The Double Date with the Enemy

“What’s he doing here?” Kazuya muttered, glaring at Yukihiro. “With Big Sis Kasane, at that!”

Kazuya made up with his sister, Kasane, yesterday, after she helped him and Inuko get away from the Kagenashi Clan’s yakuza foxes. Kasane explained to Kazuya that she began dating Yukihiro only after she drugged him with her truth-revealing potion and learned that he and his clan hadn’t murdered their parents. However, Kazuya still couldn’t condone their relationship.

“What a nasty fox!” Inuko snarled, glowering at Yukihiro, with her dog ears and tail set upright. “He almost killed us yesterday, and now he’s chilling with Senpai’s sister!” She looked at Kazuya. “Not to mention his grandfather threatened our police department just some hours ago with that cursed footage!”

“Yeah. Hopefully, Kenzō will delete it,” Kazuya said, still frustrated that the yakuza foxes had managed to record him and Inuko storming their nightclub.

“Kazuya!” Kasane’s mild voice reached their ears. She had noticed them and was waving her hand.

“Crap, they’ve seen us,” Kazuya whispered to Inuko and waved his hand back at Kasane. “We’ll have to approach them.”

“Don’t worry, Senpai!” Inuko readied her claws. “If that fox tries anything funny, I’ll tear him apart!”

“I don’t think he’ll disturb us with Big Sis Kasane around.” Kazuya smiled, touched by Inuko’s loyalty and battle-readiness. “Don’t you remember how she slapped him last night?”

“How could I forget?” Inuko laughed, a soft bark mixed in her voice. She wagged her tail. “Miss Hattori is amazing!”

Yukihiro, sitting beside Kasane, watched Kazuya and Inuko whispering and laughing. His lips formed a troubled smile.

“Why do I have the awful feeling that those brats are talking about me?” he whispered to Kasane.

“They probably are.” She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. “And you deserve it!” She frowned at him. “You brought them so much trouble yesterday! You’d better apologise when they come over.”

“Yes, ma’am…” Yukihiro smiled.

Kazuya and Inuko went to them and exchanged hearty greetings with Kasane, but were awkward with Yukihiro. They took seats at the same table, although Inuko squirmed in the nine-tailed fox’s presence, while Kazuya felt tense, sitting right in front of him.

“You can choose whatever you like.” Yukihiro smiled at them amicably and handed them the menu card with the QR code. “It’s my treat… as an apology for causing you problems yesterday. Especially you,” he turned to Inuko, “I should’ve never sent my foxes after you. I was worried about Hikari’s injuries and acted impulsively. I’m sorry!” He sighed and then chuckled. “I wouldn’t have complained if your grandfather, Raijū, had descended from the God Realm to chew me out.”

“Oh, you got away easily!” Inuko smirked. “You should thank Big Sis Hattori for that.” She pointed to Kasane. “If she hadn’t saved me, Grandpa Raijū and my six uncles would’ve destroyed your whole clan, and you would’ve deserved it.” She bared her fangs at Yukihiro. “Don’t underestimate us, Raijin’s dogs!”

Cheeky puppy… Yukihiro thought, a corner of his mouth rising. But he didn’t reply.

“Wait, you’re Raijū’s granddaughter?!” Kazuya gaped at Inuko. I realised she was the Thunder Beast’s kin when she used his Bark yesterday, but a granddaughter?!

“Oh, yes.” Inuko shrugged nonchalantly. “Haven’t I told you?”

“This is the first time I’m hearing it!” Kazuya laughed, scratching the back of his head. “That’s so cool, Miss Taked_ I mean Inuko.” His cheeks flushed. If I ever upset her, she’s going to pulverise me with her Lightning Magic! But somehow, I’m not at all afraid… rather excited. What’s wrong with me?

Kasane smiled at the awkward conversation between her three friends. She was happy to have Yukihiro and Kazuya at peace, and to see Kazuya dating a cute and fluffy dog girl in the form of Inuko Takeda.

Maybe, a woman’s nearness will loosen him up. Kasane thought, remembering Kazuya’s trauma over their parents’ death ten years ago. The corners of her lips lowered. She glanced at Yukihiro. Yuki’s presence has helped me overcome my share of sorrows.

Kazuya and Inuko scanned the menu from the QR code. Kazuya picked a matcha and caramel ice cream with a chocolate syrup, while Inuko chose her favourite strawberry and blueberry flavours with a strawberry syrup on top. For drinks, Kazuya picked his favourite watermelon milkshake, while Inuko, predictably, chose a strawberry one. After the orders were brought, Inuko dug into her ice cream with her ears twitching and tail wagging. Kazuya smiled at her lovely sight. He scooped up his ice cream and had a bite. His smile deepened with bliss for a moment, but then he frowned at Yukihiro.

“Don’t think this changes anything!” he said. “I still don’t approve of you as Kasane’s boyfriend.”

“Well, you needn’t.” Yukihiro shrugged, slurping some chocolate milkshake from his and Kasane’s shared glass. “I’m not her boyfriend.”

“What?” Kazuya and Inuko exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide.

They’re literally drinking from the same glass with shared straws! Kazuya raised his eyebrow. Who is he kidding?

“See? Even your brother doesn’t get it!” Yukihiro turned to Kasane with a teasing smile. “Care to explain to him?”

Kasane rolled her eyes and pushed Yukihiro off, freeing the place for herself to drink from her straw. After she had had her fill, she sighed with satisfaction and reclined on the sofa.

“We’re only friends… with benefits,” she explained to the confused Kazuya and Inuko. The corners of her lips lowered again. “We have the emotional attachment, though. I… I couldn’t accept a yakuza boyfriend.” She looked at Kazuya, her voice tinged with sorrow. “Even if I believe the Kagenashi Clan didn’t kill our parents, they’re criminals.”

Kazuya’s eyebrows rose in the inner corners. He clasped Kasane’s hand comfortingly. Inuko’s ears and tail slumped with compassion for them both. Yukihiro, on the other hand, retained his smile, but it had turned bitter.

“There you have it!” He shrugged again. He rubbed Kasane’s head, making her smile reappear. “I don’t deserve her.”

“You’ve got that right.” Kazuya glared at him. “Maybe you should also tell her that your grandfather showed up in our department this morning, with footage of Inuko and me storming your nightclub? You told me yesterday that you had lured us in. Was that the purpose – to inveigle us into attacking you and record it, then to blackmail the police?”

“What?” Kasane gasped. She glowered at Yukihiro. “Is that true?”

“Well, I already accepted your slap for it yesterday.” Yukihiro smiled at her, crossing his arms. “If I don’t occasionally remind the cops of who I am, they forget.” He turned back to Kazuya. “I chose you, Detective Hattori, because I can’t bring myself to kill you. You’re the safest bet for my hands not to slip.”

The pupils in his crimson eyes narrowed to slits. His menacing look sent goosebumps to Kazuya, Inuko, and even Kasane. But the latter quickly got a hold of herself. She clutched Yukihiro’s shoulder, making him flinch.

“Delete that footage,” she said, “right now!”

Her green eyes glimmered under her frown. Kazuya gulped, while Inuko yelped and clasped his arm, making his cheeks burn.

“Don’t fret!” Yukihiro smirked. “Detective Hattori’s friend should’ve already taken care of that.”

“Huh?” Kazuya frowned. “What do you mean?”

Just then, he got a notification on his phone. It was a message from his friend and distant cousin, Kenzō.

“I’ve deleted the video from the Kagenashi Clan’s database.” He wrote. “I’m expecting you all at my house in an hour. Cheers!”

Kazuya’s hand trembled. He looked back at Yukihiro.

“How did you know?” he asked.

“It was all a part of my plan,” Yukihiro answered. “This morning, Mr Kagurayama broke into our system, but I didn’t mind. Knowing your family ties, I figured that you’d ask him to delete the footage sooner or later, and that was my intention. I never planned to keep that recording. My grandfather’s visit to the police this afternoon was just a warning. Now, you and Miss Takeda aren’t allowed to pester my clan, are you? – At least, not for a while.” He smiled smugly. I don’t want Kasane’s brother involved in what I’ve planned for the prime minister. He thought. Out loud, however, he only added, “Your chief will also think twice before messing with us.”

Kazuya and Inuko gaped at Yukihiro. Just how far ahead could he think?! He and his clan had tricked not only them but also the entire Paranormal Department. Now, even if Kazuya told Chief Shinemori that the whole video recording had been a ruse, the Chief would call for caution, realising how crafty the Kagenashi Clan were. Either way, Yukihiro came out the winner… or so they thought until Kasane’s menacing voice echoed.

“That’s it!” She crossed her arms. “You’re sleeping alone tonight.”

“What?!” Yukihiro exclaimed. He whirled around and grabbed Kasane’s shoulders. “Kasane, you can’t do that to me! You promised_”

“It’s final!” Kasane cut him short, pushing his hands away. “You’ll have me again when you behave.”

She turned away from him, pouting. Yukihiro begged her to reconsider, purring like a hurt fox, while Kazuya and Inuko broke into laughter. Despite all his bravado, Yukihiro Kagenashi had a considerable weakness – his love for Kasane.