"Even the traces of your former existence will be completely erased. No one will remember that you ever existed in this world. In the truest sense, you will become an 'observer' detached from the world."
Sakurajima Mai's pretty face paled slightly. She had already sensed this might happen.
Although she was reluctant to admit it, Sakurajima Mai's presence had been growing weaker and weaker.
Not only could people no longer perceive her, even passersby were discussing Sakurajima Mai less and less. The star who had once been wildly popular was gradually fading from people's view.
This couldn't be explained simply by saying she had "fallen out of fashion." Even someone who had fallen out of fashion wouldn't disappear this quickly—especially since she hadn't fallen out of fashion yet!
If this continued, it wouldn't be long before the world completely forgot her...
Sakurajima Mai's voice trembled slightly:
"What should I do?"
"Become a Miko."
Kira Yoshikage's answer was exactly what she expected, but it was the truth.
Sakurajima Mai alone had no way to tame her out-of-control Psionic power.
If Psionic power were that easy to tame, there wouldn't be so many supernatural phenomena.
Becoming a Miko and forcefully suppressing her out-of-control Psionic power under the protection of a "god" was the simplest method.
Sakurajima Mai took a sip of lemonade and fell into thought.
Although she had some misunderstandings about Kira Yoshikage, he had never harmed her. Besides, the "god" she was about to serve looked like nothing more than an ordinary girl.
So, they could probably be considered good people, right?
Since they were good people, there was nothing wrong with becoming a Miko.
Futaba likes me.jpg
Don't Be a Pervert, Okay?
The girl who had untangled her emotional knot was clearly much livelier. Especially after realizing that Kira Yoshikage was a "good person," she occasionally made a joke or two to liven up the atmosphere. Unfortunately, she never managed to see any extra expression on Kira Yoshikage's face.
Sakurajima Mai took a sip of lemonade, thought for a moment, and asked again:
"Why are those 'Evil Spirits' attracted to me?"
Kira Yoshikage spoke while wiping a glass:
"Psionic power attracts other Psionic power."
"In space, planets with excessive mass affect the gravity around them. Mars is one example."
"But the more typical example is the sun. The sun's gravity pulls the eight planets, including Earth, as well as countless asteroids, into orbit around it."
"But the solar system is stable because the sun is large enough, while the eight planets are sufficiently 'small.'"
"If two planets got too close to each other, that gravitational force would pull them together until they collided."
"You can also understand a Psionic User as a magnet. This magnet attracts anything with Psionic power—in other words, other magnets. That includes other Psionic Users and Evil Spirits, which are fundamentally made of Psionic power."
"The stronger the Psionic User, the stronger the magnet's pull."
"The same applies to Evil Spirits."
"To Evil Spirits, Psionic Users are the most delicious food, because devouring a Psionic User can increase their strength."
"Conversely, Psionic Users can also kill Evil Spirits and absorb the Psionic power they release."
Sakurajima Mai thought of a terrifying possibility:
"What about Psionic Users and other Psionic Users?"
"That works too."
Kira Yoshikage's tone remained calm:
"Psionic Users can treat other Psionic Users as batteries and charge themselves. Evil Spirits can also devour one another to achieve a higher level of 'evolution.' Under normal circumstances, Psionic Users are, well, more nutritious than Evil Spirits."
"Therefore, Psionic Users are much more likely than ordinary people to encounter Evil Spirits."
The harsh reality doused Sakurajima Mai's hopes. So that was why that "god" needed her as a sacrifice? It needed to devour enough Psionic Users to achieve its own "evolution."
Sakurajima Mai was silent for a while.
"Then why did we rarely see Evil Spirits at school before? If they attract each other, wouldn't the 'god' at the school attract more Evil Spirits or Psionic Users?"
Kira Yoshikage countered:
"Would you jump into a pit of fire?"
"No."
Sakurajima Mai answered instinctively. Then she realized the answer to the question—because that "god" was strong enough to make other Evil Spirits and Psionic Users wary!
That was why those Evil Spirits didn't dare set foot on school grounds. Otherwise, they would be devoured by that god.
In a sense, that "god" was actually the school's protector.
Sakurajima Mai seemed to think of something:
"Then are the 'Omamori' given out by Shrines based on a similar principle?"
"Correct."
Kira Yoshikage praised the girl for drawing the connection:
"An 'Omamori' is actually infused with part of an Onmyoji's Psionic power. In most cases, that's enough to drive away ordinary Evil Spirits. But if a stronger Evil Spirit takes notice of it, the 'Omamori' will instead become a death warrant."
"Other types of protective charms, such as 'Cursed Objects,' work the same way."
"But unlike Omamori, Cursed Objects are usually made from the remains of powerful Psionic Users or the remnants of Evil Spirits. Their effects are much stronger, but they're also much more dangerous. In fact, they themselves may be the greatest danger."
"Of course, most Omamori are fake."
Sakurajima Mai muttered softly:
"If that's the case, the fake ones might actually be better than the real ones."
"Ah, Kira-kun~ Are you busy?"
Just then, a girl's clear voice rang out behind her.
Sakurajima Mai turned around and saw a young woman with neat, short black hair walking toward them. She was clearly about to sit in Sakurajima Mai's seat.
Sakurajima Mai silently moved away and skillfully sat in the seat beside it.
Only then did she notice that the other woman hadn't come alone. A girl with long, straight black hair was walking beside her. She wore the uniform of Shuchiin Academy and carried an aloof chill that seemed to keep everyone at a distance.
Kira Yoshikage asked with practiced ease:
"Good evening, Ms. Haruno. What would you like to drink?"
Yukinoshita Haruno tapped her lips with her slender index finger:
"A Gin and Tonic."
"Underage..."
Yukinoshita Haruno rolled her eyes. She didn't put on any airs as the owner, merely waving her hand to cut him off:
"Then lemonade! You only know how to make that one anyway."
Kira Yoshikage shrugged without denying it.
He was being paid 2,000 yen an hour, so whatever she said went. He absolutely wouldn't argue—although he had originally intended to say that minors were forbidden from drinking alcohol. But since she was the owner, whatever she said went.
"Ah! Kimoji!"
Yukinoshita Haruno took a happy sip of lemonade, narrowing her eyes in delight.
It was only then that she seemed to notice the girl behind her still hadn't taken a seat. She complained unhappily:
"Yukino, sit over here."
Yukinoshita Haruno waved cheerfully.
Sakurajima Mai silently shifted her bottom, preparing to move to a seat farther away.
But the girl called Yukino turned around and sat to Yukinoshita Haruno's right, causing Sakurajima Mai's movement to pause slightly.
Could she see me? Or was it just a coincidence?
"Well."
Yukinoshita Haruno didn't dwell on the detail. She smiled brightly and said:
"Let me introduce you. This is my younger sister, Yukino Yukinoshita. See? She's wearing the uniform of Shuchiin Academy! Amazing, right? Even I couldn't get in back then. I could only attend school in the countryside of Chiba."
"She's very impressive."
Kira Yoshikage offered a sincere compliment.
"She is my little sister, after all!"
Yukinoshita Haruno proudly patted the slime.
Yukino Yukinoshita stared at her expressionlessly:
"Big Sister, are you drunk?"
"Eh~? How could lemonade make me drunk?"
Yukinoshita Haruno pouted unhappily:
"Little Yukino has grown up and started finding her big sister annoying. How troubling!"
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed:
"Why did you call me here, exactly?"
"Nothing, really. I just wanted you two to meet..."
"Why?" Yukino Yukinoshita countered.
"Eh?"
Yukinoshita Haruno blinked. What was wrong with Yukino today?
In her impression, Yukino had never been such a rebellious child. Not only had she interrupted her more than once, she had even dared to question her.
Yukinoshita Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly, though her smile remained:
"If you want to know why, it's simply because Big Sister thinks Kira-kun looks a lot like someone. Don't you think so, Yukino?"
"He only happens to look like someone. Could I trouble you not to harass strangers for no reason, Big Sister?"
My Plan Is Flawless!
"Eh! 'Harass'? You make it sound as if Big Sister did something terrible."
Yukinoshita Haruno put on a wounded expression and gazed pitifully at Kira Yoshikage:
"Hey, Kira-kun, have I been harassing you?"
"No."
Kira Yoshikage's answer was brief. It was work hours, and if she was paying him, it didn't count as harassment.
"Hey, Yukino, see? Even the person involved said I haven't!"
Yukinoshita Haruno immediately struck a victor's pose and proudly flaunted her triumph to her sister.
But Yukino Yukinoshita clearly wasn't buying it. She continued staring expressionlessly at Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Now, now~"
Yukinoshita Haruno seemed not to notice anything and continued smiling.
But soon, she appeared to remember something and suddenly exclaimed:
"Ah, I forgot to report the hotel's revenue figures to Mother. Little Yukino, wait here for a moment. I'll be right back!"
As she spoke, Yukinoshita Haruno hurried toward the office in a panic.
Apparently, failing to send the data to her mother would lead to something extremely frightening.
Yukino Yukinoshita watched Haruno leave. At last, she could no longer maintain her icy expression. She looked at the boy behind the bar, her expression complicated:
Before you continue