Tokyo Exorcism Diary

In an era dominated by “joyful education,” where over 80% of Japanese high schools refrain from assigning homework outside of holidays, Sagawa Private Academy stood apart. Despite its modest quantity, teachers here often assigned homework, prioritizing academic excellence and university admissions.

Shimizu Yuu slumped over a small desk, pouting in frustration as she begrudgingly worked on her homework. Across from her, Hoshino Gen was engrossed in his laptop, playing through Red Skirt, with his ever-curious sister Hoshino Rin watching closely by his side.

Time ticked by swiftly.

About an hour later, Shimizu Yuu tossed a sheet of paper filled with scrawled English text across the table to Hoshino Gen. He picked it up and gave it a quick scan. The essay was dull, riddled with minor grammar mistakes and even a few misspelled words. However, the handwriting mimicked his own reasonably well, which was all he cared about.

Satisfied, Hoshino Gen set the paper aside with a smile. “Next, if you wouldn’t mind sweeping the floor, followed by mopping, and finally wiping it down with a cloth,” he said, pointing toward the storage room. “You’ll find all the tools you need in there.”

Without waiting for a reply, Hoshino Gen returned to his game, fully immersed.

Shimizu Yuu sat there, stunned, glaring daggers at him. She’d never done chores at home, not even once! Writing his homework had already felt like a stretch—at least it had a semblance of intellectual labor. But now? This jerk wanted her to play housekeeper? She was livid. “I’m here to be your assistant, not your maid!”

Hoshino Gen looked up at her with mild surprise. “Didn’t you read the contract carefully? Take a look at clauses 37 and 42.”

Shimizu Yuu grabbed the contract and skimmed it until her eyes landed on the mentioned sections.

Clause 37: During the term of this agreement, Party B shall comply with all lawful instructions from Party A during working hours.
Clause 42: This agreement becomes effective upon Party A’s seal and Party B’s signature. It shall remain in effect for three years. Party B may not unilaterally terminate this agreement. Should Party B forcibly dissolve the agreement, they must compensate Party A ten times the value of the onboarding benefits received.

Her jaw dropped. What kind of outrageous, one-sided clauses were these?!

Thinking this guy was easy on the eyes was nothing but an illusion! This little brat is an even bigger jerk than a jerk—he’s a total, super, huge jerk!

She glared at Hoshino Gen, trembling with anger, only to find him smiling pleasantly at her.

“I did remind you to read it carefully,” he said in a tone so gentle it bordered on mocking.

Shimizu Yuu’s chest heaved as she struggled to contain her fury. If she stared at his infuriatingly smug face for another second, she was sure her lungs would explode. Huffing, she slammed the contract onto the table, stomped toward the storage room, and slammed the door shut behind her.

Hoshino Rin, curious, picked up the contract and scanned the relevant sections. Her face quickly mirrored Shimizu Yuu’s shock, probably thinking how big of a jerk her brother was.

But now she understood—this Shimizu Yuu wasn’t after her “SSR” brother. Instead, the poor girl had been duped into hard labor by a deal she clearly hadn’t grasped. HoshinoRin felt a pang of guilt and hurried toward the storage room. “Shimizu-san, let me help you…”

By the time the sun began to set, Shimizu Yuu’s first day of work was finally over. Hoshino Gen, acknowledging her efforts, broke his usual habit and handed her a single talisman as a bonus.

With her ‘talisman arsenal’ slightly replenished, Shimizu Yuu’s anger, which had been nearing its MAX, subsided. Even Hoshino Gen’s smug, punchable face didn’t look quite as insufferable anymore.

“Hmph! I guess he does know how to make up for things when he pushes too far,” she thought. With her spirits somewhat lifted, Shimizu Yuu grabbed her bag and cheerfully headed home under the setting sun.

At the shop entrance, Hoshino Rin waved her goodbye until Shimizu Yuu’s figure disappeared into the horizon. Turning back inside, Hoshino Rin glanced at her brother with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “Isn’t it kind of mean to trick your classmates like this? Using the carrot-and-stick approach on an innocent girl…”

“Trick?” Hoshino Gen smirked as he exited red skirt. “How am I tricking her? It’s a fair exchange. I gain an affordable worker; she gains the opportunity to experience her dream—using ‘powers.’ And frankly, what I’m paying her is cheap only to me. Most people couldn’t afford it.”

Hoshino Rin pouted, unable to refute his logic. Instead, her gaze turned eager as she asked, “Brother, could you give me one of those talismans, too?”

“What would you even do with it?” Hoshino Gen replied while sticking talismans in various spots—one taped to his laptop, another wrapped around the hilt of the black blade.

“Because you said they let people use superpowers…” Hoshino Rin’s expression lit up with hope.

Hoshino Gen folded up the English essay Shimizu Yuu had written for him, tucked it into his pocket, and gave his cheeky little sister a faint smile. Without saying a word, he walked over to the shoe cabinet to change his shoes.

“Onii-chan~~,” Hoshino Rin called out, puffing up her cheeks and whining.

Hoshino Gen ignored her. Once his shoes were on, he stood up and headed for the door. “I’m going home.”

Hearing that, Hoshino Rin pouted, her lips curling in a show of disappointment, and quickly followed after him.

The wooden door clicked shut, the rolling shutter came down, and the antique shop closed for the day.

The next morning, Hoshino Rin was called away for training at her agency, while Hoshino Gen went to school alone. 

As soon as he stepped into the classroom, he noticed an unusual tension in the air. Normally, the place buzzed with noise during breaks, but today most students were quietly seated, poring over their books. Some muttered formulas or English vocabulary under their breath.

Even Shimizu Yuu, seated diagonally behind him, was among the studious crowd.

Hoshino Gen took one glance and immediately understood—these people were cramming at the last minute before the exam.

Ah, the exam. Having spent the previous day in a haze, Hoshino Gen had no idea this was happening. Still, he felt no panic. After all, no matter how poorly he did, the worst that would happen was a mild scolding from the teacher.