The Demon [A JSHK Fanfiction]

Chapter 07

Izumi noticed a black book floating about. Picking it up, Izumi read the book's spine. Her expression immediately turned blank. There it was, the book that she had read countless of times before.

No matter how much Izumi loathe the book, she still find herself reading it. She felt drawn to it, like the first time she met her. But reading its contents, she can't help but hate it even more.

"You will tell me your personal secrets," Izumi's attention went back at the matter in hand. She looked at all of them, wondering what they were talking about.

The two teens went to complain to Tsuchigomori. Izumi watched in amusement, but her confusion still remained.

"What if they don't tell their secrets? Will you fight me?" A certain ghost asked, knife in hand. Izumi then looked at the book in her hand, wondering how long she was reading the book.

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'll still give you the yorishiro," he sighed. "But as payback, I'll broadcast their most embarrassing secrets all over the school."

"Oh come on, four-eyes. Do you really want to do that to them?" Izumi asked along Kou's complaints, poking the teacher repeatedly. He sighed, annoyed by Izumi's pokes. He looked at her, holding her wrist to stop her from poking him.

"You know me, Izumi. I crave knowledge," he replied, letting go of her wrist. He turned to the two humans, not giving Izumi a chance to reply. "Let's see your best efforts to entertain me, children!"

Izumi pouted at the teacher, but she pushed the matter aside. She watched as her daikon-like friend went up first. She looked at Izumi, trying to find some sort of reassurance.

Izumi smiled at her reassuringly. She was expecting Nene's secret to be about a boy. She is, after all, a hopeless romantic.

"M-My secret is... when I was in middle school, I kept an exchange diary with an imaginary boyfriend!" Nene exclaimed in utter embarrassment. Izumi called it, smiling to herself triumphantly.

As Tsuchigomori explain his points, Izumi hugged Nene. She was simply trying to make her feel better. But obviously, she won't. After all, Tsuchigomori started reading a content of her diary.

"Month Ｏ, Day Ｘ, 'Senpai, you were so dreamy standing up on stage, giving your speech at the school assembly! But you shouldn't stare at me so much♡'" Tsuchigomori read, embarrassing the girl further. "Our relationship is supposed to be a secret!"

"Oh my God, Nene," Izumj whispered, feeling herself slightly cringe. After hearing who the boyfriend in question was, Izumi sighed. "Who would've thought?"

"Aside from the fact that there was a student assembly, it's pure fantasy," Tsuchigomori added. Izumi felt bad for the poor girl. She gently caressed Nene's hair, trying to make her feel better.

After the daikon's turn, the young Minamoto went next. "The truth is... those oni masks they wear at setsubun— they scare the heck outta me!"

"Why? I think they're cute! Kinda resembles my great uncle," Izumi chuckled slightly, holding Kou back from running towards Tsuchigomori in anger.

"Doesn't anyone have any better information?" Tsuchigomori asked, hanging from his hammock made of webs. "Or is it time for the all-school broadcast?"

Izumi inched away from Kou as soon as the two teens started spouting their secrets. But of course, the two toned supernatural didn't accept their secrets.

"I've revealed all the secrets that I have, but he won't accept any of them..." Nene sulked, hugging herself as she do so.

"Curses! Hanako! Izumi!" Both Hanako and Izumi perked up at the mention of their names. "You two tell him something!"

Izumi looked at the two humans while walking towards Tsuchigomori. As she had approached his side, Hanako appeared in front of them, startling Izumi.

"Tsuchigomori, do you really wanna know my secret?" There was a certain look on his face that Izumi rarely see. It surely do remind her of them.

"...No," Tsuchigomori started, looking at the ghost. "Can't say that I do. I know enough already."

"You heard him!" Hanako immediately brightened up, turning to the two. "He doesn't wanna know, so I pass!"

Izumi tugged the teacher's sleeve, looking up at him. "But you know almost everything there is to know about me."

Feeling someone latching onto her arm, Izumi turned to the person. She saw a flustered Nene latching onto her.

"No fair, Izumi-chan, Hanako-kun! You can't be the only two to get out of it!" Nene exclaimed, her grip tightening. Izumi only patted the girl's head.

"Yeah! It's not fair!" Kou piped in, holding Hanako in a headlock.

"Oh, calm down, you two. It's not our fault if four-eyes know almost everything about us," Izumi replied.

"But still, you heard all my secrets, so you have to tell us yours too!" Nene shuddered a bit as she remembered the recent events. Izumi only sigh in response.

"Yeah! So cough up your weaknesses already!" Kou added. A look of defeat flashed from Hanako's visage.

"Aw, man..." he muttered, pouting in defeat. Izumi smiled in amusement before turning to Kou.

"You two want to know about us that badly?" She asked, admiring their determination. Izumi's smile widen, already knowing their answer.

"Yes!" The two answered in unison.

"What do you say, Honorable No. 7?" Izumi asked, flashing him a toothy grin.

"I..." he started. Izumi and the two teens waited in anticipation. "...Don't really like talking about myself..."

"But... okay, let's see," Hanako paused, his back was turned to them. "Just one, okay?"

The three was curiously waiting for him to speak. But the boy was quiet.

"...I love," at this, Nene perked up. She started fantasizing about Hanako's love life as she waited excitedly. "Donuts."

"I love donuts..." Izumi couldn't help but crack a smile at his flustered form. It just reminded her of the past. Especially that one time when she brushed his hair away from his face.

"Donuts! He said donuts!" Izumi's trance was broken by Nene's claim. She sweat-dropped at Nene's words.

"How do you like them donuts?!" Kou exclaimed, pointing a finger at Tsuchigomori's direction.

"Are you both morons?" He asked incredulously, making Izumi chuckle. The two gathered around Hanako, asking him about his favorite type of donut.

"Well, isn't that something?" Izumi looked at Hanako with a soft smile.

"It surely do remind me of the past."