Chapter 166: Tuanzi's Resolve, Teru Teru Bozu Killer Steps into the Trap
Meanwhile, at Yuigahama Yui's home.
"Hina, it's done, come taste it quickly~"
"This..."
Amano Hina looked at the dozen or so weirdly shaped, pitch-black objects of various sizes emitting a burnt smell on the tray in front of her. The expression on her face became very colorful.
"This... are the cookies you made?"
"Yes."
Yui smiled embarrassedly.
"This is my first time making them alone, come taste them quickly, how do they taste?"
Amano Hina looked at this plate of objects called cookies by the opponent, her teeth starting to chatter.
This stuff...
Is it really edible?
She suddenly recalled that when she joined the Super-Quant Club, she had once made a promise to Yui in front of Yoru.
"When there's a chance, I will definitely taste Yuigahama-san's cooking."
In the blurred fragments of memory, Amano Hina still remembered the complicated expression Yoru revealed upon hearing her sentence back then.
At that time, she didn't understand.
What kind of thing could make Yoru, who didn't change his expression even when facing a ten-meter-tall Titan Evil Spirit, reveal such an expression?
Now, Amano Hina finally understood.
Just like the gun in the first act of a play must fire a bullet in the third act.
The promise made out of politeness back then had now become a sharp boomerang, strangling Amano Hina's neck.
"Then..."
Amano Hina swallowed her saliva nervously, gathered all her courage, picked up a charred black "cookie", brought it to her lips, wanting to cry but having no tears.
"I, I'm digging in (Itadakimasu)."
"Okay, taste it quickly."
Yui wore an innocent and sweet smile on her face, and her voice was so gentle and soft.
But in Amano Hina's eyes at this moment, the opponent seemed like the most terrifying Great Demon King in the world, and the words she spoke carried the insidiousness of an old witch poisoning Snow White.
Crunch.
Amano Hina took a deep breath, slightly parted her lips, and bit down on the charred object called a cookie but actually resembling an evil entity of Cthulhu, making a crisp sound.
Under Yui's expectant gaze, Amano Hina chewed slowly.
At first, she froze for a moment.
Extreme cuisine requires careful tasting.
Upon entering the mouth, it was dry, crisp, even a bit prickly.
After serious tasting...
"No..."
Amano Hina looked down at the cookie in her hand, revealing an expression of disbelief.
Yui asked puzzledly upon hearing this: "What's wrong?"
Amano Hina raised her head, her left hand involuntarily clenching into a fist, staring straight into Yui's eyes, asking word by word, almost gnashing her teeth.
"Why do I taste both Fish Mint (Houttuynia cordata) and Cola in this cookie!?"
Amano Hina was completely shocked.
She finally understood why usually in the club, whenever Yui's cooking skills were mentioned, the answers given by Futaba Rio and Yotsuya Miko were always so unfathomable.
"Can't say it tastes bad, can't say it tastes good either. Hard to describe; you have to taste it to know."
So it's like this...
Yui's cooking skills had far exceeded the realm of tasting bad.
What does it mean to taste bad?
It's poorly made.
Yui's cooking, however, was completely different.
Amano Hina never thought in her life that she could actually taste Cola and Fish Mint mixed together in a seemingly ordinary cookie!
This was simply a r*pe of the taste buds!
"Eh? Does it not taste good?"
Listening to Yui's innocent words, Amano Hina suppressed the emotions in her heart, clenched her fist, and said.
"Do you think... this could possibly taste good!?"
Yui looked puzzled.
"But, doesn't Yoru-san like drinking Cola very much?"
Amano Hina sighed helplessly, thinking I really can't win against you.
"Can we just make some normal cookies? Don't add weird things."
"How can that do?"
Yui looked serious and solemn.
"Mom told me that cooking must incorporate one's own heart, so the person eating it can feel it."
Amano Hina was almost about to cry, her voice carrying sincere pleading, only short of kneeling down to Yui.
"Sis, I beg you, can we not incorporate it? Make some normal food."
"Normal food... but..."
Seeing Yui's hesitant look, Amano Hina said helplessly.
"By the way, since it's for Yoru-san, why didn't you just make chocolate?"
Yui blushed upon hearing this, twisting her hands.
"That... wouldn't that seem... like Honmei-choco (true feeling chocolate)?"
Amano Hina froze.
"Eh? Aren't these Honmei cookies?"
Yui also froze.
"Eh... it's Giri (obligation)..."
Amano Hina was speechless, sighed longly, patted Yui's shoulder, and said earnestly.
"Yui, I'm going to tell you something seriously."
Yui looked adorkable.
"What's wrong?"
Amano Hina spoke slowly.
"You have to think clearly. Based on the current situation, once you give out the so-called Giri-choco or Giri cookies, the relationship will be fixed at Giri from now on. Are you really willing?"
"I..."
Hearing these words, Yui pursed her lips, her eyes dimming a bit, conflicted, not knowing how to answer.
Amano Hina quietly put down the cookie, clenched her fist, and cheered Yui on.
"Anyway, just make the cookies by hand first. Then when you give them to Yoru-san, don't think so much, just speak out the true thoughts in your heart, understand?"
Yui hesitated: "Then... I'll try."
"Not try, you must do it!"
....
On the other side, at Yoru's house.
Hearing the sound of the door unlocking, Kawasaki Saki had learned her lesson this time. Without waiting for her sister's hint, she immediately stood up quickly and went to the entryway.
"Welcome home~"
"Mmhmm, I'm back."
Seeing a very pleasant feeling on Yoru's face, Kawasaki Saki couldn't help asking curiously.
"What did you go out to do? Why do you seem so happy?"
Yoru revealed a meaningful smile.
"I went to have some fun (Shuang Yi Shuang)."
"Have some fun...?"
Kawasaki Saki repeated this strange phrase, thinking can this word be used as a verb?
Wait a minute...
Have some fun?
Kawasaki Saki's pretty face flushed red, she gritted her silver teeth, glaring at Yoru hatefully.
"You... you... you actually did such a thing!"
Yoru rolled his eyes and complained.
"I don't even dare to think about what thing you are thinking of, but what I'm talking about is related to 'working part-time'."
"Working part-time?"
Kawasaki Saki froze slightly first, then beamed with joy.
"Oh, oh, so it's related to working part-time, then it's fine."
Yoru shook his head and chuckled.
"You as a person, really have all the thoughts in your heart written on your face."
"So... so noisy, none of your business?"
Keika jumped off the sofa and walked over, acting like a little adult, wagging her index finger at Kawasaki Saki.
"Sister, you can't talk to Big Brother like that."
Kawasaki Saki held her forehead and sighed, rubbing Keika's small head.
"You guy, why are you turning your elbow outward (siding with outsiders)?"
Keika smiled slyly.
"Hehe, we are family anyway."
Just then, Yukino stood up from the sofa, walked up to Yoru, and said faintly.
"Yoru-san, I have something to tell you."
"Sure, let's go to the study."
.....
After entering the study and closing the door properly, Yoru sat down and spoke casually.
"Yukinoshita-san, what's the matter?"
"Still playing dumb?"
On Yukino's usually tranquil and calm face, a rare look of anger appeared as she handed her phone to Yoru.
The latter glanced down and found it was exactly that column report by Suga Natsumi interviewing the Super-Quant Club members.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Yoru still looking unconcerned, Yukino's barren chest heaved continuously due to strong emotional fluctuations, gritting her silver teeth.
"You guy, haven't you realized that this column report is very likely to make you... and the others, the targets of that serial killer!?"
Yoru still maintained his smile, waving his hand.
"Maybe, I am using this method, expecting to catch a big fish?"
"You..."
Yukino was so angry she could hardly speak, slamming her hands heavily on the table, frowning tightly.
"What time is it now, do you think this is still a game!? The opponent is a genuine serial killer. Even if you don't think about your own safety, you have to consider the safety of Yuigahama-san, Futaba-san, Yotsuya-san, Mai-senpai, and most importantly, Amano-san, right?"
Unexpectedly for Yukino, hearing her words, the frivolous smile on Yoru's face instantly disappeared.
Replaced by a seriousness he had never shown, even when facing the teachers and students of Shuchiin.
"This is, of course, not a game."
Yoru stared straight into Yukino's eyes, speaking slowly.
"However, it can also be treated as a game."
"Admittedly, this method of using an exclusive interview report as bait carries certain risks."
"But this is a method unanimously approved by all members, including myself."
This was the first time Yukino saw Yoru looking so serious, couldn't help freezing for a moment, and hesitated after a long while.
"But... we have already deduced that the Teru Teru Bozu Killer's actions are because he believes in the legend of the so-called Sunny Girl. Next, we just need to spend some more time, and we can..."
"Can what?"
Before Yukino finished, Yoru interrupted directly.
"Before a new case occurs, it means there won't be any more new clues."
"Moreover, under the circumstances that five cases have already happened, and the Police Department hasn't been able to catch the killer's flaws, what's the point of continuing to wait?"
"Waiting for him to make a mistake? That is really too naive."
Yukino frowned, pursing her lips.
"So, are you going to use your own life and Yuigahama-san's lives as a gamble?"
"Gamble?"
Hearing this word, Yoru smiled and shook his head, speaking slowly.
"Yukinoshita-san, do you think this is a life-and-death gamble? You probably misunderstood."
Speaking of this, Yoru stood up, uttering a series of arrogant words that made Yukino feel very complicated in her heart.
"That so-called Teru Teru Bozu Killer has already fallen into a dead end."
"When he loses only depends on when he takes the bait."
"Our Super-Quant Club will never fail."
"We will win."
....
Next night.
"Oh my, it's really been raining all day."
Yui's mother pulled open the curtains, glanced at the rainy sky outside, resting her hand on her cheek, worrying.
"Really, it rains every day; I can't even dry the clothes."
Yui's mother sighed, seeing that exquisite box placed on the table, asking curiously.
"Eh? Are these snacks you bought? Let me taste."
"No!"
Yui's mother had just reached out her hand, before it landed on that box, Yui, like a cat having its tail stepped on, pulled it into her arms.
"Eh~ Oh~ Ara?"
Yui's mother looked like she was snickering, covering her lips and chuckling lightly.
"Could it be, this is for Yoru-kun?"
Yui blushed shyly, replying softly.
"Mmhmm..."
"Giri (Obligation)?"
"Hon... Hon... Hon..."
Yui's face flushed red, she really couldn't bring herself to say the word Honmei (True Feeling). After a long while, her expression suddenly dimmed, and she sighed.
"Mom, I'm worried... I didn't make them delicious enough. If Yoru-san dislikes them... what should I do?"
Yui's mother shook her head, stepped forward, stroked her daughter's head, and said gently.
"Don't worry, Yoru-kun won't dislike them. What's important is the heart contained in this gift, not the taste itself, understand?"
With her mother's encouragement, Yui obviously became a bit more confident, nodding.
"Mmhmm, then I know."
"Since you know, why don't you hurry and deliver it?"
"Eh?"
Yui glanced out the window, hesitating.
"But, it's still raining..."
Yui's mother smiled.
"Once you make up your mind, you must do it, Yui, don't hesitate!"
"Okay!"
Yui thought she had hesitated for so long, it was time to put aside all other things and express the true thoughts in her heart.
Just like Miura Yumiko told her.
A friendship that requires disguising oneself and carefully maintaining isn't worth that much in itself.
Moreover, Yui didn't think the feelings between Super-Quant Club members were so shallow and fragile.
Continuing to unilaterally hide it would instead be an insult to the feelings between members.
"Then Mom, I'm heading out!"
Yui put on her shoes, about to push open the door and leave.
Seeing this, Yui's mother hurriedly picked up that exquisite box on the table, handed it to her daughter, laughing dumbfoundedly.
"What's the rush, you forgot to bring the thing. Here, and the umbrella."
Yui took the box and umbrella, then ran towards the elevator.
Yui's mother waved from behind, wearing a gentle smile.
"Be safe on the way~"
"I know."
Meanwhile, completely unnoticed by both Yui's mother and Yui, on the rooftop of a high-rise building opposite their apartment building.
A man wearing a black hoodie, his face covered by a yellowing old mask, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with malice and distortion, was using binoculars to monitor the exit of the apartment building.
When he saw Yui, wearing casual clothes, holding an umbrella and holding an exquisite box, walk out, a light of madness and excitement flashed in his eyes.
The man reached out his left hand, caught the rainwater falling from the sky, looked up at the heavily overcast sky, the pupils in his bloodshot eyes dilating bizarrely.
"Right away... I will present the sacrifice to You right away!"
Immediately after, he took out an old-fashioned mobile phone from his bosom and dialed a number.
"Hello, this is the Kyoto City TV Station hotline, how may I help you?"
The man's voice was as harsh as a broken gong.
"I have a news lead."
"May I ask what kind of news lead it is?"
The man's voice carried a bizarre smile, speaking slowly.
"One hour from now, which is exactly nine o'clock tonight, the Teru Teru Bozu Killer himself will appear at the Suga Editorial Studio. You can check the location yourselves."
Hearing this sentence, the operator on the other end obviously froze for a moment, asking cautiously.
"Um... how do you know this?"
A feeling of carefree enjoyment emerged in the man's eyes, saying word by word.
"Because I am the Teru Teru Bozu Killer."
....
On the other side, Yui, who had just rushed to the train station, heard the announcement that trains were suspended due to the heavy rain.
"This... how could this be..."
Yui pursed her lips. The clothes on her left shoulder were slightly wet due to the heavy rain, even though she was holding an umbrella.
Not knowing why.
Although it rained often recently, the rain today was exceptionally heavy, as if the gods were angry.
"What... should I do..."
Yui murmured to herself. Her right hand holding the cookie box tightened a bit more, her eyes gradually becoming firm.
"I don't care anymore!"
Yui gritted her silver teeth, held the umbrella with her left hand, protected the cookie box over her heart with her right hand, and directly ran out of the train station.
Her home wasn't too far from where Yoru lived, only about four or five kilometers.
But as the rain grew heavier, a gust of violent wind swept up around.
Compared to using the umbrella to shield her top, Yui's action at this time was more like using the umbrella as a shield, resisting the rainwater swept by the wind.
Even so, she still carefully protected the cookie box, not letting a single drop of rainwater splash on it.
Due to the sudden rainstorm, on this usually lively street, not a single pedestrian could be seen.
Only occasional vehicles passing on the road, their headlights illuminating Yui struggling forward in the storm.
She had thought about taking a taxi, but didn't see even one.
"Phew... hang in there a bit longer."
Yui murmured to herself.
"Already walked, phew... about two hundred meters..."
Just as Yui was struggling forward, she inadvertently looked back and suddenly found a mysterious person wearing a black hoodie and a yellowing mask closely following behind her step by step.
The opponent's bloodshot pupils, even blocked by the heavy rain, exuded an intimidating terror and distortion.
Yui froze for a moment, subconsciously quickening her pace.
But she found that as she walked faster, the opponent also walked faster.
The distance between the two was always kept within five meters.
"Who... who are you!? Why are you following me!?"
Although Yui had already guessed the answer in her heart, she still forced herself to stay calm and asked this sentence.
"Who am I?"
The man in the hoodie stopped, looking at Yui with a strange devotion, as if appreciating a piece of art.
He opened his arms, standing in the pouring rain, his voice revealing twisted madness.
"I am the Savior who will bring sunny days to this world!"
Immediately after, the man's eyes locked onto Yui's face, speaking slowly.
"And you, will become one of my artworks, leaving a mark in human history!"
"No..."
Watching the man approaching step by step, Yui took two steps back. Her legs, which were already sore, were now weak due to nervousness. She accidentally stumbled and fell to the ground.
The exquisite cookie box in her arms fell to the ground, and the cookies inside scattered all over the floor.
"No."
Yui gritted her silver teeth, staring straight at the person in front of her. Having already guessed the opponent's identity in her heart, she gathered all her courage.
"You... are just a psychologically twisted serial killer, other than that, you are nothing!"
"What did you say!?"
Hearing this, the man's emotions obviously lost control even more.
As a serial killer, what he enjoyed the most was the sense of accomplishment seeing the weather of the entire Sakura Prefecture change because of his actions.
From this feeling, he could also gain a thrill that everything was under his control.
But now, everything he had done was completely denied by this prey?
Not only that, but in that so-called feature report, showing that disdainful attitude towards everything he had done?
"That writer... and you... and that Yoru..."
The man extended his right hand. Yui could clearly see that on the back of the opponent's hand, there were many gray-black spots, disgusting just to look at.
"All of you, should become sacrifices!"
Just as the man's hand was about to touch Yui, a crisp and pleasant sound like a wind chime suddenly rang in her mind.
Accompanying the sudden ringing of this sound, a reassuring black back appeared in front of her.
Burning black flames stood on the street in the pouring rain.
A touch of pure and profound blackness made the sound of raindrops falling on the ground quiet down at this moment.
The man's wrist was directly grabbed.
He looked up, and catching his eye was a pure black mask, as well as a pair of black eyes with no mercy at all, even more crazy than him, the serial killer.
"Caught you."