Chapter 173: Not Feeling Wronged
"Ehh?!" nma widened her eyes in disbelief, her translucent face glowing faintly in the morning light. "I can really co along? I won’t be bothering you, will I, Kouya-sama? I promise I’ll be quiet!"
"You won’t. Let’s go."
Kouya’s reasoning was simple—he didn’t want to leave her alone in the apartnt again. The thought of her sitting there by herself, talking to no one, staring at the flickering television she couldn’t even touch, left a strange heaviness in his chest. If bringing her along could make her happy, then he would.
"Thank you, Kouya-sama!"
nma clasped her hands behind her back, her feet rising on tiptoe as she smiled brightly. Sunlight stread through her pale hair, scattering gold across the floor. Her big blue eyes curved into perfect crescents as she looked up at him, her laughter as light as a sumr breeze. For a mont, it was almost easy to forget she wasn’t alive.
When they stepped out of the apartnt, nma followed timidly at first, her bare feet making no sound on the pavent. But the hesitation didn’t last long. Soon her cheerful, bell-like voice echoed through the quiet street.
"Kouya-sama, the weather’s so nice today! Look, the clouds look like little sheep!"
"Kouya-sama, that shop’s selling taiyaki—it looks so yummy! Maybe if I were still alive, I could try one… hehe."
"Waaah, nma’s so happy! It’s been so long since I went out with soone!"
Even though Kouya didn’t respond much, nma stayed cheerful. She twirled in circles, her white dress fluttering as she spun barefoot down the path, like a glowing butterfly made of light. A few children on the sidewalk turned, sensing sothing, but saw only Kouya walking alone.
When they reached the train station, Kouya bought his ticket. As he turned toward the gates, he noticed the laughter behind him had gone quiet.
He turned to see nma frozen in place, fiddling with her fingers. "Kouya-sama, um… should I buy a ticket too? If I don’t, they’ll think I’m a bad kid, right?"
Kouya sighed. "You’re being too serious."
'A ghost worrying about fare evasion—what was he supposed to say to that?'
"Hehe, nma forgot again!" She giggled, lightly tapping her head. "It’s hard to rember I don’t need those things anymore."
Since it wasn’t rush hour, the train was quiet, its tallic hum steady and soothing. Kouya took a seat by the window, resting one elbow on the sill. Outside, the scenery glided past—gray buildings, green fields, and distant mountains fading into mist.
nma sat next to him, careful not to disturb anyone, even though no one could see her. Her small form barely filled half the seat. She sat up perfectly straight, hands folded neatly over her skirt, her legs together as she gently swung her feet. Her wide eyes sparkled, reflecting everything like clear water.
"It’s so peaceful…" she whispered softly. "It feels like everyone’s hearts are calm here."
Kouya glanced sideways at her. For soone who no longer breathed, she seed more alive than most people.
Two stops later, she gasped. "So cute!"
Kouya followed her gaze. Across from them sat a mother and her little daughter. The girl was maybe two or three, still baby-faced, her hair cut in a tidy Maruko-style bob. She was hugging a stuffed rabbit almost as big as her torso, swinging her legs in rhythm with the train.
nma leaned forward, her whole face glowing. "Kouya-sama, look! Isn’t she adorable? So tiny and soft-looking! I want to play with her so much!"
The little girl’s eyes widened, and she looked straight at nma. For a mont, ti seed to freeze. The air between them shimred faintly.
"Eh? She can see ?" nma blinked and pressed her hands to her cheeks, making a silly ghost face.
The girl giggled and waved with her chubby little hand.
nma bead. "Hi there!" She waved back, her expression so bright it could’ve lted anyone’s heart.
The child began to stand, reaching toward her, but her mother caught her by the shoulders.
"Kaori, where are you going?"
The little girl pointed at nma with her tiny finger. "Mama, I’m going to play with the pretty lady!"
nma puffed her cheeks. "Not lady—nma’s an onee-chan!"
But the mother froze, glancing toward Kouya’s side. Her smile faltered. She whispered sharply, "Don’t say weird things, honey. There’s no one there."
The little girl frowned. "But Mama, I really saw her… she smiled at ."
The woman’s expression twisted with unease. Her gaze flicked nervously toward Kouya before she stood up abruptly, clutching her daughter close. Without another word, she got off at the next station.
The door slid shut. Silence settled again.
nma’s smile slowly faded as she stared at the empty seats.
Kouya’s voice broke the quiet. "Doesn’t that make you feel sad?"
nma looked down at her hands for a mont, then shook her head. "Nope." Her soft smile returned, calm and genuine. "She was just scared. If I were her, I’d be scared too. Seeing your child talking to soone invisible—it’s natural to worry. She’s a really good mama, you know?"
Kouya studied her for a long mont, the corners of his lips tightening.
'You always choose to see the best in people… is that really okay?'
…
Half an hour later, the train stopped near the ancient Chiba Shrine. The air here slled faintly of cedar and incense. The torii gate stood tall against a backdrop of maple trees, sunlight filtering through their red leaves like drifting fire.
"Good morning, Kou-kun." A calm voice greeted him. The shrine maiden approached gracefully, her red-and-white robes swaying softly with each step. Her long black hair fell in a glossy curtain down her back, and her eyes held quiet warmth.
Before Kouya could reply, a smaller figure darted out from behind the main hall.
"Kou-nii!" cried Chiba Hinata, the tiny shrine girl clutching a bamboo sword nearly as long as she was tall. Her eyes shimred with mock tears as she threw herself onto his arm. "Save ! Onee-chan’s turned into a demon! She keeps making do horrible things—if this keeps up, Hinata’s gonna die!"
Kouya blinked. The words were bad enough to draw stares. Even though he knew what she ant, the phrasing made him choke.
The shrine maiden didn’t even flinch. "Another hundred swings."
"Nyaa?! Another hundred?! You’re heartless!"
"Do you have an objection?"
"Uuu… she’s bullying again! Kou-nii, run away with ! Let’s elope!"
Kouya nearly choked on air. "You’re not even ten! Where are you learning this nonsense?!"
Hinata stuck out her tongue. "From TV!" she said proudly before pouting again.
The shrine maiden’s eyebrow twitched. "Hinata."
The little miko instantly wilted and trudged off to train, mumbling complaints.
The shrine maiden sighed quietly and turned back to Kouya. "I didn’t want her to start this training so soon. But ever since she ate that cookie, her body’s filled with spiritual energy. If she doesn’t refine it, it’ll only cause imbalance."
Kouya nodded. It made sense. A body filled with aura was like uncut jade—it needed shaping. Even repetitive, exhausting drills could temper it into sothing stronger.
The shrine maiden’s gaze shifted slightly. Her calm eyes softened as she noticed the faint, glowing figure beside Kouya.
"And this child…?"
nma flinched, blinking in surprise. "Eh? You can see ?" Her voice trembled, both shocked and hopeful.
Aside from the little girl on the train and a few small animals, no adult had ever seen her before. To be acknowledged so suddenly—it almost felt like being alive again.
But as the shrine maiden’s spiritual aura washed over her, nma instinctively stepped back. Her fingers clutched Kouya’s sleeve as she peeked out from behind him, her big blue eyes filled with awe and nervous curiosity. She tilted her head, blinking up at the miko, her expression a perfect blend of fear and wonder.
Kouya glanced between them, sensing that, for the first ti, the worlds of the living and the dead were brushing close enough to touch.
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