The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

Subconsciously, she placed her hand in front of her and gently pressed it down. Then, Yukino Yukinoshita sadly realized she was completely defeated, and in a way that no amount of papaya milk could reverse...

"Won!"

A woman's keen intuition allowed Miura Yumiko to realize that Yukino was spying on her the moment Yukino cast her gaze in her direction.

However, Yumiko Miura chose to remain silent about this.

Part of the reason is naturally because she lost the argument yesterday and didn't want to continue to humiliate herself.

On the other hand...

After changing her clothes, Miura Yumiko looked at Yukinoshita's flat body with pity, then defiantly straightened her body and walked out of the tent.

"Hey, what was Yumiko doing just now?"

Yui Yuigahama, completely unaware of this covert confrontation, watched the entire event with utter bewilderment.

After Miura Yumiko left, she quickly turned around and asked Miura Yumiko about the meaning of her actions.

"........."

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Yui Yuigahama, who was like a curious child, with a helpless expression.

If she hadn't known that this silly guy in front of her genuinely didn't understand, she would have thought he was there to cause her further harm.

"Yui."

"what happened?"

Sometimes I think about a question.

"what is the problem?"

Yui Yuigahama moved closer, intrigued.

"Could it be that the reason you're not doing well in your studies is because this thing is absorbing all the nutrients that should be supplied to your brain?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita reached out and grabbed Yuihama's weapon, which was even more terrifying than Miura's, kneading it as she spoke in a sorrowful and indignant tone.

"Hey, you can't blame me for growing this big. Besides, if you're this big, your shoulders will get really tired..."

Yui Yuigahama quickly reached out to defend herself, struggling to stop the snow from invading her, while explaining herself with a pitiful expression.

"very tired?"

Upon hearing Yui Yuigahama's explanation, Yukino Yukinoshita's face darkened even further.

Haha, she's never felt any shoulder pain. Yui Yuigahama must be so envious, right?

............

What happened inside the tent was completely unknown to those outside.

Those who had returned to camp were now beginning preparations for dinner.

While everyone was busy, two figures walked brazenly out of the camp.

"Phew, those kids really exhausted me today."

Under the familiar shade of the tree, Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned against the trunk, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, complaining incessantly about how hard it was to be a teacher.

"So, is there something you wanted to tell me?"

Hachiman Hikigaya completely ignored what Shizuka Hiratsuka said and went straight to the point asking why she had called him out to chat at this time.

"That's really going too far. Can't I call you out if there's nothing wrong?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.

It felt like this guy had become a completely different person since a certain day last semester; she almost didn't recognize him.

"When a teacher calls a student out, isn't it usually because there's something wrong?"

Hachiman Hikigaya rolled his eyes at Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"But there has never been a rule that teachers can't call students out unless there's something to do."

Hiratsuka Shizuka spread her hands, looking like a shameless rogue.

"...I'm going back."

Hachiman Hikigaya felt utterly helpless and speechless at the sight of this rogue teacher.

"Hey, wait a minute, I was just kidding."

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya was really about to turn around and leave, Shizuka Hiratsuka quickly took a few steps to catch up with him, and then pulled him back by the collar.

Why the collar?

Without offering any resistance, Hachiman Hikigaya returned to the base of the tree.

However, the two switched positions at this moment, with Hiratsuka Shizuka leaning against the tree trunk and him leaning against it instead.

"Oh, maybe it's because I'm used to using it?"

Upon hearing the question, Hiratsuka Shizuka thought for a moment and gave a factual answer.

It seems that every time she tries to grab Hachiman, she grabs him by the collar.

Over time, it becomes a habit, and there's nothing we can do about it.

"Then don't use what you're comfortable with!"

Hachiman Hikigaya mentally flipped the table over, then pinched the bridge of his nose to calm himself down.

"Sorry, sorry, I'll try to find a different place next time."

In response to Hachiman Hikigaya's complaints, Shizuka Hiratsuka replied in a tone that was clearly perfunctory.

Then she changed the subject, her tone suddenly becoming serious.

"My mother called me today; it was about news from your side."

"Eh?"

Hachiman Hikigaya was momentarily taken aback by Hiratsuka Shizuka's sudden change to seriousness.

But then his expression became serious.

Chapter 319 Terrible Intelligence

What news is it?

Seeing Hiratsuka Shizuka's unusually serious expression, Hachiman Hikigaya's originally relaxed mood couldn't help but become tense.

After all, while they might joke around normally, Hiratsuka Shizuka had never joked about something like this before.

"Tsk, it's not exactly good news, but it's not bad news either, is it?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned as she thought about what her mother had told her on the phone.

"The intelligence indicates that those five officials will be leaving Japan for a while. What they're going to do and when they'll return is completely unknown."

"Everyone's leaving?"

Upon hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's words, Hachiman Hikigaya showed a surprised expression.

The five adults that Hiratsuka Shizuka mentioned were undoubtedly the exorcists stationed in various regions of Japan.

And Japan's current peaceful state is entirely thanks to those five people.

But now those five people are actually going to leave Japan for a while...

Is there something very important?

Subconsciously, Hachiman Hikigaya pressed for the reason for his departure.

After all, the responsibility on the shoulders of the five exorcists was simply too great.

Even if they remain quietly somewhere on the island without taking action, they are actually a powerful deterrent to evil spirits.

However, now...

Although Hiratsuka Shizuka's family is very powerful, the fact that even they knew about the exorcists' impending departure suggests that the evil spirits probably knew as well.

"If that happens, Japan will be finished, won't it?"

Thinking of the chaotic scene of demons running rampant after the exorcists left, Hachiman Hikigaya's expression turned serious.

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was contemplating the future, his face was suddenly pinched by Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"Didn't I just say that I don't know the answers to questions like 'What are you going to do?' or 'How long will you be back?'"

Shizuka Hiratsuka tugged at Hachiman Hikigaya's cheek and said listlessly.

"Feel sorry........"

The slight pain brought Hachiman Hikigaya back to his senses from his own panic.

"It's alright. To be honest, if something like this happened, I wouldn't know what to do either..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was also feeling troubled but had been trying to control herself, bit into the candy in her mouth and savored the sudden increase in sweetness. Her expression improved somewhat.

"So what are you planning to do if those adults really leave?"

"They might gather them together with Yukinoshita and the others, right?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Hachiman Hikigaya said uncertainly.

If the evil spirits throughout Japan really go on a rampage because of the exorcist's departure, then his current strength, which is enough to kill the Demon Emperor, is still too weak.

Moreover, in this situation, he would naturally prioritize ensuring the safety of his relatives and friends.

As for strangers?

If he happens to run into him near his home, he might intervene if he has the time and energy.

As for anything else, all he could say was sorry.

"To protect them all at once? That's not a bad idea."

Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded in response to Hachiman Hikigaya's answer.

Contrary to her fears, he hasn't become the kind of overly kind person who tries to protect the world; it seems his recent changes are indeed quite positive.

"I've already told you everything, so let's get ready as soon as possible."