New Customers

Jingle—

Someone pushed open the shop door, setting the wind chime above it ringing.

Afternoon sunlight streamed in, casting a long, slender shadow across the floor.

The visitor was a red-haired girl with twin tails, wearing a pink sweater with a school uniform. A tanuki perched on her shoulder. She looked bright and playful.

"Yuzuha?" Griseo asked curiously when she saw her. "Is something wrong?"

Yuzuha entered the shop, a little dust clinging to her skirt, as though she had just returned from an old house on the outskirts of town.

She walked from the entrance to the counter and leaned forward slightly, putting an air of mystery into her voice.

"Griseo, I came across a ghost-story post on a forum and ran into something a little unusual. Belle said I could come to you for help."

"Hmm?"

Liuyin and Griseo exchanged a look.

A house on the outskirts of Weifei Land.

"This is the place."

Liuyin opened the car door and climbed out of the driver's seat, studying the old house before her.

The iron gate was flecked with rust, ivy covered the courtyard walls, and the shutters upstairs creaked whenever the wind nudged them.

The whole place looked like a haunted house. On a rainy day, it really would have sent a chill down anyone's spine.

"Liuyin, why did I have to come along?"

Griseo got out of the passenger seat, a hint of irritation in her voice. What kind of boss had to go out on fieldwork?

"Heh."

Liuyin pressed her palms together, tilted her head, and stuck out her tongue, hoping a cute act would get her off the hook.

Griseo stared at her without expression.

"Fine, I admit it." Liuyin spread her hands helplessly. "I still can't use the power of the Signets properly."