The sky was dark, and the half-open door looked only wide enough for a small child to pass through. It was creaking in the wind, but was held back by the hinges before it could be fully opened, making the scene all the more desolate.
From a distance, two dark figures stood in front of the school building, one tall and one short, talking in hushed tones.
"no."
No one knows what the short man said, but the tall man resolutely shook his head.
The sudden sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation. A gentle breeze carried away the thin clouds that shrouded the moon, and the cool light shone down, making even their breathing unconsciously softer.
"Unresolved."
Masashi Yukimura gazed intently at the boy under the moonlight, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You've arrived."
However, the slightly romantic atmosphere was dispelled by another person the next second. He stepped forward, interrupting their eye contact, and looked at the only stranger present.
"Is there something you need?"
The young man, who had been unconsciously focusing his gaze on Vili, finally snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the question and hurriedly replied:
"My lord exorcist, please be so lenient and let me in with you!"
For ordinary people, they don't understand the true meaning of the "Evening Master" and regard this profession as a righteous person who eliminates demons and protects the righteous in fictional works, unaware that they come here only for their own benefit.
However, the organization in charge of supervising Yumi-shi—the Bureau of Ghost Stories Investigation—would not offer any explanation, but rather ambiguously accepted this misunderstanding.
After all, the strange creature did indeed "disappear" after they left, didn't it?
Therefore, Kii Kanade did not object to the title, but simply raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What are you, an ordinary person, doing with us?"
"This is not a game of make-believe."
"It's Masashi Yukimura who's standing to the side," he said coldly.
Before Kii Kanade and Vili arrived, this person had been pestering him for a long time, stubbornly sticking to his own opinions no matter what he said.
"I know, I know!" The man nodded repeatedly. "No matter what happens, I will take full responsibility for my life!"
"If you don't believe me, I can sign a contract! Or you can record it!"
"If I really die, it's my own fault! No one will come after you!"
Seeing Kii Kanade's smile deepen, as if she had become interested, Yukimura Masashi lowered his eyes, his tone indifferent, yet as if reminding her.
"This kind of contract has no legal effect."
A hint of regret flashed across Kii Kanade's eyes, but the next second, as if remembering something, she turned slightly to face Yukimura Masashi.
"But don't you have that?"
"Having contractual effect..."
The last two words escaped from the tip of his tongue, and only Yukimura Masashi could see the shape of his mouth. The air pressure around him dropped for a moment.
He said in a deep voice, "We cannot use our power against ordinary people."
"—Yumimi's Code of Conduct, Article 4."
Kii Kanade continued his sentence.
“Stand by the rules. Avoid using force against ordinary people unless it jeopardizes your own interests.”
"But look, isn't this guy causing us trouble right now?"
Frankly, few of the Yumishi actually take this rule seriously. As long as they don't cause too much of a commotion, the Investigation Bureau won't interfere too much.
Unfortunately, the person in front of me is one of them.
But Kii Kanade knew that Yukimura Masashi did this not because he really cared about ordinary people, but simply because he was someone who was used to staying within the rules.
It's always been like this, from childhood to adulthood.
He obtains what he desires honestly and uprightly, never stooping to underhanded tactics. Protected by the rules, he is willing to become a guardian of order in return.
Sometimes, Kii Kanade would even be jealous of his frankness.
Almost simultaneously after realizing her feelings for Willy, Kii Kanade also became aware of Yukimura Masashi's unknowing attraction to her.
Someone as emotionally detached as him was able to perceive Willy's true nature, and on that day he reminded himself to "exchange sincerity for sincerity"...
After realizing this, Kii Kanade began to feel fortunate.
fortunately.
Fortunately, Masashi Yukimura is such a boring person that once he stands inside the circle drawn by the rules, he will never step out of it.
So on the day he argued with Ju Huang, he also gave her the same warning—
Don't try to take it from me.
But he still miscalculated.
On the day he missed, Masashi Yukimura didn't know what he and Willy went through together, but it actually helped him escape that cage.
Perhaps this is what makes Willy so special.
They all changed for him, and they did so willingly.
Faced with Yukimura Masashi's resistance, Kii Kanade suddenly turned to Vili. The moment he moved, Yukimura Masashi realized his intention and blurted out:
"no!"
"You can't involve him."
His once gentle and handsome facial features tightened, his lips pressed tightly together, and his expression turned completely cold, revealing an unquestionable resolve.
The air seemed to freeze, and the person who had first raised the question froze, not daring to move.
"He's just entered this world and has no idea what this means!"
Kii Kanade, however, remained oblivious to his anger, not even sparing him a second glance, and continued to look at Vili with a smile.
What do you think?
……here we go again.
Willy looked left and right, and found that for some reason, he was once again forced to stand at the crossroads.
What's going on?
He glanced at the trembling man, his tone nonchalant.
"Hey, what's your name? What do you do? And why do you insist on coming in with us?"
When they heard his question, both Kii Kanade and Yukimura Masashi were silent for a moment.
They're arguing endlessly about this person, yet they don't even know his name or identity...
The man hesitated before speaking: "My name is Matsuo Ryohei. I am a Japanese language teacher at Nonogaoka Elementary School and also the homeroom teacher for Class 3, Grade 6."
"That missing child... Hasegawa Teru, was a student in my class."
"I want to go in with you and look for his trail."
After saying that, he raised his head and looked at the three of them with earnest eyes.
"Ahui is a good kid. Although he's a bit mischievous, he's very smart, kind-hearted, and always likes to help others. He also has many friends..."
He listed many of the child's good qualities.
"He once wrote in an essay that he wanted to be an investigative journalist who exposes social realities in the future, like the heroes in cartoons, and uphold justice in his own way."
"Such a good child, he shouldn't have died at such a young age..."
"I'm sorry." He wiped away the tears that had somehow slipped down his cheeks with the back of his hand. "Anyway, even though half a month has passed and his chances of survival are very low, I still don't want to give up."
"Even a corpse..."
As if unwilling to face this possibility, his tone was strained, yet firm.
"I want to take him home too."
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