While Ye Xing and the three beauties were feasting at a high-end Western restaurant, celebrating their success...
At the National Institute of Technology in Chiba Prefecture.
Haruno Yukinoshita, who had just stepped out of the library, felt the slightly chilly night breeze. She raised her hands, cupped them together, and gently exhaled into them.
"It's a bit cold."
Haruno didn't like summer.
Though her name contained the character for 'sun', she disliked summer and didn't particularly care for winter either.
Haruno didn't like any season.
Beep beep beep.
Hearing the ringing in her pocket, Haruno took out her phone and pressed the answer button, speaking in a flat tone.
"Mother."
"Haruno."
Haruno's mother's tone didn't sound like she was speaking to her daughter, but rather like a superior addressing a subordinate.
"The Kyoto office building has resumed construction. You've done well this time."
"Thank you for your praise."
"However..."
Haruno's mother suddenly changed tack.
"You requested an additional 400,000 yen from the company, citing... networking expenses?"
"That's correct."
"Very well, I trust your judgement."
It was clear Haruno's mother had complete confidence in Haruno, and the Yukinoshita Construction Company certainly wasn't short of a mere 400,000 yen.
The Kyoto office building project represented far more than just financial gain - it was symbolic. This marked Yukinoshita Construction's first expansion beyond Chiba Prefecture. Even if it proved unprofitable, even at a loss, it had to be executed flawlessly.
"Mother, Yukino is doing well."
"Hmph."
Hearing Haruno mention Yukino's name, Haruno's mother's voice noticeably cooled.
"Leaving Chiba Prefecture to study elsewhere is one thing, but to choose that mediocre Sobu High School instead of prestigious institutions like Advanced Nurturing or Shuchi'in Academy that befit our Yukinoshita family name... truly disappointing."
Faced with these words, Haruno could only remain silent.
She, too, couldn't understand why her sister - outstanding in both looks and academic ability - would choose ordinary Sobu High over elite schools like Shuchi'in or Advanced Nurturing.
"If not for your pleading, I would never have allowed her to leave Chiba Prefecture alone to study elsewhere."
Though she didn't understand, Haruno was willing to support Yukino's decision, even if it meant confronting their domineering mother head-on.
The current Yukino still believed her enrollment at Sobu High was the result of her own reasoned arguments.
In reality, it was Haruno supporting her behind the scenes.
"The company matters are important, but your studies mustn't be neglected either. After all, you're the Yukinoshita family's future hope. That's all."
After Haruno's mother hung up, Haruno's expression grew complicated. She sighed faintly, her smile tinged with bitterness as she murmured to herself:
"Yukino... sometimes I truly envy that honesty of yours that borders on naivety."
...
A pleasant day thus passed.
On his way home, Ye Xing felt thoroughly satisfied.
He was a normal... relatively normal person.
Devouring the souls of evil spirits and wicked people to grow stronger - that was absolutely necessary.
Why remain ordinary when one could become powerful?
However.
Improving one's strength didn't conflict with enjoying a peaceful, wonderful youth.
The former was the process, the latter the ultimate goal.
Having fought the supernatural for so long, now that the Gates' appearances were becoming increasingly rare, it was time to relax.
As Ye Xing reached his doorstep, he noticed a beautiful girl in black tights quietly squatting by his door.
Fortunately, it was only past nine.
Had this been at two or three in the morning, it would've looked like a female ghost coming to claim his life.
"Mai Sakurajima, why are you here?"
Indeed, the beautiful girl crouching pitifully by the elevator like a bullied puppy was none other than former national idol actress Miss Mai Sakurajima.
"You're finally back."
Hearing Ye Xing's voice, Mai rubbed her eyes and stood up, brushing her skirt.
"I'd like to stay at your place this weekend."
"Sure thing, let's go."
Among all the school anime he'd watched in his past life, one thing always baffled Ye Xing.
When the heroine made a direct move, practically throwing herself at the male lead...
Why did the protagonist consistently fail to capitalise on opportunities or misinterpret situations in the most unexpected ways?
That wouldn't do.
Ye Xing wouldn't make the same mistakes.
Why Mai wanted to stay at his place, whether she knew he lived alone - these questions didn't need asking.
Come, let's go inside first.
"Your home... is quite spacious."
Following Ye Xing through the door and arriving at his home, Mai Sakurajima let out a sigh remarkably similar to Miko Yotsuya's initial reaction.
This standalone two-storey house couldn't be called luxurious, but within Kyoto's city limits, it was certainly decent.
"There's instant food in the fridge. If you're hungry, help yourself in the kitchen."
Ye Xing flopped onto the sofa, speaking with an air of indifference.
Mai Sakurajima wore a resigned expression.
'This is my first time visiting a boy's house, just the two of us alone...'
She'd been feeling somewhat stiff and nervous.
But seeing Ye Xing's utterly nonchalant demeanour, her tense unease eased considerably in an instant.
In the immaculately tidy living room, Mai noticed one slightly incongruous item.
Slipping off her leather shoes, her black-tights-clad feet padded across the wooden floor as she took two steps forward. Her gaze settled on an unopened can of Pepsi displayed on the entryway shelf.
"You like this drink?"
"Not really."
"Then why keep it here?"
"Because... it was a gift."
"Why not drink it then?"
At this, Ye Xing's face twisted into a complicated expression, as if this ordinary can of Pepsi was more troublesome to deal with than the legendary great yōkai, Tamamo-no-Mae herself.
"I genuinely detest Pepsi. But since it was given as a gift, throwing it away is out of the question. Regifting it would be improper, too. Might as well keep it as decoration."
"I see..."
Mai nodded, then added meaningfully,
"The person who gave this to you... was a girl, wasn't it?"
"Indeed."
Silence followed.
Mai found herself at a loss for conversation topics. She sat quietly on the sofa, occasionally tucking a strand of hair behind her ear or smoothing her clothes—small gestures betraying the nervousness that contradicted her composed exterior.
Ye Xing glanced at her and remarked flatly, "You're scared, aren't you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, I—"
Mai instinctively moved to deny it.
But when her eyes met Ye Xing's utterly placid gaze, she felt utterly seen through. Like a deflated balloon, her voice grew heavier as she lowered her head.
"Yes... I'm terrified. Terrified that I might disappear from this world completely."
A melancholic shadow crossed Mai's eyes as she sighed.
"Right now, apart from you, no one can see me anymore. Whether it's going to school or coming home—it's all the same."
The reason Mai wanted to stay at Ye Xing's place was simple.
She was afraid.
Today was Friday.
Which meant if she didn't do something, she wouldn't see Ye Xing for the entire weekend.
Two days.
To the old Mai Sakurajima, two days would have been nothing.
But now, she feared that when Monday lunchtime came and she entered the Society's clubroom, Ye Xing's gaze might pass straight through her body.
If that happened... she would have vanished from this world entirely.
Now, Mai Sakurajima's only connection to this world, the sole person who could perceive her existence, was Ye Xing alone.
"Don't worry."
Ye Xing smiled.
"Even if I forget you, as long as you stand before me in a sexy swimsuit or bunny girl outfit, I'm certain I'd remember again."
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima's delicate face flushed slightly, yet she maintained a composed demeanour, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Hmph. As a mature adult and your senior, if it's a request from an inexperienced junior who's overly curious about women... Provided the attitude is sincere, showing you such outfits as repayment for your help during this period wouldn't be entirely out of the question."
"Is that so?"
Ye Xing smiled meaningfully before speaking slowly.
"In that case, perhaps we needn't bother preparing the guest room tonight?"
"What do you mean?"
Mai instinctively asked, only realising the implication several seconds later. Her angelic face instantly turned crimson as she bit her silver teeth lightly.
"You... you mustn't do anything strange."
Mai Sakurajima, second-year student at Sobu High School, formerly a nationally renowned idol actress.
Moreover, she had another identity.
A famous high attack, low defence warrior.
Faced with Ye Xing's blunt, unfiltered speech, devoid of restraint or embarrassment, it was practically a complete counter to her attributes.
"Speaking of which."
After teasing Mai, Ye Xing suddenly recalled a question.
"Did you ever shoot swimsuit photobooks before?"
This question immediately darkened Mai's expression as she replied, displeased.
"How could that be? I'm an actress, not a model. With my professional acting skills and talent, there was never any need for such methods to attract attention."
"That's good then."
Ye Xing thought it was rather fortunate this wasn't the case.
It was good that one less painful memory existed in her life.
Observing the bored Mai lounging on the sofa with crossed legs—her slender, well-proportioned limbs and pale skin faintly visible through sheer black stockings, exuding weariness—Ye Xing had to admit one thing.
Mai Sakurajima's appearance was truly exceptional.
Of course, there was also Miko Yotsuya, whose kuudere aura paradoxically evoked an urge to bully her mercilessly.
Yui Yuigahama, whose gal-style fashion belied an unexpectedly naive and innocent interior.
Rio Futaba, with her astonishing figure and rational composure.
They could all be considered striking beauties in their own right.
However.
Compared to Mai Sakurajima, a former nationally renowned idol actress who debuted as a child star, they ultimately fell slightly short.
Moreover, that mature, languid aura she possessed was something ordinary high school girls simply didn't have.
In truth, the only person Ye Xing had encountered who could rival Mai in both appearance and temperament without losing ground was one individual.
Haruno Yukinoshita—Yukino's elder sister.
All others paled somewhat in comparison.
Still, there was always room for cultivation...
...
The following morning, in the shopping district.
"My, what a pleasant surprise."
Oda Noto, seated behind the counter, smoking, immediately rose with a beaming smile upon seeing Ye Xing enter.
Ye Xing returned the smile.
"Business has been good lately, hasn't it?"
"Absolutely, all thanks to you."Oda Noto smiled broadly, the wrinkles on his face nearly twisting together.
This period had been extremely satisfying for him.
Although Oda Noto handed over all the remuneration from the exorcism commissions to Ye Xing, keeping not a single penny for himself.
But let's not forget.
Those clients had sought him out, and in the eyes of the public, it was Oda Noto who had resolved those supernatural incidents.
What did this signify?
Cases that other exorcists in Kyoto couldn't handle, Oda Noto could.
Not only could he handle them, but he did so with astonishing speed.
Not every exorcism commission needed to be passed to Ye Xing for resolution. Most commissions were merely the result of clients' psychological effects, and quite a few could be settled by selling talismans or prayer beads to ward off minor spectres.
As for monetary gain, Oda Noto didn't particularly care.
After all, at his age, with half his body already in the grave, and without sons, daughters, grandchildren or the like, he was just a solitary old man.
The prestige he'd garnered during this time, along with the sense of achievement from seeing clients turn from danger to safety, held far greater value for Oda Noto than mere money.
"Did you come alone today?"
At Oda Noto's question, Ye Xing glanced sideways at Mai Sakurajima beside him, who was curiously examining the talismans and prayer beads on the shelves like an inquisitive child, then nodded slightly.
"Yes, came alone."
"Ah, the payments for this period have already been transferred to your account."
"I know. This time it's about something else."
Hearing this, Oda Noto suddenly looked troubled. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and said mournfully:
"That Yotsuya girl already told me. But finding truly powerful spiritual objects still requires some time. It's not that I'm stingy with money, it's just that there are more and more people peddling fakes these days. How can these people have no bottom line at all?"
Seeing Oda Noto's righteous indignation, Ye Xing thought to himself that if he hadn't been fooled before, he might actually believe this old man's spiel.
Still, Oda Noto couldn't really be considered a charlatan.
He did possess Spiritual Power and had some genuine items in his possession. He simply didn't want to waste truly valuable spiritual objects on clients who weren't actually plagued by evil spirits but were merely suffering from psychological effects.
Selling them some fake goods with extravagant praise to achieve a placebo effect was good enough.
Come to think of it, Miko Yotsuya had indeed matured.
Ye Xing hadn't asked her to contact Oda Noto about preparing powerful spiritual objects.
Presumably, during her battles with evil spirits, Miko had gradually realised the importance of weapons and begun making preparations in advance.
There was an inexplicable sense of gratification in nurturing an exorcist beauty - what was this about?
"What do you know about the phenomenon of 'kamikakushi'?"
As the saying goes:
When three walk together, one must be my teacher.
From beginning to end, Ye Xing had been very clear about his own position.
Exorcist. Evil spirit slayer. Kyoto's number one abstract. The Metropolitan Police Department's greatest headache. Future harem king.
But when it came to knowledge about supernatural phenomena, Oda Noto's experience was far more extensive.
"Kamikakushi?"
Hearing this term, Oda Noto's brows furrowed slightly.
The so-called "divine disappearance" is a legend passed down since ancient times in Japan, referring to people vanishing without a trace or reason on a certain day.
To put it bluntly, it's a disappearance.
Oda Noto, of course, wasn't naive enough to think Ye Xing's mention of "divine disappearance" was that simple.
"What exactly do you mean? Explain it to me."
"I have a friend."
Ye Xing began with that classic opening line, then gave Oda Noto a rough outline of Mai Sakurajima's situation.
Mai Sakurajima, who had been idly wandering around the shop, seemed surprised upon hearing his words.
She hadn't expected that Ye Xing had come out today specifically for her sake.
She couldn't help but feel a little touched.
"This…"
After listening to Ye Xing's explanation, Oda Noto frowned and muttered, "This situation… I've never heard of anything like it before. Not only did the person vanish, but their memories disappeared too?"
"Then investigate it."
Hearing Ye Xing's matter-of-fact tone, Oda Noto rolled his eyes and sighed helplessly.
"You really don't hold back with me, do you?"
"Of course not. And while you're at it, find me a powerful spiritual object—something heirloom-grade."
"Alright, alright, I got it. This old man really can't keep up with you anymore."
"Good. I'll be off then."
...
After leaving the shop with Mai Sakurajima, Ye Xing stretched lazily and rubbed his eyes, looking slightly drowsy.
"Hungry? What do you want to eat?"
Mai Sakurajima lightly bit her lower lip, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said softly, "Let's just grab something from the convenience store and go home."
Ye Xing chuckled and countered,
"We barely get out—don't you want to look around a bit more?"
A flicker of hesitation passed through Mai Sakurajima's eyes before she nodded after a moment.
"Then… let's buy something from the convenience store and eat while we walk."
As she watched Ye Xing walking half a step ahead of her, a strange thought suddenly arose in Mai Sakurajima's heart.
Though her bizarre condition was troublesome, it seemed…
There were also benefits?
In the past, Mai Sakurajima wouldn't have dared to visit such bustling areas—even riding the train to school would have drawn attention from passersby.
When would she ever have had the chance to enjoy this kind of carefree time, free from the gaze of others?
Ye Xing led Mai Sakurajima into a random convenience store along the street. Just as he was about to decide what to buy, he spotted a very familiar girl with long black hair, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance.
"Ye Xing… kun?"
Kazusa Touma, who had just picked up an onigiri from the shelf, clearly hadn't expected to run into Ye Xing here.
Her slender, pale right hand froze mid-air.