Chapter 177: Very Chewy Special Evil Spirit, Arriving in Tokyo
The bandage weirdo's gaze scanned back and forth inside the carriage, finally locking onto Menma, who was sitting behind Mai and Miko with a terrified face.
It held a huge blood-stained axe in its right hand, its tall and large body exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.
"This guy..."
Miko gritted her silver teeth, her golden pupils showing a look of facing a formidable enemy.
Since she awakened Yin-Yang Eyes, she had never seen such a powerful evil spirit with such a strong sense of oppression that almost made people unable to breathe, like this bandage weirdo.
What should we do?
Miko and Mai beside her looked at each other, then the two looked together at Rio sitting in the front right position.
Thud... thud... thud...
Amidst the sound of the huge axe in its hand scraping the ground and those muffled footsteps, Rio watched the tall and burly bandage weirdo gradually approach the position where they were sitting. Her brain worked rapidly, and sweat droplets seeped out on her forehead.
What to do?
Summon the Soul True Body here and transform?
The problem was that non-internal members Yukino and Marin were sitting right there.
Moreover, the space inside the carriage was truly too narrow.
If they fought such a powerful evil spirit, there would be absolutely no room to hold back, and it would be too easy to affect the surroundings.
Then...
Rio glanced at Menma, who was shivering, her small face full of terror.
Pretend not to see and sacrifice the opponent?
No...
Rio absolutely didn't want to see a weak and helpless little girl die in front of her.
Even if this little girl was just a lost ghost.
Just as she gritted her silver teeth, put her hand on her glasses frame, preparing to take off her glasses and transform into "Quantum" dressed for exorcism action right in front of Yukino and Marin, she suddenly heard Yoru's voice ring out.
"Kitagawa-san, let me out for a moment."
"Eh? Okay."
When Yoru left his seat and stood in the aisle between the seats on both sides, he happened to form a face-to-face posture with the bandage weirdo slowly walking towards them.
Watching him and the bandage weirdo not giving way to each other, both walking slowly towards the opponent, the hearts of the four spirit mediums Rio, Mai, Yui, and Miko were in their throats.
Right here?
Right now?
Transforming into "Mask" in front of the unknowing Yukino and Marin, under the surveillance cameras inside the Shinkansen carriage?
Under the nervous gazes of Rio and others, they saw Yoru acting as if he completely couldn't see it, just walking straight through the bandage weirdo's body.
Just looking at this appearance, it was exactly the same as an ordinary human who couldn't observe evil spirits, without the slightest flaw.
Miko was shocked in her heart, praising secretly.
What superb acting skills!
Although Miko could barely manage to keep a straight face when facing evil spirits, she still found it very difficult to actively approach or even walk straight through an evil spirit's body like this.
This was no longer just being bold.
Yoru simply didn't feel there was anything to be afraid of.
The bandage weirdo's footsteps paused, seeming unsure of what was going on with that human who just passed through its body.
But soon, it continued walking forward on its own, arriving at a place less than three meters away from Menma.
The bandage weirdo looked at the petite Menma. There was no emotional fluctuation in its single eye, just silently raising its right hand. The black mist on its body became thicker, preparing to swing the axe forcefully to split this wandering ghost in the human world into....
Wait a minute.
When making this action, the bandage weirdo suddenly froze.
It looked at its right hand.
Empty, nothing there.
Then looked at its left hand.
Empty, similarly nothing there.
"Hmm...?"
The bandage weirdo squeezed out a hoarse sound of confusion from its throat.
It slowly turned around and saw that human male who just walked straight through its body had actually stolen its axe and linen bundle at some unknown time!
The bandage weirdo didn't even notice its weapons were stolen.
What kind of rapid and hidden movement was this?
It's simply like...
Seeing Yoru at the front of the carriage, holding the bandage weirdo's weapon and bundle, deliberately waiting for the opponent to take the bait with a smile, Mai couldn't help holding her forehead and sighing helplessly.
"So the agile skill of unhooking a bra with one hand... can come in handy at such a time."
Seeing Yoru holding its weapon and bundle, still looking ostentatious as if provoking it, the bandage weirdo's single eye instantly burst with bloodshot veins, roaring hoarsely.
"You... can see!"
With a flash, Yoru entered the restroom located in the connecting passage between the two carriages.
Click.
With a crisp sound, he locked the restroom door from the inside.
The bandage weirdo quickly ran over, looking at the restroom door showing "In Use", strong killing intent emerging in its pupil.
Did this human think locking the door would make him safe?
It was an evil spirit, it could walk through walls!
The bandage weirdo revealed a ferocious smile. It didn't choose to pass directly through the wall in front of it, but poked its head forward first.
It wanted to make this human who offended it feel unimaginable terror bit by bit before dying!
When the bandage weirdo's head completely penetrated the restroom door, what caught its eye was not some terrified, shivering human face.
But a pure black mask formed by burning pitch-black flames.
The bandage weirdo's expression stiffened, subconsciously wanting to pull its head back.
But the next second, a pale ghost hand with pitch-black sharp nails tightly grabbed its head with its five fingers.
"Trying to escape?"
"Get in here."
Mai and others could clearly see that after the bandage weirdo poked its head into the restroom door, in less than two seconds, its tall and burly body suddenly began to twist violently, as if struggling against something.
But the result was futile.
Like a duck swimming calmly on the water suddenly being bitten by a crocodile hiding underwater, its body was directly dragged forcibly into the restroom.
Next...
Was dead silence.
No sound of impact, no oozing of blood.
Only suffocating silence.
Time passed minute by minute.
Flush~
Click.
Following the sound of flushing water, when the slight sound of the restroom lock being opened came out, Yoru walked out of the restroom, looking as if nothing had happened, and returned to the carriage.
Rio grabbed Yoru's cuff and lowered her voice.
"How is it?"
"How is what?"
"What else could it be, of course it's...."
Seeing Rio's expression, Yoru seemed to finally understand, nodding noncommittally.
"Mmhmm... the taste is okay, the texture is very chewy, quite juicy, but not as delicious as I imagined."
"If the full score is ten, I can give it a seven."
"Mainly there was no time for cooking. Wasting such a good ingredient is really a pity."
Rio looked speechless, thinking are you actually giving a review here?
However...
It was within expectations, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Even such a powerful evil spirit exuding a special aura couldn't escape the fate of becoming a meal in "Mask's" stomach.
Seeing Yoru looking unsatisfied, as if he hadn't fully enjoyed himself, Rio complained secretly in her heart.
In front of the opponent, the food chain status of evil spirits and humans seemed completely reversed.
Thinking carefully.
Being forcibly dragged into a small confined room, then dying in deep despair and fear....
Wasn't the role played by that bandage weirdo exactly the death NPC in horror movies?
It turns out, Yoru is the villain in the horror movie.
Rio stood up and gave a look to Yui, Mai, and Miko.
The three instantly understood, stood up, and followed her and Yoru to the rear of the carriage.
Kawasaki Saki and Amano Hina looked at each other. Although they didn't have the ability to observe evil spirits, they could feel it from the performance of Rio and the others.
Something terrible must have happened just now.
.....
"Just set off, and encountered such a thing..."
On the other side, Rio casually found a seat at the rear of the carriage and sat down, frowning tightly.
Miko also looked thoughtful, murmuring.
"That evil spirit just now was completely not on the same level as the ones we met before. Is it a product of the Otherworld?"
"No."
Yoru shook his head and replied casually.
"That thing... how to describe it... it can be considered an existence maintaining order."
"Maintaining order... so that's how it is."
Miko nodded in realization.
"I was wondering about a question before."
"Spirit mediums like Mr. Oda and Godmother Granny can only drive away evil spirits, but cannot truly eliminate them."
"Although it's uncertain when things like evil spirits and ghosts started existing, even if it's only a hundred... no, fifty years."
"According to this logic, even if evil spirits devour each other, overall, evil spirits will become increasingly terrifying, and their numbers will continue to increase."
Speaking of this, Miko paused, then continued.
"But in fact, the number of evil spirits and ghosts is not as many as imagined. Little Rio, Mai-senpai, Yui, you guys should have noticed too, right?"
Mai and Rio nodded.
"Mmhmm, that's indeed the case."
"Eh?"
Yui had a blank expression.
"There's such a thing?"
"You guy..."
Rio shook her head helplessly.
"Think seriously occasionally, will you?"
"Hehe... it's enough to have you guys thinking."
"Sigh, really..."
Rio pushed her glasses frame, thoughtful.
"In other words, that bandage weirdo holding an axe is to maintain order, keeping the number of evil spirits and ghosts from increasing infinitely... a role similar to a scavenger?"
Speaking of this, Rio's expression became somewhat complicated as she looked at Yoru sitting there.
"In other words... it's actually, to a certain extent... considered our ally?"
"Why are you looking at me like this?"
Yoru looked unconcerned.
"Let's put aside whether it's an ally or not, the taste was indeed quite good."
Hearing his answer, Rio didn't even know how to evaluate.
"Anyway, one thing is certain, that guy came for Menma, and..."
Rio spoke slowly.
"This guy was eliminated, there's a high probability that other, stronger evil spirits will come looking for Menma."
Mai, Yui, and Miko also looked heavy and nodded.
"It seems this trip to Tokyo will definitely be..."
Before they could finish, Yoru smiled and interrupted.
"It will definitely be a gourmet trip to eat to our heart's content."
Look at how hungry the child is.
He's started acting crazy.
And at this time, Menma, watching the Big Brothers and Big Sisters talking at the end of the carriage, her small body curled up in the seat, a complicated look revealing in her eyes.
Was it me... who attracted that monster?
If I continue staying with everyone, will I bring danger to everyone?
....
"I prepared rice balls for everyone, please enjoy."
Mai took out two bento boxes from her small crossbody bag and distributed the prepared rice balls to the Super-Quant Club members.
"Eh~ As expected of Mai-senpai, they are really delicious."
Amano Hina took a bite of the rice ball, her face full of happy expressions.
Kazusa also took a small bite, saying faintly.
"Mmhmm, not bad, much better than those in convenience stores."
"You have a grain of rice on the corner of your mouth."
Yoru actively reached out and wiped off the rice grain stuck to the corner of Kazusa's mouth.
According to normal development, at this time he should put the rice grain into his mouth and then start appreciating Kazusa's blushing, flustered look.
But feeling the Shuraba (carnage) gazes around him, Yoru finally made the wise decision to wipe off the rice grain with a tissue.
Seeing that the members were unanimously praising and approving the rice balls she brought out, Mai covered her lips and chuckled.
"Actually, these weren't made by me."
"Eh? Not made by Mai-senpai? Then who?"
"They were made by Yui."
"Hah?"
Everyone's faces changed.
Especially Kawasaki Saki, Marin, and Yukino, these three who had just experienced the terror of Yui's cooking a while ago, showed even more horrified looks.
These rice balls...
Were actually made by the Master Chef, Yuigahama Yui!?
This is really failing to recognize Mount Tai (failing to recognize a great person).
"But... why, since they were made by Yui, this, that..."
Seeing Marin hesitating, not knowing how to express herself, Mai smiled.
"You want to ask, since these rice balls were made by Yui, why do they taste so normal, right?"
"Uh... yes."
"Actually, when Yui was making rice balls this time, I paid attention the whole time."
Yui nodded, smiling sweetly.
"Mai-senpai told me that actually, even if you want to convey your feelings, there's no need to add those special seasonings. What's important is whether the person tasting the food can reach a spiritual connection with you."
"Actually, making it the most ordinary way is fine."
Amano Hina had an expression of sudden realization upon hearing this, murmuring.
"So, when Yui thinks she didn't do well enough, it's actually the best. When she thinks she put a lot of heart into it, that's when it produces that complicated taste? So that's how it is..."
"Correct, that's it."
Mai smiled and nodded, then looked at Yoru, saying meaningfully.
"However, for a certain particularly important person, Yui still couldn't change this habit."
While speaking, Mai took out a light pink, heart-shaped bento box. After opening it, inside was a heart-shaped rice ball.
She handed it to Yoru with a smile and used the gentlest tone to say an extremely lethal sentence.
"Yoru-sama~ You also really want to connect your heart with Yuigahama-san, right?"
Yoru waved his hands repeatedly.
"Anything else is fine, but in this aspect of cooking, I can't connect at all."
"Today you must connect even if you can't, and connect even if you won't! Eat it for me!"
.....
"Finally arrived in Tokyo~"
Looking at the platform outside the window, most of the Super-Quant Club members showed excited looks.
"Tokyo really has a different trendy atmosphere."
"What trendy atmosphere, we haven't even gotten off the train yet."
"Say, what should we go eat first?"
"Tokyo's specialty... sushi?"
"Are you stupid, the specialty of the whole Sakura Prefecture is sushi."
"Oh, that's true."
.....
When Yoru led the Super-Quant Club members off the train and left the platform, they saw a handsome young man with long brown hair wearing black suit pants, a white shirt, and a tie, standing there waiting at the exit.
As soon as the opponent saw Yoru, a smile couldn't help rising on his lips, and he immediately came up to welcome him.
"Welcome to Tokyo."
Rio frowned slightly, looked at Yoru, and asked puzzledly.
"This is...?"
"Oh, let me introduce you."
Yoru smiled: "This is my friend in Tokyo, Light Yagami."
"Friend..."
Hearing the word "friend", Light Yagami's smile and eyes became even softer.
Looking at his appearance, Rio felt a strange feeling in her heart.
This Light Yagami...
Why does he make people feel... a bit like that?
"Light, let me introduce you, these are all members of my school club...."
After listening to Yoru's introduction of the Super-Quant Club members, Light Yagami's gaze shifted slightly, instantly turning into a cold appearance, nodding slightly.
"Mmhmm, hello."
Immediately after, he quickly shifted his gaze to Yoru's face, restoring that smiling appearance.
"Yoru-kun, counting the days, it's been a while since we met. Let's find a place to eat. Just right, I have many things I want to talk with you about."
Mai and others all had complicated faces.
This Light Yagami... couldn't possibly have that kind of tendency, right?
Just then, Light Yagami suddenly felt his shoulder forcibly bumped away.
"You can't stand next to him."
Seeing Kazusa looking vigilant and fierce like a puppy protecting its food, Light Yagami laughed dumbfoundedly.
"Why?"
Kazusa's pretty face flushed red, saying faintly.
"Because this position beside him belongs to me."