Of course, Saki Kawasaki didn't voice her thoughts aloud.
Looking at Marin Kitagawa's current state, her impression of Ye Xing still remained at the simple level of a fellow club member.
Saki Kawasaki thought to herself that if she said something that made the other girl suddenly realise the truth and join the competition, wouldn't that just be creating another rival for herself?
Unnecessary.
"Speaking of which," Saki said while sewing small accessories onto the black trench coat with needle and thread, her tone curious.
"No matter how you look at it, Mask isn't exactly a legal figure. Won't there be problems imitating his outfit in public?"
"Relax, relax."
Marin Kitagawa waved her hand dismissively, laughing carefreely.
"I checked before - many events have participants cosplaying as Mask. As long as we don't hold up banners or openly support Mask or anything, no one will bother us."
Saki Kawasaki nodded noncommittally, thinking this was indeed true.
The Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department's stance toward Mask was neither acknowledging nor denying his existence - simply acting as if the matter didn't exist at all.
Meanwhile, among Japan's civilian population, supportive voices for this mysterious figure were more numerous.
Additionally, Mask's most famous deed was merely intervening in the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department's investigation during a television broadcast, delivering a fierce criticism against the Sunny Doll Killer personally, rather than killing someone on camera.
All things considered, it really shouldn't cause any negative public opinion.
"But Mask is really cool, don't you think?"
Hearing Marin Kitagawa's question, Saki Kawasaki, who knew the truth, couldn't help but blush slightly, responding noncommittally.
"Yes... He's quite cool."
"Judging by Mask's physique, he should be male, though it's hard to say - there's also a chance he's female. But I still prefer Shinonome-sensei more."
Marin Kitagawa said casually before turning to Saki Kawasaki with a smile.
"When I appear at the event tomorrow wearing the costume you made, Saki, I'll definitely amaze everyone and become the most accurate cosplayer!"
Saki Kawasaki glanced at the black coat in her hands, as if remembering something, and said noncommittally.
"First place isn't very likely, but you might have hope for second."
"Huh?"
Marin Kitagawa was momentarily confused before following Saki Kawasaki's gaze and suddenly understanding.
"Oh, you mean Ye Xing will be the most accurate? Then I don't mind settling for second place."
Saki Kawasaki thought to herself that no matter how accurate tomorrow's cosplayers might be, none would likely be able to steal Ye Xing's spotlight.
After all, he was playing himself.
...
Somewhat later, on a street in a bustling area of Tokyo.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Hearing the voice from behind her, Yui Yuigahama quickly turned around. Seeing Ye Xing standing there, she shook her head and smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"No, I only just arrived myself."
"Alright, let's go then."
Yui Yuigahama walked beside Ye Xing, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Despite always having excellent social skills and being considered the Supernatural Society's top diplomat, this was the first time in her life she'd felt like this.
She didn't know what topic to bring up, nor what to say.
"Um, Ye Xing, I..."
Just as Yui Yuigahama was about to force some conversation, she felt a gentle warmth envelop her hand.
Looking down, she discovered Ye Xing had already taken hold of her hand.
"If you don't know what to talk about, it's perfectly fine to just walk together quietly like this."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Yui Yuigahama's eyes grew somewhat melancholy. She forced a cheerful tone to mask her true feelings.
"But... if we just walk without talking, wouldn't you find being with someone like me boring..."
"Yui."
Ye Xing suddenly stopped walking, turning to face Yui Yuigahama directly. Though he still wore a smile, the usual playful teasing was gone from his expression, replaced by complete seriousness.
"Being with you could never be boring."
Under Ye Xing's direct gaze and hearing such straightforward words, Yui Yuigahama's face instantly flushed crimson.
She instinctively wanted to lower her head and avoid his eyes.
But remembering Kiyohime's words - which reflected her own true, previously unconscious feelings - Yui Yuigahama mustered her courage. Looking at Ye Xing's face with shimmering eyes, she murmured.
"Can someone as ordinary as me... really belong with everyone, with you?"
"Ordinary?"
Ye Xing glanced down at a certain part of Yui Yuigahama's anatomy, appearing thoughtful.
"I wouldn't call that ordinary at all?"
"You..."
Yui Yuigahama's previously melancholic mood was instantly disrupted by Ye Xing's sudden, absurd comment, leaving her both embarrassed and fighting back laughter, nearly losing her composure.
She lightly slapped Ye Xing's shoulder, both embarrassed and annoyed.
"I'm being serious with you."
"Alright then."
Ye Xing had only made the joke to lighten Yui Yuigahama's mood.
He straightened his expression, leaning down slightly to bring his face closer to hers until they were near enough to feel each other's breath.
"I accept you. Futaba accepts you. Miko accepts you. Mai accepts you. Hachishaku-sama, Hina, Saki, Menma - they all accept you."
Pausing briefly, Ye Xing continued slowly.
"The truth is, there's only one person in the Supernatural Society who hasn't accepted you all along."
"And that person is you."
Hearing these words, it felt as if a heavy stone that had been weighing on Yui Yuigahama's heart had finally been lifted.
Yes.
All along, I'd been worrying unnecessarily, thinking that an ordinary girl like me - lacking Miko's courage, Futaba's intelligence, and Mai Sakurajima's fame - could never walk alongside these geniuses.
In truth, none of the Supernatural Society members ever thought this way.
"Someone as ordinary as me..."
Before Yui Yuigahama could finish her murmured words, Ye Xing cut her off directly.
"I need to correct a misconception you have."
"What misconception?"
Ye Xing straightened up and gently patted Yui Yuigahama's head with his other hand, smiling.
"In my eyes, you're no ordinary girl."
"You're the Supernatural Society's, and my, most important image ambassador - the psychic codenamed Dango, Yui Yuigahama."
"So from now on, just naturally stay by my side and everyone else's."
After hearing these words, Yui Yuigahama first froze in confusion, then, after a few seconds, suddenly couldn't help laughing while wiping tears from the corner of her eyes, her expression both joyful and moved.
"What is this, a marriage proposal?"
Ye Xing casually replied.
"Consider it psychological counselling. Only you could make me do something like this."
Yui Yuigahama tilted her head slightly, looking quite playful.
"You can do psychological counselling?"
"Of course, I counsel myself every day."
"Then don't counsel me anymore, I'm afraid I'll become as abstract as you."
After saying this, Yui Yuigahama tugged at Ye Xing's right hand and gently bumped his shoulder with hers, her face slightly flushed.
"Really, is saying you like me that difficult?"
Ye Xing paused for a few seconds before finally nodding.
"Well, I like you, Yui Yuigahama."
Yui Yuigahama stole a glance at him and covered her mouth with a light laugh.
"Eh? Are you blushing?"
Ye Xing rolled his eyes.
"It's the hot weather, combined with your lovesick delusions. Let's keep walking."
Yui Yuigahama bumped his shoulder again, teasing him.
"Such a tsundere."
"Could you stop bouncing into me like a rubber ball?"
"Hehe."
After resolving her inner conflict, Yui Yuigahama let out a long sigh and regained her usual sunny demeanour, pulling Ye Xing's hand as she skipped along the street.
"Look, there's takoyaki!"
Spotting a street vendor with sizzling takoyaki on the iron grill, Yui Yuigahama immediately approached and smiled at the vendor.
"Two portions, please."
"Coming right up."
While waiting for the takoyaki to be packed, Yui Yuigahama kicked a small stone by the roadside, suddenly remembering her original purpose for this outing and turning to Ye Xing curiously.
"By the way, you still haven't told me that method for quickly improving strength."
Ye Xing glanced at her meaningfully.
"You really want to know?"
"Of course! As a member of the Supernatural Society, I want to become stronger too!"
"Then I'll explain in detail when we get back to the hotel."
"Okay."
Yui Yuigahama nodded obediently and said nothing more.
"Your takoyaki."
"Thank you."
Yui Yuigahama took the two boxes of steaming takoyaki handed over by the shopkeeper. The aroma wafting from them made her unable to suppress the urge to devour them ravenously.
However...
Yui Yuigahama hesitated for a moment before releasing Ye Xing's hand. She placed the takoyaki box on the stall counter, took a skewer in each hand, split one takoyaki ball in half, speared it, blew on it gently a few times, and then proactively brought it to Ye Xing's lips.
"Ah, open up"
Ye Xing glanced down before biting off the half takoyaki ball from the skewer.
Before he could say anything, Yui Yuigahama noticed the stall owner watching them with an amused smile. Her face flushed crimson as she shoved the entire box of takoyaki into Ye Xing's hands, murmuring shyly:
"Alright, let's finish looking around quickly and head back."
...
Meanwhile, in the hotel room.
"What should I do..."
Yukino Yukinoshita sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone at that familiar number she hadn't dialled in ages, and which hadn't called her in equally long. Her usually expressionless, delicate face now showed unprecedented conflict.
After about ten seconds of internal struggle, she finally made her decision and pressed the call button.
Ring... ring...
After just two short rings, Haruno's voice came through the phone, carrying laughter and a hint of laziness.
"Yahallo, my adorable little sister, it's rare for you to call me first. What's up?"
Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Why didn't you come to Tokyo?"
"Eh? Tokyo, why would I go to Tokyo?"
"Stop playing dumb. You should know our entire club, including Ye Xing, came to Tokyo for tourism, right?"
"As expected, I can't hide anything from you. I did hear about it."
"Then why didn't you come?"
Haruno Yukinoshita seemed taken aback by her sister's question, responding with amused exasperation.
"Why would I come?"
Yukino Yukinoshita replied as if stating the obvious.
"Because Ye Xing is in Tokyo."
"Should I follow him wherever he goes? Wouldn't that make me a stalker?"
Yukino Yukinoshita's tone remained steady.
"Isn't that what romance is all about?"
Hearing her sister's remark, Haruno couldn't help sighing over the phone.
"Little Yukino, your understanding of romantic relationships really is stuck at kindergarten level."
"Hmph."
Yukino Yukinoshita let out a light hum, hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question she'd been wanting to ask all along, struggling to maintain her composure.
"You... know Ye Xing's true identity, don't you?"
Haruno fell silent for a few seconds before replying with laughter in her voice.
"True identity? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're still-"
Before Yukino could finish, Haruno interrupted with a light laugh.
"In your view, what counts as a true identity? Since you used the word 'true', which side do you consider false then?"
Faced with this question, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, unsure how to respond.
Haruno, seemingly anticipating this reaction, spoke with a smile.
"So-called truth and falsehood are just definitions given by others."
"To me, Ye Xing is Ye Xing. Every aspect of him is him, just seen from different angles."
"His essential nature, and my feelings toward him, won't change because of anything."
"Are you satisfied with this answer?"
Upon hearing her sister's words, Yukino Yukinoshita froze.
It wasn't for any other reason.
It was simply that Yukino had never imagined that the relationship she pursued - one completely free from falsehood - would one day be spoken of by her sister Haruno.
How ironic.
She deliberately chose to attend Sobu High School in Kyoto for her three years of high school, believing her sister, mother, and the entire Yukinoshita family to be too hypocritical, all in pursuit of genuine relationships untainted by illusion.
Yet...
Had Haruno reached the "real thing" before her?
"I..."
Yukino Yukinoshita pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze to stare at her bare, snow-white feet resting on the floor, murmuring.
"I never thought you'd say something like this one day."
"Jealous, aren't you?"
Haruno covered her mouth with a light laugh, teasing in a playful tone.
"Well then, you'll have to get along well with your future brother-in-law from now on. I'm hanging up now, bye-bye."
Listening to the dial tone from the other end of the phone, Yukino Yukinoshita remained silent for a long time, countless thoughts flashing through her mind.
So, her sister had known all along... about Ye Xing's true identity.
Then why had she guided her every step of the way to join the Supernatural Society?
Did she think Yukino could find what she had been searching for within this club?
At this thought, an impulse welled up in Yukino Yukinoshita's heart.
She had had enough.
She didn't want to keep pretending anymore.
This situation where she knew, and Ye Xing knew that she knew, yet both sides had to act as if they didn't know...
It was too hypocritical.
And now, Yukino wanted to shatter this hypocrisy.
She abruptly stood up from the bedside, not even bothering with slippers, her bare white feet stepping directly onto the carpet as she snatched the room card from the door slot and practically burst out of her room. Taking the elevator, she arrived at the floor where Ye Xing's room was located.
Yukino had decided.
Hiding and concealing wasn't who she was.
Since she had decided to remain in this club, she would use her usual directness to break this delicate, unspoken balance.
Only this way could be the sole answer to obtaining the real thing.
Just as Yukino, still barefoot, ran all the way to Ye Xing's door and raised her hand, panting, to knock on it, she suddenly heard an extremely familiar voice behind her.
"Yukino... kun?"
In that instant, Yukino Yukinoshita froze.
She silently turned around, looking at Shizuka Hiratsuka standing before her, and gave a slight nod.
"Hiratsuka-sensei."
Bloody hell, this was really bloody hell.
Both Yukino Yukinoshita and Shizuka Hiratsuka were at a loss.
The former was thinking:
Why would her homeroom teacher appear in this hotel, and on the same floor as Ye Xing?
Shizuka Hiratsuka was also thinking.
Her gaze swept over Yukino's bare feet directly on the carpet, her slightly dishevelled clothing, her flushed face clearly showing she had just undergone strenuous activity, and her slightly parted lips still panting for breath.
Shizuka Hiratsuka thought of an extremely terrifying possibility, her pupils dilating completely.
Wait a moment.
Looking at Yukino's appearance, plus the fact that she was standing outside Ye Xing's room...
In Shizuka Hiratsuka's mind, she had already conjured a scenario in which Ye Xing attempted to assault Yukino Yukinoshita, with Yukino either putting up fierce resistance or failing to resist, leading to an intense struggle before she finally fled his room in disarray.
My God!
How could a high school student, one of her own classmates, do such a thing!?
"What are you two doing standing outside my room?"
Hearing the voice from behind her, Hiratsuka turned around and saw Ye Xing standing there with Yui Yuigahama. Clenching her silver teeth, she said:
"You... you beast! You criminal!"
"What nonsense is this?"
Ye Xing looked utterly bewildered.
"Though those two descriptors are actually quite accurate for me, I haven't done anything yet."
"Haven't done anything yet? Look at you..."
Just as Hiratsuka was mid-sentence, she suddenly realised something was wrong.
Ye Xing hadn't come out of the room.
Could it be that Yukino hadn't just escaped from the room, but had just arrived at the room door instead?
So... had she misunderstood everything?
Just as Hiratsuka was feeling embarrassed and at a loss, Yui Yuigahama asked a question that made her heart tremble.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, are you staying at this hotel too?"
"Why... are you standing outside Ye Xing's room?"