I have an unlimited number of shikigami

"Ah, it's nothing..." Fujiwara Izaya swallowed the sakura mochi without even chewing, "I just went back to the bakery to take a look, and then went to the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang) to help Miss Miki register as a shrine maiden..."

"Don't make any mistakes."

"I understand."

"Is there anything you need to report to me?"

“…Uh,” Fujiwara Izaya racked his brains and asked, puzzled, “No.”

The rain was still falling outside, neither heavier nor lighter than in the morning.

Mrs. Kasahara, holding a yellow rose, said calmly, "You may begin arranging the flowers now. Please bow first."

"Greetings, Master." Fujiwara Izaya quickly clasped his hands together in front of his knees and bowed respectfully to her.

That reserved look is so adorable.

Kasahara Fukaeri was very pleased with herself.

At this moment, Mrs. Kasahara turned around, returned the greeting, and said, "Come over here."

“Okay.” Fujiwara Izaya climbed over and sat down next to her.

In this way, Mrs. Kasahara was placed in the middle position.

She chose a pine tree covered in moss, picked three yellow roses, and then began her lesson.

“The yellow roses are a good choice. They will look elegant this way.” Mrs. Kasahara said, taking out a light blue, lotus-leaf-shaped container from the container. “Fujiwara, use the slightly concave part as the front.”

"Alright. Please give me your guidance." Fujiwara Izaya bowed his head in thanks and took the yellow rose in his hand.

Under Mrs. Kasahara's guidance, he used the moss-covered pine tree as the main subject and carefully pruned the yellow roses that served as a backdrop.

The delicate flowers, carrying a hint of rain chill, seeped from his fingertips into his entire body. But Fujiwara Izaya's cheeks were warm, because Mrs. Kasahara had been sitting very close to him while watching him arrange the flowers, her breath brushing against his face.

When Fujiwara Izaya stopped, Mrs. Kasahara took a closer look.

The green pine branches paired with yellow roses look very elegant, but the florist's skills are not good, and the crooked and awkward work looks very clumsy.

“This is too messy. Such beautiful roses have been ruined. You need to arrange the roses more upright…” Mrs. Kasahara reached out and fiddled with them for a few moments. “Concentrate. A person’s inner character can be reflected in their flower arrangement. Creating a beautiful bouquet is by no means an easy task.”

With a few simple adjustments, the entire piece instantly becomes elegant and vibrant.

"Hmm, I'm still a long way from reaching that level," Fujiwara Izaya exclaimed with considerable admiration.

For some reason, he always felt that Mrs. Kasahara was subtly criticizing him. A florist who ruined the flowers—was she implying that he had ruined her two beautiful daughters? But the problem was… he was only flirting.

On the other side, Fukahara Eri was also practicing.

She usually helps her mother with flower arranging, and she is happy whether she is criticized or praised.

"The flower arrangement for the alcove should be made with Oolong Matsuri. I'll prepare it for you," Mrs. Kasahara said, looking at her.

“Okay. But I can’t manage alone,” Kasahara Fukari said.

"It's alright, your mother will help you."

"Okay."

Mrs. Kasahara stretched her legs, relaxed a bit, and smiled as she looked at Izaya Fujiwara.

"How should I arrange this flower?" Fujiwara Izaya asked, picking up a lily.

“Lily, there’s a story behind it.” Mrs. Kasahara took the lily from his hand and gently sniffed it. “...It was a spring afternoon. I was training at a temple in the mountains of Takamatsu, and it was a rainy day like this. I was holding a paper umbrella and was about to walk down the stone steps to pick some flowers to practice flower arranging when suddenly a ball of fire flew past me. The path was slippery from the rain, but luckily I didn’t fall down the stone steps. I chased after the fire and finally came to a lily, where it stopped and waited for me to pick it.”

As he listened to her speak, a beautiful yet thrilling scene flashed through Fujiwara Izaya's mind.

In the misty, rain-shrouded mountains, a beautiful face emerges beneath a white paper umbrella. Her face, radiating innocence and romance, is exquisitely beautiful, bathed in the soft green light filtering through the oil-paper umbrella, glistening with raindrops. She gracefully descends the stone steps, her skirt lifted with feminine charm. The fire and the lilies, cherished and pitied by the woman, in that sublime moment, finally see their unease melt away in the beautiful, poetic scenery. The moment the woman, on her way to learn flower arranging, encounters the fire, their lives intertwine.

"And then?" Fujiwara Izaya asked.

"That's all." Mrs. Kasahara smoothed her damp, disheveled hair with both hands. Then, in a calm, motherly tone, she said, "I brought the lilies back to Tokyo and started growing them."

"what?"

"What's so surprising!"

"I feel it's a bit disjointed and incoherent..."

Kasahara Fukaeri fiddled with the flowers without saying a word.

"Eri-nee-nee?" Fujiwara Izaya asked her curiously.

"I don't know, it's none of my business, don't ask me!" Kasahara Fukari shut him down completely.

"It's really incredible, lilies are truly divine flowers," Mrs. Kasahara said calmly, picking up her flower shears. "Here's one for you. Take it home and take good care of it; it can ward off illness and misfortune."

Fujiwara Izaya always felt that there was something hidden in her words, but he couldn't figure it out. He could only smile and say, "Even without this flower, we wouldn't get sick."

Use small flower shears to cut a flower from near the stem.

The flower shears made a soft sound.

“Don’t say such things! This lily can not only cure diseases…” Mrs. Kasahara stopped there and turned her head to the side.

Fujiwara Izaya also looked over.

Kasahara Fukaeri seemed preoccupied, leaning against the rosewood table, her profile exceptionally beautiful under the lamplight. In an instant, sensing his gaze, that beautiful profile turned and, as if to threaten him, shouted in a discordant, peculiar tone, "What are you looking at!"

"..."

Fujiwara Izaya looked completely bewildered.

Is she trying her best to suppress her emotional accusations?

You could tell from her voice that she was angry.

and also!

What else can lilies be used for?

Can you two please stop being riddle-solving people?!

Just then, Asuka Kasahara happened to be passing by outside and glanced inside.

"Asuka," Fujiwara Izaya greeted her.

The junior gave him a look that suggested he was looking at a corpse, then shook his shoulder and walked away.

She had said she would absolutely not pay any attention to that scumbag senior until she calmed down. As the most beautiful girl in the world, she meant what she said, so Fujiwara Izaya's attempt to win her over was met with a cold shoulder.

"Haha, you've made both of my daughters angry," Mrs. Kasahara said, twirling a flower branch with her fingers. "Do you know what you did wrong?"

"know."

"The older sister is beautiful, and the younger sister is pretty too. It's a pity they met you."

"..."

Fujiwara Izaya seemed to be at a loss for words.

That's strange. Did I come here specifically to criticize myself...?

"To be honest, I'm quite angry with you too." Mrs. Kasahara's legs peeked out from under her kimono as she tugged at the hem of her skirt. "As your elder, you behaved so improperly when we ate together. Now I feel uneasy sitting next to you. Please, be a gentleman. You're a man, after all, and not entirely safe. Let me make this clear: if you make any sudden movements, I will never see you again, never speak to you again, and we will be estranged immediately. Hmm? Can you swear you won't lay a hand on me?"

"?"

Fujiwara Izaya's head was now covered in little question marks.

At that moment, Kasahara Fukaeri looked up and questioned him with a murderous gaze.

'You've been disrespectful to my mother—'

'How could I dare...'

'You're feeling guilty!'

No…

His eyes darted around!

"I swear!" Fujiwara Izaya gently raised his hand and opened his palm, making a promise to the two of them.

Working with this mother and daughter is like walking a tightrope; you have to be extremely careful.

Mrs. Kasahara picked up a small floral handkerchief from the table and gracefully wiped the water from her hands. Kasahara Fukaeri touched the flower in her hair as if afraid of breaking something, casting a questioning glance at her mother through the flower's shadow. Mrs. Kasahara blinked, chuckled, and whispered in her ear, "From now on, your mother will secretly follow you. You mustn't say a word—"

In that instant, Kasahara Fukaeri seemed to know what methods her mother was planning to use.

“Uh, well…” Fujiwara Izaya carefully took the lilies that had been given to him. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now… Also, I’m going out of town for the next three days, so the chairman might not be able to reach me.”

"Hmm, it's alright." Mrs. Kasahara said in a gentle, singing tone, "You're just a kid, it's easy for me to find you, don't think you can lie to me."

"Don't worry!" Fujiwara Izaya laughed, trying to smooth things over.

"Oh, and there's more." Mrs. Kasahara leaned closer, her expression softening. "I consider you someone I can trust, so don't do anything bad to me behind my back. Also, now that Asakusa Shrine has grown so big, you're not allowed to get too close to the Tsuchimikado family or Senso-ji Temple, except for the Hoshimi family. I even want to hear you speak ill of them. You know, I was the first person I approached and mentored, so you should be one of my people, right? You should share the benefits with me, right? If you're nice to others, I'll get jealous. In this respect, I'm no different from any other woman; I'm quite petty..."

The noble chairman met his gaze with pursed lips. His smile was bright and affectionate, with a hint of pleading.

The light shone on his face.

It seemed to possess a certain alluring, sensual glow.

Fujiwara Izaya felt that he was moved.

Whether she was acting or not, a forty-year-old woman putting on a cute act is truly irresistible...

Fujiwara Izaya stayed at the Kasahara's house until evening, had dinner, and was then allowed to leave.

Mrs. Kasahara personally saw him off, and the two walked along the corridor.

"I'm still a bit confused!" Fujiwara Izaya complained.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry, you may have misunderstood something." Mrs. Kasahara covered her lips with her hand, smiling slyly. "Go back quickly, don't overthink it. I'll give you a surprise in a few days."

"What surprise?"

"Alright, alright, let's go back. I have things to do."

"Then I'll be going. By the way..."

"What?" Mrs. Kasahara stopped in her tracks.

“Let me tell you, I—” Fujiwara Izaya turned around, looked at her under the lamplight, thought for a moment, and said, “I have great respect for you… Well then, goodbye, I’ll come often in the future.”

"Goodbye."

Mrs. Kasahara waved her hand.