Chapter 17

"Ah! This is... "

"Mr. Hinoyama, you're awake."

In a three-bed ward at a city general hospital, Hinoyama Gyo woke up.

On the bed next to him, Sanjokusei Yoen was sitting, peeling an apple with practiced hands.

"Please relax, this is a hospital. Eat this and calm down."

Hinoyama looked at the apple being offered with a puzzled expression. The peeled apple was cut into the shape of a rabbit.

However, he was indeed hungry. Despite his dubious look, he ate the apple.

"Sanjokusei, are you injured?"

Seeing Sanjokusei in a hospital gown, Hinoyama was concerned for his well-being.

"No, thanks to the 'substitute talisman,' I'm unharmed. I just had a thorough examination as a precaution."

"That's good to hear."

Hinoyama felt relieved at Sanjokusei's words. But then he remembered why he was in the hospital and quickly asked Sanjokusei.

"That's right! What about the match? What happened to the match!?"

As the head of the family, Hinoyama had no memory of the match after it started. He had been blown away by the shockwave from the dragon king's charge and had fainted outside the arena.

"Unfortunately... we lost the match."

"What!?"

Sanjokusei briefly explained that despite Yoen and his own efforts against the shikigami summoned by the masked onmyoji, the flying slash had destroyed their substitute talismans and even penetrated the triple barrier, cutting through the roof of the match venue.

"Impossible! The white crow that defeated Yoen and all that... there's no way that could happen!"

Hinoyama refused to believe it, trusting in the strength of Sanjokusei and Yoen.

"Mr. Hinoyama, as your instructor, I must have made a mistake. Let's both accept the punishment."

"Punishment?"

Hinoyama, who had a puzzled look on his face at Sanjokusei's words, quickly understood their meaning.

An old man with a demonic expression burst through the door of the ward.

"O, Grandpa!?"

"Grandpa? Not at all! You stupid grandson!!"

The old man's iron fist exploded into Hinoyama's skull.

His name is Hinoyama Daisuke. At 80 years old, he still has the power to make the hospital bed creak with his iron fists.

He was forced to retire due to illness, but he supported the Hinoyama family as the head for several decades until Gyo took over.

"Why are you here, Grandpa!?"

"The monk from Mizukami called. He said you challenged a divine match for a stupid reason!"

Another iron fist exploded.

"Ouch... still, how did you get here from Tokyo so quickly..."

"I was introduced to a good hospital by the monk from Mizukami. I've been recuperating here for about half a year. It seems no one knew I had been transferred because of some scheme!"

Another iron fist exploded.

Sanjokusei felt a sense of unease at the words "half a year ago" and reached a conclusion, marveling at the skills of the head of the Mizukami family.

"I watched the divine match on video. The masked onmyoji... I won't compare, but the Mizukami sisters performed admirably, even surprising Yoen. How about you?"

"W-well..."

Recalling his own pitiful performance, where he did nothing and was knocked out of the arena, Gyo hung his head.

"Well... I also think I was wrong. There was no one else to succeed me, so I was too strict in raising you. And I forced you into the responsible position of head at such a young age."

The former head, Daisuke, said this with a sad expression.

"Mr. Daisuke. I am also responsible for this. Despite being given the task of instructing Mr. Gyo, I led him down the wrong path."

"That's true. You must have thought that to make Gyo recognized as the new head by the faction members... but attacking the cat god was going too far. Of course, the divine match as well."

The former head, Daisuke, continued to speak to the two who were hanging their heads.

"But, this match taught us all a lesson. Gyo, you need to correct your shallow thinking. And win the woman you love with your own strength. Using the power of the Hinoyama family for that is unacceptable!"

"I, I understand, Grandpa..."

Gyo nodded to the words while holding his head.

"Sanjokusei, your loyalty is commendable, but loyalty isn't just about following your master. Don't make the same mistake again."

"Hai!"

Sanjokusei bowed deeply, etching Daisuke's words in his heart.

"And Yoen, you're too focused on fighting. Use your head a bit more."

"Wha! You noticed!?"

Yoen, who had been hiding behind the curtain, let out a surprised voice.

"Sanjokusei, Yoen... line up!"

Iron fists exploded into the heads of the two.

---

The night after the divine match, I couldn't sleep at all.

"Hey, the mail seems to have arrived?"

"Yikes!... I, I'll check it!!"

I hurried to check the mailbox. It's a bill!!!

"...Oh, it's just the internet bill."

Damn, you scared me.

The reason I'm so scared is that during last night's divine match... the shikigami I summoned collapsed the roof of 'Tudoum.' After the collapse, my mind went blank, and I have almost no memory of getting home. I only heard that I won the match... but I was scared all night that the repair bill for Tudoum would come. I'm still scared.

"Relax, Ryuukai said he would take care of it. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, no one knows your true identity, so they can't send the bill to this house."

"T-That's true, but..."

What if some powerful magic reveals it?

"Anyway, it's fine. If Ryuukai can't handle it, I will."

Handle it... I see, acrobatics! Earning money through acrobatics to pay for the repairs! If I do something like lion taming, I'll make a fortune!

"Wait, that's a dirty joke!"

"What are you talking about? Just relax."

The crow, sensing something was wrong, brought me some barley tea. Phew, I'm a bit calmer now.

By the way, the young girl from my house, who had the Tudoum demolished, is watching cooking shows in the living room after snatching the remote from the crow.

She doesn't seem to be going anywhere, just like the crow. It's strange. Maybe I'll ask the chairman's father about it through the black cat sometime.

"There's no need to worry. I didn't expect this result, but since we asked you to participate in the match, Ryuukai and I will take responsibility."

"S-Sure... I understand. Sorry for losing my cool."

Yeah, if I think about it calmly, it might be as the black cat said.

But just in case, I'll look for a part-time job. My allowance won't be enough.

"I'm glad you understand. Well, I'll be going now."

"Huh, you're leaving?"

"Yes, back to the shrine I was in."

Oh, I got so used to it that I forgot. Right, the black cat has a place to go.

"Right... take care. I'll visit the shrine sometimes."

"Sure, I'll be waiting."

The crow also seemed a bit sad. Since I summoned the crow the day after the black cat came to my house, the crow has spent as much time with the black cat as I have.

"Don't be so sad. It's not a final farewell."

"Right."

But I feel a bit sad.

"Before I go, can I ask you something?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"I want to know your real name."

"…Ah!"

That's right, we never introduced ourselves!

"Sorry, I didn't realize. So, let me introduce myself... my name is Kurei Kousuke. Nice to meet you."

"Kurei Kousuke... that's a good name."

I forgot the origin of my name. I think my mother said something like 'help and be happy'...

"Is the black cat's name Nekogami?"

"No. Nekogami is a name given by those who worship me. It's not my real name."

Oh, I see.

"My real name... I feel like it was from a long time ago, but I've forgotten it."

"Then, can I give you a nickname?"

"Yes, I don't mind if it's from you."

However, I've called you 'black cat' so much that I can't stop.

"Then... how about 'Kuro'?"

"Kuro?..."

The black cat... I mean, Kuro suddenly fell silent.

"What's wrong?"

"No... I'm sorry."

"Huh? What for?"

"I didn't realize... I'm really sorry."

...Huh? So, what for?

---

The Mizukami family was prepared with the powerful old man's iron fists, so whether they won or lost the divine match wasn't a big problem. That's the first half of the story.

And... thanks to everyone, the overall rating has exceeded 20,000 and the bookmarks have exceeded 10,000! Thank you so much!! It feels like a dream!

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