Chapter Text
To say that Hanako was scared was an understatement.
He was terrified.
Him and Yashiro had only just found a place to hide outside with their lunch when Yashiro’s now supernatural senses alerted her that an exorcist was nearby.
Immediately afterward, Hanako spotted a familiar mop of blonde hair stomping outside, followed by a pink haired ghost loudly complaining behind him.
Yashiro shivered where she floated, ducking behind him. “Oh no.. Mitsuba-kun must have told him everything!”
“That little
snitch,
” Hanako growled, grabbing Yashiro and pulling her down with him into the bushes nearby.
“This is bad this is really really bad,” Yashiro frets beside him, watching as Kou combed the area, going closer and closer to their hiding spot.
Hanako pats her reassuringly. “Shhh, it’ll be fine, don’t worry. It’s not like he can sense us here. His exorcist game is really weak-”
“HANAKO!! I KNOW YOU’RE THERE!”
‘Apparently not weak enough.’
The ghost slapped a hand to his face, Yashiro chiding him for leaving a red mark on her forehead. “I’m sorry Yashiro, we tried. Stay here while I handle this,” Hanako hangs his head dramatically, jumping up and causing the bushes to rustle.
“Hi there, Kou-kun~ ”, the apparition purrs, attracting the attention of both Mitsuba and Kou.
“ YOU ,” Kou fumes, stomping toward him at an alarming pace until he’s right up in his business. “I knew it, I so knew it! You were the one behind this, huh?!”
“Behind what?” Hanako tilts his head innocently, fluttering his long eyelashes.
“Don’t you dare play games with me,” Kou growls, grabbing him by the front of Nene’s dress. Why the hell are you in Yashiro’s body?! You
know
it’s not good for her soul to be out for long!”
The ghost’s expression turns nervous. “Ah, well, about that. You see, she’s kind of indisposed at the moment.”
The exorcist’s eye twitches, voice deadly calm. “ Indisposed?”
Hanako almost cowers where he stands because when Kou is angry like this his eyes sharpen and it reminds him too much of his older brother.
“I’m going to
kill you for the second time in your miserable existence,”
Kou grabs his raiteijou, ready to whack him, when Yashiro’s voice pipes up.
“Wait!! Kou-kun, it’s not his fault!”
Kou’s eyes wander to her, widening to the size of dinner plates. He promptly drops Hanako in shock.
“S-senpai..?”
Yashiro takes off her hat, looking at him apologetically.
Kou whirls on the both of them, looking freaked out of his mind. “What… WHAT DID YOU TWO DO?!”
Hanako puts his hands up in an attempt to placate him. “Now wait a second, it’s nothing to be worried about, she’s fine I assure you.”
“HOW IS THIS FINE?!!! My wonderful senpai now looks like an ugly toilet ghost! BRING HER BACK THIS INSTANT! ”
Mitsuba scoffs behind him, sneering at Yashiro. “I don’t know, it’s kind of an improvement.”
The exorcist wrings his hands, going teary-eyed. “How could this happen?! Who could have-”
He suddenly goes still, something seeming to click in his brain. “Senpai. So you did the thing I told you not to do.”
Yashiro looks away, embarrassed. “..Yes.”
“
The thing I expressly told you not to.”
“..Yes.. are you mad at me?”
Kou looks hard at her for a moment, expression unreadable.
“Senpai, I’m sorry, but I never thought you could be this brainless.”
Mitsuba breaks into laughter at that, Yashiro uttering a sharp ‘HEY!’ at the exorcist who’s refusing to look at her now.