Chapter 55: The Yukinoshita Family's Contract Project
Miko was silent for a while, then raised her sleeve to wipe her eyes. With a voice tinged with sobbing but also amusement, she said.
"What time is it, and you're still thinking about that 'Butter Shooter'? Your operation code name isn't that anyway."
Yoru shrugged, not caring at all.
"I can't just call myself 'Captain', can I? The code names you guys picked have no style."
Yui Yuigahama pouted.
"But you picked the code name 'Dumpling' for me based on my hairstyle! If you want something, just pick one for yourself."
"Probably won't need it anymore."
Yoru squatted down and pulled a bottle of high-purity alcohol from his pocket, pouring it onto the "Door" in front of him.
Then he lit a match and tossed it casually.
Roaring flames, like a python, instantly wrapped around the "Door."
Reflected by the bright firelight, Yoru's face was half illuminated and half in shadow.
"The Metropolitan Police Department will probably come up with a code name for me."
He looked at the two confused girls and chuckled.
"I suddenly want to eat McDonald's."
Yui sighed softly, then laughed dumbfoundedly.
"Alright, alright. You are the great hero of this incident; of course, we should hold a celebration party for you. Let's go, my treat."
....
Half an hour later, McDonald's second floor.
"It has to be the Double Cheeseburger."
Compared to Yoru, who was eating heartily, Miko and Yui didn't have much of an appetite, only occasionally picking up a french fry and putting it in their mouths.
"By the way."
Miko picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth, looked around, and seeing that the few guests in the distance weren't paying attention to them, she lowered her voice.
"That outfit of yours... how did you dispose of it? If the police find it, it will be troublesome."
"Don't worry about that."
Yoru finished a Double Cheeseburger in two or three bites and replied faintly.
"That outfit was obtained in the Otherworld, and I already discarded it in the Otherworld. The police won't find any clues; they'll only be misled."
"That's good."
Hearing this, both Miko and Yui breathed a sigh of relief.
They weren't worried that the police would list Yoru as a wanted criminal.
Although Yoru trespassed on the scene and killed people, those he killed were armed kidnappers, and the final result was the rescue of all hostages in the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
What was this?
This was a hero hidden in the darkness!
If it ended there, the Kyoto Metropolitan Police might only list Yoru as a key subject for investigation without much hostility.
But the problem was, before leaving...
Yoru blew up the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten building and razed it to the ground!
Miko could understand his reasoning.
Destroying all evidence at the scene and also getting rid of that "Door" along the way.
But in the eyes of the police, what kind of behavior was this?
He kidnapped Soichiro Yagami, the on-site commander-in-chief and Bureau Chief of Criminal Investigation.
And in the end, he left behind the blatantly provocative words: "Art is an Explosion."
Exploded. It really exploded this time.
When a person could do things that ordinary people found difficult or even impossible to understand, what they received was usually not respect and adoration.
But fear and dread.
Evil spirits, the Otherworld, Soul Manifestation.
Without needing to communicate with Yoru, Miko understood that these matters must be kept secret.
However...
Looking at the heartwarming photos in the news report of the kindergarten students' parents weeping with joy upon seeing their children return safely, Miko murmured.
"This time... you really became a hero."
Yoru waved his hand and said nonchalantly.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter."
"Eh?"
Yui froze for a moment, curiosity showing in her eyes.
"Yoru-kun, you saved so many innocent lives. Don't you feel a sense of accomplishment?"
"That is not my philosophy of action."
Yoru took a sip from his cola cup and then replied faintly.
"Acting to save others or to live up to others' expectations is certainly one kind of motivation."
"However, while enjoying the sense of accomplishment from saving others' destinies, one might also doubt their own actions due to being misunderstood, questioned, or even attacked by others."
"So my choice is to only do what I want to do, and not be bound by the views and ideals of others."
Hearing these words, Yui frowned slightly and pursed her lips.
"Do you mean that acting for the sake of others is the wrong way?"
Yoru shook his head.
"You misunderstood. I don't care what is a correct motivation or what is a wrong motivation. Just like the two of you sitting with me right now."
At this point, Yoru paused and showed a slight smile.
"The reasons why you two joined the Super-Quant Club are completely different. But as long as our goal is to fight against the supernatural in this world, that is enough."
"As for why you joined or what you want to gain from the process, I won't consider those questions."
"At this moment, you can enjoy the joy and sense of accomplishment of saving others' lives. I just choose not to care about it."
"In short, as long as you are willing to provide assistance, you are comrades."
Yui and Miko didn't know how to respond.
These words... why do they sound a bit profound?
Both of them were confused.
Seeing their expressions, Yoru didn't dwell on this topic and just chuckled.
"Let's end this topic here. We aren't a Philosophy Club. Let's talk about the weekend activity schedule."
Yoru took out a notebook from his pocket and handed it to Yui.
"Yuigahama-san, take this notebook tomorrow and find Oda Noto in the shopping district. Ask him to help search for intelligence regarding the ghosts recorded inside, as well as their weaknesses."
"OK, leave it to me."
Yui agreed with a sweet smile, without any hesitation or refusal.
Rather.
With her overly gentle personality, she was happiest only when she felt needed by others and capable of helping.
"As for Miko, tomorrow afternoon, we'll meet at the unfinished building. It's time to deal with that 'Door'."
Miko nodded slightly but then asked in confusion.
"Why not go in the morning?"
Yoru's answer was simple and unadorned.
"I can't wake up in the morning."
"Oh right, speaking of which..."
Yoru pulled a small wooden box from his pocket.
Seeing his action, both Yui and Miko wanted to retort.
Is there a Doraemon's 4D pocket under your school uniform jacket?
Alcohol, notebook, small wooden box... how do you hide all these things inside without it showing at all from the outside?
Do you have an interdimensional pocket too?
"Here, a gift for you."
Hearing the word "gift," Miko's cheeks inexplicably flushed slightly. She took the small wooden box and opened it carefully.
Yui also leaned in curiously to take a look but looked puzzled.
"An empty box?"
Miko looked at the dark green eyeball emitting faint black aura inside the small wooden box, her expression becoming very complicated.
This was the first time she had received a gift from a boy.
As a young girl, Miko had fantasized about such a scene many times and wondered what her first gift would be.
The only thing she hadn't expected was a big eyeball.
"Don't underestimate this eyeball."
Yoru looked mysterious, leaned closer to Miko, and lowered his voice.
"This is an eye belonging to the Slaughtering Ghost."
"What? The Slaughtering Ghost!?"
Hearing this name, Miko's expression instantly changed from slightly complicated to incredulous shock.
"Does it really exist? The Slaughtering Ghost?"
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
"That is incredible."
"Amazing, right?"
"As expected of you."
Watching Yoru and Miko looking so interested, Yui sighed helplessly and massaged her forehead.
These two are truly absurd.
...
Meanwhile, inside a luxury apartment.
Yukinoshita Yukino sat on the sofa, looking at the woman holding a teacup who bore some resemblance to her but had a more flamboyant aura. She spoke in a distant tone.
"So, why did you come to Kyoto?"
"Oh my, haven't seen your dear sister for half a month, and this is the attitude I get upon meeting? You really haven't changed at all."
"Say what you want."
Haruno smiled meaningfully, took a sip of tea, and spoke unhurriedly.
"Didn't our family's construction company contract a project for an office building in Kyoto? An accident happened some time ago, and the project progress was delayed, so Mother sent me to take a look."
At this point, Haruno paused and looked at Yukino with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"Of course, I also missed my cute little sister very much."
Yukino's eyes flickered for a moment. Finally, she just shook her head and said softly.
"Your wording is wrong."
"What's wrong?"
"It's not 'our family's' construction company, but 'your' (plural/Mother's) construction company."
"Is that so."
Haruno nodded noncommittally. Observing Yukino sitting there, a hint of complexity appeared deep in her eyes.