Noticing the undisguised strong hostility in Kazusa Touma's slender, elegant eyes directed at him, along with the subtle atmosphere in the air, Light Yagami, who was skilled at reading people, understood in that instant.
"Have you all misunderstood something?"
Light Yagami smiled and waved his hand.
"Ye Xing-kun and I don't have that kind of shallow, strange relationship that you're imagining."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"Then what is your relationship?"
Light Yagami glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita standing there, but didn't answer the question. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Ye Xing and smiled.
"Let's eat at my place. My sister was absolutely thrilled when she heard you... all of you were coming, and she wants to meet you."
Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly.
Was that deliberate?
It was absolutely deliberate.
This guy called Light Yagami - that slip of the tongue just now was actually subtly expressing that the rest of us weren't really invited, wasn't it?
What a troublesome opponent.
Fortunately, the other person was male...
Wait.
Was it possible that precisely because he was male like Ye Xing, this Light Yagami could do things that she, Rio, Miko, and Yui couldn't easily do?
For example... sharing a hot spring bath?
Under this subtle influence, Mai Sakurajima's train of thought was gradually becoming more abstract.
"In that case..."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses and said nonchalantly.
"Ye Xing, you go ahead and have lunch with your friend. We'll check into the booked hotel first to drop off our luggage, then we'll regroup this afternoon."
"OK."
After they separated, Light Yagami spoke softly, smiling.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not unwelcoming toward your friends, it's just..."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively and replied calmly.
"You feel that your actions as Kira are something ordinary people can't accept, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
Light Yagami's smile faded, a faint crimson glint flashing in his brown eyes.
"I don't expect understanding from ordinary people, nor is that my goal. As long as evil is punished, that's enough."
"Is it really enough?"
Hearing Ye Xing's sudden question, Light Yagami paused momentarily.
"What you're doing now does indeed punish evil."
Ye Xing walked alongside Light Yagami, his expression neutral.
"But the media hasn't publicly reported your actions, and people don't know criminals are dying because of you."
"Moreover..."
Ye Xing looked at Light Yagami.
"You're just one person. Shouldn't you realise by now that acting alone, you can't even handle all the crime in Tokyo?"
"Hmm..."
Light Yagami lowered his eyelids and responded softly.
Lately, he had been acting almost daily.
But eliminating criminals without leaving traces was extremely challenging, even with his Soul Materialisation ability.
After all, his opponent was the world's greatest detective, L.
Maintaining a frequency of punishing one criminal or ex-convict every three days was already the limit.
Compared to Tokyo, with its population of over ten million and daily criminal incidents, this scale of operation was undoubtedly just a drop in the bucket.
A new world without any evil...
Did it truly exist?
"So."
Just as Light Yagami remained silent, he heard Ye Xing suddenly shift the topic.
"Human power is limited."
"But if one could transform into something more mysterious, more terrifying, completely different from humans, and create an image, the effect would be entirely different."
Hearing these words, Light Yagami showed a surprised expression and murmured to himself.
"Transform into... a different existence..."
He looked up at Ye Xing, his tone somewhat complex.
"Like... Mask?"
"Mask... not quite the same. It's not my own idea either, just copying that Dark Knight from Gotham."
"I see..."
...
Light Yagami led Ye Xing by taxi to the two-story apartment where he lived, raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Coming, coming!"
Sayu Yagami, wearing home clothes, opened the door. Seeing Ye Xing standing beside her brother, she showed an embarrassed smile and quickly greeted him.
"Brother Ye Xing, please come in, come in!"
"Mm, thanks, Sayu."
Seeing his younger sister become infatuated just from being called by her name and with Ye Xing's smile, Light Yagami couldn't help but shake his head with an amused smile, raising his hand to tap her head.
"Don't just stand there, hurry inside."
"Oh, right, okay."
After entering, Sayu Yagami poured tea and sat down, smiling sweetly.
"Mum went out today, so it's just the two of us at home. You can relax a bit, Brother Ye Xing."
Then Sayu Yagami looked at Ye Xing sitting opposite and couldn't help but comment.
"But this is the first time Brother has brought a friend home."
What kind of image did Light Yagami present in his younger sister Sayu's eyes?
The genius with the top academic results in the entire school. Though he didn't seem to notice it himself, friends would often say things like "Your brother is really handsome," or "Can you give me your brother's contact information?"
Presumably, in outsiders' eyes, her brother should be quite popular.
However, Sayu Yagami always had a strange feeling—perhaps a sixth sense unique to family members.
Her brother... was prideful, and... not happy.
This kind of genuine smile she saw when he was with Ye Xing—Sayu was seeing it for the first time.
"He's different."
Light Yagami clasped his hands together, resting his chin on his knuckles, and spoke with a smile.
"Oh, that's right, Sayu, you probably don't know yet. Ye Xing-kun is the genius who took first place in the joint exams between Sobu High School and Shuchi'in Academy - even stronger than me."
"Eh? Really?"
Sayu Yagami didn't know what Sobu High School was, but she had certainly heard of Shuchi'in Academy.
As a middle school student, she considered Shuchi'in Academy as her first choice for further education.
"Brother Ye Xing is that amazing?"
"Of course."
Light Yagami smiled and nodded gently.
"He is... a friend I acknowledge."
...
After finishing their meal together, Light Yagami had his younger sister go upstairs first.
Then he scrolled through his phone, found a news report webpage, and placed it before Ye Xing.
"This is about the exhibition. It starts tomorrow at noon and lasts for a week, at the Tokyo National Museum. Of course, unlike your previous operation with Onimaru Kunitsuna, this situation is rather special."
"It is quite special indeed..."
Looking at the content of the news report, Ye Xing thought to himself that it was just as he expected.
For this exhibition themed around Mikazuki Munechika, the Tokyo National Museum and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department had made comprehensive preparations in every aspect.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
After all, just a few months ago, there was a major incident in which the Kyoto City Museum was infiltrated by a mysterious individual.
Even though the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department claimed that no cultural relics were stolen or damaged, the incident still had a severe negative impact.
Under such circumstances, it was only natural that the Tokyo National Museum, which was also hosting an exhibition themed around famous swords, would raise the security level for this exhibition to the highest level—this was to be expected.
"How audacious."
"Audacious?"
Hearing the word Ye Xing used, Light Yagami couldn't help but pause in surprise.
He had originally thought the other party would say it was troublesome, that they needed to be careful, or—based on the personality he had observed—that they wouldn't take the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the museum's security guards seriously at all.
Why use "audacious" to describe it?
"Isn't it audacious?"
Ye Xing wore an extremely displeased expression and spoke with righteous indignation.
"They stole our famous sword, Mikazuki Munechika, and yet they have the nerve to openly exhibit it in front of the public! I've never seen such shameless people!"
Light Yagami: "..."
Wasn't that turning things upside down?
The plaintiff becoming the defendant?
"Anyway... I've already been surveying the terrain around the National Museum over the past couple of days. The nearest Gate is 7.2 kilometres away. After completing the operation, how to cover those 7.2 kilometres is the most pressing issue to consider."
"Speaking of that..."
Light Yagami paused for a moment and pulled up a photo from his phone's album.
"Look here."
Ye Xing lowered his head to look and saw that in the photo on the screen, tall buildings lined both sides, with a bustling commercial street full of people in the middle.
In Japan, there's a saying:
Anywhere outside Tokyo is the countryside.
Although this is a bit of an exaggeration, the existence of such a statement proves the vast gap between Tokyo and other cities in Japan.
The commercial street in Kyoto, which saw only two or three thousand people even on holidays, paled in comparison to such a bustling commercial district.
In the eyes of ordinary people, this was just an ordinary photo capturing the flow of people.
But Ye Xing could clearly see:
In the photo, a Gate was emitting black mist, already about 80% open.
"Where is this?"
Light Yagami's eyes flickered as he slowly spoke.
"Shibuya."
"Shibuya, huh... Interesting."
Looking at this photo, which only a psychic could find abnormal, Ye Xing wore an expression of keen interest.
According to Rio Futaba's analysis of the Reverse World, it is an alternate dimension composed of people's negative impressions and emotions.
This also explains why the Gates connecting the Reverse World and the real world are most likely to appear in places like dark alleys, unfinished buildings, abandoned structures, and similar locations.
Because human subconsciousness instinctively avoids these places, even for those who don't believe in evil spirits – it's an innate instinct.
However...
What comes to mind when you put the words Shibuya and commercial district together?
Bustling, lively, endless streams of people, dazzling arrays of goods, the forefront of fashion, attractive young people...
No matter how you think about it, it shouldn't accumulate enough negative impressions to generate a Gate, right?
"You're actually paying attention to this kind of incident?"
Hearing Ye Xing's curious question, Light Yagami showed a meaningful smile, the crimson glow in his pupils intensifying.
"Only by devouring more evil spirits can my Emperor Sutoku become stronger and punish more evil."
"You're truly insane, Light."
"Likewise, Ye Xing-kun."
...
That evening.
"Tokyo, it really is Tokyo after all."
Seeing that it was Rio Futaba who said this, Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light laugh.
"Futaba's personality has become much brighter compared to when we first met."
"Well..."
Rio Futaba seemed somewhat embarrassed, taking off her glasses and placing them on the nearby table, muttering quietly.
"I suppose so..."
"Speaking of which..."
Yui Yuigahama glanced around Ye Xing's room with a complicated expression.
"Why are you staying in a luxury suite while we all have standard double rooms!"
"Hey, that's not fair to say."
Ye Xing replied with a straight face.
"I'm paying for this luxury suite myself; it's not coming from the club activity funds. I didn't make you stay in twin rooms – you should be grateful you have double rooms at all. Tokyo hotels are expensive."
Yui Yuigahama was momentarily stunned by this, then nodded.
"That's true, too. Saving where we can is good, since exorcism work is dangerous."
"How can you actually believe that?"
Mai Sakurajima sighed slightly, looking at Ye Xing sitting on the sofa with an understanding expression, saying calmly.
"This guy was probably thinking that if we paired up in rooms, he wouldn't have any opportunities to make moves, right?"
Ye Xing nodded deeply in agreement, smiling.
"Indeed, Mai-senpai knows me best."
Then he straightened his expression and said.
"Alright, let's discuss serious matters."
"Regarding the appearance of a Gate in Shibuya's commercial district, what do my beloved concubines think?"
Hearing the term "beloved concubines," Saki Kawasaki's face flushed red. She opened her mouth to refute, but then noticed that aside from herself, the other four showed no surprise at all.
She was shocked.
Am I actually becoming an internal member of the Supernatural Society, or... joining someone's harem?
How did things develop like this?
"Shibuya shopping district..."
Rio Futaba opened the online map on her phone, checking the view of the surrounding area as she spoke thoughtfully.
"Such a bustling commercial district shouldn't logically have a Gate appearing there. Even if one did appear, it should be in some secluded corner. Having one standing right in the middle of a crowded pedestrian street doesn't make sense."
Miko Yotsuya added from the side.
"I looked into whether there have been any accidents with many casualties in Shibuya over the past few months, but there haven't been any. The only notable thing is the renovation of the shopping mall next to the pedestrian street, but the construction went smoothly without any casualty incidents like what happened with Yukinoshita Construction Company."
"Then how could this happen... Could it be that beneath some building lies an old mass burial ground?"
"That shouldn't be the case. Even if it were a mass burial ground, the focus isn't on the ground itself but rather on people's negative emotions and awareness about it. Even if this commercial district was a battlefield where many people died hundreds of years ago, or some other place with heavy death energy, most people wouldn't care at all."
"This incident is indeed quite difficult. For a Gate to appear in such a crowded, lively place - does that mean the evil spirits in that area are much stronger than those in gloomy, remote locations?"
"Hmm, Miko makes a good point. We can't ignore that possibility."
Listening to the discussion among the exorcists, including Mai Sakurajima, Saki Kawasaki suddenly seemed to have thought of something and tentatively offered her opinion.
"Um... I still don't understand these things very well, but is it possible that this shopping street isn't the original location where the Gate appeared?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Saki Kawasaki's words, Rio Futaba first froze for a moment, then spoke thoughtfully.
"Not the original location where the Gate appeared..."
Saki Kawasaki waved her hands hurriedly.
"That... I was just saying it casually, don't mind me..."
"No, you make a very good point."
Rio Futaba made her habitual gesture of pushing up her glasses, forgetting she had already taken them off, her slender fingers pushing at empty air.
Looking at the other members trying to suppress their laughter, she cleared her throat twice to cover her embarrassment.
"Well... if it's as Saki says, then it would make sense."
"Shibuya's pedestrian street isn't the original location where the Gate appeared, but was moved there."
"After all, there are evil spirits like Hachishaku-sama who have fused with Gates, and those that can directly pull nearby areas into the Reverse World. If there are even more powerful beings that have been fused with Gates for longer, they might indeed be capable of doing something like this."
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly, brushing aside the hair near her ear.
"But if they can do that, wouldn't moving to a hospital or someplace where people frequently die be more beneficial for power growth? Why move to the bustling Shibuya commercial pedestrian street that has almost no negative emotions?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Ye Xing looked towards Miko Yotsuya, the club member who had joined the earliest and possessed the most extensive exorcism experience. She had already arrived at the same conclusion as him.
"Could it be..."
Miko Yotsuya's heart sank. Just imagining the scene made her face pale and her lips tremble slightly.
"Because... the pedestrian flow in Shibuya's shopping district is among the highest in Tokyo... so..."
Ye Xing picked up where Miko left off, speaking in an extremely calm tone that made Saki Kawasaki and the others turn pale with horror.
"So, if they successfully create an accident, the number of humans they can kill and the amount of negative emotions they can collect would be the maximum possible."
Rio Futaba bit her silver teeth lightly and whispered.
"Even an evil spirit fused with a Gate has a limited capacity for pulling humans into the Reverse World at one time..."
"Moreover, there's the risk of their captured "prey" being targeted and taken by other entities in the Reverse World."
"Compared to the Reverse World surrounded by powerful evil spirits, the overall strength of evil spirits and spectres in the real world is much weaker. An evil spirit capable of manipulating a Gate to this extent should be at the top of the food chain in real-world Tokyo..."
"This guy... is treating Shibuya's shopping district in the real world as his personal hunting ground..."