Meanwhile, on the Shopping Street.
Yotsuya Miko saw Kano Yoruhoshi tie the long saber directly to his waist, with no intention of concealing it, and couldn't help but quietly remind him,
"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to be so blatant? What if someone discovers it…"
Kano Yoruhoshi waved his hand and said casually, "Do you see anyone looking at us?"
Yotsuya Miko looked around and nodded, saying,
"Yes, many people are staring at you."
"That's because I'm handsome, not because of the sword."
"Uh…"
Narcissism is an annoying trait.
But Kano Yoruhoshi's unpretentious and self-righteous narcissism truly left Yotsuya Miko at a loss for words.
Indeed.
Those secretly observing Kano Yoruhoshi were mostly women, and their gazes lingered only on his face, not noticing the long sword at his waist.
"You're right, I was indeed overthinking it."
Yotsuya Miko thought to herself that this was also true.
In Kyoto, a city where otaku culture is prevalent, especially on this bustling Shopping Street, people in cosplay outfits can be seen from time to time.
Kano Yoruhoshi's unhidden attitude towards the long sword was, on the contrary, normal.
In other words,
Even if he tried to conceal it, with the length of this sword, it would be utterly impossible, and it would only arouse more suspicion.
After leaving the Shopping Street, Yotsuya Miko looked at the long sword at Kano Yoruhoshi's waist and asked curiously,
"Then how are you going to get home later? If you can't take the train or bus, you'll have to walk back, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
Kano Yoruhoshi looked at Yotsuya Miko in confusion, unfastened the long sword from his waist, and handed it to her with one hand.
"How to get home with this thing is the problem you need to consider."
"Huh?"
Yotsuya Miko looked utterly bewildered at the long sword Kano Yoruhoshi handed over.
"Why… no, this, you want me to take it back?"
"Of course."
Kano Yoruhoshi's tone was very matter-of-fact.
"This long sword is a special Ryokunoryoku item. First, we need to verify if it can deter Evil Spirits and ghosts to a certain extent, so it must be held by someone who can see those things. You know my situation; only you can bear this important responsibility."
Yotsuya Miko showed hesitation, unsure what to do.
Only she and Kano Yoruhoshi could clearly see those "things."
Although Oda Noto was also a Supernatural Power User, he could at most only notice some phantoms, incomparable to her and Kano Yoruhoshi.
To test the deterrent effect of the long sword, one must first meet the condition of possessing Yin-Yang Eyes.
Otherwise, how would one know if Evil Spirits and ghosts had been driven away?
However, Kano Yoruhoshi's situation was somewhat special.
He didn't need to do anything special, nor did he need to possess any Ryokunoryoku items.
Kano Yoruhoshi himself was enough to make Evil Spirits and ghosts retreat three paces.
The evidence was that after Yotsuya Miko entered Soubu High School today, she hadn't seen any trace of those "things" the entire day.
For her, who lived in constant fear, it was a rare and pleasant time to relax.
Therefore, if Kano Yoruhoshi held the long sword, it would not achieve the desired experimental effect, as ordinary Evil Spirits and ghosts already dared not approach him.
However, there was still one crucial question.
Yotsuya Miko lightly bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with conflict. She looked up at Kano Yoruhoshi and finally spoke slowly,
"Kano Yoruhoshi, can I trust you?"
"That's for you to ask yourself."
Kano Yoruhoshi put away his smile, his face showing a rare seriousness as he replied.
"If you have any unspoken difficulties, it's not too late to withdraw now. The choice is in your own hands."
Kano Yoruhoshi knew the reason for Yotsuya Miko's hesitation.
There was a… he didn't know how to describe it, neither a ghost nor an Evil Spirit seemed appropriate, perhaps it should be called a soul, in her house.
If it were just that, it would be fine.
Yotsuya Miko had encountered hundreds, if not thousands, of Evil Spirits and ghosts.
The problem was that the soul lingering in her house belonged to her Father, who had passed away not long ago.
If she took this long sword back and it didn't work, that would be one thing.
But if it really expelled her Father's soul, would she ever be able to see her Father again?
This was what she hesitated about.
The two stood silently opposite each other at the exit of the Shopping Street, inevitably attracting the glances and discussions of passersby.
"Are they breaking up?"
"Looks like it."
"Youth is so good."
"A love triangle? Caught cheating?"
"Forget it, let's hurry in and buy things. I'm exhausted after working all day today."
…
After a long silence, Yotsuya Miko pursed her lips, and a determined look gradually appeared in her golden eyes. She slowly extended her hand and grasped the long sword Kano Yoruhoshi handed over.
"I have made up my mind."
Yotsuya Miko took a deep breath and recounted, in detail, how her Father's soul had been wandering in her home since his death.
She tried her best to calm the complex emotions in her chest, her voice firm as she said,
"Although I'm still a bit reluctant, please rest assured, I will take responsibility and personally send Father to the afterlife."
"Uh…"
Kano Yoruhoshi's expression became very colorful, his face complex as he said,
"This… I really admire your resolve to sacrifice your family for the greater good, but have you perhaps misunderstood something?"
"Huh?"
Yotsuya Miko was startled by his words.
"You don't intend to eliminate my Father's soul?"
"When did I ever say such a thing?"
Kano Yoruhoshi waved his hand, a wry smile on his face.
"Your Father is neither an Evil Spirit nor harmful to humans, nor has he been affected by the Door. Why would I eliminate him when I have nothing better to do?"
Only then did Yotsuya Miko realize.
So, she had misunderstood.
She had preconceived that since Kano Yoruhoshi had devoured hundreds of Evil Spirits after awakening that special ability, he must harbor an extremely strong hatred for such existences.
Coupled with what he had said in the train earlier,
He wouldn't meddle in matters unrelated to Evil Spirits.
Yotsuya Miko naturally understood that as long as something was related to Evil Spirits and ghosts, Kano Yoruhoshi would definitely take decisive action.
This was what she had been stammering and hesitating about.
It turned out that all of it was her own wild imagination, and Kano Yoruhoshi didn't mean that at all?
"This, I, this, that…"
Even Yotsuya Miko, who usually didn't easily express emotions, blushed with embarrassment at the thought of her earlier words and her resolute demeanor, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
It was so shameful, truly too shameful.
This was like going directly from a cool realization to a self-absorbed fool, utterly humiliating.
Seeing Yotsuya Miko's appearance, Kano Yoruhoshi couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, then he put away his smile and said,
"However, there's one thing you weren't wrong about."
"This can't go on."
"As long as the Doors continue to appear in Kyoto, one day, your Father will also be affected by the Door, transforming from a harmless soul into a terrifying Evil Spirit."
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