Chapter 94: Feeding Play111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyhc659Ijv
"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!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroDB38Ds2i
"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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwDTpuogzP
"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNopbWBzLha
"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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprr0mw1zEG
"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4onvAGjMj
"Start the car!" Kazuya gasped, his breathing unsteady. "We’re returning to Fukushima immediately!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOHBA45eDs
"Father, it’s late at night—" Koji tried to reason gently, but the old man’s expression turned resolute.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CtsiVPYet
"Now!" he barked, his voice carrying the kind of authority that silenced everyone.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1e6AtHfP4
Koji could only sigh helplessly and gesture to the nearby guards. "Prepare the car."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu28elGOBV
"Yes, sir!" The guards bowed deeply and hurried off.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9MXkskIeI
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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi2S4ZXWDx
The shrine maiden glanced toward Kouya. Seeing he showed no impatience, she nodded gently. "Naturally."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdjmrOrXP4
Koji straightened and said with gratitude, "As for dealing with the youkai, I’ll leave that to your expertise."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QKjoUmd1D
With that, he departed with quick, worried steps.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA411xJWuv
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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6BFuTllG1
"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqiJOjRfqJ
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!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlBYyXOEDk
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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWdNYEpQNO
Kouya shrugged. "As long as he never appears before me again."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0NAoBpPVd
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEqDhqTIos
"Kou-kun... thank you for tonight." The shrine maiden’s eyes glimmered faintly as she bowed her head.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnT39UKq5U
"Don’t mention it." Kouya waved lazily. "Just make sure the pay is good."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJyrJwfCOG
The shrine maiden bit her lip, suppressing a small smile.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZrZgPJ4Ii
...111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfPaQMXc7D
Ten minutes later, four sleek black cars glided out of the Takeda estate under the moonlight. The air outside was cold and still.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZjgcDlJ5B
Two cars carried the guards, one carried the Takeda family, and the last—spacious and dimly lit—carried Kouya, the shrine maiden, and Rina.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIPBs4Ob5Z
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0YRLzSBTd
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."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uUpM0b9n9
Kouya nodded lightly, staring out at the passing lights. "Maybe so. People cling to what they love until the end."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6p0uDaWa4
His tone was detached. He had long grown numb to human sorrow and joy.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAdpgYHu8p
He’d seen it too many times—grief, reunion, parting. In the end, only love and hatred ever left real marks on the soul.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEFlj9pMsA
The shrine maiden looked at him for a long moment, sensing the calm weight in his silence, and said nothing more.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLDyEyHLOk
The car fell quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of wheels on asphalt.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflJBdg3cHj
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40t8Y7Fq3j
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbAJYBCYlQ
"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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAKqdzN9TC
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7NOpGVypH
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?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHYJ2uIRnS
"A classmate," Kouya replied curtly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7u3fiiLht
Her eyes gleamed. "You must be close. It’s quite late for a classmate to be calling, isn’t it?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aXQGx24Jw
Close? Don’t make me laugh.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFalEPj60j2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitSRrDa2fm
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeShbS0OZyT
"Well then... I’ll nap a bit. Fukushima’s still a long way off. Good night, Kou-kun."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0yV5U0j2T
The car fell into silence again.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzMYxBD67I
Listening to the even breathing of his companions, Kouya’s earlier tension faded. His mind slowly calmed.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ712YNeLRmp
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetTaUF88vo
He reached down instinctively and caught it.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv6vHZJQ7e
A sudden "meow!" echoed through the car.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdfZncDKIP
He turned—and there was Rina, her cheeks flushed bright pink, eyes shimmering. Her tail quivered in his hand.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SdXz4dHxj
"N-no... don’t touch there, meow!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLmRO7SuG5
Kouya froze, speechless. For a long moment, he could only stare at the trembling catgirl.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv3a1PC32X
He groaned inwardly. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal tail instead of one with... strange reactions!?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkehsH4g40O
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH0G9B8YpF
"When someone touches my tail, it feels weird, meow... really weird..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq5io7eKll
"Won’t touch again." Kouya said flatly, though his tone was faintly exasperated. He had no interest in awakening that kind of fetish.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo84erzjcCT
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!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdlDlnmixe
A few minutes later, her voice came again, this time small and timid. "Meow’s hungry..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3XBboVqcu
Kouya sighed inwardly. Of course she was. Even weak youkai burned through energy faster than humans.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu72cUsRheE
"Then eat something," he said simply.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKrJ2uBZF8
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!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd0wypJRpT
Kouya blinked and reached in, pulling out a small packet of yogurt. "Oh right, that blue-eyed hatchling shoved this at me earlier."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByAblvyYuq
Rina’s eyes lit up instantly. She stared at it like a starving kitten.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk3qAK16Uk
"Don’t look at me like that," Kouya muttered. "You’re not getting it."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8cTWDGQnB
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtwBy2nykI
It was the oldest trick in the book.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT9PVPhXtd
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Here."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9RQxTmtCF
"Really for me, meow?" Her eyes widened in delight.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQBZxwrhGR
"Take it or leave it."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwk0Op8Rvu
"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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8M70eRano
Then the car hit a bump.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uzoA3ZN26
The yogurt splashed—straight toward Kouya.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsokNBxWe2q
He blocked it instinctively, catching most of it with his hand before it stained his clothes. He reached for tissues.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfRRxagEP3
But Rina shouted, "No, meow! The three-second rule! It’s still good!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqb6IQJuKv
Kouya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "The what—"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSIaF0mwA3
She nodded earnestly. "If it’s less than three seconds, it’s safe to eat, meow!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHp6pkrnPa
Shut up! Stop showing off your nonsense!111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyenGmMALhK
Who told you that crap!? Do you think bacteria wear watches!?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT8ZEshCX0
He mentally ranted, recalling every failed myth he’d ever heard.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZrCfwmuoF
Before he could say another word, Rina leaned forward, clutching his wrist.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI9OvOQrz0
"Still drinkable, meow~" she purred.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66NJp9UtNY
Then, to his horror, she bent down and began licking the yogurt from his palm with her small pink tongue.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXgR6h3K5K
The sensation was unbearably strange—soft, wet, warm, and ticklish, crawling across his skin like electric ants.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUj7byLJPu
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYvS5NDgd4
And then, from the side, a quiet, drowsy voice spoke:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U6lWl35KI
"Kou-kun... care to explain yourself?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIlPH4xlsC
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4gdjrCYlg
Before he could respond, she let out a quiet, knowing sigh.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Pf8HK6vk
"Or is it that Kou-kun finally couldn’t hold back... and decided to reveal his love for little girls?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjdXlDu0zz
Kouya: "..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjPMMEBkMX
That sharp tongue again. Even half-asleep, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPgHn7XR4Q
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