Fear had completely consumed the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Driven by madness, she unleashed her power in desperation—countless black scissors materialized midair, radiating dense malice. Each one carried the cursed technique of cutting, reinforcing that concept itself.
Even without contact, a single swing tore shallow gashes along Takumi's lips and neck. An instant later, [Auto-Heal] triggered, his wounds vanishing completely.
He wiped the blood from his lip, his expression clearly annoyed. "Can't even hurt me, but damn, that still stings!"
The Slit-Mouthed Woman only grew more deranged, summoning blade after blade—the storm of cuts slicing toward him like a violent downpour.
"Enough!" Takumi stomped the ground. The pavement exploded beneath his foot as he surged forward like a cannon.
The cursed spirit's eyes widened; crimson energy gathered in her hand, shaping into a blood-red pair of scissors—but Takumi's fist landed first.
BOOM!
The impact roared through the night, scattering shockwaves that shattered every floating scissor around them. Her head burst apart in a cloud of black mist, and her body began to dissolve. Instead of blood, dark vapor oozed from her neck, trying to reform her skull.
Takumi frowned, grabbed her by the torso, and instantly tossed her into the Interdimensional Realm.
Urban legend–born pseudo–Cursed Spirits like her would always regenerate after death. But something about this one was off.
By logic, pseudo–Cursed Spirits shouldn't have conscious thought—they were instinctual, emotionless manifestations of fear. Yet he had clearly seen it—the flash of fear in her eyes before she died.
That brief emotion meant awareness… and the fact that her strength was relatively weak suggested she'd only just been born. Highly irregular—completely outside the usual rules of Cursed Spirits.
As the Slit-Mouthed Woman vanished, the frigid aura lingering in the air faded too.
The lamps along the street flickered back to life, washing away the oppressive darkness.
"T-Takumi-kun~ that thing just now… was it a ghost?" Kayoko clung tightly to his arm, her voice trembling as her wide eyes shimmered with admiration and warmth. To see such a terrifying monster defeated so effortlessly—Takumi's image in her heart had risen to near godlike levels.
Brushing aside her disheveled hair, Takumi gently patted her back. Now that he could finally look at her up close… his irritation quickly shifted to a different kind of heat.
Her mature, voluptuous body pressed against him with every breath. The faint scent of her shampoo mingled with the soft curves beneath her blouse, the tight skirt outlining her perfect hips.
Thanks to his [Observation Eye], not a single detail escaped him—the narrow waist that flared into supple thighs wrapped in sheer black stockings, a glimpse of bare skin between hem and nylon glinting under the streetlight.
"...Really hard to stay calm," he muttered under his breath.
"Takumi-kun?"
Kayoko blushed the moment she felt his warmth. Her once-pale face now glowed red, her lips trembling as she spoke in a kitten-soft voice.
"Was that… really a ghost?"
Takumi smiled faintly. "That was a Cursed Spirit—what you'd call a ghost. I'm an Exorcist, just happened to be passing by. Talk about fate, huh?"
His hand brushed down the curve of her waist as he spoke.
Kayoko shuddered, but instead of resisting, she let out a breathy whimper. "Takumi-kun… thank you for saving me. I don't even want to imagine what would've happened otherwise."
Then, almost in a whisper. "C-Could you… walk me home?"
Her eyes looked up at him pleadingly, glimmering with vulnerability and something else entirely.
"With pleasure, Miss Akitsuki." He released her waist with a polite smile, instead intertwining their fingers.
The two walked quietly through the now-peaceful street.
The same road that had felt terrifying minutes ago now felt strangely warm. They didn't speak; the night breeze filled the silence between them. Kayoko occasionally glanced sideways, her fingers tightening around his as if afraid to let go.
When they finally reached her home, she blinked in surprise—Already here?
Even standing at her door, she didn't release his hand. Her teeth gently grazed her lower lip before she whispered, her voice trembling with mixed courage and embarrassment:
"Takumi-kun… could you… stay with me a little longer?"
He gave a wry smile. Not really giving me a chance to refuse, huh. She must've been genuinely shaken, he thought—and nodded.
Unlocking the door quietly, Kayoko led him inside, careful not to wake Airi and Marina. They sat together in the softly lit living room, sipping warm water.
The fear in her heart melted away, replaced by a quiet, heavy calm. Still, she leaned against him again, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I can't believe urban legends are real… I'm never working overtime again. Takumi-kun, you look so young—how did you become an Exorcist?"
Her curiosity shone through her tired eyes. Takumi humored her gently, sharing fragments of his past.
Hearing it, Kayoko's heart melted further. A child abandoned by his village, wandering alone yet still achieving so much—it tugged at her maternal instincts.
By the time she had fully relaxed, Takumi decided to leave. "It's getting late, Miss Akitsuki. I should head back now."
But as he stood, her pale hand reached out—grasping his.
"Takumi-kun… could you stay tonight?"
Her fingers slid down to entwine with his, her face rising to meet his gaze. Shyness colored her eyes, but the desire hidden beneath them was unmistakable.
"You must be tired, right? I… want to help you relax."
Takumi froze, then turned fully toward her. Under the gentle light, the shadows fell across her face just so—half innocence, half temptation.
"Miss Akitsuki?"
"Takumi-kun~ just call me Kayoko…♡"
...
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