"Is this club of yours basically Tatsuki-kun's harem?"
Abe no Seimei blinked wide, curious eyes. In her own era polygamy was normal; she was amazed the custom still existed after so long.
"Uh… s-sorry, I'm really not part of that." Miko Yotsuya raised a timid hand.
Marin Kitagawa let out a brash laugh. "Heh-heh, Miko's so timid she'll get won over sooner or later."
"Ugh!" Miko squeaked and buried her head on the table.
Tatsuki shot Marin a glare. "Quit talking nonsense. I haven't won you over, have I?"
Yukino, hand to her brow in mild exasperation, sighed. "Tatsuki-kun, I'm not bothered about Yui—just don't betray her feelings." Yui's words earlier had shown how deep her devotion ran; who was Yukino, a latecomer herself, to keep others out?
Megumi Kato added calmly, "I don't mind either."
Tatsuki nodded. "Of course—I did promise."
"Mm." Trusting his word, Yukino briefed him on the information she had coaxed out of Benio about Onmyouji, Basara, and Magano. Tatsuki already knew most of it—Twelve Guardians, Twin Stars, and so on—but he didn't undermine her effort. Instead he thanked her with a passionate kiss.
In front of Marin and the others Yukino still blushed, yet after a heartbeat she relaxed and enjoyed it.
"Chinu, what do kissing and love feel like?" Seimei gazed dreamily at the couple.
"How would I know? Try it yourself," Chinu grumbled, then clicked her tongue. "Right—won't matter; you'll be gone in under a week anyway."
"!" Seimei puffed her cheeks—annoyed that Chinu had to hit that sore spot.
…
Yumiko Miura was accepted into the Paranormal Research Club without trouble—leaving Shizuka Hiratsuka doubting reality. This odd-sounding club now had seven members, every one a bright, beautiful girl. Weren't boys usually the ones into the paranormal?
The gender ratio was ridiculous: one boy, seven girls.
"Could they all be drawn by that kid's looks?" she muttered. Even she had to admit Tatsuki was easy on the eyes—great grades, top athletics, good build, handsome, pleasant personality, even student-council president: total campus heart-throb. Half the school's girls had already formed an Tatsuki fan club, and more were asking her for application forms.
She told Tatsuki; his crisp reply relieved her: Unless I personally recommend someone, reject them all.
At least the boy's head wasn't turned by a world of pretty faces.
Still, she doubted Yukino was shallow enough to fall for looks alone.
Riiing! Her phone vibrated.
"Haruno? What is it?"
"Shizuka, don't worry about what's happening with Yukino anymore."
"Huh?" That's what the über-sis-con Haruno says? Shizuka wondered.
"I've got everything on her side handled."
"Well, if you say so, that's fine." Frankly, acting like a spy prying into students' lives felt weird for a teacher.
"Got any time this weekend?"
The word weekend made Shizuka rub her temples. "Tch—no. Busy."
"Oho, another omiai? Shizuka, you're pushing thirty—have you ever even held a guy's hand?"
Her face flushed. "Wh-who says? I was bridal-carry-held by a handsome guy!"
"Hahah! Good one, Shizuka."
"I'm not joking!" It was true: Tatsuki had caught her on the staircase today. He was handsome, and it was a bridal carry—facts! Even if fantasizing about a student was shameful, a girl had her pride!
"Fine, fine—hope the matchmaking works. Though odds are you'll attend my wedding first."
Shizuka froze. "You're getting married? A political match?"
"Nope—I'm in love. As for Yukino… she'll be with the one she loves too. Gotta plan—bye!"
"O-oh."
Call ended, Shizuka still frowned. Neither sister needs an arranged marriage? And who on earth does Haruno love? She's never said.
…
For now, Tatsuki lodged Chinu in a spare room at his house. She couldn't fade into spirit form like Kanae; her substance was solid. What label to give her? Ordinary subordinate? Pet? He hadn't decided. Still, a dark-skinned beauty had its appeal. He wasn't some tyrant forcing himself on underlings—go with the flow: if it happened, great; if not, she'd simply serve.
Eriri and the others were used to new faces by now; they accepted Chinu and Seimei quickly, though their backstories—one Onmyouji, one former enemy Basara—fired everyone's curiosity.
Everyone's powers were genuine supernatural forces that existed in the real world.
Those like Eriri, who already possessed such abilities, could use a kind of spirit-sight to perceive evil spirits or youkai; they never expected other strange phenomena to exist as well.
Eriri, in particular, grumbled at Tatsuki and Yukino—nothing but complaints that the club's first real commission hadn't included her.
Yet given how urgent Yui's situation had been, and that Eriri hadn't even been in the room, there had been no helping it.
Once Chinu was settled, Tatsuki decided he should have a talk with Abe no Seimei.
He sat on the sofa, stroking Haru—the cat—gently smoothing her fur.
Haru purred herself to sleep; with top-tier cat-slave Yukino around, there was never any shortage of kibble, dried sardines, or other feline treats.
Tatsuki wasn't stingy either; toys he simply created outright, skipping the trip to buy them. All in all, Haru lived in the lap of luxury, with Nezuko, Chito, and Yuuri playing with her every day as well.
Back to business.
"Any thoughts about your current condition?" he asked bluntly.
"I… don't really have any." Abe no Seimei let out a soft sigh.
What thoughts could she have? She'd been dead for centuries already. The only pity was that the modern era held so many novel things; she was terribly curious.
A world with no Impurities—something unimaginable in her time…
Tatsuki still had doubts about Seimei herself. Twin Star Exorcists implied the male lead aligned with the sun was supposed to be her descendant—he needed to confirm.
"You've lived this long—no children?"
"Children?" Seimei tilted her head.
"I never had a husband. How would I have children?"
"…"
So—Rokuro, if he even existed, must be unrelated after all.
"Well then, fine. If you have no lingering ties in the present world, you can pass on without regrets."
"You really know how to talk." Seimei puffed out her cheeks.
"If you prefer to stay, it might not be impossible." Tatsuki suddenly changed tack.
"Hm? What sort of chance?" Her eyes lit up.
"I may have a method to maintain your soul form."
Seimei stared at him for a moment, then deadpanned, "You just want to use me for experiments, don't you?"
He was genuinely surprised the little loli brain caught on; he did have a soul-body experiment in mind. No point hiding it. "You could say that. You're slated to disperse anyway—might as well test the cure on a dying horse."
"…"
The phrasing left her speechless. Finally she flopped spread-eagle on the plush sofa—do whatever you want written all over her face.
"Go ahead; I'd like to experience modern life properly."
Tatsuki nodded, adding a gentle warning. "Because my power involves certain secrets, you understand?"
Instant comprehension. "Got it, got it—another master like with Chinu, right? Whatever. Magano and the Impurities are gone; my mission as an Onmyouji is over, and I'm just a remnant anyway."
Since she was resigned, Tatsuki didn't waste time. He drew on primal energy and channeled it straight into her soul.
Abe no Seimei jolted as a scalding tide poured through her ethereal form. But I'm a soul—how can I feel heat? Then—
"Eep! I'm full—too full!"
She shrieked; the power inflated her fragmentary soul until it felt whole again—yet the swollen sensation remained.
Haru, woken by the racket, rubbed sleepy eyes with a little paw, staring quizzically at the girl flailing on the sofa.
"Meow?" (Did she overeat?)
Tatsuki patted the cat's head. "More or less."
"Meow." (Being overstuffed isn't good.)
Seimei hadn't wanted that much; Tatsuki just kept pouring energy, pushing to find her limits. A few minutes later the screaming stopped. She sprawled boneless, eyes glazed, clothes disheveled and revealing spring scenery she was too exhausted to fix.
Tatsuki poked her foot, calf, waist, hands, cheeks—everything felt solid, indistinguishable from living flesh.
"So—does it feel like you have a physical body or still a soul?" he asked.
Seimei caught her breath, sat up with difficulty, straightened her robes, and answered faintly, "I'm still a soul, but right now it's strange—filled up so densely it's no different from a body."
"I see."
Experiment complete: primal energy could restore and strengthen a soul, making it as dense as flesh, though not truly turning it into matter. Another new use discovered—he was satisfied. Time to hand out the dominion package.
"Master," she said, the word coming smoothly despite herself.
"Go sleep with Chinu," he told her, patting her shoulder before heading to his own room—someone freshly bathed was waiting for him tonight.
…
"Increase your form, Leone—otherwise your combat power feels lacking."
"Hmph—beat me in normal mode first."
"You said it! I'm going full power."
"You cleaned up too thoroughly here—did you do that on purpose?"
"I did not! Hey, is that really okay?"
"Getting scared?"
"Who—who's scared! Bring it on!"
"Oi, Chelsea—turning into Mine is going too far!"
"Does Tatsuki dislike it?"
"I like it way too much!"
…
Next room over, the two identical girls exchanged looks.
"So this is how humans express love?" Chinu cocked her head.
"I… I don't know…" centuries-old virgin loli Abe no Seimei stammered, her face drenched in red.
Chinu wore an I-wanna-try expression; she really was curious about humans.
Seimei quickly tried to stamp out that idea. "What're you thinking? As if Master would ever fancy an Impurity like you!"
Truthfully she was mortified by the thought of Chinu, with her face and body, doing that with Tatsuki—enough to make her skin crawl.
Chinu said nothing, a faint smile playing at her lips.
...
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