Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

The next moment, a delicate fragrance filled the air.

After a long while, Haruhiko was slightly taken aback.

Looking at the shy Yukihime, he suddenly realized something was different.

She didn't have this girlish demeanor before.

It's as if the two people are a couple.

Yukihime began singing her nursery rhymes again.

Haruhiko nestled in her arms and quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning.

The faint light of dawn was already visible outside the window.

It always gets light earlier in summer.

Haruhiko opened his eyes groggily.

Yukihime had already gotten up first.

She got dressed, sat on the edge of the bed, and slightly raised her slender legs, putting on black stockings starting from her toes.

Yuki stood up, tugged at her stockings, and then nodded.

"I went to cook."

She glanced at Haruhiko, who had just woken up, and said, "After you've washed up, wait for me in the living room."

Before he could answer, Yuki left the room, her black stockings treading on the floor.

Haruhiko stared at the ceiling for a while.

Just as I was about to get up, Izumi suddenly appeared out of nowhere and crawled into the bed.

Standing on his shoulder, she kept rubbing her little head against his face.

Haruhiko's fair and delicate skin, which was just as beautiful as Yukihime's, instantly perked him up.

He glanced at it.

Izumi was still wearing that simple kimono, and she looked very cute overall.

She tried to get closer to Haruhiko, and at the same time, her nose twitched slightly, as if she was sniffing something.

Is it because of a pure Yang body?

Haruhiko stretched out two fingers, pinched her waist, and gently placed her beside the pillow.

He put on his clothes, turned to look at Izumi, and saw that her face was flushed.

What's wrong with you?

Haruhiko twitched the corner of his mouth, too lazy to pay attention to her, and went to the bathroom to wash up.

A moment later, Izumi caught up.

However, due to his body size, he did not have a suitable toothbrush.

She could only watch Haruhiko longingly.

"I'll buy it online later."

Seeing this, Haruhiko took out his toothbrush and spoke.

Izumi nodded, but then suddenly flew to his toothbrush and took a bite.

Then she used her fingers as a toothbrush to perform a simple cleaning.

Haruhiko paused for a moment, staring at Izumi with some suspicion.

This guy has lived for hundreds of years, why does he seem so stupid?

After washing up, Haruhiko went to the living room to wait for dinner.

Izumi leaned on his shoulder and watched TV with him.

Before long, a glass of fresh milk and three bowls of ramen were served.

Yuki thoughtfully prepared a small bowl for Izumi.

In fact, as a tsukumogami, it does not need to eat.

However, Izumi seemed to enjoy his meal immensely.

Her only question was why there was only one glass of fresh milk.

And it was specially made for Haruhiko to drink.

But she didn't dare ask.

After the meal, Haruhiko walked away amidst Izumi's tearful eyes.

Because she couldn't go to school.

This means she will be staying with Yukihime.

For her, it felt like an ordinary human encountering a tiger in the wild.

A sliding tackle, and then a quick meal for the opponent.

The entrance to the University of Tokyo High School.

"Haruhiko-kun."

Rin Hoshino stood under the tree and waved.

Her long black hair was blown slightly backward by the wind.

Her hairstyle today wasn't a single ponytail or two ponytails, but rather loose, flowing hair.

Only secure the key areas with a red hairband.

Compared to her previous youthful days, she now exudes a more ladylike charm.

It makes her seem more like a young lady from a wealthy family.

"Good morning."

Haruhiko stepped forward and stood beside her.

The two walked through the tree-lined path toward the classroom.

"Has there been any outcome regarding the matter of Ōmiya Naotsune?"

Haruhiko remembered the previous request and asked.

Having witnessed two cases involving forbidden techniques and the piecing together of corpses, he couldn't help but feel curious.

Although I don't intend to get too involved, it's still good to know a little about it.

"No."

Hoshino Rin frowned and said with some helplessness, "The Imperial Palace is currently dealing with the problem of the spiritual vein riot, and there is no manpower available at the moment."

This is obviously an excuse.

The Imperial Palace did not want to investigate further.

Or dare not.

Haruhiko was thoughtful.

The Imperial Palace is, on the surface, the most powerful institution in all of Japan.

But in reality, it's just an intermediary.

A priest, an onmyoji, a monk, and a swordsman.

The four major professions gave rise to countless families.

Every ten years, the sixteen largest factions elect a representative to form the Psionic Council, which manages the Grand Palace.

If the forbidden technique, Corpse Assembly, involves the Psionic Council, even the Grand Palace is powerless to intervene.

Although Izumo Shrine is one of the sixteen major powers, it is almost impossible for it to punish other powers of equal strength.

They have established certain unspoken rules.

Unless it goes too far, or there is no clear evidence, one should not rashly provoke a dispute.

Haruhiko didn't ask anything more.

That's too far off.

The most urgent task is to accumulate spiritual energy and then advance to the next level.

Upon arriving at the classroom, Hoshino Rin immediately pulled Tachibana Yui aside to chat.

Haruhiko only then noticed that the two of them had the same hairstyle.

In addition, their matching school uniforms made them look like sisters.

Although she was quite pleasing to the eye, Haruhiko subconsciously felt that Tachibana Wei had ulterior motives.

Because she is a young girl in her thirties.