"You want to join?"
Ye Xing rolled his eyes teasingly.
"I might not even approve you."
"You bastard..."
Saki clenched her fists, but ultimately had no choice but to relax them.
She wanted to punch Ye Xing.
The problem was - what if he tattled to her little sister next time they met?
Not that Ye Xing wouldn't do such a thing.
Saki was certain he absolutely would.
Then she'd have to endure her sister's harsh interrogation.
Besides, he still had dirt on her.
"Hmph, I'm not joining anyway."
"Join or don't, whatever. Someone's getting worked up~"
"You bastard..."
Saki's naturally pale complexion made the flush of anger on her cheeks even more noticeable.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Seeing Ye Xing instantly switch to a serious demeanour, Saki Kawasaki grew even more irritated.
Wasn't it you who was teasing me just now?
Noticing this, Yui Yuigahama patted Saki's shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"You just haven't spent enough time with him yet. Once you do, you'll get used to it."
"Ahem."
Ye Xing stood up, slowly pacing around the clubroom before finally speaking.
"First order of business—the Supernatural Society has welcomed three new members. Congratulations are in order..."
Before he could finish, Rio Futaba suddenly interrupted with a wary expression.
"Hey, you're not thinking of celebrating by playing the suona, are you? I'm warning you, that's not allowed."
Ye Xing smirked dismissively.
"Oh? Your choice of words is quite cute. Well, I'm going to play it anyway."
"Don't you dare!"
"I will."
"Absolutely not!!!"
"Fine, if you won't let me play it, I'll play with you instead."
Faced with this heavily suggestive remark, Rio's face instantly flushed crimson. She bit her lip lightly, lowering her head in silence.
She truly was no match for Ye Xing.
Admitting defeat, she gave up.
"Now, second matter."
Ye Xing turned to Marin Kitagawa.
"Kitagawa-san, haven't you always wanted to try cosplay but couldn't because you couldn't find suitable outfits?"
"Yeah..."
Marin sighed wistfully, resting her cheek on one hand.
"I have very high standards for cosplay costumes. I don't want mass-produced ones, but handmade custom pieces are way too expensive."
Two words were written all over Marin's face.
Poverty.
A concept Yui Yuigahama and Miko Yotsuya understood but couldn't currently relate to.
As for Yukino Yukinoshita and Rio Futaba—both from wealthy families—and Mai Sakurajima, who earned hundreds of thousands per drama episode and still hadn't exhausted her savings, they were even further removed from such struggles.
Only Saki Kawasaki wore an expression of shared understanding.
Saki's family wasn't exactly poor.
But with so many children, the burden was heavy.
Being mature and responsible, she didn't want to add extra strain on her family. That's why she worked part-time every day—to support her household and afford cram school.
"Sigh..."
Saki and Marin sighed simultaneously.
Seeing the two girls' despondent expressions, Yui parted her lips, about to say something, only for Miko to stop her.
The latter leaned close to her ear, frowning as she whispered.
"Don't say anything reckless. Our money... it's hard to explain."
After spending so much time together, Miko knew Yui's personality all too well.
To put it kindly—naive and endearing.
To put it bluntly—
An extremely gentle fool.
From Yui's earlier expression, Miko had guessed she wanted to offer financial help to Saki and Marin, saying she had money to lend if needed.
But the problem was—
Where did that money come from?
Tell the truth—that it was payment from exorcisms?
Miko didn't yet trust Yukino Yukinoshita, Saki Kawasaki, or Marin Kitagawa.
She did, however, trust Kazusa Touma to some degree.
The latter had once been the Supernatural Society's client and hadn't breathed a word about their secrets since.
Then again, Kazusa hardly spoke to anyone anyway.
Neither Marin Kitagawa nor Saki Kawasaki was so poor that they couldn't afford meals or had livelihood problems.
Excessive kindness and consideration would only hurt their pride and strain relationships.
Yui Yuigahama's high emotional intelligence had its flaws.
While she could read the atmosphere well, her excessive consideration for others sometimes led her to make rather foolish decisions.
When handmade clothing was mentioned, a flicker passed through Saki Kawasaki's eyes.
Could it be...?
Just as she suspected, Ye Xing next pointed at her and said with a smile:
"Kawasaki here is very interested in sewing and quite skilled at it."
"Eh, really!?"
Marin's face first lit up with excitement, then immediately deflated like a wilted eggplant as she pitifully added:
"But... I don't have any money."
Saki Kawasaki also weakly supplemented:
"I've never made anything as complicated as costumes before... my skills might not be up to par."
"Both those issues are easily solved."
Ye Xing turned to Rio Futaba: "How much do we currently have in our club's activity funds?"
Without hesitation, Futaba quoted a figure that left both Saki Kawasaki and Marin Kitagawa dumbfounded.
"About four hundred thousand yen."
It wasn't just these two financially struggling beauties.
Even Yukino Yukinoshita and Kazusa Touma were quite astonished upon hearing the staggering sum of 400,000 yen.
To these two, 400,000 yen naturally wasn't any significant amount.
But as activity funds for a high school club, wasn't this number somewhat excessive?
Just where did this come from!?
"My plan is simple."
Ye Xing leaned lazily against the windowsill, looking completely at ease.
"All initial material costs and Kawasaki's service fees will be advanced from our club funds."
"As for you, Kitagawa, your responsibility will be collecting cosplay costume-making experience online and communicating all the necessary details and professional knowledge with Kawasaki. This way, she can gradually become a qualified cosplay costume maker through continuous practice."
"Once Kawasaki's skills reach a level where she can take online commissions for custom costumes, she can repay the advanced funds."
"What do you think of this plan?"
With Ye Xing putting it this way, Rio Futaba and the others naturally had no objections.
Although not all this money was earned personally by him, some credit was given to Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba.
But they obviously wouldn't quibble over such things.
Given their relationship with Ye Xing, what significance did a mere few hundred thousand yen hold?
"OK, it's decided then."
"Wait a minute!"
Saki Kawasaki frowned slightly, biting her lower lip as she looked at Ye Xing by the window with a complicated expression.
"You... why are you helping me?"
Ye Xing replied as if stating the obvious:
"Because one of the Supernatural Society's tenets is helping Sobu High students overcome difficulties."
Miko Yotsuya, who'd joined earliest, looked puzzled at this.
"That's one of our tenets? I don't remember that."
Ye Xing pointed at Yukino Yukinoshita.
"It became one after she joined."
"Oh, I see."
Miko Yotsuya nodded without any objections.
Ye Xing glanced at the still hesitant Saki Kawasaki and said nonchalantly, "What's there to think about? This way, Kitagawa gets her costumes, and you get a well-paid part-time job that you can do at home without overworking yourself."
"If you really feel bad about it, you can pay back more later. Consider it... our investment in you."
Hearing this, and recalling Keika Kawasaki's recent words urging her to stop working so much, along with her own interest and passion for sewing, Saki finally made up her mind and nodded.
With a complicated expression, she looked at Ye Xing and said awkwardly,
"Ye Xing... I... I misunderstood you before. You're actually a good person."
Ye Xing frowned slightly.
"Hey, giving me a 'good person' card? Is this how you repay kindness?"
After this quip, he turned to Yukino Yukinoshita with a smile.
"See that, Yukinoshita? Our Supernatural Society has already completed two requests in just... well..."
He checked his phone.
"In just these past two minutes."
Yukino Yukinoshita was at a loss for words.
She was highly competitive and stubborn, but after witnessing the entire exchange, even she couldn't remain defiant.
Ye Xing had resolved the dilemmas of both Saki Kawasaki and Marin Kitagawa with such efficiency, in such a short time, using methods that not only addressed the immediate issues but also provided long-term solutions.
Could she have done it as perfectly as he had?
But...
Watching Ye Xing chatting with the other members of the Supernatural Society, Yukino's brow furrowed slightly.
Why did she feel that, in some ways, he resembled her sister Haruno?
Meanwhile, Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, and Miko Yotsuya noticed something else entirely.
Their gazes lingered on Kazusa Touma, who sat by the window with an indifferent expression. Something felt off.
Why hadn't her eyes left Ye Xing even once?
It was as if, in Kazusa's eyes, everyone else in the clubroom was completely invisible.
Unseen. Entirely unseen.
A new opponent has appeared?
...
Before afternoon classes began, Ye Xing made a special trip to the teachers' office.
Entering without knocking, he sat directly opposite Shizuka Hiratsuka and spoke in a tone that sounded more like issuing a notice than making a request.
"Listen up, Shizuka-chan."
"Futaba Rio won't be participating in Thursday and Friday's summer sports festival."
Hiratsuka blinked in surprise before responding with a wry smile.
"Leaving aside whether this complies with regulations, Rio isn't even in our class. I don't have authority over her."
Ye Xing shrugged with complete indifference.
"Fine, let her participate then. I'll just transfer schools next week. Goodbye, Sobu High."
Hiratsuka's brow furrowed in irritation.
"Are you threatening me with this again?"
"I ranked first in the unified exams."
"Can't you say something else?"
"I was top of the year in spring exams."
"Well..."
"Touma Kazusa, Kawasaki Saki, and Yukinoshita Yukino have all joined the club now."
At these words, Hiratsuka's troubled expression instantly transformed, as if her earlier hesitation had been entirely performative.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Don't worry, I'll handle Rio's situation."
Ye Xing looked at her with undisguised disdain.
"Shizuka-chan, your true colours are ugly."
Hiratsuka laughed unrepentantly.
"Hmph, welcome to the adult world. Learn from this."
Just as Hiratsuka began to relish Ye Xing's apparent defeat, the boy delivered a verbal blow that struck true.
"I suppose nearly thirty years of meals weren't wasted on you after all."
"You little brat...!"
Hiratsuka clenched her fist and launched a textbook-perfect straight punch towards Ye Xing's abdomen.
"Take this! Iron Fist Judgment!"
"Give it a rest."
Ye Xing didn't even bother dodging, taking the punch head-on without so much as blinking.
Though trained in martial arts, Hiratsuka couldn't possibly break through his defences.
"Eh?"
This marked the first time Hiratsuka had used her Iron Fist Judgment on Ye Xing.
Why had her previously infallible technique failed this time?
How strange...
"Seriously?"
Ye Xing looked down with a deadpan expression at Hiratsuka's hand, now splayed flat against his abdomen.
"What exactly are you groping me for?"
A faint blush coloured Hiratsuka's cheeks as she brazenly declared:
"You've got decent abs, I'll give you that."
"Want me to take my shirt off for a proper feel?"
"Th-that won't be necessary!"
Her composed facade shattered by Ye Xing's outrageous suggestion, Hiratsuka could only watch as the boy departed. Only after he left did she exhale in relief, cheeks still faintly pink as she gritted her teeth.
"That brat... really... just utterly incorrigible."
Though verbally bested, Hiratsuka felt today's exchange had been an overwhelming victory.
She was almost moved to tears.
Finally.
Yukinoshita Yukino and Touma Kazusa - those two problem children - had joined the Supernatural Society.
With Kawasaki Saki thrown in as a bonus.
Hiratsuka pondered this development.
In Class A, the quartet of problem students—Ye Xing, Yukino Yukinoshita, Kazusa Touma, and Saki Kawasaki—had all gathered in the Supernatural Society.
She still couldn't determine whether this was a good or bad thing.
But...
If Yukino Yukinoshita, as a fellow problem student, had any place in this school where she might find like-minded individuals...
Then it could only be within the Supernatural Society.
"You sisters..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka twirled her pen and sighed softly, murmuring to herself.
"Really know how to make trouble for me."
...
After school that day, in the Supernatural Society clubroom.
This time, Ye Xing didn't choose to sit by the window but instead took a seat at the table.
Surveying the club members, he called out several names.
"Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, Mai Sakurajima."
"And... Kazusa Touma."
"Aside from those I just named, the rest of you may leave. Today's club activities are over."
Hearing this, Saki Kawasaki and Marin Kitagawa exchanged glances but said nothing. After bidding farewell to Yui Yuigahama and the others, they left the clubroom.
They had already planned to visit some cosplay shops after school. Since club activities had ended early, they now had time to spare.
Meanwhile, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, remaining seated with her usual icy demeanour as she spoke slowly.
"Ye Xing, as a fellow club member, is there some secret matter that requires excluding me?"
To Yukino's surprise, her words found no support from anyone present this time.
Yui Yuigahama, Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, and Rio Futaba all wore expressions of hesitation, as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Kazusa Touma, however, turned her gaze away from Ye Xing for the first time, directing it at Yukino instead.
She replied coldly, "Of course it's because we don't trust you. What other reason could there be?"
Though Yukino and Kazusa were in the same class, they weren't particularly familiar with each other. Hearing such words, Yukino retorted without backing down.
"Since I've joined the club, I have the right to know—"
Before she could finish, Ye Xing—unlike his usual playful self—calmly raised a hand to interrupt.
"Just as you said, Yukinoshita, you're merely a club member at this stage."
"The people I named are those I can trust."
"And what we'll be discussing isn't something you're ready to accept yet."
"Of course, if you're dissatisfied with this arrangement, you're free to leave."
"Perhaps your determination to help others is just empty words after all."
Yukino fell silent, her expression unreadable.
In the end, she simply stood up and walked out of the clubroom without another word.
Had this happened earlier, such blatant exclusion from Ye Xing would have made Yukino quit without hesitation.
But during lunch break, she had already witnessed it.
He had the ability to help those in distress.
Yukino didn't want to abandon her goal.
At the same time, her competitive spirit had been ignited.
If Ye Xing could do it, so could she.
After Yukino Yukinoshita left, Ye Xing looked at the members present and slowly began to speak.
"Today, there's only one matter to discuss."
"Recruiting new members for the Supernatural Society team."
"As for the specifics, Futaba will explain them to everyone."
Rio Futaba nodded and relayed to the group everything Ye Xing had told her about Hina Amano's abilities, background, general personality, and the difficulties she was currently facing.
After listening, the members of the Supernatural Society team all shared the same attitude.
"Since she's in trouble and is also a psychic, we should definitely help her."
"It's not that simple."
Ye Xing shook his head and explained to the puzzled girls.
"If we recruit her, what should we do if she encounters danger one day?"
Miko Yotsuya answered without hesitation.
"Of course, we'd do everything we can to help her, no matter who the enemy is. Isn't that the very reason we came together in the first place?"
Ye Xing smiled and said word by word.
"Then what if... the enemy we have to face..."
"Is an actual god?"