Tokyo Exorcism Diary

“……”

Hoshino Gen stood in silence for a moment, quietly entered the house, closed the door, and swapped his shoes at the entrance. What could he say? Coming home to find a stranger in your house, only for that stranger to call you “stranger”—it was a bit… peculiar.

The feeling was slightly subtle.

As soon as Hoshino Gen finished changing his shoes, Tilina walked out from the kitchen. Upon seeing him, her face lit up with a gentle smile, and she switched to speaking Japanese. “Welcome home. The gift is in your bedroom. Once Rin-chan gets back, we can start dinner.”

Hoshino Gen nodded politely. “Alright, thank you.”

Tilina’s expression stiffened momentarily, but she quickly recovered and pulled the little girl next to her closer to introduce her to Hoshino Gen. “This is your uncle’s daughter—Liz.”

Then, she lowered her head to introduce Hoshino Gen in English to Liz. “He’s Rin’s twin brother and your cousin, Gen.”

Gen—Hoshino Gen’s name in romaji—had a pronunciation in English similar to “Jen,” much like how they pronounced Rin as “Ray” when speaking English.

The little girl, Liz, glanced at Hoshino Gen, crossed her chubby, snow-white arms, and let out a dismissive “hmph” before turning her head away.

Hoshino Gen remained unfazed, ignoring the impolite child entirely. Acting as if he hadn’t heard his mother’s introduction, he headed straight to his bedroom.

Tilina looked at the closed door of her son’s room, then back down at her niece, who had inexplicably taken a dislike to Hoshino Gen. She sighed and rubbed her temples in exasperation.

…

Once in his room, Hoshino Gen spotted a black suitcase placed on the carpet.

This was likely the gift Tilina had mentioned. Curious, he wondered what might be inside.

He walked over and opened the suitcase. Inside was an entirely black box, unmarked but with an unmistakably luxurious feel.

At this point, Hoshino Gen had already guessed what might be inside. He lifted the lid, and sure enough, there lay a neatly folded, premium-quality suit. Considering the lack of any branding on the packaging, it was most likely custom-made.

Hoshino Gen wasn’t particularly fussy about his attire, and he had even less interest in suits. Still, he wasn’t disappointed. After all, it was a gift—something he hadn’t worked for but had received for free. To feel dissatisfied would be ungracious toward the giver.

With a neutral mindset, he placed the box back into the suitcase and stored it in the closet. Stretching lazily, he collapsed onto his bed.

Now, it was time to plan for Golden Week, a precious holiday period.

First on the agenda was the issue of Chi-chan. Carrying around a vengeful spirit harboring malicious intent toward him wasn’t ideal. He needed to head to Chiyoda Ward to resolve Chi-chan’s lingering resentment and complete the prerequisites for the ghost-exorcising ritual.

Next was getting a motorcycle license. Even if his sister hadn’t gifted him a motorcycle, he had been planning to buy one himself. At sixteen, he was already of legal age to ride. Though it wasn’t as convenient as a car, having his own vehicle would be better than relying on public transport for every trip.

Lastly, there was the matter of the Special Operations Team. The cursed black blade—or rather, the demon blade Onikiri—was still in their possession. Once he retrieved it three days later, he could request information on paranormal incidents in Tokyo and kick off a new treasure hunt.

All in all, this year’s Golden Week looked to be eventful.

Hoshino Gen was deep in thought when a commotion outside interrupted him. Judging by the voices, Hoshino Rin had returned.

Sure enough, moments later, there was a knock on his door, followed by Hoshino Rin’s sweet and cheerful voice. “Onii-chan, dinner’s ready~”

Hoshino Gen got up to open the door. Standing outside were two breathtakingly beautiful individuals, one tall and one petite. He couldn’t deny it—the Isabelle family had exceptional genes. Whether it was Tilina, Liz, or the Hoshino siblings themselves, their looks were practically “blessed by heaven.” Of course, the Hoshino family genes had also contributed to Hoshino Gen and Rin’s appearance.

At the moment, Liz was clutching Hoshino Rin’s arm, shooting icy glares at Hoshino Gen with her pouty little face, all while saying nothing. Hoshino Rin, meanwhile, cheerfully tousled her cousin’s golden hair before following Hoshino Gen to the dining room.

After washing his hands and sitting, Hoshino Gen noted the table was set for four. Each plate contained a steaming hot pie, while the middle held shared dishes of green beans, salad, and the pièce de résistance—a large pot of rich, aromatic boeuf bourguignon.

Boeuf bourguignon, a classic French dish, was a complex and time-intensive “main” dish. Poor cooking skills could easily turn it into an odd-tasting stew. But when executed by someone with the right expertise, it allowed diners to experience beef at its most delicious.

Hoshino Gen took his usual seat, where a pair of chopsticks had been laid alongside the Western cutlery on the tablecloth. This thoughtful touch was likely Tilina’s way of accommodating his habits, as everyone else only had a fork and knife.

Hoshino Gen didn’t mind. Though he had lived in the U.S. for years and was quite adept with Western utensils, he still preferred using chopsticks.

In Japanese households, it’s customary to say, “Itadakimasu” (I’m going to start eating) before a meal. However, unfortunately, at this table, among the four people present, three grew up in Europe, and the fourth has an even more complicated background—none of them follow traditional Japanese customs.

Once everyone was seated, the meal began.

Hoshino Gen has a deep interest in food, perhaps because the love for good cuisine runs in Chinese blood. The saying passed down from the ancestors, “Food should not be spurned for its refinement, and minced meat should not be rejected for being finely sliced,” seems to be etched into the very essence of every Chinese.

He picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of beef, popping it into his mouth. Instantly, a rich explosion of flavors filled his taste buds!

The savory essence of the beef, the fragrant spices, and the fruity notes of red wine combined to create a tender, succulent bite. The flavorful juices that spread across his palate gave him a delightful sensory experience, making every cell in his body cheer.

Exquisite.

Hoshino Gen couldn’t help narrowing his eyes in satisfaction. One bite of the beef sent a wave of warmth through his stomach. It was truly delicious.

Without hesitation, he reached out with his chopsticks to grab another piece. It was his own home, after all—no need to be polite!

Before he could take the second bite, however, his gaze met his mother’s across the table. Tilina, smiling warmly, asked, “Is it good?”

“……”