Chapter 28: Classwide Collective Hallucination
Halfway back, the catgirl Rina came sprinting toward them, her small frame almost bouncing with every step, raindrops glimmering in her silver hair.
For some reason, when Rina caught sight of Kouya, her whole face flushed bright red, two patches of color spreading so intensely they seemed about to burst. Her blue-purple eyes shimmered with nervousness and something else—timid, pitiful, almost trembling—as if Kouya were about to turn into a big bad wolf, growling "ahh-woo" and devouring her whole on the spot.
"Meow~" she murmured, voice soft as a whisper.
The catgirl made a cautious circle around him before going to Chiba Ruri's side. She slipped under the shrine maiden's arm, helping her up with delicate care, then rubbed her round face affectionately against Ruri's hand, letting out a few comforting purrs.
Ruri smiled faintly, her expression warm and tired. She reached out and patted Rina's head gently. "Don't worry, I'm fine now."
The three returned to the hotel. Warm yellow lights spilled through the front entrance, a stark contrast to the cold mist outside. Hirata Sachiko was waiting just inside, her relief visible as soon as she spotted them. "Oh, thank goodness—you're finally back!"
In just that short time, Sachiko had already changed into a crisp suit, washed her face, and redone her light makeup. The exhausted manager had been replaced by the composed, sharp-eyed professional once more.
After a string of effusive thanks, she clasped her hands together and said earnestly, "Please, you two must stay the night! Tomorrow, I'll prepare a grand banquet to celebrate properly!"
Kouya shook his head lightly. "No need. I've got class tomorrow."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
It took everyone a moment to remember—he was still just a high school student.
The shrine maiden smiled politely, bowing slightly. "I should return home as well. My younger sister's waiting for me; I can't leave her alone."
Sachiko's enthusiasm dimmed a little, but she quickly recovered with another graceful smile. "Then please, come visit anytime. Without you two, tonight could have been a disaster."
She pulled out a notepad and scribbled something before signing her name. "Miss Ruri, here's your payment."
Chiba Ruri blinked in mild surprise as she accepted the envelope. "How did this become five million yen (around 32,000$)?"
Sachiko smiled. "I had no idea this commission would be so dangerous. If you hadn't been here, we might have lost lives. You saved everyone. Consider it a fair reward—if anything, I hope it's enough."
Of course, that wasn't the only reason. After witnessing Kouya and Ruri's overwhelming abilities firsthand, Sachiko had already made up her mind: these were people worth befriending. The payment had been quietly doubled from the original two million to five—a small price for future favor.
Ruri pondered briefly, then bowed again. "Thank you, Miss Sachiko."
Sachiko also handed over two black-and-gold membership cards. "These are premium cards. Half off everything in the resort—lodging, meals, spa treatments. The same discount for your guests, too."
Kouya went upstairs to pack his things. To his surprise, the color-themed manga he'd left lying haphazardly was now neatly centered on the table. He frowned, remembering clearly he'd just closed it carelessly before leaving.
Maybe the cleaning staff? he thought briefly, then shrugged it off. He zipped his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and headed downstairs.
Sachiko personally saw them out. She had the driver open the car door, smiling politely until they disappeared through the hotel gates. Then, when the car's taillights vanished into the distance, she finally let out a weary sigh. Her posture slackened, her painted smile melting away into quiet exhaustion. She turned, gaze cold as steel, toward the row of drooping security guards lined up behind her like wilted vegetables.
"Tomorrow, we're reviewing the entire security team," she said flatly. The guards flinched.
...
The car glided smoothly through the quiet city streets. The storm had faded, and the wet asphalt reflected the passing streetlights like liquid gold.
Kouya's apartment at the Aoyama complex was closer than the shrine, so the driver pulled up there first.
The vehicle came to a gentle stop with barely a jolt.
Kouya hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Um, Chiba-San..."
The shrine maiden turned to him, a faint pink rising on her cheeks. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements careful, almost nervous. "Just call me Chiba, Kou-kun."
Kouya nodded. "Chiba, there's something I want to tell you."
Her eyes widened slightly, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "W-what is it?"
Her pulse quickened. 'He sounds serious... Could it be—no, it couldn't... he's still a student...' The thought made her blush harder, lowering her head as if hiding from him.
For someone usually so confident and dignified, this feeling of anticipation was alien. She'd faced down monsters and demons without flinching, yet a few words from him made her heart race uncontrollably.
"...When will you transfer the payment?"
Her thoughts froze.
"Eh?" She blinked blankly at him.
"Wasn't that the deal?" Kouya said, voice calm, face unreadable. "We get paid after completing the job. I wouldn't have come otherwise."
Ruri's expression shifted from stunned to incredulous, then to sheer exasperation. The brief flutter of excitement vanished into cold embarrassment.
'Unbelievable.'
She inhaled sharply, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'll transfer it to you tomorrow!"
"Good." Kouya smiled with faint satisfaction. "Then I'll be going."
Ruri turned her head away with a small "hmph." The ends of her hair swayed gently, releasing a faint floral fragrance into the air.
...
Days drifted by quietly. Friday arrived before he knew it.
True to her word, Chiba Ruri had sent the payment the very next morning—three million yen in total (around 19,000$). A tidy sum, enough for Kouya to relax and splurge a little.
He found her reliability surprisingly satisfying. There was something oddly comforting about people who kept their promises.
Otherwise, the week passed without incident. Classes, meals, naps. A rhythm of normalcy after the chaos.
At school, the angel Gabriel—the blonde girl sitting behind Kouya—had entered full lazy mode. Three absences in a week, and when she did show up, she looked like a zombie: dark circles, messy hair, wings drooping like deflated balloons. She spent most of class sleeping with her face buried in her arms.
Anyone who tried to talk to her got a lifeless "ah" or "oh." Before long, the entire class stopped questioning it and began treating her existence as some sort of shared illusion—a "classwide hallucination."
"Big bro!" During lunch break, the short, pudgy boy bounded over, waving something in his hand like a trophy. "Big bro, you've gotta see this! I found a new manga—super high quality! It's called 'The Story I Have to Tell with the Neighbor's Little Sister!' Wanna see?"
Kouya didn't even look up. 'Just hearing the title screams 'not safe for school.''
That pervy chubby guy had mastered the art of being an unstoppable annoyance. Even though Kouya had repeatedly said he wasn't accepting any followers, the guy stuck around like gum on a shoe.
Kouya sighed. He wasn't one to punch smiling idiots, so he just grunted. "...Hmm."
"Big bro," the boy leaned in, voice lowering conspiratorially, "you and the angel behind you—things are getting serious, huh?"
Kouya lifted an eyebrow. "Angel?"
"Gabriel, duh! Your desk partner!"
Kouya's inner voice screamed. 'Serious? The only thing serious is how much I want to kick you into orbit!'
Because of this idiot and his shady manga, that dumb angel hadn't spoken to him in days. How did anyone think their relationship was good?
"I get it," the boy continued, smirking knowingly. "You're playing it low-key! Since there were rumors before, you can't be too close in public or the principal will call you in for 'tea.' Smart move, Big bro, smart move."
Kouya dragged a hand down his face. "Do you ever think about anything that isn't perverted?"
The chubby guy sighed dramatically. "Ah, you wouldn't understand. I used to be pure once! Back in elementary school, I liked this girl... big eyes, pale skin, short bangs, when she smiled her eyes turned into little moons, and she had these adorable dimples..."
Kouya blinked, mildly surprised. 'Wait, this guy actually had feelings once?'
The boy shook his head sadly. "I liked her so much I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. My family got worried. I thought of her day and night, until finally..."
Kouya leaned forward slightly. "Until what?"
The chubby boy sighed deeply. "They forced me to delete her... from my hard drive."
Kouya stared blankly for a long second. Then—"Pfft!"
He nearly choked. 'Why did I even expect sincerity?!'
"You're hopeless," Kouya muttered. "Beyond redemption."
The boy, completely unfazed, grinned proudly. "But I saved her number! Big bro, wanna see it?"
"Get lost!!" Kouya roared, slamming his book shut. "You can go die for all I care!!"