Hearing this, Ye Xing gave a noncommittal nod.
"Mm. Continue."
By now, Rio had fully entered analysis mode.
She retrieved a ballpoint pen from her lab coat's breast pocket, tore a page from the notebook, and began writing while muttering to herself.
"Hmm... this trajectory... but must account for alternative influencing factors..."
After a long while, she finally looked up, adjusted her glasses, and slid the paper towards Ye Xing.
"Take a look."
Ye Xing glanced down and exclaimed in surprise.
"Wow, you even drew a mind map? Quite professional."
"Naturally."
Rio's expression remained impassive as she calmly explained.
"Based on your provided settings, one 'protagonist' currently lacks any combat capability."
"Needless to say, two 'protagonists' clearing supply points would obviously be faster than one."
"According to your explanation, there are 'assistance points' within the city that may provide help and allow the 'protagonist' to enhance their combat abilities."
"Then this is the most crucial matter."
Ye Xing thought to himself, 'As expected of Rio Futaba.'
To have absorbed so much information and, within just a few minutes, arrived at the same conclusion as him—truly impressive.
No wonder she was a genius science girl who had begun studying quantum mechanics back in high school.
Then, Rio Futaba abruptly shifted her tone.
"But based on the intelligence you've provided, these so-called 'assistance points' aren't necessarily absolutely safe."
"According to the setting, obtaining help from the NPCs there requires paying a certain price."
"Before meeting them, the 'protagonist' won't know whether they have enough bargaining chips to afford the price demanded."
"If they can't pay, it might even trigger a battle."
Hearing Rio Futaba's obscure and hard-to-follow words, Ye Xing nodded in understanding.
In truth, if one used a 'chuunibyou translator' to convert her analysis into terms normal people could comprehend, it would become much clearer.
The so-called 'protagonist' referred to him and Miko Yotsuya.
The 'assistance points' were the shrines in Kyoto that even evil spirits dared not approach, as mentioned by Miko's deceased father.
The NPCs, naturally, were the gods lingering in those areas.
Come to think of it.
The gods of Japan were quite different from the deities of China in Ye Xing's past life memories.
Gaining their help required paying a price.
Just like in the original storyline, where Miko Yotsuya signed a contract offering everything she had in exchange for the twins' assistance.
Thinking carefully...
Wasn't this just evil spirits who had learned extortion?
Given his recent experiences, Ye Xing didn't believe these so-called gods were any good.
If the gods were truly so benevolent and well-intentioned towards humans, would he still need to exhaust himself daily eliminating evil spirits and Gates across Kyoto?
It was only because ordinary people were unaware of evil spirits and spectres.
Otherwise, the offerings at those shrines should be delivered straight to the entrance of Class 1-A at Sobu High School, with his photo placed on display...
Wait, that mental image felt a bit odd.
"But it seems this is the most direct way to break the deadlock. By game logic, this would count as an early-stage boss battle."
Rio Futaba paused, lifting her gaze to meet Ye Xing's.
"So? Is my assistance valuable to you?"
"Extremely valuable."
Ye Xing replied with a smile, handing her the clubroom key.
"Let's work well together from now on."
"Mm, I'll take my leave then."
Rio Futaba responded indifferently before turning to go.
Honestly, after seriously considering all the information in the notebook, her belief that Ye Xing was a severe chuunibyou case had begun to waver slightly.
If this were all just a fantasy concocted by one person's imagination, the logic was far too self-consistent.
More importantly, Rio Futaba had previously researched psychological phenomena among adolescent boys and girls—partly to analyse her own psyche.
This included the widely recognised, highly prevalent "eighth-grade syndrome".
"Chuunibyou" is a form of self-comfort conjured from fantasy to escape real-life difficulties.
So here's the question.
If this was meant to be an escape from reality's hardships, what kind of person would fantasise about such a world?
After reading through the notebook's contents, Rio Futaba could only describe the reality it depicted with one word.
Suffocating.
Endless, inexhaustible "enemies".
"Supply points" that proliferated like weeds, making the world increasingly dangerous.
Even the "assistance points" that allowed the "protagonist" to grow stronger harboured unknown threats.
What kind of person would imagine such a world?
Did they find their real life too comfortable?
Of course, Rio didn't believe the notebook's contents were real either.
She only had one thought.
Ye Xing was sick.
Seriously sick.
...
After school that day.
Under Shizuka Hiratsuka's guidance, Class 1-A elected its class committee members.
As expected.
Neither Ye Xing nor Miko Yotsuya were nominated.
"It's a bit cold."
Standing on the school rooftop, feeling the chilly early spring breeze, Miko instinctively pulled her collar tighter.
Ye Xing gazed into the distance, a nostalgic look in his eyes as he remarked.
"I had a departed friend who once performed a decapitation act right here. How nostalgic."
Miko hesitated. She genuinely couldn't tell whether Ye Xing meant "decapitation" in the normal sense or the literal one.
"Um... did that friend of yours... become an evil spirit?"
"No, he went to another series to become a headless knight."
Miko: "..."
Before Ye Xing could share more bizarre reminiscences, she quickly changed the subject.
"What's the plan for today?"
"Today's plan is simple, just..."
Just as Ye Xing was halfway through his sentence, the rooftop door suddenly opened.
A girl in Sobu High's uniform walked in slowly.
She wore sheer black tights that revealed her rosy skin, with exquisitely shaped legs and delicate leather shoes.
Her refined face carried a lazy charm, coupled with an intimidatingly mature aura.
A small rabbit hairclip adorned her waterfall-like waist-length black hair, adding youthful flair.
Simply standing there, she looked like a scene from a beautiful painting.
Noticing their gazes, the girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and softly uttered words that made Miko tremble.
"Can... you see me?"