Chapter 137: Makinohara Shoko Coveted by Evil Spirits, Overly Innocent Hiratsuka Shizuka
Hearing Rio's words, Kazusa and Yui, the only two internal members without any special abilities, both looked thoughtful.
Yui's thought had never changed from the beginning.
She liked the Super-Quant Club, liked everyone in the club, and the atmosphere of working together for a goal.
To stay here forever, she must become a true spirit medium.
Kazusa also wanted to awaken the ability of Soul Manifestation, but for a reason completely different from Yui's.
She wasn't familiar with the members of the Super-Quant Club.
Even today, Kazusa hadn't remembered that long and weird name of this club.
She just wanted to be with Yoru.
If she could also become a spirit medium, whether in school or club activities, fighting those evil spirits or whatever, the two could stay together.
This was very tempting for Kazusa.
After sorting out the new cognition of Soul Manifestation ability through Mai's awakening, Rio continued to analyze.
"Regarding the Kyoto City Hospital incident..."
She looked at Yoru leaning against the railing and frowned.
"Are you sure there was only that one evil spirit at that time?"
"Correct."
Yoru replied calmly.
"With the power of that white coat evil spirit, it is considered the stronger kind among the strangeness of this world, but far from the level where other evil spirits and ghosts dare not step into the area of Kyoto City Hospital."
Rio thought of this too.
Places like hospitals with frequent deaths and heavy negative emotions were the favorite areas for evil spirits and ghosts to stay.
But when Rio and Miko investigated Kyoto City Hospital yesterday, they found absolutely no traces of any evil spirits or ghosts except that little girl named Menma.
Generally speaking.
This situation only happened in areas where powerful evil spirits wandered.
But Yoru said at this time that the evil spirit wearing a white coat and dressed like a doctor absolutely couldn't reach such a powerful level.
Then this matter was a bit strange.
"Is there some evil spirit... we didn't discover..."
Rio frowned and looked at Miko beside her.
"Miko, what do you think?"
As an exorcist, Miko's experience was richer than Rio's.
She didn't dwell on why other evil spirits and ghosts didn't exist in Kyoto City Hospital but pondered what happened in the morgue and the supernatural event itself where patients who died during the day returned to life at night.
"Wait a minute..."
Miko suddenly seemed to think of something, her face changing.
"Perhaps, the reason evil spirits and ghosts dare not enter Kyoto City Hospital isn't fear of being eaten by stronger evil spirits."
"But because an existence they fear has already targeted Kyoto City Hospital, or rather, targeted someone in the hospital?"
Rio understood Miko's meaning immediately.
"You mean... that girl named Makinohara Shoko?"
"Correct."
Deep worry appeared in Miko's golden eyes.
"She has a similar constitution to mine, a natural-born spirit medium. The attraction of this constitution to evil spirits... I don't need to say more."
Amano Hina aside, although she hadn't participated in the discussion due to lack of seniority, nodded deeply in agreement upon hearing Miko's words.
Although she was a relatively special spirit medium, she also possessed great attraction to evil spirits.
That ten-meter-tall Titan Evil Spirit left an indelible impression on Amano Hina for life.
"However..."
Rio murmured to herself.
"Makinohara Shoko doesn't have any powerful guardian spirit around her. The evil spirit hidden behind the scenes, just its minions possess the power of 'Doors', definitely capable of attacking humans in reality. If it wants to eat, just eat her directly, right?"
Just as Rio and Miko were puzzled, unable to guess the purpose of the evil spirit's behavior, Yoru explained casually.
"Isn't this simple?"
"It wants to wait for Makinohara Shoko's spiritual ability to awaken fully, then occupy her body directly."
Hearing this sentence, the internal members of the Super-Quant Club were all surprised.
"Ah? Can such a thing be done?"
"Not sure."
Yoru shook his head and said faintly.
"But no matter which guess, Makinohara Shoko in Kyoto City Hospital has likely become the target of the evil spirit."
Rio frowned tightly, looking troubled.
"However, we can't guard there every day. School classes are secondary, but the Police Department also needs careful vigilance."
"It's okay."
Hearing this, Yoru waved his hand casually.
"I have let Hachishaku go over to watch. Once anything happens, she will notify through the contract between her and me."
"Hachishaku?"
Rio and Miko froze first, then spoke in unison.
"So she hasn't been eaten by you yet?"
Before Yoru could speak, Mai beside him snorted lightly and said meaningfully.
"Not only not eaten, Hachishaku is living a very nourishing life now, right, my cute junior?"
Yoru glanced at Mai and chuckled.
"Don't bark; didn't you eat very happily too?"
"You you you...."
Mai's face flushed red. She stole a glance at Rio and Miko, seeing the two only looked puzzled and didn't understand the deep meaning in Yoru's words, then breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted.
Just then, Yoru suddenly made a shushing gesture.
A few seconds later, the door to the rooftop was pushed open.
"Eh? Everyone is here?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka scanned around, finding all Super-Quant Club members except Marin, Kawasaki Saki, and Yukino gathered here, couldn't help being surprised.
"You go back to the clubroom first."
"Okay."
After the Super-Quant Club members left the rooftop, Hiratsuka Shizuka took out a slender lady's cigarette, put it in her mouth, lit it with a lighter, took a deep drag, stared at Yoru leaning against the railing, and said with interest.
"You kid, indeed interesting. Even that Touma student is willing to obey your arrangements."
As the homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka knew deeply how serious Kazusa's psychological problem was.
That couldn't be considered withdrawn anymore.
Simply like Kazusa alone isolating everyone else in Sobu High.
Hiratsuka Shizuka wanted to correct Kazusa's twisted personality.
However...
She had no way.
Kazusa's mother, Touma Youko, was a world-class pianist. Even the former national idol actress Mai couldn't compare with Touma Youko in world fame.
Moreover, Kazusa's own talent in piano was no less than her mother's.
Simply put.
As long as Kazusa didn't stab people with a knife in school, the Sobu High authorities wouldn't care.
Hiratsuka Shizuka had no good solution either.
Unexpectedly, such Kazusa would actually participate in a club.
And not just simply hanging a name, even participating in collective activities like discussing on the rooftop together.
If it were an ordinary person facing the praise in Hiratsuka Shizuka's words, they would inevitably be humble.
Yoru replied straight-faced and righteously.
"Need you to say? Don't I know I have personal charisma? Hmm?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka froze upon hearing this, then shook her head laughing dumbfoundedly.
"Yes yes yes, you are right."
This unreserved and undisguised, even seemingly arrogant attitude was indeed one of his unique personal charms.
Hiratsuka Shizuka walked over slowly, leaned next to Yoru, looked up at the rarely clear sky these days, took a deep drag of the cigarette, and spoke slowly.
"Why didn't you bring Kawasaki, Yukinoshita, and Kitagawa?"
As soon as Hiratsuka Shizuka said this, she was prepared to be retorted by Yoru.
She was even imagining what kind of words he would say.
None of your business?
Are you teaching me how to do things?
Shizuka-chan, don't bark.
Unexpectedly for Hiratsuka Shizuka, Yoru answered her question with rare normal words this time.
"Those three aren't considered truly meaningful Super-Quant Club members yet."
Seeing Yoru didn't retort with that consistent tough tone, while Hiratsuka Shizuka breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt inexplicably lost in her heart.
"The true meaning you said..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled meaningfully.
"Means members who like you are considered true members?"
"What tiger and wolf words (fierce words) are you saying?"
Yoru frowned, rolled his eyes at Hiratsuka Shizuka, and said a sentence she didn't expect but couldn't refute.
"If girls who like me could enter the Super-Quant Club, it would be a club of hundreds of people now."
"Uh..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka opened her mouth, finding no way to refute.
This statement really had no problem.
Don't look at Yoru's bad reputation in Sobu High.
Girls who liked him, from first grade to third grade, emerged endlessly.
After all, appearance is justice.
"Not talking about this with you anymore."
Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't forget she promised Yoru not to interfere in any affairs of the Super-Quant Club.
Managing to arrange two problem students, Kazusa and Yukino, into his club, she was already satisfied.
As for the running-in between them, it wasn't something she as a teacher should participate in.
"There is something I want to discuss with you...."
Before Hiratsuka Shizuka finished, Yoru interrupted directly.
"Date? Possible is possible, but not in school, after all, we are teacher and student. I'll send you the address after school; this time waiving the reservation for you."
Hiratsuka Shizuka blushed slightly, clenched her fist and shook it in front of Yoru, ashamed and angry.
"You... you aren't allowed to make such jokes with the teacher!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka composed herself, exhaled a long breath, sorted out her messy mood, then looked at the calm Yoru, biting her silver teeth lightly.
"What I want to discuss with you is..."
"I know, Private Shuchiin matter, right?"
Seeing Yoru state her intention directly, Hiratsuka Shizuka was somewhat surprised.
"How did you know?"
"Of course I know."
Miko had already told Yoru about someone stalking them in the mall that day.
She didn't know that blonde girl.
But hearing blonde hair, gyaru style dress, and most importantly...
Padding chest.
Combining these characteristics, plus that unique tracking skill like a ninja, Yoru could roughly guess the opponent's identity.
Private Shuchiin Academy's Hayasaka Ai.
And Hayasaka Ai's actions could only be for two reasons.
Either instruction from the Shinomiya Group's higher-ups.
Yoru felt even if Super-Quant Club members were targeted by the Shinomiya Group, the opponent wouldn't send a high school girl to track them.
Since that was the case, Hayasaka Ai's action could only be due to Shinomiya Kaguya's instruction.
Why Shinomiya Kaguya would be interested in Super-Quant Club members could only be related to Private Shuchiin matters.
To be fair.
Hayasaka Ai's tracking ability was indeed professional.
Even Rio, who was very sensitive to others' gazes, didn't discover her trace immediately.
Unfortunately, although Hayasaka Ai underwent professional training, she was just an ordinary person.
Spirit mediums' means were beyond ordinary imagination.
"Since you roughly guessed it, I'll say it clearly."
Hiratsuka Shizuka put away that frivolous and lazy appearance, speaking solemnly.
"Private Shuchiin wants to hold a joint exam with our Sobu High, both sides' first-year candidates, set at the end of this semester."
"Do you... have confidence in taking first place?"
Facing Hiratsuka Shizuka's serious inquiry, Yoru just said in a relaxed tone.
"No problem."
"Are you sure?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka emphasized again.
"The opponent is all first-year students of that Private Shuchiin Academy."
"Shizuka-chan, your words are wrong."
Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned, puzzled: "How wrong?"
Yoru leaned against the railing, looking at the white clouds in the distance, smiling and speaking softly.
"My opponent isn't everyone in Private Shuchiin."
"I only need to defeat the most excellent first-year freshman there; that's enough."
"Others don't qualify as my opponents at all."
Listening to Yoru's arrogant words, Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed helplessly holding her forehead, but could vaguely guess in her heart that he would give such an answer.
After all, the first place in this year's Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam was Yoru.
No one was above him.
Even that Private Shuchiin Academy was just a lower challenger in front of him.
"Remind you of one sentence."
Hiratsuka Shizuka extinguished the cigarette in her hand.
"Among the students of Shuchiin this year, there is the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Group, Shinomiya Kaguya. She is a flawless genius."
"Wrong."
Yoru shook his head and chuckled.
"If she were truly flawless, then the first in the Joint Exam wouldn't be me, but her."
"She has already lost to me once."
"Winning again has no difficulty for me."
Speaking of this, Yoru paused, changing the subject.
"But, what can I get?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka had already thought of the answer to this question, throwing out the conditions she negotiated with the school authorities, such as Rio transferring classes and Super-Quant Club first-year members definitely being assigned to one class when promoting to the second year, as chips at this moment.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
Seeing Yoru agree directly, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was originally prepared for fierce bargaining and intense negotiation, couldn't help doubting her ears.
"Didn't I say? Okay."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked incredulous, hesitating.
"Just this simple? You agreed?"
"Otherwise?"
Yoru waved his hand nonchalantly and laughed.
"Proving myself to be the strongest again, I don't mind doing it again. Moreover..."
Speaking of this, Yoru suddenly reached out and rubbed Hiratsuka Shizuka's hair.
"Our Sobu High not only has the most excellent student but also the most excellent teacher. Shuchiin should also know this point."
Hiratsuka Shizuka froze in place. Hearing Yoru's smiling words, she finally reacted after a long while.
Her neck exposed above the collar to her fair forehead turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"You... you... you guy..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka stammered, unable to say a complete sentence.
Yoru shook his head with a dumbfounded smile and left the rooftop on his own.
This Shizuka-chan (Cute Shizuka) was really innocent enough; couldn't withstand teasing at all.
....
In a blink of an eye, it was Friday.
Yoru, sitting in the clubroom, received a call from Light Yagami.
As soon as he answered, he heard the always calm opponent speaking in an unprecedentedly excited tone.
"Appeared, Yoru-kun, appeared!"
Yoru frowned, saying grumpily.
"Speak clearly, what appeared? Your homosexuality tendency diagnosis report?"
"Not this...."
Light Yagami on the other end was speechless, then hurriedly added.
"Also, I like women."
"You say yes, then yes; not refuting."
Hearing Yoru's words implying sarcasm, Light Yagami could only shake his head helplessly and went straight to the point.
"The appearance I mentioned is a 'Door' appeared in Tokyo city."
Ordinary people couldn't observe "Doors" at all, so Light Yagami didn't need to hide it on the phone.
"Oh?"
Yoru replied with interest.
"This isn't a good thing; why are you excited?"
"Of course it's a good thing."
Light Yagami's voice was very calm, but deep inside contained a fanaticism undetectable by ordinary people.
"By the way, regarding the matter mentioned last time, it succeeded."
"Oh, is that so."
Yoru responded noncommittally, adding a final sentence before hanging up.
"By the way, pay more attention to special people like you and me when free."
"I understand."
"OK, bye-bye."
After hanging up, Amano Hina suddenly stood up, walked to Yoru, and asked carefully and tentatively.
"Yoru-san... are you free... tonight?"