Hearing this, Miko Yotsuya looked speechless as she retorted.
"No way... You say it's a psychic, but none of our souls could be described as twisted, right?"
Rio Futaba didn't respond, instead sharing a glance with Mai Sakurajima before both turned their gaze towards Ye Xing standing nearby.
Feeling their stares, Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't look at me, I'm perfectly sane."
Rio Futaba offered a precise retort.
"Generally speaking, people with mental illness don't think they have mental illness."
"Futaba-san, please be serious and don't stray from the topic."
"Heh, I caught this from you."
After this brief exchange of banter, the gloom that had been weighing on everyone's hearts finally dissipated somewhat.
Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, and even Yui Yuigahama had all realised that this operation was different from previous ones.
Before, while they were fighting the supernatural entities invading Kyoto, ordinary people couldn't see evil spirits, and they didn't know exactly which incidents were caused by which spirits.
The only events that could have caused mass casualties—the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten and train incidents—both had Ye Xing intervene in time to eliminate the evil spirits before they could complete their plans.
But this time...
It was their first time directly facing a victim's relative, speaking with them, feeling their pain, and witnessing firsthand how a family had been torn apart.
In contrast, Yukino Yukinoshita actually had the smallest psychological burden aside from Ye Xing.
Because she didn't know the true abilities of the Supernatural Society members, nor the truth about the world.
Even now, Yukino Yukinoshita didn't believe that a few ordinary high school students' investigation could capture a serial killer that had stumped even the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, forcing them to issue public notices.
This was precisely why she didn't feel much pressure.
This was also an important reason why Ye Xing had Yukino Yukinoshita join the investigation.
"Back to the main topic."
Rio Futaba said thoughtfully.
"Eliminating the possibility of it being a psychic, I actually have another theory."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses, gazing at the people before her as she slowly began to speak.
"Perhaps it's similar to what we encountered before – that long-tongued man, the fleshy sphere tentacle hospital director – something formed from evil spirits merging with humans."
Hearing this, Ye Xing nodded and added, "But we can only say the nature is similar. Judging by this individual's actions, it seems distorted human desires dominate over the evil spirit's instinct to pursue psychics. Otherwise, they wouldn't be capable of such things."
Evil spirits are indeed terrifying monsters with an instinctive desire to kill humans.
But from a certain perspective, their malice is impartial.
Apart from gifted individuals like Shoko Makinohara and Hana Yurikawa who possess powerful spiritual abilities, all other humans – whether elderly, women, children, or men – are the same in the eyes of evil spirits.
Their only consideration is how to kill more humans.
Yet this Sunshine Doll Killer clearly selects their targets deliberately during their attacks.
This doesn't align with an evil spirit's instincts.
"According to the Metropolitan Police Department's autopsy reports..." Miko Yotsuya spoke while deep in thought. "To tear off human limbs directly without using any tools... I don't know how much strength that would require..."
Just as she said this, Ye Xing smiled and added, "I know. Normal humans couldn't do it."
Silence fell in the air.
Seeing the complicated looks in Mai Sakurajima and the others' eyes, Ye Xing replied matter-of-factly, "Why are you looking at me like that? It's not like I've never killed anyone before – you all know this, don't you? What's so surprising about it?"
"Friends who kill people regularly know how difficult it is to tear off limbs without using external tools..."
As Ye Xing's words grew increasingly outrageous, Rio Futaba quickly raised her hand to stop him and sighed helplessly. "You're actually sharing experiences now? So, according to your experience, how strong do you think the opponent is?"
Ye Xing's ability to switch expressions was astonishing.
He instantly returned to a serious demeanour and replied, "That's hard to say, but if the perpetrator achieved this through brute strength alone, then their physical capabilities surpass all of yours."
Rio Futaba immediately added, "Moreover, we don't know if they can use special abilities like our Soul Materialisation. I think it's highly probable they can. If they were just an ordinary person with enhanced physical strength, the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department wouldn't have failed to discover any clues."
Then Rio Futaba raised the most crucial question. "And if we don't stop them soon... their power will likely grow even stronger."
Miko Yotsuya and Mai Sakurajima weren't foolish either. After hearing Rio Futaba's words, they immediately understood her meaning, and their expressions grew heavy.
If the evil spirit that merged with the Sunshine Doll Killer originated from the Reverse World...
Then, as the people of Kyoto develop fear, disgust, and even hatred toward the Sunshine Doll Killer, this evil spirit's power would become even more terrifying.
This situation became particularly severe after the Metropolitan Police Department issued a public notice, yet the Sunshine Doll Killer still committed the fifth crime.
Moreover, there was still the worst-case scenario.
The Reverse World evil spirit that had merged with that human with twisted desires was itself, as in the previous train incident, an amalgamation of humanity's negative impressions of certain things.
With this dual amplification, if not resolved quickly...
Kyoto itself would be in danger.
"Anyway, since we've confirmed this involves evil spirits..."
Ye Xing looked towards Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba.
"Tracking traces should be left to you two."
Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya nodded simultaneously, speaking in unison.
"No problem."
At this moment, Mai Sakurajima noticed that Menma, who had been quietly following her, hadn't spoken for a long time and wore a complicated expression on her small face. She couldn't help but ask, concerned.
"Menma, are you alright?"
"Hmm..."
Menma first nodded, then shook her head, murmuring to herself.
"I just think... after Menma died, my family must have been very sad too..."
Hearing this, Miko Yotsuya couldn't help asking.
"Menma, haven't you remembered your real name yet?"
"I forgot..."
Menma shook her head, forcing a cheerful smile.
"I only remember being called Menma by others."
Just as Mai Sakurajima and the others were at a loss, Ye Xing suddenly spoke casually.
"Menma's real name is Meiko Honma."
"Eh?"
The three girls present, including Menma herself, were momentarily stunned upon hearing the name from his lips.
"How do you know that?"
"Never mind how I know, just ask Menma if this name feels familiar."
"Meiko Honma..."
Menma softly repeated the name, then nodded very seriously.
"Yes! When I hear this name, I feel very familiar. This must be Menma's real name!"
"Anyway, that's settled. The enjoyable summer life officially begins today."
After saying this, Ye Xing looked towards the concealed alley not far away, revealing a kind smile.
"Now, it's time to deal with the flies."
...
Meanwhile, in that hidden alley.
A man wearing thick square-framed glasses with messy hair looked at the photos he had just taken, his face written with excitement, his hands holding the camera trembling with emotion.
"I never expected such a harvest!"
This man was the same one who had initially submitted that article containing the victim's home address to that second-rate online media outlet.
No...
Calling him a journalist would be rather generous.
He wasn't a real journalist; he was just a petty person who profited from sensationalising others' suffering.
"The superstar Mai Sakurajima is actually visiting the victim's family - this makes my blood boil with excitement."
The man held his camera, looking at the secretly taken photo of Mai Sakurajima and other Supernatural Society members standing outside the apartment building entrance, feeling so excited his entire body trembled.
He didn't know why Mai Sakurajima, the former nationally famous idol actress, would visit the victim's family.
But that didn't matter at all.
As the saying goes:
Start with a photo, make up the rest.
The man's mind was already conjuring up numerous sensational and eye-catching headlines.
"Idol Mai Sakurajima visits the victim's family... suspected of having bullied the victim during junior high school days – is it a guilty conscience? Or crocodile tears?"
The man murmured and nodded with satisfaction.
"This headline is perfect."
Just then, a lightly chuckling voice sounded beside his ear.
"Hmm, it's good indeed, but was Mai Sakurajima even in the same junior high school as the deceased?"
The man instinctively scoffed.
"Tch, who knows? If I say they were in the same junior high, no one's going to dig that deep anyway..."
He had only spoken halfway when he realised something was wrong, slowly turning around.
What met his eyes was a pure black mask with a white smiling face pattern.
"You... you...!"
The man stumbled back two steps, his entire body pressing tightly against the alley wall, his face horrified as he stammered.
"M... Mask..."
"Scared like this, are you?"
The smiling face pattern on Ye Xing's mask seemed to grow even brighter, his tone still remarkably gentle.
"That report about the deceased allegedly participating in compensated dating before her death - you wrote that too, didn't you?"
The man's pupils dilated in shock. He swallowed hard, mustering his courage to pull out his phone, stammering.
"If... if you come closer... I... I'll call the police!"
"Then call them."
Ye Xing's voice still carried a hint of laughter as he whispered.
"While you're at it, call the hospital too and reserve a spot in the morgue."
Under the man's terrified gaze, Ye Xing added another sentence.
"Oh, right, tell the hospital staff to bring a bag. Otherwise, when you're smashed to pieces, it'll be quite messy to clean up."
The man's expression grew even more terrified, and the back of his shirt pressed against the alley wall, now soaked through with sweat.
"You... you're com... committing a crime..."
Smack!
Ye Xing delivered a sharp slap that left the man dizzy and weak, collapsing to sit on the ground.
Then he crouched down, looking directly into the man's eyes, his tone still amused.
"Since you know the name Mask, do you know what Mask has done?"
The man's face was already swollen on one side as he mumbled indistinctly.
"I... I know..."
"You know fucking nothing!"
Ye Xing raised his hand again, delivering another sharp slap to the other side of the man's face, achieving the perfect symmetry he desired.
"That was a rhetorical question that didn't require an answer. Why did you answer? Hmm?"
The man wore an expression of utter misery - not just daring to be angry but not daring to speak, but not even daring to be angry at all. He thought to himself, From your tone, it didn't sound rhetorical at all.
Though he thought this, he didn't dare say another word.
As someone in the media industry, he had naturally heard the urban legends about Mask.
Single-handedly killing the armed robbers at Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten, infiltrating Kyoto Municipal Museum and escaping unscathed.
Attacking violent gangs and slaughtering every member inside, the scene was reportedly so brutal that even experienced forensic experts nearly vomited upon entering.
The recent train malfunction incident also seemed to be intricately connected to this person.
This guy was different from the subjects of his previous reports.
Mask had truly killed people - and killed many of them.
"Oh? Scared?"
Noticing the man's expression, the smiling pattern on Ye Xing's mask suddenly disappeared as he spoke coldly.
"I'm asking you - did the victim actually participate in compensated dating before her death?"
Facing that terrifying gaze devoid of emotion that seemed ready to kill him at any moment, the man didn't dare lie at all, trembling as he answered.
"N... no... no, I... I made it up..."
"Oh, I see."
Ye Xing gave a noncommittal nod, pointed at the camera the man was clutching in his arms, then patted his shoulder and smiled amiably.
"Took quite a few photos today, didn't you?"
The man wore a fawning expression as he handed over the camera in his hands.
"P-please accept this humble gift..."
Ye Xing glanced down at the camera in his hand and chuckled lightly. "Oh, using professional equipment? A DSLR?"
The man's face, swollen like a pig's head, strained to form a smile. "A-after all, I am somewhat of a journalist..."
Slap!
Before he could finish, Ye Xing delivered another slap, this one much heavier, sending several teeth flying from the man's mouth.
"You dare call yourself a journalist? Shut up."
After saying this, black flames ignited in Ye Xing's hand, reducing the photo-storing camera directly to ashes.
Witnessing this scene, the man stared in stunned disbelief.
What is this!?
How can someone produce flames from their hand?
And black ones at that?
This defies science!
"Haven't seen this before? First time? Quite novel, isn't it?"
Ye Xing smiled, looking directly into the man's eyes as he spoke slowly. "If you engage in this kind of work again in the future, I'll have to pay you a visit at night."
"O-okay... I understand."
Seeing the man's cowering, terrified expression, Ye Xing nodded in satisfaction.
But when he reached the alley entrance and stood up, he paused once more.
"On second thought..."
Ye Xing turned around, the pure black mask once again displaying a white smiling pattern. "Physical injuries alone probably aren't enough to make you remember this lesson. Let's add something more."
Then, Ye Xing slowly extended his right hand toward the terrified man.
"Come out."
Under the man's horrified gaze, a pale ghost hand with jet-black nails materialised instantly in the air.
Then it slowly began reaching toward his body.
"D-don't... don't come near me!"
The man scrambled backwards, crawling through the filthy alley water as he tried to flee into the distance.
But the screeching sound of nails scraping against the wall followed him relentlessly, drawing closer bit by bit.
When he reached the corner, the grating noise finally ceased.
Just as the man sighed in relief and turned to look, he saw the enormous pale ghost hand spreading its fingers as it rushed toward him at terrifying speed.
"N-no... NO!"
The man's eyes rolled back in terror, his body convulsing as he succumbed to overwhelming fear and lost consciousness.
...
When Ye Xing returned, looking completely relaxed and rejoined the group, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly with clear dissatisfaction.
"Ye Xing-kun, this is supposed to be a group activity, yet you made everyone wait for you alone for so long. What were you doing?"
Ye Xing replied casually, smiling. "Oh, I was just helping someone."
"Helping someone?"
Seeing Yukino's somewhat puzzled expression, Ye Xing stated matter-of-factly, "Besides, everyone was perfectly willing to wait for me, right?"
As Yukino frowned, about to say something, she saw Mai Sakurajima and the others nodding in agreement, and could only shake her head in resignation.
"Sigh... You're all far too indulgent with him..."
Ye Xing looked towards the members of the Supernatural Society. "Anyway, regarding the pursuit operation against the Sunny Doll Killer, let's call it a day here. Everyone is dismissed."
After everyone else had left, Yukino Yukinoshita asked curiously.
"What did you just say? Pursuit operation? Not investigation?"
"Ah, same difference. Pursuit operation just sounds cooler."
Yukino nodded in agreement.
"That makes sense."
...
After the dismissal, Ye Xing brought Yukino Yukinoshita to the commercial district.
"Ye... Ye Xing-kun."
Saki Kawasaki was wearing an ordinary short-sleeved top and jeans, not particularly dressed up, but her tall, well-proportioned figure and striking light-blue high ponytail still made a beautiful sight.
Originally, Saki Kawasaki's eyes held a hint of shyness and awkwardness.
But when she saw that Yukino Yukinoshita accompanied Ye Xing, she couldn't help but frown.
"Yukinoshita-san? What is she doing here?"
"Hmm..."
Ye Xing seemed to be thinking about how to answer this question. After quite a while, he finally smiled and said.
"Yukinoshita-san has temporarily become my pet recently."