Chapter 4

"Wonder if Shizuku will deduct a three-bedroom apartment when she remembers this tomorrow……"

Uesugi Toru, helpless, played the role of the male mom right before everyone's eyes, comforting Shizuku all the way.

As for Shizuku's situation — "sword in hand" and she's a Swordsmanship Commander; "empty hand sword" and she transforms into the doting baby mode — Uesugi Toru didn't know the reason either.

But it didn't matter; at least after this the atmosphere inside the car changed from needle-point opposition to incomparably cheerful, avoiding further deterioration of her relationship with Rituna Minami.

"Nanjo Sister, we've reached."

Accompanied by the sound of the engine cutting out, the fit youth Hasegawa turned his head and showed a sunny, cheerful smile.

Before getting out, Uesugi Toru silently engraved the five words "Friendship Club" deep in his heart.

— This name sounds wrong at first listen, and they're selling spirit-channeling items full of resentment to ordinary people; it's definitely a cult, no doubt about it.

Uesugi Toru had no intention of digging for the truth or the conspiracy behind it; he only hoped they wouldn't come provoke him.

He just wanted to develop steadily, then live a peaceful life.

"Hasegawa, you take her inside to make a statement first."

After coaxing and tricking Shizuku into walking into the police station first, only a lone man and woman remained beside the old bread van.

With a teru-teru bozu with big eyes perched on his head, Uesugi Toru saw Rituna Minami take out a cigarette and light it.

"Want one?"

"No thanks."

Rituna Minami didn't make things awkward for herself either, stuffing the remaining half-pack of ladies' cigarettes back into her pocket.

After a brief silence, it was still the woman who spoke first:

"Later when Hasegawa invites you to join the Onmyoryo — that so-called 'Special Affairs Division' — remember to refuse."

Uesugi Toru nodded: "Oh."

This time, it was Rituna Minami's turn to be surprised: "You're not asking me why?"

Uesugi Toru: "When a leader speaks, a subordinate only needs to say 'received'."

Rituna Minami exhaled a light puff of smoke, smiling for the first time: "Uesugi-kun, you're very calm, and very smart. If you walk the Onmyoji path, before long you'll definitely leave me far behind."

Praising me this much?

Uesugi Toru glanced at the woman beside him from the corner of his eye.

Rituna Minami's profile was veiled in faint smoke, red lips thin, collarbones exquisite; she didn't look like an office worker of many years, but rather like a sixteen-year-old JK from the next class over.

The woman noticed his gaze, yet didn't mind; she simply spoke the words she had long prepared: "But precisely because of that, I hope you temporarily don't go near these things."

As if seeing through Uesugi Toru's inner doubt, Rituna Minami stubbed out the cigarette, speaking calmly and seriously:

"You'll die."

Rituna Minami produced from somewhere a pitch-black cloth doll: "The 'First Wave' symbolizing the full revival of monsters and gods has not yet arrived; the Special Affairs Division hasn't been established long and its systems are still incomplete; the Friendship Club is still rampaging in Arakawa Ward……"

Uesugi Toru took the cloth doll, and couldn't help but freeze when he saw the panel pop up.

— Madam Nanjo, are you my mom?

【"Rituna Minami"】

【Quality: Rare】

【Usage: Automatic Trigger】

【Effect: After use, "Rituna Minami" will immediately appear behind you.】

"Carry it with you; when you face a death threat it will help you resolve it."

Uesugi Toru pocketed this highest-quality item he had ever seen without hesitation, and asked: "Then, what's the price?"

"I like talking to smart people."

Rituna Minami leaned in, her ID badge swaying in mid-air, the scent of white musk winding around Uesugi Toru's nose tip: "However, I'll state the demand when the time comes. Right now I only want to hear the answer."

"— Uesugi-kun, are you willing to accept this investment of mine?"

After gazing at each other for a moment, Uesugi Toru silently took out his phone and showed the QR code: "Nanjo Sister, let's add Line."

Rituna Minami blinked, for an instant revealing an extremely strange expression, but didn't say much.

With a *ding*, Uesugi Toru checked Rituna Minami's Line name — 【Onmyoji Minor Official·Rituna Minami】.

A work account, huh.

……

After refusing Hasegawa's eager invitation and Shizuku's request to "stay overnight at the police station together", Uesugi Toru prepared to first go back and check on the home of this lifetime.

When leaving, he still saw Rituna Minami standing alone in the same spot silently smoking, who knew what was on her mind.

The small teru-teru bozu sat perched on her head, just like that silently keeping her company.

After thinking for a while, Uesugi Toru felt it was still better to say goodbye:

"Nanjo Sister, I'm leaving."

The woman turned back with a baffled look: "Want me to see you off?"

Uesugi Toru shook his head: "Tokugawa classmate called a taxi for me."

Rituna Minami couldn't be bothered to look at him.

Don't know if it was an illusion, but Uesugi Toru always felt she *tsk*ed displeasedly.

Before long, the little rich girl Shizuku's hailed car arrived; Uesugi Toru let out a light breath and was just about to get in when he heard a cold warning from behind:

"If you don't want to get entangled further, don't go investigate that club's business."

"I know, Nanjo Sister."

Right now I definitely have to lie low and develop properly, wait until my own strength far exceeds that club, then wipe those ghost things out in one fell swoop.

Half an hour passed in a flash.

Looking at the outrageous large figure on the fare screen, even though it wasn't his own money, the ever-thrifty Uesugi Toru felt a pang of distress; if this were next door, twenty bucks would've settled it.

"Thanks, wow."

After politely thanking the driver who was still working hard late at night, Uesugi Toru took out his keys from his pocket and walked to the doorway of his home.

His nose twitched lightly twice.

The smell of this home... seemed a bit off.

Uesugi Toru first took out the Big Eyeballs to observe the situation inside the room, raised an eyebrow, and then inserted the key into the keyhole.

He opened the door and stepped into the threshold.

Thus, warm greetings came one after another inside the house.

"Little Toru, welcome home."

"Big Brother, welcome home."

Uesugi Toru looked up and saw in the center of the living room the "Mother" whose features were extremely twisted and whose whole body was bleeding; and standing beside her, the "Younger Sister" whose pupils were empty and who emitted a clinking silver-bell laugh.

"Little Toru? Why are you standing still?"

"Huh? Big Brother Adult, why are you standing still all the time?"

Eerie and terrifying voices kept coming.

Uesugi Toru clearly remembered that the original body's parents had both died young, and he himself did not have the classic step-sister or adopted sister from light novels.

Parents dead, no sister but a house—that was supposed to be his starting point.

It seemed Uesugi Toru had been standing at the doorway for too long, and both "Mother" and "Younger Sister" walked toward him, crimson saliva dripping straight down, and they emitted urgent voices:

"Little Toru? Can you hear me?! Can you see me!?"

"Big Brother, can you see me? Can you see me? Can you see me!"

In the silence, Uesugi Toru silently put on the Evil Demon Mask, and opened his arms toward the "family members":

"Old Mother, Old Sister! Long time no see, I can of course see you..."

Laughing like a demon, he nodded happily, revealing a smile like a harvest:

"I really, miss you all so much!"

End of Chapter