Chapter 94: Feeding Play22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE5Fx7GeN3
"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!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ76wI7FwDa
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuWM8dck1A
"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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiiofaIe3X
"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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG169Pz7F75
"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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUjwaBi7Qe
"Start the car!" Kazuya gasped, his breathing unsteady. "We’re returning to Fukushima immediately!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0XP8OMCmE
"Father, it’s late at night—" Koji tried to reason gently, but the old man’s expression turned resolute.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfV9zLQ2mZ
"Now!" he barked, his voice carrying the kind of authority that silenced everyone.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbod9Xic0I
Koji could only sigh helplessly and gesture to the nearby guards. "Prepare the car."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ1zkSe8hk
"Yes, sir!" The guards bowed deeply and hurried off.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobwtvFhdBT
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLJM3mqusI
The shrine maiden glanced toward Kouya. Seeing he showed no impatience, she nodded gently. "Naturally."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYNGAujMkQ
Koji straightened and said with gratitude, "As for dealing with the youkai, I’ll leave that to your expertise."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotATe6oPe4
With that, he departed with quick, worried steps.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMYJKfCKeq
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9T02GaLbi
"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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bedR3CD6N
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!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOV32SmJ0k
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IgUZjGkWX
Kouya shrugged. "As long as he never appears before me again."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjTXoLopqZ
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3R7Q5Ytq3
"Kou-kun... thank you for tonight." The shrine maiden’s eyes glimmered faintly as she bowed her head.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJyG514L8M
"Don’t mention it." Kouya waved lazily. "Just make sure the pay is good."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGouvPFHzI
The shrine maiden bit her lip, suppressing a small smile.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg4sLuYRL8
...22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqTHC2q5os
Ten minutes later, four sleek black cars glided out of the Takeda estate under the moonlight. The air outside was cold and still.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RvH5s7frg
Two cars carried the guards, one carried the Takeda family, and the last—spacious and dimly lit—carried Kouya, the shrine maiden, and Rina.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNmGdj5Oyi
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53kV1o59ZT
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9dfJw5Czw
Kouya nodded lightly, staring out at the passing lights. "Maybe so. People cling to what they love until the end."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGFeGkYEr5
His tone was detached. He had long grown numb to human sorrow and joy.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjuN7yzlHv
He’d seen it too many times—grief, reunion, parting. In the end, only love and hatred ever left real marks on the soul.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QjII0iSHe
The shrine maiden looked at him for a long moment, sensing the calm weight in his silence, and said nothing more.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElHITsgRHw
The car fell quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of wheels on asphalt.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qYjn3YsYH
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ375Oi3wDVL
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj3ZkiYUak
"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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCnczwvpyL
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB14YqxMmbV
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WcKc7LEru
"A classmate," Kouya replied curtly.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZY1GqNIcd
Her eyes gleamed. "You must be close. It’s quite late for a classmate to be calling, isn’t it?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9D3nqkke6
Close? Don’t make me laugh.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ924pvskXbe
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNcKBVOyIO
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1o638QwNv
"Well then... I’ll nap a bit. Fukushima’s still a long way off. Good night, Kou-kun."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxSbeYTvjo
The car fell into silence again.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXRKWYU5DZ
Listening to the even breathing of his companions, Kouya’s earlier tension faded. His mind slowly calmed.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1wu0tsjvh
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcuCV8HM5h
He reached down instinctively and caught it.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqrQekpYDf
A sudden "meow!" echoed through the car.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fLVbZADNI
He turned—and there was Rina, her cheeks flushed bright pink, eyes shimmering. Her tail quivered in his hand.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ctZUl2A42
"N-no... don’t touch there, meow!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4q5R7RX2S
Kouya froze, speechless. For a long moment, he could only stare at the trembling catgirl.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzfKbdTSVl
He groaned inwardly. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal tail instead of one with... strange reactions!?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhTkE0Hyp2
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs7TnlHhgo
"When someone touches my tail, it feels weird, meow... really weird..."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDq4PCo3uv
"Won’t touch again." Kouya said flatly, though his tone was faintly exasperated. He had no interest in awakening that kind of fetish.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmtvSjGsGc
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!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPnRzXnRJJ
A few minutes later, her voice came again, this time small and timid. "Meow’s hungry..."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BreIfKmsh
Kouya sighed inwardly. Of course she was. Even weak youkai burned through energy faster than humans.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYteqBLCWp
"Then eat something," he said simply.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYhXsHZEc1
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!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYy2pVeLEx
Kouya blinked and reached in, pulling out a small packet of yogurt. "Oh right, that blue-eyed hatchling shoved this at me earlier."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQHNzqKuLQ
Rina’s eyes lit up instantly. She stared at it like a starving kitten.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOEXtBpWiq
"Don’t look at me like that," Kouya muttered. "You’re not getting it."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuSmk1ojd4
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6g2LR46zR
It was the oldest trick in the book.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgVSKVT8Dz
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Here."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd0w5QgdnZ
"Really for me, meow?" Her eyes widened in delight.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIaIu1oOMH
"Take it or leave it."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEZTjo3IrT
"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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyKwun7dIB
Then the car hit a bump.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivaj5tR4nY
The yogurt splashed—straight toward Kouya.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXtn2y3qhk
He blocked it instinctively, catching most of it with his hand before it stained his clothes. He reached for tissues.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1cjU9hKkU
But Rina shouted, "No, meow! The three-second rule! It’s still good!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9VENua0Sh
Kouya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "The what—"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9GLcu0zaW
She nodded earnestly. "If it’s less than three seconds, it’s safe to eat, meow!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRdIgsXQso
Shut up! Stop showing off your nonsense!22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBIkiW5trC
Who told you that crap!? Do you think bacteria wear watches!?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq6HkoRIWe
He mentally ranted, recalling every failed myth he’d ever heard.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLrdGH8c87
Before he could say another word, Rina leaned forward, clutching his wrist.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbFptzHaBf
"Still drinkable, meow~" she purred.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo92ZbrdqPd
Then, to his horror, she bent down and began licking the yogurt from his palm with her small pink tongue.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZTZBYm8M1
The sensation was unbearably strange—soft, wet, warm, and ticklish, crawling across his skin like electric ants.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpTQlKv3rC
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanxszzcsBV
And then, from the side, a quiet, drowsy voice spoke:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxJPRXR1Ca
"Kou-kun... care to explain yourself?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqSDtaC1No
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEs9QCJ3We
Before he could respond, she let out a quiet, knowing sigh.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhbvE9OU1a
"Or is it that Kou-kun finally couldn’t hold back... and decided to reveal his love for little girls?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3IvY8Hjhx
Kouya: "..."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hJmhkgj5H
That sharp tongue again. Even half-asleep, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7KIXRwRXQ
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