21st Century Necromancer

"Kawakami Cemetery... Ah, we've arrived!" After arriving at the bus stop by bus, Jounouchi Hiromi stepped off and checked the address of Chen Yu's home on her notebook against the bus stop's name, confirming she had found the right place.

However, looking at the orderly tombstones on the little hillock opposite the bus stop, Jounouchi Hiromi couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, as if she regretted why she didn't go home after work, insisting on coming to Chen Yu's home instead.

By this time, the sky had grown dark, and the light was dimming, and although Japan's culture doesn't shun cemeteries, walking in such a place near a cemetery at dusk, especially when the surroundings were desolate, could still make one fear, particularly for a woman like Jounouchi Hiromi. It was natural for her to feel somewhat apprehensive.

Perhaps eager to escape this oppressive atmosphere, Jounouchi Hiromi briskly walked forward, following the address she had jotted down, trying to quickly locate where Chen Yu lived.

Fortunately, the apartment Chen Yu rented wasn't hard to find, and Jounouchi Hiromi soon arrived at his place.

Looking at the "Chen" sign hanging on the door, Jounouchi Hiromi suddenly felt nervous and hesitated for a long time before reaching out to ring the doorbell.

Is Chen Yu at home? Is it really appropriate for me to visit so unannounced? Should I have bought a gift as a courtesy? Is my outfit too plain for a first visit?

Standing at the door of Chen Yu's home, the thirty-something Jounouchi Hiromi was as hesitant as a young girl visiting her boyfriend's home for the first time. After a long pause and taking out a compact mirror from her bag to check her makeup and clothes, she finally mustered up the courage to ring the doorbell at Chen Yu's home.

"Hiromi? What brings you here?" The door was quickly opened, and Chen Yu poked his head out, showing a surprised expression on seeing Jounouchi Hiromi at the door; he clearly had not expected her to visit.

"Mr. Chen Yu, you didn't come to the hospital all day, so I got a bit worried," Jounouchi Hiromi explained shyly, "I inquired and found out you had taken the day off. I couldn't rest easy, so I came over. Also, I wanted to talk to you about Inomata-san."

Feeling awkward standing at the doorstep after explaining her reasons for coming, Jounouchi Hiromi glanced at Chen Yu and asked, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Hearing Jounouchi Hiromi express a desire to enter his home, Chen Yu's face showed clear hesitation; after all, his home was filled with various items he used for researching necromancy, things that couldn't simply be glossed over or ignored by Jounouchi Hiromi.

"Am I being presumptuous? Then..." Seeing Chen Yu hesitate even to invite her into his home, Jounouchi Hiromi, who had retained some hope, instantly felt an indescribable disappointment descend upon her, and her expression fell, "I'm sorry for the intrusion, I'll take my leave now."

Having said that, Jounouchi Hiromi turned to leave.

However, for some reason, Chen Yu reached out and grabbed her arm.

Jounouchi Hiromi turned her head and saw Chen Yu's face still hesitant, but he was holding onto her. Hope seemed to reignite in her heart, yet she feared another disappointment, so she simply let Chen Yu pull her along without urging him with words while looking at his hesitance.

"My home... isn't really suitable for visitors, but if you, Hiromi... won't regret it," Chen Yu obviously struggled internally, knowing that what he was hiding might be discovered by Jounouchi Hiromi. However, her gaze ultimately made Chen Yu decide to trust Jounouchi Hiromi, and he extended an invitation to her, "Please come in, I hope it won't scare you."

"Scare me? Is your place very messy? It's okay, I've seen how a guy's place can be before," Jounouchi Hiromi said nonchalantly, perhaps because she was delighted to have Chen Yu's permission to enter his home. She thought that Chen Yu was only worried about his home being too messy and scaring her.

Chen Yu gave Jounouchi Hiromi a meaningful look and did not explain, simply letting go of her hand that he had been holding and stepping aside from the doorway to let her into the house.

Taking off her slippers at the entrance, Jounouchi Hiromi finally stepped into Chen Yu's home, but the sight that greeted her was not the messy room she imagined. Instead, she was surprisingly greeted by tidiness.

The apartment Chen Yu rented was a common 1LDK in Japan, which in Chinese terms would be a one-bedroom and one-living room unit. According to the traditional Japanese architectural style, the entrance typically opens up to the kitchen and bathroom, with the living room that also serves as a sitting area beyond it, and the bedroom access through the living area.

Usually, the bedroom is only used for sleeping and storing more private items, with the main living area concentrated in the living room. Typically, if the owner has poor living habits, this area will naturally appear untidy. Plus, with the characteristically small Japanese construction, even those with tidier habits tend to accumulate lots of things in a 1LDK living room.

However, what surprised Jounouchi Hiromi was that Chen Yu's living room didn't appear cluttered at all. Everything was neatly arranged, and there wasn't the usual stench of a man's house. Instead, there was a faint scent of incense in the air. The room was very clean with no clothes hanging on the walls, giving Chen Yu's home an even cleaner and tidier appearance.

The only things that could surprise or scare Jounouchi Hiromi were the suddenly appearing Audis and the row of large glass jars placed against the wall of the living room.

"What a cute cat! Mr. Chen Yu, do you also have a cat? What's its name?" Perhaps trying to shift her focus, or maybe because she truly loved cats, Jounouchi Hiromi didn't pay attention to the row of jars filled with various strange items, like the collection of an evil scientist from a movie. Instead, she complimented Audis and walked up to it, stroking its head and asking Chen Yu for its name.

"Audis. He's a stray cat I picked up from outside," Chen Yu explained to Jounouchi Hiromi while motioning her to sit down. "Have a seat wherever you like, I'll go pour you a glass of water."

While Chen Yu was in the kitchen fetching water, Jounouchi Hiromi took a seat on the sofa. She quickly glanced at those jars that she couldn't ignore, and ultimately, she couldn't resist asking Chen Yu, "Mr. Chen Yu, are these... your collection?"

Jounouchi Hiromi's question made Chen Yu, who was holding a glass of water and about to serve it to her, suddenly freeze, unsure of how to respond.