"I couldn't suppress my curiosity, so I had to see what the 'ghost' from the legends actually looked like."
Toya knew perfectly well it was Hinatsuru Ai, but he led with a joke to put her at ease. He didn't want the girl's first instinct to be calling the police on a suspicious guest.
Ai let out a small giggle, her melancholy vanishing. "Big brother, I'm Hinatsuru Ai. I'm the daughter of the owner, Akina-san. I'm definitely not a ghost."
"Oh, so not a ghost then," Toya said, feigning realization. "In that case, would you mind telling me why the not-a-ghost Hinatsuru Ai is out here crying?"
"I want to get revenge for Mama!" Ai replied, her voice firm and eyes full of resolve.
She proceeded to spill the entire story of her parents without holding back. Whether it was her natural innocence or Toya's innate charisma, she had completely dropped her guard.
"There are plenty of ways to get revenge," Toya said, shaking his head. "Choosing shogi isn't necessarily the best one. Aside from consuming your youth, it might not even give you the satisfaction you're looking for."
Seeing the girl about to throw herself into the brutal world of professional shogi, Toya felt the need to nudge her toward a more stable path.
"There are other ways?" Ai's eyes widened, shimmering with interest. "What else can I do? I want that man to feel regret for the rest of his life."
Ever since Akina had given birth to her, she had worked herself to the bone for Ai's sake. Being so young, Ai felt powerless. Her only plan was to retaliate by crushing her father on the path he cherished most—the shogi board.
Toya sat by the tree and began to explain his perspective. His suggestions were simple: focus on her education and strive for excellence in a broader field.
Simple and impressionable, Ai had never heard such a take. She was quickly convinced, vowing to study diligently with the goal of getting into the University of Tokyo.
As for shogi? She decided she wasn't going to waste another minute on it. After all, achieving a high-status career would be the ultimate way to look down on the man who had abandoned them.
Watching Ai skip away, Toya felt a sense of quiet satisfaction.
That should do it. Now the proprietress can be happy, and the girl won't waste her life on a gamble. Akina really needs to learn how to communicate better; otherwise, her kid would have ended up on a dead-end road.
.....
Toya returned to his room and spent the next hour scrolling through his phone.
"This is getting boring. I want to turn in, so why hasn't Jashin-chan reacted yet?"
He had dumped the seasoning into her bath for a reason, and he was still waiting for the payoff. Just as he was about to give up, a scream finally pierced the night.
"Aieee—!"
Toya recognized that voice instantly.
"Who messed with the temperature? My skin-care supplements are going to lose their potency!"
Supplements? Toya blinked. He had clearly added seventeen different varieties of stewing spices. He decided to investigate, worried he might have accidentally done her a favor.
When he reached Jashin-chan's room, Yurine and Nyaruko were already there, looking equally perplexed.
Jashin-chan was flushed red, her face contorted with rage. "The water is too hot! The medicinal effects are being ruined!"
Toya glanced at the water. It's definitely the stew spices. No mistake.
"Medicinal effects?" Yurine looked at the floating herbs with a skeptical gaze. "Jashin-chan, are you sure these are supplements?"
Even a novice could tell these were spices meant for braising meat.
"Of course! I got this formula from a across the sea," Jashin-chan claimed proudly. "I studied quite hard to memorize this recipe. It's a professional blend. Not only does it improve the quality of the 'flesh,' but it also creates an unforgettable aroma!"
Improve the flesh? Unforgettable aroma? Toya finally got it. She had literally stolen a recipe for stewed meat and mistaken it for a beauty treatment.
Toya cleared his throat to hide his amusement. "Jashin-chan, I actually happen to know the formula."
"Oh?" She looked at him.
"These ingredients are potent, but you've got it backward. They actually require high heat to activate their true essence. If the water is too cool, you're just wasting them."
He decided to double down on the prank. If she wanted to believe they were beauty herbs, he was happy to let her "stew" in them.
Yurine looked at Toya with an expression of pure disbelief. He's not blind, so there's no way he doesn't recognize those spices. He's actually going along with it?
When she saw the corner of Toya's mouth twitching, she realized the truth. She decided not to interfere. It wasn't like it was dangerous, and it kept the demon occupied.
Hearing Toya's "expert" opinion, Jashin-chan's ego inflated. "Hmph, I knew it! Yurine, Nyaruko—if you're jealous, I might be willing to share some."
"No thanks," they replied in unison.
"Your loss." Jashin-chan braced herself, gritting her teeth as she stepped into the scalding, savory water. "Everything is for the sake of beauty!"