"Welcome~"—With a bright, professional greeting, Miss Lin successfully pulled Miko's wandering attention back.
Miko's gaze finally focused. When she clearly saw Miss Lin behind the checkout counter, a genuine smile bloomed on her pale face, and she trotted over.
She carefully pulled a transparent bag tied with a pink ribbon from her shoulder bag. Inside were several irregularly shaped cookies, some with obvious burnt edges.
There was no product label; they were clearly homemade.
"What a good kid..." Miss Lin silently sighed in admiration.
After confirming that Miko could indeed see the Wailing Spirit, Miko still managed to muster the energy to bake cookies for her. This gesture was genuinely touching.
But she didn't know that the terror Miko experienced last night far exceeded imagination:
The Wailing Spirit that suddenly appeared in the mirror while brushing her teeth; the bluish-purple infant spirit that crawled out from under the covers even after she scattered salt in her room;
This morning under the desk in the classroom, a rotting hand was gripping her ankle... Each time, Miko almost fainted on the spot but somehow endured it.
The fact that Miko could stand here now was already the result of her pushing herself to the absolute limit.
Seeing Miss Lin accept the cookies, Miko's smile brightened considerably.
What made her secretly even more relieved was that this convenience store was surprisingly "clean"—no Wailing Spirit hanging upside down from the ceiling, no evil spirits peering from between the shelves. Compared to the terrifying presences hiding in lockers and desks at school, this place was practically heaven.
Taking advantage of the lack of customers, Miko leaned on the checkout counter, relaxing her tense nerves. "Yesterday, I was really gratef—"
"Stop!" Miss Lin made a 'halt' gesture, the tips of her ears turning slightly red. "Such a formal thank you once is enough... I'm not really used to it..."
"Ah, okay! I'm sorry... No, I mean..." Miko waved her hands frantically, ending up just scratching her cheek with an awkward laugh. "Hehe..."
A brief silence fell between the two.
Miss Lin didn't know how to broach the subject of supernatural matters, while Miko was troubled by the fact that her confession yesterday seemed to have been taken as a joke.
"The weather is much better today than yesterday," Miss Lin awkwardly played the 'weather card'—a conversation starter. "Miko, you didn't get caught in the rain on your way home yesterday, did you?"
"N-no, I'm fine..." Miko replied stiffly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the ends of her hair. "I brought an umbrella, and the rain had lightened up..." She stole a glance towards the entrance, silently praying for Hana, who went to buy donuts, to return quickly and save her from this awkward situation.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. "Oh, right! Miss Lin, do you like donuts? My friend Hana is bringing Mister Donut over later..."
(P.S. In reality, it should be Mister Donut. Apart from the original flavor and caramel Fondant Ring, the others are a bit too sweet in my opinion...)
She smiled brightly. "Hana is super energetic!"—Though she didn't understand why that vibrant girl seemed to have such a strong attraction for spirits...
Finally, growing somewhat weary of the back-and-forth pleasantries, Miss Lin straightened up—her already tall stature forcing Miko to look up slightly.
The previously smiling face now became expressionless. Her slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes held a hint of sharpness, exuding a certain pressure.
Miko unconsciously straightened her back, her fingers secretly clutching her skirt.
She realized that what was coming next was definitely not a light topic like donuts or the weather.
"Miko, I thought carefully after you left yesterday..." Miss Lin leaned forward slightly, looking directly into the other's eyes. "I believe what you said."
Her tone was calm and firm, not the least bit dismissive.
Regarding the existence of Tamamo-no-Mae, she chose to keep it a secret—it would only add unnecessary burden to Miko, who was already overwhelmed.
Right now, the most important thing was to let this girl, who was enduring terror alone, know that at least someone was willing to believe her experiences, someone she could talk to.
As for deeper issues... that would have to wait until tonight's detailed discussion with that fox.
Could Tamamo-no-Mae grant her the ability to see spirits? Or perhaps provide methods to dispel Wailing Spirit? All of this was still unknown.
Miko's pupils trembled slightly, her golden eyes instantly glistening with moisture.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She could only unconsciously clutch and release the fabric of her school uniform skirt over and over—this habitual action inadvertently pulled up her sleeve, revealing a wrist covered in nail marks.
One must remember that Miko was just an ordinary high school girl, yet she was suddenly forced to live under the constant gaze of Wailing Spirit.
Whenever those horrifying figures suddenly leaned out from lockers or squeezed out from desk crevices, she could only bite her lip hard, dig her nails deep into her palms, and forcibly swallow her screams.
By the end of the day, her arms and palms were covered in self-inflicted scratches, and the back of her shirt was soaked with cold sweat.
The most excruciating were the close encounters—when a Wailing Spirit pressed close, she could see every inch of its bluish skin texture, even watch pieces of rotting entrails slide out, yet she still had to feign composure.
To avoid worrying her family, she had to maintain a smile in front of her mother and younger brother, ensuring they detected not a hint of anything unusual.
Even with Hana, after discovering how much she attracted Wailing Spirit, Miko could only clumsily try various methods to drive away the evil spirits clinging to her, all to protect her.
While other classmates enjoyed their ordinary high school lives, she trembled alone, surrounded by spirits.
Miko had already done the absolute limit of what an ordinary high school girl could do.
And now, that simple phrase, "I believe," finally made her realize she was no longer alone.
She kept her head bowed low.
The first teardrop hit the marble surface of the checkout counter, splashing up tiny droplets.
Then came the second, the third... A single day of terrifying experiences was enough to rob her of the courage to cry out loud.
She instinctively suppressed her sobs, only able to let out weak, whimpering sounds like a small animal, futilely wiping her cheeks with her sleeve, yet unable to stop the continuous flow of tears.
Miss Lin gently cupped Miko's face, pulled away her hand that was wiping haphazardly, then carefully used her own sleeve to wipe away Miko's tear tracks, speaking softly as if comforting a child. "There, there, Miko has been very brave already... You've done wonderfully..."
"Hey!! Don't bully Miko!"
Accompanied by a forceful shout, a short-haired girl holding a donut box rushed into the convenience store like a whirlwind.
She had a well-defined, healthy-looking figure, possessing a size that Yotsuya Miko could never hope to match. Without a word, she grabbed Miko's wrist and started dragging her outside.
"W-wait! Hana, you've got it wrong!" Miko, still crying, desperately squatted down to resist this strange strength, flusteredly explaining:
"This clerk is a new friend I made! She helped me a lot yesterday! Didn't I tell you?"
*Pfft... Feels like a puppy being pulled by its leash, refusing to go home.* Miss Lin couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Only then did Yurikawa Hana slam on the brakes and stop, but she still spread her arms wide, shielding Miko behind her, glaring at Miss Lin like a puffed-up cat.
From her perspective: She had happily come to find Miko after buying donuts, planning to also meet the new friend Miko mentioned. But from afar, she saw Miko with her head bowed, shedding tears in front of the checkout counter, and that clerk actually reaching out to grab Miko's face—
Was this tolerable? Yurikawa Hana could not tolerate it.
*This is bullying!* Yurikawa Hana's protective instincts instantly ignited. *I have to protect Miko!* The Yurikawa Hana—marching forth with dignity!
But after a patient explanation from Miko, plus a hastily fabricated excuse about "crying over a touching manga plot discussion"...
The straightforward Yurikawa Hana immediately followed the principle of 'if you're wrong, you admit it,' and shuffled awkwardly up to Miss Lin.
Then, taking a deep breath, she suddenly performed a ninety-degree bow, holding the donut box high over her head:
"I'm very sorry for misunderstanding you! Please accept this as an apology!"
Her voice was loud and firm, but her lowered head couldn't hide her slightly trembling lips—these were the limited-edition donuts on sale only until today, and she hadn't even tried one herself...
Miss Lin looked at the "Limited Release" sticker on the box, then glanced at Hana secretly swallowing saliva, thinking this girl was adorably foolish.
She picked the plainest-looking donut from the box—no frosting, no sickly-sweet filling, just the simplest milk butter flavor.
Afraid it might be too sweet, she only took a small bite, and was pleasantly surprised to find the sweetness level just right.
"I'm not angry, come on, get up." She gently patted Hana's lowered head with her free hand. "I don't like things too sweet, one is enough."
Her fingers unconsciously gave a couple extra rubs—the hair texture wasn't as smooth as Miko's, but it was surprisingly pleasant to touch.
Even more surprising was that this straightforward girl subconsciously nuzzled against her palm, like a large dog being petted. Adorably squeezable.
While Yurikawa Hana was still maintaining her bowing posture, Miss Lin secretly shot Miko a meaningful glance—a slight wink of her right eye meant to convey 'let's put the previous topic on hold for now.'
Seeing Miss Lin wink at her, the innocent Miko completely misinterpreted it, thinking she was praising the donut for being delicious.
She nodded blankly, privately deciding to buy a few more next time to treat Miss Lin.
Then, looking at the energetic Hana beside her, Miko secretly tightened her grip on her phone—better to discuss the details with Miss Lin via Line after getting home. She couldn't make Hana worry anymore.
And so, these two utterly un-synchronized individuals each misunderstood the other's hint, yet by sheer accident reached the consensus to "talk privately later."
The conversation among the three naturally shifted to everyday life, and they just stood there chatting by the checkout counter.
However, whenever a customer entered the store, Miko and Hana would wordlessly retreat to the magazine section to wait.
Miss Lin originally thought chatting with Japanese high school girls would be difficult—nothing but romance gossip, celebrity scandals, or beauty and fashion topics she wasn't good at.
But to her surprise, Yurikawa Hana enthusiastically recommended nearby affordable and delicious little restaurants, and Miko expressed recent 'interest' in shrines and temples—though Miss Lin knew the real reason behind that.
What warmed her heart even more was that both girls considerately avoided using obscure slang and internet abbreviations.
Just like she couldn't explain to them why, in the Chinese online environment, "Hakimi" went from meaning honey to being a term for kittens.
The clock struck five. Hana affectionately linked arms with Miko, and the two waved goodbye to Miss Lin behind the counter.
They happened to pass Manager Morikawa, who was coming for the night shift, right at the entrance.
"That girl just now..." Manager Morikawa said while adjusting her uniform, curiously watching Miko's departing back. "It's the one from yesterday, right? Looks like she's made a new friend~" She turned her head with a beaming smile, her eyes sparkling with Bagua curiosity.
Facing this overly concerned manager, Miss Lin helplessly took out the cookies Miko baked.
Manager Morikawa picked one up and put it in her mouth, suddenly dramatically covering her cheek:
"Mmm~! Cookies filled with a young girl's heartfelt feelings are truly delicious!" She playfully nudged Miss Lin with her elbow. "Don't let a girl's feelings go to waste, Lin-chan~"
Having undergone Tamamo-no-Mae's high-intensity "special training" last night, Miss Lin had already developed resistance to Manager Morikawa's teasing.
She simply rolled her eyes calmly and continued tidying the checkout counter.
"By the way, what's with that drunk girl at the entrance?" Manager Morikawa suddenly asked.
*Huh? That person still hasn't left?* Miss Lin then remembered the weirdo who had been loitering and drinking at the store entrance since the afternoon.
She craned her neck to look outside—in the twilight, the figure with dark pink braided hair was still leaning against the glass wall.
"That person started drinking at the store entrance this afternoon," Miss Lin shrugged. "Since she's a customer... I didn't chase her away."
Manager Morikawa frowned. "It's already dark. It's dangerous for a girl to be drunk outside~" She suddenly clasped her hands together. "Lin-chan, could you help see her home? I'll count it as you getting off early, and you'll still get paid!"
"Fine, I guess..." Miss Lin sighed.
Call it an escort, but without a car, she'd definitely have to pay for the train fare herself. Still, looking at the huddled figure outside, she agreed to Morikawa's request.
*Ding ding ding~* Quest accepted—Escort Drunk Girl. Reward—None.
After changing into casual clothes and saying goodbye to Manager Morikawa, Miss Lin squatted in front of the drunken girl.
Just getting close, she was hit by a strong smell of alcohol that made her frown, pinching her nose and fanning the air in disgust.
She tentatively poked the other girl's cheek—the texture was unexpectedly soft and bouncy. Positive review.
Just as she was about to poke again, the girl suddenly opened her mouth and bit! Her sharp, serrated teeth nearly touched Miss Lin's fingertip.
"Hey! How can you bite people when you're drunk?" Miss Lin widened her eyes, looking incredulously at this ferocious sleeper.
However, the other girl just smacked her lips and fell back into a deep sleep.
"Whatever... Do you remember where you live?" She helplessly shook the other's shoulder.
"Mmm... @#￥%... *Hic~*" The only reply was incoherent mumbling and a strong, alcohol-laden burp. The smell made Miss Lin start involuntarily retching.
"No good... *Yue*... This one is completely dead drunk." Miss Lin sighed and reached into the loose pockets of the girl's baseball jacket.
Her fingertips touched a cool metal casing—it was actually a flip phone!
*Lucky~* If it were a smartphone, she'd have a headache with the unlock problem.
Flipping the phone open, the recent contacts in the address book were uniformly labeled'Senpai.' Hoping for the best, Miss Lin dialed this'Senpai's' number.
The call had just connected. Before Miss Lin could speak, a furious shout came through the receiver:
"Hiroi—!" The other person took a deep breath, her voice full of collapse. "Don't tell me you're saying you want to borrow the bath again? Today, Nijika and I just finished cleaning the drain you clogged with your vomit!"
"Wow, that's definitely worth scolding..." Miss Lin couldn't help but Make complaints.
"Huh? May I ask who this is?"
"Hello, I'm a clerk from the convenience store in front of Yahatayama Station. Your friend is passed out drunk at the store entrance," Miss Lin glanced at the drunken girl. "It's getting late, so I was wondering if I could contact someone to pick her up..."
"...Sigh." A long sigh came from the other end of the line, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and the crisp clinking of keys.
"Thank you very much. Could I trouble you to look after her a little longer? I'll be right there!" Before the words finished, the call was cut off, ending with a final "bang" of a door closing.
Staring at the ended call screen, she blinked—This person just now, clearly furious at the start, yet rushed out in a Panicked panic right before hanging up... Such a classic tsundere character, huh...