Chou Fei watched Nanami Kira vanish from sight, his expression dark. He let out a long, bitter sigh.
For a long time. A very long time.
He held that posture—staring into the distance.
He waited until the nightingale sang its first note of the evening. Until the summer moon climbed above the treetops. Until every sound had died and silence reigned absolute. Until he was certain Nanami Kira had gone far, far away.
Only then did Chou Fei finally exhale, the tension draining from his body all at once, his frame going slack.
Nanami Kira had turned his own body into a bomb. Chou Fei believed that much.
But so long as Chou Fei never leaked the contents of tonight's conversation, the bomb would never detonate.
Because they had made a pact. A Binding Vow.
In this strange world overflowing with Cursed Energy and curses, words spoken with Cursed Energy carried real power.
Nanami Kira could never activate the bomb. In return, Chou Fei could never reveal what happened tonight to another soul—or the backlash would strike at his very being.
A pain worse than death...
Chou Fei was growing less and less able to understand Nanami Kira's actions.
No matter how you looked at it, Kira was the one getting the short end.
Chou Fei knew Killer Queen's rules. Before detonating the current bomb, a new one could not be created.
By Kira's own admission, he had turned himself into a bomb. Per the Binding Vow, he could never detonate it.
Which meant he could never create another bomb.
The most bizarre shikigami in history—Killer Queen—had just lost more than half its power.
Incomprehensible.
Chou Fei sighed again. He glanced at the sky. It was getting late.
The moonlight had grown thin. Clouds were massing along the far horizon, and even with the sun long set, even in the depths of night, a stifling, oppressive heat hung in the air. Rain was coming soon.
He had to keep playing the role of Yoshinobu Gakuganji. He was Grade 2 at best—without the academy's protection, life would become very difficult indeed.
He drained the tea on the table in one gulp, crossed the corridor, and returned to his room.
Midnight.
A sudden jolt shot through his heart. Chou Fei's eyes flew open.
He looked toward the window. It was half-open, thin moonlight spilling across the sill. Perched there, preening its feathers in the wash of silver, sat a bird that resembled a small owl.
A messenger Cursed Spirit. Its Cursed Energy signature was nearly identical to an ordinary person's—the academy's barrier wouldn't detect it.
Privately, Chou Fei had always grumbled about this. Why didn't they just use a phone? Weren't the Cursed Spirits online yet? Or was this supposed to look more dignified?
He slipped out of bed, walked to the window, and placed his hand on the spirit's feathers. A message poured into his mind.
"A matter to discuss. In person. Waiting at the foot of the mountain."
Of course. The curses were just as baffled by Nanami Kira's moves as he was—they'd come to talk it through.
Chou Fei harbored no suspicion. If anything, he wanted to meet with the Special Grade Cursed Spirits.
He slid the door open and strode out of the courtyard, suppressing his Cursed Energy fluctuations. He skirted the temple buildings and descended the mountain.
Tonight was quiet. Every stalk of lavender lining the stone steps was fast asleep.
Chou Fei stopped on the last step and looked around.
"Hey, hey! How's it going?"
Someone clapped him on the shoulder.
Chou Fei turned. A blond teenager stood behind him, one shoulder bare, bangs trimmed ruler-straight across his forehead. A ponytail was tied at the back right of his skull, the golden strands hanging to his shoulder. Six blood-red markings ran near his eyelids.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Haruta Shigemo."
He twirled the tachi in his hand. It was a peculiar weapon—its hilt was a human hand.
"Where's Suguru Geto? Why are you the one here?"
Chou Fei knew this teenager. A Curse User working with Jogo and the other Cursed Spirits.
"I think I'm the one asking questions here."
Shigemo tilted his head slightly and flashed an easygoing grin.
"Nanami Kira killed Mahito. So why did he come back to the cinema?"
"I just can't figure it out, you know? The only ones with any motive are you and Miss Hoshino."
"You suspect us?"
Chou Fei's eyes widened. Color flooded his face—he was furious.
"Nanami Kira destroyed my body! I am the person in this world who hates him the most!"
"And yet, according to our investigation, your relationship with the other soul fragments wasn't exactly rosy. You're the only Desire Po not fully under the main soul's control."
"During the Kyoto Incident—didn't you run away before you even set foot on the battlefield?"
Shigemo toyed with his blade, voice soft.
"Who's to say you didn't cut a deal with Kira ages ago? Kill the main soul together, and you'd finally be free."
"Absurd!"
Chou Fei flung his sleeve. His fury had reached its peak.
"Our Windows show that Kira met with you tonight for a private conversation. And that he conducted this meeting knowing your true identity."
Chou Fei's expression froze. He stared at Shigemo, eyes blazing with rage.
"I'd sooner die than—"
The words died in his throat.
What Chou Fei had meant to say was I'd sooner die than reveal Suguru Geto's location. But the instant the words reached his lips, the Binding Vow snapped tight around his tongue:
Do not speak of tonight's events to anyone.
"Sooner die than what?"
Shigemo's grin widened. He looked Chou Fei up and down with lazy, insolent eyes.
"Please, sir—do go on. Tell me everything you and Kira-kun discussed. Every last word. Honestly, now."
A black cat-owl landed on Shigemo's shoulder. It cocked its head, crimson pupils fixed on Chou Fei.
"It can detect lies."
Chou Fei's mouth opened. He wanted to speak—but nothing came out. The words would rise to the tip of his tongue only to be swallowed back down, and cold sweat began trickling, drop by drop, down his forehead.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
Shigemo's smile faded. His gaze turned cold.
"Or is it that you don't dare? Afraid?"
"Why the silence?"
"Why won't you tell me what you talked about?"
Chou Fei took half a step back. He pressed his lips together. The fury in his chest burned hotter and hotter.
The reason I'm silent is because I'm bound by a Binding Vow...
The sentence spun at the edge of his lips, slid back down his throat, and sank into his stomach. Perhaps it was too cold going down—half the color drained from his face.
Because he realized: even the existence of the Binding Vow itself was part of tonight's events. Per the pact, he could not speak of it.
"Hey, hey, hey! Why so quiet?"
Shigemo leaned in close. His eyes trembled up and down, glittering with manic glee, the corners of his mouth splitting wide.
"Don't tell me you and Hoshino were in on it with Kira all along."
"This is great! This is SO great!"
His grin tore all the way to his cheeks. His tongue lolled out. Shigemo's face was flushed, practically vibrating with excitement.
"My absolute favorite thing is bullying old folks and women!"
"This is great, this is great, this is great—thank you so much!"