"I think you might be a bit obsessed."
Hearing Ye Xing's complaint, Onimaru Kunitsuna smiled softly."
"Master, compared to this humble one's famous blade, which works equally well for severing spirits or slaying humans, you insist on using this broken camera to smash those fellows to death. Rather than saying it is I who am obsessed, wouldn't it be more accurate to say the obsession lies with you?"
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah, those disgusting, worthless madmen—I simply feel they aren't worthy of being slain by you, which is why I used the camera."
Hearing this, Onimaru Kunitsuna's eyes softened, her cheeks flushing crimson. Dressed in black mourning attire, her curvaceous figure exuding an innate widowed saintly beauty, she gently pressed herself against Ye Xing, her lips parting as she breathed out a fragrant whisper.
"Master... I never imagined I held such a place in your heart..."
"Hey, now you're taking the fun out of it."
Ye Xing gently pushed Onimaru Kunitsuna away, smiling.
"When I strike directly, it's to see you flustered—bashful, fidgeting, blushing, and heart racing. Not for you to be more forward than me. You should tone it down a bit."
Onimaru Kunitsuna persisted relentlessly.
"This humble one wishes to drink milk, and only I can truly satisfy you."
Ye Xing initially wanted to refute, but upon careful thought...
There might be some truth to it.
Although Onimaru Kunitsuna could take human form, she was, in essence, a powerful spiritual object—one of Japan's Five Great Swords, a famed blade that had slain countless evil spirits.
She truly lived up to the saying:
'My body is made of swords.'
Perhaps, given Onimaru Kunitsuna's unique constitution, she really could withstand the full output of the strongest exorcist.
At that moment, Ye Xing's phone suddenly rang.
Upon answering, Light Yagami's voice came through with a hint of laughter.
"Yahallo."
Hearing these three words, Ye Xing merely replied with an expressionless face and a flat tone.
"When Dango, Mai-senpai, Futaba, and Miko greet people this way, I find it quite endearing. But hearing these same words from your mouth makes my skin crawl with disgust. Please act normally. Did you go to the hospital for that check-up I suggested?"
Light Yagami: "...I'm not ill."
"Stop denying your illness right there. I could tell at a glance - you're a certified mental patient with 120% purity."
"As expected..."
Light Yagami said with amusement.
"Every time I talk with you, my mood improves considerably. I'm even considering transferring to your school."
Since childhood, Light Yagami had always been called a genius. Being the son of a Metropolitan Police Department member, he had carried everyone's expectations from the beginning.
At first, he wanted to live up to those expectations.
But eventually, Light Yagami discovered something.
Whether it was the Metropolitan Police Department or being a top student...
No matter which identity he pursued...
This world was simply too boring.
In Light Yagami's eyes, everyone around him - including his father Soichiro Yagami, his mother, and his younger sister Sayu Yagami - were like NPCs in a game. And not just any game, but one he had been playing for over a decade, where he could predict every storyline with his eyes closed.
Every sentence he spoke, every piece of information he shared, would receive the expected responses.
Even his peers at school were nothing but meaningless walking corpses in his view.
Just as he began to feel that this world and everyone in it were utterly meaningless, when everything was descending into dead silence... he suddenly awakened the ability of Soul Materialisation.
And...
Encountered the one person in his life who could truly understand him, who wouldn't bore him.
"I suspect you might have some masochistic tendencies."
Hearing Ye Xing's highly offensive and abstract remark, Light Yagami merely smiled noncommittally.
"Perhaps. But I called you for an important matter this time."
"What is it?"
"Two days ago, when I visited the Reverse World, the Slaughter Demon told me that a rather peculiar evil spirit has appeared in Tokyo's Reverse World."
"Peculiar? In what way?"
"According to the Slaughter Demon, when it was devouring that evil spirit, what it sensed wasn't the negative emotions typical of other Reverse World evil spirits. Instead, it was a strange combination of craving, fervour, and hope... a peculiar taste."
Here, Light Yagami paused briefly before continuing.
"That evil spirit wasn't particularly powerful, so it wouldn't normally be noteworthy. But considering the recent Sunny Doll Killer incident in Kyoto... perhaps the evil spirits in the Reverse World aren't solely formed from negative emotions."
"Most evil spirits are born from negative emotions simply because negative emotions hold a greater proportion in modern society. For ordinary people, emotions like joy and hope are far less intense than fear, disappointment, and frustration."
"Or perhaps whether human emotions are positive or negative isn't actually important. The formation of evil spirits in the Reverse World depends on only one factor, which is..."
Just as Light Yagami reached this point, he heard Ye Xing's calm voice from the other end of the phone.
"The number of people who genuinely believe must be sufficient, and the accumulated emotions intense enough to materialise into reality. That's the principle, correct?"
Hearing this, Light couldn't help but pause briefly before responding hesitantly.
"You... knew this already?"
Ye Xing chuckled softly.
"I wouldn't say I knew, but since the Sunny Doll Killer incident, I've vaguely sensed this pattern. People's longing for sunny weather and their aversion to continuous rainfall gave birth to corresponding evil spirits in the Reverse World. These spirits then selected humans in the real world who shared the collective yearning's desires, merging with them. That's roughly the principle."
"This..."
For the first time, Light's voice carried a tone of concern.
It was noteworthy that someone as supremely arrogant as he, who typically disregarded others completely, had never shown fear or worry about anything before - this was truly unprecedented.
"If other people were to learn about the operating principles of the Reverse World, and someone like Shuten-dōji from before were to guide events in the real world... the consequences would be unimaginable."
After pausing for a few seconds, Light continued slowly.
"Anyway, I just wanted to give you a heads-up."
"Alright, I understand."
After hanging up, Ye Xing walked straight out of Toyogasaki High School's main gate.
While he was on the phone, Soichiro Yagami had already arrived at the school gates earlier to drive away the television reporters and camera crews, along with the rescued students and parents. He had also sent several trusted officers to clean up the traces at the classroom scene.
Soichiro was well aware that he was essentially assisting Ye Xing, and in some sense, even violating the procedural justice he firmly believed in, equivalent to shielding a criminal who had killed someone and carried out capital punishment.
But...
When those parents saw their children safe and sound, wasn't that moment far more valuable than so-called procedural justice, Metropolitan Police Department regulations, or righteous procedures?
Soichiro knew exactly what he was doing and had no intention of making excuses.
He had never regretted it.
Protecting Kyoto's safety remained the most important principle in Soichiro Yagami's heart.
"Ye Xing!"
Seeing Ye Xing emerge from the school building, Shizuka Hiratsuka quickly approached him, breathing a sigh of relief, though her eyes couldn't help but betray a trace of guilt.
Watching news reports online and on television about Mask rescuing innocent people and confronting criminals directly was completely different from waiting outside the actual scene.
Until the moment she saw Soichiro Yagami and Natsumi Suga leading the students out of the teaching building without spotting Ye Xing among them, Shizuka Hiratsuka finally felt genuine panic.
What had she been thinking?
Ye Xing was indeed suspected... no, assuming he was Mask, but that teaching building contained over twenty students held as hostages, along with several armed criminals who were clearly unstable and wouldn't hesitate to kill.
If anything unexpected had happened...
Then Shizuka Hiratsuka, who had requested Ye Xing's help here, would likely spend the rest of her life drowning in deep remorse.
"Ye Xing..."
Shizuka lowered her head, covering her lips as two streams of tears uncontrollably traced paths down her cheeks, her weeping as delicate as pear blossoms glistening with rain.
"You're safe... that's such a relief..."
Soichiro and Natsumi Suga, witnessing Shizuka's emotional display, exchanged glances, sharing the same thought.
The scene was quite touching.
But...
Was it really necessary?
"Shizuka."
Having met during the previous fireworks festival, Natsumi wasn't exactly a stranger to Shizuka and thus addressed her directly by name.
She approached Shizuka, offering a tissue from her pocket, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation.
"Stop crying, is it really that serious? Are you perhaps misunderstanding this guy's capabilities?"
"Eh?"
Hearing this, Shizuka blinked in surprise, instinctively accepting the tissue to dab her tears before lifting her gaze to Ye Xing. Unlike her usual lazy, carefree demeanour, her eyes now sparkled with unshed tears, presenting that delicate pear-blossom-in-the-rain appearance.
Seeing her like this, Ye Xing had only one thought.
The single, iron-fisted older woman is truly adorable.
"Yes, don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."
Shizuka sniffled twice, reaching out to grasp Ye Xing's sleeve with her right hand as she spoke in a tearful voice.
"Are you really alright?"
"This mate's in top form right now. Mere bullets are nothing compared to my thoroughly tempered physique!"
Seeing Ye Xing's dismissive attitude and his ability to continue spouting such abstract nonsense, Shizuka's tears turned to laughter as she gave him a light tap, chiding affectionately.
"Really, now, making me worry like that. You're such a problem student."
"Hey now."
Natsumi stepped forward, inserting herself between Shizuka and Ye Xing with an expression of pure disbelief.
"Since when did this become flirting? This is a public space, please show some restraint."
At these words, a blush crept across Shizuka's cheeks - after all, she and Ye Xing were teacher and student. But seeing Natsumi's attitude sparked a competitive streak, prompting her immediate retort.
"What's it to you, Miss Natsumi Suga of the media?"
"Of course it concerns me."
Natsumi linked arms with Ye Xing, smiling.
"Ye Xing, today I disregarded my own safety to help you with such a major situation. Shouldn't you return the favour? Help me with something, too?"
"Moral coercion?"
"Eh, don't put it so harshly. I just want to treat you to a meal."
Overhearing this, Shizuka couldn't help but interject, her voice carrying a trace of jealousy she herself hadn't noticed.
"Hey, you're treating him to a meal and calling it him helping you? Isn't that backwards?"
"I didn't get it wrong."
Natsumi Suga revealed a meaningful smile.
"Being able to eat with someone I like, even if I'm the one treating, is something that makes me happy."
"Li...li...like!?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka's pupils trembled, as if experiencing an earthquake, stammering as she spoke.
"Bu...but you two...your ages..."
"Age? That doesn't matter at all."
Natsumi Suga waved her hand dismissively, appearing completely unconcerned.
"I just graduated from university not long ago, I'm only twenty-three, and Ye Xing is already seventeen. A six-year difference, what's the big deal?"
"Bu...but why would you like...him..."
"Eh? Isn't that perfectly normal?"
Natsumi Suga asked in return with a smile.
"Suppose there was someone who suddenly appeared during the lowest point of your career, when you were struggling even to pay rent, saved your job, which also meant saving your life's greatest dream, and was incredibly handsome, more charming than anyone else - wouldn't you like them too?"
When she heard these words, Shizuka Hiratsuka froze.
The reason Natsumi Suga gave for liking Ye Xing... seemed to apply to herself as well.
As the expensive red sports car suggested, Shizuka Hiratsuka came from a wealthy family and didn't lack money.
She had chosen to become a teacher at Sobu High School not for the salary, but for her life's goal.
To guide students in difficult situations toward the right direction, so that even if they weren't outstanding by graduation, at the very least, they could move forward in life without psychological burdens, as people who had grown.
This was Shizuka Hiratsuka's ideal.
However, just like Natsumi Suga, who had hit rock bottom with income barely covering basic living expenses during that period, while she didn't have financial difficulties, she had similarly encountered setbacks.
And the so-called setback referred to her student and friend, Haruno Yukinoshita.
To the outside world, Haruno Yukinoshita, who graduated with excellent results and was admitted to Chiba University's science and engineering department, appeared to be a perfect genius student from every perspective.
But according to Shizuka Hiratsuka's educational philosophy, Haruno Yukinoshita represented the greatest setback of her teaching career.
She had a good relationship with Haruno, but even after three long years of high school, she still hadn't been able to resolve the issues in Haruno's heart.
After graduation, Haruno Yukinoshita continued living that false, illusory life.
To be honest, Shizuka Hiratsuka had once considered simply resigning and abandoning her teaching career entirely.
Two reasons made her abandon this thought.
The first was that Haruno's younger sister, Yukino Yukinoshita, chose to leave Chiba and enrol at Sobu High School.
The second, and most important reason.
The genius who ranked first in Japan's unified examinations didn't choose Shuchi'in Academy, but instead chose Sobu High School.
Shizuka Hiratsuka had never mentioned this to anyone, not even Ye Xing.
Looking back, this was probably the wisest decision she had ever made in her life.
Although that boy had an abstract personality and constantly engaged in outrageous, extreme behaviours worthy of a delinquent, her good friend Haruno's younger sister, Yukino, had joined his club and was already showing change.
Then there was Kazusa Touma, who had completely isolated herself from the outside world. Though it wasn't yet apparent, Shizuka Hiratsuka believed Kazusa's personality would change, too.
And in all these events, only Shizuka Hiratsuka herself knew.
She was actually the first person whose life trajectory had been altered by Ye Xing.
"I..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka finally realised that her feelings for Ye Xing had long transcended the level of a teacher's regard for her student.
[Finally reached a resolution?]
Hearing the voice that suddenly echoed in her mind, Shizuka Hiratsuka froze momentarily before immediately looking around, yet she found no one speaking to her.
Noticing Shizuka Hiratsuka's behaviour, Natsumi Suga didn't pay it much mind, simply linking arms with Ye Xing while smiling and waving.
"Well, we'll be off now."
Watching Ye Xing and Natsumi Suga's retreating figures, Shizuka Hiratsuka parted her lips slightly, but the resolve she had barely mustered crumbled once again when she remembered their teacher-student relationship.
The words 'I like him too' remained on the tip of her tongue, but she lacked the courage to voice them as Natsumi Suga had.
[Pity, still not quite there.]
The voice in Shizuka Hiratsuka's mind spoke once more before falling completely silent.
...
Meanwhile, as Ye Xing walked forward with Natsumi Suga, his phone rang again.
"Hello? What is it, Kazusa?"
After several seconds of silence from the other end, Kazusa Touma's cool voice finally came through, carrying a hint of awkwardness.
"Could you... Send a message to Ogiso? Tell her... I was a bit impulsive after school today; it wasn't directed at her."
"I don't have Setsuna Ogiso's contact information."
"Heh."
The same tactic that had worked on Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't deceive Kazusa Touma.
"Do I not know what kind of person you are? You don't have Ogiso's contact details? I wouldn't believe that even if you beat me to death."
"As expected of Kazusa, seeing right through me."
Ye Xing chuckled lightly before continuing.
"I'll send you the contact details; you can talk to her yourself."
"Eh? Me? But..."
"No buts."
Ye Xing interrupted Kazusa Touma's instinctive resistance, speaking slowly.
"Kazusa, I'm the Captain of the Supernatural Society, but in the band, I'm just a member. Matters like this should be handled by you as the band leader. I believe in you."