Yui Yuigahama's sudden question completely stunned Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Yukino Yukinoshita also became aware of this issue, a flicker of suspicion passing through her eyes.
Setting aside the question of why their homeroom teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka, was appearing at this hotel and staying on the same floor as Ye Xing...
Ye Xing's room door was quite far from the elevator, requiring two turns to reach.
Moreover, because it was a suite with a larger area, the distance between rooms wasn't particularly close either.
Wrong room?
Impossible.
If Hiratsuka had come to the wrong room, her first reaction upon seeing Yukino standing outside the room wouldn't have been shocked disbelief, but rather bewilderment about why Yukino would suddenly come looking for her.
Since she had said those words to Ye Xing, regardless of what images were in her mind, one thing was certain.
Hiratsuka had known from the very beginning that this was Ye Xing's room.
Yukino Yukinoshita had seen through everything.
Noticing Yukino's gaze, Hiratsuka knew she wouldn't be able to bluff her way through today.
Yukino's personality was nothing like her good friend Haruno's, yet when it came to insight and intellect, they showed their sisterly similarities.
"Well... ahem."
Hiratsuka lightly coughed twice, forcibly steadying her flustered state of mind as she pretended to be calm.
"I'm returning to Kyoto tomorrow, so before leaving, I wanted to find Ye Xing to suggest treating your entire club to a meal. After all, including second-year Sakurajima, you're all my students."
To this statement from Hiratsuka, Yukino Yukinoshita merely flickered her eyes and softly offered a brief, single-word evaluation.
"Clumsy."
Treating to a meal?
It was eight o'clock in the evening. If there were no ulterior motives, something that could be discussed with a phone call, was it really necessary to come to his room door?
It was truly clumsy.
"Miss Hiratsuka."
Yukino Yukinoshita tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke calmly.
"You're lying."
Yui Yuigahama, listening nearby, was utterly dumbfounded.
Wait...
Yukino, since when were you this bold?
Yui Yuigahama could also tell that Shizuka Hiratsuka had come up with a clumsy excuse on the spot, attempting to cover things up just like that.
But she could never bring herself to do what Yukino did - completely disregarding social niceties and directly exposing the other's lie.
Quite the opposite.
Yui Yuigahama would even help smooth things over, laughing it off and moving on.
Yukino... this was far too blunt.
Moreover, Yui Yuigahama considered another point.
If Miss Shizuka was lying...
Then what was her real reason for coming to Ye Xing's room door?
Since she resorted to using lies to cover it up, it must be something too embarrassing to speak of, right...
Thinking this, Yui Yuigahama's grip on Ye Xing's hand tightened even more.
When Shizuka Hiratsuka and Yukino Yukinoshita noticed her holding Ye Xing's hand, the two women reacted differently.
Shizuka Hiratsuka showed startled shock, as if she wanted to say something.
Yukino Yukinoshita merely frowned slightly, her eyes appearing somewhat complex and confused, before finally shifting her gaze away and settling on Ye Xing's face as she spoke softly.
"Do you have time? I'd like to talk with you."
When Yukino Yukinoshita said this, Yui Yuigahama pressed her lips together, lowering her head in silence, only tightening her grip on Ye Xing's hand once more, as if afraid he might pull away.
Ye Xing didn't respond directly. Instead, after similarly tightening his grip on Yui Yuigahama's hand, he looked at Yukino Yukinoshita and smiled.
"Yukinoshita, I have more important matters right now. I don't have the time."
Hearing Ye Xing's response, Yui Yuigahama felt an inexplicable relief in her heart. She looked up and spoke with a smile.
"You can talk with Yukino first. I'll wait until you're finished. It's fine."
Yui Yuigahama was a gentle girl. More than herself, she preferred to prioritise others, especially someone she considered a good friend like Yukino Yukinoshita.
Of course, that's what she thought, but if Ye Xing directly agreed to Yukino's request and left her waiting aside, she would still feel sad.
This was what people called - it's not the result that matters, but the attitude.
"Not necessary."
Ye Xing glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita, who was barefoot and breathing heavily, and spoke calmly.
"Yukinoshita, your matter can wait. We'll talk when I have time."
Then, Ye Xing turned to look at Shizuka Hiratsuka beside them.
"Shizuka, do you still have business?"
Sensing the atmosphere in the room, Shizuka Hiratsuka finally understood the meaning behind Ye Xing's words at this moment.
In this world, there truly existed battlefields more dangerous than that hotel room from that day.
And without realising it, she had already stepped into one.
"Well... nothing anymore. I'll contact you by phone tomorrow..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka replied quietly before turning around and fleeing in defeat.
Too terrifying, it was truly too terrifying.
What level of competitors are in this battlefield!?
Mai Sakurajima, the strongest person who's flawless and can instantly break through her defences with just one sentence.
Yukino Yukinoshita, who can see through lies at a glance and speaks bluntly without hesitation.
Even that classmate, Yui Yuigahama, probably isn't someone simple either.
Shizuka Hiratsuka hadn't forgotten that the most critical problem she faced was first noticed and pointed out by the other party.
Among these competitors she had encountered, not a single one was easy to deal with.
The Supernatural Society...
What a terrifying place.
After Shizuka Hiratsuka left, Yui Yuigahama watched Ye Xing open the door, seemingly not planning to invite Yukino inside at all, and couldn't help but tug at his sleeve, whispering.
"Well, could you please talk with Yukinoshita first? I'm begging you."
"Since it's your request, then fine."
Ye Xing looked towards Yukino Yukinoshita, standing there, and said in a flat tone.
"Since Yui said so, you can come in."
Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable inside.
From the tone, it seemed like the other party was quite impatient?
Under normal circumstances, given Yukino Yukinoshita's proud personality, she would have turned and left long ago.
But today, she really didn't want to wait any longer.
"Thank you, Yui."
Hearing Yukino Yukinoshita say these words in an unusually awkward tone, Yui Yuigahama patted the back of her hand and smiled sweetly.
"Don't mention it, we're friends after all."
"Friends..."
This time, Yukino Yukinoshita didn't deny it, just nodded.
"Yes, we're friends."
...
After entering the room, Yukino Yukinoshita sat on the sofa, glanced at Yui Yuigahama sitting beside her with a dazed expression, and seemed to hesitate to speak.
Seeing this, Ye Xing waved his hand casually.
"Just say whatever you want."
"Alright then."
Yukino Yukinoshita straightened her skirt hem, tucked the black long hair beside her ear behind it, looked directly into Ye Xing's eyes, and spoke word by word.
"You are Mask."
Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze remained fixed on Ye Xing, ready to catch any flaw that might appear on his face immediately.
But to her surprise, the other party just nodded indifferently.
"Yes, what about it?"
"Eh?"
Seeing Ye Xing actually admit it directly, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but pause briefly, saying hesitantly.
"You... actually admitted it?"
"What else should I do?"
Seeing Ye Xing still looking completely unconcerned, as if it wasn't a big deal at all, Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze couldn't help but turn towards Yui Yuigahama beside them.
She noticed that her friend - the only person she could call a friend, Classmate Yuigahama - showed no trace of surprise or shock on her face.
"It seems you knew all along."
"Well... sorry about that, Yukinoshita."
Yui Yuigahama smiled apologetically, trying to get away with it by acting cute.
"Sigh..."
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed helplessly and murmured.
"Actually, I probably guessed as much. After all, you joined the club very early on, and you were always present during every internal meeting..."
At this point, Yukino Yukinoshita paused and looked towards Ye Xing.
"So actually, those so-called inner members are all people who know your true identity. If I'm not mistaken, among the three unidentified individuals who appeared in the television broadcast last time when you were pursuing the Sunny Doll Killer, judging by their height and posture, they should be Futaba-san, Yotsuya-san, and Mai-senpai."
Ye Xing nodded and smiled.
"As expected of Yukinoshita-san, your observational skills are truly sharp."
Yukino Yukinoshita's speciality lay in her insight into her surroundings.
Shizuka Hiratsuka believed that Yukino possessed outstanding intelligence just like Haruno, but this view was actually quite one-sided.
What Haruno excelled at was discerning others' thoughts and negotiating with the most appropriate words and demeanour.
Yukino, however, wasn't skilled at guessing others' inner thoughts - she merely observed from a bystander's perspective.
Perhaps that was why she had already noticed while watching the television broadcast recording.
Though the voice was different, the attire was different, and they wore masks.
The tone and posture when Mask spoke, the feeling it gave, completely matched Ye Xing's.
As for the other three, even without speaking, their standing postures and heights matched the characteristics of Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, and Rio Futaba.
Of course, Yukino Yukinoshita didn't feel she had accomplished any remarkable deduction.
In truth, Ye Xing had given her enough clues and hints.
Solving a problem while already knowing the answer naturally yielded the result she had already been aware of.
"So..."
Yukino Yukinoshita remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly.
"What about now?"
"Now?"
Ye Xing stood up, extended his right hand towards her, and spoke with a smile.
"Welcome to my harem gr... our Supernatural Society."
Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly: "You were about to say harem group just now, weren't you?"
"Nothing of the sort. You can't falsely accuse your brother-in-law like that, Yukino-chan."
"Hmph, what brother-in-law? Don't take advantage here."
Though Yukino Yukinoshita's words were sharp, her body was honest as she stood up and extended her right hand, giving Ye Xing's a light shake.
"In that case, I'll take my leave now."
After saying this, Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at Yui Yuigahama with a complicated expression before leaving the room.
She knew what she was good at, and she knew what she wasn't good at.
That was handling interpersonal relationships.
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't quite understand the relationships between Ye Xing and the inner members of the Supernatural Society, as well as her own sister.
Why could he claim to be her brother-in-law right in front of Yuigahama-san, and Yuigahama-san didn't seem to have any objections?
Could it be that...
Is this the genuine article she'd been searching for all along?
Too absurd, absolutely impossible.
Wouldn't that mean if I want to reach the genuine article, she'd have to...
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
Yukino Yukinoshita secretly swore to herself.
She would absolutely never join any harem group.
If that happened, she might as well change her name to Yukino Insectnoshita.
...
After Yukino Yukinoshita left, Yui Yuigahama let out a relieved sigh and pouted at Ye Xing.
"You know, your attitude towards Yukino is really too harsh? After all, we're friends in the same club, and it's not like you don't know how to speak properly."
Ye Xing replied with complete confidence.
"If I'm gentle with everyone, then it means I'm not truly gentle with anyone. That kind of gentleness would be meaningless, wouldn't it?"
"Uh..."
Yui Yuigahama pondered this, thinking to herself.
'That actually makes sense.'
If Ye Xing was normally gentle and considerate in his speech, she wouldn't have been so moved by his words during their shopping trip earlier.
Being gentle to everyone equals being gentle to no one...
"Wait."
Yui Yuigahama belatedly came to her senses, staring at Ye Xing with slight resentment like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Were you making a point about me?"
"As long as you understood."
"Hmph... but..."
Yui Yuigahama's face flushed slightly as she muttered quietly.
"I've never been gentle with other boys..."
Then, she adjusted her mood and organised her thoughts.
"Alright, let's get to business. What exactly is this method to quickly increase power...?"
"It's indeed about getting to the bottom."
Ye Xing first said something that Yui Yuigahama couldn't quite understand, seemingly containing some deeper meaning, before speaking seriously.
"Before I begin explaining, there are a few points to note first."
"There are points to note?"
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama's posture straightened, her curiosity growing even stronger.
What kind of brutal training could it be that would make even Ye Xing so serious?
"First, this method of increasing power wasn't created by me alone, but is a refined conclusion supported by Rio Futaba's theoretical framework."
"Here, I'd like to thank the volunteers who dedicated themselves to this great experiment."
"The list of thanks is as follows: Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, Mai Sakurajima, Hachishaku-sama..."
"Stop stop stop stop!"
Yui Yuigahama raised her hand to interrupt, looking utterly speechless.
"Just stop beating around the bush and tell me directly."
"Alright, here's how it is..."
...
Five minutes later.
Yui Yuigahama's eyes lost their sparkle.
"Really...?"
Only at this moment did Yui Yuigahama finally understand why Mai Sakurajima and the others would act so evasive, shy, and awkward when talking about power enhancement training.
And why they had asked her to speak with Ye Xing privately.
Yui Yuigahama had originally thought that Ye Xing could help with the training.
But she never expected.
That he himself was the training!!!
"I... I..."
Faced with such shocking news, the timid lizard Yui Yuigahama once again revealed her indecisive nature."
"I need to go to the bathroom!"
Bang!
"Ah... that hurts."
Yui Yuigahama ran into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and splashed her face with cold water, yet the burning sensation showed no signs of fading.
"Starting to hesitate again?"
Kiyohime had appeared behind Yui Yuigahama at some unknown moment.
She looked up at the mirror and froze.
"You... why have you come out on your own again..."
"Do you really need to ask a question you already know the answer to?"
Kiyohime wore an expression of helplessness.
"You clearly understand that when a psychic is conflicted inside, they hear the voice of their soul's true form - the most genuine voice of their own heart. Don't you understand why I've appeared twice in just one day?"
"I..."
"Go on."
Kiyohime picked up a nearby towel, soaked it in warm water, and wiped away the light makeup from Yui Yuigahama's face, saying with a smile.
"Go and give your most honest answer."
...
After Kiyohime disappeared, Yui Yuigahama looked at her reflection in the mirror, took a deep breath, and, her heartbeat echoing in her chest, stepped out of the room with nervous anticipation.
"You're out, have you decided..."
Before Ye Xing could finish, Yui Yuigahama quickly walked up to him, extended her pale index finger, and gently pressed it against his lips.
Then, she rose slightly on her toes, leaning closer to Ye Xing's face.
Their lips met, Yui's trembling slightly yet pressing forward with determination.
After a long moment.
"I..."
Yui Yuigahama lifted her head, looking directly into Ye Xing's eyes, her face flushed but her gaze showing no hesitation or doubt.
"I want to continue."
"But not to improve my strength."
"Only because it's you, that's why I want to."
Ye Xing nodded softly.
"Of course I understand."
As the bed began to shake and the rustling of removed clothing filled the air, Yui Yuigahama breathed softly.
When they reached the final step, she couldn't help but furrow her brow slightly, letting out a suppressed cry of pain.
"It hurts a bit..."
Yui Yuigahama wrapped her arms around Ye Xing's neck, her pretty face flushed crimson, tears of emotion and joy mingling at the corners of her eyes as she whispered.
"But, it's alright."
"Since we've done this... you'll have to take responsibility for me from now on."