Chapter 18: Yukinoshita, Do You Have Friends?
After talking with Hiratsuka-sensei, he didn't go to the nurse's office to rest but went straight back to his classroom.
Putting on the glasses that sealed his presence and good looks, the chattering students during break time didn't pay attention to his arrival.
He glanced towards Miura Yumiko's seat...
She was surrounded by her good friends, who were eagerly asking about her injuries.
"Hmm?" The blonde girl seemed thoughtful as she looked towards the doorway.
"What's wrong? Yumiko?" Yuigahama Yui, with her light pink hair tied in buns, asked curiously, seeing her friend suddenly go quiet mid-conversation.
"Ah?... Ah! Nothing, nothing!" Miura Yumiko quickly snapped back, waving her hands so fast they blurred, hastily saying.
But it drew strange looks from her companions.
"Maybe because I didn't sleep well yesterday, and then had that accident this morning, so I'm having trouble concentrating," Miura Yumiko quickly explained.
"So even Miura can be like this!" a boy next to her, probably... forget it, anyway, some boy, chattered.
"Hey! What are you talking about?"
Miura Yumiko reverted to her usual, slightly aggressive state.
Luke withdrew his gaze and returned to his seat.
Miura Yumiko should keep her promise.
He glanced at the classmate in front of him, who was also doing nothing, and took out his phone.
He had forgotten something earlier—replying to Miura-san (mother) about her daughter.
Perfect, now he had time to tell her about the outcome.
He wondered if Miura Yumiko had already told her mother that she was safe.
And Miura-san (mother), as if always online, replied to his message very quickly.
He could tell Miura-san (mother) was an elder who kept up with recent trends.
At least the bunch of emojis she sent him were quite fitting.
Compared to the cold text he sent back... Miura-san (mother) seemed more like a young person.
And after receiving her thanks, his mission was also completed.
[Notification]: [Occupation Mission (Exorcist)]: Kick the ghosts' butts. Help others with supernatural problems (10/10) Completed. You have received a reward: Empty!
Empty?
Luke's mouth flattened.
His eyebrows pressed down, narrowing his eyes.
Then he carefully savored the word.
Who?
Who took a cut of the reward the system gave me?
Holding onto the last shred of hope, Luke rummaged through his backpack.
An item had indeed appeared out of thin air.
[Empty]: The Mirror of Seeing, named Empty. It reflects the emptiness of humans, reflects the image of non-existence. Where light shines, demons and monsters are all revealed for a time.
Alright, a Demon-Revealing Mirror.
Identification complete.
Luke took out the Demon-Revealing Mirror.
It looked like an antique, about the size of his palm, carved with colorful lotus flowers around the edges.
The mirror surface was smooth as ice, shining like autumn water.
But when his face was reflected in it, the mirror showed the color of the ceiling.
He took off his glasses and looked again; the mirror surface remained empty.
Gently turning it over, Luke put the mirror away and continued looking at the system.
It had issued him a new occupation mission—
[Occupation Mission (Exorcist)]: Kick the ghosts' butts. Help others with supernatural problems: 0/20.
Great, an endless cycle of repeating missions.
Luke speechlessly closed the system panel.
He had thought there might be a new type of mission, but it was just the same old thing repackaged.
From his very first Exorcist mission to the current one requiring solving 20 supernatural problems, it was basically a constant cycle of 10 or 20 progress points.
But, it was fine.
Better than some stupid mission asking him to exorcise some so-called Ghost God.
The class bell rang.
Luke's straight back suddenly relaxed, and his cheek leaned directly against the nearby wall.
The student trait awakened—sleepy during class, energetic after class.
...
Life's time is always short.
During school days, accompanied by interesting classmates, time feels like it passes even faster.
It was soon time for club activities.
Even though he had rested for a long time after getting to his seat and had eaten a satisfying lunch, Luke still felt increasingly tired.
"Sigh." He pushed himself up, gently exhaling through his nose.
He didn't know how long this state would last.
The last time he used the talisman near his heart, his Constitution was much better than now, yet he still felt tired and pained for about three days.
This time it might last even longer, but who knows what might happen...
After slowly walking to the special building, Luke sensed the surrounding environment.
When he came yesterday, he hadn't paid much attention.
Even though other clubs were active, besides the rustling sounds of the environment, no human voices could be heard around the Service Club where Yukinoshita Yukino was.
A cold and icy state... quite fitting atmosphere for Yukinoshita's club.
Luke gently opened the Service Club's door.
Just like yesterday, Yukinoshita Yukino was still reading quietly, her posture exactly the same as yesterday.
Her gaze shifted over, like a wild beast guarding its territory, scrutinizing him for a moment with icy eyes.
Then, the next instant, her gaze returned to her book.
Cold as a blade, completely different from Miura's fiery feeling.
Luke vaguely recalled the sensation of Miura Yumiko's lap pillow.
He then quickly shook his head.
Why am I suddenly thinking about the troublesome Miura?
"Has that head of yours, capable only of instinctual actions, become impatient to leave your body already? Mr. Paramecium."
Yukinoshita Yukino said bluntly.
Luke stopped moving, rubbing his aching neck.
He could already ignore her mockery.
He sat straight down and replied, "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon. I thought you wouldn't come back," a slight curve appeared on Yukinoshita Yukino's lips.
"Don't worry. Since I promised Hiratsuka-sensei, I should at least put in some effort, logically and emotionally... Mm, that's right."
Luke pushed Hiratsuka Shizuka's 'homework promise' to the back of his mind.
He was an upright person; he wouldn't be tempted just to write less homework.
"Is that so? I thought you were a masochist, wanting to come back here despite the harsh words," Yukinoshita Yukino showed no interest in his explanation and continued on her own.
"If you know your words are so harsh, yet you still speak maliciously, that's truly awful," Luke looked helplessly at Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Besides, it's worth mentioning, I naturally don't have masochistic tendencies. Could it be that you have sadistic tendencies...?"
"Hehehe." Yukinoshita Yukino let out a cold laugh, but there was no joy in her eyes.
"I don't have such low-brow hobbies as finding amusement in tormenting single-celled organisms. Moreover, my words are correct conclusions inferred from experience and knowledge. Please don't try to evade them."
Speaking of which, Yukinoshita Yukino proudly puffed out her chest, full of confidence in herself.
Luke rubbed his brow, then looked up at the ice-cold Yukinoshita Yukino.
"...Yukinoshita-san, pardon my asking, but: do you... have any friends?"
"..."
...
---
Read More With Pictures (20+ Chapters In Advance):
p@treon.com/U22
Replace '@' with 'a' on your web browser.