Chapter 13: Miko Girl
After lunch, Gabi-chan and Vigne decided to spend the afternoon making a batch of tempura and other sweet treats. The smell of batter and oil soon filled the air as they discussed what to bring to their new neighbors.
In this island nation, it was a long-standing custom to greet the people living nearby after moving in—usually by offering small snacks or gifts. They didn't have to be expensive; the gesture itself mattered more. It was a way of saying, "Please take care of us."
Kouya, however, had zero interest in participating in this "neighborhood bonding nonsense." His tiny apartment barely had space for himself, and being around those two chaotic beings—a lazy angel and a perfect demon—was more than enough to ruin his peaceful day. After a polite wave, he excused himself and left before he could get roped into anything else.
The sun hung comfortably overhead when he stepped outside. It was only about one in the afternoon, but the lazy warmth of spring made everything feel slower, softer. The neighborhood streets glowed faintly under the sunlight, and a gentle breeze carried the faint scent of fried food from nearby shops.
Kouya stretched and squinted at the sky. Going home didn't appeal to him. Sitting around alone in his room with nothing to do wasn't exactly his idea of relaxation either. After thinking for a moment, he made up his mind.
"Guess I'll check out that detective agency."
The address of the Chiba Detective Agency wasn't nearby, so he headed to the nearest subway station. The train ride was quiet—just the low hum of the engine and the faint chatter of passengers. Kouya leaned against the door, half-dozing, half-thinking about what kind of work this "agency" might really involve.
When he finally got off, the cityscape had faded into something quieter. It was the edge of town, where roads narrowed and trees grew thicker. It took him a few circles around the area before he finally found what he was looking for.
He blinked.
This wasn't what he expected.
He had imagined an office in a modern building, maybe with glass walls and a polished sign. Instead, the address led him to an old, time-worn Shinto shrine, the kind that seemed frozen in a different era. Moss grew between the stone steps, and the faint sound of wind chimes echoed somewhere beyond the torii gate.
A wooden sign out front read: Chiba Shrine. Beneath it, almost hidden from sight, was a small plaque that said: Chiba Detective Agency.
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "...A detective agency inside a shrine? Really?"
Still, curiosity won. He climbed the steps and knocked lightly on the wooden door.
Footsteps pattered inside, followed by the creak of an old hinge as the door opened.
A little girl of about seven or eight peeked out, her eyes wide and bright like polished glass. Her short black hair framed a round face that was both innocent and full of mischief.
"Onii-chan? Do you need something?" she asked sweetly.
"I saw the job posting online and came for an interview," Kouya said, smiling faintly.
The girl giggled, covering her mouth. "Then come in, Onii-chan! I'll take you to the lady in charge!"
She stepped aside and motioned for him to enter. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of incense.
The shrine wasn't very big, but it had a soothing, tranquil atmosphere. The moment he stepped into the inner courtyard, Kouya slowed down without realizing it. The space was peaceful—almost sacred.
In the garden ahead were two flowerbeds, one large and one small. Early spring blossoms painted the area in shades of pink, white, and violet. In the corner stood a row of cherry trees swaying lazily, their petals drifting through the air like snowflakes. Bamboo rustled softly near a stone bridge, and the faint trickle of water from a nearby stream completed the picture.
The girl turned back with a proud grin. "Onii-chan, Hinata takes care of all the flowers here! Aren't they pretty?"
Kouya smiled. "They're beautiful. You did great."
Hinata beamed with pride, her cheeks flushing pink. "Hehe! Thank you!" She led him down a wooden hallway that smelled faintly of cedar. "Please wait in the main room. I'll get Miss Miko."
Kouya nodded and took a seat on a cushion, glancing around as she dashed off.
A few minutes later, soft footsteps approached from the back. Then came a familiar, gentle voice—the same one he'd heard on the phone. "Good afternoon."
Kouya looked up.
The woman who entered was breathtaking.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in a traditional pink-and-white miko robe. Her long black hair gleamed like silk, and her delicate face was framed by smooth, willow-like brows and gentle eyes. Her presence was calm, serene, almost unearthly. Even the small beauty mark beneath her eye gave her an elegant charm that drew the eye.
But what caught Kouya's attention most was the faint aura around her—like a soft, invisible shimmer.
Spiritual energy.
It wasn't strong, but it was unmistakably there. The kind of aura only those who had crossed into the supernatural world carried.
She sat gracefully across from him, pouring tea into small porcelain cups. The motion was smooth, practiced. Even the way she held the teapot had an elegance that made Kouya momentarily forget to breathe.
"Please, have some tea," she said softly.
"Thank you." He accepted it, taking a small sip. The tea was warm, lightly floral.
The air filled with silence again, broken only by the faint rustling of bamboo outside.
Kouya's gaze drifted around the room. The interior was spotless—wooden furniture polished to a soft glow, a pair of ink landscape paintings on the walls, and a faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air. It was simple, but refined. Every item seemed carefully chosen.
The shrine maiden looked up, noticing his quiet observation. "My apologies," she said. "I was just meditating before you arrived."
Kouya raised a brow. 'Meditating, huh?' "The sesame candy was good, wasn't it?"
Her composure cracked. "H-how did you—?"
"Because you've got a crumb on your mouth," he said with a grin.
"..."
A soft blush colored her cheeks as she wiped it away, pretending to remain calm. "...I see."
Her eyes, though, carried a warning glint. 'Watch your words, boy.'
Kouya sipped his tea quietly.
"Well then, Kouya-kun," she said at last, tone returning to its calm rhythm. "May I ask what makes you confident enough to apply for this position?"
"Confident? In what sense?"
"Let's start simple," she said, tilting her head. "Do you have any technical skills? Hacking, tracking, data retrieval—anything like that?"
Kouya shook his head. "Sorry, I barely know how to check email."
Her lips curved faintly. "Then perhaps fieldwork? Can you handle clients, gather information, or negotiate under pressure?"
"This is starting to sound less like a detective agency and more like something shady," he muttered.
"I assure you, it's perfectly legitimate," she replied serenely.
Kouya sighed. "Then no, I'm not good at that either."
"I see." Her tone didn't change, but her expression softened. "Then I'm afraid you don't meet our employment criteria."
'Are you kidding me?' Kouya groaned internally. 'I came all the way here just to get rejected in under five minutes?!'
"Hold on," he said quickly. "I do have one skill."
"Oh?" Her eyes sparkled with mild curiosity. "And what might that be?"
"I'm strong. Does that count?"
In a world crawling with angels, demons, dragons, and spirits, a little show of power wasn't something to hide. He didn't need to live in fear.
The miko tilted her head slightly. "When you say strong, in what way?"
Kouya pointed to the seemingly empty space beside her. "For example, that cat spirit next to you—I could take on ten of her."
He smirked. "With one finger."
The shrine maiden's calm expression finally wavered.
"You can see Rina?"
"If that's her name, then yeah," Kouya replied casually.
From the moment the miko had walked in, he'd noticed her companion—a petite girl with white cat ears twitching on top of her head. Her eyes glowed amber, her movements feline and graceful. Whisker-like markings faintly traced her cheeks, and a faint aura of magic surrounded her.
The miko's polite detachment melted into curiosity. "So Kouya-kun isn't just an ordinary man, then."
Meanwhile, the cat-eared girl—Rina—puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance. She clearly didn't like being called a spirit. Her nose wrinkled as she raised a delicate hand, sharp claws flashing as they extended.
"Meow~!" she hissed playfully, pretending to threaten him, her tail swishing lazily behind her.