"Be careful on your way."
Yui's mother waved enthusiastically.
"Ye Xing-kun, remember to visit again."
"Of course, Auntie."
Sable sat by the doorway, wagging his tail like a propeller—as if ready to take off any moment.
"Woof woof!"
"Message received."
Ye Xing crouched down, ruffling Sable's head with a light chuckle.
"See you next time."
After leaving the apartment and descending the stairs, on their way to the train station, Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but smile sweetly.
"Ye Xing-kun, you seem to really like Sable. Could it be... you're the type who loves small animals?"
Ye Xing frowned slightly, replying with mild irritation.
"What do you mean by 'could it be'? That sounds like you're implying something."
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
Yui Yuigahama laughed awkwardly.
"It's just that your usual demeanour doesn't seem like someone who'd like small animals. More like..."
Here, Yui trailed off, not voicing her true thoughts.
What she really wanted to say was...
Ye Xing seemed normal enough at school.
But whenever he encountered evil spirits, he became a completely different person.
Far from being an animal lover, he seemed like a cold-blooded psychopath through and through.
At this moment, Yui noticed Miko Yotsuya's gaze kept drifting towards the empty space behind Ye Xing. Curious, she asked:
"Miko-chan, what's wrong? Why do you keep looking there?"
Hearing this, Miko seemed momentarily startled before exhaling in apparent relief. She waved her hand with a smile.
"It's nothing, just feeling a bit tired."
"I see. Make sure to rest when we get to school, then."
"Mm, will do."
Yet what the two girls saw was completely different, worlds apart in fact.
To Yui Yuigahama's eyes:
Two cute high school girls walking alongside the strikingly handsome Ye Xing, accompanied by the gentle spring breeze and falling cherry blossom petals along the street.
This scene could only be described as beautiful.
But in Miko's vision, there was an extra presence.
A 2-metre-tall figure in a white dress, barefoot, with black hair almost trailing on the ground - Hachishaku-sama following silently behind Ye Xing.
She didn't need to speak.
Just her oppressive appearance, the sound of black hair brushing against fabric, and that inexplicably eerie aura were enough to transform what should have been a pleasant high school outing into something resembling a Hyakki Yagyō procession.
Now that's what you call adding the finishing touch.
Still, one thing comforted Miko: Yui didn't seem to see Hachishaku-sama.
That was good.
Apparently, Yui had only been able to see Hachishaku-sama before because they'd been in Kyoto's Reverse World.
Miko knew all too well the consequences of being able to see.
With Yui's mental fortitude, she probably couldn't endure that kind of life.
Not seeing meant no danger.
This realisation made Miko breathe easier.
...
After taking the train to Sobu High School and entering the campus, Ye Xing led Yui and Miko to the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society's clubroom.
Unsurprisingly, Rio Futaba wasn't there.
After all, it was barely past 6 am - hardly anyone came to school this early.
Scratch.
Ye Xing had just reached the table when the chair inexplicably slid across the floor on its own, stopping at the perfect distance for him to sit down.
In Yui Yuigahama's eyes, the chair had moved by itself.
But to Miko Yotsuya, it was Hachishaku-sama carefully adjusting it before making a polite gesture of invitation, her every movement radiating deference.
"Well done. I'll give you a raise later."
Watching Ye Xing sit at the table with his legs crossed and Hachishaku-sama's innocent, delighted smile, Miko could only sigh in resignation.
PUA.
This was definitely workplace PUA, wasn't it!?
The idea that humans could devour evil spirits to grow stronger was already bizarre enough for Miko.
But now she was witnessing humans exploiting evil spirits, too?
This was a sight she'd never seen before.jpg.
"By the way."
Ye Xing turned to Yui Yuigahama and asked softly.
"Yuigahama, would you like to join the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society? After all, you're technically an insider now."
"Eh, me?"
Yui was visibly surprised by the invitation.
"But... I don't have any special abilities like you guys. I'm just an ordinary person. Would I really be helpful?"
"Ah, don't sell yourself short."
Ye Xing shook his head with a smile.
"You don't realise what a unique talent you possess."
"Unique talent?"
This caught not only Yui's attention but Miko's as well.
Yui...
Had some special ability?
Not that Miko meant to disparage her friend.
But Yui Yuigahama wasn't particularly clever, possessed no Spiritual Power, and wasn't especially athletic either.
If she had to name something...
She was very cute?
Did that count as a special ability?
Seeing the two girls' puzzled expressions, Ye Xing composed himself and said with a serious face:
"Yuigahama has a certain... transparent foolishness about her."
"Huh?"
Yui Yuigahama blinked in confusion before frowning slightly, her expression turning displeased as she puffed her cheeks.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"
"Obviously a compliment," Ye Xing replied matter-of-factly.
"You must understand, all three members of our club are seen as difficult-to-approach weirdos by outsiders—"
"Wait a minute."
Miko Yotsuya hastily interrupted: "My image at school should be perfectly normal, right?"
To her surprise, Yuigahama gave an awkward chuckle beside her and said cautiously:
"Miko... actually, your reputation among classmates isn't much better than Ye Xing's."
"Impossible!"
Miko was shocked.
Yuigahama pursed her lips and spoke softly:
"Well... classmates say you always have this expressionless face, with an inexplicable cold aura that makes you seem unapproachable."
Miko never expected this to be the reason.
Ever since awakening her Mystic Eyes, she'd been constantly under the gaze of evil spirits.
Maintaining complete control over her facial expressions and emotions, revealing no weaknesses, was her only means of survival.
Naturally, Miko had developed a condition.
Commonly known as... chronic poker face syndrome.