“Hoho~ You really don’t hold back when praising yourself, do you? Miss Kyoumi is such a narcissist~”
Yoshino didn’t answer immediately; she was still hesitating.
Yoshinon spoke for her instead.
“Narcissist? Only people who secretly think they aren’t good enough, yet hypnotise themselves into believing they are, can be called narcissists.”
Kyoumi wasn’t in a hurry.
She couldn’t tell exactly how long this manifestation would last, but she definitely had enough time to stroll around with a cute little lady.
“This is just confidence formed under reasonable conditions,” she added casually, turning her gaze to the still-uncertain girl.
“Tell me, is there isn’t a better option in front of you right now, is there? A random passer-by? Or this claw machine?”
“Ahahaha, Miss Kyoumi sure has a sense of humour! ‘There isn’t a better option’ just because there’s no one else around~?”
It was genuinely hard to believe such aggressive words were coming from the cute girl’s ventriloquism.
That contrast only highlighted the difference between Yoshino and Yoshinon even more.
It wasn’t simply a lonely girl treating a hand puppet as her friend and playing a role.
Two personalities living in harmony was a rare case even in common sense, but since they were spirits, having something special was only natural.
“Quite the opposite. If there were people around, you’d notice even faster that the gap between ordinary humans and me is like fireflies compared to the sun.”
It was a natural judgment, not boasting; she genuinely believed it.
“Yaa~”
Yoshinon let out a long sound that wasn’t quite a sigh and wasn’t quite speechlessness, shaking its body as if giving up.
“I’m completely beaten by Miss Kyoumi. I never thought there’d be a spirit who talks to herself this much.”
“But if you hurt Yoshino, I won’t forgive you, okay?”
Yoshinon was the first to place one tiny paw into Kyoumi’s palm.
It looked up, voice sharp.
It felt less like a threat and more like it was temporarily lowering its guard, encouraging Yoshino to make a decision—like a parent offering indulgent, reassuring protection.
“…Mm…”
A soft hum escaped Yoshino’s throat.
She raised her hand, hesitated halfway, but finally placed her palm into Kyoumi’s other patiently waiting hand.
“…P-pleased… to meet you…”
“Though it’s true that Yoshino made a very brave attempt and deserves praise…”
With a slightly dissatisfied tone, Kyoumi slowly crouched down and gazed into the girl’s face that lacked a bit of confidence.
“But are you really not going to consider a hug?
I’m fragrant and soft, you know?”
“—!”
“When it comes to fragrant-and-soft deliciousness, Yoshino is clearly superior! Miss Kyoumi’s desire for benefits is not subtle at all!”
Yoshino flinched again.
As her hero, Yoshinon leapt to the rescue!
“What can I do~? Yoshinon rejected my confession, and Yoshino is just so adorable.
Even Yoshinon would be moved in this situation, right?”
“Ohh~ Jealous? Is this jealousy born from love-hate~? Jealous that Yoshinon gets to stay with Yoshino forever?”
“Not really jealousy. I’m just giving Yoshino a heads-up in advance,” Kyoumi stood up, gently returning the grip while leaving enough space for Yoshino to pull away anytime.
“Because if I don’t say it now, the moment I suddenly hug her later, this child will definitely bolt, right~?”
“Yaa~ Just like a phantom thief who sends a calling card before stealing? Miss Kyoumi is really something.”
“I won’t deny it~”
Having already grasped the rhythm of talking with Yoshinon, Kyoumi took the girl’s hand.
“Yoshino, is there anywhere you want to go?”
Yoshino instinctively tried to pull down her hood to hide her eyes, but her hand was being held by Kyoumi.
Yoshinon silently, encouragingly cheered her on from the side.
“…I don’t know…”
The girl quietly lifted her head, met Kyoumi’s gaze for a second, then hurriedly looked away again.
“Is there anything you want to know~?”
“…I don’t know…”
She glanced pleadingly at Yoshinon, but the hero who always protected her merely raised both tiny paws in a helpless gesture.
Yoshino trembled and shook her head again.
Of course she wouldn’t know.
In the endless cycle of appearing and vanishing, even on the rare occasions when things were quiet like today, rain would fall to drive people away.
She observed the world alone, wandered alone, and played only with (Yoshinon).
Being suddenly asked such a question, she was first nervous, then simply lost.
“Mmm, then is there something you’d like to do with a friend~?”
Kyoumi patiently continued.
“…U-um…”
Still looking very nervous, but gathering her courage in one burst, Yoshino unconsciously squeezed Kyoumi’s fingers.
“I want… together…”
“…play hopscotch…”
With all her bravery, she named the innocent game.
The unexpected answer gave Kyoumi a tiny shock.
“Mm, I know a great place for hopscotch~?”
Searching her memories of the city, Kyoumi raised an index finger.
“It’s quiet and perfect for simple games~”
***
When she first arrived in Tenguu City, another spirit (Tohka) had appeared at the same time, drawing the AST away.
During that window, Kyoumi had already roughly scouted the city’s layout.
Back then it was to move more easily underground; if she didn’t memorise the terrain first, she’d have to keep breaking through the surface to check her position, which could cause accidents.
Now, that memory became her advantage for showing Yoshino around.
If she wanted a quiet, undisturbed place, and considering Yoshino’s spirit attire—even without asking, anyone could tell from those rain-boot-like spiritual shoes and highly waterproof outfit that this rain was her doing.
So: a spot people rarely visit on rainy days, suitable for games, and afterward convenient for strolling through the city; there were three candidates in Kyoumi’s mental list.
She chose the closest one: a small shrine in the city district, connected directly to the street.
Not every shrine has staff on duty.
In Kyoumi’s eyes, most small shrines were more ornamental scenery than anything.
Whether gods actually resided there or prayers were answered didn’t concern her in the slightest.
It was linked to the main road; one turn away from the bustling shopping street.
Even on rainy days, anyone wanting shelter would usually just dash to the convenience store on the corner for a disposable umbrella rather than detour here.
In other words: normally quiet but not always empty, yet on rainy days basically guaranteed to be deserted.
That was the place Kyoumi picked.
“Mm, here we are~ How’s the atmosphere~?”
Showing no guilt whatsoever for vandalising public property (or rather, not caring even if she was aware), Kyoumi casually held her long sword in one hand, stabbed it into the stone tiles, and drew a long line…
“Mm…”
“So, Yoshino, what kind do you want to play?”
The sword tip paused.
Kyoumi glanced at the girl who was looking around nervously.
“Six squares? Ten squares? A big wide one? A house shape? Plum-blossom style is cute too.”
“T-ten… eh, ehh?”
There are that many kinds?
Yoshino’s face perfectly expressed “knowledge blind spot.”