Challenge: The Fool with the Surname Okayamine

Chapter 90, Part 4: Itono's Story - "Persuasive Incense"

The day after Shido and Yoshino met for the second time, which made Tohka jealous.

During that long, as always, rainy season, fine raindrops fell continuously like a beaded curtain, striking the window with a crisp yet persistent sound.

The Itsuka family mansion, situated amidst this rainy scene, appears exceptionally tranquil.

"Hey, Tohka, please, let me explain."

Shido stood in front of Tohka's room, trying to get her to listen to his explanation, but the only response he received was the sound of something being thrown against the door.

'boom! '

"Hmph, don't bother me. Go somewhere cool and stay there, you idiot! You idiot!"

Tohka sat on the bed behind the door, tightly hugging the soybean flour bread pillow that Shido had won with her in the claw machine. Every now and then, she would think of the scene of Shido and Yoshino hugging each other.

'Bang! Creak—'

The door opened, and Tohka looked up at the door that was locked but had been opened. Ming put away the black casual domain in his hand, slowly walked into the door, and casually closed the door behind him.

"Mr. Ming! How did you get in? I remember locking the door."

Ming crossed his arms and said calmly:

“This little lock can’t stop me. Tohka, you don’t look like a terrifying disaster or a spirit right now, you’re more like a spoiled little child.”

"What right do you have! You say I'm being unreasonable! Do you know what Shido did? He was with girls other than me..."

"You're just afraid of being abandoned, aren't you? You're afraid because you've experienced loneliness. You know Shido has the ability to help the Spirits, but you're afraid of having it taken away. Is that what you're thinking, Tohka?"

Tohka paused for a moment, then retorted loudly, "No way! Who would be afraid of that kind of thing? Shido is clearly trying to get rid of me so he can go on a date with another girl."

Ming sighed, walked over and sat down next to Tohka, and began to speak earnestly:

"Guess why Shido sympathizes with you? When everyone else sees you as a disaster, he understands you and stands in front of you without hesitation. Guess why he does that, Tohka?"

Tohka fell silent; she had never thought about this question before.

"I...I...I don't know..."

"It's very simple, because he has experienced loneliness just like you, and he understands how you feel when you are treated as a disaster and ostracized."

"What! Shido too..."

Ming gently patted Tohka's shoulder.

"According to my investigation, Shido is not the biological son of the Itsuka family, but was adopted. Before being adopted, he was an orphan abandoned by an irresponsible mother, who was always hungry and cold, and could not even find anyone to talk to..."

In my opinion, this is also the reason why they selflessly sacrificed themselves to shoot that bullet for you, bringing you warmth and salvation. You may think that he was secretly seeing other girls behind your back, but you also understand that he is your kind, an elf who is also judged as a disaster by the world.

Shido just wanted to save her the way he saved you, so that none of the spirits would feel lonely!

"So that's how it is. I was too selfish and didn't consider Shido's feelings..." Tohka's eyes flashed with surprise and guilt.

After feeling he had given her enough advice, Ming opened the door to leave, only to bump into Lingyin, who was standing in front of the door at some point.

"Have you finished comforting me? If not, I can help."

"No need, I've done your work for you. If you want to thank me, just treat me to dessert sometime."

Lingyin glanced at Tohka, who seemed lost in thought inside the room, and nodded slightly to Ming in gratitude. Seeing Tohka sitting on the bed looking somewhat guilty, she went over to comfort the child.

..............................

Recently, Tiangong City has been shrouded in a thick haze, with the sky remaining overcast and rain falling continuously.

Shido, holding an umbrella, hurried home. As he turned a corner, he suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the alleyway beside him. Out of curiosity, he couldn't help but look into the alley.

In a dark, damp corner, a girl was kneeling alone on the ground covered in trash and filth. She was rummaging through the garbage, searching for something.

"Yoshina?"

Hearing the sound, the girl abruptly looked up, her eyes meeting Shido's. In that instant, Shido clearly saw the panic that flashed in the girl's eyes.

Before Shido could react, the girl, like a startled rabbit, hurriedly stood up and tried to escape.

"Wait, I won't do anything!"

Subconsciously, Shido noticed Yoshino's empty palm.

Where is your hand puppet?

The girl turned and walked towards Shido, grabbing the hem of her clothes.

"Could it be that you're looking for that?"

The girl looked up and slowly nodded, her deep blue eyes quietly gazing at Shido.

"I see. It was lost due to an AST attack last night."

"I'm currently arranging video analysis to focus her attention on you, so I won't directly pursue her. As for providing support in the investigation, I will do my best."

"Alright, let's go look for it first, Yoshino."

"I...I'm not Yoshino, I'm Yoshino. Yoshino is Mr. Rabbit's name..."

"Yoshino...I see."

The girl nodded, and the two of them continued rummaging through the garbage. Just then, Yoshino's stomach began to rumble with hunger.

"Come to my house, Yoshino."

Shido extended an invitation to Yoshino, and just recently Reine took Tohka away from the Itsuka family to a coffee shop.

Shido led Yoshino into the living room, where they happened to see Ming sitting in the living room reading a comic book.

Shido looked at Mei and asked, "Mr. Mei, could you please cook a meal for Yoshino? She's a little hungry."

Ming put down his comic book, as if he had expected this, and sat up. "Wait for me a moment. You sit with her for a bit. The ingredients for my rice bowl are almost heated up. I'll treat her to it later."

Shido led Yoshino to sit on the sofa. Yoshino seemed a little reserved, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes with her small hands.

"Yoshino, what exactly is Yoshina? She's supposed to be a rabbit hand puppet, but she seems to be completely separate from you."

When asked about Shido's question, Yoshino thought for a moment and then replied, "Yoshino... is my friend... and also a hero."

"hero?!"

"That's right... Yoshino's ideal, the self I... aspire to be, unlike me who is cowardly, and is my hero!"

Yoshino said this with great anticipation, and Shido seemed to understand something after hearing it.

A moment later~

Ming brought out two steaming hot fried shrimp tempura rice bowls.

"Come on, try my cooking," Ming said with a smile.

Yoshino carefully took it, whispered a thank you, and began to eat it in small bites.

Yoshino took a bite of rice, carefully put it in her mouth, and her eyes gradually brightened.

"Delicious."

Shi Dao, who was standing nearby, also smiled with relief upon seeing this.

After Yoshino finished her rice bowl, Mei, seemingly in a hurry, made an excuse, saying he had important business to attend to, and then bid farewell to Shido and left the Itsuka residence. This created an opportunity for Shido and Yoshino to be alone.

Actually, he hid by the door so he could eavesdrop at any time.

"Hey Yoshino, why don't you retaliate when AST attacks? Is there a reason?" Shido, who was sitting on the sofa with Yoshino, asked in confusion.

"I hate pain...and I hate fear, so I think those people don't want pain and fear either, so..."

"Yoshino, you..."

Shido looked at Yoshino with a pang of heartache. What a gentle and compassionate girl she was! Even when she was hurt, she didn't want to inflict the pain on others. Her kindness was heartbreaking.

"But... I'm weak and cowardly. I can't do it alone. When the pain and fear reach their peak, my mind goes blank and I'm bound to do something awful to everyone... That's why Yoshina is my hero."

The more Yoshino spoke, the more Shido's heart ached. "When Yoshino was around, even when I was terrified, she would tell me 'It's okay,' and...and then...it really would be okay. So...so..."

As Yoshino spoke, she felt like she was about to cry when Shido gently stroked her hooded head with his warm, large hand.

"that..."

"I will save you. I will definitely find Yoshina, but you no longer need Yoshina's protection. Please let me be your hero!" Shido looked at the girl firmly, and their eyes met.

'That's it, whether it's an elf or something else, I won't allow such a kind child to go unsaved!'

“Thank you so much,” Yoshino replied.

He knew it was nothing, but suddenly he blushed rapidly as if he had thought of something, because Shido remembered what happened yesterday.

"Ah...and last time, I'm so sorry, I kissed you right away..."

"kiss?"

Yoshino's eyes were so clear and pure that even Ming, hiding outside the door, couldn't tell whether Mr. Rabbit's knowledge was shared with Yoshino.

Just as Shido was about to demonstrate to Yoshino, the door was suddenly flung open, and Tohka looked at Mei hiding outside the door with some confusion.

"Huh? Mr. Ming, what's going on? Never mind, it's more important to reconcile with Shido!" After muttering to herself, Tohka opened the living room door without waiting for Ming to speak.

"Shido! I'm sorry, it was me before..."

Before Tohka could finish speaking, she saw Shido standing very close to Yoshino. Her jealousy, which had just subsided, surged up again, and she immediately turned around, closed the door, went upstairs, and returned to her room.

Yoshino was so frightened that she immediately slipped away, leaving the old man Shido all alone.

At the same time, Kotori also told herself some good news through her earpiece: Yoshina was found to be at Origami's house.

Ming emerged from his hiding place

"Mr. Ming, you're back so soon?"

"Don't you know what to do now? What are you standing there for? Go to Origami's house! After watching your low-EQ drama, I feel like watching some TV dramas to calm down."

Without a moment's hesitation, Ming complained, walked back to the sofa where he had just been lying, and took out the TV remote to watch the news.

"Oh...so you didn't leave. Okay! I'll go find Origami then. Goodbye."

Shido rushed towards Origami's apartment, his heart filled with worry for Yoshino.

After Shido rushed out, Mei casually pulled out the [God's Eclipse Scroll] he had summoned beforehand, observing the situation on both sides, and muttered to himself:

"Shido, hurry up! If you don't move faster, my plan will be delayed."

Unbeknownst to Ming, the ring he was wearing flashed with a purple light for a moment, but because he was wearing gloves, no one noticed.