"I'm sorry!" Jashin-chan had intended to maintain her bravado, but she folded the moment she met Hanazono Yurine's cold gaze.
Kawashima Toya waved it off. "I was just surprised. I didn't mean to say you did anything wrong."
It was genuinely unexpected. Neither Kasumigaoka Utaha nor Kasugano Sora had been compatible with the Zecter, yet this "trash snake" had successfully achieved the transformation.
I suppose it makes sense, Toya thought, recalling Jashin-chan's track record.
In her own world, she had once consumed an angel's halo to undergo a divine transformation.
As a high-ranking demon capable of such feats, forcing a connection with a mechanical Zecter was likely well within her capabilities.
It wasn't that the Kabuto Zecter had chosen her; rather, she had simply overwhelmed it with her own will.
Toya looked at Nyaruko and Jashin-chan, who were both currently pretending to be well-behaved, and sighed. "Since you've followed us all this way, you might as well come along to Kyoto."
The two brightened instantly and scrambled toward the car.
"Let's go. We're bringing them with us." Toya and Yurine returned to the vehicle, resuming their journey.
During the drive, Toya pulled out his phone to pass the time. To his surprise, the top trending topic was about Kamen Rider Kabuto appearing in the real world. The post featured several blurry photos of two armored figures moving through skyscrapers at impossible speeds.
"Don't do that again," Toya warned. "If you're exposed, you'll be hauled off to a lab and dissected."
Nyaruko and Jashin-chan nodded frantically. They weren't particularly afraid of being studied—they were just terrified of Toya and Yurine.
Yurine gave a thin, chilling smile. "Jashin-chan, that dissection idea sounds interesting. I'll keep it in mind for the next time you cause trouble."
A cold shiver raced down Jashin-chan's spine. "I promise to behave! Please, just give me a chance!" She pressed her hands together in a desperate plea.
Toya and Yurine knew her well enough to know that any promise she made had a shelf life of about three minutes. By tomorrow, she would undoubtedly be back to her usual antics.
After the mandatory intimidation, Jashin-chan compared her situation to Nyaruko's and sighed inwardly.
Yurine is so strict. Why can't she be gentler? If a girl stays this angry all the time, she's going to age prematurely.
Indulging in her petty fantasies, Jashin-chan's mood quickly rebounded. Toya, hearing her sudden, muffled giggling, felt a wave of confusion.
Did she really recover that fast?
.....
It was late at night when they finally reached Kyoto.
Toya looked out at the darkened city and turned to Yurine. "Let's find an inn. We'll head to the burial site tomorrow."
In his experience, the supernatural was always stronger at night. If Abe no Seimei had left any protective seals, they would likely be more manageable during the day.
"But an inn will be expensive..." Yurine looked hesitant. She was just a student working part-time; after accounting for travel and food, her budget was tight.
"Don't worry about it. It's on me," Toya said. "If it makes you feel better, you can pay me back later."
Yurine was proud; she rarely accepted favors without a reason.
Toya phrased it that way just to put her at ease. He didn't actually care about the money—he was wealthy enough that it didn't matter.
Nyaruko, sensing an opening, spoke up excitedly. "Let's go to an onsen inn! Kyoto is famous for them!"
"An onsen?" Jashin-chan looked down at her dull scales and, for once, agreed with the silver-haired girl.
Since everyone was in agreement, Yurine didn't object. "Alright, an onsen inn it is."
.....
Wakura Onsen Village.
Toya led the group to a highly-rated establishment.
Ten minutes later, they stood before a building steeped in traditional charm. It wasn't particularly large, but it possessed an authentic, antique atmosphere.
"Strange. How did this place get such high ratings?" Toya muttered, checking his phone again.
The app was flooded with perfect scores and lacked a single negative comment. Usually, that meant the reviews were manufactured.
There were plenty of grander inns nearby, yet this one held the top spot. Curiously, the reviewers were almost exclusively male.
"What's the catch?"
Yurine spoke up calmly. "Let's just head inside. If it's no good, we'll find somewhere else."
Toya nodded and stepped through the entrance. The interior was traditional and well-maintained, though it lacked any obvious distinguishing features.
Suddenly, a young woman in a kimono approached them.
"Are you checking in?" she asked with a stiff, formal expression. "I am Hinatsuru Akina, the proprietress."
I see. Looking at her, Toya understood the reviews immediately. She was young and quite striking, which was more than enough to attract a specific demographic.
Toya nodded. "Four rooms, please."
He decided to stay. It was late, and he didn't feel like wandering the city in search of another vacancy.
"Four rooms? Understood." Akina nodded and led him to the desk.
After checking in, the group split up to their respective quarters.
"Decent enough," was Toya's verdict. The room was clean and included a private bath, meeting all the basic requirements for a comfortable stay.
"The price was fair, too." After washing up, Toya sank into the hot spring, letting the heat soak into his muscles.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring room, Nyaruko let out a mischievous giggle.
Darling is in the bath... Time for a surprise.
In another room, Jashin-chan's eyes flashed with a petty, vengeful light. If I jump out and scare him now, he might be traumatized for life!
While relaxing, Toya sensed two familiar presences approaching his door. He spoke in a low, tired voice.
"Zecter, don't let either of them in."