Chapter 133: Know What You Are
Akira stared at the mysterious text long after the screen dimmed, the blue light haunting his vision in the dark room.
"I know what you are."
Those five words carried enough weight to crush the fragile peace he had built. Was it the hunters Ayaka mentioned? Or someone else entirely? He turned around to look at the bed where Rina was now sleeping soundly. Her skin looked warm, and all the frost had disappeared.
The memory of touching her: the soft weight of her breasts, her wet, smooth petal folds, his hands all over her naked body as he drew out the demonic taint was still fresh, but the looming threat of the text overshadowed it.
"Darling, this could be a trap," Ai’s voice whispered in his mind. "Or an opportunity. Either way, you’ll need to be prepared."
"Yeah," he muttered, setting the phone down. "I know."
And Ai had warned him that the Mind Wipe was broken entirely now. Within days, maybe hours, she’d start remembering everything.
"That’s a problem for tomorrow," he thought, rubbing his eyes. "Right now, I need sleep."
He stretched out in the desk chair, too tired to care about comfort, and let exhaustion take him.
—
Morning came too fast. Akira woke to sunlight streaming through the window, and Rina was already gone from his bed. The blanket was neatly folded, and a small note sat on his pillow:
"Thanks for letting me crash. Feeling way better! - R"
No mention of anything weird. Good. Maybe she really didn’t remember.
After bathing and putting on his school uniform, he stepped out of the apartment building to head to school. He was halfway to the gate when a familiar, mature voice called out.
"Akira-kun?"
He turned to see Mei-san.
She was dressed in a floral dress, her eyes lingering on him with a depth of longing that made his skin tingle. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I waited for you last night. You said you might stop by to... discuss more building matters."
Akira blinked, remembering his promise to her after the bath. "I’m sorry, Mei-san. I completely forgot we had an appointment. Things got a bit... complicated at home."
Mei’s expression softened into a pout, her hand reaching out as if to touch his arm. "I was really looking forward to..."
She cut herself off abruptly as a tenant shuffled past them, nodding a polite morning greeting.
Mei immediately straightened her posture, shifting into her "professional landlord" persona. "...discussing the new recycling bins! Yes, we can talk about the schedule later this week, Kanzaki-kun."
"Of course," Akira played along, nodding back. "Have a good day."
Ai’s teasing voice chimed in. "My, my. Keeping a hungry woman waiting is dangerous business, darling."
Before Akira could answer, he felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Ayaka, dressed in her school uniform, silver hair catching the morning light. She glanced between them with raised eyebrows.
"Good morning, Akira-kun, Mei-san," she said smoothly.
"Good morning, Ayaka-chan," Mei replied quickly, her voice higher than normal. She turned back to Akira, forcing a smile.
"Have a good day at school." Mei hurried past them, disappearing back inside.
Ayaka waited until she was gone, then smirked. "Interesting. What was that really about?"
"Nothing," Akira said. "Just landlady stuff."
"Sure it was." She started walking toward the stairs. "Come on. We’ll be late."
They walked to school together in silence, Ayaka occasionally glancing at him but saying nothing. Akira’s mind kept drifting back to that text message. Midnight. The shrine. Come alone.
"You’re distracted, darling," Ai purred in his thoughts. "Focus. Today’s going to be interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"You’ll see. Just keep your Essence Cloak active and your Lust Scan ready. Something’s coming."
Before he could ask more, they reached the school gates. Students were already flooding in, and Akira immediately felt eyes on him. The new haircut and clothes were still drawing attention.
"Kanzaki looks so different," someone whispered.
"Did he get taller?"
"Maybe he’s been working out?"
Akira ignored them, heading straight to class. Mia was already at her desk, and she brightened when she saw him.
"Akira-kun! Good morning!" She patted the empty seat next to her. "Sit here."
He sat, and she immediately leaned close, her hand sliding onto his thigh under the desk. "Sleep well?"
"Well enough."
"Good." Her fingers squeezed. "Because I have plans for you after school. No excuses this time."
Before he could respond, the classroom door slid open. Their homeroom teacher, Satomi-sensei, walked in carrying a stack of papers.
"Good morning, everyone. Settle down."
The class quieted immediately.
Satomi-sensei set his papers on the desk and looked up with a small smile. "Before we start today’s lesson, we have a new transfer student joining us. Please come in."
The door opened again, and a girl stepped through, making the entire classroom go silent.
She was beautiful in a way that felt cold and untouchable. Her long black hair fell straight down past her shoulders, framing a face with sharp features and pale skin.
She wore a spotless uniform: a white blouse buttoned up to the collar, a perfectly pressed skirt, and a small silver pendant hanging around her neck.
But it was her dark, intense and calculating eyes that caught Akira’s attention. They swept across the room like a predator assessing prey.
"Please introduce yourself, Shinomiya-san," Satomi-sensei prompted.
The girl bowed politely. "I’m Ayame Shinomiya. My family moved here for business. I look forward to learning with you all."
Her voice was calm and controlled.
But when her gaze swept past Akira, it paused, just a fraction too long. Something flickered in those dark eyes... recognition? Suspicion?
Akira felt his system activate automatically.
[LUST SCAN (LVL 1) - AUTO ACTIVATED]
[TARGET: AYAME SHINOMIYA]
[WARNING: HOLY ENERGY DETECTED]
[ESSENCE TYPE: EXORCIST/PURIFIER]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
His blood ran cold. An exorcist? Here? In his class?
"Darling," Ai’s voice was urgent. "Keep calm. Your Essence Cloak should hide your signature, but she’s clearly hunting. Don’t give her a reason to suspect you."
"Shinomiya-san, you can take the empty seat behind Kanzaki," Satomi-sensei said, pointing.
Right behind him. Perfect.
Ayame walked down the aisle, her shoes making a soft clicking sound on the floor. As she passed him, Akira caught a light scent in the air... something like incense mixed with ozone, almost like the air after a lightning storm.
She sat down, and immediately he felt her presence like a weight pressing on his back.
The lesson started, but Akira couldn’t focus. Every nerve in his body was screaming awareness of the girl sitting behind him. He could feel her eyes on him, studying, analysing.
Halfway through the lesson, she leaned forward. "You smell different," she whispered.
Akira tensed but didn’t turn around. "Excuse me?"
"Your cologne. It’s unusual. What brand?"
"I don’t wear cologne."
There was a pause. "Interesting."
She sat back, but Akira knew this was just the beginning. She was testing him. Probing for weaknesses.
"Stay calm," Ai reminded him. "She can’t prove anything yet."
The rest of the morning dragged on. By lunch, Akira needed air. He grabbed his bento and headed to the roof, hoping for some peace.
Mia followed him up immediately. "Finally! I thought that class would never end." She plopped down next to him, opening her own lunch. "So, about tonight..."
"Sorry to interrupt."
They both looked up to see Ayame, standing at the roof entrance; her expression was neutral, but her eyes looked sharp.
"Akira-kun, right?" she said, walking toward them. "Could you show me where the library is? I’m still learning the school layout."
Mia’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "He’s busy. Ask someone else."
Ayame smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I asked him specifically. Unless he’s too busy?" The challenge in her tone was clear.
Akira felt the tension crackling between them. This was a test. Refuse, and Ayame would know something was wrong. Accept, and Mia would be furious.
He stood, making his choice. "It’s fine. Five minutes." He looked at Mia. "I’ll be right back."
Mia’s glare could have melted steel. "You better be."
The hallway was empty as they walked. Ayame moved with purpose, her hands folded behind her back.
"You’re popular suddenly," she said conversationally. "I heard stories about the ’Creep King’ before transferring. Doesn’t match what I see."
"People change."
"Or people hide what they really are."
She stopped walking, turning to face him directly. Her hand went to her skirt pocket.
"I’m clumsy sometimes," she said, pulling out a small paper talisman covered in intricate kanji. "Could you hold this for me while I tie my shoe?"
She extended the talisman toward him.
Akira recognized it instantly. A holy object. Purification charm. The kind that would burn a demon on contact, or at minimum make someone corrupted by demonic essence flinch.
This was the real test.
Akira recognized it instantly. A holy object. Purification charm. The kind that would burn a demon on contact, or at minimum make someone corrupted by demonic essence flinch.
This was the real test.