After leaving Shiina Mahiru's room, Hozuki Nozomi let out a deep sigh before heading straight to the bathroom for a cold shower.
He wasn't some kind of shameless hentai protagonist.
Holding an angel in his arms had definitely ignited a fire within him, but he wasn't about to drag Sayu or even Senpai into extinguishing it.
Okay… he did think about it for a moment.
But today wasn't the time.
After all, he had just displayed his masculinity in front of Shiina Mahiru. That was more than enough for now.
Besides, he had bigger things to worry about—specifically, Takayama Toshihiko.
To be honest, this was his first real encounter with the darker side of this world.
The evil spirits he had dealt with before? They didn't count. Their appearances were limited, and only someone like Yotsuya Miko, with her spiritual constitution, attracted the truly dangerous ones.
In most cases, high-level evil spirits that could threaten an entire area were rare.
Like that time with the courier truck. Nozomi had suspected that its sudden failure had something to do with an evil spirit's magnetic field disrupting the electronics. The fact that the truck had immediately started working again after he exorcised the spirit all but confirmed his theory.
But humans… humans were a different kind of darkness.
And Takayama Toshihiko? He was as rotten as they came.
At first glance, he seemed like your typical rich brat. When he confessed to Shiina Mahiru, he had put on a well-behaved act. When she rejected him, he had walked away without making a fuss.
But later?
He hired thugs to attack her. He hid in the shadows, recording everything, planning to use the footage to blackmail her.
His actions were far too practiced, too smooth—this wasn't his first time.
And why would it be? He had his father, a congressman, protecting him. No matter how many times he got caught, he would always be released.
Today was a perfect example.
Takasaka Daisuke, a criminal investigator, had gathered evidence against him. And yet, for the sake of his own career and family, he had been forced to release Takayama Toshihiko.
The so-called evidence?
It wasn't even enough to convict him. At most, they could charge him with attempted assault. And even then, his lawyer would just argue that the camera wasn't his—that the real criminals had planted it.
In the end, he would walk free.
And a guy like him? He wouldn't learn his lesson. He would just do it again.
If even the police couldn't detain him for long, if his father was always there to clean up after him… what was stopping him from trying again?
If Takayama Toshihiko had kept to himself, Nozomi wouldn't have cared.
But he had set his sights on Shiina Mahiru.
And that, Nozomi could not allow.
This bastard needed to be dealt with.
After washing the dishes, Nozomi didn't bother saying goodbye to the others as he quietly slipped out of Sakurasou.
With a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes and a mask covering his face, he positioned himself near the police station and began his stakeout.
An hour passed before a sleek, black sedan pulled up to the curb.
A middle-aged man stepped out, his greasy hair combed back, the faint scent of expensive cologne clinging to his tailored suit.
Nozomi narrowed his eyes.
Takayama Toshi.
The congressman himself.
Takasaka Daisuke and the other officers hurried outside to greet him, their postures stiff and careful.
From their body language alone, it was clear—they knew exactly who held the real power here.
Nozomi watched quietly, his mind already calculating his next move.
He wasn't stupid enough to pick a direct fight.
Instead, he reached for his bag.
A small, seemingly normal "Cat Bag."
It was a special item, bound only to him. No one else could use it. And when he controlled the cats inside, he could activate his own passive abilities.
This was something he had discovered recently.
If he manipulated the stray cats to attack Takayama Toshi and his son, his "Yin-Yang Qi" ability would trigger.
Tonight, justice would be served—courtesy of some very pissed-off cats.
Nozomi loosened the pouch and released ten stray cats that he had gathered during his wait.
At that moment, Takayama Toshihiko stepped out of the police station, his hands stuffed into his designer coat pockets. His face twisted in a scowl as he stomped over to his father's car.
"Oi, Dad! What took you so long? I'm starving!"
Takayama Toshi shot him a withering glare. "Shut up! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you've caused?"
Despite his frustration, there was no real anger in his tone—just irritation at having to clean up his son's mess yet again.
Because, at the end of the day, this was his beloved child.
The son of his first love.
So, no matter how many times Toshihiko screwed up, no matter how deep he sank into depravity, his father would always be there to pull him back out.
If it weren't for the Takayama family's influence in both the political and underworld circles, this useless brat would have been buried long ago.
"Tch, who cares? I took a hit this time, so I want that bastard gone. And besides, I was only chasing after that girl for you," Toshihiko grumbled.
The officers nearby stiffened but said nothing.
After all, they knew better than to bite the hand that fed them.
"Urusai! I'll deal with you when we get home!" Takayama Toshi barked at his son before turning to Kousaka Daisuke and the officers with a rehearsed, insincere smile.
"My apologies, my musuko (son) is a bit reckless. I regret causing you all this trouble. I'll send a token of appreciation your way later."
"No need, Councillor Takayama," Kousaka Daisuke replied stiffly. "I just hope your son stops causing harm to others."
That earned him a sharp glare from Takayama Toshihiko. "Oi, Dad, look at this guy! A mere watchdog and he dares to yap at us. He needs to learn his place!"
Takayama Toshi narrowed his eyes, then turned back to Daisuke with a condescending chuckle. "My son is still young. Please be patient with his youthful ignorance, Detective."
He placed a hand on Toshihiko's shoulder and gripped it tightly. "Get in the car. Now."
Two men in black suits and sunglasses grabbed Toshihiko by the arms and shoved him into the back seat of a sleek, red sedan. Before the door shut, no one noticed several stray cats silently slipping under the vehicle—and a particular black cat darting into the back.
"Chikusho! That bastard..." Kousaka Daisuke spat on the ground, watching the car drive away.
"Daisuke, quit it already," another officer muttered. "You'll just get yourself fired."
"Better unemployed than a damn lapdog."
Hozuki Nozomi observed from a distance, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Kousaka Daisuke's got some guts. Good. He looks as fierce as he acts."
His thoughts drifted to Takayama Toshihiko's parting words.
'He wants me to disappear, huh? Let's see who makes the first move.'
Nozomi slipped away into the night, making his way back to Sakurasou. Once inside, he activated the cat bag, linking himself to the black cat hidden in Takayama's car.
[Ding! The cat bag successfully linked to the target.]
His vision shifted. Now, he saw through the eyes of the black cat curled up in the back seat.
Time to begin the show.
=====================
Inside the car, Takayama Toshi let out a long sigh, massaging his temples. "Toshihiko, do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"
"Tch. You're the one who wanted me to get close to that girl," Toshihiko scoffed, rubbing at his scratched face. "This is your fault too."
Before his father could scold him further—
"Meow~!"
A blur of black fur shot out from the shadows.
Scratch! Swipe! Punch!
[Ding! Precise Hit activated!]
[Ding! Yin-Yang Qi poisoning triggered—Target enters a poisoned state. Health gradually declines.]
"GAH! What the hell?!"
Claws raked across Takayama Toshihiko's face, leaving deep, bloody scratches. The feline wasn't done—it lunged at his father next, slashing at his cheek with unrelenting fury.
"A-Ahhhhh! My face! It hurts!"
"Get rid of it, you idiots!"
The bodyguards reacted quickly, one grabbing the scruffy cat by the neck. The tiny creature wriggled and hissed but couldn't escape.
Takayama Toshi glared at his men. "Useless! You let a damn stray into the car?! Do you realize I have an important meeting tomorrow?! How the hell am I supposed to show up looking like this?!"
"Gomen'nasai, Takayama-sama!" The bodyguards bowed their heads in shame. They were wearing sunglasses, making it hard to spot the dark-furred creature until it was too late.
Toshihiko slammed his fist against the seat, trembling with rage. "That damn cat! I swear, I'll make it suffer!"
=====================
"We'll deal with it when we get home," Takayama Toshi muttered, pressing a handkerchief to his wounded face. "Tie it up. I don't care how you do it—just make sure it suffers before it dies."
Nozomi smirked from his room, watching everything unfold through the cat's eyes.
'Oh, this is just the beginning.'
The Yin-Yang poison skill was taking effect. Both Takayama father and son now had a faint red outline around them—an indicator of their lifeforce slowly deteriorating. The countdown to their downfall had begun.
When the car arrived at their estate, it was already past 10 PM. Takayama Toshihiko slumped onto the couch, his mood fouler than ever.
"Oi, tie up that damn cat. I want to personally bury it alive."
He massaged his temples, still feeling the sting from the scratches. The bandages on his face did little to soothe his fury. Across from him, Takayama Toshi, the esteemed councillor, sat with a dark scowl. His usual polished demeanor had vanished, replaced by a grimace that made his scarred face look even more sinister.
"Didn't I tell you to pursue Shiina Mahiru properly? Is this how you handle things?" he snapped, his voice seething with disappointment.
Toshihiko flinched. "I tried! That damn woman rejected me! Can you believe that? No woman has ever dared to turn me down!"
Takayama Toshi's hands balled into fists. "You fool. Maybe I should've left you in the gutter where I found you. You can't even complete a simple task. Do you realize the influence the Shiina family holds? Their connections rival the Shinomiya zaibatsu! Do you have any idea how much power that girl represents?"
Toshihiko's face twisted in rage. "Oh, so now you remember I exist? Where was all this fatherly wisdom when my mother was dying in some back-alley hospital because you tossed her aside for your precious political career?!"
A tense silence filled the room. Takayama Toshi's jaw tightened, his initial anger giving way to an unreadable expression. He exhaled sharply, waving his hand in irritation.
"It doesn't matter now. You will fix this. I don't care what it takes, you will make Shiina Mahiru yours."
Toshihiko sneered. "Hmph. No need to remind me. I already have a plan."
However, before he could elaborate, a sudden rustling echoed through the dimly lit room.
"Nani?!" Toshihiko barely had time to react before several cats sprang out from the shadows.
"Nyaaaa!"
The feline assault began.
A blur of claws and fur descended upon the father and son. Sharp nails raked across their already bandaged faces, reopening wounds and leaving fresh crimson streaks in their wake.
"Gyaaaah! What the hell?!"
"B-bodyguards! Do something!"
But the bodyguards were nowhere to be seen.
The attack was relentless. Each time Toshihiko and Takayama Toshi tried to swat the cats away, they only received more scratches in return. But then, something even more terrifying happened.
Their limbs grew heavy.
Their bodies weakened.
Their breath hitched.
Takayama Toshi collapsed onto his knees, gasping. "N-no… what is… happening…?"
Toshihiko's vision blurred. He looked down at his shaking hands, his fingers twitching uncontrollably. A deep, primal fear gripped his heart.
Then, the wind howled through the room.
The shadows deepened. The lights flickered.
And in the next moment—
The Takayama father and son were gone.
The bodyguards, finally arriving at the scene, froze in sheer horror.
"G-ghosts…?!"
The only evidence of the gruesome event was a dark crimson stain pooling on the expensive carpet. No trace of the two men remained. It was as if they had been swallowed by the abyss itself.
=============================
The next morning, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Kosaka Daisuke stood before a monitor, replaying the security footage from the Takayama estate.
He smirked. "Karma. Kami-sama wa miteiru na."
The other detectives exchanged glances but said nothing. They had seen the video. They had seen what had happened.
The case was officially closed.
"Let's wrap this up. Submit the footage as the official report."
Daisuke stretched, cracking his neck. "With any luck, the next councillor won't be such a bastard."
And as fate would have it, the disappearance of Takayama Toshi and Toshihiko barely caused a ripple in the political sphere. If anything, it served as a warning.
Rumors spread like wildfire. Some believed it was divine punishment. Others whispered of yōkai exacting revenge for the countless sins committed by the Takayama family.
In the aftermath, several scandals that had been buried came to light. Cases involving Takayama Toshihiko's past atrocities—including the coercion and destruction of young lives—were finally exposed.
Public outrage ensued.
To prevent further corruption, the Prime Minister himself ordered the establishment of a new investigative bureau to oversee the conduct of government officials.
Justice had been served.
And somewhere, in the depths of the city, a single black cat watched from the rooftops, its tail flicking lazily against the wind.
Its mission was complete.
For now.
"I'm Batman"
=====================
At Sakurasou.
Shiina Mahiru, who was preparing breakfast, froze as she watched the news report on TV.
Takayama Toshihiko and his father, the councillor, were dead?
The cause? Some bizarre supernatural phenomenon supposedly triggered by their misdeeds.
Curious, she checked her phone. Surveillance footage of the incident had already gone viral.
Most people had no idea what had really happened, but Shiina Mahiru did.
This… this was Nozomi's doing, wasn't it?
So, this is what he meant when he said he'd take care of it?
She couldn't wrap her head around it. How did he even do something like this?
Mahiru didn't feel sympathy for the Takayama father and son. They had it coming. But something still didn't sit right with her.
Hozuki Nozomi had dirtied his hands for her sake.
How was she supposed to repay this kind of debt?
Lost in thought, she didn't even notice when Nozomi strolled into the room, stretching lazily before flopping onto the living room sofa.
"Morning, Shiina-san, Sayu." His tone was light, his expression relaxed, as if the gruesome news had nothing to do with him.
He sniffed the air and smiled. "Smells great. What's for breakfast?"
Shiina Mahiru's emotions grew even more tangled.
Before she could answer, Ogiwara Sayu beamed at him. "Shiina made 'love noodles' today!"
"It's not love noodles!" Mahiru's face turned bright red. She shot Sayu a sharp glare, her voice rising in protest.
Nozomi chuckled. "Then I'll look forward to it."
After breakfast, Nozomi sprawled out on the sofa, hands behind his head, basking in the post-meal satisfaction. It was the weekend—no school, no obligations. A perfect day to just laze around.
Sayu, ever the energetic one, had enthusiastically volunteered for housework, leaving Mahiru with unexpected free time.
After hesitating for a moment, she slowly approached, her long, slender legs carrying her over to the sofa. She sat down beside him, hands resting on her lap, glancing at his peaceful face.
He had his eyes closed, completely at ease.
She parted her lips, as if about to say something—
But then stopped herself.
*********************
I don't know if I should edit the chapter; the part about the councillor and son disappearing doesn't fit, wouldn't it be better/ creepier if the bodyguards found their bodies, it would fit as a creepy case on social media, being attacked by cats to death.
Also, that's Yotsuya Miko in the images.
Drop your comments please!!