Chapter 56: Hyakume's New Eye, Yui Wants to Exorcise
On the other side, inside McDonald's.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Yui Yuigahama inexplicably felt a slight bitterness in her heart.
She was indeed a member of the Super-Quant Club team, the face of the club, responsible for communicating with students who wanted to commission supernatural cases. She was part of the group.
However, at times like this, she always felt out of place.
After all, Yui wasn't a spirit medium. She couldn't even see the eyeball in the small wooden box, making it impossible for her to join the topic.
Why?
It was clearly me who met Yoru first...
Oh wait, Miko met Yoru first.
Password correct, Season wrong, Condition wrong.
Ding! "White Album" event trigger failed.
"Try installing it onto your Hyakume and see if you can gain any special abilities."
Miko nodded. She carefully picked up the Slaughtering Ghost's eyeball, parted her lips slightly, and whispered.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume!"
Accompanied by her melodious voice, Hyakume, dressed like an ancient Sakura Prefecture woman in a kimono and wooden clogs with her eyes covered by linen cloth, appeared behind her.
Over the past few days, Miko's strength had improved significantly.
Not only had Hyakume grown from having two eyes to five by devouring evil spirits.
Furthermore, without engaging in combat, Miko could maintain Hyakume's existence for up to fifteen minutes at her limit.
Compared to her first soul manifestation where she collapsed from exhaustion in less than a minute, this was much better.
Miko held the Slaughtering Ghost's eyeball in front of Hyakume.
The latter's five eyes—on the backs of her hands and on her left forearm—instantly locked onto the eyeball, showing fanaticism and excitement.
Hyakume extended two fingers and took the eyeball.
Then, she removed the linen cloth covering her eyes, revealing two pitch-black hollows, and placed the eyeball into her left eye socket.
"I... I can see."
Hyakume seemed very satisfied with her new left eye. Like a little girl, she jumped for joy twice on the spot, draped her two white lotus-root-like arms around Miko's neck, and rubbed her cheek against Miko's affectionately.
Very good eyeball, makes my soul manifestation spin. (Note: Meme reference "Very good X, makes my X spin").
"This left eye..."
Hyakume was Miko, and Miko was Hyakume. Their minds were connected.
Hyakume didn't need to speak.
Miko already knew what special function this eye of the Slaughtering Ghost possessed.
Even with her personality of rarely showing emotional fluctuations, excitement and joy couldn't help but appear on her face now.
"This left eye can see the trails left by evil spirits and 'Doors', and by observing the traces, it can determine the approximate strength of the evil spirit!"
"That's really not bad."
Yoru nodded, looking as if he expected this.
The Slaughtering Ghost was a monster born specifically to slaughter evil spirits.
He could roughly guess that its eyeball would have special effects in this regard.
Miko's excitement was palpable; she almost jumped out of her seat.
The experience in the unfinished building was still fresh in her memory.
If she had Hyakume in its current state back then, she could have judged the number and approximate strength of the evil spirits lurking inside from the traces left around before entering the building.
Direct promotion.
Version T0 - Intelligence Hyakume.
Yui forced a smile beside them, looking somewhat at a loss.
It wasn't that Yoru and Miko were excluding her.
But she simply couldn't see anything and didn't know what the two were talking about.
For an ordinary person like Yui, only entering the Otherworld allowed her to observe the existence of evil spirits and ghosts.
In the physical world, she was blind to them.
In the Otherworld, she was a burden.
If...
If I could also awaken the ability of soul manifestation, would my relationship with Miko and Yoru become even better?
.....
Meanwhile, in the Operations Conference Room of the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department.
Soichiro Yagami sat at the head of the table, frowning deeply as he looked at the incident report compiled over several hours.
This incident was the strangest one he had encountered in his career as a detective.
The identities of the kidnappers had been roughly investigated. They were all members of a certain violent group (Yakuza) in Kyoto, and most of them had criminal records.
Although they had records, they were mostly for fighting, property damage, and extortion—typical hooligan behavior.
How could such low-level thugs suddenly decide to hijack students and teachers of the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten with guns?
The motive of the criminals was just one of the suspicious points.
Since the vast majority of the hostages were children under seven, coupled with the suddenness and chaos of the event, no effective testimonies were obtained.
The only thing worth noting for the investigation team was the fact that the kidnappers were killed with bare hands, and the self-proclaimed title of the unidentified person provided by a little girl named Kawasaki Kyoka.
"Kamen Rider? ...Masked Rider?"
Soichiro Yagami frowned, pointed at the photo of Yoru when he first appeared on the big screen, looked at everyone in the conference room, and said in a deep voice.
"What clues can you analyze? Speak freely."
The members of the investigation team looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
If an experienced detective like Soichiro Yagami couldn't get any effective information from Yoru's attire, they were even more helpless.
After a long while, a man sitting at the end of the long table hesitated and spoke up.
"Um, Bureau Chief Yagami, the black coat this guy is wearing... seems to be this year's limited edition from Armani."
"Hmm?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at the man with suspicion.
You recognize an Armani limited edition coat?
There's something fishy about you.
"Hey, don't misunderstand."
The man hurriedly waved his hand to explain: "I worked on a case with the Economic Crimes Division recently, so I could recognize it. Bureau Chief Yagami, please understand."
"Enough, don't add drama to yourself."
Soichiro Yagami waved his hand, staring at the photo on the screen, a thoughtful look appearing on his square face.
A luxury brand limited edition coat?
Although his contact with the unidentified person lasted only a few minutes, judging from the other party's words and deeds, he didn't seem like the type to make such a mistake.
Would a person willing to blow up a building to destroy evidence leave such an obvious flaw?
There was a problem.
But even thinking so, since there was a clue, Soichiro Yagami, as the Bureau Chief, certainly had to order an investigation.
"Hmm, in that case, go inquire at the specialty stores in Kyoto first. Based on the suspect's height, black hair, and black eyes, ask if there's anyone matching in the buyer list. If you can't find them in Kyoto, expand the search to the entire Sakura Prefecture. Understood?"
"Yes, Bureau Chief Yagami!"
The morale was good.
Unfortunately, the police investigation would ultimately be futile.
Yoru's outfit was obtained through a "Zero Dollar Purchase" (looting) in a shop in the Otherworld.
Investigate based on the buyer list in the physical world Kyoto?
Go ahead.
Check all you want; you won't find a squeak.
After everyone left the room, Soichiro Yagami looked exhausted. He rubbed the space between his eyebrows, leaned back in his chair, and sighed heavily.
He didn't tell the police members what he saw inside the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
The reason was simple.
A tall woman in white over two meters tall who wasn't afraid of bullets?
Hair that could instantly extend like ropes to drag an adult man like a toy?
Forget telling the police members.
Even Soichiro Yagami himself wondered if he had gone mad to see such things.
It was conceivable.
If he told the story exactly as it happened...
The next day, Soichiro Yagami would no longer be the Bureau Chief but would be suspended with pay to stay at home.
.....
The next day at noon, at Yotsuya Miko's home.
Looking at Miko and her mother busy in the kitchen, and Yui helping out while chatting and laughing with them, Yoru, who obviously hadn't woken up fully, looked speechless.
Fam, who understands?
I pulled an all-nighter in the Otherworld, devoured several powerful evil spirits, and only went to sleep at 5:30 AM.
I thought since it's Saturday and there's no school, I could sleep my fill. But Miko called at 11:00 AM.
Who understands this feeling?
Girls who disturb people's sleep are really a turn-off.
To make matters worse, Miko's opening sentence left Yoru with no suitable reason to refuse.
"You have to take responsibility for my mother."
When Yoru heard this sentence, his sleepiness vanished instantly.
In those short two seconds, it felt like a star exploded in his brain.
Responsibility?
What responsibility?
When the child is born, what should it call Miko?
Yoru even started to doubt if he had amnesia—did such a thing happen?
Later, when Miko explained, he realized.
So the so-called "responsibility" didn't mean that.
It meant Yotsuya Touko kept asking Miko to invite him over for dinner every day. When Miko said she was going out with Yui and him this afternoon, Touko immediately told her to invite both classmates to their home.
Miko really couldn't hold out anymore.
Yui was very happy. She didn't expect to make a good friend like Miko whose house she could visit as soon as she started high school.
In the end, it turned into this celebration-party-like situation.
"Yoru-kun, come, taste this first."
Yotsuya Touko's affectionate voice pulled Yoru back from his thoughts.
He smiled politely at her. Under her expectant gaze, he picked up a steaming slice of meat with chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
As soon as he tasted it, Yoru was stunned.
"What the hell?"
His taste buds were detonated at this moment.
Yoru looked at the seemingly ordinary plate of bitter melon stir-fried with pork in front of him and muttered with a complicated expression.
"Truly... you can't judge a dish by its appearance."
Touko tilted her head, puzzled.
"What's wrong, Yoru-kun? Is it not good?"
"No, no, no. Calling it simply 'not good' would be too superficial."
Yoru put down his chopsticks, looking melancholic.
"I just don't understand. This thing looks like bitter melon stir-fried with pork."
"It smells like bitter melon stir-fried with pork."
"But I just can't figure out... how exactly did this bitter melon stir-fried with pork end up tasting like curry?"
Touko looked skeptical: "Really?"
She picked up chopsticks, also picked up a piece of meat, and put it in her mouth. After freezing for a few seconds, she said in shock.
"Wow, really. Not a hint of bitter melon taste at all. It's practically like curry."
Yoru sighed slightly.
He didn't even need to ask to know whose masterpiece this dish was.
"Hey, how is it, how is it? Is my bitter melon stir-fried with pork delicious?"
Yui ran over with a smile, her pretty face filled with unconcealable anticipation.
"Delicious. Too delicious."
Yoru's acting was flawless. He instantly picked up a chopstick-full of meat slices, put them in his mouth, and said as if wanting more.
"It's simply too delicious. Can I make a request? Let me pack this up to take home and eat tonight?"
"Do you like it that much? Seems my innovative secret recipe worked."
Yui's cheeks flushed with shy redness. She tucked her pale pink hair behind her ear and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"It won't taste good... if it gets cold. If you want to eat it, I can make it for you again anytime."
"No need! Just this one. Quick, Sister Touko, help me pack it up. Don't let the soul of this dish escape!"
"Okay!"
Touko understood immediately. With extremely swift movements, she packed this "legendary" bitter melon stir-fried with pork into a container, even wiping the oil stains off the plate.
She really admired Yoru's reaction speed.
This was the only way to save Yui's face.
"Since you like it, I'll make another dish."
Hearing Yui's cheerful words, Touko immediately pulled her to sit down and said righteously.
"Little Yui, you are a guest. Helping with one dish is enough. If you make more, wouldn't it be rude of me as the auntie? You sit here and chat with Yoru-kun. Miko and I will handle the rest."
Good grief. Touko didn't dare let Yui cook anymore.
Bitter melon stir-fried with pork tasting like curry.
If she continued cooking, nuclear fusion might occur in the kitchen pot.
After Touko returned to the kitchen, Yui looked at Yoru, who was resting his chin on one hand, yawning, and looking sleepy. She suddenly felt an awkwardness, not knowing what to do.
She realized just now.
This seemed to be the first time she was alone with him without Miko present.
"Yuigahama-san / Yoru-kun..."
They spoke in unison, paused for a moment, then spoke simultaneously again.
"You go first..."
Awkward.
After a while, Yui tentatively asked softly.
"Yoru-kun, can I ask you a question?"
"You want to awaken Soul Manifestation too?"
Yui froze, surprised.
"Eh, how did you know?"
Yoru waved his hand, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
"A hero protecting Kyoto in the shadows—what high school student wouldn't want such an ability? Especially with examples like Miko and me right beside you."
Speaking of this, Yoru changed the subject abruptly.
"But the answer is, I can't help you."
"Eh..."
Hearing this answer, Yui's eyes dimmed slightly.
As expected.
Am I just an ordinary person different from Miko and Yoru...
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't mean that you cannot awaken the ability of Soul Manifestation."
Yui's eyes brightened again, her voice revealing excitement.
"Can I awaken an ability too?"
"Of course."
Yoru nodded slightly and said faintly.
"According to Futaba Rio's analysis and my own guess, everyone has the aptitude to awaken Soul Manifestation. It's just the method of awakening that differs."
"In the physical world, you are just an ordinary person without abilities who can't even see evil spirits and ghosts."
"But according to current intelligence, in the Otherworld, regardless of whether one is a spirit medium or not, one can 'perceive' the existence of evil spirits and ghosts."
Yui looked thoughtful and murmured.
"You mean... if I am in the Otherworld, I might awaken an ability?"
"There is that possibility, but... I don't recommend it."
Yoru shook his head and said in an extremely flat tone.
"You should have heard from Miko about the difficulty of awakening Soul Manifestation. Facing your own heart directly and gathering the courage to fight against the supernatural is a very difficult thing to do."
"Furthermore..."
Yoru looked straight into Yui's eyes. For the first time, she felt that he could be so serious.
"Are you really prepared to face the truth of this world directly?"
Facing Yoru's question, Yui opened her lips to answer, but stopped before the words came out.
Yoru... is so handsome.
This thought involuntarily surfaced in Yui's mind.
Seeing the blush rising on her cheeks and the watery mist rippling in her eyes, Yoru was thrown off.
Sister, what's wrong with you?
I'm talking serious business here.
Did you catch something from hanging out with Miko too long?
Why do you all like to pull a 'lovestruck brain' move at a time like this?
I'm not a succubus/incubus. Can we communicate normally, okay (Chi Chu Kou Ma)?
"Hey, snap out of it."
Hearing Yoru's voice, Yui finally reacted. Her cute face turned completely red instantly, steam almost rising from the top of her head.
Too awkward. This is just too awkward.
"Um... um, I understand what you mean."
Yui suppressed her shyness, tried her best to maintain composure, and whispered as if nothing had happened.
"But... I already know about the existence of those 'things'. Knowing they exist but being unable to 'see' them... is very painful for me."
Yoru shrugged and chuckled.
"Since you've put it this way, I can't say much more. I'll just remind you of one thing."
"Right now, the only ones I know who have awakened Soul Manifestation are Miko and me."
"You don't know my experience very well, but Miko has told you hers."
At this point, Yoru said something that made Yui's heart tremble.
"Regarding the matter of wanting to awaken an ability like ours... no one can help you. Only you have the power to decide."