Tokyo: I can enlighten all obsessions

Kamiki Tetsu stared at the neat row of question marks on his retina and fell silent.

Purple quality. Incomplete.

The combination of these two words is like someone who snagged a limited-edition luxury lucky bag during a sale, excitedly opened it, only to find that it contained just one sock, while the rest were just waste paper used for stuffing.

"What's this?"

He stared at the three "unknowns," feeling as if a string of the same question marks were popping up on his forehead.

Even though I have rare equipment in my hand, why do I feel so annoyed, as if I've been ripped off by a shady merchant?

"……etc."

Kamiki Tetsu suddenly realized something, and his gaze lingered for a moment on the description of the item called "The Forgotten True Face".

Peeping eyes, eavesdropping ears, gluttonous mouths, and flavorful noses.

All four of these "raw materials" came from that damned abandoned settlement.

Since these four parts are all "special products" from that area, then what about the remaining so-called "incomplete parts"...?

A logical conjecture emerged in his mind.

"To complete this, do I really have to go back to that godforsaken place again?"

Kamiki Tetsu felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He never wanted to set foot in that malicious old apartment building again in his life.

But looking at those three glaring [???] marks on my retina, and the word "incomplete"...

The kind of heartache that comes from finally finding a lottery ticket only to discover that the prize is missing a corner is driving him crazy.

"Shenmu! Dinner's ready!"

A shout from outside the door cleanly severed the nerve in his brain that was about to snap.

Kamiki Tetsu paused for a moment, then sighed deeply, reached out and made a grasping motion in the air, dispelling all the baffling questions in front of him.

Forget it.

Going back to that hellhole to fight is a matter for later, but if we don't leave now and the food on the table gets cold, that would be an irreparable loss.

After all, letting hot food get cold over something that hasn't even happened yet is not only irresponsible to your stomach, but also a huge waste of gas and food costs.

"They're here."

He responded, rubbed his somewhat shrunken belly, and turned to open the door.

On the low table in the center of the living room, there was a bubbling sukiyaki pot.

The sweet and savory aroma of soy sauce rose with the steam, dominating the entire room without restraint.

The ingredients in the pot were piled up like a small mountain.

The top layer is made of marbled red and white beef slices, which curl slightly as the broth boils and quickly turns an enticing brown. The tender chrysanthemum greens soak up the rich broth, their emerald green color glistening with oil. Next to them are a few plump shiitake mushrooms and a few pieces of grilled tofu that have been stewed until soft and flavorful.

This is simply the perfect embodiment of heat and money.

The two people standing by the table were clearly completely captivated by the aroma.

Kujo Hisana knelt on the cushion, her hands gripping the chopsticks tightly, her body leaning slightly forward. Her posture, ready to charge at any moment, was just like a feline eyeing a can of food being opened.

Her younger sister was equally impressive.

She held the rice bowl with the rabbit pattern on it, trying her best to maintain her composure, but the slight trembling of her nostrils and the barely perceptible swallowing motions in her throat betrayed her urgency.

Neither of the two girls spoke, their eyes fixed on the piece of beef in the pot that was almost cooked, as if it were not food, but some kind of miracle about to happen.

Kamiki Toru watched this scene, sighed helplessly, and pulled out his own chair to sit down.

"I'm starting to eat."

As the slice of marbled beef, coated in sterile egg yolk, slid into his mouth, the rich aroma of fat filled his mouth, and Kamiki Tetsu squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

While swallowing, he glanced at Yui Kamiki, who was puffing out her cheeks and looking blissfully happy.

"Oh, right, Yui. Since you've moved to Shinjuku, why don't you transfer to the same school?"

Kamiki Tetsu picked up a piece of grilled tofu soaked in broth and put it into his sister's bowl.

"Commuting to Nerima Ward from here is too time-consuming, and the daily tram fare is an unnecessary and ongoing loss."

Kamiki Yui slowed her chewing of beef by a beat and mumbled somewhat indistinctly:

"Huh? But the semester is only halfway through... and transferring schools must be a hassle, right?"

"It's no trouble at all."

Kamiki Tetsu placed a piece of cooked beef into his bowl, speaking casually.

"Now I'm a legitimate civil servant with a government job. Although the work is a bit busy, the educational benefits for immediate family members are quite comprehensive. As long as you go through the internal application process, transferring to a new class is just a matter of getting a stamp."

At this point, he glanced at Kujo Hisana beside him without making a sound.

"After all, they are civil servants. If they don't even offer these basic benefits to their families, who would want to do it?"

"Huh? Is that so?"

Kamiki Yui blinked, biting her chopsticks with a somewhat bewildered look.

"That's right, Yui-chan."

Kujo Hime elegantly picked up her teacup, chiming in without batting an eye:

"The hidden perks of being a civil servant are quite enviable. Arranging a transfer student is just a matter of Mr. Shenmu filling out a form."

The topic was then dropped.

For the rest of the time, all that remained was the crisp sound of chopsticks touching the porcelain bowl, and a brief battle for the last piece of shiitake mushroom soaked in broth.

The ingredients that were originally piled up like a small mountain in the sukiyaki pot were melting away at a visible speed under the chopsticks of the two girls.

Especially the expensive marbled beef; every time it was cooked, Toru Kamiki would hallucinate that several 500-yen coins had wings and flew into their mouths.

Although watching his savings being physically "chewed" away made him feel a pang of heartache.

But looking at Kamiki Yui across the steaming table, panting as she scalded her mouth while grinning foolishly, and Kujou Hina, whose movements were elegant but whose eating speed was ridiculously fast...

Kamiki Tetsu silently picked up a piece of cheap konjac noodles with his chopsticks and dipped it in egg liquid.

This noisy daily life, filled with the hustle and bustle of everyday life and the smell of money, isn't so bad.

When the last cabbage leaf disappeared into Kujo Hina's bowl, the war over calories and money finally came to an end.

"Now that you're full, go take a shower and go to bed."

While cleaning up the mess on the table, Kamiki Tetsu gave orders to Kamiki Yui, who was still holding a teacup and digesting her food.

"Huh? What time is it... Even elementary school students wouldn't be sleeping at this hour, would they?"

Yui Kamiki puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, like a wronged hamster.

"Growth hormone injections are very expensive, but obtaining them through sleep is free."

Kamiki Tetsu interrupted his sister's protest, picked up the empty sukiyaki pot, and said in an unquestionable tone.

"If you don't want to stay at your current height for the rest of your life, even sleeping for one more minute is a bonus. I don't want to have to spend an extra budget on height-increasing supplements for you in the future."

Speechless with this "Shinmoku Economics," Yui could only reluctantly drag her lazy steps toward the bathroom.

"I know... What a nagging old man."

Watching his younger sister obediently get up and leave, Kamiki Toru then turned and walked into the narrow kitchen.

Before he could even squeeze out the dish soap, a figure naturally squeezed into the kitchen counter space.

Kujo Hisana rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her fair wrist, and casually tied her long hair behind her head with a hair tie. She then took the dish sponge from Kamiki Tetsu's hand.

The two stood side by side in front of the narrow kitchen counter.

Kujou Hisana was in charge of wiping the oil stains with a sponge, while Kamiki Tetsu took the plate she handed him, rinsed it under the tap, and then neatly placed it in the drain basket.

They worked together surprisingly well, as if this wasn't the first time they'd collaborated like this.

Just as Kamiki Tetsu reached out to take the last bowl covered in egg yolk, the movement beside him suddenly paused for a moment.

"Kamiki-kun..."

Kujo Hisana lowered her head, her gaze fixed on her foam-covered hands, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing something.

"I……"

Kamiki Toru turned his head to the side, waiting for her to continue.

But those words seemed to have been washed away by the current, failing to create any ripples in this space.

After a few seconds of silence, Kujo Hisana started working on the sponge again, her tone returning to its usual calm, though it sounded a bit more abrupt than before.

"……fine."

Kamiki Toru sighed helplessly, gently placing the cleaned porcelain bowl in the colander with a crisp sound.

"I'm saying, Kujo."

He didn't look at her, but simply shook the water droplets off his hands, his tone lazy and casual.

"Although we didn't spend a long time together, we were teammates who went through thick and thin together in that damned garrison. We could be considered comrades who entrusted our backs to each other, right?"

At this point, Kamiki Tetsu turned off the tap and turned to look at the shrine maiden beside him.

"Just say what you want to say. This hesitant manner doesn't suit you. Of course—"

He abruptly changed the subject, his face revealing that signature wary look, like a squirrel guarding its food.

"If it's about paying rent or asking me for money, please keep it to yourself."

Hearing this money-grubbing remark, Kujo Hisana paused for a moment, then relaxed her shoulders slightly.

"Pfft."

She couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking her head, and the seriousness that had been lingering between her brows dissipated considerably.

"Don't worry, Kamiki-kun. While the shrine's renovation does require funds, I haven't stooped to extorting money from my tenants."

Kujo Hisana took a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind.

She turned off the still-running faucet, turned around, leaned against the kitchen counter, and looked directly at Toru Kamiki.

"Actually... I saw that thing in that apartment building."

Her voice was lowered and tinged with a hint of unease.

"The Kujo family crest."

"In a place filled with malice, the mark of the Kujo family is etched... This is definitely not a coincidence."

She paused here, a resolute glint in her eyes.

"I feel there's a big problem with that place. It might even be hiding some truths about my family's past."

"So... Kamiki-kun, I want to find a suitable time and opportunity to go there again."

"Ah, wait... please don't misunderstand!"

Seemingly realizing that her words sounded like a disguised invitation, Kujo Hisana waved her hand hastily, her serious expression instantly crumbling, revealing a hint of urgency.

"I did not ask Kamiki-kun to come along! Nor did I intend to use our status as teammates to morally blackmail you. Investigating the truth about the Kujo family is purely my personal matter, not your obligation."

She paused for a moment, her gaze lowering slightly to the floor tiles at her feet.

"I just meant... in case, I mean in case."

She raised her head again, her clear eyes fixed on Kamiki Toru, her voice very soft.

"If there's even a one in ten thousand chance that I won't be able to get out of that place..."

"At that time, I hope to ask Shinki-kun to take care of this shrine."