Chapter Text
The Winter Solstice had arrived, a day steeped in tradition for many families in Japan, including Miss Ayase and her grandmother. For them, it was as meaningful as Christmas, with its roots in ancient spiritual practices and seasonal customs.
For Ken, however, the solstice was simply another noteworthy astronomical phenomenon. It was the result of the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun, otherwise affecting the amount of sunlight for each season. He’d never thought much about its cultural weight on tradition. His only prior attempt at marking the occasion (for the spring equinox) was a half-hearted experiment when he was younger, to balance six eggs in a triangle. After some trial and error (and a lot of wobbling eggs), he read more that the myth had more to do with the eggs’ freshness and gravity than any mystical alignment. It could be done at anytime, really!
But now, more of his perceptions had been altered again. Since meeting Momo Ayase and stepping into her world of supernatural encounters, Ken begun to understand more of the 'why' behind such traditions.
So... that's how he found himself sitting in an outdoor hot spring, filled with the fragrant yuzu citrus that was said would ward off the ‘dark’ spirits and give better health for the next year. But exactly what kind of dark spirits... and wouldn't they be more inclined to fight back?
The sudden splashing of water next to him brought him back the present, causing the steam wafting over to fog up his glasses. Ken's vision was so nearsighted, he didn't want to chance going in without them. He still didn't feel confident enough yet to fight without his ‘eyes’, in case whatever strange forces might come at them during the darkest night of the year.
“Shyyuuuu.. wah.. hot! Hot hot!” The red head sputtered loudly after bursting out from under the water next to him.
The nerd flinched from the splash of water and citrus pelting him as a result. “Yeah, it's not a swimming pool!” he chided, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
It was another reminder of Jiji's recently acquired supernatural power, and why Ken was with him. Okarun was the one whom Jiji's child-like evil spirit would obey the most. Jiji had to avoid cold water at all cost, or the Evil Eye burst forth. Fortunately, a little sprinkle was something Jiji could manage now, but a whole pool of cold was a big nope. His friend was still mourning the lost privilege of enjoying his favorite cold drinks, ice cream, watermelon... which was easier said than done when the Evil Eye also craved them. It was like a different kind of yokai baby-sitting!
The cold air fortunately did not have an affect since it took a more concentrated touch of something both wet and cold to trigger the Evil Eye. Jiji swore again and again that he did have better control after Grandma Sieko's five-hundred-something round of training sessions. But they weren't going to take any chances in this public setting.
Ken sighed and readjusted his glasses before settling back in so that the water's surface touched his chin. The outside air was getting colder and there was still snow on the ground beyond the springs.
“Gotta make the best of it. Besides, isn’t this whole solstice tradition thing supposed to cleanse us or something?” Jiji shrugged, grinning as he took his spot next to the modest teen.
Ken still wasn't very good at casual conversation, so his response was more to the point. “Thank you for inviting us.” His eyes stayed locked on the surface, watching pieces of the small orange-like fruit bob around them. It was like they were in some kind of yuzu soup.
“Was more my parents idea than mine. Just their way of saying ‘thank you’ for helping,” Jiji admitted, flopping back into the steaming water with a splash. It was as if he wanted that smaller pool to be more recreational- just sitting there wasn't his style (much to the disappointment of the older men sitting across the pool, giving them disapproving looks).
This visit to another co-ed onsen was intended to be a peaceful outing, with the gender-specific areas more strictly enforced. Now, the ladies were in another area on the other side of the facility, leaving them to their own devices.
“Man, I can feel the vitamin C juices seeping into my pores!” Jiji puckered up to make fish lips while sinking under for another plunge.
Ken wiped his pruny, hot fingers under his glasses to rub the excess water- and sweat? -from his face. It's like Jiji just could never sit still for one minute! The heat was getting really hot though, the more he thought about it. He decided on another distraction to take his mind off of that.
“Do you think there’s truth to the Yeti sightings in this area? I mean, it's kind of interesting they call this cryptid here Yuki Jiji sometimes. Like does he really ride on snow avalanches like a snowboarder? Or is it-” The nerd's thoughts were starting to spiral.
“Yukiotoko and Old Man Snow-boarders? I think you’ve been hanging out with Momo too much. You’re turning into a folklore encyclopedia!" Jiji cut him off with a smirk.
“How else am I supposed to understand all this?! Especially when her grandma says that what I know to have been identified as alien cryptids, to be some-”
“Well, you still owe me a snowball fight, ya know!”
“Is.. that why you like to call yourself ‘Jiji’? You take after that legend?”
He just shrugged, not elaborating. The most obvious was that it was an onomatopoeia from the common syllables of his full name. “Speaking of which, why does Momo like to call you ‘Okarun’?” Now it was Jiji's turn to ask more important questions.
Ken suddenly felt more subconscious for some reason and gripped the rim of his glasses. Yes, one would think that nickname was kind of rude, as it implied he was a nerd of the occult. But it was the name she gave him, so he thought that was… ‘cute’.
The real answer of why she opposed his real name was still unknown though– she never really told him. He just had to make his own assumptions from connecting some dots. Yep, he couldn't help but notice the classic actor's posters and things in her bedroom. It takes a nerd to know one.
“I think.. she… “ he had to say something before his hesitation became awkward. ‘Awkward’ - even that word gave her the heebie jeebies! “That my real name reminds her of her favorite actor?” Ken blurted out quickly.
“Really?” Jiji’s smirk widened, his tone dripping with playful malice. “Hopefully, Momo likes you for you and not because you remind her of the Ken Takakura.”
Okarun froze, his thick brows knitting together as the meaning to that hit harder than he’d expected. Was that why Miss Ayase avoided calling him Takakura or even Ken? Did she think he couldn’t live up to her idol’s image? Or worse, was he ruining her impression of the legendary actor just by existing?
It was like that other time when Jiji teasingly joked that he should 'see' other girls too, just to be sure that Miss Ayase was 'the one'. His hands clenched under the water, his frustration strangely bubbling out of control to the surface.
"Why would she...?" Before he could stop himself, his jawline tightened and his voice came out deeper than usual. “Your nickname sounds like ‘Old Man'... that’s just, so wierd, yo!”
“Ooh, hey… it's all good, bro. I was just teasing!” the redhead then showed two thumbs up. He must've seen the red in his eyes and face becoming more ghastly– damn.
“Sorry…” the spooky teen squeezed his eyes shut as he changed back, feeling more embarrassed. Where did that come from? Was it really the hot water, or his yokai curse magnifying his emotions again?
Jiji somehow was unfazed, and grabbed a handful of floating orange halves. “Nah, I’m way cooler than that. Here, have some extra vitamin C to brighten your day!” He squeezed the citrus directly over Okarun’s head, the juice dripping into his wavy hair.
“Stoph!” Okarun sputtered, dunking under the water to rinse off the sticky mess. He resurfaced with a splash, retaliating with a quick wave of water aimed at Jiji. Not too much, though. He could feel the stares of the older men on the other side of the onsen again.
The heat of the water was really starting to get to him, and Okarun wiped off his glasses with pruny hands. Being without his watch or even some kind of clock bugged him again. He didn't think too much time had passed but they were to meet up with the others at a light festival after.
Okarun muttered his surrender, standing up abruptly. “I think it’s time to go.”
It was sudden though, things became dark and he saw stars. Not empty space, but marginally worse. His knees buckled, and he would have face-planted into the walkway if Jiji hadn’t reacted in time.
“Whoa! Gotcha, bro,” Jiji said, grabbing the edge of Okarun’s towel and keeping him mostly upright.
Okarun managed to stay like that, just for a moment, one hand bracing against the ground. Then the towel slipped from his grip as he unceremoniously collapsed to his knees, his face burning with even more embarrassment.
“Ugh… bummer, man,” he groaned, quickly pulling himself together via partial yokai mode again, and wrapping his towel back on. He instinctively let it take over, as he often did when he was hurt, to help speed up recovery time.
“...having problems with your yokai power now?” The taller teen finally asked, his usual teasing replaced by genuine concern.
“S’okay. Just gonna be like this for now,” Yokarun muttered, his face pale and marked with two red stripes and whispy white hair matching the same color scheme. A deep sigh escaped him as his mood sank further, the chill in his body matching his thoughts. He couldn't quite explain it if he had too, why he gets so informal and his thoughts unfiltered the more 'Turbo' he becomes. But the transformation this time was the only thing keeping him from fainting outright. Just a boost of strength to stay awake.
He wasn't having issues with his emotions again, nope. Just maybe something else, something he wasn’t ready to unpack, especially not right now with Jiji. Thankfully, only those with spiritual sensitivity could even pick up on what was going on with him.
“You sure?” Jiji’s voice softened, his sincerity cutting through the tension as he followed him to the changing area. His taller friend knew him enough now to respect his personal space whenever he seemed moody.
“Totally, yeah. Rather talk with Momo-chan than-” Okarun cut himself off after realizing what more he said. He kept his steps brisk until they were inside, hoping as if the locker room’s warmth could somehow chase away the discomfort gnawing at him. Jiji stayed close though, until he was back to his normal self.
The Touji Light Festival unfolded under the year’s longest night, its brilliance a defiant celebration against the darkness. The shrine, renowned across Tokyo, stood as the heart of the festivities, its ancient silhouette illuminated by lanterns and twinkling lights. Street vendors lined the paths leading to the shrine, their stalls vibrant with color, laughter, and the rich aroma of winter delicacies. The cold air carried the tang of roasted pumpkin and sweet dango, mingling with the soft scent of snow in the air. It was just the three of them now, since Miss Seiko said she had some business to attend to at the shrine.
Okarun shivered slightly as he adjusted the gray patterned montsuki yukata he borrowed from Miss Seiko. It fit better than he’d expected, but he couldn’t shake the anxiety of potentially damaging it from some unexpected encounter. The last one he owned was from six years ago, and he clearly outgrown it now.
The festival itself was just mesmerizing, almost overwhelming! Golden light bathed the snow-dusted pathways, and paper lanterns swayed gently in the breeze. It wasn’t just the festival’s beauty that captivated Okarun, though. It was Momo Ayase. She moved confidently through the crowd, her kimono a delicate blend of colors that seemed to glow in the lantern light. Snowflakes clung to her hair, sparkling like tiny stars. Just like an angel…
Okarun barely noticed the stalls as his crush led him along, her hand warm and steady in his to guard against the cold. The simple act of holding her hand made his chest tighten with something unfamiliar and thrilling again. Her fingers intertwined with his, and the sensation was grounding yet electric. Her soft reassuring touch gave him confidence about... them.
Miss Ayase stopped at a booth selling handmade goods, tilting her head to inspect a row of charms. Her laughter was genuine as she pointed at some of them. Okarun smiled too, feeling a blush rise to his cheeks when she made eye contact with him. She noticed his gaze.
He also hadn’t thought much about the holidays like this before, he never had friends to share them with. When Jiji said earlier that his mom had a booth there, they had to find it also. Mrs. Enjoji had a small stall where she sold her handmade little charms for good luck.
The lucky charms were called Ichiyo Raifuku, which means to turn a negative into a positive. It was a reminder that the Winter Solstice was the darkest day of the year and then from the next day, it gets lighter.
The realization somehow hit him like a bolt. Okarun hadn’t gotten her a gift for Christmas yet! Damn!
His heart thudded loudly in his chest from the reality of this. For once, it wasn’t the looming threat of aliens or the pressure of battle that unnerved him. It was the thought of not being able to properly find a gift in time! His first best friend deserved something better than a simple charm.
But as Miss Ayase turned to him, her eyes sparkling with mischief and warmth, Okarun felt a quiet certainty. He could find something. He didn’t need to overthink this, did he?
“Oh, this one is vibing!” Miss Ayase said, dangling a white and green colored good luck charm shaped like a tiny stuffed puppy from her finger.
Jiji leaned in, smirking. “You should get it! Super cute. Just like me.”
No. No, it's not. Okarun’s brows furrowed at that comment, his mood suddenly changing.
Miss Ayase rolled her eyes but laughed, her breath misting in the cold. Okarun, however, felt incredibly challenged. His attention was now drawn to a different charm, a small star crafted from iridescent blue fabric, its silver thread catching the light.
“This one,” he said, driven by an inexplicable desire to impress her. “Looks really nice, too.”
His friend tilted her head, studying the charm before making a decision. “Right, we’ll get both,” she declared, handing them to Mrs. Enjoji before the boys made more of a scene. The elderly brunette gave her an amused, warm smile.
And then before the others had a chance, Okarun was first to pull out his wallet to pay, his cheeks flushing again as he completed the gesture. Miss Ayase had given him ‘that look’, bumping into him just enough to tease as she murmured a soft "thank you" while they walked away.
As the three moved through the festival, Okarun thought about the meaning of the charms. Ichiyo Raifuku, meant turning darkness into light. But the literal translation was ‘one night visiting’. He took that moment to finally ask Miss Ayase about what had been bugging him about the solstice.
“Miss Ayase... with the solstice being the darkest day of the year, does that mean the paranormal is also at its worst?” he asked, looking ahead as they walked. “Like how the superstition about a total solar eclipse is a bad omen?”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Nope… no Evil Eye breakouts here,” the redhead now donned in scarf and hat was trailing behind them.
“Yes, nothing really weird happened yet.” Okarun fidgeted with his glasses again, glancing down. “Just me though. I've been slipping into yokai mode a lot easier than before.”
“Was it like that before today?” His friend knitted her brows with concern. “There's usually a blessing placed on the yuzu before they dump them in the water to help ward off evil spirits.”
“Unless.. for some reason, Turbo Granny was more resistant to it,” Okarun sighed, rubbing the nap of his neck. The good luck cat wasn't with him either right now, as she chose to tag along with Miss Seiko. “I usually have better control over it. It's when I'm emotional or… tired-”
“Well, look at that! Fancy seeing you all here,” Aira Shiratori announced her presence with much flair. She swept in wearing a luxurious kimono and an expensive haori coat to guard against the cold. Her eyes briefly lingered on the nerd with glasses. “Looking especially good, Takakura.”
It was almost comical how the expression on Miss Ayase’s face turned from one of sincere concern to something much more sinister. She grabbed his arm to pull him away. “We were just leaving,” she said curtly.
Jiji exchanged a quick look between the both of them, and knew exactly what to do. “Hey, hey! What brings my favorite lady here tonight? Have you seen the booths up that way yet?”
Once they were out of earshot, she let out another few more swears in contempt.
The nerd held the rim of his glasses nervously in an effort to recollect his thoughts. The light flurry of snow had gotten a little heavier, but it wasn't too bad. After taking in another breath, he tried to explain from a different angle. “What I mean is that it being the darkest day, would that make yokai powers stronger?”
“It could. Or it could be that you are just more sensitive,” her brown eyes searched to make contact with his. Just the way she spoke made him feel as though she was searching for him to say more.
Okarun turned away, feeling uncomfortable from the scrutiny. There were some things he wanted to tell her, but he wasn't sure how. Or when. Or even if what she was wondering about was the same thing he was thinking? It felt like he just got to know her as a friend– when should it become.. more? But now the conflict of another concern weighed more heavily and he prayed that Miss Ayase wouldn’t take it the wrong way. His glance down the path to where the booths were supported his other concern.
“Wait, um.. where’s Jiji?”
The brunette shot him a look but didn’t press further. Instead, her gaze shifted, scanning the crowd with him. “He's not with Aira anymore?”
They retraced their steps, checking every booth and asking vendors, but Jiji was nowhere to be found. Even his mother, who was still at her small charm stall, mentioned Aira had left with some friends.
Miss Ayase sighed audibly, squinting at the large swirling flakes. Then, with a facepalm, she groaned. “Dammit– He transformed, didn’t he?”
“No…” Okarun blinked, and soon he was facepalming as well. Jiji had gotten better about reigning in that gungho yokai over small stuff, but yeah… They absolutely didn't think about the snow getting heavier! He suddenly felt responsible for not following through on his promise to watch him. “We have to find him now.”
Miss Ayase nodded, exasperated. “He probably wandered off in his yokai form. It’s like dealing with a six-year-old sometimes!”
“He is better about keeping his promise to not hurt people... but..” Okarun’s thick eyebrows were arched high with concern. He knew better, that despite who the Evil Eye was, his combined ability with Jiji's to learn and strategize from their tactics was unnerving.
“Well, he just talks about wanting to murder them instead. But we should find Jiji before he does do something.”
Their search led them away from the bright festival lights, into a quieter area near the shrine. Much of the natural land and trees around that area were preserved against the surrounding urban sprawl. The snow fell thicker here, muffling their footsteps. They came across any area that looked like a garden with more pine scattered about and benches here and there. But no Jiji.
Okarun’s voice was tinged with guilt when he finally voiced his next concern, “I'm sorry Miss Ayase, I jinxed him earlier. I teased him about his nickname, and called him the Abominable Snowman!”
She paused, her expression unreadable at first, before bursting into laughter.
“I was being serious!” Okarun protested.
“It’s fine,” Miss Ayase said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find him.”
They walk a couple minutes more in silence, looking amongst the trees off the path, before calling out for Jiji again. Finally, they spotted him near the treeline, and confirmed their suspicions that he transformed into the Evil Eye. His hair was more blonde and his expression held the shadow from his yokai. He wasn’t alone, however. A woman with long black hair and a white kimono stood beside him, her beauty otherworldly. She glowed faintly, her figure wrapped in the flowing kimono that seemed to blend with the snow.
“Who’s that skank?” Miss Ayase hissed, not caring if she was supernatural or not.
The eerie woman turned to them, her lips curled into a smile and her voice as smooth as ice. “I'm sorry, you must be mistaken…” she simply responded, and then stepped away with the taller teenager.
Something must have been done to Evil Jiji. He only stared blankly at them, not even recognizing them. Before, the adolescent poltergeist would immediately brighten up as soon as he saw Okarun to ask if it was time to fight.
Okarun’s heart raced. He began to sense it now, the aura around this strange lady was suffocating, cold and malevolent. Turbo Granny’s power increasingly wanted to erupt as well, but he held back. He fought with that desire because there was no proven reason yet. They didn’t even know exactly who they were going up against.
Miss Ayase was first to step forward and grab Evil Jiji’s arm to stop him from following the other woman. “Where are you taking him?”
The pale lady's smile faltered, her face momentarily distorting into something grotesque. “Ah, he belongs to me now.”
Her translucent form shimmered like frozen glass. She hovered by their captured friend, whose Evil Eye flickered weakly from the part in the teen's frosted bangs.
Okarun’s fists clenched, his breath fogging in the icy air. Whatever this apparition wanted, she did not sound friendly. That was all he needed to know as he yanked off his shoes and shrugged out of his haori coat (because of course, these things always happened when he was wearing something nice).
A sharp, electric jolt of adrenaline coursed through him like a cold surge igniting his blood as he called on his full Turbo power. Raw energy seared through his veins as the red markings bloomed across his cheeks, his irises burning crimson. His frame elongated with an eerie, audible crack, limbs stretching, bones realigning as his human form gave way to something faster, sharper, more predatory.
Wisps of etheral flames changed his hair white and red, the transformation completing with a wicked jowl that stretched unnaturally across his ashen features- Turbo Granny’s telltale muzzle, lined with razor-sharp teeth. A spectral red aura crackled to life, licking hungrily at the stiff collar of his montsuki yukata, the fabric itself seeming to shift with the energy pulsing off him now.
“I really don’t like your vibe, yo,” he now stood protectively next to Momo-chan, glaring at the spectral figure. If she was smart, she would leave them alone.
“Great, it's a Yuki-onna,” Momo whispered to him, giving a little more insight on the matter. “She's about as bad as Reiko Kashima."
“Bummer…” That ghost was a tough one, from what he heard. He looked at the Yuki-onna more intently, figuring out what her motive would be, or what her weakness was. Would the power of friendship work agai–
The ghastly woman’s darkening eyes had locked onto Yokarun's, a feral grin spreading across the face of her true form. “I see.. you're lost too. Let me help you.”
"Do-n tak- ano.. er -ep.." Momo warned the woman, hands held out at the ready towards her.
But his words, his thoughts, they were literally frozen. Yokarun couldn't move, or be support for Momo. Even when she spoke, it sounded like he was underwater and could barely hear her. The yuki-onna had some way to control him... god, was it possible to be possessed by two spirits now?
Oh... wait, he looked at her eyes, didnt he? Shit. This was extremely depressing!
“..Okaru– ! No- yo- ..too- ”
Something was tugging at his arm, but damn, everything felt so heavy, so cold– he didn't even go all out yet. I’m sorry.. can’t… the regret of not being able to do anything now really gnawed at his core. Why does this always.. happen... why? Why does he always fall short- but his downward spiral of thoughts were interrupted by a new soothing voice that he could hear clearly. The biting cold faded into a pleasant comforting feeling, even though it was dark.
"Don't worry, my child... everything will be okay. Your friends will be fine on their own. Just come along with me..."
Where..?
"Just let my voice guide you from the dark..."
Are.. you sure? I'm afraid.. I don't want to be alone.. where is Mo-
"Shhh.... you don't need to worry.. I will be with you ..."
Oh, I.. I'll try.. just can't see....