Early next morning, outside Itomori Town.
"I've roughly compiled the criminal psychological profile you requested."
Hearing Light Yagami's somewhat weary and listless voice, Ye Xing replied with a smile.
"Did you stay up all night compiling this criminal psychological profile? You've worked hard."
"Between us, there's no need for such formalities."
Light Yagami said this first, then his voice took on a chilling tone as he slowly continued.
"The poisoning deaths in Tokyo, the police officers killed at the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, and my father's damaged reputation forcing him to resign - the mastermind behind all this is an evil that pollutes this world. Like you, I want to find this person's true identity and completely erase them from this world."
After saying this, Light Yagami paused briefly before speaking gravely.
"Based on the materials you sent me, I can roughly analyse the following points."
"The criminal possesses intelligence beyond that of ordinary people, as well as information-gathering abilities. In others' eyes, they would likely be considered outstanding."
"Given that they currently seem to only target Tokyo and Kyoto, I suspect the criminal's true objective isn't against psychics themselves, but rather against the images of Kira and Mask, and what these two images represent."
Hearing this, Ye Xing nodded slightly in agreement.
"Yes, I share that feeling. Rather than wanting to defeat psychics, it seems more like they want to create panic among citizens through these methods."
"Exactly."
Light Yagami continued immediately.
"This proves the criminal has strong antisocial tendencies while maintaining high rationality, indicating this isn't impulsive behaviour triggered by some sudden event, but deeply rooted madness. Based on my experience, over ninety percent of criminals who become like this do so due to family environment or childhood psychological trauma."
"Overall, the criminal possesses intelligence beyond that of ordinary people, shows indifference to their surroundings, appears normal on the surface, but has distorted thinking patterns. Though their actions seem cautious, they're attempting to create powerful evil spirits. Unless the criminal isn't in Japan or possesses some special ability for self-protection, they probably also have strong self-destructive tendencies."
Light Yagami paused slightly, took a sip of water from his cup, then continued.
"If it were me, I'd start by checking medical records from hospitals in every city... no, including small towns and rural areas. Someone with abnormal mental state and self-destructive tendencies would definitely have records of self-harm or even suicide attempts."
"Combined with being someone considered outstanding in others' eyes, though the scope remains broad, we at least have some leads to begin investigating."
"There's one more thing."
Light Yagami looked at the materials in his hand and spoke slowly.
"Currently known transformed psychics: Tamura once visited a psychological clinic, while Seishu Akoya, as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department and Director of the Mobile Task Force, with his relatively extreme ideologies, would certainly have undergone internal psychological consultations within the Metropolitan Police Department to assess his mental fitness for continued duty. This is their only commonality."
"Perhaps one of the necessary conditions for the mastermind to activate their ability is understanding a person's inner thoughts and obsessions. Having access to the psychological consultation records of Metropolitan Police Department members could very well be another lead worth pursuing."
Upon hearing Light Yagami's words, Ye Xing pondered over the phone.
High intelligence, indifference to surroundings, distorted thinking patterns from childhood environment, disguising oneself as normal...
This sounded somewhat similar to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji from Advanced Nurturing High School.
But upon second thought, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji only met those three conditions and had nothing to do with antisocial behaviour, self-destruction, self-harm, or suicide.
Besides, when you really thought about it, there were plenty of people who fit those three criteria - high intelligence, indifference to surroundings, and problematic childhood environments.
He himself fit the description, too.
So did that mean he was the mastermind?
That was ridiculous.
"By the way."
Light Yagami rubbed his tired eyes and suddenly spoke up.
"Did you know my father is going to work in the special investigation team chasing Kira at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?"
"I know. He called me as soon as he received the notification."
Hearing this, Light Yagami couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile and teased.
"It seems like you're his real son instead."
"Hey."
Ye Xing made a displeased sound, his tone serious.
"Yagami, don't mess up the hierarchy. Your father and I are good brothers. The only reason I'm not making you call me Uncle Ye Xing is that we're keeping things casual between us. You can't be disrespectful to your uncle.'
"Can't get enough of taking advantage, can you?"
After bantering with Light Yagami for a moment, Ye Xing finally changed the subject.
"What are your thoughts about your father joining the investigation team?"
"I think it's fine."
Light Yagami's voice showed no emotion, maintaining his usual calm tone.
"Although I have no intention of killing any police officers in the investigation team, if the mastermind behind the recent Kyoto incidents wants to use the investigation team members - even that famous detective himself - to cause panic among Tokyo's citizens as they did with Seishu Akoya, then I naturally won't hold back either."
"Aren't you worried your father might be turned into a psychic by that guy?"
"Impossible."
Light Yagami shook his head.
"If they could do that, the enemy would have done it already. There was no need to go through all the trouble of making my father resign. The enemy's ability must have some limitations. That's their weakness, and it will be their biggest flaw that exposes them to us."
...
Later that evening, in Itomori Town, at the Miyamizu residence.
"Grandma, we're heading out."
"Alright, be careful."
Mitsuha Miyamizu and Yotsuha Miyamizu went out together. Yotsuha noticed her older sister's somewhat dazed expression and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"What's wrong?"
Mitsuha Miyamizu shook her head and forced a smile.
"It's nothing... I just suddenly had a strange feeling."
"Thinking about love again?"
"Stop that! What do you mean by thinking about love? You're too young to be saying such things."
"Whatever, then you can think about love by yourself. I'm going ahead."
Watching her younger sister's retreating figure, Mitsuha Miyamizu sighed softly and lowered her head as she walked towards the school.
Along the way, she heard a familiar voice.
"Everyone, the comet passing by in half a month is an opportunity for our town! Hundreds and thousands of tourists will come to Itomori Town just to witness the comet's passage at the closest distance! This is a rare business opportunity!"
Mitsuha Miyamizu buried her head even lower, as if wanting to crawl into a crack in the ground. However, the man standing on the platform, holding a microphone and delivering an impassioned speech, noticed her, frowning sternly.
"Mitsuha! How many times have I told you! Walk with your head held high! What kind of behaviour is this!?"
Hearing this, Mitsuha Miyamizu noticed the gazes of her uniformed classmates around her and heard their whispered comments. She was too embarrassed to describe, simply continuing to lower her head and quickly walking past.
"The town mayor is truly consistent, being so strict even with his own daughter."
"If I were scolded like that in front of everyone, I'd probably want to die."
"Shh, keep your voice down. She's the noble shrine maiden and the town mayor's daughter, don't gossip carelessly."
"Haha, you're really being sarcastic."
Listening to the murmurs around her, Mitsuha's hands at her sides unconsciously clenched, and she whispered in a voice only she could hear:
"Please let me leave this place... I really don't want to stay here anymore."
Just as her words faded, Mitsuha suddenly bumped into someone's body. Before she could apologise, a familiar voice filled with laughter sounded.
"Since you don't want to stay here, how about coming to Kyoto with me?"
"Eh?"
Mitsuha froze for a moment, slowly raising her head to look at Ye Xing standing before her. She first rubbed her eyes, then her face lit up with surprise.
"You... Ye Xing!"
Mitsuha exclaimed joyfully at first, then noticed the strange looks her classmates were giving her. A blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks as she softly said:
"Well... It's not holiday time now, is it... Why have you come so suddenly... You could have told me before coming; I could have picked you up."
Ye Xing smiled.
"Let's talk while walking, or you'll be late for school."
"Okay."
Mitsuha noticed the peculiar looks from her classmates around them. After all, Ye Xing's appearance was exceptionally striking, and unlike the other students, he wasn't wearing the uniform of Itomori Town Middle School, making him particularly conspicuous.
She could easily imagine what these people would be gossiping about behind her back.
But then she thought...
It doesn't matter.
"During this time... have you been alright?"
Mitsuha had personally witnessed Ye Xing's transformation and his battles against evil spirits. She certainly knew he was Kyoto's Mask.
"Pretty good. If things were bad, I wouldn't be able to stand here now."
Ye Xing replied casually, handing the lunchbox he was holding to Mitsuha.
"As promised. Dessert personally made by that master chef I mentioned."
"You actually remembered..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu showed a touched expression, smiling sweetly as she said.
"Then let's eat it together."
"Eh, I brought this specially for you. How could I eat it?"
"But..."
"No buts, just eat it."
"Um... alright."
Mitsuha Miyamizu felt something wasn't quite right, but still opened the lunchbox and carefully picked up one of the pastries, placing it in her mouth.
In that instant, the taste buds of the shrine maiden family heir from a remote mountain village were shocked by the culinary creation from the distant Kyoto City's Supernatural Society ambassador, the ultimate genius in cooking representing the pinnacle of culinary arts, the inventor of Yahallo, the cute-faced yet kitchen devil known as Yui Yuigahama.
"This..."
Feeling the taste transmitted to her tongue, Mitsuha's pupils began to tremble.
This flavour could only be described with one term, a term that shouldn't originally be used to describe food.
That word was: mixed feelings.
At this moment, Mitsuha felt like her taste buds had been ruthlessly run over by a truck loaded with all kinds of seasonings - except for sugar.
The most absurd thing was that despite such a 'complex' flavour, the texture of this pastry was actually quite good - soft, chewy, yet not sticky.
How could the flavour and texture be so distinctly separate!?
Did the person who made this dish have some kind of wonderful schizophrenia!?
"This pastry..."
Mitsuha closed the lunchbox with a complicated expression, looking at Ye Xing as she cautiously asked.
"It wasn't made by you, was it?"
"No, it wasn't."
"Phew, that's good."
Hearing this answer, Mitsuha sighed with relief like a weight had been lifted, pursing her lips as she said.
"What culinary master? This has reached a new level of terrible taste - it could be called the art of bad taste."
Ye Xing asked curiously.
"If you want to critique it, just critique it directly. Why first ask if I made it?"
Mitsuha froze for a moment, a blush spreading across her face as she turned away with a light hum.
"Hmph, saying to someone's face that food they personally made and specially brought over tastes terrible - my emotional intelligence isn't that low."
"Then if I said I made it, would you finish it?"
Hearing Ye Xing's amused question, the blush on Mitsuha's face became more pronounced. After a long moment, she finally nodded.
"Yes... I would."
Ye Xing shook his head, taking the lunchbox from Mitsuha's hands as he chuckled lightly.
"That's not necessary, I was just teasing you. We don't need to gamble with our lives."
Hearing this, Mitsuha puffed her cheeks angrily.
"You did it on purpose, right!?"
"Back to business."
Ye Xing quickly adjusted his expression as if nothing had happened, speaking softly.
"Two days, six days, fourteen days."
Mitsuha frowned slightly, confused.
"Ah? What are you talking about?"
"Itomori Town will encounter disasters sufficient to destroy the entire town and cause the deaths of all residents in two days, six days, and fifteen days."
Mitsuha's first reaction upon hearing this was to instinctively refute.
"How could that be? Are you..."
But the next second, she suddenly remembered Ye Xing's true identity, and the transaction made between him and the deity her Miyamizu family had worshipped for generations.
"So you mean... Is it true?"
Seeing Mitsuha Miyamizu's utterly incredulous expression, Ye Xing nodded.
"Yes, it's true."
"How could... this..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu's mind raced, and after a few seconds she immediately lowered her voice.
"Then we must evacuate all residents."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple."
Ye Xing shook his head and spoke softly.
"There are several outsiders in Itomori Town right now who, like me, possess abilities beyond those of ordinary people. Of course, they're definitely not as strong as me, but if they notice residents starting to evacuate and their plans are disrupted... their mental states aren't exactly stable to begin with. If they decide to go all out, I can't guarantee with absolute certainty that I can protect everyone."
"Moreover, even if we evacuate this time, as long as these people still exist, it would just mean the same disaster-making attempt happening at a different time and place. Nothing fundamentally changes."
"So we must eliminate these people first."
Mitsuha Miyamizu took a deep breath, trying to process all the information Ye Xing had shared, her expression firm.
"What do you need me to do then?"
Mitsuha Miyamizu was a girl with considerable courage and high executive ability.
After all, in the original storyline, she had successfully saved the entire Itomori Town. Though she had help from that red thread guardian deity, this achievement alone was enough to prove Mitsuha's capabilities.
"During this period, have you noticed any peculiar Gates appearing in town? If it's you, you should be able to sense something unusual about that Gate if you've seen it."
"Peculiar Gates..."
Mitsuha searched her memories but ultimately shook her head.
"I haven't seen any. But since I haven't noticed anything, we can rule out the places I frequently visit, narrowing down the search area, right?"
"Oh, you're quite clever?"
Mitsuha looked at him with an exasperated expression.
"What's with that surprised tone? I'm not stupid, you know? I'm a genuine shrine maiden."
"Alright then, shrine maiden. Can you unlock the shrine maiden CG for me later?"
"CG...? Do you want to see me in Miko outfit..."
Mitsuha hesitated slightly before obediently nodding.
"If you want to see... It's not impossible."
"Anyway, we'll talk more after school. I'll come pick you up then."
"Okay."
Mitsuha nodded slightly, thinking to herself.
'Is this the meaning of my existence, and that of the Miyamizu family shrine maidens throughout generations?'
'The lives of Itomori Town and all its residents now rest on my shoulders.'
...
Noon, Sobu High School, Class 1-A classroom.
"Touma-san, someone's looking for you."
"Touma-san?"
Hearing the urging voice beside her, Kazusa Touma lifted her head, brows slightly furrowed with impatience.
She was already in a bad mood because Ye Xing wasn't at school today and had even taken half a month's leave, meaning she couldn't see him. She had even considered skipping class altogether, but now she'd been abruptly awakened from her sleep, which made her quite irritable.
"Who's looking for me?"
Kazusa Touma stood up and looked toward the classroom's back door, where a girl with long, flaxen hair, a cute face, and a somewhat timid appearance that made one instinctively want to protect her was waving.
"Oh, it's you."
Kazusa Touma walked over, stretching her stiff neck.
"What was your name again... Let me think, Shouko Toguya?"
Shouko Nishimiya shook her head, lowered her head to write her name in her notebook, then immediately opened it to show Kazusa Touma.
"Oh, right, Shouko Nishimiya."
Kazusa Touma slightly furrowed her brows.
"You... can't speak?"
Shouko Nishimiya shook her head again, first brushing aside the hair by her ear and pointing to the white hearing aid in her ear, then writing another sentence in her notebook.
[I have hearing impairment, my speaking voice sounds strange... so... let's communicate through writing. Touma-san can speak normally. I'm wearing a hearing aid, so it's fine.]
After reading this sentence in the notebook, Kazusa Touma's brows furrowed even tighter as she shook her head.
"No, since you can speak, why not just speak directly?"
[But... my voice is strange, I'm afraid Touma-san won't be able to understand me clearly...]
Seeing Shouko Nishimiya's timid appearance, Kazusa Touma raised her hand to smooth her own black hair.
Her tone wasn't friendly, and she didn't treat Shouko Nishimiya with the careful delicacy most people showed upon seeing her hearing aid, as if she were handling fragile artwork. Instead, she maintained her usual speaking manner, speaking bluntly.
"Just speak. If you speak and I don't understand, that's my problem, not your responsibility."