Even if the snow-fox fumed, it was no use. She didn't dare use any magic. She didn't even dare speak human words.
Riku might be fine; he clearly seemed aware of the hidden world, but the human girl with him plainly wasn't.
Yōkai cannot brazenly reveal themselves before ordinary humans. The consequences would be too great.
If a yōkai is discovered by a normal human, either the human's memories must be erased, or the human must be killed.
Otherwise, the commotion would draw not only human "righteous guardians" like exorcists and onmyōji, but even great yōkai who enforce order in the spirit world would come after any yōkai who made such a scene.
Other races are likewise forbidden to expose themselves to the general public. Coupled with the tacit rules among human authorities to maintain national stability, most ordinary people have no idea that the world really does contain beings they think exist only in fantasy novels and manga.
If she blew her cover here, the snow-fox would have no choice but to kill Sora; she wasn't skilled at the memory-wiping arts.
So she kept her mouth shut. She was kind by nature; killing wasn't something she could do. She could only sit there, aggrieved, watching Riku and Sora.
"Riku, can we buy her and take her home?" Sora pulled out her ultimate move, pouting and tugging on his arm, eyes shining with hope.
"Sora, you can barely take care of yourself. Can you take care of her?" Riku chuckled.
"Who says I can't take care of myself? I'm at home by myself all the time," Sora muttered.
"Ah, Sora-chan, what a coincidence! You're at the pet shop too?" A bright girl's voice rang out, making Sora blink and turn.
There stood Yui in casual clothes, hurrying over with a happy grin, one hand holding a leash that led a dachshund along behind her.
"Hi! I'm Yui Yuigahama, Sora's classmate," Yui said, turning to Riku and giving a cheerful little wave.
"Mm. Yui-chan, Sora's told me about you. You're her friend in class, right? Sora can be a bit willful, but she's a good kid at heart. Please look after her," Riku said with a big-brother smile.
"Eh, okay! Leave it to me!" Yui flushed a little at how quickly he'd started using her name, then lit up when she realised Sora had called her a friend, nodding enthusiastically.
"Since you're Sora's friend, just call me Riku," he added with a smile.
"Um… Riku-kun…" Not quite comfortable saying a boy's name she'd only just met, Yui still tacked on the honorific.
"Why are you here, Yui?" Sora tilted her head as the two chatted easily.
"On my days off, I love to wander around here. So, Sora, do you like animals too?" Yui asked, brimming with interest. Cats, dogs, she had no resistance to any of them.
"Mm-hm," Sora nodded.
"That's great! I'm so happy Sora likes little animals," Yui said, squeezing Sora's hand, overjoyed. Being recognised as a friend and having a shared hobby was a double delight.
"So, Sora-chan, have you picked a pet? I know this place really well. I can help you choose," Yui offered eagerly.
"I've already chosen." Hitting her sweet spot, Sora's lips curled; she lifted a slim finger and pointed at the snow-fox. "Cute, right?"
"Eh, that one?" Yui followed Sora's gaze to the fox, her smile growing even brighter.
Come on, my faithful vassal, save me! This lady fox refuses to be bought by these two humans!
The snow-fox stared at Yui, a hopeful glint in her golden eyes. Yui had come every week this past month to feed her, offer tribute to her. Surely a loyal vassal would save her from this dire fate!
"Sora-chan, you've got a great eye. This child is very clever; she really understands people. A snow-fox paired with Sora-chan is the perfect match," Yui said sincerely.
Snow-fox and Sora both radiated a pure-white aura.
Traitor! How dare you betray this fox! As expected, humans can't be trusted!
Stabbed by sudden "betrayal," the snow-fox froze, wearing the very picture of a lifeless fish-eye stare.
But Sora and Yui had hit it off, already in full-on soulmate-chattering mode, and neither noticed the fox's expression.
Riku, meanwhile, was struggling not to laugh. He had to admit teasing yōkai now and then was pretty fun.
Looking at this lovably goofy vixen, Riku thought of the very different little Kunou from the High School DxD world, and once again affirmed the innate charm of fox spirits.
"Sora, if you like her that much, then let's buy her," Riku said with a flourish and a grin.
And that was the final straw.
The snow-fox fixed Riku with a dead-eyed stare as he tried not to grin.
Damnable human… Don't let this fox find an opening. If I do, I'll bite until you beg for mercy!
"I knew Riku is the best." Sora, hearing Riku's words, immediately moved in with a happy face and kissed Riku on the side of the face.
After the "sneak attack," her delicate little face blushed, and she looked completely satisfied.
After being "ambushed," Riku then gave a faint smile. He also took delight in getting close to Sora.
As for Yui, she blinked her eyes and swept her gaze over Riku and Sora.
She didn't think too much of it; she just assumed Sora did something this bold because she was too happy.
"Sora-chan, Riku-kun, you two really have a good relationship," Yui said from the heart.
"Hmph, of course," Sora said with a face full of pride.
"You two talk first, I'll go pay," Riku, for his part, rubbed his nose and walked toward the cashier.
Very soon, Riku settled the bill. Although a snow fox is a rare breed and the price is frighteningly high, it hadn't sold; this was a small matter for Riku.
"Sora, it's taken care of. We should head out," he said, returning to the two girls' side, stroking Sora's silver hair with a smile.
"As for the snow fox, I've already spoken with the shop staff: we'll come back to pick her up when we're going home. After all, you can't bring pets into the cinema," Riku added.
"Mmm, that's the only way then." Hearing this, Sora looked at the snow fox with a face full of regret and could only nod. Although she was very taken with the snow fox, after all, the date with Riku was even more important.
"Ah, Riku-kun and Sora-chan, are you going to see a movie?" Yui asked curiously.
"Yeah." Clearly, having chatted happily with Yui earlier had led Sora to truly accept this girl now; she answered with a smiling face.
"Mm, that's really nice. I wanted to go to a movie too. But it's just like Riku-kun said, pets can't be taken in." Yui said with a face full of regret.
"In that case, if there's a chance, the three of us should go together next time," Riku suggested.
"That's really something to look forward to," Yui said, nodding happily. "Please be sure to contact me when the time comes."
"Riku, let's go. There isn't much time; if we're late, we won't be able to watch it," Sora tugged at Riku's hem and urged.
"Okay, okay." At that, Riku could only stroke Sora's head, indicating he understood.
"Sorry, Yui, let's talk again next time." This time, Sora was unusually polite, speaking to Yui Yuigahama.
"Mhm." Hearing this, Yui waved her hand.
After that, Riku cast one last glance at the snow fox, the corner of his mouth lifting into an arc, revealing a smile of indeterminate meaning, and then he was pulled away from the pet shop by Sora.
'That hateful human finally left.' Did you think this fox would meekly let herself be captured like that? Truly naïve. Although it's a pity, I have no choice but to give up this safe stronghold.
The snow fox watched Riku's receding, let out a breath, and muttered hatefully to herself.
"Little Fox, I brought new snacks this time." At that moment, Yui squatted in front of the snow fox, took snacks out of her bag, and passed them into the cage. 'You treacherous commoner, you who betrayed this fox, even if this fox starves to death, dies on the roadside, I will absolutely never eat your Huh, why does it smell so good… Taking one bite should be fine, right.'
That's right, this fox is eating only to maintain the physical strength to escape later.
Hypnotising herself, the utterly spineless snow-fox yōkai neatly ate the food.
Heh, so good!
…
Chiba Cinema, bearing the city's name, was, unsurprisingly, its most famous and luxurious theatre. Being Saturday, the place was busy. Couples, mostly. After all, movie theatres are prime strategic places for dates.
Also prime arson targets for the FFF Inquisition; every time they tried to see a film, they'd be crit-rolled by pairs of lovebirds.
At the moment, though, both singles and couples took a collective hit to the gut: Riku and Sora's looks were simply too lethal. Their presence drew every eye; a hundred percent of heads turned.
"Honestly, I even bought advance tickets and still couldn't get Summer's Forbidden Love. All I could snag was some random Maschera: The Lament of the Beast Fallen to Earth anime film," Sora huffed, holding two stubs, her perfect little face full of frustration.
Riku rolled his eyes internally. Summer's Forbidden Love was basically an erotic melodrama: two lovers discover they're half-siblings, and so on…
As for Maschera—The Lament of the Beast Fallen to Earth, the title alone screamed peak chūni theatre.
He wasn't particularly enthused about either, but if Sora was, he'd go along.
"Heh, the 'wisdom' of mortals. Completely incapable of understanding the Night Demon Queen's charm. One can only sigh at how low your taste is." All of a sudden, a voice sounded, making both Riku and Sora start in surprise.
Riku turned around to look; a petite figure was standing behind him.
She wore a goth-loli outfit in dark tones. Her black hair hung straight down her back, long, straight black hair, her bangs cut evenly. She had doll-like, delicate features, skin as fair as Sagiri's, clear, slender red eyes, and, beneath the corner of her left eye, a striking tear-mole that added yet another touch of beauty.
Taken as a whole, she was a Japanese-style beauty, like a princess.
This getup, these physical traits, and those familiar chūni lines made Riku instantly think of a certain person: Gokō Ruri from My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute. Of course, Riku preferred to call her "Kuroneko", Black Cat.
While Riku was sizing up Gokō Ruri, Gokō Ruri was also sizing up Riku, a little dazed.
"Who are you?" Sora demanded, clearly displeased. Getting randomly trashed out of nowhere, anyone would be irritated, let alone Sora.
"My name is Black Cat, the Fallen Saint Black Cat of Chiba! In my previous life, I was the Queen's knight! Now I have descended into the present world, concealed within it, awaiting the appointed hour to greet the Queen's advent…" Gokō Ruri curled the fingers of her pale right hand slightly and placed them to her left breast, delivering her self-introduction with full momentum.
"Chūni?" Hearing this chūni-soaked introduction, Sora shot her a strange look and snarked.
That made Gokō Ruri's expression freeze; she stopped her spiel.
"It is not chūni. An ordinary person like you cannot comprehend the meaning within," Gokō Ruri said, flustered and angry.
"Is there really some special meaning to it?" Sora pouted.
Although she's a shut-in, Sora isn't very into those anime full of off-the-charts chūni.
"All right, knock it off, you're going to miss seating." Riku pressed a hand to Sora's head and shook his own.
Keep bickering and it'd never end.
"' Kay." At Riku's words, Sora turned her body away and stopped arguing with Gokō Ruri, instead hugging popcorn and cola with great interest. She wasn't here because she cared about the movie anyway; she wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of watching a movie with Riku.
"Kuroneko, wearing colour contacts all the time isn't great for your eyes, you know," Riku said over his shoulder to the girl, a smile at the corner of his lips.
Kuroneko's real irises are pitch-black; the red is entirely from contacts so she can cosplay the Night Demon Queen.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"I'll curse you to death!"
Gokō Ruri glared at Riku with a huff.
Hearing that, Riku smiled faintly. Yep, same familiar flavour. He'd actually known Kuroneko for a long time. Kuroneko, too. But this was their first time meeting in real life, and he was the only one who knew Kuroneko's identity.
Riku didn't keep chatting with Gokō Ruri; he turned back and followed the crowd into Theatre 3.
In three seats in the middle of the auditorium, Riku sat in the centre, Ruri on his left, Sora on his right.
"Why are you sitting there?" Sora shot an annoyed glare at Ruri on Riku's left.
"I was going to ask you the same," Gokō Ruri huffed.
"Looks like we're pretty fated to meet. Must be destiny's arrangement," Riku teased.
"Truly a baleful fate. I am the Fallen Saint Black Cat; I was born bearing a curse. This phenomenon may well be predetermined destiny," Gokō Ruri said, eyes lighting up, suddenly spirited when Riku delivered a slightly chūni line.
"Foolish mortal, properly experience the Night Demon Queen's might. In time, you'll become one of us as well and fall in love with Her Majesty the Night Demon Queen," Gokō Ruri then declared to Sora.
"Who'd ever like that," Sora said, utterly unimpressed.
"Hmph." With the movie about to start, Gokō Ruri snorted and fell silent.
As the film began, Gokō Ruri watched the Night Demon Queen on screen with burning eyes, even murmuring along with the character's lines.
By contrast, Sora barely watched at all. Clinging to Riku's arm, she just kept munching popcorn, then looked for chances to feed Riku a piece.
… …
Riku watched calmly.
The film's lines were catnip to chūni hearts; ordinary people would probably cringe themselves into second-hand embarrassment.
But it didn't bother Riku. He'd heard far more chūni lines before.
It's just that, when those lines are spoken by certain beings, they don't feel chūni at all; they feel truly powerful. Because they themselves are strong.
The reason chūni is chūni is that ordinary people, lacking power, like to imagine they have it and then do certain things; when they "graduate" from chūni and look back, they want to die of shame.
In the end, it still comes down to whether you have power or not.
When the movie ended and the crowd stood to leave.
Ruri snapped out of her trance and looked to Sora.
"Hmph, now you've witnessed it, the charm of the Night Demon Queen."
"Sorry, not really my thing." Sora waved listlessly, making Ruri's little face go still.
"Hmph. As expected…'the wisdom of mortals'; you're incapable of understanding my Queen's charm," Gokō Ruri sniffed.