Chapter 77: The Deal with Haruno, Sakurajima Mai's Travel Invitation
After the meal, Mai actively took on the task of washing dishes and cleaning.
A former national idol-level beautiful actress with a slender, well-proportioned, and well-endowed figure, plus a face so exquisite it was flawless.
Ah, this is nice.
Is this the leisure life of an exorcist?
Yoru pondered carefully and found a major vacancy in the current Super-Quant Club.
Operations Staff Officer & Intelligence Analyst: Futaba Rio.
Ambassador: Yui Yuigahama.
Frontline Combat Personnel: Yotsuya Miko.
And Best Employee: Hachishaku-sama.
Missing a cook!
Yui was out of the question; her cooking skills had transcended the level of this world and reached the realm of art (Abstract Art).
Rio and Miko usually subsisted on instant bentos, so they probably weren't good at cooking either.
Simply put.
Short of a chef.
Of course, Yoru was abstract, but not abstract enough to recruit Mai into the Super-Quant Club just to eat delicious meals every day.
However.
He did have thoughts of letting Mai join the Super-Quant Club.
After all, she had been listening to the club's conversations for days. Although she couldn't see evil spirits, she already knew the truth of this world.
Besides, there was another reason.
Just like his original conjecture.
Miko's awakening wasn't an isolated case.
The fact that Rio awakened Soul Manifestation meant that even non-spirit mediums could awaken the ability to fight evil spirits.
The premise was to first "Cognize" the existence of evil spirits, then face one's own heart.
The simplest mass-production method:
Exile to the Otherworld, face the True Self.
Throw a few thousand people in there; some will awaken. Those who don't awaken just wait to be torn apart by evil spirits.
A certain failed art student: Young man, I see you are a talent. (Note: Hitler reference).
Although he thought so, Yoru wouldn't do it.
Cultivating spirit mediums had a prerequisite.
That was to ensure the person would definitely become his aid after awakening, rather than turning into an obstacle.
Just then, Yoru's phone rang.
After connecting, Rio's voice came from the other side with her usual calm tone.
"By the way, there's something I forgot to ask you."
"What is it? If it's about a date, let me check my schedule."
"Stop being crazy."
Rio sighed, then whispered.
"Before Yurikawa-san left, you seemed to have said something to her?"
"Mmhmm."
Yoru didn't intend to deny it and replied directly.
"I told her: If you think that guy was human, then you killed someone with your own hands. Your crime is equal to ours, or you might even be a more serious accomplice."
"If you saw the corpse turn into black smoke and dissipate, and feel it was indeed an evil spirit as I said, then we haven't committed any crime. Instead, we are heroes who protected innocent lives."
"Regardless of which one, calling the police is not a wise choice for her."
Hearing these words, Rio on the other end of the phone was silent for a long while before speaking in a complicated tone.
"You... are really good at grasping others' weaknesses."
"I just don't trust her, that's all."
"Do you want to consider pulling Yurikawa Hana into our Super-Quant Club? According to Miko, she has a very strong life aura, which naturally restrains evil spirits."
"Not for now."
Yoru shook his head, thinking exorcism still had a certain threshold.
Honestly, he found it hard to imagine the ditzy Hana possessing the courage to fight evil spirits.
Besides.
He wasn't really familiar with her; they were just in the same class.
Not necessary.
"Alright, let's talk at school tomorrow then."
After saying this, Rio paused and said in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's.
"Um... Good night."
"Mmhmm, good night."
After hanging up, Mai's voice, pretending to be calm but carrying a hint of jealousy, sounded.
"Calling so late at night... did that Yurikawa-san fall for you because you played the hero saving the beauty?"
"Fall for (on) me? That won't do." (Note: Pun on "Shang Wo" meaning "Fall for me" or "Get on/fuck me").
Mai froze for a moment, then realized. Her pretty face blushed slightly. She extended her left foot clad in black tights, trying to stomp fiercely on Yoru's instep, but he dodged with an extremely agile movement.
"No dirty jokes."
Yoru looked righteous.
"It's your own phrasing that's the problem."
Mai: "?"
It became my problem?
"Whatever, I'm going to sleep."
Mai turned around, thinking Yoru and I aren't lovers anyway, so I have no standing to ask anything.
Then the question arose.
What is the relationship between the two now?
Living under the same roof... cohabitation relationship?
Actually, there was a more direct word in Mai's heart, but she found it hard to face.
Parasite.
Isn't my current self just like a parasite?
Without Yoru, she couldn't live a normal life.
But if Yoru left her?
Life would go on as usual.
Even without her, didn't he have Miko, Yui, and Rio around him?
Does my existence...
Really have any special meaning to Yoru?
Mai's mood became low.
....
On the other side, after entering the bedroom, Yoru pulled up a number stored for a long time but never dialed on his phone.
Beep~ Beep~
After a few rings, the call was connected.
"Hello, who is this?"
Yukinoshita Haruno's voice was very calm, without any emotional fluctuations.
"It's me, it's me. I'm Batman. Did you forget?"
"Batman?"
Haruno froze for a moment, thinking does a foreigner know me?
Immediately after, she recognized Yoru's voice and covered her mouth, chuckling lightly.
"What Batman? So it's you."
Yoru thought as expected of Yukinoshita Haruno.
Even meeting only once, she can distinguish my voice.
"I need a favor from you."
Hearing this, Haruno didn't hesitate at all and agreed with a smile directly.
"Please speak."
She remembered she owed him a favor from last time.
The project of that office building had a value far exceeding a mere 500,000 yen for the Yukinoshita Construction Company.
And Haruno also considered one point.
Since the office building project had such high value, then...
How should the value of a genuine exorcist be measured?
Can this be measured by money?
It had to be said, Haruno's mind was very active.
She had already considered that after establishing a relationship with an exorcist like Yoru, her family's company business would definitely receive great help in the future.
Even leaping to become the largest construction company in Sakura Prefecture wasn't a pipe dream.
Besides...
Yukinoshita Haruno also had some interest in Yoru himself, a boy in the same class as her sister.
"It's like this..."
Yoru told Haruno his plan.
After listening, although Yoru couldn't see her expression, he could sense Haruno frowning.
"Are you sure? If we follow your plan, the cost won't be small. We are talking about millions, maybe even tens of millions, plus the reputation of our Yukinoshita Construction Company."
Yoru smiled nonchalantly and asked back.
"What, you can't make the decision?"
"That won't happen."
Haruno didn't consider for too long and agreed immediately.
"Okay, no problem."
Who knew Yoru's next words would stun Haruno directly.
"Very good. Then you owe me a favor."
"Hah?"
This confused Haruno completely.
Good grief, our Yukinoshita Construction Company spends millions or tens of millions, and we end up owing you a favor?
Did you get it reversed?
"Don't be surprised."
Yoru said nonchalantly.
"That is a former national idol actress reappearing after many years. This is bound to be a major event causing discussions across the entire Sakura Prefecture. Doesn't your Yukinoshita Construction Company want to step out of Chiba Prefecture? This promotional effect cannot be measured by money."
Haruno on the other end pouted. Although she knew Yoru couldn't see, she still rolled her eyes and secretly complained in her heart.
What former national idol actress? I've never even heard the name Sakurajima Mai.
To tell the truth, in Haruno's eyes.
Spending this money was approximately equivalent to throwing it into the water.
Even so, after weighing the value of Yoru as a real exorcist, she replied without hesitation.
"Alright then, consider it another favor I owe you."
Immediately after, Haruno suddenly had a thought of teasing Yoru. In an extremely seductive tone carrying a smile, her lips close to the phone so even her breathing could be heard, she whispered.
"Want me to accompany you on a date?"
Unexpectedly, Yoru's reaction was as calm as ever, without any panic of an innocent high school boy being teased. He even asked back with a slight smile.
"No problem. After eating, does the date itinerary include experiencing a water bed room in a love hotel?"
Haruno froze first, then her pretty face flushed instantly.
Let alone a water bed room in a love hotel.
She hadn't even been in a relationship.
After all, being born in an environment like the Yukinoshita family.
Yukino felt she was always under pressure brought by her overly excellent sister.
Haruno was the same.
Because their mother said the older sister should set an excellent example for the younger sister.
As the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, Haruno had been carrying that overly heavy expectation since childhood.
She just wanted to tease Yoru, but didn't expect his level to be so high.
Have high school students nowadays evolved like this?
"A-Anyway, I will arrange it as soon as possible and get it done before noon on Saturday. That's it, bye."
Listening to Haruno hang up in a panic, Yoru thought she really can't take a joke.
I haven't even started my output officially; it was at most an opening remark.
Did she really think I am those overly innocent male protagonists in romance anime?
In ancient times, Guan Yu slew Hua Xiong while the wine was still warm.
I, Yoru, fighting the Super-Quant Club girls consecutively in one night plus external aid Yukinoshita Haruno—what do I have to fear?
"However... this favor is indeed huge."
Yoru put down the phone and murmured to himself.
In Yukinoshita Haruno's eyes, the name Sakurajima Mai should be unheard of, and related memories completely forgotten.
Under such circumstances, spending millions just because of one sentence from him was indeed rare.
Even rarer was.
From beginning to end, Yukinoshita Haruno didn't show the slightest intention of making him owe her a favor to be repaid later. It was completely like helping a friend with a trivial favor.
What is the highest realm of favors?
This is it. Helping a huge favor but making the other party feel like they don't owe any favor at all.
Yukinoshita Haruno really isn't a simple character.
.....
The next day, Sobu High, inside Class 1-A.
Hana held a cream bun but lost her appetite uncharacteristically. Finally, she sighed heavily.
Yesterday on the way home, she heard Miko say it.
Evil spirits exist in this world.
At first, Hana didn't believe it at all.
How could there be evil spirits in the world?
Miko cited just two pieces of evidence, leaving her speechless.
First.
Have you ever seen a human tongue stretch seven or eight meters long and clash with a sharpened katana, making the sound of metal colliding?
Second.
Have you ever seen a human corpse turn into black smoke and dissipate without a trace?
Even if Hana was naive and ditzy, being admitted to Sobu High proved she had no intellectual defects.
What Hana worried about wasn't the existence of evil spirits itself. After all, according to Miko, ordinary people like her basically couldn't see those things. As long as she didn't encounter monsters like yesterday, she wouldn't be in danger.
What really made her lose her appetite and even her vigorous desire for food was Miko fighting against evil spirits.
Hana could tell that in yesterday's battle, they almost died.
Honestly, she was desperate at that time.
And as an exorcist, was Miko facing such terrifying monsters every day to protect Kyoto in the dark?
Hana didn't know.
If Miko heard this, she would laugh out loud.
Terrifying?
That thing yesterday was strong, yes, but terrifying?
Not even close.
At least besides the long tongue and twisted face, it still had a human appearance.
Among the evil spirits Miko encountered, those more terrifying than yesterday's guy were countless.
And Miko's definition of terrifying was different from Hana's.
Watching those things surround her without any way to resist, only able to endure while pretending nothing happened—that was true despair.
Now possessing the ability to fight evil spirits, Miko couldn't possibly feel scared because of facing evil spirits.
Like surrounding me?
I'll slash you all!
Just then, a familiar voice pulled Hana back to reality.
"Good morning, Yurikawa-san."
"Mi... Miko?"
Hana looked up and saw Miko's expression was normal. She nodded calmly as usual, greeting her, then returned to her seat.
For some reason.
Hana breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted, shaking her head with a dumbfounded smile.
Why am I thinking so complicatedly?
As long as Miko and Yui still treat me as a friend like before, evil spirits or whatever don't matter, right? As long as the relationship is as good as before.
Thinking of this, Hana felt enlightened.
With her thoughts relaxed, hunger came from her belly. She hurried to pick up the cream bun on the desk and took a big bite.
Tasting the sweet and soft cream and the fluffy yet chewy bread, a happy smile appeared on Hana's face.
Evil spirits?
Not as important as eating.
....
After the morning and afternoon exams ended, regardless of how they did, students let out sounds of relief.
Inside the Super-Quant Clubroom.
Yui stretched lazily, looking very excited, and cheered.
"Hey, Miko, Rio, spring break is finally starting. What are your plans? Want to go out and play together?"
"Hmm..."
Rio looked thoughtful, stirring the coffee in the beaker. She stole a glance at Yoru sitting by the window looking at the scenery outside and asked as if casually.
"Captain, are there club activities arranged during spring break?"
"We'll go to a place together later, then you guys relax for a few days before talking about club activities."
Yoru waved his hand with a lazy look.
"There are no commissions from the Old Geezer recently. School is on break. Miko hasn't found more 'Doors' for the time being. Only the last one remains as a passage to the Otherworld. During spring break, you are free to move."
Immediately after, Yoru changed the subject and sighed with emotion.
"However, a spring break lasting ten days is quite surprising."
"Ten days?"
Yui looked puzzled: "Did you count wrong? Isn't it five days?"
Yoru asked back.
"Tomorrow is Friday, plus a weekend of two days, plus next week of seven days. Isn't that exactly ten days?"
"Ah?"
Not only Yui, but Rio and Miko also looked astonished.
"Weekends are supposed to be holidays anyway. Tomorrow is relaxation after exams. Of course, only the five days of next week count as vacation days. Who counts weekends that are supposed to be breaks into vacation days?"
The matter-of-fact tone and expressions of the three girls left Yoru speechless.
Yeah.
Weekends should be holidays anyway; why count them into vacation days?
If Yui and the others knew that some schools not only count weekends as vacation days but also make up for the days after the vacation ends (China), what would they think?
Hard to hold back.
While the three girls were discussing activity arrangements during spring break, Mai, standing beside Yoru, suddenly spoke softly.
"Since you have no plans during the break, can you accompany me to a place not in Kyoto?"
Immediately after, Mai emphasized a sentence.
"Just the two of us."