Tokyo Exorcism Diary

When Hoshino Gen got home, he dropped his school bag and immediately retrieved the black cursed blade hidden beneath the carpet. Wrapping it hastily in a piece of clothing to conceal its ominous sheen, he then closed the laptop connected to the TV, tucking it under his arm, all while ignoring the confused gaze of his younger sister, Hoshino Rin.

“I’m borrowing the laptop for a while. I’ve got something to do outside,” Hoshino Gen said as he slipped back into the shoes he had just taken off.

“Huh? Wait! Where are you going?” Hoshino Rin, sprawled lazily on the couch, sprang to her feet and dashed to the entryway. “Take me with you, please?”

“No.” Hoshino Gen’s reply was curt and absolute.

Hoshino Rin pouted, her small hands clutching at the hem of Hoshino Gen’s shirt as she swayed it back and forth. Her mismatched eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her expression so pitiful it seemed like she might burst into sobs at any moment.

“…”

Hoshino Gen’s mouth twitched. He knew this routine all too well—his little sister had been a crybaby since childhood, and it seemed she hadn’t grown out of it. He was tempted to ignore her, but he also knew that if he left her behind, her wailing would be echoing through the house the moment he walked out the door.

Though Hoshino Gen wasn’t particularly chivalrous or even kindhearted, he couldn’t stand hearing Hoshino Rin cry. Perhaps it was because her tears always disrupted his peace of mind when they were kids. With a resigned sigh, he gave in to her pleading gaze.

“Fine. Do what you want.”

Hoshino Rin’s despondent face immediately transformed into a radiant smile. “Thanks, Brother~!”

When Hoshino Gen arrived at the antique shop with Hoshino Rin in tow, Shimizu Yuu was already waiting outside with a bag in hand. She seemed surprised to see Hoshino Rin tagging along—after all, she had assumed she was the only one privy to Hoshino Gen’s secret abilities. Then again, it made sense for someone living with him to know.

As Hoshino Gen approached, he handed the laptop to Hoshino Rin, gesturing for her to hold it while he unlocked the shop’s doors.

From the moment Hoshino Rin spotted Shimizu Yuu, her gaze had been fixed on her. Realizing this girl had been waiting specifically for her brother, Hoshino Rin’s expression subtly shifted, as if someone were trying to steal a rare “SSR” she had painstakingly obtained. But looking at Hoshino Gen’s back, her demeanor instantly softened. She flashed a bright smile and approached Shimzu Yuu with a cheerful greeting.

“Hello! My brother told me you’re classmates. He’s not great at socializing, so it’s a relief to know he has someone as amazing as you for a friend. Please take care of him~!”

Shimizu Yuu was struck by how effortlessly charming Hoshino Rin was. Her beauty was almost unfair, and the sweetness in her voice only amplified her appeal. This was the kind of girl whose very presence seemed to brighten the world—making the sky bluer, flowers more vivid, and even lakes clearer. Shimizu Yuu couldn’t help but instantly like her and feel a twinge of envy toward Hoshino Gen.

As Gen pulled up the shop’s rolling shutter and unlocked the wooden door, Shimizu Yuu gave Hoshino Rin an awkward smile. She wasn’t even sure if she and Hoshino Gen could be considered friends—truthfully, they had exchanged fewer than a hundred words—so she decided to change the subject.

“You’re even prettier than on TV!” Shimizu Yuu complimented, thinking it was a safe way to talk to another girl.

Hoshino Rin’s smile grew even sweeter. “Thank you for the kind words.”

Once inside, Hoshino Rin’s curiosity was piqued by the shop’s intricate décor, which was far more refined than she had expected. Following Shimizu Yuu’s lead, she took a pair of disposable slippers from the shoe rack and slipped them on.

Bouncing over to where Hoshino Gen had settled on the floor by a low table, Hoshino Rin whispered in his ear, “That contract you printed earlier—is it for this classmate of yours?”

On their way here, Hoshino Gen had stopped to print a contract, which Hoshino Rin had found odd then. But now, seeing the antique shop and Shimizu Yuu waiting outside, she quickly pieced things together.

Hoshino Gen didn’t respond, but Shimizu Yuu sat across from them, placing her bag on the table and pulling out a black wallet to return to Hoshino Gen. “The gold bar cost 131,200 yen, and the other items totaled 8,430 yen. Six thousand of that was for chicken comb blood. They weren’t selling it initially, but I kept raising the price until they agreed to extract it.”

Hoshino Gen took the wallet without a glance, stuffing it into his pocket as his attention shifted to the bag’s contents. Tossing the contract in front of Shimizu Yuu, he said, “Take a look, but don’t sign yet. Let me check the items first.”

Shimizu Yuu nodded and skimmed the document, though the dense text quickly overwhelmed her.

Meanwhile, Hoshino Gen swiftly inspected the bag and nodded, satisfied. He turned to Shimizu Yuu.

 “Shimizu-san,” Shimizu Yuu looked up as Hoshino Gen called her.

“Do you mind tattoos?”

“Tattoos?” Shimizu Yuu blinked, then shook her head vehemently. “No way! My mom would kill me!”

Hoshino Gen nodded, then clarified, “What if it’s a tattoo no one can see? Not in a private area, I mean. The tattoo itself would be invisible.”

“Huh?” Shimizu Yuulooked even more confused. “Then why would I even get a tattoo?”

Hoshino Gen stood and gestured toward a large double door at the back of the shop. “Follow me.”

Shimizu Yuu hurried after him, with Hoshino Rin trailing behind, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

When Hoshino Gen pushed open the doors to the display room, a chilling aura seeped out, making both girls shiver. The dimly lit room was filled with ominous artifacts adorned with talismans.

“These items are similar to that black blade,” Hoshino Gen explained, pointing toward the cursed objects. “If something goes wrong, any one of them could be lethal to ordinary people.”

He turned to Shimizu Yuu. “The tattoo I mentioned isn’t decorative. Using alchemy, I can inscribe protective talismans onto your body. If you ever fall under the influence of these artifacts, the tattoo will activate and protect you.”