Tokyo Psychic

Page 260

"Astartes? What's that?"

"Uh, how about Jack Van Ma?"

“I do know this one. It’s a character from a very famous fighting manga.” Takemi poured the powder into a disposable paper cup and then started to brew hot water. “Back in college, my classmates really liked watching ‘Baki’.”

"Has Dr. Takemi also seen him?"

"I tried to learn a little bit about it, but I couldn't stick with it because the muscles in the later parts of the comic were drawn too ugly."

"So Dr. Takemi likes muscles."

"It's just that I have a certain fondness for that kind of beauty because of the dissection experiments." As she spoke, Takemi Tae gestured with her hand on Kurusu Akira's arm. "Let's make this clear, don't get any improper thoughts about me just because you've seen some weird comics or anime..."

"Do I look like that kind of person?" Akira Kurusu couldn't help but sigh. "Although I do fit the concept of a 'normie' in many ways, I would never do something like lay a hand on an elder."

"Don't you young people all like 'subordinates overthrowing superiors'?"

“I’m quite the opposite.” Akira Kurusu took the prepared medicine from Myo Takemi and drank it all in one gulp.

“Actually, I like small ones,” he said in an incredibly dark and guilty tone.

"That's a lie. High school students usually prefer mature older women."

"Hehe, anyway, when I was in high school, I liked those stylish and handsome older men in fashion magazines."

"And now?" Akira Kurusu asked Tae Takemi. "I've heard that as people grow up, their various quirks and preferences often reverse from when they were younger."

"Just listen to that nonsense," Takemi waved her hand dismissively. "Even if I said, 'Actually, I like handsome guys who are much younger than me,' you probably wouldn't believe me, right?"

Akira Kurusu nodded. "Indeed, after all, I really don't like girls younger than me at all. They're not mature enough and can't understand their boyfriends' emotions well... It seems that Dr. Takemi and I have the same criteria for choosing a partner."

Wu Jianmiao's expression stiffened slightly for a moment, but she concealed the strangeness and embarrassment of discussing her views on love with a "handsome guy who is much younger than her."

"But as far as I know, the girl Anwa that Amamiya met in Class 2-B should be a very gentle girl, right?"

"Same age."

"Hmm... What about Wakaba-san? I remember there were rumors circulating at school that you were dating the young lady from Tsukimori."

Akira Kurusu remained silent.

He recalled how Wakaba Mutsumi seemed to tolerate all his transgressions and endure all his teasing.

Even though tears were about to fall and her face was flushed and burning, she kept her lips tightly closed and tried her best not to make a sound.

This was simply because Akira Kurusu had instructed, "Don't disturb Shoko."

That excessive obedience, that slender and petite figure, that delicate, slightly childlike face, that tenderness and gentleness seemingly ingrained in her very bones, that warm and soft body so different from her indifferent expression, and that adorable way of trying to please him with her words and actions at all times...

I simply cannot bring myself to say something negative against my conscience.

Lai Qixiao sighed and replied, "She's been sixteen for a while now, so she's considered the same age as me."

Wu Jianmiao looked at him coldly, then silently handed him another plastic bottle. "You haven't used the O-function enhancement drug I gave you yesterday, have you?"

"Of course, don't underestimate my physique."

"Next time you encounter an occasion where you need to use this combination, you can try it out."

"what is this?"

“A special medicine to enhance athletic performance,” Wu Jianmiao said, picking up the energizing medicine again. “This can also be used in combination, so you don’t accidentally fall asleep.”

"Dr. Takemi, you are unleashing a ferocious beast."

"A beast? I only saw a womanizing, popular guy who went to great lengths to arm himself with supplements to satisfy his girlfriends."

"How much do these medicines cost? Are there many side effects?"

"There are basically no side effects, but you know... doing that kind of thing too much can be harmful to your health."

"Don't worry! I will exercise restraint."

"Hmph, do you think I don't understand the twisted and complicated thoughts in the minds of you high school students?"

In the distant future, it wasn't until the moment she was pushed onto the bed that Takemi truly regretted helping Kurusu Akira enter that entirely new realm that morning.

232. Sakura Futaba's Wandering Time

Many conflicting thoughts floated through Sakura Futaba's mind.

She felt she should suspend support for the Phantom Thieves and find a way to get them to send her a warning letter, thereby banishing all the suffocating, chaotic sadness and anguish from her mind.

But whenever she sees those phantom thieves chatting on social media, and watches them defuse crises and make villains repent time and time again, Futaba Sakura can't help but want to take action.

She enjoyed the sense of accomplishment and pride that welled up inside her when she saw the announcement and the villain's repentance.

Like a super-citizen of Earth who has suffered greatly, they are called up to become Jedi soldiers, arming themselves with armor and bullets to protect their sad and gloomy past—no one cares what kind of person is under the armor of a Jedi soldier; they will only cheer for the arrival of heroes, sing praises for the fall of villains, and then become the most loyal supporters of the Jedi soldiers.

Just like the many voices supporting the Mind Thieves on the internet today, even if they don't know what kind of people the Mind Thieves are in real life, it doesn't stop them from feeling genuinely happy when they see news of villains being caught.

Although Futaba Sakura never joined the phantom thieves in their operations on another level of the world.

But she is also a member of the Mind Thieves, burdened by a sense of responsibility to keep the secret, a sense of accomplishment from participating in the repentance program, and a feeling of satisfaction from seeing the praise and support she receives...

Futaba Sakura curled up in her computer chair, unable to truly convincingly create a fake villainous image to deceive the Phantom Thieves into sending her a warning letter.

Should I just be honest with them?

Futaba Sakura finds it difficult to be honest with anyone about that colorless past.

She dragged the mouse from her lap, trying to find a folder on the computer desktop...

The folder is named "The Phantom Thieves," and I've forgotten when it was created, but when I click into it, it's completely empty.

Sakura Futaba stared at the blank page and suddenly felt an indescribable sense of unreality.

It's as if a long period of time was abruptly cut off without warning, and then everything started anew in an unfamiliar way.

She opened the folder's properties and found that the creation date was March 31, 22:00.

It seems that at that time, a voice in her subconscious kept telling her that she must never forget some important things, and out of that strong determination and the will to try to hold onto them... that's why Sakura Futaba was able to struggle.

She couldn't remember what she had forgotten.

I vaguely remember the moment I heard the term "Mental Thieves" from Akira Kurusu, and the familiar and warm feeling that ran through my whole body.

But everything seems unfamiliar.

Only Akira Kurusu's presence still makes her feel at ease.

Sakura Futaba leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes.

She tried to find this strangeness seeping into her life...

As expected, she quickly failed.

The world did not grant her a miracle because of her youth.

Everyone inevitably faces a period of delusion in their daily lives.

But Futaba Sakura still sensed that she was unusual.

A dark force deep within her slowly urged her hands forward, trying to tell the boy everything...

So Sakura Futaba reached out her hand towards the keyboard—

However, in the next moment, a pair of hands reached out from the computer screen in front of her and grabbed her arms!

Just as Sakura Futaba felt terrified, the entire screen began to cave in, and layer upon layer of space shattered around her.

Futaba Sakura has fallen into another world.

......

at the same time.

Narukami Yu, who was listening to a lecture in a research lab on the university campus, suddenly shuddered.

He sensed a familiar presence.

But that was an enemy that should absolutely never have been born into this world.

That was the final villain in his story.

......

Another person who noticed the dramatic changes at Tokyo Impression Space was Shiomi Kotone, who was enjoying a break between classes at Shujin-ryu.

And Akira Kurusu in the Dean of Students' office.

"Amamiya? Are you listening?" Ito Sansui was explaining the schedule and location of the next round of the "Mathematics Competition" to Kurusu Akira when he noticed that the other person suddenly looked out the window at the sky.

"Ah, I was just spacing out. Sorry, Ito-sensei."

Ito Sansui patiently repeated, "Next semester, we will be going to Mitakihara City for a period of training and preparation for the competition. Summer vacation will be here soon, so don't just play during the holidays."

When Akira Kurusu heard the words "Mitakihara City," his eyes looked puzzled.

But he remained as calm as ever. "I understand, Ito-sensei."

Before the first semester truly ends, he will have new formidable rivals to contend with.

(There will be another chapter later.)

233. Alienated Impression Space

"Xiangzi took the day off again today..."

At Haneoka Girls' Academy, when Takamatsu Akari passed by Toyokawa Shoko's classroom, she saw that the seat belonging to her former friend was still empty, just like always.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder what Toyokawa Shoko is doing when she's not at school... Often at these times, messages sent to Toyokawa Shoko go unread, and she disappears from all places related to "End of Band".

Chihaya Aine, who was in the same class and band, followed Takamatsu Akari.

She craned her neck curiously to look at the empty seats in the classroom. "Could Xiangzi be taking over the family business?"

"A family business?" Gao Songdeng's eyes showed a hint of shock.

Chihaya Aine looked at Takamatsu Akari strangely, "Akari, don't you know? Shoko is actually the heiress of the Toyokawa Group! Mutsumi's mother has appeared in their product advertisements several times..."

Seemingly afraid that Takamatsu Akari wouldn't remember this, Chihaya Aine even gestured the action of a bird flapping its wings in flight, then drew out the last syllable, imitating the advertising slogan from TV. That is, the "Toyokawa Group" whose logo is accompanied by a flying bird.

Takamatsu Akari was stunned for a moment, "Oh, right... Toyokawa..."

However, Chihaya Aine quickly laughed and said, "But Shoko really doesn't have any airs of a young lady. Maybe she doesn't actually like the family business at all."

"But she's always taking leave..."

Chihaya Aine jokingly said, "Maybe it's because she's actually a 'psychic thief'? There seems to have been some discussion about that online before."

However, Chihaya Aine quickly dismissed this speculation, saying, "But Shoko is definitely not a mind thief, right? The young lady wouldn't get involved in such a dangerous thing."

Gao Songdeng nodded, "Yes, Xiangzi wouldn't do something so dangerous..."

"If Xiangzi is a mind thief, then maybe I'm actually Ultraman Zoffy."

"Ultraman Zoffy?"

"Hmph, never mind."

......

Meanwhile, the "Toyokawa Shoko" that the girls were discussing was in the secret base of the Phantom Thieves.

She looked at the boys and girls with different expressions in front of her with great worry, probably thinking about how to get them to start discussing the plan to rescue Sakura Futaba—but she swallowed the words back. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that the Phantom Thieves of Mind really didn't need to discuss tactics with any targets other than the Mind Palace.

Since passing through the "Palace of Jealousy," their efficiency in defeating the various villains in Impression Space can only be described as "utterly devastating."

Even though An and Subaru's Personas aren't known for their combat prowess, they can single-handedly defeat those seemingly dangerous enemies. Even the extremely twisted individuals known as "Hunters" can't survive more than three rounds against them.

The atmosphere at the base was relaxed and leisurely.

An and Subaru tapped on their boyfriend's latest social media account name repeatedly on their phones: "[Five Ships Jump]".

Ruoye Mu didn't seem to care which girl Laixi Xiao had wronged; she simply held Laixi Xiao's right hand and affectionately rubbed her face against his palm.

However, Akira Kurusu's thinking seemed to be completely different from that of the girls around her.

He chatted briefly with Wakaba Mutsu, then looked at Morgana beside him.

"The Impression Space has indeed undergone unexpected changes."

As an apostle of Ferremon, Morgana possesses a far greater capacity to perceive the spiritual realm than humans. It replied solemnly, "Indeed, it is being distorted into a form we cannot comprehend... After all, with the death of the evil god Yaldabit who set its rules, anyone could easily acquire ownership of it."