_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Akio was both surprised and not really surprised when Hana Yukikawa showed up.
"Good afternoon, Yukikawa. What brings you here?"
"Obviously, a massage."
Hana rubbed her shoulder. "For some reason, I woke up this morning and my shoulders felt all stiff again. Yesterday they were sooo relaxed though."
Yesterday. Massage. Relaxed?
As a perfectly healthy high school girl, Ritsu Tainaka's mind immediately jumped to the wrong idea. Her face went crimson in an instant.
She knew it probably wasn't what she was imagining—but her brain just ran wild anyway.
Her heart was racing, her thoughts were all over the place, and it felt like a rabbit had just kicked her chest, thumping away nonstop.
Akio ignored Ritsu's expression and instead glanced past her at Miko Yotsuya Her eyes kept flicking to Hana's shoulder.
Because an evil spirit was sitting right there, glaring at Akio in challenge.
"You can see me? You can see me?"
Akio smirked, stood up, and said, "Let's talk outside."
Hana nodded and tugged Miko along out of the classroom.
Akio led them down the stairs to the balcony.
The spirit on Hana's shoulder was still screaming in his face. "You can see me! You can see me!"
"Oh, I can see you just fine," Akio said lightly.
The ghost froze, then broke into wild joy. It abandoned Hana and lunged at Akio.
But Akio wasn't having it. He swung his hand and slapped it aside.
Dare to get in my face? You're asking for it.
Smack!
With a sharp crack, the spirit disintegrated into ash and scattered into nothing, wiped from existence.
Miko's eyes widened in disbelief.
Hana, on the other hand, just looked confused. "See what?"
She had no idea what Akio's words meant.
Akio turned to Miko. "When did you awaken?"
"M…me?" she stammered.
"Who else would I mean?" Akio shot back.
"L-last night," Miko admitted.
"Oh? Then you're pretty lucky."
Awaken yesterday, meet me today—was every heroine in this world blessed with ridiculous good fortune?
Hana blinked at the two of them. "Wait, what are you talking about? And didn't you say you two didn't know each other? Why does it feel like you're hiding something? Akio—you're secretly crushing on Miko, aren't you?"
Miko instantly turned beet red.
Akio flicked Hana's forehead. "Crushing, my ass. We were talking about evil spirits."
"Evil spirits?" Hana rubbed her sore forehead, completely lost.
"Look over there."
Akio pointed toward the schoolyard. Creepy, twisted spirits swarmed across the grounds, clinging to one student after another.
Hana's eyes went wide. "Wh-what is that?! That's disgusting!!"
Miko nearly dropped her voice. "Wait—Hana, you can see them?"
Akio explained, "I gave her a little power for now, so she can."
"Ohh…" Miko nodded in realization.
Hana turned to her best friend. "Miko, you… you can see them too?"
Miko gave a small nod.
"She's different from you," Akio continued. "You're only borrowing my strength. But Miko awakened the highest level of spiritual sight all on her own. She can see them naturally."
"The highest level?!" Hana gasped. "Miko, that sounds amazing!"
"It's not amazing at all!" Miko shouted back. If she could, she'd throw the ability away without a second thought.
Hana frowned. "Huh? Isn't being stronger better?"
Akio cut in, his voice steady. "It is strong. But Miko is just an ordinary high schooler. She can't exorcise, has no special powers—she can only see.
"She sees them, but can't fight them. Worse, once they realize she sees them, they'll attack her without hesitation. And if they get her…"
He let the thought hang.
"Now you understand why she says it's not good, don't you?"
"Seeing them, but being powerless to drive them away—pretending you don't notice while they keep hounding you. That's crushing pressure.
"And if she slips up? If they find out? She's dead."
Hana froze, horrified. She had no idea her best friend was living under that kind of threat. And she'd even teased her just a moment ago…
She grabbed Miko and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Miko! I wasn't thinking—please forgive me!"
Miko quickly shook her head. "No, Hana. It's not your fault."
Her eyes weren't Hana's doing. They awakened on their own. There was no way she could ever blame her best friend.
Miko's forgiveness came so easily that Hana nearly teared up. She rubbed her cheek against Miko's like an affectionate kitten.
"Miko's the best. I love you so much."
Two pretty girls clinging to each other—now that was a sight.
Akio couldn't help enjoying it. Who in their right mind disliked watching that?
After a while, Hana suddenly let go and turned to him. "Hey, Akio. You're so strong—you must have a way to help Miko, right?"
"I do."
Akio nodded. Truthfully, he was curious himself. Miko had the highest level of spiritual sight—if she accepted his power, what would happen? Something incredible? Or nothing at all?
"But," he added, "in exchange, Miko has to become my partner."
In his eyes, someone with her sight was the perfect candidate. A partner wasn't just a follower, but someone bound close to him who could share everything
Both girls flushed red.
"..."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________