90 – 90. Handshake.
*Clasp*
It definitely seemed like summer had arrived.
Not only was Tokomo, the exclusive quarrelsome visitor, showing up every morning.
Just a few days ago, it was the sparrows chirping, but now, it had turned into the nightingales singing.
“Perhaps it was the courtship song sung by the males.”
By the way, until the nightingale sings that song, it is said to live underground as a larva for seven years.
Even if it lived underground for so long, its life on the surface lasts only a mere two weeks.
What in the world is mating, that it makes a freshman in high school wait underground until they graduate from college?
Looking at the nightingale clinging to the tree branch outside the window, I tilted my head.
“It’s a good time.”
It was annoying to hear it chirping since 5 a.m., but as a compassionate human, I decided to show mercy.
It would be wiser to prepare for school rather than catch and kill those little creatures.
I stretched and moved my arms and legs a few times before neatly making my bed.
Then, I planned to start the morning diligently and energetically as usual, but something was different this time.
Beside my neatly arranged bedding, there was another messy blanket.
More precisely, the smiling young girl (dragon) about to spread out on it bothered me.
“…Hmm, just five more minutes.”
With distinctive features that clearly set her apart from ordinary people and bright red hair.
Her unique appearance was a kind of cliché, evidence that she was a key character in “The Endless Labyrinth,” a sort of crappy game.
Well, since it was such a crappy game, the world was destroyed every episode rather than having a main character, but if she were killed after being designed so beautifully, the players would surely raise an uproar.
“…Hmm, nom nom.”
Perhaps because she was a transcendent being or maybe she had relaxed while sleeping peacefully, two tiny horns were protruding on either side of her bright red lips.
Maybe due to a curse and a sense of loss, she had been unable to sleep for a long time.
In reality, there wasn’t much harm if she and I didn’t sleep, but in terms of resetting one’s mood, it was a good method even for a transcendent being.
As the weight of abilities on the soul and mind increased, so did the importance of their management.
One could roughly gauge how the creature, who had been sitting in the cave as a guardian for many years, was doing.
Well, he was a guardian in name, but after failing to ascend and becoming a dragon lying on the ground, his life was ruined in the cave.
Whether it was due to being released from that fate or not, this damned Yongyong creature followed me around energetically.
“hahahaha, if I want to repay your kindness, I have to protect your home, don’t I?”
It was amusing how he said he would sit on the mansion and show his gratitude.
Well, I did need a dog to guard the house at the moment.
Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I lightly flicked Yongyong’s forehead as he lay spread out.
“eeek.”
“Are you causing trouble for me?”
It seemed like I was misunderstood to have a hobby of dressing a naked young girl (1200 years old) in front of my partner.
***
As someone who had experienced social life (a former recluse), I had long been accustomed to countless slanders and jealousy, yet there were still challenging moments.
“Hmm, let’s call it a day here.”
The homeroom teacher and math instructor, the human weapon Yamamoto Baki, set down the chalk with a disappointed expression, and many students immediately enjoyed their freedom, rushing out of the classroom.
Before we knew it, it was lunchtime.
Normally, the four of us in the back seat would take out our lunch boxes and share them, but my partner, Mr. Sawamura Kento, seemed to be in a bad mood today. He didn’t just have an expressionless face but had a cold look on his face.
“Miss Ichinose, shall we eat on the rooftop today?”
“Oh? Sure… I’m fine with that.”
Ichinose Hotaru, Kento’s partner, showed a slightly awkward reaction and quickly got up from her seat, following Kento with the lunch box in hand.
“Well, enjoy your meal, everyone.”
Hotaru, who was at least kind, said something coolly and left, but today, Sawamura Kento, who was cold, only gave me a cold glance.
“Tsk.”
Looks like he’s in a really bad mood now.
Maybe he saw a bug in the room in the morning; he seemed really upset.
Well, if that’s the case, nothing can be done!
I shrugged my shoulders and offered some comforting words to Kento, who looked particularly lonely today.
His head was hanging down listlessly.
“hahahaha, I felt the atmosphere was awkward between you and Hotaru. Was there something going on?”
“…Do you have something to say?”
Kitagawa Kenichi frowned and stared at me.
To act this way towards a mentor like the sky was quite serious.
As I mentally noted to do ten hellish trainings, Kenichi stretched out in his chair and muttered.
“…Well, I had a special ability. I’m not at all bothered by that, actually. I’ve been protecting the world for a long time, with nullification abilities, cursed swords, and various stories… It’s quite delicate to talk about it now.”
“Oh, delicate?”
Kenichi, who appeared deep in thought, suddenly grinned.
“Come to think of it, I don’t have any hidden memories from Hotaru. So it feels awkward to say something. Of course, the fact that you, the one who’s hiding something, is the biggest problem.”
“hahahaha, Kenichi. Are you blaming me in the end? You’re really not manly at all (laughs)!”
“If I were stronger than you, I would’ve really hit you hard.”
Kenichi, who was giving me a conceited look, sighed deeply and looked at me.
“Aren’t you also feeling awkward with me? It’s not like Sawamura did something wrong, did you do something strange again?”
“Huh? Did something strange again? When did I do something strange for you to say such annoying things?”
“…No, your usual concept is strange from the start?”
“Eh? Is that so!”
“Anyway. It’s awkward enough because of you, so let’s reconcile quickly, even the back seat is chilly.”
Kenichi took out lunch boxes from his bag and placed them on the desk.
Perhaps because they were packed in the same house kitchen, the decorations on the outside and the contents inside were the same.
The only difference from usual was that there were only two lunch boxes on the desk.
Even the fool Kenichi found this shabby sight awkward and lost his appetite.
“Having friends to eat with is so precious…”
I agreed with that part.
Although it can be uncomfortable to be too noisy, having a chat and eating with four people is quite enjoyable.
I didn’t say it explicitly, but both Sawamura and Hotaru were attractive individuals.
It was a bit of a torment to be eating with such people and only having Kenichi in front of me.
“Hey.”
While foolishly eating lunch with Kenichi, a presumptuous voice was heard from the side.
I turned my head slightly, only to find a little blonde kid sitting there, not much taller than me.
From Noble mtl dot com
“…What’s with that ominous gaze?”
Eris Betelgeuse seemed overwhelmed by my presence, taking a step back in a moment of hesitation.
“hahahaha, I simply measured Eris’s height after a long time. Surprisingly, it’s increased by a whopping 0.1cm…!”
“Are you really going to kill me?”
“Uh-huh.”
I don’t understand why so many people seem to want to kill me these days.
Could it be that I’m being hated?!
Suppressing a sad heart within, I faced Eris with a smile on my face.
“hehehe, so what brings you here? You want to grab a meal with us?”
“I already had a sandwich. Besides, I might get sick if I eat with you… and I have no intention of sitting in a place where the owner is present.”
“You can sit for a while, right?”
“Hmph, fine.”
Eris, who let out a fart, composed herself again and tapped her fingers.
“Anyway, there’s someone who wants to meet you. Would you be willing to see them?”
“Hmm? Are they from our school?”
“…No, they’re not.”
A vague response that left me puzzled.
Whose introduction could elicit such a reaction?
After a brief hesitation, Eris furrowed her brow, let out a deep sigh, and spoke.
“It’s our dad.”
Kenichi, who had been listening in on our conversation while holding his breath, widened his eyes in surprise.
‘Were you two on such terms?!’ Ignoring the gaze that clearly revealed that thought, I smiled broadly and responded to Eris’s request.
“Of course, you’re always welcome!”
“…Sigh.”
Despite receiving a positive response, Eris Betelgeuse let out another sigh.
***
After giving Kenichi instructions for self-training after school, I went with Eris.
It wasn’t her home; it seemed she had arranged a place in advance.
It wasn’t far from Karakura High School, so walking was sufficient without any other means of transportation.
“Are you planning to meet your mother too?”
“…Absolutely not. I think you’re misunderstanding something; this isn’t like a formal meeting. Our dad, who came on a business trip, just wanted to learn more about the exorcism industry, so he called you.”
“hehehe, I didn’t think that far, either.”
“…”
Subsequently, a tense Eris clenched her lips and guided me to the meeting place.
I thought it might be a good place to share secrets, something discreet, but it turned out to be an ordinary coffee shop named “Ghost of Baker Street.”
I felt like I was meeting some secret society in England, so it was a bit disappointing.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s go in.”
“Got it.”
Swish-swish-
When I entered the cafe, cheerful chatter and a tranquil interior welcomed us.
On the desk, an elderly man wiped glasses, hinting at years of operation. In one corner, a middle-aged man with blond hair resembling Eris sat.
“Father!”
Eris exclaimed with a wide smile, catching the attention of the middle-aged man who was scanning the newspaper. He quickly stood up upon noticing us.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Seems like a business meeting.
Warmly gesturing towards his daughter, he then turned towards me as if prioritizing me.
Former Star Magician, William Betelgeuse, extended his hand with a kind expression.
“Pleased to meet you. William Betelgeuse, Acting Chief of Akashic Constellation in the UK. I invited you to discuss the Japanese exorcism affairs.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Not being informed for a few years, I am a bit out of the loop, but I look forward to working with you.”
“I, on the other hand, look forward to it! Oh, I didn’t introduce myself.”
With a smile, I shook his hand.
“Ichimaru Shiki.”
Upon hearing that name, the middle-aged man paused, then gazed into my eyes, revealing a bright turquoise sparkle between William’s cloudy pupils.
In that reunion after so long, I greeted him with joy.
“I’m a hobbyist exorcist.”