Chapter 94: Feeding Play109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWyVJAxdSY
"Father, what’s wrong?" Takeda Koji quickly caught the old man as his body staggered, his voice trembling with worry. He then turned toward Kirigiri, his expression fierce. "What did you do to my father!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7BQMgSCWV
"Ignorant human." Kirigiri sneered coldly, his gaze full of contempt. "This has nothing to do with me. I merely happened to hear that Lady Hotaru’s life is about to end, so I came to retrieve her heart."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGWPAyGUp7
"You’re saying Hotaru’s heart... is with me?" The old man took a heavy breath, pushing away Koji’s support as he straightened himself, face pale yet determined. He took a step closer, his voice shaking.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4scRpLSGRK
"That’s right." Kirigiri’s tone turned mocking. "Lady Hotaru is a plant youkai. After taking human form, she condensed a Heart of Nature—an organ brimming with vitality and healing energy. Otherwise, how could a fragile human born with congenital heart disease live this long without a single relapse?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWmJt6NPxX
"So... that’s how it is..." Takeda Kazuya’s eyes widened in disbelief. His hand clutched at his chest as if to protect the beating heart beneath, his whole body trembling as he fought back sobs.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50kOAJn0r3
"Start the car!" Kazuya gasped, his breathing unsteady. "We’re returning to Fukushima immediately!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkwrMfq6j7
"Father, it’s late at night—" Koji tried to reason gently, but the old man’s expression turned resolute.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0IILJwSrr
"Now!" he barked, his voice carrying the kind of authority that silenced everyone.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4COV3pK1ZC
Koji could only sigh helplessly and gesture to the nearby guards. "Prepare the car."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodhSy7KLsV
"Yes, sir!" The guards bowed deeply and hurried off.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqic0ltGCsy
Koji turned back to Kouya and the shrine maiden, bowing low. "Tonight’s crisis was resolved thanks to you both. But since that Hotaru creature was indeed a youkai, for my father’s safety, I beg of you to accompany us once more."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0uB0z9vVN
The shrine maiden glanced toward Kouya. Seeing he showed no impatience, she nodded gently. "Naturally."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVJp1HPuj9
Koji straightened and said with gratitude, "As for dealing with the youkai, I’ll leave that to your expertise."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8W7Fbmgv2
With that, he departed with quick, worried steps.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsLVS6PRzb
The moment the doors closed, the shrine maiden asked softly, her eyes moving to the trembling Kirigiri, "Kou-kun, what do you intend to do?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyNNyfdqWl
"Kill him," Kouya replied flatly, his tone indifferent. Wearing women’s clothing was one thing, but showing up just to disgust people? Death was mercy.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdI5MTvHCK
Kirigiri’s legs nearly gave out. He fell to his knees, his voice cracking in panic. "Please spare me! I’m useful! The youkai in the southern district all answer to me! I can serve! I can offer information!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCs7SskhTz
The shrine maiden narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips pressing together before she looked back at Kouya. After a long pause, she spoke softly, "If possible, could you leave this one to me?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNGYNb0fW0
Kouya shrugged. "As long as he never appears before me again."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB3Swo1r2K
The shrine maiden leaned in toward Kirigiri, whispering words that made his face go pale. After signing a contract with her trembling hands, he slinked away in defeat.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSb0AWJiNs
"Kou-kun... thank you for tonight." The shrine maiden’s eyes glimmered faintly as she bowed her head.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp4PwYtA6h
"Don’t mention it." Kouya waved lazily. "Just make sure the pay is good."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFORLcHVPG
The shrine maiden bit her lip, suppressing a small smile.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4SvQZXrKn
...109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbJsLOk281
Ten minutes later, four sleek black cars glided out of the Takeda estate under the moonlight. The air outside was cold and still.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi05B2WkfTe
Two cars carried the guards, one carried the Takeda family, and the last—spacious and dimly lit—carried Kouya, the shrine maiden, and Rina.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNivmrmUxII
It was a luxury business-class car. Though not partitioned, the front and back were separated by tinted glass, leaving the three in the rear with quiet privacy.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp2wgoeVzE
The shrine maiden brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The moonlight filtering through the window framed her face in silver. "Before accepting this commission, I investigated a little. Takeda Kazuya’s hometown is in Fukushima. He must be going there because someone important to him is waiting."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNRcOBaySK
Kouya nodded lightly, staring out at the passing lights. "Maybe so. People cling to what they love until the end."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFyeZCltqK
His tone was detached. He had long grown numb to human sorrow and joy.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX4n3vnZz2
He’d seen it too many times—grief, reunion, parting. In the end, only love and hatred ever left real marks on the soul.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr3akdKBbF
The shrine maiden looked at him for a long moment, sensing the calm weight in his silence, and said nothing more.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYyWCByFBr
The car fell quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of wheels on asphalt.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc9ILamEN6
Kouya closed his eyes, attempting to rest. The hum of the engine filled the air like a lullaby. Then, unexpectedly, something soft and warm brushed against his leg.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hHun59DDw
He opened his eyes and found Rina—the little catgirl—curled up on the shrine maiden’s lap, fast asleep. Her small chest rose and fell in gentle rhythm, her tail twitching lightly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7qprLXOy6
"Shh~" The shrine maiden leaned closer, her lips near Kouya’s ear. Her voice was low and soft. "Rina fought earlier and even went searching for you after. She’s exhausted. Let her rest, alright?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNlEugrDLF
Her breath brushed against his skin—warm and fragrant. The faint scent of sandalwood and spring blossoms lingered. Kouya caught himself tensing as her breath grazed his ear.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt7XCAmOUR
The shrine maiden seemed to notice and flushed slightly, pulling away. Trying to hide her embarrassment, she casually asked, "That girl who called you earlier... who was she?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzv9jK1mDD
"A classmate," Kouya replied curtly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea3f2grA5z
Her eyes gleamed. "You must be close. It’s quite late for a classmate to be calling, isn’t it?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosN2FLJmZs
Close? Don’t make me laugh.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWdC6EYrXr
That humiliating ‘poke-poke’ game from that day was burned into his memory! And that lazy angel wouldn’t call him for anything trivial. If she was contacting him now, it meant trouble.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuotkCu1Rv
They chatted for a while before the shrine maiden stretched lazily. Her red-and-white robes tightened across her chest as she arched her back, drawing a perfect curve. Covering her mouth, she let out a quiet yawn.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a22NTbyRg
"Well then... I’ll nap a bit. Fukushima’s still a long way off. Good night, Kou-kun."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ5BpwoDmj
The car fell into silence again.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E5icABXFq
Listening to the even breathing of his companions, Kouya’s earlier tension faded. His mind slowly calmed.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA24S07VhE8
Unable to sleep, he pulled out his phone and scrolled idly through the news. Minutes passed quietly until something tickled his foot—something soft and flexible.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps32O1EDjn
He reached down instinctively and caught it.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hmQYchpFU
A sudden "meow!" echoed through the car.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjZLwneQNP
He turned—and there was Rina, her cheeks flushed bright pink, eyes shimmering. Her tail quivered in his hand.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFlFvkRxjH
"N-no... don’t touch there, meow!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwsO5yQuQ0
Kouya froze, speechless. For a long moment, he could only stare at the trembling catgirl.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29uWZnDnVn
He groaned inwardly. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal tail instead of one with... strange reactions!?109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnnGN5T5sM
Letting go immediately, he leaned back with a sigh. Rina quickly snatched her tail back, curling up defensively. She twisted her body like a gymnast, proving how flexible she was, glaring at him with tearful amber eyes.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVinUrvUPW
"When someone touches my tail, it feels weird, meow... really weird..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs1V6J0HX7
"Won’t touch again." Kouya said flatly, though his tone was faintly exasperated. He had no interest in awakening that kind of fetish.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJKgjwuIGP
Rina thought for a moment, then puffed her cheeks and raised her hands beside her face like claws. "And... and don’t tell anyone about it, meow! Or... or I’ll bite you!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iHJUMG3tf
A few minutes later, her voice came again, this time small and timid. "Meow’s hungry..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4QQjKP9u6
Kouya sighed inwardly. Of course she was. Even weak youkai burned through energy faster than humans.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS7WBYUbci
"Then eat something," he said simply.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoecsbv6gje
The catgirl sniffed the air. Her small nose twitched adorably as she leaned closer to him. "Sniff sniff... I smell food, meow... from your pocket!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H1WWfVtWF
Kouya blinked and reached in, pulling out a small packet of yogurt. "Oh right, that blue-eyed hatchling shoved this at me earlier."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cATu1XCCp
Rina’s eyes lit up instantly. She stared at it like a starving kitten.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD308R4zfq
"Don’t look at me like that," Kouya muttered. "You’re not getting it."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPSFzJKNbv
Her lower lip quivered. Her hands clasped near her chest as she looked up at him, amber eyes sparkling with tears that hadn’t even fallen yet.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgUD87LIGi
It was the oldest trick in the book.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjuuvHG3MX
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Here."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyPhnj9eXy
"Really for me, meow?" Her eyes widened in delight.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZVzRUhtdW
"Take it or leave it."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy281BQt8y6
"I’ll take it! Thank you, meow!" She accepted it eagerly, biting the edge open and sipping happily. Her ears perked up, her tail swishing.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J7Kug8XWp
Then the car hit a bump.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu50j8KSolw
The yogurt splashed—straight toward Kouya.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d29I6Ml00
He blocked it instinctively, catching most of it with his hand before it stained his clothes. He reached for tissues.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMlPZddKcK
But Rina shouted, "No, meow! The three-second rule! It’s still good!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J1uRtmirz
Kouya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "The what—"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMfZWZIICV
She nodded earnestly. "If it’s less than three seconds, it’s safe to eat, meow!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamPqVllIvn
Shut up! Stop showing off your nonsense!109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lUjBc6Bn6
Who told you that crap!? Do you think bacteria wear watches!?109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruAVEYCWXE
He mentally ranted, recalling every failed myth he’d ever heard.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAKL1aZDJ8
Before he could say another word, Rina leaned forward, clutching his wrist.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbRCvSD2B9
"Still drinkable, meow~" she purred.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbKZyIZWTT
Then, to his horror, she bent down and began licking the yogurt from his palm with her small pink tongue.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh0FzyZ4Ns
The sensation was unbearably strange—soft, wet, warm, and ticklish, crawling across his skin like electric ants.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3fU0kBDTv
Her scent—sweet, soft, like freshly washed fur mixed with vanilla—filled the air around him. When he looked down, his eyes couldn’t help but trace the delicate curve of her collarbone, the glint of smooth skin, and the faint swell beneath her clothes.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5fWrHPGRl
And then, from the side, a quiet, drowsy voice spoke:109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6pHFIfPbg
"Kou-kun... care to explain yourself?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS39UeldxjO
Kouya froze. The shrine maiden had woken, still half-asleep, her expression blank and hazy. The faint confusion on her usually composed face made her look unexpectedly adorable.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwArpVKL49P
Before he could respond, she let out a quiet, knowing sigh.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAHREvrKtZ
"Or is it that Kou-kun finally couldn’t hold back... and decided to reveal his love for little girls?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn085HdT5E
Kouya: "..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5WhLS4AaZ
That sharp tongue again. Even half-asleep, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQlF5b0H7K
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