Asahi look around in the middle the black hair lady doing some documents and "Thank you, Assistant-san"
"You're welcome.." The lady reception replied, and close the door for him and goes back to her table.
"…I just came from the meeting."
"I know."
She flipped a page.
"…How was it?"
Asahi didn't answer right away.
Instead—
He walked closer to the table.
Then casually pulled something from his bag out of nowhere—
A large bento box on her table.
"…Before that."
He placed it on her desk.
"…Grandma said to eat this during your lunch break."
Mayo's hand paused mid-motion.
The page she was about to turn remained still.
"…Mother did?"
"…Yeah with me." Asahi happily replied.
A small silence settled between them.
Mayo let out a quiet sigh.
"…She never changes."
But despite that—
She gently set her documents aside.
Her gaze shifted to the bento box.
"…You brought this all the way here?"
Asahi shrugged lightly.
"…Something like that and Grandma said I have to make sure you eat it all with me."
She didn't question it further.
"…Sit."
Asahi pulled a chair and sat across from her desk.
Click.
The lid opened.
A warm aroma filled the room.
Carefully arranged dishes—balanced, colorful, and clearly made with care.
Mayo stared at it for a moment slightly smile at the food.
"…It always look good as before."
"…Yeah."
She picked up her chopsticks.
"…Then I'll take a proper break."
"Itadakimasu" 2x
They ate quietly at first.
Only the faint sounds of chopsticks and the distant hum of the building filled the room.
"…It's delicious" Mayo admitted after a few bites.
Asahi didnt replied just smile at her reaction.
A brief silence focusing eating their lunch.
Mayo quickly finish her food placed her chopsticks down slightly.
"…Now. how's The meeting?"
Asahi still eating his bento replied.
"…It went fine."
Then her eyes sharpened slightly and ask.
"So…Have you decided? "
"…Yeah." Asahi replied look at Mayo while eating.
"If no i have sugge-" Mayo stop and blinked at Asahi replied ".…What?...Already?"
Asahi nodded, "Yeah, I already chose someone."
"…Who?" She was fully focused such a the big project going to.
She didnt even expect he already choose someone.
Asahi just finish his food gently put his chopsticks to the table and finish pray. "Thanks for the food." and replied to Mayo.
"For Dragon Ball—Toei Animation."
"For Naruto—Studio Pierrot and Aniplex."
"For Ghost Fighter—Fuji Television, Yomiko Advertising, and Studio Pierrot."
Mayo leaned back slightly and thought carefully.
Carefully processing each choice.
"…Its fine company, could you tell me why you pick them?"
"Because...their proposal is more attracted to me better than anyone and their example were similar of what imagine."
Asahi use his poker smile and quickly came a excuse.
He dont want to explain that it was their maker who created to his previous life.
Mayo looking at him just nodded once.
"…Okay, I will support your decision of such a lame reasoning, I'll handle the rest of the paperwork. Don't worry.."
Asahi sigh a relief inwardly and nodded. "…Thanks."
Both were finish their lunch the two clean the table and Asahi put in the bag.
"Ok, Im going home now."
"Then, I will call my assitant to guide back and let call you taxi"
"Its fin-"
"What, fine. You little brat. Youre just a kid what if someone offer you some candy and take you."
Asahi blinked at Mayo saying nonsense..
"What?! I'm not that kind of kid taking some random candy."
Mayo smirk and crossed her arms. "…That's exactly what a kid would say."
"…That doesn't make sense."
"It makes perfect sense to me."
...
A brief silence were made but their eye were glaring each other.
"…Anyway," Asahi stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder and pass some paper on her.
Mayo took the paper look at it.
The paper of the name some national and international companies.
She ask. "What is this?"
"Some of the companies that you might want to invest?" Asahi replied and preparing to leave. "I'm going now."
"Wait" Mayo pressed a button on her desk.
Asahi was stop then-
*CLick* *Open*
The door opened.
"Yes, Ms. Kusanagi?" The reception lady came once again
"Please escort him downstairs and call a taxi."
"Understood."
Asahi sighed.
"…You're overreacting."
Mayo gave him a flat look.
"…And you underestimate how dangerous the world is."
"…Says the person who works all days and forgets to eat."
"…That's different."
"…It's not."
A brief pause.
The assistant quietly watched the two, clearly trying not to react.
Asahi walked toward the door—
Then suddenly stopped.
"…Ah."
Mayo frowned slightly.
"…What now?"
Asahi turned around.
"…Shizuka-chan, passed some message, She passed her test so you better remember you guys going to amusement park on weekend as you promise."
Silence.
"…I know."
Her voice was quieter this time.
Asahi gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
--
On the way out of the building, Asahi glanced up—
Just for a second.
Something in the sky pass by with speed cant catch the ordinary eye.
'Mhm? A bird? No, its not ordinary bird.'
Its shikigami bird
As the bird pass suddenly Asahi begun notice something another incoming similar shikigami bird flying pass by too.
What the hell is going on?
"Sir?" the assistant asked, already holding the door open.
"Ah! yes. "
By the time he reached the entrance, a taxi had already pulled up.
"That was fast," Asahi said.
"I called ahead," the assistant replied with a polite smile.
The driver stepped out briefly to open the door.
Asahi climbed in.
"Take care, sir," the assistant said, giving a small wave.
He waved back, smiling like before.
"Yeah. See you."
The door closed.
Click.
The taxi pulled away from the curb.
Outside, the assistant remained there for a moment, still waving as the car disappeared into traffic.
Inside—
Asahi's smile slowly faded.
His expression sharpened.
Quiet.
Focused.
"…Driver," he said.
"Yes, sir?"
Asahi leaned back slightly, eyes forward.
"…Change of address."
A brief pause.
Then, in a lower tone—
"Take me to—"
---
Omotesandou
Hidden between rows of modern buildings and luxury boutiques stood a strangely old-fashioned shop.
It looked like a remodeled single-family house that somehow survived untouched in the middle of Tokyo's polished streets.
A wooden sign hung quietly above the entrance.
[Kogetsudou]
The moment Asahi stepped out of the taxi, the city breeze brushed against his red hair.
A fox mask covered the upper half of his face.
Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and announced himself in.
*Cling*.
"Yo, Anybody here?"
The inside of the shop was packed wall-to-wall with strange handmade goods and imported antiques.
Chinese talismans.
Tibetan prayer ornaments.
Southeast Asian charms.
Mongolian ritual tools.
Polynesian carvings.
Accessories, chinaware, fabrics, jewelry, furniture, folk crafts, and cursed relics were carefully arranged across wooden shelves.
To ordinary people, it looked like a bizarre antique store.
But Asahi knew better.
Every single item here was real.
Protective charms.
Spiritual catalysts.
Fortune talismans.
Cursed objects.
Some weak.
Some dangerous enough to kill careless magicians.
"Welcome...Oh, fox-chan, you're here. "
A girl teen wearing a high school uniform came out standing in the cashier notice a kid wearing a fox mask greet him cheerfully.
A teenage girl in a high school uniform peeked out from behind the cashier counter.
The moment she noticed the fox mask, she smiled casually.
"Yo. Is the old man around? I came to pick up my order."
Asahi raised one hand lazily.
At the same time, his voice shifted into a lower, rougher tone that barely resembled his normal voice.
"Wait a sec. I'll go call Dad."
A few minutes later~>
A middle-aged man stepped out while wiping his hands with a towel.
His eyes scanned the shop briefly before locking onto the red-haired figure near the shelves.
Asahi lightly waved.
"Yo, old man. Long time no see."
"Long time no see my ass!" The shopkeeper frowned immediately.
"You boy sure really like to make a mess wherever you go, huh?"
'Mess?'
Asahi tilted his head slightly beneath the fox mask.
"When did I ever cause mess?"
The old man ignored him and look toward to his daughter.
"Luna. Bring the box from storage over here."
"Yeah, yeah."
The daughter disappeared again, leaving the two alone.
Once she was gone, the old man sighed heavily before staring directly at Asahi.
"You...did you go Italy recently?"
"...Why?"
Hearing the question of the Oldman.
Asahi didn't react much calmly reply, though he already understood what the old man meant 'Mess' saying.
Tsk
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue.
"Like hell nobody will not heard of it a red hair mask fight a two divine being at the same time in Mt. Etna in Italy." The Oldman frown complaining looking at red hair wearing fox mask and tell about the news.
Silence filled the shop for a moment.
Then the old man continued speaking.
After the Great Disaster at Mount Etna, the Seven Sisters Organization spread news of the incident throughout the supernatural world.
The two disasters had apparently been summoned by heretical followers attempting to oppose the organization.
But that wasn't what shocked people most.
Along in these disaster a confirmation of greatest mystery king by Princess Alice one year ago was real which evidence of the Red hair king was on sight in these disaster and use his power to defeat the two divine being at the same time was shown enough to everyone.
The entire supernatural world exploded into chaos.
The 6th Mysterious Campione was real!
No one knew his origin.
No one knew his identity
His face was unknown.
His extent of his abilities were powerful enough to par of the two divine being.
However some who witness the battle comment his height of this king is size of a child.
Everyone in the world heard this news their reaction was undeniable.
They never thought a red hair king who just slayed a god was just a kid.
Other begin to reason out the king was using disguise spell to hide himself to others during the battle.
Second one said the king was small from the start he may look small but his appearance is oldman.
Third one said the King was manage to reach higher stage cultivation cause of reason of his youthful appearance.
Fourth one said he was reincarnated from the start and manage to gain cheating abilities
All of them starting theory out of this matter.
At this point, the entire everyone was asking the same question.
Who the hell is this 6th Campione?
While the Oldman shopkeeper telling this news.
While listening quietly, Asahi inwardly spoke to Tet and Amaterasu. 'Looks like Lucretia and Alice sure carried away to make rumors.'
Tet laughed lazily inside his mind.
'Well, after a disaster on that scale, hiding your existence completely was impossible from the start.'
Thats why Asahi and Tet talk about this matter to Lucretia and Alice.
That was true.
Which was exactly why Asahi and Tet had discussed the matter with Alice and Lucretia.
Though his appearance as 6th Campione will reveal to everyone as possible his identity remained hide to others.
If his existence as a king was inevitably exposed—
Then the best option was controlling how much information leaked.
His purpose was to remained his identity hidden.
Only his existence of the "Red-Haired King" was revealed.
A perfect scapegoat for the incident.
Alice had also asked permission to disclose partial information regarding Tet's Authority.
Asahi didn't mind.
After all, everyone who inside in the battlefield had already witnessed its effects firsthand.
The old man folded his arms.
"So… boy."
His eyes narrowed carefully.
"Did you really do it?"
Looking at kid wearing a fox mask dont know what his thought.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
Asahi tilted his head slightly beneath the fox mask.
"I was at home teaching my student."
"…."
The old man stared at him silently.
Asahi stared back without the slightest change in expression.
Eventually—
The shopkeeper sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead.
"…Honestly, whether you admit it or not doesn't matter anymore."
"Hm?"
"The History Compilation Committee is already looking for you."
Asahi's eyes narrowed slightly beneath the mask.
"…The Committee?"
"Yeah."
The History Compilation Committee.
An organization that managed and concealed supernatural affairs throughout Japan.
From ancient curses to rogue magicians, from divine manifestations to spiritual disasters.
Anything connected to the supernatural eventually passed through their hands.
They manipulated media.
Controlled information.
Silenced witnesses.
And erased traces of mystery from ordinary society.
Even the government avoided interfering with them directly.
The old man continued.
"One of the Seven Sisters apparently contacted them directly after the Italy incident."
"…How much do they know?"
"Not much."
The old man counted with his fingers.
"Red hair while wearing a mask."
"Child-sized body."
"Also famous known as [Little Fox] in these area who challenge the headmaster of the dojo."
"Most of it's the same information already spreading around."
Then his expression sharpened.
"But honestly? That's already more than enough."
Asahi silently listened.
Then several memories instantly connected together inside his mind.
The shikigami birds flying across Tokyo earlier.
Their strange flight paths.
The subtle spiritual surveillance spread throughout the city.
"…So that explains it."
"Explains what?"
"The shikigami birds."
The old man's expression stiffened immediately.
"…You noticed them?"
"There were dozens flying around earlier."
Asahi leaned lightly against a nearby shelf.
Inside the fox mask, his eyes sharpened slightly.
The Committee searching for him wasn't surprising.
What surprised him was how quickly they mobilized.
'Looks like those organizations in Italy really escalated things fast.'
Tet lazily replied.
'Most likely they just want confirmation whether you're truly the king everyone's talking about.'
Amaterasu calmly added:
'A newly appeared Campione would naturally attract every major organization's attention. Once they identify you, many will attempt to control or influence you.'
Asahi inwardly sighed.
Troublesome.
Very troublesome.
Right at that moment—
The back door slid open again.
"Here's your ord— huh?"
Luna stopped mid-sentence after noticing the silent atmosphere.
"…Why's it suddenly so quiet?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
The two answered simultaneously.
Luna narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…That sounds suspicious."
Ignoring her reaction, Asahi stepped toward the wooden box she carried.
Click.
The lid opened.
Inside were carefully arranged spiritual materials.
Charm papers.
Enchantment catalysts.
Scrolls.
Sealed documents.
Several rare items that ordinary magicians would never obtain easily.
"…Looks good."
Asahi nodded in satisfaction before casually pulling out his wallet.
"Well then…"
He showed a thick stack of bills.
"I'm sure the old man won't tell anyone about his valuable customer, right?"
The shopkeeper instantly snatched the money.
"Tch. Crafty little fox."
Even through the mask, he understood perfectly.
That wasn't merely payment.
It was also a warning.
The old man sighed heavily before stuffing the cash away.
"…Pleasure doing business."
"Heh. Same here."
Asahi easily lifted the large wooden box under one arm.
Luna blinked in surprise.
The box had been heavy enough that even she struggled carrying it.
But for him—
It looked weightless.
"Alright then. I'm heading out."
Asahi turned toward the exit.
But just before he reached the door—
"...Boy."
His footsteps paused.
He glanced back slightly.
The old man looked unusually serious now.
"…Be careful out there."
For a brief second, the atmosphere inside the shop quieted completely.
Then Asahi chuckled softly.
"Hehehe… I will."
A small smile formed beneath the fox mask.
"Thanks."
Clink.
The bell above the shop door rang softly as he stepped outside.