"Yokai Yosuzume, I swear to follow you, Master, through generations! Even as your slave!"
Yosuzume's words, full of submission, echoed through the night sky, not only astonishing Tsurara, but even Moon God Envoy, who had no will of his own, froze in place.
If Moon God Envoy could speak at this moment, he would surely ask Yosuzume: "What is going on? Are we fighting or not? If not, I'm going back to sleep."
"Aren't you afraid that Abe no Seimei will hunt you down?"
Nakano Yu asked with interest, looking at Yosuzume who was kneeling prostrate before him.
"Not at all!"
Yosuzume answered very decisively. Perhaps in her previous view, Sanmoto Gorōzaemon, whom the Kyoto yokai followed, and Abe no Seimei, the half-human, half-yokai born as Nue, were extremely powerful. But even Abe no Seimei and Sanmoto Gorōzaemon were far inferior compared to this human youth of unknown origin before her.
"Sanmoto Gorōzaemon and Abe no Seimei are probably not a match for Master!"
Recalling the terrifying scene she had just witnessed, Yosuzume's body trembled slightly as she added that.
"It seems you saw something?"
Seeing Yosuzume so certain, Nakano Yu raised an eyebrow.
"I... saw Master's power that surpasses both humans and yokai!"
Yosuzume did not hesitate and answered. She was not taking the opportunity to flatter Nakano Yu; she truly had seen it!
In Nakano Yu's eyes she saw a city flooded with filth and sin. That city was so prosperous, but then heavenly fire descended from the sky, and in an instant that city turned into a dead city.
The entire city, regardless of what kind of living being was within it, was turned into lifeless pillars of salt under that incomparable power!
Such power definitely could not be possessed by either humans or yokai!
"Oh? Interesting."
Hearing that, Nakano Yu raised an eyebrow and stood up. He was not sure what Yosuzume had seen, but it was probably something terrifying.
"Please, Master, accept Yosuzume! Yosuzume is willing to go through fire and water for you! If Master wishes, Yosuzume can be your slave..."
Seeing that Nakano Yu had no intention of killing her, Yosuzume quickly once again expressed her submission, afraid that she too would be turned into a pillar of salt by the power from his eyes.
However, while she was speaking, the Snow Woman beside her suddenly blushed and stepped forward, striking Yosuzume on the head with the hilt of her Ice Blade, saying indignantly:
"Shameless! How can you, how can you mention such things in front of Nakano-sama?!"
After being struck by Tsurara, Yosuzume did not retaliate, but still stubbornly looked at the young man in front of her.
She knew that Tsurara was by Nakano Yu's side, which was why she did not dare to attack her. Otherwise, with Tsurara's level as a yokai, Yosuzume would not even blink.
"Enough, Tsurara, this one is still useful to me."
Seeing that Tsurara had no intention of stopping, Nakano Yu had to stop her.
Hearing the young man's words, Tsurara, although still dissatisfied, obediently withdrew her Ice Blade.
"Since you are willing to submit, for now I won't kill you. According to the wishes of the one behind you, continue to spy on the Shikoku yokai, and remember to report to me the situation in Kyoto."
Nakano Yu said, looking at Yosuzume who was still kneeling on the ground. In fact, he was not interested in the Kyoto yokai.
He was interested in the half-human, half-yokai, the legendary Nue — Abe no Seimei!
If he remembered correctly, Abe no Seimei possessed a method to evolve the Nue born from a human and a yokai into a deity.
However, Nakano Yu was not sure whether that was true, nor whether such a so-called "deity," after he killed it, could grant him authority, but in any case it was worth trying!
"Yes! Nakano-sama!"
Hearing that, Yosuzume respectfully agreed.
"That one will follow you from now on. If you need him, just call toward the sky. If there is nothing else, you may go."
Nakano Yu pointed at the Tsukuyomi's envoy, who had severely wounded Yosuzume in just one round of battle, and said.
The strength of Moon God Envoy could reach the level of a Great Knight. If he followed Yosuzume, he could ensure her safety. After all, if Yosuzume became a double agent, she might be exposed by powerful yokai like Otakemaru. With Moon God Envoy, Yosuzume could at least stay alive long enough to deliver him a message.
"Yes! Nakano-sama, Yosuzume withdraws!"
Hearing that Nakano Yu would entrust her with that terrifying giant servant of the Moon, Yosuzume was excited. She quickly agreed, then turned into countless black feathers and left together with Moon God Envoy.
"Nakano-sama... what is happening with the Kyoto yokai?"
After Yosuzume left, Tsurara finally stepped forward to ask.
She had heard Nakano Yu earlier say that Yosuzume was not a Shikoku yokai, but a yokai from the ancient capital of yokai, Kyoto. But she could not understand how yokai could appear from Kyoto, which was currently under the control of onmyoji.
"This matter is too complicated, Tsurara. You are still too weak. I will tell you when you become stronger."
Seeing that the Snow Woman was interested, Nakano Yu did not reveal matters related to Kyoto. After all, even Yosuzume, who was not among the strongest in Kyoto, could so easily severely injure her, let alone other yokai.
Allowing Tsurara to know too much was not good, and it might also drag in the Nura Group, which would not benefit him.
"I understand. Alright... Nakano-sama, do you want to go home with me?"
Tsurara nodded. Since Nakano Yu did not want to speak, she did not press further, but instead asked whether he wanted to return with her.
"Back to the Nura Group?"
Nakano Yu raised an eyebrow, first thinking that Tsurara wanted to take him to the Nura Group. However, the Snow Woman shook her head and said firmly:
"I want to stay by Nakano-sama's side."
Yokai were very pragmatic. They only liked the strong, not the weak who resisted them and refused to accept them. She did not like that, and no yokai would like it.
"You'll have to talk to Nurarihyon about that yourself. In any case, I'm not going back for now. Alright, see you."
Hearing that, Nakano Yu paused for a moment, but only told her to find Nurarihyon herself. Then his figure flickered and in an instant disappeared from the rooftop.
"…I will. Tsurara must become stronger!"
After a moment of silence, Tsurara made her decision and murmured as she headed toward the Nakano residence.
"I'm back. Hm? Ichika? Where are they?"
On Nakano Yu's side, he returned to Arima Kana's rented apartment with the groceries he had bought. However, when he entered, he saw neither Ichika nor Arima Kana.
"Shhh~"
At that moment, the sound of a shower came from the bathroom.
Hearing the sound, Nakano Yu first put the groceries on the table, then walked to the bathroom door and asked:
"Kana, is that you? Did you see Ichika? Where did she go?"
Inside, Arima Kana blushed, crouched under the shower and covered her mouth, afraid to make even the slightest sound.
"Kana-chan, you like Yu, so go and take him. Yu won't reject you!"
The words Ichika had said to her before leaving the apartment echoed in her head, and Arima Kana felt she had been foolish to agree to such a thing with Ichika.
"What should I do?! Nakano Yu has already returned. Should I really...?"
In the silence, Arima Kana struggled internally. She was afraid, afraid that Nakano Yu would reject her, afraid that Ichika's bad idea would leave a bad impression of her in Yu's eyes.
But if she did not do as Ichika said, she might never again have the chance to grow closer to Nakano Yu!
After her internal struggle, Arima Kana finally made a decision, stood up and reached for the bathroom door.
Outside, Nakano Yu frowned. He felt that someone was inside, but why was there no answer?
"Kana? Are you inside?"
Thinking that Ichika would not use the shower in someone else's apartment, Nakano Yu asked again. However, the person inside still did not respond, but the bathroom door opened at that moment.
Waves of warm steam rushed out of the bathroom and struck Nakano Yu in the face.
And the girl stood shyly in the mist, uncertain, arms crossed, not daring to look at the young man in front of her.
For a moment, an awkward silence reigned between them.
Looking at Arima Kana, Nakano Yu for a moment did not know what to do. Arima Kana had opened the bathroom door, which meant she allowed him to see her, but their current relationship was not even close friendship.
After all, the time they had spent talking face to face was shorter than the time they had spent chatting on LINE.
"Nakano Yu... Nakano Yu..."
In the end, Arima Kana could not endure it any longer. She clenched her teeth and approached the young man, carrying with her the scent of flowers and droplets of water on her body.
"Kana, have you made your decision?"
Nakano Yu was composed as he looked at the girl who had pressed herself into his embrace on her own, like a piece of pure white jade. He asked.
In Nakano Yu's opinion, that was the most important thing in a girl's life. If he took it without a word, that would be the behavior of an ordinary scoundrel.
Nakano Yu admitted that he was not a gentleman, but he was definitely a scoundrel with principles and boundaries.
"Mm..."
The girl nodded softly, without unnecessary words, but everything was clear without being spoken.
Nakano Yu no longer hesitated and simply lifted the girl into his arms.
"Click."
The lights in the room went out. The bright moon shone high in the sky, but it could not reach into the room.
That night, the golden White Horse with a golden mane and golden hooves once again ran freely. The unrestrained White Horse galloped across the embodied full moon. As if it had had enough, the White Horse charged toward the sun, turned its head with a burst of flames and plunged into the pure white full moon.
At that time, in the Nakano residence, Nino followed Ichika into the bedroom, frowning as she looked at Ichika and asked:
"Ichika, didn't you say Nakano Yu came back with you? Why don't I see him?"
"Nino, I know everything about you and Nakano Yu. Nakano Yu told me everything."
However, Ichika did not answer Nino's question. Instead, she stood by the bed, looked at Nino and said.
"…I knew this day would come. That's right, Nakano Yu and I are together, and we've already… we've already kissed!"
Hearing that, Nino's body stiffened, but she quickly composed herself. She looked at Ichika and spoke, her face flushed.
"Is that so? Nakano Yu and I have already done everything that needed to be done."
Seeing Nino's proud face, Ichika suppressed a laugh in her heart and said.
"What?!!!"
As soon as Ichika finished her sentence, Nino let out a sharp scream. Fortunately, Ichika reacted in time and prevented her from continuing to scream.
"Nino, I know you're upset, but don't rush. Now I'll show you something that happened after Nakano Yu and I crossed that line. Don't be surprised when you see it. Nod if you understand."
After restraining Nino, Ichika said cautiously.
Although Nino had a thousand questions in her heart after hearing Ichika, Nakano Yu was not there, so it was useless to argue. Moreover, she was curious what Ichika and Nakano Yu had gained after that.
Thinking about it, Nino nodded. Ichika immediately released her hand.
"Ichika, what exactly do you want to show me?"
Looking at Ichika, Nino still felt a lot of dissatisfaction. She was the first to be with Nakano Yu, so how could Ichika overtake her? Had she become second for no reason? No, she would have to properly question Nakano Yu when he returned!
"I'll show you this."
Ichika smiled and walked to her large bed. Then she lightly grasped the edge of the bed with two fingers and effortlessly lifted it up. The bed was simply lifted by Ichika.
Seeing that, Nino was stunned and for a moment did not know what to say.
Was this still the Ichika she knew? This… Ichika had become a superhero?!
This… was this the change that happened after Ichika and Nakano Yu crossed that line?!