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Inyouchuu Gaiden Chapter 1 Part 4

When she thought of the youmas, murderous intent wells up in her heart. Before she knew it, her fist was clenched and she trembled strongly. She then shook her head left and right to counteract the hatred welling inside of her heart.

「It’s not something that you are supposed to be thinking about first thing in the morning.」

She muttered to herself as if she was talking to someone, and she looked around the room.

White walls, white floors, white sheets and a simple pipe bed. At first glance, it looked like a hospital room. Considering that she was in a place called a research institute, it may not be a wildly mistaken imagination. The room was silent, with only the sound of rain hitting the windows. It seemed that today’s weather was the absolute worst.

When she got off the bed, she picked up the clothes she had left on top of the provided closet and put them on. She did not like wearing the same clothes as she was yesterday, but it couldn’t really be helped at this time. When she turned her eyes to the outside of the window, the spreading mountains jumped into her field of vision. It was safe to say that this research institute was located deep in the mountains. It wasn’t a place where you could just go home after work at night.

(I really need to hurry up, wrap this business up and go home.)

The reason why she wanted to leave so fast was not only limited to the bad weather outside. Due to the circumstances of this place, and the nature of the research that Youma Research Institute was conducting, the presence of the youmas could always be felt in here, and before long such an oppressive atmosphere would start to take its toll on anyone able to sense it. In addition to that, she felt a strange sense of incongruity to this place —— an uneasiness in her own heart. Was it perhaps because the youmas were so close at all times?

There was nothing else that Kyouko could do but to start thinking about it more and more, and so she chose to quickly change her clothes and leave the room.

「Ah…… Good morning.」

Upon exiting the room, Kyouko encountered two girls who were waiting in front of the door. They were Shiratori Mikoto and Shiratori Takeru, wearing their usual pure white uniforms, the older sister wearing a girl’s one and the younger wearing a boy’s one. As to who greeted Kyouko in such a friendly manner, it was Takeru. As for Mikoto…… she remained perfectly silent.

「Good morning. Did you girls sleep well last night?」

As luck would have it, Kyouko got to work with those two girls before on at least several occasions. They were a pair of Exorcists who were affiliated with the rival company to that of Kyouko’s, but they were a rather cute and adorable pair to witness. Especially that Mikoto girl, who got a really short fuse and teasing her in various ways was just the best.

「Yes, we did, as a matter of fact. But I also wanted to thank you for yesterday, Kyouko-san. You really helped us out of a tough spot.」

「N-Not that we were in any particular danger whatsoever! B-But anyways, why the hell are you even here, huh, Kyouko?」

Unlike the younger sister, who acted really docile and polite around Kyouko, the older sibling crossed her arms on her chest as she puffed her cheeks in an open display of discontent. Apparently, the two of them came here specifically so that they could thank Kyouko for saving them last night.

But even so, this attitude of the older sibling…… it was more than enough to make her grin in an amused way., this is why this girl is grinning Kyoko.

「Our agency received a request from the Youma Research Institute, and it was decided that I should be the one to come here and investigate. Unlike your company, our office receives a lot of requests from rich people and other companies. Kashiwagi Conglomerate is one of our regular customers. After all, it’s strange to actually see you guys in here……」

Trut to be told, the “White Cat Extermination Brigade’s Branch Office” received many different requests from so-called influential people. The location of their office was also in a prime location in the center of Tokyo, which was a big difference from the “Black Cat’s Branch Office ” that was located in some run-down apartment in a really inconvenient neighborhood. This only went to show just how much of a difference their respective agencies had in terms of management, but it was also true that the “White Cat’s” Exorcists’ strength was also a part of their popularity. That being said, the two girls right here were no weaklings, either.

There was also the fact that the manager of the “White Cat” had some sort of history with Yoru, the manager of the “Black Cat”, and because of that their paths happened to split sometimes in the past. Now, the two of them being on bad terms with one another, it was only natural that their respective companies would also have a rivalry going on with one another.

「W-What the!? The hell was that supposed to mean!? Are you trying to say that our agency is so bad that it’s surprising for us to actually get requests!?」

「Please calm down, Mikoto. I know how you feel, but it’s not like I cannot understand where Kyouko-san is coming from. Rather, I cannot really disagree with her.」

「W-Well, yeah, I guess that you have a point there, but…… No, wait! Takeru!? Are you really fine with her saying that about our company!? She’s our rival for fuck’s sake!」

Kyoko herself did not really care all that much about the relationship between their respective agencies, but when she decided to tease Mikoto just now, she intentionally brought that fact up because she knew that the girl’s reaction would be hilarious to watch. Her face was red with anger, reaching the identical shade as her long, ponytail-tied hair. Mikoto’s younger sister only smiled wryly at her older sister’s behavior just now. She seemed to be fully aware of the fact that Kyouko’s intention here was to have a little bit of fun at her expense.

「Well, but that being said, aren’t you lacking a few members today? What about Yamato-kun and Sui-chan? They are not with you?」

Both Tachibana Yamato and Kayama Sui were the Exorcists affiliated with the “Black Cat Extermination Brigade’s Branch Office”.

「Ah, when it comes to those two…… they were assigned a different job, so this time around they could not come here with us. In a small office like ours, we can’t really get by without different people taking on different requests at the same time.

「T-Takeru! Don’t call our agency small! It makes us look bad in comparison!」

Mikoto quickly scolded the glasses girl while shaking her long ponytail with irritation. Kyouko smiled wryly at such a sight, and she then let out a small sigh. It was an enviable sight for Kyouko who did not have any family on her own. She, of course, did not even have someone who would occasionally yell at her, and she smiled bewitchingly while scratching her hair.

「Ahaa~hhh, what a shame. Yamato-kun isn’t there, huh…… And here I thought I would teach him some various things.」

「V-Various things…… What various things!? Wait…… Y-Yamato is an important comrade to the both of us! Don’t you dare to go and teach him anything weird or strange!!」

「Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry for being weird and all that…… But that being said, are you really fine with that, Mikoto? With Yamato and Sui being away on a mission together? Aren’t you afraid?」

「Yes, my thoughts exactly. I’m not afraid for their safety, but are you really okay with that, Sis?」

This time around Kyouko decided to change her approach slightly and asked Mikoto that question while looking at her with a probing gaze. Takeru also looked curiously at her ponytailed sister. And unsurprisingly, Mikoto’s cheeks blushed furiously after a momentary lag with such intensity that you would think that there would be smoke coming out of her ears anytime now. And even though she started to make excuses that there was nothing going on between Yamato and her, and that she did not even care about him all that much, her reaction was oh so easy to read. Mikoto then glared at Takeru begrudgingly for looking at her in a really funny way.

Yes, Mikoto was a truly interesting person. In a whole lot of different ways.

While teasing Mikoto some more, Kyouko mentioned that breakfast would be served for them soon, so she headed towards the staff’s cafeteria. She wanted to go home early, but she could not afford to be hungry while being on her way back.