Chapter 179 – The Guardian Spirit by My Side
"Is this meant for me to wear?"
Looking at the mask in his hand made entirely of golden threads, Hikigaya Hachiman hesitated for a moment, then pressed it against his face.
In the next second, he vanished from where he stood and instantly appeared in front of an abandoned shrine.
"Hikigaya?"
A voice full of uncertainty yet tinged with excitement came from Miura Yumiko.
Ever since the fox shrine maiden had once again been devoured by the monster that Inoue Yasutaka had become, her screen had disappeared. Because of this, Miura Yumiko had no idea what was happening on Hikigaya Hachiman's side.
Just as her anxiety peaked, someone who looked exactly like Hikigaya Hachiman—but wearing a fox mask—appeared before her…
"Good evening, Miura-san."
Hearing her call, Hikigaya Hachiman turned around and gave her a small nod.
"Good… evening…"
Miura Yumiko's face twisted into a strange expression as she looked at him.
After everything that just happened, how could he still casually greet her like nothing was wrong?
"What's with that mask on your face?"
Very quickly, her attention was drawn to the mask, since it was the exact same style as the fox shrine maiden's from before. Now that Hikigaya was also wearing one, and considering their current location, Yumiko had a bold guess.
"Are you… a priest?"
That was the only explanation, wasn't it? Someone able to use supernatural powers, and wearing a special mask tied to a god…
"Why would you even think that?"
A black line metaphorically dropped down his forehead—Hikigaya Hachiman was speechless. Where on earth did she get this idea that he was a priest?
"Because of the mask," Miura Yumiko answered naturally.
If they weren't part of the same faction, how else would Hikigaya have the same mask as the fox shrine maiden?
"This was given to me just now, by that person…"
Well… could she even be called a person?
Recalling the fox shrine maiden made entirely of golden threads, Hachiman wasn't too sure.
As he spoke, he lifted his hand, intending to take the mask off his face.
But the moment his fingers touched it, the mask instantly shattered, turning into a mass of golden liquid that tried to merge into his forehead.
Yet, as soon as the liquid touched his skin, it was repelled, as if something blocked it, and was flung away.
"..."
Both Hikigaya and Miura Yumiko fell silent at the sight.
The golden liquid, however, pretended like nothing had happened, and after floating back before Hachiman, it instead chose to merge into his left hand.
This time, his body did not resist.
As the golden liquid fused with his left arm, a fox-shaped mark appeared on the back of his hand, and a new understanding blossomed in his mind.
"Was that golden stuff just now… divine power?"
He turned his head toward the dilapidated shrine.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but he felt that the once-ruined shrine now looked a bit more pristine, and countless golden threads were flowing up from the base of the mountain, merging into it.
A god?
Hachiman quietly watched this scene.
Though surprised at the existence of gods in this world, he also felt it was only natural.
"So this counts as a blessing from a god?"
Glancing at the fox mark on his left hand, Hikigaya let a faint smile slip onto his lips.
"Achoo!"
A loud sneeze suddenly shattered the solemn air.
Looking up, Hachiman saw Miura Yumiko shivering under the night sky, wearing only a thin layer of clothing.
"Well, the mountain is colder at night after all…"
With a helpless look, he took off his own jacket and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
Seeing him hand over the coat, Miura Yumiko looked a little surprised.
"Don't forget, our exams aren't over yet. If you catch a cold now, all your revision over this time would be wasted, right?"
"But if you give me your coat, what about you?"
Miura frowned slightly. But as soon as she said it, she regretted it.
Considering the strength Hachiman had just displayed, the idea of him getting sick from the cold was ridiculous.
"Thank you…"
Realizing this, she no longer refused his kindness.
Slipping into his coat, the chill quickly faded away.
"Hey, Miura."
At that moment, Hikigaya suddenly called out again.
"What is it?"
"Do you happen to have a 100-yen coin?"
"Hah?"
.
.
.
"This is where you live?"
After coming down the mountain, Hikigaya accompanied Miura in a taxi to drop her home before heading to Yotsuya Miko's place. But when he saw the familiar building before him, he froze.
"Yeah, why? Is something wrong?"
Getting out of the cab, Yumiko looked puzzled at his reaction. Was it strange for her to live here?
"Let me guess… you don't happen to live on the 18th floor, do you?"
Covering his face, Hikigaya had already guessed why Miura had appeared near Inoue Yasutaka earlier.
"You… were stalking me?"
Yumiko's face was filled with shock.
"Absolutely not! Anyway, just get a good night's sleep. If there's anything to talk about, let's wait until after the exam tomorrow. That's it. Be careful going upstairs…"
With that, Hachiman shut the taxi door.
"Wait…"
Yumiko tried to ask more, but the cab had already driven off.
"What the heck? After saying something like that, how am I supposed to sleep peacefully tonight!?"
Flustered, she punched the air a few times—only to suddenly realize she was still wearing Hikigaya's jacket.
"…No choice, I'll just return it to him tomorrow."
Sighing, she turned and entered the building.
Taking the elevator up to the 18th floor, she paused briefly when passing by Room 1806.
But soon she dismissed the thought of sharing what had happened tonight with Inoue Yasutaka, and instead walked to her own door.
Taking out her keys, she bent down to unlock it.
At that moment, a gigantic head with a vicious grin silently appeared behind her, opening its bloody maw wide.
Just as it was about to swallow her whole, however, a tiny version of the fox shrine maiden suddenly leapt from Yumiko's hair and punched the head squarely.
Pop!
A balloon-bursting sound echoed down the hallway. Hearing it, Yumiko turned around in confusion.
But she saw nothing at all.
"Am I just so nervous today that I'm hearing things?"
Unaware of the golden little figure perched on her shoulder, Miura Yumiko pushed open her door and went inside.
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