Chapter 94: Feeding Play58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AjZtkU8qh
"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!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJd3tMRNWY
"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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwLNTt8mDR
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz2KUEjgFa
"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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw9YFiA7IH
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWZ39Hl7OX
"Start the car!" Kazuya gasped, his breathing unsteady. "We’re returning to Fukushima immediately!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd5D901PkI
"Father, it’s late at night—" Koji tried to reason gently, but the old man’s expression turned resolute.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6lMh1e0qE
"Now!" he barked, his voice carrying the kind of authority that silenced everyone.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jsQGPz3fd
Koji could only sigh helplessly and gesture to the nearby guards. "Prepare the car."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30TSoqkXV8
"Yes, sir!" The guards bowed deeply and hurried off.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvwhP57145
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArIRryJttb
The shrine maiden glanced toward Kouya. Seeing he showed no impatience, she nodded gently. "Naturally."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezGZ1tvmkb
Koji straightened and said with gratitude, "As for dealing with the youkai, I’ll leave that to your expertise."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6vK7VO5Js
With that, he departed with quick, worried steps.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vPLx9JxTv
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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHhouM6fqd
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37EerYJJsK
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!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzoEJRGol0
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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz99EOlEkk5
Kouya shrugged. "As long as he never appears before me again."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnDMgzEzLu
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7LnkF6bES
"Kou-kun... thank you for tonight." The shrine maiden’s eyes glimmered faintly as she bowed her head.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKapZQfxIyz
"Don’t mention it." Kouya waved lazily. "Just make sure the pay is good."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUlfC5O6km
The shrine maiden bit her lip, suppressing a small smile.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ911jd9LvYs
...58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC1ckZlks1
Ten minutes later, four sleek black cars glided out of the Takeda estate under the moonlight. The air outside was cold and still.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcENjyMYUz
Two cars carried the guards, one carried the Takeda family, and the last—spacious and dimly lit—carried Kouya, the shrine maiden, and Rina.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlFn5pyvX1
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenHKi96emt
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s2GuFdvX7
Kouya nodded lightly, staring out at the passing lights. "Maybe so. People cling to what they love until the end."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEslkPs5xKm
His tone was detached. He had long grown numb to human sorrow and joy.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw3Vg50S4q
He’d seen it too many times—grief, reunion, parting. In the end, only love and hatred ever left real marks on the soul.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRd62lmc7c
The shrine maiden looked at him for a long moment, sensing the calm weight in his silence, and said nothing more.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt492yIEZiQ
The car fell quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of wheels on asphalt.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNJCPHaGBT
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz14PKOj2N
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi6rcWuNu8
"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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcgeyXVTUG
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz75bEejBE
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?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mkIYEk8Mc
"A classmate," Kouya replied curtly.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcxR0gnXHk
Her eyes gleamed. "You must be close. It’s quite late for a classmate to be calling, isn’t it?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj0Gi18lp4
Close? Don’t make me laugh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC5atNlyiC
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCqyarNbj4
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmac0meWtl
"Well then... I’ll nap a bit. Fukushima’s still a long way off. Good night, Kou-kun."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3lHobClRo
The car fell into silence again.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63IiolcCVH
Listening to the even breathing of his companions, Kouya’s earlier tension faded. His mind slowly calmed.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJDE63rhHb
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj9QNYuRWK
He reached down instinctively and caught it.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAUNd3bzBz
A sudden "meow!" echoed through the car.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A3MH4vNGu
He turned—and there was Rina, her cheeks flushed bright pink, eyes shimmering. Her tail quivered in his hand.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXAtCVX5Sg
"N-no... don’t touch there, meow!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2tG5KhaxK
Kouya froze, speechless. For a long moment, he could only stare at the trembling catgirl.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApX2PzKA92
He groaned inwardly. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal tail instead of one with... strange reactions!?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yrGYqFeyl
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrDMmNqJF6
"When someone touches my tail, it feels weird, meow... really weird..."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAAUJ5nD75
"Won’t touch again." Kouya said flatly, though his tone was faintly exasperated. He had no interest in awakening that kind of fetish.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GeTXF0YR5
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!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXml4iFY5E
A few minutes later, her voice came again, this time small and timid. "Meow’s hungry..."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJMdLOLHwe
Kouya sighed inwardly. Of course she was. Even weak youkai burned through energy faster than humans.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoJVojTSnI
"Then eat something," he said simply.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWQDcLbCEC
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!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSgXVO8ZMI
Kouya blinked and reached in, pulling out a small packet of yogurt. "Oh right, that blue-eyed hatchling shoved this at me earlier."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMfZMjbDp6
Rina’s eyes lit up instantly. She stared at it like a starving kitten.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOc5kdrC0R
"Don’t look at me like that," Kouya muttered. "You’re not getting it."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat9LXmlJ6a
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOci4No6HQ
It was the oldest trick in the book.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFAfuGufjU
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Here."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TQCYJcT4m
"Really for me, meow?" Her eyes widened in delight.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFp9Vtd06M
"Take it or leave it."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35o6tfFl6m
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYZDtA7X2u
Then the car hit a bump.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKPyT16ADg
The yogurt splashed—straight toward Kouya.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVs8ONnIrF
He blocked it instinctively, catching most of it with his hand before it stained his clothes. He reached for tissues.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e9NbOzZ4M
But Rina shouted, "No, meow! The three-second rule! It’s still good!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jRqwhj3Th
Kouya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "The what—"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3bI5HM18k
She nodded earnestly. "If it’s less than three seconds, it’s safe to eat, meow!"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfa5wKZ61O
Shut up! Stop showing off your nonsense!58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0IZCIPbq4
Who told you that crap!? Do you think bacteria wear watches!?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq63CAE9gE
He mentally ranted, recalling every failed myth he’d ever heard.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6hWOAGtCO
Before he could say another word, Rina leaned forward, clutching his wrist.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloU1yYt9PJ
"Still drinkable, meow~" she purred.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCV8oTENiB
Then, to his horror, she bent down and began licking the yogurt from his palm with her small pink tongue.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5ZkYy7spE
The sensation was unbearably strange—soft, wet, warm, and ticklish, crawling across his skin like electric ants.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7TSfI7vpz
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvegYBLFSoV
And then, from the side, a quiet, drowsy voice spoke:58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVRGXCJlMj
"Kou-kun... care to explain yourself?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjfZHiRBHN
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtbsX9vxg3
Before he could respond, she let out a quiet, knowing sigh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAkDASC4ui
"Or is it that Kou-kun finally couldn’t hold back... and decided to reveal his love for little girls?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjQPOKbNSu
Kouya: "..."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSWHildLeE
That sharp tongue again. Even half-asleep, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz7W1eyxoU
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1234 copyright protection54ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ESDH3iMJp 尼

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