Volume 5 Chapter 8 Naoshi ／ Going To Tokyo VII： When I Look Back
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The sleep timer turned on, and the low hum of the fan heater stopped.
In the dark room, sweat and traces of intimacy still lingered.
Naoshi quietly slipped out of the futon, careful not to wake Suzuri and Ako, whose breathing was steady in sleep.
The warmth from intimacy and tiredness made his body feel slightly heavy.
He picked up his smartphone from the pillow and left the room.
Suddenly, a chilly air greeted him.
According to the calendar, spring had arrived, but in daily life, that felt distant.
”Oh, so cold.”
With a soft murmur, he headed to the corridor facing the courtyard.
He absentmindedly looked at the night garden—different from his family’s, yet familiar enough.
After a while, he closed his eyes, sharpening his senses to detect any ayakashi presence.
The Touma estate is in a quiet residential area of the historic Yamanote district.
Slightly removed from the city’s hustle, the land still holds old legends in its rivers and green spaces—though once, its ties to modern ayakashi were weaker.
Like everyday human sounds, there was little that caught the exorcist’s attention.
Whether he wanted to confirm that fact or hoped otherwise—
He exhaled softly and opened the app on his smartphone.
There weren’t many unread messages.
He skimmed his uncle Yoshiya’s concise report, marked a message from his friend Kanbe Yuzura as read, and tried to decipher the hidden meaning behind Commander Iihoshi Uui’s casual chat.
Finally, he ended the task by muttering a curse at Mibu Itsuki for sending a highly revealing selfie.
Despite the late hour, he sleepily returned the screen to sleep without checking the new notification.
Standing by the window in the corridor, he looked up at the sky—brighter than the one he usually see in Osaka.
A thin moon hung low; the new moon was near.
Now that he think about it, has he ever left his house during this season since he became aware of things?
According to recent months, something will happen on that day in Kanto, where he’ll face it—where it will unfold.
If it affects him, he’s not afraid.
But if it happens in Kansai, there’s nothing he can do, and returning home just for that day would spread distrust among everyone involved.
It would surely sow seeds of irreparable discord.
And so, Naoshi’s intuition as a top-tier exorcist doesn’t warn him this time.
In other words, the unease in his chest is personal—caused by anxiety.
(I need more training, huh.)
He exhale through his nose with a huff.
Perhaps, in anticipation of such a situation, the head of the Kazuramichi family—his father—ordered him to broaden his horizons.
As the saying goes, ‘Okame Hachimoku’—an onlooker sees eight moves ahead. It’s true; sometimes you can’t see the whole picture until you take a step back.
(Well, it’ll work out as it may.)
It’s been clear from the start that he has few options.
He’ll leave local affairs to his family and friends and focus on the roles expected of him here.
If he accepts that, a certain interest begins to stir.
The strength of Kanto exorcists, or perhaps the movements of youma that might eventually reach Kansai—there’s much to observe.
And so, the growth of himself, Suzuri, and others.
While thinking about tomorrow, Naoshi returns to his room quietly, trying not to make a sound.
If they realize he slipped away, they’ll undoubtedly be displeased, even without checking.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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