Ye Xing nodded thoughtfully.
"Right, continue."
Rio stirred her coffee, the rod occasionally clinking against the beaker's interior with crisp sounds.
"What I'm about to say might sound far-fetched, but it's still within the scientific scope of quantum mechanics. Human subjective cognition can, under certain circumstances, affect reality. Have you heard of an experiment called Schrödinger's..."
"Schrödinger's catgirl, yeah, yeah, heard of it."
Rio Futaba looked exasperated. "It's called Schrödinger's cat. But since you've heard of it, I won't elaborate further."
She picked up her cup, took a sip of steaming coffee, and cradled the beaker in both hands as she spoke slowly.
"Perhaps whether the 'protagonist's' ability awakens depends on the 'protagonist's' own perception of the enemy."
"I see. So the other 'protagonist' hasn't awakened the ability to fight the enemy because, in her cognition, she doesn't have the idea of needing to battle them."
"Eh? You understood what I meant?"
Seeing Ye Xing immediately grasp her words, Rio couldn't help but show surprise in her eyes.
She'd been wondering how to explain her thoughts in the simplest terms possible.
Yet Ye Xing had understood her perfectly?
"It's not that hard to grasp. Of course I get it."
As the saying goes.
When in doubt, quantum mechanics out.
Even something like Adolescence Syndrome, Rio could provide a principle that at least sounded scientific.
Her analysis was worth testing.
And frankly speaking.
Evil spirits, psychics, Mystic Eyes, and Soul Manifestation were inherently very idealistic concepts.
Linking them with subjective cognition in quantum mechanics might actually be an effective solution.
"Thanks, Futaba."
Ye Xing pulled out a chocolate bread he'd just bought from the school convenience store and placed it gently on the table.
"For you."
Rio glanced at the plastic-wrapped chocolate bread and said flatly,
"Do you take me for a child?"
"If you say so, then sure. I won't argue."
As Ye Xing turned to leave the lab, hesitation flickered across Rio's brow before she finally spoke up.
"Hey..."
"What is it?"
"If you and the others want to come to the club room normally, feel free. I don't mind."
Rio's impression of Ye Xing was that of a very good-looking but severely chuunibyou-afflicted individual.
Normally, she wasn't good at dealing with such people.
No, to be more accurate, Rio wasn't good at dealing with anyone.
Yet, during their two brief conversations, she hadn't felt any of that restlessness from being excluded when watching classmates chat enthusiastically in class, nor any awkwardness from struggling to find topics.
She felt... relaxed.
That was how Rio felt around Ye Xing.
Even she hadn't expected it.
Somehow, she seemed to get along surprisingly well with this chuunibyou boy?
"Sure, we'll drop by when free."
Ye Xing didn't play tsundere either - that trope was outdated now.
After a simple acknowledgement, he returned to Class 1-A.
No sooner had he settled into his King's Throne than Miko Yotsuya hurried over and whispered,
"When are we dealing with that S-rank Gate?"
Ye Xing yawned and waved his hand dismissively.
"At this stage, trying to fight that serpentine evil spirit while dealing with the Gate simultaneously is extremely difficult."
"Then what should we do? You said the Gate's power keeps growing stronger. If we wait any longer, won't it become even harder to handle?"
Faced with Miko Yotsuya's anxious expression, Ye Xing remained completely indifferent.
"Nothing we can do about that."
Miko stomped her foot in frustration.
"How can you be so unconcerned?"
"Being anxious won't help. If worrying could solve problems, I'd have started worrying ages ago."
Just as Miko was about to say more, Yui Yuigahama suddenly bounced up to them with a cheerful greeting.
"Yahallo~"
Faced with this peculiar greeting, which option would Ye Xing choose?
1. "Yahallo?"
2. "Hello, Yui-san."
3. "Stop acting cute, you weirdo."
Ye Xing decisively chose the fourth option.
"Speak properly."
Beside him, Miko facepalmed, thinking 'typical of you'.
To say such harsh words to someone as adorable in both appearance and personality as Yui Yuigahama...
"Um..."
Yui looked slightly embarrassed at being told to "speak properly" and scratched her head awkwardly.
"Well... there's something... no, actually several things I wanted to ask you two about."
"Go ahead."
"You've started some kind of Supernatural Investigation Club, right? Everyone in class has heard about it, so there are some... matters we'd like you to investigate."
Ye Xing looked puzzled.
"Why don't they come ask us themselves?"
At this question, Yui pouted slightly, thinking, 'Do you really not know what kind of reputation you have at school?'
Of course, she couldn't say that outright, so she just laughed nervously and changed the subject.
"They're a bit shy. Since I've at least talked with you before, they asked me to be the messenger."
"I see. Well, tell us then."
"There are a few incidents."
Yui adopted a mysterious tone and lowered her voice.
"Last Friday, a classmate forgot their bag in the classroom. When they realised, it was already past eleven. When they returned to school to get it... Guess what they found?"
Admittedly, Yui had some storytelling talent, as even Miko was listening with bated breath.
"What happened?"
Yui glanced around furtively, adding to the mysterious atmosphere.
"Someone was playing the piano in the school late at night! And the music carried this... haunting, melancholic quality. It must have been a vengeful spirit haunting the piano!"
"That's terrifying!"
Unlike the shocked Miko, Ye Xing just rolled his eyes and glanced at Kazusa Touma, who was currently snoring on her desk.
If others didn't know, how could he not understand?
Some vengeful spirit - it was just Touma practising piano in the club room after school.
Touma practised relentlessly - staying late at school and continuing until morning at home, never sleeping.
Otherwise, why would she come to school only to immediately fall into a deep, infant-like slumber?
"One glance tells me it's pure nonsense."
Seeing Ye Xing's disinterested expression, Yui Yuigahama quickly spoke up again.
"And also, and also!"
"This is about my own situation. Every night at exactly 1 am, my Sable starts barking uncontrollably. He used to be very well-behaved and never did this before. Surely this counts as a supernatural incident too?"