Compatibility in personalities is crucial in human relationships.
One thing was glaringly obvious.
Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita not only shared certain traits but also shared an unyielding, razor-sharp disposition.
Under normal circumstances, these two might have graduated from high school without exchanging a single word, despite sharing the same classroom.
Yet, after joining the Supernatural Society...
The paths of the Piano Goddess and the Flat-Chested Goddess had intersected.
"Eh, Touma-san, Yukinoshita-san, please don't—"
The gentle Yui Yuigahama hurriedly tried to intervene, only to be stopped by Mai Sakurajima.
"Dango, don't interfere."
"Eh, but—"
Before Yui could finish, Miko Yotsuya added calmly,
"If you don't want to face a situation where we're forced to choose between them as allies someday, let them settle this themselves."
Though usually reticent, Miko was one of the two founding members of the Supernatural Society.
She had clearly given serious thought to the club's—and the exorcist team's—future.
The fact that Mai Sakurajima and Yui Yuigahama hadn't yet awakened their Soul Materialisation abilities was a separate issue. Forcing self-confrontation would only backfire.
As for the new members...
According to Rio Futaba's analysis, those who habitually concealed their true selves were the most likely to awaken spiritual power and become psychics.
In other words,
The most promising candidates were the ones with conspicuously eccentric personalities.
Who in the current Supernatural Society had the most twisted dispositions?
Marin Kitagawa and Saki Kawasaki would have to take a backseat.
The spotlight fell on Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita.
But there was a precondition:
They had to resolve their mutual conflict first.
Even though Rio Futaba and Mai Sakurajima had been—and still were—rivals within the club, their competition was nothing more than playful bickering in idle moments.
Eradicating the supernatural and protecting Kyoto—no, the entire world—was the real mission.
This was the most important objective.
Given the current relationship between Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita, even if they awakened Soul Materialisation abilities, Miko Yotsuya wouldn't agree to let them become full members of the organisation in this state.
"Hmph."
Faced with Yukino Yukinoshita's blunt words, Kazusa Touma merely responded with an icy expression and what sounded like arrogant words to bystanders.
"I don't need to learn."
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't hesitate for a second, retorting just as firmly.
"As a student, your performance is completely unsatisfactory, yet you take privileges for granted. That's unforgivable."
"Is that so?"
Kazusa Touma extended a slender, pale finger towards Ye Xing, who was sitting by the window, and countered.
"Then by your logic, where everything is judged by academic results, compared to him, who ranks first in both individual subjects and overall grades, wouldn't you also be considered an unsatisfactory student?"
Yukino Yukinoshita parted her lips slightly but fell silent again, unable to respond.
If it were merely the difference between first and second place overall, she wouldn't react this way.
But Yukino Yukinoshita knew one thing very clearly.
Being first in every single subject meant his overall first place existed simply because there was no higher rank.
In reality, although she was only one rank below Ye Xing, the academic gap between them...
Was unimaginable.
Kazusa Touma didn't stop there.
"Regarding that speech you made when joining the club, my opinion is..."
"Laughably childish."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, her voice tinged with displeasure.
"Touma-san, do you think helping others is childish and laughable?"
"No."
Kazusa Touma shook her head, her tone cool.
"While I find such notions tedious, I have no interest in debating this with you."
"I simply think it's absurd that you, who doesn't even understand Ye Xing as a person or know how many meaningful things he's done, would arrogantly declare your intention to compete with him. That's what I find childish and laughable."
Here, Kazusa Touma paused briefly before meeting Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze directly and continuing slowly.
"The Supernatural Society isn't the dull, mediocre club you imagine it to be."
In this moment, Kazusa Touma's loyal dog attributes were on full display.
She disliked anyone speaking to Ye Xing in the tone Yukino had used.
Yukino Yukinoshita pressed her lips together, something flickering in the depths of her eyes.
She believed Kazusa Touma had many flaws, but lying wasn't among them.
Yukino hadn't expected that the proud, aloof Kazusa Touma - who openly enjoyed privileged status - would speak so highly of another person.
She discreetly observed the other members in the clubroom.
Marin Kitagawa and Saki Kawasaki reacted similarly - surprised yet hesitant, as if considering whether to intervene before the conflict escalated further.
This was a normal reaction when two unfamiliar clubmates suddenly began arguing.
But the look in Mai Sakurajima's eyes...
That was rather more telling.
Compared to Kazusa Touma's words or this sudden conflict, their focus seemed to be on pondering why Kazusa would say such things, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of wariness.
What a strange reaction.
Yukino Yukinoshita wasn't good at socialising, but like her sister Haruno, she possessed an extraordinary talent in deciphering people's thoughts.
It was obvious.
Whether it was Kazusa Touma, who was currently arguing with her, or Mai Sakurajima and others who had joined the club before her...
They all seemed to know certain hidden things about Ye Xing that she wasn't aware of.
What could it be?
Yukino remembered the founding principle of the Supernatural Society... was to help students in the school solve supernatural-related requests?
Applying rational logic,
Yukino immediately dismissed the supernatural option.
How could supernatural phenomena exist in this world?
As these thoughts ran through her mind, Yukino Yukinoshita slowly spoke up.
"Since you've said such things, Touma-san, I'd like to ask you one question."
"Why did you join this club in the first place?"
Checkmate.
Kazusa Touma first glanced at Ye Xing, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out.
Mai and the others understood perfectly well.
Kazusa's stated reason for joining the Supernatural Society - not wanting to stay in the classroom during lunch breaks - was actually just a flimsy excuse.
She simply wanted to stay by Ye Xing's side.
Though everyone knew the truth, getting Kazusa Touma to openly admit her true feelings?
That was absolutely impossible.
Just as Kazusa, unusually flustered, was at a complete loss and even considering fleeing through the Gate, Ye Xing finally spoke up to stop the conflict.
"That's enough."
Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
When Kazusa Touma had the upper hand, Ye Xing had remained completely detached, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Now that it was finally her turn to counterattack, just as she was gaining momentum and preparing to press her advantage, he called a halt to the fight.
This favouritism was far too obvious, wasn't it?
Then again, Yukino reconsidered, it made sense.
Putting everything else aside, Kazusa Touma was Ye Xing's deskmate - one of the two revered figures at the back of Class A.
Her own relationship with Ye Xing clearly couldn't compare.
Some bias was only natural.
"Yukinoshita-san."
Seizing this rare opportunity, Ye Xing also wanted to address Yukino Yukinoshita's personality.
"If I remember correctly, your philosophy is about helping others, isn't it?"
Yukino Yukinoshita gave a slight nod.
"That's correct."
"Then what are you trying to prove with this?"
Had anyone else asked this question, Yukino Yukinoshita wouldn't have even bothered responding.
She owed no one explanations for her actions.
But...
Ye Xing was the exception.
Whether it was his top academic ranking, his ability to help others solve problems, or that carefree, somewhat frivolous demeanour - so similar to her sister Haruno's - coupled with an attitude that suggested he had everything under control... all of it stirred up Yukino's deeply buried competitive spirit.
"I want to prove that in this world, there exist relationships that require no reciprocation and are free from any illusions."
"Oh, is that so."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally before smiling.
"Then what if I said, unless you kiss me right now, I'll drop dead on the spot? What would you do?"
Silence fell over the clubroom.
Saki Kawasaki, Marin Kitagawa, and the newly joined Hina Amano stared in stunned disbelief.
Still too inexperienced.jpg.
Longtime members like Mai Sakurajima, who understood Ye Xing's temperament, weren't the least bit surprised.
Posing a question first, then launching a full-scale assault on the respondent's worldview based on their answer.
This was Ye Xing's signature move.
It seemed even Yukinoshita-san wouldn't escape unscathed.
"A kiss?"
Yukino Yukinoshita feigned perfect composure as she shook her head.
"What nonsense - people don't just die from not being kissed. I have no interest in indulging such absurd requests."
"See? Doesn't that directly contradict your earlier statement?"
"Contradict?"
Watching Yukino's puzzled expression and Ye Xing's smiling face, veteran Supernatural Society members who'd suffered under Ye Xing's abstract reasoning before recognised the familiar signs.
Here it comes.
"Indeed, it's a contradiction."
Ye Xing gazed at Yukino with a smile.
"You want to prove the existence of purely genuine relationships untainted by illusion in this world."
"But as a human being, you're attempting to prove this objectively absolute conclusion through your own subjectively motivated actions. Isn't that the very definition of contradiction?"
"Your assertion that people can't die from lack of kissing is merely your subjective judgment."
"Unless one is omniscient and omnipotent, every human action is inevitably coloured by subjective consciousness."
"Just as when others help people, they seek some form of exchange."
"While you claim to demand no reciprocation, even this stance stems from your own calculations."
"Such motivation doesn't align with your definition of relationships untainted by illusion."
Yukino found herself at a loss for words.
Her mind felt... violated by this argument, which, despite sounding logical, offered no clear point of refutation upon closer examination.
After a long silence, Yukino could only counter with another question.
"Then Ye Xing-san, since you disagree with my view, might I ask why you helped Kawasaki-san and Kitagawa-san?"
Ye Xing smiled and slowly uttered those immortal words.
"Because I wanted to, and because I could."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."
Such an impregnable argument.
She couldn't even refute it.
Just as one can't be morally blackmailed without morals.
How can you refute my logic when I don't even have any?
"And so."
Ye Xing stood and approached Yukino, gazing at her exquisite features as he spoke with a smile.
"Why can't you just openly admit that you dislike your sister and mother's hypocrisy, that you want to prove something to them and to yourself by helping others?"
Hearing these words, Yukino Yukinoshita's usually ice-calm face finally showed emotional fluctuation.
"You... how would you know..."
"Come now."
Ye Xing patted Yukinoshita's shoulder. She frowned slightly but didn't pull away.
"I've met your mother once, and as for your sister..."
"We share an intimate relationship where we know each other inside out."
...
After school.
"Ye Xing, there's something I'd like you to accompany me with today."
"Sure, let's go then."
Facing Mai Sakurajima's request, Ye Xing didn't hesitate much.
"Just, you'll need to accompany me to the shopping district first."
"Shopping district?"
Mai asked curiously as they walked out of school together.
"Is there a new commission from Mr Oda?"
"Not this time."
Ye Xing waved his hand with a smile.
"There are just some things I want to ask about."
...
When they arrived at the familiar shop in the shopping district, Mai saw that Oda Noto wasn't the only one in the store.
There was also the old woman she'd met last time in Wakayama City, who told fortunes with tarot cards.
If she remembered correctly... wasn't she called the Godmother Granny?
"Old man, your boy's here."
At Ye Xing's blunt greeting, Oda Noto's aged face filled with resignation.
"I say, young man, show some respect for this old man's age at least."
"Give it a rest."
Ye Xing chuckled.
"If we're comparing life experiences, you might be quite far behind me."
Oda didn't pay much attention to this remark, simply shaking his head.
"You're spouting nonsense again, boy."
Meanwhile, the Godmother Granny, dressed in a deep purple cloak and putting on an air of mystery, was carefully observing a crystal ball with a profound expression before speaking slowly.
"I see... visions of the future."
"Cut the crap."
Ye Xing pulled up a chair and sat at the counter.
"That's just your presbyopia acting up. Put your glasses on and you won't see anything."
"You brat, show some respect to this Godmother Granny!"
The Godmother Granny's return to Kyoto's shopping district had also been facilitated by Ye Xing.
Though her spiritual power was on par with Oda Noto's, she possessed unique skills in tarot divination.
At the very least, she'd accurately predicted the next helper candidate.
At Ye Xing's request, Oda Noto had warmly invited this former competitor back to Kyoto, making her their current business partner.
"So, more fortune-telling this time?"
The Godmother Granny looked at Mai standing behind Ye Xing, her aged face breaking into a kindly smile.
"Little girl, would you like a reading? For someone as cute as you, it's free."
Mai blinked in surprise before hurriedly waving her hands.
"Ah? No thank you, Granny."
The Godmother sighed helplessly, turning dead-fish eyes towards Ye Xing.
"So, it's you wanting a reading again?"
"Correct."
"Tch... then state your question first."
Godmother Granny shuffled her tarot cards with an utterly despondent expression.
She had been thoroughly shaken last time.
Not just by Ye Xing's cryptic words, but especially by the three cards revealed at the end - results she still couldn't comprehend to this day.
Justice. Judgement. Death.
What in the world did this combination mean?
It had given her so many new white hairs.
"This time, I'd like to divine..." Ye Xing watched the cards in Godmother Granny's hands as he spoke slowly. "The events that will befall the club I belong to."
Using the club as the subject rather than himself was deliberate - Ye Xing had one major concern.
His own power was too overwhelming.
Given Godmother Granny's abilities, any divination concerning him would likely yield no results.
The vaguer the wording, the easier the divination would be.
"I understand."
Godmother Granny reshuffled the deck and repeated the same process - Ye Xing drew three cards and placed them face down on the counter.
"Now, the first card..."
As her hand touched the first tarot card, her expression abruptly changed.
"This... this is..."
Not just her - even Oda Noto, sitting nearby, sensed something amiss.
The atmosphere in the shop instantly grew oppressive.
The face-down card on the table seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
Impossible to turn over, no matter what.
"No... I can't."
Godmother Granny shook her head and looked gravely at Ye Xing.
"My spiritual power isn't sufficient for this divination."
Ye Xing asked, "Shall I turn it over myself?"
"No."
Godmother Granny shook her head, speaking with grave seriousness.
"You're one of the subjects of this divination. If you reveal the cards yourself, the results will be invalidated and completely worthless."
Taking a deep breath, she removed her hand from the tarot deck, her face suddenly looking much older.
"If there were someone with greater spiritual power than me, yet unrelated to your divination, they could serve as the revealer of the cards."
Ye Xing pondered this.
Someone with stronger spiritual power than Godmother Granny.
Not a member of the Supernatural Society, and unrelated to the divination...
Come to think of it, there was indeed one such person.