"Compressed biscuits..."
Upon hearing these words, Rio Futaba felt a pang of sorrow in her heart for that Goat-Headed Deity.
Ultimately, it suffered from being unable to speak and having an excessively ugly, inhuman appearance.
Otherwise, it could have been like Hachishaku-sama...
No, that's not right either.
As this thought crossed her mind, Rio Futaba suddenly realised something.
What Ye Xing detested might not be the Goat-Headed Deity's strange language and hideous appearance.
But rather the very act of demanding live sacrifices and transforming humans into divine messengers.
As this speculation formed in her mind, Rio Futaba spoke up.
"You... really don't like divine messengers?"
"You noticed?"
Ye Xing smiled and nodded, speaking softly.
"They're disgusting things that make me feel sick."
Rio Futaba frowned slightly, looking somewhat puzzled.
"But... when you face inhuman beings like evil spirits and spectres, although you occasionally show hostility, it's never this intense..."
"That's different."
Ye Xing shook his head, revealing a kind smile.
"Evil spirits want to devour human fear and souls to enhance their own power, just like how I want to see them wail in pain and be completely devoured by me in despair. It simply depends on which side is stronger."
"But beings like divine messengers..."
When mentioning this term, although Ye Xing still wore a smile on his face, his eyes revealed undisguised disgust.
"Transforming human souls into twisted things that only obey orders is truly nauseating."
Rio Futaba nodded slightly, deep in thought.
"So that's how it is... So you want to help Hina Amano because you don't want her to become a divine messenger, and because of your disgust towards that weather god..."
"Not exactly."
Contrary to Rio Futaba's expectations, Ye Xing remained as straightforward as ever.
"That's part of the reason, but the main motivation is that I want to taste what that guy is like, I want to enjoy eating it."
Rio Futaba rolled her eyes and sighed helplessly.
"Typical you."
After saying this, Rio Futaba raised her hand and twirled a strand of her long, grey, curly hair around her finger, playing with it as she asked nonchalantly.
"So, are you going anywhere else later?"
"Not going anywhere. Tomorrow morning, I'll gather the members and go to my place first to resolve Shoko Makinohara's problem."
"Alright then, want some instant noodles?"
"Yes, but after the noodles, I want to eat something else."
Rio Futaba's pretty face flushed red as she whispered angrily.
"Pervert."
...
The next morning, at Ye Xing's home.
The four psychics - Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, Yui Yuigahama, and Mai Sakurajima - naturally attended the meeting.
Yukino Yukinoshita, Kazusa Touma, and Saki Kawasaki also came over.
Only Marin Kitagawa, who was unaware of the situation and had left Kyoto during this period, was absent, along with Hina Amano, who had accumulated a pile of Sunny Girl commissions requiring overtime work.
"Shoko-chan..."
Miko Yotsuya studied Shoko Makinohara sitting on the sofa - gentle, virtuous, with a soft smile and a certain physical endowment that seemed slightly superior to her own, exuding mature elegance. It was truly difficult to connect this person with the sickly little girl she had known before leaving Kyoto.
"Miko-nee."
Shoko Makinohara spoke softly with her gentle smile.
"Although my appearance has changed, I'm still the same Shoko Makinohara. Please treat me as you always have."
Rio Futaba glanced at Shoko Makinohara before turning to Hachishaku-sama, who was crouched in her designated corner spot, sipping from a small carton of milk.
"Hachishaku, since you've been guarding Makinohara-san all this time, do you know how she became like this?"
"I dunno."
Hachishaku-sama maintained her characteristic innocent, unworldly demeanour, shaking her head with a foolishly cute expression.
"It just happened overnight. She woke up like this in the morning."
"This..."
The members exchanged glances, none knowing how to proceed.
Only Yukino Yukinoshita, who wasn't previously familiar with Shoko Makinohara and always spoke bluntly, disregarded the atmosphere in the room and stated calmly.
"It's that... Adolescence Syndrome that Mai-senpai suffered from, correct?"
After becoming an internal member, Yui Yuigahama had briefed Yukino Yukinoshita on the basic situation, including each member's reason for joining the club. That's how she knew about Mai Sakurajima's experience with Adolescence Syndrome, when she couldn't be observed for a period.
"Most likely..."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses, her eyes revealing some heaviness.
"To be honest, compared to Adolescence Syndrome, supernatural incidents are easier to handle..."
Psychological analysis had never been Rio Futaba's strong suit.
Although they only had Mai Sakurajima's case as a reference at this stage, based on currently available information, Adolescence Syndrome varied from person to person, and the solutions were completely different.
The most challenging aspect was that those suffering from Adolescence Syndrome were acting on subconscious thoughts, without recognising their own emotional burdens themselves.
This made things quite troublesome.
Although Adolescence Syndrome was considered an illness, conventional examination methods couldn't determine its cause.
Additionally, since Rio Futaba already knew Shoko Makinohara personally, treating her as just another case study without emotional involvement was extremely difficult.
She'd rather face terrifying evil spirits - at least then she'd clearly know what needed to be done, unlike now, when she couldn't find any leads.
"Then let's start with the most basic questions."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Shoko Makinohara, who was sitting opposite her, and asked softly.
"Makinohara-san, does your current body still have heart disease?"
Shoko Makinohara smiled faintly, her expression unavoidably tinged with bitterness as she nodded slightly.
"Yes... Although my body has grown, it seems my illness hasn't changed. It's as if I grew to look sixteen years old overnight."
"I see..."
Yukino Yukinoshita nodded noncommittally and looked towards the other members.
"I still don't fully understand the specific causes of Adolescence Syndrome, but judging from Makinohara-san's description, her condition wasn't triggered by fear of death, but rather by a desire to grow up. This leads to the question."
Yukino Yukinoshita maintained her usual calm expression as she spoke slowly.
"Why sixteen years old? Why not fifteen? Eighteen? Twenty? Why exactly our age group? In a phenomenon as idealistic as Adolescence Syndrome, this probably isn't just a simple coincidence."
As the chief strategist of the Supernatural Society, anything Yukino Yukinoshita could notice, Rio Futaba would naturally notice as well.
However...
Because she knew more than Yukino, she now had more factors to consider.
Seeing Rio Futaba looking distracted, as if silently contemplating something, Saki Kawasaki couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Futaba-san, have you thought of any solutions?"
"Well..."
Rio Futaba seemed hesitant to speak, glancing at Shoko Makinohara, then at Ye Xing, before finally changing the subject.
"I don't have any ideas. Why don't you all share your thoughts first?"
Upon hearing this, Yui Yuigahama, Miko Yotsuya, and Mai Sakurajima all sensed something was off.
Rio Futaba had no ideas?
This was the super Futaba who would resort to quantum mechanics whenever she encountered problems.
How could she possibly have no ideas?
Could it be that Rio Futaba already had some clues, but couldn't say them in front of Shoko Makinohara?
Was it something too difficult to mention?
They didn't understand.
As everyone discussed her Adolescence Syndrome, Shoko Makinohara suddenly made a move that no one present had anticipated.
She quietly stood up from the sofa, walked over to Ye Xing's side, smoothed her skirt, and sat down directly beside him.
The atmosphere in the room instantly fell silent.
Seeing all the members staring at her, Shoko Makinohara smiled gently and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Please continue, sisters. Don't mind me."
The girls exchanged glances.
How could they not mind?
Wait, Makinohara-san, what exactly do you mean by this?
What was this called? A battlefield balance?
Hadn't even Kazusa Touma - the most withdrawn member with the strongest possessive tendencies, who wasn't particularly close with the other members - chosen to sit separately instead of beside Ye Xing on such an occasion today?
Since they couldn't all sit together, nobody would sit there.
That was what you called a delicate tacit balance.
And now Shoko Makinohara's sudden action had broken this balance.
However...
Yui Yuigahama opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly remembered that, while Shoko Makinohara's body had grown to that of a sixteen-year-old, her mental age was still that of an elementary school student, similar to Menma's.
Would she really be thinking so complicatedly?
Thinking back... Shoko Makinohara had indeed shown admiration for Ye Xing, this big brother figure.
That made sense.
After all, in Shoko Makinohara's eyes, Ye Xing was the hero who saved her life and eliminated that powerful evil spirit.
The question was...
Was it really just simple hero worship?
Was there perhaps something else mixed in here?
Surely... it couldn't be?
While the other girls hesitated, one brave soul took the lead.
"I want to sit there too."
Kazusa Touma stood up directly and walked over, sitting beside Ye Xing.
She cared nothing for such things - the atmosphere, the mood, or Shoko Makinohara's mental age.
Kazusa Touma knew only one thing.
If Shoko Makinohara could sit there, then why couldn't Kazusa Touma?
With this mindset, if placed in the feudal imperial era, she'd definitely be branded a rebel at the very least.
She sat down, stubbornly insisting on sitting.
Seeing how quickly Kazusa Touma had moved, Saki Kawasaki felt deeply frustrated.
Among everyone present, only she had sensed something unusual about Shoko Makinohara.
After all, she had someone close to her - her younger sister Keika - who was an even younger devoted fan than Shoko Makinohara.
The look in her sister Keika's eyes when she saw Ye Xing was exactly the same as Shoko Makinohara's expression right now.
This was definitely not simple admiration.
This was wanting to marry him!!!
Too dangerous.
"By the way, elder sisters," Shoko Makinohara maintained her sweet smile and spoke softly.
"Now that I've grown up, can I join your club?"
"Well..." Mai Sakurajima and the others exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
They had indeed said back then that Shoko should take good care of her health, and when she grew up, they would let her join the Supernatural Society.
The key point was that it was just something said casually at the time.
Who knew Shoko Makinohara would grow up so quickly!?
Now here they were.
What should they do? Let her join or not?
Although she had grown up, she still had heart disease - she couldn't even ride roller coasters, let alone perform exorcism.
"Ye Xing, Miko, Mai, Yui - come with me." Rio Futaba stood up abruptly as if finally making up her mind, then headed towards the second floor.
Seeing Ye Xing stand up, Shoko Makinohara immediately followed and intimately hugged his arm, saying softly, "Brother Ye Xing, I want to join the discussion too."
"Let go." Before Ye Xing could respond, Kazusa Touma stood up, grabbed Shoko Makinohara's wrist and said coldly, "They didn't call you, so just sit quietly."
"Alright then." Shoko Makinohara showed no displeasure nor argued further, simply smiling in response before sitting back on the sofa. She then casually remarked, "Sister Touma, a girl as fierce as you won't find anyone willing to marry you in the future."
Hearing the words "won't find anyone," the usually expressionless Kazusa Touma frowned slightly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her delicate, narrow eyes flashing with coldness as she said sharply, "None of your business."
Maintaining her sweet smile, Shoko Makinohara's words struck directly at Kazusa Touma's weakness: "An excellent boy like Brother Ye Xing probably prefers gentler personalities, don't you think so, Sister Touma?"
Watching Kazusa Touma grit her silver teeth speechlessly while Shoko Makinohara kept her sweet smile throughout, Saki Kawasaki felt her heart sink.
There's another expert?
To accurately identify Kazusa Touma's weakness and deliver such precise strikes - this girl...
Isn't simple.
...
Meanwhile, in the second-floor study.
Rio Futaba looked at the people before her, especially glancing at Ye Xing, before speaking slowly: "Makinohara's heart condition... might have a solution."
Yui Yuigahama was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then exclaimed joyfully, "Really? As expected of Rio, you've even considered this!"
"Don't rush to praise yet. Hear me out first - you might not be able to accept it."
Rio Futaba let out a heavy sigh as she observed the expressions of the people before her.
Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama looked utterly confused.
Mai Sakurajima, ever since being called here, seemed to have figured something out. She wore a complicated expression, hesitating to speak yet unsure where to begin.
As for Ye Xing...
He remained the same as always, wearing that lazy, frivolous smile without a hint of surprise.
As expected, he had already guessed it.
Rio Futaba took a deep breath, then, under the astonished gazes of Miko Yotsuya and the others, uttered something so shocking that even she found it deeply embarrassing.
"If we first make Shoko Makinohara a psychic, then have her... you know... with Ye Xing to enhance her physical constitution... perhaps we could... cure her congenital heart disease."
Mai Sakurajima sighed softly, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
"I knew it would be something like this..."
Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama stared in stunned silence.
"Is... is that really possible?"
"It's highly likely to work."
Rio Futaba exhaled deeply, her expression complicated.
"Like us, our physical constitutions have already exceeded the limits of our age group, even human limits. If Shoko Makinohara can truly awaken the ability of Soul Materialisation and... you know... then perhaps spiritual power could repair her damaged heart."
Yui Yuigahama fell silent for several seconds after hearing this before murmuring.
"Then why didn't you mention this earlier?"
Ye Xing finally spoke, his first words being a sarcastic remark.
"Are you a pervert? Shoko Makinohara was an elementary school student back then. Are you trying to send me to prison?"
Miko Yotsuya frowned slightly, saying irritably.
"From what you're saying, does that mean you'd be willing with the current Shoko?"
"The way you put it..."
Ye Xing adopted an expression of grave determination, as if ready to sacrifice himself.
"To save Shoko's life, though I must sacrifice my innocence... no, though I must sacrifice my soon-to-be-refreshed innocent self, as the saying goes, 'saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.' This is simply an unavoidable solution."
Mai Sakurajima narrowed her eyes slightly, reached out to pinch Ye Xing's arm, and said with a thin smile.
"Oh, already calling her by her first name? You're getting into the role quite quickly, junior."
But as soon as Mai finished speaking, Ye Xing switched to a completely indifferent attitude, spreading his hands carelessly.
"Actually, we don't have to save her. Let her die. I don't really care."
At these words, Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, Yui Yuigahama, and Rio Futaba all showed expressions of discomfort.
They already felt great sympathy for Shoko Makinohara, believing such a sensible young girl shouldn't meet such a fate.
Now that there was a potential solution, even if not 100% certain, it was better than zero percent.
Let them watch Shoko Makinohara die?
They couldn't do it.
Have them sacrifice Ye Xing's "innocence"?
That was also somewhat...
"Let's... put this issue aside for now."
Rio Futaba had anticipated this would be their reaction upon hearing her proposal and could only sigh helplessly.
"Miss Makinohara might not necessarily awaken the ability of Soul Materialisation. Although she has completed the 'observation,' she hasn't yet confronted her true inner self. If she can't awaken it, all our discussions here would be pointless."
After the others went downstairs, Shoko Makinohara ran over again, standing gracefully before Ye Xing and saying something that none of the Supernatural Society members had ever expected to hear in front of everyone.
"Brother Ye Xing, until my body returns to normal, I'll be staying at your place and troubling you."