Volume 1 - CH 1

“…Maki… Maki…”

Someone was calling my name. It was the voice of my precious person.

“Come on Maki! I know you’re still sleeping there! Wake up already!”

Thump thump thump. Thanks to the vigorous banging on my door, I opened my eyelids.

Why was it…? I seemed to have seen an extremely nostalgic dream and it made me feel terribly fatigued.

The light crimson outline of the weeping sakura still remained at the back of my mind…

“Maki! Wake up now! We’re gonna be late for school! You hear me, Maki!”

“…Maki.”

Oh, right. That’s my name. Still in the borderlands between reality and dream, I almost forgot my own name.

It was currently April 2016. My name is Ibaraki Maki and I’m a highschool girl who just entered my second year.

A cute-looking chouchin paper lantern with a botan sakura imprint shimmered faintly with a vermillion glow next to me, lighting up the mysterious words painted on its surface.

“MAKIIIIIII! GET UP RIGHT NOW! Do you have any idea how many times this makes!? We’re barely one month into the school year, but you’ve already racked up five charges of tardiness!”

“Jeez, Kaoru… he’s always such a nagging queen. That part about him really hasn’t changed since the past… Fwaaah.”

I gave a huge yawn and got up. Still in my loose pajamas, I walked up to the entranceway and opened the door which was raising a racket even now.

“Morning.”

“Morning… like hell it’s the time for this, you lazy pig!”

“Give me a break… I stayed up late night helping Secchan make chouchin lanterns yesterday. Since they’re for the Hyakki Yagyou (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), it was hard work, you know. We had to imbue them with an incantation and an onibi, and that really took up a lot of spiritual energy… Fwaah…”

I told him the truth in broken sentences as I stifled a yawn. The tall boy standing in front of me had jet-black hair and obsidian eyes, again dressed in an all-black uniform.

His name is Amasake Kaoru. We’re classmates in the same school, and I’ve known him since young.

Overall, he looked handsome with a manly face and sharp eyes, but his current expression was grumpy.

“I don’t want to hear no excuses from a shameless lazy bum like you. How many times do you think I’ve knocked on your front door: 58 times! Look at my hands now, they’re all red! And all just to wake you up!”

“Who even counts that. You’re such a stickler as usual.”

Kaoru waved his hands before me and crabbed on and on. I didn’t even bother entertaining him and turned back to return to my room.

He followed behind, mumbling something the whole time.

“I bet you’re the reason my door is getting all creaky recently.”

“You’re the one at fault for not waking up to your alarm! No, it goes back even further, you should be ashamed you need someone to wake you up on school days!”

“Oh geez, shut up, Kaoru! You’re being a nuisance to the neighborhood!”

“That’s not a problem. Since there’s no other humans living in this run-down apartment other than you anyway.”

Kaoru folded up my futon with practiced motions and kept it aside.

In the meanwhile, I changed into my uniform. It was a standard navy-blue sailor uniform along with an old-fashioned red scarf.

You might think it’s immodest of me to be changing in front of a pubescent highschool boy… but when it comes to Kaoru, it’s as if I was invisible and he continued cleaning up the rest of my room like nothing.

“Ah… Who is this stunner with large, beautiful eyes I see in the mirror!”

“Stop praising yourself. To be honest, you look like a yamanba right now. Your hair is all over the place.”

“I can’t help it, since my hair is so soft.”

This guy doesn’t know what a joke is. But, he’s right. My long hair with a slight reddish tint was messy and disheveled at the moment.

Well, if I just combed it a bit, it should look presentable.

I glanced at the photo of my parents placed above the drawers and whispered with a smile, “Good morning, Papa, Mama.”

“All right, move!”

Kaoru slung both of our schoolbags on his shoulders and pushed me out of the room.

“We need to make haste. If we miss the train coming in 15 minutes, we’ll be late for sure. And I don’t wanna get yelled at again because of you.”

“Hey, Kaoru, surely you’ve realized that I haven’t had breakfast, right? Or are you just acting like you haven’t?”

“Just bear with it.”

He shut me off without answering me.

“It’s impossible. You should know better than anyone that I’m a hearty eater. And it feels especially bad today, I feel like the pit in my stomach is growing deeper by the second. At this rate, it’s going to growl non-stop by second period.”

“Don’t start acting like you’re embarrassed by the sound your stomach makes. On the first day of the new term during the principal’s address, who was it whose stomach grumbled so loud it echoed all throughout the hall, and then acted like it was someone else.”

We went down the rusted stairs of my dilapidated apartment house, the “Nobara Complex”, which had a cheap monthly rent of 50,000 yen.

My parents passed away in an accident when I was in middle school, after which I moved here to stay alone against the wishes of my relatives.

Kaoru and I exited the narrow lane outside the apartment into the Asakusa Hisago-dori Shopping Street, a Japanese-styled arcade filled with torii. We the took the north exit from there and cut through the Hanayashiki-dori…

“Ah… it’s Secchan.”

I saw the figure of someone sitting in front of an old lantern shop which bore the signboard “Bakenekodou”. The woman dressed in a plain yukata with a bakeneko mask covering her face was the owner of the establishment.

She was puffing on a kiseru while scattering grains of rice at a flock of little red birds in front of her. It was a somewhat bizarre scene on this deathly quiet shopping street.

However, most people probably couldn’t see her.

After all, she wasn’t human but an ayakashi. Many of their kind lived here in Asakusa.

She seemed to have noticed me, and spoke in a lovely, husky voice.

“Good morning, Maki-chan. Thanks again for your help yesterday. Now it seems like I’ll be able to make it for this year’s Hyakki Yagyou somehow.”

“That’s great. I’m glad to of help.”

I grinned happily. She stared intently at me through her mask and noted apologetically, “You look sleepy.”

“Oh, don’t worry. This much is still fine, though it’ll be a pain to get through lessons. I’m going off now, let me know if you need help again, ‘kay!”

I waved goodbye to Secchan and ran up to Kaoru ahead.

“Hey, Maki… don’t go around minding the business of the ayakashi.”

His expression was stiff as he watched me from afar. Kaoru was also capable of seeing ayakashi.

He pulled me close by my arm and muttered softly inside my ear.

“We’re already human now.”

∗ ∗ ∗ 

We ran through the streets of Nakamise-dori which stretched from the grounds of Sensou-ji.

As to be expected of Asakusa, one of the more popular tourist spots in Japan, there were already tourists here and there even at this early hour. Just by turning my gaze up a bit, I could see the symbol of this area, the Tokyo Skytree, jutting out into the sky.

“Ugh, I can’t take it anymore. I’m gonna die of starvation! I want some edomae-zushi… preferably anago-zushi.”

“First thing in the morning and you want to eat that!? Unbelievable…”

“I’m just saying. You don’t have to take it so seriously.”

Kaoru looked at me flabbergasted, so I made up an excuse. Can’t I dream? What’s it to you.

After my stomach growled repeatedly, he finally gave up and heaved a sigh.

“I’ll go get some bread from the convenience store. That’ll do, right?”

“Huh, you mean it!?”

I was so happy that I unconsciously slapped his back repeatedly.

“I knew I could count on you, Kaoru! That’s what all those part-time jobs are for, isn’t it! That generosity is part of why I love you so much!”

“…”

“A hardworking husband’s all a woman need. Even when times change, this fact alone doesn’t.”

“Who’s you husband, huh? Who? Who is it? Keep your dream-talk for when you’re asleep!”

Although he immediately shot down my words, he went inside a convenience store along the way and got me a large apple Danish ring and a pack of coffee-flavored soymilk.

I finished them off in the short three minutes wait for the train at the Tokyo Metro.

“Ah, that was good. But it wasn’t filling enough at all…”

“What, you’ve got to be kidding! Look at the packaging. It says here the Danish ring is 1,225 calories. That’s already half the recommended dietary allowance! …I mean, wow, that’s one high-cal pastry!”

“Danish-type sweet goods are all empty calories. Every girl knows that. …Oh, the train’s here.”

Ugh, so squeezy… We stuffed ourselves into the carriage like sardines in a can, and barely alighted at Ueno station before dying of asphyxiation.

Our highschool, the Metropolitan Meijou Academy was a few minutes walk away.

“Maki, we won’t make it in time at this rate.”

“I guess we have to take the shortcut then. Over the wall at the back it is!”

We ran along the high walls surrounding the school to the area closest to the shoe cupboards. Then, with a running start and a strong jump, we crossed over the two-meter high wall easily.

After landing safely on a grass patch inside the school compound, we made a mad dash for the shoe cupboards with nary a second to spare.

The caretaker uncle who was sweeping the yard since morning stood dumbfounded with his jaw dropped, but we didn’t even have time to care. It was only when we reached our seats as the chime rang that we finally breathed a sigh of relief.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

The chime signalling the end of fourth period rang out.

“It’s lunchtime, Maki-chan. Let’s go eat.”

Despite the Danish ring with a monstrous amount of calories earlier, my hunger ruled supreme once more and I was slumped over lethargically at my desk. That was when he called out to me.

The boy had a refined aura about him and a fastidiousness that one did not expect from a mere student.

“Yuri… your breezy smile is too bright for me to look at right now.”

“Huh, what are you saying.”

He almost looked feminine with his delicate features that was further accentuated by his soft hair and pearly-white skin.

His name is Tsugumi Yurihiko.

He is the eldest son of a family running a well-established Japanese inn in Asakusa, and was an old friend of Kaoru and I.

“I didn’t bring a bento today.”

“You didn’t? That’s rare.”

“I overslept. Yesterday, I was helping out with some ayakashi stuff and it took up a lot of my spiritual energy. I’m dead tired now, and I doubt it can be fixed even if I ate tons.”

“Ah… so that’s why Kaoru-kun was in a bad mood this morning.”

When he heard his name being mentioned, Kaoru, who sat in front of me, turned around with an unpleased look.

“You bet I am. Do you know how troublesome it is to wake her up. If not for me, she’d probably still be in her futon snoozing right about now.”

“Didn’t I tell you. I was up late making chouchin lanterns at Bakenekodou. You have to carefully write down the incantation stroke by stroke using wax. Then, you have to shut the onibi into each lantern individually to make one. It’s the peak period now right before Hyakki Yagyou and I even made a 100 of those.”

“Hey, keep your volume down, dumbass. Things like bakeneko or whatnot… don’t go around spouting stuff like that out loud.”

Kaoru looked around flusteredly and scolded me in a low voice. I don’t get what’s the harm. It’s lunch break and the classroom was filled with noisy chattering. Anything we said were pretty much drowned out immediately.

“Maki, it’s about time you cut off all ties with them. It’s not like you earn much doing stuff for them anyway, and all it does is distance you away from the real world.”

“What, you think I would work for no payment? Didn’t you see that beautiful chouchin lantern with a botan sakura design on the handle, I got that for my efforts yesterday.”

“And what can you even do with that? At least get a part-time job from a human employer.”

“You can participate in the Hyakki Yagyou if you have one of those, didn’t you know that? It’s super pricey to buy, and ayakashi all over the country are dying to get one.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, stop saying things like ‘ayakashi’ or ‘Hyakki Yagyou’! Other people will start thinking you’re wacky in the head. In the first place, what’s the point of a human like you going to the Hyakki Yagyou.”

“Argh, stop nagging already. Be quiet, Kaoru!”

“Th-There there, the two of you… let’s keep your domestic spat from the rest of the class…”

We started raising our voices and some of our classmates turned to look at us.

It’s always Yuri’s job to stop us at times like this.

“Let’s go to the club room. The folklore studies club room. You can have some of my bento, Maki-chan. My mom made too much today and forced me to take this juubako. She said to share it with you guys.”

“You mean it!? Hooray, I get to eat all these lavish side dishes!”

“You too, Kaoru-kun. We can discuss that topic all we want over there.”

“…Fine. I can’t even scold her properly in a place like this.”

“I don’t remember doing anything that deserves a scolding.”

“Now now.”

When we left the classroom and walked down the corridor, I felt even more pairs of eyes on us then when we were in the classroom.

Even though we strived to remain inconspicuous in our daily lives, we attracted a surprising amount of attention.

It was especially true for Kaoru, who was always blanketed by the intense gazes of the girls.

He was always popular with the fairer sex, ever since a long time back…

I mean, even I who have known him since young thought that he was rather attractive. He was not only great in his studies, but also excelled at any sports he played to boot. This caught the attention of other girls and appeared to trouble him to no end.

“As usual, the girls all seem to be interested in you, Kaoru-kun. It’s the same as always since back then, huh.”

“…I’m don’t really care.”

Yuri teased him a bit, but he only gave a cold reply, so I spoke.

“The girls care even if you don’t. Look, behind that corner 10 meters ahead. There’s a girl waiting in ambush to confess to you along with her clique behind. If I’m not wrong, that’s Hongou-san from class 2-3. She’s a true-blue belle and a member of the cheer team, unmistakably one of those reigning at the top of the school caste.”

“Taking evasive action.”

Saying so, he pulled my shoulders close by.

“You’re gonna use me as a shield to block a confession again, aren’t you.”

“I can’t deal with this kind of women… Just try shooting them down. They’re so into themselves that it’ll only hurt their pride. Affection turns into hate and then…”

“What is that even. A past trauma? And you call yourself a man…”

Due to past experience, Kaoru keenly knew the kind of grudge they were capable of.

“Well, I kinda get what you feel, so I don’t mind. Then, how about you do something for me? I’m not so nice that I’d do a favor for free.”

I shamelessly ask for something in return, and he desperately replied while sweating cold sweat.

“…I’ll treat you to anything you want after school. Just do something.”

“Hip hip hooray! I love you so much, Kaoru!”

“That’s a pretty cheap ‘love’… But, let me say first, I can’t hang around for long. I’m working a shift afterwards.”

“Yes, yes, I know. I love the working you. Earn lots more even after we get married, ‘kay.”

“Hell no. I refuse to be your personal ATM.”

“What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is also mine.”

“I see you’re brazenly claiming what’s other’s as yours already. What kind of dictator are you!”

“I’m not a dictator, I’m your wife.”

“I want a divorce, right now.”

“…Let’s keep it down, guys… I mean, you’re not even married yet…”

Yuri cut in into our little back-and-forth at last.

Kaoru had been so desperate to evade Hongou-san’s confession, yet we were so engrossed in our quarrel that we went past her and her group without even noticing.

I bet they were fuming, as their rage-filled glares drilled into my back…

Our destination was in the old school building, the art room… or rather, the old art preparation room next to it.

A cardboard sign on the door read “Folklore Studies Club”.

This was our base.

The three of us, the only members of the folklore studies club, often gathered here to plan and discuss our activities.

I opened the rickety door and we entered the room. There was a bookshelf agasinst the wall which was filled with old art magazines and dubious illustrated reference books, as well as manga from who-knows-when.

There were also plaster figures and bovine bones used for reference by the windowside. Easels which haven’t been touched for years stood randomly, covered in a layer of dust.

A whiteboard was built into the side of the wall by the door, and several sentences were written on it as if they were homework for students to think about after a lecture.

This was the title.

‘Why must we ayakashi be exterminated by the humans?’

Yup, it certainly felt a bit, no it was actually rather suspicious. Beneath it were…

‘About the ayakashi slain by Abe no Seimei and Minamoto no Yorimitsu.’

‘The feud between the Kyo youkai and the Ooedo youkai is serious stuff.’

‘I just wanna slaughter those pigs at the Onmyou Bureau.’

‘Just delete the black history of my past life and burn all those literatures.’

‘Enter the Hidden Realm without a fuss with this secret trick.’

Etcetera. And several files were scattered haphazardly on top of the table in the middle of the room, each with a title on them that would make whoever saw them doubt the sanity of the writer..

Although we were officially the folklore studies club, our activities actually focused around incidents relating to ayakashi.

If you asked “why” were we doing this, the answer would be that the three of us could see ayakashi, and due to a certain reason, we were unable to leave them be.

Put it this way, perhaps it could be said that we failed to truly become human…

“Ooh! There’s stewed bamboo shoots and tofu! It looks delicious!”

Opening the juubako revealed all manners of side dishes: stewed spring vegetables and butterbur, rolled omelette, chicken karaage, black soybeans, bamboo shoot rice and umeshiso rice balls. I hastily took out paper plates and utensils from the cupboard.

“Your bento is amazing as always, Yuri. It’s like you’re going for a flower viewing picnic.”

“That’s because my mom always can’t wait to show off what she’s learnt from the head chef at our inn, and. Thanks to that, my bento always turns into a juubako.”

“I mean, that’s great. You get to eat your mom’s handmade lunch everyday. Mine just disappears to some guy’s place and leave me by myself these days.”

Kaoru took out a bottle of tea from the fridge and casually dropped a bomb about his complicated family situation. I could only glance to the side at Yuri and he did the same.

“Let’s eat!”

It’s finally time to eat. I took several portions of the small dishes onto my plate and dug into the stewed bamboo shoots.

The soft texture in my mouth released all its juices when I bite into it. The taste of bamboo shoots and a slight hint of sweetness coated my tastebuds without being too overpowering. It was even more perfect paired with the umeshiso rice ball, creating a synergistic burst of flavors.

“As I thought, nothing beats traditional cooking! The food made by Yuri’s mom has such a kind flavor to it. I can’t get enough…”

Not to mention, food made with in-season ingredients or traditional methods helps regain spiritual energy. No wonder I can feel energy filling all parts of my body…

“Oh, right, Maki-chan, Kaoru-kun. You guys are going to walk around Sensou-ji after school, right? Can I tag along too? I need to grab some sweet potato youkan before I go for my lessons.”

When Yuri specifically asked us for permission, Kaoru and I turned to look at each other while still eating.

“Sure thing. Why’d you ask? We can just go back together like we do always.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want be a third-wheel on your couple’s date, would I?”

“Huh!? We’re not a couple and it’s not a date either! I’m only going there to be squeezed dry of my salary…”

Kaoru seemed to have something to say about it, but I just clapped my hands.

“Ah! Then, how about the three of us go for a temple visit to Sensou-ji and draw omikuji fortune slips. I’ll make a prediction right now: Kaoru’s definitely going to draw a ‘Misfortune’.”

“Damn it, don’t change the subject, Maki…”

“It’s settled then! We’re going on a food tour around the beloved Nakamise-dori…”

I pulled out the club diary which recorded our daily activities from the stack of files containing our research.

“Ah.”

*Crash* All the files above slid down in an avalanche, almost knocking over my mug, but luckily Kaoru picked it up before it could.

A bunch of strange terms appeared, things like… Shuten-doji, Ibaraki-doji… ayakashi, past life, Abe no Seimei, oni extermination, Minamoto no Yorimitsu…

“What did I tell you. That’s what you get for leaving them around carelessly. Go hide them properly in the safe behind the bust. I don’t want anyone to ever see these.”

“Nooo, but it’d be such a pain to take them out each and every time.”

“That’s not the problem! You hear me… things like ayakashi or Shuten-doji or Ibaraki-doji… or Abe no Seimei! The only highschool student who would be interested in this stuff are either suffering from chuunibyou, smartphone gamers, or the youkai otakus.”

“Isn’t that just us?”

“No, it isn’t! Have some shame!”

Kaoru slammed my mug on the table so hard some of its contents flew out.

With the same tension, he asserted.

“Take for example! Be it our past lives being that of ayakashi from the Heian period or whatever! Try telling that to any of our classmates and see what happens!”

“…Ooh. Kaoru said it himself.”

For some reason, Yuri and I gave an applause.

It was pretty rare of Kaoru to acknowledge that fact for himself. He turned completely red and turned his back on us… he probably felt defeated.

“Anyway, it truly is strange, don’t you think? We’re talking about Heian here, that’s more than a thousand years ago. And to think we’d have reincarnated as humans after all this time…”

It was a glorious spring day in this dusty art preparation room.

Looking down at the courtyard from the window, I could see the long branches of the weeping sakura swaying with the wind…

Let’s talk about a true, yet unreal story.

About the three of us in the folklore studies club: Ibaraki Maki, Amasake Kaoru and Tsugummi Yurihiko—

About how despite having memories of our complicated past lives, we were born into this world as humans.

○

A long, long time ago, a pair of evil oni threatened the peace of Heian-kyo.

Their names were Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji.

Masters of a legion of ayakashi, they descended upon the capital of Kyo from their home of Mt. Ooe and rampaged freely.

Violent and cruel, it was said that they loved to feast and drink, and assault humans, stealing and destroying at random.

Driven to their wit’s end, the Imperial Court employed Abe no Seimei to divine the ringleader of the calamity.

Accordingly, the onmyouji named Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji as the roots of evil. As such, the Emperor ordered Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his retainers to subdue the two oni…

That was how the legend of the oni-extermination went, a famous tale which had passed on till now in the modern era.

However, few might have known that the two villains of the story, Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji were married.

And this infamous oni couple was none other than the past lives of Kaoru and I.

The Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji of yore were said to be so strong that they matched the Kishin in spiritual energy. Leading a group of ayakashi, they created a special region in Mt. Ooe and lived there.

They had done so so as to create a safe haven for the ayakashi who were being indiscriminately hunted down and exorcised by the onmyouji.

Nonetheless, the sanctuary we built was exposed by Abe no Seimei, the most powerful onmyouji of that time, and we were attacked by Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his forces in the name of exterminating the oni.

How deplorable our deaths were. Abe no Seimei and Minamoto no Yorimitsu. I’ll never forgive them…

Like us, Yuri also had memories of his past life as the great youkai, Nue, as appeared in the Tale of the Heike. The Nue was a close friend of the two of us. However, he was also killed by the humans just because they thought his cries were inauspicious…

Thus, we died, but here we are now, born again in this era as humans while retaining the memories of our time as ayakashi, as well as keeping our strong spiritual energies from then. I have no idea as to what kind of karma led us to this outcome.

The senses of when we were ayakashi and the deep-seated grudge of dying at the hands of the humans remained unforgettable. But, we now each had our own human families and led normal lives as that of students.

It was an extremely abnormal situation, and I can’t help but feel conflicted.

○

There were countless shopping streets in Asakusa, but none could beat the bustle of Nakamise-dori leading towards Sensou-ji from the Kaminarimon.

“Kaoru, Kaoru, let’s start with that. Azuma’s kibi dango! Along with iced matcha!”

“Look at you running around so excitedly. …You’re not planning to spare my wallet at all, aren’t you.”

The moment we reached Nakamise-dori, we joined the queue for my favorite kibi dango store “Azuma”. Kaoru paid 300 yen per portion of 5 sticks of kibi dango and a cup of iced matcha each.

The small kibi dango were dusted generously in kinako and handed to us in a paper bag while freshly prepared and still warm. The iced matcha was mildly sweet and perfect for washing down the snack.

We enjoyed the kibi dango and iced matcha at the standing table in front of the store. After all, it was considered rude to eat while walking.

“You really do love to eat, don’t you, Maki-chan. You polished off the whole stick like that with just one bite.”

“You never change, do you? Apparently, the concept of being lady-like doesn’t exist anywhere in your brain, huh.”

The two guys shared one bag and gossiped while looking at me eat as if I was some kind of rare animal. How rude. But, I don’t even care since the dango were so delicious…

“Ah, that hit the spot. Those five sticks were gone just like that, eh.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Not even close. Let’s go for another sweet one next. Then, we’ll end it off with an Asakusa Menchi!”

“…Just promise me that you’ll let me off with that, alright.”

“Well, of course. I get that there’s a limit to your part-time pay too.”

The pay for working part-time as a student was meager. Yet, Kaoru was treating me to all these delectable Asakusa delights.

We have a long life ahead. It’s better to learn to be frugal at our age…

I had that wise realization as I gulped down the rest of the iced matcha.

“That reminds me. I need to get that sweet potato youkan.”

Yuri suddenly mentioned as if he just remembered.

Speaking of youkan, the shop which comes to mind is the good ol’ wagashi store “Funawa”.

Aside from youkan, their red bean filling ankodama were also a hot product for chilly days.

“Oh, I smell roasted sweet potato.”

While Yuri was buying his gift, I was attracted by the godly fragrance of the sweet potato youkan wafting through the air. A fresh batch of the prism-shaped sweet potato youkan had just been stamped with the store’s emblem.

Funawa’s sweet potato youkan: a confectionery which elegantly highlights the simple sweetness of the sweet potato, at the same time giving the mouthfeel of eating an actual steaming hot sweet potato. I had no doubts it was going to taste exquisite, but…

“Say, Kaoru. I haven’t had this before.”

“…Shall I get it?”

“Yes, please! I want to eat that nicely browned one with butter on top! I bet it’ll taste amazing!”

I shook Kaoru’s collars excitedly, and even followed him as he queued for it.

Kaoru conscientiously bought three portions. I held back my saliva which was about to spill out, and picked one up and blew on it before popping it into my mouth.

“Hot hot hot… Hahh, that sweet and salty taste of melted buttery happiness.”

“What the heck is that.”

The youkan was sliced into long strips which made it easy to pick up and eat. It really felt like I was eating a hot, steaming sweet potato.

Watching me puff my cheeks as I ate, Kaoru seemed like he wanted to make another rude remark.

“Thanks for waiting.”

Just then, Yuri finished his shopping and came over.

“I got the youkan and ankodama. My tea ceremony teacher really loves them. Ah, you got a set for me too? Thanks, Kaoru-kun.”

“You’re paying.”

Kaoru mercilessly demanded payment from him. Well, but I guess it’s fine since Yuri’s loaded…

Now then. After we relished the youkan, we headed for Denbouin-dori which cut across Nakamise-dori perpendicularly.

“Asakusa Menchi, Asakusa Menchi next!”

“This is the last one, okay.”

Asakusa Menchi was as its name implied, a famous Asakusa fried minced-meat cutlet. That crispy outer coating surrounded a flavorsome mixture of beef and pork. When you bite into it, the umami-rich meat juices burst into your mouth and coats your tongue in rich, savory sweetness.

“Ooh, this is it! You can’t call yourself an inhabitant of Asakusa if you haven’t tried this. Long live Asakusa, land of delicacies! I’m never gonna leave you!”

“I see your love for Asakusa is still well and alive. Don’t normal high school girls prefer more stylish and cool places like Shibuya or Harajuku?”

“Well, you can hardly call us normal highschoolers, can you…”

When all’s said and done, the three of us all loved Asakusa. We finished off the Asakusa Menchi and smacked our lips in satisfaction. …It was truly the best.

That was the end of our Asakusa food tour.

We then headed inside the grounds of Sensou-ji to draw omikuji.

Unlike the usual omikuji where you draw small, folded slips of paper, the one at Sensou-ji is drawn by shaking a large omikuji box until a wooden stick comes out. You then pick up a fortune slip based on the number labeled on the stick.

I shook a stick out and drew a fortune slip with the same number from the drawer nearby.

“Ughh!”

As expected, Kaoru got a ‘Misforture’… No, that’s wrong!

“ ‘Great Misfortune’! Kaoru got ‘Great Misfortune’!”

“Wow… your luck is really bad, Kaoru-kun.”

“You must have done too many bad deeds in your previous life. I know it.”

“Sh-Shut up! It’s just easy to get ‘Misfortune’ at Sensou-ji! Anyway, if it was something I did in my past life, you guys would’ve gotten ‘Great Misfortune’ too! Show me that!”

“Mine is ‘Great Fortune’.”

“I got… ‘Small Fortune’. Sorry.”

“…Yep. I knew I was the only one…”

The boy known as Amasake Kaoru was in fact an extremely unlucky person.

We must have drawn our fortunes here at Sensou-ji about five times now, and each time, he got “Misfortune”. This time round, however, he got “Great Misfortune”.

He stood with his back bent, probably feeling down as he read the slip over and over.

“…This is bad. Apparently, I’m going to get severely injured. And it says here my house is going to burn down.”

“Ahahah, you can’t be serious… Huh? You’re gonna get injured, Kaoru? And your home’s gonna burn down?? That’s terrible! I don’t want to see you get hurt… What do we do?”

At first, I thought it was a joke, but it gradually turned into unease… After all, it was entirely possible for this kind of disaster to befall Kaoru. They don’t call him Kaoru the ill-fated for nothing!

“What do we do, Yuri? Kaoru’s going to burn up!”

“Um, it’s not me, it’s my house, not that that’s much better.”

“Haha. Don’t worry too much, the two of you. They say the omikuji at Sensou-ji is always slightly mean-spirited. Also, you can take it as your luck can’t get any worse than it is now. And now that you know, you can take steps to be more careful.”

“Th-That’s right! The omikuji here are kind of harsh as a rule… I mean, look at mine…”

Your wishes are close to coming true, but a great disaster will stand in your way.

You will most likely have an encounter that splits the Heaven and Earth.

See. It gave off bad vibes. And this is what they called “Great Fortune”.

“It’s just a matter of feelings! Let’s wipe away all this moodiness and pay our respects to the gods. If we earnestly implore Kannon-sama, surely we can ward off the disaster!”

Saying so, the three of us entered the worship hall and lined up in front of the offering box.

I threw a 5-yen coin in to the offering box, while Kaoru threw 10-yen and Yuri 50-yen. Ugh, the economic disparity is clear…

No! What’s important is the feelings behind the prayer! I clasped my hands together and prayed, “Namu Kanzeonbosatsu”.

“Erm, I hope we get along with everyone in our second year too. That’s most important. And then, I hope the businesses of the ayakashi in Asakusa can continue to thrive. I wish the three of us would live long lives, and that I would always be able to eat delicious food. …I wish Kaoru would earn lots and lots from his part-time jobs.”

“Just so you know, I won’t give you any of my earnings.”

He didn’t stop interjecting even in the midst of prayers.

“All I want is to lead a normal life as a normal human… A peaceful life where I don’t get involved in any of those troublesome ayakashi business… Lastly, I wish for my earnings to be protected from Maki’s hands.”

“That’s a pretty sincere prayer coming from you, Kaoru-kun.”

“What about you, Yuri.”

“Me? …Hm. For now, I wish for the health and happiness of my family. And then, it’s for you guys to have a happy marriage, I guess?”

“What the hell. Are you trying to curse me or something?”

Setting aside our bickering, each of us closed our eyes and prayed earnestly.

Without saying it out in words, I prayed wholeheartedly in my heart for the wish I would put my life on the line on.

I wish we can attain happiness in this life…

∗ ∗ ∗ 

“Ibaraki nee-shan, Ibaraki nee-shan.”

When we finished our prayers and left the hall, several small little creatures called out to me.

“My, aren’t these guys temari kappa from Sumida River?”

They were hiding behind the pillars of the worship hall. The small green creature had a plate atop their heads, in other words, they were kappa.

Among the various species of kappa, they were especially small and squishy.

As the name temari implies, they were mascot-sized kappa that could fit on the palm of the hand. Some found this extremely cute and a certain group of enthusiast loved them as pets.

“Pleashe help ush, Ibaraki nee-shan. We’re gonna die from overwork at thish rate.”

The temari kappa looked at me with teary, beady eyes.

Looking closely, I could see that their plates were completely dry and even had cracks in it.

“What happened?”

I leaned down and asked the two temari kappa.

“Hey, Maki, stop it. You look like you’re talking to an empty space right now.”

Kaoru immediately warned me. It’s true that the normal people who can’t see ayakashi would think I’m behaving strangely.

I picked up the two on my hand and went somewhere devoid of people.

Despite his protest, Kaoru and Yuri followed behind.

“It’sh like that…”

According to them, they were working at a newly established plastic food display workshop underground of Kappabashi and forced to work long hours under harsh conditions. The workshop was oversaw by gyuuki ayakashi who mistreated the weak temari kappa, in addition to paying only 1,000 yen and one cucumber a day.

As a result, the temari kappa were about to die from overwork.

The two of them had sneaked past the eyes of the supervising gyuuki and came to find me to seek help.

“A daily pay of 1,000 yen and one cucumber? That’s even worse than a scam. Did you say the numbers wrongly?”

“Wow, that makes even our local black companies look good in comparison…”

Even Kaoru and Yuri felt pity for the kappa when they heard the shocking working conditions and pay.

“We want at leasht 2,500 yen and three cucmbersh a day!”

“That’s still pretty pathetic.”

In order to live in the world of humans, ayakashi took up jobs to earn money.

There were few places on this side where ayakashi could live safely, and food which recovered spiritual energy that was essential for their living were also rare.

That’s why ayakashi attacked and ate humans in the past, or their powers went out of control resulting in paranormal phenomena. The outcome was that humans exterminate those ayakashi.

Indeed, it was eat or be eaten.

If both sides wished to co-exist, there needed to be a common denomination between them, and that was “money”. Thus, one needed to “work” in order to earn money.

In this modern era, there existed robust trade between the human side and the ayakashi side. However, a problem emerged in recent years where unscrupulous ayakashi preyed on the low-level ayakashi or those who can’t find jobs, and worked them to the bone to fatten their own pockets.

“We beg you, shtrongest of the Asakusa ayakashi, Ibaraki nee-shan! Pleashe reform the chief!”

“Hmm… Okay, I’ll do it. I shall bring down the wrath of judgment upon this gyuuki with my own hands. But, I’m not doing this without any reward. It’s my motto to only work for what I’m paid for.”

“Yay yay. Then we’ll give you the kappa’s buried gold in Sumida River.”

“Um, it doesn’t have to be gold.”

“Yay yay. Undershtood. We’ll give you one cucumber.”

“One cucumber only… Well, fine.”

It was a rather drastic drop from buried gold to one cucumber, but oh well.

If it’s to protect the discipline and order among ayakashi, I, whom they called the strongest in Asakusa, shall spare no effort. After all, so many ayakashi were counting on us…

“Ah, look. It’s time for my job.”

“I’m sorry, Maki-chan… I also need to go off for my tea ceremony lessons…”

However, the two guys didn’t seemed very concerned at all. Be it the spirit of helping out or the backbone to count on them, they displayed none of it.

I had known this from the start. The two of them would rather not get involved with the ayakashi.

“Hmph, so be it. I’ll do something about it myself.”

“Have you not heard anything I said, Maki. Stop poking your nose into the ayakashi’s business. It does you no good. Did you forget what happened to us in the past?”

“…Then you should understand too. There’s no way I can leave them in the lurch.”

“Are you an idiot? No, I take it back, you really are an idiot… Maki.”

His tone was unlike the usual as he faced the ground with a conflicted look.

I perched the temari kappa on my shoulders and said to him softly.

“You just focus on your job and earn money for my sake, Kaoru. You too, Yuri. You should go since you already got the gift and all.”

“…”

“…Maki-chan…”

“From here on out, it’s just me doing charity work. Got to do some good since I’m reincarnated and all.”

Despite their cold reactions, I knew they were worried for me.

It wasn’t that they thought it would be dangerous for me to face off against a violent ayakashi like the gyuuki. They were well aware that I wouldn’t lose to an opponent of this level.

Their worries were about something else.

That I would get too involved with the ayakashi… and in the process of helping them… that I would end up in opposition with the humans.

“Hurrah for Ibaraki-doji-shama! Our shavior and the shtrongest youkai!”

Unknowing of the complicated feelings in our hearts, the temari kappa on my shoulders celebrated unconcernedly.

They seemed without a doubt that I was still “Ibaraki-doji”, and that I would gladly lend them a helping hand.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

We arrived at Kappabashi’s cookware street.

This well-renowned street was located in the western side of Asakusa in the Taito ward.

Shops selling all sorts of items related to food and cooking lined the streets, such as cookwares and utensils, plastic food displays, crockery, to aprons and uniforms as well.

As with its name, countless kappa displays and mascot characters could be seen all around, a testament of the local kappa legends.

With statues and posters of kappa everywhere on the streets, it was surely a hotspot for kappa fans. Not that I know if such people existed…

Anyway, the kappa legend of Kappabashi went like this.

During the Edo period, this region flooded frequently due its poor drainage system, and a businessman by the name of Kappaya Kibachi sought for a solution. As such, he used his personal wealth to construct a proper waterway to solve the problem. The kappa living in Sumida River were touched by his gesture and secretly helped out with the construction work night after night…

And so, Kappabashi became well-known amongst the kappa as a place where they could find work easily.

However, the kappa weren’t the only ones to move here as a result.

In the first place, Asakusa was one of few areas in Japan where ayakashi gathered and made a living while hiding.

There were also those unscrupulous ayakashi who decided to set up shop here so as to make use of the cheap labor provided by the kappa.

That was probably the case too for the gyuuki this time round.

When an ayakashi wanted to establish a business here in Asakusa, they were required to join and obtain a license from a certain labor association that can be found in the Asakusa Underground Shopping Street. However, this gyuuki-ran workshop seemed to have skipped that step and was operating illegally…

“Thish ish the drawing of a mikan mandarin…”

“Thish ish the mold of a matcha ice cream…”

“Here are the rice flour dumpling modelsh… pleashe put the varnish on it…”

Like the temari kappa said, the working conditions of this workshop was terrible. There was no life in the eyes of the kappa working here.

“Hey, stop taking your own sweet time!”

“Gyah!”

As the temari kappa worked endlessly to create plastic food display, those who stopped for even a moment were zapped with electricity through their neck collars by the gyuuki supervisor.

I was hiding behind a corner and watching.

“How can they do this… I’m surprised you guys managed to escape under such conditions.”

I thought it must had taken them the conviction to die just so they could escape, but they only tilted their heads cutely.

“We shlipped off the collar by luck.”

“Our bodies are quite shoft so it washn’t too hard.”

“Huh. You guys are pretty easygoing…”

Their escape was only the result of the carelessness and lack of caution of their modern ayakashi overlords.

As a former youkai myself, I was slightly bothered by how pathetic they were, but that was irrelevant. The way these gyuuki abused and tormented the small temari kappa was far more inexcusable.

Gyuuki were cow-headed oni with horns and tails. They were were currently half-metamorphosized and appeared as humans in factory uniforms.

The workshop chief was a male with a scar on his cheek. He was brawny and had short brown hair.

It was like the very template of an evil-doing middle-aged hooligan.

“Hey, you there, the skinny one! Didn’t I tell you to make a white and blue shaved ice like the Tokyo Skytree! Why the hell is it this disgusting green now. And what is this thing which looks like cucumber slices on top!”

“…I-It’sh cucumber-flavored shaved ice with cucumber toppingsh… It’s shure to be a hit amongsht the kappa during shummer…”

“I don’t need something that only kappa would like! At least say it’s honeydew-flavored!!”

“Gyah! Pleashe don’t hit me!”

I stepped out right before the gyuuki was about to whip the emaciated kappa.

“Stop it right there!”

I had seen enough and shouted out loud.

After separating with the boys, I went home first to bring along my partner… err, this long and stiff something in a bag…

The temari kappa working on summertime food displays like shaved ice and other cold confectioneries turned and looked up lethargically. The gyuuki who raised his whip also came to a stop.

“Who the hell are you… a human?”

He turned to look at me who appeared out of nowhere suddenly with a scowl.

“Ibaraki nee-shan is here!!”

“Victory is asshured!!”

In contrast to his surprise, the temari kappa all jumped up in joy, causing the gyuuki to look around the workshop in panic, “Wh-What!? What the hell’s happening??”

“My name is Ibaraki Maki. These temari kappa came to me for help after being exploited by you guys. A measly 1,000 yen and one cucumber a day? That’s daylight robbery! And so, I’ve come to punish you.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know where you came from, but you’re an outsider. You don’t seem to know that there are some rules you need to follow when in Asakusa.”

“You are the one who doesn’t know who you’re talking to, young lady.”

“Of course I don’t. It’s not like you know me either, right.”

I spoke haughtily on purpose and swept my hair back confidently. It seemed to have angered him and a vein popped up on his forehead. He pointed to himself with his thumb and declared in a proud voice.

“The name’s Genta, famed far and wide throughout Kamakura,. The Ushigozen who was said to have fought against the one-and-only Minamoto no Yorimitsu… his descendant!”

Hmm. Speaking of Ushigozen, isn’t that the god enshrined in the Ushijima Shrine at Sumida River.

“The famous Ushigozen by the name of Joururi! The one who wiped out Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s troops by the Sumida River! You think you can beat me!?”

“Hah, it’s not as if you were the one fighting Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s forces yourself. I also know Ushigozen myself personally, and I’m sure he would be saddened to know that his descendants have fallen so low…”

“…Huh?”

“Oh, well. I’ll just have to take it upon myself to punish you on his behalf.”

I grinned widely and loosened the strings of my bag. A rugged wooden bat with numerous nails hammered into it emerged…

“What ish that.”

“It’s a bat. You can’t tell?”

“It seemsh to be pierced by nails.”

“There’sh blood splattersh on it.”

“Oh, it’s just a bat made of sacred wood which I hammered some nails infused with my spiritual energy into. It’s not like I can take on a tough opponent like a gyuuki with just any ordinary bat, so I strengthened it a bit like this. …It’s like partner to me now, having accompanied me on so many battles since I made it in elementary school. You guys have something to say about it?”

“N-Nothing at all.”

The temari kappa atop my shoulders shook their heads fiercely. They whispered to each other, “Ibaraki nee-shan ish going for the kill…” Still, I could hear them loud and clear, and no, I’m not going to kill anyone today.

The chief seemed to cower a bit upon seeing my “iron club”, but soon put up a strong front and ordered angrily, “Get her!” His subordinates turned back into their true forms, their mass of muscles ripping through their work uniforms and exposing their upper body. They all jumped on me at once. What a clichéd turn of events.

“Here goes.”

I swung my bat at the group of gyuuki merrily.

Something like a spiked bat alone wouldn’t even be able to put a scratch on a ayakashi. However, these nails had been enchanted with my powers from since a while back, and the bat exerted the force of my spiritual energy.

That one swing alone produced a violent gust of wind which blew away all the gyuuki charging at me. Their huge bodies slammed into the ceiling or walls, and they fell onto the ground with their heads spinning.

Shelves everywhere collapsed like dominoes, raising a cacophony. The temari kappa scrambled all around for shelter, sweat running down their heads.

“Oops… looks like I messed up all of the food displays.”

Erm, I really did try my best to hold back. But, I guess the combination of my excessive spiritual energy and arm strength I’m so proud of, plus my beloved spiked bat resulted in this…

The chief was stunned speechless for a second, but his entire head turned red before long and he exploded.

“Impertinent little girl! You must be a vile exterminator from the Onmyou Bureau, aren’t you!?”

“No… that’s not it…”

“Damn it! If it wasn’t for those guys in Kamakura! If only they didn’t mess up the business of the Kamakura youkai… I wouldn’t have had to run away from my territory…”

“…?”

“Whatever the case, I can’t lose to a puny human like you!”

In a rage, the workshop chief turned back into his original form, a huge gyuuki over 5 meters in height.

“Oh, he’s huge.”

Unlike the mid-level gyuuki just now, he had extra limbs like a spider.

It was proof of a high-class gyuuki. His huge face and sharp horns like an Onigawara, mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth, and that pose with four limbs on the ground… was supposed to look terrifying.

That is, to a normal human being.

“I’ll swallow you in one bite!”

The gyuuki chief showed off his rows of fangs and made to gobble me up.

Naturally, I raised my bat leisurely without much concern.

“What a fool. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

I swung my bat in a wide arc and it connected exactly with his torso.

It felt rather delightful and I pushed with all my might with a beaming smile on my face.

“Ahaha, and—that’s a home run!”

Having been hit by my violent spiritual energy in the flank, the gyuuki flew all the way to the other end of the underground workshop, crashing into the pile of cardboard boxes loaded with the completed food displays.

Buried in a mountain of boxes, he tried to get up right away, but it didn’t look like he had the strength to do so.

“Uh-uh.”

Before he could move, I came before him and slammed my bat into the ground.

The ground caved in with a loud crack. When he saw that, he shivered frightfully.

“You can’t move anymore, right? My spiritual energy paralyzes those hit by it.”

I looked down at him with a smile of victory.

He seemed to have realized the difference in strength between us and stopped resisting.

“You shcum, take this, and this.”

The temari kappa gathered around the chief and hit him repeatedly with their webbed hands. It was probably to vent their anger, not that it was very effective.

“!?”

Right at that moment, something fast zipped through the air, causing my hair to flutter.

A “Gyah” came from behind me diagonally, its owner a mid-level gyuuki. He had been hit by a fastball (a plastic food display) apparently.

Naturally, I knew who threw it. It was the black-haired boy who appeared sneakily from the entrance.

“Kaoru… you finally came out. Why’d you hide anyway.”

“Don’t let your guard down so easily. They’re gonna strike you from behind.”

“I already noticed it though.”

For all his lecturing, Kaoru always followed behind and watched after me.

“…Who the… heck are you guys? Are you really human?”

The chief asked in a feeble voice.

“No. You people are human, but you’re on a whole different level than those exterminators. But, you’re not ayakashi either… what the hell…”

“Well, who knows… Heck, that’s what I want to know.”

I feigned ignorance.

This was something I had wondered over and over again without arriving at an answer.

Born with memories and abilities of a great youkai of yore, I always subconsciously act as if I was still an ayakashi, yet it doesn’t change the fact that I am human.

With a snort, I leaned down and peered into the face of the gyuuki chief, supporting myself with my bat.

My long, slight reddish hair slid down my shoulders smoothly. Along with my scarlet spiritual energy…

“Asakusa is welcoming of all ayakashi. There’s no easiest place for ayakashi to find work in of Japan, after all. But, you’ve got to abide by the local rules. I don’t know what happened to you in Kamakura, but even if I didn’t come to teach you a lesson today, someone else eventually will.”

“…Then, what am I supposed to do? There’s no way for me to recoup the losses we took Kamakura unless I resort to such underhanded means. There’s also the debts. …There’s no way anyone would want to hire such good-for-nothing hoodlums like us.”

He slumped down in resignation. For all his big size, he sure was mopey.

“If you’re serious about starting over, go visit the Asakusa Underground Shopping Street.”

Kaoru came over and gave a suggestion. The gyuuki slowly raised his teary face.

“There’s a labor association specifically for the ayakashi working in Asakusa at the Asakusa Underground Shopping Street. It’s made up of both humans and ayakashi. You can probably seek advice for them about your debts, and they may also be able to find you jobs and a place to stay.”

When he heard that, the gyuuki chief exhaled deeply once before losing consciousness. The temari kappa started cheering and dancing, “We’re free!”, “Sherves him right!”

“And you temari kappa. Just because you want a job doesn’t mean you should work at a shady workshop like this. It’s important that you research beforehand what the basic salary and working conditions are like. You better believe my words as a veteran who had taken up countless part-time jobs.”

“Yesh shir, Shuten-doji-shama”

They innocently waved their webbed hands. I couldn’t tell whether they really got it or not.

“…Hahh. Cleaning up this mess is going to be a pain in the ass. Got to contact the association.”

After scanning through the scattered food displays and the unconscious gyuuki, Kaoru took out his phone and called an acquaintance from the association.

In the meanwhile, I lifted up the workshop chief with an “Oof” and lay him down near the entrance. I plucked away the temari kappa still hitting him and whispered.

“…Put in some proper effort next time… Asakusa welcomes you all fairly.”

He could still start over. Whether or not one was an ayakashi, here in Asakusa…

“Hey, Maki, the chairman’s furious. He was yelling angrily, but now he just wants to cry. ‘Ibaraki again!’, he says.”

“But I didn’t kill him! See, he’s still brreathing.”

I placed my hand near the gyuuki’s mouth and checked. Y-Yup, I can still feel faint breathing!

“*Sigh* Good grief. I’ll kneel along with you with our heads down until he forgives you.”

Kaoru said with a scowl. I laughed a bit at that.

“What are you laughing at.”

“Nothing. I just find it cute how you always stand by my side in the end despite all your complaints.”

“Hmph, I just hate having more work to do. Whenever a force of destruction like you goes wild, it’s much faster for me to step in to achieve a peaceful and amicable resolution… That’s all.”

“Yup yup, whatever you say.”

“…You never learn your lesson do you, Maki. In the first place, if you—”

It sounded like Kaoru was about to start with his lecture again, so I looked him straight in eye and thanked him with a smile, “Thanks for always, Kaoru!” And so, he swallowed back his complaints and sighed one last time before he went back to cleaning up.

He went around the workshop, lifting up the collapsed gyuuki and laying them down near the chief.

Suddenly, I recalled a scene of my past beloved Shuten-doji, of his firm and merciless, yet meticulous personality… No, it’s not just in the past, I still love Kaoru deeply even now.

“Fufu, I’ll help out too, Kaoru!”

“What do you mean you’ll help… this is all your fault to begin with…”

At our feets, the group of temari kappa cheered with no regards to the atmosphere.

“Ash expected of the legendary Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji! The shtrongest ayakashi couple hash deshcended in Asakusa!”

“Oh, the edomae-zushi is half-off.”

When my shift at the pickle shop in the department store basement ended, I came here to the sushi shop.

I, Amasake Kaoru, was aiming for the leftovers with the half-price tags.

“Anago-zushi. Didn’t Maki mentioned she was craving for it…”

I somehow recalled that and ended up buying it before I even realized. In addition, I also got a tekka-maki and a kappa-maki.

Leaving the department store, I cut through the grounds of the Sensou-ji which was still crowded even at this time, and continued past Hanayashiki-dori. Finally, I reached Maki’s apartment house which was next to Asakusa Hisago-dori.

“Hahh.”

I had ended buying food for Maki and was headed for her place again…

It had become so routine at this point that I pretty much followed my feet without thinking.

Heading to her house in the morning to wake her up and visiting her after work had become a habit ingrained into my everyday life. What am I, some kind of Heian period husband living separately from his wife…

“No no no, we’re no longer husband and wife now.”

I retorted my own thoughts.

Switching back to reality, I pressed the bell. Unlike in the morning, Maki opened up right away.

She seemed ravenous. Basically, she waited all this time believing I would stop by here after my part-time job.

“Welcome back, Kaoru… Wait, that bag, could it be… Sushi!?”

“Don’t go fishing through the bag the first thing you see me.”

“Wow, anago-zushi and hosomaki!”

Maki squealed elatedly and pulled me inside by my hand.

“The kappa came by today to give me the cucumber they promised. So I made potato salad and lightly pickled vegetables. Also, this is something extra but I made deep-fried tofu.”

“Sushi, potato salad, pickled vegetables and fried tofu huh… That sure is a strange combination.”

“I made the pickled vegetables from the ingredients you got from your part-time job. I though it’d be delicious that way. As for the tofu, it was cheap, that’s why.”

The six-jou sized apartment room had an old chabudai short-legged table in the center, and a television in a corner.

That was all, and very unlike the impression one had of a girl’s room.

There wasn’t any poster of singers or idols that were popular among girls her age because she didn’t listened to any in the first place. The only thing that adorned the wall was an outdated calendar they distributed on the streets.

A photo of her deceased parents was all that occupied the top of a small drawer.

“…”

I could see the resemblance between Maki and her parents…

I sat down cross-legged at the chabudai, resting my weary feet. The large bowl of potato salad and pickled vegetables were already set and ready to eat.

Despite how she looked, she was actually a great cook.

Although it didn’t look very elaborate, she could make most household dishes as well as her favorite foods, a skill she probably learned living alone.

“You sneaked a few bites of the potato salad already, didn’t you. I can tell.”

“Can you blame me, I was so hungry.”

“You could’ve just started on your own.”

“…No way, I wanted to eat together with you. A few bites don’t count.”

“Look here… What if I didn’t show up.”

“What are you saying, you come here to hang almost everyday…”

“…”

Well… I can’t deny that. I coughed loudly to hide my embarrassment.

Maki returned to the kitchen to scoop up the tofu which just finished frying and mounted them on top of the donburi.

She was using antique bowls which an elderly ayakashi gave her as thanks for her help.

I didn’t know if it was actually worth anything, but it came in a pair.

While she prepared the last of the items, I took out the sushi and lined them up on the table.

Ooh, it’s looking to be a pretty fine meal, in fact.

“Wow, that looks delish!”

Maki brought out the fried tofu and sat down at the chabudai immediately. Clasping her hands and giving thanks for the food in high spirits, she reached out for her favorite anago-zushi straight away.

It was a large mouthful, but she gulped it down in one bite.

“Yum, this is the best! The sauce on this store’s anago-zushi is ever-so-slightly sweet and perfectly balanced. I love it! The sushi rice is amazing too!”

“Isn’t that great.”

“Thanks, Kaoru. You remembered, didn’t you.”

“…”

Watching her stuff her cheeks blissfully, it felt like spending my one-hour-worth of wages was worth it…

I picked up the bowl with the hot fried tofu and inspected it.

Served with fried eggplants on the side, it was one of my favorite dishes.

It was simple homefare. Silken tofu deep-fried until crispy, topped with abundant grated radish and chopped spring onion. Lastly, it was drizzled with a slightly sweet and savory sauce.

It was best to eat it hot with all the toppings while the fried coating was still slightly soft and crisp.

The moment when all the flavors blend together… Ah, I’ll never get sick of eating this.

There’s nothing quite like a warm meal after a shift of hard work. My heart feels soothed.

“Try this potato salad too. It’s got your favorite ham and hard-boiled egg.”

Maki held out the glass bowl full of potato salad to me.

The luxuriant salad consisted of chunks of potato still firm, cucumber, carrot, onion, ham, egg, and also macaroni.

Even though it looked heavy, the flavor was light on the palate and sweetness of the potato came through. I could taste the vinegar and salt used for seasoning, as well as the small amount of mayonnaise used for dressing.

Typical teenagers who preferred big, bold flavors may not like it very much, but it was just perfect for the two of us who were pretty much old folks on the inside.

Even if the cooking method and seasonings used changed, the fundamental flavors of Maki’s cooking remained the same as always, from back then in our past lives. In fact, it was even more familiar to me than my mother’s cooking.

Since I spend more time here than I do my home, Maki always prepares my meal like it’s the normal thing to do. Thus, I always buy something to treat her, and that’s how we end up helping each other and providing whatever the other needs.

Even the sarcastic remarks and gripes were just a form of communication between us, unchanged since ages past.

If that’s what being husband and wife is about, then I guess we are… Not that I’d ever say that in front of Maki.

“Is it good?”

“Mm… yeah.”

“Here, have some of this pickled cucumber too.”

“Hey, I can tell you’re trying to make me eat rest of the side dishes so you can hog the sushi for yourself! I’m gonna have some of the anago-zushi too!”

“Ah, that was the biggest one! How dare you, Kaoru!!”

Fighting over this and that, our dinner went on noisily.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

After dinner, the two of us sat down and watched an overseas drama on a rental DVD.

We both love this kind of TV shows which didn’t exist in the past and frequently rented DVDs to watch. A Blu-ray player would have been even better, but unfortunately, we were just penniless students. Thus, DVD it was.

Soon, the night turned late.

“It’s about time I went back. Any later than 11 o’clock and the police will bring me in for wandering around the street.”

“You going already? But, we only watched one episode today. And it ended on a cliffhanger too.”

When I told her I’m going back, Maki pulled on my sleeve and grumbled.

The episode had ended on the protagonist’s death(?) and she was apparently very curious about what’s going to happen next.

“You can just watch the next episode on your own. That’s why I’m leaving the disk here…”

“No way. It’s not interesting unless we watch it together. I’ll wait for you.”

“Right, anything you say.”

“Actually, why don’t you just stay the night? Then we can watch the show all night and sleep like there’s no tomorrow next morning. There’s no school tomorrow anyway.”

“Don’t be stupid. How can I possibly stay over at a girl’s place, especially when you live alone. That’s indecent.”

“You’re such a stickler for rules… Who cares anyway, we’re husband and wife to begin with.”

Maki pouted.

I ignored her and got up.

“You’re coming tomorrow, right? What time?”

She saw me off at the front door and asked.

“I’ll be working all day so around evening, I guess.”

“Alright. …Say, what do you want to eat tomorrow? Since you bought me my favorite today, I’ll make something proper for you since I’ve got the time.”

“Hm… pork shougayaki then.”

“You really like that, don’t you. Okay, pork shougayaki it shall be. I’ll need to go shopping tomorrow…”

She listed down the ingredients to herself.

I watched her for a while and said.

“I’m saying this just in case, but… don’t go get yourself mixed up in some ayakashi trouble or anything just because I’m not around, you hear me.”

“Huh? Yeah, sure…”

Her expression changed and she looked to the side to avoid my gaze.

This girl… I knew she was going to go meet some ayakashi first thing in the morning…

“Hey, do you really get in your head? Whatever you do, don’t do something dangerous by yourself…”

“Fine, fine, I get it! Now go quickly before the police catch you loitering!”

“Okay. …See you tomorrow.”

“…See you. Be careful on the way back.”

It ended up with me being chased out of her unit.

I walked down the stairs and turned back up to look at her room. As usual, she stood by the windowsill and waved at me with a, “Bye bye.” She always stayed in that position watching me go until I went out of sight.

When I see her like this, a part of me feels reluctant to leave.

I thought to myself, I come over to her house as soon as I can tomorrow too.

∗ ∗ ∗ 

I lived in a condominium along the main road to the Tokyo Skytree, across the Kototoi Bridge.

When I entered the apartment and switched on the lights, there was no one around as I had expected.

Nothing had been touched since I left this morning. Not the newspaper nor the remote control. In other words, no one entered or left the house.

“…”

My household was the typical example of a broken family.

A mother who doesn’t do household chores and played around all day. A father who neglects his family to spend time with his lover.

And there was me who just watched them with cold eyes…

I had memories of a past life.

Even though it was of an ayakashi, I was once an adult and thought of myself as being quite independent. I didn’t have any expectations of my parents as a human teenager.

Nevertheless, returning to this lifeless house after spending time with Maki always left an emptiness my chest.

“Forget it. I’ll just go to bed quickly. There’s a long day ahead of me tomorrow…”

And I’ll work and work and work, so that I can get a delicious cake of some kind for Maki… After all, she’s going to make my favorite pork shougayaki.

Speaking of which, just how much do I even need to earn monthly in the future so that she can always eat anything she wants?

For that, I’ll need to study hard and get a good grade so that I can get into a good course in university. Then, get a job with a reputable company that has proper employee welfare, or perhaps work a government job, and then…

“Huh, what am I thinking? Get a grip, me… Marriage is exactly what Maki wants from you. Don’t you ever forget what a wife from hell she’s like, Kaoru.”

As I soaked in the bath, worries about future subconsciously drifted into my mind.

Feeling a sense of lethargy for the culmination of my path to come, I shivered a bit in the supposedly warm waters.