Chapter 322: The Truth Already Known
Yotsuya Miko stared blankly at the Nine-Tailed Fox devouring the multi-armed spirit, only snapping back to reality when Yurikawa Hana gave her a gentle tug.
"Miko, what's wrong?"
Since entering the shrine, Miko had been alternating between praying and staring into space. This had left Hana, who had been watching from the side, quite worried that Miko might be possessed.
"It's nothing now."
Giving Hana a reassuring smile, Miko took one last look up at the Nine-Tailed Fox crouching nearby before leading Hana back down the mountain.
"I will collect my reward at the appropriate time."
The Nine-Tailed Fox's voice suddenly drifted into Miko's ears. However, Miko didn't mind much. After all, the fox had just solved their problem with that evil spirit; it was only right to ask for payment. She just didn't have a clue yet as to what specifically she should offer.
As they walked down the mountain, Hana felt her stomach grumble again. Currently, she was clutching her belly while coaxing Miko into going to the station to buy some dried whitebait she had recently become obsessed with.
Hana's suggestion sparked another thought in Miko's mind.
'Since it's a fox, it should probably like dried fish, right?'
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"Well then, keep yourself safe in the coming days."
The elementary schoolers' two-day, two-night summer camp had ended. Hayama Hayato, Yumiko Miura, and their group had taken a different vehicle back as they weren't going the same way, while Hachiman and the others were dropped off by Hiratsuka Shizuka at their original meeting point.
"Instead of worrying about me, shouldn't you pay more attention to yourself?"
Hachiman felt grateful for Shizuka's reminder. However, compared to him, Shizuka—being an ordinary human—was actually in greater danger. He could rush to Yui or Yukino's side in a very short time if they were in trouble, but Shizuka was a different story.
"Haha, did you forget I have this?"
In response to Hachiman's concern, Shizuka laughed and pulled out her jade pendant, dangling it in front of him. With that pendant, at least 90% of evil spirits would go out of their way to avoid her.
"I almost forgot about that thing."
Seeing the jade pendant given to her by the wife of a certain Exorcist, Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief. Even with his current strength, the spiritual power contained within that jade was still immense. With it, Shizuka shouldn't run into any trouble.
"So, kid, you'd better spend your energy worrying about them."
Smugly tucking the pendant away, Shizuka gestured with her chin toward Yukino and Yui, who hadn't noticed them, then pulled down her sunglasses and drove away.
To be so concerned about my life when her own love life has no results... Hachiman thought helplessly.
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"Yukino~!"
Suddenly, a very familiar voice rang out from the side. The three members of the Service Club looked toward the source. A mature woman wearing a small black Western-style dress, sporting short hair and a face strikingly similar to Yukino's, was waving as she walked toward them.
Behind her sat a black luxury sedan that all three of them recognized instantly.
"Hikki, that..."
Looking at the car behind Yukinoshita Haruno, Yui's pupils contracted, and a look of shock appeared on her face. Especially remembering that Yukino took that car to school, a surge of worry flickered across her features.
"I know."
Compared to Yui's reaction, Hachiman was much calmer. He had known for a long time that the car Yukino rode in was the one that hit him on the day of the entrance ceremony. After all, you could count the number of such high-end luxury cars in all of Chiba on one hand, let alone one heading toward Sobu High during school hours.
However, knowing the car belonged to Yukino didn't change his perception of her one bit. Ultimately, that car was driving normally back then. The one truly breaking traffic rules was the idiot who ran into the middle of the road to save a puppy—him.
"My, Hikigaya-kun, we meet again~"
Haruno walked up to the three of them. After greeting her sister, she leaned in close to Hachiman and began poking his chest with her finger.
"Hello, Haruno-san. Long time no see."
Faced with a face so similar to Yukino's acting so intimately, Hachiman frowned slightly and shifted to avoid her.
"What a cold reaction."
Haruno sighed at Hachiman's avoidance, then turned her gaze toward Yui. "Yuigahama-san, right?" Because of the connection to Yukino, Haruno vaguely remembered the name of this girl who looked very easy to deceive.
"Yes, hello." Unlike Hachiman's indifference, Yui acted somewhat nervous in front of her friend's older sister.
"Is there something you want from me?"
Just as Haruno was about to chat with Yui, Yukino suddenly stepped in front of her friend, asking about Haruno's purpose.
"How cruel. We're sisters who haven't seen each other in so long. I didn't expect you to be so cold, Yukino..." Haruno clutched her heart, a heartbroken expression appearing on her face.
"Um, Yukinon... aren't you being a bit too much?"
Successfully tricked by the act, Yui saw Haruno's pitiful appearance and couldn't help but speak up for her.
"Yui, she's faking it."
Hachiman, who had long ago seen through Haruno's nature, quickly interjected to warn Yui.
"Eh?!" Hearing that it was an act, Yui's face filled with bewilderment, and she turned back to examine Haruno's expression more closely.
"Hikigaya-kun, even if you see through it, you shouldn't say it out loud!" Haruno's tone carried a hint of resentment. She had successfully swayed the little girl to her side, but with one sentence, Hachiman had rendered her performance useless.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to see Yui get tricked by you."
Hachiman didn't care about Haruno's resentment at all, because he knew she wasn't actually angry.
"Ah, what a boring man."
Haruno seemed at a loss against Hachiman's impenetrable defenses. However, her frustration only lasted a few seconds before she locked her gaze back onto her sister.
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