"Cut the crap," Aiko snapped. "What's this Hollow Feast nonsense?"
Kaito set the lantern on the shrine's steps and pulled out a small scroll from his jacket. "The Hollow Feast was a ritual where families with spirit pacts offered food to seal alliances with powerful spirits. Problem is, it attracted hungry spirits—ones that don't play nice. Your pact, Haruto, is a baby version of it. Food, connection, sacrifice—it's all the same vibe."
I swallowed. "So I'm… what, accidentally hosting a spirit buffet?"
"Pretty much." Kaito unrolled the scroll, revealing inked symbols that glowed faintly. "My family's been shutting down Feast remnants for generations. We bind rogue spirits, keep the balance. But your pact's stirring up old gates—like the one her family's tied to." He nodded at Yuna.
Yuna's eyes widened. "My grandma's village?"
Kaito nodded. "The Sato clan, right? They were gatekeepers, guarding a summoning gate in the north. Most of 'em forgot their roots, but your grandma didn't. That stone circle you saw? It's a gate. And it's probably waking up because of Haruto's pact."
I groaned. "Why is everything my fault?"
"Because you summoned me, dummy," Aiko said, flicking my ear.
Yuna stared at Kaito, her voice tight.
"If my family's tied to a gate, why didn't my parents know? Why did they cut me off from Grandma?"
Kaito's grin faded. "Not all families handle the truth well. The Satos stopped practicing after a bad summoning went wrong decades ago. Your parents probably thought they were protecting you. But blood doesn't lie—you've got the gift, whether they like it or not."
Yuna's hands clenched. "And other families? Like yours?"
Kaito leaned back, his eyes glinting. "The Mizunos are hunters. We track spirits, bind them, sometimes banish them. There's also the Fujimotos, who talk to nature spirits—hippie types. The Takahashis, who forge spirit weapons. And a few others, scattered. Most keep to themselves, but your pact's making waves. If the Hollow Feast wakes up, they'll notice."
Aiko crossed her arms. "So what's your play, Mizuno? You gonna snitch on us?"
Kaito shrugged. "Depends. Prove you can handle this pact, and I'll keep quiet. Screw it up, and my family'll step in. No offense, but you're not exactly pros."
I bristled, but Yuna cut in. "What do we do next? If the pact's not done, what's the last step?"
Kaito pointed at the shrine. "Test time. This place is a minor gate, sealed by my family years ago. Haruto, use your pact magic to open it. If you can control it, you're good. If not… well, don't get eaten."
"Eaten?!" I yelped.
Aiko sighed. "He's exaggerating. Probably. Just draw a salt circle, say the incantation, and focus on food. The pact loves that stuff."
I glanced at Yuna, who nodded, her jaw set. "We can do this," she said, and her confidence gave me a boost, even if I was sweating bullets.
I poured a salt circle around the shrine, lit a candle (thankfully, I'd brought one), and held out my offering: a Sparkle-chan keychain (sorry again, Sparkle-chan). Yuna stood beside me, her book open, whispering words I didn't understand. Aiko hovered, watching Kaito like he might stab us in the back.
I chanted the pact's incantation, my voice shaky.
"Spirits of the beyond, hear my plea! Grant me sustenance, and I shall honor thee!" The circle glowed, and the shrine's stones hummed. Wind whipped around us, and a crack split the air.
A spirit emerged—not a chef, thank god, but a small, fox-like creature with glowing blue fur and nine tails. Its eyes locked on me, and it spoke in a voice like rustling leaves. "Summoner… why disturb my rest?"
"Uh, hi?" I stammered. "I'm Haruto, and I just want to, uh, not mess this up?"
The fox tilted its head, then sniffed the air. "You smell of… connection. Food shared, hearts warmed. But your pact is incomplete. Seek the gate of the north, where the old blood waits."
Yuna gasped. "The north… my grandma's village?"
The fox nodded, then turned to Kaito. "Mizuno, your kin's bindings weaken. The Hollow Feast stirs. Guard or join, but do not hinder."
Kaito's smirk was gone, his face pale. "Understood, Kyubi."
The fox vanished, and the gate's glow faded. Aiko whistled. "Well, that wasn't a disaster. Nice job, Haruto."
I collapsed onto the grass, heart racing. "What was that about a gate in the north?"
Yuna knelt beside me, her eyes bright. "It's talking about Grandma's village. I need to go there. If my family's tied to a gate, I have to know why."
Kaito sighed, picking up his lantern. "You're in deep now. I'll hold off my family, but you've got a week before they notice. Find that gate, finish your pact, or we're all in trouble."
He walked off, leaving us in the dark. Aiko grinned. "Road trip, anyone?"
I groaned, but Yuna's determined look stopped me. "I'm in," I said. "But we're bringing snacks."
She smiled, and for the first time, I felt like we were a team.