Another Trial of Courage

Nanjō Emi heard someone call her name, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, let out a burp, and turned around.

"Isn't that... oh, Uesugi Ririko!"

Shizuma Mafuyu, to her right, sighed and whispered, "Ms. Nanjō, he's Uesugi Tetsu."

Shizuma Mafuyu, being very detail-oriented, didn't call Nanjō "younger member" in public, but rather addressed her as "Ms."

Uesugi Tetsu was stunned when he heard the name. When he saw Nanjō Emi's hazy eyes, he finally realized, "So, Nanjō-san, you're not just a chain smoker, but a heavy drinker too."

He sat down to Nanjō Emi's left and reminded her, "If you smoke and drink this much in private, they say you won't live past sixty or seventy."

After speaking, Uesugi Tetsu ordered a super-sized gyudon, the kind with triple the beef—although it was a pre-made dish from lab-grown beef, it was healthy, tasted good, and was cheap.

"So, Uesugi-kun, you think I can live to be sixty?" Nanjō Emi laughed heartily, casually threw an arm around Uesugi Tetsu's shoulder, and the strong smell of alcohol made him pinch his nose, "Then I should really thank you for your well wishes."

This made Uesugi Tetsu think of Hasegawa, and also of the many young faces he saw at the Special Affairs Division headquarters that day.

Onmyoji, it seemed, was not a profession with a high survival rate.

As Uesugi Tetsu was lost in thought, he suddenly felt his entire arm go soft and quickly pulled away, "Nanjō-san, isn't your sense of personal space a bit off?"

"Really? Is it off?"

Nanjō Emi looked up, smacked her lips twice in confusion, and clinked glasses with Shizuma Mafuyu, who had a troubled expression on her face. She then comfortably drank the rest of her half-full glass, "It feels so good to have a drink after work!"

Shizuma Mafuyu took a small sip, her lips pursing from the bitterness.

It seemed that accompanying one's superior for drinks was a universal practice, regardless of the country. However, Shizuma Mafuyu probably wanted to advance her career, as she was proactively drinking with the heavy drinker beside her...

Uesugi Tetsu pulled himself back to the topic at hand, "Speaking of work, I just ran into Kurosaki Akira."

"Talking about work after getting off is quite tactless, Uesugi-kun."

Nanjō Emi put down her glass, rested her arms on the table, and her slender eyes glanced at him, "However... since you've met, you should know the work content. What are your thoughts?"

Uesugi Tetsu said gravely, "It's too easy. So easy it feels abnormal."

"Ah! That's true." Nanjō Emi licked the alcohol from her lips, "So you need to be careful lately."

Uesugi Tetsu was taken aback—Nanjō-san's reaction clearly indicated she knew a lot.

He frowned, "If that's the case, why don't you..."

"Because I've finished my work and I'm off the clock."

Nanjō Emi yawned tiredly, while Shizuma Mafuyu bought another beer and placed it beside her, replacing the nearly empty one.

In just two or three days, Shizuma Mafuyu had transformed from a timid intern into a competent office lady.

The woman happily drank her iced beer, feeling incredibly content, "I've talked about this with my superiors and colleagues, and reported it to the higher-ups. What more do you want me to do, Uesugi-kun?"

At this moment, Uesugi Tetsu's gyudon was ready.

Nanjō Emi thanked the waiter and took it for him, gently pushing it towards Uesugi Tetsu, "Excuse me, what does the rest have to do with me?"

She gently swirled the glass by its rim, a smile playing on her lips, "I'm not a hero in a story who goes looking for trouble. I'm just a corporate drone who follows her boss's orders and works overtime like crazy."

Uesugi Tetsu ate his meal heartily as she spoke, "To me, this job is no different from being an accounting clerk. And a corporate drone who finishes their assigned tasks should naturally have a big drink and a good sleep."

"Uesugi-kun."

Nanjō Emi nudged Uesugi Tetsu's waist with her elbow. The moment he turned, she placed her index finger on his lips and said with a calm, serious expression, "Do as much as you can, within your capabilities. That's my life motto!"

Her finger was warm and carried a strong scent of beer.

But this time, Uesugi Tetsu didn't pinch his nose. He slowly nodded, "I understand."

"Good that you understand!" Nanjō Emi chuckled after hearing this, then turned and repeated herself while hugging Shizuma Mafuyu.

"I've remembered it too, Ms. Nanjō."

"Oh, it's after work, don't be so formal. Just call me Nanjō-san, or Emi is fine too."

"Huh? Ah? Um... no, no, no..."

"Speaking of which, Mafuyu, is there some difficult dream you're trying to achieve by joining us?"

"Um... because if I can get through the internship, my sister will have a stable job in the future."

"So it's for your little sister! Excellent, then let's get along well during our three-month internship, Mafuyu!"

Uesugi Tetsu ate his meal, quietly listening to the conversation between the corporate drone and the not-so-newcomer to the workplace.

Work, huh.

He took the last bite of his gyudon, thinking that he had never truly understood what kind of person Nanjō-san was.

Just get by, live a good life—no wonder Nanjō Emi, after five years at the Special Affairs Division, was still only a junior member.

Without saying goodbye to Nanjō Emi, Uesugi Tetsu walked out of the Yoshinoya restaurant alone, under Shizuma Mafuyu's hesitant gaze.

He casually found a JR train station, entered it, and continued to browse for news related to Kisaragi Station on his phone.

Of course, he didn't forget to supplement his knowledge with some basic paranormal information.

For example, understanding the nature of the specter encountered today, the "Right Bow," is crucial. This knowledge allows for the development of targeted countermeasures.

While scrolling through his phone, the time quickly passed to 10:20 PM.

Clang, clang~

Accompanied by a cheerful little tune and the sound of the train slowing down, a perfectly ordinary train stopped punctually in front of Uesugi Tetsu.

He boarded with the crowd, standing by the window and gazing outside.

The train moved, the scenery outside the window slowly changed, and the night deepened.

By the time the train reached its final stop, there was hardly anyone left inside. Only a drunken salaryman seemed to have missed his stop and staggered out behind him.

Uesugi Tetsu glanced at him. After confirming no one else was on the platform besides the salaryman, he put on his coat and mask within his blind spot.

The next train arrived in less than two minutes. Uesugi Tetsu silently boarded, only to find the salaryman had followed him.

He paid him no mind.

There were very few people on this train, and when it arrived back at the original starting station, only he and the salaryman alighted.

Uesugi Tetsu stepped out of the train car, and a subtle chill immediately seeped into his feet.

He looked around. The Tokyo night view, which had been perfectly clear in his eyes moments ago, began to blur.

Without hesitation, Uesugi Tetsu silently transformed into Laughing Brahma.

At the same time, he summoned Two-Shaku-Sama.

The girl in the white hat immediately began frantically patting Uesugi Tetsu. "Po! Lord Tetsu, you're not dead!?"

What auspicious words...

Uesugi Tetsu made a "shushing" gesture to her and then said softly, "In Tokoyo, I can revive even if I die."

Two-Shaku-Sama's small mouth opened in disbelief, but she covered it with her hands before she could make a sound, emitting a faint popo noise.

Uesugi Tetsu reminded her, "Never mind that for now. There might be a few battles later, so I'll be counting on you, Two-Shaku-Sama, to help me recover quickly in the gaps."

-- This was Uesugi Tetsu's assumption that a battle would occur at every stop.

-- However, this assumption was also very likely to be wrong; summoning Two-Shaku-Sama was just a precaution.

Next, it was time for the last train.

However, before Uesugi Tetsu could wait for the last train, a train identical to the one he had just ridden pulled up behind him.

The train doors slowly opened.

A group of laughing high school students and an auntie scrolling on her phone walked onto the platform, seemingly oblivious to the changes around them.

"So, Miyamoto-kun, our dare event is starting at this train station? I don't see anything scary here. It won't scare me at all, hahaha!"

One of the high school girls spoke up.

Hearing the familiar term, Uesugi Tetsu's gaze sharpened.

-- Another dare event?