Courage is—
 
“Right here in my heart!”
 
I jump. Straight onto the roof of the moving train.
 
“WOOOOOAH! KUROMARI-CHAAAAAN!”
 
No way I’d land cleanly. I tumble roll roll roll toward the back of the car, nearly falling off—but at the last second, I grab the edge and pull myself up.
 
With the wind whipping around me,
 
I wobble across the roof toward the front car, where Vice Captain Yanagishita is waiting.
 
“Are you an idiot?”
 
She turns and glares.
 
“Do you really like Shirakawa that much?”
 
“Well, I do like beautiful women~”
 
“Shirakawa and you—you’re both children.”
 
She sighs.
 
“What’s … Read the rest

First, I headed for Tokyo Station.
 
The Holy Grail was bound for Kyoto via bullet train. The Onmyo Bureau could’ve arranged for a special late-night departure, but that would’ve drawn too much attention—so instead, they opted for a regular schedule, replacing all passengers with undercover agents.
 
My plan was to charge in alone and take it back.
 
But—
 
When I stepped onto the platform, it was already a field of corpses. The Onmyo Bureau operatives, disguised as civilians, were all lying motionless.
 
“What the—? What happened—?”
 
I scanned the area and spotted Captain Hanayama—her … Read the rest

“I can’t sleep without a body pillow.”
 
Of course—I became the body pillow.
 
In the dark room, in the center of the wide bed, Captain Shirakawa had her arms wrapped around my head. Like Her Majesty, she was the type who slept in just her underwear.
 
So there I was—being held like a body pillow by a half-naked Captain Shirakawa.
 
My face was exactly at chest level. And of course, the size matched her title—Captain-class. Since I was a pillow, she even had her legs wrapped around me.
 
I was extremely nervous, but Captain Shirakawa … Read the rest

Chapter 4: Perfect
 

After school, I set down my bag and headed to Sakuradamon.
 
Exiting the metro ticket gates, I climbed the stairs to street level, where government ministry buildings lined the area.
 
Among them stood one unmarked building with no signage—the Onmyo Bureau headquarters.
 
I entered the lobby, took the elevator, and rode up to the third floor, where the 1st and 2nd Enforcement Divisions operated.
 
No one was at the desks, but as I lingered in the hallway, Captain Hanayama—the pink-haired squad leader—called out to me.
 
“Captain Shirakawa’s out today.”
 
Captain … Read the rest

“I’m heading to the batting cages. I feel like smashing some home runs.”
 
With that, Her Majesty went out alone again. After a while, I followed.
 
I checked the game center’s batting cages, but of course, she wasn’t there.
 
I searched the streets until I found her—fighting four people in white coats. Members of the angel squads.
 
In the middle of a deserted highway, late at night, she was battling men armed with swords and guns. Under the moonlight, Her Majesty gracefully dodged the gleaming arcs of their blades.
 
A traffic light, endlessly blinking red.… Read the rest

On the day of the party plans:
 
Intel reached the Onmyo Bureau that Kuromari-chan was riding a city bus. Yanagishita and the First Unit rushed to the scene. They stopped the bus, evacuated passengers, and searched it—only for a planted bomb to detonate.
 
Yanagishita survived that. She called Captain Shirakawa to report. But gunshots rang out mid-call, followed by a loud splash, and the line went dead.
 
Later, Onmyo Bureau responders found the bus ablaze by the riverside and a bloodstained railing. Forensic tests confirmed it was Yanagishita’s blood.
 
She’d likely been shot mid-call and fell … Read the rest

“I knew something was off! Someone as gorgeous as Shirakawa-san wouldn’t just suddenly fall for me! This was all part of your plan, huh?! I was actually starting to like you—!!”
 
Heartbroken, I try to storm off, but Captain Shirakawa chases after me and grabs my hand.
 
“Wait, wait! Sure, recruiting you was the goal, but I really do think you’re great, Madarame-kun.”
 
“I’m not falling for it agaaain!! A stunning older woman like Shirakawa-san would never go for a younger guy like me!”
 
“That’s not true,”
 
she insists.
 
“I actually prefer dating younger … Read the rest

“In reality, they’re called the ‘angel squads’ since they’re a unit blessed by angels. Every year at the fiscal year’s end, the higher-ups debate whether to officially rename the organization to match its actual nature—endlessly going back and forth, but…”
 
“That sounds like so much fun!”
 
“But it seems no one has the courage to change a name that’s been around since the Heian period.”
 
“So bureaucratic~ I wanna be part of that discussion!”
 
“Still, their strength is the real deal.”
 
“You don’t need to worry anymore,” Yanagishita-san says.
 
“The Holy Grail War is ending. There aren’t many demons who … Read the rest

Chapter 3: The Angel Squad
 

 
After several days in the hospital, I was discharged by the end of the year.
 
On New Year’s Eve, I set up a kotatsu at the British shop, and Her Majesty and I watched Kōhaku Uta Gassen while eating mikan (mandarin oranges). Midway through, Hana-chan joined us, and we all listened to the temple bells, lined up for first shrine visit, then came back to eat New Year’s soba.
 
Starting New Year’s Day, by Her Majesty’s orders, I was immediately roped into the first sales of the year. True to her … Read the rest

 
On social media and such, there are tons of people like “I experienced something amazing” or “I accomplished something incredible.” They sprinkle just a little powder of humility on the surface while strongly appealing their own greatness and righteousness. Of course, not just online, but in real life too.
 
“That kind of stuff is really inelegant to me. That’s why I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to say anything”
 
“Expecting people to understand you while staying silent is childish thinking”
 
“Yeah, you’re right. I probably should appeal and assert myself. Most people do … Read the rest