The bell above the door jingled as the last customer left, leaving the bookstore wrapped in a peaceful silence.
Sumireko Ogawa glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost closing time.
However, instead of hurrying to turn off the lights and lock the door, she remained at the cash register, resting her chin on her hand as her fingers tapped idly on the counter.
Her eyes wandered to the shelves stretching across the space, filled with worlds that weren't hers.
The novels she once dreamed of seeing on display, with her name embossed in gold on the covers, lingered as a bitter reminder of what could have been.
"The eggs that never hatched…"
she murmured with an ironic smile.
At 15, her story "Songs of Darkness" had been lauded by critics. Praise, awards, and promises of a brilliant future poured in.
But like a flame exposed to the wind, that glow faded quickly.
Editors stopped calling, her manuscripts were rejected one after another, and the world that had once celebrated her now seemed to have forgotten her completely.
With a heavy sigh, Sumireko stood and walked slowly to the glass door to flip the sign from "Open" to "Closed."
"If only something supernatural would happen here…"
She murmured, her finger tracing lazy circles on the fogged glass.
With sluggish movements, she returned to tidy up the scattered books left by customers during the day, her thoughts drifting as they often did during her night shifts.
As she passed by the occult and paranormal section, her gaze lingered on the shelf where, two weeks ago, a copy of "Forming Temporary Bonds with Spiritual Entities" had once sat.
Although many considered that type of literature nonsense, for Sumireko, it was a fascinating escape.
The title still echoed in her mind, but more than the book itself, what now came to her memory was the young man who had purchased it.
A handsome youth with slightly tousled hair and dark eyes seemed to scrutinize every corner of the bookstore when he walked in.
Although they had exchanged only a few words, Sumireko had noticed something peculiar about him: a genuine enthusiasm for those topics.
When she handed him the book at the cash register, he had exchanged a brief but meaningful smile with her, as if they shared an interest that few could understand.
"Why am I thinking about him now?"
She murmured to herself as she picked up a couple of science fiction magazines from the counter.
*Ding, ding*
Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint jingling sound behind her.
She quickly turned her head, thinking she might have forgotten to lock the door, but what she saw left her perplexed.
That same young man was there, standing in the entrance.
"Good evening" - he greeted calmly, his voice steady - "Sorry for showing up so late. Are you still open?"
Sumireko froze for a moment, trying to process the scene. Her usually active mind seemed to go blank all at once.
"Ah… yes, of course" - she managed to say after a moment of hesitation, attempting to sound professional.
He nodded, stepping into the warmly lit bookstore.
"I came because… well, I wanted to thank you for recommending that book last time. It was fascinating"
Sumireko raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Really? You found it interesting?" - she asked, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
He nodded with a faint smile.
"More than that. It made me reflect on things I didn't even know I was searching for. I thought that, if anyone could understand what I felt while reading it, it would be you. Specifically, I found the section on how to deal with ghosts, particularly intriguing"
Sumireko's heart skipped a beat. She rarely felt understood, much less by someone who shared her interests in the supernatural.
"Well" - she began, nervously fiddling with a pen on the counter - "there are plenty of books like that here, you know. If you'd like, I can… recommend a few more"
For the first time in a long while, Sumireko didn't feel like a stranger in her own story.
Without wasting time, she walked through the occult section, her fingers brushing delicately against the spines of the books.
Something was thrilling about picking out a title for this man. It felt like a personal mission as if this act could be a way to connect with him even more.
"What would interest him?"
She murmured to herself, pulling out a book titled "Bridges Between Dimensions: The Art of the Ethereal."
It seemed like an interesting choice, but after a moment's hesitation, she returned it to the shelf.
Would it be too dense? Or perhaps too theoretical?
Finally, she found one that seemed perfect: "Modern Methods of Exorcism"
It was a collection of stories blending research with personal anecdotes, striking a balance between fascinating and accessible.
When she returned to the counter, the man was examining an old wall clock that ticked faintly as it marked the hours.
He seemed relaxed, but his upright posture and attentive gaze suggested he was used to observing his surroundings as if everything held potential clues.
"I think you might like this one" - Sumireko said, handing him the book with a small, nervous smile.
He accepted the book, flipping through it curiously.
"Modern Methods of Exorcism"... sounds intriguing. Yeah, I like the idea of learning how to deal with ghosts. Feels very real. Thanks, this looks like it'll be interesting too."
"Well, hahaha, it's… part of my job" - she replied, feeling her face grow warm.
The man placed the book on the counter and looked directly at her, his gaze warm yet carrying a hint of intensity.
"I don't think it's just that. You've got a good eye for these topics like you truly understand them"
Sumireko averted her gaze, fighting the sensation of being too exposed.
"It's just that… I've always been drawn to the supernatural. The unknown. I guess it's an escape" - she admitted, her voice dropping near the end of her sentence.
"Escape from what?" - he asked, his curiosity genuine.
She shrugged, fidgeting with a pen on the counter.
"From the mundane, I suppose. Everyday life can be… well, boring. Nothing much happens here at the bookstore."
He nodded as if he completely understood how she felt.
"That makes sense. The unknown has a way of making everything else feel… small. But I also think that, sometimes, the mundane can be more interesting than it seems. It depends on who you share it with"
His words caught her off guard. She looked up at him, meeting his calm expression, though there was something slightly more daring in his eyes now.
"I was thinking, and forgive me if I'm being too forward…" - he murmured, leaning slightly closer to the counter - "Would you like to go out with me sometime? Maybe grab a drink or just talk about these things?"
Sumireko felt her heart stop for a moment.
Had she heard him correctly? Was this a joke?
Her mind filled with doubt: she had never been on a proper date before, and the idea of it felt overwhelming.
"Go out?" she repeated as if she needed to confirm she understood.
The man nodded with a calm smile.
"Sure, something simple. I promise not to go overboard with the occult talk"
She laughed nervously, feeling the atmosphere between them lighten slightly.
The words began to form in her throat, ready to decline the invitation.
It was her natural response, the one she always gave when something pushed her out of her comfort zone.
"Ah, I don't know if…" she started to say, her voice trembling, but then she stopped.
A part of her, more honest and cruel, reminded her of her reality.
In 28 years, she had never managed to go on a proper date.
Every man who had ever asked her out in the past had only done so because of her looks, and no one had ever found her interests captivating.
She had never experienced what it was like for someone to invite her to share something beyond a brief, functional conversation. Not because she had consciously decided it, but because she had always avoided relationships.
Whether out of fear of rejection, insecurity, or simply because she had convinced herself it wasn't important.
She was an adult woman trapped in a monotonous routine, working in a bookstore where she barely spoke to the customers, spending her nights writing stories no one reads anymore.
She had told herself many times that she was fine with it, but deep down, she knew she wasn't.
As the man waited for her answer, his warm, patient eyes looked at her without urgency.
Sumireko thought that perhaps this was an opportunity she shouldn't let slip. Not because she expected to find the love of her life or an epic romance, but because she needed something different, something to break the monotony suffocating her.
Clearing her throat, she felt the heat rising to her cheeks and, with conscious effort, forced a small smile.
"Well… I guess it wouldn't be so bad"
The words came out clumsy and quieter than she had expected, but they were there. She had said yes.
The man smiled as if he had anticipated that response all along.
"Is that a yes?" - he asked with a hint of amusement, leaning slightly toward her.
Sumireko nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and relief.
"Yes… that's fine"
The man picked up the book Sumireko had chosen and stepped closer to the counter, placing the money on the wooden surface with a calm gesture.
"So, what time do you get off tomorrow?" he asked casually as if asking her out minutes earlier wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
Sumireko was still processing what she had just agreed to, but she tried not to appear more nervous than she already was.
"At eight" - she replied, her voice softer than usual.
"Perfect. I can stop by a few minutes early and wait for you outside if that's okay" - Yuuma said with an easy smile.
She nodded slowly, feeling a part of her mind searching for an excuse, something to delay it, but she forced herself not to.
"That's fine… but, how will I know it's you?" - she asked, and immediately regretted it, thinking how dumb the question sounded.
The man let out a small laugh, clearly not intending to mock her, and gestured to his black jacket.
"I promise to come dressed recognizably. This jacket should do, right?" he joked.
Sumireko couldn't help but smile nervously, surprised at how effortless everything seemed for him.
"Sure… I guess that works"
He extended his hand casually as if sealing an agreement.
"By the way, I'm not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but my name is Yuuma, Miyamoto Yuuma"
Sumireko looked at his hand for a moment before shaking it, her own trembling slightly.
"Sumireko Ogawa" - she replied, though he already knew her name since it was written on her name tag.
Yuuma nodded as if committing it to memory.
"It's a pleasure, Sumireko-san. See you tomorrow then."
She watched him leave the bookstore with a mix of nerves and excitement, his confident steps and calm presence contrasting with the confusion she felt inside.
For the first time in years, tomorrow seemed like more than just another routine day.
......................
As Yuuma left the bookstore, he let out a soft sigh and a faint smile crossed his face.
He glanced at the flickering streetlights, then at the book he had purchased, and finally at his reflection in the window of a nearby shopfront.
"Well, it seems I haven't lost touch from my past life when it comes to getting dates"
He murmured with an ironic tone, shaking his head as if mocking himself.
But the smile soon faded, replaced by a more serious expression as he walked down the sidewalk, his steps echoing in the stillness of the night.
Although he had genuinely enjoyed his conversation with Sumireko and her subtle, nervous reactions, his interest in getting to know her wasn't merely a coincidence.
Sumireko Ogawa.
According to the information provided by the system, there was nothing extraordinary about her—no special abilities, no latent potential.
She was, at least on the surface, an ordinary person. Yet something in his intuition told him there was more to her story.
It was somewhat reminiscent of his student Marin Kitagawa, though her case was entirely different. The two came from vastly distinct narratives.
"A frustrated writer working in a bookstore, with an almost obsessive interest in the occult…"
He murmured, recalling how she had held the book with a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness.
Unlike Kitagawa Marin, Sumireko seemed to fit better into the theme of this world.
Yuuma pressed the book against his side as he continued walking.
"She has a lot of theoretical knowledge about paranormal topics. Let's see how she fares in the future."
This wasn't just about curiosity or the possibility of romantic interest—it was something deeper.
If she was destined to play an important role in the events to come, it was his responsibility to be there, not just as an observer, but as someone she could rely on.
Still, he couldn't deny that being around such an attractive woman made him feel slightly excited.
"Friendship first… maybe something more later"
He thought, his expression softening.
In the end, it didn't matter how long it took. Yuuma wasn't one to rush these things.
The night had reached its darkest point, and the dim streetlamp barely illuminated the area, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own.
For someone unaccustomed to the solitude of the night, the scene might have been unsettling. But for Yuuma, it was the perfect setting for reflection.
He glanced at the book he had bought: 'Methods of Modern Exorcism'
The binding was modest, but the title suggested something intriguing. He held it in one hand while idly playing with the edge of his jacket with the other, lost in thought.
Although it might provide him with some insight, like the first book he had purchased, it was still just literature. Even the purchase of this second book had been an excuse to ask Sumireko out.
Yuuma let out a sigh, looking up at the sky with narrowed eyes, contemplating all he had experienced so far.
"I need to plan my next steps" - he murmured.
First, he had to deepen his knowledge of exorcisms and rituals. What he needed wasn't written in books but found in direct experience.
"Temples"
It was time to visit local temples, speak with priests, miko, or even attempt to contact traditional exorcists like Onmyouji, who were likely somewhere in this world.
These places were repositories of practical knowledge, and if he could establish connections, he might learn authentic techniques, specific tools, and even advanced rituals that would be useful against more serious threats.
He was already thinking of how to utilize this new knowledge, combining it with his own nature and energy to create something far more effective.
"All right, first Sumireko tomorrow, then I'll find a suitable temple. One far enough to avoid unnecessary questions, but respected enough to make the effort worthwhile"