Chapter 25: A Chance Encounter on the Rooftop
Hearing Futaba Rio's words, Yoru nodded noncommittally.
"Mmhmm, go on."
At this point, Futaba Rio had fully entered analysis mode.
She took a ballpoint pen from the breast pocket of her lab coat, tore a sheet of paper from the notebook, and began writing while muttering to herself.
"Hmm... it should lead in this direction... but I must also consider another possible influence..."
After quite a while, Rio finally looked up, pushed up her glasses, and slid the paper in front of Yoru.
"Take a look at this."
Yoru looked down and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Whoa, you're quite professional. You even drew a mind map?"
"Of course."
Rio maintained her expressionless demeanor and explained calmly.
"Based on the settings you provided, at the current stage, one of the 'Protagonists' possesses absolutely no combat capability."
"I don't need to tell you this, but you should understand that the speed at which two 'Protagonists' can clear the Supply Points is definitely faster than one person doing it alone."
"And according to what you said, there are 'Assist Points' within the city that might provide assistance and allow the 'Protagonists' to increase their combat power."
"Then, that becomes the most urgent matter."
Yoru thought to himself: As expected of Futaba Rio.
To be able to process a massive amount of information and arrive at the same deduction as him within just a few minutes.
Truly worthy of the genius science girl who started researching quantum mechanics in high school.
However, Rio then changed the subject.
"But according to the intelligence you provided, these so-called 'Assist Points' are not necessarily safe."
"According to the setting, to obtain help from the NPCs inside, one must pay a certain price."
"Before the meeting, the 'Protagonist' does not know if they have enough chips to pay the price the other party demands."
"If they cannot pay, it is very likely to trigger a battle."
Hearing Rio's obscure and complicated explanation, Yoru nodded with understanding.
Actually, if you just used a Chunibyo Translator to convert her analysis into terms normal people could understand, it was quite simple.
The so-called "Protagonists" were him and Yotsuya Miko.
The "Assist Points" were the few shrines in Kyoto that Miko's father's ghost had mentioned—places where evil spirits dared not approach.
The NPCs were naturally the deities lingering in those areas.
Come to think of it.
The deities in Sakura Prefecture were quite different from the immortals of Kyushu in Yoru's past life memories.
To get help from a deity here, you had to pay a price.
Just like in the original story, to get help from the Fox Spirits (Godmother's servants), Miko signed a contract that cost her everything (her life force/protection).
Thinking about it carefully.
Isn't that just an evil spirit that learned how to blackmail?
Anyway, based on his experiences recently, Yoru didn't think these so-called deities were anything good.
If deities were truly benevolent and held goodwill toward humans, would he need to work himself to death every day exorcising evil spirits and "Doors" in Kyoto?
It was only because ordinary people didn't know about the existence of evil spirits.
Otherwise, the offerings in those shrines should be piled up at the door of Class 1-A at Sobu High, with a photo of him placed on top...
Wait, that scene seems a bit weird.
"But looking at it now, this is the most direct way to break the deadlock. According to game settings, this should count as an early-game BOSS battle."
Rio paused, then looked up at Yoru.
"So, is the assistance I provided valuable to you?"
"Very valuable."
Yoru smiled and replied, handing the clubroom key to her.
"From now on, I'm counting on you."
"Mmhmm. I'll be going then."
Rio responded faintly, then turned and left.
To be honest, after seriously considering the various information in the notebook, her belief that Yoru was a severe Chunibyo patient was shaken slightly.
If it were a fantasy setting concocted by one person's brain, the logic was a bit too self-consistent.
The key point was that Futaba Rio had researched some psychological phenomena of adolescents to analyze her own mind.
This included the well-known and high-incidence condition: Chunibyo.
Chunibyo is a form of self-comfort fantasized to escape the difficulties of reality.
So here was the question.
Since it's meant to escape the difficulties of reality, who would fantasize about that kind of world?
Reading through the notebook, Rio could only use one word to describe the reality depicted within:
Suffocating.
Endless "enemies" that could never be fully exterminated.
"Supply Points" that grew wildly like weeds, making the world increasingly dangerous.
Even the "Assist Points" that could enhance the "Protagonists" harbored unknown malice.
What kind of person would fantasize about such a world?
Someone who thinks their real life is going too smoothly?
Of course, Rio didn't actually believe the contents of the notebook were real.
She had only one thought.
Yoru is sick.
And very sick at that.
....
After school that day.
Under Hiratsuka Shizuka's supervision, Class 1-A elected the class representatives for various positions.
As expected.
Neither Yoru nor Miko was nominated.
"It's a bit cold."
Standing on the school rooftop, feeling the chilly early spring breeze, Miko couldn't help but pull her collar tighter.
Yoru gazed into the distance, a look of nostalgia in his eyes.
"I had an old friend who passed away. Years ago, right here, he executed a 'split' operation (lost his head). Truly nostalgic." (Note: Reference to School Days ending).
Miko hesitated. She really couldn't tell if Yoru meant "split up and take action" in the normal sense, or the literal sense.
"Uh... did that old friend of yours... turn into an evil spirit?"
"No, that didn't happen. He went to the neighboring set to become a Dullahan (Headless Horseman)."
Yotsuya Miko (Speechless): "..."
Before Yoru could express any more strange sentiments, she hurriedly spoke up.
"What's the plan for today?"
"Today's plan is simple. It is..."
Just as Yoru was halfway through his sentence, the door to the rooftop was suddenly pushed open.
A girl wearing the Sobu High uniform walked in slowly.
She wore black stockings that were sheer enough to reveal the rosy skin tone underneath, accentuating the beautiful curves of her legs, and a pair of exquisite loafers on her feet.
Her delicate face carried a hint of lazy charm, along with a mature aura that made people hesitate to approach her easily.
A small bunny hairpin was clipped to her long black hair that cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, revealing the youthful vibe of a high school girl.
Just standing there quietly, she looked as beautiful and moving as a painting.
Seeing the two of them looking at her, the girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke softly, saying something that made Miko tremble in fear.
"You two... can see me?"