"Allow me to ask one thing first."
To confirm whether the Hana Yurikawa mentioned by Menma's mother was the same Hana Yurikawa he knew, Ye Xing spoke up.
"Can you confirm which school this Hana Yurikawa attends?"
"Which school..."
Menma's mother shook her head.
"I don't know that, but she's very cute, with bright orange hair, a lively and cheerful personality, and..."
Here, Menma's mother glanced at her daughter beside her, hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.
"She's... more developed than girls her age."
"Alright, I understand."
Hearing this last remark, Ye Xing was certain.
Orange hair, cute appearance, lively and cheerful personality, and most importantly...
Boundless grace, with a chest far surpassing that of an ordinary high school girl.
It seemed this was indeed that Hana Yurikawa.
"May I ask why you want to know about what happened on the day Menma died...?"
Hearing Menma's mother's somewhat puzzled question, Ye Xing casually replied.
"I'm an exorcist, and Menma's death may be related to supernatural events. So I want to gather information from all sides, then visit the scene of Menma's death to find the one causing trouble behind it all, and then... never mind, it's too graphic, I won't describe what comes next."
Menma's mother looked sceptical.
Exorcism? Supernatural events? Evil spirits?
This young man named Ye Xing, who's quite handsome...
Is he alright in the head?
Chuunibyou?
But the moment this thought occurred to her, Menma's mother immediately dismissed it.
The evidence was right before her eyes.
Her daughter, who had been dead for five years, had appeared before her once again.
She could touch her, hear her, see her.
This was definitely not some illusion.
Or rather, Menma's mother couldn't accept that this might be an illusion—she would rather believe that spirits truly exist in this world.
That was precisely why Ye Xing had demonstrated his spiritual power in front of her.
Because he knew that while Menma's father and younger brother might not believe in things like evil spirits, psychics, or exorcists, Menma's mother would certainly believe and would never reveal this matter to anyone.
"Meiko."
Menma's mother grasped Menma's hand, speaking with genuine emotion.
"No matter what you are now, just stay by Mother's side."
Hearing this, Menma stole a glance at Ye Xing not far away. After remaining silent for a long moment, she ultimately shook her head.
"Mother, for many reasons... I can't stay here. Besides, if not for Brother Ye Xing's abilities... You normally wouldn't be able to see me, hear me, or touch me. It would be as if I didn't exist at all."
"This..."
Before Menma's mother could speak, Ye Xing proactively explained.
"Moreover, as a lingering spirit in this world, Menma easily encounters dangers. Like when we were going to Tokyo, we encountered someone who tried to attack her. If she stays here, she probably wouldn't last even a single day."
Seeing her daughter's expression, Menma's mother felt her heart sink. After a long while, she finally stroked her daughter's head and spoke softly.
"You... trust this classmate Ye Xing very much?"
Menma nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, I trust Brother Ye Xing very much. He's like... like you, and Father, and my little brother - he's family to me."
"Family?"
Menma's mother pressed her lips together, thinking the old saying was true - no one knows a daughter better than her mother.
The way you look at this classmate Ye Xing... doesn't seem like how you look at family.
"Then..."
Menma's mother looked at Ye Xing, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"After everything is resolved... Menma will achieve enlightenment and be reincarnated, right?"
Unexpectedly, Ye Xing looked confused upon hearing this and asked in return.
"Huh? There's such a thing? How come I didn't know about this?"
"Eh?"
Menma's mother was taken aback.
"I, am I wrong?"
"Of course you're wrong."
Ye Xing smiled and said quietly.
"After the matter is resolved, I'll find a way for Menma to continue staying in this world. If resurrection is possible, that would be best. Even if resurrection isn't possible, at the very least she should be freed from her current state and be able to live like a normal person without others discovering she's a ghost."
"Resurrection!?"
Hearing this word, Menma's mother was both shocked and delighted, momentarily unable to believe it.
"This... can this really be done?"
"Theoretically, it might be possible, but whether it actually works depends on my methods."
Overjoyed, Menma's mother quickly walked up to Ye Xing, bowed deeply, and spoke with genuine emotion and pleading.
"Please, you must help my daughter. Although our family isn't particularly wealthy, whatever reward you ask for, I'll do my best to gather it!"
"Money?"
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively and smiled.
"I'm not particularly short of money. Besides, I've already received my payment."
Menma's mother looked puzzled upon hearing this and asked hesitantly.
"Eh? What do you mean you've already received...?"
Ye Xing said seriously.
"Your daughter, Meiko Honma, is my payment."
...
After a conversation filled with reluctance, and learning about everything Menma had experienced from when she appeared at the hospital until today, Menma's mother ultimately let Ye Xing and her daughter leave.
She could tell that Meiko trusted this classmate Ye Xing very much.
She was just an ordinary housewife. Even if she forcibly kept her daughter by her side, it wouldn't bring about any change. Besides, without Ye Xing present, the two of them couldn't even manage basic communication.
Moreover, although Ye Xing's words left Menma's mother feeling both amused and exasperated, upon careful consideration, they actually put her mind at ease.
The other party didn't even want money, yet had taken care of Meiko for several months.
Whether it was for some special reason, or simply because he fancied her daughter...
Although Meiko Honma's physical state remained that of an eleven-year-old, if you counted these five years, she was already sixteen - the same age as Ye Xing.
Even if you only counted her age at death...
Compared to being devoured by other evil spirits, what was teenage romance as a big deal?
If this classmate Ye Xing truly liked Meiko, then Meiko's mother would feel relieved, at least believing he would do his best to protect her daughter from harm.
...
After leaving the house, Menma suddenly jumped onto Ye Xing's back, resting her head beside his shoulder and speaking softly.
"Thank you, Brother Ye Xing."
"Mhm, you're welcome."
Ye Xing maintained his composure, completely unfazed.
It wasn't that he had strong self-control.
Mainly...
Menma was just too flat, and in this eleven-year-old form, not yet...
Wait a moment.
Even at sixteen, it seemed Menma still hadn't developed at all?
Quite good.
If she could truly be successfully resurrected or break free from the rules of spirits so everyone could observe her, Menma would definitely have much in common with Yukino Yukinoshita.
Seeing that it wasn't too late yet, Ye Xing took out his phone and dialled Miko Yotsuya's number.
After a few brief rings, the call connected.
"What's up, calling me suddenly? Missing me?"
Miko Yotsuya's voice carried a hint of laughter.
Although she had developed almost expressionless symptoms from years of being watched by evil spirits, this had clearly eased since becoming a psychic. Besides, she wasn't the cold type by nature, but rather leaned towards being clingy.
"I am indeed missing you."
Ye Xing first laughed, then changed the subject.
"Also, I wanted to ask for Hana Yurikawa's contact details."
"Heh, so I'm the afterthought then?"
Miko Yotsuya instantly saw through Ye Xing's little trick, speaking meaningfully.
"You want Hana's contact details? For what purpose? Didn't you exchange contact information with her last time? Still coming to me for it?"
"Hey, listen to you."
Ye Xing explained with complete seriousness.
"I'm not familiar with Hana Yurikawa. Don't tell me you think any cute girl automatically deserves the honour of having my contact details? I'm too proper."
Miko Yotsuya couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Like I'd believe that. I'll send you Hana's contact details. That's it then, hanging up now. I'm in the middle of an exorcism."
"OK."
Miko Yotsuya didn't ask why Ye Xing wanted Hana Yurikawa's contact details, operating on pure trust.
After hanging up the phone, before Miko Yotsuya could even send her email, Ye Xing once again pulled up Hana Yurikawa's number from his contacts - which he'd saved long ago - and dialled.
He truly hadn't lied - not every cute girl could get his contact information.
The problem was, Hana Yuriakawa was simply too... substantial.
Moreover, he'd already contacted Hana Yurikawa once before when they went to get their fortunes told by Godmother Granny at the shopping street. But that time, only Mai Sakurajima had been present, and Miko Yotsuya only knew about the tarot card reading results, unaware that he'd also asked Hana Yurikawa for help.
The moment the call connected, Hana Yurikawa's energetic voice came through.
"Yahallo, Yahallo! Ye Xing-kun calling me - is there something special going on?"
To be honest, in the eyes of Supernatural Society members like Rio Futaba and Miko Yotsuya, aside from Kaguya Shinomiya... no, even including the exceptionally qualified Kaguya Shinomiya herself, Hana Yurikawa was the most suitable candidate for new membership, bar none.
Hana Yurikawa was the first, and so far only, person they'd encountered who possessed such an extraordinarily powerful life aura that it functioned like a passive halo, capable of annihilating malevolent evil spirits through her mere presence.
She represented the complete opposite of what Miko Yotsuya had been before becoming a psychic.
One could observe but lacked offensive capabilities.
The other couldn't observe but could make evil spirits vanish into dust.
From this perspective, Hana Yurikawa's talent in spiritual power was on the same level as Miko Yotsuya's, perhaps even superior.
The reason they hadn't recruited her into the Supernatural Society was that Hana Yurikawa's personality was too sunny and cheerful - it was difficult to imagine her having any emotional baggage that could serve as a trigger for awakening.
Otherwise, whether considering psychic talent, ability to keep secrets, or trustworthiness, Hana Yurikawa would be perfectly suited to join the Supernatural Society and become a professional exorcist.
And now...
Perhaps the trigger for her to become a psychic had finally appeared.
"Hana-san, are you free? I'd like to discuss something with you."
"Of course I'm free! I'm at the shopping street buying some snacks right now. Should I come to you, or will you come to me?"
"Send me your location - I'll head over shortly."
"Okay!"
After ending the call, Ye Xing looked at Menma standing nearby and chuckled lightly.
"Let me take you home first."
"Eh?"
Menma blinked in surprise, puffing out her cheeks in a pout.
"But I want to see Hana-chan too."
"Better not. Whichever side you look at her from these days, she's bigger than your head."
"What does that mean?"
"Never mind, just go home and rest. You'll have plenty of chances to see her later."
...
Half an hour later, Mai Sakurajima, who was at home with Shoko Makinohara, heard knocking at the door.
She rose and opened it to find Ye Xing and Menma standing outside, offering a slight smile.
"You're back? Come on in."
Ye Xing smiled back.
"I won't come in today - let's do it another day instead."
Mai Sakurajima's cheeks flushed pink as she shot him an embarrassed, annoyed glance, murmuring softly.
"What are you saying? Shoko and Menma are right here - no inappropriate remarks."
"Please take care of Menma, I need to go out again."
"Where to?"
"I've arranged to meet Hana Yurikawa. I'm concerned her life aura might be too intense and could unintentionally harm Menma since she's a ghost."
"Hana Yurikawa?"
Although Mai Sakurajima hadn't met Hana Yurikawa many times, she clearly had a strong impression of this underclassman - a girl with a childlike face and enormous breasts, lively and simple-minded, whose face was quite adorable but whose figure could almost be considered criminal in its exaggerated proportions.
Upon hearing that Ye Xing had asked Hana Yurikawa out, Mai Sakurajima narrowed her eyes slightly, giving him a meaningful look.
"You... surely aren't having any impure thoughts, are you?"
Ye Xing nodded with utmost sincerity.
"If I said I didn't have any impure thoughts, that would be a lie. If it were you, wouldn't you have them too? But the purpose of this meeting is completely pure."
Mai Sakurajima showed anger upon hearing this, initially wanting to harshly criticise Ye Xing for being a playboy who dates multiple girls at once. However, an image of Hana Yurikawa's chest - which seemed about to burst through her shirt - appeared in her mind. She then glanced down at her own chest.
Her figure was quite impressive too, with curves in all the right places.
But...
Hana Yurikawa was just too big.
Even Rio Futaba would probably be slightly inferior.
Looking across the entire Supernatural Society, there was no match for her.
"If your intentions are pure, then go ahead."
Mai Sakurajima sighed softly and didn't say anything more.
Seeing this, Ye Xing reached out and pinched Mai Sakurajima's fair cheek, chuckling lightly.
"So well-behaved. I'll reward you with some milk later."
Unexpectedly, Menma, nearby, heard this and suddenly spoke up with an innocent, naive expression.
"Brother Ye Xing, what milk? Menma wants some too."
Shoko Makinohara, who had been sitting on the sofa, heard Ye Xing's words and ran to the doorway, joining the conversation.
"Milk? I want some too. Did you buy milk, Brother Ye Xing?"
Ye Xing smiled meaningfully.
"Yes, everyone gets some, everyone gets some."
"Some your head!"
Mai Sakurajima stamped her foot in anger, looking at Menma and Shoko Makinohara with a serious expression.
"Don't get greedy; that milk isn't something you should drink casually."
Then, Mai Sakurajima looked at Ye Xing, rolled her eyes, and sighed helplessly.
"If you really want to thank me, there's a fireworks festival this Saturday. You should understand what I mean, right?"
"You want me to go watch the fireworks with just the two of us? I'm afraid that..."
"You've misunderstood."
Mai Sakurajima waved her hand, a hint of helplessness appearing in her eyes.
"Given your personality, if I really forced you to only accompany one of us to the fireworks festival, you'd probably end up choosing to go with none of us. Rather than that, it's better if we all go together, so there's no need to compete."
"Besides... because of my high profile, I've never been to such lively events before. Not just you, but Miko, Futaba, Yui... all the members of the Supernatural Society are my friends. I want to go with everyone."
Hearing this, Ye Xing couldn't help but show a touched expression.
"Mai-senpai, can I bring a few more people?"
"You..."
Mai Sakurajima gritted her silver teeth, saying resentfully.
"Don't push your luck!"
"Hey, it's more fun with more people."
Mai Sakurajima was furious, saying angrily.
"Then why don't you just... do that with all of us tonight!"
Unexpectedly, Ye Xing looked delighted upon hearing this.
"Great, it's settled then. Double happiness... no, this is like countless happinesses arriving at once!"
"Perverted junior, drop dead!"
...
Later that evening, in a shopping street in Kyoto.
"Ye Xing, over here, over here!"
Hana Yurikawa held a box of daifuku, quickly running up to Ye Xing and proactively offering it to him with a sweet smile.
"Here, I saved two for you. These are my favourite butt daifuku - see, they look just like butts, don't they? They're really delicious."
Ye Xing raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"So I'm eating your butt?"
Hana Yurikawa's face instantly flushed red, and she hurriedly waved her hands to explain.
"Not my butt, it's butt daifuku!"
Ye Xing picked up one of the daifuku and placed it in his mouth, tasting it briefly before commenting noncommittally.
"The flavour is alright, but I'd rather eat..."
"This... this..."
Seeing Hana Yurikawa flustered by his teasing, Ye Xing nearly couldn't hold back his laughter before composing himself and asking softly.
"Did you use to have a friend called Meiko Honma?"