Meanwhile, Ye Xing, the exorcist who had just finished a long day's work, returned home.
The moment he stepped through the door, Saki Kawasaki, who had been watching TV on the sofa, wanted to rush over to greet him.
Keika Kawasaki had advised her that she needed to take the initiative.
If she wanted Ye Xing to see her as a potential romantic partner—not just as the delinquent problem girl from class or a fellow club member—she had to reveal another side of herself to him.
For instance.
The aura of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Though deeply embarrassed, Saki Kawasaki had decided to follow her younger sister's advice.
Unfortunately, her movements weren't as swift as her rival's.
"Welcome back."
Kazusa Touma, like a loyal dog awaiting its master's return, rose from the sofa without hesitation the instant she heard the key turn in the lock. Her pale, delicate bare feet padded rapidly across the wooden floor straight to the entryway.
Witnessing this, Keika Kawasaki, who had been swinging her legs idly, felt her heart sink.
What a formidable opponent.
Had she even calculated that putting on shoes would delay her standing up!?
"Why aren't you wearing shoes?"
Hearing Ye Xing's question, Kazusa Touma glanced down at her bare feet as if only now noticing the chill from the floor, and replied indifferently.
"Oh, I got up in too much of a hurry and forgot."
"Hiss..."
Keika's small face was a picture of astonishment as she sharply drew in a breath.
Truly a terrifyingly skilled rival!
She had underestimated her.
She had thought this Touma sister wasn't wearing shoes, so she could save every second to be the first to welcome big brother home.
But it turned out there was such profound meaning behind it!
She was so eager to welcome him home that she even forgot to put on her shoes.
What man could withstand such an attack?
Just as Keika was thinking this, she saw Kazusa Touma pull an unopened lollipop from her pocket.
"Candy, want some?"
Ye Xing took the lollipop while asking curiously.
"Where did you get this? Did you go out and buy it?"
"No, I brought it from home."
Kazusa Touma smiled faintly and added.
"It's cola flavour."
By now, Keika Kawasaki was feeling despair.
She had originally thought that Marin Kitagawa—with her flashy style and gentle, outgoing personality—or Yukino Yukinoshita, that unapproachable highland flower who, for some unknown reason, had chosen to live under the same roof as big brother, were her and her sister's strongest competitors.
She never expected...
There was such a powerful rival!?
Kazusa Touma, who appeared aloof and unapproachable, with an aggressive aura, actually had a gentle, considerate side.
Playing the contrast card, are we?
Very well, very well.
At this thought, Keika Kawasaki lightly bit her lip, subtly reached out her small hand to tug at her sister Saki Kawasaki's sleeve, and whispered in a lowered voice.
"Sis, go on."
"Go on..."
Looking at Kazusa Touma and Ye Xing standing in the entryway, Saki Kawasaki didn't think she could win, but still clenched her silver teeth and nodded, steeling herself to walk over while trying to make her smile appear gentle and virtuous.
"Ye... Ye Xing... wel... welcome home."
Watching Saki Kawasaki's upward-curving lips twitching unnaturally as she struggled to maintain her smile, Ye Xing said flatly.
"What kind of expression is that? Got Parkinson's?"
Saki Kawasaki's expression froze, and she subconsciously clenched her fist and waved it.
"You..."
She only realised something was wrong halfway through her sentence and immediately stopped.
Today's battle report.
Kazusa Touma's complete victory.
"Big brother!"
Seeing her sister's lack of competitiveness, Keika Kawasaki quickly joined the battle.
Through today's interactions, she had already realised her and her sister's greatest advantage.
She knew that big brother's true identity was actually Mask, who secretly protected Kyoto City.
She needed to use this to turn the tide of battle in their favour.
Keika Kawasaki trotted over to stand before Ye Xing, looked up at him with her big eyes blinking, and said pitifully.
"It's my first time staying overnight at someone else's house, I'll be a bit scared at night. Can you sleep with me?"
"Eh?"
Saki Kawasaki was taken aback and quickly tried to dissuade her.
"Keika, you're a girl, how can you sleep with big brother? I'll sleep with you instead."
Seeing her sister being so clueless, Keika Kawasaki was speechless, but still followed the original plan and hugged Ye Xing's arm.
"Big brother, I want to go to the amusement park tomorrow. Can you come with me?"
"Amusement park?"
"Mm, sister used to be busy working part-time jobs, so she never had time to take me on weekends. I want you and sister to take me together, can you?"
"Tomorrow..."
Seeing that Ye Xing didn't immediately agree, Keika Kawasaki put her palms together, putting on a pitiful expression.
"Please, please."
Ye Xing nodded, patted Keika Kawasaki's little head and said with a smile, "Since I'm free tomorrow anyway, I can go with you."
"Then it's settled!"
Seeing Ye Xing agree, Keika Kawasaki nodded with an excited expression, emphasising once more, "Just you, me, and my sister - only the three of us."
"Alright."
...
Meanwhile, at Editor Suga's workplace.
Natsumi Suga looked at the post she had published earlier, which was already causing heated discussion online, with a complicated expression on her face.
Generating topic popularity was originally a good thing.
But the comments below...
"This boy called Ye Xing is so handsome. Did he leave any contact information?"
"Willing to pay generously for contact details!"
"Just my type - handsome high school boys!"
In this interview report, Natsumi Suga had specifically included his photo at Ye Xing's request.
To be honest.
If she hadn't seen so many good-looking girls around him, Natsumi Suga might have started suspecting that he was using her to publish a matchmaking announcement online.
"Ye Xing... what an interesting young man."
Natsumi Suga scrolled through the comments, murmuring to herself.
As a writer, she felt a strong interest and curiosity about Ye Xing.
What kind of person would use an interview opportunity to express such disdain towards the serial killer that made Kyoto residents pale at the mention...
No, calling it disdain was giving it too much credit.
From Ye Xing's attitude, demeanour, and words during the interview, Natsumi Suga could only think of two words.
Disregard, indifference.
As if the multiple cruel cases committed by that serial killer were, in Ye Xing's eyes, nothing more than boring pranks by a child seeking attention from adults.
If there was an opportunity...
Should she invite this Ye Xing for an exclusive interview next time?
...
The next morning, at an amusement park in Kyoto City.
"Wow"
Looking at the sea of people and listening to the laughter around her, Keika Kawasaki's mouth fell open, her small face filled with astonishment and joy.
"It's... so lively."
Ye Xing, standing beside her, asked curiously, "Haven't you been to an amusement park before?"
"Mm... no, I haven't."
A trace of loneliness flashed in Keika Kawasaki's eyes as she murmured, "Mum and Dad are both very busy with work, and my sister works so hard, so I've never felt comfortable asking to come play. I didn't want to make my sister's life even harder."
Saki Kawasaki's expression became complicated upon hearing this. "Keika, you..."
"But it's alright now."
Before her sister could finish, the loneliness disappeared from Keika Kawasaki's small face, replaced by a genuinely happy smile.
She took Saki Kawasaki's hand with her left hand.
"Now my sister doesn't need to work outside - she can do part-time work at home."
Then with her right hand, she took Ye Xing's hand beside her, smiling sweetly.
"And there's big brother too, who's also family."
Hearing her younger sister call Ye Xing family, Saki Kawasaki's face flushed red. She tucked a strand of her light blue hair behind her ear and muttered quietly, "He... he's not family yet."
"Hehe, it's only a matter of time."
Keika Kawasaki replied slyly, then, without waiting for her sister to speak, she grabbed one person with each hand and ran towards the amusement park.
To outsiders, it looked like a young couple taking their daughter out for fun—a very heartwarming scene.
"Sister, big brother, I want to play that one!"
Keika Kawasaki looked at the long queue not far away and the roller coaster looping round and round before her, listening to the thrilling screams of the visitors, her small face clearly showing two words.
Want to play.
Saki Kawasaki's expression visibly became hesitant.
"That... your sister isn't really fond of this kind of ride. How about you go with big brother? I'll wait for you down here."
Hearing her sister's words, Keika Kawasaki sighed slightly, a trace of helplessness appearing in her eyes.
What a blockheaded teammate.
"Sister, please play with me!"
Hearing Keika's coquetry, the severe sister-con Saki Kawasaki instantly lost all resistance.
Although she was somewhat afraid of roller coasters, she gritted her teeth and nodded.
"Well... alright."
After queuing for a while, it was finally their group's turn to board the roller coaster.
Saki Kawasaki looked at the row of three seats and said with a smile,
"Keika, you sit in the middle."
Keika Kawasaki sighed helplessly again, forcing a cheerful smile as she said,
"Let's have big brother sit in the middle instead. I don't like sitting in the middle."
Saki Kawasaki was taken aback.
"Eh? Well... that works too."
And so the three of them took their seats on the roller coaster with Keika Kawasaki on the right, Saki Kawasaki on the left, and Ye Xing in the middle, fastening their seatbelts and securing the safety bars.
"Haa... haa..."
Just before the ride was about to start, Saki Kawasaki's expression clearly became much more tense, continuously taking deep breaths.
"Today..."
Just then, Ye Xing suddenly looked up at the clear sky and remarked with emotion,
"It's actually such a sunny day."
Hearing this, Saki Kawasaki looked puzzled.
"Isn't sunny weather good? If it were rainy, we wouldn't be able to come out to play, right?"
"That's true too."
As Ye Xing's words fell, the roller coaster suddenly shuddered.
"Eek!"
Saki Kawasaki let out an adorable exclamation that contrasted sharply with her cool appearance, instinctively reaching out her right hand to grab Ye Xing's arm.
Seeing this scene, Keika Kawasaki, sitting on the other side, finally showed a relieved smile and nodded with satisfaction.
Nothing beats a roller coaster.
Clichéd, but effective.
Rumble... rumble... rumble...
Accompanied by clanking and constant vibration, the roller coaster slowly moved out of the station and began moving forward.
Seeing the nearly vertical 90-degree drop not far ahead, Saki Kawasaki's face turned pale.
"This... this..."
She clenched her silver teeth, trembling so much she couldn't even form complete sentences.
"Woo-hoo, here we go!"
Compared to Saki Kawasaki, although Keika Kawasaki was younger, she was clearly much braver.
Her small face was full of excitement as she cheered enthusiastically.
Under Saki Kawasaki's terrified gaze, the roller coaster continued forward unhurriedly until it reached the edge of the "cliff" before coming to a stop.
Just two or three seconds of stillness.
At the moment her heart leapt into her throat, the roller coaster hurtled down the sharply descending track at breakneck speed.
"Ah!!!"
Saki Kawasaki's mind went completely blank. Instinctively, she went from clutching Ye Xing's sleeve to gripping his hand tightly.
...
Five minutes later.
"Huff... In this lifetime... In this lifetime..."
Saki Kawasaki leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from her forehead with the relieved yet still shaken expression of someone who'd narrowly escaped disaster.
"In this lifetime, I'm never riding that thing again."
"Big sister is such a coward"
Keika Kawasaki covered her mouth with a light laugh, showing hints of a hidden bratty girl personality.
Saki Kawasaki shook her head helplessly, then asked curiously.
"Keika, aren't you scared at all, riding a roller coaster for the first time?"
"Of course I'm not scared."
Keika Kawasaki replied with full confidence, as if stating the obvious.
"Even if something goes wrong, the righteous Masked Knight will protect me."
Hearing these words from Keika, the number one fan of Mask, Saki Kawasaki couldn't help but chuckle.
"He's not here right now. Even if something happened, he wouldn't be able to save you in time."
"That's not necessarily true"
Keika Kawasaki said meaningfully, then her eyes caught sight of a cotton candy stall. She ran over quickly, said something to the vendor, paid, and came back holding two large cotton candies—one in each hand.
"Here, big sister, cotton candy."
Saki Kawasaki took the cotton candy from her sister's hand and glanced at Ye Xing standing nearby.
"Why didn't you buy one for your favourite big brother?"
Keika Kawasaki replied matter-of-factly.
"I ran out of money, could only afford two."
Saki Kawasaki paused for a moment, then laughed.
"Then I'll go buy another one. Ye Xing, you can have this one."
Upon hearing this, Keika Kawasaki quickly tried to dissuade them.
"Eh, why buy another one?"
Ye Xing also nodded in agreement from the side.
"Yeah, why buy another one?"
Saki Kawasaki looked puzzled. "With two cotton candies, how will three people eat them?"
"Isn't that simple?"
Keika Kawasaki wore an expression of exasperation.
"You and big brother can share one."
"Eh?"
Saki Kawasaki hadn't expected her younger sister to say such a thing.
When she saw the meaningful glances being sent her way, she finally understood, a bashful blush spreading across her cheeks. Awkwardly, she extended the cotton candy in her hand towards Ye Xing, turning her face away to avoid looking at him.
"I... I've already taken a bite. If you don't mind, you can start from the other side."
"Alright."
Ye Xing responded with a smile, taking hold of Saki Kawasaki's hand. He deliberately turned the cotton candy back around and took another bite from the exact spot where she had bitten.
"You... you..."
Seeing Ye Xing's action, Saki's face flushed completely red.
"How could you... eat from where I bit!"
Ye Xing chuckled lightly and countered.
"Didn't you tell me not to mind?"
Then, putting on a serious expression, he said.
"If I don't eat from where you bit, how can I show that I don't mind you?"
"Uh..."
Saki Kawasaki thought about it carefully.
It did seem to make sense.
Just then, Keika Kawasaki suddenly pointed towards the Ferris wheel in the distance and exclaimed excitedly.
"Sister, big brother, let's ride that one!"
When it came to her younger sister's requests, Saki Kawasaki had never been able to resist.
"Alright, let's go together..."
Before Saki could finish, Keika shook her head.
"I don't really want to ride it. I just want to watch the two of you ride it."
"Just the two of us?"
Before Saki could say anything more, Keika pushed her towards the Ferris wheel.
"Hurry up, hurry up."
Watching her sister and Ye Xing enter one of the Ferris wheel cabins together, Keika beamed with delight.
"I'll wait for you down here."
...
After the Ferris wheel started moving, Saki Kawasaki sat opposite Ye Xing, gazing at the scenery outside the window. Feeling the quiet atmosphere inside the cabin, she stole a glance at Ye Xing sitting across from her, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
'What should I do? What should I do?'
'I'm so nervous.'
'This seems...'
'To be the first time we've been alone together?'
'What should I say?'
Saki Kawasaki parted her lips slightly and finally uttered something that came out without any conscious thought.
"Um... what do you think about Mask?"
Saki herself didn't know why.
This was the first question that popped into her mind.
"Mask?"
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"That's just an urban legend, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Saki frowned slightly, her expression displeased.
"Mask really exists. Moreover, he saved my sister twice. He's righteous..."
"Righteous?"
Ye Xing smiled faintly and said softly.
"He's just someone who acts according to his own will, without caring about any restraints. His goal isn't to carry out justice."
Without waiting for Saki Kawasaki to speak, Ye Xing suddenly glanced around the cabin and asked a meaningful question.
"Kawasaki, you'd say there aren't any cameras inside this Ferris wheel, right?"
"Eh?"
Saki Kawasaki froze momentarily before protectively crossing her arms over her chest, her expression turning wary.
"You... you're not thinking of... doing something strange to me, are you? This is a public place! Absolutely not!"
"I think you're having delusions."
As Ye Xing's words fell, Saki Kawasaki suddenly heard shouts from the tourists below.
She turned to look out the window, and when she saw what was happening, her pupils contracted in shock.
"What's that!?"
Several large trucks loaded with logs were charging toward their Ferris wheel at tremendous speed.
Faced with the rapidly approaching trucks, the tourists below were scattering in panic, fleeing in all directions.
"Kei... Keika!"
Saki Kawasaki saw that only her younger sister remained standing motionless before the Ferris wheel, as if frozen in terror.
The trucks were now less than thirty metres away from Keika Kawasaki and would soon crush her small body into a bloody pulp.
Frantically, Saki Kawasaki began pounding on the window.
"Keika, get out of the way!"
Though she shouted with all her might, their cabin was already over ten metres above the ground - how could Keika possibly hear her?
Just as despair filled Saki's heart, making her want to close her eyes rather than witness her sister's death, she suddenly felt a cool breeze from behind.
Turning around, she saw that Ye Xing had somehow forced open the externally locked cabin door.
"What are you doing!?"
Seeing Ye Xing standing at the cabin's edge, just one step away from falling, Saki's heart clenched with fear.
Ye Xing turned to look at Saki and smiled.
"Keep the cotton candy safe. I'll eat it when I get back."
As his words faded, to Saki's utter shock and disbelief, pure black flames erupted around Ye Xing's body.
A pure black mask - one she knew intimately despite having seen it only once, one she could never forget - covered his face.
Saki's pupils dilated in astonishment as she murmured.
"Ma... Mask?"