Chapter 20

Uesugi Toru leaned close to the phone screen and stared for a good while, then frowned and looked away.

This is Shiro Hannya — this is, without a doubt, Shiro Hannya.

Even though the figure passing through in this photo is blurry.

If you ask why Uesugi Toru can be so certain — aside from the mask being different, every other part of this guy is practically identical to the Warai Hannya he himself transforms into; it's a one-glance recognition!

There's a problem.

This is a huge problem!

Shiro Hannya, appearing in reality?

Is it pure coincidence, or is this the "Injured Shiro Hannya" from that Arakawa Ghost Village main quest?

Resting his fingertip on the cold Walking Token in his pocket, Uesugi Toru couldn't make up his mind.

Unlike the near-joke rumor that Warai Hannya "likes playing pranks on cute children," Shiro Hannya is a true Onryo, a bloodthirsty yokai that kills for pleasure.

If it's coincidence, then Shizuma Manatsu, who encountered a complete Shiro Hannya at close range, would almost certainly not be sitting intact before them.

So the scales of probability have already tipped to the other side.

"—Yokai from Tokoyo can come to the real world?"

The moment this thought arose, even Uesugi Toru himself couldn't help but be startled.

Because if Shiro Hannya can, then there's no reason the red-faced samurai Dosou he ran into in Edo Castle couldn't.

If a murderous demon who could achieve a myriad kills in ancient times came to reality...

Uesugi Toru only felt a chill run down his back.

At this moment, Ririko asked: "Manatsu, you said you found what kind of yokai this is on the trending list?"

"Mhm!"

Although she didn't know what had happened, seeing the couple's tacit understanding, Shizuma Manatsu replied happily: "For a while, this topic was pretty hot."

Shiro Hannya, Twitter trending, hot.

Uesugi Toru couldn't figure out how these words would connect no matter what.

"Because a lot of people said they saw a white shadow drift past behind them." Seeing the two lean in simultaneously, Shizuma Manatsu quickly found that day's browsing history: "Look, aren't the ones in these photos a lot like me?"

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes and discovered that behind these photos there really were Shiro Hannya's figures, whether clear or blurry.

Ririko said coldly: "There's even 'Method to Summon Shiro Hannya'?"

"Uh, yeah." Shizuma Manatsu blinked: "What's wrong? Honestly, I only got the miraculous photo after trying this method myself."

The moment she said this, Kitano Runa, who had been carefully observing the situation from the side, could see Uesugi Toru and Ririko's expressions rapidly turn ugly.

The shut-in girl secretly swallowed her saliva and thought: "Holy crap, this couldn't be real, could it..."

"Move house."

Uesugi Toru spoke up abruptly: "Shizuma-san, I suggest you move house immediately; at the very least, don't go home for a while."

"Uh... hahaha, Uesugi-kun, you're scaring me a bit like this."

Shizuma Manatsu dry-laughed twice and looked at Ririko: "Come on, little Tokugawa, you say something too."

"I support Uesugi-kun's opinion."

As someone who also survived the Courage Test, Ririko stared seriously at Shizuma Manatsu's slightly anxious eyes: "I'm not joking, Manatsu."

Seeing Ririko's serious look, Shizuma Manatsu realized things really seemed bad.

She took several deep breaths and finally squeezed out a forced smile: "Let's eat first, okay?"

Uesugi Toru, having picked up his chopsticks again, fell silent.

It wasn't that he didn't want to speak, but the sudden influx of information was simply too large.

Based on what Shizuma Manatsu just said, a guess had already vaguely formed in Uesugi Toru's mind, but he still couldn't confirm it.

"—How does it sound so real!?"

Kitano Runa pulled out her phone, staring at the dozens of similar summoning methods piled up in the notes and the ten-odd checkmarks after them.

Shiro Hannya is merely an inconspicuous minor yokai among them.

In an instant, Kitano Runa had already decided which funeral package was the best deal and which graveyard had the cheapest rent.

After sweeping the food clean, Uesugi Toru actively proposed: "Shizuma-san, I know an acquaintance. If it's convenient, you can bring your family and stay there for a couple days."

Ririko, eating with her head down, paused for a beat, then continued eating without saying anything.

Shizuma Manatsu seemed a bit confused; she took several seconds before replying: "I live with my sister, it's very convenient."

"I, I'll go too!"

Kitano Runa raised her hand anxiously.

Everyone instantly looked at her in puzzlement, Uesugi Toru included — he was still wondering what this girl's name was, whether he'd forgotten it.

But Uesugi Toru didn't say much; settling two at Minami Aimitsu's place is settling two, three is the same.

Rather, Ririko's friend seems to have good crisis awareness; ordinary people would probably still be treating them like a joke right now.

After explaining the cause and effect of this matter to Minami Aimitsu on LINE, barely two seconds passed before Uesugi Toru actually got a reply.

【Nanjo Sister: We naturally noticed the phenomenon you mentioned. As long as a supernatural topic hits the trending list, relevant measures are taken within minutes.】

【Tsukisuna-chan: Then why can I still see the browsing history in my friend's phone?】

【Nanjo Sister: Best not to look into this. In short, it's not that we have no way, but that we temporarily have no way. Also, I'm sending someone this afternoon, don't forget to answer the phone.】

【Tsukisuna-chan: Okay.】

Prohibited matters, just like the Friendship Club.

Uesugi Toru had no intention of probing further in this direction; since Minami Aimitsu wouldn't say, it was naturally for his own good.

Of course, his own insufficient strength was also a reason.

A mere Half-Star Kokara trying to dig deep into this kind of thing — by then he probably wouldn't even know how to write the word 'death'.

"I'm done eating."

Ririko put down her bowl and chopsticks, breaking the silence.

Thus the four's first meal together ended just like that; with all four carrying worries, this meal obviously couldn't continue to be eaten in a relaxed manner.

Seeing off Shizuma Manatsu and the other as they left first, Uesugi Toru walked to Ririko's side, who had waited specifically for him, and said:

"This afternoon, let's skip class and go practice swordsmanship together."

Ririko swallowed back the exact same words verbatim, and upon seeing there were many people around, nodded as if nothing had happened: "Okay."

Uesugi Toru: "However, I might have to make you wait two or three hours first."

"Mm."

After parting with Ririko, Uesugi Toru decided to first go replenish some water resources, then find a patch of grass to lie down on, and directly enter Guicun to solve that Workshop.

Unlike the varying water quality levels in various places next door, most of the tap water on the Japanese campus can be drunk directly.

Turning on the faucet lets you drink water, which is who knows how many times faster than waiting for hundred-degree hot water to cool down. And there won't be the phenomenon of peak-hour competition for water resources causing those who come late to be unable to get water.

——But actually very few people know that the flavor of the water flowing from different faucets is different.

For example, this washbasin beside the Teaching Building is the farthest distance from the water tank supplying water on the Rooftop, so the chlorine flavor is naturally extremely faint, making it the sweetest.

Walking under the tree shade, Uesugi Toru twisted the water outlet upward.

He was just about to turn on the faucet and drink heartily, but discovered a familiar figure across from him.

Forgot to set the timer for dawn, so today two chapters are being released together

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(End of Chapter)