Chapter 62: Upperclassman Sakurajima Mai, Futaba Rio's Deduction of the Truth
"I say, can we change the opening line?"
Yoru couldn't help but complain.
Mai-senpai, you have no idea how creepy your opening line is.
Good thing Miko isn't here this time, otherwise she'd be scared into PTSD again.
"Who are you talking to?"
Confusion showed in Futaba Rio's eyes.
There was no one in front of them.
Could it be...
Has Yoru's Chunibyo worsened to the point of hallucinating?
"Can't you see her?"
Hearing this question, Rio involuntarily took two steps back, glanced around, and said timidly.
"D... Don't try to scare me on purpose. There's no one around here."
"You are pretty amazing too."
Yoru's praise was sincere.
Good grief, Futaba Rio isn't a simple character either.
She clearly can't see Sakurajima Mai, yet she can sense her gaze.
What is this?
Spidey Sense?
Wait, there is one thing I need to confirm.
Thinking of this, Yoru asked Rio.
"Have you heard of Sakurajima Mai? The former national idol, Sakurajima Mai-senpai, from the second year of our school?"
"Sakurajima... Mai?"
Rio muttered these words, a blank look in her eyes.
"Never heard of her."
Yoru thought as expected.
Saying that Sakurajima Mai was simply "invisible" didn't quite fit the reality.
The correct description should be:
She had disappeared from everyone's "Cognition."
Not only could her existence not be observed, but even the memories stored in people's minds had been erased.
Of course, this wasn't Yoru's analysis. It was the analysis Rio gave in the original story; he was just copying the answer.
Then the question arose.
What to do now?
"Guuu~~~"
A soft sound from Sakurajima Mai's stomach broke the silence.
As a senpai who considered herself a mature adult, she showed extraordinary capability at this moment.
Encountering such an awkward situation, Mai only blushed slightly, then coughed lightly and said in a flat tone.
"I'm hungry."
Yoru thought you can really hold it together.
Code Name: The Ability User of Composure.
"Then let's eat first."
Yoru looked at Rio and said righteously.
"It's decided. We're crashing at your place for food."
"Hah? My place?"
Rio froze, hesitating slightly.
"But... my family situation is a bit special. My parents aren't around; I'm the only one home..."
"If it weren't like that, I wouldn't go. Let's go, let's go."
....
Twenty minutes later.
"Your house is really big."
Listening to Yoru's exclamation, Rio sighed slightly and said noncommittally.
"It's alright."
Her parents were both very capable people.
Needless to say about family conditions; Rio never had to worry about money.
But her problems were never something money could solve.
"Make yourself at home, sit anywhere."
Mai looked a bit embarrassed. She took off her shoes, her feet clad in black stockings stepping on the wooden floor, and said politely.
"First time visiting, sorry for the intrusion."
Yoru pouted and sat nonchalantly on the sofa.
"Even if you talk to her, she can't hear you."
Mai froze for a moment, thinking that's true, so she said softly.
"Then please pass the message for me. Thanks."
"Hey, Futaba."
"Mmhmm, what is it?"
"Sakurajima Mai says: 'First time visiting, sorry for the intrusion.'"
Rio sighed and massaged her forehead. taking out two cups of instant noodles from the cupboard while boiling water, she said helplessly.
"So... who exactly is Sakurajima Mai? Please stop saying weird things."
Although Rio's voice was steady and her expression looked calm.
In reality, her heart was about to jump out of her throat.
What to do, what to do, what to do?
Why did it turn into this situation?
This is the first time a peer has come to my house to hang out.
And it's a boy!
Calm down, calm down.
Calm down, you are Futaba Rio!
Just interact normally with Yoru as usual.
The situation in this apartment right now was quite complex to explain.
Seemingly two people, but actually three.
To Rio, it was two people.
To Yoru and Mai, it was three people.
Yoru thought if Hachishaku hadn't gone to work today but followed me instead, it would be even livelier.
"So..."
While waiting for the water to boil, Yoru looked at Mai, who was sitting gracefully on the sofa with perfect posture.
"Was it you who was stalking Futaba for the past few days?"
Hearing Yoru use the word "stalking" seemed to trigger some unpleasant memories for Mai. She frowned, tucked her long hair behind her ear, and said faintly.
"Calling it stalking is a bit inappropriate. Futaba-san and I happened to be going the same way home. She just couldn't see me. I didn't deliberately hide my tracks."
"So that's how it is."
Yoru nodded slightly.
"So, what business do you have?"
Mai was silent for a while, then suddenly spoke in an extremely calm tone, saying something astonishing.
"Yoru-kun, if I'm not mistaken, your Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club isn't just a whim of high school students, but..."
"You really have contact with supernatural events, and it could even be said..."
"Some of your members are actually supernatural ability users, right?"
Facing Mai's confident assertion, Yoru shook his head unexpectedly and pulled a "Denial Triple Combo."
"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."
"Uh..."
In Mai's imagination, the subsequent conversation would unfold based on the premise that Yoru admitted it.
This sudden denial disrupted her rhythm directly, leaving her at a loss for words.
If Hiratsuka Shizuka and Yukinoshita Haruno were here, they would know.
It's starting.
Yoru's standard skill: Plaintiff becomes Defendant, Defendant becomes Plaintiff.
Reversing the offensive.
Mai adjusted her emotions before continuing.
"You don't need to deny it. I have seen with my own eyes the entire process of that member of your club, Yotsuya Miko-san, fighting with some kind of 'existence'."
Yoru's answer was simple and unadorned.
"She has Chunibyo."
If Miko were here, she would definitely have a big question mark over her head.
?
I became a Chunibyo patient?
Mai believed her words had no loopholes.
In reality, from this short sentence, Yoru had already obtained two pieces of information.
As Mai's Adolescence Syndrome worsened, Miko, who could originally perceive her existence, could no longer see her.
Although Miko was usually a bit ditzy, she wouldn't make such a low-level mistake as displaying her abilities in front of ordinary people during an exorcism.
The only explanation was that she couldn't see Mai, and Hyakume (her soul manifestation) and Hachishaku (Super-Quant's Best Employee) couldn't see Mai either.
Second point.
Mai couldn't see evil spirits, ghosts, or soul manifestations either; both sides were effectively blind to each other.
Otherwise, given the grotesque appearances of Hachishaku and Hyakume, Mai wouldn't have reacted so calmly even if she came to contact him today.
"Noodles are ready."
Just then, Rio walked over with two bowls of instant noodles and placed them on the coffee table.
Yoru looked at Mai and smiled.
"You eat first."
Mai hesitated slightly but finally nodded embarrassedly.
"Then, I won't stand on ceremony."
She bent down, holding back her hair with her left hand, holding the noodle bowl with her right, parting her lips slightly, and blowing gently.
This action was very alluring.
Of course, Yoru's main focus wasn't that.
"Eh, did I only make one bowl...?"
A look of confusion appeared in Rio's eyes. She stood up and said.
"You eat first. I'll go make another bowl."
As she walked back to the kitchen, she muttered to herself.
"How could this happen... is my memory bad recently...?"
Watching the bowl of noodles touched by Mai, Yoru thought as expected.
Things touched by her would disappear from cognition.
This way, there wouldn't be a strange scene where Mai held an item, but outsiders saw the item floating in the air by itself.
This ability...
Is a bit fierce.
I, Yoru, would like to call you the Strongest Mental Patient.
Feeling his intense gaze, Mai shrank back, protecting her chest with her hands, and looked wary.
"Staring at me like that... are you thinking of some bad ideas?"
"Sakurajima Mai."
"Wh-What?"
"Join the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club!"
"Hah?"
Mai clearly didn't keep up with Yoru's train of thought. She frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Yoru spoke righteously.
"Saving the world requires your power!"
"I'm not interested in saving the world."
"I provide three meals a day."
"Hiss... if that's the case..."
Obviously, Mai was tempted.
After developing the symptom of disappearing from time to time, the biggest difficulty she encountered was that others couldn't see her, so she couldn't buy things, and there were no leftover ingredients at home to cook.
Simply put.
No food to eat.
Mai's dilemma actually had a simple solution.
Just steal.
If this ability to disappear from cognition while still being able to touch objects were in Yoru's hands...
Tsk tsk tsk, he didn't dare imagine.
Do whatever I want.
Unfortunately.
Mai's moral baseline was much higher than his—after all, Yoru had no baseline.
Even if stealing wouldn't be discovered, Mai couldn't bring herself to do it.
Because of this, how to survive became the biggest problem she faced now.
Besides.
To say Mai wasn't curious about the internal situation of the Super-Quant Club would be impossible.
After all, she witnessed Miko holding a long katana in an alley, seemingly fighting something.
Mai knew what Chunibyo was.
But would a Chunibyo patient hold such an ancient, expensive-looking katana to accompany their performance?
Furthermore.
Mai wanted to know one thing.
Why couldn't anyone see her, but Yoru could perceive her existence?
What was the reason?
After thinking about it, Mai finally nodded.
"I can join the club temporarily. But let's make it clear first: if the club has any weird activities, I won't participate."
"Don't worry. Our club activities are very normal. Just wandering around Kyoto and searching for interesting things along the way."
"That's good."
Although Mai secretly thought this sounds like an activity for a tourism club, she didn't ask further.
Seeing her agree, Yoru was satisfied.
Sakurajima Mai was a special existence.
She was the first confirmed patient with Adolescence Syndrome that Yoru encountered.
In Futaba Rio's theory, Adolescence Syndrome was caused by quantum entanglement effects.
But in Yoru's view.
This is a supernatural event.
And judging from Mai's performance, she contracted Adolescence Syndrome only recently.
Then...
Is there a connection between the phenomenon of Adolescence Syndrome and the "Doors" appearing in Kyoto?
Yoru was very curious about the truth within.
"Phew, hot, hot."
Rio made another bowl of instant noodles, placed it on the table, and touched her ears with both hands, like a cat burned while stealing food.
Then, she took off her glasses, which had fogged up from the steam, and brushed her long gray hair back over her shoulders.
"About today."
Rio pursed her lips and whispered.
"Thank you."
Yoru naturally knew what she was referring to. He wouldn't play dumb deliberately; there was no need. He just waved his hand.
"Just a small effort, don't mention it. Besides, I did enjoy myself."
"This... have you considered checking yourself for violent tendencies?"
"Don't talk nonsense. I don't have violent tendencies."
Rio frowned, thinking how could someone without violent tendencies strike so hard in a student conflict?
As if seeing her doubt, Yoru shrugged and said nonchalantly.
"My standard of conduct is actually very simple."
"If someone does something that deserves punishment, give them the punishment they deserve. The pain they suffer doesn't come from me but from the mistakes they made themselves. Pain is the best way to make people correct their mistakes." (Note: Pain reference from Naruto).
Rio pursed her lips, not knowing how to respond to such words.
She felt something was off.
But she couldn't pinpoint where.
Punishment?
Pain?
Correcting mistakes?
So Chunibyo.
But...
When said by a student who enjoyed privileges in the eyes of the school administration and could go unpunished as long as he didn't do anything too excessive, it was no longer Chunibyo.
And Rio vaguely felt that Yoru's words referred not only to the fight in the corridor today.
But also to some things she didn't know about.
"According to you..."
Rio frowned and asked softly.
"You believe your actions are correct?"
"I never said that."
Yoru still wore that nonchalant smile and spread his hands.
"I don't care if my actions are correct or wrong. Just as I said: I want to, and I can, so I do."
Immediately after, Yoru blew gently on his noodles and spoke slowly.
"What I pursue is freedom completely unbound by anyone or anything." (Note: Eren Yeager / Freedom reference).
....
After finishing the noodles, Yoru left.
While feeling relieved, Rio also felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
So...
He really just came to crash for a meal?
How poor is he to crash for a bowl of instant noodles?
Judging by his clothes, it shouldn't be the case, right?
"Wait, something's wrong..."
Rio glanced casually at the table, but when she saw the empty noodle bowls on it, she froze.
Why... are there three empty bowls?
Clearly, I only made two bowls just now...
Wait.
When I took them out, I seemed to have taken out two the first time.
Then why did I feel there was only one later?
"Sakurajima Mai?"
Rio muttered this name, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes.
Of course, she didn't remember this senpai.
But she remembered the fact that Yoru mentioned Sakurajima Mai.
Rio took out a notebook from her pocket and opened it. Recorded inside were the nonsensical information she exchanged with Yoru, whom she considered a Chunibyo patient.
"A world that can only be discovered through Cognition..."
"Cognition, thus changing one's own ability."
"Schrödinger's Cat: its state of existence cannot be determined before observation; the contradiction between the two..."
Rio muttered to herself while writing down various seemingly meaningless sentences and words with a ballpoint pen—things only she could connect to aid her thinking.
"Yoru-kun doesn't fit the characteristics of a Chunibyo patient from any angle."
"The world he envisions is also different from Chunibyo."
Based on the information collected during this period, Rio found that the world depicted by Yoru had a fundamental, even contradictory, difference from the worlds depicted by most Chunibyo patients.
In the imagination of a Chunibyo patient:
That so-called "Real" world had no confusion. The appearance of all fantasy elements pointed to the deepest desire in the patient's heart.
Whether it was recognition, self-satisfaction, or escaping a predicament.
In short, all fantasies in that world were derived based on this point.
But the world constructed by Yoru lacked a clear "Goal." And most importantly:
As the constructor of a world, one shouldn't generate any unknowns during the construction.
After all, a virtual world is constructed based on the "Known."
Rio wrote for nearly half an hour before finally stopping her pen.
Her thoughts were like a tangled mess. She felt she was just a bit short of touching the truth of the event, but she was powerless.
Inadvertently, Rio's peripheral vision caught the three empty bowls on the table again.
The name Sakurajima Mai repeated in her brain.
Rio's pupils dilated slightly. A conjecture surfaced in her heart, and she murmured.
"Cognition... therefore Observation. Could it be... it works like this?"
Futaba Rio was a genius in the truest sense.
The name Sakurajima Mai, the suddenly appearing third noodle bowl, and her own cognition that contradicted facts and felt discordant.
These three pieces of information brought her close to deducing the truth about Sakurajima Mai and this entire world.