Tokyo Exorcism Diary

“So, the mission we’re taking on in Hokkaido this time includes an investigation as well, huh?” Takasugi Yusuke kept that ever-smiling expression of his, like nothing in this world could trouble him. That inscrutable demeanor made it hard to tell what he was really thinking.

Snap!

Asaba Shinichi flicked his fingers with a grin. “Bingo.”

Then, he turned to glance at Hoshino Gen, who was sipping hot milk and seemed a bit lost in thought. With a teasing smile, he asked, “Hey, Hoshino, did you catch what I just said?”

Hoshino Gen turned his head calmly. “The part where we have to find the missing village ourselves?”

“Exactly.” Asaba Shinichi laughed. “We head out tomorrow. Any issues? How’s the contamination in your body holding up?”

“I’ll need to keep one last lock in place,” Hoshino replied flatly.

“Hah, figured as much.” Grinning like a fox, Asaba Shinichi fished a tiny bottle out of his pocket and tossed it over.

“A little something we cooked up as a byproduct during the development of the Ability Locks. Consider it a special remedy—made from cursed artifacts, so it works by fighting poison with poison. Temporarily suppresses the contamination, but when it wears off, you’ll get a nasty backlash. Normally not recommended, but hey, if things go south, you might not have a choice.”

Hoshino Gen turned the all-white, label-less bottle over in his hand a few times, expression unreadable. Then he quietly slipped it into his pocket without a word.

“See? Aren’t I nice?” Asaba Shinichi leaned in with a cheeky grin. “Didn’t even make a fuss about you burning down my house, and now I even brought you medicine. Wanna be friends?”

Hoshino Gen rolled his eyes, downed the rest of his hot milk in one gulp, then stood and headed for the café’s door. “If that’s all, I’m heading out.”

“Sure, sure, go ahead.” Asaba Shinichi waved him off nonchalantly. Then, as soon as Hoshino Gen turned his back, he leaned in toward Takasugi Yusuke and lowered his voice to an obviously fake whisper.

“Bet you didn’t know, Yusuke—Hoshino’s engaged to the young lady from the Sasaki family! Look at him practically sprinting out the door. Tch tch tch…”

Takasugi Yusuke: “…”

Hoshino paused for half a second. Then, with a polite smile, he turned around.

“Where do you live now? If I’ve got time, maybe we can have a little sparring session.”

“Hahaha!” Asaba Shinichi waved a finger at him. “No need. After what happened last time, I’ve realized that brawling in front of someone’s house is just so rude. Consider that villa compensation. If you really wanna spar, name a place—I’m always game!”

Hoshino Gen didn’t respond. He turned and walked out of the café without another word.

After he left, a brief silence fell over the room, broken only when Takasugi Yusuke spoke, a bit uncertainly,
“The Sasaki family… as in the one from the Shiramatsu Conglomerate? If I recall, their patriarch isn’t exactly a pushover.”

“Who knows. Last time I tried to challenge him, the old man didn’t even show. But for someone who used to be a legend in the underworld, to still be kicking after all these years… even if he’s not totally senile, he’s probably long past his prime.” Asaba Shinichi didn’t seem concerned.

Takasugi Yusuke shrugged, that familiar carefree smile still on his lips. But what he was really thinking… that was another matter entirely.

…

“Who decided on Ayane’s marriage?”

Somewhere in the outskirts of Kōtō Ward, deep within the Sasaki estate’s zen chamber—

An emaciated old man, face like dried bark and head crowned with sparse white hair, sat cross-legged before a massive golden Buddha statue. Behind him, the most powerful figures of the Sasaki family—each a force to be reckoned with in the outside world—were all kneeling silently, terrified and still.

“Is it because I haven’t managed family affairs for a few years that you all think I’ve gone senile? That I’m about to croak?”

“N-no, Father!”

The man kneeling at the front—a middle-aged executive—blurted out in a panic, “As long as you live, the head of the Sasaki family will always be you!”

Whack!

A wooden mallet struck his forehead with a dull thud. The man winced hard but didn’t dare make a sound. He quickly picked up the mallet and respectfully placed it beside the old man.

“How many times have I told you not to speak without permission?” the old man said mildly.

“Yes, Father,” the man lowered his head in submission.

The old man waved a hand. “You, Old Third. Ayane’s your daughter. Explain yourself. What made you think trading her off in a political marriage was a good idea?”

The man in question—a handsome middle-aged gentleman—sighed. He’d known this was coming.

Sasaki Tanimasa, Ayane’s father, took a breath and said, “Father, you know what Ayane’s like. If the family doesn’t arrange a marriage for her, she’s likely to live alone for the rest of her life…”

“That’s your reason for using your daughter as a bargaining chip?” Sasaki Shinichiro turned his gaze slowly toward his youngest son. It was cold enough to freeze blood.

Sasaki Tanimasa felt a chill run through him like icy water down his spine. He swallowed hard and quickly said,

“Her engagement wasn’t something I agreed to lightly. If it meant sacrificing her happiness, I wouldn’t go through with it even if it meant doubling the power of the Sasaki family.”

“But… but, Father, this may sound unbelievable, but the reason I agreed to the union with the Hoshino conglomerate is because… that kid from the Hoshino family… reminds me a lot of how you were when you were young.”

The room fell into silence.

Sasaki Shinichiro’s eyes narrowed, and the pressure in the room instantly doubled. Cold sweat beaded on Tanimasa’s brow as he braced for punishment—but then, unexpectedly, the old man turned away and closed his eyes.

…

Silence.

No one dared speak or move. A long moment passed. Just when everyone started glancing around nervously, wondering what the verdict was, Sasaki Shinichiro finally spoke again.

His voice was different this time—tinged with amusement, even a spark of mischief.

“Heh… like me, huh? If that’s true, then, Tanimasa, you’ve got a sharp eye.”

A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Bring the boy here. If he wants to be my grandson-in-law, he’ll have to meet me first. Getting engaged to my little Ayane isn’t going to be that simple.”

Then, as if remembering something, he added:

“Bring Ayane too. It’s been a while—I miss that little girl.”