Chapter 135 – Like a Mouse Seeing a Cat
The girl who had thrown herself on Tsuchimiya Kagura looked very young—she was likely a high school student just like Hikigaya Hachiman.
However, at the moment, she showed none of the typical demeanor a high schooler should have.
Ever since she hugged Tsuchimiya Kagura, she hadn't stopped rubbing her face against Kagura's cheeks, while her hands roamed up and down.
Hikigaya Hachiman only glanced a few times before awkwardly turning his head away.
"Yomi-nee, we're in public right now!"
Tsuchimiya Kagura tried to resist, half-heartedly pushing away the hands of the woman she had just called "big sister."
"What's the big deal? I haven't replenished my Kagura enerfy for a full thirty minutes. Let me hug you a little longer~"
Isayama Yomi didn't care at all about the stares from those around her. She continued holding and rubbing herself against the girl she adored.
It wasn't until Hikigaya Hachiman, who couldn't bear to keep watching, gave a few light coughs that she finally lifted her head.
"Tsk…"
Having her intimate moment with Kagura interrupted, Isayama Yomi raised her head with a trace of dissatisfaction, ready to give the killjoy a piece of her mind.
However, the moment she saw Hikigaya Hachiman, she froze.
"Sorry… what I did just now was wrong…"
"?"
Hikigaya Hachiman looked confused at the sudden change in Isayama Yomi's demeanor.
What had happened in that brief moment when she looked up?
Why had this girl's attitude changed so drastically?
At the same time, on the other side, Isayama Yomi lowered her head, her heart filled with fear and unease.
'Such powerful spiritual energy…'
She had come to Chiba expecting a routine exorcism mission.
Why had she encountered someone with such an absurd level of power?
This strength far surpassed Kagura's father—no! It completely overwhelmed him.
'An exorcist…'
This seemingly gloomy, unmotivated man could only be an exorcist. It was the only explanation for the enormous spiritual power he held within.
But why would such a powerful exorcist be in a place like Chiba?
Was he here for sightseeing? A vacation? Or…
As her thoughts reached a certain conclusion, Isayama Yomi bit her lip.
Tsuchimiya Kagura had only recently been transferred to Chiba due to a mission assignment. They had believed this was a relatively safe area, considering only one king-class spirit resided here.
'No… I mustn't jump to conclusions! What if the exorcist-sama is just passing through by chance?'
Shaking her head, Yomi forced herself out of her speculative thoughts.
She looked up again, her delicate face squeezing out a fawning smile.
Just as she was about to speak, Tsuchimiya Kagura beat her to it and apologized to Hikigaya Hachiman on Yomi's behalf.
"Sorry, big brother. Yomi-nee was just too excited to see me…"
"It's fine…"
Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head, not taking it seriously at all.
Besides, even if he did take it seriously, what good would it do?
After all, they were in a public space—at a train station, no less.
Let alone two girls acting a bit too close; even if a young couple were openly flirting, all he could do was sigh and silently turn away, pretending not to see.
However, while it all seemed like a completely normal interaction between Kagura and Hachiman to him, it struck Isayama Yomi like a bolt from the blue.
"Since when did Kagura get so impressive…? To be able to joke around and chat with an exorcist-sama without a trace of nervousness…"
The little girl who used to hide behind her was suddenly revealed to have far surpassed her.
In an instant, Yomi's heart filled with mixed emotions—joy for Kagura's growth, and sadness for being left behind.
"Oh right—what's Komachi doing today?"
After apologizing for Yomi, Tsuchimiya Kagura suddenly remembered Komachi.
In her eyes, the Hikigaya siblings seemed to care a lot about each other. So it was strange that Hachiman had gone out without Komachi.
"Komachi? She's probably resting at home."
Remembering his sister's usual habits, Hachiman's mouth twitched a little.
That girl, when not going out, would spend the entire day lying on the couch in ultra-short pajamas.
"Eh? She doesn't go out on weekends?"
Hearing that Komachi chose to stay in, Kagura looked surprised.
Weekends only come once every five days—it would be such a waste to spend them indoors!
"Well, both of us like quiet environments. And after five days of school, taking a break at home is perfectly normal."
"Is that so?"
Kagura blinked and turned to Yomi for confirmation.
Was it because she was dumb at studying that she never felt tired after a week of school?
"Well, Kagura, you've been working hard at studying, haven't you?"
Yomi placed her hands on Kagura's shoulders and smiled, deftly changing the subject.
After all, as the only heir of the Tsuchimiya family, whether Kagura studied or not didn't really matter.
As they chatted, the train arrived.
With the train doors sliding open, people dressed in various styles poured out in a stream.
Soon, pushed from behind by the crowd, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't even have to walk—he was squeezed right onto the train.
Kagura and Yomi experienced the same thing.
However, since they were women, and to avoid being mistaken for perverts, the people around them gave them a small buffer of about ten centimeters, even in the crowded train.
"Seriously, Kagura—why did you choose to take the train?"
As the doors closed, the air inside the train instantly became stale.
Feeling the stares from nearby men, Yomi showed a look of disgust and couldn't help but complain.
If they had waited just one more hour, their team would've come to pick them up by car.
"Sorry. Father's condition hasn't been good lately. I wanted to hurry back to check on him…"
Kagura hadn't expected the train to be this packed on a weekend either.
She adjusted the guitar case on her back, apologizing with a guilty look.
"It's like this every few stations. After three more stops, it'll clear up."
As the train swayed continuously, Hachiman, who had initially been separated from them, was accidentally pushed closer by the crowd.
"Is that so?"
Hearing Hachiman's response, Yomi—who just moments ago looked completely uninterested—suddenly straightened her face.
Her previously lazy posture leaning on the train wall snapped upright.
Noticing this transformation, Hachiman couldn't help but be baffled.
They had only just met, right?
Why did Isayama Yomi look at him like a mouse seeing a cat?
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