Chapter 21: What Kind of Movie is This?

When Daiki-san rushed into the police department and managed to make it into Unit 1's office, barely on time, a weird atmosphere was floating about.

"Good morning…"

As he gave the customary greeting, Daiki-san's sharp eyes surveyed each and every one of his team members' face, and yet he couldn't understand why they all had a face like they had just swallowed a stink bug.

"… Manabe-san, can I have a moment?"

Before Daiki-san could sit down, Supervisor Endou called out to him.

Although he still had question marks floating above his head, Daiki-san followed his boss out of the office into the smoking lounge.

Not that Daiki-san smoked, but it was a relatively quiet place to handle more sensitive information.

Besides, if there was someone who absolutely required a smoke this early in the morning, Daiki-san would seriously wish for that person to reconsidere his career - and life - options.

Supervisor Endou quickly cut to the chase.

"Manabe-san, although you have only just recently transferred into Unit 1, it seems that there are people who wish to transfer you again into Unit 2."

Daiki-san blinked and his eyes went wide.

Normally Daiki-san wouldn't consider the transfer such a big deal.

Although there seemed to be some bad blood between Unit 1 and Unit 2, he had nothing to do with it as long as Unit 2 was law-abiding and the working conditions weren't horrible.

Even if you said it was a transfer, it was only one floor up in the Police Department.

Compared to transferring from Tokyo, it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

HOWEVER… that's all of what Daiki-san would have said… if he hadn't experienced a night like last night.

What was going through his mind right now was,

I don't think I have what it takes to survive in Unit 2!

But of course he couldn't say that.

Although he wasn't sure exactly what the situation was between Unit 1 and Unit 2, Daiki-san was at least clear on the fact that Unit 2's operations were strictly confidential.

"That's… could I have a reason for the sudden transfer?"

Supervisor Endou's face twitched.

Daiki-san could almost hear the muscles grinding as Supervisor Endou struggled not to make a grimace.

"That is something you will have to take up with Supervisor Oois.h.i.+. However, I'm afraid the entire situation comes from higher up, so it's not really something we can combat.

Daiki-san suppressed a sigh and responded with,

"I understand, Supervisor. Is… …"

Daiki-san wasn't sure what he wanted to say and hesitated.

"Don't worry. We aren't that tight on hands that your transfer will hurt our productivity. If you're worried about the feelings between the Units, I don't think YOU will need to worry about that, either. Although, keep the things that are necessary to keep confidential to your own unit."

Supervisor Endou patted Daiki-san on the back, but with an att.i.tude that made Daiki-san feel like he was being sent off to his own funeral, and left the smoking area.

Daiki-san sighed and rubbed his temples.

Somehow, it feels like he had just tumbled off a cliff into chaos when he moved to this town.

He dimly remembered that girl kitsune and Kousei talking about how his life would be more difficult than it was before.

To think it would have happened so soon…

——Kousei Side——-

Right when the bell rang, I booked it from the cla.s.sroom in hopes that I could make it out the door before Suyin-chan could find me.

Look right. Look left.

All clear…. Gogogo!

That was the kind of secret mission feel I was going through.

Somehow i felt that if Suyin-san caught me, it would be all over.

What would be?

My peaceful life!

Although some might say that THAT was over ever since I moved to this town.

No, ever since I was born?

The adrenaline was still pumping through me when I made it to the department store, so I rushed through my shopping at a speed that I hadn't done before.

I cant believe I actually made it through the flash sales!

Previously, back in Tokyo, I would try my hardest to make it to the store in time, but I felt like I would always just miss it.

I should do this more often with someone chasing me down!

No, I'm sorry. Please don't take that seriously, Suyin-chan.

It would be much more beneficial to everyone involved if you didn't continue to chase after me!

I sent a silent thought of goodwill to Higuchi for his sacrifice.

Rather than risk talking to Suyin-chan about not being able to go along with her today (and possibly getting dragged away by her anyway), I opted to just throw Higuchi under the bus as my message bearer.

May you survive the ordeal!

But maaan…

I bought too much.

Even if we were running out of rice, and even if it was super cheap, did I need to get the 10 kg bag?

It's heavy even if I was carrying it by itself!

But on top of that, I bough eggs and daikon, sake and beer, soy sauce and miso…

… I could get out of the store okay, and the walk might just be half an hour to our house, but… am I going to make it?

Thinking a bit, I pull out my phone.

"…Manabe and Is.h.i.+kawa residence. How can I help you?"

I'm surprised at the very professional tone on the other side of the phone.

"Honoka, you're used to phones, huh?"

"Kousei? Ah, un. Even though it wasn't exactly the same, there were tools like this before I went into seclusion, after all."

"… Seclusion, you say… No, that there were things like phones from before… Honoka. Please don't give me so much to comment on!"

I called our landline with the hopes that Honoka might pick up, but to think she had no trouble figuring out how to use it at all; that was beyond my expectations.

"Honoka, do you know where the department store is?"

"No?"

I thought as much.

"Un… can you meet me close to where we bought your clothes? I bought a little too much today, and it's difficult to carry it all…"

I think I can manage to make it to the Uniqlo a block away.

"Ah… Okay. I will be there in 5 minutes."

"Okay… eh? It's a 20 minute walk, at least?"

Dialtone.

Eh… Is this going to be okay?

Is what I thought, but actually, by the time I reached the front of the Uniqlo, Honoka is already there?

Eeeeeh….

"Honoka, how -"

Before I can finish my statement, Honoka winked and put a finger coquettishly to the side of her face.

"Se~cret!"

Ah. Okay. Something youkai-ish. Right.

Honoka seems used to hiding her traits, considering she made a 20 minute walk into 5 minutes - or less - and n.o.body noticed anything out of the ordinary.

I wonder… what was this world like before 'The Darkening' 2,000 years ago?

Even if you say that Honoka could hear about the changes in the world through satellite TV, her adaptation to this modern world is too good for me to think that she came from a world like … say… feudal j.a.pan.

Although I'd been thinking this world was super similar to my old world… I'm beginning to wonder if that was the case?

Especially in the field of world history.

Pus.h.i.+ng these thoughts to the back of my mind, I hand Honoka the rice and said,

"I got a little greedy."

"Haha, I see. But that fried tofu and vinegared rice was really good, so I won't complain if there's more of those ingredients."

It really isn't just a folklore that kitsune like fried tofu and inari-zus.h.i.+, huh?

I only hand the rice to Honoka.

Because I had been thinking, I had left all my books at school and could a lot of the groceries in my schoolbag!

I will ignore the thought of a teacher being disgusted in my actions. If they knew what I had done, I wonder if the school would actually have my homeroom teacher reprimand me…

Possibly not. At most it would just be telling me to value my study time at home as well, but we're just a few days into the new school year, so I doubt the teachers would care too much.

I haven't had the experience of being reprimanded by the teachers since my last life, so I kind of miss it…

Although when it actually happened back then, I really thought I was a goner!

"Alright, this way, I can get everything home easier!"

As I re-adjusted the bags of groceries and my schoolbag, just when Honoka and I were about to set out for home, a hand tapped me on the shoulder.

"Zhao dao le! I have found you, Is.h.i.+kawa-kun!"

Eeeeeeeeeh-!?

That energetic, but slightly coy tone of voice, and most importantly that Chinese… It's Suyin-chan?!

H-h-how did she find meeeee!?

"S-suyin-ch - san… what a coincidence…"

My eyes have to be swimming as I look everywhere but at Suyin-chan.

c.r.a.p. I should have told Higuchi not to tell her where I went!

Frantically, I direct my gaze to Honoka, intending to beg her to bail me out, but…

Honoka, what's with you?!

Although 10 kg of rice is heavy, for Honoka it shouldn't be anything to worry about, and yet she's standing frozen in place, as if it had become an unbearably heavy boulder.

Her eyes are sharp, and she seems extremely wary of Suyin-chan.

As expected.

I wasn't wrong to be scared stiff from Suyin-chan's predatory look that day!

She is someone a six-tailed kitsune is wary of!

"Fufufu, a young man who stands up a lady to do the grocery shopping, it is unusual, is it not?"

Now that I take a closer look, Suyin-chan has already changed out of her uniform into a modified China dress.

Even though I know that it's not like all Chinese foreigners act like this, Suyin-chan is really just like a young miss who stepped out of a kung-fu movie!

"…Kousei, this is…?"

Honoka asks, but before I can answer, a glint has lit up in Suyin-chan's eyes.

"Hulijing… I see. Boss-san has good eyes!"

Suyin-chan… I don't know what you just said, but I have no doubts that it's about Honoka.

As expected, that temp agency isn't a normal one, and it's run by that colourless witch!

I think.

Before I can clear my thoughts and try to talk my way out of this mess (which probably would have failed anyway), Suyin-chan smiled an enigmatic smile and said,

"Anyway, here isn't a good place to talk. Boss-san sent a car. You will come, will you not?"

Eh… a black Benz…?

Don't tell me that, instead of a kung-fu movie, it's actually a Chinese mafia movie-!!!

Ah, those two aren't necessarily exclusive of one another, are they?

Even though I know that Suyin-chan's 'Boss-san' is most likely that colourless woman, I am full of reluctance when it comes to getting into that car.

Actually… would I be any less reluctant if I didn't know that woman was probably 'Boss-san'?

No, I think it would be about the same level of reluctance.

Reluctance…

I don't want to gooooo!

"… There aren't many opportunities to ride in a car. Why don't we go?"

"Honoka?!"

Wasn't it only cats who were supposed to lose to their curiosity?!

No good. Honoka's eyes are sparkling as she looks at the Benz.

"Honoka…"

"The young lady is certainly talented, but she holds no hostility. Also, although she is strong, I am still a six-tailed kitsune, you know."

After a long time - actually, just two days - Honoka's voice reverberates through my head.

She had s.h.i.+fted the bag of rice to one hand and placed the other hand on my shoulder.

Is this telekinesis? Is the condition to do it that she has to be touching me?

I make a mental note to ask her later.

"… Is this really going to be okay? It might have to do with that Witch woman from yesterday."

I answer back in my head.

"Hmph. That woman. Very well, then. Let's see what she can do."

Nonono, Honoka. I'm not looking to avoid her, not challenge her!

Aaaah-!

c.r.a.p. But if my familiar decided to take a ride in the car, as her owner I should follow, right?

… Do I have to?

VERY reluctantly, I get in the car.

Actually, my reluctance is more along the lives of getting even more involved in the youkai-ish happenings in the world - more than I am already.

It's not like I think these people are dangerous, or that I would be put in a bad position.

After all, I have Honoka on my side, Daiki-san is a police investigator, and… perhaps even some of the great kami of j.a.pan will protect me?

Anyway, that colourless witch had a provocative personality, but I felt like she wasn't actually a bad person.

Although I don't have any concrete reason to believe that.

Ah-! Suyin-chan, although she's a little scary, her personality seems like she wouldn't trick or backstab people, too!

Although I don't have any concrete reason to believe that.

Maybe going along with them isn't a good idea after all…

It's too late to regret it, though.

Where are we going?!?!

Despite my panic, it was really only a 10 minute car ride.

Standing on the side of the rode,

"… Was it necessary to take a car?"

I can't help but feel like it was a waste.

"I don't really know. It is a car for a client, so I just took advantage of it. Is.h.i.+kawa-kun was going to have groceries, was he not?"

Seriously! Don't! Do! Misleading! Things!

I was seriously panicking, you know?!

The people who drive black Benzs in j.a.pan, the only ones who do that, no matter who they are, are all terrifying! In many different ways!

To think it was a client's car, and not a car from the temp agency! What a relief!

… No, wait. Maybe that doesn't change the situation at all.

I mean, even though the temp agency's people themselves don't have this type of car, the people they serve do…

I feel exhausted just from letting my brain loose on wild diversions.

Even though the real thing is going to start now!

Following the mysterious Suyin-chan, Honoka and I slowly go up the stairs to the strange, narrow, European-looking building wedged between the other buildings in this downtown area.

This green door; I suddenly had the premonition that I would see it many times in the future.