Hitoha turned her head to look at Ye Xing leaning casually against the cave entrance with a frivolous expression, shaking her head helplessly.
"You foolish boy, what nonsense are you talking? In this place, you should at least show some respect for the deity."
"I can't respect them one bit."
Ye Xing walked slowly into the cave, looking at the stone tablet where the kuchikamizake was placed. He wiped the dust from its surface and suddenly spoke.
"Take another look now—what does Itomori Town's future look like?"
Hitoha stared blankly, confused.
"What future..."
Just as she was halfway through her sentence, strands of red thread suddenly appeared in the air, quickly forming words.
[Let me see... Eh? The blurred section on the future thread has disappeared! This means... the calamity due in one day has been resolved!]
"Just as I thought..."
Ye Xing nodded noncommittally, crouching down to examine the stone tablet before him and the kuchikamizake offerings from Mitsuha and Yotsuha, packaged in two small wooden boxes.
"The first potential calamity for Itomori Town was caused by those five... no, six psychics. Under that illusion ability, ordinary people would certainly panic. Just making the townspeople see illusions would make them attack each other, and then all that's needed is some cleanup. Though that guy's spiritual power isn't strong, her ability feels like it was born specifically for such purposes—truly disgusting."
Meanwhile, Yotsuha and Hitoha, watching the red threads that had suddenly appeared and formed sentences in the air, rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
"Wh-what... what is this!?"
"Huh?"
Ye Xing turned to look at the grandmother and granddaughter pair, speaking softly with a smile.
"You've been worshipping the deity your Miyamizu family has enshrined for over a thousand years, yet you don't even know what they look like?"
After this initial remark, Ye Xing then asked.
"Grandma Hitoha, didn't you receive revelations from the deity? Haven't you seen their true form?"
Hearing this, Itomori Town's guardian deity proactively explained.
[Lord Ye Xing, while little Hitoha is a competent shrine maiden, her talent in spiritual power isn't particularly strong. She might not necessarily be able to see me. Moreover, she's elderly now - to avoid startling her, when I delivered the revelation before, I used the traditional method of appearing in dreams.]
"Oh, I see."
Watching Ye Xing conversing with the red threads as if having an ordinary chat, the shrine maiden grandmother and granddaughter pair, Yotsuha Miyamizu and Hitoha Miyamizu, were completely dumbfounded.
Wait...
These red threads were the true form of the deity that their Miyamizu family had worshipped for generations?
This...
The key point was that their own deity was addressing Ye Xing as Lord?
What kind of relationship was this exactly?
Normally, even if Itomori Town's guardian deity proactively manifested, not everyone would be able to see them.
Only those with spiritual power, or someone like Mitsuha Miyamizu who possessed exceptional talent in spiritual energy, could see the red threads. Yotsuha and Hitoha didn't belong to either category.
But in this place, it was different.
This was the exact centre point of the crater formed by the meteorite impact twelve hundred years ago. This cave, where kuchikamizake was offered, was the actual shrine of Itomori Town's guardian deity. Even ordinary people, as long as they were inside this cave, could see the red threads representing the deity, similar to how that malevolent Mountain God could only attack humans within the boundaries of that mountain, following the same principle.
"Mitsuha... you..."
Noticing that her granddaughter Mitsuha showed no surprise at all after the red threads appeared, Hitoha Miyamizu immediately realised.
"You... have seen the deity's true form?"
"Hmm..."
Mitsuha's expression appeared somewhat complicated.
Mainly because she didn't know how to describe it to her grandmother, nor how to tell her that, actually, this deity's personality... was a bit abstract.
Who could handle this?
The deity that she and her family ancestors had always revered and worshipped, when they finally saw their true form, turned out to be an abstract deity who liked flattery, frequently had to suck up to Ye Xing, and even tried to play matchmaker between her granddaughter and another boy.
This news was too shocking. What if the old lady got so startled she had a seizure? Who could take responsibility for that?
[However...]
Itomori Town's guardian deity formed a new sentence.
[Although the calamity due in one day has disappeared, the blurred section on the timeline five days from now, and the break more than ten days later, still remain.]
"Of course they remain, are you stupid?"
Ye Xing spoke with complete indifference.
"Logically speaking, if there's a possibility of Itomori Town facing catastrophic destruction in one day, then your so-called future-predicting threads should have broken off from this point. But that hasn't happened. Perhaps this means that me killing those psychics is also part of your prediction. Or rather, precisely because I prevented the disaster one day later, I triggered another disaster five days later. This is a matter of cause and effect."
The guardian deity of Itomori Town remained silent for a while before responding.
[I don't understand.]
Ye Xing looked utterly speechless.
"You're really stupid..."
Meanwhile, Mitsuha Miyamizu seemed thoughtful as she said.
"You mean... what the divine being's future threads predict indicates that the disappearance of those people will cause some change, leading to the disaster five days later? In other words... might there be ill-intentioned people infiltrating the town again? Attempting to create another disaster?"
"Yes, that's roughly the meaning."
Ye Xing glanced at the red threads floating in the air.
"If only you were as smart as Mitsuha."
[Ehehe~]
"What's with the 'ehehe'? Don't try to act cute here. No matter how strange human preferences get, they wouldn't extend to having a thing for red threads. That won't work on me."
[My divine envoy being smart means I'm smart too. Same thing, same thing.]
...
For the next three days, Ye Xing searched throughout Itomori Town for the white Gate that could cause earthquakes. Coinciding with the weekend, Mitsuha Miyamizu accompanied him in the search, but they found no trace of such a white Gate.
Perhaps the reason for Itomori Town's disaster wasn't an earthquake. Or perhaps, the Gate would only appear hours before the disaster occurred.
During this period, the guardian deity of Itomori Town maintained high alert, using its spiritual power to investigate everyone entering the town.
There was no longer any concern about alerting the enemy.
After all, according to the mastermind's original plan, Itomori Town should have already experienced a disaster. Without even needing specific communication, just by not seeing related news reports on television, the other party should realise their pawns had met with unexpected circumstances.
The question now was, what would they do next?
...
After school on Monday, in the Supernatural Society activity room at Sobu High School.
"I can't take it anymore."
Kazusa Touma stood up, scanning the other psychic members before her, and slowly spoke.
"I'm going to Itomori Town."
"Are you joking?"
Rio Futaba slightly frowned, adjusted her glasses, and sighed helplessly.
"Even if you go now, you might be able to help a little, but facing a disaster like a meteor falling from the sky, what can your power alone accomplish?"
Kazusa Touma narrowed her eyes slightly, countering without backing down.
"If he went there, it means he has the ability to stop that disaster."
"And what if... he can't stop it?"
"Then I'll die with him."
"You... I really don't know what to say."
Rio Futaba shook her head and spoke with grave concern.
"Kazusa, calm down. The disaster hasn't arrived yet, and besides, didn't he already prevent the first disaster? Rather than Itomori Town's crisis, what we should be considering now is the issue with Kyoto."
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima couldn't help but voice her confusion.
"But hasn't nothing happened in Kyoto City during this period?"
Rio Futaba took a sip from her coffee cup and said calmly, "The fact that nothing has happened is precisely what warrants caution. According to the intelligence Ye Xing sent back, the enemy seems to have abandoned competing through spiritual power and now possesses heavy firearms. Aside from Ye Xing and Miko, none of the rest of us have the defensive capability to remain unscathed against direct sniper fire, right?"
"This..."
Seeing the somewhat complicated expressions on Mai Sakurajima and the others' faces, Rio Futaba continued.
"However, heavy weapons like sniper rifles aren't something that can be easily obtained. If the enemy isn't foolish, they'll minimise their usage because, regardless of how they acquired them, traces would inevitably be left behind."
"The Shinomiya Group is currently investigating and sent some intelligence to Ye Xing today. He asked me to convey it to you all so we can discuss our next steps together."
At this point, Rio Futaba paused slightly, looking at the members before her as she slowly continued.
"Six months ago, the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department requested from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, under the pretext of investigating a confidential case, all operational records of Kyoto's entire mobile task force members, including commander Seishu Akoya, as well as psychological evaluation data for these members."
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly in confusion.
"The Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department... should be equal in rank to the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department. Unless it was an order from the Tokyo Headquarters, why would Kyoto just hand over confidential materials like that?"
Rio Futaba replied in a flat tone, "Ye Xing asked Soichiro Yagami about this. Chief Yagami said that at the time, he didn't have much authority within the police department. The order came from a certain high-ranking official."
Mai Sakurajima said thoughtfully, "Issuing such an order... that means this high-ranking official must be one of the so-called Izanami God's believers?"
"Correct."
Rio Futaba nodded, then added, "But considering the impact on Kyoto City, we can't eliminate him just yet."
"What a hot potato."
Hina Amano sighed, worry appearing on her face.
"We can't eliminate him, but if we let him stay, who knows what might happen... This is really difficult."
"Considering this exact point, Light Yagami, who's currently in Tokyo, has provided us with a plan."
Rio Futaba lightly tapped the table with her pale, slender index finger as she slowly explained.
"His exact words were: If we're worried about affecting Kyoto's Reverse World, then we just need to ensure this police department official doesn't die within Kyoto City's boundaries."
"Hmm?"
Miko Yotsuya, who had remained silent until now, seemed to have thought of something as she murmured to herself.
"Meaning... we eliminate the target not within Kyoto city limits, but in another city? But given his position as a high-ranking official at Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, getting him to leave his jurisdiction for another city..."
"Never mind how we'd accomplish that - if we eliminate the target in another city, the sudden death of a high-ranking police official would definitely prompt the Metropolitan Police Department to deploy all investigative resources, whether to quell public opinion or maintain order."
"In such circumstances, our movements would likely be exposed. After all, several high school students suddenly leaving their home city without any particular reason, travelling to another city where a high-ranking police official just happens to be murdered on the same day - such a coincidence would be enough grounds for suspicion."
"Although there wouldn't be any legally valid evidence left behind, for that mastermind behind the scenes, mere suspicion would be sufficient reason to take action. Even if they're mistaken, it's just killing a few innocent high school students - given the moral values they've displayed, that wouldn't be anything worth worrying about."
Hearing these questions raised by Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba nodded slightly and said quietly.
"Getting him to go to Osaka shouldn't be difficult. After all, that Gan'an Shinomiya has reached some kind of agreement with Ye Xing, and although Chief Yagami is no longer the chief and has been transferred to Tokyo, he still has some connections within the Metropolitan Police Department."
"As for the other issues you mentioned..."
Rio Futaba sighed softly with a complicated expression.
"That's where Light Yagami's brilliance lies. To be honest, I feel quite fortunate now that he shares the same ideals as Ye Xing, that they can understand each other and stand as comrades on our side. If he were in the opposing camp, he would be an extremely formidable enemy."
Just then, the clubroom door was knocked.
"Come in."
Shizuka Hiratsuka entered, glanced at the Supernatural Society members present, then sighed slightly.
"Have you decided on the school trip location? And... will Ye Xing... be going? It seems his leave just happens to end when the school trip begins."
"He'll be going."
Rio Futaba replied calmly first, then immediately added.
"As for the school trip location, we've decided that too."
"Where to?"
To be honest, Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't really care about the destination anymore, as long as Ye Xing came along.
She'd found life too boring when he wasn't at school, to the point where she didn't even know what to do with herself every day.
Rio Futaba looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka, who stood at the door, showing a slight smile as she spoke quietly.
"Osaka."
...
That evening, in Mitsuha Miyamizu's room at the Miyamizu residence.
"Another day with nothing found..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu lay on the floor bedding, looking completely exhausted. She sighed first, then looked at Ye Xing sitting there, forcing her tired body to sit up as she said quietly.
"I'll take a leave from school tomorrow. There are still many places in town we haven't visited."
"Whatever you say."
Ye Xing smiled and replied casually.
"But there are already many people spreading rumours, saying that a young girl like you spends every weekend with her boyfriend, going deep into remote mountains and forests, secluded and uninhabited places, and some even say..."
Mitsuha Miyamizu asked in confusion.
"Say what?"
"That you're doing it to hide from your mayor father, not daring to check into hotels, so you have to go to those remote mountain areas to... do intimate things with your dear boyfriend."
"Eh?"
Mitsuha first made a confused sound, then her face flushed bright red.
"Eh!? Th-this... this... this..."
"Can't even straighten out your tongue?"
Seeing Ye Xing's smiling face, Mitsuha felt both embarrassed and angry.
"You... you're still laughing! Th-this... how am I supposed to stay in this town from now on? And there's no way to explain to others..."
"Very simple."
Ye Xing replied indifferently.
"After this matter is resolved, you can just come live with me in Kyoto, right?"
"Kyoto?"
Hearing this, Mitsuha's eyes sparkled, first showing an expectant expression, then her face darkened as she murmured.
"My father... probably wouldn't agree to me leaving here, and... the Miyamizu family still needs a shrine maiden..."
Just as Mitsuha finished speaking, a wisp of red thread suddenly appeared before her, forming four large characters.
[I have no objection.]
Mitsuha: "..."
Come to think of it, this was rather bizarre.
As a shrine maiden family, the Miyamizu indeed had the lifelong duty of serving the gods as shrine maidens.
But when the deity themself said they had no objection...
This issue no longer existed.
"You see? They have no objection."
Ye Xing understood this guardian deity of Itomori Town.
Would they object? Impossible.
This guardian deity of Itomori Town would be more than happy for him to consummate the marriage with Mitsuha Miyamizu tonight, turning raw rice into cooked rice and doing everything that should be done.
Thinking about it, this was quite normal. After all, the other party had existed for over a thousand years. In the guardian deity's concept, sixteen or seventeen-year-old males and females should have long been married with children.
"As for your father..."
Ye Xing rested his chin on one hand, looking at Mitsuha with a smile as he spoke.
"With rumours like these circulating, and Itomori Town being such a small place, you basically can't marry anyone here. If you're to marry, it can only be me."