Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 163 : Kitsune-sama Visits the Awakener Association

“Wait, is that really…?”

“It has to be. Huh? Why’s she at headquarters?”

The whispers echoed through the halls of the Awakener Association’s Japan Headquarters.

The Association existed worldwide, but its central hub in Japan was simply called the “Japan Headquarters.”

For reference, the Tokyo Branch handled only local affairs. Even though both were Tokyo-based, branch staff and headquarters staff lived in two very different worlds—but let’s set aside those bitter workplace details.

A quick addendum: since the headquarters already had reception counters for awakeners, the Tokyo Branch mostly saw people who thought, “Eh, going all the way to HQ is too much hassle.” A thankless job.

The Japan Headquarters was effectively the command tower of the nation’s awakeners—the keystone of its safety.

Cases too big for branches were handed up to HQ, and HQ in turn passed them to the appropriate awakeners.

And with most of the top-ranked awakeners tied to HQ in some fashion, it was clear just how much influence this place held.

And now, into that headquarters, walked a single girl.

Fox ears twitching atop her head, a fox tail swaying behind her, clad in a shrine maiden’s robes—yes, it was Kogami Inari.

Normally, Inari only appeared if summoned. But HQ was full of ambitious climbers and starry-eyed rookies, so everyone there knew her face from the news.

“She’s still solo, right? Maybe she’ll team up with us?”

“Not a chance. She’s achieved that much on her own.”

“She’s so cute… I wish I looked like that…”

The voices buzzed as a man approached Inari—not the familiar Yasuno. This one looked every bit the capable elite, glasses flashing sharply as he bowed.

This was Aoyama, Chief Secretary—a man so trusted he was often called the right-hand of the HQ Director himself.

Facing Inari, he bowed deeply.

“Thank you for coming. How have you been since we last spoke?”

“I remain unchanged. And how fares your side?”

“Thanks to you, the Association continues to maintain its high standing. Now, please, allow me to guide you.”

As Aoyama escorted Inari deeper inside, the awakeners nearby exchanged wide-eyed looks.

No surprise. Aoyama’s face was familiar even to the public; he appeared often enough on television.

For someone of his stature to personally greet Inari… it was proof enough of her importance to the Association.

“Top rankers really do live in another world.”

“Someday, I’ll—”

“Wait… did you hear that? Like a scream? Fading really fast, like it shot upward…”

“…Huh? I didn’t hear anything.”

That had been Inari shrieking in the elevator as it rocketed skyward. But leaving that aside—

Led to a reception room, Inari noticed another guest and offered a polite greeting:

“Excuse me, I shall enter.”

“Ah, hello. So that’s the girl?”

“Yes, Ms. Mano. This is Kogami Inari.”

“…Hmph.”

“Ms. Kogami, this is Tsukiko Mano.”

“Mm. I recall that name…”

Indeed, Inari had heard it only recently.

Ranked second among Japan’s top awakeners, known as ‘Professor,’ Mano Tsukiko.

Her hair was a tousled mess with a hint of natural wave, her pale skin spoke of little sunlight. She wore no makeup, yet her skin glowed with the care of someone who kept clean.

But her drowsy eyes and unfashionable glasses declared she cared little for appearances.

Jeans, shirt, and a lab coat completed the look—a sight once seen, never forgotten.

On her shirt (in English, which Inari couldn’t read well) were the words: “I am Hamburger!” Why? Who knew where she’d bought it.

“Yes. This is Japan’s number two ranker, bearing the alias ‘Professor.’”

“Ohh. A pleasure, then.”

“Whether it’s a pleasure remains to be seen.”

“Ahem. Allow me to explain.”

Her bluntness might have been arrogance—except her position made it warranted.

Aoyama, clearly used to it, didn’t correct her. Instead, he smoothly took over the briefing.

“For the past several months, Ms. Mano has been investigating a certain case.”

“A case? Months-long… hardly sounds simple.”

“Indeed. In fact, it appears to have roots going back many years. At first, it was handled by the police…”

The earliest trace was about ten years ago. Perhaps even earlier, though that was unclear.

But at least, the first known incident was a decade past.

“The missing person was a male teacher. He had stayed late at school that night. But by morning, he was gone. The lights of the staff room still on, his papers scattered, coffee unfinished, even his bag left behind. Everything remained—except him.”

A baffling disappearance.

And though the case had been left unsolved, fated to fade into obscurity—

It did not end there.