When Ye Xing left the teachers' office and arrived at the Supernatural Society clubroom, he found only Yukino Yukinoshita inside.
She sat at the table with a book in hand, reading quietly. Her black hair swayed with the breeze from the window crack, paired with that unfairly cute face—it was indeed a beautiful scene.
It would've been even more picturesque by the window.
Of course, Yukinoshita would never sit there.
That was Ye Xing's spot.
"You're here?"
Yukino didn't even look up, offering only a perfunctory greeting.
"Yeah. Where are the others?"
Still absorbed in her novel, Yukino replied softly:
"Touma went to piano practice. Yuigahama, Kitagawa, Kawasaki, Futaba, and Mai-senpai went shopping."
"Amano went to pick up her little brother from school."
Ye Xing nodded. "I see."
Then he took his seat by the window.
The members of the Supernatural Society all had their own busy lives.
Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya were constantly performing exorcisms—if they got rare chances to relax, so much the better.
As for Hina Amano...
Although the Supernatural Society had unanimously voted to advance her a portion of their activity funds, alleviating her financial difficulties, she still had to return home to cook for her younger brother, leading an extremely busy life.
As for Kazusa Touma...
She would only stay in the clubroom during lunch breaks, sitting silently beside Ye Xing without uttering a word, lost in thought.
After school, she would practice piano alone.
For some reason, despite their past conflicts, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't say she liked Kazusa Touma, yet neither could she claim to dislike her.
She even felt a strange sense of kinship with the other girl.
The young Yukino of elementary school days had been just like the current Kazusa Touma - ostracised by others.
Perhaps it was because they'd both grown up in similarly unusual environments.
Yukino Yukinoshita always felt, in some inexplicable way, that she and Kazusa Touma could understand each other.
"No recent commissions?"
At Ye Xing's casual question, Yukino Yukinoshita replied flatly.
"Given our club members' reputations, it would take considerable courage for anyone to approach us with a request."
To summarise the Supernatural Society's current image among Sobu High's students and teachers:
Yukino Yukinoshita - brutally honest, aggressively sharp-tongued, sparing no one's feelings.
Kazusa Touma - perpetually asleep in class, never speaking to anyone, with piercingly cold eyes.
Saki Kawasaki - the delinquent girl whose glare made you fear imminent violence.
Mai Sakurajima - whose intimidating perfection made people feel inadequate just being near her.
And the most formidable of all:
Director Ye Xing - excelling academically, athletically and in appearance, yet possessing what could only be described as a terrible personality.
With such a lineup...
Claiming to help other students solve their problems?
Who would dare approach?
Are we solving problems or the problem-makers themselves?
Yui Yuigahama's presence alone couldn't possibly offset the negative impressions created by so many heavyweight personalities.
"Sigh, it's all your fault for having such a bad image."
Ye Xing activated his signature skill - Never Taking Responsibility.
Yukino Yukinoshita was silenced.
Yukino Yukinoshita shouldered the blame.
She didn't dwell on the topic, merely falling silent for a moment before lifting her gaze from the novel in her hands to look at Ye Xing by the window.
"How... did you come to know my sister?"
This question had been weighing on Yukino's mind for days.
She simply couldn't fathom how her genius older sister could have any connection with her classmate.
Faced with Yukino's question, Ye Xing simply countered:
"Why don't you just ask your sister directly?"
"..."
Yukino didn't know how to respond.
Since coming to Sobu High in Kyoto, she hadn't actively contacted either her sister or mother.
Moreover, she had no idea how to broach such a question.
Yukino had privately speculated:
Had Shizuka Hiratsuka guided her into joining the Supernatural Society at Haruno's instigation?
But...
Now that she'd joined, Yukino saw no point in dwelling on it.
The current Supernatural Society wasn't the flawless, purely altruistic club she'd originally envisioned establishing—something akin to the Service Club.
Yet Yukino had no choice.
This was the only place she could call her own.
Truth be told, with the privileges of the Yukinoshita family and Yukino's background, she could easily request a clubroom from the school.
But if she were the type to do such a thing, she wouldn't have left Chiba Prefecture to attend school in Kyoto in the first place.
Silence once again settled over the clubroom.
After a long pause, Ye Xing walked over to the table, opened the laptop placed on it, and spoke plainly.
"There's actually a way to solve the problem of no one coming to us for requests."
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita perked up, setting aside the novel in her hands.
"What way?"
Ye Xing pointed at the computer screen.
"Make a club website."
At his proposal, Yukino Yukinoshita blinked in surprise, then began turning the idea over in her mind.
This... actually seemed like a really good idea.
If the students at Sobu High School who encountered problems were too afraid to come to the Supernatural Society's clubroom in person to make requests, then creating a website would allow them to send their requests online without ever having to set foot in the club.
"But..."
Yukino frowned slightly, deep in thought.
"Who would handle making the website? If we hire someone..."
"No need."
Before Yukino could finish, Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively and gave a brief, two-word reply.
"I can."
"Eh?"
Yukino was somewhat surprised.
Ye Xing could make web pages?
While maintaining the top grades in his year and participating in club activities after school, he'd still found time to master an extracurricular skill?
Just how many hidden talents did this guy have?
Yukino wore a sceptical expression.
"Are you really capable?"
"Of course I am," Ye Xing replied nonchalantly.
"Dead programmers have very strong resentful Qi."
"Er..."
Yukino didn't understand what dead programmers had to do with his ability to make web pages.
But if Ye Xing could do it, that solved the problem.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
As soon as Yukino finished speaking, Ye Xing suddenly extended his right hand, holding up four fingers in front of her.
Yukino's pretty face showed confusion.
"What does that mean?"
Ye Xing said calmly,
"Counting this one, I'm four requests ahead of you now."
Yukino frowned slightly.
"Didn't you say I wasn't worthy of competing with you?"
Ye Xing also frowned at this.
"Don't put words in my mouth. I never said that—Kazusa Touma did. Don't misattribute blame."
Yukino thought back and realised this was indeed true.
After she'd declared her intention to compete with Ye Xing, while most club members had looked at her like she was an idiot, and Kazusa Touma had made some particularly aggressive remarks...
The person in question, Ye Xing, had never actually said she wasn't worthy of competing with him.
Just as Yukino's expression softened slightly, she heard Ye Xing chuckle and add:
"Though to be fair, what Kazusa Touma said wasn't wrong."
"Your childish little acts of help can't possibly compete with mine."
As Yukino's delicate brows furrowed and she prepared to retort, Ye Xing quickly continued:
"If you don't believe me, you can ask your sister."
...
Meanwhile, in a large shopping mall in central Kyoto.
"This wig... hmm, the colour's about right, but it's a bit too long. We could buy it and trim it."
Marin Kitagawa bent over, examining the various flashy wigs on display.
Saki Kawasaki stood nearby, comparing photos on her phone as she discussed with Marin.
Mai Sakurajima, wearing sunglasses and a sunhat, browsed the accessories section with Rio Futaba and the others.
Every member of the Supernatural Society was one of Sobu High School's top beauties.
With so many gathered together, they naturally drew attention from other shoppers.
Of course, this was a women's fashion and accessories store, so there were hardly any male customers around to approach them.
And if anyone did try...
A single disgusted glance from Saki Kawasaki would be enough to scare most people away.
"Speaking of which..."
Miko Yotsuya held up a dress against Rio Futaba as she remarked,
"We haven't seen Hachishaku-sama these past two days, and Ye Xing has been leaving school early too."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses, then suddenly paled as she whispered,
"You don't think... Ye Xing... ate Hachishaku-sama?"
"Gasp..."
Miko inhaled sharply at this suggestion.
Could that really be what happened?
Since both she and Rio Futaba were psychics, they had always been able to communicate with Hachishaku-sama.
Through daily interactions and several perilous, adrenaline-filled battles...
The two of them had long considered Hachishaku-sama a companion.
Surely Ye Xing hadn't really given in to impulse and eaten Hachishaku-sama?
Given his near-mad, cruel attitude towards evil spirits...
That wasn't impossible!
The more Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya thought about it, the more terrifying the possibility seemed.
They didn't know that Hachishaku-sama's absence was because she'd been filled to bursting, turning into a cream puff.
Even evil spirits have their limits.
While Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba were engrossed in some grave conversation, Mai Sakurajima quietly pulled Marin Kitagawa aside and whispered:
"Marin, about that outfit I mentioned last time..."
"Oh, the pyjamas?"
"Yes, the pyjamas."
Mai Sakurajima pulled out a wad of banknotes from her pocket and discreetly pressed them into Marin Kitagawa's hand.
"This covers labour and materials. Let me know if it's not enough - just get it done quickly."
Marin didn't refuse, pocketing the money directly.
After all, she didn't take kickbacks - if there was any left over, she'd return it to Mai-senpai later.
"The outfit itself isn't particularly difficult to make," Marin said with a smile before adding:
"But I'll need all your measurements, Mai-senpai."
Mai looked puzzled. "All of them? Isn't just the bust-waist-hip enough?"
"Not enough."
Marin shook her head and explained: "It's not just the three measurements - I'll need your thighs, calves and neck too. This involves small accessories - if anything fits even slightly wrong, it won't feel perfect."
Hearing the word "perfect", Mai nodded in deep agreement.
Even now, she and Ye Xing hadn't taken that final step - she'd just drunk milk several times and tried some numerical positions.
Mai was nearly at her limit.
She was impatient.
But no matter how impatient she was, you only got one first time—it had to be handled with utmost care to create a perfect memory.
Just then...
Rio suddenly tugged at Miko's sleeve and whispered: "Do you feel like someone's watching us from the shadows?"
"Hmm?"
Miko frowned slightly, not dismissing Rio's reaction as baseless paranoia.
After spending so much time together, she knew Rio had become extremely sensitive to being watched due to her middle school experiences.
If Rio said so, someone must indeed be observing them from the shadows.
"An evil spirit?"
"No."
Rio shook her head, her expression unchanged as she spoke casually: "Doesn't feel like that twisted malice. Probably human."
"Right, understood."
Miko nodded slightly, then picked up a skirt and held it against herself before addressing the shop assistant: "May I try this on?"
The assistant nodded politely, maintaining a professional smile as she gestured: "The fitting room is this way, please follow me."
Once inside the changing room and having locked the door securely, Miko Yotsuya didn't change into the dress she was holding; instead, she spoke softly.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume."
Dressed in a kimono, Hyakume appeared behind Miko.
"Someone's watching us. Find them."
Hyakume gave a slight nod.
"Understood."
She passed straight through the changing room wall, drifting towards the boutique's exterior. Only Rio Futaba, being a fellow psychic, could witness this scene.
Hyakume floated outside the shop, her dozens of eyes scanning the surroundings, missing not even the slightest detail.
She noticed a flash of gold behind a green potted plant in the shopping centre.
Hyakume paused momentarily.
In the next instant, she abruptly flickered forward, appearing face-to-face with the golden-haired girl.
"Hmm... just ordinary shopping?"
The blonde girl crouched on the floor, carefully observing Mai Sakurajima and the others inside the boutique, holding a green leaf against her head like some sort of ninja.
At Hyakume's sudden approach, the girl showed no reaction whatsoever - not even a flicker of expression.
"Not a psychic then?"
Hyakume studied the girl, confirming this fact.
Even someone with Miko's extraordinary mental fortitude would show subtle fluctuations in their gaze or breathing if Hyakume suddenly appeared before them, however well they controlled their expression.
The girl's complete lack of reaction could only mean she was an ordinary person.
Though ordinary...
Not entirely ordinary.
The girl was strikingly attractive—golden hair styled in a side ponytail, fashionable clothing with a gyaru aesthetic similar to Marin Kitagawa's, and light blue nail art on all ten fingers.
Her figure was particularly impressive, too.
Hyakume extended a hand, the eye on her wrist drifting downward to peek inside the other's clothing.
A moment later, she let out a disdainful chuckle.
"Heh, so it's padded after all."
Hyakume squatted directly beside the blonde girl, curious to see what she would do next.
Completely unaware her movements had been exposed, the blonde girl continued observing for a while before pulling out a phone and dialling a number.
Once connected, she spoke in a flat tone.
"Nothing noteworthy today. The people around that guy seem ordinary too, nothing special."
The voice that responded was melodious as a silver bell yet carried an icy edge.
"Would someone who caught Shuchi'in Academy's special attention, topped Japan's unified exams, yet chose to enrol at Sobu High really surround themselves with only ordinary people?"
"Honestly, young mistress," the blonde girl sighed, rubbing her temples.
"You're not developing some... particular interest in that guy, are you? Aside from his abnormal athletic performance, there's really nothing special."
"Could they have noticed your surveillance?"
"Absolutely impossible." The blonde girl pursed her lips. "I'm a professional."
"Very well, return then."
Before hanging up, the cold voice added one last remark.
"Regarding what you said earlier... about particular interest..."
"There is none."
"I may deliberately lose to blend in with peers, but never academically."
"As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, I cannot afford to lose to anyone in studies."
"Even against the unified exam champion..."
"I must prevail."
...
Two hours later, in the Supernatural Society clubroom.
"Done."
At Ye Xing's words, Yukino set down her book and approached, gathering her hair with one hand as she leaned slightly to examine the computer screen.
Displayed was a completed webpage introducing their club's mission to help Sobu High students with problems.
But the contact details at the bottom nearly made the perpetually expressionless Yukino burst into laughter.
[Contact: Shizuka Hiratsuka, Email: xxxxxxxxx]
[Secondary Contact: Shizu-chan, Email: Same as above]
[Tertiary Contact: Violent nearly-thirty-year-old chain-smoking single hag, Email: See first entry]