Tokyo Ravens - Volume 14 - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3 - The Day of Ritual 
Part 1 
Grey dawn rose from the eastern skies, gradually brightening up the entire sky. A tall tower standing in a distance basking in the morning sun, shining with sliver white radiance. 
The Reien [11] welcomes dawn while being covered in thick morning fog. 
This is a tranquil world belonging to the dead. Once in a while one will be able to hear chirping sounds from anxious birds, plants in slumber are awakening gradually as well. 
It’s been some time since he visited, nothing about this place has changed, it gives people a misconception that they had just visited the day before. Time seem to stop at the point of the first visit, making a turn at the same junction, just like before, only realising he was walking in the wrong direction after some time, smiling bitterly while making his way back to the junction, walking towards another direction. 
Then, Ohtomo Jin arrived before her grave. 
“… How are you? Sensei…” 
Knock, his cane and artificial limb knocked lightly, Ohtomo steadily make way towards the grave. 
That is the teacher when he was studying in Onmyou Academy, Wakamiya Eri’s grave. 
“I have mention this before, right? It wasn’t long ago that I’m like sensei being a lecturer in Onmyou Academy, moreover, it wasn’t long ago that I heard your name from one of the students in the class that I’m tutoring.” 
Ohtomo looks calm, he then started chatting with his past mentor. 
“Sensei, you have been gone for so long, yet, to hear your name from someone else— to be exact, hearing it from my own student, gave me a fright, to be honest, I am ashamed to see you, I just wanted to see you for the last time…” 
Finishing his words, Ohtomo kneel before the grave, putting his cane aside. 
He took out and lit the incense, placing it on the holder, he then prayed silently with both his palms together. 
At this point, he unknowingly started recalling about the past— the events when he was still a student, he wasn’t anyone important during that time, yet he thought he was far more mature than anyone else. With regards to his techniques, he held strong confidence in himself, thinking that the things he knows were deeper than any other people. Even though he wasn’t foolish enough to mention this around people, but to use this as the source of pride and responsibility is truly naïve and silly. 
With this kind of Ohtomo, there were two friends that was always beside him. 
Kogure Zenjirou and Saotome Ryou. 
Kogure’s great intelligence crushed Ohtomo’s conceit, his inborn sense of justice and honesty brought a brand-new perspective for Ohtomo. Even his carelessness, casual and happy go lucky shortcomings, all became a reason to train Ohtomo himself as a support from the side to be careful and alert in everything. 
As for Saotome, she made him realise that there isn’t a mountain which is the tallest. He will realise that he had cultivated patience that allows people to unreasonably make fun of him, and feeling this kind of relationship to be carefree, is also due to her. More importantly, they made him understand that one shouldn’t judge someone based on their appearance, views or demeanour on the surface, it is necessary to reach the same standard as the other party in order to have actual thoughtfulness and farsightedness. 
However, these were reflections that he made after things happened. 
The him at that time thought these two people by his side is a matter of course, never once considered the meaning or value behind it. 
Naturally and normally. 
They never even once thought about the future, everyone was still young and inexperienced at that time, he himself is, Kogure is, at least Saotome is no exception. 
“… These things don’t seem happened too long ago eh…” 
Opening his eyes, Ohtomo smiled bitterly in front of his mentor. 
After graduating from Onmyou Academy, the three of them joined Onmyou Agency at the same time. They kept contact with Wakamiya sensei after graduation, the [Three Crows of 36th Batch] seems to be students that have a special place in sensei’s heart. From then on, they should have a senior and junior relationship in the society— that should be the case, but in the end, they maintained a teacher and students relationship. 
The long winded Wakamiya is often the source of Ohtomo’s headaches, however, Kogure is different, in his heart, he wasn’t happy that he was still being treated as a student. He still remembered how he and Saotome met up in secret to discuss about this, fanning the flames from the side. After that an angry Kogure scolded them— but the two of them continued to be busybodies trying to patch them up. Wakamiya was kept in the dark and she continued happily watching the three of them. 
Little did she expect that she was the reason that the three of them broke off. 
Thinking back calmly, the three of them already had an opportunity to split. Saotome was researching about Yakou to the point of becoming strange, Kogure was so busy with his job as an exorcist, Ohtomo on the other hand was in the Mystical Investigation Department, busy dealing with the dark side of Onmyou Agency. Without knowing, the three of them weren’t as close as before, to the point that they did not send a message or made a call to each other for a few days or even a few weeks. In other words, Wakamiya’s existence became the sole factor that continue maintain the relationship between the three. 
Then, Wakamiya died. 
When Wakamiya died, Saotome disappeared without anyone knowing, Kogure closed off his heart, Ohtomo became alone in the end. 

He now understands, the him at that time— only he was stuck at that point of time… No, as a matter of fact, he unknowingly stopped moving forward. 
Saotome went to the dark side for her goals, Kogure kept on exorcising spiritual disasters in order to fulfil his duty, Ohtomo, in order to find out what happened, went into the static time alone, losing a leg in the end and left the Mystical Investigation Department. 
He originally thought that this incident was over, but it was unknown if it is fortunate or unfortunate, that there is a continuation of it. 
Until he noticed it, things had already developed into the current state. About being ashamed to face sensei, is Ohtomo’s most sincere and honest words. 
“And, I’m sorry. Kogure that guy seemed to have slipped up eh… but the other party did not kill him straightaway, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope. Although I have no right to ask such a thing of you, but if that fool is still alive, please protect him. Another thing, Suzu that fellow… no, there is no need to be concerned about her, she won’t die so easily eh…” 
A dry, lonely and bitter laugh slipped out of his lips, Ohtomo looked at the grave. 
He did not mention anything about himself, because he knows that he does not have the right to do so, also, he does not wish to ask for forgiveness from the other party for the crimes that he is about to commit. 
The summer two years ago, the contract established between the demon and himself. 
Next is to resolve everything before the deadline of the contract. 
“… The me right now is older than sensei, yet I still couldn’t become a lecturer like sensei eh. However, I do have a bunch of exceptional students eh, after all, every sensei’s students weren’t good students.” 
Finally, Ohtomo smiled, he picked up his cane and stood up. 
“— I’m leaving eh.” 
After finish speaking, he left the Reien. 
Knock knock, the morning Reien reverberates with a dry voice. 
Leaving Wakamiya’s grave, after turning through the previous junction, “… So?” a formless voice appeared beside Ohtomo. 
“So, just like that you have put down everything?” 
“… You really like to joke around, whether or not my heart still has any worries, it will all in the end depend on the conclusion today eh.” 
He replied his Shikigami this way— the demon that is possessing himself, while walking towards the exit of the Reien. As he walked, he adjusted his mentality. 
Changing the past memories into the desperate reality now. 
Changing from the carefree teacher into the experienced previous Mystical Investigator. 
Changing Ohtomo Jin into [Shadow], swapping out his entire body of cells, train of thought and even the aura that is surrounding his body. 
Today is the day of showdown, defeat is not allowed. 
“Can this be really go smoothly?” 
As he listened to the laugh, Ohtomo replied very calmly. 
“Sure, because this is where I’m extremely well versed.” 
 
A small sized female entered the empty Reien quietly, her hands holding a small bouquet of flowers. That is white Chrysanthemum, the flower that is used for worship and sacrifices. 
Perhaps due to not visiting for a long time, she kept looking left and right, seemingly trying to confirm the location. Then, she finally found the grave that she is looking for, once she is in front of the grave, she was shock frozen, stopping in her tracks. 
The incense holder in front of the grave is holding incense. 
The incense is left with less than half its length, but the incense is still burning with a thin smoke. 
She immediately turned over, “… Jin.” Calling out this name. 
Of course, there was no reply. She held the bouquet in front of her chest, for a while she attentively listened to the surroundings, trying to pick up knocking sounds of someone walking. 
Then, she let out a breath, shaking her head, facing the grave once again. She knelt down in front of the grave, putting her palms together after offering the bouquet of flowers, lowering her head in silence. 
She kept her head lowered, far more longer than the previous visitor.