Chapter 207: Shizuka's Proposal
"It's like this—today at school..."
Kouya recounted everything that had happened during the day, his tone steady but detailed, not leaving out even the smallest event. The shrine maiden listened quietly on the other end of the line, her breath faint through the receiver.
"Ishida Ryuji?" she finally said, her tone turning grave. "I know of him. He's from the Ishida family—an old lineage of onmyouji. The stories say he bears a personal grudge against yokai. His younger sister was attacked years ago by a stray spirit. Ever since then, he's hated them with a passion."
Her voice softened, almost wistful. "As you know, Kouya-kun, this city has always been home to hidden things. Spirits, yokai, cursed relics—they coexist among us quietly. As long as they don't disrupt the balance or harm people, we generally leave them be. Pushing too hard can cause chaos; many yokai, when cornered, lash out with terrifying power."
Her tone shifted again, sharper this time. "But Ishida Ryuji isn't like most. He doesn't believe in balance. To him, all yokai are monsters that need to be purged. Whenever he encounters one, he kills it—without hesitation."
She paused, the sound of pages rustling faintly in the background, as if she were flipping through an old record book. "He's clashed with others before, even with exorcists from our own circles. But his power is formidable. That's the only reason no one stops him."
Kouya leaned against the lamppost, gazing at the faint glow of the city ahead. "So he's a problem."
"This time, yes," she replied. "You took something he wanted. And knowing him, he won't forget that easily. I'll reach out to some contacts, see what he's been up to lately. As for the cat demon... leave it with me tomorrow. Rina's been lonely lately. I think she'll like it."
Kouya gave a quiet hum. "Fine. As long as he doesn't come looking for a fight, I don't care."
"Understood," the shrine maiden said gently. "Ah, and Kouya-kun... I may have a new commission soon. Dangerous, perhaps. Would you be interested in helping?"
"Sure. Just call me when it's time."
A soft laugh came through the receiver. "You really are dependable when you want to be." Then, after a pause, she said, "By the way... that photo earlier."
"I didn't look!" Kouya replied immediately, his voice unnaturally quick.
Her laugh was like soft bells. "I know," she said lightly. Then, teasingly, "But if you ever did want to see, I wouldn't mind."
Kouya fell silent. The corner of his mouth twitched. 'She's definitely teasing me...' he thought.
When the call ended, he exhaled, slipping the phone from his ear and staring at the glowing screen. The unread email icon blinked temptingly. For several seconds, he just stood there, caught between pride and curiosity.
Eventually, curiosity won.
He tapped the message open.
And yes—there it was. A bath photo. But instead of the expected scandalous image, it was just the shrine maiden wrapped modestly in a thick bathrobe, her hair damp and her expression serene. Not even a hint of exposed skin.
"Seriously?" Kouya muttered under his breath. "All that build-up for this?" He sighed and pocketed the phone again. "Zero points."
...
He was about to head home when he heard it—the rhythmic sound of soft footsteps hitting pavement. Someone was running. He turned his head.
A woman jogged out from the shadows, her long ponytail bouncing with each stride. When she saw him, she slowed to a stop, breathing lightly. "Evening, Kouya-kun."
It was Shizuka —his homeroom teacher.
Tonight, though, she looked nothing like the calm, strict educator she was in class. Her usual formal attire was replaced with a fitted black sweater that clung to her graceful frame, and athletic leggings that highlighted her long, lean legs. Her hair was tied up, a few loose strands sticking to her temple from sweat. The faint pink flush on her cheeks, the shine of perspiration on her collarbone—she looked... disarmingly human. And stunning.
"You're still out this late?" she asked with a teasing smile. "Don't tell me you were out on a date?"
Kouya stifled a sigh. 'Not a date, teacher. I was tailing a girl home to make sure she didn't get eaten by a demon.'
Her gaze shifted. "Oh? What's that? Is that... a cat?"
Kouya nodded slightly. "Picked it up. I'll take care of it for now."
"Well, aren't you a gentleman," she said, amused. "Still, it's late. You planning to just head home like that?"
"That was the idea."
"Hmm." She stretched her arms, then smiled slyly. "How about a drink first? I just finished my jog, and you look like you could use one."
Kouya froze. 'A thirty-something teacher inviting a male student for drinks at night? That sounds exactly like the start of a scandal.'
"Come on," she said, already walking ahead before he could refuse. "It's just over there—the same izakaya you went to before, right?"
He sighed. "You really don't take no for an answer, do you?"
"Good teachers never do," she said with a wink.
...
The izakaya was bustling, the door sliding open with a wave of chatter and warm light. The scent of fried food and sake filled the air, wrapping around them like a familiar blanket. Laughter echoed from the counter where office workers clinked their glasses together. In a small corner booth, Shizuka gestured for Kouya to sit.
"One oden and a bottle of sake," she told the waiter. "And whatever this guy wants."
Kouya ordered lightly—edamame, cold tofu, fried chicken, and rice with pickled plum tea. The drinks arrived quickly, accompanied by small ceramic cups and the faint sound of jazz from the radio.
"This place hasn't changed much," Kouya said, glancing around. "Same crowd as last time."
"Comfort is rare," Shizuka replied. "Places like this let people breathe."
She poured herself a drink, the clear liquid reflecting the warm light. "To coincidence," she said, raising her glass. "And to students who actually let their teachers feed them once in a while."
Kouya clinked his cup reluctantly. "Cheers."
They began eating. The cat demon sniffed curiously at the table, eyeing the food with wide, longing eyes.
Kouya picked up a bean and offered it. "Here."
The cat blinked, stared at the edamame, then looked at him accusingly before turning away dramatically. "Meow."
Kouya rolled his eyes. "Spoiled brat."
"This little one's got attitude," Shizuka said, reaching out to stroke it. The cat batted her hand away with an indignant paw.
She laughed, then picked up a piece of fried chicken from his plate and held it out. The cat immediately brightened, taking it eagerly and chewing in delight.
"And now it loves you," Kouya said dryly.
Shizuka smirked and popped another piece into her own mouth. "It's called winning trust. You should try it sometime."
"That's my food, though."
"Consider it tuition," she said with a grin. "Good lessons always cost something."
The tension faded into an easy rhythm of conversation and laughter. For all her teasing, Shizuka had a warmth about her when she wasn't in front of a classroom—less teacher, more woman.
After a few minutes, she leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "So, Kouya-kun. There's something I wanted to discuss."
Kouya set down his chopsticks. "Go on."
"It's about your class," she began. "You, Satania, Gabriel, Takanashi Rikka—you four are... unique. Intelligent, capable, but absolutely unmanageable. You don't join any clubs, don't socialize much outside your group, and half the time you vanish after class."
Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "I even saw a headline yesterday—students lying to parents about club activities when they're really sneaking off to... questionable places."
Kouya nearly choked on his drink. Shut up! Was she implying they were doing that? Sure, he'd gone to a hotel with Vigne—but the others? Definitely not!
"Anyway," she said briskly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "I've decided. You guys need a club of your own. Something productive. Otherwise, you'll just get into trouble sooner or later."
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