Besides the time she spent traveling with Sū ěr, Jibril had been at the Higurashi Shrine researching the tree and the well. The "tree" and "well" were just forms; Jibril cared about the unknown energy.
It was different from demonic power or spiritual power. Using the fragmented "Galaxy" as her anchor, Jibril could perceive another type of energy—more like an idea or an emotion. It was entirely ethereal.
She had worked with Think against the Phantasma before, but she never expected to ask Think for help without Sū ěr prompting it.
'I'll just do it for Sū ěr sake.'
She could see his expectations. So, she went to Think to help her capture that ethereal energy. Think would handle the complex design, and Jibril would implement it with Flügel precision.
After being stunned to the point of speechless silence, Think had eventually agreed.
"We just need to take a part of our souls and combine them to create a child of our own," Think said while working, not looking up. She paused briefly. "...Or we could let the child possess the souls of all three of us..."
The implication was clear—she could accept a child shared by her, Sū ěr, and Jibril.
Is this actually Think?!!
"HEY!! IDIOT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!" Before Sū ěr could process his shock, Think was screaming at Jibril. "You got it wrong! Even a simple connection like that... I clearly overestimated you!"
"Shut up! Don't distract me with weird talk! I only missed it because you're a weed!"
"Hah. The weak always make excuses."
"Despicable sow!"
Sū ěr watched as they fell back into their daily bickering. It was as if that brief moment of kindness never happened... but their hands never stopped working.
"Hehe, Sū ěr-san has a hard life," Hanekawa chuckled. Compared to Think cold, eerie snorts, Hanekawa laughter was warm.
"It's alright... Wait, Hanekawa, you just let Araragi pull you into this?" Sū ěr sighed. "You should know how powerless a human is against yōkai and oddities."
"You could die. Really. Just the aftershocks of a fight, or a small yōkai with a grudge... you couldn't defend yourself," Sū ěr advised. "Go back. Your parents will worry."
Sū ěr realized he'd said something wrong. The smile vanished from Hanekawa face, replaced by a stillness like dead water.
"...They won't worry." The girl with the braided hair just pushed up her glasses. When her hand dropped, the smile was back, but her eyes were cold. "Don't worry, Sū ěr-san."
"Now that I know yōkai exist, I can't just walk away, can I?" Hanekawa said calmly. "It's better to have a weapon when danger comes, rather than regretting throwing it away."
"I'm already learning about oddities from Mr. Oshino."
"Eh? That guy?" Sū ěr blinked. "He's willing to teach?"
"I just have to pay him," Hanekawa said seriously. "He looks like a slob, but once you get to know him, Mr. Oshino is a good person... like Araragi."
"A good person?" Sū ěr repeated. "Is that why you want to help him?"
"Yes... Araragi... he's much more fragile than he looks," Hanekawa hesitated, then said frankly: "I can't just look away."
Sū ěr didn't say anything more. In Japan, many students start working right after high school, or even middle school. Hanekawa was mature enough to take responsibility for her own future.
Nurarihyon had been sipping tea and smiling at his grandson, staying out of the conversation.
Araragi was hauled back up by Rikuo almost as soon as he hit the ground. Over the week, Rikuo had learned exactly what "vampire regeneration" meant. He was a perfect punching bag.
Of course, after a week, even the punching bag had learned to hit back.
Sū ěr had already quit his job at MgRonald's. The seven days passed in a flash. Before Araragi even realized it, Rikuo told him: tonight was the night he fought the vampire hunters.
The young vampire's expression in that second was priceless.
The moon was hidden by clouds. The familiar campus felt alien in this atmosphere. Araragi moved cautiously, burying his memories and staying alert for traps.
Crossing the school building, he saw figures standing on the athletic field.
Vampire Hunters.
He chewed on the words that had terrified him a week ago. Now, he felt only a strange calm.
"Yo~ Araragi-kun, you're here~" Meme Oshino, seemingly immune to the tension, waved in his Hawaiian shirt.
"Yeah. Long time no see, Oshino-san." Araragi eyes never left the two hunters beside Oshino.
"No need to be so formal. Glasses-chan and I are already quite close~" Oshino waved dismissively, his gaze moving past Araragi shoulder. "Looks like you've had a busy week, Araragi-kun?"
Behind Araragi, in the pitch-black school building, rows of glowing eyes lit up—enough to terrify any human.