Chapter 284: Guidance
"Mii-chan is so small, it's so pitiful. She used to get bullied a lot…" Rina's voice was soft, but her tone carried genuine sadness as she gently stroked the tiny cat's back. Her long tail swayed slowly behind her, showing her agitation.
'Just how filthy do you have to be to bully that part of her? That sounds absolutely terrible!' Kouya thought with a twitching expression. He couldn't tell if Rina was exaggerating or just being her usual dramatic self, but either way, her words painted a rather strange picture.
The catgirl muttered under her breath for a few more moments, then waved her hand and called out:
"Mii-chan, come here."
"Nya"
A soft, delicate meow filled the air.
From the corner, the cat youkai that Machiko had once fed slowly stood up, her slender frame stretching gracefully. Her fur shimmered faintly under the light as she walked over to the catgirl with that same unhurried feline elegance. With a light leap, she landed on Rina's shoulder, curling her tail around the catgirl's neck. The small creature rubbed her head against Rina's cheek affectionately, her eyes half-lidded in comfort. Then, both of them turned their heads toward Kouya, their gazes synchronizing like a practiced routine.
"…"
'So your so-called "Mii-chan" is actually this cat youkai!' Kouya's brow twitched.
'Seriously?! Weren't you calling her Miyuki before? Why the sudden change to Mii-chan?!'
"When did you change her name?" he asked, his tone dry and expressionless.
"Because that female ghost is also called Miyuki. Mii-chan doesn't want to have the same name as her, nya," Rina said, puffing her cheeks in mild irritation.
"Nya nya"
The little cat on her shoulder nodded with a soft trill as if agreeing solemnly.
'A female ghost?' Kouya thought. 'Could it be the one from the mountaintop shrine?'
Rina tilted her head back, her large blue eyes glimmering faintly. "Master, can you help us? When I first took human form, the old head monk was the one who guided me through the process. But now Onee-sama says she has no method left. She tells me not to rush, to take it slowly. But Mii-chan is still just a child. She'll need many years to grow. She can't wear pretty clothes, can't play fun games. It's really, really sad…"
'That's what you pity? She's fed, warm, and sleeping under a roof! She was a stray cat once! There are people out there surviving on scraps of dirt, you know!' Kouya resisted the urge to sigh.
"Why do you think I can help?" he asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
"Because with just one bowl of medicine, Master made it so I could talk! I knew it—Master is the most amazing, nya," Rina clasped her hands against her chest and looked up at him, eyelashes fluttering rapidly as she gave her best pleading stare.
Kouya's lips twitched. "You sure about that? If you want something, you'll have to give something. That's the rule. Think it through before you answer."
Rina froze, ears twitching. "I-I'll… think about it more, nya," she said timidly.
Kouya nodded faintly, then suddenly remembered Machiko's earlier request. He beckoned to Mii-chan, who still lingered nearby. The little cat hesitated but obediently leapt down from Rina's shoulder, padding lightly across the floor before hopping onto the stone table.
Her fur glowed faintly under the sunlight as she blinked up at him with clear amber eyes.
Kouya took out his phone, adjusted the angle, and snapped a picture. He sent it directly to Machiko.
He rarely texted anyone—his contact list was pitifully short: his cousin Kobayashi, the maid dragon Tohru, the fallen angel Gabriel, and a few other odd acquaintances. Aside from them, there was only Machiko.
A few seconds later, a reply popped up. "Thank you, Kouya-kun! The little cat seems to have gotten chubbier!" She added a cheerful cat-face emoji.
Kouya was about to put the phone away when another message arrived.
"Um… Kouya-kun, I'm really sorry!"
He raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"The money for the underwear that day—I forgot to pay you back. I only remembered after I got home. I'm so sorry! Can I pay you back on Monday?"
Kouya typed back, "Sure."
Honestly, it was such a small matter that he'd nearly forgotten about it himself.
Another message came instantly: "Whew. Thank you, Kouya-kun! I'll treat you to a drink Monday as thanks! See you then!" He could almost imagine her sighing in relief, probably patting her chest, a bright blush on her face. She was clearly not the kind of person used to owing anyone anything.
Shaking his head, Kouya pocketed his phone and turned to Rina. "Go eat the cookies. If you don't hurry, the others will finish them first."
Rina's ears perked up immediately. Her eyes gleamed as she scooped Mii-chan into her arms and dashed off toward the front yard with surprising speed.
"Kou-kun, how about a few rounds?"
Miko's voice came from behind. Her brown eyes sparkled with anticipation—clearly, she'd been waiting for this. She loved fighting games far too much for someone so graceful.
Kouya smiled faintly. "Alright."
As they stepped inside, Kouya immediately noticed a girl sitting on the sofa watching TV. The room was bright, filled with the sound of afternoon cicadas outside. The girl wore long jeans and a spring blouse, her features refined and soft, but there was something unnatural about her presence.
Her body was half-transparent, faintly glowing like mist under the light—clearly invisible to anyone else.
It was the same ghost they had encountered at the mountaintop shrine.
"Eh, it's you?" Uehara Miyuki blinked in surprise, recognizing Kouya instantly. But instead of continuing the conversation, she returned to watching the TV, eyes glued to the screen, completely absorbed in a family ethics drama.
Miko smiled wryly. "Since last time, thanks to the soul stone, she's gradually been able to move around during the day too. She still can't handle direct sunlight, though."
Kouya nodded. He remembered clearly—if they hadn't found her that night, her soul might've been captured and turned into another artificial ghost by those monsters. Suzuki Ninosuke's experiments had left deep scars in his memory.
"Considering everything else," Miko added, "it's better to leave her like this for now."
Kouya silently agreed. Destroying her soul would be easy, but helping her pass on properly was another matter entirely.
Ghosts linger for reasons—regret, obsession, unfinished attachments. Uehara Miyuki's memory was fractured. She only remembered fragments—her name, bits of her daily life, vague scenes. Why she died, where she lived—those were all gone.
Kouya made a small sound of acknowledgment and turned his attention elsewhere.
"By the way," Miko said as she deftly peeled an apple, the blade flashing gracefully in her hands. "The Truth Society hasn't made any moves recently. According to Ishida Ryuji, ever since that great youkai's death, the city's youkai circles have been in chaos. The Truth Society took advantage of the turmoil, raided a few areas, but now… instead of reinforcing their presence, they're retreating. Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't watching from the shadows."
Her tone darkened, eyes sharp with quiet vigilance. The air around her seemed to grow heavier.
Chiba Shrine had already fallen far from its former glory. She was the last remaining onmyoji of her line, one step away from abandoning that heritage entirely. But because of Kouya, she'd been pulled right back into the storm. In recent days, she could feel several unknown groups observing—never attacking, only watching silently from afar before disappearing.
"Is that so?" Kouya said calmly, biting into the apple she'd offered. The crisp sound echoed faintly in the quiet room.
The fruit was sweet and cool, its taste grounding him in the moment.
"Where there are rules," he murmured, "there will always be people who don't follow them."
The commissions that came to Miko were easy, high-paying, and mostly harmless. It was a comfortable arrangement. Still, after everything they'd shared, he couldn't just walk away and ignore it now.
Finishing the apple, Kouya brushed his hands clean and said casually, his tone even:
"Your training method is wrong…"
Miko froze, her eyes widening slightly. The words hit her like a spark. She looked at him nervously yet expectantly.
She had seen his power firsthand—felt it. Sometimes she wondered how someone his age could possess such terrifying strength. If he were to offer even one hint, one small correction, it could transform her growth completely.
Still, she never asked. It wasn't pride—just her quiet, restrained nature.
But now, with Kouya choosing to speak first, she wouldn't waste the opportunity.
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