Chapter 14

"Yuma, did you see that?" Aoba pointed to the white oni and said.

Aoba had no interest in playing guessing games, so it was better to be straightforward.

"Eh? What are you talking about? Is there something there?" Ishihara Yuma said, trying to cover his unease.

"Don't pretend, you saw the white oni, didn't you?" Aoba continued to press.

"You, you can see it too?" Ishihara Yuma said in a trembling voice.

For so many years, he had long known about his peculiarity. In the past, he had been treated as an outcast because he could see things others couldn't. So while Ishihara Yuma carefully hid his abnormality, he also longed for a kindred spirit.

"Of course I can, but I'm different from you. You have a natural yin-yang eye, while I gained this ability through cultivation," Aoba explained.

"What does that mean?" Ishihara Yuma was confused.

"Let's put it this way, you can think of me as a Taoist or an exorcist," Aoba clarified.

"Taoist? Exorcist? So she is?" Ishihara Yuma looked at the white oni and asked.

"You can think of her as a shikigami!" Aoba explained in a way a Japanese person could understand.

"So that's how it is! At first, I thought you were possessed!" Ishihara Yuma finally felt relieved.

"If you thought I was possessed, why did you still talk to me?" Aoba asked.

"Well, we are classmates, I couldn't just ignore you!" Ishihara Yuma laughed a bit embarrassedly.

"Though it was a misunderstanding, I appreciate your concern," Aoba smiled and said.

"You said her name is White Oni, right?" Since he now knew that White Oni wasn't the kind of ghost that would harm people, Ishihara Yuma naturally became curious about her.

"That's right, let me introduce you properly. This is White Oni, my shikigami. This is Ishihara Yuma, my classmate," Aoba introduced them.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Ishihara Yuma, please take care of me," Ishihara Yuma said, a bit nervous.

Then, White Oni transitioned from her invisible state to a visible one, bowing slightly to Ishihara Yuma, "Nice to meet you, I'm White Oni, please take care of me."

Thus, the two were acquainted. It was only then that Aoba realized he hadn't offered Ishihara Yuma any drinks since he arrived.

"Would you like something to drink? I have oolong tea, cola, and beer," Aoba smiled and asked.

"Beer? You drink beer? How can a minor drink alcohol!" Ishihara Yuma was surprised.

"Just a personal preference, it's not a big deal. And you're too honest!" Aoba teased Ishihara Yuma's good-boy nature.

"Is beer good?" Ishihara Yuma asked hesitantly.

"It's good, do you want to try?" Aoba smiled at Ishihara Yuma.

Thus, Ishihara Yuma was tempted. Clearly, this good boy had a rebellious side.

"Then give me a beer," Ishihara Yuma said, mustering his courage.

"Great, let's have a beer together," Aoba was delighted to have corrupted Ishihara Yuma.

Then, White Oni floated to the fridge, materialized her hands, took out a few cans of beer, and brought them to the table, placing one in front of Ishihara Yuma and Aoba.

Ishihara Yuma took the beer from White Oni and thanked her.

White Oni said, "You're welcome," and then handed the beer to Aoba, opening it for him in advance.

"Come, try it," Aoba took the beer, gestured to Ishihara Yuma, and then drank half a can in one go.

Ishihara Yuma cautiously took a sip, then grimaced.

"How is it? Is it good?" Aoba asked.

"It's not good," Ishihara Yuma replied.

"It seems you need more practice! How can a man not like drinking?" Aoba wagged a finger.

At this point, White Oni took out some snacks from the fridge to serve as appetizers and then went to the kitchen to prepare some real appetizers.

"Having a shikigami is great! She can help with so many household chores. If she wore a maid outfit, she would be like a real maid!" Ishihara Yuma looked at the busy White Oni in the kitchen and said enviously.

Clearly, Ishihara Yuma didn't realize that while Aoba had explained that White Oni was a shikigami for his understanding, she wasn't really a shikigami.

A real shikigami wouldn't voluntarily help with household chores like White Oni.

But hearing Ishihara Yuma's words, Aoba was intrigued. If he could get White Oni to wear a maid outfit, it would indeed be quite nice.

After all, Aoba was a fan of anime in this life, and even though he had regained his past memories, it didn't mean he had lost his current preferences.

Unfortunately, White Oni currently didn't have a physical form and could only briefly materialize, so it was difficult for her to wear clothes.

So Aoba had to temporarily abandon this very tempting idea.

"Maybe in the future," Aoba said to himself.

"What are you talking about?" Ishihara Yuma, hearing Aoba's words, was confused.

"Nothing, I'm saying if you really can't drink the beer, just leave it there, no need to force yourself," Aoba changed the subject.

"Eh? Is that okay?" Ishihara Yuma, who couldn't stand the taste of beer, hesitated.

"If you can't drink it, why force yourself?" Aoba said.

"But, wouldn't that be a waste?" Ishihara Yuma continued to hesitate.

"If you want to drink, drink; if not, put it down. You're a man, don't be so indecisive," Aoba said, putting a piece of squid in his mouth.

"Alright, I'll drink it," Ishihara Yuma said, then tilted his head back and gulped down the beer, choking and coughing at the end.

"Good job! Yuma, you're a man who can do what he sets his mind to, I'm impressed," Aoba clapped.

Unfortunately, Ishihara Yuma couldn't hear his words because after drinking the beer, he had already passed out on the floor, his face flushed.

"Seriously? Such a low tolerance? Just one can of beer," Aoba was surprised.

But no matter how surprised he was, it couldn't change the fact that Ishihara Yuma had an incredibly low alcohol tolerance.

So Aoba left the sleeping Ishihara Yuma alone, ate the appetizers White Oni had just prepared, and continued drinking.

"Mm, it's good," Aoba tasted the fried egg and gave White Oni a thumbs up.

White Oni bowed slightly and then went to the fridge to get more beer for Aoba.