Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

Splash, splash—

An invisible hand shielded them from the rain's pitter-patter. Daiki, carrying Nino, walked on air and gently landed on the balcony.

"Send a message to Miku and the others so they don't worry."

Still dazed, Nino clung tightly to his collar, not yet recovered from the shock of the Cursed Spirit attack and their aerial journey. Her fair, flawless face bore faint traces of tears. Only after Daiki stroked her head for a while did she gradually regain her composure.

"S-Sorry..." Realizing her lapse, she hurriedly stood up, turned away to fix her makeup, and restarted her phone to report her safety to Miku and the others.

Gurgle gurgle—

In the empty living room, the sound of her hungry stomach was particularly noticeable.

She hadn't had a chance to eat dinner before encountering the Cursed Spirit attack. Now that things had calmed down, she felt drained of all strength — a normal reaction after experiencing extreme mental tension.

"I have some rice balls left. Would you like—" Daiki gestured towards the kitchen refrigerator, seeking her opinion.

"Thank you, Daiki-kun." She stood up quickly to express her gratitude.

He waved his hand and went into the kitchen to heat up the rice balls.

Watching his back in the kitchen, Nino stared blankly. If not for today's encounter with the Cursed Spirit, she might never have imagined that Miku's boyfriend was hiding such a mysterious identity.

According to Kasumi and Mai, Daiki was now considered a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer. In the entire jujutsu community, those who could rival him could be counted on one hand.

For Miku to have encountered such a mysterious person — Nino didn't know whether to call it lucky, or...

Buzz!

The phone screen vibrated. She unlocked it to find a message from Miku.

| Miku-nee — Thirdie |

| Are you staying at Daiki-kun's house now? |

| Do you need us to send a driver to pick you up? |

Nino panicked and quickly typed.

| No need, I'll ask Daiki-kun later. If it's really not possible, I'll stay here for the night. |

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

"Huh?"

Miku, in the luxury apartment, was stunned when she saw this message. Itsuki and the others' gazes simultaneously focused on her.

After all, Daiki was her boyfriend, and even she hadn't been to his house. Now Nino had not only gone there but was also planning to stay overnight.

Miku didn't say anything outwardly, but her brows furrowed imperceptibly. Her sister probably realized the inappropriateness after sending this message and hurriedly explained.

| Nino-nee — Secondie |

| The rain outside is too heavy, and it's dark. I'm worried about accidents. |

Though Daiki had dealt with Cursed Spirits and Devils, Nino couldn't forget the zombie-like monster she'd encountered in that small alley. She was also concerned about potential accidents if they drove in these conditions.

Miku then typed:

| I see, then I'll let Daiki-kun know. |

| Nino-nee — Secondie |

| Mm, but wait a bit, he's heating up food in the kitchen. |

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

Nino finished chatting with Miku and glanced at the figure in the kitchen again.

Even from behind, Daiki's presence was reassuring. Perhaps it was due to the extraordinary abilities he'd displayed earlier, effortlessly dealing with both Cursed Spirits and Devils. Nino, who had been apprehensive before, now found herself feeling surprisingly at ease in this space.

She took in her surroundings once more. The room was clean and minimalist, devoid of unnecessary clutter. This was her first time in a boy's room.

A tantalizing aroma wafted from the kitchen into the living room. The scent of seaweed mingled with a subtle plum fragrance, whetting her appetite.

Moments later, Daiki emerged from the kitchen carrying rice balls and sushi.

"Mmm... delicious..." Nino murmured, savoring a rice ball.

The sweetness of the rice harmonized perfectly with the refreshing plum flavor. Compared to this, the gourmet dishes she'd eaten before seemed overly rich. How could simple rice balls taste so exquisite?

"Daiki-kun, did you make these?"

"Hm? Yes."

"They're really delicious!"

"If you like them, have some more." He replied with a smile, while simultaneously discussing Nino's accommodation with Miku.

The living room soon settled into a comfortable quietude.

Nino, her beautiful eyes shimmering, nibbled on the rice balls like a hamster. The scene felt oddly domestic, reminiscent of a married couple's daily life. Yet, she couldn't shake the thought that it should be Miku here instead of her.

A pang of guilt struck her, as if she'd inadvertently encroached on Miku's territory.

"Miku just told me you'd like to stay here for the night."

"Mm, is that okay?"

"It's fine, I'll tidy up the room next door later."

Hearing this, Nino felt a wave of relief.

In truth, she could have asked Daiki to escort her back to the luxury apartment. However, she worried about potential dangers he might face on his return journey. Despite his undeniable strength, who could guarantee that nothing unexpected would occur?

"The bathroom's over there, and I've got a clean white shirt for you."

"Mm." Nino nodded appreciatively.

Daiki stepped next door to quickly tidy up the room. Upon returning to his bedroom, he began browsing forums while chatting with Miku.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

Back at the luxury apartment, Miku's expression darkened visibly. Though she knew their relationship was purely platonic for now (because there is no active sexual relationship and kisses don't count), she couldn't help feeling uneasy. After all, she was the official girlfriend, yet Nino had claimed the first overnight stay at Daiki's place.

"This won't happen again." She thought, gritting her teeth.

Determined, Miku began plotting her own sleepover at his house.

❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

In Daiki's bathroom, Nino finished her shower.

Her cherry-red hair, now waist-length, cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She wore a slightly oversized white shirt that revealed her fair, smooth legs — their skin as flawless as finely carved jade.

"Daiki-kun, I'm going to rest now."

"Alright, the hair dryer is in the room next door."

Nino went to the adjacent room and dried her hair.

Soon after, lying in the soft, comfortable bedding, she inhaled a reassuring scent.

"This white shirt... its faint, elegant fragrance... it's just like Daiki-kun's…" She murmured, gently breathing in the scent from the collar.

A pang of guilt struck her.

"No... I shouldn't do this. He's Miku's boyfriend." She chided herself, "But I'm just curious. One more time, and that's it."

Unable to resist her curiosity, Nino buried her face in the bedding. As she breathed in the comforting aroma, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

❊❊❊

T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!

For just $1 you can access all the extra content, descriptive images, and the smuts (this one has a lot), costs only $2!

That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)

https://www.patreon.com/mrblackwing