Tokyo Exorcism Diary

When Hoshino Gen returned home, he found Hoshino Rin curled up on the sofa, engrossed in her game.

Hearing the sound of the fingerprint lock clicking open, Hoshino Rin poked her head out to check. Upon seeing Hoshino Gen, she immediately sat up, her face lighting up with excitement as she waved energetically toward the door.
“Brother, come here quick! I opened a chest this afternoon and got something amazing!”

Hoshino Gen changed his shoes at the entryway at a leisurely pace.
“You go ahead and play. I have something to take care of.”

“…”

Hoshino Rin’s excitement visibly fizzled out, like a little girl who scored a perfect 100 on her test only to be brushed off with a casual, “Go play by yourself,” by her brother.

She pouted unhappily, her gaze trailing after Hoshino Gen as he headed toward his room.

Unfortunately for Hoshino Rin, her forlorn stare lacked any tangible power. Without a pause, Hoshino Gen walked into his room, shut the door behind him, and even locked it with a resolute click.

“…”

What Hoshino Gen mentioned as “something to take care of” wasn’t a lie. His top priority was establishing a connection with the Special Affairs Unit. While the organization appeared to be an upright and official body, he knew better than to trust appearances…

As for the cooperation contract they proposed, he intended to scrutinize it carefully. The last thing he wanted was to fall into a trap like that idiot Shimizu Yuu, who practically buried herself alive without realizing it.

Hoshino Gen reviewed the contract thoroughly three or four times, scrutinizing every clause. Once he was satisfied with their sincerity, he mulled it over before pulling a pen from the chest pocket of his shirt and he signed his name.

The next day, Hoshino Gen, visibly drained, slumped into a taxi on his way to school. In the end, he hadn’t been able to withstand his sister’s relentless crying and wheedling. He ended up gaming with her all night… Of course, the games themselves were too entertaining, especially with someone to share them with, which only deepened his eventual immersion.

When Hoshino Gen yawned his way into the classroom, he noticed an unusually lively atmosphere. Perhaps it was the excitement for the upcoming Golden Week holiday. Or maybe it was the parent-teacher conference scheduled for the last period of the day. Not that it concerned him.

He muddled through his classes, and before he knew it, it was past two in the afternoon.

By now, the classroom was nearly empty. The school gates had been opened to allow parents inside, and most students had rushed out to meet or find their parents.

Naturally, none of this had anything to do with Hoshino Gen. He knew no one would attend on his behalf. Bored out of his mind, he sat by the window, gazing at the azure sky. The vast expanse of blue resembled an overturned ocean—pure and pristine—where white clouds, shaped by the whims of the wind, sparked endless imagination.

The classroom’s noise gradually faded, transforming from the vibrant chaos of youth to a subdued hub of adult conversation.

The entrance criteria for Segawa Private Academy guaranteed that families here were mostly upper-middle class or higher. For middle-aged parents with networking embedded in their DNA, the parent-teacher conference was an ideal social arena. Thankfully, most attendees were stay-at-home mothers, whose conversations leaned more toward their children than workplace gossip.

Hoshino Gen’s gaze lingered briefly when it fell upon Shimizu Yuu’s desk. Sitting there was a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties, with her hair neatly tied up. She bore a striking resemblance to Shimizu Yuu, with delicate features, an air of elegance, and an understated yet sophisticated style. She exuded the aura of someone well-educated and cultured.

At the moment, the woman wore an expression of exasperation as she spoke to a sheepish-looking Shimizu Yuu standing beside her. Yet, the indulgent affection in her eyes betrayed the pampered life Shimizu Yuu must lead at home, akin to that of a little princess.

Hoshino Gen couldn’t help but smile faintly. Just as he was about to look away, his gaze collided with Shimizu Yuu’s. She had been peeking in his direction and froze momentarily when their eyes met.

Realizing that this annoying guy had witnessed her being scolded by her mother, Shimizu Yuu could already picture the teasing she’d endure later. She immediately put on a fierce expression and glared at him.

Noticing her daughter’s reaction, Shimizu Kohko followed Shimizu Yuu’s gaze and saw a fair-skinned, sharp-featured boy with striking heterochromatic eyes smiling back.

Shimizu Kohko was momentarily taken aback by how stunningly handsome the boy was, but her curiosity quickly shifted to the nature of her daughter’s relationship with him.

In Japan, high school romances were nothing unusual. Parents and teachers alike typically embraced the innocent emotions of youth.

However, when Hoshino Gen politely smiled and nodded at Shimizu Kohko before averting his gaze, she dismissed her brief suspicion. At least for now, they didn’t seem to be that close.

After all, no boy meeting his girlfriend’s mother for the first time could remain this composed. And if there were such a boy, he would undoubtedly be confident, exceptional, and so strikingly handsome that he’d never settle for someone as lazy and spoiled as her daughter—no matter how cute she was.

Returning a smile and a slight nod, Shimizu Kohko turned her attention back to her sulking daughter, her dissatisfaction growing. She grabbed Shimizu Yuu by the arm and began chastising her, her sharp tone a testament to her frustration over Shimizu Yuu’s disastrous ranking in the bottom ten of the grade.

Shimizu Yuu, like a deflated balloon, pouted and kept her head down, accepting her scolding without a word.

Fortunately, the arrival of  Fujiwara Risa, the homeroom and English teacher, saved her.

The classroom quickly quieted down.

Fujiwara-sensei swept her gaze across the classroom and noticed that almost all the students’ parents had arrived. The only exception was the seat by the window in the front row, which was still occupied by a student in their school uniform. All the other seats had already been taken by parents.

She stared at him a little longer than usual, her scrutiny so direct that Hoshino Gen had no choice but to look back.

After a moment of silent eye contact, Fujiwara-sensei suddenly smiled—a mysterious, knowing smile that left Hoshino Gen feeling oddly unsettled.

Hoshino Gen felt a bit puzzled, but Fujiwara-sensei had already shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Just before the class bell rang and the parent-teacher meeting was about to begin, a figure, dazzling and radiant, appeared at the classroom door, stepping in rhythm with the sound of a bell.

The person knocked lightly on the open door, their voice crisp and tinged with amusement.
“Sorry, am I late?”