The light blue-haired middle school girl possessed the Ability of Healing.
Her hands were held out flat, and gentle white light drifted from her palms, scattering like stars onto Yuki Asahi’s body.
The wounds on his skin healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, which only highlighted his overwhelming exhaustion.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Yuki Asahi rubbed his eyes, struggling to stay awake. His voice was a bit blurry.
The middle school girl’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment, and she spoke with undisguised admiration.
“Can I call you Yuki-kun?”
“You can.”
“My name is Yamanoi Yayoi. Please take care of me… Um, Yuki-kun, can I have your contact information?”
Yuki Asahi shook his foggy head, subconsciously agreeing as he reached into his empty pocket—his phone had been lost during the earlier fight.
He was about to explain when a cold female voice suddenly cut in.
“Yuki, well done.”
A red-eyed girl silently appeared at the back of the vehicle, arms crossed over her chest.
As she spoke, her gaze fell past Yamanoi Yayoi, with a subtle hint of scrutiny.
“Predecessor.”
Yuki Asahi opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat.
A strong curiosity urged him, and he quietly activated the “Chantui” Ability.
Due to severe mental exhaustion, the edge of his Ability’s range barely touched Jiang Jian Yue’s figure.
He wanted to know how Senior Jiang viewed him at this moment.
In an instant, a flood of negative emotions—jealousy, impatience, and anger—poured into his senses.
Eh?
The boy’s heart sank slightly—but then, he quickly realized that this malice wasn’t directed at him, but was firmly locked onto Yamanoi Yayoi.
Moreover, these negative feelings were strange. Unlike the heated and active fear he had sensed before, they were oppressive and lifeless.
He still didn’t really understand how his Ability worked!
Yuki Asahi deactivated the Chantui Ability.
He explained to Yamanoi Yayoi about his missing phone, then looked at Jiang Jian Yue.
“Predecessor, I did it.”
Mm… Well… Ah…
Jiang Jian Yue nodded, not in the mood to pay much attention to Yuki Asahi.
Her mind was occupied with the thought that if only her Copying Ability could be activated by sight alone.
Having to touch a corpse as a prerequisite was just too twisted.
If only she could sneak into Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu as a forensic doctor or researcher or something.
Lay low for a few years, become the Sword Saint of Ten Li Slope, then reemerge—wouldn’t she reign supreme above and below?
Jiang Jian Yue’s indifference didn’t shake Yuki Asahi, but it did make him a little unhappy.
But since Jiang Jian Yue had always been like this, and there was no reason for her to act otherwise—once the thought slid from his left brain to his right, that bit of unhappiness also disappeared.
“Please.”
Koji Hattori held two cups, offering one to Jiang Jian Yue.
She took it naturally and sipped.
“Black tea, huh.”
Jiang Jian Yue cleared her throat, frowning slightly.
She liked iced black tea, but wasn’t fond of black tea itself.
Koji Hattori stopped his cup near his lips, then moved it away slowly.
“My cup is just hot water.”
Jiang Jian Yue handed the black tea back to Koji Hattori, took the hot water instead, and drank two big gulps without fear of the heat. The liquid ran down her chin onto the bandages around her neck.
Ah… It’s already December after midnight.
It’s getting colder and colder.
Hmm?
Jiang Jian Yue noticed Yuki Asahi’s gaze. She glanced over, finding his expression odd, his eyes wide as he looked at the two of them.
Ah!
She was a beautiful girl right now.
She’d instinctively thought, “We’re all guys here,” so she hadn’t considered the so-called indirect kiss.
Besides, as an adult, she didn’t care about such things—only innocent kids would worry about it, right?
Isn’t that so, Hattori Da…
Jiang Jian Yue turned her head to find Koji Hattori looking away, his cheeks tinged red.
Why are you so innocent too?!
Where’s your adult composure?!
“Who is this uncle?”
Yuki Asahi’s voice was weak.
For him, the sudden appearance of a man so close to Predecessor was quite a shock.
Koji Hattori quickly composed himself and introduced himself.
“Koji Hattori. Responsible for the young lady’s safety. Yuki-kun, just call me Hattori.”
He hadn’t been on the job long, but from workplace gossip, he’d heard that this boy was the young lady’s favorite, and possibly her future husband.
Yuki-kun calling him “ojisan” was actually showing him respect.
Not to mention, he’d braved today’s single-blade mission, a 1V10 hunter—worthy of a man’s respect!
“Hattori-san, thank you for protecting Jiang Jian.”
Yuki Asahi bowed his head and spoke softly.
The words carried a hint of childish rivalry, even skipping the “Predecessor” title.
Tsk!
Yabai!
A shock ran through Koji Hattori’s mind, and the black tea in his hand suddenly felt as dangerous as a bomb, burning his palm.
Young lady, you’ve brought disaster upon me!
Though Koji Hattori had never dated, he considered himself fairly experienced in life.
At a glance, he could tell Yuki Asahi was jealous.
He silently took a step back, moved the tea cup behind him, and casually poured it out.
Yamanoi Yayoi watched the whole scene, her eyes flicking between the two outside the vehicle and the dejected Yuki Asahi.
As if she suddenly understood something.
She felt like she’d gotten caught up in something serious!
Not good.
This place isn’t safe.
Retreat.
“Ah! Um… I’ll be going now! I have school tomorrow, bye!”
Clutching her phone to her chest, the girl jumped out of the car, waved quickly at the group, and dashed off into the night without looking back.
As soon as Yamanoi Yayoi left, several Self-Defense Force officers approached with intimidating presence.
Koji Hattori thought he was about to be caught for wasting tea, and sympathized with the tough times the Self-Defense Force was facing—being so particular over a single cup of black tea…
But soon, he realized it wasn’t about the tea—how could it be?
“Miss Jiang Jian, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is waiting. Please come with us.”
“What is it?”
Yuki Asahi barely supported himself, gripping the handle on the Rescue Vehicle wall to stand.
Jiang Jian Yue wasn’t particularly surprised.
Japan was still a gun-restricted country, after all.
With all the chaos at her apartment, if the police didn’t come knocking, she’d have to question their competence.
Koji Hattori stepped in front of the Self-Defense Force officers, speaking calmly.
“We need to contact Morita Aoya first.”
He knew Morita Aoya was currently in charge of the Jiang Jian family and couldn’t let the young lady be taken away without explanation.
The Self-Defense Force officers whispered among themselves, then one ran off to invite a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department officer inside the cordon.
“What exactly is going on?”
Yuki Asahi felt a sense of unease as he looked outside the vehicle.
But it seemed he was just an outsider—no one paid attention to this so-called hero.
“Morita Aoya has already cooperated with our investigation. Don’t worry, Miss Jiang Jian. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department won’t enforce detention. We just want to… talk.”
A major investigation was coming.