"Ye Xing, Ye Xing, come here quickly, come here! Look at this, look at this!"
Saki Kawasaki tugged at Ye Xing's hand, pulling him over to a claw machine. Pressing against the transparent glass, she stared at a chibi-style plush toy inside, her entire face lighting up with excitement.
"This one, if I'm not mistaken, is an anime character that Marin likes, called... called something like a succubus, right?"
"From that daily life warm-hearted four-panel comic?"
"Yes, that's the one."
Saki Kawasaki first nodded, then looked meaningfully at Ye Xing beside her.
"Hmm? How would you know? You don't seem like the type who would watch warm-hearted, daily-life comedy comics. Could it be...?"
Ye Xing smiled casually as he replied.
"As the founder and Director of the Supernatural Society, understanding each member's preferences is my unavoidable responsibility."
Saki Kawasaki snorted lightly, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of jealousy.
"Then tell me, what are my preferences?"
"You enjoy acting like a mother to children."
"Huh?"
Seeing Saki's surprised expression, Ye Xing chuckled.
"That's not what I said - it's what Keika said."
"That girl... honestly..."
Saki Kawasaki shook her head and sighed helplessly.
"What's this about enjoying being a mother? I'm just doing what an older sister should do, especially since my family situation is rather special."
"Hmm."
Ye Xing first nodded noncommittally, then added.
"Keika also said you like running straight out of the bathroom without clothes after bathing, calling you an exhibitionist, and suggesting I should find an opportunity to bathe with you."
Hearing this, Saki's fair face instantly flushed bright red with embarrassment and anger, gritting her teeth as she said resentfully.
"That little brat... I'll deal with her when I get home..."
"You'd actually punish her? Don't make me laugh."
Ye Xing clearly didn't believe Saki would do anything extreme to her younger sister Keika Kawasaki.
Since childhood, Saki had never even hit her sister, nor spoken a single harsh word to her.
Her approach was all about indulgence.
"You're a hopeless siscon."
"None of your business! Insert coins, I want to try the claw machine."
"Fine."
...
Ten minutes later.
"No... this can't be..."
Saki Kawasaki stared at the chibi-style doll inside the glass cabinet - though she had managed to grab it awkwardly, it remained stubbornly in place - her expression full of frustration as her two fair hands clenched into fists.
"Why... why, why can't I catch it!"
Ye Xing stood to the side, his face full of a speechless expression.
"Hey, I'm saying, we finally get to go on a date, and you leave your boyfriend aside to play with a claw machine - you're really something."
"Shut... shut up!"
Saki Kawasaki first retorted irritably, then her eyes flickered twice as she spoke in a somewhat complicated low voice.
"I was thinking since we're out... I should bring something back for Marin, because... because..."
Seeing Saki Kawasaki hesitate to speak, Ye Xing had already guessed why she was doing this. After all, he wasn't one of those dense, gentle male protagonists, but the great Harem God who was highly sensitive to emotions.
"You feel guilty, right?"
Ye Xing restrained his smile, his voice very calm.
"Because this time you came out alone with me, without inviting Kitagawa-san, so you have this inexplicable sense of guilt. Of course, you know yourself that this feeling is completely unreasonable, since going on a date with your lover shouldn't have anything to do with your friend, but you still feel this way."
"That's why, after seeing this chibi doll, you've been absent-minded and distracted, thinking of compensating Kitagawa-san by bringing back a surprise gift."
"Am I right?"
Saki Kawasaki lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time before finally nodding and speaking quietly.
"Yes... that's right... I know I shouldn't feel this way... but..."
Ye Xing waved his hand, interrupting with a light laugh.
"Hey, easy solution. No need to look so heartbroken, it's not a big deal."
Then, Ye Xing reached out both hands, cupping Saki Kawasaki's fair cheeks, looking directly into her eyes as he spoke seriously.
"To prevent my girlfriend from having such feelings again, I've decided to invite Marin Kitagawa-san to join the deluxe package."
Saki Kawasaki was completely bewildered by this.
"Eh? That's how this develops?"
"Of course that's how this develops."
Ye Xing nodded, walked to the claw machine, and bent down to retrieve the chibi doll from below. Only then did Saki Kawasaki notice that somehow, that chibi succubus doll had already been caught.
Then, Ye Xing placed the chibi succubus doll in Saki Kawasaki's hands, smiling as he said.
"No need to refuse. This is my duty as your lover."
Saki Kawasaki looked at the chibi succubus doll in her hands, momentarily unable to tell whether the duty Ye Xing was referring to was this chibi doll or that cosplay-loving gyaru life-sized real doll.
...
Meanwhile, in a shopping mall in Osaka.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the people before her, sighed slightly, and appeared completely bored.
"I really don't understand why you had to drag me along when you go shopping."
"Don't say that, Yukino."
Yui Yuigahama held Yukino Yukinoshita's arm, wearing a sweet, simple-minded smile.
"We finally get to go on a school trip, of course we should all go out and have fun together"
"That may be true..."
Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at the various undergarments displayed on the shelves of this women's lingerie boutique, then swept her gaze over the Supernatural Society members browsing nearby, particularly Rio Futaba and Hana Yurikawa, before letting out another sigh.
Dango, are you sure this is a group outing rather than deliberate humiliation?
As this thought crossed her mind, Yukino Yukinoshita looked towards Kazusa Touma, who was selecting lingerie with Setsuna Ogiso not far away, and felt slightly relieved.
At least there's still Kazusa Touma, who's similarly... underdeveloped like me...
Just then, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly overheard Kazusa Touma softly telling the shop assistant beside her:
"This one, please get me a 32D."
"Certainly, please wait a moment."
Yukino Yukinoshita's pupils trembled.
What!?
32D!?
Was this... some kind of secret code?
Yukino Yukinoshita's lips parted slightly as she stared incredulously at Kazusa Touma, unwilling to believe that someone who appeared equally underdeveloped could possess such astonishing measurements.
How can such slender branches bear such heavy fruit?
At that moment.
"Sorry, miss..."
Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze shifted to the shop assistant, who wore an apologetic expression as she addressed Rio Futaba and Hana Yurikawa.
"For this young lady's size, I can check if we have it in the storeroom, but..."
The shop assistant looked towards Hana Yurikawa, whose white shirt was straining at the chest area, and seemed on the verge of tears.
"For your size, we genuinely don't have anything in our store. I'm terribly sorry, my apologies."
"Eh..."
Hana Yurikawa maintained her typically airheaded expression, sighing slightly as she murmured in confusion.
"How strange... why has buying lingerie become increasingly difficult since I entered ninth grade..."
Rio Futaba couldn't help but retort beside her.
"Don't you know exactly why it's difficult?"
Hana Yurikawa blinked.
"Why?"
Rio Futaba shook her head in exasperation.
"Those who understand, understand."
Before Yukino Yukinoshita could process the distant conversation, Yui Yuigahama came running over, holding a set of lingerie and speaking excitedly.
"Yukino, Yukino! Look at this set, isn't it lovely? Pure white lace, and the craftsmanship and material are excellent, too. Let's buy matching friendship lingerie sets!"
If anyone else had made such an absurd suggestion, Yukino Yukinoshita would have refused outright without hesitation.
But seeing the hopeful expectation shining in Yui Yuigahama's eyes, she found herself unable to reject her, only managing a soft sigh.
"Fine."
"Wonderful!"
The shop assistant beamed at the prospect of making two more sales, but when she heard the size Yukino Yukinoshita whispered to her in a hushed tone, her expression turned troubled.
"Young lady... for this..."
The shop assistant hesitated before replying quietly.
"This size... won't fit this style... there would be gaping..."
In that moment, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly understood the world's inequalities.
Some people couldn't find suitable lingerie because it was too large.
Some people couldn't find suitable lingerie because it was too small.
Yukino Yukinoshita had been utterly defeated.
...
That evening, in an independent office on the upper floors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters building.
"The consecutive abnormal behaviour of two high-ranking officials from the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department... Inspector Taniguchi dying by his own sniper rifle..."
L crouched on his chair, dragging the mouse as he scrolled through the computer files, murmuring to himself.
"It really gives one the feeling... of undercurrents stirring... It seems something bigger is involved behind this... Just what is hidden within Osaka..."
What L didn't expect was that as his words faded, a response came from the darkness.
"As expected of the world's top-ranked detective. You've already discovered what I wanted you to find, truly not disappointing me."
L's pupils contracted in shock, but he maintained his composure, slowly raising his head to look at the figure who seemed to emerge from the shadows - someone dressed in elaborate white garments, wearing a crimson Great Tengu mask.
"Kira..."
"L."
Light Yagami, now in disguise with even his voice deliberately altered, walked to the opposite side of the desk and slowly sat down.
"Several months have passed since we last met."
L's eyes flickered, his expression blank but observing every detail of this Kira.
Hair colour... pale greyish-white. Eye colour, crimson like blood, glaringly bright.
No, that's not right.
L remembered from their last meeting, the other's hair had been brown, his eyes deep brown.
I see...
"So you possess the ability to freely alter your appearance... You're quite the troublesome criminal."
At this point, L shifted his tone, looking directly into Light Yagami's crimson eyes as he slowly spoke.
"But I will definitely catch you."
Hearing L's words, Light Yagami merely shook his head, his tone flat.
"Catch me? The most you can do is uncover my identity. You don't have law enforcement authority. Are you trying to provoke me into killing you here? Don't joke around. The scales of victory in this game have long been tilted in my favour."
L couldn't refute this, since even within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department now, only he and Soichiro Yagami truly wanted to know Kira's identity.
And Soichiro Yagami's attitude remained somewhat ambiguous - it didn't seem like he wanted to arrest Kira, but rather wanted to confirm something through the other's identity.
"The righteous famous detective..."
Light Yagami said softly.
"When you're no longer righteous, the identity of famous detective becomes utterly useless."
"Then, do you consider yourself righteous?"
"Righteous? No."
Light Yagami's tone remained flat, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if merely stating a simple fact.
"I'm just someone using my own methods to cleanse the world of evil. Whether you consider me righteous or evil is irrelevant to me."
L stared directly into Light Yagami's eyes, pulling a piece of chocolate from his pocket and taking a bite.
"So you specifically infiltrated the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters today just to flaunt your victory to me?"
"Of course not."
Light Yagami shook his head, then uttered words that L had not anticipated.
"Inspector Taniguchi and Seishu Akoya both possess abilities similar to mine. The only difference is that their abilities were granted by a certain entity, and while gaining these powers, they unknowingly became that entity's pawns."
"That entity is referred to by some as Izanami."
"And Izanami's stronghold might very well be Osaka City—perhaps even her true form resides there."
Hearing this, L furrowed his brow slightly.
"What is this, an information exchange?"
"Correct."
L narrowed his eyes slightly, studying the Kira sitting across from him with keen interest.
"So, you're saying that on your own, you can't locate this so-called Izanami, and now you're hoping for assistance from me and the Metropolitan Police Department?"
"Correct."
"If you do this... it would be tantamount to admitting your own inadequacy, equivalent to losing a round to me."
Light Yagami nodded slightly, speaking in a calm tone.
"I've considered this point carefully, which is why I've come to share intelligence with you. That individual's level of danger has reached the point where I can no longer tolerate my pride becoming an obstacle - deliberately withholding information I possess and delaying your investigation progress."
L maintained a noncommittal expression, countering with a question.
"Do you really think I would simply follow your arrangements and provide assistance to you people?"
"Us?"
Light didn't fall into L's verbal trap.
"Just me alone."
"As for what you just said..."
Light's voice carried absolute confidence.
"Correct. Even knowing my plan, you can only make this choice."
"Because this is your only chance to defeat me."
As his words faded, Light's figure seemed to merge into the darkness, gradually disappearing from sight.
L stared at the shadow cast by the lamplight, murmuring to himself.
"Precisely because of this... you're an interesting opponent."
Just as Light had said.
The moment he revealed that the mastermind behind this incident possessed the same ability as him, L couldn't possibly make any other choice.
This was the famous detective's only opportunity.
After nearly a year of investigation, even with two additional months, it was unlikely he would uncover Kira's true identity.
Regarding this perplexing case involving two consecutive Metropolitan Police Department higher-ups exhibiting abnormalities, L had only suspected it might be related to Kira's special abilities. Now he had received confirmation from the other party's own mouth.
During the investigation, he might uncover more information about this ability, leading to additional clues and ultimately revealing Kira's true identity and solving this puzzle.
L understood Kira's intentions perfectly, but such a complex case, combined with the hope of turning the tables, held an irresistible temptation for him, making refusal an impossible choice.
...
Meanwhile, Saki Kawasaki and Ye Xing, having spent the day out, were on their way back to their hotel.
"We've been playing all day. Though it was fun, I'm a bit tired now."
Hearing Saki's words, Ye Xing laughed.
"Then how about... we get a room to rest? I promise I'll just rub against you, not go in."
"Don't... don't be ridiculous! What do you mean, get a room..."
Saki's pretty face flushed red as she retorted crossly.
"I'm staying with Marin and the others. If I don't return tonight... they'll... they'll all know..."
"Then let's all go together."
"What do you mean together? I won't do that."
Saki pressed her lips together, speaking in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"If... if you really want to do that... wait until we're back, when only the two of us will know. Otherwise... I'd be too embarrassed."
"Alright then."
"By the way."
Too embarrassed to continue this topic, Saki looked up at the night sky and softly changed the subject.
"Tomorrow is our last day in Osaka. In the morning, we Toyogasaki High School students are visiting Shitennō-ji Temple, and we'll be returning in the afternoon."
"Shitennō-ji Temple... a good place."
Hearing Ye Xing's comment, Saki couldn't help feeling curious.
"So, you're interested in Buddhism?"
Ye Xing gave a noncommittal smile.
"I'm not interested in Buddhism, but I'm very interested in the deities within Buddhism."