"Sorry, sorry, did I make Yumiko wait for a long time? Hmm? Have Yui and Yukino already left?"
Returning to the shopping mall, Yu landed and immediately spotted Miura Yumiko quietly waiting for him.
However, aside from Miura Yumiko, Yu did not see either Yuigahama Yui or Yukinoshita Yukino.
Quickly approaching her while waving his hand, he asked.
Actually, Yu's question was rhetorical, because he had been away for quite a long time, and since evening was approaching, Yuigahama Yui and Yukinoshita Yukino had probably already gone home, especially since the situation lately had not been very peaceful.
Of course, the reason for that instability was mainly Yu. Due to his laziness and occasional forgetfulness regarding daily tasks, some grotesque creatures had begun wandering through various parts of Neon. Although Yu had arranged for Tsukuyomi's messengers to deal with the grotesque creatures targeted by daily missions.
The unusual nature of some grotesque creatures could still cause trouble before Tsukuyomi's messengers arrived to eliminate them.
Because of this, for safety reasons, aside from certain crowded areas and during special events, very few people in Neon went shopping at night.
"Mhm, Yu, you're finally back! Yui and the others have already gone home; it's a little dangerous outside for ordinary people now."
Miura Yumiko, who had been scrolling through her phone out of boredom, heard the young man's voice, turned around, and upon seeing the person she cared about, immediately threw herself into his arms, proudly huffing without the slightest complaint.
"I went to take care of something. So, what are your plans now, Yumiko? You really worked hard today trying to set me up with Yui."
Wrapping an arm around the girl's slender waist, Yu smiled and mischievously tapped her nose while speaking in a teasing tone.
After all, he was Miura Yumiko's boyfriend. Yet this girl was openly pushing her boyfriend toward another girl. Seriously... wasn't she jealous at all?
"Yu doesn't like that? I thought Yu looked like he was enjoying it."
Pouting her lips, Miura Yumiko grabbed Yu's restless hand and said.
As if suddenly remembering something, she took out a piece of mochi from the small bag she was carrying and handed it to Yu.
"This is... sweet mochi?"
Taking the mochi, Yu immediately noticed the red bean paste and powdered sugar on it, looking somewhat surprised.
However, Yu was not surprised by the mochi itself, but by the fact that he could not recognize which shop it came from. He considered himself a regular mochi enthusiast; whether it was from Nanatsuji-ya or anywhere else, as long as it was in Tokyo, Yu had either tasted it or at least seen it.
"Mhm, it's a thank-you gift from her for you. Keep it."
Miura Yumiko said, and although she smiled while explaining the origin of the mochi, a faint chill seemed to radiate from her entire body.
"Her? Yukino?"
Hearing that, Yu naturally understood who Yumiko's "her" referred to—none other than Yukinoshita Yukino, with whom Miura Yumiko did not have a particularly good relationship.
However, Yu had not expected that person to give him mochi, and... it seemed she had made it herself?
Taking the mochi, Yu picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. Instantly, the fragrant stickiness of the red bean paste and the sweetness of the mochi spread across his tongue, causing his eyes to light up as he nodded.
"What? Is it really that good?"
Seeing Yu's expression, Miura Yumiko looked somewhat surprised. She had always thought that Yukinoshita Yukino, as a wealthy heiress, would completely fail at making traditional sweets like this. But judging by the young man's reaction, this mochi was not only not a failure—it was very successful.
"Yumiko, just try it and you'll know."
Yu said, picking up a piece of mochi and bringing it toward Miura Yumiko's mouth.
Looking at the mochi, a trace of hesitation appeared in the girl's eyes, but after a brief pause, she opened her mouth, waiting for the young man to feed her.
However, seeing Miura Yumiko like that, Yu suddenly felt like teasing her, so he directly bit into the mochi in front of her lips and put it into his own mouth.
"Hmph! If you're not going to give it to me, then don't!"
Since she still had not felt the mochi enter her mouth, Miura Yumiko was somewhat confused, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Yu holding the mochi in his mouth and smiling.
At that instant, the girl's cheeks turned red.
She raised her delicate fist and lightly punched Yu in the chest, then turned around, wanting to break free from his embrace.
But Yu naturally had no intention of letting the girl in his arms go so easily.
He held her tightly, then lowered his head and forcibly transferred the mochi into her mouth.
Feeling the sweetness of the mochi in her mouth, Miura Yumiko's blush became even more intense, spreading all the way to her ears in an instant.
After a long time, the sweet taste lingering on her tongue finally faded.
Looking at Yu, who wore a mischievous smile on his face, Miura Yumiko felt her body go weak.
She wanted to free herself from his embrace, but now she could not even gather the strength to do that.
"Was it delicious?"
Looking at the girl in his arms, Yu asked with a soft laugh.
"Hmph, you bad boy!"
Coming back to her senses, Miura Yumiko huffed and said.
"What are your plans now, Yumiko?"
No longer teasing her, he gently rubbed her head and asked.
"Um... tonight... Mom and Dad are working overtime..."
Faced once again with his question, Miura Yumiko gently pressed her lips together, and the blush that had only just faded from her face reappeared.
Her voice was so quiet that Yu probably would not have heard it if he did not possess exceptionally sharp hearing.
Since Miura Yumiko had expressed herself like this, Yu naturally had no intention of refusing.
Supporting the girl, who was still somewhat weak, he left the shopping mall with her.
The moment they stepped out of the shopping mall and were illuminated by the moonlight, he disappeared together with the girl in his arms.
Kyoto, the ancient capital of the yōkai.
It was the territory of the yōkai. For nearly a thousand years, and then for almost another hundred years, it had been ruled from the shadows by the yōkai.
Only in recent years had the Onmyōryō, an organization composed of human onmyōji, together with various onmyōji families, taken control of Kyoto and secretly protected its safety.
However, in recent days, dark clouds had covered the sky above Kyoto, and the sun had not been seen for a long time.
Any human could notice that something was wrong with the current situation.
This was clearly a sign that a great storm was approaching.
Yet none of the onmyōji stationed in Kyoto had intervened regarding this major matter.
Deep within the ancient district of Kyoto was a cave, and within a blood-red pool inside it, a naked young woman with a cold and beautiful face, her skin so pale that it did not seem human, bathed in the crimson water.
If someone looked more closely, they would notice that the lower part of the young woman's abdomen was slightly swollen, clearly indicating pregnancy.
But why would this young woman, despite being pregnant, come to bathe in such a filthy pool?
The reason was her identity.
She was the ruler of Kyoto's Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, the great yōkai—Hagoromo-Gitsune!
And the life she carried in her womb was the legendary onmyōji said to be the co-ruler of yōkai and humans, the half-yōkai—Abe no Seimei!
"Hehe, it's almost time. Although a small accident occurred, my child, you will soon return to this world..."
Letting out a soft laugh, Hagoromo-Gitsune's eyes were filled with a mother's tenderness toward her child, and her quiet whisper echoed through the empty cave.
At that moment, the dark clouds covering all of Kyoto seemed to grow even thicker.