"That day, why was my mother killed? Have we, the last of the spirit foxes, ever harmed you humans?"
Matoba Seiji lowered his head. "Because someone... offered a high price for the precious fur of a spirit fox. And we needed a stronger youkai shikigami."
Maki Chi's voice trembled slightly.
"Just because of that... you killed my mother? So it wasn't for some 'slaying demons'?"
Matoba Seiji gritted his teeth, then suddenly looked up at Uchiha Ryo.
"You... are you on the side of the youkai? Or are you one too!"
Uchiha Ryo cleared his throat. "I'm a pure human. But I don't care about the hatred between humans and youkai. I only care about the people around me."
"You kill youkai for profit, and they slaughter you for revenge. This is the law of the world, the law of the jungle. I helped you take down that big fox. I've already done more than enough."
Uchiha Ryo looked at Maki Chi beside him.
"So, what are you going to do? Kill him? I won't stop you."
Maki Chi glared at Matoba Seiji. Uchiha Ryo could feel the killing intent emanating from the little fox, but....
"Forget it. So what if I kill him? I plan to take my mother's soul back to the divine tree and see if the great tree has any way."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Alright then. Next, Head Matoba, let's talk about our business."
.....
Inside a cafe in Tokyo's Ginza district, Uchiha Ryo once again marveled. Although that guy Danzo was really annoying, the curse mark he used to control people was really useful.
The Matoba clan, as a family of youkai exterminators with a hundred-year heritage, they still had some foundation. But before that....
"What do you plan to do? Continue to go to school in the human world, or go back to your side?"
Maki Chi held an old porcelain vase. It was a demon-sealing vase used by the Matoba clan. Inside was his mother's soul.
"I still believe that, just as there are many evil youkai who only know how to kill, there are also truly good people among humans... As long as my identity isn't exposed, I'll go back to school."
Uchiha Ryo: "I remember, your sister said you're a student at Shuchiin? Me too."
Maki Chi: "Mhm, I'm in Shuchiin's middle school division."
Shuchiin's middle school division, huh. Uchiha Ryo hadn't even noticed his presence during his previous visits.
He had to admit, Maki Chi and his siblings' disguises were very successful. If he hadn't activated his Sharingan, he probably wouldn't have discovered their true identities.
"Eh? Senpai is a high school student.... That was close..."
Maki Chi had seen Uchiha Ryo's power. Fortunately, this human was different from those youkai exterminators. If he had to face him... he probably wouldn't even have the strength to struggle.
Uchiha Ryo picked up his coffee. "Don't worry so much. I'm quite friendly to youkai. My little brother is even raising one."
Maki Chi: "Raising?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Oh, I should say... a friend. That youkai protects my little brother, and my little brother is raising that youkai."
"A youkai and a human! They can be friends?!"
Maki Chi looked extremely surprised, which in turn surprised Uchiha Ryo a little.
"Don't you have any friends at school? If you really don't have any, I can introduce you to a tech otaku who also doesn't have any friends."
Maki Chi shook his head.
"I do have friends, but their friend is the human, Maki Chi... But for you to say that your little brother and a youkai can be friends even knowing each other's identities, that's what surprises me."
Uchiha Ryo: "If there's a chance, I can introduce you."
Speaking of which, Nyanko-sensei's true form also seemed to be a fox.... He just didn't know if he had any connection to the spirit foxes.
Maki Chi: "Please, you must introduce me to such a human!"
After speaking, Maki Chi suddenly covered his mouth, then glanced at the cafe, which had no other customers.
"....Is it really okay for us to be talking about this in a cafe?"
Uchiha Ryo waved his hand. "This cafe is mine. And the staff are all in the back kitchen. They can't hear us."
"Your cafe?!"
To be precise, it belonged to the Shinomiya family. But Shinomiya Oko had "had a car accident" that night, so most of his assets and enterprises were absorbed by Shinomiya Un'yo, and this cafe was naturally given to Uchiha Ryo.
"By the way, Ryo-senpai!"
Uchiha Ryo: "If you have something to say, say it. Then go back and wait. I just remembered I have something important to do."
Maki Chi: "You said my sister sent you to save me! How did you and my sister meet?! You two!"
Uchiha Ryo stood up and flicked Maki Chi on the forehead.
"You're overthinking it. I haven't even finished capturing the humans, why would I go for a youkai? And that unlucky name of yours, what's with 'Chi'? Do you think just anyone can be called 'Senju,' the innately evil Senju?!"
Maki Chi rubbed his forehead. "That hurt.... Why did you hit me! 'Chi' is a name I took to pay respect to the divine tree. How could it be evil!"
Uchiha Ryo shook his head, too lazy to explain. His Uchiha clan was a clan of love. As the saying goes, their love was deep, their love was mad.
How were they evil! Wasn't the truly evil one Senju Tobirama, who always targeted them? Hmph, that innately evil old ghost from the Senju clan. If I ever get a chance to go back, I'll beat him so hard not a single drop of water comes out.
Maki Chi left, thrown out by Uchiha Ryo. It was the weekend. Why did he have to drink coffee with a guy, and a youkai at that?!
Not long after, Hayasaka Ai, in a light blue long dress, walked in.
"Ryo-kun! Lady Kaguya agreed to give me one day off a week. Where are we going today!"
Uchiha Ryo stood up. "Let's go. Let's go to STARRY first. I remember today is the Kessoku Band's audition."
Hayasaka Ai: "Audition? What audition?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Bocchi-chan and her band want to officially perform at that music bar, so they need to get the store manager's approval. They've been practicing their songs recently. Let's go listen."
Hayasaka Ai nodded. "That Bocchi-chan, her social anxiety is still pretty bad, isn't it...."
"Mhm, it'll probably be a long road for her to get over her social anxiety."
Hayasaka Ai looked at Uchiha Ryo's side profile.
"You're really gentle, Ryo-kun."
Uchiha Ryo turned his head and gently tapped Hayasaka Ai's forehead. "Gentle? I don't see myself that way." After all, I just used Susanoo to threaten someone.