Just when Kawashima Toya thought no one would come.
A few passing female students noticed the sign for the Trash Fox Detective Agency. Out of amusement, they snapped a photo of the sign and sent it to a friend named Yuigahama Yui.
"Yui, guess what we found?"
"A newly opened detective agency. Apparently, the owner specializes in taking on all kinds of paranormal commissions."
"Here, this is the location."
After sending the message, the girls laughed and walked away.
Of course, they didn't believe the agency's advertisement was real; they just treated it as a joke.
Not long after, a beautiful girl with shoulder-length, peach-colored hair styled in a messy bun arrived outside the agency, her heart filled with apprehension.
The girl had an excellent figure. Her overly trendy style made her curves stand out immediately.
However, her heavy makeup could easily lead to misunderstandings about her character.
Yuigahama Yui stared at the sign of the Trash Fox Detective Agency, her heart pounding nervously. "Do they really accept paranormal commissions?"
Ever since she learned yesterday that her pet dachshund, Sablé, had been killed by an "evil spirit," she had visited every shrine she could find.
All she wanted was to find a professional who could truly eliminate the evil spirit.
The result, naturally, was obvious. Her saved-up pocket money had bottomed out, yet no one was willing to help her.
Just as she was preparing for school today, she heard from her friends about the Trash Fox Detective Agency and the services it offered.
"No, I must find a professional. I have to ask him to destroy the evil spirit and avenge Sablé."
After psyching herself up, a glint of sadness appeared in Yui's beautiful eyes. "Why did it have to be Sablé? He was so well-behaved, so cute..."
"He only got lost that one day, and something like this happened..."
"No, I have to go ask."
Sablé's death made Yui forget her shyness. She gently pushed open the door of the Trash Fox Detective Agency and walked in.
In the lobby, Toya looked at the opening door with surprise.
"A customer on the first day of opening?"
"Are there really that many paranormal incidents in Japan?"
When he saw that the visitor was Yuigahama Yui, he was shocked. "Yuigahama Yui?"
"How did she find this place?"
"Is she here for revenge?"
Toya discreetly glanced at the Memory Erasure Bat placed nearby, and his anxiety subsided.
"You are...?"
Toya asked first. Once he confirmed if Yui's goal was revenge...
Then down would come the bat, wiping her memory on the spot.
Yui bowed politely. "I would like to issue a paranormal commission."
"Please, have a seat," Toya said calmly, showing no sign that he was the very person who had eliminated the Evil God-infected Sablé.
"I am the detective and exorcist of the Trash Fox Detective Agency, Kawashima Toya."
"Please state your commission in detail."
"My name is Yuigahama Yui, a student at Sobu High School."
Yui sat opposite Toya, somewhat reserved. Her crisp voice carried a hint of sobbing. "My pet dog was killed by an evil spirit."
"I hope to find the evil spirit that killed Sablé."
Toya nodded slightly. "I can understand how you feel."
"So the commission is to find the culprit who killed your pet dog, Sablé, correct?"
A trace of sorrow flashed through Yui's beautiful eyes as she softly replied, "It was an evil spirit."
"I know," Toya said with a calm expression. "I can accept this commission. The price is one hundred thousand yen."
"If I cannot complete it, the full commission fee will be refunded."
"One hundred thousand yen?" Yui hesitated slightly, her heavily made-up face showing doubt. "Can you find it for just one hundred thousand yen?"
She felt the price was too cheap. Compared to the exorbitant prices quoted by those shrine swindlers, this was unbelievably affordable.
Toya's expression remained unchanged. "You are the first client since the agency's founding, so naturally, I'm giving you a discount."
It wasn't that his conscience had suddenly awakened.
Leaving aside whether Yuigahama Yui could afford the actual price for a paranormal commission...
The person responsible for all of this was him, so naturally, he wouldn't need to expend much effort.
In fact, he wouldn't have to lift a finger. It was basically free money—one hundred thousand yen for nothing.
"Can you really find it?" Yui asked with a hint of skepticism.
Although she was desperate to find the evil spirit, she hadn't completely lost her ability to think.
Toya had agreed too readily.
Yui stared at Toya's handsome face and his figure, feeling inexplicably that he looked somewhat familiar.
But she couldn't recall where she might have seen him.
After all, this was her first time meeting Kawashima Toya.
Toya gestured towards the door. "If you don't trust the Trash Fox Detective Agency, there is no need to continue this conversation."
"No, no, no! I'll issue the commission!" Hearing him ask her to leave, Yui panicked instantly. "I brought cash!"
She hurriedly took out the school bag she carried with her and pulled out the money she had prepared beforehand.
Exactly one hundred thousand yen—her entire savings of pocket money.