Mob Yandere

[Part 1/4]

She looked up at her third brother, who was close by, and then glanced around, feeling tense.

It was really a sudden thing.

After the incident at the Juuyaku family, the patrol was interrupted, and it was a while before they returned to the capital.

Responding to her brother's call in a letter, she pushed herself to answer, despite her heavy heart.

It was a request from her family, so there was no choice but to accept.

The problem was the overly formal tone of the letter, which didn't suit her brother, and when she arrived at the inn where he was staying, she found herself in a splendid ox cart.

The yashiki estate they reached was far too luxurious.

"Brother... what is this place?"

The courtyard where the carriage parked was vast and opulent.

Even though they had come dressed in their nicest attire, but they still felt out of place and uncomfortable.

(I should have studied more...)

The carriage and gate had family crests, but she couldn't recognize which family they belonged to, which only made her more anxious and tense.

Maybe, until now, she was just escaping from the reality of the situation.

Most of all, she couldn't understand why her brother brought her here, or how he could.

What on earth had happened...?

"Ah, I don't want to say much else. You know, it's not good to cause trouble with bad rumors, right?"

Noticing his sister's doubts and unease, the brother spoke vaguely, avoiding specifics.

It meant that the house they were visiting was of a status they shouldn't have entered in the first place.

Moreover, they shouldn't even mention the family name.

Indeed, considering the splendor of the place, it made sense.

But then, why could her brother visit here?

"That's... because of an inner connection. I'm surprised myself. I never thought I'd..."

"Brother?"

Remembering something, cherishing a precious memory, the brother trails off and falls silent.

"Master guest, sorry to keep you waiting. This way, please."

Before the brother could explain further, a maid's voice called out to guide them.

The brother smiles faintly and whispers, "Let's make it a pleasure to see after this."

This slightly flirtatious and improper attitude was unique to the third brother.

To his sister, it seemed a bit mean, but according to others, many people seemed to like this behavior.

She doesn't really get it.

No matter what, the two of them got up and walked along the veranda of Yashiki Estate.

As they moved, they marveled at the beauty of the courtyard, even more amazed by the size of the estate.

The more they saw, the more they realized the high status of the place.

"Please take a seat here."

And finally, they were led there.

In one of the separate rooms after passing through the hall, the maid stopped.

Then, she bowed and left.

They said this area is only for guests.

"Well then, enjoy yourselves."

"...?"

The maid's warm gaze and whisper brushed past.

Suzune felt puzzled by her suggestive behavior.

What on earth does this mean...?

"Shall we go?"

"Huh? Oh, yes..."

The brother called out as he reached for the shoji paper door, pulling Suzune back to reality from her thoughts about the maid's whispers.

She braced herself, wondering what awaited them.

Unaware of her anxiety, her brother confidently opened the shoji door.

"Hey there! Long time no see. So, how's your game with the ladies?"

"Huh?"

As soon as the shoji door opened, a figure appeared right in front of Suzune, taking her by surprise, but she quickly realized who it was and bowed.

"T-This is...! Miyataka-sama!"

"What!? Suzune? You know Miyataka?"

Her brother was surprised by her reaction, looking at the woman before him with her last name in mind.

He seemed to have not expected her presence, and after a moment of thought, he tried to greet her.

"No need for that. You can forget formalities. I'm not really here. Just think of me as a ghost, okay?"

"A ghost...?"

"Or you could think of me as an invisible person?"

The wild princess of the northern exorcism family, Miyataka, giggled as she spoke, teasing the brother and sister.

Dressed in her usual flamboyant boy's outfit, Suzune felt something changing in Miyataka during their second meeting.

(Did she seem a bit softer...?)

It felt like such a small difference.

Yet, Suzune could sense that the infamous princess, compared to last time, seemed somehow gentler, almost maternal.

Maybe it was just her imagination.

"But, why again...?"

She wondered if something was wrong.

And she looked at her brother with suspicion.

Her brother looked at her like he didn't do anything.

She knows.

She knows her brother is not that kind of person.

It's just a maybe.

"Hey, I wanted to see more of your brother and sister fight!"

Miyataka's young lady, Shinobu, looked unhappy because nothing happened.

She pouted.

Her brother looked sorry.

"Excuse me, Miyataka's young lady, why are you here? Here..."

He seemed to want to know about her relationship with her sister, but he asked this question first.

But the young lady put her finger on his mouth and stopped him.

"Let's talk later. First, this, right?"

Then, she smiled and turned around as if to let them pass, and beckoned them.

The brother and sister looked at each other again.

And they went into the room.

She felt like the air changed.

It felt like she went through a Barrier Curse.

And, maybe because of that?

Now, Suzune realized that person was there.

Behind the spoiled princess.

Deep inside the room.

She saw a person sitting alone on a cushion, quietly drinking from a bowl.

She saw a back she knew.

"No way, that can't be..."

Suzune, no, Yukine, lost her words when she saw it.

She couldn't believe it.

She felt it in her heart.

He grew up a lot, but she knew how he sat from when she was a child.

Every day, he came home late at night and ate porridge at the hearth.

She peeked at him from her bed.

She remembered he would look back when he saw her and offer her the bowl.

She didn't know anything and was so happy, and she thought it would last forever, but everything has an end...!!

"...Who is that?"

"!"

He noticed the look, and the person turned around.

She was scared by the familiar voice, and she hid behind the shouji paper door.

She peeked out, even though it was rude.

She saw his face.

She gasped.

Yukine knew that face, even though it looked older now.

It felt nostalgic.

The face was worn, like it had seen a lot of hardship, and there were even scars.

But still, it was definitely the same face.

The face from Yukine's memories was there.

"Guest...? Princess, I must inform you, though it's beyond my place..."

Trying to speak his piece to Miyataka's young lady, the shadow man's words stuck in his throat.

He looked over, eyes wide.

Just like looking in a mirror, he too seemed shocked.

They both tried to speak but ended up speechless, yet... it was always clear who would make the first move.

"Yuki...ne?"

"...!? Big brother!!"

The overly familiar nickname made her throw aside her embarrassment and rush in,

noisily stomping on the tatami mats as she burst in.

She hugged.

And then she was leaking sobs.

"Big brother! Big brother...!!?"

"Yukine... could it be, you've grown so much..."

She screamed like a starving person, and the bewildered family embraced her back, swirling their arms around her.

Her trembles were from joy.

She was incredibly happy to be accepted.

Her mind was a jumbled mess of emotions, unable to think of anything else.

"A touching reunion, huh? ...You're still a spoiled little sister. You missed me, didn't you?"

"I'm so embarrassed. Um, I'm deeply grateful. I never thought something like this..."

"Haha. If you're grateful, tell the princess and Minister-sama. I just happened to recognize you, that's all."

That's why Yukine didn't notice the conversation between the man who appeared from behind and her third brother.

She had no time for that.

"Yes. It's just a coincidence, right...?"

That's why Yukine didn't realize.

The way the seemingly nice man looked at his important family was like he was examining lab animals.

The gaze of Miyataka's young lady looking at them was incredibly complex.

She was just so happy her chest felt like it would burst, with...

* * *

"...Is there no next mission?"

It was a question directed at her master from the girl who had just finished detaining and escorting exorcists, who were wanted by the Kebiishi (police and judicial chief) division, to the exorcists' headquarters.

"It's good to be enthusiastic about work, but don't overdo it, okay? You don't want to step on the Kebiishi's toes too much, or you might make them angry."

"Is that more important than helping people?"

In a room assigned to her within Oumi's estate, Onitsuki Sumire examined her kimono while watching her reserved disciple.

It was a case within the Juuyaku's domain.

The investigation team was kept there to understand the situation and was questioned.

After finishing that, she was to return straight to the capital.

She wanted to stay and investigate the ground 0, but that wish was not granted.