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"Um… sorry about that, Hana."
Seeing Yurikawa Hana's annoyed expression, Yotsuya Miko honestly didn't know how to explain herself.
There was no way she could just say, Well, we only met because Mr. Asher saved me from an evil spirit last night. And besides, she was sure Asher wouldn't want his identity exposed anyway.
"…Hmph. Fine, I'll let it go this time. Don't do it again."
Looking at how troubled Miko seemed, Hana appeared to think of something and decided not to press the issue further.
"Thanks, Hana."
Miko finally let out a breath of relief.
Only then did she turn her attention back to Asher.
"Mr. Asher, since we finally ran into each other…"
"Do you have time right now? I'd like to treat you to a meal."
She looked at him eagerly, her eyes full of hope.
More than anything, she really wanted him to say yes.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, Mr. Asher had saved her life. She couldn't just do nothing to repay him.
Faced with Miko's invitation, Asher simply smiled, relaxed and unconcerned.
"No need, Miss Yotsuya. I still have something to take care of. Let's do the meal another time."
"Eh? You're still busy, Mr. Asher? If there's anything I can help with, please tell me!"
"Haha, it's nothing important. I'm just planning to head to the shopping street to buy a phone."
Asher said it with a light laugh.
Even though he'd crossed into this world, it was still modern society. He wasn't addicted to electronics or anything, but having a proper way to communicate was pretty much essential.
"A phone? Oh, I see…"
After hearing that, Miko understood immediately.
At the same time, last night's scene flashed through her mind. She'd wanted to exchange contact info with him, only to be turned down.
So it wasn't that Mr. Asher didn't want to exchange contacts with her. It was just that… he didn't even have a phone?
For some reason, realizing that made Miko feel strangely happy.
She quickly spoke up again.
"Then how about you come with us?"
"Hana and I know this area really well."
"And we know places where you can buy phones with decent quality!"
Miko was unusually invested in Asher's affairs. In fact, you could even say she was a little too enthusiastic.
Standing beside her, Hana stared at the scene in disbelief.
The two of them were best friends, so Hana knew Miko's personality better than anyone.
In the past, it was rare enough to see Miko talk to a guy at all. Seeing her this warm and proactive toward a boy was basically unheard of.
Yet today's Miko… what was going on with her?
Or could it be that between her and this ridiculously handsome Asher, there was some kind of secret relationship?
Sensing that things were starting to feel very off, the usually cheerful Hana shut her mouth and stood to the side, giving Asher and Miko a strange, scrutinizing look.
Unfortunately, Miko didn't notice her best friend's suspicious behavior at all.
She was too busy staring at Asher with eyes full of expectation.
As for Asher, after hearing Miko's suggestion, he fell into thought.
Come to think of it, this really was his first time in this area. Having guides who knew the neighborhood well would be genuinely helpful.
And judging by Miko's expression, if he turned her down again, she would probably be pretty disappointed.
After a few seconds of consideration, Asher smiled again.
"Alright then. I'll trouble you, Miss Yotsuya. And you too, Hana."
"It's no trouble at all, Mr. Asher! I'm honored if I can help you!"
Miko beamed.
It was such a bright, radiant smile that even Hana, her best friend, had never seen it before.
…Nope. This is wrong. Like, extremely wrong.
Hana narrowed her eyes.
Her intuition was screaming at her. There was definitely something going on between Miko and Asher.
"Hana."
"Hana?"
Miko's voice snapped Hana out of her suspicions.
"Ah… oh, what is it, Miko?"
"You seemed distracted just now. What's wrong?"
"Uh… haha, nothing."
"Aren't we taking Asher to buy a phone? Let's get going!"
"And honestly, this is such a rare chance to go shopping. Whenever I ask you out, you usually don't even come."
Once she came back to herself, Hana hooked her arm around Miko's slender one, puffing out her cheeks as she complained.
"I just don't have much time…" Miko said awkwardly, scratching her head with an apologetic smile.
What girl didn't like shopping?
But Miko was different.
She did go out occasionally with Hana, her one and only close friend, but most of the time she stayed home.
After all, her eyes weren't like normal people's. She could see evil spirits. Going out often meant increasing the chances of being targeted by them.
And so, the three of them, Asher, Miko, and Hana, headed together toward the nearby shopping street.
On the way there, usually quiet and reserved Miko seemed to have suddenly changed personalities.
She asked Asher all kinds of questions.
Hana did the same.
She was incredibly curious about this rare male friend of Miko's. Just what kind of person was he, to have such a strong pull on her? It almost felt like Miko had become a completely different person after meeting him.
"So, Mr. Asher, why did you suddenly show up here anyway?"
"Me? Well, school just let out."
"Huh? School? Wait, don't tell me… Mr. Asher, are you also a student at the comprehensive high school?"
Asher's answer completely shocked Miko.
In her eyes, Asher looked young, sure, but he carried himself like some detached master from another world. And yet he was actually a student, even a schoolmate from the same school?
Asher nodded.
"Yeah. I'm a transfer student. Today was my first day."
"I see…"
"Transfer student?" Hana suddenly perked up.
"I heard from a friend this morning that a super handsome transfer student joined the second year. So that was you, Asher?"
"I was even thinking of going to check him out."
"Now that I see you… yeah, you really are pretty handsome!"
Faced with Hana's completely unfiltered praise, Asher just smiled.
"Thank you."
"No need to be modest, Asher."
But right after that, Hana suddenly dropped a line that left both Asher and Miko at a loss.
"So, Asher… what do you think of our Miko?"
"....."