Toka Takanashi: "..."
She maintained her expressionless appearance, only frowning slightly before speaking in an emotionless tone.
"Come in. I'm the client this time - the head chef of this Western restaurant, Toka Takanashi."
Shoko Makinohara followed behind Ye Xing as they entered the Western restaurant, unable to resist whispering.
"Miss Takanashi's temper... is really quite good. If it were anyone else, being teased like that would definitely make them somewhat angry and dissatisfied..."
Before Ye Xing could speak, Yukino Yukinoshita said thoughtfully.
"That might be precisely the reason why Ye Xing acted that way."
"Eh? Why?"
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the confused Shoko Makinohara and slowly explained.
"Normal people would get angry when faced with that kind of teasing, but Miss Takanashi didn't, proving she has excellent emotional control and isn't the impulsive type."
"Don't forget, it was Miss Takanashi who provided the eyewitness testimony and asked us to perform the exorcism."
"Such a mature, rational person providing that kind of testimony means the possibility of her imagining things is very small. She must have definitely seen something abnormal, and not just once, to seek help from exorcists."
"Ye Xing's behaviour was outrageous, but through this method, he proved that there really are strange occurrences here."
After listening to Yukino Yukinoshita's analysis, Shoko Makinohara's eyes lit up as she nodded with genuine admiration, sighing.
"So that's how it is. This really is professional exorcism."
Nearby, Kazusa Touma offered a precise comment in her usual flat tone.
"He'd better really be thinking that."
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't respond to this, instead looking towards Toka Takanashi, who was leading Ye Xing around to observe various corners of the Western restaurant, while thinking to herself.
Takanashi?
That surname isn't particularly uncommon.
But combined with the name Toka...
Is this Toka Takanashi related to that Rikka Takanashi from Sobu High School's first year?
Mother and daughter? Unlikely.
In that case, they should be sisters.
What a coincidence.
Yukino Yukinoshita's main concern was whether the truth about this world's secrets and the real identities of the Supernatural Society members might be exposed during the exorcism.
But after careful thought, this didn't seem to be a problem.
Before joining the club, Yukino Yukinoshita's view of the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Research Society was simple, just like most students at Sobu High School.
Something children were playing around with.
How could there be any supernatural phenomena in this world?
Even after obtaining many clues, each pointing towards the truth, Yukino Yukinoshita's rationality still resisted believing that this world contained another aspect completely contrary to what she had believed for over a decade.
Plus, evil spirits and Gates themselves possessed the quality of being unobservable by ordinary people, and members would always disguise themselves when taking action. This led to only two possible outcomes.
One was people who completely disbelieved in supernatural phenomena, just as her former self did.
Another type is that, even if they suspect or witness the event with their own eyes, there would still be no evidence to prove the event's truth.
Overall.
The Supernatural Society remains impregnable.
"That covers the basic situation."
After recounting the events of this period in the most concise terms, Toka Takanashi led Ye Xing to the back kitchen door, took out a key, and unlocked it.
"It's not working hours now, I'm the only one in the shop, you can look around freely."
After saying this, Toka Takanashi's ruby-like eyes looked at Ye Xing's face as she said calmly.
"You should be a first-year student at Sobu High School, I'm not mistaken, am I?"
Ye Xing nodded without concealment and smiled.
"Oh? You've seen me at school?"
Toka Takanashi said flatly.
"On the first day of school, when I was taking my younger sister to enrol, I saw you from a distance at the school gate."
Ye Xing chuckled and teased.
"Just one glance and you remember until now? You have quite a good memory, Toka."
Toka Takanashi remained expressionless, without even a hint of shyness, directly replying.
"Because your appearance is quite striking, and you don't have that immaturity typical of first-year students, that's why I remember you until now."
"I see."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally, his gaze turning to the interior of the back kitchen.
The back kitchen of such a high-end Western restaurant was quite spacious, with every area spotlessly clean.
However, Ye Xing's gaze didn't linger on these areas, but instead focused on the metal door of the refrigeration freezer at the very back of the kitchen.
He could clearly see strands of viscous black mist swirling around that metal door.
"Can you see it?"
Ye Xing looked at Toka Takanashi beside him, whose gaze had also shifted to that metal door, frowning slightly as she nodded.
"Yes, I can see it. That is...?"
Instead of answering Toka Takanashi's question, Ye Xing turned and called out.
"You three, come here for a moment."
After Yukino Yukinoshita, Shoko Makinohara, and Kazusa Touma came over, he pointed at the metal freezer door.
"Can you see it?"
Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita looked, and both shook their heads.
"It looks normal."
But Shoko Makinohara smiled gently, ran to Ye Xing's side, and, like a little girl, proactively hugged his arm, speaking in a coquettish tone.
"Brother Ye Xing, I can see it. It's black mist, right?"
"Right."
The smile on Shoko Makinohara's face grew even brighter as she lifted her chin towards Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita beside her, with a somewhat challenging expression. Though she didn't speak, the meaning she wanted to convey was quite clear.
Heh.
Although I haven't officially joined the club yet and have known Brother Ye Xing for the shortest time, I can see the same things he does, possessing the same observation ability.
Do you have it?
Hehe.
"How irritating, this girl..."
Even Yukino Yukinoshita, with her cool personality, who hadn't yet participated in the battle royale, felt an inexplicable sourness and anger well up inside her upon seeing Shoko Makinohara like this, unconsciously clenching her fist.
Kazusa Touma was more direct. Without a word, she stepped forward in silence, reached out and seized Shoko Makinohara's wrist. Her delicate, slender eyes held a trace of coldness as she spoke two icy words.
"Let go."
Shoko Makinohara maintained her sweet smile, releasing Ye Xing's arm, and asked with a lively laugh.
"By the way, Touma-nee, what's your relationship with Ye Xing-oniisan? Are you jealous?"
"I... I..."
Kazusa Touma slightly parted her lips, her eyes revealing a conflicted expression as she stole a glance at Ye Xing beside her and hesitantly said.
"I... he and I... are, are friends."
"Oh, I see."
Shoko Makinohara smiled lightly and spoke softly.
"Then, since you're friends, why did you stop me from hugging Brother Ye Xing, Touma-san? That's rather strange."
"I..."
The War Goddess Kazusa Touma had been defeated.
Yukino Yukinoshita had no interest in participating in this conflict at all, merely stating in a flat tone.
"Since neither Touma nor I can observe it, that proves this Gate hasn't opened enough to seriously affect the real world. The danger level isn't very high, right?"
"Right."
Ye Xing nodded, acknowledging Yukino Yukinoshita's analysis.
Gates with low opening levels cannot be observed by ordinary people. The black mist emanating from the cracks, originating from the Reverse World, follows the same principle.
Although Toka Takanashi could sense something unusual, that didn't mean she was a psychic. It was simply because she spent the most time in the kitchen daily and had the closest connection to this area, nothing more.
"Then let's get started. You can all come take a look; you might gain something from this."
Ye Xing walked up to the freezer door and reached out to open it.
What appeared before them was a room about fifteen square metres in size, containing several metal racks holding various food ingredients.
Deep within the white chill of the freezer stood a Gate of antique design, made of wood, opened about thirty percent. The black, viscous mist characteristic of the Reverse World was continuously emerging from the crack.
"So this is... a Gate..."
Shoko Makinohara, who possessed Mystic Eyes, could clearly see the scene before her. Her face showed no fear, but rather a peculiar excitement and thrill.
Finally, she could participate in an exorcism too.
"The method to eliminate a Gate is simple. Any psychic with the ability to observe can do it, regardless of means - fire, bombs, or even dismantling it barehanded."
"The key lies with the person doing it, not the elimination method. Understand?"
Listening to Ye Xing's words, Yukino Yukinoshita, Kazusa Touma, and Shoko Makinohara were all very serious.
Only Toka Takanashi frowned slightly, because she could only see some black mist floating in the air, unable to see any so-called Gate.
From her perspective, these four people, especially that boy called Ye Xing, acted exactly like her younger sister Rikka, who suffered from severe chuunibyou.
What nonsense were they talking about?
What Gate? What observation?
From what they were saying, ordinary people couldn't see it?
Those fraudulent exorcists often used such excuses.
Though she thought this way, Toka Takanashi could indeed see the strands of black mist floating in the air that shouldn't exist inside a freezer.
There was indeed something strange about this.
"Next..."
Just as Ye Xing reached this point, Toka Takanashi suddenly heard exclamations from pedestrians coming from the street outside.
When she turned her head, her crimson pupils contracted in shock, no longer able to maintain her composed expression.
"Look out!"
From the other end of the road, a massive truck had crashed through the central barrier, its accelerator seemingly pressed to the floor, heading straight toward the western restaurant.
"Ye Xing!"
Kazusa Touma's eyes flickered. Without even time to think, she instinctively moved aside and positioned herself in front of Ye Xing.
Boom!
Crash...
Rumble...
The tremendous sound of the wall being shattered and the crisp shattering of glass windows occurred simultaneously.
The incredibly heavy truck, combined with its maximum acceleration, was practically unstoppable, ploughing straight through the western restaurant and heading directly toward the cold storage room.
Dust billowed, devastation everywhere.
"What happened?"
"Over there... what's going on?"
"Is it a traffic accident?"
"Quick, call the hospital, and... call the police!"
Although some pedestrians on the street were relatively close, no one was injured.
They looked at the large hole torn through the western restaurant and the still-trembling walls, instinctively keeping their distance, afraid of being caught in a potential collapse.
Meanwhile, inside the cold storage room.
Hearing the chaotic noises in her ears, Toka Takanashi knew it was tinnitus caused by the sudden loud impact.
Even her vision blurred, and her head felt dizzy and disoriented.
Toka Takanashi supported her forehead, forcing herself not to collapse, and first glanced around.
Of the three girls, one was still standing, while the other two were sitting on the ground but appeared unharmed.
Bzzz...
The persistent tinnitus made Toka Takanashi's consciousness somewhat unclear.
After about ten seconds, the chaotic noises in her ears finally faded away.
Once her hearing returned, the first words Toka Takanashi heard were something she never expected.
"Bloody hell, that nearly sent me to another world."
Toka Takanashi looked toward the voice, toward the entrance of the cold storage room. When she saw the scene before her, her expression changed in shock.
The boy named Ye Xing was standing upright, blocking the path of the large truck.
On the truck's hard exterior, two extremely clear, palm-shaped indentations were visible.
One was at the point of direct impact.
The other was slightly higher and dented downward toward the ground.
"This is..."
Noticing the cracked and shattered ground where Ye Xing stood, Toka Takanashi, though she hadn't witnessed it directly, could already picture the scene in her mind.
This guy...
He stopped a fully accelerated truck charging straight at him with his bare hands?
Is he even human?
While Toka Takanashi was stunned and horrified, Ye Xing turned around as if nothing had happened, even managing to smile casually as he said,
"Really, who taught these guys to control truck drivers to run people over? So vicious. If I find out who taught them, I'll run them over a hundred times at least. Absolutely vicious."
Listening to the clamour from the street outside, Ye Xing gazed at the Gate before him and extended his right hand.
"Come out."
The pale ghost hand instantly appeared, and with the movement of his right hand, its five fingers enveloped the Gate, crushing it into fragments.
Immediately after, Ye Xing shifted his gaze to the short, hunched evil spirit that had separated from the lorry driver, who had fallen unconscious with blood trickling from his nose and mouth, and fled onto the street outside the western restaurant. He swiftly moved his right hand towards it.
The ghost hand flickered, then appeared directly above the evil spirit's head.
"Die."
Thump!
After just a dull sound, the evil spirit's body was crushed, transforming into a black mist that dissipated into the air.
Having completed all this, Ye Xing finally turned to face the several people before him and chuckled lightly.
"Exorcism complete. Is everyone unharmed?"
Kazusa Touma shook her head. Though her tone sounded steady, there was still an involuntary tremble in her voice.
"Yes, I'm fine."
To be honest, Kazusa Touma had been brave enough.
After all, for an ordinary person facing a large lorry speeding towards them at full velocity, simply not collapsing in terror was already quite impressive.
Yet Kazusa Touma had even thought about protecting Ye Xing.
Though it was rather pointless, it was still brave.
Shoko Makinohara and Yukino Yukinoshita stood up. The former was relatively alright, merely looking shaken as she gently patted her chest.
The latter, however, was lightly gritting her teeth, her eyes revealing a trace of frustration.
She had witnessed Ye Xing's power with her own eyes, but that wasn't the main reason for Yukino Yukinoshita's frustration. After all, he was a psychic, so he was naturally different from ordinary people.
The key point was that Kazusa Touma, who, like her, was just an ordinary person, hadn't been nearly so discomposed and was even standing there perfectly fine.
This made Yukino Yukinoshita feel deeply defeated.
No wonder Kazusa Touma could become an internal member of the Supernatural Society.
She was simply too formidable.
...
Twenty minutes later, outside the western restaurant.
Soichiro Yagami, who had rushed to the scene, listened to his subordinate's investigative report on the situation. Gazing at the people before him – particularly Ye Xing, who was sitting there answering the medical staff's questions – his expression grew somewhat complicated as he slowly approached.
"Ye Xing, are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine."
Soichiro Yagami frowned deeply, staring directly at Ye Xing's relaxed, smiling face, and spoke in a grave tone.
"What exactly happened at the scene? Did you see anything?"
Ye Xing shook his head quite bluntly and replied with a smile.
"I dunno."
Hearing this, Soichiro Yagami's frown deepened further.
"Speaking of which, why did you several go into the restaurant's cold storage room?"
"Oh, we went into the cold storage to have an orgy."
"Eh?"
Seeing Soichiro Yagami's shocked expression, Ye Xing nodded very seriously and began to explain.
"Chief Yagami, you may not know this, but in extreme survival environments, humans develop an instinctive desire for reproduction. This is an instinct engraved in our DNA when we sense life is in danger, for the continuation of the species..."
"Please stop right there."
Seeing Ye Xing's explanation becoming increasingly absurd, Soichiro Yagami quickly raised his hand to interrupt, looking both exasperated and amused.
"Where on earth did all that knowledge come from?"
Soichiro Yagami had a doubt in his heart.
This student Ye Xing... he had appeared during both the previous amusement park attack incident and this current incident...
Was it really just a coincidence?