The Fourteenth Night: My Wife's Childhood Friend

It was exactly like something out of a novel, the scene where the husband catches his wife and her lover in the act.

Though he was a man who had been embraced by yokai, he never imagined he would have such a clichéd and predictable experience.

The reactions of his wife and the young man upon noticing him were also predictable.

Their faces froze in shock, they quickly separated their bodies and straightened their disheveled clothes, and amidst the confusion, they desperately searched for the right words to say.

But thanks to these clichéd reactions, I was able to calm down my heart that was about to burst.

"Um... this is, uh... I mean..."

"Never mind that. Just calm down. Hey... sorry to ask, but could you make us some tea?"

Talking things out in this situation would only make things more chaotic. And so, they started over.

"Uh... the tea leaves are in the cupboard, right?"

"Oh... yes."

While my wife prepared tea, I'm facing the young man sat at a small table and observed the young man closely, noting that he was tall and thin, but didn't give the impression of weakness. On the contrary, he seemed to be in good shape as if he played sports or worked out regularly. His hair was short, and he didn't seem to care much about grooming or fashion, but his posture was proper and he gave off an impression of politeness and seriousness. As much as it pains me as someone whose spouse has been stolen away, I'd say he's quite an admirable young man.

He looked uncomfortable sitting in front of me.

Behind us came sounds of boiling water and preparations for tea being made by my wife.

From the sound of it, she seemed to have been in this room a few times before, but she didn't seem to know it too well.

"Here you go."

-Clink-

The teacups were placed on our table one after another.

Since visitors don't come often, the third teacup was a coffee cup.

And my wife sat in the chair next to the young man's position.

Of course, since I had to hear their story, it was only natural, but I still felt somewhat excluded.

As his wife sat down next to him, the young man's previously nervous demeanor seemed to disappear, replaced by a more masculine expression.

He stared at me as if he was glaring at me, perhaps ready to protect the woman next to him in case something happened (Not that I would ever do such a thing.)

He was like a knight in shining armor.

When he looked straight into my eyes like that, I felt guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong.

"Hey... how did you get here?" My wife surprisingly asked first.

I explained honestly that we were guided by yokai and came here.

My wife sighed and said, "You really are loved by yokai..."

No, it's you who is loved by them. In many ways...

Anyway, I urged my wife to introduce him to us. She replied with an explanation: "He's... Maa-kun... no, Masaki-kun. And just to be clear, I was the one who asked him to do this, so... well, Masaki-kun isn't at fault here, you know."

"Maa-kun"... That name made me feel uneasy because it was the name my wife moaned during our sexual fantasies involving "Kurotama".(Black Ball)

So this guy is Maa-kun? I never thought I would meet him so soon. If we convert his abbreviated name back to its original form from his previous world language system then it would be either Masaki or Seiki which suits his straightforward personality quite well. For now let's give him a nickname: "Mistress' Boyfriend Maa-kun". Yeah, that should be easy enough to remember.

Meanwhile Masaki himself kept staring at us while listening intently as my wife explained their relationship: they had been childhood friends living nearby when they were younger; she used to take care of him often and he followed her around like a real sister; After moving away, he returned to the area for college and they started seeing each other more often.

Normally she seemed childish, but my wife seemed older and more mature when standing next to Maa-kun. This was another side of her that I didn't know about.

From the way my wife talked about him, it seemed like Maa-kun was someone who felt like a younger brother to her... at least until now. On the other hand, he kept giving me harsh looks which wasn't surprising since he probably saw me as someone who stole his beloved sister= figure from him.

It was clear that he still had feelings for her, as a woman and not just a sister. This was evident from the way he reacted when their bodies accidentally touched and the way he looked at her from time to time.

This is how the relationship between the two was understood.

"Well then..." Here, I gulp and swallow my saliva.

Finally, we get to the main topic. Even I can feel myself getting nervous.

"So, could you tell me what the two of you were trying to do?"

"Well, there is a reason for that. Do you remember what I told you before about 'yin energy'?"

Ah yes, I remember. If I recall correctly, yokai emit something called yin energy during intercourse with humans which can cause discomfort or illness if it is absorbed into their bodies. And there is a way to purify it...

"Um...the thing is that the method for purifying yin energy involves having sex with a man..."

My wife explains shyly and hesitantly.

While she had been quite bold in bed with yokai before, it seems that sex with humans is considered different after all.

As for me the husband of a miko (shrine maiden), my role is also important: releasing any accumulated yin or evil energies from intercourse with yokai through our own sexual activity at night. This process is known as "yin extraction." However, in my wife's case, apparently not much of her yin energy gets removed during sex with me - perhaps due to our spiritual compatibility or maybe because she hasn't fully developed her powers yet? But most likely it's because I'm an otherworldly being.

"...So would you like to try doing this with Maa-kun?"

At my question this time around, my wife looks embarrassed and lowers her head while Maa-kun's gaze becomes even more intense - almost as if he might pounce on me any moment now!

This really comes as a shock...I've caused trouble for my wife without realizing it; everything has happened because of me! It feels like being told that I'm unfit as a husband...Am I really in the same category as yokai just because I'm from another world?

My wife must have kept this a secret from me to avoid hurting my feelings. Once again, I feel grateful for her kindness.

"...So what happens if you keep accumulating yin energy?"

According to my wife's explanation, it depends on the miko's constitution but it can lead to poor health or even illness. In any case, it will result in something bad happening. In the worst-case scenario (which is rare), one could accumulate too much yin energy and cross over to the other side, becoming a yokai themselves.

What if my wife turns into a yokai? That would be terrible! So without hesitation, I blurt out:

"That's terrible! You should have sex with Maa-kun right away!"

Upon hearing this, my wife's eyes widen and gradually her complexion changes...

Uh-oh...this is a sign that she's about to get angry!

"I Don't Want To!"

With those words thrown at us, she stands up and leaves the apartment without looking back - leaving only me and Maa-kun behind.

"Toki-ane has always been like that; once she gets upset like that no one can touch her..." says Maa-kun.

As expected of childhood friends - he knows my wife well. But still...did he just call her "Toki-ane"?

By the way, my wife's name is Tokiko. If we were using kanji characters similar to those used in our previous world then it would be written as 'Noriko'. (TL/N: TF Author only now you introduce the heroine's name)

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Author: [If possible, I would like to post one more story during the consecutive holidays... However, it all depends on everyone's support (wink-wink).] (TL/N: I don't know why i keep translate these author's notes despite its irrelevant)