Chapter 114: Reaper's Curse

Natsuya Yoruhana didn't pick up her phone when Seiji tried calling her .

Perhaps she was busy or resting . At any rate, this wasn't a good time for her .

Seiji gave up on attempting to contact her . She was probably worried about the upcoming Yin Yang Master duel, so bothering her about another matter seemed inappropriate to him .

Shika Kagura's issue wasn't something that needed to be solved immediately . While he sympathized with her, she had already lived with her condition for a long time, so one or two more days probably wouldn't make a difference .

The most important part was that she herself had given up on asking for help .

Seiji sighed at the situation .

If he was able to meet her again tomorrow and have a discussion again, then he would try contacting Natsuya one more time .

'Let's stop thinking about it for now . '

Seiji returned to his apartment .

After turning on his computer and checking his email, he noticed that Editor Yoshizawa had sent him a message .

The message basically said that his final draft of "I'll Die If I Don't Become Handsome" was excellent and asked whether it was his final version which would be published by Thunderbolt Literature .

If so, he needed to fill out some forms via email .

'Final version to be published... of course, yes . '

Seiji filled out all the necessary applications and sent the confirmation to Editor Yoshizawa .

It was now time for his usual grinding session .

Oh, starting from today, he planned to begin grinding [art] as well...

...

The next day .

Seiji and Mika walked to school together with Kaede Juumonji for the second time .

Kaede began the conversation with normal topics . She didn't talk about anything strange .

Mika, who had mentally prepared herself beforehand, felt this situation was even more unexpected for her .

Seiji, however, considered this to be only natural .

If Kaede acted up every single morning, then that would give him and Mika an excuse to refuse to walk together with her, so of course she wouldn't behave that way .

Since Kaede was making normal conversation, Seiji also responded in turn and smoothly pulled Mika into the conversation .

And so, they reached school with no conflict whatsoever between the trio .

After splitting up from Kaede and meeting up with Chiaki, Seiji suddenly remembered the drama club president's kidnapping... er,"capturing" of Shika Kagura . Did something happen to the drama club president as well then?

"Chiaki, has something unlucky happened in the drama club recently?"

The tomboy blinked in surprise . "Why do you suddenly ask?"

"Because I heard some strange rumors... so I just wanted to ask . " Seiji acted rather casual about it .

"Hmm..." Chiaki looked deeply at him before running her hand through her hair as she considered things .

"Our demonic vice president has been feeling tons of stress lately due to the upcoming school festival . Her forceful comments and book throwing ability have greatly improved as a result . Everyone in the club has been victims, especially the club president! Does this... count?"

Seiji was rendered speechless upon hearing this .

"What strange rumors were you talking about?" Chiaki asked a question of her own .

Mika also looked in his direction curiously .

Seiji rubbed his chin .

About Shika Kagura... he felt that it might have something to do with "mystical abilities," so he didn't really want to say it out loud .

"Not much of a big deal, really... Just leave it at that for now . If it becomes something, I'll let you guys know . "

Chiaki tilted her head slightly .

Mika reflexively copied her and also tilted her head .

"Okay, that's that, then . " The tomboy accepted it for what it was, and didn't pry further into the matter .

The pigtailed girl had a confused expression on her face .

...

...

In between classes .

Seiji received a call from Natsuya .

"Sorry for not picking up your call yesterday, Harano-kun . "

"Not a problem, President . I'm the one who should apologize for bothering you so impulsively when I know you have so much on your plate..."

Natsuya smiled at hearing Seiji's apologetic tone .

"Since you knew all that and still contacted me, it must have been something important . "

"Important...? To tell the truth, I don't really know . " Seiji paused for a moment . "President, do you know the middle school second-year student named Shika Kagura?"

There was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone .

"President?" Seiji had an ominous premonition .

"Shika Kagura... I know her name," Natsuya answered in a calm tone .

Seiji raised his eyebrows .

The president actually knew Shika's name, and had such a tone, which meant...

"She's... a unique existence... but as for you, how did you know about her, Harano-kun?"

"It was like this..."

Seiji gave a brief explanation of what happened last night .

"I see, so she wanted to ask for help . " There was a hint of sympathy in the president's voice . "But... I'm so sorry, Harano-kun . Nobody will be able to help her . "

The commotion from Seiji's fellow classmates having fun, walking around, or chatting with each other during break suddenly seemed to fade into the distance for him .

Seiji frowned .

"Why's that, President?"

Natsuya could tell that Seiji wasn't as calm as he appeared on the surface .

"She's a unique existence, because her problem... isn't one that's solvable, even by mystical abilities .

"It's difficult to explain over the phone, so come on over to the student council office if you would like to know more .

"It's difficult to explain over the phone, so come on over to the student council office if you would like to know more .

"Although I think that it would be better for you to give up on knowing or doing anything about this..."

"I'll come right away during lunch break; is that fine?" Seiji interrupted her without giving her a chance to finish .

Natsuya remained silent for several seconds .

"Okay . "

And so, their conversation ended .

Seiji put away his cell phone and looked out the classroom window up towards the sky .

Dense dark clouds loomed overhead . It seemed like it was about to rain .

...

Lunch break .

Seiji arrived at the student council office .

Natsuya was waiting inside by herself .

"It seems like there'll be bad weather today, Haruta-kun . "

"It seems likely it'll rain, President . "

The two of them casually conversed about the weather before they both lapsed into silence .

Natsuya sighed .

"Are you angry, Haruta-kun?"

Seiji blinked .

"Not at all; why do you ask?"

"Because I feel like you're angry . " Natsuya walked over to the table and began to pour some tea .

Seiji stood where he was as something flashed in his eyes .

"Fine, perhaps I am, just a little . " He sighed . "But not at you, Prez . I'm angry at... I don't know how to describe it . "

"Sit down first and have some tea . " Natsuya remained calm .

"Mmm... Thank you . "

"Sit down first and have some tea . " Natsuya remained calm .

"Mmm... Thank you . "

Both of them sat down and began sipping tea at the round table .

"Shika Kagura..." Natsuya slowly began to talk after she set down her teacup . "She was someone that I noticed during my investigation .

"After I confirmed that I was about to be challenged to a Yin Yang Master duel, I investigated every single student that came to this school either this or even last semester... Of course, that didn't include you .

"In order to prevent the enemy from sending a Spirit-branded Retainer as a spy?" Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation .

Natsuya nodded .

"Yes, this type of example is rather common . Sending a Spirit-branded Retainer into the enemy's defense to obstruct their plans or attack from within are all popular tactics . Only one person stood out from the other students—Shika Kagura .

"Her identity was filled with abnormalities, and as a student she was abnormal as well, to the extreme... This made it obvious she wasn't a spy . "

Seiji nodded in understanding .

An enemy's agent who had secretly infiltrated the school would want to avoid standing out more than anything else . Any spy who was ridiculously handsome or beautiful and attracted attention everywhere he or she went like in some television dramas was no better than suicidal .

"Nobody else seemed abnormal, while she was the complete opposite . Although I didn't feel that she would be a Spirit-branded Retainer, I still carried out a deeper investigation on her . Then I discovered... her uniqueness . " Natsuya sighed .

"What uniqueness?" Seiji asked in a calm manner .

Natsuya looked directly at his face .

"The 'Reaper's Curse,'" she said in a soft but clear voice . "In the realm of Yin Yang Masters, we call it by that name . "

Seiji paid attention quietly .

"In this world, every person's actions will have some effect on him or herself, on others, and on the world—some people call this 'karma . '

"According to this explanation, all of these effects and people that produce them are like a huge unstoppable wave, as huge as the ocean—the so-called 'Sea of Karma . '

"Everyone is caught within it, and they create karma and are affected by it... Fortune or misfortune are produced by it as well .

"But within the 'Sea of Karma,' sometimes unique existences similar to whirlpools will appear . They themselves won't be affected, but will affect everyone around them instead...

"'Karma...' Those that come into contact with these special existences will become strongly influenced by 'karma;' they will either meet with great misfortune or fortune, or even sink into chaos .

"The 'Reaper's Curse' is the term for the unique abnormality which affects everyone around the carrier... and brings them misfortune . "