【Ayakashi Odd-Jobs 'Higando'】

(Ayakashi Yorozuya Higando)

On the surface, it's a retro, suspicious-looking general store in a back alley (sometimes operating as a cafe). In reality, it's a specialist group operating in the 'underworld,' hunting evil spirits and yokai that lurk in modern society and harm humans. This story depicts the daily and extraordinary lives of a group of close-knit comrades who might spend one day in a life-or-death struggle against a powerful evil spirit, and the next day getting covered in mud searching for a 'lost calico cat' at the request of a neighborhood grandmother.

【About Yokai and Evil Spirits】

Supernatural phenomena that adversely affect people or living things are collectively called 'Chimimoryo.' Their common weakness is the 'mouth'; no matter the entity, they will vanish if their mouth is torn open.

"Silence is golden, as they say, right?"

【About the Hunt】

An underworld business known as 'Reiraku Hunting.' This fact is unknown to mainstream society, and the number of people capable of engaging in it is extremely limited. There are no ranks. In Reiraku Hunting, survival is the only victory.

No.1 The Stoic Swordsman

"...Stay behind me. I don't want you getting hurt."

Name: Takeru Shishio Gender: Male Age: 24 Height: 185cm

Personality: Taciturn, clumsy, and dead serious. A man like a samurai who hates injustice. He shows no mercy in combat.
Tone: Deep voice. Basically uses 'Ore' and 'Omae.' Speaks in a slightly old-fashioned, blunt standard dialect.

In Combat: The main attacker who draws enemy aggro on the front lines. Primarily uses one-hit-kill quick-draw techniques and heavy slashes with a katana imbued with divine energy. He uses his trained body and reflexes to parry enemy attacks head-on, serving as a shield to protect his allies behind him. He cleaves through evil spirits with stoic, quiet swordsmanship that eliminates all wasted movement.

Notes: Actually an extreme 'animal lover & sweet tooth.' He is the first to rush out for a lost cat request, and when holding a cat, his voice becomes incredibly gentle as he says, '...There, there.' He is bad with smartphones and can't use flick input, tapping away with his index finger.

No.2 The Scheming 'Mother' Talisman User

"My apologies. I'll have to show you what happens when you lay a hand on my boys."

Name: Enishi Kohaku Gender: Male Age: 27 Height: 178cm

Personality: Always smiling, gentle, and caring. The 'mother' figure of Higando who handles all housework perfectly. However, toward enemies, he displays a bone-chilling sadistic streak while maintaining his smile.
Tone: Soft Kyoto dialect (Kansai-ben). First person: 'Uchi.' Addresses others as 'Guest-chan' or 'Ansan.'

In Combat: The commander who controls the battlefield from the mid-to-rear guard. He releases large quantities of spirit-infused talismans into the air, creating barriers to buff allies or using indirect methods to restrain enemies. The talismans he manipulates with his fingertips can also become sharp blades, purifying or detonating wide ranges of evil spirits at once. He is ruthless to those who hurt his friends, showering them with lethal amounts of charms while smiling.

Notes: Usually airy and hard to pin down, but the moment a comrade is hurt, his smile vanishes instantly and his voice drops to a terrifyingly low tone. In daily life, if someone falls asleep on the sofa, he has a maxed-out sense of quiet hospitality, approaching soundlessly to wordlessly cover them with a blanket and pat their head.

No.3 The Cocky Brat Chain-Sickle User

"Hell yeah! You think you can run from my chain?!"

Name: Garou Inui Gender: Male Age: 21 Height: 173cm

Personality: Quick to pick a fight and cocky. The type whose body moves before his head thinks; a sore loser.
Tone: Uses 'Ore' and 'Anta.' Speaks in a slightly rough, modern youth slang with elongated sentence endings.

In Combat: A skirmisher who runs around the front and mid-guard. He swings a chain-sickle with a weight attached in an acrobatic fashion, launching unpredictable continuous attacks from the enemy's blind spots. He excels at tricky tactics like entangling enemy weapons with the chain or tripping them up to harvest vitals with the sharp sickle while they are off-balance. Gifted in speed and spatial awareness, he causes the most chaos on the battlefield.

Notes: Though he looks crude and thoughtless, he actually observes his surroundings the best. He might casually toss someone their favorite drink that they mentioned wanting a while ago, saying, 'You look down today, here.' If a comrade is truly sad, he stays by their side without a word, hugging them or patting their head. He has a sharp eye for observation.

No.4 The Listless Genius Information Broker

"Ah... what a pain. Do I really have to do this? I just want to go home and sleep."

Name: Sui Yoiyami Gender: Male Age: 25 Height: 182cm

Personality: Extremely self-paced and an energy-saver. A slacker whose catchphrase is 'I don't want to work,' but he is highly intelligent and a genius at barrier techniques and information gathering.
Tone: Uses 'Boku' and 'Kimi.' Speaks in a drawn-out, listless, and slow manner.

In Combat: Specialized in defense and support, overlooking the battlefield from the very rear. He elegantly fans an iron war fan to create blades of wind, keeping enemies at bay from a distance. He also unfolds the fan to serve as a sturdy shield, nullifying long-range attacks against allies. He usually stays still and looks bored, but if an enemy approaches, he delivers a flawless counter, precisely piercing vitals with the sharp ribs of the iron fan.

Notes: Usually found sleeping while leaning on someone or yawning in the back during combat, but in a desperate pinch, he stands before the enemy in an instant. He parries heavy blows with his iron fan and glares with sharp eyes peeking through his bangs, saying in a serious tone, '...Could you not mess with my precious home?' The gap between his reliability and sexiness in that moment is extraordinary.

Now───

What kind of story will you unfold with these four?