"...It's a bit complicated."
Hayashi Shuichi forced a dry laugh as he took half a step back, his back hitting the prep counter. The kitchen was filled with the rich, savory aroma of miso, but even that couldn't mask the thick scent of gunpowder hanging in the air.
"I'll explain it to you all later—"
Yukiko let out a dissatisfied huff from her nose, turning to glare at Akane Koizumi with her hands on her hips. "We aren't open yet. People who have nothing to do with us should stay out."
"Who says I have nothing to do with this? I've already prepaid for a week's worth of meals! And..." Akane pointed a finger right at Hayashi Shuichi. "He promised to help me with my math!"
Shuichi felt two scorching gazes lock onto him simultaneously, and a drop of cold sweat broke out on his temple. Even though he knew Yukiko was glaring at him with a look that could kill, he could only grit his teeth and nod, admitting that Akane was telling the truth.
"You!" Yukiko's teeth ground together in frustration. Her small, pearly teeth bit into her lower lip, leaving a row of faint indentations. "The last time I came back, didn't you tell me you wouldn't get involved with her? Why are you two so close now?"
The atmosphere in the kitchen instantly froze. Midori Orikasa, who had just stepped out of the storage room with onions and carrots in hand, saw the situation and silently retreated back inside.
Eri Kisaki sat at the register, resting her chin on one hand as she watched the confrontation with great interest. Reiko followed her lead; she had also stopped doing her homework and looked up to enjoy the spectacle.
"Things happened..." Shuichi explained helplessly. "A few days ago, Midori's friend was kidnapped. To save them, I had to ask her for a divination. In exchange, I had to agree to three of her requests..."
"Finding someone through divination?"
Yukiko's lips twitched as if she were barely holding back her rage. "I'm not an idiot, Shuichi. Don't try to lie to me. You clearly didn't believe in that stuff before."
"I still don't particularly want to believe it..." Shuichi gave a wry smile. "But her divination is truly different from others. If you don't believe me, you can try it yourself."
"Try it? Fine, let's try it!"
Yukiko crossed her arms, her fingertips tapping against her sleeve as she thought for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Since your divination is so accurate, why don't you divine when the movie I filmed will be released?"
Hearing this, Reiko—who also didn't want Akane to stay—hurriedly ran over. The young girl tugged on Yukiko's sleeve and whispered a reminder: "What if she says it releases in six months? Are you going to let her stay in the shop that whole time?"
"Yukiko-neechan, shouldn't you pick something that we can verify immediately?"
Eri Kisaki pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, smiling with practiced ease. "On the contrary, I think that's a great idea for a divination. Don't some people dream of becoming a big star every single day?"
Yesterday, after learning that Yukiko was about to return, Eri had actually advised Shuichi to let Akane stay. The current confrontation between Yukiko and Akane was exactly what she had hoped for. Naturally, Eri wanted Akane to remain, so she could stir up trouble for Yukiko every day.
"I'm the one being divined, not you!"
Yukiko shot Eri a glare, but then she realized Reiko had a point. Her priority right now should be getting rid of Akane.
With that in mind, she immediately changed her tune: "Fine, then divine this: who did I travel back to Tokyo with today?"
Akane clapped her hands. Following the sound of her applause, a figure wearing a silver mask pushed open the door, carrying a massive leather trunk. The mask shimmered with a cold, metallic luster under the lights, hiding the person's entire face and leaving only a pair of lifeless eyes visible.
"It just so happens I brought my things with me."
Akane directed the masked man to open the trunk. Inside were crystal balls, tarot cards, and various bizarre charms, which she began to arrange on a table near the door.
"Alright, Annoying Ghost, you can go back now," Akane waved him off dismissively. "Pick me up around ten."
"Yes." The masked man nodded mechanically and turned to leave.
"Annoying Ghost? Someone is actually named that?" Reiko's eyes widened in surprise.
Akane glanced sideways at Hayashi Shuichi, her crimson eyes flashing with a spark of mischief. "That person is annoying by nature, don't you agree?"
"Even if he is, you shouldn't give him a name like that," Shuichi replied with a stern face. "It's rude. Careful, or you might get 'educated' again..."
As he spoke, he pointedly clapped his hands together.
Akane immediately jumped like a startled rabbit, her hands instinctively covering her backside as a flush of red crept up her cheeks.
"Hmph, I'll call him Annoying Ghost if I want to, Annoying Ghost..." the girl muttered under her breath, though her voice had noticeably lost its confidence.
Yukiko frowned as she watched their interaction. "What kind of riddles are you two speaking in?" Her gaze bounced back and forth between Shuichi and Akane, trying to find some clue. "Shuichi, do you know that person in the mask?"
Know him? More than that...
From that familiar silhouette, Shuichi knew at a glance that the person behind the mask was the doll butler Akane had summoned, the one who looked exactly like him.
Of course, he couldn't tell Yukiko that. He could only make an excuse: "I just feel that Koizumi-san is being a bit too much of a bully."
"So what if I am? He's my servant. I can bully him however I like," Akane said, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Alright, didn't you want a divination? Let's begin."
Yukiko placed her hand on the crystal ball with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. The surface was cold and smooth, and the sensation was strangely grounding.
Akane closed her eyes and began chanting obscure incantations in a low voice. Inside the crystal ball, an eerie purple light began to swirl.
"Based on the results..." Akane suddenly opened her eyes. "The person who came back with you... should be your friend."
"Well, obviously!" Yukiko curled her lip in disdain, a mocking smile playing on her face. "If they weren't a friend, we wouldn't be traveling together."
She rolled her eyes as she spoke, an action that made her look particularly charming.
Akane ignored the sarcasm and continued. "Your friend is also an actress. You met because of this film shoot." Her voice suddenly became ethereal. "She has blonde hair... and is very beautiful."
Yukiko's expression froze instantly. Her rosy lips parted slightly, forming a perfect "O" shape.
Everything else could have been a lucky guess, but the detail about the blonde hair was impressive. Blonde people were rare in Japan, and Akane spoke with such certainty, it was as if she had seen the woman with her own eyes.
Yukiko hurriedly looked down and began checking her own clothes for any stray hairs or clues.
"Yukiko-neechan, what's wrong?" Reiko asked, tilting her head in confusion.
(To be continued)
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