Page 60 of Son of Shadows

“Nothing.”

Koichi was stunned by his words. “Nothing? Has business been so good you’re giving kimonos away for free now?”

The yōkai sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, the opposite. We’ll be closing soon. My daughter has been sick. We finally found a doctor who can help her, but it cost us everything we had for the treatment. We can’t afford this little old place anymore.”

Koichi felt terrible for the creature. “That’s horrible.”

Haruki was on the verge of tears. “Oh, Shiragumo-san. I’m so sorry.”

Koichi twitched. He knew he shouldn’t even be thinking the thoughts in his head. He really shouldn’t. That money was for saving the world, not a yōkai kimono shop.

But he couldn’t stand here while the frail-looking spider in front of him needed help. It just wasn’t in him.

“I . . .” He coughed. “May have recently come into a bit of wealth.” He held out the thick, heavy purse and dropped it into the yōkai’s hand.

Haruki was aghast. “Koichi, how?”

He ignored her question. “Is it enough?” he asked the shopkeeper.

The yōkai nodded, shaking nervously. “Yes, but . . . how will I ever repay you?”

The gratitude made him feel awkward. “Don’t worry about it.”

Haruki hugged him. “Thank you, Koichi. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”

The two locked eyes for a moment, before Koichi glanced away. Haruki didn’t look the same when she was happy.

She was quite lovely like this.

Shiragumo took the coins. “Thank you, sir. If you ever need us, please let us know. We are eternally in your debt.”

Koichi tried to wave them off. “It’s all fine. I need to step out for a bit.”

He wasn’t used to being treated like a hero. It made him very uncomfortable.

After a while, Haruki came out of the store.

Ryuichi-kage shook his head. “That was amazing, Koichi.”

“Let’s not talk about it.”

“That money was lent to you by a yōkai, so we probably should. Not to mention that was all the money for the shinigami!”

Koichi hissed. “Don’t say that so loud. The last thing I want is to dampen Haruki’s joy.”

Besides, Koichi would think of something. He always did. Improvising was second nature to him. He was sure another chance would rear its head soon enough.

The universe will provide.

He believed that. Whenever he needed something, it almost always manifested. Just like the night before, in the izakaya.

Still, he needed to pay Haru back. Ryuichi-kage was right about that. That had been a lot of money to blow in a single day.

Maybe he shouldn’t have been so hasty.

Then the universe delivered a mighty blow.

When Koichi turned around, he bumped into a familiar body of muscle and fur.