Chapter 19: A Soft Landing
The sudden rush of weightlessness made Kirisu Mafuyu instinctively wrap her arms around Ethan Kane's neck. Her breath hitched as she watched the ground below rush up to meet them. Unable to bear the fear, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Just as it seemed they would crash into the pavement, an invisible force shimmered beneath Ethan's feet. He stepped lightly on the air itself, absorbing the impact as if gravity bent to his will.
With calm control, he landed in a perfect arc, holding Kirisu in his arms like a knight descending from the heavens.
"Y-You… what was that?!" Kirisu gasped, her face still buried in his chest, heart hammering in her ears.
"Just a soft landing," Ethan said with a smirk.
---
Yotsuya Miko's Troubles
Not long after Ethan left the hotel rooftop with Kirisu Mafuyu, a group of strange figures in cloaks arrived at the scorched remains of the upper floors.
"Psychic energy level… A-Class," one muttered into a device.
"Preliminary identification: Spider-Woman type."
Their leader, Tanaka Taixiong, furrowed his brow. "An A-Class aberration was neutralized here?"
The gathered Onmyoji were stunned.
"Whoever did it is no ordinary person," someone whispered.
"Was it an agent?"
"Not one of ours. We had no teams dispatched in this sector."
Tanaka surveyed the rooftop. "Any witnesses?"
"None. The only body found is burned beyond recognition—likely the host of the aberration. Vitality drained completely."
"Bring the remains back to the organization," Tanaka said coldly. "Clean the scene. Public report: gas explosion."
"But sir—should we cast a shikigami to track whoever did this?"
Tanaka glared at the rookie. "Idiot. Anyone who can solo an A-Class without support is not someone we tail casually. Not unless you want to become part of the next cleanup."
---
The Next Day – Sobu High
"Did you see the news?!" Yuigahama Yui leaned over her desk, phone in hand. "Gas explosion in Chiba last night!"
Yumiko Miura raised an eyebrow. "A gas explosion? At a luxury couple's hotel? Sounds sketchy."
"Bet someone was playing with fire!" joked Tobe Kakeru.
Hikigaya Hachiman chuckled under his breath. Yes, please explode all love hotels in Japan. Equality at last.
Saki Kawasaki, working the front desk last night, said nothing. Her sharp gray eyes were fixed on one person in the room.
Ethan Kane, sitting at the back row, completely unfazed.
(He was there… I know he checked into that suite. And today, he's just back in class like nothing happened?)
"Kawasaki-san?" Ethan gave her a small, knowing smile.
Her eye twitched. He's taunting me! Damn bastard!
"You okay, Saki?" asked Ebina Hina, nudging her.
"Hmph. Don't talk to me about that guy. Scumbag." she muttered, cheeks slightly flushed.
---
Kirisu Mafuyu entered the classroom, textbook in hand.
"Before we begin, an announcement. Sagami Minami has officially transferred schools due to her family's relocation."
No one blinked.
"Good riddance," someone whispered. "That girl burned all her bridges anyway."
Only Kirisu Mafuyu and Ethan shared a secret glance.
They knew the truth: Sagami hadn't transferred. She'd been devoured from the inside, her body overtaken by a Spider-Woman aberration… and killed in that very hotel room.
Without Ethan, Kirisu would have joined her.
---
After School – At the Gates
"Miko?"
Ethan spotted Yotsuya Miko standing near the front gates, seemingly waiting.
She bit her lip, her fingers gripping the strap of her schoolbag tightly.
"Ethan… can we talk?"
He nodded. "Of course."
He had waited for this moment. After so many days of her dodging him, he knew something deeper was weighing on her.
They headed off toward the café.
---
To Be Continued…
Want to know what Miko reveals about her haunted home—and how Ethan will handle it?
Get ahead of the story and unlock 20+ early chapters right now on Patreon:
patreon.com/Earth_19998
Your support fuels faster chapters, deeper lore, and more powerful showdowns. Vote with Power Stones, drop your comments, and let's make this fanfic explode like a gas-leaking love hotel!