Volume 5 Chapter 11 Midnight Run？ III： Wild Hunt
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, where are you planning to go?”
”Since we came all the way to Shinjuku, I thought we’d check out the sketchy parts. You know, those places like in Guri? Is it Kabukicho?”
”It’s Tōyoko.”
”Yeah, that one.”
The problem of young people hanging around at night isn’t just in Osaka or Tokyo. You see it in other big cities too. They even named it after Umeda as a landmark thing.
”It’s kinda wild that Nao-nii knows stuff like this.”
”Why not? I read the paper too.”
”Wait… the newspaper is your source?”
”What else? There are girls lined up with gaps between them, like on the Kamo River, at some park or whatever, right?”
”That’s straight-up a crime! No way I’m letting that slide!”
”I’m not doing anything. Suzuri-chan, can you stop acting like an idiot?”
”You called me an idiot again…! That was just a joke, okay!?”
”When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke.”
”Coming from Nao-nii, who always makes the worst jokes… seriously?”
Naoshi brushed off Suzuri’s protest like a mosquito.
”If my step-brother wants, I’m available anytime and for free. So it doesn’t even count as a joke.”
”On the flip side, Ako-chan could use a few more jokes.”
Naoshi let out a deep, theatrical sigh at his overly serious little sister. She tilted her head, confused. He gave up with a raised-hands surrender.
”Ako-chan, which one’s closer?”
”Okubo Park. Not sure if anyone’s still hanging around at this hour.”
”Well, let’s find out. I just want to see the place. Lead the way.”
”Got it.”
The group started walking, with the shortest of them, Ako, taking the lead.
”Well, I’m sure the people here are trying something, but even that’s useful for our research.”
”Still, it doesn’t seem like the root of the problem is getting fixed…”
”Yeah, but that’s not our job, right? We barely have time to deal with anything outside of ayakashi.”
The street they reached was unexpectedly alive.
”There’s more people than I thought.”
Just like Naoshi said, even though it was already late, a decent number of women were leaning on the guardrails. Their outfits weren’t flashy. Honestly, in a place like Umeda, this would look totally normal. You wouldn’t even notice, except their legs were peeking out under short coats and skirts—kinda chilly for March. Still, nothing too weird yet.
”Kinda creepy, huh?”
What was weird was how they all stood the same distance apart, eyes locked on their phones. No one looked around. Just… waiting.
”How is it, step-brother?”
”Eh, nothing major. Feels normal. Umeda’s supposed to have a worse rep than this. What was it again… not a disease, but a plague god or something?”
”A plague god?”
”Yeah, like the god that’s supposed to keep the plague away isn’t doing its job here.”
”Wait, are plague gods and disease gods different?”
”Basically the same. Just depends on who’s talking.”
The idea comes from back when people didn’t have medicine, but it’s not completely nonsense. There’s still a saying that illness starts in the mind. People still believe in invisible ayakashi that spread sickness.
”Oh, look. That’s some kind of marking, right? Probably got scrubbed off by someone thinking it was graffiti.”
”Yeah…”
”With this many people, maybe it was written from above. Or just erased like normal.”
”Should we report it to the Onmyō Bureau?”
”Let’s just ask Yuki-kun. He’ll handle it faster.”
”Understood.”
”Alright then, let’s take a look around.”
Saying that, Naoshi walked right past the women. They didn’t react much—not even the three who weren’t taking selfies or scrolling on their phones.
”What’s wrong, Suzuri-chan? You’ve got a weird look.”
”Um, nothing… just surprised that Nao-nii didn’t get any kind of reaction either.”
”That’s not weird, is it? Why are you acting more smug than me?”
They were here for a reason. Until someone directly approached them, those women didn’t care about anyone passing by.
”Hmm. Are you sure about that, Nao-nii?”
”Yeah. Honestly, I think step-brother’s in the wrong category for this place.”
Everyone tilted their heads at Ako’s comment.
”Category?”
”Oh, was that a diss?”
”Should I offer you something?”
”…Why would you? I’m good. Don’t want anything right now.”
Suzuri nodded at Ako like she was saying “See what I mean?”
”No reaction at all… huh.”
Just as Naoshi grumbled, the row of women ended. He spun around and looked down at his sisters.
”By the way, you two—anything seem off to you?”
”I’m not into girls.”
”Don’t joke. What about you, Suzuri-chan?”
”Um, I didn’t sense any ayakashi, but…”
”Yeah. Same here. But something did feel off.”
”What now, step-brother?”
Even if Naoshi couldn’t put his finger on it, Ako clearly trusted his instincts. She was already on alert. Meanwhile, Suzuri turned back to stare at the women again. They all looked alike—no individuality. So if something foreign slipped in, it should stand out pretty easily, but…
”Of course, we check for answers.”
A faint crackling sound filled the air.
Naoshi began gathering spirit energy inside himself. It was strong enough for both exorcists to feel it pressing down.
”I see. You’re amazing, step-brother.”
”A bit too intense…”
Naoshi gave a crooked smile at their reactions.
”Alright, let’s go. If there’s nothing, we just stroll through the alley.”
He walked again, this time slower, more relaxed. Just like before, most of the women ignored him. But Naoshi was holding back his spirit energy, keeping it just under the radar.
Regular people wouldn’t notice—but those who could sense spirit energy definitely would.
Then, about halfway through their return, three people ahead, one woman shifted. She stood up from the guardrail.
She had long black hair in a half-up style, and her outfit was classic “danger zone” fashion—pink and black, very on-brand. She acted casual but definitely moved away from Naoshi and the group.
”────”
Naoshi picked up his pace.
Even though the woman had her back to them, she sped up too.
Her white over-the-knee socks hugged surprisingly toned legs.
”I’m chasing.”
Naoshi announced.
”Yes.”
”…This feels like we’re the criminals here.”
Ako moved without hesitation. Suzuri also kept up, matching Naoshi’s stride.
And right after, the woman broke into a light jog.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply