Chapter 171: The Super-Quant Club Doesn't Keep Useless People, Everyone is My Wings
"Oh... "
Regarding Yukino's analysis, Yoru just nodded noncommittally.
"So that's how it is, what you said actually makes a lot of sense."
Seeing his appearance, Yukino frowned slightly, her thoughts running fast.
Is Yoru's acting too good, or is he really not "Mask"?
Yukino was also unwilling to believe that a high school boy with a boundless future who could take first place in the Sakura Prefecture Joint Exam would bet his future and destiny to act as a ranger wandering on the edge of the law.
This completely didn't conform to the logic of normal people.
The problem was...
Is Yoru a normal person?
Moreover, besides this, what other explanation is there?
On what basis did Yoru dare to pledge confidently that the Teru Teru Bozu Killer would definitely lose even before the Police Department issued an announcement?
Going back to the beginning, how did he dare to use that exclusive interview report to bait the serial killer using several members of the Super-Quant Club, especially himself, as bait?
Is it madness?
Or does he have some unknown reliance?
Yukino temporarily put aside the doubts in her heart, stared straight into Yoru's eyes, and spoke slowly.
"Since that's the case, is the result of my test a pass or a failure?"
"There is no so-called failure."
Yoru shook his head, then suddenly changed the subject and smiled.
"However, Yukinoshita-san, with your brain, at this stage you should have collected enough clues and have the ability to deduce the truth of the whole matter."
"Whether you pass or not doesn't lie in whether you can deduce it, but in whether you can believe the conclusion you draw after deducing it."
"Even if... it completely contradicts your cognition of more than ten years."
Under Yukino's complicated expression, Yoru continued with a smile.
"What's more, every single one of our internal members possesses a unique, irreplaceable aptitude. I haven't seen this in you right now."
Hearing this, Yukino's competitive spirit couldn't help being stimulated, her voice flat.
"Every single one?"
"Correct, every single one."
"Futaba-san's aptitude?"
"Even when involved in the situation, she can make absolutely rational analytical logical thinking from an outsider's perspective."
"Yotsuya-san?"
"Different from ordinary people, having super strong psychological quality that allows her to remain expressionless even if Mount Tai collapses in front of her."
"Mai-senpai?"
"Flawless acting skills, extremely high popularity. As long as it's someone who knows her, even if meeting for the first time, they won't suspect her of having malicious intentions, and..."
Yoru looked serious and specially emphasized a sentence.
"Mai's cooking is very delicious, taking care of the meals for all internal members. She is our Super-Quant Club's important cooking wife (Zhu Fan Po)... Cooking Immortal."
Yukino really wanted to complain.
What you just wanted to say was 'cooking wife', right?
Even a gentle and generous person like Mai-senpai would fly into a rage upon hearing such a title, right?
"Then Amano... no, Touma-san?"
Halfway through asking, Yukino suddenly changed her words.
She had vaguely guessed the answer.
But, Yukino was afraid.
She couldn't believe it. If she got Yoru's personal admission saying Amano Hina was an esper who could change the weather...
What kind of reaction should she make?
Yukino usually seemed to have a very straightforward personality, arguably outspoken.
But when facing questions without answers, she would subconsciously choose to escape.
Like an ostrich.
"Touma Kazusa? She plays the piano very well, and because of her family environment, she will say some sharp words that normal people dare not say, even when facing me, it's the same."
Yukino pursed her lips, thinking secretly in her heart that what Yoru said indeed made a lot of sense.
Every member capable of participating in internal meetings possessed unique aptitudes.
However...
Are these members amazing?
Compared to these members, each with their own strengths, gathering these eccentric people with different personalities, who would be considered hard to get along with in the eyes of ordinary people, into one club and taking action for the same goal.
Yoru, who could accomplish all this, was the most crucial core figure.
"Then..."
Yukino hesitated for a moment, ultimately voicing the doubt in her heart.
"What about Yui?"
....
Meanwhile, outside the front door of Yoru's house.
Ding dong~
Hearing the doorbell ring, Kawasaki Saki stood up, walked to the entryway, and opened the door.
"Yaha..."
Yui, standing outside the door, hadn't even uttered the third syllable 'llo' before she clearly saw that the person opening the door wasn't the one she imagined, but Kawasaki Saki.
The smile on her face instantly froze, and even her hands holding the exquisite box began to tremble slightly.
"Um..."
Yui forced a smile.
"I didn't know Kawasaki-san was here, this, that..."
Kawasaki Saki also blushed, hurriedly waving her hands to explain.
"Eh... didn't Yoru tell you... that's right, um, I'm not the only one; there are others here too."
"There are others!?"
Yui was greatly shocked, her pupils quaking.
Why?
Why are there many people, but she wasn't invited?
Why wasn't she invited to participate?
"You guy..."
Seeing Yui's appearance, Kawasaki Saki knew she was thinking crooked, and couldn't help raising her hand to knock Yui's head.
"Uu..."
Yui looked pitiful.
"Why did you hit me..."
Kawasaki Saki sighed helplessly.
"If hitting could make those dirty thoughts in your head disappear, I'd wish I could knock your head with a rolling pin."
"Stop thinking blindly and come in."
Yui said submissively.
"Oh... okay."
Upon entering the entryway, the first thing Yui saw was Keika sitting on the sofa.
Pupil quaking again.
Yui's brain had never been overloaded to the limit like at this moment.
A little girl?
A little girl with light blue hair who looks very much like Kawasaki Saki?
Wait a minute.
Is it Yoru's daughter!?
That's not right...
There hasn't been enough time.
"Oh right, you haven't met yet."
Kawasaki Saki actively introduced.
"This is my younger sister I told you about, Kawasaki Keika."
"Sis... sister!? So small!?"
Yui opened her lips wide, looking incredulous.
Yoru...
Actually committed such an act that angers both man and gods!?
"Eh? Yui?"
At this time, Marin, who had her back facing the entryway curled up in a single sofa, straightened up, turned to look at Yui standing there, and greeted with a sweet smile.
"Yahallo~"
"Eh? Marin, you're here too."
Seeing Marin was also here, Yui froze for a moment first, then held the box with both hands over her heart, breathing a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted.
"So you are here too; it seems I thought too much."
"Uh..."
The corner of Marin's mouth twitched twice. Although she didn't know what Yui meant by misunderstanding, judging from the opponent's demeanor and tone...
She always felt like she had suffered some inexplicable insult?
What does this mean?
Little Tuanzi, playing passive-aggressive here?
"Yoru is in the study discussing things with Yukinoshita-san. I'll take you over."
"Mmhmm, okay."
Kawasaki Saki looked generous and graceful, like the lady of the house, leading Yui up to the second floor.
Before going upstairs, she still deliberately glanced at Kazusa, a victorious smile rising on her lips.
Kazusa gritted her silver teeth lightly, a few traces of unwillingness flashing in her eyes.
Her weakness was exposed.
Kazusa couldn't bring herself to actively initiate a conversation with unfamiliar people.
And most importantly...
Besides Yoru, she couldn't be considered familiar with any member of the Super-Quant Club.
Today's battle situation.
Kawasaki Saki's victory.
....
On the other side, when Kawasaki Saki led Yui to the door of the study, they happened to hear the conversation coming from inside the room.
"Yuigahama Yui..."
"She also possesses a unique aptitude."
Hearing Yoru's voice saying such words, Kawasaki Saki was about to raise her hand to knock, but Yui grabbed her wrist, made a silencing gesture, and whispered carefully.
"Shh~ Yoru seems to be discussing things with Little Yukino; let's not interrupt."
Kawasaki Saki looked speechless, watching Yui acting stealthily like a thief, thinking you actually just heard your own name, so you're very curious, right?
"Yuigahama Yui's aptitude...."
This time it was Yukino's flat tone without emotional fluctuation.
"Yui... no, Yuigahama-san's personality is indeed very good, and her appearance is also very cute. Even I sometimes can't cope with her, but to say she has any unique aptitude, I indeed haven't seen it."
Hearing the evaluation given by Yukino, Kawasaki Saki couldn't help stealing a glance, wanting to see if the good-tempered Yui would get angry because of this.
Unexpectedly...
Yui actually had a touched look, even wiping tears from the corner of her eyes, saying softly.
"So in Little Yukino's eyes, I am actually such a good person."
"No..."
Kawasaki Saki looked sluggish.
Is your personality so gentle that it's a bit stupid?
You only listened to the first half of this sentence; you didn't take the second half in at all.
The study fell silent for a few seconds. Yoru suddenly replied.
"Yuigahama Yui's aptitude... Although she looks not much different from a normal high school girl."
"But as long as she is present, even a group with completely different personalities that originally couldn't integrate together can get along smoothly under the influence of her aura."
"Judging from the time of joining the club, me, Futaba Rio, and Yotsuya Miko were the initial three."
"Actually, in my heart, the initial Super-Quant Club wasn't a trio, but a quartet."
"Although Yuigahama Yui herself doesn't think so, she is a very important person to me and the Super-Quant Club."
Hearing this sentence, Yui, eavesdropping outside the study, instantly turned completely red.
This was her first time hearing Yoru say such words.
Herself...
Is very important?
Noticing Yui's expression, Kawasaki Saki shook her head helplessly.
Done for.
Another one.
Young girl, you have fallen.
Kawasaki Saki sighed slightly with a complicated expression, raised her hand, and knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
She pushed the door open and gave Yui a look.
"You go in."
Yui looked adorkable and puzzled.
"Eh? Aren't you coming in together?"
Kawasaki Saki, who had been battling wits and courage with Kazusa these past few days, suddenly encountering an adorkable opponent of Yui's level, was really a bit unaccustomed.
"What would I go in for? I have no business with him, go on, go on."
Yui held the box, carefully stepped into the room. Seeing Yukino sitting there, she smiled cautiously and greeted.
"Li... Little Yukino, yahallo~"
Unexpectedly for Yui, Yukino stood up, hesitated for a moment, and actually replied in the same way.
"Ya... yahallo, Yui."
After saying this very shameful greeting word, before Yui could reply, an embarrassed blush appeared on Yukino's fair and tender face.
"Then... I'll leave first."
After saying this, Yukino quickly left the study.
She remembered the sentence Yoru said.
If the relationship without any falsehood she pursued really existed in this world, it must exist within the Super-Quant Club.
Establishing connections with others and thereby revealing one's true inner heart...
This was indeed a path Yukino had never envisioned.
....
After Yukino left, Yui's eyes showed a bit of nervousness. She carefully walked to the desk and gently placed the box she was holding on the tabletop.
"Um... Yoru-san, this is... the cookies I made. After all, yesterday's fell on the ground, so..."
The smile on Yoru's face was somewhat stiff. He reached out to open the box, nodding.
"Sure... then I'll taste them."
Yui wore a sweet and innocent smile on her face, like an angel.
"Mmhmm, I believe what I made this time is even better than yesterday's. I feel this is my masterpiece!"
"Please don't masterpiece anymore."
Yoru replied noncommittally, picking up a cookie. His extraordinary observation skills made him instantly draw a conclusion in his mind.
Visually, normal shape, normal color.
Olfactorily, no different smell from ordinary cookies.
Tactilely, slightly rough surface, no difference in weight from ordinary cookies.
Looks, smells, and feels like an ordinary cookie.
Then here comes the question.
Would Yui's masterpiece with all her might really just be an ordinary cookie?
Holding this doubt and a nervousness he had never felt in his life, Yoru slowly put the cookie into his mouth.
"This is!?"
The moment it entered his mouth, Yoru was shocked.
What a wonderful texture.
A cookie can actually melt in the mouth?
The first flavor transmitted was chocolate, mixed with the slight sweetness of that cola-flavored lollipop.
A bit rich, but still within the normal range.
But immediately after, came the ultimate explosion of the taste buds, a thrilling experience like a roller coaster.
Chili, Sichuan peppercorn, Fish Mint, milk, vinegar, curry....
Yoru never thought in his life.
That these completely different, even conflicting and contradictory flavors, could be concentrated in such a small cookie.
Moreover, they weren't mixed together.
This cookie actually had extremely obvious layers of flavor!
At this moment, Yoru reached enlightenment.
He looked at Yui sitting opposite with a look of expectant nervousness, and let out a heartfelt sigh.
"Tuanzi... you... are a true cooking genius."
Yui's Soul True Body Kiyohime had a personality that extremely hated lies and viewed love as more important than anything else.
These two points actually fit Yui's state of mind recently.
Precisely because she had been hiding herself all along, she developed a disgust for lies.
The problem was, Kiyohime should be very good at cooking, the type of a good wife and loving mother.
At first, Yoru didn't understand why the Soul True Body Yui awakened would have cooking mastery skills.
But at this moment, he finally understood.
To make an ordinary cookie have such distinctly layered, complex and variable flavors...
If this isn't a cooking genius, what is?
It was just that the attribute points were added in the wrong direction.
The professional exorcist who had never suffered defeat in his life bowed his noble head before this small cookie.
"It is my loss..."
"Eh?"
Yui looked at a loss.
"This... just tasting a cookie, is there a saying of winning or losing?"
"Very much so."
Yoru said earnestly: "Your heart, I have completely felt it."
Yui beamed with joy.
"Since you like to eat them, I will continue making them for you in the future."
Yoru's soul was roaring, trying to make him refuse such hellish painful torture.
But when the words came out of his mouth....
"Okay, as long as it's made by you, I am willing to eat it."
Hearing this, Yui's face flushed shyly, and she nodded obediently.
After a long while, a few traces of loneliness suddenly appeared in her eyes, saying softly.
"Um... about Little Rio, Miko, Mai-senpai and the others..."
Speaking of this, Yui panicked herself first, waving her hands to explain.
"I... I am not forcing you to make a choice, I just think... it's not easy for everyone to gather together, and there are those exorcism things... if everyone in the Super-Quant Club separates like this, Kyoto city will..."
"Sigh, bro has been waiting for this sentence of yours."
Yoru started outputting.
"Tuanzi, do you feel that in order to protect Kyoto city, capable members like us in the Super-Quant Club should work together, and there shouldn't be internal conflicts?"
Yui adorkably nodded.
"Mmhmm, that's right."
"Then may I ask, what is the closest relationship in this world?"
Facing this question, Yui thought for a while before tentatively replying.
"Fa... family?"
"Correct."
Yoru nodded, saying seriously.
"So in order to protect Kyoto city, there is no so-called competition."
"Mai, Rio, Miko, you, and the other few, are all my most important family members."