Checking the time, it was almost midnight.
Miko grabbed her pajamas and stepped into the bathroom.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Miko's cheeks were visibly burning.
Only the rush of water filling the tub broke the silence as Miko braced herself against the sink and exhaled a scorching breath.
'He'll see everything… Am I really not going to bathe?'
Miko swallowed hard.
She remembered Akuto's words—right now he could see and feel everything she did.
She used to bathe with Akuto tagging along, but the situation had been completely different then.
At the time, she hadn't considered him human.
He was just another evil spirit.
In her mind, Akuto looked no different from the other monsters outside—
A corpse long dead, ugly and reeking.
Probably covered in tentacles and slime.
Who could have guessed he'd turn out like this!
After hesitating for ten minutes, Miko finally eased herself into the tub.
She would have to get used to it.
Forcing herself to relax, she leaned back and closed her eyes as the warm water soothed the day's exhaustion.
Today was too intense.
First, her arm had been devoured by a wraith, then she had eaten the finger herself.
She studied her left arm; it looked exactly as before.
If not for her memories, she would never believe it had been torn off only hours ago.
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.
Opening her eyes, she saw black mist billowing from the drain.
Miko's pupils shrank.
The next instant, a bloated male ghost crawled out, tentacles writhing as it reached for her.
"Disgusting trash."
Akuto's voice rang out.
Only then did Miko realize how beautiful his voice sounded—
Like a gift from the gods.
"Bang!"
The specter's eyes widened in terror before it burst into a dozen strips of flesh that splattered into the water and vanished.
Silence fell over the bathroom.
"You're watching, aren't you?"
Miko stated flatly, eyes devoid of emotion.
Akuto, who had been peeking through half-lidded eyes, snapped them shut and snapped,
"Shut up! Who'd look at a washboard like you?"
"I like curvy women! I only stepped in because I won't let that filth touch my body."
Miko slid deeper until half her head was underwater.
The corner of her mouth curved faintly.
"Just don't let those dirty things touch you—I'd be furious."
"Stay away from creepy places. I won't lift a finger for you in daylight; I'm not your servant."
"Lastly…"
Akuto sounded thoroughly annoyed.
"Keep away from that idiot at school who claims he can see spirits—he'll get you killed."
"In short, don't cause me trouble, got it?"
Miko stepped out of the bath.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, Lord Akutou."
Drying herself and noting that he didn't object to the title, she left the bathroom humming.
"Huh? Mom's still up?"
Coming downstairs, she found Mrs. Yotsuya sorting papers on the dining table.
"Miko? Still awake? You've got school tomorrow—what time is it?"
"Almost 1AM."
She descended slowly.
Mrs. Yotsuya rubbed her forehead.
"I got work tomorrow and lost track of time."
"Drink some milk and off to bed, Miko."
"O-kay."
She sat at the table, curiosity pulling the papers toward her.
"Miko, don't—"
Too late; she had already opened them.
Bills—every single one dated last month.
"Are these what you have to pay next?"
Mrs. Yotsuya tried to snatch them back, but Miko held firm.
Her mother sighed.
"This isn't your concern. Just study; Mom will handle everything."
Beside her, her father's Benevolent Spirit wrapped an arm around Mrs. Yotsuya's shoulders.
'I'm sorry… It's my fault you're struggling.'
Miko ran the numbers.
Utilities 40,000, food 53,200, phone 12,000, transport 14,000.
Daily goods 9,000, TV fee 1,100, three insurance plans 46,000.
Resident tax 8,000, house insurance 7,500.
Total. 190,800 yen.
Mrs. Yotsuya's salary barely touched 200,000.
And those were only fixed costs—allowances for her and Kyosuke, tuition, haircuts, clothes, dentists weren't even included.
The Yotsuya Family was running a deficit.
Even with compensation from her father's company, they couldn't last many years.
Mrs. Yotsuya wiped her hands on her apron.
"Don't worry, I'll pick up a night shift."
Miko opened her mouth, said nothing, gulped her milk, and stood.
"I understand. You should rest too."
Lying in bed, Miko had no time to brood over finances—something worse crossed her mind.
At night… her body belonged to Akuto.
"Lord Akutou, are you going out tonight?"
"Yeah, so hand the body over—fast."
Miko swallowed, worried he might use her to break the law.
Remembering his temper, she obediently changed clothes—
The usual JK skirt, white shirt, beige knit sweater.
"Please don't do anything weird, and stay legal—"
"Got it, so noisy."
Akuto seized control and stretched luxuriously.
"Now then…"
He fiddled with her phone.
"Hey, password brat."
"177013. And please don't snoop, I'm begging you."
Miko's face burned; she dreaded what he might find in her photo albums.
"Tch, nothing but a flat-chested girl's selfies—"
He opened the gallery. Miko in a mini-skirt, white thigh-highs, absolute territory on full display.
Above the waist, a skin-tight white shirt.
She turned her back, reaching toward the camera.
A flattering angle—
Yet dripping with suggestiveness.
Akuto slammed the album shut and opened the browser.
Inside the seal, Miko's legs gave out; she rolled on the floor, mortified, biting her hand to stifle a scream o
f shame.
Akuto, of course, noticed none of it.
He was busy typing searches. 'strange finger,' 'cursed finger,' 'sealed finger,' 'thousand-year-old finger.'
Result after result flashed across the screen.