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"We're being chased by demons right now—why did you two come all the way out here?" Takumi tossed out casually, his tone as relaxed as if he were out for a stroll.
Miko Yotsuya and Hana Yurikawa blinked, not quite processing it, and answered on reflex. "We picked up this little one on our way home. But unfortunately, none of us at home can keep pets, so we're trying to find it a new owner. We just posted on SNS, hoping someone would come adopt this little cutie."
As she spoke, Hana teased the kitten in her arms.
"Meow~ meow~~"
The adorable chirps made all the girls present soften with pity. Takumi arched a brow, a hint of fondness rising despite himself. Now this is a good cat—not some round-headed old stray.
"Mmm, mmm! She really is so cute!"
"Wow! So tiny—I almost want to eat you right up. Come on, purr and spin around…"
Hana scooped the kitten up and, delighted, spun in place. Lost in the moment, she nearly bumped into a passerby.
"Careful." Before that could happen, Takumi reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"Mmph~ sorry." Hana dipped her head in guilt, then looked toward the passerby she'd almost hit.
It was a slightly plump middle-aged woman with a seemingly kind face. "I live nearby. I saw the post about adopting a kitten, so I came over."
The woman's gentle smile made one instinctively drop their guard.
Hana immediately lifted the kitten. "Right, we—"
Before she could finish, Miko stopped her. "No. You can't give her the kitten!!"
Miko's tone was absolute, sweat beading on her brow. Reflected in her golden eyes, the middle-aged woman's whole body was shrouded in a thick, pitch-black miasma of rancor. One after another, feral cat Cursed Spirits coiled around her.
There was no doubt—this chilling sight meant the woman was probably a cat abuser. Otherwise, there couldn't be so many low-grade Cursed Spirits formed from feline resentment clinging to her.
At the same time, a graceful silhouette entered their view.
She was a straight-black-haired girl in a Kuoh Academy uniform. Her face was unfairly cute, her features proper and refined; snow-pale skin like the first thaw. Rose-pink lips of perfect size, glistening like cherries. The fitted uniform traced her slender lines; long, straight legs wrapped in black stockings exuded a subtle sensuality. More than that, a cold, mysterious aura surrounded her—distant and untouchable.
"You're… Yukinoshita-san!?" Hana gasped, recognizing the newcomer.
Yukino Yukinoshita took in the odd group—four girls and one boy. When her gaze slid to Takumi, the moment their eyes met, a shock like static raced through her. Yukino's body trembled, ever so slightly. Recognizing who Takumi was, the frost in her expression seemed to melt, revealing a flash of astonishment—yet the subtle shift quickly smoothed over, returning to that cool, emotionless mask.
Her gaze finally settled on the kitten in Hana's arms. "You're the ones looking for an owner? I should introduce myself—I'm Yukino Yukinoshita." After a brief greeting to Takumi and the others, she looked at the kitten. "I'd like to adopt her. Is that all right?"
"I was here first, girly!!" The middle-aged woman in front snapped, the previously kind face twisting into something mean.
Seeing that, Yukino's expression dimmed; she stepped back half a pace. Hana stared at the domineering woman, at a loss. Instinctively, she turned to Takumi and whispered, "Takumi-kun, this… what should we do?"
"Naturally, we give her to our classmate Yukinoshita. As for this auntie…" Takumi let out a cold snort, then looked to Miko. "Miko, feel the power inside you. Control the force that can command Cursed Spirits—give it a try."
He ignored the fuming woman completely, calmly guiding Miko.
At the sound of Takumi's voice, fragments from the infirmary flashed before Miko's eyes—heat surging into her body again and again, as if unlocking a power buried deep within her soul.
"[Spirit Arts]!" She extended both hands; cursed energy glowed in her palms. Bathed in that light, the feline wraiths were tamed at once, flying to her side. Thirteen cat-wraith Cursed Spirits in total became as docile as real kittens, crouching at her feet.
She could feel their emotions, could even glimpse scenes of the middle-aged woman abusing and killing cats.
"Damn little beasts!"
"This time I'll scald them in hot water first, then skin them!"
"Let's make cat meat into dishes for the tenants—they'll never know, hahaha!"
…
Image after image flashed past, swelling Miko's fury to the breaking point. As if influenced by her emotions, the cat-wraiths—already bearing deep hatred for the woman—bared their fangs and merged into one.
What had been a cluster of Grade 4 Cursed Spirits fused together, their body swelling to the size of a person. Three pitch-black tails like steel whips unfurled from its back; its razor claws and fangs gleamed with a killing chill. As one entity, the cat wraith's aura kept surging—until it reached a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit.
A freezing breath spread; the once-invisible spirit took on a visible form in the air.
"Haa!!!" The cat wraith loosed a shrill screech at the woman.
"AAAHHH! A g-ghost!!!" Terrified by the sight, the woman stumbled and fell to the ground. The next instant, the cat wraith pounced—its talons lanced straight into her abdomen.
Squelch!!
Her fat belly split open on the spot. In its frenzy, the cat wraith tore the cat-abusing woman into an unrecognizable corpse.
For a moment, all the girls blanched and stepped back several paces, staring in disbelief. Miko, pale as paper, muttered, "I—I didn't mean to. I can't control it."
"She brought this on herself. Miko, steady your mind now—calmly release your cursed energy." Takumi set a broad hand on her shoulder, soothing her in a low voice.
Under his guidance, Miko gradually calmed and recalled the rampaging cat wraith. A Hundred Ghosts Compendium appeared in her hands; as the cat wraith flew in, a matching illustration surfaced on its pages.
"This time was an accident—the cats' resentment was too heavy. But you also, by a twist of fate, grasped [Spirit Fusion] within Spirit Arts—merging spirits of the same nature. Savor that feeling just now. This is your power."
Takumi's voice was firm. He then flicked his hand, releasing a mass of blazing flame. In an instant, the remains on the ground burned to ash; not even a drop of blood was left behind.
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