Chapter 147: Kawasaki Saki's Mate Selection Standard, Fishing Law Enforcement of the Super-Quant Club
Now approaching the end of the first semester, Yui couldn't help recalling her high school life in these few months of the first semester.
She suddenly discovered one thing.
All her friends seemed to be known through Yoru.
Moreover, if not for the Super-Quant Club established by him, she wouldn't have survived when encountering Hachishaku-sama who was still an evil spirit at that time.
Thinking carefully, Yui suddenly realized she hadn't thanked Yoru for this matter yet.
This was too rude.
"Mom."
Thinking of this, Yui rushed to the kitchen, slightly twisted.
"Um... I want to ask, Mom, do you know how to make cookies?"
"Cookies?"
Yui's mother smiled.
"I know how, but it's not Valentine's Day yet."
Yui's face flushed red, waving her hand hurriedly to explain.
"Giri... it's Giri-choco (Obligation chocolate/cookies)!"
"Eh~ Is that so~"
Yui's mother looked like she saw through but didn't say it, covering her lips and laughing lightly.
"Then I'll teach you after your final exam ends. You have to review seriously these two days."
Yui pouted, muttering softly.
"I know."
"Also."
Speaking of this, Yui's mother's expression suddenly became very serious.
"Go out less at night recently. Didn't you see that news report? A madman committed serial murders and made the victims look like Teru Teru Bozu. You are also a high school girl; be careful, understand?"
"Mmhmm, I know."
....
Meanwhile, Kawasaki Saki's home.
"Sister~"
Kawasaki Saki, busy making Cosplay costumes, heard the sound at the door and replied directly without raising her head.
"Mmhmm, come in."
"Okay~"
Keika opened the door and entered the room, looking at her sister working seriously, suddenly asked.
"Sister, I want to ask you a question."
Although Kawasaki Saki looked like a cold delinquent girl in front of outsiders, she was very gentle in front of her sister.
Hearing her sister's question, she stopped her movements immediately, looked up, and revealed a gentle smile.
"What's wrong, Keika?"
"Sister, what do you think of 'Mask'?"
Hearing her sister ask such a question, Kawasaki Saki frowned, pondered for a while, then shook her head.
"What opinion can I have? A criminal."
Immediately after, before Keika could speak, Kawasaki Saki changed the subject.
"However, this 'Mask' saved us last time. Although I don't think he is a hero of justice, from a personal perspective, I am very grateful to him."
"Is that so."
Keika nodded noncommittally, then asked curiously again.
"Then Sister, what should a hero in your heart be like?"
"The hero in my heart...."
Even facing her young sister's question, Kawasaki Saki didn't intend to perfunctory. Instead, she thought very seriously before answering.
"Helping others solve difficulties... and bringing people's hearts together... is a hero... right?"
Not knowing why, as Kawasaki Saki spoke, Yoru's figure appeared in her mind, so her tone seemed a bit hesitant at the end.
Just then.
Keika seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled innocently.
"Then Sister, do you think Big Brother counts as a hero?"
"Eh?"
Kawasaki Saki froze for a moment, blushed slightly, and whispered.
"He indeed helped me a lot, and, without asking for anything in return. If really defining, he indeed counts as a hero."
"Oh~~~"
Hearing her sister drag out the sound, looking meaningful, Kawasaki Saki blushed and warned.
"You aren't allowed to talk nonsense in front of him, okay? Just chat privately."
"Okay~"
Keika responded obediently first, then asked innocently.
"Then Sister, will you date Big Brother?"
"Th... This..."
Kawasaki Saki blushed completely, subconsciously wanting to give a negative answer.
But looking at her sister's innocent eyes, she couldn't lie, finally nervously grabbing the hem of her clothes, speaking softly in a very awkward tone.
"That... depends on him. I... I don't mind."
"Then no problem."
Keika looked confident.
She was confident in her sister's appearance, plus her sister's personality was actually very good, just not shown in front of outsiders.
Young Keika decided one thing.
Must make the hero "Kamen Rider" become family with herself.
....
In a blink of an eye, it was Friday.
Kyoto City Hospital, Makinohara Shoko's ward.
"Everyone is here today."
Seeing Mai and others, Makinohara Shoko showed a smile on her small face.
"Please sit casually."
After getting along during this period, she had become very close with Mai, Miko, and Rio.
After all, Makinohara Shoko could now confirm that although the other party claimed to be exorcists, they had absolutely no hostility towards Menma who had never harmed humans.
Living alone in the hospital, she often felt lonely.
Chatting with Mai and others was also a rare relaxing time every day.
Of course, not just those three today.
Amano Hina and Yoru also came to the hospital.
All Super-Quant Club members with special abilities gathered here.
The purpose was simple.
Distributing equipment.
"These are five spiritual items gifted by the Nura Clan..."
Hearing Yoru's adjective, Miko stuck out her tongue and muttered softly.
"What gift, you extorted them, right?"
"Then don't take it."
"Then pretend I didn't say it; it's a gift."
Getting along with Yoru for a long time, Miko also learned this essence of face-changing.
"You distribute them casually."
Yoru picked up a small cardboard box and took out the five spiritual items inside.
Three strings of prayer beads, two jade tablets.
Considered slightly better grade spiritual items than the long sword given by Oda Noto, capable of keeping ordinary evil spirits away.
However, only slightly better.
Not that Yoru showed mercy.
But the things from the Nura Clan were basically used by yokai, and the effects were mainly for slaying yokai.
These were already the five most useful spiritual items repeatedly selected from the list by Oda Noto.
As for why choosing accessories instead of weapons?
The reason was simple.
Famous swords like Onimaru Kunitsuna that awakened spiritual intelligence were truly rare and hard to seek.
Not that one could use it directly after getting it.
Miko and others weren't Yoru after all; they didn't have the strength to make famous swords bow down directly.
If there was no tacit understanding with the sword itself, using it would be very awkward. Better to use their own Soul Manifestation ability to fight.
Yoru was pondering.
Miko also had a style of fighting with a long sword.
Find a way to go somewhere and "return to original owner" one for her.
After distributing the spiritual items, Rio glanced at Menma sitting by the bed, swinging her white feet in the air, looking dazed.
The opponent didn't show any abnormal reaction.
It seemed Menma and Hachishaku were essentially not the same kind of thing.
Menma was human before death, turned into a ghost after death, but had no hostility towards humans.
Combined with the reaction of Miko's father's ghost when Yoru took the long sword given by Oda Noto to Miko's house...
Such ghosts without malice couldn't feel the deterrence brought by spiritual items.
After distributing, everyone went to the ward next door.
"By the way..."
Rio pushed her glasses frame, frowning tightly.
"This isn't a solution."
Miko knew what she referred to, nodded, her golden eyes also showing worry.
"But..."
"No buts."
Rio waved her hand, saying plainly.
"If we can't think of a solution, we can only give up."
Rio's meaning was simple.
Impossible to let three spirit mediums stay in Kyoto City Hospital all the time just to protect Makinohara Shoko alone.
Actually, Mai and Miko had also realized this.
However, they ultimately couldn't look at this problem from an absolutely rational perspective like Rio, putting aside all personal emotional factors.
The current situation was actually simple.
Strange events in Kyoto city were still happening continuously. Most evil spirits running out of the Otherworld hadn't shown up yet.
Although Miko and others were spirit mediums, they were humans after all; their abilities were limited.
Guarding Makinohara Shoko here meant eliminating a few fewer evil spirits.
And accumulating over time meant dozens, hundreds, thousands.
Then, it would trigger a larger-scale strangeness disaster.
The safety of Makinohara Shoko alone versus the safety of the entire Kyoto city, which was more important?
Now this question was placed in front of everyone in the Super-Quant Club.
"Yoru, what do you think?"
Hearing Rio's inquiry, Yoru replied nonchalantly.
"Whatever, do whatever you want to do. Protecting Kyoto's safety isn't our mandatory obligation. Don't morally kidnap yourselves; we aren't Spider-Man, no saying of greater power comes greater responsibility."
Rio and others weren't surprised to hear this answer.
Typical Yoru-style answer.
"However, what he said makes sense."
Mai pursed her lips and spoke slowly.
"Others' expectations, and the mood of wanting to respond to these expectations, sometimes also become shackles binding oneself. Acting for the idea of protecting Kyoto is no problem."
"But don't affect your true heart because of this."
Regarding the dilemma faced by the Super-Quant Club members at this time, Mai had similar experiences long ago.
When she chose to withdraw from the entertainment industry, many fanatical fans also caused an uproar on the internet, speaking as if the sky was falling.
At that time, Mai also doubted whether her approach was correct.
But now?
The sky didn't fall.
"Mmhmm, I understand Mai-senpai's meaning."
As the brain of the Super-Quant Club, Rio spoke slowly.
"So, I am not proposing to abandon the plan to protect Makinohara Shoko."
"But choosing to take the initiative to attack."
Miko murmured these words: "Active attack..."
"Correct."
Rio pushed her glasses.
"This evil spirit is obviously very cunning. Since Yoru eliminated its minions last time, no abnormalities have occurred in Kyoto City Hospital recently."
Speaking of this, Rio suddenly changed the subject.
"However, evil spirits are evil spirits after all. We can lure it out."
"You mean..."
Everyone's eyes turned to Hachishaku, who was squatting in the corner, holding a carton of milk, sipping in small mouthfuls, looking very dazed.
Feeling the gaze, Hachishaku looked nervous and made a puzzled sound.
"Eh?"
....
That night, 12 o'clock.
A tall white figure flashed through the ward corridor of Kyoto City Hospital.
On her shoulder, she carried a petite girl.
Hachishaku-sama pulled her sun hat, looking like baring fangs and brandishing claws, about to feast immediately, carrying Makinohara Shoko out of the hospital all the way.
Different from the fierce and vicious appearance.
At this time, Hachishaku felt very helpless in her heart.
She thought she was a bit too unlucky recently.
First encountered an identity crisis.
Immediately after, it was already late-night rest time, but she still had to work overtime.
And not working overtime with her boss Yoru in the way she particularly liked, but carrying a little girl running away late at night.
"Uncomfortable?"
Hearing Hachishaku's inquiry, Makinohara Shoko carried on her shoulder nodded and smiled sweetly.
"Mmhmm, I'm fine. Hachishaku-oneechan is very soft."
"That's good; endure a little longer and it will be fine."
Hachishaku-sama carried Makinohara Shoko all the way out of the area of Kyoto City Hospital.
And in the darkness not illuminated by street lights, dozens of bloodshot eyes locked their gazes on her.
.....
Hachishaku-sama took Makinohara Shoko all the way to a construction site two kilometers away before stopping.
"Arriving here should be about right."
Hachishaku-sama muttered to herself, then put Makinohara Shoko down, lowering her voice.
"Shoko-chan, don't be afraid; just acting."
"Mmhmm, don't worry, Hachishaku-oneechan."
Makinohara Shoko's personality was very mature and gentle, completely different from peers.
Precisely because of this, knowing the doctor concluded she had congenital heart disease and probably couldn't live to junior high school age without a new heart, Mai and others felt very sad.
Such an understanding and gentle girl shouldn't end up in a tragedy of dying early before growing up.
But they were just spirit mediums, not omnipotent gods, having no solution for this.
Hachishaku-sama nodded, then opened her mouth wide, making a tearing and biting posture, biting towards Makinohara Shoko's body.
Just one second before her teeth touched Makinohara Shoko's body, dozens of pairs of pupils emitting scarlet light suddenly emerged from the surrounding darkness.
Bang!
An octopus-like tentacle extended from the darkness.
Hachishaku-sama reacted very quickly, protecting Makinohara Shoko behind her immediately, slapping that tentacle away with one palm.
Changing from her usual dazed look, she narrowed her eyes slightly, staring straight at those dozens of pairs of pupils in the darkness, sneering.
"Hmph, took the bait as expected?"
Evil spirits, complex yet simple.
Hachishaku once thought she was an evil spirit too; she knew the thoughts of her kind best.
The most intolerable thing for evil spirits was the prey targeted by themselves being eaten by other evil spirits.
Hachishaku-sama taking Makinohara Shoko out of Kyoto City Hospital, in the eyes of this long-lurking evil spirit, was obviously an act of snatching prey.
Finally, couldn't hold back anymore.
Under the pale moonlight, Hachishaku-sama and Makinohara Shoko could see that the owners of those scarlet eyes were evil spirits wearing white coats, dressed like doctors, stained with blood.
And some were wearing nurse uniforms, whole figures appearing somewhat twisted, seemingly female evil spirits.
And behind these evil spirits was a thing that made people feel very disgusting just by looking at it.
Head was still a normal human head, a bald middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
But under its suit extended dozens of tentacles twisted like octopuses. The lower body was a wriggling meat ball, rubbing on the gravel ground, making disgusting sounds.
"That is... my prey."
The bald middle-aged man's eyeballs extended directly from the sockets, connected by tiny tentacles too.
It stared closely at Hachishaku-sama and Makinohara Shoko, voice revealing distortion and madness.
"You two... are both my prey!"
"So pitiful."
Facing the siege of dozens of evil spirits, Hachishaku-sama just shook her head, looking at the leading monster with even a few pitying looks in her eyes.
"You don't understand yet what terrifying people you will encounter next."
As Hachishaku-sama's voice fell, Menma's voice filled with anger rang from the periphery.
"You guys actually want to hurt Shoko; truly unforgivable!"
The monster fused with the director of Kyoto City Hospital turned around. It saw Menma, whom it also regarded as prey, walking slowly towards here with four humans looking like high school students.
"So it's such a thing..."
Looking at the twisted body of the evil spirit, Mai showed disgust.
"Finish it quickly."
Yoru sat down directly aside and smiled.
"This guy isn't too strong; leave it to you for practice."
Rio, Miko, and Mai nodded simultaneously, each calling out their Soul True Name.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume."
"Tear the disguise, Hone-Onna."
"Break free from constraints, Ame-no-Uzume."