Chapter 145: Be Prepared!
Just as Hikigaya Hachiman was leading the mutated Head Ghost toward a more secluded area, in Miura Yumiko's room, her genius neighbor from the neighboring Tokyo University Medical Department, Inoue Yasutaka, was explaining homework to her.
"Yes, exactly. If you apply this formula here, calculate the result, and then use this formula again, you'll get the correct answer."
Inoue Yasutaka smiled as he watched Miura Yumiko solve the math problem according to his explanation. He nodded, a look of both satisfaction and approval on his face.
But if Miura Yumiko had turned to look at him at that moment, she would have noticed that although the man appeared to be explaining the problem attentively, his eyes were hollow — as if his attention was drawn elsewhere.
"Is this correct now?"
After successfully solving the problem and confirming the answer was right, Miura Yumiko clenched her fist in excitement.
If she could handle problems this difficult, there'd be no problem at all for next week's midterm exams!
"Yes! Yumiko, you're learning so fast. With this, your exam next week shouldn't be an issue at all."
"No way, it's all thanks to your great teaching, Mr. Inoue. Without you, I probably wouldn't even pass, considering my previous level..."
Hearing Inoue Yasutaka's praise, Miura Yumiko smiled brightly, clearly pleased.
"But all of this is thanks to your own effort, right? I only played a supporting role."
He skillfully reached out to pat Miura Yumiko's golden hair, looking at her with a benevolent, almost elder-like gaze.
"Still, Mr. Inoue's help has been really significant."
As Inoue Yasutaka stroked her hair, Miura Yumiko felt no discomfort at all. To her, it already felt like a perfectly normal and familiar action.
"Well then, since that's the case, could I ask you for a favor?"
Hearing Miura Yumiko's grateful words, Inoue Yasutaka smiled with satisfaction.
"A favor?"
"Yes, just a small one. One that you'll be able to do easily..."
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Meanwhile...
"Is there seriously not a single quiet place around here?"
Hikigaya Hachiman was sprinting down the street. He'd already been chased by the Head Ghost for over ten minutes.
It seemed like there were no abandoned construction sites or parks around Yotsuya Miko's house. Even after running this far, he was still surrounded by rows of residential buildings — which annoyed him to no end.
But the next second, as if to slap him in the face, an abandoned factory suddenly appeared in his field of view without any warning.
Though it felt a little suspicious, it was still a perfect place to fight in secret. After firing off a few sword slashes to draw more aggro from the Head Ghost, Hikigaya quickly dashed into the unknown factory.
It looked like it had only recently been abandoned. There wasn't much dust in the plant, and while the equipment had already been removed, the space was still relatively clean.
Reaching the center of the factory floor, he prepared for battle. With thunderous footsteps only he could hear, the enormous Head Ghost arrived.
"Alright, let's finish this quickly... and then apologize to Yotsuya Miko."
A flash of Miko's embarrassed face as he forcefully carried her out of her house crossed his mind. She was probably dying of shame right now with Komachi.
Still, he'd done it to save her life. If he'd offended her, well, he could only hope she would forgive him.
BOOM!
As he was lost in thought, the Head Ghost smashed a fist down at the spot where he stood.
"You're in quite a rush, aren't you...?"
Looking at the Head Ghost whose power had greatly increased after absorbing the Eye Ghost, Hikigaya sighed lightly. Unfortunately for it, even though it had now reached roughly peak special-grade level after the fusion, it was still not his match!
He stepped to the side, dodging the punch, and activated the Sun Breathing technique as he charged at the ghost.
As long as he could get close, the fight would be over. That wasn't arrogance — it was hard-earned experience from countless battles.
"Don't let his sword get near you — keep it ranged!"
The Head Ghost had been prepared to let Hikigaya approach for close combat. But suddenly, a voice rang out in its mind.
Immediately, the central third eye on all the heads scattered across its body lit up, and countless gray beams of light shot toward Hikigaya!
"!!!"
Seeing the dense barrage of gray beams, Hikigaya's heart tightened.
Can't take that head-on!
With that realization, he twisted his body and dodged the incoming beams, circling around to approach from another angle.
"ROAR!!"
A cacophony of horrific shrieks burst from the ghost's many mouths, disrupting Hikigaya's movements and slowing him down.
Then, once again, the third eye began to glow and fired more beams at him.
"Sound-based slowdown plus damaging beam attacks?"
Unable to close the distance immediately, Hikigaya retreated to what he considered a safe range and began to strategize.
He didn't know what would happen if those beams hit him — but nothing good, surely. And the soundwaves were absolutely everywhere...
"What an absurdly annoying evil spirit..."
Looking at the ghost standing at a distance, clearly observing him, Hikigaya's eye twitched.
Then, a spell talisman appeared between his fingers.
"If I can't get close... then I'll blast you from afar!"
After all this time, Hikigaya was no longer that dead-eyed teen who roamed the world with only a basic demon-slaying sword. With a flick of his fingers, countless offensive talismans materialized in his hands.
So...
You damned ghost — you better be ready!
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Meanwhile...
"What a miscalculation..."
Back in Miura Yumiko's room, Inoue Yasutaka glanced at the now-empty-eyed Miura Yumiko in front of him and let out a bitter smile.
Because Hikigaya Hachiman always relied on close-range combat with his demon-slaying sword, he'd assumed that Hikigaya had no long-range abilities.
That's why he sent the Eye Ghost and Head Ghost to Yotsuya Miko's house tonight.
After all, their combined powers should have made life miserable for a melee-focused fighter like Hikigaya.
But to his surprise, Hikigaya could actually use talismans for long-range attacks...
Watching through his vision as the Head Ghost was bombarded by a barrage of talismans, Inoue Yasutaka shook his head and severed the link between them.
Losing two general-class evil spirits... so be it. As long as he was still alive, give him time — and ten more general-class ghosts could be replaced anytime.
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