Chapter 94: Feeding Play111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNk5muTlCx
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T2H3Hk7iN
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuZjwpOGgH
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq8Pm3Uwfp
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznLEDDjJ0S
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosTQdzLoau
"Start the car!" Kazuya gasped, his breathing unsteady. "We’re returning to Fukushima immediately!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7WSvyagmi
"Father, it’s late at night—" Koji tried to reason gently, but the old man’s expression turned resolute.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7lm0sQOQ9
"Now!" he barked, his voice carrying the kind of authority that silenced everyone.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiN2nxXOAH
Koji could only sigh helplessly and gesture to the nearby guards. "Prepare the car."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp5CfgaCAY
"Yes, sir!" The guards bowed deeply and hurried off.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ALz7CosEU
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpZXDW0324
The shrine maiden glanced toward Kouya. Seeing he showed no impatience, she nodded gently. "Naturally."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSXIHtnFyq
Koji straightened and said with gratitude, "As for dealing with the youkai, I’ll leave that to your expertise."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4CPiE2XN9
With that, he departed with quick, worried steps.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdCYPhfvJ6
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZJU7WsVsy
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXc5RqSuq1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW4HdqMBvb
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z4EWTmkMP
Kouya shrugged. "As long as he never appears before me again."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImOwke9M3U
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7NCegtl0a
"Kou-kun... thank you for tonight." The shrine maiden’s eyes glimmered faintly as she bowed her head.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqgUOczVwh
"Don’t mention it." Kouya waved lazily. "Just make sure the pay is good."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6bMnyxvol
The shrine maiden bit her lip, suppressing a small smile.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvOYYNVAa0
...111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88WD4wo2yx
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIC6OJJ6VR
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqfxqvAVsW
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTSzUIAr6f
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEdj7xMg7l
Kouya nodded lightly, staring out at the passing lights. "Maybe so. People cling to what they love until the end."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYKHA76OOY
His tone was detached. He had long grown numb to human sorrow and joy.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T0kP8LmhY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtTvLNdNPR
The shrine maiden looked at him for a long moment, sensing the calm weight in his silence, and said nothing more.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSazUPFJEXB
The car fell quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of wheels on asphalt.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKY7Sy4Jye
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzgLMQJ6VY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXNvZztMvW
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMlAXiDUQa
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdvx6KFZkL
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuat5hbJRZ
"A classmate," Kouya replied curtly.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv0nUcoWZk
Her eyes gleamed. "You must be close. It’s quite late for a classmate to be calling, isn’t it?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vhOi7mpcD
Close? Don’t make me laugh.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfDfJseXm3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL1I5t7bs9
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCETIS21wH
"Well then... I’ll nap a bit. Fukushima’s still a long way off. Good night, Kou-kun."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGkeKCo4Ys
The car fell into silence again.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgssO06OFzs
Listening to the even breathing of his companions, Kouya’s earlier tension faded. His mind slowly calmed.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8MG0b0505
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3JGHKKUrc
He reached down instinctively and caught it.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Uydq7k8z
A sudden "meow!" echoed through the car.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2hQpvNvtZ
He turned—and there was Rina, her cheeks flushed bright pink, eyes shimmering. Her tail quivered in his hand.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5EYH1zBGx
"N-no... don’t touch there, meow!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dXwu28Otf
Kouya froze, speechless. For a long moment, he could only stare at the trembling catgirl.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGO2N67PtH
He groaned inwardly. Damn it. Why couldn’t she have a normal tail instead of one with... strange reactions!?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXZCPOmItS
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02YkOBZ7nO
"When someone touches my tail, it feels weird, meow... really weird..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2voxQDr6ZG
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJQqyBgSmC
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmblUs9SLe
A few minutes later, her voice came again, this time small and timid. "Meow’s hungry..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurFBpq1lpP
Kouya sighed inwardly. Of course she was. Even weak youkai burned through energy faster than humans.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIqmKMkXso
"Then eat something," he said simply.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQhfvfwu3J
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JwnVBx0aH
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pX68w2LWp
Rina’s eyes lit up instantly. She stared at it like a starving kitten.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp2Tt2Ydmy
"Don’t look at me like that," Kouya muttered. "You’re not getting it."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBy5y2hjp6
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMsNkgPy99
It was the oldest trick in the book.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUugGgyDFLQ
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Here."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77y9pr7w0F
"Really for me, meow?" Her eyes widened in delight.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a6sTUxYCG
"Take it or leave it."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABoMFiUMOK
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr6DPlQmlb
Then the car hit a bump.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCcrMKwuHo
The yogurt splashed—straight toward Kouya.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkEVqRFh2B
He blocked it instinctively, catching most of it with his hand before it stained his clothes. He reached for tissues.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aRQMdutAY
But Rina shouted, "No, meow! The three-second rule! It’s still good!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HqOvlYZaJ
Kouya blinked, utterly dumbfounded. "The what—"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sfeZ8IC9A
She nodded earnestly. "If it’s less than three seconds, it’s safe to eat, meow!"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafiuH5rbAs
Shut up! Stop showing off your nonsense!111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RFseDSUtG
Who told you that crap!? Do you think bacteria wear watches!?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc0LvoQyRl
He mentally ranted, recalling every failed myth he’d ever heard.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wFLz8Xvfn
Before he could say another word, Rina leaned forward, clutching his wrist.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUsh4XYRnU
"Still drinkable, meow~" she purred.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C5Ke1uUH6
Then, to his horror, she bent down and began licking the yogurt from his palm with her small pink tongue.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5B7b5uKZ5
The sensation was unbearably strange—soft, wet, warm, and ticklish, crawling across his skin like electric ants.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ12fcNotmY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn2gR1Q7VP
And then, from the side, a quiet, drowsy voice spoke:111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhwe6pYTel
"Kou-kun... care to explain yourself?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpSqtyxGrq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPmJqFikJZ
Before he could respond, she let out a quiet, knowing sigh.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2gvi0OEf0
"Or is it that Kou-kun finally couldn’t hold back... and decided to reveal his love for little girls?"111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4aCXTiuVf
Kouya: "..."111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIhf9OiJEX
That sharp tongue again. Even half-asleep, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJDg55BsdI
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