Tokyo Exorcism Diary

Though being stared at when eating made Hoshino Gen uncomfortable, he still nodded after a brief pause.

Tilina seemed satisfied with his response and shifted her gaze to Liz, who was eating with her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. In English, she cheerfully asked, “How about it, Liz? Isn’t your aunt’s cooking amazing?”

Here, Liz, the little loli, seems to harbor an inexplicable hostility toward Hoshino Gen, but towards Hoshino Rin and Tilina, she behaves like a little angel that matches her appearance.

Liz vigorously chewed her food, swallowed, and her eyes sparkled as she responded in dramatic English, “It’s incredible! Auntie, your cooking is so good even God would drool!”

It was a bit over the top, but her deliberate playfulness made it incredibly endearing. Watching this scene, Hoshino Gen couldn’t help but think that at this table, Liz, Hoshino Rin, and Tilina seemed more like a family than he did.

Of course, that made sense. After all, he had only lived with Tilina for about four years, three of which were during his infancy. Meanwhile, Hoshino Rin had been with her since birth, and judging by Liz’s age, she had probably grown up around Tilina too.

Jealousy wasn’t in the cards. Hoshino Gen simply felt that fate had an odd sense of humor. In his previous life, he had no parents, no family, and no friends, but he did have a teacher who was closer than family. In this life, his family was whole, and both parents hailed from sprawling, influential families. His blood relatives were too numerous to count, yet none gave him the feeling of familial warmth.

With a slight shake of his head, Hoshino Gen focused on finishing his dinner quickly. Daydreaming about relationships was a waste of time—planning tomorrow’s actions was far more important. After all, family bonds couldn’t possibly compare to the allure of a vengeful spirit’s treasure!

…

The next day, Hoshino Gen woke up unusually early. Since Liz had been keeping HoshinoRin company last night, she hadn’t bugged him to play games, allowing him a rare early night.

No one in the Hoshino household was an early riser, so the house was silent as he washed up. Slipping out quietly, Hoshino Gen set off.

He had already planned the day’s agenda: first, replenish talismans at the antique shop, then take the train to Chiyoda to locate Michiko’s residence. From there, he would methodically expand the search area to find a way to dissolve Michiko’s lingering resentment…

However, his plans were disrupted almost immediately.

A striking figure in workout clothes jogged into view on the sidewalk.

It hit Hoshino Gen—ah, right, he had an assistant!

Shimizu Yuu, mid-jog, noticed him as well. She wasn’t overthinking his presence, just a little surprised that he was up so early during the holiday. After all, even she had only started this morning routine after being reprimanded at yesterday’s parent-teacher conference. Determined to improve, she had resolved to embrace a disciplined lifestyle.

Oh, that’s it! This guy must’ve bombed his exams too and got scolded by his mom! Haha!

Feeling oddly balanced, Shimizu Yuu stopped in front of Hoshino Gen and, for once, greeted him with a smile. “Good morning!”

“Morning…” Hoshino Gen looked her over thoughtfully. The loose athletic wear hid most of her figure, but her proportionate build was unmistakable. Her high ponytail added an energetic flair to her youthful charm, complemented by the light sheen of sweat on her fair forehead.

What an excellent candidate for manual labor.

Under his unwavering gaze, Shimizu Yuu’s eyelid twitched. The last time he’d stared at her like this, she’d ended up signing a contract riddled with exploitative clauses.

She suspected this schemer was plotting against her again.

Taking two cautious steps back, she forced a smile. “Haha, well, I’ll get back to my jog. See you!”

Before she could slip away, Hoshino Gen moved faster, grabbing the hood of her white tracksuit with a cheerful grin. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“…”

Halting in her tracks, Shimizu Yuu managed a stiff smile. “Uh, I haven’t had breakfast yet—”

“My treat. What do you want?”

“I need to study. My mom said if my next exam scores don’t improve, she’s enrolling me in cram school—”

“No problem. I can tutor you.”

Her planned excuses faltered. Hearing this, Shimizu Yuu burst out laughing. “You tutor me? With your scores? You barely did better than I did! Next time, you might even score worse!”

Hoshino Gen didn’t argue, merely smiled. “Why don’t you at least hear me out?”

“…”

Realizing there was no escape, Shimizu Yuu turned to face him, pouting with a grudge. “I don’t want to do housework…”

“Not housework.” Hoshino Gen’s grin widened. “Didn’t you once talk about being interested in paranormal events?”

Upon hearing this, Shimizu Yuu immediately understood. She hesitated momentarily before asking, “Are you asking me to accompany you to solve a paranormal event?”

Her interest flickered before recalling the day they’d first met—when she’d trembled under the sword of a vengeful ghost swordsman. Her enthusiasm promptly deflated. “I’m useless in situations like that…”

Although she was reluctant to admit it, ever since facing that vengeful spirit head-on at the dojo, she realized that ordinary people had no means to contend with such powerful entities.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make you face vengeful spirits directly.” Seeing through her hesitation, Hoshino Gen reassured her with a smile. “And chances are, there won’t even be spirits involved this time.”

He then explained the details and shared the Special Operation Unit’s intel on Michiko.

The crisp morning air in Tokyo’s Koto Ward carried the scent of dew. Sunlight streamed through the trees, and the city stirred awake.

After reading the materials, Shimizu Yuu’s expression shifted to determination. Looking up at Hoshino Gen, she asked earnestly, “We’re going to help Michiko, right?”

Hoshino Gen nodded. “Of course.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Shimizu Yuu declared.