Noticing even the usually stern Mafuyu Kirisu now betraying traces of amusement, Shizuka felt intensely embarrassed, silently fuming.
"How humiliating to fall for that boy's tricks."
Before the term began, her impression of Ye Xing had been limited to the school's records.
Top scorer in this year's prefectural exams.
Undeniably genius-level achievement.
Yet despite such results, he'd chosen Sobu High School over the prestigious Shuchi'in Academy, renowned as Japans's cradle for elite students - a decision that defied understanding.
Combined with his history of assault during middle school...
Shizuka had pegged Ye Xing as intellectually gifted but impulsive and arrogant.
Yet actual interaction proved completely otherwise.
At the very least, the other party wasn't impulsive; rather, they possessed impressive negotiation skills.
Thinking this, Shizuka Hiratsuka glanced at Ye Xing sitting opposite her, musing that with such handsome looks, he shouldn't have ended up being subtly avoided and guarded against by most students.
In that case...
Was it not that he couldn't interact normally with others, but that he didn't want to?
Then it needed even more correcting!
"In that case, fill out this form."
Shizuka didn't say much more, simply taking a registration form from her drawer.
As long as Ye Xing agreed to establish a club, she was willing to make concessions regarding the activity room, member selection, or the club's nature.
"Fine."
Ye Xing took the form and ballpoint pen, filled it out swiftly, and handed it back to Shizuka.
When she looked down at it, her expression became quite spectacular.
"Supernatural... Quantum Mechanics... Research Society?"
Shizuka looked torn between laughter and tears.
"What kind of name is this? A complete mishmash?"
Then, when she saw the member list section, she was genuinely surprised.
"Besides you, there's Miko Yotsuya from our class? Really? Would she agree to join?"
"She will."
"Alright."
Shizuka nodded slightly and returned the form to her drawer.
"Although the name is strange and the club activities vague, given it's you, the school will probably approve it."
Normally, establishing clubs and applying for activity rooms were matters for the student council to review.
But Ye Xing's situation was different.
He had entered Sobu High School as the top scorer in Japan's unified entrance exams.
What's that called?
That's called bringing honour to Sobu High, making the school shine.
Moreover, this year they also had Kazusa Touma, the daughter of world-class pianist Youko Touma and a piano prodigy herself.
The school administration was even getting ambitious enough to consider competing with the private Shuchi'in Academy.
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
Kicking Shuchi'in's butt and punching Advanced Nurturing High?
Now entering fantasy time.
"I'll take my leave then."
Ye Xing stood up with a smile and left the office.
Establishing a club had been his plan even before entering Sobu High.
The "Gates" that could affect evil spirits and spectres were usually located in extremely remote, dark corners.
And normally, people couldn't see them.
Both Ye Xing and Miko Yotsuya could see these "Gates."
The problem was, leaving aside whether the current Miko could handle the responsibility of scouting,
just two people searching all of Kyoto City? Forget about it.
With just two people, searching even Sobu High would be exhausting.
This club was established precisely to gather more information.
Most adults, when encountering something inexplicable, wouldn't seek help from others.
Partly due to busy schedules, partly due to pride.
But curious high school students with plenty of free time were completely different.
Moreover, Sobu High students lived all across Kyoto City, providing a wide range for information collection.
After some careful filtering, surely useful information could be obtained... right?
As for the club name including quantum mechanics?
Ye Xing was already considering the matter of recruiting a third member.
...
After afternoon classes ended, Miko Yotsuya and Ye Xing left Sobu High School together and boarded the train.
"Ye Xing, where are we going first?"
"I need to find an old con artist to get my money back."
"Er... won't that cause trouble?"
"Most likely not, but there's a small probability."
"A small probability?"
"Small probability I send him to the afterlife."
Miko forced a smile, but seeing Ye Xing's completely serious expression, she finally realised he meant it and exclaimed in surprise.
"You're not joking?"
Ye Xing rolled his eyes.
"How novel. I never joke about things like this."
Miko pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat accelerate from tension.
Just who had Ye Xing bought his talisman from?
Could it be... a yakuza member?
Were criminal gangs dabbling in side businesses like this now?
At that moment, Miko suddenly noticed a man in black sunglasses and a mask standing a few metres away, his hand pressed against an office lady's buttocks, continuously rubbing.
The OL had tears glistening in her eyes, her face showing clear resistance, but she was too afraid to speak out.
"Ye Xing, look over there."
Miko frowned and lightly poked Ye Xing's arm.
He followed her pointing finger.
"Oh? A train molester? Interesting."
Seeing Ye Xing merely watching with interest without any intention to help, Miko said disapprovingly.
"You're just going to watch?"
"Huh?"
Ye Xing blinked, then brightened.
"You mean I can join in too?"
"You..."
Miko was speechless.
"I meant, shouldn't you go help her?"
"Oh, that's what you meant."
Ye Xing yawned, glanced at the molester and shook his head indifferently.
"He's not possessed by evil spirits. Perfectly normal."
"So, unless it's about evil spirits, you'll just stand by?"
"What else?"
Seeing Miko about to say more, Ye Xing preempted her.
"Don't try that moral blackmail crap. Without morals, you can't blackmail me. Besides, I've no obligation to help her."
At a loss for how to respond, Miko finally gritted her teeth and strode towards the molester, grabbing his arm firmly as she scowled and rebuked:
"This is criminal behaviour!"