In a moderately sized city somewhere in Japan’s Kansai region, about a ten-minute walk from the nearest express-train station, stands a six-story building known as Kisaragi Building.
My territory occupies the first and second floors.
Welcome to Kibagami-do.
I offer life advice, help people solve their problems, and even assist with finding lost belongings.
In other words, I make my living as a fortune teller.
“Um, I’m Takahashi. I have an appointment…”
The bell above the entrance jingled as the door opened.
It was nearing dusk when a woman in a business suit stepped inside. She looked like an ordinary office worker, perhaps in her mid-twenties.
“Ah, Ms. Takahashi! I’ve been expecting you. It must have been hot outside. Please, come this way.”
I gestured toward the sofa, adopting my most professional tone.
Today’s client was Ryoko Takahashi, a twenty-four-year-old office worker who lived nearby.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. And don’t worry about the tea. It’s on the house.”
“Ahaha…”
She laughed awkwardly, apparently taken aback by my appearance.
I was wearing a traditional Japanese kimono, and a fox mask concealed my eyes.
After a moment’s hesitation, she sat down on the sofa.
The consultation room was partitioned off on all sides, ensuring that no one outside could see what was happening inside. Privacy was one of the services I took pride in offering.
“Um… Kibagami-sensei? May I ask why you’re wearing that mask?”
“Genichiro Kibagami,” I corrected her. “That’s my real name, by the way.”
It sounded like the name of a fictional villain, so people often assumed it was an alias.
“As for the mask… Well, because of my line of work, I sometimes see a little more than I’d like.”
I chuckled and took the seat across from her.
In the middle of the room stood an antique round table, complete with a rather impressive-looking crystal ball.
Of course, appearances could be deceiving.
“Sayako-san, could you bring us some tea, please?”
I called toward the back of the room.
Something stirred in the shadows.
“…!”
Ms. Takahashi, who had just begun to relax, stiffened.
She had noticed her.
“Here is your tea.”
A quiet, gentle voice drifted out of the darkness.
Allow me to introduce her.
My secretary. My wife. My business partner.
Sayako-san.
Standing over two meters tall, she possessed a breathtaking figure and the kind of beauty that could make people stop and stare.
Her long, glossy black hair looked perpetually damp. It was gathered into a thick braid that fell all the way to her waist, while her bangs concealed her eyes as usual.
Against her snow-white skin, her blood-red lips stood out strikingly.
“Wow… She’s so tall! She looks like a supermodel!”
Ms. Takahashi, who was somewhere in the upper 160-centimeter range herself, stared at Sayako-san in astonishment.
And honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
My wife had the sort of beauty you rarely encountered in everyday life.
“Yes, she is. Our shop’s most wonderful and beautiful poster girl.”
“Honestly… You’re embarrassing me.”
Sayako-san gently patted my shoulder, looking bashful at my praise.
Then she returned to her usual seat behind the partition, diagonally behind me.
Seeing our exchange, Ms. Takahashi finally relaxed.
She picked up the glass of chilled barley tea Sayako-san had placed before her and took a sip.
“Ahhh… That’s delicious!”
“I’m glad you like it. Please, help yourself to the sweets, too. They go wonderfully with barley tea.”
I pushed a small plate of rice crackers toward her.
I’d bought them during a trip with Sayako-san. They had a delicate sweetness that made them particularly good.
All right, then…
I narrowed my eyes behind the fox mask.
Earlier, I’d given Ms. Takahashi a rather mysterious explanation for why I wore it.
The truth was much less impressive.
It was an ordinary, mass-produced mask I’d bought in Kyoto when I was a student. It had cost me 1,250 yen, tax included.
Yes, I could see things that other people couldn’t.
But the real purpose of the mask was simple.
It helped conceal where I was looking.
Because right now, Ms. Takahashi was happily munching on rice crackers, completely unaware that an elderly woman was floating behind her.
Hmm…
The old woman seemed to be watching her affectionately.
And judging by the way she reacted when I turned my attention toward her…
Looks like we can communicate.
You see, I have absolutely no talent for fortune-telling.
Ever since childhood, I’ve been able to see and sense things that don’t belong to this world. That’s all.
I’m no exorcist, either. I can’t banish spirits or help them pass on to the next world.
I’ve never studied the occult professionally, and I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
All I can do is pretend to be a fortune teller and quietly consult the ghosts lingering around my clients.
That’s how I earn my living as a fraudulent psychic.
Even the magnificent crystal ball on the table is a fake. It’s merely a piece of polished glass that looks pretty under the right lighting.
I bought it online for twelve thousand yen, tax included.
“Everything was delicious. Um, Sensei… I think it’s about time we began.”
Ms. Takahashi, now looking considerably more comfortable, leaned forward.
“All right. Shall we get started?”
I switched on the tablet beside me.
Thanks to its rather expensive leather case, it looked suitably professional. Most clients never suspected that I was simply using it to keep track of time.
It was all part of the act.
The kimono, the fox mask, the crystal ball, the carefully arranged room…
Everything was designed to create the impression of a highly capable fortune teller.
Traditional Japanese clothing, in particular, seemed to lend an air of authenticity to the whole business.
Personally, I found wearing a kimono rather troublesome.
Still, business was business.
“As you mentioned when making your reservation, your concern is related to your relationship, correct?”
I rested one hand beside the crystal ball and started the timer on my tablet.
At Kibagami-do, consultations cost six thousand yen per hour, a little cheaper than the going rate.
That is thanks to our family motto:
Earn too much, and people will start getting jealous.
“Yes… Well, I’m dating someone who works at the same company.”
Ms. Takahashi began explaining her situation.
After graduating from university, she had joined a local trading company. There, she had become close to a male colleague who had started at the same time.
They had been dating for two years.
Recently, he had begun dropping hints about marriage.
They shared similar hobbies, and he was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. All things considered, she was seriously thinking about spending the rest of her life with him.
There was just one problem.
“Something… doesn’t feel right.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I can’t explain it. He’s never hit me, and we’ve never had a serious argument. He’s always been kind to me, but…”
She hesitated.
“I just feel uneasy about something.”
“I see.”
I brought my hands together thoughtfully and nodded.
“Hmm. All right. Let me meditate for a moment. Please relax while I do. Sayako, could you bring me some more tea?”
“…Of course.”
Sayako-san stood, collected the empty glasses, and disappeared into the back.
Ahh, that wonderful aroma again…
No, Genichiro. Focus.
I placed both hands near the crystal ball and closed my eyes.
Naturally, the gesture was nothing more than an act.
The real work was about to begin.
All right, then…
I turned my attention toward the old woman floating behind Ms. Takahashi.
Are you a relative of hers?
The moment I directed the question toward her, the old woman’s eyes widened.
“Wait… Can you see me, young man?”
Yes. I can.
“Oh, thank goodness!”
The old woman clasped her hands together, looking as though she might burst into tears.
“I’m Ryoko’s grandmother! I was so worried she’d fallen for some shady fortune teller!”
Well, technically, you’re not wrong…
“But that’s not important right now! You have to tell Ryoko to stay away from that man! He’s after our family’s money! I’m absolutely certain of it!”
The old woman floated closer, tears gathering in her eyes.
“I saw him! When Ryoko wasn’t around, he was asking a real estate agent about the value of our land! He was talking about how we should renovate the house after getting married! This happened just last month!”
I kept my hand beside the crystal ball and listened carefully.
Well, well.
This was quite a jackpot.
The spirit had a clear mind, no obvious hostility, and plenty of information.
I wasn’t qualified to call her a guardian spirit, but she certainly seemed to be watching over her granddaughter.
And she had something important to tell me.
…
“Ms. Takahashi, I’ll get straight to the point.”
I lifted my hand from the crystal ball.
“Your uneasiness is probably justified.”
Ms. Takahashi’s expression changed.
According to her grandmother, the boyfriend was nothing like the kind, considerate man she believed him to be.
He had secretly been investigating the value of the family’s land and looking into the inheritance Ryoko had received after losing her parents at a young age.
Worse, he appeared to have several other women on the side.
Apparently, he’d even been having rather intimate phone conversations with one of them when Ryoko wasn’t around.
In short, he was the complete opposite of the wonderful boyfriend she had described.
“…I thought so.”
Ms. Takahashi’s face clouded over.
Her grandmother, Mizue Takahashi, was probably the source of that nagging sense of unease.
Ryoko possessed little, if any, psychic sensitivity. She couldn’t see her grandmother or hear her voice.
Nevertheless, Mizue’s persistent concern for her granddaughter seemed to have reached her in another way, manifesting as an inexplicable feeling that something was wrong.
Spirits rarely caused the kind of spectacular disturbances seen in horror movies.
In fact, ordinary people who lived normal lives and died peacefully didn’t necessarily become ghosts at all.
But some people remained in this world because they still had something they couldn’t let go of.
In Mizue’s case, it was her desire to protect the granddaughter who had been left alone in the world.
Even so, most spirits could do little more than linger.
Few possessed the ability to affect the living physically or interfere directly with their health, especially if they had once been human themselves.
“There is one thing that concerns me, Ms. Takahashi.”
I reached into my pocket and took out a business card.
“I’d like you to consider contacting this detective agency.”
She examined the card.
“A detective agency?”
“Yes. From what I can see, your boyfriend may not be the person he appears to be. But I understand that you might find it difficult to accept such a serious accusation based solely on my word.”
I gave her a reassuring nod.
“Fortunately, we have a reliable detective agency we work with. Their reputation is quite good, judging by their online reviews. Why not ask them to look into the matter?”
Of course, hiring a detective would cost considerably more than a fortune-telling session.
But thanks to my conversation with Mizue, I knew that Ryoko had inherited a substantial sum of money.
The Oki Detective Agency was trustworthy, too. A few days of investigation, perhaps a week at most, should be enough to expose her boyfriend’s true nature.
“Um… What sort of things would they investigate?”
Naturally, I couldn’t tell her that I’d obtained all this information from her deceased grandmother.
A little mystery could lend credibility to a fortune teller, but I generally avoided advertising myself as a psychic. Doing so would invite all sorts of trouble.
Technically, there were no special qualifications required to become a fortune teller or psychic.
But there was a difference between pretending to predict the future and openly claiming to possess supernatural powers. The latter could get complicated rather quickly.
“You could say that I suspect he has… problems with other women.”
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
“At least three other women, besides you.”
“Three?! There’s no way…”
Ms. Takahashi went pale. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
“If you’re seriously considering marriage, it’s always better to make sure you know the person you’re marrying. The number on that card is reserved for our clients, and you should be able to get a slightly better rate.”
I’d also receive a small referral fee.
Not a fortune, mind you, but a nice little bonus.
And the agency’s prices were perfectly reasonable. Anyone could confirm that with a quick online search.
“All right, then.”
I tapped the screen of my tablet and stopped the timer.
“That was probably a lot to take in all at once. Please, take your time to calm down. There won’t be any additional charges.”
I spoke gently, hoping to put her at ease.
Just then, Sayako-san returned with another glass of tea at the perfect temperature.
As expected of my goddess.
“Here you are.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
Behind Ms. Takahashi, Mizue smiled warmly.
Young man, thank you. This child really is a good girl. I think she might finally be able to hear me tonight.
That’s good to hear. You can relax a little now.
Spirits remained in this world because of their attachments.
Whether those attachments were good or bad, they could keep the dead from moving on.
Mizue might have been a gentle old woman, but I still believed that remaining among the living for too long wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
The longer a spirit lingered, the more its emotions could change, grow distorted, or become something else entirely.
At least, that was what a psychic I knew had once told me.
I didn’t know the details, and frankly, I had no desire to learn them.
Well, if this girl finds a good husband someday, perhaps you’ll finally be able to rest in peace.
I glanced at Sayako-san.
She looked back at me and gave a small nod.
That should be all right, then.
I see. Unfortunately, there’s nothing more I can do for you. But if you need help when the time comes, visit Sennkoji Temple in the neighboring town.
Oh! That’s our family temple! I see… The head priest who married into the family really does have a good reputation!
…Well, he certainly was skilled.
“Sensei…”
Ms. Takahashi wiped her eyes.
“I think I’ll hire that detective.”
Her expression had changed. Though her eyes were still red, there was a new determination in them.
Excellent.
Satisfied clients were good for business. And perhaps, in this case, I could offer a little extra service.
“Oh, one more thing, Ms. Takahashi.”
“Yes?”
“When you get home, why not offer a piece of strawberry daifuku from Hayashi’s to your family altar? Buy two, though. Eat the other one yourself.”
She blinked.
“I think they go particularly well with strong brown rice tea.”
“Huh? How did you know…?”
She stopped herself.
“Grandma…?”
I merely chuckled.
“Who knows? It just felt like the right thing to do.”
Behind her, Mizue bowed her head with a gentle smile.
…
One month after my consultation with Ms. Takahashi, the door to Kibagami-do burst open.
“You’re the fake fortune teller!”
The man who stormed inside looked gentle enough at first glance. He was slightly shorter than me, I’m 180 centimeters tall but his eyes were bloodshot, and he was breathing heavily.
“So, you’re accusing me of fraud?”
“Shut up! What did you tell Ryoko?!”
…Ah. Just as I expected.
He looked exactly like the man Mizue had described.
“You seem rather upset. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone named Ryoko, and I don’t take missing-person cases.”
I put on my best expression of bewilderment.
The man charged toward me and grabbed me by the collar.
Hey, watch it! This kimono is actually pretty expensive!
“Don’t play dumb! Ryoko quit her job and disappeared! She left me a letter and a flyer for this place!”
“That doesn’t prove much. Besides, business has been going rather well lately.”
I shrugged as though his accusation had genuinely surprised me.
Of course, I knew perfectly well why he was here.
I’d arranged for the flyer to reach him through the detective agency, along with a letter.
We needed him to come here.
“Don’t mess with me! You know where Ryoko went after she left home, don’t you?! Tell me, or I swear I’ll-”
A whole lot of them.
“Agh?!”
Long black hair suddenly coiled around the man’s neck.
It moved like a nest of living snakes, tightening around him as though it intended to crush the life out of him.
And that wasn’t all.
Six pale arms emerged from the mass of hair, wrapping around his body and gripping him from every direction.
“…Sayako-san, I’m fine. So please don’t kill him.”
A shadow loomed behind the man.
Standing over him was Sayako-san.
Unlike her usual appearance in a business suit and skirt, her long black hair now concealed her alluring, naked body. Several white arms protruded from beneath those glossy strands.
Good grief.
She was really angry.
“Ah… Ahhh… Wh-what…?!”
The man followed my gaze.
The moment he saw Sayako-san’s face up close, his body convulsed violently before he collapsed.
A thick, dark substance, viscous and stagnant like black liquid, spilled from him and spread across the floor.
Then it began seeping into Sayako-san’s body.
…Whoa.
That wasn’t an evil spirit.
It was more like a mass of negative emotions.
Whatever this man had done, he must have made enemies everywhere he went. I wouldn’t be surprised if the resentment of several women he’d mistreated had accumulated around him.
“…Boss. I’m full.”
Sayako-san dropped him onto the floor with a soft thud.
A moment earlier, he’d been shouting and threatening me. Now, he lay motionless, looking as though every last ounce of energy had been drained from him.
Which, in a sense, it had.
He probably wouldn’t die, but his physical strength would remain at the level of an elderly man for about a month.
Sayako-san had drained nearly all his vitality.
“Well, that takes care of that. I suppose we can leave this trash outside. By the time he wakes up, he probably won’t remember much.”
“…Boss.”
Sayako-san turned toward me.
Her expression was strangely pleased, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing a little heavier than usual.
Ah.
I see.
Something about that man had excited her.
This was bad.
“Whoa, wait a minute!”
BANG!
The door burst open by itself.
The man’s limp body rose into the air, defying gravity, and shot straight out of the building.
Good grief! What a racket!
Was he still alive?
Well, this was a private road, so hopefully no car would run him over.
Still, leaving him there could become a problem. I ought to go outside and check.
“Ahhh?!”
I couldn’t move!
My entire body had been wrapped in Sayako-san’s hair.
It was snug. Surprisingly snug.
And it smelled absolutely wonderful.
“Boss… Hey, boss…”
Before I could react, my body lifted off the floor.
Then Sayako-san pulled me into a tight embrace.
I could feel the softness of her breasts pressing against my back.
“Mm… ♡”
“W-Wait! Sayako-san! Stop! Don’t touch my ears! And it’s still broad daylight!”
Her breathing was warm against my skin.
Then a tongue as long as a snake began licking my ear.
“Ahhh! S-Sayako-san! I can’t take this!”
I was losing the battle.
“Wait! We’re closed for the day! Turn the sign around first!”
“Ah… Yes… ♡”
The sign hanging outside obediently flipped over by itself.
OPEN became CLOSED, ON BREAK.
Conveniently, we had no more appointments scheduled for the day.
And, even better, today is my day off!
A day off!
“Let’s do it… Boss… Please… ♡”
“Y-Yes! Of course! I love you too! But at least give me a little warning! You’re going to leave me unable to walk home tonight!”
Several of her long arms began exploring my body as she guided me toward the stairs.
Wait a second.
This route led straight to the bath!
Sayako-san was serious.
As I gently squeezed one of the many hands that had slipped around my chest, I turned to look at her.
For a brief moment, I caught sight of three eyes gleaming beneath her black hair.
Their gaze shimmered with a distinctly indecent light.
Good grief.
My supposedly vengeful goddess of a wife was an absolute pervert.
Not that I minded.
Not one bit!