That afternoon, inside Osaka Station.
"You..."
Looking at Ye Xing, who stepped out of the train with a completely nonchalant expression and a smile on his face, Mai Sakurajima first clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, then couldn't help showing a slight smile, finally sighing softly before stepping forward to embrace him.
"Just coming back is enough... Just being able to return is enough..."
Ye Xing held the Mai in his arms and teased with a smile.
"Mai, your emotional transitions are truly worthy of a national-level idol actress. They could be used as teaching material for actors."
"You're still laughing?"
Mai Sakurajima lifted her foot, attempting to step on Ye Xing's instep. To her surprise, she actually succeeded.
"Eh?"
Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly, puffing her cheeks as she glared at Ye Xing.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
"Ah, this is just my way of rewarding you."
"What kind of reward is this... I don't have such strange preferences, hmph."
Only after saying this did Mai Sakurajima notice that behind Ye Xing stood a petite, cute-looking girl wearing a Miko outfit.
She froze momentarily before stepping forward with a smile to greet her.
"You must be Mitsuha Miyamizu, right? Hello, I'm Mai Sakurajima..."
"Wrong, wrong."
Ye Xing rolled his eyes, interrupting with an exasperated expression.
"You've got the wrong person. This isn't Mitsuha Miyamizu."
"Ah? She's not?"
Realising she had mistaken the girl's identity, Mai Sakurajima's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment.
This was understandable, of course.
After all, Mai Sakurajima had never met Mitsuha Miyamizu before - she had only heard about a girl from a shrine maiden family who lived in Itomori Town and possessed spiritual power talent.
Since Ye Xing had just returned from Itomori Town, and this girl was wearing a Miko outfit, she had instinctively assumed this must be that Mitsuha Miyamizu.
"I'm not Mitsuha."
The Matchmaking Deity stepped forward to Mai Sakurajima, smiling as she spoke.
"I am the Matchmaking Deity."
"Matchmaking Deity...?"
Seeing Mai Sakurajima's confused expression, Ye Xing took the initiative to explain.
"Mm, she's now called the Matchmaking Deity. Before that, she was known as the guardian deity of Itomori Town."
"Huh?"
Mai Sakurajima wore an expression that seemed unsure of where to even begin criticising this information.
Wasn't that deity's true form supposed to be those red threads that formed words?
How had it transformed into this petite, cute, sunny and energetic girl wearing a Miko outfit?
Moreover...
You went to Itomori Town and actually managed to abduct the town's guardian deity?
Only you could pull this off, Ye Xing - you've never made a losing deal in your life.
Meanwhile, the Matchmaking Deity was observing Mai Sakurajima's wrist, her eyes hinting at surprise.
Though she was no longer the guardian deity of Itomori Town and had lost the ability to observe future threads, perhaps at the moment her name changed, her abilities had transformed as well. She could now see the red threads symbolising romantic connections.
And this Mai Sakurajima had a red thread on her wrist, connected to Ye Xing's wrist.
The key problem was...
The Matchmaking Deity turned to glance at Ye Xing, looking at the numerous red threads overlapping on his wrist - practically forming a red wristband-like magical artefact - and sighed helplessly.
Just how many girls has this guy formed romantic connections with!?
His wrist is practically overflowing with red threads!
"So... Matchmaking Deity... sama?"
Hearing Mai Sakurajima's form of address, the Matchmaking Deity snapped out of her thoughts and waved her hand with a smile.
"Just call me En."
"Mm, En is fine."
Ye Xing nodded casually.
...
On the way to the inn arranged for the school trip, Mai Sakurajima briefly explained the current situation to Ye Xing and the Matchmaking Deity.
The students from Sobu High School and Toyogasaki High School had arrived in Osaka City earlier this morning.
According to the Supernatural Society's requirements, Sobu High School's arranged study trip itinerary contained very few group activities. During these three days and two nights in Osaka, students were primarily left to their own devices.
"If the intelligence is accurate, the target should arrive in Osaka City tonight and will report to the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department tomorrow morning."
The target Mai Sakurajima referred to was precisely that high-ranking official from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department who had been transformed into a psychic by the Izanami deity.
The plan Light Yagami had devised was actually quite straightforward.
If a high-ranking official were to die in Kyoto, it would cause panic among Kyoto citizens and trigger a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department...
Then why not have the target die in Osaka instead?
Moreover, it would be best if they died right inside the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, or at its main gate, in a public place with many witnesses.
The psychological evaluation reports of Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department members had previously been submitted to the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department.
Through this, the members of the Supernatural Society could roughly determine that the enemy's main body location, or rather the headquarters of the mastermind, was in Osaka.
As long as they eliminated that high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official within Osaka's boundaries, it wouldn't cause much impact on Kyoto. Not only would they remove an important enemy piece, but the Metropolitan Police Department would also focus its investigation on Osaka, effectively tying the mastermind's hands.
As Light Yagami said, from the start of this plan, the roles in this game of hide-and-seek should be reversed.
...
Meanwhile, in an apartment somewhere in Osaka's urban area.
"Failed..."
Watching the television channel that had been broadcasting ordinary news since last night, with no expected reports of a town destroyed by a falling meteorite and heavy casualties, Rikka Sakuragawa murmured to herself.
Though her expression remained quite calm, her utterly still eyes faintly revealed a twisted madness that sent chills down one's spine.
"Why... why must you interfere? This... this is just too boring..."
Rikka Sakuragawa sighed softly, standing up from the sofa as she murmured to herself.
"In that case... there's no choice but to make the final selection and destroy this city."
...
That same night, in a hotel room.
The Supernatural Society members, aside from Ye Xing, were naturally assigned a single room, one of the school's special privileges.
And even more naturally, Ye Xing had exclusive use of the hotel's best-located, most spacious room.
Of course, this wasn't entirely about having ample space to move around at night, but also about providing a private space for internal members to discuss plans together.
"Regarding tomorrow morning's plan..."
Ye Xing looked at the Supernatural Society team members before him, along with Shizuka Hiratsuka, who was serving as the teacher in charge of this school trip, and slowly began speaking.
"It might not be so simple to accomplish. We still need to be mentally prepared for combat."
"Yes, we know."
As Yui Yuigahama and the others nodded in agreement, Shizuka Hiratsuka looked completely bewildered like an outsider.
What? What plan? What combat?
Fight whom?
Fight about what?
Rio Futaba removed her glasses and spoke softly.
"Did you bring the item?"
"Yes, I brought it."
Ye Xing summoned the black ghost hand, and as it opened its fingers, a long black object fell to the ground with a dull thud.
"This is..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka examined the object on the floor, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
"Is this... a sniper rifle!? You brought a sniper rifle on a school trip!?"
"Yes, this is a sniper rifle."
Ye Xing nodded without any attempt to conceal it, then, with Shizuka Hiratsuka looking utterly horrified, he smiled and uttered a shocking statement.
"And tomorrow morning, I will use this sniper rifle to shoot through the forehead of a high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official."
Shizuka Hiratsuka: "..."
She no longer knew what to say.
Shizuka Hiratsuka wanted to say that he was spouting absurd nonsense again, but when she looked at the expressions of the others in the room, she found no trace of amusement - only complete seriousness.
"You... you... are you serious?"
"Of course."
The only members aware of this plan were the psychics: Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, Mai Sakurajima, Hina Amano, and Kazusa Touma.
As for Yukino Yukinoshita, Saki Kawasaki and the others, they remained uninformed.
After all, assassinating a high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department official with a sniper rifle in broad daylight was far beyond what ordinary people could accept.
It was predictable that after the official's death tomorrow morning, the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department would immediately launch an investigation unless they were utterly incompetent.
While the possibility of questioning students from Sobu High School and Toyogasaki High School was low, it couldn't be entirely ruled out.
Rather than having them lie, it was better to keep them genuinely unaware.
"If we have to fight..."
Rio Futaba pursed her lips, frowning slightly.
"After all, this isn't Kyoto. We know too little about Osaka. Fighting under these circumstances makes it hard to say whether unexpected situations might occur."
"With me here, there won't be any problems."
Ye Xing first delivered a rhyming line, then continued with a light laugh.
"Even if the enemy really has some plan, I'll deploy a Domain covering the entire city, separating all non-worldly entities from the mortal realm. In direct combat, we absolutely won't lose."
Hearing this, Miko Yotsuya said calmly,
"You've changed. The old you would never do this."
Ye Xing smiled indifferently.
"Of course. People grow stronger. By the way, I've devoured another portion of a delicious deity and become even stronger than before."
"No, that's not what I meant."
Miko Yotsuya shook her head, revealing a slight smile.
"If it were the old you, you'd only say you'd deploy a Domain around the hotel to protect the other club members, or protect the students from both schools. Deploying a Domain covering the entire city to protect all ordinary people in Osaka - the old you would never do that."
"Oh, just a momentary impulse."
"Keep being tsundere."
Ye Xing seemed to change the subject, shifting the conversation.
"Of course, we also have to consider the possibility that the other side has already guessed our plan. After all, it's quite unrealistic to think the mastermind would be stupid enough not to know when one of their pawns stationed in Kyoto arrives at their headquarters."
"Yes, I think so too."
Miko Yotsuya nodded. Though she couldn't help smiling at Ye Xing's tsundere refusal to admit it, serious matters took priority as she softly added her agreement.
"Although time is tight, during our free activity period today - less than eight hours total - we've already found five Gates within Osaka. This density is even more exaggerated than Kyoto's was originally. For caution's sake, we didn't enter Osaka's Reverse World, so we don't know the specific situation there."
Rio Futaba immediately continued,
"Essentially, there are two possibilities: either the enemy has detected we're trying to do something but lacks the courage to confront us directly, abandoning Osaka altogether, or they're going all-in, betting all their remaining forces on this one confrontation to face us head-on."
"We'll definitely win, but I need to emphasise one point."
At this, Rio Futaba looked towards Kazusa Touma, her tone serious.
"Kazusa, when the time comes, you'll remain at the hotel to protect the other members. Remember, the most important thing is not to expose your identity and true appearance. As long as we don't let the enemy learn our true identities, we cannot lose."
Kazusa Touma snorted lightly.
"I know that without you telling me."
"If you really knew, Nishimiya wouldn't have discovered it so easily last time."
"What was I supposed to do? I don't have your ability to create clothing from spiritual power! Was I supposed to just stand by and watch someone die!?"
Faced with Kazusa Touma's forceful retort, Rio Futaba massaged her forehead and sighed helplessly.
"Have you ever considered buying a mask to wear?"
Kazusa Touma: "..."
"What a foolish loyal dog you are."
Rio Futaba rolled her eyes and muttered in exasperation.
The Matchmaking Deity, wearing a Miko outfit, sat beside Ye Xing, curiously observing the members in the room.
From her perspective, the current Ye Xing was like a Christmas tree.
Everyone in the room, including that mature-looking woman in the white lab coat who appeared somewhat older, had red threads of fate connecting them to him.
Most remarkably, these red threads converged at a single point.
This meant that people who normally shouldn't have crossed paths had their life trajectories intersect through Ye Xing as their connection.
"So miraculous..."
The Matchmaking Deity's eyes held wonder as she thought, 'Is this how relationships work among people in big cities? Truly amazing.'
Just then, Ye Xing's door suddenly knocked, followed by a slightly shy girl's voice from outside.
"Um... Ye Xing, are you in your room?"
"I'm here, please come in."
Outside the door, Eriri took a deep breath after receiving the response, feeling her heartbeat quicken considerably.
Visiting a boy this late at night didn't fit her perfect-girl persona.
However, Eriri had never been the type to think things through calmly - she was more of an impulsive golden retriever.
If she wanted to see Ye Xing, she'd just come directly.
As for what they'd talk about when alone together... she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.
But when Eriri slid open the door and saw Ye Xing sitting inside... along with many other people, she instantly froze.
"What are you all... doing here?"
"Having an orgy, want to join?"
"Huh?"
As an experienced doujinshi artist and veteran anime fan, Eriri naturally knew exactly what that term meant. Her face instantly flushed crimson as she stammered:
"This... this..."
Before Eriri could finish speaking, her gaze suddenly caught sight of Shizuka Hiratsuka sitting there, and her entire being was so shocked it seemed her art style might change.
"Hi... Hiratsuka-sensei... You're here too!?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka's pretty face flushed slightly, wearing an embarrassed expression.
"Well... Sawamura-kun, don't listen to this guy's nonsense, we just have some matters to discuss with him..."
Yui Yuigahama glanced at the flustered Eriri standing at the doorway and proactively stood up with a sweet smile.
"It's fine anyway, we've finished discussing what we needed to say, so we'll be going first."
The other members had no particular objections, but Kazusa Touma remained seated motionless.
"I'm not leaving."
"Let's go, Touma."
"No, I'm not leaving."
"Is that so?"
Yui Yuigahama said as if casually.
"Oh, what a pity. I heard Hana and Setsuna bought lots of desserts and snacks today. Since you're not coming, Touma, I suppose we'll just have to share them among ourselves."
"You..."
Kazusa Touma lightly bit her teeth, showing an indecisive expression, before finally casting a tentative glance towards Ye Xing. The latter chuckled helplessly and waved his hand.
"Since she put it that way, you can go if you want. School trips are meant for you girls to chat together anyway."
"Hmm... alright then."
Tempted by the promise of sweets, Kazusa Touma ultimately relented and followed Yui Yuigahama and the others out of the room.
The Matchmaking Deity remained seated, looking like an inquisitive child as she gazed at Eriri's wrist.
Hmm, confirmed.
There was a red thread.
"Um, Ye Xing, I..."
Before Eriri could finish speaking, the room's door suddenly slid open again.
Turning around, she immediately furrowed her brow.
"What are you doing here?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka appeared completely unfazed as she replied nonchalantly.
"I'm here for the same reason you are. You've been distracted since dinner - anyone could tell."
"You..."
Eriri glared resentfully at Utaha Kasumigaoka, thinking to herself, 'This sharp-tongued, scheming girl ruined this rare chance to be alone. How infuriating.'
The Matchmaking Deity glanced over again.
Confirmed, there was a red thread.
It seemed like every girl who appeared around Ye Xing had a red thread of fate connecting them to him.
Just then, a slightly timid voice came from outside the still-open door.
"Um... Ye Xing-kun."
A girl with short silver hair and a pale complexion, wearing athletic clothes, stood outside with an apologetic smile.
"Would you like to come to our room to chat for a while?"
"Huh?"
The Matchmaking Deity instinctively looked at the girl's wrist, then showed a puzzled expression as she tugged at Ye Xing's sleeve and whispered.
"Eh, why don't you have a red thread with her?"
Ye Xing looked exasperated.
"Because Saika Totsuka is a boy."