You never liked summer.

The bugs, the heat, the light-spirits that thrived in the blazing sun.

But you especially hated the vacation.

It was merely a social event, something the elite gushed over and praised your bastard father for.

"You're so good to your family Heburi-san!"

They'd coo and flatter.

Every time you heard that sort of language, it made you sick.

The 'loving family' vacations he presented to the rich in his circle were nothing but your own personal hell.

Your older sister, Minami, had a level seven contracted Yokai. She monopolized the love of your parents and isolated you, made you the outcast in your own home, and her own personal lapdog.

Any sort of agency would result in beatings, your reputation was tarnished, and your spiritual energy was so low that you couldn't even contract an unleveled spirit.

You were the definition of the word 'fodder', a cautionary tale Minami used to lift herself up.

Eventually, the 'luxury vacations' to that large vacation house in a small forest located in Northern Honshu turned into your banishment place.

Every summer, sometimes lasting longer than those three months, your 'family' would ship you off, allowing Minami to attend the social events without you there to 'stain her reputation and dull her shine'.

This year was supposed to have been no different.

---

Birds chirped as the run-down van spat you out onto the dirt path that led to the large house. Tall, familiar trees and foliage surrounded you, you'd been here countless times before after all, and so you didn't waste time, dragging your small suitcase up to the door, you fished out the keys and unlocked the door.

Everything inside was how it had been a few months ago, when you were last here. The only difference was the thin layer of dust that had settled over the floor and furniture.

Closing and locking the door, you put up a few talismans to ward off lower-level spirits before you headed upstairs.

You wouldn't have sensed the dark, ominous energy that seeped from underneath the closed door. You were too weak to sense the spirit that sat casually on the tatami mat inside of it.

As soon as you pushed the door open, your world shifted.