Kaito Ishikawa lies on his bed, but his mind finds no peace. His messy bedroom, filled with stacks of manga and Gundam models, no longer feels like a safe haven. Every time he closes his eyes, the image of the woman with the scissors appears, terrifyingly real. But mingled with that fear is an even more powerful feeling: awe.

  Two deities... a tiger and a fox... Are they real? The feeling of being protected, the warm energy that enveloped him, and the sea of blue fire that incinerated the monster... Everything was too vivid to be a dream. He tosses and turns, trying to piece together the illogical fragments in his head. Is the world he knows all there is?

  As his thoughts drift, a mischievous voice suddenly rings in his ear, as clear as if someone were standing right in his room.

  "Yo kid, you alive?"

  Kaito jolts upright, his heart pounding. He scans the room. No one is there.

  "Look out the window."

  He trembles as he follows the instruction. And there they are. Floating outside his fifth-floor apartment window are the two faint figures he will never forget: a small, fox-like silhouette and a majestic, tiger-like one, both emitting a soft glow in the night.

  "Come up to the rooftop," the fox's voice rings out again. "We need to talk."

  I can't help but smile as I watch Kaito-kun scramble up to the rooftop. Such an obedient "potential client." The rooftop is deserted, swept by the strong night wind. Zhen stands in a corner with his arms crossed, while I arrange a little "crime scene."

  When Kaito pushes the rooftop door open, he freezes. The sight before him must be overloading his young, fragile brain.

  On the cold concrete floor lie the "corpses" of a humanoid tiger and fox. They are motionless, looking exactly like the two saviors he met just hours ago. And standing beside these bodies are our glowing, spiritual forms, watching him with... sorrowful expressions?

  I put on my most tragic face, my voice trembling.

  "Kid... thank you for coming..."

  "W-what... what happened?" Kaito stammers, his face pale.

  "Those... those bodies...?"

  "That monster... it had accomplices,"

  I say, trying my best to suppress a laugh.

  "We were careless. They've killed us... Now, we no longer have our physical forms, and our souls are about to fade away..."

  The kid's eyes widen, filled with panic and guilt.

  "No... it can't be! It's my fault... if it wasn't for saving me..."

  Thump!

  A sharp rap on my head from Zhen nearly sends me stumbling.

  "Stop traumatizing the child," he grumbles.

  I rub my head, my brilliant prank ruined.

  "Aiya, just a little office humor. Why so stiff?"

  I turn to Kaito, who is still frozen in shock.

  "Alright, alright, I'm sorry, kid. We're perfectly fine."

  I explain everything. Basically, we deities exist as spiritual forms—pure energy that mortals can't see or touch. Only those with a special "disposition" like him, the Sensitives, can perceive our existence.

  To prove my point, I drift closer. "Go on, try."

  Kaito hesitantly reaches out. His fingers pass through my spiritual form as if through air. But then, as he closes his eyes and focuses, something strange happens. He can touch me.

  "It's warm..." the boy breathes in amazement.

  He doesn't just touch me; he wraps his arms around me in a hug.

  "So soft... and it smells nice... like hugging a little fox."

  I freeze. This kid... he's no ordinary Sensitive. He can physically interact with our spiritual bodies!

  And wait, what did he just say? A little fox? I'll have you know I'm a full 150 centimeters tall! For a kitsune, that's the ideal height!

  "Ahem, okay, that's enough hugging,"

  I say, pushing him away gently while trying to maintain a professional demeanor.

  "As you can see, we are spiritual forms. As for those two bodies over there," I gesture, "that's our materialized state. We only use it in emergencies. It costs a lot of FP... uh, energy."

  I look Kaito straight in the eyes.

  "However, there is a much more convenient way. If a Sensitive with a high compatibility rate is nearby, we can 'borrow' their body to act. No materialization needed, it costs less energy, and it's extremely discreet."

  I smile, the same smile I use to close a deal.

  "And Kaito-kun, your spiritual affinity... it's very, very special."

  Kaito’s initial shock quickly gives way to a storm of questions. He takes a step back, pointing a trembling finger at us, his eyes a mixture of fear and the raw curiosity of a scientist discovering a new species.

  “So… are you two… Yokai?”

  He asks, his voice still shaky.

  “Like the ones in the books I read? A Kitsune? And a Bakeneko… no, bigger… a Toraneko?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  I almost laugh at the kid’s logic. Zhen, with his usual serious expression, speaks first.

  “No,” he replies, his voice deep and clear.

  “We are Kami (Gods).”

  He glances at me.

  “The Nine-Tailed Fox is a Yokai in many stories, but my colleague was once worshipped as a deity in Izumo. Therefore, he is considered a god.”

  “Oh…” Kaito nods, trying to process the information.

  “So… gods really exist. Not just one, but many… Like the Eight Million Kami of Shinto…”

  He mutters to himself, then, as if remembering something, he bows deeply.

  “I am Kaito Ishikawa, a first-year high school student. My hobbies are reading horror and detective manga. I… I’m also an amateur writer. I write horror stories and urban legends on a small forum.”

  He scratches his head, looking embarrassed.

  “I never expected to meet a real Kuchisake-onna today… It feels… scary, but also a little exciting.”

  A smirk forms on my face. An amateur horror writer? What a fascinating coincidence.

  “Well, you should be careful then, Kaito-kun,” I say, my tone full of implication.

  “Creativity is a double-edged sword. If, one day, your stories become famous enough, powerful enough to sow fear into the hearts of others… you might just meet the very Anomalies you created, stepping right out of your pages. Imagine, what would happen if your ‘Mr. Chainsaw Under the Bed’ actually appeared and asked how you were doing?”

  Kaito’s face turns pale. He begins to stammer.

  “N-no… that’s impossible… I just made those stories up…”

  “The Kuchisake-onna was also just a story ‘made up’ once upon a time,”

  I add, drawing closer, my spiritual form emitting a subtle, chilling aura.

  “This world is far more dangerous than you think. Now that you are a Sensitive, you’re like a beacon in the dark, attracting all sorts of unwanted attention. You need protection. Or better yet, you need the ability to protect yourself.”

  The kid backs away until his back hits the rooftop railing. Panic is clearly visible in his eyes.

  “Then… what should I do?”

  I smile. It’s time to close the deal.

  “It’s simple. Cooperate with us. Become our ‘Vessel’. When we need it, you lend us your body, and in return, we guarantee your safety. A mutually beneficial agreement, don’t you think?”

  Kaito falls silent, his mind obviously racing. Fear and excitement are at war within him. In the end, the boundless curiosity of a teenager wins.

  “If… if I agree…” he asks, his eyes shining with a strange light, “can I… can I use your powers? Like… Itsuki-sama’s fire magic? Do I need to chant spells? How does the mana system work?”

  I almost burst out laughing for the second time. This kid is completely brainwashed by manga and games.

  Once again, it is Zhen who answers, seemingly wanting to correct these "amateur" misconceptions himself.

  “Magic, sorcery, or power systems based on ki and mana… those are mortal constructs. Their attempts to imitate and systematize supernatural power.”

  He pauses, looking directly at Kaito. “We gods do not use such things. We use Divine Power. Our strength does not come from incantations or complex magic circles. It comes from Divine Law.”

  “Law?” Kaito repeats, a blank look on his face.

  “That’s right,” I continue.

  “It is the power to change, to command, and to bend the rules of reality itself. For example, I don’t ‘create’ fire. I ‘order’ the concept of ‘fire’ to manifest. Zhen doesn’t ‘teleport’ people. He ‘orders’ ‘space’ to contract. That is the difference.”

  I can almost see the smoke coming out of Kaito’s ears. This is clearly beyond the comprehension of a high school student.

  “That… that sounds even cooler than magic!”

  He finally exclaims, his eyes now shining like headlights.

  “I’ll do it! I agree! When do we start?”

  Zhen and I exchange a look. It seems we have just recruited a very enthusiastic… and slightly hyperactive new "intern".

  I pat Kaito on the shoulder, a completely imaginary gesture that still makes the kid flinch.

  "Alright then, 'intern'! Welcome to your first day on the job."

  He nods frantically, his face a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

  "Yes! I'll do my best! So, what's my first mission? Are we going to hunt down that monster that escaped? Or am I going to practice using the Laws?"

  I flash my brightest smile.

  "Even better. Your first mission... is to dispose of these two bodies."

  I point to the "corpses" of myself and Zhen Shan lying unceremoniously on the floor.

  Kaito’s eyes go wide. He stammers, "D-dispose... of bodies? You mean...?"

  "What else?" I explain, my tone as casual as if I'm discussing the weather.

  "We had to materialize earlier to save nearly 200 people from those kamikaze Anomalies. If we leave these bodies here now, it'll be a media disaster by morning. Can you imagine the headline? 'Humanoid Beast Creatures Discovered in Shibuya.' Then the government gets involved, scientists will demand to perform autopsies... It's a huge mess."

  "But... but these are the bodies of gods! Is it really okay to burn them? Won't I be punished by the heavens?" Kaito panics.

  "Which heavens? We are the heavens," I say, puffing out my white-furred chest.

  "These are just temporary bodies, like clothes. Burning them is just for cleanup, to be neat and tidy. You just need to help us a little. Think of it as your entrance exam, okay?"

  After about ten minutes of sweet-talking, along with a few gentle threats about "other Anomalies that might visit your home anytime," Kaito finally bites the bullet and agrees. He sneaks downstairs, empties his allowance on a few small cans of gasoline and kerosene at the convenience store, and gathers a stack of old newspapers.

  When he hauls it all up to the rooftop, I shake my head.

  "This isn't enough. It has to burn really big, really fast, leaving no trace."

  "But... but where am I supposed to find more firewood now?" Kaito whimpers.

  I smile. "Time to experience the company's benefits, kid."

  I give him a signal, and my spirit form gently glides forward, merging with Kaito’s body. The kid shudders slightly, and then his eyes light up.

  "Whoa! This feeling...!"

  "See? Now, try flying."

  Kaito hesitates, but when he pushes off with his feet, his body becomes weightless, hovering in the air. He lets out a cry of pure excitement.

  "I'm really flying! I'm actually flying!"

  "Shh! Keep your voice down!" I remind him from inside his mind.

  "Now, use the cloaking technique, fly down to the nearby park, and find some dry wood. Remember to grab some big branches."

  Soon enough, a massive pile of dry wood is effortlessly carried up to the rooftop by Kaito, who is clearly still high on his newfound powers.

  After stacking the wood into a makeshift pyre and placing the two bodies on top, Kaito hesitates with the lighter in his hand. He clasps his hands together and starts muttering a prayer.

  "Oh, great Nine-Tailed Fox, oh, great Tiger God... Please do not punish me. I am only following orders. Please forgive my sins..."

  I can't hold it in anymore. My spirit form separates, stands right beside him.

  "Hey, kid," I say, crossing my arms. "I'm right here. Who are you praying to?"

  Kaito jumps, nearly dropping the lighter. "Ah! Itsuki-sama! You... you're okay?"

  "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "But... but your body..."

  "It's old clothes, I told you already!" I sigh.

  "Come on, just light it. Zhen Shan is waiting. If he has to wait too long, he'll start complaining."

  Kaito nods, though his face is still a canvas of doubt. He strikes the lighter. The flame roars to life, fiercely consuming the two bodies and the wood in a crackling blaze.

  "I see it," Zhen Shan's voice rumbles beside me. He has been here the whole time.

  "So? What do you think?" I ask. "A perfect plan, right?"

  "You owe me the paperwork for using a Vessel that wasn't in the mission plan,"

  He says, but I see the corner of his mouth twitch into a slight smirk.

  Watching the roaring fire and the kid who is still muttering "please forgive me," I can't help but feel that today's workday... wasn't so bad after all. At least it was pretty fun.