As soon as these words were spoken, the living room fell into complete silence.
The next second, a hero made her entrance.
"In that case..."
Kazusa Touma lightly tossed her long black hair and said calmly.
"Then I'll be staying at Ye Xing's place too."
At that moment, Mai Sakurajima and the others all had the same thought in their hearts.
Touma-san, my hero!
Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama didn't live alone, so they definitely couldn't just move into Ye Xing's place.
Saki Kawasaki had a younger sister to take care of at home, plus she was relatively shy, and her relationship with Ye Xing hadn't developed to the point where she could move in with him anytime, so naturally, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Rio Futaba and Mai Sakurajima didn't mind, but during their time away from Kyoto City, aside from dealing with Kaguya Shinomiya and Shoko Makinohara's Adolescence Syndrome, they had also accumulated many exorcism commissions that needed to be handled.
Even if they moved into Ye Xing's place, they couldn't guarantee they'd be with him every moment.
But Kazusa Touma was completely different.
Just look at her constantly yawning and lacking energy right now.
Kazusa Touma didn't sleep at night - she was purely a nocturnal creature.
Plus, after spending this time together, the members had come to understand her personality somewhat.
Kazusa Touma was the type who wouldn't stop Ye Xing from going to see anyone, as long as it wasn't done in front of her.
But if anyone tried to make a move on Ye Xing while they were together?
Kazusa Touma would absolutely not allow it.
Commonly known as a loyal dog protecting its master, this black-haired piano prodigy beauty would really bite if pushed too far.
Furthermore, because Shoko Makinohara was younger, Mai Sakurajima and the others more or less couldn't see her as a romantic rival.
Kazusa Touma didn't care about any of that - she wouldn't show any mercy at all.
With her around, it really made people feel safe and secure.
"Hmph, boring."
Watching the scene before her, Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head.
She had originally thought that the Supernatural Society's internal meetings would have a serious atmosphere, with every member on high alert, ready to save the world at any moment.
She never expected it to be pretty much the same as when everyone usually hung out, and they were even playing palace intrigue games here.
Was this the "genuine article" that Ye Xing said she had been searching for all along?
Too ridiculous...
"Oh, right, one more thing."
Just as Yukino Yukinoshita was thinking this, Ye Xing suddenly made a shocking statement.
"The method to lock on that deity has almost been found. There's just one last factor - we need to find someone closely connected to Hina Amano, someone whose soul resonates with hers. Do any of you have any ideas?"
Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes trembled.
Deity?
What deity?
Is this a symbolic metaphor?
Wait a moment...
Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly remembered the legend about the Sunny Girl that the elderly gentleman, Oda Noto, had told her.
Hina Amano... should be the Sunny Girl.
Could it be that the so-called deity refers to the one who controls the weather across all of Japan?
Lock on?
Just hearing this term, Yukino Yukinoshita could sense that Ye Xing's intention to find that deity probably wasn't for inviting them to tea or adding them to his harem.
"Close connection, soul compatibility?"
Yui Yuigahama said thoughtfully.
"Doesn't Hina have a younger brother? Would he meet this condition?"
"Probably not."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses and sighed.
"While family members share blood ties, when it comes to matters involving the soul and deities - these idealistic concepts - blood relations likely aren't that important."
Yui Yuigahama pondered for a moment before tentatively asking.
"Meaning... we need to find someone who has a very good, very close relationship with Hina? If we're talking about that, she gets along well with everyone, but as for being particularly intimate to the point of achieving what could be called soul compatibility... there really doesn't seem to be anyone."
Hina Amano's personality was quite cheerful and lively, mature and sensible for her age. Except for those with problematic personalities like Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita, all the other members enjoyed spending time with her, but they could only be considered relatively good friends.
Soul compatibility.
These words carried too much weight.
Among the present members, who would dare claim they had achieved soul compatibility with another person, enough to satisfy such a demanding condition?
Even Yui Yuigahama, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya - who had the best relationships with each other and had known each other the longest - wouldn't dare make such a claim.
However...
The gazes of these three, along with Mai Sakurajima, simultaneously turned toward Ye Xing, who was standing there.
The latter was taken aback by their stares, shaking his head with a light laugh.
"What, why are you all looking at me like that?"
"What else could it mean?"
Miko Yotsuya showed a slightly jealous, cute expression, her golden eyes flickering as she muttered quietly.
"For you to achieve compatibility with Hina, of course."
Hearing this, Ye Xing looked exasperated as he retorted.
"Kaguya Shinomiya wants me to handle her situation, Shoko Makinohara needs me to resolve things, and now Hina's matter falls to me, too? What do you take me for? Some kind of universal god-waiting boy? The Kyoto War God?"
Yui Yuigahama looked at his expression with equal disbelief.
"You sound quite resistant, but could you explain what that slight smile at the corner of your mouth is about?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something happy."
"You really are... hard to describe."
Listening to the members' conversation, Yukino Yukinoshita belatedly came to her senses, her exquisite features unable to maintain their usual composure.
"The one you want to lock on to... is that legendary deity who influences the weather across all of Japan?"
Yui Yuigahama nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I forgot to mention this to you - this is our Supernatural Society's most important goal for summer break. To find that being and eliminate it."
"But..."
Yukino Yukinoshita was shocked, finding it hard to believe.
"You... want to kill a god? Isn't that dangerous?"
Yui Yuigahama wore a clueless expression.
"It is dangerous, but it still needs to be done."
"Why?"
"Why..."
Yui Yuigahama thought for a moment, then gave an answer that Yukino Yukinoshita never expected, one that deeply shook something within her heart.
"Because if we don't eliminate that guy, Hina will be in danger, and the weather won't return to normal. Since only we can do it, we've decided to take action. It's really quite simple."
After speaking, Yui Yuigahama turned back to continue discussing with Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, Saki Kawasaki, Rio Futaba, and even Shoko Makinohara.
Yukino Yukinoshita's lips parted slightly, her eyes revealing complex emotions as she couldn't help but glance at Kazusa Touma sitting nearby, who hadn't joined the discussion, murmuring.
"Have they... always been like this..."
Kazusa Touma swept a glance at Yukino Yukinoshita, looking as if she thought Yukino was terribly inexperienced, then tilted her chin towards Ye Xing standing nearby and replied calmly.
"You should begin to understand now why I said back then that you weren't qualified to see him as a rival."
Kazusa Touma's eyes flickered as she looked at Ye Xing, standing there, wearing only a lazy smile without joining the discussion, speaking softly.
"Just being near him affects people. Not just them, but every member of the Supernatural Society... including me. We're all fortunate to have met him."
Just as Yukino Yukinoshita was about to respond to this, she saw Kazusa Touma give her a cold glance, snorting disdainfully, her words as aggressive as ever.
"Of course, I still don't understand why you were allowed to join."
Yukino Yukinoshita similarly snorted coldly, retorting defiantly.
"Not only did I join, but Ye Xing personally invited me."
"Heh, who didn't get a personal invitation?"
"Heh, Touma-san, your attitude isn't very friendly."
"Heh, likewise, Yukinoshita-san."
The members were all accustomed to this classic cat-and-dog fight between Kazusa Touma and Yukino Yukinoshita.
Though Yukino Yukinoshita was verbally sparring with Kazusa Touma on the surface, the shock in her heart remained unresolved.
What was "genuine"?
Relationships completely free of falsehood - this was Yukino Yukinoshita's definition of "genuine".
To save Amano-san and restore Japan's weather to normal, they needed to eliminate a powerful god...
From any perspective, this matter couldn't be considered false.
So, did every member of the Supernatural Society possess this "genuine" quality?
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't think so.
After all, she was skilled at observing people around her, which naturally included Yui Yuigahama - the member she got along with best, who had been her classmate from the beginning.
Initially, in Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes, Yui Yuigahama was like Kazusa Touma - the complete opposite of herself.
A "fake" who accommodated others.
Yet ironically, the first words that gave Yukino Yukinoshita a sense of "genuineness" came from Yui Yuigahama's mouth.
This was what Ye Xing had mentioned...
Is this something that only exists within the Supernatural Society?
"Speaking of which, there's a rather special exorcism request."
Yui Yuigahama took out her phone from her pocket and glanced at it.
"Hmm... The location is that high-end Western restaurant we visited together before, remember? The first time we met Tamamo-no-Mae, when Ye Xing played the suona in the Reverse World?"
Miko Yotsuya let out a slight sigh and offered a precise retort.
"I wish I could forget, but unfortunately, I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life."
Yui Yuigahama wore an understanding expression as she continued explaining.
"According to the restaurant's head chef, every time she comes to work in the morning and after locking up at night, she hears strange noises coming from the kitchen. But when she opens the door, there's nothing there."
"Of course, that's not all. She also mentioned seeing faint, drifting black viscous mist through the door cracks several times, but when she carefully checked the floor and various gaps in the kitchen, it disappeared as if it were an illusion."
"There are other incidents, including ingredients disappearing, kitchen tools mysteriously moving positions - it's already affecting the daily operations of the kitchen and the restaurant's normal business. That's why they approached old Mr Noto, requesting an exorcism."
After saying this, Yui Yuigahama paused to catch her breath before continuing.
"Since there's black mist that even ordinary people can observe, it proves there's likely a Gate near that restaurant."
Rio Futaba nodded and added.
"Yes, but the head chef who personally saw the black mist is still alive, which proves it's not an evil spirit that has fused with a Gate, but rather a randomly appearing Gate. The danger level isn't too high - as long as we find the Gate and the most powerful evil spirit in the nearby area, the matter can be resolved. There's some danger, but it just meets the standard for Ye Xing to handle alone."
"Alone..."
Mai Sakurajima glanced at Shoko Makinohara, Kazusa Touma, and the newly joined Yukino Yukinoshita, lowering her voice as she said.
"Maybe... let Ye Xing take those three along? The frequency of paranormal incidents is increasing again, and we still plan to eliminate that god later, plus the powerful evil spirits from the Reverse World that Tamamo-no-Mae mentioned are still hiding in various dark corners of Kyoto. To be honest, we need more psychics who have awakened Soul Materialisation."
Rio Futaba adjusted her glasses, her attitude appearing somewhat hesitant.
"But... will those three agree? And what about Saki?"
"Saki and Yukinoshita might not necessarily agree, but as for Shoko... this is the only way to save her. As for Kazusa..."
Mai Sakurajima looked at Kazusa Touma, who was sitting on the sofa but whose gaze remained fixed entirely on Ye Xing even while being watched, and said softly.
"She will definitely agree."
"Alright then, let's prepare to depart."
Ye Xing didn't hesitate much and directly agreed.
The original purpose of forming the Supernatural Society was to combat the Gates and the evil spirits in Kyoto and to gather more like-minded ability users.
Yukino Yukinoshita, Saki Kawasaki, Kazusa Touma, and Shoko Makinohara - who hasn't officially joined the club but has already awakened her Mystic Eyes - were all trustworthy candidates.
Moreover, there was one most important point.
As the power of evil spirits grows increasingly formidable and the Reverse World gradually expands, the threat level of supernatural incidents has escalated to levels beyond previous experience.
Currently, among the club members and ordinary people around them who have been involved in supernatural incidents are Haruno Yukinoshita, Hana Yurikawa, Saki Kawasaki, Keika Kawasaki, Marin Kitagawa, and Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Although protected by Ye Xing's contracts, the safest approach is clearly to awaken one's own Soul Materialisation ability, possessing the means to protect oneself - and even safeguard innocent bystanders - when caught within the scope of supernatural incidents.
"I'm going to perform an exorcism."
Ye Xing looked towards Kazusa Touma, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Shoko Makinohara, who were sitting nearby, and smiled.
"Who wants to come along?"
Upon hearing this, Shoko Makinohara and Kazusa Touma nodded without hesitation.
"I'll go."
Shoko Makinohara wanted to participate in the exorcism operations she had long yearned for.
Kazusa Touma's motivation was much simpler.
She wanted to stay by Ye Xing's side, regardless of where he went.
Yukino Yukinoshita showed slight hesitation, her thoughts rapidly churning.
From Yui Yuigahama, she had already learned about the two prerequisites for awakening Soul Materialisation ability.
Observing the existence of evil spirits and spectres, then confronting one's true inner self.
The first condition wasn't difficult to achieve, given the existence of the Reverse World and Gates.
The challenging part was the second condition.
True self...
Yukino Yukinoshita silently repeated these words to herself, her expression growing somewhat complicated.
What is her true self really like?
This answer, perhaps even she herself doesn't know.
At the moment of touching the so-called genuine article, does that truly mean facing one's authentic self?
"I'm going too."
Yukino Yukinoshita stood up, speaking softly in as calm a tone as possible.
"Now that I've become an internal member of the Supernatural Society, I must witness an exorcism with my own eyes at least once. Otherwise, all the analysis and ideas I provide from now on would just be empty theories."
Yukino Yukinoshita had a strong competitive spirit.
Although she had joined the Supernatural Society's inner circle, she didn't want to see herself become the most useless among all the internal members.
If Kazusa Touma were to awaken Soul Materialisation first, the other girl would undoubtedly launch repeated attacks against her.
Even just for this reason, she had to go.
"Alright then, let's prepare to depart!"
Watching Ye Xing lead the three of them out the main door with great momentum, Miko Yotsuya couldn't help but mutter quietly.
"For their first exorcism, to be acting alongside Ye Xing... isn't the difficulty level a bit too high?"
Rio Futaba said in her usual flat tone.
"His abilities are strong. For something at the level of a single Gate, he has more than enough capacity to protect Touma and the others. There's no need to worry."
"That's not what I meant."
Miko Yotsuya shook her head, her expression complicated as if recalling some painful memories.
"I meant, isn't it going to be too abstract?"
"Sigh..."
Yui Yuigahama patted Miko Yotsuya's shoulder, speaking with grave sincerity.
"Adapting to Ye Xing's abstract nature is practically an essential test on the path to becoming a professional exorcist."
...
One hour later, in front of an upscale Western restaurant.
Since it wasn't noon yet, the restaurant hadn't opened.
Ye Xing raised his hand and knocked on the door. After about ten seconds, a beautiful woman with black hair, red eyes, approximately in her early twenties, with a well-proportioned figure and an expressionless face, opened the door from inside.
"You... are the ones here for the exorcism?"
Toka Takanashi examined Ye Xing and the others with her attractive red eyes, clearly appearing sceptical.
This was understandable, since Ye Xing and the others looked to be of high school age.
Toka Takanashi was even beginning to wonder if these kids, like her own younger sister, were severe chuunibyou cases here to cause trouble.
"You're being rather dismissive."
Ye Xing spoke with a smile.
"Don't judge us by our young age - we're professional exorcists. Plus, since I can speak Italian, it's only fitting that we perform the exorcism at your Italian cuisine restaurant."
"Oh? You can speak Italian?"
Yukino Yukinoshita, Kazusa Touma, and Shoko Makinohara also looked surprised.
Ye Xing could speak Italian, too?
Truly worthy of being the Director of the Supernatural Society, a professional exorcist - his skills were indeed numerous.
Toka Takanashi's eyes flickered slightly as she asked in perfectly standard Italian:
"Come ti chiami?"
The moment this question left her lips, she saw Ye Xing smile slightly and quickly shake his head.
"Oh, you can speak Italian? Well then, never mind. Actually, I can't speak or understand it. I was just boasting randomly - how could you take me seriously?"