Ch.116Chapter 18. Repayment (7)

In her unfriendly mode, Kagami gave off an atmosphere like she might actually sell alcohol if paid enough, but when I kept staring at her, she eventually served us orange juice.

It wasn’t fancy juice made from freshly squeezed fruit, just ordinary orange juice you could find at any neighborhood store.

I thought she might charge us an exorbitant price, but since I was the one who brought these two here, I wasn’t going to complain about it.

“So… what did you answer?”

I asked Miki. She made an “Hmm~” sound as she thought for a moment, then said,

“I just said it was okay.”

“…”

I mean, I know that’s an evasive answer, but still.

“She might have had a pretty face if not for the scar, but the scar was so big. And it would be rude to call someone ugly when you’re meeting them for the first time~”

What an incredibly laid-back personality.

I pondered what to say next, then looked at Kaoru.

“Kaoru senpai.”

“Yes?”

Kaoru answered as she was sipping orange juice through a straw in a fancy glass bottle.

“What were you really planning to do if you met the slit-mouthed woman?”

“Huh? Oh.”

Kaoru removed the straw from her mouth and rummaged through her pocket with a triumphant expression.

And what she pulled out was—

“Ta-da!”

At first, I thought it was shoe polish. It was a thin, flat circular container.

But looking more carefully, I saw the container was labeled “pomade.”

You know, that stuff you put in your hair. It was something quite foreign to me since I didn’t usually pay much attention to my hairstyle.

“They say the slit-mouthed woman hates the smell of pomade!”

“…”

Why?

Oh, come to think of it, I had heard something about that. That suspicious incantation included saying “pomade” several times.

Is that where this came from? I don’t even understand why she would hate the smell of pomade.

Well, this was characteristic of yokai. Their tendency to be excessively fixated on one thing. Like how the Amanojaku preferred the flesh of bespectacled women in their late teens to early twenties, or how the Kasha captured and burned mean-spirited people to eat them, or how the Kumo bewitched people who were alone and took their souls… The slit-mouthed woman must be another such case.

I turned back to Miki.

“Anyway, you’re saying she just left after you said that?”

“Yep~ That’s right~”

She answered in that same relaxed voice.

I was starting to understand why she was popular. It wasn’t just because she was pretty with a nice figure, but because she took everything in stride with such a laid-back attitude, making others feel at ease.

“You only met her once?”

“Yep~”

“…What was the situation like?”

“It wasn’t much different from usual~”

So she had been walking alone in that area.

Even in an area known for its nightlife, the number of people decreases significantly late at night. Before midnight, before the subways stop running, the streets might be packed with people, but after those who’ve had their fun and are feeling good head home, it gets much quieter.

So even on a street with few people, there should still be some heading to subway stations or bus stops.

Should I assume that Miki encountered the slit-mouthed woman because she was late, walking the streets at a time when there was absolutely no one around, with no witnesses?

“…I understand. Thank you.”

“No problem~ What for~ I’m just happy I can work so comfortably~”

Thinking I’d gathered enough information, I bowed my head slightly, and Miki waved her hand dismissively in response.

*

I still had a few questions.

Yokai that appear in centuries-old histories are mostly treated as a kind of “species.” Setting aside opinions about them being transformed souls from the afterlife, that’s how they’re treated in subculture.

Even the Kumo I met directly had more than one individual.

The Nukekubi, like other yokai, was numerous, with established methods of extermination.

But in this case… well.

Could it just be a single murderer? It was a ghost story popular in the 70s, and if she actually existed then, the slit-mouthed woman now would be at least thirty years older.

By 2004 standards, she’d be in her fifties. She might fall more into the category of the Hong Kong Granny rather than the slit-mouthed woman.

Then again, I don’t expect yokai to age like humans.

“…Alright.”

After leaving the store, we returned to where Miki had seen the slit-mouthed woman.

Kaoru naturally insisted on coming with me, and Izumi insisted on following Kaoru. They had different motives.

Kaoru was genuinely enjoying the occult situation, while Izumi simply didn’t want to be left alone in the bar.

I thought… she was right. Kagami didn’t seem like she’d be kind to Izumi. She was in her “unfriendly mom” mode right now.

For various reasons, we ended up coming outside together.

I suggested we call it a day and meet again later, but Kaoru predictably wouldn’t hear of it. I figured she’d come back here even if I went home, so it seemed safer for me to stay with her.

That damn occult magazine. I should visit their headquarters sometime. I wonder if yokai are publishing it too.

…Despite the situation, I wasn’t too worried.

“I’ll be the bait.”

“Kotone!?”

Izumi was horrified at my suggestion.

But it was the most sensible approach.

Kaoru and Izumi are just ordinary people. If such a woman actually appeared, they would be quite helpless.

So I decided to place Koko beside them.

“You’re going there alone, Kotone?”

“Technically, I won’t be alone.”

I corrected her.

The distance between us would be over a hundred meters. They wouldn’t be able to see me from their position, but I could see them from mine.

The reason they couldn’t see me was because I planned to go into the darker areas.

“But that’s practically the same as being alone! If something happens, we won’t be able to help you right away!”

Kaoru and I exchanged glances.

Kaoru had a complex expression. She knew I could defend myself against opponents, but she had seen how I did it.

“I can’t send you or Koko instead.”

At my words, Izumi fell silent.

Good.

“Then—”

“I’ll go.”

Just as I was about to say I’d go ahead since the situation was settled, Izumi suddenly spoke up.

“Izumi?”

Kaoru called out to her in surprise.

“I’m your senpai. I’m a year older. How could I send a junior like you to such a place?”

“No, that’s—”

“Or, let’s all go together and check it out.”

“If multiple people go, she definitely won’t appear—”

“Then we can just write in the column that it seems to be a false rumor. Or we can look for something else to write about.”

“…”

“You two are acting a bit strange.”

Izumi looked back and forth between Kaoru and me.

“You’re saying she might really exist, right? I don’t know if those murder cases were real, but there’s a mentally disturbed person wandering those streets. She can’t really be a creature from ghost stories… but she’s clearly someone with a knife imitating such a being. Why would you volunteer to go into an area where such a dangerous person is wandering around?”

“…”

Uh, well.

Suddenly hearing such a sensible argument, I momentarily forgot what to say.

That’s…

She’s right.

That would be the sensible judgment for most people.

Even by my standards, that’s true. The sensible action would be to call Yuka right now, or report to Miura-san, or at the very least inform the police.

If we proceed as planned, Kaoru and Izumi could be in danger too.

Both Kaoru and I were unable to refute Izumi’s words and remained silent, but then—

“Then I’ll do it~”

Someone cheerfully volunteered.

When I turned around, I saw that Miki, whom we had left in the store, had somehow made her way to us. She must have come while we were talking and overheard our conversation.

“Miki-san?”

“A designation lasts until the time is up~ At our place, that’s usually all night. Until the customers go home.”

Miki explained when I asked in surprise.

“And~ I’m free to follow customers out and get treats~ Sometimes we even go on dates~”

Kaoru and Izumi’s expressions became complicated, but Miki didn’t seem to notice.

“I’ve already met her once~ So maybe she’ll talk to me again~”

Just because she escaped once doesn’t mean she won’t encounter her again.

That…

But Miki is also an ordinary person. Moreover, Miki was, though I wasn’t certain yet—

“Hmm? What do you think~”

Miki asked, almost as if urging us.

She might be thinking she could skip work for the day by following us. We’d soon have to take the subway home, and then Miki could clock out. She’d already served customers today anyway… though she hadn’t sold much.

“I walk down that street every day anyway~ So I’m not scared~”

“…”

That… makes sense, I suppose.

I closed my eyes and thought for a moment.

…I didn’t want to call Yuka. This was… a personal matter.

Sorry to Yuka, but the moment information leaks to her side, we’ve already failed. We’d be giving up the boldness of being able to move first.

Well, I don’t know if there are people watching us somewhere, but they couldn’t have been listening to us inside Kagami’s store.

However, I didn’t want to put people in danger either.

After a brief deliberation, I came to a conclusion.

“…Please wait here for a moment.”

“Kotone?”

“Kucchan?”

Izumi and Kaoru looked at me as they spoke.

“Koko, come with me for a bit.”

“Okay!”

As the two of us stepped back, the other three tried to follow, but—

“Wait, there’s something I want to get. Please, all three of you, wait here for a moment.”

Seeing that we were heading toward Kagami’s bar, they stopped following. I was glad I had chosen this direction.

I entered the store.

Kagami looked a bit surprised to see me coming down with just Koko, without the other friends.

And I asked her,

“Do you have any sanitary pads?”

*

Fortunately, no other customers came in while I was cutting my wrist in the store bathroom.

Well, it wouldn’t have been a big deal even if someone had come in. I immediately covered the cut with a sanitary pad as soon as I finished.

“You’re quite devoted to your friends.”

“…Or you could just tell me what you know.”

I replied as I caught the Chi that fell to the floor and put each one into a plastic bag I had asked Kagami for.

“I find your actions interesting, but I also know how that interest is maintained. If I were to help you too easily, it would surely become boring.”

“…”

I didn’t respond to that comment and simply put each plastic bag into a cloth pouch.

Then I wrapped the pre-made sword in cloth.

Fortunately, no blood was leaking from my wrist where I had applied the sanitary pad.

“…Phew.”

I pulled down my school uniform to hide the sanitary pad as much as possible, held three pouches in one hand, and tucked the sword under my arm.

“So, what do you want this time?”

“If I want anything, it would be entertainment.”

Nirlas answered with a cheerful smile.

“And it seems to me that interesting things will continue to happen.”

And for those interesting things, you’re ensuring I don’t die.

Isn’t that right? While you can create those complex modern oxygen tanks with blood—even filling them with oxygen—you never make cannons or guns. Because then I might resolve matters too easily.

I need to struggle just enough to make it entertaining for the spectator. That’s how I interpreted it.

“So today, I’d like you to think of it as my goodwill.”

…Goodwill, huh.

When blood starts to drain, it does feel like your body heats up at first. Though it gradually gets colder after a while.

Come to think of it, the weather was getting quite cold now. …I should be careful not to die of shock while fighting in winter.

“Phew.”

I exhaled and opened the bathroom stall.

Koko was there.

“Kotone?”

Even without me making it obvious, Koko’s eyes went straight to my wrist. Though it was covered by my sleeve down to the back of my hand, she too easily saw through to my wounded body beneath.

“I’m fine.”

I said as I gently stroked Koko’s arm.

“It’s just something necessary in the current situation.”

“Uuu…”

Koko knew how I fought, so she didn’t say anything about the method itself.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt her heart.

“Let’s go.”

When I said that, Koko nodded.

*

I distributed the Chi, wrapped in both plastic bags and cloth pouches, to everyone under the pretense of “talismans.”

Fortunately, the floor above the bar was a residential area. There were no other stores or tenants, which made it easy to create the excuse that “there’s my old room where I used to live.” The setting was that I had brought these talismans from there.

Of course, Kaoru seemed to have figured out what was going on, but she accepted my “talisman” without saying anything.

“If something happens, grip the talisman tightly. Until you feel whatever’s inside has definitely burst.”

“Oh, what’s inside?”

A creature made of human blood that I don’t even know what to call.

But I couldn’t possibly tell Izumi that.

Although the inside was wrapped in a plastic bag, due to the characteristic of Chi bursting and spraying blood in all directions, blood would spurt out through the small opening at the top.

When blood sprays everywhere like from a spray bottle, the yokai will momentarily hesitate due to its aversion to the blood.

During that time, Koko or I would rush in and deal with it—that was the plan.

“Thank you~”

Miki cheerfully accepted the talisman I gave her. I’m a bit worried about her. Will she do as I say?

Before coming here, I had also instructed Koko. If that person seemed to be in danger, move immediately, I told her. Don’t worry about revealing your identity.

After all, Izumi would find out eventually anyway.

“…Shall we begin?”

Quite some time had passed. I wasn’t sure if we could catch the last train if we left now.

…If that’s the case, I’d have to get them a taxi. Or let them stay in the room upstairs.

They wouldn’t leave just because I told them to anyway.

“Okay~ So what do we do?”

“…Let’s take our positions first. Then, please walk alone. Just like you normally would.”

Miki nodded at my words.

We moved further into the desolate street and took our positions.

There was definitely no one walking around.

I understand why people might avoid it given the eerie atmosphere of the street. Or maybe there’s some kind of influence at work here too.

“Make sure to answer ‘It’s just okay’ when asked.”

“Yes~ Yes~”

Miki nodded at my instruction.

Then she began walking with the talisman clutched in her hand.

She really is quite brave.

Or maybe, compared to what she’s experienced before, this isn’t particularly frightening.

We quietly watched Miki as she walked forward.

It was a dark street, but not completely without light. Even with the streetlights spaced far apart, a person’s silhouette was clearly visible.

If we had been watching that back figure from the beginning, we could easily follow it with our eyes.

So we were quietly watching that back figure when—

“Huh?”

—Miki’s figure, which should have remained visible, suddenly disappeared.

It wasn’t even in the blink of an eye. She just vanished into thin air. Just like when I saw Koko suddenly appear out of nowhere.

“What’s going on?”

Izumi muttered.

“What just…?”

“…Koko.”

At my words, Koko immediately nodded.

“Kaoru senpai. Take Izumi senpai and go back quickly. Go straight to the store.”

“But you two—”

“…You know.”

I looked at Kaoru with a serious expression as I spoke.

“…”

And after looking at me, Kaoru nodded with an equally serious expression.

“Just in case, keep the talisman in your hand. If something happens,”

“Grip it tightly, right? Until whatever’s inside definitely bursts.”

I nodded, and Kaoru nodded back.

Then she got up.

When Kaoru took Izumi’s hand, Izumi looked back and forth between me and Kaoru.

“What? What’s happening? Where did Koko go?”

“I’ll explain when we get back. For now, let’s go.”

Kaoru said as she pulled Izumi along.

“Huh? Huh?”

After seeing the two of them run toward the brightly lit street, I turned and ran toward where Miki had been.

…I was stupid.

Even for a yokai that doesn’t need a nest, it was incredibly stupid to send a person toward a yokai whose characteristics were unclear.

I ran as fast as I could, hoping Miki was safe.

*

“Huh?”

After walking for quite a while and not encountering the woman, Miki returned to the original spot.

It was an ordinary street. Nothing seemed to have changed.

The only difference was that the kids who were supposed to be waiting here were nowhere to be seen.

Tilting her head in confusion, Miki decided to head back to the store.

The streets with people walking around were no different from usual, and neither was the store. Customers who hadn’t left yet. The women working with her.

And Kagami too.

But Kagami’s reaction was different from what she usually saw.

“The kids have disappeared.”

A quite serious expression, one rarely seen. Different from her usual languid, irritated look.

“I was definitely waiting, but~ I’m sorry~”

“…No.”

Kagami sighed deeply and said,

“We should have been more careful.”

After thinking for a moment, Kagami said,

“Can you watch the place for a bit?”

“Where are you going?”

“…I just don’t want to be any more incompetent.”

With just those words, Kagami hurriedly left.

“…But I don’t know how to make cocktails~”

Miki said, scratching her head.

…They seem to have a better relationship than they appear to. Mother and daughter.

I wish I had such a good relationship with my sister.

Miki thought as she went behind the now-empty bar.