Translator: raggykoshka
Editor: Vie
Mutsu sat comfortably in the car together with Toushirou, silently staring at the scenery outside. Sotis, she would glance over at Toushirou but would also shift her gaze outside after.
“That Shinto shrine over there”
“Hmm?”
As if suddenly having recalled sothing, Mutsu started speaking in a low voice.
“The chief priest”
“Oh, are you talking about that
kitsune
-san?”
“What?! You knew?”
“Yes. When you were informing us at my workplace, you said so yourself, rember?”
At first Mutsu had perked up and stared at Toushirou, surprised. But then, when she heard his explanation, she wearily leaned against her seat.
As she pushed her glasses up that had slid down, Mutsu unblinkingly stared at Toushirou. Maybe it was because Toushirou and Mutsu had known each other since they were very young, but he had no prejudices against strange events or youkai. And this was also the reason why he could visit such a questionable business as the Yorozuya without any hesitation.
“I thought you might have been joking so I went here to take a look.”
“So you checked it yourself?”
“Well… I just had a feeling that I wouldn’t get a truthful answer if I asked. But whatever.”
Toushirou smiled, reminding her that she was sotis excessive with her pranks.
“Can it be done with just
kitsune
-san? I have a feeling that there’s sothing fishy about it. It’s what my intuition tells .”
“Mmhm. It just hasn’t happened before.”
Looking at the pouting Mutsu, Toushirou barked a scoffing laugh.
“What? Did you think I don’t believe in things like that?”
“Well, it’s because it hasn’t really been long since we reunited, Shirou-chan.”
Mutsu grumblingly complained that it was only last year that they t again after about a decade apart.
“We’ve worked together several tis, though.”
“Yeah… but you’re a police officer. And these things are unscientific too.”
“Is that really sothing you can say?”
Mutsu gave a relieved smile in response to Toushirou’s astonished laughter. That’s right, barely half a year has passed since last sumr.
The midwinter sky was dyed gray, as if snow could start falling any mont. Despite that, Toushirou had slightly lowered the car window next to Mutsu’s seat.
“Whatever. I’ll investigate it.”
Mutsu bashfully smiled.
“Oh, we’re almost there. Should we stop near the Shinto shrine?”
“Yeah, it’s a good place to get off. I’d like to take a look at the surroundings on foot.”
“Got it. Will you be commuting a lot while you’re investigating? If it’s a bother, you could stay at my place.”
“Huh?!!”
Toushirou looked at the utterly surprised Mutsu as if he’d seen sothing unexpected.
“Wh-what are you saying? I’m a woman of marriageable age, you know.”
Mutsu used the fact that they conveniently stopped at a red light to get out of the car.
“Hey! It’s quite a walk from here.”
“Shirou-chan, are you dumb?”
Forcefully closed the door with a bang, Mutsu promptly started to walk away without looking back. Watching her retreating figure, Toushirou furrowed his brows.
“Why did she get angry? It seems like a person’s character can change after not seeing each other for 10 years.”
Toushirou looked puzzled but left to return to the police station he worked at.
Mutsu, who had begun walking, suddenly stopped.
“I wonder where the municipal office or sothing similar is.”
There was nobody around and even as she restlessly surveyed the surroundings, she was only t with the cold wind. ‘
Not exactly an invigorating scene’
, she thought as decided to walk straight ahead for the ti being.
The sky was gray and only a forest could be seen stretching out on both sides of the prefectural road, with very few cars passing by.
Mukaida, the town where Yorozuya was, had the feel of a provincial town, but this place, Hakonou was really rural. Nobody walked past her and no car passed by.
However, Mutsu didn’t have any particular feelings of unease. As she continued walking along the road, she discovered a narrow road that branched off towards the right which she started following.
She hadn’t been here before, but she headed for a Shrine she’d already heard about from docunts and rumors. The Shrine that she had shared the rumors about with Toushirou, the one with a
kitsune
as the chief priest. Toushirou believed it. Maybe that was why he’d gotten suspicious and brought his concerns to Yorozuya.
Mutsu also believed it.
Trees obstructed the light on the narrowed road, which felt gloomy despite it being dayti, and not a bird could be heard chirping. It was a silent and eerie place.
A small
.
“Phew, that’s good.”
Mutsu took a step towards the shadow with a smile, but imdiately ca to a halt.
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