Misaki puffed out her cheeks to show she was sulking…
Puff.
Poke.
“Pffft!” …but Takuya deflated her with a quick poke of his finger.
Of course, separately from that, Misaki freaked out at being treated like a kid.
“Eek!
Don’t treat me like a little kid!” “Hehe.
Sorry, sorry.” After humoring her whining for a bit…
“If you’re bummed, come back here the day after tomorrow at this time.
I’ll be here too.” Takuya told Misaki.
Misaki gave him a puzzled look.
“Why not tomorrow?” “I Got plans with a friend tomorrow.
So the day after is good.” “A friend?!” At the mention of another friend, Misaki looked way more shocked than before.
Takuya chuckled at her face and said, “I’m not a total loner with no friends like you.” “Eek!
I have friends too!” “Who?” “Yoshino!
And Haruhiko!
And…” “All yokai or ghosts, right?” “…Sniff.” That one line made Misaki squat down, hang her head, and sniffle.
“Friendless loser” cut deep for a girl with no friends.
Seeing her sniffle again, Takuya wondered if he’d gone too far…
tsked, and offered some comfort.
Or rather, “Aw, it’s okay.
Everyone lacks friends sometimes.” “Sniff!
Go away!” “Sorry, I said.” “You’re the worst!
Sniff!” It might’ve looked like teasing, but Takuya patted her head and said, “Then I’ll be your friend.
So you’re not a loner anymore, right, Misaki?” “Sniff.
Sniff.” “If you let me, I’ll bring lunch the day after tomorrow too.” “Sniff.
Bring it, and I’ll be your friend.” “Hehe.
Deal.
Look forward to it!
I’ll get something good.
Oh, and since I’m older, call me big bro when we meet.” “No way…
I’ll call you uncle.” “…Fine.
Do what you want.” “Hehe, kidding!” Sheesh.
Takuya gave her head a few final pats, grabbed his bike, and headed off somewhere.
“Day after tomorrow!
This time!
Remember!!” Leaving those words behind.
Misaki just watched him go with sidelong glances until he was out of sight.
A moment later, when Takuya was no longer visible, someone slinked out from beside her.
Naturally, it wasn’t human.
[Miss.
Shall we follow him now?] The ghost following Misaki—Chunsik…
no, Yasuo.
For some reason he was named like a guy who’d crawl out of a ravine, the male ghost asked Misaki.
[Sniff.
No.
Don’t go.] Misaki sniffled in response to Yasuo’s question.
Yasuo gazed at her with warm eyes, like he was watching young love.
Just as the heartwarming mood settled in…
[Did that boy catch your eye, Miss Tachibana?] Another voice echoed from empty air.
But unlike Yasuo’s appearance, this one…
Seemed to speak directly into her mind, bypassing her ears.
Misaki turned to look at the one calling her.
[It’s not like that.
Be quiet, Zen-nee.] The one calling her was a great yokai who’d once plunged Japan into chaos—a foe the Tachibana family defeated long ago, now reduced to a shikigami.
[Oh my, lying to your big sis hurts my feelings~] The great yokai Nyotengu.
True to her name “female tengu,” she had a feminine form, an overwhelming figure, and shallow, upturned eyes that made her look like a total femme fatale yokai.
[Don’t lie.
You just tease me all the time.] [Nooo, your big sis wouldn’t~] Nyotengu said that while hugging Misaki tight.
Misaki grumbled inwardly but didn’t pull away from the embrace.
After enjoying the hug for a short while, Misaki said to Nyotengu, [Enough already.
Time to head home hugging you, Zen-nee.] [Ehhh, so mean~] Misaki ignored Nyotengu’s whining and started descending the shrine mountain.
Yasuo swiftly stuck to Misaki, while Nyotengu leisurely smiled at the sight.
A bit later, after Misaki got into the family car and left for home…
Nyotengu, left at the shrine, recalled the boy—no, the man-like guy she’d just seen, and muttered, “I wonder who could rack up that much karma of slaughter~” Karma of slaughter only comes from taking lives.
Even the greatest samurai of the Warring States era barely hit a few hundred.
But that guy…
[Had thousands, right~] He carried the karma of thousands of deaths.
Something no ordinary human could possibly have.
But that alone wasn’t enough to pique a great yokai’s interest.
Thousands?
Not unheard of.
Emperors or shoguns throughout history had that much.
What really intrigued her was…
[I wonder who that ‘woman’ hiding behind all that thick slaughter karma was♪] The woman lurking behind his karma, glaring at her murderously.
Thinking back on it…
-Chill!
Even she, with power near divine, had shuddered in fear for a moment.
[Shall I look into it myself~?] Nyotengu was dying to know who it was.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Yokai are invisible to ordinary eyes and can only be seen with special ‘eyes.’] CREATORS’ THOUGHTS yalaaaannn Character illustrations & later chapters: