Chapter 76: Psychometry – Kotoha Takato ④

When I stepped out of the room, Ratlord was waiting.

"I'm tired. I’m done. I’m going home."

"Good work, boss."

That casual “boss” talk seeped right into my worn-out body.

Getting tired from overthinking was nothing new, but getting tired from trying not to think—that was a first. Putting a leash on your own thoughts is tough when your brain’s too quick for its own good.

Maybe I should practice at home. Do some meditation or something. Train myself to empty my head.

"Just kidding, it’s me, Inori-san!!"

"Oh, Omokage. What’s up."

Ratlord shifted shape, becoming Omokage in a flashy Chinese outfit. I was too exhausted to even react, so I just kept the conversation rolling. Should I ask if he’d been Omokage the whole time, ever since he guided me here?

Omokage puffed out both cheeks.

Uh-oh. That’s his “I’m annoyed” signal. Don’t tell me he’s mad I didn’t notice. That’s impossible—spotting him is harder than those spot-the-difference games at a certain Italian restaurant. When it comes to appearance, Omokage’s copies are flawless.

"What do you mean ‘what’s up’! If you’re coming here, you should tell me! You’re so cold!"

Cold? Is he mad I came to a Public Security building without telling him? Why? Am I supposed to report my every move? He’s not some clingy boyfriend.

"What’s so cold about it? It’s fine, right? I can meet you even if it’s not at Public Security."

"That’s true, though♡"

So easy.
I worry he’s being used by Public Security without even realizing it. He’s basically my all-positive bot. I just hope he’s firmer with other people.

Maybe what Kotoha-chan said—“Omokage came”—wasn’t past tense but present. Was he outside the whole time while I was in the room?

He sounds stalker-ish, but maybe he’s acting as a bodyguard in Mio’s place, since she can’t enter Public Security. Maybe I’m actually loved.

Omokage pressed both fists to his mouth in a cutesy pose, tilting his head and peering up at me.
So calculated.

"Have you finally decided to take over Public Security?"

"Don’t make it sound so bad. And what do you mean ‘finally’? I’ve never even thought about it."

"What?! If Inori-san became my boss, I’d work so hard!"

I’m too tired for this. If I say something dumb, he might take it seriously. If I joked “do it yourself” about taking over Public Security, he might actually start. Sudama’s easier to handle than this.

"Being coworkers would be fine too, you know?"

"Nope."

"Huh? That’s cute."

"If you think it’s cute, don’t get mad."

"It’s called cute-aggression."

…Scary.
I know what “cute aggression” is—the impulse to get violent when you see something cute. I’ve never felt it, so it’s foreign to me.

If it’s just squeezing a stuffed animal tight, sure, I get it. But Omokage’s version? No clue, and that’s terrifying. Scaring me is no small feat.

"Don’t go stabbing me with a knife just because you think I’m cute."

"Whoa! Please don’t say that! I really feel bad about it, okay?!"

"Mm-hmm."

"You don’t believe me! I’m seriously reflecting on it!!"

He always plays things lighthearted, but this time I think he’s being honest.

"How are things at Public Security? Getting along okay?"

The moment I said it, I cringed—what am I, his dad checking up on him?

It probably sounded way too old-man-ish. Honestly, Omokage just feels like a troublesome kid.

Through the lenses of his red sunglasses, his eyes sparkled.

"Inori-san is worried about me…!?"

"Huh? I’ve always been worried. I thought I was keeping an eye on you, but maybe not enough?"

"Please don’t make me fall for you any harder, aru."

"And what the hell am I supposed to do about that?"

"Just stay the way you are♡"

He made a heart with both hands.

I can’t keep up with his mood swings. Not that I intend to.

Omokage finally circled back to my question about Public Security.

"I think I’ve gotten along pretty well with Usuzumi-san! We can totally get hyped talking about our favorite characters!"

"Uh-huh. And whose favorites? Yours? Or Usuzumi’s?"

"Both, aru!"

"Ah… I see… well, keep it reasonable…"

I don’t even want to imagine what kind of conversations those two are having.

As we chatted about things that hopefully wouldn’t get us in trouble if overheard—not that I was confident about that—we stepped outside.

A little ways away, Mio was waiting in human form.

Omokage chirped a cheerful "’Sup!" and bowed like a textbook example of etiquette. Probably Usuzumi’s influence.

"I’m glad you’re safe. …You are safe, right?"

"I’m fine. Just tired. Let’s go home."

Even after I said that, Mio’s doubtful gaze lingered.

If you’re not going to trust my words, why even ask? Or so I thought—until I noticed Omokage beside me flashing a double thumbs-up.

Apparently Mio had been asking him, not me.

She finally nodded in satisfaction.

Hey now, what the hell—am I really less trustworthy than Omokage, who just stumbles through life carefree? That stings. More than a little.

"Next time, you have to tell me in advance, Inori-san! Promise me—absolutely, absolutely!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it."

"Promise!!" he kept shouting, his voice echoing behind us as Mio and I headed home.

We stepped inside, heading toward the living room.

"I’m home—whoa, what’s with that face, Jin? You look pissed as hell. Did you pick a fight outside and lose?"

"I’ll kill you."

"Okay, okay, my bad. Guess that’s on me. Forgot to air the place out."

Jin’s scowl probably meant he’d already figured out Haze Fog had shown up while he was gone.

Coming back in from outside, I’d noticed the house felt a little smoky. You get used to smells fast when you’re holed up in the same place for too long.

The day Usui showed up with his proposal, I’d gone straight to Public Security. When I told him, "Let’s go," he looked at me all shocked—"Right now!?"

One of my favorite sayings: strike while the iron’s hot.

Since Usui had errands of his own, I went alone.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected to meet anyone from the top brass that same day. It caught me off guard.

I’d figured if I barged in unannounced, maybe some mid-level staffer would show up, and I could angle negotiations my way.

But no—Public Security doesn’t play that easy.

Too tired to smooth things over with Jin, I just hit the shower and collapsed into my futon.

I was so mentally drained I passed out almost instantly.

I woke to someone shaking me. When I cracked my eyes open, Mio was leaning over me in his Flux form, expression dead serious.

"Sorry for waking you. But I thought you needed to know right away."

"…Yeah. Doesn’t sound like good news."

Mio may not have much in the way of legal ethics, but when it comes to consideration for others, he’s got more than most.

Even when I wasn’t asleep, he’d never once approached my futon.

That’s why it was obvious this time was an emergency. I forced myself upright, shook my head, and tried to chase off the lingering drowsiness.

"Public Security’s branch—the Crisis Response Center’s been attacked."

"…Hey, you’re kidding, right?"

Mio sometimes just refuses to answer my questions—especially when they’re about Public Security.

Whether it’s because he doesn’t want to say or because he simply can’t, I never press.

Either way, I don’t want to be the one to force the words out of him.

So I didn’t ask.

I only wanted him to tell me what he could say here and now.

"That person… old Lady Tome, she’s definitely alive. But Takato… she’s been confirmed dead."

I closed my eyes.

Even so, I knew there was no way I’d fall back asleep.

It felt like a heavy weight had dropped onto my chest.

"The culprit’s unknown. The cause too. But—I have a theory. Want to hear it?"

When I nodded, Mio stated it plainly:

"If the espers imprisoned by Public Security suddenly started cooperating with them one after another… the war would shift drastically."

Strangely, I felt the corners of my mouth lift.

Not because it was funny.

Maybe just because Mio’s words were so straightforward it was almost comforting.

Because of you, I thought.

"That might be proof of just how much Delta sees you as a threat, Inori."

Not every villain can be won over.

I’ve said that again and again, to countless people.

And yet, even Delta refuses to believe it, huh.

"It’s not your fault, Inori. You’re smart enough to know that, right?"

"…Yeah."

I flopped backward onto the futon.

That’s right. Mio never said, This is your fault.

I was the one who thought that.

Gazing vaguely up at the ceiling, I muttered:

"Whether it’s my fault or not… I think I’m allowed at least a little time to grieve losing a friend, aren’t I?"

"…Yeah. Good night, Inori."

"Good night."