SAK Chapter 7 Cat Cafe

The steady hum of the bullet train filled the quiet carriage, the rhythmic clatter of steel wheels against the tracks echoing like a lullaby through the walls. Outside, the scenery blurred past in streaks of green fields, scattered buildings, and distant mountains.

Issei slumped slightly in his seat, arms folded behind his head, his bag resting by his feet. Beside him, Kanna pressed her forehead lightly against the glass, her wide eyes following every passing landscape with an almost childlike fascination. This was her first time on a train, and the wonder in her expression made her look more alive.

“Pretty amazing, huh?” Issei said with a small grin, tilting his head toward her. “Not as flashy as magic or flying, but still cool.”

Kanna’s lips curved faintly upward, though her gaze never left the window. “It’s fast. I can feel the vibrations in the air… but it’s steady. Like it was made to carry people safely.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s the idea. Technology’s come a long way.”

They were lucky, at least for the moment, to have the row of seats to themselves. The car was quiet, only the occasional shuffle of footsteps from another passenger passing through. That privacy gave Issei the opening he needed.

“Alright,” he said, straightening up. “I promised to explain what happened yesterday, so… here goes.”

He started from the beginning, recounting Akihabara, the barrier, Kazetaka’s shop, Mina’s role as an Onmyōji, and the tension that had brewed from Tohru’s sudden arrival in the human world. He kept his voice low, mindful of anyone who might wander close, but he spoke with honesty, trying not to leave out the important beats.

Kanna listened intently, her eyes occasionally flicking away from the window to rest on him, her expression calm but sharp as if filing away each piece of information. When he finished, she tilted her head slightly, her tone blunt and precise.

“So… Tohru came here, and her presence scared the supernatural community. They panicked, thinking they’d have to face her.” She counted off with her fingers, methodical. “Then you met Mina, a girl sent to fix the problem caused by Tohru. And because you feel guilty about what Tohru did, you decided to help her.”

Issei blinked, then gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah… that’s basically it. You summed it up better than I did.”

Kanna sat back, her gaze steady on him now. “…Then why didn’t you ask Tohru for help?”

That question made Issei stiffen. He looked at her like she had just grown another horn, his eyes narrowing slightly as if she’d missed something obvious. “You’re kidding, right?”

Kanna simply blinked. “No.”

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Kanna, the last thing I want is for my aunt to know what I’m doing. She’d freak out, and then she’d try to lock me down to keep me safe. And if I tell Tohru, then it’s basically the same thing as telling Oba-chan. Do you really think Tohru can keep a secret from her?”

Kanna considered that for a moment, then shook her head slowly. “…No. She tells Kobayashi everything.”

“Exactly.” Issei leaned back, sighing heavily. “Besides, Tohru’s reckless as hell. She’d probably just blast everything in sight if she thought it would fix the problem. The supernatural community’s already spooked—her showing up would make things worse, not better.”

He turned his head toward her, his expression softening a little, seriousness weighing down his voice. “…That’s why I’m telling you this instead. I trust you with what’s going on, Kanna. So promise me—don’t tell Tohru. Please.”

For a moment, silence lingered between them, broken only by the rumble of the train beneath their feet. Kanna blinked once, her face calm as always, but something shifted in her eyes. A faint warmth flickered there, like the glow of an ember.

“…You trust me?” She asked, her voice quiet, almost uncertain.

“Of course I do,” Issei said without hesitation. “You’ve been by my side this whole time. I know I can count on you.”

Her fingers tightened slightly against her knees, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. A warmth spread through her chest, subtle but undeniable. For a dragon who had always kept herself detached, being trusted like this meant more than she could put into words.

“I promise,” She said finally, her tone firm. “I won’t tell her.”

Issei let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, leaning back into his seat with a small grin. “Thanks, Kanna. I knew I could rely on you.”

Kanna turned back to the window, but this time her reflection showed a faint blush across her cheeks. She kept her gaze on the blurred horizon, but inside, her thoughts were clear. ‘He trusts me.’

The bullet train continued speeding on towards Shinjuku.

—-------------------------

The train began to slow, the steady hum of steel softening into a rhythmic clatter as Shinjuku Station came into view. A voice rang over the intercom in polite Japanese, announcing their arrival. 

Issei stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stiffness in his shoulders. Kanna rose silently beside, her movements precise and unhurried. 

They stepped off the train and into the station, swept up by the current of commuters. Bright signs glowed overhead, a chorus of voices called train schedules, and the bustle of footsteps echoed against the tiled floor.

When they finally emerged from the station, the sheer scale of Shinjuku hit them both. Towering skyscrapers clawed at the sky, their mirrored faces reflecting the morning sun. Neon billboards, even in daylight, screamed advertisements in every color imaginable. The flood of people moving in tides through the station platforms looked endless.

Kanna stepped out first, her eyes darting everywhere at once. She clutched the strap of her small bag, her lips parting slightly in awe. “…Everything is so big.”

Issei grinned at her reaction, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Welcome to Shinjuku. Biggest business hub in Tokyo. Think of it like… well, a small kingdom.”

They moved with the crowd, weaving through the street. Kanna's head turned constantly, trying to take in every detail. A man in a business suit hurried past, barking into his phone. A group of teens in colorful fashion laughed as they posed for a picture by a giant electronic billboard. A pair of street performers on the corner played shamisen, the twang of strings blending with the city noise.

Kanna slowed to watch them, her eyes bright with wonder. “…They make music in the open?”

“Yeah,” Issei said, gently nudging her forward before the flow of the crowd swallowed them up. “Street performers. Some people make a living out of it.”

When they passed a shop with a massive screen looping an anime trailer, Kanna stopped again, staring up at the moving images. “Issei, what’s a movie theater?”

Issei laughed softly, rubbing the back of his head. “Think of it as a giant TV that you see with a group of people. Trust me, once you go to one it’s quite the addiction, you’ll end up wanting to go to more.”

Kanna tilted her head, committing the strange new marvel to memory before following him again.

As they turned down a quieter street, the crowds thinned just enough for them to walk side by side without being jostled. Issei pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up with the map Mina had sent. “Alright, the café’s not far from here. Maybe ten, maybe fifteen minutes on foot.”

Kanna glanced at the glowing screen, then at him. Her voice was calm, but curious. “Is Tohru scaring everyone the reason why you want me to hide my power?”

Issei slowed his steps a little, then looked at her with a soft smile. “Yeah… that’s part of it.” He scratched his cheek, his tone turning gentler. “But mostly? It’s because I don’t want the people living here to be scared of you.”

Kanna blinked, her lips parting slightly.

Issei shoved his hands back into his pockets, looking up at the clear sky between the tall buildings. “You're adorable and cute, Kanna. Strong, sure—but also kind. I don’t want anyone mistaking you for something terrifying. To me, you’re… well, not scary at all.”

For a moment, Kanna didn’t answer. She just stared at him, the faintest warmth rising in her chest, softening her usually calm features. Her fingers tightened slightly on her bag strap, and she turned her gaze forward again to hide the flicker of a blush across her cheeks.

“…Adorable,” She repeated quietly, almost to herself.

Issei kept walking, oblivious to the storm of emotions that one simple word had stirred in her. Ahead, the café Mina mentioned came into view—a small, modern building tucked between two larger shops, its sign neat and modest. 

—------------------------

The little bell above the café door jingled as Issei pushed it open, Kanna close by his side. A soft wave of warmth and the gentle scent of coffee and pastries drifted out to greet them. Inside, the air carried a lighter fragrance—freshly cleaned wood, the faint musk of fur, and that unique atmosphere only a cat café could have.

The place was cozy, wide windows letting in streams of sunlight, wooden tables arranged neatly, and shelves built into the walls where cats lounged lazily. Customers murmured in soft voices, careful not to disturb the feline overlords prowling between their legs.

Issei barely registered any of it at first—because the sight ahead froze him in place.

There, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a small crowd of cats draped over her lap and shoulders, was Mina. Gone were her shrine maiden robes. Instead, she wore a casual blouse and skirt, her brown hair loose around her shoulders. She was giggling softly, gently scratching under a tabby’s chin while another pawed playfully at her sleeve.

Issei’s jaw went slack. ‘Wait…is that Mina?’

She looked completely relaxed, surrounded by purring cats. His heart skipped in his chest, his brain screaming at him to say something, but instead his hand betrayed him. Without thinking, he fished out his phone.

‘Just one picture. She won’t notice…’

Click.

The sound was quiet enough not to disturb her, and he let out a breath of relief. A grin tugged at his lips. “Man… this is gold. Who knew she could be that cute?”

Turning toward Kanna, he whispered, “That’s her. That’s Mina—”

But the words died in his throat.

Kanna wasn’t looking at him. Her face was serious, her eyes sharp and narrowed as she stared straight at Mina. Without a word, she began marching forward.

Issei’s eyes widened in panic. “H-hey, wait! Kanna, don’t—!” He reached out a hand, fully expecting her to start a confrontation. His mind flashed through every possible disaster. ‘This is bad!’

But instead… Kanna lowered herself to the floor right beside Mina.

The two girls didn’t even acknowledge each other as they were too busy playing around. Kanna extended her hand toward a curious calico. The cat sniffed her fingers, then rubbed against them, purring loudly. Mina meanwhile was too busy petting the cats and mimicking their moments.

They were both lost to the moment—kneeling on the floor, surrounded by cats, laughing softly as paws batted at their hair or climbed into their laps.

Issei froze again, but this time for a different reason. “…Holy crap.”

Two beautiful girls, sitting side by side, showing their most unguarded, defenseless sides while cuddling cats—it was almost too much. He felt his chest tighten in the best way, a sweetness so strong it made his knees weak. ‘This… this is dangerous. If I watch any longer, I’m gonna die watching this scene.’

He couldn’t help himself. Slowly, carefully, he raised his phone again.

Click. Click. Click.

He took picture after picture, unable to resist, his grin spreading wider with each one. Other customers nearby began to notice too, whispering and stealing glances at the scene.

Issei leaned back in his seat, one hand over his chest. “I swear, I’m gonna get diabetes from this…”

Still, as much as he wanted to continue to let the girl play from sheer adorableness, there were important matters to attend to. He cleared his throat, loud enough to draw attention.

“Ahem.”

Both girls looked up. Mina’s eyes landed on him, and her whole body stiffened.

Her cheeks flushed crimson as the realization hit her—Issei had just walked in and seen her like this. Playing with cats. Smiling like a little kid. Completely unguarded.

“Issei?!” She blurted, scrambling to sit straighter, brushing fur off her skirt. “I-I didn’t see you there!”

Issei chuckled, lifting a hand in a casual wave. “Hey. Nice to see you again.” His smile was easy, warm, as if her embarrassment didn’t faze him one bit.

But Mina’s blush deepened, the tips of her ears turning red. The boy she liked had seen her in such an unprofessional, vulnerable state.

Meanwhile, Kanna didn’t move from her spot. She continued to pet a gray kitten curled in her lap, utterly unbothered by Issei’s presence.

For Issei, caught between Mina’s crimson embarrassment and Kanna’s calm indifference, it was like his heart was being pulled in two directions. ‘I don’t deserve this level of adorableness in my life.’

—----------------

The three of them finally managed to gather at one of the café’s tables. The warm scent of coffee drifted between them, and the low chatter of customers filled the background. Mina sat up straight, brushing cat hair from her blouse and adjusting her glasses with a deliberate push, clearly trying to restore her usual professionalism.

Unfortunately, the cats had other ideas. A striped calico had hopped into her lap, curling into a ball as if claiming her outright. Another perched on the back of her chair, paw batting at a loose strand of her hair. Her serious expression twitched as the cats nuzzled and purred around her.

Across from her, Kanna was no better. A tiny orange kitten was draped lazily across her shoulders, its tail swaying like a scarf. Another nestled in her lap, and two more were climbing up her arms with determined mews. Kanna simply sat there, unbothered, continuing to pet them all with calm expression.

And then there was Issei. He leaned back in his chair with a black cat sitting squarely in his lap, eyes half-closed as he absentmindedly scratched behind its ears. His goofy grin betrayed the fact that he had absolutely no intention of pushing it away.

Mina let out a long sigh, forcing her attention back to the matter at hand. “Issei,” She began, her voice edged with exasperation, “I’m glad you were able to come. Truly. But…” She turned her gaze toward the girl across from her, her tone sharpening. “I have one issue.”

Her finger lifted, pointing directly at Kanna. “Who is she? And why is she here?”

Issei nearly jumped in his seat, the cat in his lap letting out an annoyed meow as he jostled it. He chuckled nervously, scratching his cheek. “Ah, well, this is Kanna. She, uh… she wouldn’t let me come here alone. So, I told her what was going on and… brought her along.”

Mina’s eyes widened, disbelief coloring her face. “You… what?!” She leaned forward, careful not to disturb the cat in her lap. “Issei, how could you be so irresponsible? Bringing a middle schooler into this?!” Her voice lowered into a hiss, glancing quickly at the other patrons before continuing. “What we’re about to do is dangerous. Life-threatening. And on top of that, you’re dragging foreigners into this mess? Do you even realize—”

Issei quickly raised both hands, palms out in surrender, his expression flustered but earnest. “Hey, hey! I didn’t have much of a choice, okay? You don’t know how stubborn she can be. If I didn’t bring her, she wouldn’t have let me leave at all.”

Kanna said nothing, simply stroking the kitten in her lap with serene indifference, though the faint pout on her lips betrayed her satisfaction at being defended.

Issei glanced at her, then back at Mina, his voice steadying. “And besides, you really don’t need to worry about Kanna. Trust me when I say she’s… well, she’s definitely stronger than both of us combined.”

That made Mina freeze. Her sharp retort caught in her throat, her eyes narrowing as she studied the petite girl across from her. “…Stronger than both of us?” She echoed, her voice cautious and doubtful.

Issei nodded firmly, his usual goofy tone replaced by rare seriousness. “Yeah. I wouldn’t make that claim if I didn’t mean it.”

Mina’s gaze flicked back to Kanna. The girl’s calm face gave nothing away—just that same serene composure as another cat climbed into her lap, her fingers scratching it absentmindedly. She didn’t look like a fighter. She didn’t look dangerous. But Issei’s face held no trace of a joke.

Mina leaned back slowly, her brows furrowing as she processed. “…If that’s true, then I suppose I don’t have much of a choice but to accept it.”

Still, her eyes lingered on Kanna for a moment longer, searching for something hidden beneath that innocent face. .

But in the end, Mina exhaled slowly, pressing her hand over the calico curled in her lap as though she were steadying herself. Her eyes drifted from Kanna, still quietly stroking her kittens, back to Issei. “Fine,” She said at last, her voice reluctant but resigned. “If what you say is true, and she’s as strong as you claim… then she’ll be useful. I’ll accept her being here.”

Issei let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thanks. That’ll make things easier.”

Mina adjusted her glasses, posture tightening again as she shifted gears. “Then let’s move on. There are things you should know before we go any further.”

Her tone sharpened, drawing Issei’s full attention. He straightened in his seat, even as the black cat in his lap batted at his fingers. “Alright. Shoot.”

Mina leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping lower. “After yesterday, I had to report to the higher authorities. I gave them the necessary details, about the Oni causing trouble, Kazetaka’s involvement in making that barrier, and how the threat was resolved.” She paused, her eyes narrowing just slightly as she studied Issei’s expression. “But I made sure to keep your involvement hidden. I didn’t even mention your name.”

Issei blinked, confused. “Huh? Why?”

“Because it’s better that way,” Mina replied flatly, pushing up her glasses again. “If they knew what you did, if they knew what you’re capable of, they’d drag you into their politics. They’d use you, cage you, maybe even strip you of your freedom in the name of keeping balance.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I won’t let that happen.”

Issei stared for a moment, then let out a relieved sigh and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, man… thanks. I didn’t really get half of what you just said, but if it means I don’t have to deal with a bunch of old men yelling rules at me, then you seriously saved me a headache.”

Mina couldn’t stop the faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’re welcome.”

But then her tone shifted again, serious, almost cold. “That being said, there are details you didn’t know about that were told to me at that meeting. That group of Oni you fought, they weren’t just some random thugs. They were part of a yakuza group from Saitama. They called themselves Iron Horn.”

“Iron Horn…” Issei repeated, frowning as the name echoed in his head.

Mina nodded. “While you were handling their main group, other members were making a mess across Akihabara, picking fights, setting fires, staking claims to territory.”

Issei’s eyes widened as realization struck. “Wait… that explains the explosions I heard when I first got pulled into the barrier. I thought it was just part of the fight between Kazetaka and that Oni.” He trailed off, scratching the back of his head. “So those were the other guys, huh?”

“Correct,” Mina said crisply. “I wasn’t the only one sent to deal with that problem as other Onmyōji were spread out to handle the fighting. They did their jobs well enough, but…” She leaned back in her chair, her fingers curling around her cup as a small, satisfied smirk came out of her face. “…because you forced their leader to retreat, the rest followed. That meant the mess unraveled faster than anyone expected.”

Issei tilted his head, still processing. “…So what you’re saying is—”

“That, because of you, I got most of the credit,” Mina interrupted, her smirk twisting into something sharper. “The other clans had to stand there and watch as the girl they dismissed got praised by Susanoo-sama for single-handedly resolving the situation.”

Her shoulders trembled slightly—not from nerves, but from the quiet, bubbling laughter slipping past her lips. A low, smug chuckle escaped her as her eyes glinted with mischief.

“M-Mina?” Issei blinked, leaning back with wide eyes.

She didn’t answer immediately, too busy savoring the mental image. “Heh… all those self-important, arrogant fools, forced to acknowledge me.” She pressed a hand to her lips, but her grin only widened. “Oh, the looks on their faces… was priceless.”

Issei did a double take, staring at her like he’d just witnessed someone flip a switch. ‘What’s with this evil grin?! This is a completely different person!’

Beside them, Kanna tilted her head, still petting the kitten in her lap. She watched Mina chuckle darkly to herself, then glanced at Issei with a flat look. ‘Should we really trust her?’

Issei scratched the back of his neck, sweat sliding down his temple. “O-okay… uh, that’s… good? I think? I mean, congrats?”

Mina finally composed herself, straightening her back, though the satisfied gleam in her eyes hadn’t dimmed. “Yes. Good. Very good.”

Issei leaned closer to Kanna, muttering under his breath. “Yup… she’s definitely got an evil side.”

Kanna just blinked slowly, then went back to stroking the cat.

Mina’s smug little grin finally softened into something more composed. With deliberate calm, she reached into her purse and withdrew a thick envelope. Without a word, she set it on the table between them and, with a gentle push of her fingers, slid it toward Issei.

The movement caught his eye immediately. Issei blinked, leaning forward. “Uh… what’s this?”

“Your paycheck,” Mina replied simply, her tone professional again, though there was a flicker of unease in her eyes—as if she already anticipated his reaction.

“Paycheck?!” Issei’s voice shot up half an octave. He picked up the envelope and turned it over in his hands. “Wait, hold on. Why am I getting paid?!”

Mina folded her hands together on the table, her expression cool but firm. “Because you helped me. And as you are not an Onmyōji, nor do the higher authorities even know of your existence, the responsibility of recompensing you falls to me. This way, you are… officially considered an asset of the Tadayuki family.”

Issei’s brain screeched to a halt. His eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. ‘What the hell kind of deal is this?!’

“N-no, no way!” He blurted out, quickly shoving the envelope back across the table toward her. “I didn’t help you expecting to be paid! I helped because you looked like you needed it. That’s all!”

The firmness in his voice made Mina pause. Her eyes widened slightly as her breath caught, the sincerity in his words hitting her harder than she expected. For just a moment, the edges of her usually strict composure softened.

“…You’re very kind,” She said quietly, almost to herself. But just as quickly, her expression hardened again. “But also naive.” She pushed the envelope right back toward him. “Take it. You earned it.”

Issei crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. “Nope. Not happening. I don’t need your money. Keep it.”

Mina narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. “If you don’t accept it, you’re not coming with me to solve this case.”

Issei’s chair screeched against the floor as he leaned forward, pointing at her with an accusing finger. “Y-you can’t be serious! That’s blackmail!”

Her gaze didn’t waver. “I’m very serious.”

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Man, you’re stubborn as hell…”

Still, he slowly took the envelope, sighing in defeat. “Fine, fine! I’ll take it. Happy?”

“Ecstatic,” Mina said with the faintest curve of a smile.

Issei grumbled under his breath as he opened the envelope, expecting maybe a few thousand yen for food or travel. Instead, his eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. The neat stacks of crisp bills inside made his hands tremble. “W-what the—?! This is… this is way too much! I can’t take this!”

Heads turned at his raised voice, and Mina quickly shushed him, her cheeks coloring slightly at the unwanted attention. She leaned forward, whispering sharply. “Quiet! And what do you mean too much? If anything, it’s too little. You risked your life helping me yesterday. You’ll be risking it again today. What you see in there is all I could spare.”

Issei stared at her in disbelief. “Too little?! This looks like it could buy a new console and a year’s worth of manga!”

Mina sighed, brushing her hair back behind her ear, her expression tightening. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much more to give. That’s why we need to succeed in this case. The more victories we achieve, the more support—and funding—we gain.”

Issei stared down at the money again, then back up at Mina’s unwavering eyes. With a defeated groan, he stuffed the envelope into his wallet. “Man… I really don’t get you. But fine. I’ll keep it.”

Across the table, Kanna finally spoke up, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity as she continued petting the kitten in her lap. “Issei… does this mean you work for her now?”

Issei froze, sweat dripping down the side of his face. “Uh… w-well… technically? But not really?!”

Mina smirked faintly behind her cup, sipping calmly. “From this moment on you’re now employed to me, Issei. Best get used to it.”

He dropped his forehead into his hand with a groan. “Great. Just great. From high school student to mercenary. My life just keeps getting weirder…”

Mina let the tension at the table fade just enough before she reached into her bag again—not for money this time, but for a neat folder bound with a red string. She laid it flat on the table. Her eyes flicked from Issei to Kanna, and when she spoke, her tone carried the gravity of the case.

“I guess it’s about time we talk about why I called you here.”

Issei straightened in his chair, the black cat in his lap slipping away as if sensing the shift in atmosphere. Kanna tilted her head, calm as ever, though her fingers never stopped stroking the kitten in her arms.

Mina untied the string and spread out several photographs across the table. They were all black-and-white prints, grainy and lit by harsh flash, but the images were unmistakable, pale corpses lying in alleys, eyes glazed.

“There have been several murders,” Mina began, her voice cool but sharp. “One after another, all in the same general area—the red-light district. So far, there have only been five men and two women.” She tapped one of the photos with her nail. “Every victim was found in alleys or in the backstreets. Their bodies were completely drained of blood.”

Issei felt his stomach drop. His eyes scanned the photos, his throat tightening as he saw the hollow look of people who had once been alive just the night before.

“They have found no wounds,” Mina continued. “No signs of struggle. Just… this.” She slid one close to him—an image showing the victim’s neck in detail. Two faint puncture marks, almost surgical.

Issei’s eyes went wide. He leaned forward, voice hushed but urgent. “…Wait. Japan has vampires?”

Mina’s gaze snapped to him, her expression firm. “All the evidence so far points to one. But we can’t be so quick to decide.” She folded her arms, her glasses flashing. “There are multiple creatures that drain the blood of their victims. Plus the being who killed them might have purposely made those puncture wounds to throw off suspicion and place the blame on a vampire as they are just the most obvious suspect.”

Issei leaned back, trying to process. “Okay… then what else could it be?”

“Plenty,” Mina said. She began ticking them off with her fingers. “There are youkai who feed on life essence, curses that can manifest physical symptoms like blood loss, and spirits that latch onto victims until nothing remains. Some obscure ones leave the same two-mark signature.”

Kanna’s calm voice cut in, her eyes still on the photos. “It could also be a spider. A very large one. They drain their prey.”

Mina blinked at her, then slowly nodded. “…That’s also a possibility. Certain giant spider youkai are known to trap victims and leave them dry husks. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Issei swallowed hard, running a hand through his hair. “…Great. Vampires, giant spiders, curses. Just what I needed to hear.” He slumped forward on the table.

But Mina wasn’t finished. Her tone sharpened again. “There’s another possibility. This could be the work of a stray devil.”

Issei’s head shot up. “A… stray devil? What the hell is that?”

Mina’s eyes darkened. She leaned in, her voice lowering to something almost clinical. “When a human is turned into a devil, they’re bound to the one who converted them. But sometimes, that bond breaks. A stray devil is one who rebels against their master and goes rogue. The moment they leave their master they usually turn unstable, unpredictable, and violent. And when they feed, they don’t stop until their victims are husks.”

The weight of her words sank into the silence that followed. Issei’s skin prickled at the thought—humans twisted into something inhuman, roaming free to cause havoc.

He exhaled slowly. “…Alright. Whoever—or whatever—it is, it’s dangerous.”

“Exactly.” Mina began gathering the photos again, slipping them back into the folder. “That’s why we’ll start with the most recent crime scene. If we’re lucky, the killer left something behind. A clue. Anything we can track.”

Kanna finally set the kitten in her lap down, letting it scurry off to join the others. “Then we should go now,” she said simply, her tone calm but edged with determination.

Mina nodded once. “Agreed.”

The three of them rose from the table. Issei dug into his pocket, taking out his wallet and quickly dropped yen on the bill, though his eyes flicked back toward Mina with a nervous grin. “I’m paying. It’s the least I can do after all that.”

Mina gave him a side glance, her lips curving faintly. “You’ll be covering a lot more than bills if you’re serious about this.”

Kanna, unfazed, adjusted her bag on her shoulder and walked toward the door first.

As they stepped outside, the bell above the café door jingled behind them, the warm smell of coffee replaced by the sharp, bustling air of Shinjuku. 

Issei clenched his fists, his mind set. ‘Alright. Time to find out what’s really out there.’

—----------------------------

As Issei and the girls were seen walking through Shinjuku’s red-light district. Various bars could be heard out loud as laughter and drunken singing came to the streets, neon lights buzzed above smoky doorways, and men in suits lurked at corners whispering promises of “cheap fun.” The air was heavy with perfume, alcohol, and cigarette smoke. It was still daytime but already people of all walks of life had come out to have fun.

Issei tugged at his collar, walking between Mina and Kanna. “Man, this is awkward…” His eyes darted left and right, catching the stares of couples, hostesses, and wandering drunks. “They keep looking at us weirdly.”

And they were. Adults passing by raised their brows at the strange trio—one serious-looking young woman, one high school boy, and a middle school girl. Some whispered, others chuckled knowingly, the misunderstanding written all over their faces.

‘Strangely, I can totally see Obaa-chan enjoying her time here.’ Issei groaned inwardly.

Mina noticed the looks too. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t acknowledge them. She simply adjusted her glasses and walked ahead, her posture stiff with professionalism. 

Kanna, meanwhile, didn’t even flinch. Her eyes slid over the stares without a care, as if they didn’t exist.

They turned down a narrower street, dimly lit by flickering signs above bathhouses and small hotels. It was then that Kanna suddenly stopped, her face scrunching up. She lifted her sleeve and pressed it against her nose. “…It smells disgusting.”

Issei blinked, halting beside her. “Huh? Smells?” He sniffed the air—and immediately regretted it. A rancid, metallic stench hit his nostrils, sharp and wrong. His hand flew up to cover his nose. “Ugh! She’s right! That reeks!”

Mina turned, her brows furrowing. “What do you mean? I don’t smell anything.”

Issei grimaced, pointing at his nose. “Me and Kanna—we’ve got stronger senses than most people. Like… way stronger. Stuff like this hits us hard.” He waved a hand in front of his face, trying to clear the air. “It’s not just trash or sewer stink. This is… different.”

Kanna’s eyes flicked toward a side alley, her voice flat but sure. “It’s a corpse.”

Both Issei and Mina froze.

Mina’s head whipped toward her, eyes narrowing behind her glasses. “What did you just say?”

Issei’s eyes widened. “H-hey, wait a second! How do you even know that for sure?”

Kanna didn’t answer. She just turned on her heel and began walking toward the source of the smell, her steps calm and steady.

“Oi! Hold up!” Issei hissed, hurrying after her with Mina close behind. His heart hammered in his chest as the stench grew stronger the deeper they went down the alley. The bright neon lights of the street faded into a narrow gloom, broken bottles and garbage bags lining the path.

Then they saw it.

At first, Issei thought it was just another pile of discarded junk. But then his eyes adjusted, and he realized the shape slumped against the wall was a man. His skin was ghostly pale, lips tinged blue. His head lolled forward, and the stillness in his body told the truth Kanna had already sensed.

Issei froze, his stomach twisting violently. His chest tightened, his breath catching as his mind screamed at him. ‘Dead, he’s dead, that’s a corpse right there.’ His hands trembled, the reality of it slamming into him harder than any fight he’d been in.

But when he looked at Mina, she was already kneeling beside the body, her face a mask of calm detachment. She tugged on a pair of thin gloves from her pocket with practiced ease. And Kanna stood a step behind, her expression unreadable, as if she’d seen this sort of thing before and it didn’t bother her in the slightest.

‘They’re not even fazed…’ Issei swallowed hard, forcing himself to step closer. ‘Get it together, Hyoudou. If they can handle it, you can too.’

Mina tilted the victim’s head gently to the side, brushing the collar of his shirt away. Her eyes sharpened the moment she spotted it.

Two faint puncture marks on the neck. Clean, deliberate.

“This confirms it,” she murmured, her voice low but firm. “Another victim. One the police haven’t found yet.”

Issei clenched his fists, the nausea in his stomach slowly twisting into something heavier. Fear, yes—but also determination. He forced himself to look at the body again, to push past the initial shock. ‘If this thing’s still out there… it’s going to kill again.’

He glanced at Mina, then at Kanna, both calm in their own ways. “…So should we search for clues.”

Mina adjusted her glasses, her expression grim. “The fact that we found this one before the authorities means the killer’s still active in this area. We need to be careful.”

Issei exhaled slowly, his nose still burning from the stench. “Yeah… careful. Got it.”

Mina stood up from the corpse, brought out her phone and pressed it to her ear as she gave clipped, professional instructions to the authorities.

Issei stood a little away from her, rubbing the back of his neck as he forced himself not to stare at the pale body. ‘Get it together, Hyoudou… no puking in front of the girls.’

His eyes drifted to the ground, trying to focus on anything else—and that’s when he noticed it. A faint glint of something pale under the dim streetlight. He crouched and plucked it from the cracked pavement. A few strands of thin, white string, barely noticeable, clung together like thread.

“…String?” He muttered. White, sticky, almost like a web from a spider. He looked around but didn’t see any nearby plus it was the biggest thread he had ever seen. He frowned but shrugged. ‘Probably just trash…’

Before he could think more about it, Kanna’s head snapped up. Her expression sharpened, eyes narrowing as her body stiffened. “Something’s here.”

Issei straightened immediately, heart hammering. “What—”

But she didn’t wait. Sparks crackled around her fingertips, and in an instant she released a bolt of lightning. The blinding flash tore through the alley, striking toward the shadows.

A hiss echoed, sharp and inhuman, as a figure darted out of the way just in time.

“There!” Kanna’s voice was steady, her arm already raised again.

Issei’s eyes widened as he finally caught a glimpse of it—a cloaked figure, moving with unnatural speed, slipping up the side of a building like it weighed nothing. The figure leapt to the rooftop in one smooth bound.

“Kanna!” Issei shouted, but she was already in motion. She launched upward, her small body propelled like a spring, vanishing onto the rooftop after the figure.

Issei cursed under his breath. “Damn it, I can’t let her go alone!” With a burst of strength to his legs, he jumped, his shoes scraping brick before he pulled himself up onto the rooftop.

Meanwhile, Mina—still crouched by the corpse—blinked in disbelief as the two of them vanished. “H-hey! Don’t just—!” She clutched her phone tighter, pressing it against her cheek. “Yes, I said there’s a body! Just—gah, forget it!” With a sharp snap she hung up, glaring at the rooftops above.

Her voice came out in a frustrated growl. “They’re too fast!”

But she wasn’t about to be left behind. She reached into her sleeve, fingers brushing against a talisman. With one sharp flick, a burst of paper surged outward, folding and twisting midair into a massive white bird. She leapt onto its back, the shikigami spreading wide wings of parchment as it carried her upward into the night sky.

—-----------------------------

On the rooftops, the chase had already begun. Issei and Kanna raced side by side, leaping from one building to the next. 

Their target moved ahead with fluid precision, a tall female figure in a dark cloak. The cloaked figure sprinted across the tiles with astonishing speed, her cloak whipping behind her like a shadow. 

“Who the hell is she?!” Issei shouted as he ran.

“She’s fast,” Kanna said flatly, her gaze never leaving the shadow darting ahead.

Issei and Kanna followed in hot pursuit, their footsteps pounding against the roof as they leapt the narrow gaps between buildings.

Issei gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he pushed himself harder. ‘She’s fast. Too fast. If I don’t boost soon, I’ll lose her.’

“Boosted—” He muttered, about to summon the Boosted Gear, but before he could finish the call, a shrill cry cut through the night.

A bird’s cry.

The cloaked woman glanced up just as two small sparrow-shaped figures darted toward her—birds made entirely of paper. The birds detonated in small but precise bursts of force, exploding in flashes of light and scattering fragments of paper. 

Smoke and flame flared, but the woman twisted midair, rolling across the tiles as she barely escaped the blast. She sprang to her feet again, hissing under her breath, her hood slipping enough to reveal the pale curve of a jawline.

But before she could leap to the next building, her path darkened.

A massive shadow swooped overhead, blocking her route forward. She froze, her eyes darting upward—only to see Mina, standing tall on the back of her enormous paper bird, its wings beating with unnatural force.

Mina’s glasses glinted under the neon lights, her face sharp with resolve. Her voice rang out above the rooftops, clear and unwavering.

“You won’t be leaving here without a fight.”

Issei, panting, slowed just enough to glance up at her. His lips tugged into a grin despite the sweat dripping down his forehead. ‘Okay… maybe Mina’s scarier than I thought.’

Kanna, standing a few feet ahead, her body sparking faintly with static, didn’t take her eyes off their quarry.

The three of them had her surrounded.

The woman watching all three of her opponents stood still at first, her cloak shifting gently in the breeze. Beneath the hood, pale lips curled into a smile that was far too calm for someone trapped.

Her voice, when it finally cut through the silence, was chillingly smooth—like silk hiding razors. “If you’re going to continue ruining my meal,” She purred, her tone dripping with mockery, “then I’ll just have no choice but to kill you.”

Issei stiffened, his fists clenching. ‘Meal…?’

The woman tilted her head revealing her pale face. Her tongue traced her lips slowly, eyes glinting with hunger. “Yes… each of you would be delicious. The boy, the Onmyōji, even the little girl… such rare delicacies. I’m almost grateful you came to me.”

Kanna’s brows furrowed, her body lowering into a stance as faint sparks of lightning hissed from her fingertips. “...She’s dangerous.”

Issei’s heartbeat pounded in his ears, but he forced a grin, covering his nerves the only way he knew how. “Y-yeah, well, I’m not exactly on the menu.”

Then it happened.

With a sickening crack and the tearing of flesh, the woman’s cloak began to bulge and split. From her back sprouted massive, jointed spider legs, glistening and chitinous, arching above her like a grotesque crown. It was then that they also noticed that she was getting larger. Her hood slipped back, revealing her face fully, like all supernatural beings it was almost too flawless, framed by black hair that clung like web strands. Her mouth widened unnaturally as sharp twin fangs pushed down past her lips, dripping with venom that sizzled where it fell onto the rooftop.

Then her eyes opened—no longer two, but many. Small, glinting black orbs scattered across her forehead and cheeks, all fixed hungrily on them.

Issei’s breath caught. “Wh—what the hell—?!” His body tensed instinctively, every fiber screaming to fight or flee. 

Mina’s eyes sharpened, recognition flashing in an instant. Her grip tightened on her talisman slips, her voice calm but edged with urgency. “A Jorōgumo.”

Issei’s head snapped toward her. “Joro—what now?!”

“She’s a spider youkai,” Mina explained quickly, never taking her gaze off the monster. “A man-eater who lures her prey with beauty before draining them dry. Webs, poison, illusions—everything about her is built to trap and devour.”

As if to punctuate Mina’s words, strands of glistening webbing unfurled from the Jorōgumo’s fingertips, sticky threads lashing across the tiles. The air grew heavy with the stench of rot and venom.

The creature chuckled, the sound layered, inhuman. “Smart little Onmyōji. Yes… now you understand.” One of her spindly legs scraped the roof with a metallic screech as she advanced slowly, savoring the fear. “I’ve already feasted well on this city’s trash. But you three… oh, you’ll be something truly special.”

Kanna stepped forward, unflinching, her eyes cold and unyielding as sparks danced across her horn. “Try it.”

Issei grit his teeth, crimson light beginning to pulse at his left arm as the Boosted Gear stirred awake. ‘Alright, freaky spider-lady… if it’s a fight you want, you’re gonna get one.’

Mina raised her arm, talisman slips already glowing faintly, her paper bird shifting behind her like a sentinel. Her voice was sharp as a blade. “Stay sharp. Don’t get caught in her webs. The moment she sinks her fangs in you, she’ll bleed you dry.”

The Jorōgumo’s many eyes gleamed as she lowered herself, legs spread wide, ready to strike. 

Finally done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes. This will be the third Yokai Issei ever meets. This is a commission for Luis. So thank him for allowing me to post this for everyone.