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Chapter 25 - An Encounter on the Rooftop

Hearing Rio Futaba's words, Kano Yoruhoshi nodded noncommittally.

"Mm, continue."

At this point, Rio Futaba had fully entered analysis mode.

She took a ballpoint pen from the breast pocket of her white coat, tore a piece of paper from the notebook, and began writing on it while muttering to herself.

"Hmm… it should be this direction… but we also need to consider another possible influence…"

After a long while, Rio Futaba finally looked up, pushed up her glasses, and slid the paper forward to Kano Yoruhoshi.

"Take a look at this."

Kano Yoruhoshi looked down and couldn't help but exclaim,

"Hoh, you're quite professional. You even drew a mind map?"

"Of course."

Rio Futaba maintained her emotionless expression, simply explaining,

"Based on the settings you provided, at this stage, one 'protagonist' completely lacks combat ability."

"You don't need me to tell you that the speed at which two 'protagonists' clear the supply points is definitely faster than one person."

"And according to your statement, there are 'assistance points' in the city that might provide assistance and allow the 'protagonist' to increase their combat power."

"Therefore, this is the most urgent matter."

Kano Yoruhoshi thought, as expected of Rio Futaba.

To be able to receive a large amount of information and, in just a few minutes, draw the same conclusions as him.

She truly was a genius science girl who started studying quantum mechanics in high school.

Immediately after, Rio Futaba changed the subject.

"However, based on the information you provided, these so-called 'assistance points' are not necessarily absolutely safe."

"According to the setting, to obtain help from the NPCs within, a certain price must be paid."

"Before the meeting, the 'protagonist' does not know if they have enough chips to pay the price demanded by the other party."

"If they cannot pay, it is highly likely to trigger a battle."

Hearing Rio Futaba's obscure words, Kano Yoruhoshi nodded, understanding.

In fact, by using a chuunibyou translator to convert her analysis into terms understandable by normal people, it became much easier to grasp.

The so-called 'protagonists' were him and Miko Yotsuya.

And the so-called 'assistance points' were the several Shrines in Kyoto that Miko's father's spirit had mentioned, which even Evil Spirits dared not approach.

The NPCs were naturally the Gods lingering in that area.

Speaking of which.

The Gods in Japan were somewhat different from the Immortals of Kyushu in Kano Yoruhoshi's past life memories.

To gain the help of a God, one needed to pay a price.

Just like Miko Yotsuya in the original plot, to gain the help of the twin spirits, she signed a contract to give up everything she had.

Thinking about it carefully.

Isn't this just an Evil Spirit that learned to extort and blackmail?

Anyway, based on his experiences during this period, Kano Yoruhoshi did not think that the so-called Gods were good beings.

If Gods were truly so benevolent and kind to humans, would he still need to work himself to death every day, removing Evil Spirits and 'Gates' in Kyoto?

It's just that ordinary people don't know about the existence of Evil Spirits and ghosts.

Otherwise, the offerings in those Shrines should all be brought to the classroom door of Soubu High School's Class A, and a photo of himself should be placed there…

No, that scene seems a bit strange.

"But it seems now that this is the most direct way to break the deadlock. According to the game's setting, this should be considered an early-game BOSS battle."

Rio Futaba paused, then looked up at Kano Yoruhoshi.

"Well, is the assistance I provided valuable to you?"

"Very valuable."

Kano Yoruhoshi replied with a smile, handing the key to the activity room into her hand.

"From now on, please give me your continued guidance."

"Mm, I'll be going now."

Rio Futaba responded indifferently, then turned and left.

To be honest, after seriously contemplating the various pieces of information in the notebook, her belief that Kano Yoruhoshi was a severe chuunibyou patient couldn't help but waver slightly.

If it were a fantasy setting concocted by one person, the logic would be too self-consistent.

The key point was that Rio Futaba had once researched some psychological phenomena of adolescent boys and girls, which was also to analyze her own inner self.

This included the widely known and highly prevalent chuunibyou.

Chuunibyou is a self-consoling fantasy created to escape real-life difficulties.

So, the question arises.

Since it's a predicament of escaping reality, who would fantasize about such a World?

After reading through the entire contents of the notebook, Rio Futaba could only describe the reality depicted within using one word:

Suffocating.

Endless, never-ending "enemies" that could never be eliminated.

"Supply points" that grew wildly like weeds, making the World increasingly dangerous.

Even the "assistance points" that could help the "protagonist" improve, harbored unknown malevolence.

What kind of person could fantasize about such a World?

Did he find his real life too easy?

Of course, Rio Futaba couldn't possibly believe that the contents described in the notebook were real.

She had only one thought.

Kano Yoruhoshi is sick.

And, very sick.

After school that day.

Under Hiratsuka Shizuka's guidance, Class A elected its class committee members for various positions.

As expected.

Kano Yoruhoshi and Yotsuya Miko were not nominated.

"It's a bit cold."

Standing on the school rooftop, feeling the cool breeze of early spring, Yotsuya Miko couldn't help but pull her collar tighter.

Kano Yoruhoshi, on the other hand, gazed into the distance, a look of emotion appearing in his eyes as he said,

"I had a deceased friend who, right here, embarked on a split operation back then. It's truly nostalgic."

Yotsuya Miko hesitated. She truly couldn't tell if Kano Yoruhoshi's "split operation" meant what a normal person would understand, or its literal meaning.

"Uh… did your friend… turn into an Evil Spirit?"

"No, he went to the neighboring set to be a headless knight."

Yotsuya Miko (speechless): "…"

Before Kano Yoruhoshi could offer more strange remarks, she quickly interjected,

"What's the plan for today?"

"Today's plan is simple, it's just…"

Just as Kano Yoruhoshi was halfway through his sentence, the rooftop door was suddenly pushed open.

A girl dressed in a Soubu High School uniform slowly walked in.

She wore black sheer stockings that revealed her delicate, fair skin, her leg curves were incredibly graceful, and on her feet were exquisite small leather shoes.

Her delicate face carried a hint of lazy charm, along with a mature aura that made people hesitant to approach her easily.

Her long, black hair, like a waterfall reaching her waist, was adorned with a small bunny hair clip, exuding the youthful vibrancy of a high school girl.

Just standing there quietly, she was as beautiful and moving as a painting.

Seeing that both of them were looking at her, the girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and softly uttered a sentence that made Yotsuya Miko shiver all over.

"Can you two see me?"

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