CHAPTER XLVI
~Trapped by God~
Yuzuki smiled, pain threading through the gesture.
“But you know what I desire most of all?” Yuzuki asked quietly, smiling through her tears, the expression bright and raw all at once.
Mofumi looked up, his feline eyes wide with concern.
“It’s to live a secure life, alongside fulfilling my grandmother’s wish… And to do that, I need to keep studying.” Her smile deepened, soft but determined; she closed her eyes and tilted her head with a small, purposeful gesture, as if reassuring herself this was her true wish.
Mofumi tried to speak, but for a moment, no words came—only a faint, tender look of understanding.
Yuzuki continued, her voice gaining a spark of resolve, “From what I gather, dealing with Hisame probably won’t happen until midnight or later. So, would you come with me to the classroom in the Left Wing? I want to use this time to study for next week’s exams!”
Mofumi’s face brightened into a gentle, approving smile. “As you wish, Yuzuki,” he replied, his voice warm and respectful.
Satisfied, Yuzuki nodded once and the two began walking back inside the school, footsteps echoing softly against the dim hall.
Though the rain’s eased up for now, I can’t go home just yet. I have to see this through with them—resolve the matter with Hisame and his twin, Yuzuki thought, her resolve settling quietly inside her chest. So… I’ll just study in the meantime.
As she finished that thought, the world outside gave a low, thunderous growl and the skies opened once more, rain beating hard and sudden against the windows, drenching the night in silvery sheets.
What luck, Yuzuki sighed internally, glancing sidelong at Mofumi as she started up the staircase with him by her side.
Why do I keep feeling like these downpours always fall on nights the school needs to be shut off from the outside—almost like the world’s forcing me to be here, letting “God” do his work? It’s too convenient. If this rain was in the forecasts, there’d be warnings, closures—the halls would be empty. And yet… here I am, she mused, the uneasy feeling prickling beneath her skin. This is all so off. I’m certain—God wants me trapped here tonight, to handle whatever happens with Hisame. It’s intentional. It has to be.
She pressed onward, rain roaring outside and tension building with every step upward—caught between the ordinary struggles of student life and the inescapable threads of the supernatural that had already shaped her fate.
Inside the cozy Mikazuki kitchen, the atmosphere was thick with tension and the sharp aroma of freshly set dinner. Hana pushed a hot dish to the center of the table and shot Maya a flat look.
“MAYA! Enoughalready!” Hanashouted, slapping apair of chopsticks on thetable. “You’re gonnaignite the airwith your worrying, and we’d haveto eat our dinnerby candlelight.”
“WHAT ENOUGH?” Maya snapped back, sitting down but not letting go of her phone. “Miss is at school during a rain like this? How can I be calm? I swear, I’m about to run down to that school myself and drag her home—”
Hana rolled her eyes, nonchalant to the point of absurdity. “Bruh. Calm down. No cabs are running tonight; if she wants to come home, it’s on her. What is she, Cinderella? She’ll have to tough it out. That’s life! End of story.”
Maya gaped at her, her worry boiling over. “What if madam finds out? Do you have any idea how bad it’ll be? We’ll both get fired—no, worse, she’ll make sure our lives are miserable forever. We’ll lose our jobs, our pay—for what? This house, everyone wants to work here! The pay, the perks—Hana, this job means everything to people like us! We can’t afford to screw this up!”
Hana waved a hand dismissively as she pulled out a chair. “Chill! I’m sure the school has some emergency plan. No one expects kids to wade home in a monsoon. She’s probably safe, camping out with her friends, eating cup noodles. I bet they’re loving it!”
Maya clutched her phone, her nerves raw. “I’ve been calling the school, her homeroom teacher, the principal—everyone! Not a single answer! How can you be so—”
“MAYA!” Hana cut her off, voice rising above the storm pounding against the windows. “It’s raining like hell. You know how bad connections get in weather like this? It’s a miracle you aren’t electrocuted just holding that phone!”
As if on cue, Maya’s phone blared a loud warning sound—an emergency alert strobed across the screen in bold red kanji. Hana’s eyes widened as she hurried to Maya’s side. Together, they stared at the message:
⚠️ URGENT TYPHOON WARNING – TAKAYAMA REGION ⚠️
A severe typhoon is forecasted to make landfall in Takayama starting TONIGHT, bringing relentless heavy rainfall, violent winds, and dangerous flooding conditions. This extreme weather event is expected to persist through the day after tomorrow.
IMPORTANT:
All schools in the Takayama area are CLOSED immediately and will remain so until further notice. All flights originating from or destined to Takayama are CANCELLED until the storm passes, to ensure public safety.
Residents are STRONGLY URGED to:
Stay indoors and avoid all non-essential travel.
Secure your homes and prepare for potential power outages and flooding.
Monitor local emergency broadcasts for updates and evacuation instructions.
Follow all official guidance and prioritize personal safety.
This typhoon poses a serious threat to life and property. Please take ALL necessary precautions. Your safety is paramount.
Stay safe and informed.
For a moment, Maya’s face went paper white, her heart plummeting.
Then, Hana abruptly burst into roaring laughter, clapping Maya on the back. “WHAT AMAZING LUCK! You wanted rain? You got a whole typhoon! Even the universe wants our girl to pull a sleepover at school, huh?”
Maya could only stare at the black screen, while outside, the storm’s howl grew louder—sealing the truth that neither of them would see Yuzuki home tonight.
Mofumi was curled up, peacefully asleep on the two joint tables in the Left Wing’s classroom where Yuzuki had joined him. The quiet pitter-patter of rain outside created a calming atmosphere, allowing Yuzuki to focus deeply on her studies. Her concentration seemed to intensify as the night buzzed softly around her and her progress steadily advanced.
Suddenly, her phone, placed on the corner of the tables near her books, began ringing loudly. The name flashing on the screen made her eyes light up with joy — it was Kazuki-niii, her older sister. They hadn’t been able to talk properly for days due to Kazuki’s hectic schedule, so this call felt like a rare and welcome connection.
As Yuzuki answered, Kazuki’s voice immediately launched into a nonstop flow of urgent advice and caring instructions about safety during the typhoon. She began lecturing energetically, her words spilling out rapidly:
Kazuki immediately launched into a rapid-fire, eight-minute-long lecture, her voice full of urgency and care as she rattled off all the essentials for weathering the storm safely:
"Yuzuki, listen to me closely, okay? With this typhoon hitting Takayama so hard, the first priority is your safety. First, make sure you stay indoors no matter what; don’t try to brave that heavy rain or strong winds outside. It’s super important you keep away from windows—they can shatter or get damaged, and flying glass is dangerous, okay? If you have shutters, keep them closed tight. Secure anything outside that could blow away—trash cans, bicycles, plants—just get it all inside or tie it down firmly. And please, check for flooding spots near you; avoid rivers or low-lying areas because flash floods can hit hard and fast.
Your phone battery has to stay charged too—keep a portable charger handy, just in case the power goes out. Have some emergency food and water stocked so you don’t get hungry or thirsty if you lose electricity. Also, keep a flashlight and fresh batteries within reach—no candles, since they’re a fire hazard during storms.
Make sure you listen to all weather updates and evacuation advice on TV or radio. If authorities tell you to evacuate, don’t hesitate—go early and follow the safest route, not shortcuts through risky places. If you can, avoid driving because roads can flood or get blocked by debris, and traffic lights might go out. And be careful of fallen trees or power lines—they’re super dangerous and can cause electric shocks.
Oh, and eat properly, even if you feel nervous or scared. Your body needs energy to stay strong. Try to keep warm and dry; don’t get caught in wet clothes for too long. Keep communication open with friends and family—let them know you’re safe but don’t overdo it with calls if the network’s jammed.
Basically, don’t take any risks. The storm’s nasty, and you’re precious to all of us. Stay safe, stay smart, and remember, we love you. Call me if you need anything, okay? No silly bravado.”
Her breath finally caught as she paused.
Yuzuki, hearing the long, serious warning, muttered, “Done yet?”
Kazuki quickly replied, “Hell no! You should be grateful this call is even making it through this weather. I’m not done one bit, I have tons of more things to say—don’t you dare zone out.”
Just then, a sudden thunderclap roared through the night, punctuating Kazuki’s speech, and an instant later, the call abruptly disconnected with a sharp ‘beep beep’ on Yuzuki’s phone.
Across the city, Kazuki’s phone blinked the same ‘beep beep.’ She called out anxiously, “Yuzuki?” and tried dialing again, but the connection failed with a sigh of frustration.
Yuzuki glanced at the window, the rain’s rhythm softening for a moment through the downpour. She sighed internally, thinking wryly, What a tragedy. Though, honestly, I’m kinda thankful to this weather—saving me from another round of Kazuki’s lectures.
And when Yuzuki looked back at her phone, the time glowed softly: 11:38 PM. A bittersweet smile touched her lips, though sadness shimmered quietly in her eyes. This is the time when mother would bring me milk or something after dinner… and we’d have our mother-daughter talk… she thought wistfully, the heaviness of absence lingering.
A small sigh escaped her as she reflected, Oh! That means I’ve been studying for five hours, huh? I’m glad I’ve made some progress. Her gaze settled on the peacefully sleeping Mofumi curled on the table, a faint warmth kindling her heart.
Just then, the sliding door of the classroom creaked open gently, and in shuffled the Korobokkurus, carrying trays laden with food.
“PURRRRR~” Mofumi stirred, purring softly as the tiny creatures placed the dishes carefully on Yuzuki’s table.
Startled at first, Yuzuki’s mind then raced — Does this mean Rin is here too?
Mofumi stirred, eyes half-lidded as he murmured without opening them fully, “I figured you might not have eaten well with the others at the library since it wasn’t your usual dinner time. So, I asked Okitsune to prepare something special.” He yawned softly, settling back down. “I’m not hungry. You should eat it all,” he added gently before drifting back to sleep, the Korobokkurus quietly closing the door behind them.
Her stomach growled audibly, mouth watering at the sight of the spread before her—an array of delicious Japanese dishes artfully arranged: steaming bowls of miso soup rich with wakame and tofu, perfectly grilled salmon glazed with teriyaki sheen, a vibrant plate of assorted sushi topped with fresh slices of tuna and salmon, delicate tempura shrimp crisped to golden perfection, a bowl of fragrant steamed rice sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds, and side dishes of pickled daikon and simmered vegetables glazed with a lingering soy sweetness.
Yuzuki’s gratitude softened her expression as she looked down at Mofumi and murmured, , “Thank you, Mofumi. Truly… this means a lot to me.” Then, without hesitation, she dug in, savoring each bite with quiet appreciation.
Between mouthfuls, curiosity sparked, and she asked, “How did you know I hadn’t eaten well with the others earlier? It’s uncanny…”
Mofumi opened one eye leisurely, as if weighing whether to answer, then finally replied with a calm, measured tone, “I can sense certain things.”
Yuzuki smiled softly and continued, “My grandmother used to say that certain ‘Kami no Shisha’ (神の使者) — God’s Messengers — communicate with God during their sleep. Is that true?”
A thoughtful “Hmm” escaped Mofumi, as if weighing the answer carefully. “Not all the time,” he replied. ”But at times, when the veil between worlds thins.”
“I see,” Yuzuki whispered, returning to her meal, thoughts weaving softly around the words.
After a while, she spoke again, her voice gentle yet probing, “That memory you gave me… it’s called a ‘blessing,’ right? You ‘tsukai-jū’ (使い獣) — literally a divine familiar or messenger beast — have powers to give blessings and curses based upon—”
“Those who pledge loyalty to me,” Mofumi interrupted firmly.
“Aha! I see…” Yuzuki murmured, words trailing as if diving into deeper understanding, the pieces falling slowly into place.
After a reflective pause, her gaze fixed with determination as she finally said, “If that’s the case... then when it comes to Hisame…I think…”
The classroom door slid open slowly, and Rin towered in the doorway, eyes fixed on his broken Kendama cradled in one hand. Without even glancing up, he groaned, “Yo, Mofumi, my Kendama’s totally wrecked. Like, how am I supposed to flex now? What’s the move, fam?”
Mofumi lazily cracked one eye open and shot back sharply, “Bruh, maybe next time fix your own mess instead of going full tornado mode. Can’t always be blaming the Kendama for your madness.”
Rin snorted, shaking his head with a goofy grin, “Eh, nahhhh, that’s sus. I’m more about vibes than victim blaming, you feel me?”
Then, his gaze flickered upward and caught Yuzuki silently watching him from the corner. His eyes widened for a beat. Yuzuki? Didn’t she bounce already?
He flashed his trademark mischievous smirk and called out in full Gen Z alpha mode, “Oh, look who’s still in the game—NPC alert! Didn’t think you had the stamina to ghost this hard.”
Yuzuki just gave him a sideways glance, unimpressed.
Rin’s mischievous grin softened just a touch as he noticed Yuzuki’s unimpressed sideways glance. He stepped forward with a little more ease, dropping his usual teasing tone for a moment.
“Okay, okay, no need for the side-eye, sheesh,” he said, spreading his hands like he was about to break into a pep talk. “Look, I know this night’s been... kinda wild and maybe not exactly the vibe you signed up for. But hey, you’re still here, grinding, and that’s way cooler than ghosting out early like some basic NPC.”
To be Continued...
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