"Eh?"
Even the usually composed Kaguya Shinomiya couldn't maintain her composure upon hearing this.
"The literal meaning of being open with each other you mentioned... it couldn't be..."
"Not exactly that."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively, wearing an earnest expression.
"Though wearing something like a bunny girl outfit, maid uniform, sexy wedding dress, black stockings, white stockings, nude stockings, fishnets, or such wouldn't be unacceptable either."
Kaguya Shinomiya's brow furrowed slightly, her voice turning colder.
"Ye Xing-kun, I'm having a serious conversation with you. Please be more solemn and stop talking nonsense."
"Fine, whether it's nonsense or not, you'll find out eventually."
After casually responding, Ye Xing straightened his expression and looked directly into Kaguya Shinomiya's eyes as he spoke slowly.
"The arrangements I made for you with Yukinoshita, Futaba, and Mai-senpai - after more than two months, they haven't made any progress with your condition. To be honest, our club has more important matters to deal with recently, and we no longer have time to waste. So it falls to me, Kyoto's number one eroge player, to serve as your primary physician."
Without waiting for Kaguya Shinomiya's response, Ye Xing turned to Naruko Anjou, Shoko Makinohara, and Menma behind him, casually waving his hand.
"You three, go wander around this residence for a while. And tell that Hayasaka girl she can leave too. With me here, no one will be able to eavesdrop on our conversation."
"Three...?"
Before Kaguya Shinomiya could voice her confusion, she saw Naruko Anjou and Shoko Makinohara exit, with Ai Hayasaka standing at the door, looking to her for instructions with her eyes.
"Yes, please show them around the residence."
Though she didn't understand why Ye Xing wanted everyone gone, Kaguya Shinomiya still gave the order.
She believed he wouldn't harm her.
After Ai Hayasaka closed the door and left along with Naruko Anjou, Shoko Makinohara, and the invisible Menma, Ye Xing studied Kaguya Shinomiya with interest and chuckled lightly.
"Shinomiya-san, as I mentioned earlier, our club is currently facing a more serious, life-threatening issue that needs to be addressed."
"Moreover, to resolve this problem, the Shinomiya Group's assistance through intelligence channels is crucial."
"Of course, I don't mean for you to speak with your father - I've already negotiated terms with him."
"I originally intended to guide you in a gentler manner, but it appears your personality differs from Mai Sakurajima's. The solution cannot follow the same approach either. Perhaps Yukinoshita and Futaba's treatment methods have been too soft, which is why they haven't made any progress."
Hearing these words from Ye Xing and watching him stand up to approach her slowly, his face no longer carrying its usual frivolous and lazy expression but instead gazing at her without any emotion, Kaguya Shinomiya instinctively shrank back, pressing herself against the chair back as she asked hesitantly.
"You... what do you want to do?"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
Ye Xing added after saying this.
"At least, I won't harm you physically."
...
Meanwhile, in the garden of the estate.
"What he just said..."
Naruko Anjou first glanced at Ai Hayasaka standing in the distance before turning to Menma and Shoko Makinohara beside her, speaking hesitantly.
"Your club has more important matters to handle? Are you facing some... danger?"
Although Naruko Anjou didn't know that Ye Xing's true identity was Mask, she had personally witnessed his battle with that evil Mountain God.
The entire combat process appeared to be a completely one-sided domination.
In reality, that was only true for people like Ye Xing and Amano-san, who possessed special powers.
Ordinary humans, facing such monsters...
Although Menma had reappeared in this world as a ghost, Naruko Anjou still couldn't forget the fear from what happened that day.
Weakness, helplessness, despair, terror.
This was the true face of the world.
"Naruko."
Shoko Makinohara called out first, then asked with a smile.
"Mm... is it alright if I call you that?"
Naruko Anjou returned the smile and nodded.
"Of course, you're Menma's friend, so naturally you're my friend too. There's no need to worry about something small like how to address me. If you still called me Anjou-san at this point, I'd actually feel uncomfortable."
"That's good. Since we're friends, I'll speak frankly."
Shoko Makinohara maintained her gentle, soft smile as she spoke slowly.
"Ye Xing's words just now weren't only meant for that Kaguya Shinomiya-san - they were also meant for Menma and me."
"What kind of danger we're currently facing, I can't tell you directly, since you're not one of us right now."
"But what I can tell you is that the ability you've awakened to observe spirits is dangerous - truly, fatally dangerous. If the evil spirits in Kyoto hadn't decreased significantly, even with this spiritual object pendant, you likely wouldn't survive a single day."
"Of course..."
At this point, Shoko Makinohara sighed softly, a trace of bitterness appearing in her eyes.
"If we're talking about being a burden... I became a burden earlier than you... I'm not accusing you of anything by saying this."
Seeing Naruko Anjou's complicated expression, Shoko Makinohara gently patted her shoulder and spoke with a smile.
"However, once you become a true psychic, you'll possess at least enough power to protect yourself."
"But..."
Naruko Anjou pursed her lips and whispered.
"Someone as ordinary as me... do I really have the right... to awaken such power..."
"Ordinary?"
Shoko Makinohara frowned slightly upon hearing this, refuting as if somewhat displeased.
"Naruko, you're underestimating yourself too much. During that incident five years ago, facing that terrifying evil Mountain God, you didn't abandon your friend and run away alone. The fact that Hana Yurikawa is still alive today is all thanks to you. For an eleven-year-old girl to carry her friend alone under such extreme fear, persisting until reaching safety at the mountain's base - that's not something an ordinary person could accomplish."
Shoko Makinohara paused briefly before continuing with a smile.
"You just lack confidence. Actually, you're an excellent person. Isn't the fact that Ye Xing invited you here today the best proof?"
"Hmph, who... who needs his approval... hmph."
Listening to Naruko's awkward words, Menma laughed beside them.
"Annaru is just as insincere as when she was little. Clearly happy but not wanting to show it - exactly like when we were children."
Having been seen through by Menma, Naruko Anjou's face reddened slightly, and she immediately changed the subject.
"So Makinohara... ah, no, Shoko, are you a psychic too?"
Shoko Makinohara shook her head, maintaining her gentle smile.
"Haven't I already told you... I'm just a burden now."
Naruko Anjou was momentarily stunned, then cheered Shoko Makinohara on.
"It's alright, let's work hard together! As long as we're determined, we'll definitely awaken our powers!"
"Yes, perhaps that's true."
Neither Menma nor Naruko Anjou noticed the faint shadow that flashed in Shoko Makinohara's eyes.
Originally, with Shoko Makinohara's naturally awakened Mystic Eyes spiritual talent and her unwavering determination to become a psychic, awakening Soul Materialisation ability shouldn't have been difficult.
The problem precisely lay in the fact that Shoko Makinohara understood Soul Materialisation too well, which, instead, became an obstacle.
Her congenital heart disease hadn't disappeared as her body grew - instead, it had become increasingly severe.
According to psychics like Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba, when using Soul Materialisation abilities, not only one's mental energy but also physical stamina depletes rapidly. Shoko Makinohara specifically inquired about this, and the sensation was described as similar to long-distance running. During the initial uses of Soul Materialisation, it felt like gritting one's teeth through a five-kilometre run, placing an extremely severe burden on the body.
For Shoko Makinohara, who suffers from heart disease, awakening Soul Materialisation abilities to fight evil spirits and enduring such physical strain...
Meant death.
Admittedly, after becoming a psychic, drinking 'milk' can enhance one's physical constitution, but can it cure Shoko Makinohara's congenital heart disease?
After all, there are no precedents, and even Rio Futaba cannot provide a definitive conclusion.
The most significant obstacle, however, is Shoko Makinohara's indecision.
She does want to become a psychic, but... facing her true self would mean her Adolescence Syndrome would disappear, and her body would revert to that of a young girl.
Would that truly be for the best?
Rather than gambling on the hope that becoming a psychic might cure her heart condition through special means, wouldn't it be better to maintain her current state and spend the final period of her life with everyone... and with Ye Xing?
Shoko Makinohara was caught in a dilemma.
...
Five minutes later, in the mansion's kendo training hall.
"Ye Xing-kun..."
Kaguya Shinomiya, now changed into a kendo uniform, gripped a wooden sword—more akin to a long blade—with both hands. She narrowed her ruby-like eyes slightly, staring directly at Ye Xing, who stood opposite her still in his regular clothes, casually resting a wooden sword on his shoulder. He looked less like someone here for kendo training and more like a street thug.
"Are you... intending to compete with me in kendo? Let me make this clear—you cannot defeat me."
Ye Xing smiled dismissively.
"You're quite confident. I wonder where that confidence comes from."
Kaguya Shinomiya remained expressionless, speaking calmly.
"Judging from your stance, your grip on the sword, and even the fact that you haven't changed into a kendo uniform, it's clear you've never practised kendo. You're a complete amateur. Although I'm more skilled in archery than kendo, that's only relative. My kendo ability is strong; as an amateur, you cannot win against me."
Ye Xing casually swung his wooden sword and replied noncommittally.
"Is that so? Then let's give it a try."
Kaguya Shinomiya's confidence was not unfounded.
Academically, she was indeed no match for him—far from it.
But in kendo, having received professional training since childhood as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, how could she possibly lose?
Despite Kaguya Shinomiya's outwardly delicate, daughter-of-a-distinguished-family appearance, her physical fitness, honed through years of training, was no less than that of an average male high school student.
Moreover, kendo isn't a discipline where brute force alone ensures victory; technique is far more crucial.
Kaguya Shinomiya took a deep breath, her heart rate slowing significantly in that moment. Expressionless, she gripped the wooden sword with both hands, tilting the tip slightly upward. In an instant, she became like a sharp blade, its edge aimed directly at Ye Xing standing opposite her.
"If you're ready, let's begin..."
Before the last word had fully left her lips, she suddenly felt her vision blur.
The next second, the wooden sword lightly pressed against her neck, accompanied by Ye Xing's voice—devoid of any excitement or joy, instead filled with a sense of boredom, as if he were merely humouring a child.
"You've lost."
"This... how is this possible..."
Kaguya Shinomiya stiffly turned her head, staring at Ye Xing, who held a wooden sword in one hand, resting it gently against her neck, her face filled with disbelief.
How... had he defeated her?
She hadn't seen the speed of Ye Xing's strike at all, nor did she understand how he had instantly appeared beside her. By the time she realised what was happening, the tip of his sword was already resting against her neck.
What Kaguya found most difficult to accept wasn't the defeat itself, but the manner of it.
Ye Xing had treated her like a child, merely placing the sword tip against her neck without causing any harm whatsoever.
To achieve such precision at that incredible speed could only mean one thing...
He was completely in control.
"I... lost."
Hearing Kaguya's words, Ye Xing nodded with satisfaction, then snapped the wooden sword in his hands and casually tossed it onto the floor.
This action held no particular meaning - he simply didn't want Onimaru Kunitsuna to start getting jealous again.
But to Kaguya, it felt almost like an insult.
Before she could speak, Ye Xing had already started walking out on his own.
"Come on, archery training ground."
...
Twenty minutes later, in the judo training hall.
Unsurprisingly, Kaguya had also been defeated in the archery competition.
This was completely unacceptable to her.
After all, during middle school, Kaguya had won the national archery championship for all of Japan. In the final decisive stage of the competition, she broke records by hitting the target ten times consecutively, securing victory that drew gasps of amazement.
Although she hadn't participated in competitions since entering high school, Kaguya had never stopped practising her archery skills.
Losing in her most skilled discipline of archery felt even more unacceptable than coming second in that joint examination.
After all, in Japan's joint examinations, she hadn't been first either. Though she hadn't known Ye Xing at the time, she had already experienced defeat once before.
Losing again in something she'd already lost at before was different from being defeated in archery - the discipline she had never lost at and was most confident in. Clearly, the latter struck a much heavier blow to Kaguya.
And now, this was her final chance.
Although Kaguya was also skilled in tea ceremony, flower arrangement, dance, and guzheng, she didn't think winning in such disciplines would be anything to boast about. Compared to archery and kendo, tea ceremony, flower arrangement and dance were far too niche - essentially training activities for wealthy young ladies.
Even if she challenged him and won in these three areas, it would feel like an unfair victory, not what she wanted.
As for the guzheng...
Kaguya had witnessed Ye Xing's performance during Sobu High School's cultural festival. Like the rest of the audience, she had been utterly astonished.
When it came to musical instruments, he was clearly far superior to her. There was no need to humiliate herself.
That left only one final discipline.
Dressed in her judo uniform, Kaguya assumed her stance, holding her breath and focusing as she stared intently into Ye Xing's eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly noticed his slightly complicated expression, as if he was remembering something, and couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"You... do you have any psychological trauma from judo before?"
"Psychological trauma?"
Ye Xing shook his head, speaking meaningfully.
"Not really. It's just that, as Kyoto's number one eroge player, seeing your current outfit made me recall a certain game I was obsessed with. Ah, it truly feels like a lifetime ago."
"Hmm?"
Kaguya Shinomiya never had much interest in video games, anime, manga, or similar things. After all, such things didn't suit her identity as the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, and she never considered learning about them.
However...
A video game that could make even Ye Xing use the word 'obsessed'... perhaps it wasn't an ordinary video game, but rather an inspiring, appreciable art form that shouldn't be missed?
Thinking this, Kaguya Shinomiya subconsciously spoke up.
"What's it called? I'd like to try it too."
"NTR Dojo."
"Huh? What dojo?"
"Never mind."
Ye Xing rubbed his neck and smiled at Kaguya Shinomiya.
"Come on, challenge me in judo... and fail once again."
"No..."
Kaguya Shinomiya narrowed her eyes slightly, fixing her gaze on Ye Xing's shoulder area to predict his next move. She stepped forward slowly and said quietly.
"This time, victory will be mine!"
...
Two minutes later.
Kaguya Shinomiya, who had been full of momentum at the start, was now lying awkwardly on the ground, her breathing becoming much more rapid. She didn't even have the mind to care that her judo uniform had become dishevelled and was somewhat revealing.
"Have you realised it now? The difference in strength between us?"
Ye Xing looked at Kaguya Shinomiya, who was lying on the ground, and spoke slowly.
"Your Adolescence Syndrome emerged precisely because you still cling to naive hope, thinking that one day you can surpass me, or that you even have a chance to surpass me."
"Now, face reality."
"You can never win against me."