Tokyo Ravens - Volume 4 - Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2 - The Rumored Pair 

Part 1 
"Hi~ I took the chance to come see you - Hey, don’t go, Jin, don't stand up in such a rush, and what's up with that hateful expression? I even came to find you, so you should be a bit - Ah, hold on, huh? Strange? You want to - Tch, what are you doing? Wait, Wait a moment, wait a moment! Hey, Jin?" 
On the second floor of the academy building, inside the faculty office of all the teachers. The office was normally giving off a calm and tranquil atmosphere unlike the students' classrooms, but once this man walked in, it instantly set off bursts of whispers in the office. 
However, it was no wonder, as after all that man's strength could be called outstanding among the whole nation, a famous, brilliant Onmyouji. 
He was close to thirty, wearing an age-old aviator jacket and tattered jeans, and for some reason woven sandals were on his feet. He was dressed casually, but it didn't reduce his heroic spirit - since his body carried a lively, boyish heroic spirit, he didn't seem threatening no matter how strange and sharp his gaze was. 
He was a National First-Class Onmyouji who had obtained the First-Class Onmyou qualifications according to Onmyou regulations, one of those who were named the Twelve Divine Generals. He was hailed as the rookie star of the Exorcist Bureau, the able Independent Exorcist, Kogure Zenjirou. 
In addition, the man who had forcefully pulled out his chair, left his seat, and wordlessly walked towards the door with a cold expression as soon as Kogure walked into the office was a type completely contrasting with Kogure. His age was similar to Kogure's, but unlike the heroic, brilliant Kogure, he seemed much more aged. His rumpled suit was matched with a rumpled tie, and he wore a pair of old-looking glasses. The most notable thing was the short cane he had in his right hand and the wooden fake leg that showed outside his pants. 
He was Harutora and the others' homeroom teacher, Ohtomo Jin. 
The teachers talked in a chatter, and Kogure seemed not to notice the gazes focusing on him, loudly chasing Ohtomo. Ohtomo's back showed impatience as he irritably left the office.  

"Jin, hey, wait a moment!" 
"............" 
"What is it, don't walk so fast!" 
"......Ahh, shut up, can't you quiet down a little?" 
After walking into the corridor, Ohtomo frowned, irritably saying a few words to Kogure who had followed behind him. He moved through the corridor with a clunking sound of footsteps, walking near the stairs. After checking that there was no one around, he finally sighed heavily. He turned his angry gaze behind his shoulder. 
"......You really can't learn to read the atmosphere." 
"Me? Did I do something wrong?" 
"No, whatever, it's not important. Anyway, it's too late to say this now, so goodbye." 
"Hey hey hey, you're leaving right after we met? Think about how long we haven't seen each other for." 
"We saw each other just last month." 
"Huh? Ah, come to think of it, we did see each other last month." 
"Alright, goodbye." 
"No no no, don't be that heartless." 
Kogure forced a smile and didn't let him go. Ohtomo looked up and sighed, then turned towards his old friend, his back leaning on the corridor wall. 
The inconspicuous Onmyou Academy teacher and the Onmyou Agency's proud Divine General. They seemed like an unexpected match with each other, but the two of them had actually known each other for a very long time. Ohtomo and Kogure had both been in the Onmyou Academy - in the thirty-sixth class. And in addition to the Onmyou Academy, they had later entered the Onmyou Agency at the same time. 
But, there were few people who knew that Ohtomo and Kogure were both National First-Class Onmyouji. When Ohtomo held a post at the Onmyou Agency, he had belonged to the Magic Crime Investigation Department and had a position requiring him to hide his Divine General identity as he worked in the underground magic community. 
Though Ohtomo and Kogure had walked the same path, the present positions of the two were worlds apart. 
The current Ohtomo was just a plain academy instructor, and his previous experience was just an ordinary Mystical Investigator. Inside the academy, only Principal Kurahashi knew his true past, and hence if many people learned that he was so close to a Divine General, the explanation afterwards would just be inviting trouble...... Unfortunately, Kogure's thinking hadn't been so thorough, and he wasn't concerned at all about those small details. 
"I really can't stand you." Ohtomo lifted an eyebrow, staring at Kogure. "I heard that the Exorcist Bureau was worked to death right now, how do you still have time to make trouble here?" 
"What making trouble, I came here for my work...... Though formally it counts as paid leave......" 
"Oho, a highly-paid elite taking paid leave, gracefully returning to his alma mater to visit, how enviable." 
"What are you joking about, I'm busy to death right now. I don't have any time to rest at all, I'm even working overtime every day. I have to return to the bureau in a while and make a report to the higher-ups." 
"I see, then you'd better--" 
"Stop trying to get rid of me." 
Upon seeing Kogure frown in annoyance, Ohtomo couldn't help but harrumph with a wry smile. 
Actually, the Exorcist Bureau had been too busy for anything else recently. In the incident last month, a group of criminals had disturbed the spirit flow inside the city, performing spiritual disaster terrorist attacks. This led to the city's spirit flow becoming disordered after the incident ended, with frequent spiritual disasters. 
The Onmyou Agency Exorcist Bureau - especially the exorcists who purified spiritual disasters on the frontline - was limited to only the exceptionally outstanding professional Onmyouji. The people who could become professional Onmyouji were extremely limited in the first place, and right now most of them were working overtime. Hence, the work of the Independent Exorcists - the National First-Class Onmyouji who could do the work of many - had greatly increased. 
"Right now I'm really worked to death, and I finally managed to get some precious break time, so why are you--!" 
"Okay okay, you're so annoying, I understand. It's my blessing to be able to spend an Independent Officer's precious break time with him, so relax. Anyway, you managed to finally escape from your duty of watching that child." 
"Huh? So you knew?" 
"I pretty much knew. Though we have a meager 'guarantee', we can't let her do what she wants on the very first day, so you came to supervise her, right?" 
"......Yeah, it's pretty much like that." Kogure scratched his face, replying hesitantly. 
Actually, Kogure had visited the Onmyou Academy today mainly to 'watch over Suzuka'. 
Dairenji Suzuka was a National First-Class Onmyouji, the youngest to pass the First-Class Onmyou exam, an elite among elites. Because her age and outer appearance were unique, the media often called her the 'Child Prodigy', holding special reports. Of course, this was a result of her power being universally recognized, but on the other hand the Onmyou Agency also had ideas on using her existence and improving the Onmyou Agency's image, which had even been criticized for being closed and exclusive. 
However, last summer, she had brought about a huge incident. She had researched the soul magic that had been designated as forbidden magic, trying to perform the magical rite called the Taizan Fukun Ritual, the forbidden magic that had led to the spiritual disasters plaguing Tokyo. 
Fortunately, the Taizan Fukun Ritual hadn't been truly performed and it had been forcefully terminated in the middle. But before Suzuka performed the rite, she beat back the groups of Mystical Investigators who had been chasing her, once even in a public place like a fireworks festival. In addition, it was also noticed during investigation that she had researched the magic designated as forbidden in private and had even entered the experimental stage. 
The outside world saw magic like smoke and mirrors, and hence the criticism that came from society was extremely intense. A professional Onmyouji belonging to the Onmyou Agency and an underage youth - and the youth was even an elite Onmyouji - had stirred up trouble. Once such an incident was made public, they might not be able to avoid tarnishing of the entire industry's image. 
The Onmyou Agency's higher-ups decided to take desperate measures, not revealing her name on the grounds that she was a minor and letting the incident cool down like that. Even if there were ultimately investigators who came from various directions on their own, they were all dealt with in private, so the truth was hidden. 
"......Chief Amami had it pretty hard back then, complaining all day long." 
"That's his job, you don't need to worry about him. Also, if the Mystical Investigators could have arrested her sooner, things wouldn't have become that serious. The chief can't whine about having to step forward to pick up the pieces." 
That way of dealing with things - even for the Onmyou Agency - had succeeded, and in less than a month's time, the incident had already been completely forgotten. But, Suzuka obviously still had to undergo the Onmyou Agency's punishment, and as for how the Onmyou Agency punished her, it was by making Suzuka into a special student from this day on and having her enter the Onmyou Academy to study. 
"Suspending her First-Class Onmyou qualification indefinitely and confinement for half a year, then after that period ended she had to transfer into the Onmyou Academy to receive moral education." Kogure shrugged. "The higher-ups seem to believe that the lack of a common sense that comes from her family environment was the main reason Dairenji went out of control. But she certainly hasn't received any normal compulsory education." 

"......You see those kinds of people pretty often in this industry." 
"The current person is very peculiar. I agree with their judgment, though maybe it was a bit lenient - in the end, Dairenji's involvement with the incident wasn't made public, so punishing her too severely might bring about unnecessary speculation." 
"......I see." 
Ohtomo listened to Kogure's remark with a cold smile. His cold and somewhat amused voice didn't sound like he was praising his old classmate's opinion. 
The two of them were classmates at the Onmyou Academy, but compared to Kogure who was active 'in the light', Ohtomo was active 'in the darkness'. He hadn't had a good impression of the higher-ups since he had taken his position in the Onmyou Agency. 
Kogure was unconcerned, continuing to speak. 
"But if we let her enter a normal school to study right now, it'll just create a heap of trouble, and moreover if we need to supervise her...... It's more suitable to have her reeducation in the Onmyou Academy where once something happens, it can be resolved on the 'inside'. More importantly, if something truly does happen, you're here to help deal with it." 
Kogure's optimistic speaking made Ohtomo unable to help but sigh. 
"......That's true, there's the principal as well as me here. But, didn't you forget an important person?" 
"Huh, who do you mean? Are there other people here being instructors?" 
"Not an instructor, I mean a student." 
"Oh, you mean Tsuchimikado." Kogure laughed deviously as if he had suddenly thought of something. "The opening ceremony just now was really eye-opening. That Harutora was the student who defeated the Nue with Natsume in the incident last month, right? I haven't spoken with him yet, I heard he's the son of a branch family?" 
"It's nothing to laugh about, didn't you also hear that those two were the ones who stopped the 'Child Prodigy' from holding the Taizan Fukun ritual? In other words, there's a deep connection between them." 
"Seems like it, but I'm not too clear on the details." 
"Moreover, the 'Child Prodigy' specializes in researching Imperial-style magic, so simply put, she's a specialist in Tsuchimikado Yakou research. The higher-ups know this, but to think they still deliberately--" 
"Careful not to say too much, Jin. The 'rumor' regarding Natsume-kun hasn't been proved, after all." 
"Never mind whether it's a rumor or not, it already wields power of influence. Even 'D' came out to nose around, so if this increases the Onmyou Academy's troubles......" 
"With such a passionate confession, she can definitely get along well with them." 
"Don't hear a deliberate provocation as a confession. They definitely won't get along." 
Contrasting with Kogure who leisurely watched the liveliness, Ohtomo's face was dark. Though he had come to supervise Suzuka, Kogure only had to bear his burden for the day of her entrance, and that was why he could calmly have fun with the situation before him. However, Kogure could relax not just because he could drop the task after today. 
"You don't have to worry, even if Dairenji deliberately makes trouble, there's still a trustworthy homeroom teacher by the two Tsuchimikado students." Upon saying this, Kogure grinned, teasing the teacher of this Onmyou Academy. Ohtomo frowned irritably, looking angrily at his old classmate. 
"The 'Child Prodigy' against the 'Shadow', that's quite an unusual combination among the Twelve Divine Generals." 
"Unfortunately......" Ohtomo spoke quietly, his tone cold. "Suzuka-kun is also a student in the Onmyou Academy from today onwards. I don't care what kind of plans the Onmyou Agency has, she has still entered the Onmyou Academy, and the academy will be responsible for taking care of her." 
Kogure understood the meaning of Ohtomo's 'declaration', inadvertently changing his expression and looking at his old friend again. Then, he made a '...Ha' sound, laughing like an unguarded boy. 
"......What's this, you look really cool, sensei." 
"This is work." Upon saying this, Ohtomo turned away, looking down the empty corridor. Kogure also followed his gaze along the corridor, his face nostalgic. 
"The academy building has changed...... But to the people who live in this world, the Onmyou Academy is still a special place no matter how it changes. They should also be able to get some valuable experience." 
"............" 
Ohtomo narrowed the eyes behind his glasses upon hearing Kogure talk about old times. 
The current academy building was a new building opened last year, and the academy building the two of them had used when they were students had long since been demolished. However, just as Kogure said, the Onmyou Academy, as the school for Onmyouji, was different from other teaching institutions, and a mysterious sense of belonging and associativity formed between the students. Moreover, the feeling was the same whether for chicks in the nest or independent Onmyouji who had already left the nest. 
The profession of Onmyouji was highly visible, but the job contents were little known. Since it was hard for the general populace to understand, they often got strange stares from the outside world. Because of this, the industry was tightly knit and Onmyouji had exceptionally close relationships with each other. Moreover, such relationships formed naturally regardless of the benefits. To the vast majority of Onmyouji, the Onmyou Academy was the place where they had all spent their youth together and could be called their first 'home' in the world. 
Ohtomo and Kogure weren't excluded. 
However-- 
"......Come to think of it, that person's currently......" 
"Zenjirou." Ohtomo muttered quietly. His voice wasn't sharp, but rather seemed calm or even tender, but when Kogure heard that remark, his body trembled in shock. He scratched his head awkwardly, not saying sorry or any words of apology. 
"Anyways, if there are people making trouble in the Onmyou Academy, the principal and I will think of a way to resolve it, so don't worry...... Right, have you and the principal met?" Ohtomo spoke casually. 
"I went to look for the principal once I got here, but......" Kogure's face suddenly went serious, quickly sweeping a keen gaze around, then lowering his voice. "......I don't know if I was overthinking it, but Alpha and Omega's auras seem like they've become quite a bit weaker. Is the principal's physical condition alright?" 
Alpha and Omega were the komainu guarding the main entrance to the academy building. They were different from normal komainu, as they were the personal servants of Principal Kurahashi, belonging to the type of shikigami named mechanical-types. They were guard dogs that had accompanied the Onmyou Academy through history. 
"......What, those words finally sound like an exorcist's." After Kogure said this, Ohtomo inadvertently showed bitterness, also lowering his voice to speak. 
"Hey, Jin, does that mean--" 
"Calm down, the principal's still healthy, she won't suddenly collapse, but......" 
"B, But?" 
"That old granny's been around for a long time, and she seems to know herself that her physical condition is getting worse every day." 
"............" 
Kogure was speechless for a while upon hearing Ohtomo's explanation. Ohtomo smiled wryly when he saw that complex expression. He changed his grip on his cane, using the end to tap Kogure's chest. 
"What's wrong, Zenjirou, don't make that kind of depressed expression, especially since Onmyouji can't just write their mood on their face whenever." 
"Sh, Shut up. Exorcists who deal with spiritual disasters don't need all that." 
"That's true, and anyway you only need to worry about what kind of actions Suzuka-san will take in the future. In my opinion, she's definitely not going to be very law-abiding." 
"You're responsible for resolving any troubles stirred up in the academy, right?" 
"That's just on the surface. As for Suzuka-san's future, she'll just have to look to her own fortune." 
Ohtomo remarked, moving from the wall. "Though I shouldn't say this about my own students, the two Tsuchimikados are very interesting, and will Suzuka-san have animosity towards them until the very end, or...... In any case, things aren't at the point where we have to intervene. Watching for changes from the side is the mature response." He used his cane to tap his own shoulder as he spoke.