Half an hour later, in a western restaurant on Kyoto's shopping street.
Dressed in her work uniform, Setsuna Ogiso heard the sound of the door opening behind her. She quickly pressed the tray against her chest, turned around, and bowed with a slightly stiff yet perfectly polite slight bend at the waist, asking with a smile.
"Hello, how many in your party..."
Just as she was halfway through her sentence, Setsuna Ogiso caught sight of the customer's face and couldn't help but pause, expressing slight surprise.
"Eh? Ye Xing-san?"
"Hello, Ogiso-san."
Ye Xing nodded with a smile as a form of greeting, then got straight to the point.
"Form a band with me and Touma-san!"
"Eh?"
Setsuna Ogiso was stunned, and it was hardly surprising.
After all, the last time - which was also the first time - she had spoken with Ye Xing and Kazusa Touma was merely four days ago, just a few brief words in the practice room. Including the self-introductions, the entire encounter hadn't even lasted two minutes.
The relationship between the three could only be described as acquaintances, not even close to being familiar.
And now Ye Xing had suddenly appeared at her part-time job and proposed forming a band?
This train of thought was something Setsuna Ogiso simply couldn't follow.
Just then, the kitchen door suddenly swung open.
Toka Takanashi, dressed in chef's whites, with her slender, well-proportioned figure and beautiful face, walked briskly over while holding a stainless-steel rice ladle against her shoulder.
If one were to replace the rice ladle in her hand with a large knife or a battle axe, her demeanour would be exactly like that of a bandit about to stage a robbery.
"Here again?"
Toka Takanashi walked straight up to Ye Xing, her beautiful red eyes holding an inscrutable expression as she spoke in an utterly emotionless voice.
"Here for another free meal? Or did you want to see me? Never mind, it doesn't matter. Have a seat first. Tell me what you'd like to eat - it's on me."
Ye Xing shook his head, maintaining his smile as he replied.
"I'm here to see Ogiso-san."
"Hmm? Ogiso?"
Toka Takanashi glanced at Setsuna Ogiso, standing beside her, who responded with an awkward smile.
"Oh, right, she's a first-year at Sobu High School too, just like you."
Toka Takanashi gave the stainless steel rice ladle in her hand a slight shake, her face expressionless.
"My mistake then. If you're eating here, just give your order to her."
With that, Toka Takanashi turned and went back into the kitchen.
Though she hid it well, Setsuna Ogiso still noticed a trace of embarrassment and disappointment in the head chef's eyes.
It was indeed rather awkward.
Rushing out from the kitchen, saying all that, only to discover Ye Xing wasn't there to see her.
Who wouldn't feel awkward in that situation?
There was a certain beauty in having misread the signals.
"Um... Ye Xing-san."
Setsuna Ogiso maintained her gentle smile as she carefully spoke up.
"About forming a band... let's forget that, but I'd like to become friends with you and Touma-san."
"What kind of unreasonable request is that?"
Ye Xing frowned slightly, expressing clear dissatisfaction.
"You actually think I would have purely platonic female friends? You're tarnishing my title as the Harem God!"
Setsuna Ogiso paused for a moment, then couldn't help covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"You really are just as rumoured, Ye Xing-kun - someone without any airs about them."
Setsuna Ogiso truly was a genuine, gentle angel.
She counted among the extremely few students at Sobu High School who held no prejudice or negative impressions towards Ye Xing.
It was as if Setsuna Ogiso's mind contained a file that automatically replaced sensitive vocabulary.
Ye Xing beat up boys from other classes in the corridor → The top exam scorer genius carries no airs and gets along well with classmates.
Kazusa Touma always looking at others with sharp eyes → Touma-san is very shy and not good at communicating with others, but is essentially a good person.
The Supernatural Society occupied the school's best club room and is an undisguised privileged group, with nobody knowing what they did inside daily → The club atmosphere is extremely good, no members have ever quit, and there's never been any mention of arguments between members.
In short, in Setsuna Ogiso's eyes, Ye Xing, Touma, and all members of the Supernatural Society - even if they had some personality issues - were definitely good people.
"Are you working part-time here?"
"Yes."
Setsuna Ogiso nodded with a smile.
"I wasn't originally working at this western restaurant, but now that school has started, this place has very suitable working hours, the pay is good, and despite Takanashi-san's appearance, she's actually..."
"I know her too well."
Ye Xing said this first, then chose a table and sat down.
"Since you're working, I can't have you obviously slacking off. Let's order first."
"Ye Xing-kun, are you really going to eat here?"
Setsuna Ogiso was momentarily stunned, then leaned in close to Ye Xing, covering her mouth as she lowered her voice.
"This restaurant is very expensive... If you want to talk about something, I can give you my contact information. There's no need for this."
"I am actually hungry."
Though Ye Xing said this, Setsuna Ogiso believed he was only considering that she was working and didn't want her to receive criticism or gossip from colleagues, which was why he was sitting down to order.
After all, restaurants of this calibre weren't something ordinary high school students could afford.
"Any recommendations?"
Hearing Ye Xing's question, Setsuna Ogiso hesitated for a moment before revealing a slight smile and speaking softly.
"Well then... how about our restaurant's single set meal? It tastes really good."
"Alright, that's fine. I'll have that."
"Okay"
Setsuna Ogiso cheerfully noted down Ye Xing's order, first sent it to the kitchen, then glanced around the restaurant. Seeing there didn't seem to be anything requiring her attention, she returned to Ye Xing's table.
"Ye Xing-kun, about what you mentioned earlier... forming a band... were you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious."
Ye Xing nodded with a smile.
"You want to become friends with me and Kazusa, right?"
"Yes."
"But Kazusa and I are in the same class and also in the same club. You're not in Class A, nor are you a member of the Supernatural Society. There's no intersection between us. In this situation, cultivating friendship is really quite difficult."
Before Setsuna Ogiso could respond, Ye Xing meaningfully added another sentence.
"Of course, this is on the premise that your idea of becoming friends isn't that hypocritical kind - acting affectionate when meeting but actually having no real understanding of each other, a completely meaningless friendship. If that's the case, you wouldn't be suitable to associate with me and Kazusa either."
"Of course not!"
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Setsuna Ogiso suddenly became somewhat inexplicably agitated, as if recalling something. Complex emotions surfaced in her brown eyes.
"I... I truly want to become real friends with you both..."
"Then let's form a band! Let's perform Haruhi... never mind, better not perform that one."
"But..."
Setsuna Ogiso still hesitated, remaining silent for a while before finally speaking.
"Ye Xing, after you finish your meal, I should be off work. Could you accompany me to a place later?"
"Sure, as long as it's not a love hotel."
"Wh-what are you saying! It's not that kind of place you're thinking of! J-just come with me, and you'll see!"
Setsuna Ogiso's face slightly reddened as she turned and ran off.
...
Half an hour later.
Setsuna Ogiso hid in a quiet, unnoticed corner of the restaurant, peeking out to carefully observe Ye Xing eating there.
"Setsuna."
A beautiful woman wearing the same staff uniform, with lovely features, quietly approached from the side and tapped Setsuna Ogiso's shoulder.
The latter jumped in surprise, barely suppressing a gasp. Only after turning around and seeing clearly did she relax, complaining with mock annoyance.
"Oh, it's Senior Okudera. You scared me, sneaking up like that."
"I wasn't sneaking."
Miki Okudera smiled meaningfully, pressing her lips together.
"You were just too engrossed in watching that handsome young man to notice me. Your boyfriend?"
"No..."
Setsuna Ogiso's pretty face flushed slightly as she whispered.
"He's just a fri... classmate from the same school."
"Oh? Really? Then why have you been staring at him so intently?"
"I... I was waiting for when he's almost finished eating. If he doesn't order more... I wanted to go settle the bill first."
"Eh?"
Miki Okudera looked surprised at this.
"Even though it's just a single-person set meal, you know our restaurant's prices. If you pay for that, you'll have worked this whole week for nothing. Still saying he's not your boyfriend?"
"That's not the reason..."
Setsuna Ogiso wore a sweet smile, angelic in its appearance.
"He did come here specifically to see me, and he is a classmate from the same school after all. Since he made the special trip, I should at least treat him to a meal."
"Ah, you're really something."
Miki Okudera sighed helplessly, reaching out to pinch Setsuna Ogiso's cheek with earnest concern.
"Being this kind and gentle will easily lead to you getting taken advantage of in the future."
Setsuna Ogiso just smiled without responding.
Seeing that Ye Xing was almost finished eating, she quietly went to the cashier and whispered to the colleague on duty today.
"I'll take care of the bill for that table."
"That table?"
"That one, that one."
Seeing the direction Setsuna Ogiso was pointing, the staff member behind the counter smiled.
"Oh, that one? Toka already settled it."
"Head Chef Taka... I mean, Toka already paid?"
This sudden, unexpected news completely flummoxed Setsuna Ogiso.
Thinking back carefully, Toka Takanashi had indeed said she would settle the bill for Ye Xing when she emerged from the kitchen earlier.
The problem was...
Hadn't Toka Takanashi said those words precisely because she thought Ye Xing had come specifically to see her?
The subsequent development was rather awkward, so Setsuna Ogiso naturally assumed that Toka wouldn't settle the bill for Ye Xing anymore.
Yet in the end, she still paid?
Although Setsuna Ogiso and Toka Takanashi worked at the same place, one was a part-time high school student, while the other was the head chef, the highest-ranking position in the restaurant. They weren't really familiar with each other, having barely exchanged more than a few words.
But in her mind, this Head Chef Takanashi never showed the slightest panic, no matter what happened. Combined with her completely expressionless, emotionless demeanour, she gave the impression of a robot.
That such a person would actually take the initiative to leave the kitchen to greet Ye Xing's arrival already struck Setsuna Ogiso as incredible.
And now, after experiencing such an awkward situation, she still proactively settled the bill?
Could it be...
No, no, that's impossible.
Setsuna Ogiso shook her head vigorously, trying hard to dismiss the absurd thought from her mind.
Although Head Chef Takanashi was also quite young, the idea of a first-year high school boy dating a mature, older sister, head chef at a Western restaurant... that simply couldn't happen...
Wait a moment.
Between Teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka and Head Chef Takanashi, which one was older?
Could it be... that Ye Xing specifically preferred older women?
...
Twenty minutes later, in a karaoke room.
Setsuna Ogiso, having changed out of her work uniform, was holding a microphone while her slender fingers scrolled through the screen selecting songs she wanted to sing.
She wore a short-sleeved top with a short jacket, a short skirt, black tights, and ankle boots.
Though the outfit was simple, her outstanding looks and temperament made her appear like a beautiful painting, almost too perfect to disturb.
"So... should I call Kazusa Touma over? She should be free now."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Setsuna Ogiso, who was selecting songs, smiled and replied.
"Sure."
Then she turned her head to look at Ye Xing sitting there, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"Ye Xing, could it be that you feel nervous being alone in a room with a girl?"
"Exactly!"
Ye Xing nodded with complete seriousness.
"I'm too pure-hearted, I haven't even held a girl's hand before."
"Really? I don't believe you."
"Believe it or not, I've already made up my story. Whether you believe it is your business."
Being alone in a karaoke room with a beautiful girl like Setsuna Ogiso was indeed something that would greatly please the Harem God.
But then again...
If it were Yui Yuigahama, Marin Kitagawa, Rio Futaba, Mai Sakurajima, or any member of the Supernatural Society sitting here, Ye Xing would have chosen to be alone with them.
Only with Setsuna Ogiso...
As a top-tier stomach-churning work, White Album 2 certainly lived up to its reputation!
Setsuna Ogiso and Kazusa Touma were practically synonymous with battlefield scenarios, truly the very embodiment of romantic battlefields!
Facing such formidable opponents, the most powerful exorcist in a thousand years, the Harem God who swore to break all battlefield scenarios and romantic speculation, felt unprecedented tension.
"Is this... sweat..."
Feeling the moisture in his palms, Ye Xing became uncharacteristically serious.
"Indeed... this is the most difficult challenge I've faced so far."
"So this is... my journey as the Fool..."
Ye Xing didn't hesitate and dialled Kazusa Touma's number.
First, he needed to make Kazusa Touma and Setsuna Ogiso become friends, then they could discuss other matters.
"What is it?"
After Kazusa Touma answered the phone, her flat, emotionless voice sounded.
This wasn't because she had any issue with Ye Xing.
For Kazusa Touma, being able to say "what is it" - a full three words - after answering the phone was already the absolute peak of enthusiasm.
If it were any other member of the Supernatural Society, like Yukino Yukinoshita, with whom she had already established a cooperative relationship, Kazusa Touma would only use an icy tone to coldly utter a single emotionless word.
'Speak.'
Ye Xing knew Kazusa Touma's personality and didn't mind, speaking.
"I'm at a karaoke with Ogiso-san. Come over."
"Not coming."
Kazusa Touma refused outright.
"I don't like noisy places like that."
"Really not coming?"
"Not coming."
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm with Ogiso-san?"
"You must have your reasons. I trust you."
'Better not trust me too much.'
"That's all then. I need to continue playing the piano."
After hanging up, Ye Xing sighed slightly.
There was nothing to be done about that.
"Is Touma-san not coming?"
"She said she doesn't like noisy places."
"That makes sense. Touma-san does seem like that type of person, always playing piano alone in the practice room. But..."
Setsuna Ogiso looked thoughtfully at Ye Xing.
"That piece you performed together the other day - even though she was playing bass and her technique seemed a bit unpolished, I feel that compared to that lonely, desolate piano sound, that harmonious duet moved my heart more."
Setsuna Ogiso smiled, lowering her head somewhat shyly.
"Um... Ye Xing-kun, actually, although I can't play any instruments... I really like singing. That band you mentioned forming... did you want me to be the lead singer?"
"Yes."
"But how did you know I could sing?"
Ye Xing chose the most straightforward and direct response.
"A girl with perfect looks like you surely sings well too."
"Eh? Perfect looks..."
Setsuna Ogiso seemed somewhat embarrassed, speaking softly.
"I... I wouldn't say that. Since that's the case... I'm willing to join your and Touma's band."
Setsuna Ogiso stood before the screen, holding the microphone, smiling sweetly as the music's introduction gradually began.
"My name is Setsuna Ogiso. I'm sixteen years old, a first-year student at Sobu High School."
"I live with my parents and a younger brother. My best subject is English, and my worst... hmm... is Japanese."
"My favourite thing is singing. Even if I sang all day, I would never get tired."
Here, Setsuna Ogiso paused briefly before continuing with slight shyness.
"From now on, please guide me well... Ye Xing-kun... no, Ye Xing-kun from the same band."