Chapter 193: Healing the Tuanzi; The Triple Threat Collision!
Of course, Kawasaki Saki kept her thoughts strictly to herself.
Looking at Marin Kitagawa right now, it was clear her impression of Yoru was still in the "pure club mates" stage. Saki figured that if she said anything to make Marin "wake up" and realize her feelings, she'd just be creating a high-tier raid boss of a love rival for herself.
Totally unnecessary.
"By the way," Saki said, her needle flying as she stitched small accessories onto a long black trench coat. "Even if he's a vigilante, 'The Mask' isn't exactly a legal figure. Are you sure walking around in public dressed as him won't cause trouble?"
"No worries, no worries!" Marin waved her hand with a breezy grin. "I checked online. Plenty of people are cosplaying as 'The Mask' at this event. As long as we don't carry banners or start a political protest, nobody cares."
Saki nodded noncommittally. Fair point.
The Kyoto Police Department's stance on 'The Mask' was basically "don't ask, don't tell." They acted like he didn't exist. Meanwhile, the public's support for the mysterious figure was through the roof.
Plus, 'The Mask's' most famous exploit was just hijacking a TV broadcast to roast the Teru Teru Bozu Killer. He hadn't murdered anyone on camera. From a PR perspective, it wasn't like he was a designated terrorist yet.
"But man, 'The Mask' is so cool, don't you think?"
At Marin's question, Saki—who knew the truth—felt her cheeks flush. "Yeah... I guess he's pretty cool."
"Looking at his build, he's definitely a guy. Though, there's a small chance it's a girl... but whatever, I still love Shizuku-tan more!" Marin chirped, then beamed at Saki. "Tomorrow, when I hit the event in the outfit you made, everyone's gonna be floored. I'll be the most authentic cosplayer there!"
Saki looked at the black coat in her hands and sighed. "You might get second place. But first? No way."
"Eh?" Marin blinked. Then, seeing where Saki was looking, she laughed. "Oh! You mean Yoru will be more realistic? Fine, I'll settle for second place if it's him."
Saki thought to herself: No matter how hard anyone tries to 'restore' the character tomorrow, they can't beat Yoru. Because the guy is literally the original actor.
A bit later, on a busy Tokyo street.
"Waiting long?"
Hearing the voice behind her, Yuigahama Yui (Tuanzi) spun around. Seeing Yoru standing there, she shook her head with a shy, fidgety smile.
"No, I just got here myself."
"Good. Let's walk."
Yui followed beside Yoru, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. As the resident "Social Butterfly" and the strongest diplomat of the Super-Quant Club, she usually never ran out of things to say. But for the first time in her life, she was stumped.
She didn't know how to start. She didn't know what to say.
"Um, Yoru, I—"
Before she could fish for a topic, she felt a gentle warmth wrap around her palm. She looked down. Yoru had taken her hand.
"If you don't know what to say, we can just walk in silence. That's fine too."
Yui's eyes dimmed slightly. she forced a light, airy tone to hide her sinking mood. "But... if we don't talk, won't you get bored? Being stuck with someone as basic as me..."
"Yui."
Yoru stopped dead. He turned, looking her straight in the eyes. The playful, "Abstract" smirk was gone, replaced by a rare, crushing sincerity.
"I could never be bored being with you."
Yui's face went from pale to supernova-red in an instant. She instinctively tried to look down to hide her blushing mess of a face, but then she remembered Kiyohime's words—her own suppressed desires. She summoned her courage and looked back at him, her eyes shimmering.
"A girl as plain and ordinary as me... is it really okay for me to be with everyone? To be with you?"
"Plain and ordinary?"
Yoru glanced down at a certain part of her anatomy, looking thoughtful. "I mean, based on the physics, I wouldn't call you 'flat' or 'ordinary' at all."
"You...!"
Yui's depression was instantly shattered by Yoru's sudden "Abstract" comment. She was halfway between dying of embarrassment and bursting into laughter. She swatted his shoulder, pouting. "I'm trying to be serious here!"
"Right, right."
Yoru had only made the joke to break her mood. He leaned in, closing the distance until their noses almost touched. She could feel his breath on her skin.
"I recognize you. Rio recognizes you. Miko, Mai, Hachishaku, Hina, Saki, even Menma—we all recognize you."
He paused, his voice dropping an octave. "Actually, in the whole Super-Quant Club, there's only one person who doesn't recognize your worth."
"And that's you."
Yui felt as if a massive stone that had been crushing her chest for months had finally been lifted.
It was true. She had spent all her time worrying that she wasn't as brave as Miko, as smart as Rio, or as famous as Mai. She felt like a "normie" crashing a party of geniuses. But the truth was, none of them had ever looked down on her.
"Someone as normal as—"
Yoru cut her off again. "Let me correct that misconception right now."
"What misconception?"
Yoru straightened up and patted the top of her head affectionately. "In my eyes, you aren't 'some normal girl.' You are the Super-Quant Club's—and my—irreplaceable Brand Ambassador. The Spirit Medium known as Tuanzi. Yuigahama Yui."
"So, from now on, just stay by my side where you belong."
Yui stood there dazed for a few seconds. Then, she let out a sudden laugh, wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye. She was beaming with a mix of joy and relief.
"What was that? A marriage proposal?"
Yoru shrugged. "Think of it as a 'Spiritual Counseling' session. You're the only person I'd do this for."
Yui tilted her head playfully. "Oh? Since when are you a counselor?"
"I counsel myself every day."
"Then please don't counsel me anymore. I'm afraid I'll become as 'Abstract' as you."
Yui bumped her shoulder against his, her face glowing. "Seriously... is it that hard for you to just say you like me?"
Yoru was silent for a few heartbeats before nodding. "Yeah. I like you, Yuigahama Yui."
Yui peeked at him and giggled, covering her mouth. "Wait... are you blushing?"
Yoru rolled his eyes. "It's the Tokyo heat. Plus, you're clearly hallucinating due to 'Girl-in-Love' brainrot. Keep walking."
Yui bumped him again, teasing, "Such a Tsundere."
"Can you stop bouncing into me like a pinball?"
"Hehe~"
With her heart finally at peace, Yui was back to her sunny, energetic self. She practically skipped down the street, dragging Yoru along by the hand.
"Ooh! Takoyaki!" She spotted a stall and ran over. "Boss! Two orders, please!"
While waiting, Yui kicked a pebble on the ground. She remembered her original goal. "By the way... you still haven't told me about that 'High-Speed Leveling' method."
Yoru gave her a long, meaningful look. "You really want to know?"
"Of course! As a member of the club, I want to be strong enough to stand with everyone!"
"Fine. We'll discuss the details back at the hotel."
"Deal!" Yui nodded obediently.
"Here's your Takoyaki!"
"Thanks, Boss!"
Yui took the two steaming boxes. The aroma was mouth-watering. She hesitated for a second, then let go of Yoru's hand to set the boxes down. She picked up a toothpick, split a Takoyaki ball in half, blew on it gently, and held it up to Yoru's lips.
"Ahhh~ Open wide!"
Yoru looked at it, then took the bite. Before he could even comment, Yui noticed the stall owner watching them with a "Young Love" grin. Her face went beet-red. She shoved a box into Yoru's hands and hissed shyly, "Okay! Let's just hurry back!"
Meanwhile, back at the hotel.
"What should I do..."
Yukinoshita Yukino (Little Yukino) sat on the edge of her bed, staring at a contact name on her phone she hadn't called in ages. Her usually cold, stoic face was twisted with hesitation. After a ten-second internal war, she hit the call button.
Ring... Ring...
"Hellooo~? My darling little sister! To what do I owe the rare pleasure of a phone call?" Haruno's lazy, teasing voice crackled through the speaker.
Yukino took a breath. "Why aren't you in Tokyo?"
"Eh? Tokyo? Why would I be in Tokyo?"
"Stop playing dumb. You know the whole club—including Yoru—is here on vacation."
"Can't hide anything from you, can I? Yeah, I heard."
"Then why aren't you here?"
Haruno sounded genuinely amused. "Why should I be there?"
"Because Yoru is here," Yukino said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"What, I have to follow him everywhere? I'm not a stalker, Yukino-chan."
Yukino remained firm. "Isn't that what 'being in love' is?"
Haruno let out a long sigh. "Yukino-chan... your understanding of romantic relationships is still at a kindergarten level."
"Hmph." Yukino hesitated, then blurted out the question that had been eating at her. "You... you know Yoru's true identity, don't you?"
Silence followed for a few seconds. Then Haruno laughed. "True identity? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're still—"
"Yukino," Haruno interrupted smoothly. "In your eyes, what defines a 'True' identity? If you use the word 'True,' then which side do you consider 'Fake'?"
Yukino frowned, stumped.
"Truth and lies are just labels people slap on things," Haruno continued. "To me, Yoru is Yoru. Every side of him is him—it's just a matter of perspective. His essence, and how I feel about him, won't change regardless of what he does. Does that answer satisfy you?"
Yukino was stunned.
It was ironic. She had spent her life searching for a "Genuine Relationship"—one without lies or masks. She had moved to Kyoto, joined Sobu High, and distanced herself from her "fake" family to find it.
And yet... Haruno had found the "Genuine Article" before her?
"I..." Yukino stared at her bare feet on the carpet. "I didn't think you'd ever say something like that."
"Jealous?" Haruno teased. "Well, make sure you get along with your 'Brother-in-Law' then! Gotta go, bye-bye!"
Click.
Yukino sat in silence. Haruno knew. She'd known about Yoru's secret life as The Mask/Kira all along. Why had she guided Yukino into the Super-Quant Club? To help her find what she was looking for?
Suddenly, a surge of adrenaline hit Yukino.
She was sick of it. Sick of the pretending. This situation where she knew, and Yoru knew she knew, but they both acted like they didn't... it was the peak of "Fake."
She wanted to break the glass.
She stood up abruptly. She didn't even put on shoes. Her bare feet hit the carpet as she snatched her room card and bolted out the door. She took the elevator straight to Yoru's floor.
Hiding was no longer her style. If she was going to stay in this club, she would do it on her terms—with her usual blunt honesty. That was the only path to the "Genuine."
She ran down the hallway, breathless. She raised her hand to knock on Yoru's door—but a familiar voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Yukinoshita... san?"
Yukino froze. She slowly turned to see Hiratsuka Shizuka standing there.
"Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino nodded stiffly.
Total. Disaster.
Both of them were paralyzed with awkwardness.
Yukino was thinking: Why is my homeroom teacher on this floor?
Shizuka-sensei, however, was looking at Yukino's bare feet, her slightly messy clothes, her flushed face, and the way she was panting with her lips slightly parted.
Shizuka's brain went into overdrive. She imagined a horrific scenario: Yoru tried to make a move on Yukino. Yukino fought him off—or didn't—and had just barely escaped his room in a state of panic.
My god! These high schoolers... in my own class?!
"What are you two doing in front of my room?"
Shizuka spun around to see Yoru standing there with Yui. Shizuka grit her teeth, her eyes flashing with fury.
"You... you beast! This is a crime!"
"Excuse me?" Yoru looked genuinely confused. "I mean, those are accurate descriptors for me, but I haven't actually done anything yet."
"Haven't done anything?! Look at her—!"
Shizuka stopped. She realized something. Yoru wasn't coming out of the room. He was coming back to it.
Was Yukino not escaping... but trying to get in?
Before Shizuka could process the embarrassment of her mistake, Yui asked the killer question:
"Wait... Shizuka-sensei? Why are you standing in front of Yoru's room?"