Tokyo Psychic

Page 124

Mishima Yuki murmured to himself, "So, in other words, they actually already..."

“I’ve already entered the adult world.” Sakamoto Ryuji clenched his fists in despair; the disparity of the world had plunged him into a trough of despair.

"So that's how it is. Is this the difference between 'humans' and 'goblins'?" the unremarkable Kawamura wailed.

To his surprise, Yuki Mishima shook his head at him. "Goblin? Don't underestimate goblins... Remember, you only have the right to call yourself a goblin if you've ever hugged a saintess, a female knight, a female mage, a female thief, a female archer, a female priest, an elf, a princess, a nun, a female villager, or a female merchant!"

Kawamura was surprised by Mishima Yuki's erudition and subconsciously rubbed his hands together. "Then I want to become a goblin. Do you have any study materials to share, Mishima-kun?"

Yuki Mishima paused for a moment, then his smile became subtle. "Of course, that's no problem."

So everyone selectively forgot the pain they had just experienced and re-immersed themselves in the empty and pathetic delusions of adolescence.

......

As they left the internet cafe, Akira found that An and Subaru were still holding her hands.

"Just say it directly about your relationship."

"Hmm~" Anhe Subaru looked at him smugly, "These kinds of things should be said openly and honestly."

“I’m heavily in debt right now,” Akira Kurusu said, squeezing An and Subaru’s small hands tightly. “Be careful that people don’t look at you strangely in the future.”

"So what if we're in debt?" Anwa Subaru looked at him, puzzled. "We'll work together to earn money in the future. With over ten million yen, we should be able to pay it off quickly."

Then she quickly waved her hand, "It's okay if you don't want to work, I can earn money to support you... Oh dear, what did I just say?!"

She covered her face in embarrassment and anger, then slammed her forehead into Akira's chest and fell silent.

Akira Kurusu was completely captivated by An and Subaru's adorable appearance. He instinctively hugged the girl in his arms and then, looking at the sunlit sky, belatedly realized the change in himself.

"Love is a scary thing; it can change a person so easily."

“Yes, it’s terrifying,” An and Subaru repeated Akira Kurusu’s words, then smiled shyly, “This is love…”

*

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(I ate too late for a late-night snack and only wrote 9,000 words. It was almost dawn, and I couldn't resist the sleepiness from the air conditioning and heating, so I went to sleep.)

(Please vote for me! Please give me your hate mail! I'll probably still be updating at least four times tomorrow, so please give me whatever you want!!)

111. Nagasaki Motoyo: Toyokawa Shoko has found a man?! (Four-in-one)

[Simply Love Seven Deeply: Damn it, the hype surrounding "Morfonica's" concert was completely overshadowed!]

[Maruyama Aya's fear of the Iron Chicken form: Who exactly is this "Mind Thieves" group? How did they suddenly become the number one trending topic?!]

[Fish Loves to Eat Cat: You guys have absolutely no idea about the "Singapore and Malaysia Admiral" case that caused such a stir last night?]

[The yellow-faced guy upstairs: So what exactly does this "Mind Thieves" do? Can they even be a match for my "Morfonica"?]

[Safū: I searched and only found this weird website address... (“Psychic Thieves” channel)]

【...】

"I've had enough!"

In STARRY's recording studio, Serina Izakura raised her arms and shouted angrily, "These guys who only think about bands have no idea how hard the Phantom Thieves work!"

Yamada Ryo, who was rolling around on the sofa hugging his knees, stopped moving. "Although that's what they say, I didn't really believe in the existence of 'psychic thieves' before if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

“Speaking of ‘Mind Thief’… what is Shoko doing?” Ichiji Nijika only knows that Toyokawa Shoko is the “Mind Thief”.

Jingqin Rencai finally began to think, "Speaking of Xiaoxiang, it seems that Amamiya has also disappeared... After I finished my exam, I asked him where he went, and the message I sent him on Line is still 'unread'."

Yamada Ryo slowly sat up straight, waving his hand dismissively, "Then let's not worry about him for now. It's rare to finish the exams, so how about we invite Sho out to relax?"

Since it was a joint entrance exam, several high schools in Shimokitazawa that prepare students for higher education also participated in this monthly test.

However, only the simplest and easiest civics class remained for the exams, and everyone assumed that the exam week had ended early.

"I heard that a new arcade recently opened in Shimokitazawa... The job of a phantom thief must be very tough, right? Everyone has been busy with exams and studying lately, it must be very tiring."

Both Ijichi Niyaka and Iori Nina were very interested in Yamada Ryo's proposal.

"What about the band's practice today?" Ichiji Nijika asked, pinching her chin, her expression showing some struggle.

“We haven’t had a band practice for three days, one more day won’t make a difference,” Yamada Ryo said, wearing black cotton socks and crouching down to look for his sneakers on the floor.

Jingqin Rencai: "Should I ask Miss Taoxiang?"

Yamada Ryo: "Momoka-san must be busy with her part-time job, right?"

Ichi Nijika: "Xiao Xiang also needs to work."

Yamada Ryo: "Oh no, then I guess I really have to ask Momoka-san to come along."

Ichi Nijika's eyes suddenly sharpened. "You wouldn't...?"

Yamada Ryo answered with surprising confidence, "I have no money left."

"Huh?!" Even though Ichiji Nijika had guessed the answer, she was still shocked by Yamada Ryo's calm and composed demeanor.

"Liang...you're actually planning to borrow money from Miss Taoxiang and Xiangzi?!"

“It’s been planned for a long time!” Yamada Ryo said smugly, crossing his arms.

Ichi Nijika shook her shoulders frantically, "You can't have such a premeditated plan! You'll completely lose your humanity!!"

While the two were arguing, Izare Rina had already contacted Toyokawa Shoko.

The first-year curriculum at Haneoka Girls' Academy is not considered heavy.

It was lunch break time, and Toyokawa Shoko sat alone in a corner of the cafeteria, dealing with the free meal of three dishes and a soup on her plate.

My phone, which was in my pocket, suddenly vibrated a few times.

Has that phantom thief finally replied to me?

With this expectation in mind, Toyokawa Shoko took out her phone and nervously swiped to unlock it...

[Jingqin Rencai: Xiaoxiang! Want to go to the arcade after school? Liang and Hongxia are there, it's near STARRY!]

Looking at the Line messages on the screen, a clear look of disappointment and regret flashed in Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, but she still accepted the band members' invitation without hesitation.

[May, I'll work hard to earn money (Toyokawa Shoko): Sure.]

[Jingqinrencai: Let's meet at STARRY first!]

[May is for making money: Is it still band practice time?]

【Celery and Vegetable Soup: That's right!】

(The post "Strive to make money in May" is now offline.)

Toyokawa Shoko put down her phone, picked up the steaming miso soup, took a small sip, and then used her chopsticks to stir the bottom of the bowl.

Soon, a piece of light yellow, soft tofu was picked up with bamboo chopsticks. The square-cut tofu swayed slightly in the lamplight, glistening with a faint sheen of oil.

The clear soup in the bowl reflected the shadow of the spinning electric fan overhead.

The cafeteria windows, a little further away, exude the languidness of summer. Sparse customers call out for the vanished cherry blossoms and the evaporating rain. The gradually scorching hot wind infects the longing in the girl's heart. In just one night, the budding love is already ready to bloom, like a beetle that has molted and is about to spread its wings and fly towards the blue sky and white clouds.

Unexpectedly, someone emerged from the shade of the tree, holding a net high, and trapped the flying beetle, all while shouting "Xiangzi! Xiangzi!"...

Shoko Toyokawa turned her head slightly, looking towards the entrance of the cafeteria, and saw two familiar girls.

They were wearing the school uniform of Tsuki no Mori.

It was Nagasaki Motoyo and Wakaba Mutsu.

Unlike Nagasaki Motoyo, who was all smiles and waving to Toyokawa Shoko, Wakaba Mutsumi lagged behind by half a step and kept her face down, making it impossible to see her expression.

Toyokawa Shoko paused for a moment, looked around the empty cafeteria, then looked down at the dishes on her plate that cost about 100 yen each. Her gaze wandered for a while before finally focusing on Wakaba Mutsumi and Nagasaki Motoyo, who were near the table.

"Mu...why is Su Shi here?"

She felt somewhat embarrassed and shocked, then looked at Mutsumi Wakaba standing next to Motoyo Nagasaki.

Wakaba Mutsu seemed to notice Toyokawa Shoko's gaze, and his steps noticeably paused, as if he felt guilty.

Although Toyokawa Shoko was in a difficult situation, she did not feel completely lost.

After living in Akabane Town for more than half a year, the self-esteem of the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family had been shattered by repeated setbacks, and the dregs of her self-esteem were gradually mixed into something hard and angular as she "grew up".

Even when she encountered the former "young ladies" of the Moon Forest under these circumstances, only the innocent and adorable "Toyokawa Shoko" from the past would cause her a slight pang in the depths of her heart.

Nagasaki Motoyo clenched her left hand tightly over her right and placed it on her chest, looking anxiously and nervously at Wakaba Mutsumi beside her.

Wakaba Mutsu seemed lost in thought, staring silently at the dishes on Toyokawa Shoko's plate without uttering a word.

Nagasaki Motoyo carefully lowered her hand, unconsciously clenching the hem of her school uniform skirt. Finally, she mustered her courage and said, "Shoko, um... I'm sorry to have bothered you, I..."

Toyokawa Shoko stood up with her tray, hesitated for a moment, then sat back down. She seemed completely unconcerned about the sudden arrival of her childhood friend and old acquaintance, and spoke in a flat tone.

"It's ok."

“You guys sit down too. If it’s about CRYCHIC, then we probably don’t have anything to talk about…” She took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound gentler, “But as we said last time, even though the band has disbanded, we’re still friends.”

Toyokawa Shoko looked at Wakaba Mutsu behind Nagasaki Motoyo. Wakaba Mutsu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and a hint of ease and shame flowed across his doll-like, expressionless face.

“Xiangzi…” At this moment, Nagasaki Motoyo had obediently sat down opposite Toyokawa Xiangzi, gazing at her face with expectant and moved eyes. “I’ve thought about it carefully after I got home.”

"Please speak."

“Let’s apologize to Akari and Riki together!” Nagasaki Motoyo looked at Toyokawa Shoko nervously, her voice trembling. “Since it’s a misunderstanding, a proper explanation will definitely make them…”

The subsequent words gradually became vague and incoherent, but Toyokawa Shoko listened very attentively.

After Nagasaki Motoyo finished speaking, Toyokawa Shoko looked at Wakaba Mutsumi, who was standing next to Nagasaki Motoyo with an increasingly anxious expression. Then, under the astonished gaze of her childhood friend, she easily agreed to Nagasaki Motoyo's almost pleading suggestion, "Okay."

Nagasaki Motoyo excitedly grabbed Toyokawa Shoko's hand, "Great! How about we set the venue in the recording studio where we had our first practice session? And tonight!"

"Tonight?" Toyokawa Shoko blinked, thinking that after-school entertainment shouldn't take too long. Just as she was about to agree, her phone on the table vibrated and then emitted a clear notification sound—from the only user she had set to "special attention".

Both Wakaba Mutsu and Nagasaki Motoyo saw it; a chat bubble popped up on the screen that had been automatically turned on from sleep mode.

[Attic Thinker: After the exam, I went to an internet cafe with my classmates and played games for a while. Sorry I didn't see your message in time, Xiao Xiang.]

The second one follows immediately.

[Attic Thinker: Are you free tonight? Let's go see a movie after dinner.]

If the reality were a visual novel or a JRPG, the screen would now darken and display a highlighted message:

"The 'Mind Thief' bond level can be increased now."

"Would you like to spend a day with 'Mind Thief'?"

Shoko Toyokawa, who had previously appeared calm and collected, was immediately thrown into unprecedented turmoil.

Faced with the incredulous gazes of her two friends, a noticeable blush rose on her face.

They're all in high school now. If they go out to see a movie together one night, the girls can practically guess what will happen next...

Oh no, this is bad.

Despite feeling an indescribable shyness and embarrassment, Toyokawa Shoko instinctively picked up her phone.

Her finger hovered over the lock screen password for a moment, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to accept her boyfriend's invitation to "stay out all night" in front of her peers... As a former student of a strict and rigid girls' school, Toyokawa Shoko's shame was almost overflowing at this moment.

Nagasaki Motoyo stared blankly at Toyokawa Shoko's phone and the awkward yet shy and happy smile on her face, and suddenly felt that her former friend had become a stranger.

It was as if Toyokawa Shoko had suddenly become very, very far away from him.

It was so hard to finally see any hope of "making up"...

A wave of fear immediately surged through Nagasaki Motoyo's empty heart—

She had memorized the account name "Attic Thinker" and its profile picture.

Wakaba Mutsu looked at her childhood friend in surprise, "Shoko, you're in love."

“...Hmm.” Toyokawa Shoko paused for a moment, then answered with a short interjection.

"Congratulations," said Ruoye Mutsu earnestly, then clapped softly.

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere at the dinner table became awkward.

Nagasaki Motoyo bit her lip, but still mustered up the courage to continue asking Toyokawa Shoko, "Shoko... do you have time tomorrow night?"