Chapter 19: Yukinoshita's Black Tea!
Faced with his question, Yukinoshita Yukino, usually as calm as ice, was suddenly at a loss for words—
"This... we should probably first define what scope of activity and communication counts as being friends."
Luke nodded, understanding everything.
"So it seems you don't have any friends then."
He formed an initial impression of Yukinoshita Yukino.
Groups that ate, drank, and played together, gathered during breaks, and eagerly planned hangouts after school or during holidays, those counted as friends.
People who didn't contact each other often but worked towards a common goal, only occasionally meeting to discuss experiences, also counted as friends.
But clearly, Yukinoshita Yukino, whose social circle was confined to school, was the type who walked alone.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's description of Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't wrong...
Of course, excluding the adjective 'gentle', which didn't fit at all.
"Did I say I don't have friends? Besides, even if, even if I really don't, it wouldn't be any loss to me, okay?" Yukinoshita Yukino retorted coldly.
Luke raised the corner of his mouth, casually deflecting the hostile glare the icy girl shot his way.
"Ah, yes, that's right, that's right, it's just like that."
Although the words coming from his mouth were ordinary, combined with his inexplicable tone, even the calm Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but feel a little breathless.
Luke took out his phone; Yukinoshita Yukino picked up her book.
Their conversation ended there.
The entire classroom returned to Yukinoshita Yukino's previous aura that pushed people thousands of miles away.
He took out his phone and started talking with Kasumizuki—
[Luke]: How's it going? Any related information?
Kasumizuki replied quickly.
[Kasumizuki]: Only found out that this place used to be a shopping mall a long time ago, and the fourth floor was indeed where clothes were sold. Besides a major fire happening later, there's no other information.
[Luke]: How many people died?
[Kasumizuki]: Maybe dozens? Not exactly clear.
Luke leaned back in his chair, contemplating.
For the formation of spiritual vessels, these were indeed uniquely favorable conditions.
But for so many mannequins to become spiritual vessels just because of a fire disaster... seemed somewhat unbelievable.
Love, hate, resentment, departure.
Spiritual vessels themselves were curses formed from human thoughts and emotions.
What immense negative emotions must have accumulated to create the environment needed for these mannequins to become spiritual vessels?
The reason could only be—
Caused by his Event Card.
Or, some anti-human element was causing destruction.
So, he continued questioning Kasumizuki.
[Luke]: Since such a serious fire occurred, didn't any exorcists go there before?
[Kasumizuki]: Of course!
[Luke]: How is that exorcist doing now? Ask him about the building's situation.
[Kasumizuki]: That was me.
[Luke]: ?
[Kasumizuki]: I said, the person who went to that fire scene was me.
[Luke]: ...
[Kasumizuki]: I went to check back then. I helped all the people who died unjustly pass on. It's definitely not my problem.
[Luke]: Let's just say that.
[Kasumizuki]: What do you mean 'let's just say'?
[Luke]: Remember to split the money from the mannequins with me, bye!
Luke slammed his phone, already set to silent, face down on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose.
No wonder this Shady Merchant arrived so quickly this morning.
Probably because a place she had previously inspected had issues, and she came over to check for omissions.
But, it probably wasn't her fault either.
Nine times out of ten, it was caused by the challenge from the Event Card he received after completing his mission.
However, if someone came looking for him, he could just blame it on Kasumizuki.
Thinking this, Luke picked up his phone again and took a screenshot of his chat with Kasumizuki.
Mm, perfect.
A gurgling sound interrupted his thoughts.
He looked towards the source of the sound.
An electric kettle?
Besides himself... the only other possibility was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukinoshita Yukino gently put down her book, picked up the electric kettle that had just boiled and switched off, preparing to make tea.
Luke watched Yukinoshita Yukino's movements intently.
This girl truly had reasons to be proud.
Even simple actions like these looked so graceful and proper with the rhythm of her body.
Incredible.
Yukinoshita Yukino poured the freshly boiled, still steaming water from the kettle into a glass teapot.
The tea leaves tumbled up and down with the rush of hot water, like little boats tossed in a storm, drifting within.
Very fragrant.
Even from a distance, Luke could smell the aroma of the tea leaves.
Yukinoshita Yukino slowly filled her own teacup.
Her movements paused.
She thought for a moment, then took a paper cup from somewhere.
Then, she glared coldly, fiercely, at the paper cup, yet filled it with tea all the same.
No idea what the paper cup did to offend her.
Speaking of which, he hadn't drunk tea in a long time either.
Although cola wasn't exactly good for him, he seemed somewhat addicted to its taste.
Compared to tea, a beverage requiring a certain state of mind to appreciate its nuances, the simple fatigue killer – iced cola – brought far greater pleasure to a body exhausted after a busy day.
But still, he should drink less cola.
Luke stared at the lone paper cup resting on the desk, steam wafting from it into the air, like his own wandering thoughts.
"The black tea will get cold if you don't drink it," Yukinoshita Yukino said coolly.
"Ah... it's for me?" Luke didn't react for a moment.
Yukinoshita Yukino was silent for a while before speaking calmly in her usual manner.
"Based on your childish and fantasy-filled worldview, perhaps it was left for the ghosts wandering the world."
"Uh." Luke blinked. "...Makes sense."
Saying this, he still walked over to the table, picked up the scalding paper cup by the corner, and returned to his seat.
He looked at the gently rippling surface of the tea and asked Yukinoshita Yukino, "Yukinoshita-san..."
Yukinoshita Yukino turned her gaze towards him.
"Someone like you should be very popular. Why don't you have any friends?"
And so, Yukinoshita Yukino unhappily averted her gaze again.
"You wouldn't understand."
Luke was speechless.
Nonsense, how can I understand if you don't tell me?
Is this girl really gentle? Hiratsuka-sensei... you might have misjudged.
Luke thought helplessly.
"Isn't a popular life good?"
Yukinoshita Yukino thought for a moment, her red lips parting slightly.
She took a sip of hot tea, moistening her lips and throat, then spoke softly.
"It seems your definition of popular is completely different from mine."
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed.
"I've been very cute since I was little. All the boys around me liked me."
Luke nodded.
"It probably started around upper elementary school, and it's been like that ever since..."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Luke looked at her, puzzled.
"Could it be you have a phobia of the opposite sex?"
"Sigh." Yukinoshita Yukino sighed again, then looked at him seriously.
"If you had a friend who was very popular with girls, what would you think?"
...
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