Today at the Paranormal Research Club, only Tatsuki and Yukino were present. Yukino quietly read her book, assuming it would be another tranquil day—until, surprisingly, someone showed up with a request.
"Hello, Senpais! I'm Miko Yotsuya from Year 1, Class 3!"
Miko sat stiffly upright.
"Yukinoshita Yukino is my name," Yukino introduced herself calmly, her voice carrying its usual cool composure.
"!"
Miko felt a jolt; it turned out the legendary "Snow Queen" of the school was here. However, Miko had something far more urgent she wanted to ask Tatsuki. With Yukino around, she hesitated, unsure whether to speak.
Sensing this, Tatsuki directly reassured her, "It's okay; go ahead. Yukino can also see them."
"?"
Both Miko and Yukino exchanged glances.
Yukino realized that Miko must be someone who awakened Spiritual Sight. Miko, on the other hand, was astonished! She had believed she was the only one who could see those terrifying evil spirits, yet here were two people just like her.
Under their gazes, Miko felt immense pressure. She gulped, then anxiously blurted.
"Those monsters…they're evil ghosts, right? How can I see them? If they realize I see them, what happens? How can I stop seeing them? Or how can I get rid of them, like you?"
"You do have a lot of questions." Tatsuki spoke patiently, addressing them one by one.
"Those monsters you call 'evil ghosts' or 'evil spirits' are indeed the resentful remains of the dead, formed by negative emotions or grudges."
"You can see them because you've awakened Spiritual Sight."
"If they figure out you can see them, they can attack you. Conversely, if you act like you don't see them, they can't harm you."
"As for how to stop seeing them, that's something I don't know."
"Finally, regarding how to destroy them…"
Tatsuki raised his hand, and the book Yukino was holding floated into the air.
"Telekinesis!" Miko's eyes went wide.
Nothing was holding the book, yet it was simply floating.
"I'd prefer you not use my reading material for demonstrations…"
Yukino tapped the book, a faint chill emanating from her fingertips.
"Eek!" Miko felt a sudden wave of cold; the table's surface even gathered a thin frost!
"Yukinoshita-san has superpowers too!"
Miko's brain momentarily overloaded. 'So I need superpowers to destroy evil spirits? Both of these senpais, who also possess Spiritual Sight, have the means to fight back.' She alone was just an ordinary person who could see spirits—nothing more.
A look of discouragement crossed Miko's face, as though lamenting the unfairness of it all. Tatsuki shot a glance at Yukino, signaling her 'Please comfort her.' Yukino frowned slightly, 'Why don't you do it yourself?' But she spoke gently anyway.
"No need to be too worried, Yotsuya-san. As long as you pretend you don't see them, they can't harm you."
"But… they're just so scary…"
Tears welled in Miko's eyes as she recalled the first time she'd encountered one, so frightened she nearly wet herself. Yukino, who had a similar experience, understood completely. Even now, though she possessed the ability to handle ordinary evil spirits, the sudden appearance of horrifying spirits could still make her flinch.
So Yukino offered a suggestion, "You could join our club. At least here, you'll be safe."
Miko looked at Tatsuki, tears still brimming. "Is… is that okay?"
"Sure," Tatsuki answered without hesitation. Another member for the club was no issue at all.
Afterward, Miko exchanged phone contacts with the two of them. Tatsuki told her that if she ran into a situation she couldn't handle, she could come to him. Since Miko, being naturally gifted (or cursed) with Spiritual Sight, was highly likely to run into strange problems, it was best she knew where to get help.
When Miko went off to see Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei about joining the club, only Tatsuki and Yukino remained in the Paranormal Research Club room.
Tatsuki rotated his shoulder. Dealing with Eriri's…needs… so many times last night had left him a bit sore. The truth was, Eriri was astonishingly skilled! Ever since crossing that line, her usual tsundere act had vanished entirely, transforming into a kind of unrestrained abandon—worthy of "Kashiwagi Eri," indeed.
Noticing Tatsuki's movements, Yukino naturally walked up behind him. Her soft, pristine arms slid onto his shoulders, massaging them gently.
"…"
Her sudden action stunned Tatsuki. Yukino, too, realized what she was doing and froze in place.