Seeing this talisman in her hand, Yukari recalled a memory. Flashback, appears that Yukari was sitting leisurely on the long armchair in the family room while reading a book, at night. Not long after, her father walked up to her, carrying a black talisman pouch, the size of a keychain
"Yukari, can we talk for a moment?"
Hearing this, immediately caught Yukari's attention, and she then closed her book. With a curious facial expression, Yukari replied
"Yes dad, of course, is there anything dad would like to say?"
Fujiyama then handed the talisman he brought to Yukari, and Yukari accepted it. Fujiyama said
“Dad wants you to accept this talisman, also with one condition”
Yukari looked confused. Fujiyama then continued talking
“If at any time you need dad's help but dad isn't around, open this talisman. Don't open otherwise”
Yukari replied
"Okay Dad"
Yukari said while looking at her father with an astonished expression. Flashback ends.
Back to the present time, Yukari appeared to be still sitting quietly at the bus stop looking at the talisman in her hand. Yukari's expression turned curious, she then opened the talisman. It turned out that there was a small folded letter in it. Yukari opened the letter, and inside was her father's handwriting:
“Dear Yukari, I'm sorry if Father couldn't be with you for what happened. All this time Father taught you everything about Yokais, and how to handle them, not just to train you against mere Yokais. I left the Kanagawa family's Katana in the secret attic as usual because I thought you would need it more than Dad, and that's the reason why I've always insisted on you if you feel you are in danger, take this katana with you. This katana isn't an ordinary katana but is a “Yokai Weapon”, and as for what happened, there was a side chasing after Dad for some reason, and that was probably because of a “Yokai sealing medium stuffed doll”. By the time you read this letter, chances are they've found Dad. Father left the stuffed doll to you, Yukari. Don't look for Dad, but Come to this address: Goelling St. no. 018. You will meet Dad's best friend who will explain everything you don't understand. After you read this letter, destroy it.
Regards, Fujiyama"
This letter ends. Yukari still couldn't believe what had happened. Yukari looked at this letter and was about to destroy it, but she hesitated and gave up her intention. Yukari put the letter back in the talisman, then put it in her blazer inside pocket. She planned to destroy the letter later
“I hope nothing bad happens to Dad…”
Yukari hoped so, though doubt still clouded her mind, and was etched on her facial expression. Shortly after, a bus stopped at this bus stop, Yukari then boarded it with the destination being the address given by her father. While boarding the bus, Yukari's drenched appearance caught the attention of the bus driver. With an astonished expression, the bus driver said
"Are you all right, miss?"
Yukari smiled awkwardly
“Yeah, I just forgot to bring an umbrella, hahaha”
Yukari laughed forcefully. The bus driver's attention then turned to the katana on Yukari's waist and his expression turned surprised. Seeing the bus driver, Yukari immediately said
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“This katana is only for cosplay purposes, sorry in advance”
The bus driver looked astonished, but he then appeared to be trying to accept it
"Alright, please come in miss"
Yukari gave a bow and thanks, she then walked to the back of the bus. On the way, Yukari now sat in the back seat of the bus. Yukari took out her smartphone, then tried calling her father again. However, her father's number was still not active. Yukari tried several times with time-lapse, but it still didn't connect.
The current time is 10:00 pm. Yukari's bus passed through the deserted atmosphere of the city at late, illuminated by street lights and buildings. The bus then passed a shopping complex. Upon arriving at a bus stop at this shopping complex, Yukari then got off at the bus stop. The bus that Yukari was riding in before then drove away. The rain appeared to have stopped, Yukari is trying to hold back the cold by crossing her arms because her clothes were soaked and not yet dry. Yukari looked around, she then got down from the bus stop and started walking along the road that was not too wide, which connected the buildings in this shopping complex. Yukari looked right and left as she walked, passing the shops in this shopping complex that had a typical semi-classical Japanese building feel, including shops such as electronics, antiques, and restaurants. Yukari arrived at the address she was headed to, which turned out to be an antique shop, with a rectangular window for display that had been closed with a sliding door from above. It appeared that the shop was closed, so Yukari walked around to the back of the shop.
Arriving behind the shop, there is a 2-story house that is directly connected to the shop earlier. There was a flight of stairs that went up slightly, leading to a single brown wooden entrance with an intercom and bell next to it. Yukari looked around curiously, she then walked to the front of the door. With hesitation, Yukari then pressed the intercom bell. There appeared to be no response, something Yukari thought was normal at this hour. Yukari felt bad doing this, but circumstances forced her. Yukari kept pressing the intercom buzzer until finally there was an answer coming from the intercom speaker
"Sorry, if you have business with my shop, the shop closed a long time ago, please come back again tomorrow morning"
Yukari appeared to be embarrassed and reluctant
"Sorry to bother you at night, I'm Yukari Kanagawa. My father…"
Not until Yukari finished her words, this door was immediately open, making Yukari look a little surprised. A middle-aged man about the same age as his father, this man appeared to be looking at Yukari as if he knew her. The man's expression was nervous as if he knew something
“Yukari? is anyone following you?”
This man said as if he already knew something. Yukari appeared doubtful
“I can't be sure, but it looks like I wasn't being followed”
This man then looked around, to make sure
"Alright then, come on in quickly"
Said this man while welcoming Yukari. With an astonishing facial expression, Yukari walked into this house. This man then closed the entrance door.
Inside the house, this man immediately locked the door of his house. Yukari looked around, she saw a modern minimalist-style house and a staircase with a shiny brown wooden banister leading to the second floor. This man then said
"Please, sit"
Said this man invited Yukari to follow him into the living room, Yukari then walked after him. In the living room, there is an L-shaped sofa with a table in the middle, Yukari then sat on this sofa, and this man then sat on another sofa near Yukari. This man then said
“Let me introduce myself, I'm Shu Kuwamori, your father's friend and investigator partner"
Yukari gave a respectful bow
"Nice to meet you uncle, I'm Yukari Kanagawa, uncle can call me Yukari"
Shu replied with a nod. Before long, his facial expression turned serious
“Okay Yukari, can you explain how you got here?”
Shu said looking like he knew something. Yukari replied
“Our house was attacked by a Yokai, and Father disappeared. He gave me directions to come here”
Shu appeared to have expected this, his facial expression starting to panic
“The fact that you were here, Fujiyama must be in trouble. Fujiyama was a Yokai controller back then, that was many years ago. But lately, something has been bothering him”
Shu's expression turned serious, Yukari appeared to be looking at him with a curious expression on her face. Shu continues talking
“There is a mysterious organization that hunts down the Yokai controllers medium, called the “Flame Crow”. Until about one year ago, Fujiyama decided to stop investigating them because he realized it was a big risk…"
Shu remembered again back then.
Flashback to one year ago, appeared that Shu's shop sells antiques, such as clocks, ceramic furniture, music players, electronics, books, and so on. Some of these classic pieces of furniture are displayed on small furniture tables, shelves, or glass frame cabinets, which are arranged on the outskirts of the room, and several shelves and some glass cabinets in the middle of the room. Where near the entrance of the store there is a cash register. Shu appears to be a shopkeeper in this shop while sitting at the cash register, reading a book. Not long after, someone entered from the shop entrance which automatically rang the bells hanging near the entrance. Hearing the bells ring, Shu's attention immediately turned to the entrance
“Welcome to the shop…”
Before Shu finished speaking, his words stopped when he saw someone familiar to him come.