Mob Yandere

[Part 4/4]

(And besides, I'm sleepy.)

Matsuhige’s daughter rubbed her eyes. The hummingbird, mirroring her actions, also rubbed its eyes in a charming way. Recently, she had been transitioning more and more to a nocturnal lifestyle, finding it hard to wake up in the morning and afternoon. This was likely due to the effects of becoming a youkai.

'It does itch at night. Well, it’s impressive to be 'flying' non-stop for three hours. With that much activity, it’s no wonder I'm tired and sleepy during the day.'

'Hmm? Why is it "tobu" (to fly) instead of "tobu" (to leap)?'

She wish she (the oni) would stop saying things that could be misunderstood. It's just a way to release the aggressive impulses from becoming a youkai and to train my physical abilities. There's nothing shameful about it. She only mess around for about 2 hours a day.

...Stop it. Don't point out the unpleasant reality. Because of consuming a lot of that man's bodily fluids in the Tengu village, she has been aching for a while now. She is actually holding back quite a bit. Get it?

'Damn. At this rate, I almost wish I had my old body back... huh... wait, huh!?'

She wasn't joking; she was seriously starting to regret it. But the hummingbird stumbled over the words it was weaving. She was suddenly shocked and dumbfounded by a scene that accidentally caught her eye.

It was something that was supposed to be here originally, or rather, something that shouldn’t be alone...

'Oh my, quite a robust brat, isn't it...'

'Excuse me...!!'

Leaving behind the nonchalant Oni, the hummingbird took off and hurried to the side of the presence that had arrived in front of the orphanage. It landed.

'You... how did you get here?'

'(*>∇<)|ﾉ PAPA, I CAME TO ASK FOR HELP!! IT'S THE LITTLE SISTER!'

In response to the hummingbird's question, the white spider god answered with an incredibly carefree thought wave. Dancing with an unconcerned, cheerful manner, it encouraged reflection. In its hand, a nail that was trying to escape from the spider was bent back.

"Σ(・∀・)ﾉ Ah! (｡-ω-) This Iron-cutting sword is mine, okay? ( ･`з･ )ﾉ I’m not giving it to you!"

'...No, I don’t need it?'

Well, anyway. It was an incredibly, incredibly relaxed behavior and dialogue that would make anyone who heard it feel utterly deflated....

* * *

Clatter, clatter. Clatter, clatter. The maid was simmering a small pot. Instead of using city-style shiitake mushrooms or kombu kelp for a rich dashi, she seasoned it with soy sauce, salt, and the ingredients themselves.

With bamboo shoots, fresh lotus root, and broad beans... Summer daikon radish was particularly strong in flavor and hard, so it needed to be simmered well.

"Was it like this?"

Confirming that no more scum was rising to the surface, she removed the pot from the stove. She would now let it cool slowly in the shade, waiting for the flavors to meld. Once it had cooled to a certain extent, she planned to immerse the pot in well water to prevent spoilage.

"...Iruka, is it? I should tell you, don’t sneak bites, alright?"

"Did you notice? Or rather, you don’t trust me. Hey."

The maid from Hotoya, who had sensed the presence a while ago, turned around and pointed it out. The wolf girl shrugged, exasperated by her friend’s attitude.

"I'm just saying, it's because you're a gluttonous drinker. You might just help yourself to some cheap booze and snacks."

If anything, she actually did that back in the hometown. There were many times when she thought the dinner dishes had disappeared, only to find out it was eaten by her while gambling and drinking with the bodyguards. The master and the young lady let it slide, but normally, that would be punishable.

"I know when to be careful about the time, place, and who I'm with. ...But this stew is pretty bland, isn't it? Is it country-style or more like a poor village style?"

Defending herself, even if she was reckless or foolish, she peeked into the nabe pot from the side. There were no fish cakes, no meat, and no konjac or fried tofu──just a really simple stew. It looked like something thrown together from whatever was available in a poor, remote village...

"Doesn't seem like this is today's meal, huh?"

"It's something I cooked for myself. Don't touch it, okay?"

Her response was calm but came with a cold attitude as she placed the lid on the pot.

"Are you going out?"

"You heard it from the young lady? ...Yeah, so what?"

"Since you're going out, you should just eat outside."

"That would be a waste, wouldn't it?"

Her reply had a hint of disdain towards my words. Many commoners in the city, like Iruka, say they don't carry money over to the next day. If you just need to eat for the day, there are plenty of day labor jobs in the city. Considering the prices of restaurants, they aren't really that high when you think about the city's cost of living and income levels. In a way, it's said to be cheaper than in the countryside.

...But for Suzune, who was always focused on saving and sending money home, it was a way of thinking she couldn't understand. It was a difference in values between the rich Center region and the remote areas lacking the benefits of the Spiritual Vein.

"You're so stingy."

"Being stingy is just fine. ...Please don't eat it, okay?"

Suzune, frowning at her friend's words, was about to leave when she suddenly remembered to put a seal on Nabe. She gave it a double warning, just to be safe. It wasn't that this wolf girl lacked common sense, but when it came to alcohol, food, and gambling, she found it hard to trust her.

"I get it, I get it. I won't eat it."

"I want to trust you."

Past sins don't disappear, and trust can vanish in an instant. She continued to be wary of the girl who was supposed to be her friend. Of course, Suzune wasn't idle either. After a while, she decided to give up. Just to be safe, she left a note for the other maids and laborers, warning them not to touch Nabe, and then she left the kitchen.

"...I wasn't talking about you being stingy."

After Suzune's back disappeared, Iruka muttered. It was a genuinely worried comment.

"Iruka..."

"She's not like a good guy who would give away a valuable gift for free. Did she search for a cheap hairpin as a gift? It's a cheap thing."

Iruka's sharp words were directed at her friend, the young lady, who had appeared from the shadows.

She had been feeling uneasy about the Suzune's behavior from the start. With a consultation from Tamaki, she had been observing new hairpins in the city, and the one she found was a cheap item. Iruka was disappointed that a hairpin, which could be used as a wedding gift, was so obviously low-quality.

"Come on! Is the guy going to make her stay over? But he's not even going to splurge a bit? I mean she is not going to let me use the kitchen either? It's so stingy, it's ridiculous!"

Iruka's harsh words showed no mercy. A man with some decency should at least treat woman to a meal while trying to woo her. If he's going to marry her, he should at least let her use his kitchen not this kitchen. Is his mother-in-law a pain? Either way, it's just too ridiculous.

"Iruka... do you think Suzune might..."

"I'm pretty sure she got caught by a bad guy. City guys are ruthless. They really know how to trap innocent country girls."

"Really...!?"

Tamaki turned pale, while Iruka rubbed her chin, deep in thought.

"By the way, her... you know, 'membrane', is still okay, right?"

"Eh!? W-Well, maybe?"

She recalled the nights she stayed out late and thought about how she never came home looking disheveled or shaken. It's fine. No problem. Her friend is still pure. ...Maybe.

It felt like the conversation was getting a bit too risqué. Two girls can be quite noisy.

"Thinking about what I didn't notice until now..."

"Iruka... Suzune. Suzune, no way...!?"

Tamaki's face turned into a tragic cry at Iruka's comment that shattered her optimistic hopes. The wolf girl tried to calm her down.

"Calm down, calm down. Well, it's her we're talking about. She can't be that easy. No, hse is easy, but..."

Out of the 3, she's definitely the easiest. If Iruka got serious, she could probably carry her on her back and run. She wouldn't care at all if she caused a scene. But that's not the point, right? Well, it is.

"I don't know who the guy is, but if he can write letters, he can't be a complete fool."

It wasn't written on cheap paper either. He must have some financial sense. He should have a job and education. If not, that's a different story.

"The real issue is his character. ...When the time comes, I might have to punch him and threaten him to make him a good husband."

She doesn't want to deny her friend's love or feelings. She wants her to be with the one she loves. But she also doesn't want her to be unhappy. So, she thinks the guy should draw the short straw. For Iruka, what's important is her friend's happiness. She doesn't care about her friend's husband's happiness. If he can't make her friend happy, she has no hesitation in doing whatever it takes to make it happen. Her friend's brother would probably agree with her.

...Of course, there are positions to consider. For her friend's sake, Iruka wouldn't mind stepping in to take a hit since she has nothing to lose.

"But... how can we do that?"

"That's easy. ...Tamaki, you know how to use the Concealment Technique, right?"

Tamaki asked anxiously about her friend's future. In response, Iruka grinned with a mischievous smile, like a beast or a youkai, confirming her knowledge.

It was indeed a simple and clear plan...

Fan art:

- The white fox pretending to be a little sister: Here