Fortunately, the awkward atmosphere didn't last too long.
Nijika was slacking off here, and with one less person at the bar, little Bocchi couldn't handle all the customers on her own, quickly becoming overwhelmed.
Seeing this scene, Nijika seemed to suddenly wake from the dream and, using the excuse of helping out, ran off in a fluster.
The girl's retreating figure was as light as a young deer, yet in the moment she turned, her beautiful brows and eyes curved like crescent moons.
———
[Two Hours Later]
Tonight's performance ended early, and Kaito didn't stay long.
After greeting Nijika and the others, he left the STARRY Live House with the cheering towel the manager had insisted on giving him as a souvenir, and took the train home.
Finding a seat in the corner, he pulled out his phone.
The notification sound had been going off since earlier.
He unlocked the screen, there were two unread messages in the notification bar.
One was from Yukinoshita, the content was brief: [Miss Cat Addiction struck again.]
The second was from Sakiko. After meeting her elders, the little secretary reported her safety and said she had something to discuss with him and would wait at his door.
Kaito arranged the next cat-petting visit with Yukino, and as for Sakiko, he just replied with an "OK" hand sign.
By the time he got home, it was already dark.
The bright white light glowed warmly in the quiet night, casting a soft halo around the girl under the streetlamp. Her eyes, deep like autumn water, were quietly lowered, but in one moment suddenly lit up, like a clear lake brimming with moonlight.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Sakiko shook her head and smiled lightly, "Just a few minutes."
"218218, that's the door code. In the future, just come in if you need something," Kaito wasn't stingy. After all, she was his considerate little secretary. Making things convenient for her was making things convenient for himself.
Sakiko didn't expect such a surprise, 'Knowing Kaito-kun's door code. Doesn't that mean I have the right to come and go freely?'
'Come to think of it, I should be the first person with such privileges, right?'
'Kaito-kun is very popular on campus, but no one has ever seen him being especially close to any girl.'
If one had to say, only the two members from the same club seemed to have a good relationship with him, but it only appeared to be on a normal friend level.
Sakiko had once been worried, 'What if someone beat me to the punch?'
'But now it seems, he really does have a place for me in his heart.'
The two of them changed into indoor slippers at the entryway and entered the living room together. Kaito went to the kitchen and brewed two cups of black tea. After handing one to Sakiko, he sat down in front of her. Next to him lay the sleeping fat cat.
"Did something troubling happen?", Thinking of the message where Sakiko said she had something to discuss, Kaito didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
Trouble wasn't quite it. Sakiko thought for a moment, then pulled out a protective amulet from her small bag and pushed it in front of him.
"This is a protective charm Aunt Mori gave me today. It's said to have been obtained from a very spiritual shrine. It's for warding off misfortune and improving luck."
Kaito picked up the charm and fiddled with it in his hand. On the outside, it looked like a small wooden plaque made of peach wood, engraved with indecipherable symbols. It did contain a faint trace of spiritual power, barely noticeable, but there.
"This charm was blessed by the shrine priest personally. Its effect is better than ordinary charms, and more expensive too."
Sakiko paused, then added, "Apparently, one costs five million yen."
Mori Minami was a famous actress in Japan, having debuted for decades. She naturally wasn't short on money. The issue was that such high-quality items couldn't be bought just with money.
At least with Mori Minami's connections, she only managed to get three. One she kept for herself, one she gave her daughter Mutsumi, and the last one was given to Sakiko.
As for a certain anonymous Wakaba dad?
He'd have to find a way on his own.
"President, I think our agency could also start selling this kind of protective charm. It's a promising business opportunity."
Sakiko's idea was very simple.
She had witnessed Kaito's exorcism skills with her own eyes. Compared to those possibly sketchy shrines, his credibility was much higher.
If others could sell charms, then their agency could too.
Even if they didn't have fame at the start, it wouldn't matter. As long as the charm's effectiveness was proven, there would definitely be repeat customers.
"No need," Kaito shook his head and didn't agree.
Making charms was very easy for him. Even a casual one he made would be a hundred times stronger than the one in his hand. In this age of dwindling spiritual energy, it could already be considered a family heirloom worthy of worship in a shrine.
He didn't lack money, and he wouldn't sell these precious spiritual tools just for profit.
However, Sakiko's suggestion did inspire him.
It was still necessary to make a few protective charms. After all, this world really did have ghosts and monsters. It was still somewhat dangerous for ordinary people.
As for the design… Kaito thought for a moment and decided to make jade carvings. Whether worn on the hand or hung around the neck, they'd be easy to carry.
"Do you have a favorite animal?", he asked.
Sakiko was taken aback.
After her suggestion was rejected, the girl had quieted down. She wasn't angry, nor did she ask why he turned her down, 'Kaito-kun must have his reasons for doing so, and as his secretary, I just need to follow orders.'
'It is just a pity to give up this business opportunity… but oh well, I will work hard on other fronts and definitely help the agency thrive.'
Now hearing this question, she hesitated for a moment, then quickly replied, "I don't have any particular favorites… I don't dislike cats or dogs. If I have to pick, then rabbits, I guess."
Even in Japan, there was a saying about the zodiac. Sakiko's birthday was in February, which corresponded to the rabbit in the lunar calendar.
"Then it's rabbits," Kaito made the decision, then stood up, casually tossing his jacket onto the sofa. He looked at Sakiko, "Stay for dinner tonight. What do you want to eat?"
"Me? Anything's fine," Sakiko couldn't quite keep up with his pace, but the moment she thought of those delicious dishes that could make one drool, her tears couldn't help but fall, right from her mouth.
"Got it," Kaito nodded and turned into the kitchen.
Soon, only Sakiko was left in the living room. Oh wait, there was also one fat cat who had just woken up.
Seeing a new person in the house, Kirara didn't bat an eye. She was already used to her owner frequently bringing unfamiliar female two-leggers home. This one wasn't the first, and certainly wouldn't be the last.
The cat just flicked her tail and, like a fluffy cloud, lightly jumped onto the sofa, or to be more precise, onto Kaito's discarded jacket.
The white jacket was like a natural cat bed and carried a pleasant scent. Kirara leisurely lay down, curled herself up, and planned to nap again before dinner was served.
No natural enemies, no job, free food and lodging. Such a life made the cat forget all worries.
Although she had secured her meal ticket, she had also completely lost all ambition. She was now a total waste cat.
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