Tokyo Exorcism Diary

“Tell me what it’s about first.”

To his own surprise, Hoshino Gen didn’t just walk away indifferently. For one, he wasn’t in the mood to return to class anyway. And for another, he was looking for something—anything—to take his mind off things. Constantly thinking about killing people wasn’t exactly a good habit.

By now, the other girls who had come along were hesitantly making their way over as well. Unlike Shimizu Yuu and Itou Saki, however, they kept their distance, watching from a little farther away.

As for Itou Saki, she bit her lower lip at his words, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke:

“My brother… he joined a yakuza group some time ago. A few days ago, for some reason, he got into trouble with another gang. Now, both sides have agreed to send out a fighter for a deathmatch—no rules, no limits. My brother’s gang pushed him forward as their representative. The fight is tonight. But the opponent… he’s a former underground boxer, someone who’s killed more people in the ring than I can count. If my brother steps into that fight, he’s going to die…”

By the time she reached the end of her sentence, she was already sobbing.

“I only found out about this today! I don’t even dare to tell my parents… I have no idea what to do. So… So, Hoshino-kun, if you’re also part of the yakuza… you’re so strong, could you… could you stop this fight from happening? No matter what you ask for, I’ll do anything… Please…”

Her plea left everyone—including Shimizu Yuu—completely dumbfounded.

The shocks they’d received today were beyond overwhelming. First, a classmate who had been at Disneyland with them just days ago had committed murder right on campus. Now, another friend’s brother was about to be killed by the yakuza.

This was the modern era, wasn’t it? Since when had human lives become so cheap?!

Shimizu Yuu, having experienced her fair share of intense situations, was the first to snap back to reality and exclaim.

“Why aren’t you calling the police?! That kind of underground fight is obviously illegal!”

“…But the yakuza are involved,” Itou Saki sobbed. “Even if we call the police, can they protect my family forever?”

Shimizu Yuu’s expression froze. She opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words to respond. She looked at the tear-streaked Itou Saki, then turned to Hoshino Gen.

Hoshino Gen was watching the scene unfold with a small, amused smile. Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he turned to Shimizu Yuu.

“What do you think?” 

“Huh?” Shimizu Yuu blinked in confusion, then pointed to herself uncertainly. “Me?”

What the hell? Was he actually asking for her opinion?

Shimizu Yuu was stunned. More than anything, she felt an overwhelming sense of Why me?

Hoshino Gen chuckled. “Remember? One of your employee benefits is that you get one free request per month. And Itou-san is your friend, isn’t she? She’s in trouble. Are you willing to use this precious opportunity to help her?”

The others, who were still processing everything, all turned to look at Shimizu Yuu.

She remembered now. And without a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Of course! It’s not like I have any use for it myself.”

Hoshino Gen shook his head with a small laugh. “Alright. I’ll take this request.”

The moment he finished speaking, the wail of an ambulance siren blared from outside the school.

Hoshino Gen glanced in that direction, then, without much concern, walked away.

…

New York. The top-floor conference hall of a skyscraper.

A group of men in suits sat around a long table while a young man stood at the front, passionately presenting a slideshow.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

A well-dressed woman with long hair entered. The presenter wisely paused, momentarily halting the meeting.

The woman walked straight toward the man sitting at the head of the table.

The two bodyguards behind the man immediately stepped forward to block her path.

The woman, however, showed no displeasure. She simply tilted her head slightly, revealing the ID badge on her neck.

The bodyguards then stepped aside.

She leaned down and whispered something in the man’s ear.

The man bore traces of age, but his presence was still undeniable—elegance and arrogance seeped from his very bones. He raised a brow.

“Murder?” he mused. “Who’s the victim?”

“The son of the current president of Eiki Fisheries,” the assistant replied quietly.

At that, the man curled his lips in disdain. “Their business isn’t clean. Find some dirt on them—criminal evidence, if possible. And while you’re at it, dig into the son’s past. If he has any skeletons in his closet, make sure they get exposed. Make it look good.”

“Understood.” The assistant nodded, then hesitated briefly before adding, “And about the young master…”

“No need to interfere. Isn’t his mother still in Japan?”

“Yes.”

The assistant left.

The man waved a hand, signalling for the meeting to resume.

At the front of the room, the young presenter swallowed nervously before continuing his speech—his voice still passionate but now tinged with reverence and tension.

…

The ambulance siren faded into the distance.

Sitting in a café outside the school, Hoshino Gen finally answered his ringing phone.

The caller ID read: Mother.

Yet, after he picked up, the other end of the line remained silent for a long moment.

Finally, Tillina spoke in a complicated tone:

“Why did you kill someone?”

After a pause, as if realizing her own wording, she quickly added, “I’m not accusing you. I know you must have had your reasons. I just want to understand why.”

Hoshino Gen sipped his coffee, his voice as polite and composed as ever.

“There was no particular reason. They tried to take me somewhere secluded to attack me, so I simply responded accordingly.”

“What?!“

Tillina’s voice instantly spiked in pitch.

She even switched to her native tongue, her tone no longer complicated—just utterly indignant.

“They lured you somewhere alone? And they tried to attack you? Bully you? How dare they?!”

Then, immediately, her voice softened with concern.

“Sweetheart, are you hurt?”

“No.” Hoshino Gen answered honestly.

A quiet exhale of relief came through the phone. Then, an unmistakable frustration:

“Japanese schools are absolutely ridiculous! Darling, why don’t we transfer you to the UK? I promise, no one would ever dare lay a finger on you there.”

He understood what she meant.

She wasn’t truly concerned about the bullying itself. She just knew that now, after committing murder, he would forever be viewed differently at school. She wanted to take him away from that.

But Hoshino Gen didn’t care.

For once, his voice held a faint trace of amusement as he replied:

“That won’t be necessary. I doubt anyone here will have that idea ever again.”