"Stupid! You're the kitten! I'm a high-class youkai with such a noble body! ”

"Really? But I still think it's cuter for you to become a cat. ”

"Bastard! That's just my disguise! ”

"Well, it doesn't matter. Judging by the way you look, you probably don't want to fight me, do you? Kakashi laughed.

Madara Wenyan's expression was solemn.

Reasoning, feeling this breath, Madara knew that he couldn't win.

"Who is this guy? With such a strong aura, has he completely stepped into the realm of the legendary gods? Looking at Natsume's appearance, it seems that he knows him, so he shouldn't have the idea of hitting a friend's account, right? No, such an existence, the friend account is meaningless to him at all. ”

Madara secretly said in his heart, with a lot of curiosity about this guy who suddenly appeared.

What's more, this guy's voice is exactly the same as his own.

"I'm going to be scared if you look at me so fiercely." Kakashi said with a smirk.

"Cut, boy, I'll let you go for now."

"Leave me alone? It's really unashamed. ”

"Humph!"

Natsume looked at the man and beast in front of him, feeling a little weird.

The voices of these two guys are really the same, and for a moment it feels like they are talking to themselves.

Kakashi looked at Natsume's friend account and smiled, "Natsume, it looks like you've found something interesting." ”

"Kakashi-san, this is my grandmother's relic, I want to return all the names on it to the youkai, can you help me?" Natsume whispered.

Kakashi scratched his head and said, "Well, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that I'm not familiar with this thing, and I'm afraid a lot of things won't help. However, this little kitten seems to understand a lot, and maybe it will help. ”

Natsume was stunned and looked at Madara.

A huge white body with a fox-like head and a red cane mark on its forehead.

Behind it is a white tail.

"Teacher Cat, would you like to help me?"

"Hey, I'll repay you for letting me leave the barrier. But when you die, your friend's account will be mine, won't you? ”

"Ah, it's an agreement between us."

"Then I'll reluctantly keep you safe." Madara said proudly.

"What a guy who doesn't have an uprightness." Kakashi laughed.

"What nonsense are you talking about! You bastard! Madara seemed to be seen through his thoughts, and shouted a little weakly.

"Nothing. However, Natsume, it seems that your life will become very troublesome in the future. Is it okay? ”

Natsume shook her head and said, "It's okay, I want to find traces of Reiko's grandmother's existence." Maybe following this book of friends will let me know the bits and pieces. ”

"It's fine. With this little kitten with you, there shouldn't be any problem. Kakashi laughed.

Natsume thought of something and said, "Kakashi-san, are you leaving again?" ”

"Not yet. It's a nice town, I'll stay for the time being. ”

"Really?" Natsume said excitedly.

"Hmm."

"Great!"

Madara stared at Kakashi intensely, as if trying to see through the man's purpose.

But unfortunately, nothing was seen.

Not far away, there was another sound of rustling.

Reiko...... Reiko ...... Give me back the name. ”

Natsume was taken aback and said, "It's that youkai again." Teacher Cat, what can I do to return this name to the youkai? ”

"I opened my friend's tent, and I thought of the monster, and said, My Guardian, his name. The friend's account will be opened automatically, and the page belonging to the monster will appear, tear it off, hold it in your mouth, put your hands together, hit the spirit, and exhale gently. The name in the contract will then enter the monster's body, and the name will be returned. ”

"I see." Natsume was stunned.

"It takes Reiko's breath and saliva. But you're Reiko's grandson, so you should be fine. ”

"This kind of thing, just try it, isn't that monster coming?"

Kakashi said, gesturing at the youkai that was speeding not far away.

One-eyed, white-haired, and more than two meters tall.

"Reiko, if you don't summon me, give me back your name."

The voice is poignant, not like a ferocious youkai, but like an outcast.

On the side, a long-haired youkai pounced on Natsume.

"Friend's account, it's mine!"

"It's really overwhelming."

Kakashi said, flicking his fingers, and a blue arc of lightning shot into the long-haired youkai's forehead.

"Ahh

With a scream, the long-haired youkai quickly fled.

"Natsume, let's do it." Kakashi said.

"Hmm!"

Natsume responded, and then shouted softly, "Protector of me! Make it famous! ”

The green friend's account automatically opened, revealing the white paper inside.

Boom.

The paper kept flipping, and then a piece of paper stopped in the middle.

"Is this it?"

Natsume muttered, tore it off, and held it in his mouth.

"Ryogaki, I'll give you back my name."

With a gentle exhalation in his mouth, ink-colored marks flew out of the paper and melted into the forehead of the one-eyed, white-haired youkai.

A burst of white light flashed, and a strange scene appeared in front of my eyes.

"It's so lonely, Reiko...... Reiko ...... Why didn't you come to me again. ”

Ryogaki kept muttering, and his memory seemed to go back to the first time he saw Reiko.

"I'm hungry...... Here's a bean paste bag, that's great! ”

Ryogaki said in surprise, stretching out his right hand to grab the bean paste bag that was placed on the shrine.

Just then, a hand reached out.

It was a beautiful maiden.

The girl unceremoniously swallowed the bean paste bun into her stomach.

"Ahh My bean paste bag! Ryogaki screamed.

After eating, the girl wiped her mouth with a look of disgust.

"This isn't very tasty."

"Damn, it's a human being, and he dares to do this. It's you who are too greedy! ”

"It's really not as delicious as Nanatsujiya. Let's have a fight, and if you can win me, I'll treat you to Nanatsujiya's bean paste buns, which are delicious. But if you lose, give me your name. ”

"Huh?"

……

"I won."

The wooden stick covered with the charm struck on the top of Ryogaki's head.

"It hurts."

Ryogaki whispered.

Ryogaki wrote his name and gave it to the girl.

"In that case, you are my subordinate, and if I call you, you must come here."

"Subordinates? What is that? Is it OK to eat? ”

"Well, you can't eat this. It probably means that you have to listen to me. The girl laughed.

"You...... What is your name? ”

"My name is Reiko, remember."

"Reiko?"

"Hmm. Goodbye then. See you another day. ”

Reiko waved her hand and left.

Ryogaki watched her leave, and there was suddenly an emotion in his eyes that he had never felt before.

She ...... Will it come back? ”

Ryogaki stood there dumbfounded, waiting.

Wait for Reiko to call her name.

But a long, long time passed, and I didn't see Reiko again, and I didn't hear her call.

Reiko...... Why didn't you call me...... Why...... I've been waiting for you. ”

"Didn't you call me today? Why? Reiko ...... Where are you ......"

……

I'm Ryogaki.

A youkai that lives in Hachihara.

By chance, I met a human woman named Reiko.

She seems to have great power, she can see me.

I lost to her, so I gave her my name.

The name has a very important meaning to the youkai.

Generally speaking, it will never be told to humans.

However, I handed it over to her.

Because of the bet, and because I wanted to tell her.

She seemed to be happy.

She also complimented me on my name.

Ryogaki, a beautiful name.

But I think her smile is more beautiful.

It's as beautiful as the cherry blossoms that day.

However, her face was scarred.

She told me that it was left behind by a human child who stoned her.

I wondered, why didn't she stay out of the way?

I know she can because she's strong.

But she didn't.

This human is so weird.

I was curious, and I wanted to ask her, but in the blink of an eye, she was leaving.

So, I wanted to ask her the next time I saw her, but I never saw her again.

She said she would call me and make me her subordinate.

But not once.

I waited for her every day next to the shrine, but she still didn't show up.

Why?

Why didn't she come back?

Why?

Why didn't she call my name?

She took my name, so why didn't she call me?

Why make me wait with anticipation.

I was originally a person, and I was originally lonely......

But......

Why do you have this expectation......

I'm getting more lonely......

Why take my name if you don't call me?

Reiko ......

I miss you so much......

I'm getting even more lonely than I used to......

If...... If you don't call me anymore, then give me back my name......

One day, I suddenly noticed a familiar smell.

This breath, is Reiko back?

Reiko, are you really back?

Isn't it you?

Turns out, you're already dead?

Humans are really weak creatures.

The white light faded, and Ryogaki stood in front of Natsume in a daze.

"Reiko, in the end, do you still feel lonely?"

"Thank you, Ryogaki, grandma won't be lonely anymore."

"Really? That's great. ”

Ryogaki smiled, but tears couldn't stop slipping from his eyes.

Reiko ......

It's gone......

Name...... Also back......

She didn't have to wait any longer, but ......

"Is it over?"

Kakashi looked at the two of them who were suddenly quiet in front of him and whispered.

"It seems that Natsume has already seen Reiko. When you return the name to the youkai, that memory will also be presented to Natsume. Madara said.

"Oh? It's a pretty good thing. In this case, Natsume may know his grandmother better. ”

"Hey, it's not a good thing to know that guy."

"Madara, it seems that you still have a lot of grudges against Reiko."

"That self-righteous guy ......"

Kakashi leaned closer to Madara's head and smiled, "What a bad guy, you miss that guy so much." ”

Madara was stunned, and a trace of inexplicability flashed in his eyes.

Missing?

The woman named Reiko.

No kidding!

"I won't!"

"Really?"

Kakashi smiled, and instead of teasing Madara again, he walked towards Natsume.

It takes a lot of physical strength to return the name of the youkai, and now Natsume is a little exhausted.

"Are you alright? Natsume? ”

Natsume shook his head and said, "It's okay, it's just a little out of strength." ”

"Looks like you need to exercise more. This body is too weak. Kakashi laughed.

Natsume touched his face in embarrassment when he heard this.

Kakashi turned to look at Hishigaki.

"Ryogaki? What a beautiful name. ”

Ryogaki was stunned for a moment, this familiar words ......

Reiko ......

Kakashi seemed to think of something and pulled out a bag of bean paste from behind his back.

"Ryogaki, this is Nanatsujiya's bean paste bun, I just bought it, are you interested in trying it? It's delicious. ”

"Bean paste buns? Nanatsujiya? ”

Hirigaki muttered the names and reached out to take the bean paste bag from Kakashi's hand.

Took one out and gently put it in your mouth.

"Is it delicious?" Kakashi asked with a smile.

"Hmm. It's delicious. No wonder Reiko would say it's the best bean paste bun in the world......"

Ryogaki cried......

Tears seeped through the eyes that filled the entire face.

It's just that the corners of her mouth show a satisfied smile.

"Really? It seems that Reiko is also a person of great taste. ”

A gust of wind blew.

Silver-white hair fluttered in the air.

At the same time, it also blew away Ryogaki's tears.

"Reiko ......"

Lingyuan called softly, and for a while he seemed to see the original figure again.

"Thank you."

Ryogaki said and disappeared in place.

Natsume was puzzled, "Kakashi-sama, how come you have a bean paste bag on you?" ”

"I just bought it. I didn't expect this monster to like it. ”

Natsume looked at the place where Ryogaki disappeared and smiled, "Yes, it's no wonder. Because that's what my grandmother used to tell her. It's just that Reiko's grandmother didn't take her to taste it in the end. ”

"Really? It seems that Reiko's memory is not very good. ”

"Perhaps. Kakashi-go, why did Ryogaki become more lonely because he was waiting for his grandmother? She was originally a person, and she was so lonely. ”

Natsume asked softly, perhaps something he couldn't understand in Ryogaki's memories.

Madara, who had returned to his cat form, watched silently, as if thinking about something.

"Because there are people who could have survived the darkness alone. However, because I have seen the light, I can't bear the darkness anymore. ”

Kakashi said with a smile, his eyes full of tenderness and nostalgia.

Madara was stunned for a moment, and his gaze at Kakashi became a little deeper.

Natsume looked at Kakashi as if he didn't understand, and for a moment, he seemed to understand that emotion a little.

He...... It seems to be waiting for Kakashi like this.

That kind of waiting without knowing the deadline is the most unbearable, right?

Kakashi picked up a fallen friend's tent and swept away the dust from it.

Madara is a little nervous, what is he going to do?

"Friend's account?"

Kakashi muttered to himself, then handed the friend account to Natsume.

"Natsume, do what you want to do."

"Hmm!"

Friends alternate in the hands of the two.

Under the glow of the setting sun, the friend's tent also seemed to emit a faint red light.