Tokyo Exorcism Diary

The next day, a piece of news set the internet abuzz.

【Revealing the Private Life of an Idol! Super Popular Idol ‘Rin-chan’ Spotted on the Streets with Her Stunning Twin Brother!】

Beneath the headline was a photo of Hoshino Rin holding hands with her twin brother, Hoshino Gen. Hoshino Rin’s sweet and captivating appearance was perfectly complemented by her brother’s aloof and handsome demeanor. What truly caught everyone’s attention, however, was their identical heterochromatic eyes. Against the backdrop of a Tokyo Bay sunset, the image was breathtakingly beautiful.

The article primarily focused on Hoshino Rin’s private life as a super-popular idol. Yet, in the comments section, the netizens’ attention was entirely on the revelation that Rin-chan had a twin brother—and an extraordinarily attractive one at that, with the same striking heterochromatic eyes as hers.

The comments were flooded with admiration, with most people expressing envy toward Hoshino Gen for having such an adorable twin sister. Others envied Hoshino Rin for having such a handsome brother. Some even went as far as to beg Hoshino Gen to debut as an idol, claiming that wasting such a face on a mundane life should be considered a crime.

Sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through the comments online, Hoshino Rin couldn’t stop laughing.

…

Meanwhile, Hoshino Gen remained oblivious to the internet frenzy. He neither followed nor cared about it. At that moment, he was once again heading to the café operated by the Special Affairs Unit.

Unlike his previous visits, where the café had always displayed a “Closed” sign, it was open for business today. Judging by the lively atmosphere, the place seemed to be bustling with customers.

As Hoshino Gen pushed the door open, the familiar chime of the wind bell rang. Though the sound was mostly drowned out by the lively chatter inside, a cheerful waitress in uniform immediately noticed his entrance and approached him with a welcoming smile.

Initially, Hoshino Gen paid her no attention—until she greeted him with a sweet “Welcome!” and he realized the waitress was none other than Kiryu Rakuye, sporting twin ponytails and an adorably soft demeanor.

With a playful grin, Kiryu Rakuye addressed him, “Good afternoon, Hoshino Senpai ! I knew you’d be coming soon. Master Nishida is already waiting for you inside. Follow me~”

Hoshino Gen had no intention of engaging in small talk. He simply nodded and followed her through the crowded tables, past the bar counter, and into a staff-only passageway. They arrived in a room resembling a conference hall. A large round table occupied the center, surrounded by chairs, with Master Nishida seated at the head. In front of him lay a long sword case.

When Kiryu Rakuye brought Hoshino Gen in, Nishida didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He got straight to the point. “Kid, I’ve fulfilled your request, but to alter the material properties of this sword, I had to use an entire alchemical medium imbued with special traits. Don’t you think you owe me a favor in return?”

Hoshino Gen smiled. “What do you want? Or should I ask, what do you need me to do?”

Master Nishida chuckled heartily, clearly pleased by Hoshino Gen’s straightforwardness. “Good lad, I like how direct you are. But don’t rush—I’ll let you inspect the goods first. Once you’re satisfied, we’ll talk.”

With that, he opened the sword case, revealing a pitch-black blade. At first glance, it looked no different from before. However, upon closer inspection, the sheath, guard, and hilt all appeared deeper, darker, and richer in hue, as if a black luminescence was flowing across the surface.

Nishida took out the blade and tossed it to Hoshino Gen.

As Hoshino Gen caught it, an intense chill emanated from the sword, seeping into his hand.

After carefully examining the blade, Hoshino Gen frowned slightly. “I recall asking for the sword to be more portable…”

“Don’t rush. Imagine the sword as your shadow—as a part of yourself,” Nishida explained patiently.

Hoshino Gen fell silent for a moment. Then, gripping the sword, he closed his eyes. Moments later, he felt the sword in his hand dissolve into shadowy nothingness. It was still there, yet strangely intangible.

When Hoshino Gen opened his eyes, he saw the pitch-black blade transforming into a shadowy glow that wrapped around his wrist, then climbed up his arm.

In less than a second, the sword had vanished, replaced by a black tattoo that covered his entire right arm, intricate and menacing.

Hoshino Gen flexed his right arm, sensing that, apart from a noticeable drop in temperature, his movement wasn’t hindered at all. In fact, he felt as though his strength had increased.

He extended his hand once more, envisioning the blade manifesting itself. Almost immediately, the tattoo on his arm began writhing, morphing back into a stream of shadows. These shadows coalesced in his palm, and the blade materialized out of thin air, forming itself piece by piece, starting from the hilt.

As the shadows receded entirely, the pitch-black sword reappeared in his grasp.

“Well? Satisfied?” Nishida asked, his tone brimming with pride. It was evident that he was extremely pleased with his handiwork.

Hoshino Gen stared at the blade, its dark glow shimmering faintly, and smiled. “Your craftsmanship is truly astounding. You’ve earned the title of master.”

Nishida burst into hearty laughter, clearly delighted by the praise. For an alchemist, nothing was more rewarding than genuine admiration from someone who understood the craft.

Once Nishida had laughed his fill, his expression turned serious. “Although I forged the blade for you, the resources used belong to the Special Affairs Unit. It’s them who want something from you, not me.”

He moved the sword case aside, revealing a file folder beneath. Handing it to Hoshino Gen, he said, “Inside are details of three paranormal incidents. Your task is to resolve them as quickly as possible. I hear you have a penchant for collecting sprit vessels. Once you’ve dealt with these incidents, you only need to return one vessel to offset the cost of forging your sword. Any other rewards are yours to keep. During the mission, Rakuye here will be your partner. Whatever assistance you need from the Special Affairs Unit, just let her know.”

Hoshino Gen glanced at Kiryu Rakuye, who had been quietly standing by. The girl gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll be in your care from now on, Senpai!”