Chapter 363: Bothered

Tokyo Exorcism Diary

"I really didn't expect your grades to improve this much," Shirayanagi Ayaha said with a bright smile. "Even though I always believed you could do anything if you just put your mind to it, your grades were always below average from primary school all the way through junior high."

"What was the catalyst that suddenly made you want to study hard?"

Hoshino Gen lowered his eyes to glance at her expression, roughly guessing what she was thinking, and replied calmly, "Don't flatter yourself. This has nothing to do with you."

Shirayanagi Ayaha immediately stuck out her tongue playfully. "I never said it had anything to do with me..."

Upon finishing her sentence, she saw Hoshino Gen still watching her with that same calm expression. She scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "Fine! I suppose I was hoping for some dramatic development like 'his childhood friend passes away, so the boy remembers her dying wish, turns his grief into strength, and starts studying furiously'..."

At this point, she puffed out her cheeks and muttered unhappily with a pout, "But you already told me not to flatter myself, so how could I possibly admit that!"

While Hoshino Gen remained silently speechless, Shirayanagi Ayaha steered the conversation back to the beginning. "So, since you said it has nothing to do with me, who does it have to do with?"

"...It was just a commission," Hoshino Gen replied casually.

"A commission?" Shirayanagi Ayaha paused, blinking her beautiful, bright eyes in utter confusion.

But Hoshino Gen had no intention of explaining further. He turned his head to look out the window, immersing himself back into his own world, lost in unknown thoughts.

Seeing this, Shirayanagi Ayaha did not pry. She simply rested her head on the school desk and watched Hoshino Gen's profile, occasionally letting out a soft giggle. It was as if just this simple scene was enough to bring her complete satisfaction and joy.

......

"Ayaha-chan, what exactly is your relationship with Hoshino-kun? Whenever we tried to talk to him before, he completely ignored us. So why is it that you just got here..."

After the bento period during the lunch break, several girls approached Shirayanagi Ayaha to chat while Hoshino Gen was away.

"Because he and I have actually known each other for a long time. We grew up together."

"Eh? Seriously?! Doesn't that mean you and Hoshino-kun are actually childhood friends?" The girls' faces filled with surprise.

"Yep!" Shirayanagi Ayaha cheerfully admitted.

"Then why didn't you come to Segawa Private to be with Hoshino-kun last semester?"

"Don't be stupid! Ayaha-chan already mentioned during her self-introduction that she was in Italy recovering her health and only recently returned to Japan!"

"Oh, right, right..."

"But, if that's the case..." The girl who spoke glanced around before lowering her voice cautiously. "Ayaha-chan, did you know that Hoshino-kun killed someone at school last semester?"

"Eh?" Shirayanagi Ayaha's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second before returning to its normal calm. "Then it must have been the other person who provoked him first."

"Wow!" someone exclaimed in awe. "As expected of childhood friends. You really understand Hoshino-kun well. It was indeed Eguchi and his gang trying to bully him back then..."

"But then again, Hoshino-kun has such an eccentric personality. Did something happen in the past? For him to hate interacting with others so much..."

A smile resurfaced on Shirayanagi Ayaha's face. "He is much better now than before! Personality is innate, after all. He has been like this since he was little."

"I see..."

At that moment, another girl wore a teasing expression. "Whenever you talk about Hoshino-kun, Ayaha-chan, your eyes get so bright and radiant. You must really like him!"

The other girls beside her also chimed in with playful laughter, "You definitely like him!"

Shirayanagi Ayaha blinked her eyes and then generously admitted it with a bright grin, "I do! I have liked him since we were kids!"

"Whoa!"

The girls broke into a chorus of excited squeals, offering genuine awe at Shirayanagi Ayaha's frankness and boldness.

But following that, one of the girls showed a look of concern. "However, Hoshino-kun is already engaged to Lady Sasaki..."

Shirayanagi Ayaha's smile did not falter. "I know."

"Then..."

Before anyone else could speak, Shirayanagi Ayaha laughed and said, "I won't be fighting anyone for anything right now. After all, with my body, even I don't know when I might just drop dead."

"......"

The lively atmosphere from just moments ago instantly went cold.

Yet Shirayanagi Ayaha continued, "But there is a possibility of recovery now. If I die, then of course, nothing needs to be said. But if I am truly fortunate enough to be fully cured..."

"When that time comes, I absolutely will not hold back!"

......

And somehow, whether fueled by meddlesome people or intentionally pushed by someone with an agenda, this very conversation easily made its way into Sasaki Ayane's ears.

After school that afternoon, Sasaki Ayane got into the front passenger seat of the Audi R8 driven by Hoshino Gen right at the school gate, in plain view of everyone.

Setting aside whatever discussions others might be having, as the sports car pulled away from the school gate and headed toward their destination in Minato Ward, Sasaki Ayane ultimately could not resist speaking up. "Have you heard the rumors spreading all over school today about the transfer student in your class?"

"Yeah." Hoshino Gen cast a glance at her. "Are you bothered by it?"

Sasaki Ayane looked at him and paused for a moment before replying, "What if I am bothered, and what if I am not?"

"So you are bothered," Hoshino Gen stated calmly. "I rarely go back on something I have firmly promised, especially matters bound by a contract."

"......" Sasaki Ayane looked away, speechless for a moment.

Just like that, they remained silent for the rest of the journey. The red Audi R8 traversed the main roads of Tokyo, carrying the roar of its engine all the way from Koto Ward into Minato Ward, before finally coming to a stop in front of the courtyard gates of an abandoned villa located in the desolate suburbs.

The car doors on both sides opened almost simultaneously as Hoshino Gen and Sasaki Ayane stepped out.

Hoshino Gen took out his mobile phone, glancing down to scroll through it briefly before looking up at the villa in front of them. Finally, he turned his head toward Sasaki Ayane. "If you are ready, go on in. A trial without any real threat will not be very effective, so I won't be going in with you."

After speaking, he formed a fist with his right hand and extended it forward, giving Sasaki Ayane a meaningful look.

Sasaki Ayane was confused for a brief moment, but she stepped closer, made a fist as well, and bumped it against Hoshino Gen's.

The instant their knuckles touched, a ferocious and sharp-looking tattoo surfaced on Hoshino Gen's arm. As if it had come alive, the tattoo flowed from his hand over to Sasaki Ayane.

Hoshino Gen pulled his hand back and said, "When you absolutely can no longer endure it, summon Onikiri. I will receive the signal and go in to save you."

Sasaki Ayane nodded without speaking, reaching up to pull a pendant from under her collar. She took the pendant off and clasped it in the palm of her hand. Immediately, a flash of white light erupted, and an odachi materialized in front of her.