Miko was silent for a moment before raising her sleeve to wipe her eyes, her voice trembling with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"What kind of time is this to still be hung up on your 'Butter Shooter'? That's not even your codename."
Ye Xing shrugged indifferently.
"Well, I can't very well call myself 'Captain', can I? The codenames you came up with lack style."
Yuigahama pouted.
"And yet you gave me the codename 'Dango' based on my hairstyle. If you want something different, why not make one up yourself?"
"Probably unnecessary now."
Ye Xing crouched down, pulling a bottle of high-proof alcohol from his pocket and pouring it over the Gate before him.
Then he struck a match and tossed it casually.
Fierce flames, like a coiling python, instantly engulfed the Gate.
In the flickering light, half of Ye Xing's face was illuminated while the other half remained shadowed.
"The Metropolitan Police Department will help assign me a codename."
He glanced at the two puzzled girls and chuckled.
"Suddenly, I'm craving McDonald's."
Yuigahama sighed deeply, letting out a helpless laugh.
"Fine, fine. You're the hero of this operation, so of course we should celebrate. Let's go—my treat."
...
Half an hour later, on the second floor of McDonald's.
"Nothing beats a Double Cheeseburger."
While Ye Xing devoured his meal with gusto, Miko and Yuigahama had little appetite, only occasionally picking at a fry.
"By the way," Miko wiped her mouth with a napkin and glanced around, noting the few distant tables where none of the customers seemed to be paying them any attention.
Lowering her voice, she asked, "What happened to that outfit of yours? If the Metropolitan Police Department traces it back to you, it'll be trouble."
"No need to worry about that."
Ye Xing finished a Double Cheeseburger in two or three bites before replying calmly.
"That outfit was obtained from the Reverse World and has already been discarded there. The Metropolitan Police won't find any leads—they'll only be misled."
"That's a relief."
Hearing this, both Miko and Yuigahama exhaled in unison.
Originally, they hadn't been concerned about the police labelling Ye Xing as a wanted criminal.
Though he had trespassed onto the scene and killed people, his victims were armed robbers, and the end result was the rescue of all hostages at Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
What did that make him?
A hero lurking in the shadows!
Had things ended there, the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department might have merely listed Ye Xing's identity as one of their key investigative targets without much hostility.
But the problem was what he'd done before leaving...
Ye Xing had detonated the explosives, reducing Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten to rubble!
Miko could understand his reasoning—destroying all evidence at the scene while also disposing of the Gate.
But in the eyes of the police, what kind of act was this?
They had taken hostage Soichiro Yagami, the Director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the Metropolitan Police Department and the on-site commander.
In the end, they left behind the blatantly provocative statement: "Art is an explosion."
It exploded. This time, it really did.
When a person could accomplish things ordinary people found difficult or even incomprehensible, what they usually received wasn't respect or admiration.
It was fear and wariness.
Evil spirits, the Reverse World, Soul Materialisation.
Even without discussing it with Ye Xing, Miko Yotsuya understood that these matters had to be kept secret.
However...
Staring at the heartwarming photo in the news report—showing kindergarten parents weeping with joy upon their children's safe return—Miko murmured,
"This time... you really became a hero."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively.
"That sort of thing doesn't matter either way."
"Eh?"
Yui Yuigahama blinked in surprise, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Ye Xing, you saved so many innocent lives. Don't you feel any sense of accomplishment?"
"That's not my philosophy."
Ye Xing took a sip from his cola before replying calmly.
"Acting to save others or to live up to their expectations is certainly one kind of motivation."
"But while enjoying the satisfaction of altering others' fates, you might also face misunderstandings, doubts, or even criticism—leading you to question your own actions."
"So my choice is to only do what I want to do, without being bound by others' opinions or ideals."
Hearing this, Yui frowned slightly, pressing her lips together.
"Are you saying that acting for others is the wrong approach?"
Ye Xing shook his head.
"You've misunderstood. I don't care what's the right or wrong motivation. Take the two of you sitting with me now."
Pausing, he smiled faintly.
"Your reasons for joining the Society are completely different. But as long as our goal is to fight against the anomalies in this world, that's enough."
"As for why you joined or what you hope to gain from it—I don't concern myself with those questions."
"Right now, you can enjoy the joy and fulfilment of saving lives. I just choose not to dwell on it."
"In short, anyone willing to lend a hand is a comrade."
Both Yui and Miko were at a loss for words.
Somehow, his words sounded... profound?
They were both left baffled.
Seeing their expressions, Ye Xing didn't press the topic further, merely chuckling.
"Let's drop this here. We're not the Philosophy Club, after all. How about discussing our weekend plans instead?"
He pulled out a notebook from his pocket and handed it to Yui.
"Yuigahama, take this tomorrow and find Oda Noto in the shopping district. Ask him to gather intel on the spectres recorded inside—their weaknesses and such."
"OK, leave it to me!"
Yui responded with a sweet smile, without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.
If anything...
With her overly gentle nature, she was happiest only when she felt needed by others and able to help.
"As for Miko, tomorrow afternoon, we'll meet at the abandoned building. It's time to deal with that Gate."
Miko Yotsuya gave a slight nod, then immediately asked with puzzlement.
"Why not in the morning?"
Ye Xing's answer was straightforward.
"I can't get up in the morning."
"Oh right, speaking of which..."
Ye Xing pulled out a small wooden box from his coat.
Seeing his action, both Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya desperately wanted to comment.
Is that school jacket hiding Doraemon's magic pocket?
How do you keep alcohol, notebooks, small wooden boxes - all sorts of things - inside without any visible bulges?
Do you have an interdimensional pocket, too?
"Here, this is a gift for you."
At the word "gift", Miko's cheeks inexplicably flushed slightly as she carefully took the box and opened it.
Yui also leaned over curiously to look, only to show a puzzled expression.
"An empty box?"
Miko's expression became complicated as she stared at the dark green eyeball emitting faint black Qi inside the box.
This was her first time receiving a gift from a boy.
As a girl, Miko had imagined this scenario many times, wondering what her first gift might be.
The one thing she never expected was... a giant eyeball.
"Don't underestimate this eyeball."
Ye Xing adopted a mysterious air, leaning closer to Miko and lowering his voice.
"This belongs to... a Slaughter Demon."
"What, a Slaughter Demon?!"
Hearing this name, Miko's expression instantly changed from slightly complicated to utterly shocked disbelief.
"They really exist? Slaughter Demons?"
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
"This is incredible."
"Impressive, right?"
"Only you could do this."
Watching Ye Xing and Miko's enthusiastic exchange, Yui sighed helplessly and facepalmed.
These two are truly unbelievable.
...
Meanwhile, in a luxurious apartment.
Yukino Yukinoshita sat on the sofa, looking at the woman holding a teacup whose face bore some resemblance to hers, though with a more striking beauty. Her tone was distant as she spoke.
"So, why have you come to Kyoto?"
"My, is this how you greet your dear sister after more than half a month apart? You haven't changed at all."
"Say what you will."
Haruno smiled meaningfully, took a sip of tea, and spoke unhurriedly.
"Our family's construction company had contracted a commercial office building project in Kyoto, but there was an incident recently that delayed progress. So Mother sent me to inspect it."
Here, Haruno paused, glancing at Yukino with an ambiguous smile.
"Of course, I also missed my adorable little sister."
Yukino's eyes flickered several times before she simply shook her head and murmured,
"Your wording is incorrect."
"In what way?"
"It's not 'our family's' construction company, but 'your family's' construction company."
"I see."
Haruno nodded noncommittally, studying Yukino seated before her, a trace of complexity surfacing in her gaze.