Faced with her sister's words, Yukino didn't immediately ask for clarification; instead, she thought it through.
No matter what, she didn't want to transfer to Shuchi'in Academy.
After all, aside from a few exceptionally academically gifted students, that place enrolled only children from prominent aristocratic families—it was a genuine elite school in every sense of the word.
In other words.
In Yukino's eyes, Shuchi'in Academy was "fake".
She had worked so hard to leave Chiba Prefecture precisely to escape the Yukinoshita family's environment.
If she were to enter Shuchi'in Academy, Yukino felt that even if she spent her entire remaining high school years there, she would never find the "genuine article" she had always been pursuing.
After all, the "genuine article" and the "fake" were fundamentally incompatible.
That is to say.
No matter what method was required, she had to change her mother's mind.
Having thought this through clearly, Yukino finally spoke with a calm expression.
"What method are you referring to?"
Hearing this, Haruno suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, making an exaggerated gesture as if introducing a celebrity's entrance, complete with sound effects.
"Ta-da!"
She pointed at Ye Xing, who was sitting opposite them, and laughed.
"At this moment, it's time for our classmate Ye Xing to make his appearance!"
With Yukino's intelligence, she instantly understood her sister's meaning.
"You mean... if Ye Xing can achieve first place in the joint exam, it might be able to change Mother's mind?"
Haruno smiled and nodded.
"Exactly so."
Yukino's brow furrowed slightly.
"Then if I were to achieve first place..."
"Yukino-chan."
Haruno reached out and pinched her younger sister's cheeks, which, though expressionless, still seemed utterly adorable in her eyes.
"If you can't even get first place in Sobu High School's exams, let's not indulge in fantasies, alright?"
Yukino Yukinoshita felt quite indignant at her sister's words, yet had to admit she was right.
Though highly competitive and confident in her own abilities, when facing opponents from that Shuchi'in Academy, insisting she could definitely achieve first place wouldn't be confidence but outright delusional arrogance.
"Following that logic then..."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked towards Ye Xing, who sat opposite them with a relaxed expression.
"Can Ye Xing-kun definitely win then?"
"Of course."
Haruno smiled faintly as she slowly responded.
"He ranked first in Japan's unified examinations for your year."
"Huh?"
Yukino Yukinoshita froze for a moment upon hearing this. Even with her typically cool disposition, she couldn't help showing surprise at Haruno's astonishing revelation.
"First in Japan's... unified examinations?"
"Oh? You didn't know?"
Haruno smiled meaningfully.
"It seems, although you're in the same club, your personal relationship isn't that close after all. In that case, I'm relieved."
Hearing this, Ye Xing remarked dryly,
"You really think I'm trying to hit on your sister?"
Haruno gazed at him with an ambiguous smile and retorted,
"Aren't you?"
"Well, I actually am. You really see through people, don't you?"
"Pfft."
Haruno chuckled lightly but didn't pursue the topic further, instead turning to her younger sister beside her and enunciating clearly,
"So, my dear sister, will you entrust a major decision affecting your entire life to someone else? You need to make your choice now."
One had to admit, they were truly sisters.
Faced with Haruno's direct question, the normally straightforward Yukino actually seemed somewhat at a loss this time.
Entrusting such an important decision that would affect her entire future to someone else?
This was something quite difficult for Yukino to accept according to her principles.
She didn't want anyone else determining her future life.
But...
Considering all the legends about Shuchi'in Academy, even Yukino, who regarded it as "fake" had to admit:
It was Japan's cradle of talent, the most outstanding high school in the country.
Bar none.
With her academic abilities, achieving first place in this unified examination was nearly impossible.
After all, even her sister Haruno, who had better grades and greater talent than her, would at most rank near the top of the year level at Shuchi'in Academy - absolutely incapable of reaching the throne of the first year.
But...
Yukino looked towards Ye Xing, sitting opposite, her expression complex. After a long silence, she finally murmured softly,
"Ye Xing-kun... in my view, imposing one's expectations on others isn't a good thing, so..."
"Enough, no need to continue."
Before Yukino could finish, Ye Xing waved his hand to interrupt.
"First place in this unified examination will definitely be mine."
"Don't judge by my appearance - I'm actually quite prideful."
Ye Xing looked at Yukino Yukinoshita and smiled carelessly.
"So, expectations, impositions—what are you talking about? I don't understand any of it. The reason I aim for first place in the exams is simply because I've never failed before, I won't fail now, and I absolutely will never fail in the future."
"Because I am stronger than everyone else."
Hearing these words, the heaviness in Yukino Yukinoshita's heart finally dissipated.
She watched Ye Xing sitting across from her, declaring this so matter-of-factly, and couldn't help but let a slight curve form at the corner of her lips, her voice unusually carrying a hint of laughter.
'As expected, you really do say strange things with such a straight face. Stronger than everyone else? What is that, some legendary chuunibyou?'
After relaxing a little, Yukino thought of something else and frowned slightly.
"But even if Ye Xing gets first place in the exams, given Mother's personality, she would still..."
"Don't worry about that."
Haruno patted Yukino's shoulder and smiled generously.
"Actually, Mother knows Ye Xing, and she has a very good impression of him."
"Eh?"
This truly left Yukino baffled.
'Have you two already reached the stage of meeting parents?'
'Ye Xing has met Mother—mine and Haruno's mother?'
'And Mother actually has a good impression of him?'
Yukino found it hard to imagine the scene of Ye Xing, who was always abstract and eccentric, meeting her lofty, dignified mother.
She couldn't comprehend it.
"Alright, since everything's been said..."
Haruno stood up, moved to sit beside Ye Xing, wrapped her arms around his, and smiled at the bewildered Yukino across from her.
"Still not leaving? Planning to stay here as a third wheel?"
"Tch."
Yukino clearly had no interest in her sister's love life. She stood up, gave a slight nod to Ye Xing as a farewell, and left the café.
After she had gone, Ye Xing slowly spoke.
"So, there's something else, right?"
"Eh, you saw through that?"
Haruno released Ye Xing's arm and moved back to the opposite seat, smiling.
"That's right. There are some things it's better Yukino doesn't hear. From the looks of it, she still doesn't know about your identity as an exorcist, does she?"
Ye Xing didn't answer directly but instead asked in return.
"Is there any need for her to know?"
"Indeed, there isn't."
"Hmm."
Haruno nodded noncommittally, then took out her phone. The smile vanished from her face, replaced by an uncharacteristically serious expression. She opened a photo and handed the phone to Ye Xing.
"Take a look at this."
Ye Xing took the phone and glanced at it. On the screen was a photo so brutal that merely looking at it felt cruel.
A girl in a high school uniform, her face unclear, had a hemp rope tied around her neck.
Her entire body was hanging over the edge of a rooftop, her limbs completely missing.
Though it was just a static image, the corpse's posture suggested it was swaying in the wind.
Just like...
A teru teru bōzu charm.
Seeing that Ye Xing's eyes and expression showed no fluctuation upon viewing this extremely cruel photo, Haruno wasn't surprised.
The other party was, after all, an exorcist who fought against those monstrous evil spirits.
This photograph, which would evoke chills in ordinary people just by looking at it, was indeed insufficient to frighten the other party.
"Our family has a few influential contacts within the Criminal Affairs Bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department. This is one of the cases committed by the so-called Sunny Doll Killer."
Haruno pursed her lips and spoke slowly.
"The victim was a second-year high school girl. When her body was discovered, not only were her limbs missing, but her internal organs had also been completely hollowed out, leaving only an empty shell. That's why she was light enough to drift with the wind."
Seeing that Ye Xing didn't respond, Haruno paused briefly before continuing.
"Although the investigation hasn't been made public yet, through our connections at the Metropolitan Police Department, we learned about a particular characteristic of how this serial killer selects targets."
"That is, female students who dress in gyaru style and appear lively and cheerful."
"If I remember correctly..."
Haruno took a sip of coffee and said calmly.
"In your club, Yuigahama, whom I met last time, and that other girl... what was her name... ah yes, Marin Kitagawa, both fit this killer's target profile."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally, his tone meaningful.
"You're quite familiar with the composition of our club members. You even know about Marin Kitagawa's appearance and dressing style, despite never having met her."
"Of course."
Haruno admitted without any attempt to conceal it.
"When it comes to potential enemies, I always make sure to understand them thoroughly."
Hearing this, Ye Xing said calmly.
"Among all the people around me, I feel your personality is the most likely to actually cut my head off."
Haruno smiled, pursing her lips.
"If you wouldn't die from that, then there's no harm in trying it for fun, right?"
"It would hurt."
"Hehe, then what about when I sometimes scream 'I can't take it anymore, I can't handle it,' and you not only don't stop but become even more forceful - what's that about?"
"Ms Haruno, please stop your sexual harassment."
...
Early the next morning, at Sobu High School's entrance.
"Everyone, please board the buses quickly. Don't be late."
Shizuka Hiratsuka, Mafuyu Kirisu, and homeroom teachers from several other classes were urging their students to board their respective buses by class.
The location for this joint examination...
Was Shuchi'in Academy.
There was no other way—Sobu High School didn't have enough space to accommodate all of Shuchi'in Academy's first-year students.
Moreover, Sobu High School's administration didn't dare suggest holding the examination at their own school.
After all, any random student pulled from Shuchi'in Academy was a noble child from a prominent family.
If any accidents occurred during the process, Sobu High School's administration couldn't bear the responsibility.
Better to avoid trouble than invite it.
Facing the impending joint examination, most students appeared quite nervous.
None of them was actually thinking about winning.
This was Shuchi'in Academy, after all!
Ordinary people couldn't even pass through the main gate of that high school.
It was said that Shuchi'in Academy's campus area could even rival the size of an entire ward in Kyoto City.
Faced with such a behemoth, any normal student would unconsciously feel somewhat inferior.
Of course.
The members of the Supernatural Society weren't normal.
Compared to the upcoming exam, they were more concerned about another, more important question.
Who should sit next to Ye Xing?
Mai Sakurajima was a second-year student, so she hadn't come along.
But Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya, the duo, now faced a new rival.
The sleeping Asura, Kazusa Touma.
As the atmosphere in the bus gradually turned into a battlefield, Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed helplessly, massaging her forehead before swaggering over and directly taking the seat next to Ye Xing.
"You lot, go find your seats quickly. We're about to depart."
When Shizuka Hiratsuka intervened in this conflict as their homeroom teacher, she had already won.
It was perfectly reasonable.
This was an outcome that left Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, and Kazusa Touma somewhat disappointed, yet still acceptable.
After all, Shizuka Hiratsuka was their homeroom teacher and wasn't in competition with them.
So what if she sat there?
After the bus started moving, Shizuka Hiratsuka looked at Ye Xing beside her, who was gazing out of the window absentmindedly without showing the slightest hint of nervousness, and couldn't help but ask.
"Are you really confident about winning this time?"
Ye Xing's reply was as confident as ever.
"I don't even know how to lose."
Shizuka Hiratsuka shook her head helplessly.
"You're really something else with that arrogance."
...
When they arrived at Shuchi'in Academy's main gate and saw the scene before them, the Sobu High School students couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"So this is... Shuchi'in? How extravagant."
"Yeah, it's completely on another level compared to our school."
"It's so huge..."
Just from looking at the main gate, they could feel the intense pressure and invisible nobility emanating from Japan's top high school.
For most Sobu High School students, merely standing before the gate and looking at the plain yet imposing characters spelling "Shuchi'in Academy" on the signboard was enough to make them break out in a cold sweat.
"Welcome, everyone from Sobu High School"
A middle-aged male teacher in a suit, along with three students wearing Shuchi'in Academy uniforms, had been waiting at the entrance for some time.
A girl with long pink hair, looking rather ditzy and wearing a black bow, stepped forward with a sweet smile, greeting the teachers and students from Sobu High School.
"Hello everyone, I'm Chika Fujiwara, first-year student representative of Shuchi'in Academy. It's lovely to meet you all."
Chika Fujiwara scanned the Sobu High School students, her face showing an innocent, cute smile.
"May I ask, which one of you is Ye Xing?"
"Let's go, Shizuka, they're calling for us."
Normally, the homeroom teacher should lead the students to greet Shuchi'in's representatives.
But with Ye Xing, it ended with him leading Shizuka Hiratsuka as they walked up to Chika Fujiwara.
"Hello."
"Eh, so you're Ye Xing?"
Chika Fujiwara looked Ye Xing over, smiling sweetly.
"Well then, I'll be counting on your guidance this time."
Unexpectedly, under everyone's watchful gaze, Ye Xing uttered words that caught everyone completely off guard.
"Hmm, you certainly need to be taught a thing or two by me."
The venue fell into dead silence; not a sound could be heard.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Except for the members of the Supernatural Society.
They somewhat understood Ye Xing's personality—he was indeed capable of saying such things.
For some reason.
After Ye Xing spoke those words, the momentum between the two sides was completely reversed by 180 degrees.
Now, Sobu High School held the upper hand.
"Hey, Ye Xing, be more polite."
Shizuka Hiratsuka wore a dissatisfied expression, but gave Ye Xing a secret "well done" look.
She was absolutely thrilled right now.
So what if it's Shuchi'in Academy?
Her most outstanding student should be exactly this arrogant!
Hearing Ye Xing's words, even Chika Fujiwara, who came from a diplomatic family, didn't know how to respond and could only offer an awkward smile.
"Well... um... Ye Xing-kun... is really confident, isn't he?"
The expressions of the other two student representatives were completely different from Chika Fujiwara's.
The blond boy with heavy dark circles and somewhat fierce-looking eyes stepped forward slowly and spoke in a measured tone.
"Rather than 'teaching', a more appropriate term would be 'mutual learning', don't you think, Ye Xing-kun?"
Ye Xing looked directly into the other's eyes, feigning confusion as he asked.
"And you are?"
"My name is Miyuki Shirogane, also a first-year student representative from Shuchi'in Academy this time."
"Oh, little Shiro."
Ye Xing patted Miyuki Shirogane's shoulder familiarly and said with a smile.
"Are you ranked first in the joint exams?"
"Uh..."
Miyuki Shirogane's face stiffened slightly.
"No... but..."
"What 'but' is there?"
Ye Xing directly waved his hand, interrupting the other's words, speaking indifferently.
"Since you're not first, then step aside and rest. Don't talk about mutual learning. Let me give you the most appropriate phrase to describe the current situation."
Amid everyone's silence, Ye Xing's voice, spoken word by word with a smile, was clearly audible.
"My coming to your Shuchi'in Academy to participate in this joint examination should be called..."
"An inspection and guidance visit."
"Understand?"