After hanging up the phone, Kazusa Touma lowered her head, a complex expression flashing in her eyes as she murmured to herself.
"Believe..."
This was the first time in Kazusa Touma's life she had ever felt such a thing.
Something that only she... could accomplish?
Since Ye Xing had said so...
Kazusa Touma looked at the contact information for Setsuna Ogiso that Ye Xing had sent to her phone screen, took a deep breath, and showed a rare trace of nervousness.
"In that case... I should gather my courage and give it a try."
...
Meanwhile, in an elegant and quiet detached house in another location.
"Mum, I'm going upstairs first."
"Would you like something to eat first?"
"It's fine, I'm not hungry."
After saying this, Eriri quickly ran up to her room and let out a long sigh of relief.
She first untied her golden twin tails, then took out a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses from her desk drawer and put them on. Instantly, she transformed from a daughter of a distinguished family, with beauty, into the image of a complete otaku girl.
Next, Eriri took out her drawing pen and a half-finished original draft, looking at the character in a coat and mask, who looked very dashing. A complex expression appeared in her eyes.
"Mask... why didn't you come today..."
That's right.
Eriri, active online under the pen name Eri Kashiwagi and a renowned doujinshi artist, was a die-hard fan of Mask.
This was perfectly normal.
Throughout all of Japan, the hero Mask had tens of thousands of fans, not to mention in Kyoto, Mask's main base of operations.
As an otaku girl with extremely high levels of anime culture immersion, it was entirely reasonable for Eriri to become a fan of such a cool superhero.
Driven by her fan devotion, even though no one had commissioned her, she had spontaneously decided to draw a character design illustration of Mask to donate for free to Mask's fan support club. They could make it into posters to give as gifts with figure purchases.
But...
Why?
Why, when she was in trouble today and feeling desperate, didn't the hero she had always admired and yearned for appear?
Could it be... that Mask thought a few high school students weren't worth his personal intervention?
"No... that can't be right."
Eriri shook her head, unwilling to believe this suspicion in her heart.
"Mask... is a true hero... This time, he must have been delayed by something, yes, that must be it!"
Eriri told herself this, but when she tried to continue working on this draft, her drawing pen just trembled slightly in her hand, unable to continue.
It wasn't that her skills had failed her; she just felt something was missing.
The sense of yearning and admiration for Mask that she had felt while drawing the first half was gone.
Moreover, Ye Xing's figure kept appearing in Eriri's mind.
"Dammit, dammit..."
Eriri put down her drawing pen, looking completely helpless.
She felt like she was sick - the image of Ye Xing in her mind wouldn't go away.
If she were to draw the manuscript in this state, what would emerge wouldn't be Mask at all, but rather that good-looking teenage boy wearing Mask's costume who had rushed to the rescue during the critical moment, saving her and the other students.
"That uniform... Is he a student from Sobu High School..."
Eriri murmured to herself, recalling that this afternoon their teacher had mentioned that Sobu High School was holding an exchange event with their Toyogasaki High School.
Outstanding students and teachers from Sobu High School would come to Toyogasaki High School for a one-day visit, and, in turn, Toyogasaki High School would send its best representatives to experience a day at Sobu High School.
Although Eriri's academic results weren't particularly outstanding, as an art elite who had won awards in exhibitions and a talented beauty with rare painting skills, if she requested the school authorities, she would definitely become one of the representative students sent by Toyogasaki High School, or at least one of them.
Initially, she had absolutely no interest in such matters.
But now...
"Wouldn't hurt to go and experience it for a day, would it?"
...
Later that evening, in the familiar western restaurant on the shopping street.
"Look..."
Toka Takanashi, wearing her chef's uniform, looked at Ye Xing sitting there, and even her usually expressionless face couldn't help showing a hint of helplessness.
"Once or twice is fine, but you... come here far too frequently."
Ye Xing smiled and replied very seriously.
"It's because I appreciate you."
Hearing this, Toka Takanashi looked even more helpless, her face showing speechless exasperation.
"I'm the head chef. Only the difficult dishes require my personal attention. Most of the dishes you eat aren't prepared by me."
Without changing his expression, Ye Xing just chuckled lightly.
"I never said it was your cooking skills I appreciated."
Toka Takanashi let out a slight sigh.
"I think the main reason is that you don't have to pay, isn't it?"
"Mm."
Ye Xing nodded without any attempt to conceal it.
"That's indeed one of the indispensable important factors."
"Alright, I won't waste time chatting with you here."
Toka Takanashi glanced at Natsumi Suga sitting across the table and said calmly,
"In that case, let's skip the ordering process. I'll personally cook a few dishes for you."
"Fine."
Watching Toka Takanashi's retreating figure, Natsumi Suga gently bit her straw, looking at Ye Xing with an amused expression.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you invite this Miss Takanashi to join us during the last fireworks festival?"
Ye Xing replied casually.
"What are you talking about? It's not like there's only one fireworks festival. No need to invite every woman I know - it's not some outdoor orgy. I'll consider it next time if there's an opportunity."
"Oh?"
Natsumi Suga drew out the word, resting her cheek on one hand while staring at Ye Xing with great interest.
"But you did invite me. It shouldn't just be because you wanted me to take photos of those pretty girls around you, right?"
"You seemed quite happy taking them."
"Of course I was happy, after all..."
Natsumi Suga reached out and gently placed her hand on the back of Ye Xing's hand.
"I went to the fireworks festival with you."
After saying this, without waiting for any response from Ye Xing, Natsumi Suga continued speaking on her own.
"By the way, after I took those photos of you and Marin Kitagawa doing cosplay last time, a comic convention organiser contacted me. The convention is being held in Kyoto, and it's a cosplay event where all the cosplayers are industry professionals who can only attend by invitation. Of course, regular attendees just need to buy tickets."
"Given Marin Kitagawa's personality, she'd definitely want to go, right? It's this Saturday at this location..."
Natsumi Suga took out an invitation card and gently placed it before Ye Xing.
Judging from the exquisite craftsmanship of this invitation alone, it was clear that this comic convention was on an entirely different level from the outdoor cosplay event in Tokyo that Marin Kitagawa and Ye Xing had previously attended, which hadn't even required tickets.
"Here?"
Ye Xing picked up the invitation and glanced at it, discovering that the venue for the comic convention was inside the office building recently completed by Yukinoshita Construction Company a few months ago and only just finished with its interior decoration.
"The organisers of this comic convention must have considerable financial resources to rent out an entire floor. Even for just a single day's short-term lease, the cost wouldn't be insignificant," Ye Xing remarked first, then looked up at Natsumi Suga.
"Since they sent this invitation after seeing your photographs, the organisers must have certain requirements, I presume?"
"Requirements... well, there are some."
Natsumi Suga smiled meaningfully and said softly.
"But they only specified that Marin Kitagawa should attend as a cosplayer. As for which character to cosplay or what costume to wear, they don't mind. As for you, you don't need to buy a ticket - just give your name at the entrance."
"There's such a thing?"
Ye Xing had initially assumed this so-called invitation-only comic convention was one of those unscrupulous money-making events where cosplayers had to wear revealing outfits and use their sex appeal to attract ticket buyers.
But judging from what Natsumi Suga said, it seemed he had misunderstood the organisers. There were no specific requirements regarding the cosplayer's costume or character, and they hadn't asked him to cosplay as Mask again.
If that was the case, then what exactly were the organisers after?
Natsumi Suga seemed to have discerned Ye Xing's thoughts and smiled.
"If you're curious, why don't you arrange to go with Marin this Saturday?"
"Aren't you coming?"
"Me? I'd love to go with you, but unfortunately, I have to be in Tokyo on Saturday. I want to interview people on the street about their views on the recently popular Kira, then write a feature article. I'm afraid I won't have any free time all weekend."
"That's a shame."
"A shame?"
Natsumi Suga pursed her lips in a smile and said quietly.
"I'm quite a wilful person. Although I'd like to see you more often, at events like comic conventions, Marin is the main attraction as the cosplayer. I wouldn't want to just stand around with a camera, acting as background decoration."
...
The next day after school.
Marin Kitagawa received a text from Ye Xing saying there would be a comic convention this Saturday, along with a brief explanation of the situation, and asking if she wanted to attend.
For someone with such a strong passion for cosplay, a lively, professional comic convention with that touch of mystery was naturally very appealing to Marin.
The question was...
How should she go about it?
Marin didn't hesitate long over this question.
Going alone with Ye Xing, then being able to have a meal together after a full day at the convention, and perhaps... if she could muster the courage, even stroll around the streets together for a while longer - that would essentially be a proper date for two.
But Marin couldn't bring herself to do such a thing.
During her cosplay journey, there was another important person who had helped her greatly.
"Saki."
Marin Kitagawa rose from her seat and walked over to Saki Kawasaki, speaking with a cheerful smile.
"There's a comic convention this Saturday. Both Ye Xing and I are going, and I'd like to invite you to join us."
"Comic convention..."
Saki Kawasaki frowned slightly. Upon hearing that Ye Xing would also be attending, a complex expression flickered in her eyes as she turned her face away and murmured.
"I'm not a cosplayer, so there's no reason for me to tag along. Besides, if that guy wanted me to go, he should have invited me himself."
"Don't say that."
Marin Kitagawa clung to Saki Kawasaki's arm, still smiling.
"Think about it - this convention sounds really professional. I heard many famous cosplayers will be there. If you could see their costumes in person, you'd definitely gain a lot of inspiration."
"Besides, even though you're not a cosplayer, you're the one who makes my cosplay outfits. Last time at the convention, so many people praised how accurate my costume was, saying it looked just like the real Shizuku."
"Perhaps other cosplayers might want to commission outfits from you, too? That could mean extra income for you."
Listening to Marin Kitagawa's reasoning, Saki Kawasaki pressed her lips together, thinking that these points were actually quite persuasive.
Yet she still felt a twinge of dissatisfaction in her heart.
If she agreed just like that, wouldn't it seem like she was forcing herself between Marin and Ye Xing as a third wheel?
That guy didn't even invite her himself, and yet she'd be rushing to go...
"Please..."
Marin Kitagawa shook Saki Kawasaki's arm, then clasped her hands together, her pretty face showing a pitiful, pleading expression.
"Please, Saki?"
"Sigh."
Saki Kawasaki sighed helplessly.
"You're impossible. Fine, I'll go with you. But let me be clear - I'm only agreeing for your sake, not to spend time with that guy."
"Okay, okay, I understand. Thank you!"
After Marin Kitagawa left, Saki Kawasaki shook her head and picked up her bag to leave the classroom.
Recently, after school, Ye Xing had been saying he needed to prepare for band activities, so he rarely appeared in the Supernatural Society clubroom.
With his absence, even the other members didn't gather in the clubroom after school as they used to, where they would at least sit together for ten or twenty minutes before going about their own business. Now everyone went their separate ways immediately.
Yui Yuigahama and Marin Kitagawa were having supplementary lessons with Yukino Yukinoshita and Hana Yurikawa, who had recently joined them. Though Hana had a somewhat airheaded personality, her academic results were top-notch. Saki Kawasaki occasionally joined these study sessions, but spent most of her time at home making cosplay outfits.
Rio Futaba and Mai Sakurajima either went exorcising with Miko, or visited Shoko Makinohara to discuss solutions for Adolescence Syndrome.
Menma, Hachishaku-sama, and the recently joined Kuchisake-onna patrolled Kyoto daily to ensure its safety.
During exorcism operations, Hina Amano occasionally joined them, but most of the time she continued accepting commissions as the Sunny Girl.
Members of the Supernatural Society all have bright futures ahead.
When Saki Kawasaki reached the classroom door, she found Ye Xing standing there.
"Saki."
Ye Xing looked at Saki Kawasaki, took the comic convention invitation from his pocket, and handed it to her with a smile.
"There's a comic convention on Saturday. Would you like to go together?"
"You're inviting me now?"
Saki Kawasaki was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realised something, frowning slightly.
"You weren't... eavesdropping on my conversation with Marin, were you?"
"Hey, how can you call it eavesdropping? I was listening openly and honestly."
"If that's the case, why didn't you invite me earlier?"
Hearing this, Ye Xing adopted a mysterious expression and reached out to pinch Saki's fair cheek.
"Little Saki, there are some things you still don't understand."
"Anyway, remember Saturday - we'll meet at the station. I'm going to the music room now, bye."
Ye Xing turned and left; the scene perfectly embodied that poetic line.
After the deed is done, brush your clothes and leave, concealing both achievement and fame.
What truly defines a Harem God?
This is what a true Harem God looks like.
From the very beginning, Ye Xing had wanted to invite Saki Kawasaki to the comic convention, but there was one crucial, unignorable detail that, if mishandled, would lead straight to a battlefield of romance.
That was: who should extend the invitation to Saki Kawasaki?
If Ye Xing had invited Saki Kawasaki from the start, the situation would have left both Marin Kitagawa and Saki Kawasaki feeling like the inconvenient third wheel, while also suspecting the other person thought they were being bothersome.
Don't underestimate such thoughts. If allowed to develop, not only would the friendship between Saki Kawasaki and Marin Kitagawa be affected, but it could even escalate into a brutal battlefield of romance.
But!
If the invitation came from Marin Kitagawa, that would be completely different.
Their friendship would remain intact, and during the comic convention, no strange thoughts would arise since this was something they had mutually agreed upon.
At this point, Ye Xing extended his invitation to Saki Kawasaki, dispelling her final doubts and letting her know he wanted her to come too.
Thus, the perfect route without any battlefield of romance was successfully achieved.
Of course, the most important prerequisite was that Marin Kitagawa was a girl who valued friendship and had a gentle, kind personality, willing to forgo the chance to go out alone with Ye Xing and instead extend the invitation to Saki Kawasaki.
After avoiding a potential brutal battlefield of romance, the Harem God now faced an even more severe challenge upon arriving at the music room door.
"Ogiso-san, you need to take your breath earlier for the entry point here. You're always coming in late because you're taking your breath too late."
"I see... That makes sense. No wonder I always feel a bit flustered when I reach this part - that's the reason."
Setsuna Ogiso nodded seriously, then looked at Kazusa Touma with a sweet smile.
"But, Touma-san, you don't need to be so formal calling me Ogiso-san. You can just call me by my first name."
Kazusa Touma froze for a moment, lowering her head and pursing her lips. After remaining silent for quite some time, she finally spoke in a soft voice.
"If that's the case, then you don't need to call me Touma-san either... Just use my given name."
"Alright, Kazusa."
Setsuna Ogiso stood up and walked over to Kazusa Touma, who was sitting beside the piano. She leaned forward with her head tilted, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Kazusa?"
A bashful expression appeared on Kazusa Touma's face. She raised her hand to brush aside the black hair by her ear, and after a few seconds, spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"Setsu... Setsuna..."