Miko Yotsuya: "..."
At first, she didn't get it. But after thinking for a moment, she realised what 2.5 Miko meant.
Honestly, she could already picture it in her mind.
Miko steadied herself, trying to calm her restless emotions.
Just as Ye Xing had said, evil spirits were dangerous beings. If she acted too recklessly, she'd die horribly.
Miko didn't want to be timid, but at the same time, she didn't want to die young either.
At the very least, she wanted to experience sweet romance once before dying, right?
"Tsk, the state of this school's atmosphere these days…"
Ye Xing sighed like an old man who had seen through the truths of the world, shaking his head as he glanced at Kazusa Touma, who was sprawled across her desk, fast asleep.
"Sleeping this early in the morning… Sobu High really has fallen, huh."
Before Miko could say anything, Ye Xing pulled out two delicate little pillows from the side pocket of his bag.
He gently placed one on Kazusa Touma's desk and set the other on his own before immediately flopping down. In less than a second, he was out like a baby.
Witnessing this, Miko couldn't help but show a resigned expression.
But she could probably guess why—
The reason Ye Xing slept all day was likely because he spent his nights "active" all over Kyoto.
Thinking about it, Miko couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration.
If it were her, even if she had the same ability to fight evil spirits as Ye Xing, would she have the courage to make the same choices he did?
Miko knew the terror of evil spirits all too well.
That's why she felt Ye Xing wasn't normal at all.
This guy… he was scarier than the evil spirits themselves.
...
The dull morning classes passed quickly.
When Ye Xing woke up and stretched, he noticed that Kazusa Touma had, at some point, started using the pillow he'd given her.
At this moment, he felt like an absolute saint.
She had given him a bottle of room-temperature Pepsi-brand toilet cleaner.
And in return, he had gifted her the one thing she desperately needed—a perfect pillow.
Now this was the modern version of "returning malice with kindness."
"Tell me, do you see a halo of merit glowing around me?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Miko hesitated before cautiously replying,
"A halo of merit… isn't that something only monks have?"
"Never mind, then."
Miko shook her head, brushing off Ye Xing's strange remarks.
She was starting to understand him a little better.
If she took every word Ye Xing said seriously, sooner or later, she'd become just as abstract as he was.
"Here, this is for you."
Ye Xing shook his head as he accepted the cream bread and drink Miko Yotsuya handed him.
"Is this repaying a favour? Normally, shouldn't it be a homemade bento with a heart secretly drawn in ketchup?"
Miko could only sigh helplessly, rubbing her forehead, unsure how to respond to such ridiculous words before turning back to her seat.
Just as Ye Xing picked up the cream bread and was about to unwrap it, Shizuka Hiratsuka suddenly appeared at the classroom door, waving at him.
"Ye Xing, come here for a moment. There's something I need to discuss."
"Sure thing."
As Ye Xing stood up and walked out of the classroom, it was obvious that the students on either side of the aisle subtly moved aside.
After a day of rumours spreading, the so-called "dangerous person" gossip had thoroughly circulated throughout Sobu High.
Currently available information 1: Ye Xing threatened a girl with a knife.
Currently available information 2: Ye Xing sleeps during class.
Currently available information 3: Shizuka Hiratsuka called Ye Xing to the office.
Conclusion drawn:
"Is he getting disciplinary action?"
"No way, probably expulsion, right?"
"That extreme? It's only the second day of school."
"Maybe the rumours are true—he really brought a knife to school."
"The version I heard was a semi-automatic rifle."
"That's ridiculous. It was clearly a revolver."
The silver lining in this unfortunate situation was that the girl rumoured to be the victim—Miko Yotsuya—hadn't been named at all.
No one really cared who the supposed victim was.
Everyone was just in it for the gossip, enjoying the drama.
Shizuka clearly hadn't expected that simply calling Ye Xing to the office would cause such a chain reaction.
Once Ye Xing stepped out of the classroom, a hint of guilt flashed in her eyes as she lowered her voice.
"Sorry, I—"
"No worries."
Ye Xing waved it off with a carefree smile.
"A cute female teacher like you can be forgiven."
"You!"
Hearing him call her cute, Shizuka's cheeks flushed slightly as she clenched her right fist and waved it, frowning.
"Don't speak to your teacher like that."
"Fine, fine. So, what's up?"
"Let's talk in the office."
After bringing Ye Xing to the office, Shizuka instinctively reached for a slim cigarette from her pocket, but then put her hand back down.
She noticed Mafuyu Kirisu sitting not far away, staring at her with a stern, judgmental gaze.
As a teacher, she really shouldn't smoke in front of students.
"I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?"
"Starting a club?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
Shizuka blinked in surprise as Ye Xing voiced her exact thoughts.
"Figures."
Ye Xing shrugged, his tone reluctant.
"Ms Hiratsuka, I'm really busy every day. I don't have time for club activities, so let's drop it."
"That won't do."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Shizuka Hiratsuka's initially tentative inquiry instantly solidified into determination.
"Only by forming a club and maintaining normal interactions with other students can we improve your reputation at school. It'll also give you something to do instead of sleeping all day."
"What a hassle."
Ye Xing sat across from Hiratsuka, his legs crossed and a lazy expression on his face as he spread his hands.
"Setting aside whether I'm willing or not, forming a club requires at least five members."
Without hesitation, Hiratsuka replied, "I'll apply for a special exception from the school. Even if it's just you alone, we can establish the club."
"What about future members? I'm not exactly easy to get along with."
"They'll all need your personal approval."
"We'd need a club room too."
"I'll apply for that as well. The school will definitely agree."
"But if I have to participate in club activities I'm not interested in, that would be unbearably boring—pure torture."
"You can decide the nature of the club yourself, as long as it's not too outrageous."
Ye Xing fired off questions rapidly, disrupting Hiratsuka's thought process and forcing her to respond immediately.
Watching this unfold nearby, Mafuyu Kirisu's eyes flickered with surprise.
"OK, deal."
Seeing Ye Xing's reluctant expression vanish instantly as he calmly agreed, Hiratsuka belatedly realised—
She...
Had fallen into his trap?