The Unspoken Understanding Between Men (Not About a PS5 Signal Receiver)

Gagi died quickly and without any pain. The people's panic came and went just as fast—so fast that the little boy hadn't even worked up the courage to act.

But the way his eyes shone as he stared at Zhou Hong's muscles, and the firm orders he'd given when the monster appeared, showed that he'd already been deeply impressed by Zhou Hong's cool performance.

He'd probably grow up to follow the same path. The courage to protect his sister was simply buried deep inside him, and it was only a matter of time before it emerged.

It was still early. They'd already come out, so there was no point in going back to work out. Besides, Zhou Hong had no interest in the pixelated games available on computers in this era.

With nothing better to do, he bought a huge pile of food and gifts, filled the trunk to the brim, and had Hibiki Gousuke drive toward Yanino Street.

Since they were in Hibiki Gousuke's little car rather than one of GUTS's vehicles, their speed was a little slow.

By the time they reached Yanino Street, the sun had sunk halfway below the mountains. The clouds had turned red, and the rippling water shimmered under the gentle touch of the breeze.

The view had opened up considerably. Most of Yanino Street's low buildings had been demolished, and after all this time, the area had returned to the appearance of wilderness.

In the end, no one on Yanino Street was as nostalgic as Grandma. Everyone had signed the contracts.

The ground had been disturbed, but the air was exceptionally fresh. The scent of midsummer drifted over from the swaying lotus flowers in the pond, and little fish and shrimp could be seen swimming in the clear stream.

"The air's nice here, and the scenery's great too. I had no idea you knew about a place like this, Hong." Hibiki Gousuke drove, but kept his eyes on the scenery to the side. "When I'm old, I'll build a wooden house here and live in it."

"This place is going to become a nature reserve. It'll cost 2,000 yen to enter."

A "?" appeared over Hibiki Gousuke's head.

There was barely room for Zhou Hong to spread his arms inside the tiny car. After hitting the windshield, he still managed to complete a full sweep.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Everything from here to that mountain over there belongs to me. I set the admission fee, too," Zhou Hong said, wearing a perfectly straight face as he spoke like a capitalist.

"2,000 yen just to get in? Are you robbing people?" Hibiki Gousuke couldn't help slamming on the brakes.

"Robbery wouldn't make money this quickly." Zhou Hong's lips curled into a slight smile. "Uncle Li and I are planning to buy up all the mountains over there, too. Be extra nice to me, and I might save you a spot for your retirement."

"But if you don't get along with the people who live here, I'm afraid they'll be holding your funeral as soon as you move in."

The blazing sun had already disappeared behind the mountains. Darkness from the shadows covered Zhou Hong's face, making Hibiki Gousuke shiver.

"Hey, there are those things here too?!" Hibiki Gousuke's voice had changed, and his foot pressed hard on the brake.

A strange sound suddenly came from the back seat. Hibiki Gousuke could swear he hadn't left anything back there.

A burst of icy air slipped down his collar, making his scalp prickle.

His neck turned with the painful stiffness of a rusty gear. In the rearview mirror, he saw an old man dressed all in deathly white.

The old man noticed him looking and bared his ghastly white teeth at him through the mirror.

Hibiki Gousuke clenched his fists.

To stop Hibiki Gousuke from throwing a punch and getting beaten in return, Zhou Hong quietly explained, "The one behind you is the great yokai Obiko, the caretaker of this place."

"You don't know him yet, Captain. Only GUTS and the director know Obiko exists."

Hibiki Gousuke looked rather helpless, yet also a little touched. "Is it really okay to tell me something this confidential?"

Zhou Hong casually flexed his muscles. "It's not a big deal. If they ever form another GUTS, I think you'd make a good captain."

He'd put it a little indirectly, but it was the truth.

When the current GUTS members retired, Hibiki Gousuke would become the captain of Super GUTS.

"I'm pretty happy to hear you say that." Hibiki Gousuke kept a straight face. "But could you please not scare me like that next time? I don't want to die young."

Zhou Hong smiled and promised he'd do better next time.

"Hong, you're late. Little Li's already left," Obiko said with a smile.

Well, to Obiko, who was over a thousand years old, Uncle Li was Little Li.

Zhou Hong waved a hand and squeezed out of the tiny car. "Is everyone doing all right here?"

Obiko flashed into place in front of Zhou Hong and nodded his bald head. "Everyone in this area is grateful to you. Some of the little ones hope they can help you out."

Zhou Hong shook his head to show there was no need.

Those little yokai he could make cry with a single punch couldn't help him at all.

He slapped his forehead and hurried to open the trunk. "I brought some food. Obiko, could you hand it out to the little ones?"

The bright moon reflected a cool gleam. The grass began to rustle in the moonlight, and ripples spread across the lake.

A pure white fox poked its head out first. Its alluring, dark eyes brightened when it spotted Zhou Hong.

It gave a joyful cry, and in a flash of white, the fox circled around Zhou Hong's pillar-like legs.

"Little guy, you cling to me every time and make it impossible for me to leave." Zhou Hong grabbed the fox by the scruff and picked it up.

The little fox stuck out its pink tongue and gently licked Zhou Hong's face, which was covered in bulging muscles.

Those muscles ruined the tender scene completely.

This little yokai couldn't speak yet. It could only change size, and even when it grew bigger, it was only as large as a person. Zhou Hong figured it would still only take one punch.

Yokai like this were the most common kind on Yanino Street.

Hibiki Gousuke was a rough man, but even he couldn't help feeling a little envious at the sight.

The rustling in the grass and the movement in the pond grew more and more intense.

"Captain, we should go!" Zhou Hong hurriedly said. He didn't want to get surrounded and be unable to leave.

After giving the White Fox a quick pat, Hibiki Gousuke started up his little car.

"A bunch of little yokai live here. Ones like the White Fox have simple needs: a safe place to sleep and enough food to fill their bellies."

"These yokai can coexist with humans. From now on, I'll be counting on you to look after them, Captain Hibiki."

Hibiki Gousuke drove quickly and nodded along as he listened to Zhou Hong. He didn't ask where Zhou Hong would be then or anything like that.

"Bang!"

The car hit something pitch-black, sending the shadow flying. It skidded a long way down the road.