Chapter 25: Fox Shrine Maiden – Sudama ①

When I was about to step into the house, Mio grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.

Before I could say “What?”, he pressed a finger to my lips.
Then he raised the same finger to his own lips and gave a sharp “shhh.”

In other words—be quiet, don’t speak. He really nails these little gestures every time.

With one hand, he motioned for me to wait, then in an instant his body liquefied and vanished.
He came right back.

Not as a human male, but in the form of Flux—his humanoid female-shaped liquid body. He spoke to me:

"Iron—no, I mean. Looks like Jin’s got a friend over."

"Eh!? That guy actually has friends!?"

"It was hard to tell if there was really ‘friendship’ there, but I didn’t sense any hostility. I’m hiding in the water pipes to keep watch, so don’t worry, just go talk. I’ll absolutely protect you♡"

"Way too reliable."

He’s absurdly capable.
This must be what they call a ‘dream partner.’

Not that I don’t feel a little thrill, but it’s the same as when you see an insanely talented colleague at work.
So cool. Totally admire him. Maybe this is how Yukiya feels about Raiden too.

I opened the front door. Before I could even say “I’m home,” I heard the visitor’s voice.

"That’s why, if you’re gonna read something, it should be Hello Work job listings, not the newspaper! Aren’t you ashamed to just freeload like this!? Want me to straighten you out a little!?"

…A noja-loli. I don’t even need to look.
A little girl speaking in that archaic noja-style is in my house. Oh no.

In the living room, Jin was there exactly as I pictured it.
Glasses on, newspaper spread open, completely ignoring the fox-eared girl circling him, scolding away.

He’s probably hardened his eardrums to cut off sound.
First time I’ve actually seen him use that ability properly—other than blocking out my noise. Kinda jealous, damn it.

"Why are you here, Sudama?"

"…Inori!? That’s what I should be asking you!"

When I spoke up, the fox-eared girl turned to me and called my name.
Right, of course—we knew each other.

I’m childhood friends with a noja-loli fox shrine maiden. Oh no. This is how fetishes get twisted.

Her name is Sudama.
She works as a shrine maiden back in my hometown, which explains the miko robes.

Her fluffy fox tail swished as she leapt into me.
I braced her as best I could despite her lack of strength, and she buried her head against my chest.

I patted her golden hair.

"Ohhh, I’ve been wanting to see you! I’ve been lost this whole time and couldn’t find you!"

"So, you were looking for me?"

"That’s right! I underestimated how big the city was! I thought I’d just go to your university since I knew where it was, but—!"

"Well, there are multiple campuses, and even within each there are tons of buildings. Sorry, if I’d known, I would’ve helped you look."

"Inori, you really are such a good girl~. There, there."

When she patted my head like I was a little kid, Sudama suddenly froze.

"…Wait a moment. Does that mean the woman supporting this man is you, Inori!?"

"That’s right."

"What do you even see in him!? Wake up!"

"Gyahaha! Jin’s getting roasted, this is hilarious."

"You’ve already gone so far you think his hopelessness is cute!? Too late! I can’t believe you have such awful taste in men! I should’ve taught you better when you were little! Oooi oioioi…"

"Gyahahahahaha!"

I couldn’t stop laughing.
I laughed until tears came.

Sudama was crying too, going “oioi” through her sobs.

"Ahh, that was good. So, Sudama—what are you to Jin?"

"Are you doubting him!? If you even need to doubt, that means you’re making your wife feel insecure, minus points!"

"This is bad. At this rate I’m literally gonna laugh myself to death."

I still wanted to ride this misunderstanding for more laughs, but the conversation wasn’t moving forward. My abs hurt.

Wheezing, I finally corrected her.

"Jin and I aren’t romantically involved."

"So you mean it’s just a physical relationship!?"

"Gyahahahahaha!"

Crap, I really might die from laughter.

Barely breathing, I somehow explained again:

"No, it’s a share house. You know about that, right? It’s the modern trend—multiple people living together to save on rent. There are others living here too, they’re just not home right now."

"Ohh, I’ve heard of that! So that’s what it was. I jumped to conclusions, my apologies."

Sudama looked convinced, and she even apologized to Jin—not that he was listening.

"But still… you live with men too? Can young men and women really live under one roof without issue before marriage?"

"Stop making it sound so sketchy. Nothing’s going on."

For now, Sudama’s doubts about me seemed cleared.
Now it was my turn to ask.

"So, where do I start… why’d you come looking for me? Just passing through?"

"No, I came because I was worried about you, Inori. Kenji asked me to check on you as well."

Kenji is my father.

Sudama put both hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.

"You’ve been away this long without coming home! Such an unfilial child!"

"Ahh, sorry, sorry. I’ve just been really busy with all kinds of things."

Since I entered university, I hadn’t once gone back to my hometown.
Any spare time I had, I spent on pharmaceutical research.

"Life is short! I’ve seen so many regret never making it back in time for their parents’ deathbeds!"

"I’m working hard so I won’t have to see that. I’m studying to cure my dad’s illness."

"Inori~! You really are such a good girl~! There, there."

Sudama patted my head again.
She still thought of me as a kid.
Probably always would. After all, she treated my father the same way.

"But if you push yourself too far and break down, it’s all meaningless… well, maybe your body won’t break. But your heart might. There are things you can’t rush, you know. Show your face at home sometimes."

"Yeah, yeah, I will. Someday."

"Clack! Not ‘someday,’ right away!"

"The timing’s terrible right now."

"What is it then? Exams?"

"Yeah, that’s it."

I nodded half-heartedly, and she sighed.
She knew me too well. She could tell I was just making excuses.

"Good grief. You’ll just say that, and then when exams are over, you’ll say there’s another exam, and still not come back, won’t you?"

"G-Giku—!"

"I’ll just stay here until you do go back!"

"Ehh? I don’t mind, but my roommate might. Jin said if the place got cramped, he’d move out."

"Oh? So he does have a selfless side after all."

No—that wasn’t it. He meant if things got cramped, his own life would get inconvenient, so he’d move out.
But since Sudama’s impression of him had just gone up, I kept my mouth shut.

"Anyway, is it really okay for you to be away from the shrine for so long? What about festivals and town events?"

"I’m already honorary chairwoman of the neighborhood association, so I’ve taught them well enough to manage without me. Same for the shrine. Just like with Kannazuki—no problems at all."

So capable.
Even if she can be scatterbrained, Sudama is fundamentally reliable.

"Are you eating properly? You’ve always been skinny, but it looks even worse now. Good grief, where’s the nearest supermarket? I’ll make your favorite nikujaga."

"Yaaay! I get to eat Sudama’s cooking again!"

"You’re such an honest and adorable child~. There, there."

I raised both arms in delight, and Sudama looked absolutely pleased.

And it wasn’t flattery—her cooking really was amazing.
Worth putting aside any problems just to have a taste.

"I’ll show you the way. I’ll even carry your bags."

"You really are thoughtful. But I’m stronger, so just point me the way. You just got back, didn’t you? Rest a bit."

…Is this what they call a dream partner too?
No—this feels more like… my mom back home. Or my grandma.
The kind of grandma who gives you the biggest New Year’s allowance.

"Sudama, you know I don’t even have cooking utensils here, right? If you’re gonna cook, we’ll need to buy a frying pan first."

"You brat!? Didn’t I train you in cooking!?"

"Just ’cause I can doesn’t mean I do."

"Honestly, you’re still such a handful! Cute, cute!"

She patted my head again.

She’d already reached the point of finding my hopelessness endearing. Too late.

If she moved in and did housework with me, it’d be amazing. Not long ago, I would’ve gladly welcomed her.
But now… there were too many problems.

With Delta targeting me, being around me would only put Sudama in danger.
What am I supposed to do?