I finally remembered the incident that happened to me when I was a grade schooler . After that, many things happened after that so I totally forgot about it . I wonder how did I end up forgetting about such a paranormal incident . I didn’t expect that voice to be Ouka’s, honestly . Now I know coincidences are really amazing . I was a little moved from recalling a part of my childhood, but not as Ouka, who suddenly started shedding tears .

  Eh? W-Why is she crying?

  I got a little flustered from Ouka’s crying and my eyes averted from her .

  “W-What’s wrong??”


  “Ah, you made her cry . ”


  Karen looking at me with painfully cold eyes . I didn’t have any composure to argue with her at that time and was about to fall into a panic condition until Ouka kneeled down in front of me while still shedding tears .

  “I finally met you again, my savior . ”


  “S-Savior?”


  Why did her attitude change all of a sudden?

  My bewilderment reached its utmost, but Ouka didn’t give it a mind and continued .

  “Thank you very much for saving me that time . ”


  “D-don’t think much of it . I’m glad I could save you back then . ”


  “I have never forgotten about that one person who saved me without hesitation after I heavily injured my leg from an unforeseen accident and because of that handkerchief, I was able to take emergency measures and thus survive . ”


  Ouka bowed down her head as she praised me for what happened in the past . This is too much . Things have got too intense all of a sudden . I didn’t want to end up in this situation when I saved her as a kid .

  “After that, I wanted to meet you again, but the previous chief found out that I met with a human and restricted me from meeting you again . Forgive my inexcusable miss . ”


  “Umm, no, it’s fine……”


  “About the wish, I promised to grant you that time . ”


  “Ah, that wish . I don’t really mind if you don’t grant it . It was something that I said as a kid, after all . ”


  “I can not do that . A favor should always be returned, so—”


  Ouka halted her words and lifted her head . Her face was no longer crying and she had a serious experience on her face .

  “Yato-sama, please let me return this favor by allowing me to stay by your side . ”


  “By my side?”


  I asked back again after hearing her unexpected request .

  “You mean you want to come with me?”


  “That would be the case normally, however, I can not do that as I have my children in this shrine . ”


  Ouka shifted her sight to the little foxes next to her while still kneeling . The little foxes didn’t have any clue about the situation . Some of them were tilting their head and trying to follow the conversation and other were playing around freely . Apparently, she can’t leave these foxes alone .

  “Then what are you going to do?”


  “As you can teleport to this place from anywhere you want, please come to me anytime you need my help . ”


  So she says that she will help me anytime I come and ask her . That’s not a bad proposal, but……

  “You don’t really have to do anything . I’m fine, you know . ”


  “I do not mind . I will be by your side until I return your favor . ”


  It doesn’t look like she is planning to retreat . She kept making the same serious face while looking at me hesitating . It somehow feels as if I’m getting proposed to . That’s little embarrassing . I’ve never had experienced something like this before . I turned to look at Karen while contemplating and realized that she was engrossed in watching the little foxes playing around . She wasn’t intending to join the conversation anyway . Karen, can’t you at least listen to what we’re talking about .

  “.…… Well, I don’t particularly mind . ”


  After thinking about it for a while, I came up with a conclusion . If she wants to return the favor, then I should give her a chance to do it . I just need to ask her for help when I need it . Ouka’s cheered up after hearing my response . Her serious expression was no longer in her face .

  “I-Is it fine?”


  “Yeah, I’m looking forward to working with you . ”


  I reached my hand to Ouka . It’s pretty uncomfortable to see her kneeling down all this time . Ouka caught my hand with both of her hands and stood up .

  “As incompetent as I am, I am looking forward to being by your side as well!”


  With a low voice tone, Ouka happily replied to me in a polite manner . Seriously, it feels like I got proposed to . I got in a subtle mood from her attitude and the way she spoke to me .

  “It looks like you received a love confession . ”


  Karen muttered in a low voice as she watched Ouka bowing down to me . So she was listening to our conversation . She spoke exactly what was on my mind . I looked at Karen with an awkward smile and realized that my phone was ringing in my pocket . I wonder who is calling . I turned on the screen and saw Meru who was trying to tell me something .

  “I heard you’re conversation, Desu . I have a good solution, Desu . ”


  “You were listening to us all this time?”


  “Yes!!”


  How impressing of her to affirm that she was eavesdropping on us without feeling embarrassed by herself . I asked her about this solution she was talking about .

  “So, what’s this good solution?”


  “It’s for Ouka-sama to be always by your side, Desu!”


  “Is that possible?!”


  Ouka reacted before me to what Meru said . She approached the phone screen while still being excited . So fast . I even doubted the fact that she can’t use teleportation for an instant and stepped back . Meru puffed her chest as if to boast at Ouka who got her expectation raised .

  “That is right! Master, please use your【Servitude Magic】, Desu . ”


  <>

  I didn’t immediately understand what Meru meant by【Servitude Magic】but come to think of it, I had some skill like that . I only used it on Rouga in the past, so I totally forgot about its existence .

  “You want me to make Ouka my servant?”


  Meru nodded to my question,【Servitude Magic】can be used on every living creature that is not a human, so it must work on Ouka who is a Youkai too . Meru’s intent was to use the exclusive skill I have with【Servitude Magic】 . In other words, I can summon Ouka anywhere and anytime I want using my teleportation skill .

  “But how do you know about my skills, Meru?”


  “I know everything about you, master . ”


  Did she just dodge my question? I don’t remember speaking about my skills to her . Or did she find them in those documents in Metron’s room? I need to ask her about this later .

  “Ouka, so, what are you going to—”


  “I will!”


  Ouka shook her head vertically before I could even finish my sentence . Apparently, there was no need to ask for her consent . I got a little perplexed by her firm answer and went to use my【Servitude Magic】on her .

  “Okay, I will cast it on you . ”


  “I am ready . ”


  I closed my eyes and concentrated on the single idea of making Ouka, my servant . A short while later, an announce message resounded in my head .

  “Ouka is now a servant . ”


  It was faster this time because Ouka had already a personal name .

  “We’re done . ”


  “Already?”


  Despite that, I was not feeling any change, Ouka couldn’t believe that she already became a servant and started looking around her . It’s hard to feel a change since her body is still the same .

  “Try thinking about being behind me for starter . ”


  Following my suggestion, she closed her eyes and thought about standing behind me before she disappeared . Karen seemed to be surprised to see her disappear, but not as much as Ouka who found herself behind my back .

  “T-This is……”


  “See? You can do it now . ”


  Ouka stood in a daze for a moment until she felt what happened to her for real then changed her confused expression into a broad smile .

  “I can’t thank you enough for this Yato-sama! I will do my best!!”


  She sounded so delighted and energetically bowed down to me again . I replied with a vague answer while asking her to raise her head . I’m glad she is happy, but I don’t know when I will call her for help . Maybe I will never get a chance to call her .

  “Well then, we will be going now . ”


  We need to go before it gets too late for the festival . Karen and I turned around and were about to teleport back near the place where the festival was held, but……

  “Ah, Yato-sama . ”


  Ouka called me, which made me halt my steps . I turned around to look at her and realized that she was already close to me . She grabbed my shoulders with both of her hands and whispered into my ears .

  “If you won’t call me for a long time, I will come to you by myself . ”


  She whispered in my ears with a cheerful and somewhat teasing voice . Her face was too close to the point I could feel her breath in my ears . It looks like I received a surprise attack at the very end . I thought to myself, unaware that Ouka’s real surprise attack was yet about to come .

  “I’d like to thank you for saving me from Souki earlier . ”


  She acted as if she were going to let away and then she moved her lips to my cheek .

  (ED: Yato . exe has stopped working . )

  “Ah!!?”


  Karen let out a short shriek from witnessing Ouka kissing me on the cheek, but that scream didn’t really reach me at that time . Ouka revealed a mischievous smile as if she were flaunting her successful plan and slightly blushed while hiding her face . I couldn’t keep up with what she, and remained standing still until my mind started working again and I started laughing awkwardly . I never know what she will do to me if I don’t summon her . After that, I got tortured by an awkward mood of happiness and regret .

  “W-We’re going now . ”


  This time we bade a short farewell to Ouka and teleported back to our dimension . Seriously, did things really have to end up this way? I let out a sigh after leaving the shrine with Karen . I have never seen Ouka acting that way since the day we met for the first time in this summer . I was frankly confused by her unexpected daringness and felt someone’s gaze next to me . Karen was glaring at me with a clearly displeased face .

  “W-What’s wrong?”


  “.…… I-Idiot!!”


  After leaving only that word as a reply, she started walking ahead . I got further confused by that reply and followed her while flustering and calling her to explain, though she refused to speak .

  “Eh, wait, not, why, wait!”


  Why is she mad? I can’t find any reason for her acting this way .

  The night sky was clear and fireworks set off with various colors and shapes . Only my heart was clouded with gloom and misery .

  ———————————————————————


  Bonus

  Being honest .

  “Hey, Karen . ”


  “.…… Hmph . ”


  “C’mon, Karen . ”


  “.…… Hmph . ”


  “Just listen to me . ”


  “.…… Hmph . ”


  “.…… Wanna eat cotton candy?”


  “.…… Yes . ”


  “You’re too honest with yourself, aren’t you?”