Chapter 52: Beautiful women having a girl’s night out

Translator: Soafp

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I was waiting in front of the house where she lived. She practically lives alone in this big house… It must be tough for her with both parents coming home late at night. Sometimes I also feel like my house is incredibly spacious.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“Not at all.”

She was wearing the girls’ high school uniform earlier, but now she had a light blue hoodie on. She seemed to be wearing comfortable black women’s pants.

Oh, she looks so cool. I want the whole world to see her…

As I was staring at her, she seemed puzzled.

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Anyway, please guide me.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Oh, I love cool and beautiful girls. She looks adorable and stylish.

While thinking such thoughts, I took position next to her as her bodyguard, paying attention to every direction as we walked. Then she stopped.

“What kind of habit is that? It’s really suspicious to have a guy who constantly guards his surroundings as if protecting a girl with a fierce gaze. The way the passing children have been staring at us since earlier is making me uncomfortable.”

“Well… it’s just…”

“Ugh, tone it down a bit. Otherwise, our sightseeing tour ends right here.”

“Yes, I’ll tone it down.”

After that, she stopped me and scolded me about five times, but by the sixth time, she didn’t say anything anymore.

---

If I were to describe the town, it’s closer to the countryside than the city. There are a few supermarkets, convenience stores, and shops lining the shopping street, creating a lively atmosphere, but the natural impression is stronger.

“In this town, there’s no need to be so cautious because nothing dangerous happens… But I guess it’s pointless to say that.”

“Yes.”

“Okay… You’re mentally strong, huh?”

“Well, not really.”

“You’re seriously strong. I kinda respect that.”

Indeed, as she said, the town gives an impression of peace itself. There’s a pleasant feeling in the wind blowing throughout the entire town… I don’t really know the difference in the wind, but it just feels that way.

The residents we occasionally pass by have a gentle aura regardless of age or gender. Although I can’t actually see auras, I somehow get that feeling… I can’t imagine anything really happening in this town.

“This is the seafood market. They sell fresh fish for the best price.”

“Oh, it’s bustling here.”

“They have a great selection of souvenirs too. Not just the locals, but also people from outside the town often come here.”

“Hoo. By the way, are there any crazed individuals here who suddenly start dismembering humans instead of fish at this market?”

“No, but I think it’s concerning that you came up with that idea.”

“Do you visit this market often?”

“You said something that can really affect my mentality… Like a diamond. Don’t use it.”

“I see…”

“Let’s move on to the next place.”

“Alright.”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you teasing me?”

“No, not at all.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

“…”

Her walking pace increased slightly.

---

Next is the town’s biggest feature: the beautiful sea.

“As you can see here, we have the sea and a popular sandy beach.”

“I see.”

On the sandy beach, there were couples playing tag, elementary school kids building sandcastles, and people surfing. It was filled with the enjoyment of life.

“As for suspicious people around this sea…”

“There aren’t any.”

“I see.”

“Why are you so concerned about that all the time?”

“It’s just a habit… Can’t help it.”

“I won’t ask too much about it.”

“By the way, have you heard of any urban legends or folklore in this town?”

“Eh? Oh, I think I’ve heard something… It’s about ghosts helping kind-hearted people, or something like that.”

“That’s news to me.”

Ghosts that help kind-hearted people? Is this heading towards a bad ending? But if they’re helping, then it should be fine, right? Wait, this town has a lot of folklore.

Let’s ask for more details.

“But even if they help, it seems they require some form of compensation.”

“Compensation? I would prefer kind-hearted people to be helped without any strings attached…”

“Even ghosts probably want something in return, right? Kindness often comes with a hidden agenda.”

“I see…”

“In the past, there were cases where they took things like hair or an eye in return.”

“Eeh? Kind-hearted people end up at such a disadvantage?”

“It’s just folklore after all, so I don’t think you need to worry too much…”

She didn’t change her expression much, but there was a slight tension. I thought it might not be a good idea to ask her, as she seemed uncomfortable with supernatural topics, but I’ll let it slide this time. Ghosts helping people… seriously? Please don’t bring too many supernatural elements into this.

“Do you still want to see more?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then let’s move on to the next place.”

“Okay.”

---

Next, we arrived at a place with hundreds of stairs. Is there a shrine or something at the top?

“What’s ahead?”

“Something that looks like a shrine. It’s old and small, but the view from up there is amazing.”

“…Is there any malevolent spirit or something?”

“No, I’ve been coming here for a while.”

She lightly stepped up the stairs with a brisk pace. At that moment, I felt a slight vibration from the marble I was holding. When I took it out of my pocket, it was indeed shaking.

“Let’s not go up here.”

“Eh? The view from up there is breathtaking, and it’s my favorite spot.”

“I sense the presence of an evil entity here.”

“How do you know?”

“I received this marble that reacts to malevolent beings from someone.”

I showed her the emerald-colored marble, which was trembling slightly. She looked at it with curiosity and then turned on her heel.

“Heh. I’m not afraid of ghosts or anything, and I don’t believe in them, but if you say so, let’s skip this place.”

“Please do.”

She quickly descended the stairs. She seems quite scared…

I’d better check out this shrine, by the way. And so, after being shown around, I took her home and we broke up for the day.

---

[Aoi PoV]

Today… I had a conversation with someone my age for the first time in a while. As I soak in the bathtub, I reflect on the day. As usual, I’m feared and avoided at school. On the way back, I was barked at by a dog that is famous for always barking. But I met a man who wasn’t scared of me. He looked directly into my eyes without fear.

Everyone is afraid of me and avoids me. I can hear them whispering about how scary my eyes are. But today… he looked at my eyes without fear, straight into them. I tend to speak sharply when talking to people, but he didn’t seem to mind…

I don’t want to talk too much about the occult……

His actions are eccentric and stand out, but the time we spent together was surprisingly meaningful…

---

[Izayoi PoV]

[There is a risk of a typhoon directly hitting the vicinity of Unabara Cho Town…]

There seems to be a radio broadcast that provides information exclusively for this town, so I listen to it in the car while jotting down the things that catch my attention.

“So, how was your interaction with the vast ocean?”

“It was fun. It would have been even more enjoyable under different circumstances.”

“I researched various legends, but there wasn’t much significant information. No suspicious individuals either.”

Currently, the two of us are parked in front of her house while sitting in the car. I take out the marble I received and confirm its condition on top of the car’s dashboard, keeping an eye on her house.

“Is this marble really useful?”

“Most likely, it’s the real deal.”

“Hoo. This marble…”

“If this marble starts shaking, it’s a dangerous sign. It means something is approaching.”

“I see. Well then, I’ll go buy dinner and other things for now.”

“Yes, please.”

We take turns keeping watch and running errands like this. We plan to take shifts even during the late night. Isn’t that person incredibly kind? Once everything is over, I’ll send her a thank-you gift like high-quality ham or sweet potatoes.

---

The next day, the fortune teller next to me is sound asleep. Despite being quite elderly, she has a youthful appearance.

It’s the same with Hihara Karen’s mother Hihara Konana. It’s a common occurrence in the two-dimensional world for age and appearance to not match up, but seeing it in reality can be somewhat bewildering.

Yesterday, I asked the fortune teller to stay from 12 a.m. until 3 a.m. and then I stayed awake from 3 a.m. until the current time, which is 7 a.m. Today, I have to accompany her to school. I’ll say that I happened to come across her while sightseeing… She goes to a girls’ high school… I have a feeling I’ll be getting some intense stares.

Well, it’s just for this time. I’ll do my best!!

— I overheard some intense gossip from the high school girls, and I got scolded a bit by Kataumi Aoi, but I managed to safely escort her to school.

— I feel sorry for her, but she’ll have to endure it for this short period of time. There’s no other choice…

— I’ll apologize to her after school.

---

I was on my way to onmyoji’s place with a mackerel stewed in miso. The mayor had given me the address, so I soon arrived at my destination. It is a cool and comfortable place to live with lots of shade and sleep. It is a little chilly, but …… this is normal.

I bought the simmered mackerel at the supermarket yesterday.

The house looks old… It seems barely livable, but I don’t like the idea of cockroaches or anything like that.

There isn’t even an intercom. There’s a doorbell, so I rang it.

“Excuse me.”

As I spoke, I heard footsteps from inside and the creaking sound of wooden floors. I wonder if the person living here is okay, but it’s not something I need to worry about. An old door opened, and a suspicious-looking man came out. He had long, messy hair with dark circles under his eyes, giving him a lifeless gaze.

He seems completely shady, but there’s no doubt that he’s the onmyoji. I quickly asked what I needed to know, and then I’ll return to the girls’ high school where Kataumi Aoi attends.

“Shuhihihi, you’re the young man concerned about Yumekui, shishi shisshi.”

His “laughing habit” is way too peculiar, but let’s put that aside for now. It seems the mayor has communicated with him, which is helpful.

“Oh, this is simmered mackerel. I heard you like it, so I bought it at the supermarket…”

“Jurufufu, thank you. I have a weakness for simmered mackerel, you see. But for me, going shopping results in something like this, so it’s quite troublesome…”

“I see.”

He seems aware of his own peculiarity. I think it would be nice if he could just change, but people can’t easily change like that.

“Anyway, about the Yumekui…”

“Berorororo, I see. Piyurururu. You want to know the countermeasures if you encounter one, right?”

“Yes, or rather, if it appears, I want you to seal it.”

“Surururu, that’s impossible. As time has progressed, the power of the entire onmyoji, or rather, all spiritual beings, has diminished. Hifufufu, as the world has become modernized, yokai have become less likely to appear, and the need for extermination has diminished. I no longer possess any power.”

“Seriously…”

“However, onmyoji is not the only effective method, kyuurururu. Yumekui don’t so much enter dreams as they create their own dream world and draw people in, where they corrode their minds, pererere.”

“…”

“The dream world created by Yumekui is like an alternate reality where anything is possible. Whatever you imagine is directly reflected in that world. And if it’s a vivid and realistic image, the effect is even stronger, kukukuku.”

“So, if we’re attacked, we have to imagine our way through the Yumekui in that world?”

“Well, yeah, that’s true, but it’s not that simple. First of all, in the past when the damage escalated in this area, nobody even realized they were being drawn into that ‘dream world.’ That world was so well-crafted that they couldn’t even perceive being pulled into it. And Yumekui start by killing their victims. By doing so, their image is burned into their minds, rendering them helpless. They become dominated by fear. And from there, various forms of torture and such are inflicted, and then the Yumekui consumes them… Su-rururu.”

That’s an outrageous yokai indeed. This could turn into quite an intense situation. There’s a high possibility that it may lead to a bad ending. I remained silent and continued to listen to his words.

“The option you mentioned, relying on imagination to overcome it, is not entirely wrong. As onmyoji, we initially fought Yumekui within the dream world and sealed them away from there. However, Yumekui possess incredible imagination. They can create numerous yokai such as dragons, oni, and daitengu. In the past, onmyoji were able to expel them from the real world because they had experience fighting against such monstrous beings, making it easier to imagine them. Pururururu.”

“….I see. The dream world is all about imagination…”

“When a Yumekui starts losing in that world, it escapes to the real world. That’s when the onmyoji seize the opportunity and seal it away….”

“They escape when things don’t go well in the dream world…”

“Oh? You seem to have come up with something. Is there a plan forming in your mind?”

Perhaps with this method… it might work. Assuming that both parties can be affected within the dream world.

No, there must be some damage inflicted, which is why they escape when the situation turns against them. In that case…

“Just to confirm, within the ‘dream world,’ do Yumekui also experience the effects?”

“Of course! Otherwise, they wouldn’t try to escape.”

“I see…”

“It seems like you’re thinking of something. What is it?”

“Well, I can’t guarantee it’s foolproof, but…”

“No, no, I’m intrigued! Tera-tera-tera!”

“The place where the Yumekui is sealed… is it up those many stairs in that direction?”

I pointed in the direction I had been to with Kataumi Aoi yesterday but turned back. The place where the marble reacted.

“Yes! That’s correct! It’s sealed over there. It’s quite old now.”

“What are the chances of it coming out from there?”

“At the moment, the probability is high. It’s not so much a small shrine as a small wooden hut. It’s quite old, and its power has been weakening.”

“Sealing it away is the best option, so how can I do that?”

“Well, about that…”

Ideally, I’d like to seal it away before it comes out. Is that impossible?

“I have some ofuda just in case.”

I showed him the ofuda I always carried with me. They were advertised as having the combined power of warding off evil spirits and sealing them, which I had bought from an online store.

“These are knock-offs. Even I, with my current lack of power, can tell they’re knock-offs.”

“Damn it, I’ll give them a zero rating and write the worst review.”

“Not everything goes smoothly.”

“Do you have any other ways to kill it, the Yumekui?”

“Well, no, I don’t.”

“I see.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No, I appreciate the valuable information. Thank you.”

“No, no, I also enjoyed talking to someone after a long time. Ferarara.”

“You should probably stop that way of laughing. Well then, goodbye.”

“Bye, young man.”

His way of laughing was absurd, but oh well, it doesn’t matter. As I was about to leave and head towards the girls’ high school, I encountered…

“Hohoho, looks like you’ve met an onmyoji.”

“Oh, hello…”

This old lady. Isn’t it a bit too coincidental to keep running into her? Whenever this old lady appears, it feels chilly… Is it just my imagination?

“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you. Hohoho.”

“…Yes.”

The old lady left without bending her back, walking briskly. She doesn’t seem like a bad person, but is she really human? Something feels strange. I thought about calling out to her, but when I noticed, she had disappeared.

I can tell from the fact that the marble didn’t react yesterday that she’s not an evil entity, but I should still remain cautious around her…

While pondering such thoughts…

—I ran towards the girls’ high school.

---

[Moegi PoV]

After school, as I took off my indoor shoes and changed into my outdoor shoes at the shoe locker, she muttered. She seemed down and had a heavy atmosphere around her.

It was because she hadn’t received a reply from him for far too long. It had been a whole day of being ignored. She was starting to think it was strange that he still hadn’t replied.

At first, she had been determined to confront Izayoi about it, but somehow she had thought that he would reply quickly. Being ignored for a whole day seemed to have affected her quite a bit.

“In the end, no reply came. It’s after school on the second day.”

“W-Well, maybe he dropped his phone in the ocean… Maybe he lost it while playing on the beach.”

“Is that so? Is there something… he forgot?”

“….N-No, that’s not it!”

Karen-chan squinted her eyes as she looked at her phone. I’ve been trying to cover it up and make excuses for her, but did she notice…? I didn’t want her to notice that, because if she did, she would definitely become unhappy…

He probably just forgot about it… I find it a bit hard to believe, though…

It seems even she can’t bring herself to ask why he’s not replying to her messages. Calling him would make her seem like a heavy burden, so…

Maybe Kohaku-chan is starting to notice too. She’s probably getting annoyed. Should I support both of them? Ah! But in Kohaku-chan’s case, there’s Natsumi-chan, a helpful girl in the same class, so it should be fine, right?!

If that’s the case, then I’ll be there for Karen-chan…

Ideally, he should be the one caring about them, right? After all, they both like him and are troubled by it. Haa… I really love both of them, but I don’t want to get involved in situations like this. It’s scary. And, well, it’s hard to approach them.

I want to go home today if possible. But since they helped me before, I want them to cheer up. I’ll lend a hand here!!

“Karen-chan, how about going to a cafe later?”

“I don’t feel like it. Not in the mood.”

“Well, well, eating something might make you feel better. Right? It’s a good opportunity.”

“….If you say so…”

“Great, then let’s go…!”

Uwaa, as I was about to walk outside, a silver-haired girl emitted an intense negative aura… Eh? Where’s Natsumi-san?

“A-Ah, Kohaku-chan?”

“Mumble, mumble.”

Ah, she can’t hear me, huh? Yeah, I’ll have to speak a bit louder.

“Kohaku-chan!”

I grabbed her shoulder from behind. She seemed to have noticed and turned her face towards me. The lively and cheerful expression she had during lunch break seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a shadow on her face.

“Hello.”

“Um, are you free after this?”

“Yes, I am… free.”

“T-Then, how about going to a cafe?”

“No, not today. I’m just feeling lethargic and staying at home… After all, I’m just a neglected girl who’s easily forgotten because of my good looks…”

“You don’t have to say it like that. You seem down, so let’s go out for a parfait or something to cheer up.”

“Even if I eat it, the parfait will only feel sad for me…”

“Well, I don’t think the parfait will feel sad…”

She has become incredibly negative. Karen-chan, who I have been supporting by linking arms, is also not in high spirits. Kohaku-chan is the same.

This is hell. This scene is hell.

I don’t want to see any more of this. I’ll forcefully take Kohaku-chan with me!!

“I-If you’re free, come with me.”

“…”

I hold her arm, which feels like a doll, and forcefully walk towards the cafe. To have two beautiful girls in my arms should be a reward for me… but it’s awkward. This has been happening quite a lot recently…

I continue walking with these powerless girls, and we arrive at the cafe we visited before as a group of four. I found out that the sweets and drinks here are incredibly delicious when I looked it up. It was written online that coming here when feeling down would cheer you up, so that’s why I chose this place.

As I open the door to the shop, the female staff member who was there before greets us.

“Welcome! Oh, you’ve come again?”

“Yes, three of us, please.”

“Oh, I see… Well, feel free to choose any seat you like.”

This person is incredibly attentive. She grasps the situation just by looking at their faces, and her response is perfect. Following the staff member’s instructions, I decided on a seat facing each other.

I make the two of them sit next to each other while I sit opposite them. Their faces are still gloomy.

“Come on, come on, eat. It’s on me today.”

“I don’t feel like eating.”

“Me neither.”

“But you should eat to cheer yourselves up in times like this!”

“Then, how about takoyaki…?”

“I’ll have cotton candy…”

“Don’t be so stubborn. Choose something from the menu, okay?”

The atmosphere is heavy and the girls are still downcast, but I hope that by sharing a meal together, they will start to feel better.

The two of them absentmindedly picked something from the menu without even looking at it. Ah, what should I do? Just then, the female staff member came over with glasses of water.

“Here’s your water.”

“Thank you.”

“…”

“You both seem down. If you don’t mind, would you like to tell me what’s going on?”

The staff member expresses her concern, her voice filled with kindness, making me feel the urge to confide in her. It seems the two of them feel the same way and murmured softly.

“I haven’t received a reply to my message… Maybe he’s started to dislike me.”

“It’s been a whole day since I sent mine… I’m worried if he’s lost interest in me…”

The gravity in the air becomes heavier, as if we’re being crushed. But just when I thought it would continue like that, something unexpected happened!

“I see. The person you sent the messages to is the guy who came with you before, right?”

“Yes…”

“He seemed to have a good impression of both of you… But maybe he’s intentionally keeping you in suspense?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re feeling frustrated because of the delayed replies, right?”

“Yes…”

“Maybe that’s what he wants. He might be trying to make you both feel uneasy and aware of him.”

“!!!”

Suddenly, the gravity lightened… I’m not sure if it’s because the staff member is amazing or if the two of them are easily influenced…

“Right now, aren’t both of you preoccupied with thoughts of him?”

“W-Well, yes.”

“Yes, we are.”

“That might be his intention. But maybe he’s just not used to this kind of situation and doesn’t know how to calculate the appropriate response time. It’s just my speculation, though.”

“I-I see… Well, if that’s the case, then there’s nothing I can do, right?”

“Izayoi-kun, you’re quite the analyst…”

I guess sometimes you have to use a little white lie in situations like this, right? My mother used to say that occasionally using lies skillfully is necessary…

“And what would you like to order?”

“I’ll have the Napoletana Gratin and Hamburger Steak.”

“I’ll have the Chocolate Parfait, Strawberry Parfait, Banana Parfait, and Uji Matcha Parfait.”

“I’ll just have a cocoa, please.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

The staff member casually took our orders and went back to the kitchen. She’s quite skilled in her job. The two of them… seem to have been nicely wrapped up by her.

“Mou, Izayoi-kun, if you want to impress me, just tell me directly. Then I would… Kyaa! I can’t believe I said something like that… But maybe it’s not a bad idea.”

“Mou, Izayoi is like the male version of a tsundere.”

The two of them put their hands on their cheeks and wiggle their bodies. I mean, you two eat so much!? Are you suddenly hungry?

When our orders arrive, the two of them eagerly dig in.

“Hamu hamu, gulp. It’s delicious.”

“Hamu, yeah, the ice cream is so cold and deliciously sweet.”

They look so happy, which is great, but it seems like it’s going to be quite expensive. Just on this day alone, I’ve spent around 9,000 yen. But it’s fine as long as they’re enjoying their food.