Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

"Yakumo, can we now address each other by our first names, signifying a close relationship?"

"That's a question I'm not comfortable answering."

"What's so hard to answer? It's either yes or no."

"Whether it is or not depends on what favor you want me to do for you."

Hearing this, Yukino's sister, Haruno, was silent on the other end of the phone for a moment before sighing.

"I can't hide anything from you, can I? Are you free tonight? I'd like to talk to you in person."

"Hmm... I am free."

Yakumo replied with a smile.

"But next time, remember to make an appointment in advance."

Haruno was both annoyed and amused.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Next time I ask you out, I'll make an appointment in advance, okay?"

"Okay, send me the address and time."

"Okay, see you tonight."

"Yeah, see you tonight."

After hanging up the phone, Yakumo stretched and, without turning around, chuckled and said,

"Did you hear everything?"

Rio Futaba's cold voice replied.

"Going out tonight?"

Yakumo turned around, looking at Rio Futaba, who, though appearing calm, clearly showed some displeasure and awkwardness, and said with a teasing smile.

"What do you mean, 'going out'? I don't even live here, or are you implying something?"

Rio Futaba's face instantly turned red, and she opened her lips, wanting to retort, but stopped herself.

She paused, pushed up her glasses, lowered her head, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz,

"Co... Cohabitation is not allowed, but... if you come to my house occasionally as a friend for a day or two, I... I have no reason to refuse."

"Are you actually inviting me?"

Rio Futaba frowned slightly and snorted softly.

"If you don't want to come, then pretend I didn't say anything."

"That won't do. Now that you've said that, I really have to come."

Then, Yakumo added,

"I'm going to see Haruno Yukinoshita tonight."

"Haruno Yukinoshita?"

Hearing this name, Rio Futaba's eyes revealed a thoughtful look.

"Is that the Yukinoshita from Yukinoshita Construction Company, the one written on the banner during the blimp promotion?"

"That's right."

"Is she also the Yukinoshita from your class, the Yukino Yukinoshita?"

"Do you know Yukino Yukinoshita?"

"I don't know her."

Rio Futaba shook her head and said indifferently.

"It's just that before, I discussed with Yui about potential candidates if the club were to recruit new members."

Yakumo nodded noncommittally.

"So, do you think Yukino Yukinoshita is suitable to join the Supernatural Club?"

"No, quite the opposite."

Rio Futaba gave her conclusion in her usual rational tone.

"Yukino Yukinoshita is aloof and unsociable."

"And according to Yui Yuigahama, Yukino Yukinoshita is always straightforward, completely disregarding the impact of her words."

"To put it nicely, it's called being straightforward and never pretending."

"To put it bluntly, Yukino Yukinoshita clearly has the ability to integrate into a group, but chooses not to. This kind of psychological self-restraint is difficult to resolve."

"As for her strengths, her grades seem to be good, and her appearance is outstanding."

"So... my original conclusion was that Yukino Yukinoshita is not suitable to be a member of the Supernatural Club."

Noticing the word 'original,' Yakumo couldn't help but ask curiously,

"What about now?"

Rio Futaba looked up at him and said in a calm tone.

"After seeing the blimp promotion, I searched online for the background of Yukinoshita Construction Company."

"Her mother is the president of the construction company, and her father is a Chiba Prefecture assemblyman."

"They have connections in both political and business circles."

"My current conclusion is."

"If Yukino Yukinoshita sincerely wants to help, our Supernatural Club's information sources will no longer be limited to Kyoto City."

"Overall, she can provide help."

Chapter 089: Miso Soup Assassin Dumplings, Haruno's 'Conditions'

After saying all of this, Rio Futaba took a breath and added one last sentence.

"Of course, I'm only responsible for analyzing the situation. As for whether or not to recruit new members, and who to recruit, that's up to you to decide. I won't participate."

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind."

Yakumo nodded noncommittally.

Rio Futaba's analysis was correct.

With Yukino Yukinoshita's family background, if she were willing to use her family's connections, it could indeed become the Supernatural Club's information channel outside of Kyoto City.

The problem is.

Let alone whether Yukino would join the Supernatural Club.

Even if she did, given her personality, it would be absolutely impossible for her to use her family's money and connections for club activities.

After all, that's exactly what Yukino hates the most: "fakes."

That's fine, though.

He had already established a mutually beneficial relationship with Haruno, who held the position of the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Coupled with the blimp promotion event that shook Sakura Province, it was clear that Haruno had a lot of influence within the Yukinoshita Company, almost comparable to her and Yukino's mother.

Having such an assistant was enough.

Thinking of this, Yakumo looked at Rio Futaba and asked a question that she didn't expect.

"Do you think Yukino Yukinoshita might awaken soul manifestation and become a psychic?"

"I don't know."

Rio Futaba didn't hide anything and simply shook her head.

"I don't know her, and I haven't had any contact with her, so I can't be sure if she meets the conditions for awakening soul manifestation, whether there is such a strong force in her heart that can change herself."

"And the analysis of psychological and emotional aspects is not my forte."

"However..."

Rio Futaba pushed up her glasses and changed the subject.

"Mai Sakurajima-senpai should have such qualifications because the power of her 'cognition' has already affected reality."

Yakumo thought that Rio Futaba's conclusion was likely correct.

Soul manifestation is based on the power of one's heart and soul.

In Rio Futaba's quantum mechanics terms, it's "cognition."

Coincidentally.

The principle of Adolescence Syndrome is also "cognition" affecting reality.

Then, perhaps there is an equal sign between people who have suffered from Adolescence Syndrome and people who are qualified to awaken soul manifestation abilities.

This pointed out to Yakumo a way to quickly find suitable candidates and make them assistants.

The question is.

Besides Rio Futaba in front of him and Mai Sakurajima, who else has suffered from Adolescence Syndrome?

Sakuta Azusagawa and his sister Kaede Azusagawa.

But in the list of first-year students at Soubu High, Yakumo had not seen Sakuta Azusagawa's name.

Besides that...

There was also Shouko Makinohara, a frail girl with congenital heart disease; Tomoe Koga, who was a first-year student when Mai Sakurajima was a third-year student; and Mai Sakurajima's sister, Nodoka Toyohama, a member of the Sweet Bullet idol group.

It seemed like there were three options.

In reality, Yakumo only had a legitimate reason to contact one.

He was a first-year student at Soubu High, and Mai Sakurajima was a famous and beautiful senior in her second year. It wouldn't be strange for the two to know each other.

Then, through the relationship with Mai Sakurajima, he could get to know her sister, the active idol Nodoka Toyohama.

That made sense.

But Shouko Makinohara, who was in the third or fourth grade of elementary school and spent most of her time in the hospital ward, and Tomoe Koga, who was still in junior high school in some remote countryside, would look suspicious if he rashly approached them.

Even if the person in question didn't suspect him, what about the Metropolitan Police Department?

He had to be cautious, very cautious.

Yakumo wasn't sure if that famous detective L existed in this world, but since he wasn't sure, he would assume he did.

"Yakumo, Rio-chan, come eat!"

Hearing Yui Yuigahama's call, Rio Futaba responded and suddenly seemed to remember something, softly saying to Yakumo.

"Sorry, you just finished your mission and must be tired. I shouldn't have discussed these things with you at this time. Let's rest for a while after eating. After all, spring break is still long."

"It's okay, I'm not tired at all."

Yakumo waved his hand with a smile.

Watching his back as he walked out of the room, Rio Futaba suddenly felt a strange sense of sadness.

The eerie phenomena that affected the entire city, another Kyoto City filled with evil spirits.

Faced with such an increasingly distorted world, could they really persevere with just the strength of a few people?

Even with Yui Yuigahama, Miko Yotsuya, and others by her side now, Rio Futaba would still have such hesitant thoughts at times.

She couldn't imagine how Yakumo had persisted when he first awakened his abilities and fought against evil spirits and the "Doors" alone.

Perhaps that was also one of the reasons why she, Yui Yuigahama, and Miko Yotsuya had gathered around him and joined the Supernatural Club.

After walking out of the living room, Rio Futaba smelled a strangely eerie scent.

Her gaze turned to the dining table, looking at the bowl of miso soup that looked perfectly normal on the outside, and a strange, ominous premonition arose in her heart.

"Rio-chan, come sit down!"

Yui Yuigahama, with a sweet smile on her face, took Rio Futaba's hand, led her to the table, and pointed to the bowl of soup placed in front of her.

"I've been simmering this miso soup for almost an hour! It should taste pretty good. Try it quickly!"