too long.

Nijika was slacking off here, and with one less person at the bar, little Bocchi couldn't handle all the customers on her own, quickly becoming overwhelmed.

Seeing this scene, Nijika seemed to suddenly wake from the dream and, using the excuse of helping out, ran off in a fluster.

The girl's retreating figure was as light as a young deer, yet in the moment she turned, her beautiful brows and eyes curved like crescent moons.

[Two Hours Later]

Tonight's performance ended early, and Kaito didn't stay long.

After greeting Nijika and the others, he left the STARRY Live House with the cheering towel the manager had insisted on giving him as a souvenir, and took the train home.

Finding a seat in the corner, he pulled out his phone.

The notification sound had been going off since earlier.

He unlocked the screen, there were two unread messages in the notification bar.

One was from Yukinoshita, the content was brief: [Miss Cat Addiction struck again.]

The second was from Sakiko. After meeting her elders, the little secretary reported her safety and said she had something to discuss with him and would wait at his door.

Kaito arranged the next cat-petting visit with Yukino, and as for Sakiko, he just replied with an "OK" hand sign.

By the time he got home, it was already dark.

The bright white light glowed warmly in the quiet night, casting a soft halo around the girl under the streetlamp. Her eyes, deep like autumn water, were quietly lowered, but in one moment suddenly lit up, like a clear lake brimming with moonlight.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Sakiko shook her head and smiled lightly, "Just a few minutes."

"218218, that's the door code. In the future, just come in if you need something," Kaito wasn't stingy. After all, she was his considerate little secretary. Making things convenient for her was making things convenient for himself.

Sakiko didn't expect such a surprise, 'Knowing Kaito-kun's door code. Doesn't that mean I have the right to come and go freely?'

'Come to think of it, I should be the first person with such privileges, right?'

'Kaito-kun is very popular on campus, but no one has ever seen him being especially close to any girl.'

If one had to say, only the two members from the same club seemed to have a good relationship with him, but it only appeared to be on a normal friend level.

Sakiko had once been worried, 'What if someone beat me to the punch?'

'But now it seems, he really does have a place for me in his heart.'

The two of them changed into indoor slippers at the entryway and entered the living room together. Kaito went to the kitchen and brewed two cups of black tea. After handing one to Sakiko, he sat down in front of her. Next to him lay the sleeping fat cat.

"Did something troubling happen?", Thinking of the message where Sakiko said she had something to discuss, Kaito didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

Trouble wasn't quite it. Sakiko thought for a moment, then pulled out a protective amulet from her small bag and pushed it in front of him.

"This is a protective charm Aunt Mori gave me today. It's said to have been obtained from a very spiritual shrine. It's for warding off misfortune and improving luck."

Kaito picked up the charm and fiddled with it in his hand. On the outside, it looked like a small wooden plaque made of peach wood, engraved with indecipherable symbols. It did contain a faint trace of spiritual power, barely noticeable, but there.

"This charm was blessed by the shrine priest personally. Its effect is better than ordinary charms, and more expensive too."

Sakiko paused, then added, "Apparently, one costs five million yen."

Mori Minami was a famous actress in Japan, having debuted for decades. She naturally wasn't short on money. The issue was that such high-quality items couldn't be bought just with money.

At least with Mori Minami's connections, she only managed to get three. One she kept for herself, one she gave her daughter Mutsumi, and the last one was given to Sakiko.

As for a certain anonymous Wakaba dad?

He'd have to find a way on his own.

"President, I think our agency could also start selling this kind of protective charm. It's a promising business opportunity."

Sakiko's idea was very simple.

She had witnessed Kaito's exorcism skills with her own eyes. Compared to those possibly sketchy shrines, his credibility was much higher.

If others could sell charms, then their agency could too.

Even if they didn't have fame at the start, it wouldn't matter. As long as the charm's effectiveness was proven, there would definitely be repeat customers.

"No need," Kaito shook his head and didn't agree.

Making charms was very easy for him. Even a casual one he made would be a hundred times stronger than the one in his hand. In this age of dwindling spiritual energy, it could already be considered a family heirloom worthy of worship in a shrine.

He didn't lack money, and he wouldn't sell these precious spiritual tools just for profit.

However, Sakiko's suggestion did inspire him.

It was still necessary to make a few protective charms. After all, this world really did have ghosts and monsters. It was still somewhat dangerous for ordinary people.

As for the design Kaito thought for a moment and decided to make jade carvings. Whether worn on the hand or hung around the neck, they'd be easy to carry.

"Do you have a favorite animal?", he asked.

Sakiko was taken aback.

After her suggestion was rejected, the girl had quieted down. She wasn't angry, nor did she ask why he turned her down, 'Kaito-kun must have his reasons for doing so, and as his secretary, I just need to follow orders.'

'It is just a pity to give up this business opportunity but oh well, I will work hard on other fronts and definitely help the agency thrive.'

Now hearing this question, she hesitated for a moment, then quickly replied, "I don't have any particular favorites I don't dislike cats or dogs. If I have to pick, then rabbits, I guess."

Even in Japan, there was a saying about the zodiac. Sakiko's birthday was in February, which corresponded to the rabbit in the lunar calendar.

"Then it's rabbits," Kaito made the decision, then stood up, casually tossing his jacket onto the sofa. He looked at Sakiko, "Stay for dinner tonight. What do you want to eat?"

"Me? Anything's fine," Sakiko couldn't quite keep up with his pace, but the moment she thought of those delicious dishes that could make one drool, her tears couldn't help but fall, right from her mouth.

"Got it," Kaito nodded and turned into the kitchen.

Soon, only Sakiko was left in the living room. Oh wait, there was also one fat cat who had just woken up.

Seeing a new person in the house, Kirara didn't bat an eye. She was already used to her owner frequently bringing unfamiliar female two-leggers home. This one wasn't the first, and certainly wouldn't be the last.

The cat just flicked her tail and, like a fluffy cloud, lightly jumped onto the sofa, or to be more precise, onto Kaito's discarded jacket.

The white jacket was like a natural cat bed and carried a pleasant scent. Kirara leisurely lay down, curled herself up, and planned to nap again before dinner was served.

No natural enemies, no job, free food and lodging. Such a life made the cat forget all worries.

Although she had secured her meal ticket, she had also completely lost all ambition. She was now a total waste cat.

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Chapter 53: My Little Kitty Is No Good Either!

Perhaps it was the cat's comfortable demeanor that caught her eye.

Sitting nearby, Sakiko's gaze shifted downward, fixated on a certain object, her amber eyes dazed.

'That is... the jacket Kaito-kun just took off...'

'Maybe, it still retains his body heat and scent.'

But now, it was occupied by a fat cat, viciously pressed beneath it, letting out a strained whimper under the weight.

'Maybe I should rescue it.'

Such a thought suddenly popped into Sakiko's mind. She glanced guiltily toward the kitchen.

'Hmm, Kaito-kun is still busy and doesn't seem to be coming this way.'

And so...

Just as it was sleeping soundly, even letting out a lazy purring sound, Kirara suddenly felt a chill all over, then its four limbs were suspended in the air.

The kitty was totally confused, instinctively flailing a few times, as if swimming through the air.

By the time it realized what was happening, it found itself being lifted by the female two-legged beast that its boss had brought back.

'Rude creature!'

'I hate humans who have no sense of boundaries!'

The kitty was about to struggle, but then it saw the two-legged beast actually snatch the boss's clothing right in front of its eyes.

'Snatched it, nya!'

'Intolerable!', Kirara's fur bristled, and its plump body displayed unexpected agility. With a high-difficulty mid-air flip, like a graceful gymnast, its four paws landed lightly, finally settling safely on the soft sofa.

Then, magnetic field spins, ten thousand horsepower, Meow Meow Exploding Fist!

The white-gloved paws moved so fast they left afterimages, unleashing an onslaught dazzling enough to make one's eyes blur in just a few seconds.

The flurry of punches surged like tides, unending.

Of course, Kirara still held back a bit.

Although it behaved obediently in front of Kaito, it was still a monster, especially after mooching off quite a bit of the boss's spiritual energy. Its strength had greatly increased.

Now, showing its true form, it could tear apart tigers and leopards with ease.

Dealing with a weak two-legged beast, it didn't even extend its claws or use too much strength.

It just wanted this annoying two-legged beast to know, 'My little kitty is no good either!'

But this attack, when it landed on Sakiko's arm, didn't hurt at all.

Instead, it felt like a cat kneading, soft and ticklish.

Sakiko even thought the kitty was playing with her, didn't take it seriously at all, and even chuckled while rubbing Kirara's little head.

"Alright, alright, stop messing around. This is a piece of clothing, it'll get covered in cat hair, and it'll be hard to clean. If it's uncomfortable to sleep on, I can help you find a new cushion, how about that?"

"Meow! Meow!'

'You hateful two-legged beast, hurry up and return the boss's stuff!'

Sakiko didn't understand cat language, but from Kirara's resistant behavior, she could tell it wasn't satisfied with her proposal.

She couldn't help but feel puzzled, 'Are even cats this hard to please nowadays?'

Just as she was considering whether to tempt it with a cat treat, Kirara had already pounced.

The human-cat battle was about to ignite.

The commotion in the living room wasn't too loud, but Kaito didn't even turn his head, yet everything entered his perception.

Though he didn't mean to deliberately peek, could it even be called peeking when it was through spiritual sense?

Cooking while watching the living room drama with interest, he took it as a way to pass time.

.

.

.

More than ten minutes later.

Sitting at the dining table, Sakiko's hair was messy, and her once neat and tidy lady's dress was now all wrinkled. Her face flushed red from intense movement, and even her breathing was unsteady.

Next to her, Kirara sat triumphantly on the blue jacket, its fluffy fur spotless and glistening, looking quite delightful.

The contrast between the two made it clear who was the victor.

Clearly, in this battle between the two-legged beast and Cat, the latter had won.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed under Kaito's strange gaze, Sakiko could feel her cheeks burning.

Not only had she lost to a cat, but she also got caught in the act. She was so embarrassed that she didn't dare lift her head.

She could only transform her sorrow into appetite, burying herself in eating.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit heavy, but it was soon broken by a notification sound.

Kaito's phone, placed beside the table, suddenly lit up, popping up a message.

He unlocked the screen. The sender was Ms. Nagasaki.

A long message. Excluding all the words of gratitude, it conveyed only one meaning: she wanted to invite Kaito to her home, where she would personally cook a table full of dishes to express her thanks.

Kaito still remembered this rich lady who was so generous with her money.

He wasn't particularly interested in this kind of invitation, but after thinking for a while, he agreed.

'Nagasaki Asuna is quite wealthy, and likely has good connections. Maybe I can ask her to procure some high-quality jade for me, to make a protective jade carving.'

Though Kaito could also handle such things himself, doing it personally was just too troublesome.

He originally wanted to bring Sakiko along to the banquet, but the girl hesitated for a moment and then refused.

After all, the agency had just started and there was still a lot of work to do. She didn't want to waste time on such minor matters.

It was just a simple meal anyway, no need for her to go.

Kaito didn't insist. He and Ms. Nagasaki agreed on the time: tomorrow at 7 PM.

The strong woman on the other end of the screen was clearly delighted. After thanking him repeatedly, she even said there would be a private car for pickup and drop-off, her service reaching the extreme.

[Roppongi]

In a brightly lit office building, in an office on the 34th floor.

Wearing a sharp suit, Nagasaki Asuna looked at the chat window in front of her, very pleased.

She had invited him just to try her luck, not expecting much herself.

But the surprise came so suddenly.

Excitedly pumping her fist, she suppressed the excitement and agitation in her heart, and quickly sent her daughter several messages in a row.

[Soyo, Mama will bring home a super handsome guy tomorrow night!']

[Trust me! He's really super super super super super handsome!]

[You definitely won't be disappointed!]

At the same time.

In a bedroom with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, a certain brown-haired girl lay on her side on the bed, having hesitated all day about whether to send a message to Kaito. When she saw the chat window suddenly pop up, she fell into thought.

'Is Mom... catching feelings at her age?'

Sakiko Togawa was doing the dishes.

Eating without helping didn't fit Teacher Sakiko's principles, so after dinner, she took the initiative to handle all the small tasks she could and decided to clean the house a bit as well.

Kaito was lecturing the cat.

Though Kirara had won the two-legged beast vs. Cat battle earlier,

It had also messed up his jacket, covered it with cat hair and even tore a few small holes.

A jacket wasn't a big deal, he could restore it in a snap, but bad habits must not be encouraged.

Kaito was someone who rewarded and punished clearly.

When the majestic kitty came, there were treats. When the bad habits came, there was _____.

The previously overbearing Kirara in front of Sakiko was now drooping its head, obediently taking the scolding, even its tail hanging weakly.

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Chapter 54: Dock Her Pay Directly, She Cant Handle It

[Tuesday, School Gate]

The cherry blossom festival in Japan typically starts in mid-March and lasts until mid-April, for a full month.

Today was the last day of April, but the cherry blossoms by the roadside were still in full bloom. When the wind blew, pale pink petals swirled in the air, drifting far away.

"Kaito-kun, I like you."

The girl in front of him wasn't tall, petite in figure, her sleek black hair braided into twin braids. She wore black-rimmed glasses on her cute face, and at this moment, she gathered her courage to block his way and confessed loudly.

Kaito wasn't surprised.

During this time, he had encountered girls who blocked his way just to confess more than once. From mature big sisters in their thirties to energetic JKs at sixteen. Big and small, all kinds. But he had rejected them all every time.

"Thank you," He politely expressed his gratitude.

The girl was stunned, seemingly not expecting this outcome.

'I like youyes or no?'

He chose "or."

She grew a bit anxious and repeated again, "Kaito-kun, I really like you!"

Kaito pondered for two seconds, then seriously said, "I really thank you."

The girl ran away crying.

Her sobs, full of sorrow, were carried far by the wind, heartbreaking to hear, tear-inducing to see.

Kaito paid no mind to the curious stares from onlookers and turned his head toward Togawa Sakiko, who was lost in thought beside him.

"What are you thinking about?"

The two were neighbors and had always taken the same train to school.

Only, in the past, Sakiko used to find clumsy excuses to part ways with him before entering the school gate.

Ever since becoming his secretary, she seemed to have figured things out. At the very least, she could now walk into school openly side by side with him.

"Just thinking that girl just now was kinda cute," Sakiko snapped back to reality, her smile carrying a rare hint of mischief, "Kaito-kun, don't you feel it's a pity?"

"Pity?"

Kaito glanced at her, "Secretary Sakiko, should I interpret this as you mocking your boss?"

Q: Where is Sakiko's most sensitive spot?

A: Directly docking her pay. She can't handle that.

'As the director of the office, my authority is absolute. Little Sakiko dares to rebel?'

Sure enough, hearing such a threat, Secretary Sakiko bit her lip, like a newcomer to the workplace being bullied by a ruthless boss, with no one to turn to for help, silently enduring the injustice.

But in those amber eyes, a smile flickered and quickly vanished.

She naturally didn't take this kind of joke seriously. On the contrary, it gave her a sense of closeness between them, blooming a small flower of joy in her heart.

Entering the classroom, unsurprisingly, hot gazes came from all directions.

Kaito was used to it. Returning to his seat, it was yet another day of love letters stuffing his desk compartment.

Same old, same old. He had no intention of opening them. He gathered them all and threw them into the trash can by the back door, prompting a wave of wails.

The morning classes were fairly easy. The clock hanging on the blackboard quickly pointed to the number that represented "twelve."

As the crisp lunch bell rang, it was suddenly already dismissal time.

"Yumiko, I heard a new ramen shop opened in the cafeteria. Want to go try it?"

"I still think beef bowl is better. Hey, hey, Yumiko, come with me!"

As one of the top-tier normies in the class, Miura Yumiko was surrounded by close friends the moment class ended.

Amidst the noisy chatter, the blonde beauty waved her hand with a smile, "Sorry, sorry. I really want to have lunch with you all, but I already made plans~"

The girls looked at each other, only to see Yumiko striding cheerfully to the back of the classroom and boldly reminding, "Kaito-kun, Gotou-san, it's time to head to the clubroom!"

Kaito gave a slight nod, and together with the bouncing Yumiko and the timid Bocchi-chan, they left the classroom.

Once they were gone, the classroom exploded.

"That damn Yumiko! She's totally showing off, right? She's absolutely showing off!"

"Just because you're in the same club as Kaito-kun, you think you're hot stuff? Try bringing me in too!"

"If I could join the Supernatural Research Club, I'd even be willing to make Kaito-kun my boyfriend!"

"?? Girl, why are you taking both things?"

[Clubroom]

As soon as they entered, Yumiko blinked and asked curiously, "President, I heard a girl stopped you for a confession this morning?"

Hearing that, even Bocchi, who liked hiding in the corner pretending to be a mushroom, secretly perked up her ears.

"News spreads that fast?", Kaito, with his long legs, had already walked to the bookshelf. He casually pulled out a manga and flipped through a few pages, a bit surprised.

"President, you really have", Yumiko clasped her hands behind her back, pretending to be an old-timer, and sighed, "No clue how popular you are!"

As the most talked-about student in Shuka Academy, without a doubt, Kaito's fame had even spread to the neighboring Hanasakioops, Hanasakigawa Girls' Academy.

The school forum had already built a confession thread for him, with tons of people bumping it daily. The comment section was a full-blown madness zone.

Yumiko had gotten especially into browsing the forum lately, just to see what crazy love letters the students of Shuka wrote each day. It brought endless amusement and a weird thrill.

'You never expected it, huh!'

'The untouchable god-tier guy in your eyes, I get to ride him every night!'

'Cough cough, okay, saying "every night" might be a bit of an exaggeration.'

That ecstasy of passionate harmony was certainly unforgettable, but it really did take a toll on the body.

Yumiko had to take a few days off before she felt up to it again.

The afternoon sun sliced the golden light into pieces, its drunken warmth lighting up the tiny floating dust in the air, creating a Tyndall effect.

A faint floral scent drifted in with the breeze, lifting the short hair by the window and revealing those shallow chestnut eyes. Deep like whirlpools, drawing in moths to the flame.

In the quiet room, only the occasional soft sound of a page being flipped echoed. Yumiko bit her lip, in the silence, she could clearly hear her own heartbeat.

She wanted to kiss, to hug, to go on dates, to count his curled, dark lashes in the middle of the night.

If it were a random outsider, they'd probably just fantasize about dating the campus heartthrob and end up hiding under the covers, softly moaning to themselves.

But Yumiko was different, she and Kaito were in a serious relationship.

'Don't you get the value of being the official girlfriend? (tactical lean back)'

'What do you want to do?'

Seeing the girl slowly inching closer, Kaito raised an eyebrow and asked with his eyes.

'Of course, kiss! kiss!'

Yumiko's beautiful eyes sparkled, and behind her, one could almost see a fluffy big tail wagging, reminiscent of a golden retriever begging for affection.

Kaito glanced at the pink-haired girl in the corner. Bocchi was currently facing away from them, seemingly replying to messages?

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Chapter 55: He Can Be Replaced

'Didn't you want to hide our relationship from Bocchi?'

Kaito continued to give her a meaningful look with his eyes, 'Aren't you afraid she'll find out?'

As expected, Yumiko hesitated a little.

But people always tend to be hopeful, especially when the little head controls the big head.

'Anyway, Bocchi looked super busy right now. If I move fast enough, there's no way she'd notice~'

'Besides, this kind of sneaky, secretive thrill, gotta admit, it is kinda exciting...'

That feeling, it's just like in the movies, where the oblivious husband invites his boss over for a drink, completely unaware that after getting dead drunk, his virtuous and gentle wife had already.

'No, no! I'm the real girlfriend here!'

'Even if there's competition, it shouldn't be Bocchi-chan, okay!'

Yumiko shook her head like a rattle drum, finally shaking off those dangerous fantasies.

Still, with the mood broken, she gave up on her original idea.

'Anyway, there's plenty of time ahead, no need to rush it,' so she switched to another topic that had piqued her interest, "Speaking of which, Golden Week is just around the corner."

It was the last day of April, just a step away from the arrival of May.

For students, the most important things were two: grades and holidays.

Golden Week referred to the stretch from late April to early May in Japan, when several holidays lined up one after another, so most companies would shut down during this period, giving employees a whole week off.

Many Japanese people would deliberately choose to travel during Golden Week, making this period a booming time for the tourism industry.

Shuka Academy had already announced the holiday in advance: starting from May 1st until May 10th, a full ten days. Of course, one had to take advantage of this opportunity to fully enjoy youth.

Normally, Yumiko would make plans with her friends to go shopping, watch movies, visit amusement parks and zoos, and have fun together.

As for now...

She had a boyfriend, she didn't feel like talking to her still-single girlfriends anymore.

"A rare ten-day break. Kurumizaka-kun, Bocchi, do you two have any places you want to visit?", Yumiko had a bright, excited expression, though she actually already had a plan in mind.

There was a small town a bit outside Tokyo called "Hoori," and it was said the shrine there was very effective in granting love fortunes. Many couples would visit it specifically, praying that the gods would bless them to grow old together with their loved one.

Girls, after all, loved these kinds of romantic, mysterious rituals. Whether the shrine was effective or not didn't matter, what mattered was who you went with.

'Besides, the hot spring inns in Hoori are also quite famous. After visiting the shrine, we can naturally stay the night. Soaking in the hot spring together at night and then doing those fun and intimate things, won't that be just perfect?'

Kaito used to be a bit of a homebody.

In his last life, he was picked up by his master right after entering the cultivation world, and as the only disciple of a peak-level elder, he never lacked resources. So unlike rogue cultivators, he didn't need to fight other cultivators over opportunities and treasures.

Though he had gone out for training, every time it would attract countless witches and demonesses who tried to knock him out and drag him back to their caves for dual cultivation.

Although Kaito wasn't afraid of these threats, he had both lightning and fire spiritual roots, plus a peerless sword technique. When it came to fighting power, he could take on ten people of the same level.

He wasn't afraid, but it was still seriously annoying.

Beat the younger ones, the older ones would come. Beat the old ones, even older ones would show up.

If the cultivation world lacked anything, it definitely didn't lack ten-thousand-year-old baby-faced seniors.

When Kaito had just entered the Golden Core stage, he was once targeted by a Nascent Soul stage demoness during a training journey. She wanted to make him her cultivation partner. If his master hadn't happened to pass by and stepped in to help, he probably would've already been knocked out and dragged into a wedding ceremony.

Situations like that happened a few more times later too. But those ill-intentioned female cultivators were always chased away by his conveniently passing master. Eventually, his master outright strongly suggested that he stop going out randomly, to avoid attracting more butterflies.

Because of those experiences, even after Kaito broke through to the Soul Transformation stage and became stronger than his master, earning himself a fearsome reputation across the cultivation world, he still couldn't shake off his stay-at-home habits.

'But that was all in the past. Now I am not in the cultivation world anymore, going out with Yumiko for a little trip can be a rare and pleasant experience.'

'As for little Bocchi though it might be a bit tough. Forcing a socially anxious person to reject an invitation was basically more painful than stabbing her.'

Luckily, Yumiko noticed her inner struggle and asked curiously, "Bocchi-chan, is there something you want to say?"

"U-um... it's just, Niji... Niji and the others"

The little introvert looked like she had done something wrong, stammering, "After the band ended... we all agreed to go on a trip together"

Though Japanese students had many holidays, Golden Week was the first small long break after the start of the school year, and its value was self-evident.

Nijika had planned a camping trip at Lake Kawaguchi. As one of the Fuji Five Lakes, it was a great photography spot where you could capture the reflection of Mt. Fuji on the water.

The lakeside was full of maple trees, about five thousand of them. Actually, autumn was a better time to go, since that's when tourists came in droves. Spring didn't have the pretty red leaves, but it did offer some peace and quiet.

"I see", Miura Yumiko thought for a moment. She knew Bocchi-chan had a band, though she'd never seen the other members.

So she suggested, "Why don't we just all go together? It's more fun with more people anyway."

Bocchi was very tempted by the idea, but she still wanted to check with the band first.

She called Nijika, the big angel hesitated at first, worrying they'd inconvenience others, but when she heard that Kaito from their school would be joining too, she immediately agreed.

As for Ryou and Kita, the former didn't mind going anywhere as long as it wasn't part-time work, and the latter wanted to take some nice scenic shots for promotional photos, maybe even use them as background pages for the band's account.

Everyone agreed instantly.

Since the members of the band were technically guests, they followed the host's plan. And the trip destination was finalized as Hoori Town.

Kaito was a man of action. Since they already had a plan, he just went online and booked the rooms at a hot spring inn. He wasn't short on money, so he went ahead and booked out the whole place.

"Ah... now that I think of it, maybe I should buy a new yukata?", Yumiko raised a delicate finger and lightly tapped her soft lips.

'After soaking in the hot spring, I will definitely have to change into something fresh. Too bad summer is still two to three months away. Won't wearing yukata and attending a fireworks festival with Kaito-kun be way more romantic?'

"Y-Yukata, huh", Little Bocchi also looked forward to it. All her life, she'd never attended a fireworks festival or any kind of lively event. She'd never even traveled before. This would be her first time going on a trip far away with friends. Nervous? Sure. But even more soexcited.

'I-if I could dress up a little prettier too'

The young girl cautiously glanced at the beautiful boy not far away. A certain thought planted by her mother was quietly taking root and sprouting.

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Chapter 56: World-shocking Wisdom Is Activating

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

The last ray of sunset also disappeared into the distant horizon, and the sky gradually darkened.

Tomorrow was the start of a short holiday. One could tell that the students were all in high spirits during dismissal. Quite a few students had even made preparations to stay up all night. After all, a holiday without pulling an all-nighter, what's the difference from not having a holiday at all?

There were also some rare couples scattered in twos and threes, planning to go shopping on a date, and do the things they loved to do.

Yumiko Miura had originally planned the same. After resting for a few days, the weather cleared, the rain stopped, and she felt that she had recovered.

This wasn't arrogance. In fact, after that night, Yumiko did feel that her body seemed to be gradually changing.

For example, her stamina was stronger, her strength greater, and her spirit more energetic. Even staying up until two or three in the morning didn't make her feel sleepy, and even if she only slept three to four hours a day, she still felt full of energy.

Even her friends said her skin had improved a lot recently, smooth like a freshly peeled egg. They were even curious about what kind of cosmetics she had been using to get such remarkable results.

Of course, she hadn't used any cosmetics. Though she had eaten quite a bit of protein.

Although Yumiko didn't understand where this change was coming from, she could more or less guess it had something to do with Kaito.

So she really wanted to verify it personally again.

Mm, this was done in the spirit of serious scientific researchno investigation, no right to speak.

Unfortunately, tonight Kaito had already agreed to Ms. Nagasaki's invitation to visit her home as a guest.

Yumiko felt a bit regretful, but a qualified girlfriend certainly couldn't hold her lover back in his career. Besides, even if she missed tonight, there would be plenty of opportunities during the Golden Week trip.

The appointment with Ms. Nagasaki was set for seven o'clock in the evening. She would send a private car for pickup, so there was no need for him to trouble himself.

The current time was six in the evening, an hour away from the scheduled appointment.

After returning home, Kaito first went into the bathroom to take a bath. After coming out, unlike usual, he didn't lie on the couch playing games with the fat cat.

Instead, he entered the bedroom and took off his uniform, changing into a new set of casual clothes.

On top, he wore a white hooded long-sleeve hoodie, with a cute blue cat pattern in the center. On the bottom, a pair of light gray loose straight pants. A very refreshing outfit, like the male lead of a k-drama.

Kirara even tried to sneakily follow behind him, trying to sneak into the bedroom stealthily, not planning to avoid even when he changed clothes. She stared wide-eyed with an innocent look, trying to get by with cuteness.

Unfortunately, she was still grabbed by the scruff of her fate's neck by Kaito and thrown cold-faced outside the door.

After he finished changing and walked out of the room, he just happened to receive a new message on his phone.

[Nagasaki Asuna: Kaito-kun, is it convenient to leave now? I've already arrived~]

Ms. Nagasaki's vehicle was a very low-profile black Maybach.

To show respect, and partly out of personal intention, she didn't call a driver to do it. Instead, she personally came to pick him up.

Thinking of that handsome face like something out of a dream, Nagasaki Asuna became a little absent-minded.

Due to her status and position, she was never lacking so-called 'pretty boys' around her.

Some were brought by business partners for entertainment, others came to her on their own, not wanting to work hard, so they volunteered themselves.

But she had rejected all of them.

Despite being divorced for many years, she had always remained clean and self-disciplined, wanting to leave all her love for her daughter, Soyo.

However, she always had one worry.

Soyo was a good child. Beautiful, gentle, obedient, and sensible.

Despite her young age, she was not only skilled at cooking but also very good at taking care of people.

But such a perfect Soyo wasn't without weaknesses.

Since junior high, she had been attending an all-girls school. One couldn't say her contact with boys of the same age was zero, but it could only be described as barely existent.

Worrying about her child's marriage was the natural instinct of every mother.

'Nowadays, boys are already few, and excellent boys are even more rare!'

Now, she had finally encountered a peerlessly beautiful boy with flawless looks who also possessed mysterious magical abilities. His desirability went without saying.

Not stepping in personally was already an expression of her deep motherly love for Soyo.

She could give the best to Soyo, but other women wouldn't be so kind.

'But it doesn't matter!'

'You and I, mother and daughter united, what rival can stand in our way?'

'Soyo, don't worry!'

'Mom will help you win over your husband!'

'Starting with tonight's invitation!'

Tonight's destination was the tower of Roppongi Hills Residence Building B.

Compared to domestic tycoons' preference for rock gardens and courtyards, many wealthy people in Tokyo preferred high-rise towers.

High floors offered good views, which was one reason. The strong earthquake resistance was another. Add to that the excellent location, close to hospitals, schools, convenient transportation, and daily life. Along with 24/7 security, swimming pools, gyms, libraries, and all sorts of facilities.

There were many advantages, and only one disadvantage: expensive.

Kaito had casually checked online. Two years ago, there had been a sale record here. 41st floor, 120 square meters, with a final transaction price of 988 million yen.

Standing downstairs, looking up, the towering building seemed to pierce the clouds. Indeed, it gave a majestic and magnificent feeling.

Though it couldn't compare to the Cloud Mist Immortal Palace of the Courting Death Sect, it was another kind of beauty belonging to modern society.

Ms. Nagasaki parked the car skillfully and was about to take Kaito upstairs when she suddenly remembered something and apologized, "Sorry, I forgot to buy something. Kaito-kun, can you go up first? It's the 42nd floor. I've already spoken with Soyo, just ring the doorbell directly."

Kaito nodded slightly and agreed.

[The Nagasaki home]

'This is kind of troublesome'

Thinking of her mother, who was rarely home, today not only skipping the company but even personally driving to pick someone up, with an impatient look on her face.

The brown-haired girl absentmindedly twirled a lock of hair near her ear, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.

As a child from a single-parent household, it was her mother who had raised her.

The hardships and efforts over the years, Nagasaki Soyo had seen them all, so she had always been an obedient and well-behaved child.

If her mother had truly rekindled hope for love and wanted to marry a man she liked, though a bit uncomfortable, Soyo wouldn't object. She'd try her best to accept the new family member.

Because her mother had the right to pursue happiness.

But

Judging by her mother's behavior now, she was clearly deeply infatuated.

Having learned from her mother's divorce when she was a child, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but plan ahead.

If the uncle arriving later turned out to be a good person, then fine. No need for great talent, just don't let her mom down.

But if he turned out to be a scumbag who toyed with women's feelings, or worse, if he was only with her mom because he was after her wealth.

[ Shoutout to Zekenation, Nefasturis, Dersbyth, Nick, Whitewolf, Flying_Dutchman for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

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Chapter 57: The Boy I Like Is Actually My Stepfather?

It wasn't rare. A single woman still full of charm and rolling in wealth was, in the eyes of some ill-intentioned men, undoubtedly a walking lump of gold.

'But, it doesn't matter!'

The girl's eyes were full of determination.

If the soldiers come, block with generals; if water floods, cover with earth.

No matter who the other party was, she would protect her mother from getting hurt.

Ding

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Nagasaki Soyo's heart gave a jolt.

'He's here!'

'The man who has bewitched my mother!'

The smile on the girl's pretty face vanished without a trace.

Soyo took a deep breath, her steps heavy, slowly walking toward the front door by the entrance.

"Good evening, I'm Nagasaki Soyo, welcome to my"

Her voice abruptly stopped.

How should she describe the boy in front of her?

Nagasaki Soyo tried to use those beautiful phrases to describe him, but it didn't work.

The way his stunning brows and eyes curved slightly, it just made her feel no.

Empty adjectives were too pale.

They couldn't express the starlight in his eyes, nor describe the spring breeze at the corners of his lips.

No matter what word she used, none could compare to even a fraction of the amazement he brought.

But that still wasn't the most shocking part for Soyo.

The boy in front of her was indeed beautiful, 'But why does he look a bit familiar?'

"Nagasaki-san?"

Kaito was also a bit surprised, "You and Ms. Nagasaki are family?"

"Kurumizaka-kun?", Soyo's voice sounded a little lost, as if her brain hadn't caught up yet.

Currently known information:

Kurumizaka-kun = the boy I like.

The guest visiting tonight = my future stepfather.

Kurumizaka-kun = the guest visiting tonight.

'Which means'

'The boy I like is actually my future stepfather?'

Soyo was dazed and didn't know where she stood, as if a wave had come crashing down on her, knocking her senseless.

'No no way, there must be some kind of mistake?'

'Mom is already a forty-something-year-old auntie, while Kurumizaka-kun is still in the prime of youth!'

'No matter how you looked at it, the age gap between them was impossibly large, and they don't match at all when standing together! Rather than a couple, they looked more like a mother and son!'

'I must be mistaken! Kurumizaka-kun might have just come over for a normal visit!'

Soyo didn't want to believe such a cruel truth. She took a deep breath, trying hard to show a sweet smile, "Go-good evening, in any case, please come in first."

As she spoke, she bent down and took out a brand new pair of men's slippers from the shoe cabinet, then naturally knelt on the floor.

"No need," Kaito declined her help in changing shoes, changed into the slippers himself, and walked into the living room with Soyo.

The Nagasaki residence was quite spacious, with two floors, about 360 square meters in size, with large floor-to-ceiling windows. Standing by the edge of the balcony, one could take in the splendid night view of bustling Tokyo.

When Soyo couldn't sleep, she would sometimes sit by her bed, looking at the flickering lights in the distance. Her mood would lighten a bit, as if the gloom in her chest had also dispersed.

But now, she had no such mindset at all. Her head filled with a mess of thoughts, she walked to the kitchen, absentmindedly made two cups of hot Earl Grey tea, and then returned to the living room.

She pushed one cup toward him and gave a gentle smile, trying to casually probe for information, "I didn't expect the person visiting tonight would actually be Kurumizaka-kun Mom deliberately kept it secret for a long time. It's the first time I've seen her look so excited."

"Speaking of which, how did you two meet? Could it be something related to a supernatural incident? Was Mom in danger?"

Soyo hadn't forgotten what happened in the Tsukinomori High School.

The ghost senpai's existence had shattered her worldview and made her realize for the first time that this world wasn't so simple.

'If Mom and Kurumizaka-kun are connected somehow, that is the most plausible explanation.'

"No, nothing like that," Kaito paused, then added, "We just met by chance and got along well."

On the way here, Ms. Nagasaki had pleaded with him not to tell her daughter what happened at the company, so she wouldn't worry.

If Soyo asked, he should just say they met by coincidence and got along.

Since the danger had already been resolved, and besides, it was someone else's family matter, Kaito truly wasn't interested in saying more, to avoid further trouble.

But these words chilled Nagasaki Soyo to the core.

'Met by chance?'

'And got along well?'

How was that any different from subtly saying, ["Your mother and I have mutual feelings for each other"]

'Kurumizaka-kun, get a grip!'

'Mom is already a woman in her forties, while you're still young and dazzling!!!!'

'Calling this a cougar relationship won't even do it justice!'

'This is clearly forbidden love!'

'And Mom, seriously! Even if Kurumizaka-kun is naive and inexperienced, aren't you an adult?'

'Making a move on a kid at least twenty years younger than you, how outrageous can you get?'

'When you were in college, Kurumizaka-kun had just been born!'

If a forty-year-old man dated an eighteen-year-old high school girl, people would usually condemn the man as morally corrupt, using his experience to deceive an innocent young girl.

Similarly

An eighteen-year-old pretty boy dating a forty-year-old auntie, even as her daughter, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't bear to watch anymore.

The gentle and strong image of her mother from the past was gradually fading.

Taking its place was a cold and terrifying woman, whose icy voice warned her, ["Soyo, he's your father now. Get rid of those delusions!"]

Soyo still wanted to try one more time. At the very least, she couldn't just stand by and watch her mother head down the path of copper-digging.

She forced out a smile and gently said, "Kurumizaka-kun, what exactly do you admire about my mom? Maybe she's not as great as you imagine?"

'Even if it is mutual affection, there must be something specific he likes, right?'

She admitted her mom was indeed still attractive and well-maintained in her forties. But wasn't she just as good?

Not only had she inherited her mother's youthful beauty, she even surpassed it, with a figure even better than her mom's.

Not to brag, but even at a prestigious noble school like Tsukinokori High where rich girls were everywhere, she was still among the top students.

'If Kurumizaka-kun only likes my mom's appearance, then in order to stop her from going down this path, I can totally take her place.'

'If Kurumizaka-kun likes my mother's status and wealth'

'No no no, that seems unlikely.'

The Nagasaki family did have a bit of money, but even within Japan, there were countless families wealthier and more powerful, let alone abroad.

'With Kurumizaka-kun's looks, he can easily become the husband of Queen of some country. There is absolutely no need to choose my mom.'

'Surely, he isn't uninterested in wealth or looks and just purely likes my mom as a person, right?'

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Chapter 58: I Dont Approve of This Marriage!

'What's so great about Miss Nagasaki?'

'Does her generosity with money count?'

Kaito pondered for a moment, then finally said, "If I have to say something... I guess it's her personality."

Although they hadn't interacted much, Miss Nagasaki gave him the impression of someone with a very easygoing nature.

"Easygoing" didn't just mean generous, it referred to a bold and carefree personality. Being around her felt very comfortable. She was somewhat similar to Teacher Hiratsuka.

And she didn't have Teacher Hiratsuka's hot-tempered martial-artist rage either.

'Personality?'

Soyo felt her vision go dark, nearly fainting.

'The worst-case scenario has happened, Kurumizaka-kun really doesn't care about money or looks. He is only interested in my mom as a person!'

She fidgeted with her fingertips in frustration, a subconscious habit of hers when panicking, and forced a smile, "B-But mom's age"

'She is more than twenty years older!'

'Not five or six, not just ten or so, but at least twenty years older!'

"Age?", Kaito looked at her strangely, "She's only in her forties, not that old, right?"

'Miss Nagasaki was in her early forties. Even from a human life expectancy perspective, that was still in her prime.'

Not to mention, Kaito had lived over four hundred years in his previous life. In terms of age, Nagasaki Asuna could be his great-great-great-granddaughter.

'Only in her forties?'

'Could it be that, in Kurumizaka-kun's eyes, being forty is actually just right?'

"It's not about old or not it's just, she's like", Soyo's head buzzed, and her words came out incoherent, she didn't even know what she wanted to say.

Just then, there was a clack from the entryway. Nagasaki Asuna walked in carrying two bottles of very high-end sake, laughing heartily, "Soyo, mama's home! Did you treat Kaito-kun well?"

Seeing her mother's figure, Soyo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She first apologized to Kaito, saying she'd be excusing herself for a moment, then grabbed Nagasaki Asuna, who had a clueless expression, and pulled her into the kitchen.

"Mom! I need to talk to you!"

Nagasaki Asuna was confused, 'Why does my daughter look so heartbroken and serious?'

'Did she not get along with Kaito-kun?'

'But it doesn't seem like that Soyo looks like she is angry at me.'

'Could it be the matter I asked Kaito-kun to keep secret about the evil spirit has been exposed?'

"Mom, how exactly did you meet Kaito?", Soyo's eyes burned with intensity. Even though she had already figured out the truth in her heart, she still wanted to hear her mom admit it personally.

Nagasaki Asuna was startled by her daughter's blade-like stare. She looked away nervously and let out a fake laugh.

"Well that kind of thing, does it really matter?"

This clearly guilty behavior made Soyo's heart sink.

'Could the truth be worse than I thought?'

Soyo didn't want to think poorly of her mom.

But her mother had managed to go from a full-time housewife to building a massive business empire in just over ten years, even upgrading from an old run-down apartment to a modern, fancy duplex.

A woman this successful naturally couldn't be underestimated.

Though Kaito was stunningly beautiful and a mysterious, powerful mage, he was still young.

And being young was often synonymous with being easy to fool.

Soyo was heartbroken.

'When did my mom become such an awful adult?'

'Now she is even going after a guy more than twenty years younger'

'This is a crime! Without a doubt, a crime!'

'I absolutely won't allow it!'

"Mom," Nagasaki Soyo raised her head, eyes firm, "I don't approve of this marriage!"

"Eh?"

Nagasaki Asuna blinked.

Her daughter's gaze burned with metaphorical flames.

As if to show her resolve, Soyo enunciated every word once more, "I said, I do not approve of this marriage!"

"B-But", Faced with such a determined daughter, Nagasaki Asuna was at a loss, "Is there something you're unhappy with?"

'Such an otherworldly beautiful boy, how can Soyo possibly reject him?'

'Not even a moment of hesitation!'

'Wait, could it be does my daughter like girls?'

Thinking back, Soyo had always attended all-girls schools and had very little interaction with boys her age.

She herself had been busy with work and couldn't be there for her daughter.

A teenage girl starved of affection, without proper guidance. It won't be surprising if she went astray.

'Come to think of it, didn't Soyo mention once she had a very close friend named Toga something? Whenever she talked about her, she even smiled unconsciously.'

'So Soyo really bent that way?'

Nagasaki Asuna swallowed nervously. She considered herself an open-minded mom and didn't have high standards for a future son-in-law, so long as he was a decent person.

Family background, grades, job all those factors others considered important in a marriage partner, she didn't care at all.

The Nagasaki family had no shortage of money. Even if her future son-in-law was lazy and incompetent, as long as her daughter liked him, she'd support them for life.

But no matter how low her standards were her son-in-law had to be a man, right?

Sure, Japan didn't ban same-sex marriage these days, but as the saying goes:

Yuri is beautifulbut it can't make babies.

She still wanted to have grandkids someday.

"I have no complaints about Kaito-kun," Nagasaki Soyo looked sorrowful, "I just can't approve of this marriage."

'I also can't'

'Stand by and watch my mother go further down the wrong path.'

'So spicy!'

She clearly had no complaints, yet still rejected Kaito flat out.

"M-Mama understands", Nagasaki Asuna's lips trembled.

"But, mama has another question."

"You and that girlfriend of yours, how far have you gotten? Have you kissed yet?"

Nagasaki Soyo: "?"

Nagasaki Soyo: "Eh?"

"Chotto matte!", The girl frantically waved her hands, her little face as red as a cooked shrimp, "G-Girlfriend? What are you talking about, Mom? I don't understand a word you're saying!"

"Isn't the reason you rejected Kaito-kun because you already have a lover at Tsukionomori?"

Nagasaki Asuna lit up with hope, 'Maybe I misunderstood? Maybe my daughter isn't bent?'

"That's not it at all! She's also a girl! How could I possibly like a girl?"

Even with Mutusmi, she only saw her as a dear friend. She'd never had any strange or messy thoughts.

Soyo shook her head in shame and frustration, biting her cherry lips, "I just can't accept that you're going after someone twenty years younger than yourself! That's a crime!"

"Mom, you should feel shame! Shame!"

Nagasaki Asuna: ""

Nagasaki Asuna: "Huh?"

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Chapter 59: You Might As Well Say It More Clearly

"Wait a second, Soyo, did you misunderstand something?"

Nagasaki Asuna felt like her CPU was a little overloaded, 'Me? Make a move on Kurumizaka-kun?'

'Send me to whichever Lostbelt this is, is this still the original boundary?'

"Misunderstand?"

Soyo was also a little confused, 'Could it be I really misunderstood?'

"Kurumizaka-kun helped mom with a small favor, and mom was just grateful. Plus, she thinks he's a very good candidate for a son-in-law, so she invited him over as a guest and wanted to try to match you two up."

Nagasaki Asuna helplessly tapped her daughter's forehead, annoyed, "You little girl, just what kind of person do you take your mother for?"

'No matter what, I won't go so far as to make a move on a handsome young boy who can practically be my son, right?'

"I-Is that so?"

The girl stammered and pointed at herself, her face slowly turning red, "So actually, I misunderstood?"

"What else could it be!"

Nagasaki Asuna pinched her daughter's soft cheek in annoyance, kneading and stretching it, "Just what kind of image does mommy have in your heart? No matter what, I wouldn't do something that makes you call a boy your age 'dad,' okay?"

"Ugh I got it wrong~", Soyo's voice was a bit muffled, but the huge stone in her heart fell to the ground with a thud.

'My mom hasn't turned into a bad woman who preys on younger men, and Kurumizaka-kun's innocence is preserved.'

'A-And as for me'

The girl's light eyelashes drooped slightly as she shyly lowered her head, her toes unconsciously tracing circles.

"I don't dislike Kurumizaka-kun."

But Nagasaki Asuna wasn't planning to let her off the hook so easily.

"Just don't dislike?"

She sighed theatrically, "Looks like Soyo is still forcing herself. Since that's the case, as an understanding adult, of course mom won't pressure you."

"I'll go entertain Kurumizaka-kun now, repay his kindness, and from now on, bridge is bridge, road is road. That matchmaking thing, just pretend I never said it"

She said as she lifted her leg to leave, but had only taken one step before her hem was pulled.

Soyo still had her head down, but the tips of her ears hidden in her brown hair were unbelievably red.

"D-Don't go"

Nagasaki Asuna felt like teasing her daughter more, 'Who told you to imagine your mom in such a terrible way!'

She pretended not to hear and deliberately leaned her ear closer, "What did you say?"

"I said! Don't go!"

Soyo stomped her foot like she was throwing caution to the wind, lowering her voice, her pretty face flushed with shame and anger, "Did mom hear clearly now?"

Used to seeing her daughter's gentle and considerate demeanor, Nagasaki Asuna was seeing Soyo flustered and losing composure for the first time, she couldn't even recognize a joke.

She actually wanted to tease her more, but seeing that Soyo was reaching her limit, she didn't go too far.

She only gave a sincere reminder, "If you like him, then go after him boldly. Don't wait until you miss the chance and end up full of regrets."

"The battlefield of love is like the business world, Soyo. Hesitation leads to defeat."

"I-I got it already"

Soyo's face was still red, and her heart hadn't had time to cool down when her mom already leaned in with a mischievous grin:

"By the way, Kurumizaka-kun is way more popular than you think, you know? Just his assistant lady alone is already a very outstanding beauty."

'Assistant?'

'Probably that girl named Miura Yumiko we saw last time at Tsukinomori?'

Soyo indeed felt a sense of urgency.

'Miura-senpai really is very pretty. Well-proportioned, slender waist, long legs, and most importantly, has the upper hand by being close to him.'

'It would have been enough if I was just in the same school as Kurumizaka-kun, but she is even in the same club!'

'Mom is right.'

'Looks like I really have to speed things up.'

Though the conversation between mother and daughter seemed long, it only took a few minutes.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, Nagasaki Soyo didn't delay any longer, so as not to appear rude to Kaito waiting in the living room.

So together with her mom, she carried all the dishes from the kitchen.

Because she lived alone most of the time and didn't like ordering takeout, Soyo had developed quite good cooking skills, and always ranked high in home economics class at school.

Tonight's dinner was all made by her own hands, with full effort, guaranteed to give Kurumizaka-kun a perfect taste experience.

The dinner was in a western style overall, rosemary-seared French lamb chops, cheese-baked shrimp, tomato meat sauce spaghetti, with a side of bacon potato chowder all home-style dishes, but the taste was excellent, even comparable to those in fancy restaurants.

Ms. Nagasaki had specially bought some expensive sake. Although there were laws in Japan prohibiting drinking under 20, and convenience stores weren't allowed to sell alcohol and tobacco to minors, rules were dead, people were alive.

As long as it was just a little drinking at home and not going out shouting it on the streets, the police wouldn't bother.

Kaito rarely drank, but didn't mind trying something new, so he drank a few small cups.

Sake usually wasn't strong in alcohol content. It tasted light like water at first sip, but had a strong after-effect.

Three rounds of drinks, five courses of food, and very quickly, Nagasaki Asuna couldn't hold back and subtly started the main topic of the evening.

"Kurumizaka-kun, where are you from?"

"Do you have a girl you like? What's your ideal type?"

"Speaking of which, my Soyo has also reached the age where she should enjoy love. But sadly, she just can't find the right person."

"It's also my fault for being too busy usually and not being able to give her the company she deserves. I really hope a mature and reliable boy can appear and take care of her in my place."

"Hmm, a foreign boy, with a two-word name, a university student, 180 centimeters tall, with a surname that's a fruit, and a given name that's an ocean."

Kaito: "..."

'Ms. Nagasaki, you might as well just say it outright.'

These familiar questions gave him a strong sense of dj vu, he couldn't help but think of Mrs. Gotou from before.

But compared to Mrs. Gotou who almost wanted to recite little Bocchi's ID number, Ms. Nagasaki clearly used a different tactic, shifting the focus of the conversation onto him.

For the still-naive Soyo, such bold and open probing had already far exceeded a girl's shame threshold.

To stop her mom from saying something even more outrageous, she quickly changed the topic, "Actually, Kurumizaka-kun and I have known each other for quite a while, so mom, don't nag about this here!"

Nagasaki Asuna was surprised, "Really? How did you two meet?"

"A friend once organized a group event with Shuka, and we happened to meet there," Soyo pressed her cherry-pink lips together, and secretly winked at Kaito beside her. A hint of pleading flashed in her sky-blue eyes.

Just like how Ms. Nagasaki didn't want to tell her daughter about encountering evil spirits, fearing it would worry her, Nagasaki Soyo also didn't want to tell her mom about being possessed by a ghost.

She knew very well how much her mom cared about her. Ever since her parents divorced, the two of them had depended on each other and become each other's only family.

Because of that, Soyo even changed her surname from the original "Ichinose" to her mother's "Nagasaki."

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Chapter 60: Luckily, There's You

'Group Event?'

Nagasaki Asuna didn't really suspect this excuse. Among students, it's indeed common to have group dating events. Though it's called a group date, in reality, it's just an opportunity to meet handsome guys and pretty girls. If the two parties find each other pleasing, it naturally leads to a relationship.

With Kurumizaka-kun's looks, he definitely wouldn't lack enthusiastic girls chasing after him. Being invited to a group date was only normal.

However, to just so happen to meet Soyo there

Should one say, this is indeed a fated encounter?

At the mention of a group date, her thoughts instantly jumped to dating, to marriage, to having children, to holding grandchildren.

Only at such moments could Mrs. Nagasaki's thought process leap forward so drastically.

But that couldn't be helped, right?

There was no need to elaborate on Kaito appearance, and her own obedient daughter, Soyo, was likewise an undeniable beauty. Imagining the grandchild that would combine the best of both their features, just the thought made Mrs. Nagasaki impatient with anticipation.

[10 P.M.]

The late-night dinner had come to a complete close. Mrs. Nagasaki had drunk too much, already tipsy and fast asleep, a silly smile hanging on her face as she mumbled incomprehensible words. She looked nothing like the strong career woman she usually was at the company.

Soyo originally intended to help her mother back to the bedroom, but she clearly overestimated her own physical strength.

A girl who gets winded running 800 meters in five to six minutes trying to carry a drunk, powerless, and at least 60-kilogram adult woman to the bedroom, this was clearly too much.

"I'll help," Seeing the girl flustered and at a loss for what to do, Kaito didn't stand by idly. Together with Nagasaki Soyo, he helped send Mrs. Nagasaki back to her bed in the bedroom.

Once everything was done, looking at her mother sleeping sweetly on the bed, Nagasaki Soyo patted her rather outstanding chest (compared to girls her age), and once again showed a gentle smile, "Thank you for your help, Kurumizaka-kun. If not for you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

"It was just a small favor."

"Maybe to Kurumizaka-kun it really was a trivial matter, but I can't think of it that way~"

Soyo clasped her hands together, her beautiful brows and eyes curved into crescent moons, "Gratitude is still gratitude. Hmm I think there's an old saying from your country, something like: 'Don't forget small favors,' right?"

"Actually, it's: 'Do not refrain from doing a small good deed.'"

Kaito corrected her mistake, "It comes from Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of the First Sovereign. It was the dying words of Emperor."

"Sorry, I got it wrong."

The girl bit her lip in slight embarrassment, but quickly put on perfectly-timed sparkly eyes, "But Kurumizaka-kun even knows such obscure knowledge! That's really amazing!"

Master of tea artsthis is the art of praise.

Soyo's history grades were pretty good, so of course she knew this reference too. But being too smart only creates distance.

A little feigned ignorance actually helps human interactions.

Especially when it's a pretty girl looking up in admiration, this always triggers a boy's pride and satisfaction.

Mm... at least that's what shoujo manga says.

Soyo was a girl with strong drive. She would go all out for a goal. Just like back when she learned of Sakiko's whereabouts, she immediately went for a solo offline match, and after being cut down by little Sakiko, she delivered that shocking kneel on Asuka Mountain, leaving behind an unskippable monument in the history of Band Club arcs.

Now was no exception. Since she had already confirmed her feelings, of course she had to make a move early.

Standing on the edge of the balcony, in front of her was Tokyo's brightly lit night view. The dazzling neon lights flickered endlessly, illuminating the busy figures inside the office buildings, and also lighting up the pale profile of the girl beside him. Her brown hair gently swayed in the night breeze, adding several layers of quiet beauty to Soyo.

"About that last time, I still haven't properly thanked Kurumizaka-kun," She spoke softly, still looking out toward the distant nightscape. In those sapphire blue eyes, flickered a captivating glint of rainbow light.

"You've already thanked me many times."

Soyo smiled. It was a light, shallow smile, "It's all just words. Doesn't Kurumizaka-kun feel like it's insincere?"

Kaito thought for a moment, "Then a special offer of five million yen?"

"Sure~", Soyo lightly tapped her cherry lips with a finger and smile, "Actually, you could offer more too. How about ten million yen? If that's not enough, I can add more~"

Mrs. Nagasaki had always felt guilty about not being able to spend more time with her daughter, so she was quite generous materially.

Soyo received about two to three million yen in pocket money every month. She didn't really have any expensive hobbies, and her personality was very thrifty. Most of her allowance had been saved.

After all this time, even she didn't know exactly how much she had saved, but it was definitely tens of millions.

"So generous?"

Kaito raised an eyebrow, 'Should I say, truly mother and daughter? Even their straightforward personalities are inherited down the line.'

"It's just some external belongings. To me, it's still far from enough to express my gratitude," Soyo brushed aside a strand of hair by her ear. Her long lashes curled up like butterfly wings touched by morning dew in spring.

'Kurumizaka-kun, you probably don't know, right?'

'Actually, after that day's farewell, I was very scared.'

'Being possessed by a ghost. Something I had only seen in movies, actually happened to me in real life.'

'That feeling of becoming a marionette was truly unbearable. If it weren't for Kurumizaka-kun entering that music classroom in time, I would definitely have been badly harmed under Mizusaki-senpai's possession. Even if I miraculously survived, I'd have likely fallen seriously ill.'

Soyo didn't dare imagine. If her working mother were to hear bad news of her being gravely ill, how devastated she would be.

But the fear didn't stop there.

Since a grounded spirit like Mizusaki existed in this world, then other types of ghosts must also exist. That's a very simple deduction.

That night, Soyo suffered rare insomnia. Every time she closed her eyes, she would see terrifying figures baring fangs and claws, rushing toward her eagerly.

It continued until she reached for her phone and happened to see that cute ragdoll cat avatar among her contacts.

And then, her panicked heart magically calmed down.

Soyo had lost her father at a very young age. Throughout her growth, the "fatherly love" role had been absent.

But in that dusk-tinged evening, in Kurumizaka-kun's embrace, she experienced for the first time a sense of calm and reliability, like that of a father.

'Luckily, there's you.'

'Luckily, it was you.'

Even if he did nothing, just silently looking at their brief chat history, those ordinary exchanges, was enough to settle her panicked heart, letting her close her eyes and fall asleep.

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Chapter 61: Ciallo( )

The trope of a hero saving a beauty, though old-fashioned, but for unfamiliar members of the opposite sex, it is indeed one of the fastest ways to close the distance.

Especially when the man is good-looking, the effect is extraordinary.

"So", Soyo slightly raised the corners of her lips, "Whether it's ten million, twenty million, or even more."

"As long as it's a request from you, Kaito-kun, I'm willing to do anything."

The wind stirred across the four seas, under the flowing moonlight, her azure pupils resembled fireflies glimmering at midnight.

Soyo didn't take advantage of the victory to press forward.

She had spent too little time with Kaito, and the favor she had built up was not enough.

Pursuing the boy she liked was a long and meticulous endeavor that required patience.

Soyo still remembered her friends once seriously saying: a confession is the triumph song after victory, not the horn of charge.

Without being fully prepared, rashly confessing would only make the relationship slide into worse territory. If it failed, they might not even remain friends.

So she very naturally passed over that topic, then used the excuse that it was too late to invite Kaito to stay overnight.

"There's no need to stay overnight."

After all, he had already made plans with Yumiko and the others to travel to Hoori Town during Golden Week.

And tomorrow was the first of May, the start of the Golden Week holiday.

Even though the invitation was tactfully declined, Soyo wasn't discouraged. She simply bit her lip gently and said with a slightly troubled expression, "But, I really want to find a time to repay Kaito-kun's kindness. At the very least let me treat you to a meal?"

"But I just ate the dinner you made earlier."

"That's different."

Soyo gently shook her head, "That was due to an invitation from Mom, not my own repayment."

Kaito thought for a moment, then didn't refuse again, and just honestly said, "Recently, I might not have much free time."

Soyo didn't press the issue, cupped her hands at her chest, and said with a gentle smile, "As long as you give me a chance to repay you, it's enough. Even if I have to wait a few more days, it's no problem."

"Then let's set it for May 6th."

Kaito's travel plan was five days and four nights. After all, Hoori Town wasn't very big; just a simple stroll was enough. Departing on May 1st and leaving on May 5th would still leave a few days of vacation left for free use.

"Then pinky promise?", Soyo extended a slender pinky finger, playfully hooking it, "It's not that I don't trust Kaito-kun, it's just for the sense of ritual, sense of ritual~"

The pinky-promise that "breaking it means hanging for a hundred years," may seem childish to elementary schoolers, but to a female college student, it was just right.

Kaito didn't think much about it either and likewise extended his finger to hook with hers. The two pinky fingers intertwined like entangled spirit snakes, thumbs pressed together like a seal, signaling that the promise had been made.

Soyo's pretty face slightly reddened.

The last time she was possessed by Mizusaki, she had more intimate contact with Kaito, interlocking ten fingers like a couple.

But that kind of experience didn't last long. The two separated quickly, leaving the girl quite disappointed.

All this time, Soyo had been constantly reminiscing about that enchanting warmth.

Now, it finally felt like she had recovered what was lost.

Even if it was just a simple skin-to-skin contact again, it was like parched earth welcoming a rainbow, a thirsty traveler finding an oasis, every cell in her body radiated joy, craving more.

"Pinky promise, one hundred years, no change~"

The girl used great willpower to suppress the impulse within, her voice sweet and clear like the gentle March wind.

[The Next Day, Early Morning]

Hoori Town was about two hundred kilometers from Tokyo. If a high-speed rail were available, the distance would be no big deal.

Unfortunately, the town played the charm of an old-time aesthetic. People's lifestyles remained traditional, like a Peach Blossom Spring detached from the world. Most residents still lived a simple life of returning home at sunset.

Plus, traveling while enjoying the scenery along the way was a form of entertainment, so the final transportation method was decided to be a bus.

There were still thirty minutes before the appointed time, but many people had already arrived at the gathering place.

Even when traveling, Bocchi still wore her pink tracksuit, together with Nijika, who carried many bags, and Kita, who had changed into a blue dress and looked like a proper lady.

And then there was Miura Yumiko, who was clearly dressed up and looked radiant.

Compared to these girls who arrived early, Kaito was actually the last to show up.

But no one minded such a small thing. Sleepy-headed Nijika and Ryo, who was secretly yawning, all perked up upon seeing the handsome boy who looked like he came straight from a painting.

"Kaito-kun, Ciallo( )", The most energetic Kita greeted him first. Thanks to the dress change, her ladylike vibe was gone, and she instead seemed like a lively sunshine girl.

"Good morning," Kaito nodded to her, feeling a bit strange inside, 'Ciallo? Is this kind of greeting used in Japanese?'

"Hehe," The considerate, socially adept Kita explained warmly, drawing a subconscious retort from Nijika, "Seriously? Why have I never heard anyone say that before?"

"Well then, the answer is already obvious."

Beside her, Ryo solemnly said, "Nijika, you're actually a young boy, aren't you!"

Smack!

'Ryo, every time I want to give you a shred of respect, you open your mouth.'

Nijika angrily pulled her fist back, noticing the others' eyes drawn by the commotion. She awkwardly put her hands behind her back, "Sorry, that was rude of me"

Should've noted this debt and secretly taught Ryo a lesson once they checked into the inn tonight.

'Ugh what if Kaito-kun misunderstands me as a violent girl?'

[T/N: I am not using Kurumizaka anymore, will just use kaito everywhere]

Kaito didn't think much of it. In fact, he found it quite amusing.

Watching youthful girls bicker felt like listening to a comedy skit.

Not saying much more about that, he turned his eyes toward Bocchi, the little social-phobic girl with pale skin, making her dark circles even more noticeable.

Seeing her constantly yawning with eyes she could barely open

'Did she not sleep at all last night?'

"Bocchi, didn't get enough rest?"

"Ah!", Bocchi jolted, the little social-phobe stood at attention, "I-I-I I'm fine! Please don't worry, Kaito-kun!"

'You really don't look fine right now, it feels like a gust of wind can blow you over.'

'Could it be that, because it is her first time traveling with friends, she got too excited and ended up tossing and turning all night?'

Kaito figured that was probably the most likely reason.

And indeed it was. For Bocchi, who usually could only swap lunchboxes with her teacher, going on a long-distance trip with friends, just thinking about it kept her too nervous to sleep.

Barely enduring until the early morning, she finally got a little sleepy, but before long, it was already time to get up.

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Chapter 62: When the Kitty Gets Hungry, It Will Pick Up Trash and Eat It on Its Own

"Since everyone's already gathered, let's head out," Kaito didn't mind. Since he hadn't gotten much sleep last night, he figured he could catch up on sleep on the bus later.

He did a headcount. All four members of the band were present, and including himself and Yumiko, that made six people as expectedno more, no less.

Originally, he had planned to bring along his secretary, Sakiko, for a fun outing too, but the girl had been invited to stay over at Mori Minami's house for a few days and couldn't get away.

The only slight issue was with Kirara at home, but the kitty was very understanding. Yesterday, it had meowed at him for quite a while, and after Kaito "translated," the general meaning was as follows, 'Boss, have fun with your women outside, nya~ Don't worry about meow~'

'If kitty gets hungry, it'll pick up trash and eat it! It's super tasty, nya!'

'Love you the most, boss~'

The kitty's so understanding. Doesn't give its owner any trouble. What a good kitty!

And the owner even remembered to say goodbye to the kitty before heading out. Such a good human!

A perfect episode of "Best Kitty with Best Human."

'On the way back, I'll bring it lots of dried little fish it likes,' Sitting on the bus, Kaito rested his chin on his hand and thought this.

The steel cityscape outside the window retreated at high speed, soon replaced by an endless stretch of lush greenery and fields.

The girls were either napping, chatting, or taking pictures. It was a lively scene.

In this joyful atmosphere of chatting and laughter, time passed quickly.

.

.

.

[Three Hours Later]

The bus stopped in front of a small town surrounded by mountains, this was their destination for the day: Hoori Town.

The shuttle from the hot spring inn had been waiting for a long time. Kaito, as always, didn't lack money, so he generously booked the entire place, making him the inn's top-tier client. Naturally, the inn gave their full effort and service.

"There really are so many tourists~"

The group got into the shuttle. Seeing the streets full of stylishly dressed young women, with an occasional couple here and there, Kita couldn't help but exclaim.

Hoori Town wasn't big, with only around one to two thousand permanent residents. Life here was slow-paced, or rather, somewhat behind the times.

But for tourists from big cities who were used to fast-paced living, this kind of slow, everyday lifestyle felt fresh and was even worth experiencing on its own.

"Maybe it's because of Golden Week?"

Nijika was holding her phone, looking at all sorts of travel guides on Hoori Town, "Actually, April and July are the busiest times here. There are grand festivals both months, and the entire town joins in. I heard there are a lot of fun activities, and even the shrine head shows up personally to bless the townspeople and tourists."

Yumiko showed interest, "The shrine head? I remember Hoori's Mochizuki Shrine is pretty famous. Isn't the current head super old?"

"Yep! Supposedly ninety-nine years old already, but she looks no different than an old lady in her sixties or seventies."

Nijika wanted to look for a photo, but couldn't find one, so she had to give up with regret.

The shuttle soon stopped in front of a quaint, traditional courtyard. A kimono-clad attendant gave a slight bow, confirmed their identities, and led the group to the front desk to check in.

Because they'd booked the entire place, they could pick any room they liked. And as if they'd planned it in advance, after Kaito chose a guest room deep on the second floor, the girls all knowingly picked rooms surrounding his.

Yumiko was the fastest, grabbing the room to Kaito's left. Ryou followed right after and took the room on the right.

Kita went for the room across the hall, while Bocchi and Nijika picked the rooms on either side of hers.

Although it was a remote-town inn, the lodging conditions were actually pretty good. Spacious rooms with excellent lighting.

The beds were wide enough for three people, and all kinds of appliances were available. Not much different from hotels in big cities.

After settling their luggage, everyone gathered in Kaito's room.

Since it was a rare chance to travel, they were determined to have fun.

Nijika had done plenty of homework before the trip and studied lots of travel guides on Hoori Town. Now, she naturally took on the role of tour guide, "There's a kagura dance performance every night in Hoori, hosted by the local Mochizuki Shrine. It's pretty famous. Almost every tourist who's seen it gave it a great review. It's in the town center plaza, but it doesn't start until 8 PM."

"8 PM... but it's only 1:30 PM now. We still have to wait forever."

Kita pulled out her phone, checked the time, and couldn't help rubbing her belly, "Also, I'm kinda hungry"

To maintain her figure, she usually skipped breakfast. She had a few snacks on the road, but they didn't do much.

"M-Me too", Bocchi timidly raised her hand beside her.

She didn't have the habit of dieting to stay in shape, but she had insomnia and was afraid of being late, so she completely skipped breakfast.

Even Yamada Ryou was rubbing her slightly flat belly, the meaning clear without needing words.

Of course, Ryou's reason for skipping breakfast had nothing to do with dieting or being too busy. It was simply because she was poor.

Among the girls, Nijika probably had the most normal lifestyle. Early to bed, early to rise, three meals a day. So she felt fine for now.

As for Yumiko, her body had been supercharged with protein, so you couldn't judge her with common sense.

The inn provided three meals a day, but the girls decided to go out and explore the town, and find something to eat while they were at it.

Originally, Kaito planned to let everyone do their own thing and meet up at night to watch the kagura dance. But the girls around him stuck to him like little tails. He couldn't shake them off, so he just went along with it.

Around the inn was the hot spring street, lined with local snack shops run by town residents. Takoyaki, crepes, grilled sweetfish The streets were filled with mouthwatering aromas.

Nijika ran off and bought six skewers of grilled sweetfish, handing one to each of them. When it was Kaito's turn, the one she handed over was clearly a size bigger than the rest, "Kaito-senpai, careful of the dripping oil."

'Nijika, you've changed.'

'I highly suspect the only reason you bought six skewers of sweetfish is so you could righteously give it to the one you wanted to share it with.'

'But my suggestion isgo even harder!'

Ryou, once again mooching food, was fully satisfied. She let out an "Ah-woo" and took a big bite of sweetfish.

The shop owner's skills were good. The fish was crispy on the outside, cooked just right, evenly salted, smelled great, and tasted even better.

Kaito gave her a soft thanks and was rewarded with a radiant smile from the girl.

Kita saw this and looked thoughtful.

Then, unwilling to be outdone, she also "ta-ta-ta" ran over and "ta-ta-ta" ran back, bringing six crepes, one for each of them.

"Kaito-senpai, this one's yours!", Even as she said that, the girl's emerald eyes blinked and blinked, clearly expecting something.

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Chapter 63: Inugami Statue

"Emmmm..."

Looking at her face full of expectation, Kaito pondered for a moment, then probed, "Then, thank you too, Kita?"

"Ehehe~ You're welcome~", The normie girl revealed a satisfied smile, like a cat who had sneakily eaten a dried sardine.

'S-So it can be like this too?'

Bocchi-chan on the side, her pupils shook.

'As long as I buy food, I can get Kaito-kun's thanks'

'This kind of thing, I simply have no no'

'No way to refuse!'

Even a little socially anxious girl couldn't help but show signs of eagerness.

After a while, she clenched her teeth, her face filled with the tragic determination and under everyone's surprised gaze, she walked up to a street stall selling tri-color dango.

"P-Please g-give, give me o-one serving of t-t-t-tri-color dango", Just like that, she stammered for a long time, her delicate face flushing bright red, and finally mustered the courage to stumble through her request.

The stall owner was a kind old lady with a smiling face, but due to her age, she had somewhat blurry eyesight and wasn't good at hearing either.

"Dearie, what did you say?"

Bocchi: o(ЇЇ)o

'I finally mustered up the courage once, and you made me fail so thoroughly!'

"P-Please please give me o-one, o-one serving of tri-color dango", At this point, she had no choice but to brace herself and repeat it again, slightly raising her voice.

The old lady leaned forward, "What did you say? Speak louder!"

"T-Tri-color dango"

"Dearie, louder!"

Bocchi: "..."

Bocchi: o(ЇЇ)o 'The outside world is so scary, I want to go back into mommy's belly!'

In the end, unable to bear watching any longer, Kaito stepped forward and clearly said, "Please give me one serving of tri-color dango, thank you."

"Oh oh."

This time, the old lady didn't miss a beat, and handed over one skewer of tri-color dango very neatly, smiling as she said, "Come again next time."

Kaito nodded politely at her and returned to the group with Bocchi.

The little social anxiety girl looked a bit down.

'I can't even handle such a small thing. Sure enough, I am a useless girl.'

Seeing the girl's expression that screamed "Sorry for being born human," Kaito couldn't help but rub her head and encouraged, "Actually, daring to take the initiative to speak with strangers is already great."

This wasn't just flattery.

Bocchi would stammer even when facing classmates, yet now she could take initiative to speak with a vendor. For her, it was indeed a big step forward.

"Ugh", Bocchi was a child who was easily coaxed, revealing a slightly shy silly smile, and rubbed against his hand.

This scene made Kita very envious. The girl once again "dun dun dun" ran to another stall, bought a serving of takoyaki, then "dun dun dun" ran back, her pair of emerald green big eyes looked over with anticipation, as if they could talk.

'Me too, I wanna get patted!'

Kaito was crying and laughing inside, but still reached out and rubbed her slightly curly red hair, successfully making the girl let out a satisfied "gulu gulu" sound, even her eyes narrowed in comfort.

Seeing that even Nijika and Yumiko on the side were eager to try and seemed to also plan on buying snacks in exchange for head pats, he had to speak up and stop them, "No more buying, it's already enough."

Which made Ryou a little disappointed, thinking she could get two more snacks.

But looking at the takoyaki and tri-color dango in her arms, as well as the grilled sweetfish she hadn't finished Hmm, one shouldn't be too greedy in life. Even if there's more, she might not be able to eat it all.

The group continued walking along the hot spring street. Underfoot were slightly uneven cobblestone roads, and the buildings on both sides were all traditional Japanese-style houses, very full of antique charm. Walking within, it felt like strolling through a prosperous town from the Edo period.

The only downside was

'Aren't there too many bad women trying to flirt?'

This was the shared thought of the girls.

Hoori Town did not lack tourists, let alone during Golden Week, where there were even more visitors than usual.

Groups of six like theirs were relatively rare, especially with a group that included pretty girls and a radiant beautiful boy.

Naturally, they attracted a lot of attention from tourists.

People who were willing to go on trips, if nothing else, usually had outgoing personalities.

Of course, people like Bocchi were rare exceptions and not statistically significant.

Facing someone they liked, shy and timid girls might only dare steal glances from the corner of their eyes.

But bold girls dared to come up and flirt directly, in an endless stream.

"Sorry, my phone's out of battery."

After rejecting the sixteenth girl asking for his contact info, in order to reduce such occurrences, the group discussed and decided to find a place to rest.

Just by chance, there was a dessert shop named "Suori House" nearby. There weren't many customers inside, and it looked very quiet.

They entered and found a seat in the corner.

Kaito handed out the menu, "See if there's anything you want to eat?"

Suori House didn't look big, but the variety of sweets was quite complete. Besides traditional Japanese sweets, there were also foreign-origin desserts like parfaits and puddings.

After the girls finished ordering, he handed the menu to the still slightly spaced-out waitress, "Everything we checked, please bring one of each, and try to prepare them quickly."

"Y-Yes", The soulless waitress left, and because she wasn't watching her step, almost tripped on the spot.

"Finally, some peace and quiet"

After all, it wasn't like outside where they not only had to deal with girls trying to flirt, but also had to endure stares from all directions.

Nijika, a bit tired, lay down on the table, but quickly realized this posture was improper, and hurriedly sat up straight and added, "O-Of course, I'm not saying Kaito-kun is flirting around"

She just felt those girls were too bold. If they only asked for contact info, it would've been fine, but some even directly slipped him room cards, with suggestive hints that the inn was right nearby.

'T-T-This This was clearly what people usually call an invite, right?'

And under the girls' vigilant and worried gazes, Kaito rejected them all, without even a moment's hesitation.

While that made Nijika let out a sigh of relief, she also couldn't help but think in her heart, 'Kaito-kun really is a righteous gentleman!'

The ordered items came quickly. Kaito, as usual, ordered a cup of black tea, took a small sip, "More than that, let's first discuss where we'll go play next?"

Upon hearing this, the waitress who was walking away slowly suddenly perked up and suggested, "Are you guests who just arrived in Hoori? You might want to check out the Inugami Statue in the town center square. It's the town's symbolic attraction, and quite interesting~"

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Chapter 64: Ryou: This One's My Fault

Inugami, in Japanese legends, is also a very famous kind of Yokai.

Usually formed from the souls of dogs that linger after death, it is said they can possess humans, causing fever, mental confusion, and even hallucinations.

Generally speaking, they are evil spirits, but in some places, Inugami also have the ability to protect families.

The shop assistant lady said the town plaza was located in the center of town, a spacious open area.

There were also many vendors and tourists strolling around here, bustling with life and full of human warmth.

The Inugami statue, as the symbolic structure of Hoori Town, was very popular. A long line formed in front of it, and many tourists came here especially to take pictures, leaving behind group photos as mementos.

Under the statue were piles and piles of offerings, showing that the incense was thriving.

The types of offerings were also diverse. Steaming grilled squid, cookies deliberately shaped like puppies, and chicken wings skewers with two bites taken out...

Using leftover food to worship the Inugami, are you really not afraid that a dog spirit will come knocking on your door in the middle of the night?

Kaito wasn't interested in these things. When he saw a stand selling taiyaki not far away, he decided to go buy a few to try.

Several girls, however, stayed behind to wait in line.

After they finally finished lining up and stood before the Inugami statue, they looked up. The tall statue entered their vision.

About three meters tall, the figure was a giant upright dog, but dressed in an extremely luxurious kimono, holding a katana. If one ignored the very obvious dog head, it looked just like a dignified and mighty samurai.

The sculptor's craftsmanship was excellent. The statue possessed both form and spirit, vivid and lifelike, full of pressure, even making one worry whether in the next second it might come to life and swing down the katana.

"It's said that in the chaotic times many years ago, a foolish daimyo wanted to raise an army to attack Hoori Town. Back then, the local clan of Hoori, the Mochizuki family, chose death over submission. In order to boost morale, the Mochizuki head even deliberately killed his beloved hunting dog, as a sign of determination to break the cauldrons and sink the boats."

Nijika had always been reading about legends of Hoori Town, and now they finally came in handy, "Later, when the enemy troops advanced, the Mochizuki family kept retreating. At a moment of crisis, the dead beloved dog of the Mochizuki family transformed into an Inugami and killed off all the daimyo's forces. Hoori Town was thus saved and regained peace."

"Afterwards, the Mochizuki family, in gratitude for the dog's contributions, built a statue and a shrine, offering worship day and night. Over time, it became a tradition of Hoori Town."

"Sounds like a rumor made up by a shady tourist spot to attract visitors," Ryou couldn't help but complain.

Kita and Nijika also nodded in agreement. After all, they were young people, it was hard for them to believe in ghostly superstitions like these.

On the contrary, Bocchi and Yumiko subconsciously glanced at each other and held back their opinions.

After all, the two of them had personally seen the other side of the world. Since there were ghosts, having an Inugami show up wasn't that strange either.

However, this simple little complaint happened to be overheard by an old lady in priestess attire passing by.

She glanced at the blue-haired Ryou and didn't show any intention of scolding her, just shook her head.

"Young people should maintain reverence for the gods."

"Sorry, sorry," Nijika didn't recognize this unfamiliar old woman, but judging from her attire, she was clearly a religious figuremaybe from a nearby shrine?

To secretly mock someone's god and then get caught red-handed, The Archangel was a little embarrassed and quickly apologized on Ryou's behalf, "My friend didn't mean it, it just slipped out. Please don't take it to heart."

Even Ryou didn't talk back. Though she pursued individuality, she wasn't a mean-spirited gremlin. She sincerely said, "Sorry, that was rude of me."

"What's going on?", Having just bought taiyaki, Kaito happened to return at this moment, successfully breaking the awkward atmosphere.

The old lady, who had originally planned to say something, clearly froze after seeing Kaito.

By her side was a young miko in a red and white shrine maiden outfit, who also froze upon seeing him.

After a moment of recovery, the old woman looked deeply at him again but didn't say more. She just nodded slightly and prepared to leave.

The young miko behind her gave a gentle smile and welcomed the group to visit Mochizuki Shrine when they had time, saying that the gods would bless them.

After speaking, she followed the old lady's steps, and the two left in a hurry.

"Ryou", Once their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, Nijika finally rolled her eyes at Ryou, annoyed, "You're always so careless with your words! I dare you to say something like that again next time!"

"Luckily this time the old lady was pretty nice. If not, we'd have been in trouble."

After all, they were traveling outside. The other party was someone from the local shrine, practically a local boss. If she wanted to teach a lesson to a few tourists, it'd be easy.

'If Nijika says it's my fault, then it's my fault.'

'Because this time, it really was something I said wrong.'

Ryou lowered her head obediently, sincerely admitting her mistake, "I'm super sorry! As a sign of sincerity, even if you let Kaito-san ravage me, I won't resist."

"Wouldn't that be a reward... cough! cough!, I mean, dream on!", Nijika lightly knocked her on the head, looking quite exhausted. She felt that if she spent too much time with Ryou, she'd end up being the permanent tsukkomi.

At this moment, Kaito had already heard the full story from Yumiko and Kita, but he didn't take it too seriously. Instead, he curiously watched the direction where those two people had left.

He sensed a faint spiritual power, very weak and barely noticeable, but it truly existed.

This was the first time Kaito had seen a human in this world who actually possessed spiritual power.

However, after being surprised for a bit, he threw it to the back of his mind. After all, it was too weak to really pique his interest.

Because of this little incident, the girls had no intention of continuing to stroll around. After discussing, they decided to return to the inn to rest for now and regroup in the evening to watch the Kagura performance together.

Back in the room, Kaito originally planned to watch some TV. But before long, the door was pushed open, Yumiko sneaked in.

To avoid exposing herself in front of the others, she had been holding back for a long time.

Now that she finally had some private time, she rushed into Kaito's room, and her intentions were clear.

Of course, it was still daytime, so they didn't do anything too intense, just some light affection.

But even just kissing and hugging, Yumiko still acted like a spy in the middle of a secret meeting, constantly glancing at the door, worried someone might barge in at any moment.

Seeing her so on edge, those emerald green eyes were filled not with fear, but with excitement.

Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that, 'This girl... is enjoying it?'

'Yumiko, don't tell me you've awakened some weird kind of kink?'

[T/N: Hey everyone! If you're into mystery, magic, and a whole new twist on the wizarding world, check out my new fanfic "Harry Potter: Transmigrated Detective Link." A sharp-minded detective finds himself in the world of Hogwarts, and things are about to get interesting. Give it a read and let me know what you think!]

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Chapter 65: Nijika Please Punish Me!

[9 P.M.]

Compared to daytime, the night in Hoori Town was not at all quiet. In fact, one might even say it was livelier.

Unlike the bustling Tokyo, there were no dazzling and overwhelming neon lights polluting the view here. There were barely even any streetlights; the illumination mainly came from traditional paper lanterns and stone lanterns, giving the town a very classical charm.

Walking along the small alley paved with green stone slabs, Kita recalled the kagura dance performance they had just seen and still felt somewhat unsatisfied, "The miko-sama's dance was truly sacred sacred and beautiful. No wonder it attracts so many tourists..."

"Too bad it ended after just a short while."

Yumiko also deeply agreed, but thinking this was only the first day of their trip, she felt at ease. If anything, they could just come see it a few more times.

When they returned to the hot spring inn, it was still early. Just going back to their rooms to rest seemed kind of boring.

So, Nijika straightforwardly suggested, "How about we all play a round of cards?"

"Wouldn't regular card games be kind of boring?"

Scum Ryou stroked her chin, deep in thought, "How about we add a punishment system? Like, whoever loses has to pick Truth or Dare or something?"

'Dare?'

All the girls in the group silently shifted their gaze toward Kaito, as if they'd all thought of something. Their lovely faces tinted with a strange blush.

Nijika lightly cleared her throat, "I-I actually brought a Truth or Dare tabletop card game..."

Kita softly agreed, "Then I guess we have no choice. If we don't play, it'd be a waste, right?"

Even Yumiko raised her hand, "I agree."

Add in the easily influenced little Bocchi, and the proposal passed unanimously.

Kaito didn't spoil the mood, and so everyone gathered in his room, excited and ready to play cards.

Nijika was the first to take out a small bulging box and pulled out two different types of cards from it. The blue cards were labeled "Truth," and the pink ones were labeled "Dare."

Kita quietly leaned in and asked in a whisper, "Nijika-senpai, in the Dare cards there aren't any super embarrassing punishments, right?"

Nijika winked at her but didn't say anything.

The unspoken message was loud and clear.

Kita got her answer. Her face reddened as she shrank back into her seat, her fighting spirit suddenly ignited.

The rules were simple and could be understood as a kind of matching game: only pairs with the same value could be played. Players could also draw a card from the person next to them. Whoever finished all their cards first would be the winner. When no more pairs could be made, the one left holding the Joker (the clown card) would be the loser.

The winner could then draw a card from either Truth or Dare and designate the loser to perform the content of the card.

The girls rubbed their palms in anticipation, exchanged glances, and the air seemed to spark with tension.

Then

"I won," After playing his last pair of Aces, Kaito remained calm.

Old Maid was essentially a game of luck, 'These girls of the 21st century are still too naive. They actually think they can challenge me, a cultivator, in terms of fortune?'

Do they even understand what it means to pull 7 rate-up SSRs in a 10-pull? Courting Death!!!

"Um..."

Nijika pulled a Joker from her hand and placed it on the table, "Looks like I'm the loser?"

'Although I didn't win, being punished by Kaito-kun somehow doesn't seem all that bad?'

Shimokitazawa's Archangel bashfully lowered her head, feeling the envious stares of her friends. Her long lashes trembled, "Ka-Kaito-kun... please whip meno, I mean, please punish me!"

Faced with the blue and pink decks, Kaito thought for a moment and chose the right-side Dare deck.

He casually drew a card and glanced at it, "Pin someone of the opposite sex closest to you against the wall for three minutes, and make deep eye contact... Isn't this punishment a bit too much? Should I draw another one instead?"

Kaito hadn't planned to start off with something this intense.

Normally, his luck was pretty good, he shouldn't have drawn such an awkward punishment for both sides.

No matter what, for a pure girl who's never been in love, this punishment seemed a bit too much.

"No, since it's a game, we have to follow the rules!", Nijika, however, firmly refused, wearing an expression of heroic resolve, as if saying "If I don't go to hell, who will?" "Kaito-kun, please forgive my rudeness!"

She stood up as she spoke, practically rushing in front of Kaito. She placed her hand on the wall behind the beautiful boy, creating a private and ambiguous space.

The distance between them was close. So close that they could hear each other's breathing.

Although she had long known that Kaito had a face that could outshine the world, even at this close proximity, she couldn't find a single flaw.

Those light chestnut-colored eyes were right in front of her, like whirlpools in the deep sea, threatening to swallow Nijika's rationality whole.

'If... if I just lean in right now...'

The girls watching from the sidelines felt complicated. Some wanted to stop them but also feared that when it was their turn, their moment might be interrupted too.

Yumiko especially.

To watch her boyfriend get this close with another girl, this was a wall slam, no less even she had never done that before...

She should've felt humiliated, sour, like she'd been cuckolded.

But... her breathing involuntarily grew heavier, and an inexplicable sense of satisfaction rose in her heart. [T/N: ]

Unfortunately, three minutes passed all too quickly. It was over in a flash.

When the two finally pulled apart, Yumiko felt a weight lifted from her chest, but also experienced a subtle regret that even she hadn't noticed.

"It's done, it's done! Time to start the second round!"

Even though Nijik took the first taste, that just meant everyone had a chance to eat meat.

Kita couldn't wait. She quickly reshuffled the cards and started a new round.

As expected, Kaito won again. This time, the loser was Bocchi.

The little terrified bean seemed nervous, but thinking of the reward Nijika-senpai just got, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement.

'Ev-even if there's no wall slam, just a head pat would be enough for me...'

"K-Kaito-kun, pl-please begin", she said softly.

Given the lesson from last time, Kaito originally planned to pick Truth.

But Bocchi's shy, timid demeanor looked far too bullyable. Only a saint could resist the urge for more than three seconds.

So he chose Dare again.

"Hold a Pocky stick in your mouth and choose the person of the opposite sex closest to you to eat it with."

'T-t-t-this this is basically a kiss!'

Bocchi's face was burning hot, like it was on fire, and she stammered, "B-b-b-but I didn't bring any Pocky"

"No worries, I brought some~", At the crucial moment, a certain Miura classmate, who refused to be named, stepped forward and generously provided a whole box of strawberry-flavored Pocky.

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Chapter 66: Little Bocchi Takes a Hard Hit

Pink and tender strawberry-flavored pocky, with only the tail end being a faint yellow.

Bocchi nervously held it in her mouth, but didn't dare touch it with her teeth, afraid she might accidentally bite it off.

Although it wasn't her first time eating pocky, she had never before experienced sharing one stick of pocky with someone of the opposite sex.

She could only nervously close her eyes, her fair face as pale as ivory full of blush, cautiously leaning forward.

Even Kaito felt something was off.

The attention from the people around was one thing, if it were anyone else, fine. But Yumiko not only wasn't jealous, she even actively offered a box of pocky with a face full of anticipation and excitement.

Still, Kaito hesitated for a moment but did not refuse.

After all, that was the game rule. And anyway, he and Bocchi were pure and innocent, his conscience was clear.

Kita had been paying close attention to his expression. Seeing that Kaito had no intention of refusing, she secretly let out a huge sigh of relief.

Though she envied Bocchi-chan's good luck, ultimately it depended on Kaito's will. If he actively refused, no one could force a good boy to comply.

'Since he doesn't refuse Bocchi, that means he won't refuse others either.'

The normie girl thought happily, 'When it's my turn later, will the reward no, the punishment be a kiss? Or a hug? Or maybe both?'

'Aah! So hard to decide!'

Sitting face-to-face with Kaito, Bocchi didn't dare open her eyes. She could only smell a pleasant, grassy, woody fragrance coming closer and closer.

'This must be a dream it has to be a dream, right?'

The little socially anxious girl tried hard to hypnotize herself. Otherwise, someone as lowly and insignificant as a wild mallet snake like her, how could she receive such favor?

'That's right! I must still be dreaming!'

Never mind reality, at least she had successfully convinced herself.

Bocchi didn't dare think further, like a well-wound doll, she only kept her head down biting the pocky.

The girl's pink lips slowly crept forward bit by bit, wanting to finish this public execution as fast as possible.

But maybe her CPU overloaded, she had already lost the ability to think.

In just a short time, most of the pocky had been consumed, but the little socially anxious girl still showed no sign of stopping.

As the distance between the two shrank, the surrounding girls began to breathe more rapidly.

Yumiko didn't even dare exhale, her jade-green eyes unblinking, afraid to miss even a single detail.

Finally

"Mmgh", Bocchi, not disappointing anyone, bit her own tongue.

People who often share a pocky with their girlfriend all know: as the stick gets shorter, the two bodies will lean closer.

The little socially anxious girl, teary-eyed, opened her eyes from the pain. Her forward-leaning body instantly lost balance, her little hands flailing to find a new support point, and in a panic, she unintentionally grabbed downward.

Moments later

"Gomen nasai sumimasen, for daring to defile your noble body, I have undoubtedly lost the right to be human. Only death can atone for my sinI am terribly sorry," Bocchi rapidly chanted her apology in standard dogeza posture, prostrating fully on the ground, her forehead respectfully touching the floor, panicked to the point she didn't dare raise her head.

Even though it was just a brief touch, that fleeting contact made the girl blush and her heart race, her mind filled with strange things.

'E-Even though there was a layer of pants in between but that terrifying size'

'Mgh I'll die, right? I'm definitely going to die, right?'

Kaito cleared his throat, "It was just an accident. Anyway, Bocchi, get up first. No need to be so tense."

Although that place is indeed famously vulnerable and known as a man's weak point, that only applies to ordinary people.

With Kaito's capabilities, never mind an accidental press. Even using it to roll a car tire over wouldn't be a problem.

Bocchi trying to break his defenses? She's ten thousand years too early.

Yumiko, having firsthand experience, knew this well, so she wasn't worried at all. Instead, her expression screamed "She hit it, she hit it!"

But Bocchi didn't understand the hidden truth. Everyone says that area on a boy is the weakest, even a slight bump hurts unbearably, let alone her accidentally pressing down hard

'I-If Kaito really ends up with a problem'

Just imagining that terrifying consequence made the little socially anxious girl's face turn pale. She had already prepared to devote the rest of her life to caring for him. No matter if she's beaten or scolded, she wouldn't leave! She'd make sure Kaito lived a carefree life with food and clothes delivered to his hand.

'This is the path of atonement for me, Gotou Hitori!'

She remained prostrated on the floor and said in a muffled voice, "P-Please let me make up for this! No matter what the request is, I'll do it!"

'Even if you say that I don't really have anything I need your help with.'

But seeing the little socially anxious girl clearly stuck in a mental loop, Kaito thought for a bit and simply said, "I can't think of anything I need you to do for now but I'll remember your promise. If there's something I need help with in the future, Bocchi, you're not allowed to refuse."

"Understood!"

Actually, Nijika and Kita were also a little worried about Kaito's body, but seeing him speak with strong energy and a normal expression, not like someone faking wellness, they relaxed a little.

But what followed was awkwardness.

Originally, the card game had been going smoothly, but this whole incident blew up. Truth or dare punishment couldn't continue anymore.

But Kaito didn't really mind. Whatever the game is, just play it how it's meant to be played.

In the following rounds, he remained the consistent winner. Only the losers kept changingScummy Ryou, Yumiko, and Nijika all took losses.

Only Kita found it unbelievable, seriously suspecting she was being ostracized.

'Otherwise, we played three full rounds, why hasn't it been my turn yet? Nijika-senpai has already gone twice!'

Let's not talk about how the normie girl was doubting her life. Learning from the earlier lesson, Kaito no longer chose dare as punishment, instead, he uniformly picked truth.

"What's your favorite food?"

"What's your favorite movie?"

"When was the last time you lied?"

All of them were pretty innocent questions.

But when it was Ryou's turn, there was a slight twist, "What's your favorite genre of hentai doujinshi?" [T/N: Mine is Supernatural... comment yours]

If she were a shy and introverted girl, she'd just flusteredly deny, ["What doujin? I-I-I never read that stuff!"]

If she were an easygoing and bold girl, maybe she'd laugh it off.

But this was Ryou.

The blue-haired girl pinched her chin in a thinking pose, then calmly said, "Of course, pure love."

"Pure love?"

Nijika cast a suspicious glance, 'What a joke! I've seen your collection at home! Clearly NTR is the most!'

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Chapter 67: As long as you're confident, any kind of expression works

"Of course, like pure love hypnosis, pure love NTR, pure love"

"So how the hell is that pure love?"

"Nijika, the purity is too low."

Scummy Ryou looked at her like she was a rotting log, full of disappointment, shaking her head and sighing, "As long as you're confident, any kind of expression works."

'Is this really a problem confidence can fix?'

'I really shouldn't have had any expectations for this bastard!'

Nijika, fuming, dragged Scummy Ryou aside, deciding to unleash the Iron Fist of Justice. Meanwhile, Kita wore a smile like "isn't that kinda nice though" and tried to smooth things over.

That commotion really did lighten the originally awkward atmosphere.

Seeing that it was getting late, Kaito didn't intend to continue the card game and decided to end the activity, letting everyone return to their rooms to rest.

Except for Kita, who never got her punishment, none of the girls had any objections. After all, they'd played for a long time and were honestly a bit tired.

However, they didn't intend to go straight to their rooms to rest. Instead, they decided to soak in the hot spring before bed.

After all, they were staying at a hot spring inn. If they didn't try out the local specialty, wouldn't that be a waste?

Kaito joined them too.

Don't get the wrong idea, it wasn't mixed bathing. The hot spring pools in the inn were numerous, with separate baths for men and women. A thick wooden wall stood in between, without a single gap, completely eliminating the possibility of peeping.

Of course, in the face of divine sense, so-called barriers were practically nonexistent.

'Still, I'm a proper gentleman. If it's not appropriate, I won't look.'

Changing into a brand-new bathrobe, Kaito stepped into the perfectly heated pool, letting the spring water soak his body.

Hoori's hot springs were quite famous, with a decent reputation all over Japan. They were said to have many effects, such as beautifying the skin, extending life, removing impurities. Just short of claiming to cure all diseases.

In truth, the hot springs here were just ordinary hot springs. They didn't contain any spiritual energy. Soaking in them often was good for the body, but nowhere near as miraculous as the legends claimed.

Because the inn had been booked entirely, there were no other guests in the spacious men's bath, and Kaito quite enjoyed this rare alone time.

The only downside was the constant sounds of girls playing and laughing from the women's bath next door. Mixed within were Scummy Ryou's interrogations of Bocchi, seemingly asking about how it felt earlier. The shy social-phobic stammered, unable to respond, and could only cast a pleading gaze toward Nijika, Kita, and Yumiko nearby, completely screaming for help.

"I'll soak a little longer, then head back to the room to rest."

Kaito stretched lazily but suddenly retracted his smile, looking in a certain direction.

In a corner of the bath, a pitch-black monster emerged from the ground, its appearance resembling sludge. Two long tentacles extended from its back, radiating a thick aura of ominousness.

The monster's eyes were crimson, devoid of reason. Its two tentacles, like long whips, slashed down with a sharp, slicing sound and ruthless force.

This strike was incredibly fast and powerful, enough to knock out a strong adult man.

But the monster quickly felt tremendous resistance. In front of it was nothing but empty space, yet the tentacles it flung out were blocked as if by an invisible wall. No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't move forward even a centimeter.

Blazing fire surged in, as if in the midst of a raging inferno that was the sludge monster's last sensation before it died.

"This is a remnant soul crystal?"

Kaito didn't pay much attention to such small fry. Among the ashes of the sludge monster, he found a shiny, mysterious crystal.

Reaching out, the crystal flew into his palm.

He glanced at it casually. The crystal was an irregular rectangle, mixed with many mottled impurities. Aside from a faint trace of soul power, it didn't seem particularly special.

Though it was useless to him, since it contained supernatural material, Kaito kept it anyway. As a souvenir.

After wrapping that up, he frowned slightly, quickly walked out of the bath, and turned to pull open the women's bath door.

"Kaito-senpai?"

Nijika had just been scolding Scummy Ryou for bullying little Bocchi when the latter splashed her with water in retaliation. Furious, she was about to splash back.

Then the door opened with a bang. She turned her head instinctively, and saw a beautiful boy standing at the door with only a bath towel around his waist, walking in slowly.

Shimokitazawa's archangel froze, 'Th-th-this this isn't right, is it?'

This was definitely supposed to be the women's bath, right?!

She started to doubt if she'd gotten it wrong, but looking at the others, Scummy Ryou and the rest, 'All girls! No mistake! This is definitely the women's bath!'

'Kaito-senpai, c-c-c-could it be that he's going to'

Thinking of that face-flushing, heart-pounding possibility, Nijika's cute face turned so hot it could boil an egg.

Though she did like Kaito-senpai and wouldn't mind developing things further, 'Still, the first time should at least be in a quiet, romantic place, right?'

'Being with Ryou, that bastard, what the hell is that supposed to be! Not to mention there are other girls too!'

By now the others had also reacted. Kita grabbed Bocchi, flustered, and covered them both with a towel. Yumiko seemed surprised but not particularly reactive, standing up boldly. Scummy Ryou likewise showed no intent to cover up. Instead, she stared at Kaito's firm upper body like a guest becoming the host, thoughtfully commenting, "Usually he doesn't show off, but he's actually got pretty muscle definition, huh?"

'Hmm feels like he could lift me with one arm...'

But saying such outrageous things out loud would clearly get her punished by Nijika, so Scummy Ryou wisely swallowed it back down.

Meanwhile, Kaito gave a brief glance at the girls bathing, then turned his gaze away and looked toward a certain spot.

There, in a similar corner location, another sludge monster had quietly revealed itself.

Still with a pitch-black, mud-like body, and crimson eyes filled with viciousness. Its two thick tentacles flailed wildly, making whooshing sounds.

"What is that thing?"

The girls were startled by the sudden appearance of the sludge monster and had no time to care about any romantic nonsense, all frantically jumping out of the pool.

"Maybe a local specialty of Hoori Town," Kaito casually responded, waved his hand, and summoned a roaring fire dragon, sending this sludge monster down the same path as its companion.

Compared to the rigid and masculine thunder technique, fire techniques might lack a bit in pure attack power, but they were handy for cleaning up the scene.

Once again, the sludge monster turned to ash and dropped a broken soul crystal, full of impurities and shaped similarly into an irregular rectangle.

After putting the soul crystal away, Kaito didn't leave immediately. He used divine sense to scan the surroundings, confirmed there were no other monsters, and then turned around.

"No matter what questions you have, for now, get dressed first."

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Chapter 68: I Was Talking About the Worldview

[Twenty Minutes Later, Guest Room]

The traditional Japanese-style room had a very simple and clean decor. All four walls were white, with ink-style landscape paintings hanging as decoration. A bit further inside, there was a velvet bed that could accommodate at least three people. The snow-white bedding was spotless, making one want to dive in and roll around happily.

Only, the room that should have been spacious now felt a bit crowded, taken up by the silhouettes of the girls.

On the soft tatami, Nijika sat upright. She had already taken off the white bathrobe she wore earlier and returned to her original outfit. On top, a plain white shirt; on the bottom, a light purple knee-length skirt. Around her waist was a bright red ribbon shaped like a butterfly. Her golden side ponytail hung down smoothly, making her look both cute and lively.

She clearly had a belly full of questions to ask, but was afraid it would be rude to blurt them out.

Kita had the same mindset. Having witnessed with her own eyes that terrifying black monster like rotten mud, and that lifelike fire dragon... it felt like a little kitten was scratching at her heart, dying to figure things out.

In comparison, Scummy Ryou was much more direct, "That move just now... was it the legendary Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique?"

"Isn't that just from a manga?"

Kaito shook his head, "If you really want to call it something, you can consider it a kind of spell."

"There are really spells in this world?"

Even someone as calm and expressionless as Yamada Ryou found it hard to stay composed when faced with the other side of the world. Even her usually emotionless golden pupils were glowing slightly.

"As for that question, Bochi and Yumiko both have a lot to say," Kaito didn't explain much further. Instead, he turned his gaze to the pink wild hammer snake beside him.

Although the little social anxiety girl wasn't used to being suddenly placed in the spotlight, she still quietly recounted her experience of getting to know Kaito and becoming his disciple.

"Shikigami boy... yin-yang eyes... spells... earth-bound spirits..."

Every time she repeated one of these words, Scummy Ryou's eyes sparkled a little more.

By the time Bochi finished telling all the big and small events, Scummy Ryou's eyes were already glowing like a golden light bulb.

She then turned to the blonde girl beside Bochi, "Miura-senpai, have you had similar experiences?"

"That's right~", Yumiko smiled and said generously, "I was also a victim of supernatural events. I met the club president at the last moment. Otherwise, I might already be dead."

Kita and Nijika were speechless.

The overload of information nearly fried the CPUs of the two girls. They were this close to crashing.

Some things are hard to preserve, but if you want to destroy them, it only takes a second.

Don't get me wrong, I was talking about the worldview.

Scummy Ryou used to be a staunch materialist, scoffing at all kinds of monsters and ghosts.

But after witnessing the truth with her own eyes, her mindset quickly adjusted. She asked instead, "That monster just now, what exactly was it?"

"A kind of grudge conglomerate."

The suddenly appearing sludge monster, though its shape was a bit unique, was neither ghost nor yokai.

The soul crystals left behind after its death also proved this. The impurities within were the physical form of "grudges."

If ordinary people came into prolonged contact with them, while it wouldn't be life-threatening, they would be eroded by the grudge and undergo drastic personality changes.

Even someone who was originally peaceful and avoided conflict could turn into a short tempered who pulls knives over disagreements. Sooner or later, they'd make a huge mistake.

"Grudge conglomerate?", Nijika tilted her head, a bit puzzled. Her golden side ponytail swayed with her movement, making people want to tug it.

"But why would a grudge conglomerate suddenly show up? And it even looked super aggressive..."

Little Bochi had a flash of insight, a thought suddenly popping into her head, "C-could it be because... of this afternoon?"

'This afternoon?'

The girls quickly recalled the little incident in front of the Inugami statue. At the time, Ryou had ridiculed the legend as fake and was warned by an old lady in a priestess outfit passing by to show respect to the gods.

If that really was the case... they ridiculed it in the afternoon and were attacked by a monster at night.

This Inugami sure works fast. It settles scores the same day, doesn't even wait till tomorrow.

"That... shouldn't be, right?", Nijika was still hesitant. Ryou's ridicule was a bit disrespectful, but it was also natural human behavior. Not exactly a serious offense.

After all, before seeing the sludge monster with her own eyes, even Nijika herself didn't believe the Inugami existed.

If just saying "the legend is too fake" once would trigger divine retribution, then with all the tourists in Hoori Town, how many people would be punished by gods every day?

In modern society, where information spreads quickly, one post could help many people avoid danger. If tourists were constantly attacked, Hoori Town would've been infamous by now.

Of course, in a bad way.

"In the legend, even after being killed by humans, the Inugami didn't hold a grudge and instead helped Hoori Town repel enemies. Doesn't sound like the vengeful type," Yumiko analyzed rationally, thinking it was unlikely that the sludge monster was sent by the Inugami.

Of course, all of this assumed the legend wasn't fake. If the story had been altered, and the Inugami wasn't as generous as claimed, then tonight's attack might really have something to do with it.

"Sorry, it's all my fault," Ryou, for once, didn't crack a joke. She lowered her head, feeling a little guilty.

Whether or not tonight's attack was related to the Inugami, the existence of the sludge monster proved that Hoori Town was definitely not simple.

Her casual ridicule at the time might have really attracted some trouble from the shadows.

And it might even end up involving her friends.

"Don't say that~", Nijika quickly interrupted her self-blame. Even though she often bantered with Ryou, that was actually a sign of closeness.

The truth behind tonight's incident hadn't been revealed yet, and Ryou was already taking all the blame on herself. She was clearly on the verge of going emo.

The gentle angel comforted her, "Maybe it was just a coincidence? Like Miura-senpai said, the gods are probably not that petty."

"Mm," Yamada Ryou nodded, but her brows still didn't relax. She looked deeply troubled.

Nijika was getting anxious but didn't know what to say.

Ryou had always been a very opinionated person. If someone like her got stuck in a mental corner, it was hard for others to pull her out.

Seeing the mood starting to turn heavy, the energetic little sunshine Kita Ikuyo quickly changed the subject. She turned her yellow-green eyes to the beautiful boy who had been silent the whole time and asked eagerly, "Kaito-kum, what do you think?"

Speculation only gets you so far. Since they had a powerful exorcist right beside them, they might as well ask his opinion.

[ Shoutout to Alexis, Dinomax01, Sweetness, Alex, Rowdy_Rich, Xedron, Aqua_Darkness and Thorn for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]

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Chapter 69: Member Nijika, Are You Sober!

'Oh right!'

'There's also Kaito-kun!'

Originally so anxious she was about to spin in circles, Nijika's beautiful eyes lit up, like she had grabbed the last life-saving straw.

They had personally seen Kaito summon a fire dragon and burn the menacing mud monster into ashes.

There was no doubt he was an exorcist with great spiritual power, maybe he had some unique insight?

Facing the nervous and expectant gazes of the girls, Kaito stretched lazily, not keeping them in suspense.

"Since you can't figure it out, how about we go to the shrine tomorrow and ask around?"

That afternoon they had met the elderly woman in shrine robes, with a young shrine maiden following behind. She had invited their group to the shrine for a visit.

No matter what secrets the small town of Hoori was hiding, as the local authority, the Mochizuki Shrine surely held information outsiders didn't know.

Even if they couldn't get any answers, or if the other party intentionally kept things hidden, it didn't matter.

Reading, is to calmly talk with fools.

Cultivation, is to make fools calmly talk with you.

The originally worried Nijika and the others exchanged looks, and somehow felt much more at ease.

"Alright, if there's nothing urgent, let's head back and rest for now."

Kaito clapped his hands, "Rest up well. Tomorrow we'll go to the shrine for information."

"Mm."

Nijika nodded lightly, then said, "Good night, Kaito-kun."

The other girls also bid him good night, then left one by one.

[Late night, 11:30 PM]

The tightly shut door was gently pushed open, and a light figure tiptoed in.

Before she could reach the bed, she seemed to trip over something, her body lost balance and she fell straight into a warm embrace.

"Not sleeping in the middle of the night. What kind of sneaky idea are you up to?"

Looking up, Kaito was already staring at her with a composed gaze, as if fully prepared.

"Hehe~", Yumiko stuck out her tongue a bit embarrassed, then buried her pretty face into his chest, "Actually I'm still kind of worried"

Though she knew Kaito was powerful, even terrifying evil spirits were easily exorcised by him, this time, they might have to face a legendary god.

Even if the Inugami felt more like a yokai, it had been enshrined in the shrine for so many years, calling it a god wasn't wrong.

Not to mention, in legends, it helped the Mochizuki family crush an army of one thousand samurai sent by a daimyo, it definitely wasn't someone easy to deal with.

Kaito didn't take it to heart.

It wasn't because he was arrogant, but "crushing a thousand-man army" sounded impressive, untill you know there was no legitimate proof. And the legend of the Inugami was from hundreds of years ago. So, Kaito wasn't worried.

Still, he reached out and rubbed Yumiko's head, "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"Mm."

Yumiko nuzzled against his chest and didn't say more. Just murmured, "But you still have to be careful. Safety's most important."

As the mood grew tender and the two cuddled warmly, the door suddenly knocked.

A soft voice rang out, "Kaito-kun, are you asleep?"

'It is Ijichi-san?'

Yumiko, whose beautiful eyes had just turned misty, instantly shivered and jumped out of her boyfriend's arms, panicked as she looked to escape through the window.

But Kaito casually held her back, speechless, "We're on the third floor."

"Then what do I do? If Ijichi-san sees me coming to you in the middle of the night, she'll definitely get the wrong idea! She might even tell Bocchi!"

Yumiko was so anxious she spun in place, then her eyes suddenly lit up and turned to the wardrobe in the corner.

"Got it! I'll hide in there for now!"

Kaito: "..."

'Is there a possibility. I'm just saying, a possibility'

'That I can completely influence Nijika's senses, and she wouldn't even see you?'

'And taking a step back, you could've just made up an excuse. Instead, you went full "there's no silver here" mode. Hiding is easy, but if you get caught, that's really hard to explain.'

Still, seeing Yumiko already dart into the wardrobe eagerly, Kaito could only let her be.

Kaito opened the door and saw the blonde girl in a thin pajama, looking worried. Seeing him, she forced a smile, "Sorry for disturbing your rest, Kaito-kun. May I come in?"

She had clearly just soaked in the hot spring not long ago, yet she seemed to have taken another bath before coming. Her ponytail wasn't tied, and long hair draped behind her back, still slightly damp. The exposed white skin gave off a pleasant body wash scent, and her jewel-like eyes held a hint of shyness, reminding Kaito of a poetry collection he read long ago.

He shook his head and shoved the stray thoughts away, then stepped aside, "Come in."

Though she had just left this guest room not long ago, Nijika's solo return now felt cautious and restrained.

She sat on the soft sofa, looking a bit uneasy.

"Coming to me this late, did something urgent happen?"

There were free drinks in the hotel room. Kaito casually took out two bottles of pineapple juice and handed her one, sitting across from her.

Thinking about her purpose tonight, Nijika bit her silver teeth, "Kaito-kun if tonight's attack really is related to the Inugami, could you take the others and leave?"

As the leader of Ending Band, she had the duty to protect everyone.

'If the god truly wants desecrators to pay, then let me replace Ryou and become the offering.'

Kaito-kun was a mysterious exorcist, the only hope to lead everyone to safety.

"O-of course, I won't let you sacrifice for nothing"

She took a deep breath, stood up, and began to unbutton her thin sleepwear, "At at the very least, tonight please use this body as you wish"

"Stop," The sudden voice cut her off.

The loose button wouldn't come undone no matter what. Nijika looked up and saw the beautiful boy sigh.

"So, you've been struggling in your room all this time, just to repay me with your body?"

"Ichiji-san, are you sober?"

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Chapter 70: You dont want Kita to find out either, right?

"B-But", Nijika didn't know what she had done wrong, but she didn't dare refute it.

She only said in a small voice, "This is the only thing I can barely show off"

'Could it be that Kaito-senpai actually prefers a body type like Bocchi's?'

The moment she thought of this possibility, the girl felt a bit troubled.

It's genetics, after all. She had worked so hard drinking milk, but if there's no effect, there's no effect.

In this regard, even her older sister Seika, who's nearly thirty, wasn't as good as her younger sister.

At the very least, the two of them would occasionally take baths together, and Nijika had secretly compared their sizes. The final result was that her own curves were a little more impressive.

Mm, at least that's what she believed.

A little bigger still counts as big. Just like her sister often said, being eighteen also counts as blooming at eighteen.

Flick!!

Unable to stop her wandering thoughts, the girl held her forehead, looking at him with moist, wide eyes, a bit aggrieved.

"That hurts!"

"It's supposed to hurt,".Kaito crossed his arms, and due to the height difference, he was currently looking down at her from above, "Still letting your mind wander now?"

Nijika thought for two seconds, then honestly nodded.

Kaito raised his index finger, pretending to get ready for another flick

"No more! No more!", Nijika hurriedly covered her little head, guarding her forehead tightly like a little curled-up hedgehog, "Really, no more!"

"Since I brought you here, of course I'll take responsibility to return you all exactly as you were, safe and sound."

Kaito didn't intend to continue knocking her head and gazed into the girl's wine-red eyes, "You're an excellent leader, but sometimes you should put down the burden and try relying on others, Nijika."

"..."

The Archangel of Shimokitazawa fell silent for a long while.

Her mother had passed away in a car accident long ago, and her father was always busy working and rarely at home, so most of the time Nijika had only her sister for company.

But her sister was clumsy, couldn't even fry an egg properly, so the housework had to be done by herself.

This made Nijika develop an independent personality. Being capable, she also got used to taking care of those around her like a gentle mother.

She had always been the one others depended on, but now someone was saying to her, ["You can try depending on me."]

The girl softly went "Mm," but her smile bloomed like a flower across her lovely face.

"If there's nothing else, go back to your room and rest."

Seeing that she'd finally come to her senses, Kaito didn't say more and subtly glanced at the direction of the wardrobe, "Get plenty of rest. We'll head to the shrine tomorrow."

"Then Kaito-senpai, good night," Nijika's brows and eyes curved like crescent moons as she cheerfully waved at him and prepared to leave.

But before she could take two steps, the room door was knocked again, followed by a delicate female voice, "Kaito-kun? Are you asleep?"

This scene, this moment, exactly the same as before. Deja Vu!

Even the knocking lines were the same.

Nijika was startled, 'If I heard correctly, that was Kita's voice?'

'But why would Kita be coming to Kaito-senpai's room in the middle of the night? Don't tell me'

'No no no, there's no time to think about that now.'

The sudden knock completely disrupted Nijika's rhythm, not to mention her visit wasn't exactly pure. Now, she was full of guilt, with one thought in mind, 'I must not let Kita discover I am in Kaito-senpai's room.'

But this was the second floor. Jumping out the window wasn't an option.

Under the bed was solid. No way to hide there either.

Nijika quickly scanned the room's furnishings and suddenly her eyes lit up.

'The wardrobe!'

The wardrobe in the hotel room was purely decorative, with no clothes inside and a lot of space, enough for two or three people without crowding.

Nijika's figure was on the slender side anyway. Hiding inside was more than sufficient.

"Sorry sorry! Kaito-senpai, my visit must not be found out by Kita! I'll hide for a while, please help cover for me. Once she leaves, I'll go right away! I promise I won't disturb you too long!"

The girl put her hands together, looking pleadingly. As the knocking sounded again, she bit her silver teeth, not daring to delay, opened the wardrobe door, and quickly slipped inside.

Hiding in the pitch-black wardrobe, Nijika finally let out a sigh of relief.

She had just patted her chest when she suddenly realized something was off.

'Inside this empty wardrobe there doesn't seem to be just me?'

She turned her head, and saw a familiar figure.

Yumiko was showing an awkward yet polite smile, waved at her, and whispered, "Ijichi-san what a coincidence."

Nijika: "..."

The Archangel of Shimokitazawa was so startled she almost screamed, but Yumiko, with fast reflexes, firmly covered her mouth.

"Calm down, calm down, calm down! Kita's still outside! You don't want her to find out either, right?"

"It's not what you think, it's not that complicated. I can explain"

Still worried, she added, "If you understand what I'm saying, blink twice."

After the brief shock, Nijika also realized the current situation, so she obediently blinked twice.

Only then did Yumiko slowly let go and whisper an explanation, "I had some questions and came to ask Kaito-kun for help. But not long after I arrived, you knocked on the door. I was afraid of being misunderstood, so"

She didn't finish her sentence, but Nijika understood completely. Because she thought the same way.

Only

"So what you're saying is, you heard everything I just said?"

Yumiko: "..."

'If I say I didn't hear anything, would you believe me?'

Her look of wanting to speak but stopping made Nijika's heart finally sink.

'As expected she heard everything'

'Sneaking into a boy's room in the middle of the night and even saying all kinds of strange things to myself.'

'If it was just heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know, that would've been fine. But now there is a third person present'

Nijika really wanted to smash herself with a block of tofu, or smash someone else.

"W-Wait!", Seeing the blonde girl's pupils gradually lose their light, Yumiko quickly changed the topic to avoid a bad ending where she'd be silenced, "Let's look at Kita in the distance! She's already entered!"

Click!

The door opened, and a red-haired girl as bright as fire appeared at the entrance.

"Kita?"

Kaito repeated the same line he had just said minutes earlier, "What's the matter?"

"It's just I couldn't fall asleep, so I wanted to come talk to you."

Kita played with a strand of hair by her ear, a bit embarrassed, "Can I come in?"

But she quickly waved her hands, looking a little flustered as she added, "I-I mean! If I'm bothering you, Kaito-kun, I'll leave now."

Seeing her looking like a timid little animal, Kaito stepped aside, "Then come in."

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Chapter 71: Good Evening, Ultraman, I Am Rena

At this moment, it was deep into the night. The room was lit only by a dim yellow light, faintly illuminating the dark night.

Kita walked into the room, her mood a little curious.

At school, she was undoubtedly the center of attention, able to get along with everyone, the kind of top-tier normie who could casually post a status update and easily rake in hundreds of likes. Her popularity good enough to make the socially anxious cry.

But she didn't have much experience interacting with boys her age, and all her close friends were girls.

Just a few hours ago, she had come to this very room with Nijika and the others, but coming alone was different from coming with friends, the experience wasn't the same.

'This can probably be counted as what the books call, a man and woman alone together in a room, right?'

'Heh, hehe'

Still sitting on the sofa, maybe it was purely coincidence, the spot Kita chose happened to overlap with where Nijika had been sitting.

"Weird why is the cushion warm?", The moment she sat down, Kita noticed something was off. The sofa cushion still retained a faint warmth, as if it had just been heated by someone.

"Because that's where I was sitting just now," Kaito's face didn't change, brushing it off calmly.

"Ohhh," Kita didn't think too much about it. She saw two unopened bottles of pineapple juice on the coffee table and curiously asked, "Kaito-kun, you couldn't sleep either? Were you just sitting here playing on your phone?"

"That's right, I was just playing on my phone earlier."

Kaito paused for two seconds, then went along with it, "You guessed it, such a clever little Kita."

"Ehehe~ I'm not that amazing~", Kita scratched her head a little embarrassedly, grinning like a fool.

Kaito wasn't fond of teasing kids, and with two girls in the closet still watching like hawks, he didn't plan to waste time. He got straight to the point, "Kita, coming to see me this late, is it also because of the Inugami matter?"

"Mm, because the thought of possibly having to go against a legendary god makes me a bit uneasy."

"Wait, also? What do you mean 'also'? Did someone else come see you?"

"No, you misheard."

'Is that so?'

Kita found it a little strange, but her thoughts were occupied with something else right now. She lightly bit her lip and hesitated, "Kaito-kun, do you think Senpai Ryou will be in danger?"

Even though Ryou always borrowed money and never paid it back, loved freeloading meals, was good at pretending to be harmless to earn sympathy, and was a pro at playing with girls' feelings, but to a normie girl, Ryou was once the senpai she admired.

That street performance of Ryou's back then had given Kita a huge shock, and it gave her the thought of 'wanting to join a band.' For that reason, she even lied about knowing how to play guitar and applied to join Senpai Ryou's band, just to get closer to her.

Even though she quickly panicked about being exposed due to not knowing how to play guitar and ran away before the performance, causing a lot of trouble for Senpai Ryou and Senpai Nijika, with Bocchi-chan's help, Kita rejoined the Kessoku Band and started learning guitar, steadily improving.

The senpai she once admired had now become a close friend.

Emotionally and logically, Kita didn't want to see Senpai Ryou get hurt.

"If we're talking danger", Kaito paused for a moment, "Does being punished afterward by Nijika's iron fist count?"

"Nijika-senpai's not that violent", Kita was speechless but amused. Thinking about it carefully though, this actually seemed very likely.

They say every force has its counter. Ryou might seem like a cool and aloof ice queen with a strong personality who's hard to approach.

But in front of Nijika, who knew her true nature, she was completely dominated. Even little Bocchi would be hounded by Senpai Nijika to repay debts, if not, no meals for her.

Still, Nijika was too softhearted. She'd say "no food," but as soon as Ryou acted pitiful, she'd still share her fries.

'So maybe those two are actually mutually restraining types?'

A simple joke lightened Kita's anxious mood a lot, her earlier worries gone.

Even though she wanted to stay a little longer, even if just to chat idly

She remembered it was already late, so the girl reluctantly said goodbye, "Then I won't disturb you any longer, Kaito-kun."

Kita stood up, ready to leave, but as she turned to go, she suddenly doubled back and sneak-attacked Kaito with a quick peck on the face, "Th-this is just a thank-you for comforting me."

With both hands behind her back, her face flushed red as fire, the girl still wore a big smile, as bright as the first ray of morning sunshine.

"Kaito-kun, good night," Kita turned to leave, this time she really meant to go.

Though it was just a light, dragonfly-touch kiss, and the target was the cheek, not the lips

This was still the first time in her life that Kita had such intimate contact with a boy. She was dying to rush back to her room, hug her pillow, and roll around on the bed to vent all her nervous excitement and joy.

But she had barely taken two steps when her wrist was caught by Kaito.

'Ehh, eehhh???'

The girl jumped in shock, 'C-c-could it be! Kaito-kun is going to'

She didn't dislike him, but that kind of thing should wait until after they started dating, right? Besides, she heard it hurts the first time for girls, and she had to go to the shrine tomorrow to gather intel. It would totally affect her performance

Just from looking at her expression, Kaito could basically guess what this girl was thinking.

He helplessly pointed toward the door and sighed, "If you don't want to bump into someone else, it's best not to leave through the front door."

'What does that mean?'

Before Kita could react, the door was knocked on, followed by Senpai Ryou's voice.

"Good evening, Ultraman. I am Rena. May I come in?"

'W-wait a minute! Why did Kaito-kun know Senpai was arriving in advance?'

'That's not the point.'

The point is she had just stolen a kiss from Kaito, and now Kita was full of guilt.

Suddenly hearing Senpai's voice made her feel like she'd just been caught cheating, panic rising out of nowhere.

'But I am clearly the one who came here first, so why do I have such a weird feeling?'

'No no no, I need to find a place to hide!'

Kita had thought about just casually greeting Ryou, 'But Senpai is a smart girl. She might notice from some small clue what I have just done, then I will really have no face left to show anyone.'

'Under the bed? No good.'

'Behind the curtain? No good.'

The room was big, but there weren't many places to hide.

At last, a plain-looking wardrobe caught her attention.

Kita's beautiful eyes lit up. Without another word, she dove in.

And then

Two people, smiling awkwardly yet politely, waved at the red-haired girl who hadn't figured out what was going on yet.

"Kita-chan good evening?" x2

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Chapter 72: You didn't call me to the jam session?

Kita: "..."

The normie girl rubbed her eyes, suspecting she might still be dreaming.

'Otherwise how can I be inside Kaito's room closet, watching Senior Nijika and Miura?'

Seeing that Kita had no intention of screaming, merely frozen in shock, Nijika hurriedly explained in a low voice, "Anyway the reason we're here is the same as you, Kita, don't misunderstand!"

Yumiko also grinned wickedly and teased, "I didn't expect this, Kita-chan's actually so bold~"

That scene where Kita forcibly kissed him truly caught her off guard, but after recovering, she couldn't help but find it thrilling.

Especially since she was hiding secretly in the closet, and looking out from inside, it was maxed-out role-play experience.

Kita: "..."

The normie girl's ears visibly turned red, the color spreading to her entire pretty face in the blink of an eye.

"D-Don't say anything!", She slapped her hand over Yumiko's mouth, "I didn't do anything! You're all hallucinating! Yes, hallucinating!"

She finally worked up the courage, only to get live-broadcasted.

Kita wanted to find a crack to crawl into, best case, she could go live in another world.

Seeing the corners of her eyes glisten with tears of embarrassment and anger, Nijika felt a twinge of sourness in her heart. After all, witnessing your best friend kiss the guy you like, that feeling is really hard to take.

But in the end, her gentle and generous nature won over, and she tactfully changed the subject, "Shhh Ryou already came in, let's stay quiet so she doesn't find us."

The archangel sighed inwardly, 'The closet already have three people squeezed in here; hopefully a fourth won't show up.'

"Took you long enough to open the door," As she entered the room, Gremlin Ryou looked around at the surroundings, perked up her little nose and gently sniffed the air, then said with a dead serious tone, "Boyfriend-kun you weren't doing something weird, right?"

Weird is an understatement, this was a spectacle.

That tiny closet actually managed to gather both Heart, Spade, and Club all at once. If a Diamond showed up, they could play cards right there.

But Kaito was already used to these little girls acting like he was having affairs, and had no intention of acknowledging it.

"You came here for the Inugami matter?"

Seeing he got straight to the point, Ryou didn't play dumb and gave a slight nod, "I'm the one who brought the trouble; Nijika and the others are innocent."

She paused, then said, "If today's attack really was the work of Inugami, refusing to let go of those who defile the divine then just hand me over."

"I hope, after that, you'll take Nijika and the others and leave."

To outsiders, this cold, emotionless girl was willing to sacrifice herself and walk toward death alone to protect her friends. It should've been a deeply touching scene.

But Kaito, just thinking about the three Girls in his closet, couldn't keep a straight face.

However, his silence was misunderstood by Ryou as hesitation.

After all, possibly facing a mythical god even an exorcist who knows magic would find that a headache, right?

"So, I won't let you help me for free," Although Yamada Ryou is a little gremlin normally, when it comes to serious business, she's pretty reliable.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have won over that little fangirl Kita with just one performance.

"If you need money I'll message my mom and have her prepare ten million yen in cash as payment."

Her daughter went on a trip with friends and didn't come back, leaving only a message to prepare cash. Wouldn't Mrs. Yamada think it's a kidnapping?

As if worried Kaito would misunderstand, Ryou added, "My mom and I have a secret code. We only use it in dangerous situations. As long as I don't use the code, she'll just be a little suspicious and not too worried."

"You're surprisingly clever"

"Heh heh, I'll take that as a compliment," The blue-haired girl put her hands on her hips, those golden eyes shining brightly, "Of course, if you're interested in my body, feel free to use it If I die a virgin and end up in hell, the other ghosts will laugh at me, right?"

'So you've already accepted that you're going to hell?'

'And what kind of ghost has the free time to mock that kind of thing anyway?'

Even hiding in the closet, Nijika's tsukkomi spirit was blazing, she couldn't shake off the label of the straight-man role. [T/N: Google the meaning, it's a little complex]

Still, the archangel was genuinely touched.

She was willing to sacrifice herself for the band; Ryou was the same.

Seeing that the gremlin still had a bit of conscience left if they made it through this, maybe she could cut her some slack in the future.

"I feel like that third 'payment' is more like a reward for you whatever, I'll let you sort it out among yourselves," Kaito snapped his fingers, and the slightly cracked-open closet door seemed to be brushed by an invisible hand, it swung wide open.

Three people were already stuffed inside, what's one more? They could seriously start a card table now.

Completely unprepared for this to happen, the girls who were peeking out were stunned. Kita, who was leaning too far forward, lost her balance and tumbled out, but fortunately wasn't hurt.

The girls stared wide-eyed at each other. The air felt frozen.

Kaito crossed his arms and watched the scene with great interest, main theme: enjoying the show.

And this show really didn't disappoint.

After a long silence, Ryou finally broke it.

The blue-haired girl sighed deeply, her face full of disappointment, "Nijika, I misjudged you."

"W-Wait let me explain!"

"What's there to explain? Don't tell me you're gonna say you were rehearsing?"

Ryou clutched her chest, heartbroken, "You didn't invite me to a jam session in the middle of the night? This is targeting! Isolation! Bullying!"

'The jam session is what you're mad about?'

Just when Nijika was about to try defending herself wait, no, explain she couldn't help but glare at her, "It's not like we were deliberately targeting you Bocchi-chan didn't come either, right?"

At that, she grew a little anxious, 'Don't tell me Bocchi will show up to join the chaos too?'

"Don't worry, Bocchi didn't come," Kaito swept the area with divine sense. Though seriously injured and not as powerful as before, covering a whole hotel was still a breeze.

In the room diagonally opposite, the little social-phobic girl was sound asleep, though her sleeping posture was terrible.

Hitori had kicked the blanket aside, even exposing her fair, flat little tummy.

Kaito used his divine sense to pull the blanket over her. Of course, the main reason was to cover her bellybutton.

Even if the Jade Emperor himself showed up tonight, you sleep with your stomach covered.

"Well thenwait, how do you know that?", Just as Nijika was relieved, she realized something off.

"I was born with great hearing, and didn't hear Bocchi's footsteps."

Kaito said with a straight face. No way he'd say, "I swept with divine sense and could even count how many legs a mosquito has," right?

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Chapter 73: Curse God

'I suspect you're lying to me, but I have no evidence.'

Nijika wrinkled her perky little nose, looking all puffed up in anger.

But thinking it through carefully, if she kept fussing over it, the only one who'd end up embarrassed would be herself so she let it go and looked at the other girls present, wanting to speak but holding back.

Nijika had planned to sneak back to her room quietly after Ryou left, pretending as if nothing had ever happened.

Even though Kita and Miura also knew this secret, since they were sisters in hardship, they'd definitely stick with her and keep the secret in silent agreement.

But now all of that was broken.

'He did it on purpose, didn't he? Definitely on purpose, right?'

The girl glared at the culprit, grinding her teeth lightly, really wanting to bite him.

'What a mean guy!'

The next morning, early.

The inn provided free meals three times a day. The taste was average, but the variety was impressive. Guests could also tell the waitress in advance what they wanted to eat, and the kitchen would prepare the necessary ingredients.

Of course, you couldn't make outrageous requests. Things like Australian lobster, foie gras, and caviar definitely weren't available.

Today's breakfast options were plentiful: ham salad sandwiches, grilled sea bream, fried eggs and so on and so forth. You could pick whatever you liked.

Bocchi took a bite of the fried egg on her plate, feeling a bit confused.

'Why does it feel like... the mood this morning is kind of weird?'

No one was talking. Even the most cheerful Kita and the gentlest Nijika just kept their heads down, quietly eating their own breakfasts, not chatting at all.

'Did something happen that I don't know about?'

After they broke up last night, Bocchi just went back to her room to rest.

She played with her phone a bit before sleeping, or more accurately, she updated her "Guitar Hero" account with a new post.

The content was, [First sweet trip night with the super popular handsome guy from class.] Then, as she scrolled through the comments full of envy from fans, she couldn't stop grinning like an idiot, and eventually fell asleep just like that until dawn.

By the way, even though Bocchi was shy, introverted, and full of self-doubt in real life, so much so that she couldn't even look the convenience store clerk in the eye when buying something, she was a hopeless little social anxiety case, her online identity was entirely self-created.

In her online world, she was a super sociable extrovert with over a hundred friends in her contact list, and even had a school basketball ace as a boyfriend. That was the persona Bocchi made up online.

Of course, after meeting Kaito, that so-called basketball ace boyfriend was swiftly declared "broken up with" in her latest post, and she switched over to another "once-in-a-thousand-years super beautiful boy."

Even though it all sounded super exaggerated, a surprising number of fans actually believed her and even urged Bocchi to post photos, but the guilty little social anxiety case just ignored them all.

Boasting a bit online was fine, but if she really posted a photo of Kaito, there was a good chance that within three days, some rabid fan would dox him, trace the clues, and track him down offline for an assassination.

Just imagining that scenario made Bocchi shiver, 'Totally unacceptable!'

Ahem, back to the story.

Back to last night.

After having an honest chat, the girls decided to stick together through thick and thin. They came together, and they'd leave together.

To show their resolve, each of them went back to their rooms to grab their blankets and pillows, and they all made a floor bed in Kaito's room.

Although Kaito didn't quite understand the logic behind it, 'If you want to show determination, why do you have to crash in my room.'

But Ryou swore up and down that sleeping on the floor together better expressed the idea of "we're a shared fate unit."

Since he didn't have to sleep on the floor himself, Kaito just let them be.

However, this led to another problem.

If Bocchi saw her close friends walking out of Kaito's room early in the morning, she'd definitely be thunderstruck, right?

To avoid that situation, the girls woke up an hour early, brought the bed sheets and blankets back to their rooms, and tried to create the impression that "we slept in our own rooms last night."

Even though that prevented exposure, it made Nijika and the others feel naturally guilty when facing Bocchi, as if they'd done something bad behind her back.

In this kind of situation, naturally no one wanted to say much, afraid that a slip of the tongue would expose the truth.

And so, breakfast ended under that stifling atmosphere.

Today's destination was the most famous place in Hoori TownMochizuki Shrine, also the most popular tourist spot here.

After passing through the vermilion torii gates and following the stone steps straight ahead, before long they could see the grand main hall.

Maybe it was still too early, but when they arrived at the shrine, there weren't many worshippers around.

A gentle breeze carried falling cherry blossoms, scattering them across the ground, making the scene feel a bit lonely.

"Ah it's that shrine maiden from yesterday who was following behind the old lady!", Kita suddenly pointed in a direction and said excitedly.

Following her gesture, they saw a familiar figure in red-and-white shrine maiden robes standing near the ema display not far away, holding a bamboo broom and sweeping the flower petals from the ground.

The shrine maiden clearly didn't expect them to come visit the shrine this early and looked a bit surprised.

But she still greeted them warmly, especially when she saw Kaito, even her professional smile turned noticeably more genuine.

After a brief exchange of greetings, the shrine maiden formally introduced herself: Mochizuki Ayako.

Nijika was still thinking about last night's sludge monster, and after a few sentences, got straight to the point, "Miss Mochizuki, could I trouble you to introduce us to the old lady from yesterday? I have a few questions I'd like to ask."

"You mean Granny Chiyo?"

Mochizuki Ayako hugged her broom and hesitated slightly, "Granny rarely meets outsiders these days. But if you don't mind, maybe you could tell me about your concerns instead?"

'Can we?'

Nijika first glanced at Kaito for approval. Seeing him nod, she made up her mind and explained what happened in the hot spring last night.

At first, Mochizuki Ayako kept smiling like a nun listening to a confession in a booth.

But once she heard the words "a monster resembling sludge in appearance," her smile gradually faded, and her expression became noticeably serious.

Looks like they really came to the right place today.

Seeing Mochizuki Ayako's obvious look of knowing something, Ryou was the first who couldn't hold it in and asked curiously, "Miss Mochizuki, you seem to know where those sludge monsters came from?"

Facing her scrutinizing gaze, Mochizuki Ayako didn't get upset, she just nodded slightly, "The monsters you're talking aboutI do know a bit about them."

"However, their name is not sludge monsters, but"

"Vengeful Spirits."

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Chapter 74: Murakumomaru

There is a phrase called "disaster caused by spirits," referring to disasters caused by the manifestations of ghosts or gods.

Mochizuki Ayako slightly furrowed her brows. In Hoori Town, there were indeed appearances of vengeful spirits. One of the duties of the shrine was to eliminate vengeful spirits and protect the peace of Hoori

"This is the first time a vengeful spirit has attacked tourists in town"

In previous years, the appearances of vengeful spirits always occurred in a deep mountain not far from Hoori Town and only at night. Even if ordinary people went into the mountain during the day, they wouldn't encounter any danger.

But now, a vengeful spirit had actually appeared in the town and even openly attacked tourists. This was not a good sign, it meant their arrogance was growing.

Worried as she was, Mochizuki Ayako also felt something odd.

'Vengeful spirits posses immense strength. Their tentacles are like fierce steel whips, capable of easily breaking a tree thick enough for a person to wrap their arms around. Even a professionally trained martial artist will have a hard time escaping unharmed.'

'Yet, this group is completely unscathed and even came early in the morning to visit the shrine.'

'Could it be that the vengeful spirit doesn't actually harbor any ill intent?'

When she voiced this doubt, she received a casual reply.

"Oh, those? I already took care of them."

Mochizuki Ayako: "?"

Even someone like her, a professionally trained exorcist shrine maiden since childhood, needed to act cautiously to eliminate a vengeful spirit.

What was with this "I had two boiled eggs for breakfast" kind of relaxed tone?

Kaito pulled out two irregularly shaped rectangular crystal objects, they were the remnants of the two vengeful spirits from last night, speaking the truth with evidence.

Seeing these crystals, Mochizuki Ayako no longer harbored any doubts.

She had thought he was just a once-in-a-thousand-years beautiful boy, but he was actually a powerful and deeply hidden exorcist

She shook her head, stopped her wild thoughts, and spoke seriously, "This matter indeed exceeds my ability to handle. Please follow me. All your questions will be answered by Grandma Chiyo."

After twisting and turning through the vast shrine, crossing several wooden corridors, they soon arrived in front of a secluded main hall.

This was obviously a more private place. Signs prohibiting tourists from entering were posted all around, and golden shimenawa ropes were everywhere. In front of the hall stood two solemn and majestic komainu statues, like guardian gods, one on the left and one on the right.

At the moment, the hall doors were tightly shut. Mochizuki Ayako stepped forward and knocked.

A moment later, the heavy vermillion doors slowly opened, revealing the interior.

The overall decor was very simple, even somewhat empty. The entire main hall, aside from the central dog deity statue, had one particularly eye-catching object, a massive stone enclosed by a fence.

At the center of the stone was an unassuming tachi sword, exuding a strong spiritual energy.

Grandma Chiyo, who had warned Ryou not to disrespect the gods yesterday, was there too, kneeling on a cushion in front of the dog deity statue, praying.

Mochizuki Ayako briefly explained last night's events. Grandma Chiyo's expression became solemn. She sighed deeply and slightly bowed to Kaito's group, "It was our Mochizuki family's negligence that caused you honored guests to be frightened. This old woman sincerely apologizes."

"Grandma, you're being too polite", Seeing an elderly woman acting so humble, Nijika felt a bit embarrassed and quickly helped her up.

Meanwhile, Yumiko looked with interest at the tachi stuck in the giant stone not far away and asked curiously, "This sword, does it have some kind of special origin?"

"That is the divine sword enshrined by the Mochizuki Shrine for generations, named Murakumomaru."

The one who spoke was Mochizuki Ayako. The shrine maiden made no attempt to hide anything, "In the past, when the dog deity returned and helped the head of the Mochizuki family at the time repel enemy forces, it used up all its power and completely vanished, leaving behind only this divine sword that had fought alongside it."

"After the shrine was established, this divine sword became a treasured heirloom passed down through generations of the Mochizuki family, enshrined day and night."

Thanks to the blessing of the divine power, the later generations of the Mochizuki clan gained the power to resist vengeful spirits, barely maintaining the peace of Hoori Town.

"So why is it stuck in a rock?"

Kita was a bit eager, "Is this like cosplaying the Sword in the Stone? Can I try pulling it out?"

"As for that I'm not entirely sure," Mochizuki Ayako shook her head and added, "Pulling it out is allowed, but the divine sword has a spirit. Only those it recognizes as its master can pull it out. So far, no one has succeeded. If Miss Kita is willing, she may try."

Originally, the divine sword was not to be touched by outsiders. Only members of the Mochizuki family had the right to try pulling it.

But since the group had already encountered vengeful spirits and even had the power to eliminate them, some rules could be moderately relaxed.

Kita was very interested in this sort of thing, and Nijika and Bocchi also joined in for fun.

All the girls tried it once, but without exception, even using all their strength until their faces turned red, they couldn't move Murakumomaru at all. Despite its thin appearance like a sheet of paper, it felt as heavy as a thousand tons.

Mochizuki Ayako wasn't surprised by the result. Over the centuries, at least a thousand Mochizuki clan members had tried to pull the sword, but none managed to move it even slightly, herself included.

However her eyes inadvertently fell on the beautiful boy who hadn't tried yet. Mochizuki Ayako felt a strange emotion stir and invited him, "If Kaito-kun is interested why not give it a try?"

"That's right, that's right!", Kita also chimed in enthusiastically, "Since you're already here, give it a go. It's free! Kaito-kun, you should try!"

"Alright, I'll give it a try then," Kaito thought for a moment and didn't refuse.

Murakumomaru contained a good amount of spiritual energy. It wasn't a big deal to him, but compared to the spiritual reserves of Mochizuki Ayako and Mochizuki Chiyo, it was like the Nile River compared to a shallow stream.

In this end-of-law era where spiritual energy was scarce, such a genuinely extraordinary weapon naturally piqued his interest.

Walking up to the giant stone, feeling the others' tense and expectant gazes, Kaito extended a slender, jade-like hand and slowly gripped the sword hilt.

The next moment

CLANG!

A clear, ringing sword cry echoed, like a dragon's roar.

Looking at the Murakumomaru in his hand, slightly trembling, Kaito slowly raised a question mark.

"?"

'I haven't even started pulling yet. Why did you come out on your own?'

Mochizuki Ayako also looked a bit dazed.

'This it was pulled out?'

'Nono, wait!'

'This can't even be considered pulling the sword, can it?'

The divine sword Murakumomaru, enshrined for generations by the Mochizuki family, its behavior just now was more like that of a puppy long separated from its master. The master didn't even wave, it already ran over, tail wagging.

Grandma Chiyo, who witnessed all this, had a complex expression on her aged face.

In her youth, she too had grand ambitions, wanting to pull out the divine sword and drive out all vengeful spirits, leaving none behind.

But alas, the shrine maiden was willing, while the divine sword was indifferent, Murakumomaru didn't even acknowledge her.

Yet now, the divine sword was pulled out in front of her. And in such an eager, fawning manner

The old woman clutched her chest, suddenly feeling short of breath.

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Chapter 75: Lord Kaito's Fondness for the Cow

"Amazing!"

Compared to Mochizuki Ayako and Mochizuki Chiyo, Kita's thoughts were much simpler.

Others couldn't pull out the divine blade, but it was easily drawn out by Kaito-san. The girl's eyes sparkled as she lavishly poured out her admiration, "As expected of Kaito-san! You easily did what we couldn't!"

'Although Kaito-san is indeed amazing... but Kita-chan, isn't your proud expression a bit too exaggerated?'

'You're just like a little fangirl with zero shame!'

'Although, it doesn't seem like I have the right to mock Kita either...', Thinking back to some scenes from last night, Nijika's pretty face turned red.

Kaito casually swung the Murakumomaru in his hand a few times and quickly made a judgment, "It's a decent blade."

'At least in this world.'

Though it felt a bit light to him, the spiritual power contained in the blade made up for that. Even an ordinary person without supernatural powers, if holding the Murakumomaru, could still harm existences like evil spirits and yokai.

Of course, for ordinary people, the biggest issue was how to gain the Murakumomaru's recognition.

Even though Kaito had already pulled it out of the stone, the divine blade still had its own little temper. When Yumiko and Kita tried to touch it, it dodged on purpose, it was truly full of spirit.

If it could be enshrined by the Mochizuki family for another few decades, or if a great practitioner refined the blade with spiritual power, it wouldn't be surprising if a sword spirit was born.

After toying with it a while longer, Kaito prepared to insert the Murakumomaru back into the stone without any reluctance. After all, this was the Mochizuki Shrine's heirloom treasure, he couldn't possibly keep it just because he drew it.

He wasn't King Arthur, and the Murakumomaru wasn't the Sword in the Stone, it had to be returned to its rightful place.

Only, at this moment, the divine blade threw a tantrum.

The miko of the Mochizuki family had changed generation after generation, and several hundred years had passed, yet none had satisfied it.

The Murakumomaru's requirements were actually quite simple, 'If you wanted to be my master, you needed to be exceptionally talented in spiritual training, right?'

'Looks also have to be outstanding, one in ten thousand will do. Otherwise, how can you be worthy of the identity of the divine blade?' [T/N: Tf?]

But the shrine maidens who came to draw the sword were either mediocre in talent, or average in appearance.

Or both.

Now, it had finally met its destined master, not only meeting all of its expectations but even surpassing them.

Of course it didn't want to leave. The blade trembled violently, ringing with a clear chime, unwilling to be shoved back into the cold stone crack.

This resistant behavior made one unconsciously see the illusion of a child on their first day of kindergarten, unwilling to let go of their mother's clothes.

Seeing this ridiculous scene, Mochizuki Chiyo sighed, "Honored guest, since you have drawn the divine blade, please take it with you."

Though she was reluctant to let the blade they had enshrined for centuries be taken away by an outsider, since he had drawn the Murakumomaru, it meant he was the one recognized by the divine blade.

The blade had a spirit. Before it acknowledged someone, it could be left untouched. But once acknowledged, unless its master died, it would never serve another. Even if left in the shrine, it would only be decoration.

Of course, she could choose to silence them and forcibly reset the ownership.

But firstly, Mochizuki Chiyo wasn't a bloodthirsty person who resorted to such means. Secondly even if she did choose to silence them, the divine blade wasn't blind. Killing its chosen master right in front of it, wasn't that taking the Murakumomaru for a fool?

"You're just giving it to me like that?", Kaito raised an eyebrow.

"You drew the blade, which makes you its master. Even if I object, it will find a way to sneak back to you," Mochizuki Chiyo looked at the Murakumomaru in his hand and shook her head, "I only hope, that in light of the blade's devotion to you, you'll treat it well."

'I just pulled out a sword, so why does this sound like someone entrusting me with their granddaughter?'

Still, Kaito nodded, "I will."

Granny Chiyo smiled kindly, then brought up another topic, "The Mochizuki Shrine has always had a rule, those who draw the divine blade are its master. But until now, only shrine maidens of Mochizuki bloodline were eligible to attempt it."

The reason she brought this up wasn't because she regretted it, but for another purpose, "I wonder if the honored guest would be willing to establish a marriage contract with the Mochizuki family?"

"If you agree, you may choose any suitable shrine maiden as your wife, or even several. In the future, the entire shrine would be inherited by you."

The Mochizuki family bloodline was cursed, they could never give birth to boys.

Because of this, to ensure the family line continued, taking in sons-in-law became the only option.

"Ehhhhhhhhhhh?", Kita looked terrified, 'Th-this... this can't be that legendary Chinese custom of recruiting a son-in-law under the ranking board?'

Maybe calling it "sword recruiting son-in-law" was more fitting?

Nijika and the others also looked nervously at Kaito, afraid he would accept immediately.

In Japan, it was quite common for rich families and conglomerates to recruit sons-in-law.

After all, training an excellent heir was hard, but finding a talented son-in-law was much easier.

The general public didn't have much bias against sons-in-law either. Not to mention, the Mochizuki family was practically the local overlord of Hoori Town, they lacked neither money nor reputation. If he agreed, it'd be both wealth and beauty handed over at once.

Among them, Yumiko was the most nervous.

Though she had some strange fetishes, they were just superficial.

As long as her "main wife" status was secured, she could treat it like a fun kink.

But if someone took away her "main wife" status...

That'd be like me sharing my dinner with you, and not only do you eat it all, you take the bowl too, isn't that going too far?

Mochizuki Ayako, on the other hand, was a bit shy. She secretly glanced at Kaito, silently agreeing with Grandma's proposal.

Even if she wasn't chosen, just having such a handsome divine blade master at the shrine was a visual treat.

"Let's drop the son-in-law thing," Kaito shook his head slightly, rejecting Grandma Chiyo's proposal.

Even in the traditional cultivation world, he'd never experienced arranged marriages. Though people often came to propose, they were all firmly rejected by his master, saying "Don't interfere with your disciple's freedom to love."

He couldn't have traveled to the more open 21st century, only to go backwards, wouldn't that be regression?

Grandma Chiyo wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Kaito's expression of "this is non-negotiable," she said no more.

Sensing the tension, Ryou stepped up without hesitation, breaking the silence, "Grandma Chiyo, what exactly is the Inugami? How did it appear?"

This was the question that mattered most to her. Ryou had been worried the Inugami would attack them because she disrespected the gods and was receiving divine punishment, but now, it didn't seem so simple.

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Chapter 76: Then Just Keep Beating It Up!

"This matter has to be traced back to the history of Hoori Town from hundreds of years ago."

Granny Chiyo asked, "You all should have heard the legend of the town, right?"

Nijika nodded, "It is said that the dog god helped the Mochizuki family drive away the daimyo's army... Since the divine blade exists, the dog god must also be real, so the matter is actually true? The daimyo really sent an army of over a thousand people?"

"That's artistic embellishment from later times; in fact, there weren't that many enemy troops."

Granny Chiyo shook her head, "Hoori is just a remote small town, and the terrain can't be called easy to defend or hard to attack. Of course the daimyo wouldn't mobilize a large force."

Actually, the other side only sent two hundred armored soldiers.

Though most of the armor was made of animal hides and mostly ragged, not to mention lacking full-body coverage, and the weapons in their hands varied greatly in quality.

But when facing a group of poorly clothed farmers who could only use hoes and pitchforks as weapons, it was still a dimensionality-reduction strike.

If nothing unexpected happened, these two hundred people would have easily taken Hoori Town. Unfortunately, a dog god jumped out halfway, ignoring martial ethics, and launched a sneak attack.

Letting this group of soldiers bully malnourished and timid farmers was of course their specialty. Burning, killing, looting, creating chaos, and recklessly unleashing the darkness in their hearts.

But when facing a legendary monster, they became very fragile.

Even the samurai leading the army, clad in full armor and standing at 1.7 meters tall.

Compared to his subordinates, in terms of both equipment and physique, he was several levels above.

But when facing the dog god who stood 1.9 meters tall and was covered in bulging muscles, he still seemed like a weak child, cut in half with one blow.

Seeing the boss dead, the army's morale collapsed, and everyone only cared about running for their lives.

In the end, except for a few who escaped by luck, the rest of the evil soldiers were all slaughtered by the furious dog god, resolving the crisis of Hoori Town.

The dog god also exhausted its power because of this. After leaving behind the Murakumomaru blade that helped it slay enemies, it turned into specks of light and dissipated between heaven and earth.

Among those soldiers who escaped, someone reported the matter in Hoori Town to the daimyo.

The daimyo was furious, but in the face of a legendary monster, he still had scruples in his heart, and in the end, the matter was left unsettled.

Hoori Town should have regained peace from then on, but perhaps because the dog god's killing intent was too strong, the resentment of those soldiers it killed did not disperse and turned into Vengeful Spirits, continuing to haunt this land.

With no other option, the Mochizuki family had to build a shrine, using the power of Murakumomaru, taking on the mission of expelling the Vengeful Spirits generation after generation.

"But why did the Vengeful Spirits target us?", Kita was baffled.

The matter has become obvious to this point. The Vengeful Spirits and the dog god are enemies. There's no need for them to fight for the dog god. The reason they attacked the girls must be something else.

Regarding this, Granny Chiyo was also somewhat puzzled. She frowned and pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Perhaps, they didn't target you, but this honored guest instead."

The honored guest she pointed to was naturally Kaito.

Compared to ordinary people, Vengeful Spirits do indeed prefer to attack those with spiritual power. If the former is plain tea and simple food, the latter is a luxurious feast, not only more delicious but also more nutritious.

But this is just speculation. What if the Vengeful Spirits were actually moved by lust?

After all, they are monsters formed from resentment, their actions cannot be judged by common sense, and any behavioral logic wouldn't be strange.

"There are still vacant rooms in the shrine. If you guests don't mind, why not stay here? It should help avoid further attacks from the Vengeful Spirits."

"During this time, I will also lead the shrine maidens up the mountain to purify evil energies as much as possible. I believe this should calm them down for a while."

Granny Chiyo's personality carried a certain aura of decisive action, she must have been a fiery miko in her youth.

"Isn't there a once-and-for-all method?", Nijika couldn't help asking.

"No," Granny Chiyo sighed, feeling helpless too.

Vengeful Spirits are monsters born from resentment. As long as resentment remains, even if they are temporarily purified, they will rise again soon after.

Resentment does not dissipate with time; it only becomes more intense.

Just like vengeful spirits who died unjustly don't suddenly become enlightened and reincarnate peacefully just because a long time has passed.

To eliminate resentment, one must resolve their obsessions. But the Vengeful Spirits' obsession is to take revenge on Hoori, so it's a dead knot that can't be untied.

The Mochizuki Shrine certainly couldn't help the Vengeful Spirits get revenge on their own people just to eliminate their resentment.

What's the difference between that and hurting yourself tenfold to harm the enemy?

There's no other way, just like a diligent gardener removing weeds from the yard, they must go up the mountain regularly to purify the Vengeful Spirits and prevent them from growing.

Of course, for Kaito, there's actually another more direct and effective method.

If the Vengeful Spirits don't want to let go of their obsession, then just keep beating them up until they're willing to let go of it.

The so-called lingering resentment only exists because the beatdown isn't strong enough. If you directly pull out the source of the resentment and grind its bones to dust a hundred times, a hundred times, then these Vengeful Spirits naturally wouldn't have any chance of resurrection.

"That being said... isn't this method a little too simple and crude?"

After hearing this theory, Yumiko hesitated to speak and looked conflicted.

Instead, fangirl Kita had stars in her eyes, grabbing Bocchi's arm and enthusiastically agreeing, "I actually think it makes a lot of sense! As expected of Kaito-kun!"

Nijika looked a little worried, unconsciously clenching her fists in front of her chest, "Are you confident?"

Kaito said, "Close your eyes."

'Eh?'

Shimokitazawa's Archangel looked a little surprised but still obediently closed her eyes. Her long eyelashes were like fine brushes, trembling slightly.

Kaito: "..."

He coughed and said, "I meant, this kind of small matter, I can do it even with my eyes closed."

That wasn't a lie.

Even with his eyes closed, he still had divine sense to use.

"I-I see...", Nijika blushed, only now realizing she had misunderstood.

'And to think I thought...'

'N-no, can't keep thinking about it!'

Granny Chiyo originally thought this statement was a bit too confident, 'Vengeful Spirits aren't that easy to beat.'

But on second thought, the other party was able to effortlessly insta-kill two Vengeful Spirits, so he did have a reason to be confident.

Compared to waiting passively, Kaito preferred to take the initiative.

Regardless of the Vengeful Spirits' true intentions, attacking him was a fact, clearly asking for death.

Coincidentally, there was a purification operation tonight, so he planned to go up the mountain together and root out the source of the resentment.

Granny Chiyo didn't object either. Having an extra powerful fighter on the purification team at least ensured better safety.

"Can we go too?", Yumiko raised her hand, looking hopeful but also worried about being a burden.

The other girls felt the same. Purifying Vengeful Spirits... this scene was like something out of a movie. There's no way they wouldn't want to watch.

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Chapter 77: Messing with me? Then youve hit a steel plate.

"If you want to come, then let's all come together."

Kaito didn't let them down.

In the entire Hoori town, there was no place safer than by his side.

As for whether the girls would hold him back?

'As long as I kill fast enough, no one can strike my teammates.'

Lunch and dinner were both eaten at the Mochizuki Shrine, cooked by Mochizuki Ayako, consisting of very delicate dishes that tasted pretty good too.

The sky gradually darkened, the moon rose above the treetops, and the stars on this spring night were especially bright.

The time had already come to eleven o'clock.

At this hour, all the shops in Hoori town had closed, tourists wouldn't be wandering around, let alone climbing the mountain.

The once bustling and lively town was now only met with a slightly chilly breeze, showing a few degrees of quiet desolation.

Granny Chiyo had brought a total of four shrine maidens up the mountain, including Mochizuki Ayako. They were all wearing red-and-white shrine maiden outfits, adorned with hairpins, and for ease of movement, they had swapped out their wooden clogs for sneakers, each holding a golden suzu(bells).

The so-called golden suzu, also known as sword bells, rather than being "bells," they were more like small short swords.

Unlike traditional kagura bells, their purpose was more offensive, serving as ritual tools primarily used to exorcise evil.

They were composed of three main parts: the sword above the hilt, the hilt itself, and eight bells hanging below.

These three components also symbolized the Three Sacred Treasures of Japanese mythology: the Kusanagi Sword, the Yata Mirror, and the Yasakani no Magatama.

The golden suzu in the shrine maidens' hands each contained a faint spiritual power, and this spiritual energy clearly shared the same origin as the Murakumomaru. If nothing unexpected occurred, they were likely borrowing the power of that divine blade.

The shrine maidens themselves also possessed spiritual power, but mostly at a beginner level. In one-on-one situations, they could barely manage to subdue a Vengeful Spirit, but if surrounded by more than two, their situation would become very dangerous.

Walking through the dark, deserted mountain path, with the occasional gust of wind rustling the leaves into soft "sasa" sounds

No one spoke, and even the girls following behind Kaito were a bit nervous, unable to help glancing around, afraid that a pitch-black slime monster would suddenly spring out from somewhere, waving its tentacles and charging at them.

In contrast, Kaito appeared much more relaxed.

Rather than coming to the mountain to exorcise Vengeful Spirit, he seemed more like he was on a leisurely spring outing, showing not a trace of panic or tension.

They walked like this for more than half an hour, and still found no trace of the Vengeful Spirit.

While Ryou breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a bit disappointed, "Don't tell me we're going to come up empty-handed?"

Granny Chiyo was also surprised. Normally, it wouldn't take long after going up the mountain for the Vengeful Spirit to appear and attack. A peaceful and quiet night like this was the first time.

Nijika, however, thought it was a good thing, "No matter what, avoiding a battle is always good. At least no one will get hurt."

Kita, as always, had the wildest imagination, "Maybe it's because Kaito's actions yesterday scared them, so now they're hiding and don't dare come out?"

Bocchi said weakly, "I-I think so too"

And in fact, that was exactly the case.

Though the Vengeful Spirit born of grudges didn't have rationality, they still possessed the basic biological instinct to seek fortune and avoid danger.

Last night's attack had made them realize these outsiders were not the pushover types like the ones at the Mochizuki Shrine. They might be a solid piece of steel, better not mess with them.

Seeing that Kaito had also come up the mountain, they simply hid away.

Kaito's attitude was still carefree, "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain. Since they won't show themselves, then we'll go knock on their door."

Offend the abbot and expect to escape?

In this world, some people have a people-pleasing personality, like Bocchi, who never dares refuse anyone's request, excessively caring about others' needs and feelings, even willing to sacrifice her own interests to meet others' expectations.

Some people have a money-pleasing personality, like Ryou, always borrowing rice from Bocchi, and even calling it "friendship tax."

But Kaito was special, he had a punishment-seeking personality.

Mess with me, and you've hit a steel plate. If enemies come from afar, no matter how far, they must be eliminated.

He looked deep into the forested mountain. Through the tangled shadows of trees, he could see that the grudge aura there was extremely dense. Dozens of pitch-black slime-like Vengeful Spirit were clustered together, and in the very center was one also pitch-black in form but clad in full-body armor, resembling a humanoid Vengeful Spirit warrior.

This was likely the rumored samurai leader who once led two hundred soldiers to attack Hoori.

Killed upon meeting the Inugami with a single slash, the resentment was too great. Even after death, he could not rest in peace, now leading his subordinates to seek revenge on Hoori.

Its power was indeed extraordinary. Compared to the muddy minions around it, it barely retained a humanoid form from life, though its facial features were still blurry.

But that was all.

In life, it was casually slain by the Inugami. In death, it was left guarded by the Inugami's Murakumomaru. Though it claimed to seek revenge on Hoori, it could only let its minions stir up small troubles within the mountain, not daring to launch a full assault on the town, afraid of the divine sword's wrath.

'Nameless in life, miserable in death. No wonder its resentment never faded.'

If it had stayed cowardly, it might've been fine. But it was drawn to the aura on Kaito's body, unable to resist its desire. It secretly sent its minions to kidnap someone. Not only did it fail, but it also brought a huge problem upon itself.

It was like a Thresh player casually hooking, only to hook the enemy's 12/0 Mordekaiser. They ended up dragging a big daddy they couldn't deal with over, helping the Morde overcome his lack of mobility. Then he used auto-attacks and skill weaves to unleash a brutal S-tier combo, killing the ADC in three slaps, and proceeded to solo four more. [T/N: League of Legends reference]

This kind of play, in games, would get your family tree disowned.

And in reality, Kaito could show a bit of mercy. By sending it down to have a chat with his own family tree.

With divine sense to assist him, even under this dark and windy night, deep in the forest, he easily found the hiding place of the Vengeful Spirit warrior.

Seeing so many Vengeful Spirit gathered here, he roughly estimated at least forty to fifty, maybe even more than a hundred pairs of crimson eyes looking over. The pressure could be imagined.

The shrine maidens of the Mochizuki family visibly grew tense. The same was true for Nijika and the others, who subconsciously hid behind Kaito.

But not only were they nervous, the Vengeful Spirit across from them were even more nervous.

The Vengeful Spirit warrior in the lead clearly had higher intelligence. It let out an intimidating roar but didn't show any intention of attacking.

["Leave now and no blame"]

It let out garbled bytes, but that was roughly the meaning.

Kaito slightly flipped his hand. Others couldn't see the movement clearly. But in the blink of an eye, he was already holding the slender Murakumomaru in his palm.

The originally ordinary blade now emitted a bright light, growing more and more blinding. When it shone on the muddy Vengeful Spirit, they actually let out painful wails, as if they were snowflakes under the blazing sun, their bodies beginning to melt.

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Chapter 78: How can anyone alive not like Murakumomaru? Theyre just forcing themselves!

"ROAR!"

Seeing the painful expressions of his little brothers beside him, the Vengeful Spirit warrior was furious.

Immediately, thick black mist erupted from his pitch-black body, wrapping him entirely within, leaving only a pair of crimson red eyes exposed, with no attempt to conceal the killing intent within.

He drew the tachi from his waist and charged forward without hesitation.

The Vengeful Spirit who could still move also followed behind their leader, rushing up together.

Granny Chiyo was about to lead the shrine maidens to intercept, when she saw in the distance, the blade Murakumomaru in Kaito's hand was glowing brighter and brighter. In just a few seconds, it turned into a blade light tens of meters long.

The charging Vengeful Spirit warrior halted, as if once again recalling the fear of being cleaved in half with a single strike when he faced the Inugami.

But back then, the blade light was far less magnificent than now, and it carried an aura capable of destroying everything.

It let out a terrified, panicked howl and tried to flee.

The result was obvious.

As the blade light descended, only a thunderous boom was heard, smoke and dust flew, covering the entire scene.

When the smoke cleared, the Vengeful Spirit were nowhere to be seen, leaving only a massive rift tens of meters long at the original spot, and a perfectly round transparent crystal the size of a basketball.

"Power", Kaito frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed, "Still passable."

For this strike, he didn't use his own strength, only guided it slightly to pour out the spiritual power Murakumomaru had accumulated over hundreds of years.

The Vengeful Spirit warrior, needless to say, was killed without a trace left, no risk of recovery, let alone resurrection.

Even his subordinates were gloriously taken down, each one dying without a sound.

'From a time perspective, this sword accumulated spiritual power for hundreds of years, yet can only unleash an attack of this level, actually a bit weak.'

'But on second thought, even the original blade owner Inugami was just an unknown rural yokai. For his passed-down blade to achieve this result is already quite good.'

Besides, the most important point, a weapon you got for free, and you still want a complain?

"Passable?"

Nijika almost wanted to retort, 'The power of this blade. If a Tiger tank is parked in front, it'll probably be cut in half like tofu, right?'

'But in Kaito's eyes, this is just barely satisfactory?'

The shrine maidens of Mochizuki Shrine exchanged looks, especially Mochizuki Chiyo.

'The Vengeful Spirit who troubled Hoori for hundreds of years just got wiped out with one slash?'

Everything happened too fast, like a dream, leaving them flustered, unsure what to do.

Kaito didn't care about the others' reactions. He waved his hand, and the transparent crystal on the ground flew over.

After death, a Vengeful Spirit would leave behind an irregular rectangular crystal.

But this time, perhaps too many Vengeful Spirit died, including the source of resentment, the Vengeful Spirit warrior, it was all too much. The soul crystals they dropped mysteriously fused together. In this dark forest, it looked like an oversized night pearl, radiating dazzling brilliance.

Buzz~

The Murakumomaru in his hand let out a soft chime, as if expressing a kind of longing emotion.

Kaito's heart stirred; he had a plan.

This large soul crystal was useless to him, but could be used as a foundation for shaping Murakumomaru's blade spirit.

However, he didn't act immediately. This kind of thing should be done in a quiet place without disturbance. The current scene was clearly unsuitable.

[Two Hours Later]

After clearing all the Vengeful Spirit in the mountain, Granny Chiyo, accompanied by a few shrine maidens, came to express her thanks.

She solemnly declared that they would always remember this great kindness and that from now on, they were the most honored guests of Hoori Town. On behalf of the Mochizuki family, she promised all shrine resources would be theirs to use freely. Whatever they requested would be carried out with full effort.

Their attitude was so enthusiastic, they might as well have taken down the Inugami statue in the shrine and put up one of him instead.

Mochizuki Chiyo originally wanted to invite them to stay at the shrine, but Kaito politely declined.

Finally returning to the inn, after saying goodnight to Nijika and the others, he returned to his room and took out Murakumomaru and the basketball-sized soul crystal.

Buzz~

The dignified divine blade now acted like an excited puppy, eager to devour the soul crystal in front of it.

Kaito didn't play coy. One hand gripped the blade, the other pressed the soul crystal, and he closed his eyes.

With his movements, pure white light lit up the room.

But the light wasn't blinding. Instead, it had the softness of fingertips brushing across spring water.

In Kaito's sight, countless dense threads of light emerged between Murakumomaru and the soul crystal, intertwining.

He looked like a skilled ink painter, patiently straightening the messy threads until all impurities in the soul crystal were removed, and then the two fused together.

Who knows how much time passed.

The light in the room finally began to fade.

The once basketball-sized soul crystal had lost its luster and shrunk to the size of a quail egg.

In contrast, in the once empty room, a green-haired, completely naked young girl appeared. [T/N: Hehe, boye!]

The girl floated in the air, eyes closed, like a newborn beast, arms crossed over her chest, curled up.

'This is the blade spirit's form?'

He originally thought it would be a being like the Inugami, but didn't expect her appearance to lean more human?

"...", The green-haired girl opened her eyes, revealing wine-red pupils, and stared straight at the unfamiliar yet handsome youth in front of her. Her gaze was a bit dazed, as if trying to confirm something.

Finally, she revealed a big smile and, like a chick returning to its nest, happily threw herself at him and joyfully cried, "Daddy!"

Kaito: "..."

Kaito: "?"

'A newly born blade spirit is she treating me as her father?'

Indeed, in the world, there is this kind of phenomenon. Chicks treating the first thing they see as their parent, known as imprinting.

In the cultivation world, many young demon beasts also have this trait, which is why cultivators often buy unhatched beast eggs to raise carefully. When they hatch, they gain a loyal pet.

'But do blade spirits do this too?'

Though she appeared as a green-haired girl, she wasn't human. Not even a living creature, just a soul body.

"Don't call me Daddy," Having lived three lifetimes, Kaito had never experienced being a parent. Hearing it always felt weird, "Just call me Master."

The green-haired girl in his arms tilted her head, innocent and confused, "Daddy?"

"..."

'Forget it.'

Kaito sighed. If she wants to call him Daddy, let her. After all, this blade spirit just came into existence and didn't understand the world yet. Probably couldn't grasp other vocabulary meanings.

He could correct her later anyway.

[Shoutout and big thanks to Pedro, Liketurtles, James_Hart & James Strong for joining Patreon. Quiet support like this keeps the story going and keeps me motivated. If you're enjoying the ride, consider joining too! ]

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Chapter 79: Nijika: I'll protect Kita's purity!

Kaito no longer tangled with these trivial matters and instead asked, "Do you have a name?"

"Mm...", The green-haired girl furrowed her delicate brows and shook her head very innocently.

She was like a newborn baby just out of the delivery room. No past, no name, NOT EVEN CLOTHES.

"Since you were born from Murakumomaru's soul..."

Kaito thought for a moment and made a firm decision, "Then you shall be called Kumiko. As for the surname, you'll take mineKurumizaka."

As someone terrible at naming, even his game ID was his real name online. His approach to names was simple and easy to remember.

Coincidentally, "Kumiko" was also very fitting for a girl's name, and it even hinted at her identity and origin.

Kurumizaka Kumiko, it rolled off the tongue quite smoothly.

Having received the name bestowed by her father, Kumiko was obviously very happy. Her small face rubbed against his chest, content like a cat.

...If one were to ignore the fact that she wasn't wearing a single thread of clothing at the moment, this scene should've been very heartwarming, reminding one of a cute little sister acting spoiled with her brother.

But because of the lack of clothing, it just looked creepy. It would be the kind of scene that would make people call the police. [T/N: FBI, OPEN UP!]

Now it was spring, the weather pleasant, and Kaito wore only a light purple T-shirt on his upper body. The fabric was rather thin, so when Kumiko pressed herself against him, the soft sensation was especially vivid.

Judging by the feel, the flat-chest family had gained another top recruit, Nijika and Kita would both proudly say they're not alone in this path.

Although Kaito wouldn't get flustered over this small contact, letting Kumiko keep rubbing against him didn't feel right either, so he picked up the little girl and placed her on the nearby bed, intending to find a few of his own clothes to put on her.

But just as he put Kumiko down, the girl showed a pitiful expression, "Daddy... do you hate me?"

Kaito pulled out a suitcase and rummaged through it, "This has nothing to do with hating or not hating you. It's just that there's a difference between men and women... Ah, found it."

He held up a purple short-sleeved shirt. A plain design with a blue pixelated shark pattern printed over the chest area. It looked kind of cute.

This was a spare change of clothes he brought with him, never worn before.

Kumiko's figure was very petite, around 140 cm, even shorter than the 155 cm tall secretary Sakiko.

A T-shirt that was a perfect fit for Kaito looked like a short purple dress when worn on her, reaching all the way down to her thighs.

Kumiko curiously touched the purple fabric on her body. Originally, as a soul body, she couldn't touch physical items, but with Kaito around, small things like that were no problem.

However, while the clothing issue was resolved, the commando problem still remained.

He couldn't just let little Kumiko wear his boxers, could he? That would be way too weird.

Besides, due to physiological differences between genders, the design of underwear is very different, and wearing the opposite sex's would be super uncomfortable.

He could only borrow one from someone else, huh?

The first choices, of course, were Yumiko and Bocchi. After all, they were the two girls he was closest with.

But after spreading his divine sense to scan the surrounding rooms, he found that Yumiko and Bocchi had already fallen asleep.

And most importantly, their sizes were clearly too big.

That left choosing from girls of a similar build to little Kumiko.

Kita and Nijika both met the criteria. As for Ryou, she was of normal sizeshe still had some power, so temporarily excluded.

Neither of the two girls were asleep, but after thinking for a moment, Kaito chose Nijika.

The great archangel of Shimokitazawa had a gentle personality and was very good at taking care of others. She was obviously more suitable than the energetic Kita.

Having made up his mind, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Nijika.

[Ijichi-san, could you come to my room for a bit?]

What happened tonight was practically like a scene from a manga.

A pitch-black cursed warrior and a ten-meter-long giant soul light.

All of it made Nijika feel excited and thrilled. Even after the dust settled and they returned to the inn, she still couldn't contain her excitement and kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She pulled out her phone, intending to scroll through Instagram to shift her focus.

Just as Nijika was finally starting to feel a little drowsy and about to put her phone down to sleep, a special notification sound chimed.

All her sleepiness vanished without a trace. She instinctively opened the notification bar and saw a message from Kaito.

[Ijichi-san, could you come to my room for a bit?]

'Although this kind of invitation sounds kind of ambiguous... it is probably just her overthinking again, right?'

After all, this kind of misunderstanding had happened a few times before, Nijika had already built some resistance to it.

'Maybe Kaito-kun has something important he needs my help with?'

The girl shook her head, stopped overthinking, and sent a reply, [Right now? Then I'll go call Kita and the others.]

He replied quickly.

[No need to bother the others. Just come by yourself.]

[Oh right, remember to bring a set of clean underwear. We'll need it later.]

Nijika: "..."

Nijika: "?"

'W-wait a sec! What's with the underwear?'

'And what does "we'll need it later" even mean? What kind of situation needs a change of underwear?'

'C-could it be...'

'Is this really not just me overthinking?'

'No, no, no... But even so, this is way too sudden, right? There's no mental preparation at all!'

Nijika felt like her CPU might be overheating, her head was buzzing.

She typed clumsily.

[Isn't... isn't this a bit too sudden...?]

'Sudden?'

'Nijika probably means that she doesn't have time to prepare clean underwear, right?'

'After all, this really is an unexpected situation. Not being prepared is completely normal.'

Kaito pondered for a moment and replied.

[Sudden? Now that you mention it, it is a bit.]

[If it's really inconvenient, then forget it. I'll ask Kita instead.]

Nijika: "!!!"

'Th-this is a threat, isn't it!'

'If I refuse, he's going to go after Kita?'

"Ijichi-san, you wouldn't want Kita to get hurt, would you? Then be a good girl and cooperate!"

A scenario like this surfaced uncontrollably in her mind, Kaito with a cold expression cornering her against a wall, lowering his head slightly, gently licking her earlobe, like a lone wolf who had set his sights on his prey.

Nijika's pretty face turned beet red.

'N-no way!'

'As the leader of the Kessoku Band, I have a responsibility to protect everyone in the group!'

'Little Kita's purity, I'll be the one to protect it!'

Her slender white fingers trembled slightly, filled with the tragic spirit. She nervously typed:

[No! Don't go to Kita!]

[I-I'll come over right away...]

'Why the sudden change of mind?'

'Did she find clean underwear after all?'

But Kaito didn't think too much and casually replied, [I'll be waiting in my room.]

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Chapter 80: Nijika Is a Woman Who Can Become My Mother!

The phone screen went dark again, extinguishing the only light source, and the room fell into darkness once more.

In an environment where she couldn't see her fingers in front of her, Nijika patted her cheeks, trying hard to cool down her burning face.

But the effect was minimal.

The moment she thought about the things that might happen later, her heart began to pound like a deer bouncing around.

Most schools in Japan have dedicated health education classes starting from elementary school.

Because of this, even a pure and flawless girl isn't unfamiliar with theoretical knowledge in that area.

Not to mention, under the corruption of a certain classmate named Scummy Ryou, who refuses to reveal her name, Nijika had also come into contact with part of an unspeakable youth energisation material.

Many of the contents inside, even just a fleeting glance, were enough to make her blush and her heart race.

Just thinking that the scenes and positions she had once seen might happen to herself

'No, no way! I can't think about it anymore!'

'It's all just to protect Kita's purity! A helpless measure, that's all!'

Nijika shook her little head like a rattle-drum, trying to get rid of all those shameful fantasies, then opened her suitcase and began picking out the underwear she would wear later.

Most of her clothes were bought together with her sister. Since the sisters had similar figures, their bra sizes were basically carved from the same mold, so even if they swapped, it didn't matter.

The styles were all very simple, either pure white or pink, with cute little bear patterns, looking very childish.

After hesitating for a while, Nijika chose the safer white one. At least it didn't look that childish.

After finishing everything, she took a deep breath and opened the door, but didn't rush out.

Like a thief, she peeked left and right in the hallway, and then quietly listened to the sounds from the next room. After making sure no one was around, she nervously approached the door diagonally across and gently knocked.

"Kaito-san may I come in?"

After just a few seconds, the tightly shut door opened.

"Sorry for bothering you so late."

Kaito stepped aside, "But after thinking it over, Nijika-san is still the most suitable person."

'The most, most suitable person?'

'So in Kaito-san's heart, I I'm this important?'

Nijika shyly twirled the side ponytail near her ear and walked into the room.

"A-Anyway you called me over because", Her voice stopped abruptly as her wine-red eyes accidentally met the gaze of a green-haired girl on the sofa, who wore only a white shirt and was sitting in a duck-style position.

The girl tilted her head, looking at her curiously.

Nijika: "?"

She thought she was seeing things.

Otherwise, why would she see a strange girl in Kaito-san's room?!

But that wasn't the end of it.

The newly born Kumiko was very clingy. Seeing Kaito return, she instantly showed a bright smile and opened her small arms, "Daddy! Hug!"

'W-Wait a second.'

'What did she say?'

'Daddy?'

That word was like a thunderbolt, completely stunning Nijika.

She couldn't imagine, 'Since when did Kaito-san have such a grown-up daughter?'

'More importantly who's the mother?'

"I told you, don't call me Daddy", Kaito sighed, not bothering to argue. He turned to look at Nijika, who was still in shock.

"Let me introduce, this is Kumiko Hmm, her surname is also temporarily mine, so just call her Kumiko," He briefly explained the situation, finally saving the shattered worldview of the almost-broken angel.

"So, Kumiko is actually the sword spirit born from Murakumomaru?"

"That's right."

'I see,' Nijika patted her not-so-bouncy chest, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Just based on appearance, Kumiko looked at least like a high school student. If she really were Kaito's biological daughter, that would be beyond perverted. Even doujins wouldn't dare draw that. [T/N: I wouldn't be so sure]

"But why is she calling you Daddy?"

"Maybe because I was the first person she saw when she opened her eyes."

Kaito shrugged, "I tried correcting her, telling her to call me master, but it didn't really work. It'll take time."

"Having a girl that looks the same age calling you 'master' that's not normal either!", Nijika glared at him, then noticed little Kumiko curiously watching them and couldn't resist reaching out to touch her soft-looking green hair.

"Kumiko-chan, right?"

Kumiko's eye color was the same as Nijika's, wine red, but filled with clear stupidity.

She seemed to be thinking of something, then happily shouted, "Mommy!"

"Ehh?"

Nijika quickly glanced at Kaito beside her and frantically denied, "I-I'm not your Mommy! You've got the wrong person!"

But little Kumiko didn't care and seemed pretty stubborn.

"Mommy!"

"D-Don't call me that!"

"Mommy!"

"I told you, I'm not"

"Mommy!"

"Ugh"

Back and forth like that, the girl couldn't beat Kumiko's persistence.

She had no choice but to half-reluctantly accept the title.

She hadn't even been in love before, and now she suddenly had a daughter about the same age as her.

'And that daughter is with Kaito-kun, our child.'

Nijika, shy and flustered, had a thousand thoughts in her heart, but in the end, they all turned into one sentence, "Kumiko-chan, you've really made things hard for me."

But having always taken care of her sister and Ryou, it didn't feel much different from raising two daughters.

Nijika quickly got her emotions under control and decided to help Kumiko get dressed.

Just wearing underwear wasn't enough. She was a girl, after all. Wearing a boy's white shirt just didn't seem right.

She returned to her room to get some of her clothes and helped Kumiko change.

Kumiko was very obedient, staying in the duck-sit position and letting Nijika dress her.

As for Kaito, he had already consciously turned around, giving space for this "mother-daughter" duo.

A moment later.

"All done!", Nijika clapped her hands, satisfied with her work.

A white, blazer-style uniform for girls, paired with a black pleated skirt, white puffy socks, and a pair of brown leather shoes.

A very student-like outfit, yet youthful and beautiful. It made Nijika want to take a picture as a keepsake.

"It really suits her," Kaito stroked his chin and gave his approval.

"Hehe~", Nijika bashfully fiddled with her fingertips, "It's just that Kumiko-chan is too cute. Even in a potato sack, she'd still look pretty."

She paused, then proactively said, "As for tonight why don't Kumiko-chan sleep with me?"

"Kumiko is a spirit; she can actually sleep inside Murakumomaru."

"How could that be okay?", Nijika shook her head like a rattle-drum, "A cold spirit body definitely isn't as comfortable as a proper bed."

"And besides, I want to chat with her too."

It really felt like Nijika had stepped into the role of a mother.

Kaito nodded, not objecting.

"As long as you don't mind her disturbing your rest, I've got no problem."

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Chapter 81: Let Me Check If Your Development Is Normal!

The next day, early morning.

In the restaurant, Kita looked at the yawning, spiritless blond-haired girl next to her, even her signature ahoge drooping with fatigue, and after holding back for a while, still couldn't help but ask, "Nijika, last night... you didn't get any rest, did you?"

Otherwise, why would she look like she pulled an all-nighter?

Gremlin Ryou, focused on dealing with the fried egg on her plate, calmly responded upon hearing this, "Don't tell me you snuck into someone's room to do bad things."

"Cough! Cough! Cough!", Nijika was drinking porridge, and almost choked when she heard that. After finally recovering, she looked at her with a bit of horror, 'How did Ryou know?'

"Wait a minute, don't tell me I actually guessed right?", Seeing her expression, Gremlin Ryou also lost her composure, 'I was just joking. Could it be Nijika really snuck out?'

The other girls also looked over, some surprised, some excited, some envious.

Seeing the misunderstanding deepen, Nijika quickly waved her hand to refute, "That's not it. I-it was some personal matters"

She didn't rashly reveal the existence of Kumiko, since she didn't fully understand Kaito's thoughts. Of course, she couldn't decide for him.

After returning to the room with Kumiko last night, Nijika had been looking forward to bonding with her nominal daughter.

But she quickly realized something was off.

As a sword spirit, Kumiko didn't need to rest.

Since she was just born, though she looked like a young high school girl, her mental age was that of a child.

And children always love to play, so she clung to her mama to play games.

Not wanting to disappoint her daughter, Nijika ended up playing with her all night.

They played until the sky began to brighten, and only then did Kumiko contentedly return to daddy's room.

As for Nijika, she finally got a short nap.

But she didn't sleep long, soon it was breakfast time.

At best, she had slept less than an hour. It would be strange if she wasn't sleepy now.

Kaito slowly finished the sakura sushi on his plate, as if he had long expected this situation, "I told you she would bother you You believe it now, right?"

Nijika pouted with a bitter face and nodded.

"She?", Gremlin Ryou looked suspicious, "I feel like there's some secret between you two that we don't know about"

"It's not really a secret," Kaito called out, "Kumiko."

The Murakumomaru quietly placed next to him buzzed, a faint white light glowing on its blade.

Next second

A green-haired girl in a school uniform appeared, landing neatly in an empty seat.

This scene of someone appearing out of nowhere startled everyone. Even Yumiko almost snapped her chopsticks.

"Let me introduce, Kumiko. She is the sword spirit of Murakumomaru."

Everyone here was a close friend, and there were no inn staff around, so Kaito had no intention of hiding it, nor was there a need to.

"Sword spirit?", This term, which sounded very fantastical, lit up the golden eyes of Gremlin Ryou.

'She looks no different from a human, yet she is born of a divine blade?'

For once, she even shared her tamagoyaki on her plate. Using her chopsticks, she picked one up and held it to Kumiko's mouth.

"This, for you."

Kumiko, completely unguarded, opened her mouth and ate it in one bite.

But just then, the seemingly kind Gremlin Ryou reached out her fair little hand and seriously said, "Three thousand yen please. How will you pay?"

Kumiko: "?"

'Are you trying to scam me?'

The newly born little sword girl deeply felt the cruelty of the world.

"No money?", Gremlin Ryou finally bared the fangs of a big bad wolf, "In that case, pay with your body!"

"Come, let me check if your development is normal."

Smack!

At the critical moment, Mama Nijika stepped forward.

A merciless forehead flick successfully stopped Gremlin Ryou from bullying even a just-born child.

Kita was already used to scenes like this.

Although Ryou used to be her admired idol, after getting to know her deeply, that idol filter had long shattered to dust.

Rather than defending Gremlin Ryou, the normie girl was more interested in Kumiko.

Yumiko was no exception, and even Bocchi mustered her courage and curiously moved closer to Kumiko, wondering how she differed from ordinary humans.

Thus, breakfast continued for a long time in such a lively atmosphere.

With the Vengeful Spirits no longer a threat, Hoori returned to peace.

In the days that followed, Kaito and his group lived leisurely, taking Kumiko around to play, fishing in the back mountain, digging wild vegetables, soaking in hot springs...

Kumiko also gradually learned a lot of common knowledge about this world from her initial innocence.

Aside from still calling Kaito "daddy" and Nijika "mama," she was no different from a normal teenage girl.

Happy times always pass quickly. The five-day-four-night trip eventually came to an end.

[May 5th]

After breakfast, the tour company's shuttle bus was already waiting outside.

The girls packed up their luggage and, together with Kaito, officially boarded the bus home.

.

.

.

After leaving the station and saying goodbye to Nijika and the others, Kaito returned home alone.

Originally, Yumiko had wanted to go with him to spend more time together.

But her parents, who had been on a business trip abroad, returned two days ago and even called her. She really couldn't get away.

He casually hung his coat on the rack, changed into indoor slippers, and before he could even look up, he heard a series of urgent meows.

'Boss, you're finally back, nya!'

Kirara, who had been waiting anxiously, heard the sound and immediately darted out from the bedroom.

Kaito was moved by the cat's enthusiastic attitude. He picked it up and weighed it a bit, 'Hmm, not only didn't it lose weight, it actually got fatter.'

'Looks like in the past few days I was gone, this silly cat has taken good care of itself.'

'Good, now I can be at ease if this happens again.'

"Meow! Meow!"

Kirara licked his face, eyes sparkling.

'Boss, where's my gift?'

'It's rare you went far. Surely you brought a souvenir for your kitty?'

'Like dried fish! Like dried fish! Like dried fish!'

Kaito pondered for a moment.

He had indeed planned to bring back some dried fish for Kirara, but left in a rush and forgot.

But facing the cat's expectant gaze, he really couldn't say no. Thinking for a bit, he lectured, "Offering favors without reason means ill intent."

"Someone who feeds you dried fish for no reason must be up to something. They might want to trick you into working at a cat caf as the top girl, selling your body to live. One cat stick per service, no dignity at all."

"Although I didn't bring you dried fish, this proves that I truly have no ulterior motives and genuinely care about you."

Kirara blinked, as if asking, 'How much dignity does a few sticks of dried fish cost?'

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Chapter 82: Little Mutsumi in Crisis

The distant sky had just begun to show a faint fish-belly white. The extremely weak dawn rose from the far horizon, bringing a slight warmth to the world.

"Master Master!"

'My body feels so heavy, is this sleep paralysis?'

"Master! Time to get up!"

Kaito opened his eyes. Sure enough, sitting on top of him was a green-haired ghost girl in a dinosaur onesie. Seeing he was awake, she showed a bright, energetic smile.

"Good morning! Master!"

"Good morning," Being woken up early in the morning by a beautiful girl as pretty as a doll should be a happy thing.

But Kaito was already used to it, instead he sighed, "I told you not to keep sitting on a guy's stomach... Don't you know you're heavy?"

"How mean!"

Kumiko pouted angrily and ground her silver teeth, "A girl's weight is a taboo. Even if it's you saying that, I'll still get mad!"

"You even have the burden of a girl's weight now?"

Kaito sat up and casually picked her up and set her aside, "You're growing way too fast, aren't you?"

"Humph~ Humph~", Kumiko crossed her arms at her waist, very pleased with herself.

From an innocent little girl who didn't understand the world, to the playful little demon she was now, such a huge change had to be traced back to a few days ago.

After returning from Hoori, the holiday was only halfway through.

There were still four days before school started, but Kaito had no intention of going out again. Part of the reason was laziness, and the other part was because the weather wasn't cooperating.

Tokyo in May had already entered the rainy season. On the second day after he got home, intermittent showers began falling nonstop. The air was humid and stuffy. It had already been several days since they last saw bright sunshine.

But this kind of weather was perfect for staying home and playing games.

Previously, there was only Kirara at home. Although she was smart, cat paws ultimately couldn't replace hands, so she couldn't play games with him. Kaito was used to solo queue life.

But three nights ago, just as he restarted a game, Kumiko, who had been playing with the cat, floated over, watching curiously from beside him.

Seeing that she seemed really interested, Kaito gave up his seat, planning to let Kumiko try it herself, and maybe give her a small shock from video games.

And then

The once innocent little girl who didn't understand the world was thus infected with the incurable disease known as "internet addiction."

Playing games, browsing forums, chasing anime She had already become a full-blown shut-in (sad).

The only thing that gave Kaito a bit of comfort was that at least he had managed to change the way Kumiko addressed him, from the creepy-sounding "Daddy" to the current "Master."

Although Kumiko looked really unhappy about it at the time after Kaito threatened to cut the internet, she obediently changed how she called him, afraid that any more delay would mean saying goodbye to her beloved games.

No one knew what kind of stuff this girl had seen online. Her personality was getting more and more outgoing, and she was learning more and more.

'I should better check her browsing history someday.'

After all, it had only been a few days since Kumiko got on the internet. She definitely didn't know about incognito browsing yet, and there was no way she had developed the habit of clearing history regularly.

"Time to eat," Once Kaito finished making breakfast, he came to the living room.

Sure enough, Kumiko was hugging the tablet, leaning on Kirara, happily playing.

Kaito swept his divine sense over. The game on the screen was some kind of card-based roguelike. The girl-controlled character was a ragged little robot, just smashed to death by a red demon with horns.

"Died It's all your fault, Master!", Kumiko kept her cross-legged posture, shaking her head and throwing blame like a pro.

"If you suck, practice more," Kaito calmly walked over to her, gave her a free flick on the forehead, then pulled the tablet out of her arms, "Go wash your hands, time to eat."

"Ow that hurt!", Kumiko clutched her little head with teary eyes, "You actually hit me that hard unless you give me the tablet back right now, I won't forgive you, Master."

What to do when a kid gets rebellious? Just smack them.

Kaito curled his finger, making a flicking gesture again. Kumiko was so scared she floated away.

"No no no! I'll go wash my hands right now!"

'Good old classical mechanics. Works like a charm.'

Breakfast was oatmeal porridge, boiled eggs, and waffles with jam.

After the meal, Kumiko quietly took back the tablet, sat on the sofa again, and restarted her tragically failed tower-climbing journey, making Kaito unable to help but comment, "Your addiction's a bit serious, huh?"

Kumiko didn't even look up, "What addiction? I play every day, never seen me get addicted."

Kaito: "?"

'When I put a question mark, it's not that I have a problem, it's that you have a problem.'

But thinking about it carefully Kumiko wasn't an ordinary child. She was the embodiment of the divine blade. She didn't have to work, didn't have to go to school, no risk of bad grades. If she liked to play, let her play. Being a shut-in wasn't that bad.

As an enlightened guardian, he simply sat beside Kumiko, turned on the big screen, and handed her a controller, "Wanna squad up?"

While this father-daughter duo was sweetly playing duo queue

[Port Area]

In a private villa, a blue-haired twin-tailed girl slightly furrowed her brows, looking anxiously at a tightly shut bedroom door not far away.

A moment later.

The door opened. A young woman wearing a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit came out, but there was no joy on her delicate face.

"Miko Kagano, how is it?"

[T/N: In Japanese, "miko" refers to a shrine maiden, typically a young female priestess, who works at a Shinto shrine.]

Beside Togawa Sakiko, a well-dressed middle-aged woman walked up, her voice trembling slightly.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Mori," Shrine maiden Kagano lowered her head, ashamed, "Miss Wakaba's condition is already beyond my ability."

Mori Minami was over forty, but due to careful maintenance, she looked only in her thirties.

Hearing this, her noble and elegant face turned pale. She staggered back a few steps, almost collapsing.

Little Sakiko quickly held her up, then looked at the shrine maiden and seriously asked, "Is Mutsumi in danger for now?"

Mori Minami also stared nervously into her eyes, afraid to hear a definite answer.

This time, however, Miko Kagano didn't disappoint them, "I've stabilized Miss Wakaba's condition for now. There should be no issues within three days. But if it exceeds that time"

She sighed, "Sorry, it's because my power is limited."

"Three days only three days", Mori Minami instinctively gripped the shrine maiden's sleeve, like clutching the last straw, "Isn't there any other way to save Mutsumi?"

Miko Kagano shook her head, "Maybe if we find an exorcist strong enough, this problem could be resolved, but"

'The industry is in decline. The skill levels of active shrine maidens, onmyoji, and priests vary greatly, and most are scammers.'

'The few who are actually capable are still very weak, and even slightly powerful vengeful spirits are hard to deal with.'

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Chapter 83: Not Closed Means Opened?

Indeed, the world is so big, if you really want to say, you can definitely find a few masters.

In this modern world, cultivation is difficult, even if they are masters, most of them hide deep in the mountains and old forests to cultivate quietly, rarely entering the secular world.

Trying to find a real expert to help within just three days is no different than fishing for a needle in the ocean.

The miko from the Kurano Shrine didn't stay long, and after reminding them of a few precautions, she bid farewell and left.

Mori Minami forced herself to perk up and saw her out.

Togawa Sakiko walked into the bedroom. The curtains were tightly drawn, the room was a bit dim, with only a small lamp lit by the bedside table. The warm yellow light was like a fragile candle flame in the wind, as if it would extinguish in the next second.

On the soft velvet bed, the green-haired girl wore only thin pajamas. Her doll-like delicate features were expressionless, sleeping deeply.

Seeing her dearest friend fallen into such a state, little Sakiko lowered her eyes and tucked the blanket around her.

Because of Golden Week, she was invited by Aunt Mori to stay over for a few days.

It had been a long time since she had caught up with Mutsumi. After arriving at the Wakaba household, Togawa Sakiko had been sharing a room with her. Both of them were petite and slender girls, so it didn't feel crowded.

At first, everything was normal, but four nights ago, Mutsumi suddenly had a dream.

In the dream, there was a strange woman dressed in a white kimono standing far away from her. She did nothing else but stare at her with those eyes full of white.

At first, no one took it seriously. Modern people all have illogical dreams now and then. Maybe she just watched a blockbuster movie during the day, and at night dreamed something related to it.

But on the second night, Mutsumi dreamed of the same strange woman in white again.

This time, the woman was closer, about one-fifth of the distance nearer.

On the third night, the dream was the same, and the distance shortened again by one-fifth.

Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, but the third time?

Mori Minami finally couldn't sit still. She realized that her daughter might have been entangled by something unclean.

She first invited a priest and an onmyoji to perform a ritual, but it was of no use.

Those seemingly high-and-mighty practitioners chanted sutras, arranged formations, and drew talismans, working busily for half a day, yet couldn't even tell what was wrong with Mutsumi.

Later, Mori Minami specially went to a shrine she had previously visited and invited the Kurano Shrine's miko.

This time it finally had some effect. Mutsumi's condition was temporarily stabilized, but it could only be maintained for three days.

"You've worked hard, little Sakiko," Mori Minami walked into the bedroom, looking at her daughter on the bed like a sleeping beauty. Her brows showed deep fatigue and a hint of despair hidden deep within.

"It's nothing, as it should be," Togawa Sakiko carefully chose her words, "Aunt Mori, I have a friend who is a very powerful exorcist. Maybe he can do something about Mutsumi's current situation."

Mori Minami gave a bitter smile.

The Kurano Shrine miko was already the most famous and skilled one she could invite. Even she was helpless. Basically, they could give up rescue at this point.

Although Sakiko was once the eldest daughter of the Togawa family, she had already left the family. Even if she really had an exorcist friend, at best he could probably only deal with some low-level ghosts that couldn't even harm people and could only scare normal folks.

Still, with a dead-horse-as-a-live-horse mindset, she nodded.

"Then please bring him here. If he can really save Mutsumi, the reward can be whatever he wants."

Looking at the big "Victory" on the screen, Kaito put down the controller and stretched lazily.

"One more round?"

After suffering her thirteenth consecutive defeat, Kumiko was clearly getting heated, angrily saying, "Cheater, you're using hacks!"

"What are you talking about? Not closed means opened?"

Kaito glanced at her and calmly said, "In esports, being bad is the original sin."

Youngling was still too naive. As a cultivator, having sharp ears and keen eyes was the most basic setup. His dynamic vision far surpassed ordinary people. As long as Kaito wanted to, everything on the screen appeared in slow motion in his eyes.

Does this count as cheating? Of course not. After all, he never turned anything off.

Using external tools is called cheating. But my ability to achieve god-tier victory comes purely from effort and sweat.

"One more match!"

Kumiko became more and more determined, wanting to wash away her shame. But unfortunately, Kaito's phone rang at that moment.

It was a message from secretary Sakiko. There was a commission that needed his action, with a generous reward and an address attached.

Coincidentally, Kaito didn't feel like bullying fish anymore either. He didn't want to crush Kumiko's confidence so much that she'd avoid him in the future.

Practicing with an evil spirit wasn't a bad idea.

[Port District]

As one of the wealthiest areas in all of Japan, many foreign embassies were located here. Numerous social elites and famous wealthy merchants lived here as well. The average annual income of the residents even surpassed that of Chiyoda District where the Emperor resides.

The client this time was named Mori Minami.

If Kaito remembered correctly, 'She seems to be a senior figure close to my secretary Sakiko? She has even given Sakiko a talisman imbued with spiritual power before.'

He took the train and soon arrived at his destination: a grand and luxurious detached mansion.

A familiar figure stood at the gate. Pretty blue twin-tails, a plaid lady's dress, lace white socks, and black leather shoes. Her skirt fluttered in the wind like a blooming flower.

"Kaito-kun!", Togawa Sakiko spotted him right away and waved cheerfully, hopping over like a rabbit.

Since returning from Hoori, this was the first time the two had met again.

Although it had only been a few days, it felt like several seasons had passed.

All those nervous and uneasy emotions also calmed at this moment.

'But what's with that katana?'

'Since when did Kaito-kun start practicing swordsmanship?'

But Togawa Sakiko didn't dwell on such small things. She quickly explained the situation briefly, then nervously asked, "Do you have confidence?"

If it were an ordinary client, she could just try her best.

But Mutsumi was her dearest friend, someone Sakiko considered her other half. If even Kaito couldn't do anything, she really didn't know what else to do.

"No problem," Although he was standing outside the villa, the moment he arrived, Kaito had already released his divine sense to probe and quickly locked onto a bedroom on the second floor.

The sleeping green-haired girl carried a certain unique mark on her body, similar to Yumiko who had been targeted by an evil spirit before, only more dangerous.

However, it seemed someone had helped to delay the process, using spiritual power to protect her life force. For now, her life wasn't in danger.

But when the spiritual power runs out, what's destined to come will still come.

If no one intervened, it would only change from immediate death to a suspended sentence.

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Chapter 84: Cucumber Fairy

"Then, I'll leave everything to the president," Sakiko slightly bowed and led the way ahead, "Please follow me."

The two stepped into this grand and spacious standalone mansion. Along the way, they encountered many maids dressed in black and white uniforms. All of them looked hurried, heads lowered, with a strangely oppressive atmosphere.

They reached the third floor, twisted and turned for two to three minutes, and finally arrived at the door of a rather plain-looking bedroom.

"This is it," Sakiko stopped and knocked on the door, then directly walked in.

Although it was a girl's boudoir, the room's decoration leaned toward cool tones, and the furnishings were pitifully sparse. Heavy metal band posters were plastered on the walls. There was no sign of plush toys or hugging pillows young girls typically liked. Instead, in the corner of the room stood a rack holding a seven-string heavy guitar, wiped spotless. Showing that its owner usually cherished it with great care.

On the large bed in the center of the room, a doll-like beautiful green-haired girl had already awakened, leaning against the headboard. Beside her sat a well-dressed noblewoman, worriedly asking something. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she instinctively turned her face.

"It's little Sakiko. This must be the one you invited", She finally saw the visitor's appearance, as if staring directly into Medusa's eyes, losing the ability to think.

"This is Mr. Kaito, the exorcist here to help Mutsumi drive away the evil spirit." [T/N: It should be Mr. Kurumizaka but I am lazy so Kaito it is]

Secretary Sakiko quickly spoke up to introduce, conveniently snapping Mori Minami out of her daze.

'Mutsumi's problem still isn't solved. Aunt Mori, if you want to be smitten, at least pick another time.'

"Nice nice to meet you," Although the amazement in her heart wouldn't disperse, Mori Minami, after all, was a national-level female star who had dominated the entertainment industry for decades. With that reminder, she finally restrained her impolite posture and returned to a poised and graceful manner, reaching out her hand.

Yet in her heart, she couldn't help but marvel, 'This Kaito-kun's appearance is simply too outstanding.'

Mori Minami wasn't someone who hadn't seen handsome men. The entertainment circle was full of all types of pretty boys. Cold, sunny, energetic, delicate but this level of handsomeness was a first. Compared to this beautiful youth before her, all those actors she once thought had good potential were like a puddle of mud on the ground.

With such a divine face, wouldn't entering the entertainment industry be a better path? He wouldn't even need an agency to go through the trouble of promoting him. Just appear on a random show, give him a chance to face the public, and that'd be enough.

Becoming a sensation in Japan would be like a nail hammered into the board, even going abroad would attract tons of face fans. He could easily become the most famous male star in the world. Even if he did nothing, he'd be swimming in money.

And yet, this person actually became an exorcist and even came to exorcise her daughter. Mori Minami couldn't tell whether she should feel regret or relief.

Kaito reached out and shook hands with the famous female star, just a light touch.

He had no intention of making small talk and looked straight at the green-haired girl who hadn't said a word since earlier. Her bright golden eyes didn't blink, staring right at him.

"Mutsumi, how are you feeling now?", Secretary Sakiko stepped forward and touched her friend's forehead, no sign of a fever.

"Still very tired," The green-haired girl named "Wakaba Mutsumi" had a voice like a doll too. Pleasant to the ear, but lacking emotion.

She gently shook her head, "But I haven't dreamed of that strange woman again."

"Looks like the contingency left behind by the Kagano priestess worked."

Secretary Sakiko patted her chest, then looked seriously at the president beside her, "It's all up to Kaito now."

"Mm," Kaito nodded. Seeing Wakaba Mutsumi's face a bit pale, he lightly tapped the center of her forehead.

The girl's delicate face visibly regained its color, and even her spirit, which had been languid for some time, perked up.

This miraculous scene surprised even Mori Minami. A faint hope rose in her heart.

'It seemed the exorcist boy Sakiko found is even better than the Kagano priestess?'

The Kagano priestess had spent several hours just barely stabilizing Mutsumi's condition, yet Kaito only needed a touch.

In comparison, the difference was stark.

"There's a very warm feeling," Wakaba Mutsumi quietly felt the warmth from the outside, like a clear spring nourishing her almost withered cucumber stalk.

Her powerless body gradually filled with energy. Withered vitality bloomed again.

She gazed at that pure and beautiful face like spring peaks and autumn moon. Her thin cherry lips parted slightly, and something in her chest stirred faintly.

"Thank you," This time, her voice seemed to carry more emotion than before. Like a doll finding its heart again.

"Does this mean it's a success?", Seeing her daughter's complexion turn rosier, almost no different from an ordinary person, Mori Minami couldn't hold back her excitement any longer and eagerly asked.

Secretary Sakiko beside her also looked over with hopeful eyes.

"I just replenished some of Miss Wakaba's depleted energy and blood."

Kaito shook his head, "If the source isn't removed, she'll soon return to the previous state."

"The source is that strange woman in the white shiromuku from Mutsumi's dreams?"

Sakiko was smart, she immediately grasped the essence of the evil spirit.

"That's right," Kaito thought for a moment, "If nothing unexpected happens, Miss Wakaba has likely been chosen by an evil spirit as a bride in a ghost marriage."

Shiromuku is the traditional outfit worn by Japanese women during weddings. It's basically the equivalent of the white wedding dress of western culture.

If you replace the white shiromuku with a red wedding dress, the current situation becomes very clear.

A woman in the white shiromuku keeps appearing in your dreams. She doesn't try to hurt you, just gets closer every time.

When she finally appears right in front of you, that's when the wedding is held.

Of course, on the surface, it looks like you got a wife for free. But not everyone is lucky. Just be brave, and the ghost wife goes on maternity leave.

Most people will only get their energy drained and end up a dry corpse.

"Wait that shiromuku person is clearly a woman, right?", Mori Minami looked a bit confused. She looked at her daughter again and confirmed, "Mutsumi, she's definitely a woman, right?"

'Not a man dressed as a woman, or a Walmart plastic bag?'

"Yes," Wakaba Mutsumi nodded. The other party had a tall figure, an obvious chest. Two cup sizes bigger than hers, even more curvaceous than Sosetsu.

Her face was blurry, like covered in mosaic, but she definitely didn't have an Adam's apple.

"In that case, shouldn't she be looking for a man to marry?", Mori Minami was completely baffled, 'Although in recent years, due to the shortage of men in society, many close female friends ended up living together but do evil spirits also keep up with the times?'

'This version is way too advanced, isn't it?'

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Chapter 85: Sun

"Since the problem lies with that Pure White Woman in the dream, how can we resolve her?", Sakiko was somewhat troubled.

If it were an evil spirit in reality, that would be another matter. Whether you could defeat it or not, at least you could see it.

But the Pure White Woman only appeared in Mutsumi's dreams. Outsiders couldn't even see her, so how could they exorcise her?

No wonder the onmyoji and priests who had been invited previously all looked troubled. This truly wasn't a problem that could be solved casually.

"Actually, it's simple," Kaito raised his eyebrows and said calmly, "Since she only appears in dreams, then as long as you kill her in the dream, won't that solve it?"

It clearly didn't sound simple at all.

However Secretary Sakiko quickly caught on, somewhat pleasantly surprised, "Kaito-kun, do you mean you have a way to enter dreams?"

Mori Minami was also incredulous, "Even something like that can be done?"

As for the person involved, Mutsumi didn't react much. She seemed not at all concerned about her own safety. She merely stared at Kaito in a daze, as focused as if she were observing a cucumber she had planted herself.

Kaito didn't explain further, only said, "Leave it to me."

The Pure White Woman in Wakaba Mutsumi's dreams only appeared when she fell asleep late at night.

Even if she fell asleep during the day, she wouldn't see her.

At this point, clever kids might ask: in that case, can't you just flip your schedule. Sleep during the day and stay up at night to avoid being entangled?

But of course, things weren't that simple.

Anyone targeted by the Pure White Woman would be cursed with a "Sleepiness" debuff. Constantly assaulted by drowsiness, with the risk of falling asleep at any time.

When Wakaba Mutsumi first dreamed of her, there were still many times during the day when she was awake. Though she got sleepy more easily than normal people, it only meant she slept four or five more hours.

But by the third time she dreamed of her, the girl was already spending ninety percent of the day asleep, with less and less time awake.

If this continued, she would eventually reach a day when she would never wake up.

Fortunately, with the Miko Kagano's help, even though she was still very sleepy, she could barely resist the drowsiness.

And within these three days, even if she fell asleep at night and dreamed of the Pure White Woman, the other party could not approach her. She would be blocked by the barrier the shrine maiden had set up.

But this was just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Naturally, someone like Kaito wouldn't use such a troublesome method.

Time flew by, and midnight arrived in a blink.

In the large bedroom, only Wakaba Mutsumi lay on the bed, once again sinking into deep sleep, while beside her, Kaito was preparing to enter the dream.

As for Mori Minami and Sakiko, they waited outside.

The sword Murakumomaru was also outside, being kept by Secretary Sakiko as a precaution.

If an unexpected situation occurred, with little Murakumomaru around, at least Sakiko could be protected.

The curtains were drawn open, soft moonlight piercing the clouds, laying a silver veil over the room and enveloping the girl on the velvet bed.

Wakaba Mutsumi slightly furrowed her brows, the delicate yet lifeless girl rarely showing such a fragile expression. Strangely, she looked pitifully beautiful, making one want to paint her with their own color.

Kaito didn't waste time, he lay beside her without removing his clothes, took the girl's hand, and closed his eyes.

'Mmm'

'My head hurts.'

Wakaba Mutsumi opened her eyes, her delicate face full of confusion.

'Where is this?'

She seemed to be in a small Japanese-style room, with no furniture and no sign of other people.

Only four purple candles were lit in each corner, casting faint halos in the dim room.

She looked down and realized that at some unknown point, her clothes had changed into a purple montsuki haori hakama.

Montsuki haori hakama was the most formal attire for Japanese men, usually worn only on grand holidays, and generally in black.

'Why am I wearing this kind of outfit?'

Wakaba Mutsumi was a little puzzled, when suddenlyclickthe door opened.

A young woman in a white wedding kimono walked in. She was tall, but her face seemed covered in a layer of fog, making it impossible to see her features.

Seeing the green-haired girl in the room awake, the young woman seemed delighted, and appeared to say something.

Wakaba Mutsumi couldn't hear her voice, nor see her lip movements, yet she inexplicably understood her meaning.

She said, "The wedding is about to begin."

'That's right.'

Wakaba Mutsumi suddenly remembered why she was here.

'Because my wedding was about to begin.'

The white montsuki haori hakama she wore matched perfectly with the young woman's white kimono.

Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, 'Something is wrong.'

In her mind, it was like two voices were quarreling back and forth.

'Yes, right?'

'No, not right.'

'Right, it's right.'

'No, not right.'

The young woman walked up, trying to take her arm, but Wakaba Mutsumi instinctively avoided her.

The young woman seemed surprised.

Even though her face was obscured by dense fog, Wakaba Mutsumi could feel that she was smiling, that kind of fake, stiff smile.

The room fell into silence again.

The young woman didn't move, just stood there, staring at her with a strange look.

The atmosphere became inexplicably oppressive. Wakaba Mutsumi felt uneasy, wanting to leave the room. Yet again, she heard her voice.

"Are you planning to abandon me too?", That voice was full of sorrow, as if crying and complaining.

'Abandon? Too?'

Wakaba Mutsumi didn't understand what she was saying, but she stopped walking.

Not because she changed her mind

But because the only door out of the room was now surrounded by thick, tangible black fog.

"Keisuke was like this Masato was like this"

"Ayami was like this Yoko too"

"You all wanted to abandon me"

"Didn't we promise to be together forever?"

There was no wind in the room, yet the young woman's long hair began to rise.

For the first time, Wakaba Mutsumi clearly saw her face. That smooth face was densely covered with numerous facial features.

There were male faces, and female faces.

"""Stay with us"""

All those faces smiled together. The sticky black hair moved like venomous snakes, surging toward her.

""""Be with us forever.""""

Wakaba Mutsumi stood motionless, her heart clenched like it was being squeezed by an invisible giant hand, terror filled her mind.

She wanted to run, but her feet seemed rooted to the floor. She could only watch as the black hair drew closer.

'Am I going to die?'

'Die here, in a dream, as one of the faces on that woman's face?'

She closed her eyes, her delicate lashes trembling, silently awaiting her fate.

Yet

In the dim room, a sun suddenly rose.

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Chapter 86: Sakiko: The future is bright (Praise)

In the dim room, a sun suddenly rose.

Fierce flames shot into the sky, illuminating every corner within sight.

The snake-like, twisted black hair suddenly froze, then retreated at an even faster speed than it came, as if it had encountered a terrifying natural enemy.

"Weren't you just very enthusiastic?"

Someone stepped out of the darkness, raising an eyebrow slightly, "I'm the groomsman Miss Wakaba invited. Although I wasn't announced in advance, you don't mind, right?"

'Can I say I mind?'

The dream-dwelling evil spirit was silent for a moment, then spoke in a language incomprehensible to ordinary people yet somehow understandable, ["The wedding is over."]

'Over?'

Mutsumi looked at this scene blankly, suddenly feeling something was off.

She instinctively looked down and only then realized that, at some point, the purple patterned haori hakama had vanished without a trace.

In its place was the real silk nightgown she wore in reality.

["She's not wearing the haori anymore, and has lost the qualification to be the groom,"] The dream-dwelling evil spirit vividly demonstrated the meaning of changing with the wind, and seeing that the situation was unfavorable, decisively gave up its prey, ["No groom, so the wedding ends here."]

No wedding, then naturally no need for a groomsman.

Quite a down-to-earth logic.

'I'm out, I'm out.'

The evil spirit planned to escape, 'The world in the city is too dangerous; I want to go back to the countryside.'

But a wall of flames blocked its way.

"To attend your wedding, I especially made time, and now you tell me, no wedding?"

Kaito frowned slightly, "Are you mocking me?"

["I'm not! I didn't!"]

The evil spirit shook its head like a rattle-drum, looking at the fire dragon that had materialized at some point beside it. With a "plop" it knelt on the ground, ["I'm not worthy of Miss Wakaba!"]

Seeing the evil spirit that had been persistently clinging to her and wanted to keep her by its side forever now looking flustered like its tail was on fire, Mutsumi fell silent.

'The reason for this change'

She lifted her head and looked at the boy not far away. In her golden, unangered eyes, something new had appeared.

"Why are you kneeling on both knees?"

Kaito still frowned, "Are you demonstrating against me?"

Evil spirit: "?"

It hurriedly raised both hands, using its body language to show it meant no harm.

"Your left hand is raised lower than your right, are you implying you're unwilling to submit?"

Kaito snapped his fingers and shook his head slightly, "As expected of a monster, stubborn and unrepentant."

The dream-dwelling evil spirit, for the first time, felt the impulse to speak in riddles.

But before it could react, the fire dragon that had been eyeing it from the side received its master's command. It instantly became excited, roared, and pounced.

The evil spirit tried to flee, but it clearly overestimated its speed.

The fire dragon caught up easily and killed it without mercy.

Although this place belonged to Wakaba Mutsumi's dream, the one in control was actually the dream-dwelling evil spirit.

Now that not even ashes remained, the dream could no longer hold and began to collapse.

The small house beneath their feet collapsed in the blink of an eye, like being in a magnitude-18 earthquake, everything in sight turned black, ready to devour all.

This was the troublesome part of the dream-dwelling evil spirit.

Even if an exorcist was lucky enough to kill it, it was hard to avoid being caught in the collapsing dream, becoming a burial companion.

The only chance of survival lay in the sky. There, a faint beam of light shone, like a lighthouse in the vast sea, pointing the way to the shore.

"Time to go," Kaito looked at the green-haired girl not far away and reached out a hand to her.

Mutsumi took his hand, but was a little confused.

She could see the light in the sky, but it was far too distant. Unless a helicopter appeared now, she couldn't imagine how to leave.

There was no helicopter, of course, but there was an even better mode of transport.

ROAR!

The fire dragon, having devoured the dream evil spirit, let out a satisfied burp and obediently flew over.

Its massive head lowered to the ground. Kaito held Mutsumi's hand and walked up its back.

Unexpectedly, though the giant dragon was made of flames, its body wasn't hot.

Wakaba Mutsumi gently touched a dancing flame with her fingertip and only felt warmth.

The flame seemed to have a mind of its own. It suddenly flew in front of her, separating from the dragon's body, flickering non-stop, and transformed into a lifelike rabbit that gently landed in her palm.

The girl was a bit surprised. Feeling something in her heart, she looked to the side and met a pair of light chestnut-colored eyes.

"If you get scared later, just hug this bunny tightly."

Not everyone could immediately get used to flying.

Even Kaito took hours to become proficient when first learning to fly.

Girls usually had a bit of acrophobia. If there was something to distract her, it could greatly relieve that discomfort.

The fire dragon soared into the sky at lightning speed, heading straight toward the distant beam of light.

Amid the howling wind, the doll-like beautiful girl quietly hid the flame bunny in her palm and whispered in her heart, 'Thank you.'

"It's been half an hour already."

In the hallway outside the room, Mori Minami was a bit anxious, pacing back and forth, "Why is there still no news?"

"Aunt Mori, relax a little."

Secretary Sakiko was starting to get a headache from her pacing, "Kaito-kun is not the type to speak without confidence. Since he said he's sure, he definitely is."

That's easy to say, but as a mother, how could she not worry at all?

Mori Minami swayed left and right, waiting endlessly for any movement. Eventually, she plopped down beside Murakumomaru, "Sakiko, you seem to trust that Kaito-kun quite a bit? Is he your boyfriend?"

'If not pacing, then it's time for gossip?'

Secretary Sakiko was speechless, 'Clearly already an older woman, Aunt Mori sometimes still acts like a child.'

But she still sat upright, hands folded in front of her lower abdomen, "Not yet."

"Not yet?"

Mori Minami keenly caught the keyword, "So that means things might develop in that direction?"

Sakiko didn't deny it, "I'm still working on it."

So, her goal was simple: not only to become the girl beside Kaito-kun who matched him, but also to become his indispensable assistant.

When the agency thrives one day, that will be the time she confesses to Kaito.

Sakiko believed that as long as things continued on this path, the future would be bright.

"You're actually chasing him?"

Mori Minami was very surprised, 'The eldest daughter of the Togawa family, praised as the "Jewel of Togawa," Sakiko, will actually be the one pursuing a guy?'

But then she thought of Kaito's appearance, more dazzling than flowers of spring or moonlight in autumn

'If the one being chased is me it does seem reasonable?'

After all, he was a beautiful boy like Hikaru Genji, radiant like the moon, even an obasan like her couldn't help but be moved. [T/N: Hikaru Genji is a Japanese mythological character of 'The Tale of Genji', he is also known as 'Shining Prince'.]

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Chapter 87: I Was Born, But You Were Not

'However, will the Togawa family agree?'

Although Sakiko now looks somewhat down and out, Mori Minami clearly knows that is only temporary.

'The bond of blood is something that can never be severed.'

'As for that man Togawa Kiyotsugu, forget it. He is a mere live-in son-in-law to begin with, and after making such a huge mistake, no one cares whether he lives or dies.'

Togawa Sakiko is different. As the carefully cultivated heir of the Togawa family, and bearing the Togawa bloodline, even if she has fallen to the outside world, it is only a form of tempering for her.

Young people, after being beaten by society a few times and personally experiencing the hardships of life, will naturally remember the good of the Togawa family.

Sooner or later, she will return to the Togawa family, and the old man who holds power will not allow his granddaughter to continue living a life of wandering and hardship.

It's only because of his daughter's serious illness that the old man cannot currently attend to his granddaughter.

Once he has time again, Sakiko will still be able to return to the Togawa family and be their young lady.

For members of big families, arranged marriages are the norm; free love is what's strange.

Sakiko is of course no exception.

If there are no surprises, her future fianc will only appear among families of equal status, or, like Sakiko's mother, she'll choose an outstanding man to become a live-in son-in-law.

Although Togawa Kiyotsugu is now a good-for-nothing, twenty years ago, he was also a top student who graduated from the University of Tokyo, with a handsome face. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the qualifications to live off the Togawa family.

'Thinking about it like that that Kaito seems to far surpass Togawa Kiyotsugu in every aspect?'

'No need to mention his looks. In front of him, I don't think, there is anyone as beautiful handsome in this world.'

'So young, yet already a powerful exorcist, seemingly even more impressive than the shrine maiden Kagano.'

'Although the Togawa family is a renowned wealthy family in Japan, they still must show respect in the face of those who possess extraordinary powers.'

'If Kaito-kun is really willing to marry in, the Togawa family truly has no reason to refuse; rather, they should beat drums and gongs in celebration.'

'If only he has been born twenty years earlier.'

'If only Sakiko's biological father was him.'

Thinking of her bedridden friend, Mori Minami sighed, somewhat disheartened.

She and Sakiko's mother had been close friends since high school, and their bond had never faded over the years. That's also the reason she's so close to Sakiko.

As for the horrible things Togawa Kiyotsugu did, Mori Minami had heard a little. Abusing his position to force several people to death, secretly accepting bribes, getting reported, losing his position as a councilor, and due to his greedy ambition, causing the company to lose as much as 1.6 billion yen.

If he wasn't Sakiko's biological father, if he wasn't the son-in-law of the Togawa family, he would have long since been dumped into Tokyo Bay.

Just driving that man out of the family was already a light punishment.

Her best friend had always been frail and sickly, and because of these matters, fell seriously ill and was admitted to a private hospital. Her condition was worsening daily, who knows how long she can hold on.

'All of this is hidden from Sakiko, but even if they continue to hide it, how long can they really keep it from her?'

Unfortunately, the old man of the Togawa family issued a gag order, and even her best friend doesn't want her daughter to worry.

Mori Minami, after all, is just an outsider and shouldn't overstep her bounds.

Togawa Sakiko didn't understand why Aunt Mori Minami, who was just happily gossiping about her love life a moment ago, now suddenly seemed listless and downcast.

'Is it because she is worried about Mutsumi?'

'But it doesn't quite seem that way.'

The sadness in the other's eyes, though fleeting, was still sharply caught by her.

It was as if, through Sakiko, she saw someone else.

Togawa Sakiko hesitated for a moment, then still asked, "Aunt Mori Minami is there something you want to say to me?"

"Sakiko."

Mori Minami didn't answer directly. After a moment's thought, she tentatively asked, "Ever since you left 'there,' haven't you ever considered it? Mmm I mean, the idea of going back to visit?"

"...", Togawa Sakiko turned her face away, not letting her see her expression, "Why are you asking this?"

"It's been some time since you left, hasn't it?", Mori Minami sighed, "There are always people who worry about you."

"Did Mom ask you to ask me this?", Togawa Sakiko said quietly, "Or Grandpa?"

"In Sakiko's heart, is it only Grandpa and Mom, those close relatives, who care about you?"

Mori Minami discontentedly pinched her cheek, "Calling me 'Aunt Mori' so politely, in the end you still treat me like an outsider. Sakiko, that's so mean!"

"That's not what I meant", Togawa Sakiko, a little embarrassed, tried to escape her clutches, mumbling vaguely, "Aunt Mori, stop pinching"

"Fine, I won't argue with you," Mori Minami snorted softly and returned to the topic, "You're still young after all, and have no experience living independently. Living outside alone is always dangerous."

She didn't mention Togawa Kiyotsugu, that scumbag. Just being able not to drag Sakiko down is already a blessing, let alone taking care of her.

"I'm not alone," Togawa Sakiko didn't mention her father either. She just shook her head, "I'm living very well now, and safely too. There's no need to worry."

Compared to constantly being scolded in customer service, working convenience store shifts, or handing out flyers in costume being a secretary is a respectable job. No overtime, no worries about delayed wages, and even better benefits.

Although it's a bit busy, the thought that her hard work in business helps make Kaito's student life easier fills her with motivation.

'She actually rejected it?'

Mori Minami was a little surprised.

'So that means Sakiko isn't living alone right now?'

'But besides Togawa Kiyotsugu, she doesn't seem to have any particularly close friends outside?'

As if realizing something, this famous actress suddenly widened her eyes, "W-Wait! Don't tell me it's that Kaito?!m"

"You two are living together?"

Although cohabiting while unmarried has become quite common in this society, as a traditionalist, Mori Minami still found it hard to imagine Sakiko doing such a thing.

"How could that be!", Togawa Sakiko sighed helplessly, "We're just neighbors, not as dramatic as you think."

"In any case," she didn't want to continue discussing this topic, "I'm doing fine now, and I have no plans to go back. Please tell Mom and Grandpa, there's no need for them to worry."

Of course Sakiko misses her family, especially after cutting ties with that scumbag father.

But she still hasn't figured out how to face her mother, so the only thing she can do is avoid it.

Seeing Sakiko faintly resisting, like a little blue hedgehog curled up to fend off the world, Mori Minami sighed too, and didn't force her.

And just at that moment, the tightly shut door suddenly opened, and Kaito stepped out.

Mutsumi, in a thin nightgown and barefoot, was following closely behind him.

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Chapter 88: Togawa Sakiko: Mutsumi, you did great!

"Mutsumi!", Mori Minami felt a burst of joy and quickly rushed forward.

Seeing her daughter's complexion normal, with healthy color on her face, the previous listlessness and weakness had also vanished without a trace.

She finally let out a sigh of relief, then looked to the side at Kaito, and said expectantly, "Now, there shouldn't be any more problems, right?"

Kaito nodded slightly, "The dream demon is already dead. In the upcoming period, as long as she rests and doesn't overexert herself, there shouldn't be any major issues."

Mutsumi's physical constitution was still too weak. Even though he used spiritual power to replenish the consumed vitality, the psychological scars couldn't be easily erased.

"Mutsumi, during this time, don't go to school. Also, stop all extracurricular tutoring. Rest peacefully at home. I'll take care of your leave," Although Mori Minami was sometimes gossipy, the fact that she had become a famous Japanese actress, active in the entertainment industry for decades, naturally meant she wasn't the indecisive type.

School could be attended anytime, but she only had one daughter. If a lack of rest left some kind of aftereffect, it would be a regret she could never undo.

After arranging all this, she didn't forget to pay the fee. She swiftly transferred 50 million yen.

Then she warmly insisted that Kaito stay the night, so she could properly show her hospitality.

Upon hearing this invitation, even Secretary Sakiko glanced over with some anticipation.

'If the President can stay overnight, even if nothing happens, just being able to chat with him a bit more will be nice.'

But then she suddenly froze.

'Mutsumi why is she also looking at the President with an expectant gaze?'

She blinked, and when she looked again, the green-haired girl had already returned to her cold, expressionless face, as if that moment of expectation had been her own illusion.

'Is that so?'

Recalling Mutsumi's usual personality, Togawa Sakiko suppressed the odd feeling in her heart and gently shook her head.

'It was just an illusion, right?'

If it had only been Mori Minami's invitation, rejecting it would've been easy. But the feelings of a trusted subordinate still had to be considered.

For Sakiko's sake, Kaito pondered for two seconds and nodded, "Then I'll accept the hospitality."

The Wakaba family's villa was very large. In terms of area, it even surpassed the Nagasaki family's spacious flat.

There were many vacant guest rooms. Not to mention one person, even ten more could stay comfortably.

Kaito didn't have any requirements for the room, anything livable was fine, and was about to randomly pick one.

At this moment, Togawa Sakiko suddenly said, "As it happens, the room next to Mutsumi's bedroom is vacant. Why not stay there?"

The cucumber fairy(because her hair is green) looked up at her, then lowered his head again, speaking softly, "Then what about Sakiko?"

"I'm going back to my own room, of course," Togawa Sakiko smiled lightly. She had a room in the Wakaba household as well. It was also on the third floor, just at the far end.

"After all, you need to rest peacefully now. If we continue sleeping together, it might disturb Mutsumi, right?"

"It won't be a disturbance," Wakaba Mutsumi said very frankly, "I want to sleep with you."

Her expression was unchanged, and her tone equally flat.

'Could it be I am really overthinking?'

Her friend's reaction made Togawa Sakiko slightly relax and even feel a little guilty.

'Did I actually suspect Mutsumi might do something to Kaito-kun'

'I was just scaring myself, oof!'

With this in mind, Togawa Sakiko shook her head, "There will be other opportunities in the future. Right now, you need proper rest."

Mutsumi seemed a little disappointed. She let out an "oh," then fell silent.

Dinner was meticulously prepared by the maids. The long dining table was filled with exquisite Western dishes, all of which looked quite expensive.

Halfway through dinner, Mori Minami received an urgent phone call. Apparently, there was a problem she had to handle. She apologized quickly and left in a hurry.

All the maids had already been dismissed. In the spacious living room, only Kaito and Mutsumi, quietly sipping mango juice, remained.

As for Secretary Sakiko she had accidentally gotten oil on her sleeve earlier and had gone upstairs to change clothes.

Seeing the green-haired girl across from him staring intently, not at him, but rather at the mango juice beside him, Kaito felt a bit puzzled, "You want to drink this?"

"Mm."

Mutsumi nodded honestly, then asked, "Is that okay?"

"But I just took a sip," Kaito coughed lightly, "Let me get you a fresh glass."

"No need," The green-haired girl raised the straw in her hand, "I have this."

Kaito had no particular preference for juice. He didn't mind whether he drank it or not. Seeing that Wakaba Mutsumi didn't mind either, he didn't overthink it and pushed the mango juice over to her.

But at that moment, Mutsumi also pushed her own empty glass over, pulling a switcheroo.

Facing Kaito's confused gaze, she explained with a straight face, "No good. Sakiko will find out."

'This anti-detection instinct is way too strong, isn't it?', Kaito didn't know what expression to make. He could only silently cut the steak on his plate with a knife.

Mutsumi had already inserted the straw into Kaito's cup. Her cherry-pink lips gently wrapped around the round end, and she took a small sip.

The bright yellow liquid flowed through the transparent straw into the girl's mouth. Her slender neck slightly moved as she swallowed, and a satisfied smile appeared on her otherwise emotionless face. [T/N: This paragraph sounds better without context]

'Is it really that good?'

Kaito recalled the taste he had just sampled. It really was just ordinary mango juice.

Secretary Sakiko had changed into a new dress by this time and came down the stairs. Seeing the empty glass in front of Kaito, she couldn't help but chuckle, "Didn't expect even the President to be like Mutsumi, fond of mango juice."

'No, that is originally her half-finished glass.'

Kaito wanted to explain, but after thinking about it, he let it go and just asked, "Does Miss Wakaba like mango juice that much?"

"Exactly," Sakiko sat back in her chair and tapped her cherry lips with a slender finger, "When we used to go out, she would basically always order a mango juice, rarely choosing any other drink."

The girl spoke generously, "If the President likes it, I can give you my glass too."

"No, it's fine," Kaito shook his head and refused. Just as he was about to say more, he suddenly felt an itch on his calf, as if something brushed against it.

'Is it Wakaba-san?'

Looking at the green-haired girl's calm expression with no hint of guilt, he didn't pay much attention.

'Maybe it was just an accidental touch?'

.

.

.

After dinner, it was still early.

Seeing that the weather was nice, a rare clear day during the rainy season, Togawa Sakiko suggested taking a walk in the garden to help digest the food.

"I haven't touched the guitar in a while," Wakaba Mutsumi shook her head, "I want to go to the basement and play the guitar for a bit. You guys go ahead."

'Then'

'We two are alone?'

Togawa Sakiko once again felt guilty for her earlier suspicions.

Mutsumi really was her loyal bestie, not forgetting to play wingwoman even at a time like this.

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Chapter 89: Protective Jade Pendant

The luxurious Wakaba residence had a garden specifically for relaxation.

Though it lacked artificial hills and flowing water, it was filled with dense greenery and many blooming flowers of unknown names. In one corner, a small clearing had been deliberately opened up and filled with vibrant, dewy cucumbers.

It happened to be springtime. Summer cicadas had yet to shed their shells, and the garden was very quiet, with only the faint scent of flowers drifting on the soft breeze, making one's body and mind feel at ease, as if all anxiety and unrest could be purified away.

Walking forward along the cobblestone path, the black leather shoes stepping on the uneven stones made crisp "tada tada" sounds.

A girl with blue pigtails and a shawl lagged half a step behind, secretly peeking at the boy beside her with the corner of her eye. After a long silence, she quietly said something.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"/"Tsuki ga kirei desu ne?"

This was a subtle way of saying "I like you" in Japanese culture. Secretary Sakiko always felt the timing to confess wasn't quite right, and only dared to use such multi-meaning wordplay when alone together.

But Kaito completely failed to catch the implication, simply lifting his head in confusion:

"But there's no moon tonight, right?"

Togawa Sakiko: "_"

'Stupid president! Big Baka!'

The girl huffed softly, unusually coy, "Then the stars are beautiful, isn't it?"

'Can this really count as beautiful?'

Looking at the few scattered stars on the horizon, sparser than hairs in a bald head, Kaito didn't quite understand.

Facing Secretary Sakiko's resentful gaze, he wisely chose not to say more.

After all, an employee who willingly worked hard to create a good life for her boss wasn't easy to find, practically a 21st-century SpongeBob.

"What's this?"

A hand suddenly appeared in front of her, fingers spread open, with a rabbit-shaped jade carving resting quietly in the palm.

Exquisitely made, lifelike. It was unclear what type of jade it was carved from, but the surface shimmered with a watery glow, looking anything but ordinary.

Togawa Sakiko liked the little rabbit jade sculpture at first glance.

"A protective charm for you."

Sure enough, young girls couldn't resist cute accessories like this. Kaito's effort hadn't been in vain.

Previously, he had asked Ms. Nagasaki to help acquire a batch of good-quality jade. This career woman had long regarded Kaito as a future son-in-law and naturally took his request seriously. She didn't even delegate it to her assistant, handling it personally instead.

On the day Kaito returned from the town of Hoori, someone had already delivered the goods to his door.

These past few days had been full of light rain, and the weather remained gloomy. Aside from gaming at home, Kaito had also taken time to carve many jade sculptures of various shapes, imbuing each with a trace of his spiritual power to create simple magical tools.

Of course, "simple" was a relative term.

To Kaito, they were casual works. So long as he had enough jade, he could make as many as he wanted.

Even in this lawless era, the effects of jade carvings were still impressive.

Once worn, ordinary ghosts wouldn't dare approach. It could subtly strengthen the wearer's constitution. When danger was sensed, it would automatically activate a protective spirit array, strong enough to withstand shelling. Even if hit head-on by a semi-truck, it would still protect the wearer unharmed.

Secretary Sakiko had worked tirelessly, supporting the entire office on her own shoulders, truly dedicated. She certainly deserved a jade carving.

As for others, Yumiko was definitely getting one. Bocchi, as his first employee and earliest follower, couldn't be left out.

Ms. Nagasaki would also get two, since she provided the materials without even charging him.

As for the others, like Nijika, Ryou, and Kita

They had traveled together before and were friends. Kaito thought about it and decided to reserve a jade sculpture for each of the girls.

He had carved dozens in total. Even after handing out eight, most were still left.

"Wouldn't this be too, too valuable", Secretary Sakiko hesitated. She really liked the little rabbit carving, but even without thinking hard, she could tell this thing must be worth a fortune.

'Even the protective charms sought from Kagano shrine cost 50,000 yen each. This jade carving's material and appearance clearly surpass those. Doubling the price won't be unreasonable, right?'

'That will be 1 million yen.'

Her current salary was 300,000 yen a month, or 3.6 million yen a year. Not bad, but to save up 1 million, she'd need to work three to four months without spending a cent.

"Just consider it an employee benefit," Kaito nonchalantly patted her shoulder, like a shady boss making empty promises. The only difference being that he actually delivered on them, "I've seen all your hard work. A jade pendant isn't much."

"Thank you," Togawa Sakiko hesitated for a long time but didn't refuse again. She silently resolved that she would never let down the president's expectations.

Gripping the small pendant in her hand, the lifelike rabbit looked like it would come alive the next second. Her pretty face flushed red, and in a voice as soft as a mosquito, "Could you help me put it on?"

Something as simple as that, of course Kaito wouldn't refuse.

Secretary Sakiko was only 155 centimeters tall, on the petite side. When standing among girls, it wasn't obvious, but next to Kaito, the difference was stark.

Especially since she'd changed into a low-collar blouse when returning to her room earlier. The girl stood gracefully; though not very full-figured, her curves still hinted at budding maturity, like a flower bud about to bloom.

Kaito only had to lower his head slightly to see her delicate collarbones. Further up was her swan-like, slender, fair neck. Perhaps due to nervousness, it was slightly tense now, revealing faint blue veins beneath the skin, making one want to bite down on it.

'Being surrounded by a Kaito-kun's scent'

Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed deep red. She had attended girls' schools from a young age and had never had close contact with a male peer, she hadn't even studied water magic(masturba*ion)

To a girl as pure as blank paper, even something as simple as putting on a pendant felt far too stimulating.

Due to their height difference, all she could see from her perspective was the president's broad chest. No unpleasant sweat smell, only a light, addictive scent like sun-warmed grass.

Her pert nose twitched slightly, seemingly wanting to savor more of that wonderful scent, but she quickly realized, 'Togawa Sakiko, what on earth are you doing?'

'Such shameless behavior, utterly unbefitting of a proper lady's upbringing!'

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Chapter 90: Too Bad, Ready to Glare with Eyes!

"This has my power imbued in it, it can protect you in danger, and also lets me roughly sense your location."

Putting the jade pendant on secretary Sakiko, holding the mentality of 'just in case', Kaito still reminded, "So, try not to take it off."

"Mm," The girl's gaze was evasive, as if she had done something guilty, didn't dare to look at him, only said softly, "I won't take it off."

'This should count as the first official gift given to me by the boss.'

Not only was the shape a little rabbit representing her zodiac, but it also held a special meaning.

Whether bathing or resting, she would always wear the jade pendant, never taking it off.

The two continued walking side by side, chatting idly, the atmosphere very harmonious.

It's just that this kind of time didn't last long. After a while, small raindrops began to fall from the sky.

At first, the rain wasn't heavy, but after a few minutes, the falling droplets became more urgent, gradually showing signs of a downpour.

Although Kaito could use spiritual power to block all the raindrops outside, walking in such heavy rain still felt stupid, so he simply returned to the villa with secretary Sakiko.

With his help, their clothes weren't soaked, still remaining dry.

Because it was still early, Kaito didn't rush to the room to rest, and went to the living room with Sakiko, only then remembering that he had left Murakumomaru on the sofa earlier.

"Master, you finally came back!", Sensing the familiar aura, little Kumiko floated out, suspended mid-air, puffing her cheeks, crossing her arms, with an expression of looking at a heartless scumbag.

'Damn master, putting romance over loyalty! So easily seduced by another woman, even forgot your cutest little sword girl!'

'Too bad, ready to glare with eyes!'

"Sorry," Kaito apologized with no sincerity, "Forgot you were here too."

'What's with that indifferent tone?'

'Stupid dad, once I meet Mama Nijika, I'll definitely tell on you!'

At the same time, a certain archangel far away in Shimokitazawa suddenly sneezed, drawing the concerned gaze of store manager Seika beside her.

"If you're sick, go rest."

"No, my nose just felt itchy all of a sudden."

Ichiji Nijika shook her head, showing a radiant and sunny smile again, "Maybe someone is saying my name mm, could it be little Kumiko?"

"Who's Kumiko?", Manager Seika asked casually, continuing to type on the keyboard in front of her. She had met most of her sister's friends, but had never heard this name.

"She's my daughter", Ichiji Nijika seemed a bit absent-minded, just thinking about whether to visit Kaito's place another day to check on Kumiko, when she suddenly noticed the air around went quiet. Looking at her sister, who was surrounded by dark aura like a demon from hell, she realized her words may have sounded a bit ambiguous, "W-wait, I didn't mean it like that!"

Not to mention how the STARRY studio became chaotic.

On the other side, secretary Sakiko was quite startled by the sudden appearance of the green-haired girl.

She thought it was the evil spirit that had entangled Mutsumi earlier causing trouble again, but quickly realized, 'She seems to be one of us?'

'However'

''Master', what kind of weird form of address is that?'

"Kumiko is also the sword spirit of this blade," Kaito briefly introduced Kumiko's identity and origin, and only then did Sakiko come to a realization.

'So that's how it is.'

'Since she is a sword spirit, not even considered a human, naturally there is nothing to worry about.'

And Kumiko looked more like a childish little girl, after all she was only born a few days ago, her eyes held a kind of clear foolishness.

Looking into her eyes, she was clearly not a threat.

The charm of Togawa Sakiko needed no words. With the body of a mortal, she could rival countless girls as the blue-succubus.

Dealing with little Kumiko was naturally a piece of cake. In no time, the two had already become as close as sisters.

The young sword girl had a good impression of this blue, shoulder-length twin-tailed sister. Although not quite at the level of her master and Mama Nijika in her heart, she still ranked just behind them.

After chatting for a while, Mutsumi walked out from the basement, still hugging a large guitar.

Seeing an unfamiliar girl in the living room, and with the same green long hair as herself, she tilted her head curiously.

Facing her confused gaze, Sakiko quickly explained Kumiko's identity. Hearing she was a sword spirit, Wakaba Mutsumi was a bit surprised, but only glanced at Murakumomaru on the sofa twice before withdrawing her gaze and silently sitting down beside Kaito.

Togawa Sakiko had of course seen this scene, but didn't overthink it. The earlier test had made her let go of her guard toward Mutsumi. Plus, there were no other free seats on the sofa, it was normal for a friend to sit beside Kaito.

Rumble!

Silver-purple thunder flashed across the sky in an instant, like a god driving a chariot across a battlefield, making a deafening roar.

The rain outside got heavier and heavier, the unending raindrops hitting the glass like a rapid symphony.

Sakiko couldn't help but yawn. She had been busy taking care of Mutsumi the past few days, and hadn't really rested well. Now that everything had calmed down, she could finally relax, and drowsiness followed.

Seeing that she looked sleepy, and it was already quite late, the group bid each other goodnight and returned to their rooms.

The Wakaba house didn't lack money. Even the guest rooms were luxurious, with conditions rivaling five-star hotels.

Kaito didn't go to bed right away. After returning to the room with Kumiko, it was instead the young sword girl who couldn't wait to jump onto the bed, swinging her two white legs while happily playing on her phone.

Mm, the phone was also bought for her by Kaito a couple of days ago. After all, it's the 21st century, even sword spirits had to keep up with the times.

"Yay! I've already saved up 492 pulls!"

"Just a little more to reach 500 Let me see where else I can get resources Found it!"

"Yay, now I've got 500 pulls!"

'Aren't you a refined sword spirit? Why do you look like a hoarding hamster?'

Seeing Kumiko's satisfied expression, he tapped the little sword girl's forehead and took the phone from her hand, "Time to rest, play more tomorrow."

"Oh okay."

Just about to get into bed, his pocket vibrated slightly.

When Kaito took out his phone, he found it was a message from Soyo.

Before traveling to Hoori Town, he had agreed with Soyo to hang out together after returning, to give her a chance to repay him.

But due to the past few days of continuous rain, it really hadn't been suitable to go out, so the plan had been shelved.

Soyo had waited several days and finally couldn't wait any longer. She checked the weather forecast and finally found a rare sunny day. The day after tomorrow, which was also the last day of the holiday.

Kaito didn't decline. When Soyo asked where they should go, he thought for a bit and replied:

[How about we go to Akihabara?]

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Chapter 91: Lowly and Inferior Wakaba Mutsumi

Akihabara, being a well-known electric street in Japan, is also a famous symbol of otaku culture. It is renowned even globally and is one of those tourist spots that anyone visiting Japan would definitely want to experience.

Kaito wasn't a shut-in in the traditional sense, nor did he have much interest in 2D girls, but he had long heard of Akihabara's fame. So he took this opportunity to see it in person and maybe check if there were any interesting games to buy.

'Akihabara?'

At the same time, a brown-haired girl in a multi-story apartment looked at the chat message on her phone and bit her pink lips.

It's said that there are maid cafs every few steps, arcades every five steps, and posters of scantily clad 2D beauties are everywhere along the streets.

There are also shady shops that openly stand by the street, selling all kinds of obscene books and discs

'Kaito-kun, does he also want to go there for these things?'

'If it's just to buy a little indecent reading material, then fine. After all, he's a boyit's understandable.'

'But, the worry is that he might attract some shameless bad women'

'Like maid cafs, like maid cafs, like maid cafs!'

Actually, Soyo would rather go to a theme park, aquarium, or movie theater, those places better suited for dating. But since Kaito made the request, she wouldn't refuse.

'Decision made!'

'I must dress up gorgeously the day after tomorrow. I'll make sure those bad women feel ashamed and unworthy to approach.'

Nagasaki Soyo was quite confident in her appearance. Even in Tsukinomori, a place full of elite girls, she was still among the best.

And if we talk about figure, her combat power could even be doubled.

"Didn't Mom send me a really pretty dress a while back"

"But this one looks good too~"

"Maybe I should try the academy-style look?"

Putting down his phone, Kaito glanced out the window at the night. The rain was still falling, mixed with occasional thunder, giving the atmosphere a sort of doomsday vibe.

Kumiko has already crawled into the scabbard and fallen asleep. He was the only one in the house.

He was about to go to bed when he suddenly heard a "knock knock" sound.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Kaito thought it was Sakiko coming to find him for something. But when he opened the door, it turned out to be Wakaba Mutsumi.

The girl wore a thin white nightdress, barefoot, stepping directly on the hallway carpet. Her long, smooth green hair was slightly frizzed. Holding a mango pillow, she looked up with her big, beautiful eyes at him. Her delicate face had no expression.

"Miss Wakaba? What's the matter?", Kaito felt this scene looked very familiar.

Last time, Yumiko came at this exact time, and then Nijika, Kita, and Ryou followed, forming a full catds table inside the closet.

Checking Togawa Sakiko's status

'Hmm, sleeping soundly. No sign of waking up for now.'

"Can't sleep," Mutsumi's voice was very soft, just lacking emotion, "So I wanted to come chat with you."

"If it's just to chat, wouldn't it be better to find Sakiko?", Kaito raised an eyebrow but still didn't move aside to let her in.

Reasonably speaking, this cucumber fairy had a closer relationship with Secretary Sakiko. If she wanted to chat, it should be with her instead.

"Because, there are some things", Wakaba Mutsumi lightly lowered her eyelashes, "That can't be told to Sakiko."

"Come in," Kaito was indeed intrigued, 'Topics that can't be told to Sakiko?'

He was interested in those.

Even though it was a guest room, it had a dedicated sofa, likely for guests to gather and chat.

The girl in the white nightdress quietly sat on the sofa, holding her cute mango plush. After a long silence, she said in a low voice, "Sakiko has changed a lot."

"The Sakiko from before, after leaving the Togawa family, would never easily step through the Wakaba family's doors."

"Even if her mother personally invited her, she would probably still politely decline."

"Even though she isn't wealthy, whenever she occasionally met with me at the Hazawa caf, she would still insist on paying."

"Like a weak but stubborn little hedgehog, she willl only curl up tightly and stubbornly reject all kindness from the outside world."

"But that stubborn Sakiko has changed a lot."

"She laughs. She gets jealous like a normal girl. She accepted mom's nvitation and boldly visit as a guest. She is no longer trapped in her own corner like before."

As if everything had quietly changed, going back to the starting point, back when CRYCHIC was as united as could be.

"Really?", Kaito thought back. His strongest impression of Secretary Sakiko was how stubborn she was. When they first met, her stomach was clearly growling, but she still refused to accept a thank-you gift.

Then came the "Flying Sakiko" moment, where he caught her sneaking around, and yet she still insisted she was just out for a walk.

Even Thanos couldn't erase that stubborn mouth of hers.

"The Sakiko from before was close to breaking," Wakaba Mutsumi hugged the mango plush tighter. Her legs under the white skirt were very slender and tightly pressed together, "Thank you for pulling her back."

Kaito did indeed pull her back. Well, in the physical sense of the phrase.

But he didn't feel like taking credit, "Even without me, with a childhood friend like you by her side, Sakiko would've come around eventually."

"It's different," Mutsumi shook her head, "You can make her smile. I can't."

After what happened in Sakiko's family, the only thing she could do was keep her best friend's secret, watching helplessly as she drifted further and further from the band and everyone.

Mutsumi wanted to change things, but she didn't know what to do.

Having parents with an intense need for control since childhood, her life was filled with endless dance and music classes. She was like a delicate doll, used to being controlled.

Dolls don't have hearts, so they can't create miracles.

But the one who can create miracles had already appeared.

Kaito.

That was the name Sakiko kept mentioning. The one who changed her.

He brought back Sakiko's cheerful smile, and in that dark and deep dream, he saved her future.

Wakaba Mutsumi would never forget that burning light in the moment of crisis.

"You are Sakiko's sun."

What she didn't say aloud was, 'Mine too.'

Without the sun, flowers wither.

She wouldn't fight Sakiko for anything, because they were eternal friends.

'But like the sun'

'If just a tiny, almost negligible ray of sunlight can be shared with me, then even Sakiko probably won't mind, right?'

"Please give Sakiko happiness."

That way, even if she had to curl up alone in a dark, narrow corner, she could slightly rest her heart and catch just a little of that light that belonged to her.

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Chapter 92: I Cant Do Anything

'Even though she said things like "Sakiko is about to break," actually, isn't the one most broken is she?'

'Clearly looks like a cold and indifferent emotionless girl, but this strange sense of depression, it's simply like a bottomless black hole.'

'Speaking of which, aren't there too many problematic girls around me?'

'Yumiko, who's obsessed with being a tragic heroine; Nijika, who lives on grass for twenty-something days every month; and the soft but tsundere Sakiko who's all mouth and pride It's almost enough to gather a full table of cards.'

'In comparison, little Bocchi who's just socially anxious can really be called pure and kind.'

But, Kaito's silence was misunderstood by Wakaba Mutsumi as rejection.

Thinking about it, that's understandable, right? After all, she hasn't given anything, and yet asked him to give happiness to Sakiko. If he's unwilling, it's only natural emotion.

'But what can I give?'

'I am just a delicate doll controlled by mom and dad, have no power, and no wealth.'

After thinking and thinking, 'The only thing that maybe still has some value is this body carefully maintained since childhood.'

Wakaba Mutsumi's thin lips pressed together, and she silently began unbuttoning her pajama top.

"What are you doing?", Kaito frowned, and with a thought, stopped her movement.

'What are the schools teaching every day? Why is it that every time something happens, these girls' first reaction is to offer their bodies?'

'Isn't this the 21st century?'

'Why is this more feudal than the cultivation world?'

"But I only have this," Wakaba Mutsumi blinked her eyes, looked at him aggrieved, "Don't you like it?"

'As if, even this only valuable body cannot arouse his interest...'

A trace of loss flashed through the girl's golden eyes, she didn't know how to get Kaito to agree to her request. Her cherry blossom-like lips moved a few times, but still couldn't say a complete sentence.

'Not only can I not witness Sakiko's happiness, now I'm even going to be disliked, right?'

'Sakiko, in the end... I really can't do anything...'

Seeing the green-haired girl in front of him lower her head, like a wilted cucumber, Kaito sighed.

"Of course I'll take care of Sakiko, but that's because, she's my employee, and also my friend."

He looked straight into Wakaba Mutsumi's eyes, his calm tone like stating an undeniable truth, "A person's value is never limited to the body. You are you, an independent individual. So, don't treat yourself as a bargaining chip."

"I believe, Sakiko wouldn't want to see her friend, in order to bring her happiness, humiliate herself like this."

'I am not a bargaining chip?'

Used to being manipulated like a doll, mechanically executing mom and dad's commands, obeying their arrangements, trying hard to be the daughter they are proud of.

And now, someone tells her, you are you, not a doll, not a tool, but yourself.

'So strange.'

Clearly already lost the ability to cry.

The petite girl lightly covered her chest, dumbly looked at him, yet the tears poured out in big drops.

[May 10th, Sunday]

It's the last day of the holiday, a rare sunny day. Akihabara is full of people. Kaito stood in front of the train station, waiting for someone.

Since that pouring rainy night, a full day had passed.

Kaito rarely uses the mouth-talking skill, usually he prefers to correct people's twisted thinking with an iron fist directly.

But Wakaba Mutsumi is, after all, Sakiko's friend, a genuine childhood companion, so he couldn't go hard on her.

That means he could only use a more peaceful method, verbal healing.

Just pure talking may not be effective, but what if he added a bit of spiritual power guidance into it?

Wakaba Mutsumi's condition is actually not complicated. It's just too much pressure, too much stuff bottled up inside, and she doesn't know how to talk to others. Over time, it's stranger if she doesn't get depression.

Originally it hadn't reached the limit, but unfortunately, she ran into that nightmare evil spirit trouble...

Kaito used spiritual energy to guide out the black sludge accumulated in her emotions, and after she cried it all out, little Mutsumi got so tired she fell asleep.

Clearly only took one exorcism job, and yet still had to do psychological counseling...

'Forget it, just consider it for the sake of secretary Sakiko.'

"Sir, our new store is opening, we're having a promotion right now, and you can take pictures with the maids inside. Want to give it a try?", A sudden female voice interrupted his thoughts. Kaito looked up and saw a young girl in a black-and-white maid outfit in front of him, holding flyers. Her face full of enthusiasm, and when their eyes met, both were briefly stunned.

'Beautiful very beautiful'

"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone," Kaito declined her invitation. On normal days, he wouldn't mind trying the maid caf experience. But since he had already made an appointment with Suse to meet nearby, he definitely couldn't ditch her.

"N-no problem!", The maid-dressed girl finally recovered, her contact-lensed eyes full of excitement, "Is it a friend? I can wait with you!"

'This service is a bit too enthusiastic?'

Kaito was already used to this kind of clingy situation. With a blank face, just about to refuse, a gentle female voice suddenly spoke up.

"Excuse me, can you please stay a little farther from my boyfriend?"

'Boyfriend?'

The maid girl turned toward the voice, and saw not far away, a girl in a floral dress standing there. Her brown long hair gently draped down her back. Though she was smiling, there was no trace of smile in her blue eyes.

Looks like a girl with strong housewife vibes, yet somehow very imposing...

Nagasaki Soyo still maintained her smiling face, but inside she sighed in relief.

'Just in time'

She was already worried Kaito would get entangled with shameless bad women, and now it really happened.

It had only been a short while and already a maid caf staff was trying to pull him in. She didn't even dare to imagine what would've happened if she arrived later.

Soyo took two steps forward and unceremoniously grabbed Kaito's arm, tilting her head, "We're not interested in maid cafs, okay?"

"S-sorry for disturbing", The maid-dressed girl eventually backed off under her overwhelming pressure, and fled.

Only after her figure completely disappeared did Soyo look at Kaito and gently smile, "Waited long?"

"Just five minutes, not long at all."

Kaito shook his head, glanced at the girl's outfit today, "This outfit suits you."

"Sorry, something delayed me when I left this morning~"

Soyo winked at him, her smile bright, "But still, thank you Kaito-kun for the compliment."

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Chapter 93: Approaching Battlefield of Carnage?

Since yesterday, Soyo had been feeling nervous about today's date, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She barely managed to doze off for a bit, and before dawn broke, she got up and began struggling in front of the wardrobe about what to wear.

Just like that, she dawdled for two to three hours. Seeing that the agreed time was getting closer and closer, she finally decided to fully leverage her strengths and picked a long floral dress that was elegant and gave off a mature vibe, paired with a crystal necklace on her fair neck.

She didn't look like a university student who hadn't yet graduated, but rather more like a gentle newlywed wife.

It's said that boys at this age have little resistance toward mature and gentle older-sister types.

Now it seems, that was indeed true.

However, Soyo didn't get carried away. Reluctantly letting go of Kaito's arm, she put her hands together, "Boyfriend or whatever it's just a desperate measure to make her back off, please don't mind."

"It's fine, you helped me out too."

Kaito casually brushed past the topic and then asked, "Thought about where to go later?"

"Mm it's also my first time in Akihabara," Soyo's slender fingertips gently touched her lips. She was clearly dressed up today, her usually bare and pretty face now had light makeup, with a tall nose bridge and radiant smile. She looked like a painting.

"Since it's to thank Kaito-kun for helping me, today's schedule will be decided by Kaito-kun~ How about it?"

When chatting among classmates at Tsukinonomori, they occasionally talked about little tricks in love.

Girls with strong opinions give off a sense of distance; most boys prefer the clingy, dependent type.

Soyo learned a lot from them and even searched online for love guides on how to win over boys, taking serious notes.

You could say she was very dedicated.

"Today's schedule is up to you," implicitly means "I'm entrusting myself to you," which easily stirs a boy's sense of responsibility and satisfies their vanity.

Many times, when trying to grow closer in relationships, it's these subtly influential little details that matter.

Kaito, however, didn't think that much.

Some people like to make plans before going out. Ehere to go first, then where next, having the whole process in mind.

But others don't care so much when going out, they just wander and explore freely.

He belonged to the latter. With the assistance of divine sense, he didn't even need to worry about getting lost.

As a sacred land for otaku culture, and right during a golden holiday period, the crowd on the streets could be described as a sea of people. There were even many blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners among them, mostly tourists.

With too many people around, trouble easily follows.

"Sorry, he already has a girlfriend, okay?"

"Exchange contact info? Dame~ (No way~)"

"He's not a celebrity, and has no interest in debuting. Please stay back. If you keep bothering us, I'll call the police."

Nagasaki Soyo originally thought that as long as she could outshine the crowd, even if there were ill-intentioned bad women, they'd feel ashamed and not dare approach.

But clearly, she was still too naive.

Even though she was standing right beside Kaito, those bad women who came up to hit on him all chose to deliberately ignore her existence, their faces full of desire as they stared at the beautiful boy in front of them, almost pressing their bodies against him.

'Such shamelessness!'

And the young lady Soyo, even when trying to scold someone, sounded more like she was being coy, completely unable to speak harsh words with real bite.

Finally, after turning down the twelfth bashful yet hopeful girl, and seeing that it was already noon, Kaito simply suggested they grab a meal first, inside a restaurant would at least be a bit quieter.

Naturally, Soyo didn't refuse, and she was getting a little hungry too.

A few minutes later.

Inside a family restaurant beside the street, seated at a corner table, the two sat face to face.

"This place has lots of recommendations on the forums, not expensive either. I heard their omurice and parfaits taste pretty good."

Kaito handed her the menu in his hand, "See if there's anything you want to eat?"

"Mm then I'll try the omurice, and a cup of hot Earl Grey tea."

Soyo glanced at the menu for a moment and quickly made her decision.

Kaito then turned to the still spacey waitress nearby, "I'll have the same, omurice and hot Earl Grey tea. Also, bring two matcha parfaits, thanks."

"O-oh okay", The soul-less waitress walked off. Not looking at her footing, she nearly tripped on flat ground.

But not long after, she returned excitedly with a tray full of various desserts and snacks, enthusiastically declaring, "You are our 100,000th customer since opening, so today's meal is entirely free!"

Then, shyly asked if they could exchange contact information? So she could notify them first when there are promotional offers in the store, and even offer free delivery.

"No need for the free meal," Kaito gently declined her request to exchange contact info, which left the waitress very disappointed.

However, the complimentary snack platter she insisted on giving them could not be taken back, firmly claiming it was a blessing for the 100,000th customer.

Once she reluctantly left, glancing back every few steps, Nagasaki Soyo shook her head helplessly.

"Kaito-kun, aren't you a bit too popular?"

It's impressive that the waitress could come up with such a clumsy excuse like "100,000th customer gets a free meal."

'Speaking of which this so-called free meal. Could it be that she covered it out of her own salary?'

'When it's time to pay the bill later, better just pay together.'

As a rich girl living in a high-rise luxury condo, Soyo of course didn't care about such a small amount of money, she wouldn't even mind renting out the whole place.

"On that note, Nagasaki-san isn't far behind either, right?"

Kaito picked up a fry from the snack platter, it was freshly fried and still warm, and paired with ketchup, tasted pretty good.

"It's different," Soyo gently shook her head. She was simply good at blending into the environment. Though she had many friends, that was a result of deliberate effort and adaptation.

Kaito was different. Even if he did nothing and just stood there, he could still attract countless moths to the flame, willing to be burned to ashes without regret.

The two didn't dwell on the topic and naturally began chatting about recent fun stories, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

And just at that moment

Ding-a-ling~

The bell above the store door rang softly, accompanied by a bright and energetic girl's voice, "Ryou! Hurry up and catch up!"

A blond-haired girl with a side ponytail walked in briskly, followed by a blue-haired girl carrying many bags, eyes lifeless.

Kaito instinctively looked over and met the gaze of the blonde girl. She paused for a moment, then quickly turned to surprise.

"Kaito-kun? What a coincidence!"

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Chapter 94: Punish Myself With a Drink for My Recklessness

"Nijika?"

Golden side ponytail, and the iconic curly ahoge on top of her head, plus a sunny and cheerful smile.

All these elements together formed the Great Angel of ShimokitazawaIjichi Nijika.

"Oh, so Ryou is here too?", After seeing the blue-haired girl behind her carrying bags big and small, Kaito casually added another comment.

"Am I some kind of weird bonus item?", Lazy Ryou couldn't help but retort. Her expression, initially a bit hopeless, clearly showed she hadn't expected that being dragged out by Nijika as a laborer would result in such an unexpected encounter.

But...

Her golden eyes glanced subtly at the unfamiliar brown-haired girl. From the blue eyes to the high nose bridge, and then to the delicate cherry-blossom-pink lips. Undoubtedly a top-tier beauty well above the average line, especially with that gentle and mature aura, which was a total killer to young boys.

Lazy Ryou's gaze briefly lingered on her chest area to confirm her impression, 'This was a fearsome opponent comparable to Bocchi!'

'No... even more terrifying than Bocchi!'

After all, the socially anxious and introverted Bocchi didn't have the courage to take the initiative. No matter how good her figure was, she had no space to showcase it. No seductive charm, even more timid, clearly not a heroine.

"This is Nagasaki Soyo."

Kaito briefly introduced everyone, "Ijichi Nijika, Yamada Ryou, both are my friends."

"Ijichi-san, and Yamada-san, good day to you," Soyo gently tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, smiling warmly, her voice also sweet, "Nice to meet you, I'm Nagasaki Soyo. Please take care of me."

'W-Where did this young lady come from?'

Nijika was a bit flustered. This was the first time in real life she'd heard someone greet her with the word "good day."

Every move of the other girl, even her sweet voice, was full of ladylike elegance. She looked like a proper heiress from a noble family. In contrast, she and Ryou were no different from some countryside bumpkins who had just come into the city.

'No, maybe I am the only bumpkin? After all, Ryou's family own a private hospital, calling her a young lady might actually be true?'

That she was always broke and eating grass was simply because she dumped all her pocket money into buying musical instruments. Spending hundreds of thousands of yen on a bass at the drop of a hat, it would be strange if she could actually save money.

"N-Nagasaki-san, good afterno~", Her brain swirling with thoughts, Nijika waved her hand, trying to act as naturally as possible.

"Good afternoon," Lazy Ryou also greeted in turn.

She remained calm, 'Instead of mentally exhausting myself, why not just CPU (overpower) the others? So what if she's a rich girl? My family's not poor either.'

Looking at the snack platter filled to the brim on the table, the blue-haired girl pondered for two seconds, then seriously asked, "So many snacks, do you need my help to share the load?"

Lazy Ryou was still the same old lazy Ryou.

Kaito spread his hands, "I don't mind, but today is Soyo's day, she's the host who gets to decide."

"Sure~", Nagasaki Soyo clasped her hands together, her smile still gentle, "Actually, having Yamada-san and Ijichi-san here is really helpful. I was just worrying that it would be such a waste if we couldn't finish all this..."

This was a lie.

A rare alone date was broken just like that, of course Soyo wasn't happy. Especially since the two unexpected lightbulbs were both charming girls.

But they were already here. She couldn't just bluntly say, "No, you're in the way," right?

If she really drove them off, it would only leave Kaito with the impression that she was "willful and rude."

Since the outcome couldn't be changed, she had to at least take control of the process to favor herself.

Compared to the shameless foxes outside, the two girls before her were clearly more threatening.

The girl with the yellow side ponytail was cheerful and sunny, and the girl with the blue short hair was cool and emotionless. Though their personalities differed, they were equally stunning, girls who'd catch anyone's eye at a glance.

But after letting her gaze briefly settle on their chests, Soyo quickly regained her confidence.

Eagle-eye needlepoint judgment: 'Even together they're no match for me.'

"So, Soyo-san is actually a student at Tsukinomori? I've heard that all the girls who go there are true-blue rich young ladies~"

Maybe between girls of similar age, making friends really was this easy.

Though it was their first time meeting, they got close quickly, and before long were already calling each other by name.

"It's really not that exaggerated~", Soyo lightly twirled a strand of brown hair around her slender index finger and smiled as she said, "Like me, I'm just a regular girl~"

"Soyo-san, you're too modest," Nijika waved her hand, her wine-colored eyes full of envy. If she hadn't heard Soyo personally confirm that she was still in school, she wouldn't have believed that they were about the same age. Soyo looked so mature, like a young widow who had just lost her husband.

"By the way, I really didn't expect to run into you guys here," Next to her, Lazy Ryou picked up two pieces of karaage chicken, dipped them in salad dressing, popped them in her mouth, chewed a few times, and said through a full mouth, "Is this a date or something?"

That question immediately caught Nijika's attention.

She'd also been curious but was too shy to ask. Thankfully, Ryou was here.

"It's not a date, just hanging out together," Kaito pulled out a napkin and casually handed it across the table to Ryou, sighing, "You, on the other hand, can't you eat a little slower? No one's going to steal your food, aren't you afraid of choking?"

"Sorry, my bad," The blue-haired girl took the tissue, wiped the white sauce at the corner of her mouth, and solemnly said, "How about this. Nijika, go to the counter and buy a glass of freshly squeezed iced lemon juice. I will punish myself with a drink for my recklessness."

Nijika let out a laugh and a sigh, "Can't I just forgive you?"

But Ryou shook her head and declared righteously, "But I can't forgive myself."

In the end, Nijika still went to the counter and bought four cups of freshly squeezed juice.

She first handed one each to Kaito and Soyo, then passed the lemon juice to Ryou. The great angel rolled her eyes at her, "Happy now?"

"Nijika, love~"

"Don't suddenly come so close, you idiot!"

Just spoil her already.

Finally, she understood why Lazy Ryou always apologized after being scolded by Nijika, yet still dared to repeat her behavior next time.

A doting mother raises a spoiled daughter, ancient wisdom never lies.

Nijika looked a bit shy. That was just her nature, always hard-mouthed and soft-hearted when it came to Ryou.

Seeing her so embarrassed, Soyo smiled and changed the subject, "Kaito-kun helped me with something really big before. Today's outing was just to express my thanks."

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Chapter 95: The World Where Only Ryou Is Hurt Has Been Achieved

"So that's how it is," Nijika patted her chest, 'As long as they aren't a couple, then it's fine.'

But, a strong sense of urgency still arose in her heart.

Although Soyo said with her mouth "just out of a feeling of gratitude," girls' polite phrases should only be listened to, taking them seriously would be the most foolish thing.

She had clearly put on makeup intentionally, even her hair showed signs of careful grooming. If it were just out of gratitude, there'd really be no need for such trouble.

A woman dresses up for the one she likes. No matter what world, this principle holds true.

Having a charming boy one likes is also a kind of trouble.

Even though she had long known, with Kaito's appearance, she would never lack rivals, but when the day truly arrived, her mood was still complicated.

Nijika wasn't someone with a self-deprecating personality, but Soyo-san did bring her some pressure.

Such a gentle and friendly pretty girl, with a touch of maturity, she couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.

Inheriting Kita's sociability and Bocchi's figure at the same time, what a terrifying big rival.

"Why did Nijika-san and Ryou-san come to Akihabara?", Soyo showed just the right hint of curiosity, "Moreover, you bought so many things."

Nijika hesitated a bit before saying, "Because I wanted to buy some presents."

After returning from Hoori Town, she hadn't seen Kaito again.

Although they'd been chatting via phone these days, just sending messages clearly wasn't enough to satisfy Nijika.

She wanted to meet face-to-face more.

But suddenly showing up at his door would be rude and abrupt.

Thinking back and forth, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration, she could start from little Kumiko.

To win over a handsome single dad, the best way is to win over his daughter first.

Just in time, Nijika had also heard from Kaito that Kumiko recently got hooked on playing games.

She wasn't too familiar with the realm of games, so she went to discuss it with slacker Ryou, who was squatting at home reading manga.

Finally, they got the suggestion to come to Akihabara.

This place isn't just Japan's most famous subculture hub, but also a very comprehensive electronics street, with many shops selling game consoles and the latest game discs, perfect for picking out gifts for a child.

"You said shopping, but I've been the one carrying all the stuff, haven't I?", Slacker Ryou couldn't help but complain from the side.

Originally she didn't want to come, but she'd recently taken a liking to a newly released bass guitar, and having spent all her pocket money, she had no choice but to borrow from Nijika.

Facing her creditor, Slacker Ryou had no choice but to bow and scrape to Nijika, doing hard labor as her bag carrier.

"So that's how it is", Soyo nodded with understanding, but didn't ask who the present was for, still maintaining a gentle smile.

Perhaps they were hungry, the girls didn't chat much afterward, and quietly began eating lunch.

Soyo picked up a piece of crispy fried potato. The surface golden, covered in chili and cumin, the smell alone made one's mouth water.

"Kaito-kun, try this."

She used her own chopsticks. Kaito didn't think much at first and took a bite casually, only realizing the issue after.

'To friends, such an intimate feeding behavior is a bit too much, isn't it?'

But looking at Soyo's lovely face, still gentle and friendly, showing no sign of shyness, he began to feel unsure himself.

'Maybe I am overthinking it?'

Besides, even Soyo herself didn't mind, and technically his mouth didn't touch the chopsticks, they bit directly into the potato, not even close to an indirect kiss.

So Kaito didn't overreact and kept his calm demeanor.

'Wait is this that "feeding play" that often appears in shoujo manga?', Nijika never expected that Soyo-san, who looked like a graceful and demure lady, would be so bold.

'Moreover, Kaito-kun actually just naturally ate it too?'

'Could it be that they do this kind of thing often?'

She imitated them, picking up a piece of tempura, holding it with her small hands, bringing it to Kaito's lips, "This tempura is also delicious. Kaito-kun should try it!"

Since he had just accepted Soyo's feeding, if he rejected Nijika now, it would surely make her overthink.

Kaito simply opened his mouth and ate the tempura from the girl's chopsticks.

Soyo, not to be outdone, followed up, "There's also this shop's calamari rings, you should try it~"

Nijika: "Shrimp tail, please eat!"

Soyo: "Onion rings, very tasty~"

Nijika: "Chicken nugget, dipped in ketchup, not greasy at all!"

Soyo: "Egg tart, paired with chocolate chips, it's the shop's signature~"

Neither was willing to give in.

You pick one, I pick one, like a contest.

Kaito finally experienced the joy of a feudal lord. He didn't even need to use his hands, just opened his mouth and he was fed.

As for Slacker Ryou, although usually unreliable, she surprisingly didn't join in the fun this time.

Finally

"Shrimp sticks!"

"Taro pie!"

Two pairs of red and blue eyes stared at him with the intensity of predators eyeing prey.

Kaito looked at the two pairs of chopsticks hovering in front of his mouth, remained silent for a moment, then snatched a crispy chicken nugget from Ryou's plate.

A formless battlefield was thus dissipated.

Nijika and Soyo didn't dare push too far. After all, Kaito's favorability hadn't been raised yet. If they acted rashly and scared him off, it'd be a loss.

The two smiled nonchalantly and returned to their harmonious appearance.

Although the snack platter filled the entire table, it wasn't a proper meal, so Nijika and Ryou also ordered two portions of omurice.

During the meal, Soyo went to the restroom briefly, but came back quickly.

When everyone finished lunch and went to the counter to pay, they learned that she had already paid in advance.

"That's too generous of Soyo-san~"

Nijika didn't expect that, after all that had just happened, the other party would still take the initiative to pay the bill.

"It's no problem~", Soyo put her hands together, smiling sweetly, "If Nijika-san really feels bad about it, then next time we eat out, how about you treat instead?"

'There's such a thing?'

Having her chicken nugget stolen, Slacker Ryou had been sulking since earlier, her pale earlobe twitched as she said seriously, "Nijika, better not turn down Soyo-son's kind offer."

'You just want a free meal again, don't you?'

Nijika gave her a helpless glance, but didn't insist, "Then it's settled. Next meal, I'll pay."

From beginning to end, Kaito didn't speak up, nor did he offer to pay.

It's not that he was shamelessly mooching, he simply felt this was Soyo's decision.

Before they went out today, the rich young lady had repeatedly emphasized that she would cover all the expenses today to show her sincere gratitude.

To her, this amount of money truly meant nothing.

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Chapter 96: Evolution of Kumiko

Leaving the restaurant, the few people did not separate. Since they happened to meet by coincidence, they simply decided to travel together.

Claw machines, Ichiban Kuji(lottery), and they even specially went to a console specialty store to buy quite a few game discs, spending a fulfilling afternoon.

In the blink of an eye, it was sunset and dusk.

"Thank you, Kaito-kun, I was very happy today," The warm yellow sunset gradually descended, casting a layer of hazy golden light veil on the girl's smooth and fair cheeks.

Soyo clasped her hands behind her back, her smile satisfied yet regretful, "But mom wants me to go home for dinner tonight, so I can't delay anymore. I'll leave first~ let's go out to play together next time~"

"Mm, bye-bye," Kaito waved his hand towards her.

"Also, Nijika-san and Ryou-san, very happy to meet you."

Soyo turned her head again, her blue eyes playfully blinking, "See you next time~"

"Goodbye."

"Soyo-san, goodbye."

After the brown-haired girl's skirt corner disappeared into the distance, Nijika couldn't help but say, "Soyo-san really is a very good person."

Although the two should have been rivals in love, she also had to admit, whether it was in dealings with people, or some small details in communication, Soyo made people feel very comfortable.

"Compared to that, what plans do you two have? Parting ways now? Or, go eat something?"

"Let's skip eating, the lunch was very full, not really hungry now."

Nijika shook her head, a bit hesitant, looking at Kaito, stammering, "A-actually, Kaito-kun, I... c-can I..."

Seeing her stammer for half a day without being able to say a complete sentence, Gremlin Ryou shook her head.

'Useless Nijika.'

'Still have to rely on me to operate.'

"To be honest," Gremlin Ryou somehow pulled out a handkerchief, eyes brimming with tears, "Nijika and I just realized, because we were too rushed before going out today, we forgot to bring the keys to open the door."

"So... almighty god-sama, could you please show great mercy, and take in two weak homeless little girls?"

'This reason... is just too careless.'

'And those tears, what's with them? Coming so fast?'

The entertainment industry losing this Gremlin Ryou is like the West losing Jerusalem.

But Kaito didn't show any intention of refusing. He probably understood Nijika's thoughts, she just wanted to visit Kumiko, but was too embarrassed to ask to stay over.

His house was quite big, guest rooms also plenty. Not to mention just Nijika and Ryou, even if a few more people came it would still accommodate.

But...

"Suddenly staying outside, wouldn't Store Manager Seika be worried?"

Nijika's mother passed away early, and her father worked far away, rarely returning home. She usually lived with her elder sister Seika.

If the younger sister suddenly didn't return home overnight, the tsundere sister-loving store manager who was thirty years old and had never dated would probably charge over with a machete to see which family's pig dared root his little cabbage.

"It's fine~", Nijika shyly drew circles on the ground with her toes, "Sister is busy with overtime these few days, staying at PA-san's house at night, she won't notice."

"And Ryou?"

"I'm fine too," Gremlin Ryou shrugged indifferently. Her family runs a private hospital. Hospital things, those who know, know. When busy, it's chaotic. Parents not returning home for days is common.

Since both had no problem, Kaito nodded.

"Then follow me."

[One Hour Later]

"Sorry to bother~"

This was the first time Nijika visited a boy's home as a guest. Stepping into the entranceway, the great angel of Shimokitazawa curiously sized up everything around.

"There are guest slippers in the cupboard, all brand new, you can pick a pair yourself."

Kaito caught Kirara, the cat who ran over upon hearing movement, held the pouncing cat in his arms, stroked it, and casually asked, "Where's Kumiko?"

"Meow! Meow!"

Kirara comfortably laid in his arms, fluffy tail sweeping, meaning, 'She's sleeping.'

'Sleeping?'

Kaito was a bit surprised. As a blade spirit, Kumiko didn't need rest. Usually even when asked to put down her phone and rest for a while, she would be reluctant. Now she actually took the initiative to sleep?

Sending out spiritual sense to probe, he found that the Murakumomaru placed on the living room sofa was now floating mid-air, the blade enveloped by a thick silver light, mixed with huge streams of chaotic spiritual power, only half the hilt sticking out.

'This is... a breakthrough in cultivation?'

'No, Kumiko is after all a blade spirit, and hasn't systematically cultivated. Her current situation should be called evolution.'

Although sudden, thinking carefully, Murakumomaru had been piously worshipped by the Hoori Shrine for hundreds of years. The belief power she absorbed alone was a huge amount. She wasn't lacking accumulation, and now recognizing Kaito as master, receiving feedback from the soul of a Nascent Soul heavenly lord, breaking through bottlenecks was normal.

This was of course a good thing for Kumiko. To use game terms, it was like evolving from a blue weapon to a purple weapon, greatly strengthening both stats and quality.

But for Nijika, this was unfortunate.

The evolving Kumiko obviously needed to sleep for a while longer, maybe three days, maybe a week.

Nijika visiting today was destined to be a wasted trip.

After changing shoes at the entrance, carrying big and small bags into the living room, looking at the silver light ball floating mid-air, Nijika was a bit confused, "That is... Kumiko?"

Kaito simply explained the situation to her. As expected, the great angel looked a little disappointed.

But, after all, it was good for Kumiko. She quickly collected her emotions and once again revealed a radiant and full smile.

"As long as Kaito-kun doesn't mind us disturbing."

Of course, dislike wouldn't happen. Since Kumiko was sleeping, Kaito didn't stay in the living room either, and led Nijika and Ryou to the guest rooms.

"The bedding has already been laid, cleaned daily, no one has slept in it, so it's clean. Don't worry about hygiene."

"There are unopened bathrobes in the wardrobe, and new toiletries in the bathroom. If you want to take a bath before bed, it's fine too."

"That's all for now. If there are any other problems, you can tell me."

At this time, Gremlin Ryou suddenly raised her hand, "Report! I have a question!"

Kaito simply said, "Speak."

"Can we visit your bedroom?"

Gremlin Ryou made no attempt to hide her curiosity, "Come to think of it, I've never seen a teenage boy's room. I want to broaden my horizons."

Next to her, Nijika also blinked, a little tempted.

'Heard that in boys' rooms, there are always many indescribable weird comics. Wonder if Kaito-kun is the same?'

'Just don't know, what tags does he prefer?'

'Big bo0bs? Or flat bo0bs? Heavy taste, or fresh?'

'Hopefully not Ryou's favorite NTR, right?'

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Chapter 97: Gremlin Ryou: I Have a Plan

The manga naturally was treated as non-existent.

If Kaito were to find out what Nijika was thinking in her heart, he would definitely not be able to help but complain.

My lord, times have changed.

In the information era, could it be that there are still people who really read physical copies? Could it be? Could it be?

The days of racking one's brains to hide little imperial uncles under the bed, at the bottom of cabinets, and inside sofa cushions are already completely gone.

Whether in terms of concealment or convenience, web pages completely crush everything; as long as there is a mobile phone, it is enough.

If one is worried that even this is not safe enough, one can choose to cache it, and then save it into a private space, and set a password that only oneself knows, which can be called absolutely foolproof.

"This is a boy's room?", Gremlin Ryou, who walked into the room, could not help but look around, "Looks so clean."

Her delicate little nose secretly sniffed, then softly said, "There's also no strange smell in the air..."

Of course it was very clean, Kaito would casually use a cleaning spell every morning after getting up, cleaning the whole room inside and out.

Not only was there no dust or grime, even little bugs did not exist.

As for the indecent manga that the two girls were expecting, in the end, they also did not find any.

The furnishings in the room were very simple. Besides essentials like a bed, bookshelf, and computer desk, there were no extra pieces of furniture, and even less space where things could be hidden.

Failing to catch any dirt on Boyfriend-kun, Gremlin Ryou appeared very disappointed, and couldn't help but sigh, "Boring..."

She had even been looking forward for so long to the classic scene of, ["Kaito-kun, you wouldn't want the little manga you secretly hid to be found by others, right? Then obediently listen, let me see!"]

Seeing her with such a bored and flavorless look, Kaito couldn't help but give this Gremlin Ryou a flick on the forehead, "Although I don't know why, I somehow feel offended by you."

"No way...", Gremlin Ryou, feeling a little guilty, covered her head. Seeing the game controllers and the unpowered PS5 in the room, she hurriedly changed the topic, "Didn't you buy a lot of game discs this afternoon? Are there any that can do multiplayer battles?"

"Multiplayer battles, of course there are."

Kaito then looked toward the side-ponytail girl next to him and invited her, "Nijika, do you also want to play together?"

"Ah? Me?", Nijika hesitated a little. The last time she played a game was when she played Snake and Push Box in elementary school. Worried she would spoil the fun, she shook her head.

"I'll pass. As long as you and Ryou have fun, that's fine."

"Hmph! Hmph! if that's the case, I'll win even on behalf of Nijika," Gremlin Ryou crossed her hands on her hips, full of confidence, "A mere Boyfriend-kun is nothing more than small fry!"

'Small fry?'

As someone who was just one step away from ascending to immortality as a real cultivator, Kaito naturally wouldn't bother arguing with an immature little girl; he simply smiled without commenting.

.

.

.

.

[Two Hours Later]

"Want to go again?", Putting down the controller, Kaito leisurely looked at Gremlin Ryou beside him. The girl maintained a spiritless forward-bending posture, as if her face had already lost all color.

Two hours, a total of sixty-seven matches, averaging less than two minutes per match.

Her final record, total defeat.

Matched up against a genius boy in multiplayer battle, continuously comboed like a monster, unable to win no matter how hard she tried.

"This game seems really unfair," Nijika frowned, "Why can Kaito-kun only use one character each time, but Ryou can use three?"

Gremlin Ryou: "..."

It felt like an arrow had pierced her chest.

She threw the controller aside and decisively used the tactic of escape.

"Suddenly feeling super sleepy, I'm going to take a bath, then rest."

"Really not playing anymore?", Kaito was a bit regretful. Crushing newbies is fun for a moment, crushing them continuously is fun forever.

Had he known it would deal such a blow to Gremlin Ryou, he would've held back a little earlier.

"Not playing!"

The blue-haired girl shook her head like a rattle-drum, shifting the trouble to someone else, "You can find Nijika."

Seeing the previously arrogant and overbearing little female Ryou now acting like a frightened quail.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, "I actually preferred your earlier rebellious appearance, please recover that."

'Petty boy!'

Gremlin Ryou couldn't help but complain inwardly, 'Such a mere "small fry", and yet he holds a grudge for so long!'

But she still very sensibly lowered her head, with lowered brows and obedient eyes, "I am the self-overestimating small fry, very sorry for offending you. Please calm your anger. I will do anything."

"When apologizing, you have to expose your belly, that's common sense, right?"

Originally, Kaito only wanted to make things difficult for this little female demon a bit, letting her know the serious consequences of mocking boys.

Unfortunately, Kaito completely overestimated Gremlin Ryou's sense of shame.

Amid Nijika's complaint of "What kind of common sense is that? Is it from another planet?" Gremlin Ryou decisively lifted her clothes, revealing a flat and fair little belly and a small, cute belly button, then shouted loudly, "Red bean mud secret Marseille!"

Kaito fell silent.

He realized he was truly naive to think that this level could make Gremlin Ryou feel ashamed.

"If this level still isn't enough..."

The blue-haired girl earnestly made as if to lift her clothes even higher, only to be swiftly stopped by Nijika.

The great angel of Shimokitazawa was already used to her friend's unreliable degree; after laughing twice, she left a sentence of "I will slowly educate her. Please, Kaito-kun, don't mind it. Good night," and then dragged Gremlin Ryou away from the bedroom like fleeing.

After they returned to the guest room and closed the door, Yamada Ryou finally broke free from Nijika's restraint and unhappily said, "Nijika, you're sabotaging my plan again."

"Sabotage your plan, my ass!"

Nijika couldn't help giving her a punch, "Kaito-kun is still a boy! Please be more careful!"

Gremlin Ryou didn't take it seriously.

They say a persistent girl will eventually win the boy; turning it around, it's the same.

Nijika still couldn't let go of her shyness, always worrying too much, guarding herself too tightly and cherishing her body, destined to have the fate of a loser.

"What do you think of Nagasaki-san?"

Since it was about her best friend, Gremlin Ryou didn't answer directly but instead raised another topic.

'Soyo-san?'

Although Nijika didn't understand her meaning, after hesitating a while, she still softly said, "She's... a very good person, and also very charming."

"Exactly."

Gremlin Ryou nodded in agreement, "Beautiful looks, gentle personality, outstanding figure. An undeniable strong enemy!"

She straightforwardly said, "You should be able to see it too; she likes Boyfriend-kun."

Nijika stayed silent.

Of course, she could see it. Soyo didn't even try to hide it.

"Faced with such a strong enemy, you and I as sisters must naturally unite our efforts," Gremlin Ryou pinched her chin and said seriously, "I have a plan. How about you first help me as a wingman, and after I successfully capture Boyfriend-kun, and after we big-DO small-DO, then I'll turn around and lend you a hand?"

"We DO first then drive the DO later, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

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Chapter 98: Truly Coincidental and Fitting

'What does "first do then do" mean?'

At first, Nijika hadn't reacted yet, her expression clearly a bit blank.

But she quickly got the meaning, her pretty face rapidly turned red, the steaming shame transformed into thick fog, floating above the girl's head.

"Wa-wait!"

Seeing the situation was not good, Gremlin Ryou crossed her hands in front of her chest defensively, vigilantly saying, "This is just a small immature suggestion from me, if you don't agree then forget it, I'll go find Kita instead, Bocchi definitely won't refuse either..."

"Not allowed to find them!", Nijika instinctively blocked in front of her.

The Great Angel quickly realized that her behavior seemed a bit too intense, also revealing some little thoughts that couldn't be spoken aloud, hurriedly coughed, and hummed, "As the leader of Kessoku Band... I-I have the responsibility to protect the teammates' physical and mental health."

"Kita and Bocchi are both good kids, I can't let you lead them astray."

Gremlin Ryou: *Stare*

"Al-alright! Didn't you say you still need to take a bath! It's already very late, after bathing hurry and go back to sleep," Nijika really couldn't stand her weird gaze, forcibly enduring the embarrassment, hurriedly urged:

"I-I'll be waiting for you on the bed!"

"Hmm?"

Gremlin Ryou looked a bit troubled, also couldn't care to joke anymore, "You're going to sleep here too?"

She had her own plans for tonight, if there was an extra third wheel, it would definitely be awkward.

"Is there a problem?", Nijika also looked puzzled, wrinkling her delicate nose, "We clearly used to sleep together before, right? Why are you making that face like I'm bothering you?"

They had been good friends since junior high, and also attended the same school through high school and university.

During school trips, sometimes the hotel rooms were tight, the two often squeezed together, even bathing together happened a few times.

'Of course, it is because I was planning to night raid someone,' Gremlin Ryou sighed, 'I had everything planned.'

'In this unfamiliar environment, going to the toilet at night, getting back and mistakenly entering the wrong room, isn't that normal?'

'Not noticing someone else on the bed, lifting the quilt and crawling in, also normal?'

'Having a habit of sleeping without clothes, that is equally normal?'

'It's well-known that people get hungry easily at night.'

'So dreaming about eating a chicken wrap and drinking soybean milk because of hunger is even more normal, right?'

'In short, coincidence, everything is coincidence.'

Actually, it wasn't necessary to definitely develop anything.

But, having such an experience could greatly close the distance between them, it counted as a very useful shortcut.

For a thin-skinned little girl, maybe such a plan was too advanced.

Gremlin Ryou wasn't very concerned with worldly opinions; compared to useless shame, meat that reached the mouth was more delicious.

Just like the widely spread joke, if bowing once could give you ten thousand yuan, what would you do?

When you bow the first time, your friends feel embarrassed, your parents are furious.

When you bow the tenth time, everyone falls silent.

When you bow the hundredth time, your parents would worriedly ask if you're tired, and your friends would enviously and jealously ask, "Can I bow a few too?"

Same logic.

When she milked the first time, Nijika might scold her for making an early move and not following martial ethics.

When she milked the tenth time, Nijika would fall silent, and start to get restless.

When she milked the hundredth time, Nijika would start worrying if she was tired, and if she really couldn't hold on, she herself would volunteer to take shifts.

But this perfect plan, unfortunately, died before it even began.

"No problem if it's no problem...", Gremlin Ryou was full of depression, "But why did you suddenly think of sleeping with me? Didn't you always complain about my bad sleeping posture?"

'Of course, it's because I want to supervise you.'

Although this premonition was a bit unreasonable, but based on Nijika's understanding of Ryou, 'If I let her sleep alone in one room, this girl... Will definitely sneak out at night to do bad things, right?'

Having herself by the side, at least she would have some scruples.

Nijika crossed her arms, lightly hummed, "Is it not allowed? Or is it... you actually have other plans?"

"How could that be?", Gremlin Ryou sighed, her golden eyes full of disappointment, "Nijika, with so many years of friendship, am I really so untrustworthy in your eyes?"

The Great Angel shook her head.

But before Gremlin Ryou could say something comforting, she quickly added, "It's not 'not trustworthy,' it's 'very untrustworthy'!"

'Someone who can fight stray cats for sausages has zero credibility.'

'Well, you really do see people very clearly, huh,' Gremlin Ryou became even more depressed, but since things were already said to this point, she could only regretfully give up tonight's plan.

However, you can guard for a while, but not for a lifetime.

Temporarily endure, avoid the sharp edge.

Hide strength and bide time, seize the opportunity again.

As dawn rose, the distant sky showed a faint fish-belly white, appearing with the extremely weak morning light, revealing a bit of warmth.

Kaito opened his eyes, first looking at the unfamiliar ceiling.

His sleep quality was always very good. Last night after getting into bed, he looked at his phone for a while, mainly chatting with Yumiko, the little girlfriend was chattering to him about her dad and mom; after hearing their daughter got a boyfriend after returning home, they were very worried, afraid she would be deceived, and even proposed to meet Kaito.

Such a small thing was naturally no problem, and he had nothing to hide anyway, so Kaito straightforwardly agreed.

Since today was already the last day of the holiday, the final meeting time was set for Saturday.

After that, the two didn't chat for too long, said goodnight to each other, then rested, sleeping till morning.

Looking at the phone beside him, it was just 6:30.

Although today was the start of school, at this time for most students, it was still the sleepy stage; even if awake, eight or nine out of ten would go back to sleep again.

Kaito didn't mind; with his cultivation, even not sleeping for several months would be fine, sleeping was just to experience life.

After getting dressed, he normally went to the bathroom to wash up.

The outside sky was still a bit hazy, the light not very bright, but enough to see, so he didn't turn on the light.

While brushing teeth facing the mirror, the door behind him gave a "click" and was pushed open.

"Mm...", A sleepy-eyed Nijika walked in, with tender small hands covering her mouth, still unable to stop yawning.

Noticing someone was in the bathroom, she didn't mind at all, thinking it was her own home, and thus the one inside must be her sister Seika.

After greeting "sister," Nijika naturally walked to the toilet, pulled down her panties, and then sat down.

The sound of trickling water, in the narrow bathroom, was like a small constantly flowing stream.

Kaito: "..."

Kaito: "!"

[T/N: (o;)]

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Chapter 99: Boys Must Protect Themselves Outside

"What's wrong? Big sister?"

Nijika yawned, the corner of her eyes producing a trace of tears, obviously still not fully awake.

Yesterday, in order to supervise Ryou and prevent this girl from sneaking out at night to do bad things, she had no choice but to share the same bed with Ryou, sleeping foot-to-foot.

The effect was indeed very good, making the petty Ryou's night raid plan collapse halfway.

But Nijika also paid the corresponding price.

Ryou's sleeping posture was always very bad, and she would unconsciously grab the blanket. Clearly, the guest room's bed was very large, enough for two girls to sleep comfortably, but Nijika was still squeezed into the corner, staring blankly at the ceiling, only dozing off for a bit when she was really too sleepy.

Luckily, her school, Shimokitazawa University, didn't start until tomorrow, giving her a whole day to catch up on sleep, considered fortune within misfortune.

'Wait.'

Nijika suddenly realized something was wrong.

'Supervising Ryou?'

'Ain't I in my own home? Why would I need to supervise Ryou?'

Her chaotic brain gradually cleared, her smart IQ began to reclaim the high ground.

Yesterday's memories surged like a tide, 'Encountering Kaito-kun in Akihabara eating together, shopping later in the evening proposing to stay over for one night'

Nijika's body stiffened, rubbing her eyes foolishly, then slowly lifted her head.

The imagined eternally cold, world-weary face of the tsundere sister-obsessed shop manager was not there.

Kaito stood two steps away, waving his hand, seemingly calm as he greeted her, "Morning?"

Nijika: ""

The girl's silence was deafening.

She raised her head, looking at the white tiles of the bathroom ceiling, laughing twice dryly, "This must be a dream? I must still be not awake yet"

'Fake, it's all fake.'

'The Kaito-kun before me is fake, the toilet under me is fake, this whole world is just one giant dream.'

'Yes, that's it.'

Seeing her bury her head into her arms like an ostrich, looking like she had no face to meet anyone, Kaito pondered for a moment, then decided to leave first, pretending nothing happened.

But plans always can't keep up with changes.

Just as he stepped out one step, he suddenly stopped, and not only didn't leave, but instead turned around and locked the door as fast as possible.

The subtle "click" sound was extremely clear in the quiet, narrow bathroom.

Nijika's sharp ears twitched slightly but still didn't lift her head.

Only to hear, knock! knock!, someone knocking on the door.

"Strange... why is the door locked? Nijika, are you inside?"

'This is Ryou's voice?'

Nijika was so frightened her heart almost stopped.

If such an awkward scene were discovered by Ryou, even jumping into the River couldn't wash her clean. Ryou wouldn't even need to laugh loudly; just a strange look would make Nijika want to dig into the ground with her toes.

'No! Absolutely can't be found out!'

'Need to find a place to hide!'

'But even so this time's situation is different from when we were in Hoori.'

Last time in Hoori, although they had encountered similar situations, they were in a hotel guest room, with many places to hide. Like the closet, the balcony, even behind the curtains.

Now, they were in a bathroom, the area was small, and even fewer places to hide.

As long as the door was pushed open, everything would be in plain sight.

If you had to say the bathtub could barely allow her to hide.

But there were no curtains over the bathtub. Even if she hid her whole body inside, it would still be obvious.

'Ryou isn't blind, how can she possibly miss me?'

'Could it be really no way out?'

Nijika couldn't help but look at Kaito beside her, her wine-red beautiful eyes filled with hope. Long experience had given her firm trust in him, 'Even scary evil spirits can be easily defeated by him. Maybe Kaito-kun really has a way?'

Although facing imminent exposure, Kaito's expression remained calm, not panicking at all.

Putting his index finger to his lips, making a "silence" gesture, he slightly shook his head, signaling Nijika to stay calm, and then spoke in a normal tone, "Nijika's not here, it's me washing up."

"Boyfriend-kun?"

Although her inner thoughts were messy just now, it only lasted a few seconds, so petty Ryou didn't suspect anything, just casually asked, "Did you see Nijika? After getting up just now, I haven't seen her, it's so strange."

"Nijika?", Kaito's tone showed just the right hint of confusion, "She just went out to buy breakfast, do you need her for something?"

'Buy breakfast?"

Ryou wasn't that easy to fool though, still asking suspiciously, "If that's so, why did you lock the door?"

'If it's just washing up, there's no need to be so cautious, right?'

'Or is he hiding something?'

"Of course for privacy."

Through the thin door, Boyfriend-kun's voice still sounded normal, no hint of abnormality, "Boys must protect themselves when outside. If the door isn't locked properly, what if you or Nijika barged in and saw something you shouldn't?"

Sounded quite reasonable.

Outside, petty Ryou let out an "oh", then said, "Can you open the door for a bit? I have some personal matters to handle."

'What to do what to do!'

Nijika, who had just finished tidying her clothes and stood up, panicked and spun around.

Besides the bathtub, the bathroom had no place to hide.

Even if she hid in the bathtub, when Ryou came in, she would still be discovered.

In this desperate situation with no escape, Kaito slightly shook his head, gave her a calming glance, and then calmly opened the bathroom door.

Nijika: "!!!"

But unexpectedly, after the door opened and Ryou walked in, she didn't say anything about Nijika, who was close at hand.

More than that, she didn't even glance this way, as if she didn't exist at all.

'What is going on?'

Nijika was baffled, looking at petty Ryou standing only two or three steps away, but didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Seeing Kaito turning to leave, she quickly tiptoed after him, almost brushing against Ryou's side, thrillingly and dangerously walking out of the bathroom.

Unaware, petty Ryou also felt it was strange.

She originally thought Nijika was hiding inside, but after entering, besides Boyfriend-kun, she found no other figure.

There was also no strange smell in the air, nor suspicious crumpled paper balls in the wastebasket.

'Could it be I really overthought?'

Following Kaito back all the way to his bedroom.

Just after closing the door, Nijika couldn't wait to ask, "Kaito-kun, just now what exactly happened?"

"Just a little trick."

Even low-level evil spirits could use "ghost blocking eyes" on Bocchi; naturally, Kaito could also do this kind of thing.

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Animania: Everyone Loves Me

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Chapter 100: Chihaya Anon, Grand Debut!

Not to mention merely influencing Ryou's five senses, making her unable to perceive the existence of Nijika.

If Kaito wanted, he could even permanently alter her cognition, even if he told her "you must show your b0obs when apologizing," she would firmly believe it, and even take it as natural common sense.

"You can even do this kind of thing?", Nijika subconsciously used both hands to cover her chest, and also seemed to think of something, lowering her head shyly.

"What is that expression?", Kaito flicked the girl's forehead without good humor, looking at her worried expression as if he would sneak into the girls' bath to peep?

If he really had such a thought, wouldn't it be more convenient to directly scan with divine sense? He wouldn't even need to go there personally, just sit in the bedroom and see everything happening in the bathroom.

"So painful...", Nijika covered her forehead, tearfully looking at him.

Unfortunately, Lord Kaito was neither tender towards beauties nor pitied jade, coldly and mercilessly said, "Compared to this, going to buy breakfast now is the most important thing for you."

Telling one lie usually requires more lies to cover it up.

Just like now, although he barely managed to fool Ryou, Nijika also consequently bore the responsibility of buying breakfast. Otherwise, when Ryou came to her senses, she would definitely react, ["Didn't you go to buy breakfast? Where's the breakfast?"]

Thus suspecting Kaito's testimony, and discovering the truth of the matter.

"I, I know already...", Nijika rubbed her forehead, and a bit worried said, "If I go out like this, will Ryou notice?"

"At least within twenty minutes, she won't see you," Kaito looked up at the clock hanging on the wall, "As for now, there are fifteen minutes left, enough time."

"That's good then."

Nijika patted her chest, asked what Kaito wanted to eat, and after getting the answer "soup dumplings sold at a nearby bun shop," she sneakily opened the bedroom door and slipped out.

Then, she ran straight into Ryou, who was coming out of the bathroom.

She was so scared she almost threw her phone out, but luckily, just like Kaito said, Ryou still ignored her presence.

Twenty minutes later.

"Such a rare style breakfast?"

Looking at the table full of soup dumplings, deep-fried dough sticks, soy milk, porridge, shumai, sugar triangle... Ryou swallowed a mouthful of saliva, completely throwing away the last bit of suspicion in her heart.

'So much breakfast can't possibly be fake; it seems I was overthinking.'

Dietary habits of people in Japan is different; traditional breakfasts are more accustomed to eating white rice, miso soup, natto, grilled fish and other side dishes.

But some families lean more toward the western style, like sandwiches, fried eggs, milk, jam bread, that kind.

But for Ryou, whether it's Western food, Chinese food, French food, or Russian food, who cares about this or that, I just TM eat eat eat.

Today was May 11th, Monday, also the start of school.

Nijika and Ryou would start at Shimokitazawa University tomorrow, and after breakfast, they said goodbye and left.

Before they left, Kaito handed them two protective charms, instructing them not to remove them easily.

Originally, when he met Soyo yesterday, he should have given her a charm too, but unfortunately, he forgot about it then and could only wait for next time.

After saying goodbye to the two girls, he boarded the train to school alone.

Because Secretary Sakiko was still living at the Wakaba family's house, today Kaito's figure was a bit solitary.

But the unlucky things weren't just this. Usually, the train wasn't considered crowded, but today it was packed with passengers, like freshly produced sardine cans.

However, handsome guys are privileged everywhere, especially the type who are attractive to both men and women.

After politely declining several people's offers to give up their seats, coming from black-stocking OLs, delicate JKs, pure university girls, all kinds of ancient (lecherous) enthusiastic (perverts), Kaito found a quiet corner to stand, habitually took out his phone, and started browsing forums.

Accompanied by the faint friction sound of the rails, the train started moving.

Buildings outside the window retreated quickly, and the early morning sunlight slanted through the window into the carriage, casting a hazy light and shadow on the side face of the boy who was lowering his head, his light chestnut-colored eyes resembling a gentle sea under the afterglow of sunset, easily stealing the surrounding gazes.

But before a certain black-stocking OL big sister, who couldn't hold back anymore, could launch a chat-up attack again, not far ahead, suddenly a furious female voice sounded.

"YOU DISGUSTING TRAIN PERVERT! Get a grip already!"

Today was Chihaya Anon's first day of transferring schools.

After fleeing back to Tokyo from England, she had been depressed for a while, lying at home every day, not wanting to think about anything.

Fortunately, her mother understood her very well, never forcing her, giving her enough time to recover.

While feeling warm inside, Anon also felt a little guilty.

The girl no longer wanted to continue being self-destructive and decided to change schools and start anew.

Universities close to the former high school couldn't be chosen; after all, in the eyes of her former classmates, she had gone to study abroad in England. Now suddenly returning without informing anyone, wasn't it no different from being a deserter? Surely she would be laughed at?

After careful selection, Shuka University came into her sight.

Strong faculty, beautiful campus environment, and crucially, far from her previous high school, making it unlikely to run into former classmates.

With excellent academic achievements, Chihaya Anon easily passed the entrance interview and officially became a new student of Shuka University.

Carrying beautiful expectations of starting a new life, she boarded the train to school.

And then...

She encountered the disgusting incident of a female train pervert molesting others.

Because of the extremely imbalanced gender ratio in this world, even plain-looking boys didn't have much difficulty finding partners, so male train molesters were extremely rare.

But correspondingly, the number of female train molesters started increasing.

These people were usually indiscriminate, treating timid-looking boys or girls as targets to satisfy their filthy and inferior desires.

This time's victim was no exception. Small build, young, wearing a black school uniform, hugging a schoolbag, not daring to raise the head, the typical small transparent type easily bullied.

The perpetrator was a woman about 1.7 meters tall, sloppily dressed and plain-looking.

Anon saw with her own eyes, this bastard using the back of her hand to pretend to inadvertently rub against the JC girl's inner thigh, and after noticing the girl's body trembling slightly, not only didn't stop but became even worse.

'How despicable! Shameless! Disgusting!'

In broad daylight, under the clear sky. Justice Anon-chan could not sit idly by.

Anon very decisively stood out, and when the train pervert wanted to go further, she firmly grabbed her wrist.

"You disgusting train pervert! Get a grip already!"

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Chapter 101: Anon: Discriminating Against Me?

The word "train pervert" is still a sensitive one in train and subway-related settings.

As soon as Chihaya Anon finished her sentence, she attracted the gazes of more than half the passengers in the carriage. Some even secretly pulled out their phones to record this direction.

Punishments in Japan for train molesters are extremely severe. Once caught, the maximum penalty can be less than six months of imprisonment or a fine under 500,000 yen. If caught a second time, the punishment doubles, becoming less than a year of imprisonment or a fine under one million yen.

But such things are still hard to completely prevent, because in the vast majority of cases, victims will, due to feelings of shame, timidity, or humiliation, silently endure it, thus emboldening the perpetrators.

And how to define obscene acts is also a problem. Unintentional brushing versus intentional groping, there's a big difference.

The caught woman naturally did not want to admit it.

Admitting it would prove that she really was a train pervert, and then she'd be gifted silver bracelets and half a year of prison food and lodging.

Especially when she saw that the girl grabbing her was young, around eighteen or nineteen, clearly still a student, she became even less panicked, and even reversed the situation to threaten, "You say I'm a molester, so I am? Do you have proof? Speaking such slander without evidence. Careful, I might sue you for defamation!"

"You! Shameless!", Anon was about to explode in anger.

She had personally seen this bastard reach her evil hand toward that middle school-looking girl. Her hand had already gone under the girl's skirt! And she still had the nerve to turn the accusation around?

"I saw with my own eyes you used your hand to touch this student for a long time," Anon straightened her not-so-busty chest, unwilling to back down, retorting, "Even when she actively avoided you, you still tried to approach again. Was that also coincidence?"

Exactly because it was such a situation, she could not back down.

If she let this woman escape punishment today, who knows how many girls would suffer in the future?

Though the woman was acting arrogantly, she had the victim to testify, so the advantage was hers.

"I already said I didn't do it!", The sloppily dressed woman spoke confidently, using a threatening gaze to look at the middle school girl beside her, "If you don't believe me, ask this brat, did I touch her or not?"

The molested girl was not only young but also the timid and fearful type.

Now that someone stood up for her, she forced herself to gather courage, wanting to point out the pervert who touched herbut happened to meet the other party's sinister eyes, silently warning her not to speak.

The petite girl's body shrank slightly, hesitated for a moment, then still lowered her head and murmured:

"She... she didn't touch me"

"Huh?", Chihaya Anon's face was full of disbelief, "What are you saying she clearly"

"Cut the crap!", The woman interrupted her arrogantly, "Even the girl denied it. Obviously, you're the one slandering me!"

"Judging from your age, you're a student, right? If you don't want this matter to blow up in your school, then hurry up and kneel to apologize! Hear me?"

'Like hell I'd apologize to trash like you,' Anon's chest heaved violently in anger. She looked around, trying to find other witnesses. But everywhere her eyes landed, there were only indifferent gazes.

In modern society, human interaction is already cold and distant. Even people sitting next to each other may not exchange a few words in a day, who would bother to help a stranger testify?

It's not only a waste of time, it could cause trouble.

This situation made the sloppy woman even more arrogant. She even came forward to grab Anon, yelling that she would call the police to arrest her for slander.

"Call the police then," Anon tried to dodge her grabs, still unwilling to back down, pretending to take out her phone, "Let the police come and see who's really at fault!"

"Bitch!", The woman flew into a rage. Guilty inside, she of course couldn't really call the police. She was only trying to suppress Anon with momentum.

Being tough in front of a bullied young girl was fine, she could even turn the tables. But train station officers weren't to be messed with. If you tried nonsense with them, they'd show you what "law enforcement with compassion" and "batons with power" really meant.

She chopped her hand down, trying to snatch Anon's phone, but couldn't succeed. In desperation, she raised her palm and slapped down hard.

Chihaya Anon clearly lacked experience in handling such situations. As a model student, she'd never fought before. Faced with this kind of brute who acted at the slightest provocation, she didn't know what to do. Seeing the slap coming closer and closer, she instinctively closed her eyes.

But no pain came.

This farce didn't escape Kaito's notice.

He had originally planned to use a small trick to bring the train molester to justice. Who knew that before he could act, a pink-haired girl had already stepped forward.

Seeing someone had taken initiative, Kaito didn't plan to interfere anymore, but unexpectedly, things only kept getting worse.

The pink-haired girl who stood up was clearly too inexperienced. When facing a brute who didn't follow logic, she couldn't say a word.

Seeing the molester's arrogance rise, even trying to use violence, Kaito helplessly covered his forehead. At this point, he could only step in personally.

The passengers watching from the sidelines had originally all been cold and indifferent, treating the whole scene like a drama, with no intention of helping.

But after Kaito appeared, suddenly many people jumped out to testify, claiming they had personally seen the sloppy woman molesting the middle school girl.

Even the victim herself gathered courage and re-identified the woman's indecent behavior.

With so many passengers stepping up, the sloppy woman couldn't defend herself. Especially when her logic was flawed to begin with.

As soon as the train doors opened, some disembarking passengers forcibly took her to the station staff. Once surveillance footage was retrieved and the truth confirmed, she would naturally receive proper punishment.

Originally, Anon had prepared to wrestle with that bastard the whole day. Even if she skipped class on her first day at a new school, it was worth it. As long as she could bring the culprit to justice.

But in the blink of an eye, the molester was already being handed over to the train staff by enthusiastic citizens, about to be served half a year of prison meals.

'Wait a minute If you all are so passionate, why were you so indifferent to me earlier?'

'This is discrimination, right?'

The girl couldn't figure it out, but still patted her chest in lingering fear and thanked the boy who helped her, "Thank you so much. If not for you, I probably would've been hit"

"I'm Chihaya Anon. May I know your", Her voice suddenly stalled, like a gear that lost its drive, unable to say a complete sentence for a long time.

Why did those cold passengers suddenly change their attitude?

All questions vanished the moment she saw that face, one that seemed kissed and blessed by the gods.

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Chapter 102: Benefactor

["xnxx station has arrived, please disembark in an orderly manner, do not crowd."]

The gentle electronic broadcast floated through the carriage. Kaito glanced at the pink-haired girl beside him who was still dazed, but had no intention to continue the conversation. After saying "goodbye," he stepped off.

Although the girl looked quite cute, her temperament was similar to Kita, but for some reason, compared to the lively and energetic Kita, she seemed to have a kind of clear stupidity.

"W-wait!", Finally breaking free from her daze, Anon hurriedly followed and squeezed out at the last second before the train doors closed.

But she was clearly still a step too slow.

The densely packed crowd filled the platform completely. That figure who had seemed like a dream to her had long since vanished, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, never to be seen again.

"I still haven't properly repaid you"

To Kaito, what happened on the train was just a trivial interlude in his daily life.

He didn't take it to heart. After leaving the station, he went to class as usual.

It was already late by now, and many students were gathered in small groups, gossiping about various incidents during the holiday.

"It's been ten whole days without seeing Kaito-kun, ten days! Do you know how I made it through?"

"Of course I know because I got through it the same way!"

"Uuuh, why does it feel like Kaito-kun became even more handsome Eh, did my husband just look at me?"

"Keiko, you idiot! My husband was clearly looking at me!"

The students were as energetic as ever.

All kinds of hysterical outbursts and antics emerged endlessly like fish crossing a river. They had the courage to say it, Kaito didn't even have the courage to listen.

Usually it was okay. At least they saw each other every day. Even if nothing could be done, just having eye candy was nice.

Even weekends were only two days, still within the endurance range.

But this time, perhaps because the Golden Week holiday was too long, they had been holding it in too much.

Like a spring: the more it's compressed, the stronger the rebound.

So, upon seeing Kaito again, the enthusiasm the classmates erupted with was on another level compared to before the break.

There was the bold type, "I'll leap onto the bed with Kaito-kun and start writing our heroic epic."

The refined type, "A few life tips for Kaito-kun: eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, sleep when tired, breathe to live, marry me."

And even the homo camp mixed in, "Mmm ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh my Kaito-kun! Take me with you!"

And they were unsurprisingly beaten up by the first two groups together. Girls being a little crazy was fine, but why were the boys joining in? If they twisted Kaito's preferences, then what?

This wasn't just any ordinary school life novel anymore. A heavy punch had to be delivered.

Luckily, the chaos didn't last too long.

DING~ DING~ DING~

With the preparatory bell ringing, homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly walked up to the podium and knocked on the desk.

The title "Invincible Iron Fist" still carried weight. This was a fierce reputation earned with her own fists, few dared to provoke her.

There had been unruly students in the past, disobedient and even disrespectful.

But all of them had been moved by Shizuka's great love and learned to behave properly.

The noisy classroom instantly fell silent, returning to order.

Seeing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded in satisfaction and cleared her throat, "Before class, I have an announcement. Our class is getting a new transfer student, just returned from overseas. Mm I hope everyone can take good care of them."

A transfer student?

It's been over a month since school started, transferring now would make socializing quite difficult, right?

In schools, there's no shortage of cliques. After a month, most people have already formed their social circles, and it's hard for outsiders to integrate.

Unless one is a top-tier extrovert, like little Kita's level of social butterfly, most people in such situations would even struggle to make friends.

Hiratsuka Shizuka had considered this too. She was worried the new student might end up isolated like Yukino had, so she gave a little heads-up.

"What's the new student's name?"

"Boy or girl? Are they hot?"

"Don't be dumb. With Kaito-kun here, even if they are hot, they'll just be overshadowed."

The class atmosphere was pretty good. Most girls showed curious and friendly attitudes.

"Ahem, quiet," Hiratsuka Shizuka knocked on the desk again, then looked toward the door and called out loudly, "Chihaya-san, you may come in."

A girl who had been waiting for some time appeared at the classroom door.

Delicate and adorable features adorned with a bright, energetic smile, dreamlike cherry blossom pink hair cascading down to her waist, dressed in a neat and elegant uniform blazer, she strode swiftly up to the podium on her long legs. Picking up a piece of chalk, she fluently wrote her name on the blackboard.

Then she gracefully faced the students and gave a small bow:

"My name is Chihaya Anon. Due to family reasons, I enrolled at this unusual time. I hope you'll be willing to be friends with me!"

"In the days to come, please take care of me~"

The students cooperatively applauded, letting Anon breathe a little easier.

'Looks like the self-introduction went fine. Now it's time to act fast and integrate into the class.'

'Let's start with a small goal: within a week, become the most popular girl in class.'

"Chihaya-san, you'll sit", Hiratsuka Shizuka scanned the classroom. There weren't many open seats, really not much choice, "Sit in the seat behind Kaito-san."

"Got it!"

Anon responded energetically with a "hai!" and slung her little bag over her shoulder as she came down from the podium. But she noticed that the students who had welcomed her so warmly a moment ago had all suddenly switched to a uniform expression of "envy, jealousy, hate"?

"Damn! The new transfer student is way too lucky? She gets to sit there?"

"Is it too late if I drop out and re-enroll right now?"

"Uuuh, my Kaito-kun, evil woman get away from my husband ahhhhh!!!"

"Your husband? My husband!"

'W-what's going on?'

'And what's with this "husband" stuff Isn't this a school? Where did all these married women come from?'

The girl was a bit confused, but still walked down from the podium with her gray shoulder bag. The bitter and grinding gazes along the way made her a bit uncomfortable, and her steps instinctively grew lighter.

She couldn't help but glance toward the window seat. While she was still trying to figure out who this "husband" person was, her gray eyes happened to meet a pair of light chestnut ones.

Like a thunderclap on a sunny day, her pink lips parted slightly, her brain short-circuited, and the words slipped out of her mouth, "H-husband?"

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Chapter 103: Kita-san, it's decided, you're the one

The air fell silent.

Many of the girls looked over with strange expressions, wanting to speak but stopping themselves.

'The new transfer student... isn't she a bit too wild?'

"W-wait! That's not what I meant!"

Anon finally realized what she had just said, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment, and she waved her hands hurriedly, "What I meant was benefactor! Benefactor! Kaito-kun helped me out on the train before, don't misunderstand!"

The explanation was reasonable enough, but it still didn't change the odd looks from the other students.

Fortunately, Hiratsuka Shizuka helped smooth things over, "Since you already know each other, it must be fate Kaito-kun, I'll be counting on you to look after Chihaya-san from now on."

Kaito gave a small nod.

Seeing that there was no change in his expression, as if he didn't take her earlier words to heart at all, Anon clearly let out a breath of relief.

Whether it was out of gratitude toward her benefactor or a faint affection born from the glimpse of a beautiful boy on the train, she didn't want to leave a bad impression on him.

With this small incident behind them, the morning classes passed in a flash, and before long, it was lunchtime.

The students who brought lunchboxes took them out and gathered in small groups to eat and chat. As expected, their conversations revolved around topics girls are interested in: makeup, food, handsome guys, and desserts.

Originally, Anon planned to pick a group that didn't seem too cliquish and, relying on her own charm, join in and make a few friends on her first day.

But now that she had reunited with Kaito, she immediately abandoned that idea, took out her lunchbox, and naturally sat down in the seat across from him. The original owner had already gone to the cafeteria for lunch, conveniently leaving the seat open for her.

"Hey hey~ Kaito-kun, this is already our second meeting~", The girl's pretty face beamed with a big smile, radiating friendliness, making one feel a natural affection, "Back at the train station, I didn't get a proper chance to thank you for your help~"

"It was just a small favor," Kaito gently shook his head, showing no sign of taking credit.

The only reason he stepped in was because of the girl's passionate heart.

The quality of stepping forward when witnessing injustice is precious no matter what world you're in.

"That's not right~", The girl, however, didn't agree with his view, "It might've been a small favor to you, but to me, it was a huge help!"

Onlookers watched coldly. The woman in front of her had a ferocious expression, as if she was about to bite someone.

Chihaya Anon was just an ordinary female college student. Her biggest worry used to be eating too many late-night snacks and possibly gaining weight. Suddenly encountering such a situation, it was impossible for her not to feel afraid.

Precisely because of that, the fact that someone reached out to help her at that moment made it all the more meaningful.

Not to mention, the one who helped her was a breathtakingly beautiful boy.

'Isn't this just like something out of a shoujo manga?'

If it were a more love-crazed girl, she might already be imagining where their kids would go to school.

Anon wasn't that much of a fangirl. She only thought about the child's name cough, just kidding.

In any case, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring.

Anon-chan here has always been a grateful child.

'Having received such great grace, how can I just act like nothing happened?'

'Now I have no choice but to repay with my body~'

'Let's have two children after marriage, one boy and one girl', Just imagining the babies inheriting the excellent genes of both her and Kaito made Anon's lips curl up in a silly "hehe" smile.

'But I wonder whether Kaito-kun have plans to go abroad?'

After all, she was a native japanese girl, and she still worried about adjusting to life in a foreign country

'No no, my thoughts are getting way too off track!'

'We haven't even taken the first step. If Kaito-kun misunderstands and thinks I am a crazy woman, that will be terrible.'

Chihaya Anon patted her cheeks, pulling herself back from her pleasant fantasy of the future, and once again showed a bright, friendly smile, "Anyway, how about we exchange contact info first? Give me a chance to repay you~"

"No need to repay," Kaito glanced down at his phone but didn't refuse the request to exchange contact info.

Unexpectedly, even though she seemed like a cheerful and energetic beauty, Chihaya's social account was surprisingly simple.

Even her profile picture was a pink lotus flower. If her ID had been something like "Virtue like Water" or "Blooming Wealth," it would've been fatal.

Noticing his gaze lingering on her profile picture, Chihaya Anon puffed out her chest proudly, "How is it? Isn't this design pretty? I spent a long time carefully choosing it."

It wasn't a matter of whether it looked good it was more like even my 800-year-old master would have picked something trendier than you.

Kaito didn't understand but respectfully offered a blessing, "Chihaya-san's taste is quite unique."

"Humph! Humph~ Lots of people say that~", Chihaya Anon placed her hands on her hips. When she smiled, her little tiger teeth showed. Cuteness level: Five Stars. [T/N: For this, leave a five star review]

Although she exuded a dumb and adorable vibe, in terms of appearance alone, Anon was undoubtedly a beautiful girl.

Her dreamy cherry blossom pink hair shimmered brilliantly in the afternoon sunlight, and her gray eyes curved into lovely crescent moons. Her voice had a slight nasal tone, but unlike others, that was just how Anon was naturally.

"And also, calling me Chihaya-san is too formal. Kaito-kun can just call me by my name~"

'S-So scary! Such strong social skills!', In the corner, Bocchi had been secretly observing the situation here.

At first, it was just because the new transfer student had the same pink hair as her, which made Bocchi a little curious.

Later, when she saw that Anon seemed to know the president, that curiosity turned into fear and anxiety.

Their hair colors were the same, but their personalities were polar opposites.

She was introverted, timid, and would rather hide in a trash can than face strangers.

But Anon, although also socially anxious, was a socially dangerous person.

'They haven't even spoken a few words, and she is already asking the president to call her by name. What terrifying aggressiveness!'

'Compared to Chihaya-san, Iplain and shyhave no competitiveness at all. I even lost the advantage of having pink hair.'

'W-What if the president decides to have her replace me in the Supernatural Research Club?'

Just imagining a future where one day the president walks up and coldly says: ("This one's not needed anymore") made Gotou Hitori feel like the sky was collapsing.

But there's no way she had the guts to stop Anon's approach toward the president either.

As the little social anxiety girl panicked and spun in circles, a sudden idea popped into her mind.

'S-Since Chihaya-san is a normie, then what if I use normie-targeted magic against her?'

So

Gotou Hitori pulled out her phone and quickly opened a chat window with a certain contact.

[Kita-senpai, it's decided, you're the chosen one!]

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