I have an infinite number of shikigami

After a brief commotion, guests who had more or less figured out what happened returned to the pavilion.

Yukino Ritsuko shielded Kitagawa Ryoko behind her, whispering a few comforting words. In the lake outside the pavilion, Takeuchi Akira, who had been dazed for a moment, came to his senses and began splashing around. He pointed upward, his entire face twisted: "You, you, you..."

Fujiwara Reya looked down, asking slowly, "Me what?"

Takeuchi Akira's expression was ferocious, as if he wanted to say something, but Yayako suddenly intervened, forcefully breaking the standoff: "Sorry, this Ghost Clan member has a problem with his head. Mr. Fujiwara, please forgive him this time for the Mountain God's sake."

The Mountain God Festival is a joyous occasion.

Causing trouble on such a day is indeed disrespectful to the Mountain God.

Yayako's reasoning was impeccable, and Fujiwara Reya wasn't going to ruin his own event in front of everyone. Takeuchi Akira climbed onto the lakebank, half of his face swollen, and left without a word.

The small conflict quickly subsided.

The woman playing the piano across the lake continued to play.

Kawashima Miki and Natsuki Kuri entered the pavilion, standing together with Yukino Ritsuko.

Yayako's eyes inadvertently swept over Kawashima Miki's face, then returned to Fujiwara Reya.

"Hmm. Mr. Fujiwara, you're really something," she said with a genial smile. "First the Luo Xinfu, then the Snow Woman, they are both head over heels for you. By the way, are you still part of Section Nine?"

Fujiwara Reya shrugged: "Even though I haven't worked a single day, I am indeed part of Section Nine."

Yayako couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I mean, you're an enforcer. How can you have a romance with a criminal?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Fujiwara Reya asked.

"No problem, I like it that way too," Yayako said, snapping her fingers. "Just like a Hollywood movie, the cop and the female criminal, with bundles of cash and shotguns. I just love that sort of thing."

"You love it?"

"Personally, yes," Yayako said with a smile, "A forbidden romance between two opposing camps is more attractive like this. I'm a criminal, yet I just happen to like the righteous enforcer. Don't you think it's cool?"

"You're a criminal?"

"Yes, both he and I are," Yayako said, pointing her finger at Takeuchi Akira.

"Criminals together are not bad either." Fujiwara Reya thought for a bit and continued, "You know 'The Getaway'? The Steve McQueen movie. Besides the cash and shotguns, there's also the escape road."

"Looking forward to escaping with you, Mr. Fujiwara, bye-bye~"

Yayako waved her hand and turned to leave.

That back view was the same as seen at Shinjuku Station, her legs long and straight.

Pay back the money owed to me with your soul... Fujiwara Reya contemplated his future plans, then turned his gaze back to the women.

The conflict came and went quickly; Yukino Ritsuko and Kitagawa Ryoko weren't really affected, although the young girl kept pouting angrily. When Fujiwara Reya turned around, she mumbled, "Thanks, huh…"

The voice was so faint that Fujiwara Reya wouldn't have heard it without his good hearing.

"I can't hear you," he said with a smile.

Kitagawa Ryoko turned her face away with a huff.

She was not yet seventeen at the time, not as refined as Asuka, but still quite cute.

Thinking of the junior student far away in Tokyo, Fujiwara Reya couldn't help but smile, asking her, "What happened just now?"

Kitagawa Ryoko lifted her head from Yukino Ritsuko's arms, huffing, "That person just barged in saying he wanted Sister Yukino to leave with him, such a bizarre idiot... Is his head just there to make him tall? Didn't he see that Sister Yukino was annoyed? So clingy and shameless. Leave dealing with people like that to you next time, preferably so that his mom has to wait in vain for him to come back for dinner tomorrow!"

"That's too cruel to his mom!... And why should I do it?"

"Sister Yukino is your girlfriend!"

"But didn't you say it should be fair competition?" Fujiwara Reya was intentionally teasing her.

Kitagawa Ryoko spoke confidently, "When there's trouble, Sister Yukino is your girlfriend, and when there isn't, it's fair competition."

Judging by this dynamically adjusted competition, the girl might have already thrown her integrity away. What an adaptable cutie.

"Fujiwara, stop teasing her," Yukino Ritsuko said, naturally wrapping her arm around Fujiwara Reya's. "It wasn't a big deal, don't let it ruin your mood. Let's find a quiet place for a walk."

Her personality was so serene and elegant, not fond of disputes.

Just like what Fujiwara had in mind, his fondness for her was definitely not just because of her beauty.

The group left the pavilion and walked toward the lake.

By now, it was around three in the afternoon, and the sunlight was already starting to dim.

The cherry blossom grove by the lake was very dense, with two small streams connecting the lake to the river, the streams reflecting the sunlight, blindingly dazzling. Walking through the fresh air of the woods, one could occasionally hear the plucking of a shamisen, the sound of strings pleasing to the ears, along with the silvery laugh of women.

At the end of their view, a patch of greenery emerged by the brook, where the sounds originated.

There was a stage performing Noh and Kabuki drama, many seats arranged for the audience. A geisha-attired maid danced leisurely under the watchful eyes of the guests, and when her dance was over, a group of men clapped and cheered enthusiastically.

Fujiwara Reya and his group, talking and laughing, walked over there.

The topic they talked about was Yayako.

"Do you think those awful man and woman are a couple?" Kitagawa Ryoko asked seriously.