Miko Yotsuya froze for a moment before massaging her temples with a resigned sigh.
"...You're actually peeping?"
"Of course. A gentleman keeps his word. I have to watch."
Hearing this, Miko didn't show displeasure but simply shook her head with a wry smile.
Before entering the bathroom, she'd already checked.
The glass door connecting the bathroom to the living room had two-way privacy protection.
After entering, the shower cubicle glass was also privacy-protected, with an additional curtain outside.
Peeping here?
Unless Ye Xing had X-ray vision.
Wait... could he actually have that?
The thought made Miko chuckle self-deprecatingly.
If Ye Xing really had X-ray vision, why would he need to peep while she was showering?
Couldn't he just look whenever he wanted?
She was worrying over nothing.
"Thanks."
"For what? I don't understand."
"Never mind then."
Since Miko couldn't think of any reason for Ye Xing to peep at her shower, there was only one explanation.
He wasn't standing outside the bathroom to peep.
Perhaps he was worried about evil spirits following her and launching a surprise attack during her shower.
Or maybe he simply didn't want her to feel scared while bathing.
Whatever the reason, a thank you was warranted.
This incident gave Miko more insight into Ye Xing's character.
This guy...
Seemed to have some tsundere traits?
Of course, she'd never say that out loud - who knew what strange remarks Ye Xing might make in response.
As Miko washed her hair, Ye Xing sat outside leaning against the bathroom door, making markings on a map.
"Hmm... S-class zone, that should do."
He held a map of Kyoto City, having marked the unfinished building's location with an "S-class" label.
...
After finishing her shower, Miko towel-dried her damp hair while muttering softly.
"These clothes of yours are way too big."
She wore Ye Xing's T-shirt on top and shorts below, her pale, delicate feet with cute pink toenails bare against the floor.
The problem was how comical Miko looked in this outfit.
Ye Xing's T-shirt hung so loosely that it could almost pass for a dress.
The shorts' legs extended well past her knees.
Among girls her age, Miko was considered quite tall.
But wearing clothes meant for Ye Xing, who stood over 180cm, created an awkward mismatch.
Wait no.
Small horses should pull big carts, shouldn't they?
Noticing Ye Xing writing something in his notebook, Miko sat obediently on the sofa opposite him and asked curiously.
"Um... I have some questions for you."
Ye Xing glanced up, nearly losing his composure at seeing Miko swimming in his clothes. Clearing his throat to collect himself, he said:
"Sure, go ahead."
The moment these words left her mouth, Miko Yotsuya fired off a rapid succession of questions like a machine gun.
"How can I awaken abilities like yours to fight evil spirits?"
"What should we do about the Gate in that building?"
"Why didn't you bring that sword from my house today? Could we have defeated that evil spirit if you had?"
"And earlier, you said the evil spirit in the building looked like some kind of peni... I didn't catch the rest. Peni what?"
The first three questions didn't surprise Ye Xing.
But when he heard Miko's final question, his brow furrowed slightly as he studied her carefully.
"You... don't know what it resembles?"
Miko tilted her head in innocent confusion, her eyes reflecting pure naivety.
"Resembles what?"
"Hard to describe. You'll understand when you're older."
Ye Xing didn't pursue the topic further, cutting off any chance for Miko to ask more questions as he continued.
"Let me answer your first three questions."
"First, according to my reasoning, you should be able to awaken abilities similar to mine. As for the specific method... I have a rough hypothesis. I'll give you the answer after discussing it with Rio Futaba on Monday."
Miko opened her mouth as if to speak, but ultimately could only nod helplessly.
Ye Xing had made it perfectly clear before.
The two of them were likely the most powerful psychics in Japan's history.
And they were facing unprecedented supernatural events.
This was like crossing a river by feeling for stones - no one truly understood the underlying nature or the various dangers they might encounter.
Even Ye Xing couldn't provide all the answers she wanted.
"Second question."
At this point, Ye Xing handed the map in his hand to Miko.
"The place we visited today is classified as an S-rank location. Combined with my explorations over the past two days, there are three A-rank and one S-rank Gates discovered but unresolved in Kyoto."
"My classification system is rather crude."
"S-rank means I might be able to resolve it at full strength, but with risk of death during the process."
"A-rank means I might get injured while resolving it."
Miko looked down at the marked points on the map and asked curiously.
"Why aren't there B-rank or C-rank classifications?"
When she looked up, she saw Ye Xing staring at her as if she were an idiot.
"Are you stupid? B-rank and C-rank are things I can resolve immediately at my current level. I destroy them as soon as I find them - why would I mark them?"
Miko felt extremely awkward, thinking that made sense.
Ye Xing's personality was hard for her to figure out, but one thing she could confirm.
This guy truly hated evil spirits and would never show them mercy.
"As for the third question, that sword wasn't meant for me - it was prepared for you."
"For me?"
"Of course."
Ye Xing spread his hands and smiled.
"You saw my combat ability with your own eyes today. Although that sword is genuine, it's unrealistic to expect much help from it. After all, it's just something from that old man's collection."
Miko nodded slightly before asking another question.
"Since we're on the subject, I'm curious - why did that Mr Oda give us such a valuable longsword for free?"
"It's quite simple, really."
Ye Xing seized this opportunity to explain the current situation to Miko Yotsuya.
"As an exorcist, he doesn't just sell small items like talismans. His main income comes from taking on spirit removal commissions."
"But now, with the appearance of the Gates, many requests exceed his capabilities."
"If he consistently fails to fulfil clients' requests, people will start doubting whether Oda Noto is a genuine psychic, which would hurt his business."
"The solution is to transfer these commissions to me."
"I get what I want - information about evil spirit disturbances in Kyoto and generous payments from clients - while he gains reputation for completing the requests."
"Mutually beneficial. Just a business transaction."