Waiting

The Choyo-machi was brightly lit at night, and the Cat Izakaya on the street was packed.

For the Cat Shop Owner, tonight was undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable days of her cat life. Since she took over the shop, it had never been so full for such a long time as it was tonight. Every table had customers dining, and as soon as one table left, another immediately took its place, with a long queue still outside.

Facing this unprecedented situation, all the cats in the Cat Izakaya were mobilized, but they still couldn't keep up. The Cat Shop Owner felt like her legs were about to give out.

Although exhausted, the Cat Shop Owner was overjoyed. She felt that the night's earnings were almost equivalent to what she usually made in half a month.

The Cat Shop Owner was happy, and the customers were also happy; not having to pay for their meals was certainly a joy. The only ones unhappy were the Gakusatsu Group, who were paying for each meal at the counter. Shushikai's already terrifying face was now exceedingly grim.

After a long period of busyness, the Cat Shop Owner decided to lean by a window to rest, where Konkiku happened to be tearing apart a chicken leg.

"Hehe, how is it? I've taken pretty good care of your business, haven't I?" Konkiku said to the Cat Shop Owner while eating her chicken leg.

"Hmm, not bad. It wasn't for nothing that I let you run up a tab so many times."

"Just 'not bad'? You should show a little more appreciation."

"Alright, alright, you get free meals for a month if you come. How's that?"

"Hmm, not bad at all~"

Just as the Cat Shop Owner and Konkiku were talking, Miketsu sat in a private room on the second floor, contentedly eating the grilled meat dish that had just been served. Since this meal was also free, she ate with particular joy.

Miketsu ate while observing the lively scene of yokai coming and going downstairs. At first, she doubted whether the Gakusatsu Group could afford so much money, but Konkiku later told her not to worry about it. Those guys, because they often robbed tombs, were considered very wealthy among yokai, so there was no need for an ounce of sympathy when fleecing them.

Soon, Miketsu and Konkiku were full and satisfied, and it was time to leave.

Konkiku jumped onto Miketsu's shoulder, and Miketsu walked out of the bustling Cat Izakaya, heading towards the exit of Choyo-machi, into the forest. Continuing straight, just as they reached the edge of the Secret Realm, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Please stop, Your Excellency."

Hearing this voice, Miketsu stiffened, then immediately turned to face the direction it came from. At this moment, Toga, clad in white armor with white hair, stood there. From his appearance, it seemed he had been waiting for a long time.

Toga? He didn't flee far, but instead hid within the Secret Realm of Choyo-machi, and seemed to be specifically waiting for me? How did he know I would come this way?

Miketsu stopped in her tracks, not moving forward. She turned her head, fixing her single crimson eye on him.

"Thank you for your assistance in this time of crisis, Your Excellency. I owe you this favor." Toga said to Miketsu, stopping at a moderate distance.

Facing the handsome dog yokai, Konkiku, ever quick-witted, spoke up to save Miketsu from having to ask herself.

"You specifically waited for us here?"

"Yes, to thank you in person, Your Excellency. I thought that since you specifically pointed out the direction of retreat, you must have had a purpose, so I waited here. And indeed, you came." Toga said matter-of-factly, a look of "I knew it" on his face. His words utterly bewildered Miketsu.

Emmm... I just pointed randomly. Since I came from that direction, I simply pointed that way. I never thought you'd think so much of it.

Seeing that the other party said nothing, Toga assumed she had tacitly agreed with his words, that his guess was correct, and that waiting was also correct. Thinking this, he couldn't help to smile slightly, then continued.

"My name is Toga. May I know your name, Your Excellency?"

"Owl."

"Owl..." Toga murmured, repeating the name. After confirming in his mind that he had not heard of this name elsewhere, he continued.

"May I ask, Your Excellency Owl, what connection you have with my Dog Clan? Why were you able to emit such a scent, and why did you actively come to my aid?" Toga continued to ask. He was very curious how the other party could emit an aura so similar to his own in that instant, and why she would actively help a yokai she had never met before.

Could it be that the other party was a member of the Dog Clan living in exile? Was she helping him out of kinship? But that didn't seem right; there wasn't a trace of Dog Clan aura on Owl at this moment. The faint demonic energy occasionally emitted from her body was so weak that it was impossible to distinguish what kind of yokai she was.

If there was any particular scent about her, it was a fox scent, a murky fox scent, and this scent might have come from the pet fox on her shoulder.

Speaking of fox scent, Toga also thought of Asakura Hao, who had guided him to Choyo-machi. She also had such an aura, but that aura clearly carried a sense of sanctity, constantly entwined with pure spiritual energy, very different from the one on Owl now.

Faced with Toga's questions, Miketsu didn't know how to answer. At this moment, Konkiku, seemingly noticing Miketsu's predicament, rolled her eyes and immediately spoke up.

"Prying into the background of someone who has shown kindness... is that the way of your Dog Clan?"

Hearing Konkiku's words, Toga was momentarily stunned, then gave an awkward smile and said,

"My apologies, I was presumptuous. Please forgive me."

Seeing that Toga didn't press further, Miketsu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, silently giving Konkiku a thumbs-up. But it wasn't over yet; Konkiku, standing on Miketsu's shoulder, wagged her tail and pouted, continuing,

"Since you know you were wrong, show some sincerity. What's just an apology?"

Hearing Konkiku's words, Toga's expression tightened, and he said with some helplessness,

"Your Excellency Owl's kindness today, in the past, I would have repaid handsomely. But unfortunately, I am currently in exile, truly willing but unable to act."

Hearing Toga's words, Miketsu's mind stirred. After these two encounters with him, she was now very curious about what he had experienced. How powerful was the Leopard Cat Clan? What kind of conflict existed between the Dog Clan and them? What was Toga's purpose in coming to Heian-kyo?

A series of questions. Perhaps this was an opportunity to get answers. Thinking this, Miketsu spoke,

"Perhaps... you could tell your story?"

"My story?" Hearing Miketsu's words, Toga said, somewhat puzzled.

"About your grievances with those Leopard Cats, and your purpose in coming to Heian-kyo..."

"So that's it. I can tell you these things, Your Excellency, but..." Saying this, Toga looked around the forest.

"This is not the place to talk..."

Not the place to talk? That's right, it's too open here, and it's on the way to Choyo-machi. It's not a place to reveal secrets.

Just as Miketsu was thinking about where they could talk, Konkiku spoke up again.

"I know a safe, hidden spot nearby~"