Track 7

Chief-san! Do you know where Akuta-kun and Nagi-kun went!?

Huh? They said they were heading to the bamboo grove in Ward 5…

…!

I told them they should wait until tomorrow because it was cold, but they said they’d be right back–

Huh? Toi-kun?

“Master? What seems to be the matter?”

There’s somewhere I need to go right now. Come to HAMA House in the fastest car you have!

Investigate the bamboo grove in Ward 5 too! The one with the old Iwakura. Please…

“Understood. We will begin our investigation and head your way immediately. Please give us a moment!”

What happened? You looked so serious all of a sudden…

Ah, um–

(Should I tell Chief-san? But how much can I say? I would just end up worrying them again…)

……..

No, it’s fine. Sorry. If it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to force yourself.

Huh…?

…You usually hide in Ryui-kun’s shadow, but I know you’re reliable too, Toi-kun.

Thank you…very much…..

Please trust me, and wait for me, Chief-san.

…Yeah! Got it!

Deepest apologies for making you wait, Master! We sped here as fast as possible, while also strictly obeying the speed limit!

We have also investigated the Iwakura in the bamboo grove. There was only one such site in Ward 5, so we believe it is almost certainly the one you are looking for.

Thank you!

Be careful, Toi-kun. Don’t push yourself too hard. And also…

Make sure all three of you come back together. I’ll have something warm to drink ready for you guys!

…Yes! I will absolutely bring both of them back with me!

Phew…we made it…

Ohh. So this is the Iwakura you were talking about…

It’s huge. And it’s got an incredible presence. The solid weight of this reminds me of Momoyama-san’s Tosa¹, Bagel-chan.

(Nagi-san’s amazing… Even after everything that just happened here, he still looks completely unfazed…)

H-Hey hey, Nagi-sa–

Oh. My shoelaces came undone.

~~~~!!!!

…ACHOO!!

(Crap…My body’s starting to shake… What is this??? My ears are ringing too… I might collapse if I relax…)

Are you okay, Akuta?

T-Totally fine! N-No problemo! C’mon, let’s just put the Shimenawa back and head home after I say sorry…

■――■■――KIHIHIHI――■■――

GAH! SOMETHING REALLY BAD'S HERE!?

Hm? Huh? My vision’s flickering. Is it my anemia?

…I wasn’t that drained yesterday, and I even had prunes for iron afterward… Should I have eaten those Hijiki seaweeds too?

H-Hey, Nagi-san! Leave the thinking for later!! My vision’s flickering too!

■――■■――■■――■■――■■――

(CRAP! Can’t even explain what this 'bad' thing is, but…)

KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

(My body’s screaming that we can’t stay here! It’s getting harder and harder to breathe…!)

U-Um. Nagi-san! Maybe we should head back first and come back later…? I think I forgot something I think…probably…Ahaha…

Hm? Okay. If you need me to go, I’ll come with you as many times as it takes.

Th-thanks! Then let’s— Huh?

(My legs won’t move? Something’s holding me down…)

—Die.

Ah.

—Don’t touch them!!

GYABAAAA!!

T-Toi-san…!

……..

Thank goodness… I made it…!

Toi? Why are you in such a panic–

What do you think you’re doing, you two!?

YES! // Yessire!

T-Toi’s…angry…

Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is…!? It’s full of impurities, and even though they’re weak ones, there are way too many spirits gathered here!

The fact that you two made it this far unharmed is a miracle! I was really, really worried about you guys!

Sorry…

As long as you understand, then it’s fine.

(I can feel a faint trace of power coming from them. Is there something in their pockets…?)

….Kii…KIHII! HIHIHHIIHI!!

WOAH!! ANOTHER ONE POPPED OUT!

If we don’t put the Shimenawa back up, they’ll just keep spawning. Give it to me, Akuta-kun!

Here it is, sir!!

(But this is strange. There’s nothing here like the ‘powerful spirit’ Aachama warned me about…)

Kiishikiishi…hihi…

…!

WHAT IS IT, TOI-SAN?

It’s coming…

Coming? What is–

'――――――――’

H-H-Hey—

WHAT IS THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!

Huh? What’s what?

A HOLOGRAM? A CGI? No, no, no…this is DEFINITELY REAL! IT’S REAL! AND WE’RE ALIVE RIGHT NOW~~~!!!!

Get behind me! Stay and don’t move until I say it’s okay!

‘――――――――’

(Just facing it like this makes my whole body tingle. Can I really exorcize this thing…?)

…A-Are you okay, Toi-san!? You might be crazy strong, but DON’T PUSH YOURSELF!

Um… I don’t really understand what’s going on, but I do get that this is a bad situation. Alright, I’ll try that good-luck miracle chant I heard on the radio the other day…

Oh, nice idea! Teach me too, Nagi-san!

(...No.)

(I’ll protect them! I’ll protect them no matter what! Just like Anisama always does for me!)

‘――――――――’

(But it’s weird… Unlike the weaker spirits around it, this one doesn’t feel malicious…?)

‘――――――――’

Huh…!?