"Looking for me? Who's looking for me?"
Hearing that someone was seeking her out, Kazusa Touma frowned slightly, a hint of impatience appearing in her eyes as she casually waved her hand.
"I need to prepare for the piano competition at the end of the year, no time. Tell her not to come... no, just don't reply at all."
"Um..."
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama showed a hesitant expression, moving closer to Kazusa Touma and whispering near her ear.
"That... could it be that girl you saved a few days ago? Shouko Nishimiya from our year?"
"What?"
Hearing this, Kazusa Touma seemed to be recalling something. After a few seconds, she finally appeared to remember and turned to Yui Yuigahama with slight surprise.
"Yuigahama, you actually know that girl's name? That's so like you."
"Um... you're really too..."
Yui Yuigahama wore an utterly helpless expression, not knowing where to even begin complaining.
So you, Kazusa Touma, saved a girl wearing a Sobu High School uniform who appeared to be around our age, and then just completely forgot about it?
Any normal person would at least try to find out if there's such a girl in school, what her name is, what she's like - at minimum to ensure she doesn't reveal what she saw that day, right?
Yui Yuigahama shook her head slightly, thinking that although this Kazusa Touma appeared quite aloof and had that ice queen beauty type, the more she interacted with her, the more she felt...
Apart from piano, Kazusa Touma was practically an airhead when it came to common sense.
Not to mention, it had a certain contrast charm.
Yui Yuigahama hadn't told the other members about what happened that day. Only she and Hina Amano, who, like Kazusa Touma, couldn't yet materialise their Soul Materialisation ability into clothing, had been waiting nearby in case things went wrong.
"Maybe... we should meet?"
Hearing Yui Yuigahama's words, Kazusa Touma looked thoughtful, turning to Ye Xing beside her.
"What do you think?"
Ye Xing waved his hand indifferently.
"Up to you, I'm fine either way. I wasn't the one who saved her anyway. She probably wants to thank you, but your usual image is too intimidating, so she doesn't dare approach you easily."
Kazusa Touma frowned slightly.
"My image is intimidating? What are you talking about?"
Hearing Kazusa Touma's words, Miko Yotsuya maintained her expressionless face and spoke softly.
"You seem to have a significant misunderstanding about your own reputation, Touma-san, as well as our club's standing within the school."
"Is that so?"
Seeing Kazusa Touma's uncertain expression, Setsuna Ogiso, who had joined the club most recently, nodded in deep agreement.
"That's absolutely true. To be honest, when I first went to the music room and saw you and Ye Xing standing there, I broke out in a cold sweat."
"Hmm?"
Kazusa Touma's frown deepened as she murmured in confusion.
"Why would that be..."
"Er..."
Everyone was rendered speechless by Kazusa Touma's obliviousness.
Could this be what ultimate nonchalance looked like?
This wasn't just about not caring about external opinions - you were so carefree that you didn't even know how poor everyone's image was at school.
Yukino Yukinoshita let out two cold laughs and said softly.
"Heh, you're such a love-struck fool that you probably only have eyes for Ye Xing."
"Well, yes. Is there a problem with that?"
Faced with Kazusa Touma's unabashed, straightforward admission, Yukino Yukinoshita was left speechless and defeated.
"Hmm..."
After thinking seriously for a moment, Kazusa Touma looked at Setsuna Ogiso sitting nearby and showed a slight smile.
"If Setsuna agrees to accompany me, I'll consent to meeting that Shouko Nishimiya."
Setsuna Ogiso blinked in surprise at this, hesitating as she replied.
"Eh? Me? I could do that, but... wouldn't you prefer Ye Xing to accompany you instead?"
"Him?"
Kazusa Touma glanced at Ye Xing beside her and said flatly.
"There are some things I don't mind, but there's no need to create more competitors for myself. I'm not stupid."
...
Twenty minutes later.
There were no special activities planned for today. Saki Kawasaki went shopping with Marin Kitagawa, while Kazusa Touma went with Setsuna Ogiso and Hana Yurikawa, who also enjoyed sweets, to eat desserts at the commercial street.
In the end, only Rio Futaba, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Ye Xing remained sitting in the club room.
"Regarding what comes next..."
Ye Xing looked at Yukino Yukinoshita and Rio Futaba, who were sitting at the table, and spoke slowly.
"The Metropolitan Police Department leadership still hasn't made any moves, and there's no news about appointing the next Criminal Affairs Director soon, but..."
Before he could finish, Rio Futaba had already understood his meaning and nodded slightly.
"Yes... among the Metropolitan Police Department leadership, there are dangerous individuals with spiritual power. Leaving them unchecked would be far too dangerous."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly and said quietly.
"You're not planning to..."
"You don't understand."
Rio Futaba glanced at Yukino sitting there and said in a flat tone.
"You're not a psychic. You haven't fought such beings face-to-face. They're no longer human - they're evil spirits wearing human shells, like during the Kyoto Tower incident. They're even worse than those things because they don't have souls at all."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked somewhat sceptical as she turned to Ye Xing and asked quietly.
"Is it as Futaba-san says?"
"Yes."
"Very well."
After receiving Ye Xing's confirmation, Yukino Yukinoshita nodded.
"I trust your judgement, so why wait until it's just me and Futaba-san to discuss this matter?"
"Because you two have the sharpest minds."
Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes showed a complex expression as she let out a soft sigh.
"Receiving your recognition under such circumstances really makes my feelings rather complicated. I don't know how to describe it."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses frame, her brow slightly furrowed.
"Then why not include Miko and the others? With more people..."
Ye Xing shook his head.
"Sometimes, more people isn't necessarily better. Right now, I only need you two. Rio, you can think from a psychic's perspective, while Yukinoshita-san, you play your original role. Perhaps it's precisely because we possess special powers that we overlook certain things."
"I see."
Rio Futaba responded noncommittally, stirring her freshly brewed coffee with a stirrer. She lifted the cup and took a sip, speaking without even looking up.
"That's what you say, but you just don't want to put too much pressure on Miko and the others with our current predicament, right? You never change your tsundere personality, no matter what. Tsundere is outdated now - you said that yourself."
"And there's one who hasn't gone out of style sitting right across from you."
"Tch."
Rio Futaba let out an ambiguous snort before asking.
"Let's confirm one thing first - there's no way to save these people, right?"
"Right."
"Then the answer is simple."
Rio Futaba took another sip of coffee. The hot, bitter aromatic liquid seemed to accelerate her thought processes.
"Find that evil god believer hiding among the Metropolitan Police Department's upper ranks, and eliminate them."
"Wait a moment."
Hearing Rio Futaba's proposal, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, deep in thought.
"Not long ago, the most prominent figure in the Metropolitan Police Department - the Criminal Affairs Bureau Director and head of the Special Operations Group, our collaborator Soichiro Yagami - just resigned to take responsibility. Under these circumstances, if another high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official suddenly dies, even if your actions are flawless with no witnesses and no traces left, the citizens of Kyoto will inevitably panic."
"You've said before that the evil spirits in the Reverse World are born from human negative emotions. Public opinion is something no one can predict..."
At this point, Yukino Yukinoshita paused briefly, a complex look deep in her eyes, as if she were remembering something, murmuring.
"And while atmosphere is something invisible and intangible, it can make people yield unconsciously. Combined with the wild speculation from media outlets, if citizens believe that even the Metropolitan Police Department, responsible for maintaining public order, can't protect itself, it will inevitably cause widespread alarm. Emotions and atmosphere are the most dangerous things that need vigilance and are uncontrollable."
Hearing this, Ye Xing nodded and smiled.
"Little sister-in-law, please continue."
"I've told you before... don't call me by that title."
Though Yukino Yukinoshita said this, she knew Ye Xing obviously wouldn't listen to her, no matter how many times she emphasised it. She could only sigh, collect her emotions, and continue her analysis.
"Although Chief Yagami publicly disclosed all information about the Seishu Akoya incident before taking responsibility and resigning, proving that Mask had indeed played the role of a hero stopping evil people as always during this incident, this remains an internal matter of the Metropolitan Police Department."
"My sister called me two days ago, and we briefly discussed this matter. She said that, from the perspective of good versus evil, Mask's actions were heroic. But in the eyes of certain high-ranking officials at the Metropolitan Police Department, this is still behaviour that brings shame upon the department and damages its public image."
"Now, without Chief Yagami to serve as the intermediary, if another high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official were to die and be discovered to be connected to Mask... no, it wouldn't even need to be discovered - even just through media guidance that makes people suspect a connection to Mask, the Metropolitan Police Department would inevitably have to take action."
"In the worst-case scenario, they would regard Mask as an extremely dangerous criminal, mobilising personnel from across Japan, even military forces, to pursue the investigation at all costs. If it truly comes to that, even our club's exorcism activities would probably be forced to cease."
After listening to Yukino Yukinoshita's analysis, Rio Futaba finally understood why Ye Xing had invited her to join the Supernatural Society.
This Yukinoshita's intellect wasn't just limited to academic matters.
"So that means..."
Rio Futaba picked up her coffee cup and took another sip, then removed her glasses.
"If we don't eliminate that out-of-control high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official, he'll most likely... no, he'll definitely use the Metropolitan Police Department's power to create a disaster within Kyoto, causing disturbances in the Reverse World."
"If we eliminate him, and if it turns out as Yukinoshita says - even assuming there are high-ranking figures among the media who are manipulated by the enemy and hold influence - then Mask would become an enemy of the Metropolitan Police Department, everyone in Kyoto would still panic, causing disturbances in the Reverse World."
"If this enemy... intentionally created this situation, they're far too clever. Not only do they understand how the Reverse World operates, but they can also use this knowledge against us. In my memory, this is the first time we've been at a disadvantage."
"Disadvantage?"
Ye Xing shook his head and spoke with a light laugh.
"You're wrong about that. We're clearly in a very advantageous position."
"Huh?"
Yukino Yukinoshita and Rio Futaba exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of doubt.
"Even in this situation, you call it advantageous?"
"Isn't it advantageous?"
Ye Xing gazed out the window at the scenery and spoke casually.
"No matter how many schemes they devise, no matter how many strategies they come up with, it ultimately can't change one fact."
Yukino Yukinoshita asked curiously, "What fact?"
Rio Futaba seemed to have thought of something, and before Ye Xing could speak, she answered thoughtfully.
"These so-called strategies... are only because the mastermind behind them doesn't have the ability to confront us directly. Everything they're doing is similar to what Shuten-dōji planned before... no, it's even worse than Shuten-dōji."
"The fact is, the psychics they've created are just incomplete products, completely lacking sufficient combat capability. That's why they're going to such lengths, using these methods that create panic among people, trying to create evil spirits capable of killing us."
After Rio Futaba finished speaking, Ye Xing smiled and nodded, adding.
"Moreover, the more actions they take, the more they expose themselves. No matter what, they're ultimately just human. As long as they're human, they have behavioural tendencies and goals they want to achieve. It's like putting together a puzzle."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but pause.
"Don't tell me... You understand criminal psychology, too?"
"I don't understand it, and I haven't studied it."
Ye Xing shook his head and said softly.
"But I have a friend who understands it very well."
The most diligent and dedicated member since the Supernatural Society was founded, the only one who could compete with Hachishaku-sama for the best employee award...
Light Yagami.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the clubroom.
Shizuka Hiratsuka opened the door, and seeing both Yukino Yukinoshita and Rio Futaba present, she didn't pay them much mind, instead looking directly at Ye Xing.
"There's something I need to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"In two weeks, our school is organising a school trip, right? The school administration is thinking of holding it jointly with Toyogasaki High School this time. It would be a good opportunity to show off our most outstanding student from Sobu High School in front of our sister school."
"Most outstanding student?"
Seeing Ye Xing pretending to be confused, Shizuka Hiratsuka said with some annoyance.
"Playing dumb on purpose, are you? You just want to hear me say it myself, that you're Sobu High School's most outstanding student?"
"That's not quite right."
Ye Xing waved his hand and smiled.
"What I mean is, you should be showing off the most outstanding student, and the most outstanding teacher."
"You..."
Hearing this, Shizuka Hiratsuka's cheeks visibly reddened. She turned her face away and murmured.
"Really now."
Rio Futaba rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that this guy, Ye Xing, was even starting to use direct attacks on their homeroom teacher.
Harem God, truly deserving of the title.
"Ahem."
Noticing the looks Rio Futaba and Yukino Yukinoshita were giving her, Shizuka Hiratsuka quickly coughed twice to cover her embarrassment, then changed the subject.
"Of course, based on your usual behaviour, the school administration has also considered providing you with something in exchange. That is, you can decide the location for the school trip, as long as it's within Japan."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally, then smiled as he looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka's expectant expression.
"It seems you've already decided on a location? Hokkaido? Okinawa? Or Tokyo?"
"Let's forget about Tokyo. I never want to go back to Tokyo again in my life."
Upon hearing Tokyo mentioned, Shizuka Hiratsuka couldn't help but recall that terrifying incident, a look of lingering fear crossing her face as she closed the clubroom door and sat at the table. Like a young girl eagerly anticipating a spring outing, she showed a pleading expression.
"There's a place called Itomori Town - have you heard of it?"
"Itomori Town?"
Hearing this location from Shizuka Hiratsuka, both Yukino Yukinoshita and Rio Futaba's expressions changed immediately. Yukino Yukinoshita quickly asked, "Shizuka-sensei... why are you suddenly mentioning this place?"
"Eh? You haven't heard yet?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka seemed somewhat surprised as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and placed it on the table.
"Look, this news just came out. In half a month, there will be a comet passing by that only occurs once every few hundred, or even thousand years. According to astronomers' analysis, the best viewing location within Japan is this small town called Itomori."
"Normally, school trips wouldn't go to such a remote place, but this time is different."
"Coincidentally, our three-day, two-night school trip falls exactly on the day the comet passes by. We can't miss such an opportunity."
Rio Futaba looked at the news report on the phone screen, then raised her head to gaze at Ye Xing, who was sitting by the window, her expression complicated.
"Itomori Town... isn't that exactly..."
Before Rio Futaba could finish her sentence, both she and Ye Xing, by the window, simultaneously saw several red threads suddenly appear in the air, rapidly forming characters that, though silent, conveyed extreme urgency just by their appearance.
[Greatest exorcist in history, help!]