“What about this kitty?”
“I can’t pull the straw out, but I can tie its end so your precious chi won’t be extracted. I’ve asked a practitioner who specializes in exorcism-type spiritual disturbances to handle it.”
“You’re going to…tie its end?!”
“That’s right. Even if we can’t undo the curse itself, it’s possible to counter it with our own curse as a symptomatic treatment. That’s one way for us to fight.”
“I see.”
“I asked for a curse to be put on something a child could easily wear. The practitioner has a roommate who is a very good artist, and they prepared this work for us.”
“…Then it’s a one-of-a-kind item.”
“That’s right. It’s a cute brooch, and it should be very effective. It should prevent Kagiroi from stealing your chi.”
“So this kitty is going to protect me?”
“Yes, sir. Always keep it on your person and wear it when you sleep in your pajamas.”
“Okay. I’ll do that,” Masamichi said with a serious expression and bowed. “Thank you. I was shocked to hear…that Kagiroi was continuing to steal my chi, and my head was spinning, but I’m a bit relieved now.”
“I’m glad to hear that. So…Mr. Adachi?”
“Yes?”
“I know you must be worried and uncomfortable, but I will do everything I can to help you. Take things easy and relax, so when we find a way to undo the spell, you’ll be in good health to deal with it.”
Although Masamichi had only just met him, this man named Hayakawa seemed to have a mysterious aura about him that put people at ease.
He’s right. I have to get myself back in shape.
He knew the man could be trusted to a certain extent because Shino had brought him to Bougyoudou, but Masamichi had already sensed his sincerity.
“Got it. Thank you.”
“No problem. That brooch suits you. I’ll tell the person who made it.”
With those words and an affable smile, Hayakawa left the shop.
Shino went out with him, while Masamichi, now comfortably dressed, opened the paper bag that his master had instructed him to put away.
He’d had a hunch that it might contain kids’ clothing. He was right.
Hayakawa had said that Shino had chosen all the items.
There were spare shirts, shorts, a duffle coat in a color and design that looked exactly like the one that Masamichi wore in his adult body, socks, shoes, and a knit hat.
Everything was adorable, and they all came from brands that even Masamichi, who wasn’t into fashion, recognized.
Oh, gee. Here I am, dying to break this spell and get back to being an adult again, but everything he got is so wonderful that I want to try them on.
He unfolded each item, spread it out, and examined it, then folded it up again and smiled.
In no way did he want to remain a child.
He wanted the curse undone as soon as possible and to get back into his old body. Then he’d make an even greater effort than he had before to look for things that he could do so he could be useful to Shino.
But that aside, his smile deepened as he recalled the morning and the day before when he was washing his face and brushing his teeth. The washbasin was too high for him, and he hadn’t been able to find anything to use as a step, so Shino had reluctantly lifted him.
Shino had held his thin waist securely in his large hands and said, looking exasperated, that he was too light, like some snack food. A mix of amusement and affection welled up inside him.
That kind of interaction wouldn’t have happened if Masamichi hadn’t turned into a child. He was aware that he was happy that Shino had given him a lift.
I really have become attached to Shino. I don’t know if it’s what people call love, but he’s very important to me, we’re very close, and…I really love him.
Clatter!
It was Shino returning home. Masamichi quickly put his new clothes back in the paper bag and stood up.
“Welcome back, Shino.”
“Is the cat working?” As usual, there was no hello, and he got right to the point. Masamichi was more envious than ever of Shino’s long legs, which let him jump over the gaps in the steps with ease.
“I never realized that Kagiroi was continuing to steal my chi, but my body does feel a little lighter since Mr. Hayakawa put this black cat brooch on me. It’s easier to move around.”
“Yeah?” Shino responded, removed his jacket, and carelessly tossed it on the tatami mat. Normally, Masamichi would have taken it from Shino, put it on a hanger, and hung it on the doorframe. But in his current state, he couldn’t even grab a hanger off the doorframe and had no choice but to spread the jacket out neatly on the mat.
“Um, Shino?”
“What?”
Masamichi bowed his head apologetically to his master, who was drinking his now-cold tea.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea about the organization Mr. Hayakawa belongs to.”
“Of course not. I never told you about it.”
“But, Shino, you’d been turning down their offer to join their organization, and yet you accepted for me… You, um, agreed to do work you don’t want to do, didn’t you?”
“Don’t get full of yourself, human,” he spat, then added, “There can’t be that many jobs that one actually wants to do. Since becoming Tokifuyu’s apparition, I’d been forced to do an array of things I didn’t feel like doing. There aren’t many tasks here in this shop that I find amusing, either.”
“…That’s the truth of being a working adult. It touches me in a different way when a specter like you says it.”