Chapter 1 – The Broken Talisman

Watanabe Kei was just an ordinary young man. Messy black hair, bright green eyes, and a life that could only be described as… normal. Except for one thing: he was still painfully single while all his friends easily found girlfriends.

Living with his grandmother, Watanabe Kurosaki, a famous shrine keeper, Kei finally decided to speak up one evening.

“Grandma, I want a talisman! One that can sweep away my bad luck… and attract a beautiful girlfriend!”

Kurosaki’s eyes narrowed as she stared at her grandson.

“That talisman is dangerous, Kei. If you wear it carelessly, spirits and yokai will be drawn to you.”

“It’s fine! I’m an adult now. Besides, what’s wrong with wanting a girlfriend? Do you want me to stay single forever?”

Good grief, what kind of grandson did I raise… Kurosaki sighed deeply.

At last, after relentless begging, she handed Kei an ancient charm shaped like a necklace.

“Fine. But there is one condition, Kei. You must wear it only before you sleep. Do not underestimate its power.”

“Yeah, yeah. I promise!” Kei grinned, clearly ignoring the warning.

The next morning, Kei tested the talisman right away. Sitting at the park, he tried approaching several girls. The result? Nothing.

“Huh? No one’s interested? Don’t tell me this thing is broken…”

Sulking, he walked home. What he didn’t realize was that a figure had been following him all along: a young woman with brown hair, black eyes, and rosy cheeks.

“You… can see me?” the woman asked.

“Oh, a ghost? Yeah, that’s normal. I’ve been seeing yokai and wandering spirits since I was a kid,” Kei replied casually.

The woman blinked in surprise.

“I’m Fubuki Akechi. I died in an accident… I’ve been so lonely. Will you… marry me?”

Kei nearly choked.

“Marry you?! You’re a ghost! That’s strictly forbidden in my family’s shrine rules!”

Fubuki looked at him with pleading eyes. Kei scratched his head, then smirked.

“I’ve got an idea. I’ll introduce you to a male spirit I know—Takumi. You’d be perfect together.”

And so, Kei arranged their meeting. Before long, Fubuki and Takumi were joined in marriage in the spirit realm. A warm light wrapped around them.

“Thank you, Kei…” they whispered as they disappeared, finally at peace.

Kei let out a long breath. Well, at least someone’s happy. But why do I feel like my trouble isn’t over yet…

Sure enough, that night, a fox yokai appeared in his room—taking the form of a small girl with fluffy ears and a swishing tail.

“Human! If you don’t marry me, your life will never know peace!”

Kei stared at her, then suddenly leaned in and pinched her cheeks.

“You’re way too cute. Small and already threatening people?”

The fox girl blushed furiously.

“D-don’t make fun of me! More yokai and spirits will come after you soon!”

Kei slapped his own forehead.

“Why is this talisman like a magnet for monsters? Grandma! Help me!”

Kurosaki just folded her arms.

“You insisted on it, didn’t you? Now deal with the consequences.”

But as the situation grew uncontrollable, even Kurosaki had to admit defeat. She called for help—from a shrine maiden of another temple, Amakasa Hiori.

One late afternoon, Kei rushed to the temple. There, sweeping the courtyard, was a girl with pure white hair and golden eyes.

Without thinking, Kei ran up and grabbed her hands.

“Please help me! You’re the only one who can destroy this talisman!”

Hiori froze, her face instantly red.

“K-Kei-kun… do you remember me?”

Kei blinked.

“Eh? We’ve met before?”

Hiori lowered her gaze, smiling shyly.

“When we were kids… you saved me when I almost drowned in the river. Since then… I’ve always…”

Kei was stunned. For the first time, his heart skipped a beat—not because of spirits or yokai, but because of a real, living human.

With gentle hands, Hiori touched the talisman hanging around his neck. A brilliant white light enveloped them as the charm cracked, then shattered into dust.

“From now on, you don’t need a talisman anymore. Because… I’ll always be by your side.”

Kei stared at her, flustered.

“W-wait, are you saying you like me? You’re really human, right? Not some yokai in disguise?”

Hiori lightly smacked his shoulder, cheeks burning.

“Idiot…”

And for the first time, Kei felt the talisman truly “worked”—not by magic, but by a love that was real.