"Well, I understand. I don't think anyone could refuse such a scene!" Ryuji said with a shrug, noticing Shizuka's glare. He didn't feel there was anything wrong with what he had done, finding it amusing that she was so flustered.
"Yeah!" Before Shizuka could respond, Yukino nodded in agreement. "I wouldn't be able to refuse either."
"..."
Shizuka shot a glare at Yukino, clearly annoyed. She then turned back to Ryuji.
"Anyway, can you just help me get rid of these... things?" She motioned towards the cat ears on her head and the tail swishing behind her.
Now that she knew Ryuji had the ability to help, Shizuka wanted this issue resolved as soon as possible. She certainly didn't want to walk around looking like some kind of monster.
Ryuji didn't respond immediately. He placed his hand on his chin, looking as if he were deep in thought.
"Hmm... First, we need to figure out exactly what kind of entity is targeting you."
"Is there a difference?" Shizuka asked, confused. Though she knew about sorcerers and curses, she wasn't well-versed in the specifics of such strange occurrences.
Even Yukino, standing beside her, looked at Ryuji curiously, as if waiting for an explanation.
"Of course there's a difference," Ryuji said, shrugging. "Different entities have different traits and behaviors. You can't just use the same method to deal with every kind of curse or spirit."
He then added, "It looks like you're dealing with a cat demon, but there are many different types like barrier cats, possession cats, and belly cats. Have you noticed anything strange recently?"
Truthfully, if Ryuji really wanted to, he could probably handle this problem easily without needing to identify the specific type. The spiritual energy coming from Hiratsuka wasn't that strong, indicating the entity wasn't particularly powerful.
But he didn't rush to solve it he wanted to observe the situation a little longer.
"Something strange?" Shizuka murmured, thinking back to the past few days. It didn't take long for her to remember something. "I did pick up a stray kitten the other day... but it disappeared mysteriously from my apartment not long after."
"That explains it!" Ryuji nodded in understanding. "You're dealing with a barrier cat."
Barrier cats are a type of urban legend, creatures born from the resentment of cats who died under cruel circumstances. These cats seek vengeance and sometimes attach themselves to living people, sapping their life force.
"Barrier cat?" Shizuka and Yukino exchanged confused looks. Neither of them had much experience with such things.
"In simple terms, a barrier cat is a cat that was mistreated or abused and developed a strong resentment after death. The one you encountered was probably a newly formed spirit. Barrier cats tend to possess people and drain their vital energy of life. You're probably feeling a bit weaker than usual, right?"
"Now that you mention it, I have been feeling more tired lately..." Shizuka admitted, her brows furrowing in concern. She had originally thought her fatigue was due to overwork, but now it seemed there was another reason.
"That's the barrier cat draining your energy," Ryuji explained. "It hasn't been long since it attached itself to you, but the longer it stays, the more energy it will take. Eventually, the weakness could become fatal."
Vitality, was crucial for life. If a person lost too much, they would wither away and die.
"Scum!" Yukino suddenly spat out, her voice full of indignation.
This wasn't directed at Ryuji or Shizuka, but at the people who had mistreated and killed the cat. As a self-proclaimed "cat lover," Yukino couldn't understand how anyone could harm such innocent creatures. In her eyes, such people were less than human absolute scum.
Ryuji glanced at her but wasn't surprised. He was already aware of Yukino's deep love for cats.
"Is there any way to fix this?" Shizuka asked, her voice tinged with worry. She had never been in a relationship, let alone thought about death this early in life. She wasn't ready to die like this.
In truth, the solution was simple Ryuji could easily consume the spiritual energy of the barrier cat, thus freeing Hiratsuka from its influence. But he didn't say that outright. Instead, he pretended to think for a moment before replying.
"It's not hard to solve, but the process might be a bit tricky. I can't do it here, though. It would be better if we went to your place tonight to take care of it."
"Go to my house?" Shizuka asked, blinking in surprise. She didn't doubt Ryuji's abilities, but walking home with cat ears and a tail was going to be awkward. What if someone saw her? It would be impossible to explain.
Seeing the concern on her face, Ryuji smiled and reassured her.
"Don't worry. I can temporarily hide the ears and tail so no one will notice."
He raised his hand towards Shizuka ka. "Give me your hand."
Shizuka wasn't one to be overly cautious, so she held out her hand without hesitation, placing it in Ryuji's. Despite being almost thirty, her hand was soft and small, resembling that of someone much younger.
Ryuji didn't dwell on that detail. He focused his spiritual power, transferring a small amount of it into Shizuka's body. As his energy flowed through her, the cat ears on her head and the tail behind her slowly began to disappear.
"Tsk!" Yukino let out a small, disappointed sigh. She couldn't hide her frustration, her expression clearly saying, What a pity! She had wanted to observe the cat features for a bit longer.
"It's gone! It's finally gone!" Shizuka exclaimed as she looked in the mirror, thrilled to see herself back to normal. She no longer had to worry about being mistaken for a monster.
"Don't get too excited just yet," Ryuji cautioned. "This is only temporary. I suppressed the spiritual energy of the barrier cat, but to fully resolve the issue, we'll need to deal with it at your place tonight."
"Then let's go right now!" Shizuka declared. Having witnessed Ryuji's abilities, she had no doubts left. School was over for the day, and the remaining hours were just for club activities. It wouldn't hurt to leave early if it meant solving her problem faster.
"Alright. I'll just make a quick call," Ryuji said, pulling out his phone.
He called Miko and told her he had something to handle and might not be back until later tonight. Miko responded obediently, telling him not to worry.
Meanwhile, as Shizuka listened to the conversation, a subtle frown appeared on her face. There was an unnatural look in her eyes, a flicker of something between curiosity and discomfort. It was clear that she knew exactly who Ryuji had been talking to.