Backstory

“We suspect Kazakiri Kuuga… the late head of the Kazakiri clan… of trying to form the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.”

It took me a while to process that.

“Ha ha. Very funny.”

“You don’t understand, do you?” Fumi stopped using polite words. “Somebody is trying to form a large youkai gathering, and if that person is your mother, she could be as powerful as some of the existing clans, yet we have no data on what she is or what she can do. She could shake the supernatural world and affect the human world. This is a serious matter.”

“You’re saying that my mother is a youkai. Are you trying to mock her?”

“You are right.” A voice rang from behind. It was Kaname-san. “Who are you? Why are you being so rude to my step-son?”

I felt relieved that she called me a step-son, not a son.

“You’re… Senior Investigator Yakou Kaname…?!” Fumi bowed. “My deepest apologies! I am Investigator Kawaguchi Fumi!”

Hearing that, I rushed to Fumi’s side and pointed a finger at Kaname-san.

“Wait…you’re involved in all this? Who are you?!”

“Well, well. It seems I am exposed, Daiya-san.”

“This little lady deserves some praise for sabotaging her senior’s work.”

“You are quite right. And also for getting civilians involved in PUPA’s business.”

Fumi went pale. I was no different.

“Dad…? What is the meaning of this?”

He’s involved as well?! Are you kidding? Everybody’s been plotting this behind my back all this time?!

So, Akame really is a filth-licking youkai, and Kawaguchi Fumi really is a futakuchi-onna!

Why am I the only one kept in the dark?

“Yuu-chan, I’m sorry for hiding this from you. I had no choice. I wanted to know how much PUPA knew.”

“What do you even mean by that? I don’t understand! Are you saying that mom is a youkai planning on forming that night parade thing? And is Kaname-san really an Akaname? So her tongue…”

“Why don’t all of you come inside? It seems you will have a long conversation.” Hyakuya Lain appeared, Izayoi standing beside him. “I need to apologize about what happened with Akame-chan as well. And, I have something I need to talk to Kawaguchi-san about.”

///

Tsutomu sat in a corner, hugging himself, while Izayoi sat next to Hyakuya-san, her face tomato-red. Yeah, he looks like an angel. No wonder she wanted to sit next to him. Wait, no, now was not the time to think about useless things.

“Are you not calling Akame?” Dad asked.

“I will talk to her later in private. She is not good with a crowd.” Kaname-san said, and turned to Fumi. “Investigator Kawaguchi, should we start with your story, or should I start?”

“Umm…” Fumi was at a loss for words in front of her superior.

“If you don’t mind, may I start? It is a short story, and when I am done, these two will be able to leave.” Hyakuya-san said.

“Let’s do that. Our side of the story has much to do with our family matters, so these kids may not be interested in listening.” Dad nodded. “Kawaguchi-san, do you have someone to escort these two home?”

“Yes, in fact, they can escort them back right now. We are sure they are not personally involved with the bathhouse, so it is not necessary for them to stay.”

A man in gray carried Tsutomu away, but Izayoi refused to leave.

“If it’s not too much of a bother, I would like to stay. I’m sure Tsutomu wants to know about his best friend’s situation as well, but he’s not in the best shape to do so.”

Right, he needed time to process. I needed that time as well. I admired Izayoi for keeping a straight face throughout all this.

Hyakuya Lain cleared his throat.

“Kawaguchi-san, you suspect me of holding youkai gatherings to start my own Hyakki Yakou, a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. But…” Just from speaking, his beauty almost blinded me. “I have to deny that hypothesis. I simply cannot and am not able to lead such a proceeding. I am no Nurarihyon.”

I didn’t know if he was alluding to that famous manga, but anyway.

“I inherited this bathhouse from my human father. I have no intention of turning it into a gathering place for youkai.”

“Umm…then why name it Ningyo no Hone?” I asked. Mermaid’s Bones sounds like it could be the name of a youkai bathhouse.

“Personal preferences.” He replied. Alright. I need to change my perception of him. I hope he did not have any mermaid bones in the baths.

“So, Hyakuya-san…you’re also a youkai?” Izayoi asked. Oh, right. Why was I not surprised?

He opened his clouded eyes. He had a hint of mischief in his expression.

“I am not a youkai in the traditional sense. Maybe, you could call me a demon or a mythical creature.”

“Hyakuya-san, please don’t scare them anymore than I already did.” Fumi sighed.

“Alright. My mother’s family are descendants of a race of mythical beings that can predict the future.”

“Oh? What number is the next lottery?” Dad asked.

“It’s a shame, but I do not possess the powers to see the future at will. It’s believed that my ancestors carried the burden of knowledge of all past, present, and future, so some of them decided to leave and mingled among mankind instead. That meant renouncing their status as mythical beings, therefore, their powers have been reduced to simply seeing visions.”

Hyakuya-san rolled up the sleeve of his yukata. Feathers slowly grew from the skin on his arm, forming a wing.

“As their descendant, I have inherited the ability to see visions, though not at will.”