Chapter 73: The Last Day of Spirit Absorption!
The exhausting school day finally ended. After finishing his cleaning duty, Luke picked up his bag, planning to stop by the Service Club first.
Just now, Kasumizuki had told him that Miura Yumiko should be able to return to her normal life after today.
Although Mikasa was following her, the misfortune that had piled up layer by layer still made him feel he should keep an eye on things.
Outside, the endless drizzle had already stopped. The sky had yet to clear, but the setting sun still dyed a patch of clouds madder red.
He gently opened the clubroom door.
Yukinoshita Yukino was sitting by the desk near the window, one finger pressed against a test paper spread out on the tabletop. Her other hand was helplessly supporting her forehead.
"Why can you even get the most basic question types wrong?"
Yuigahama had her head lowered beneath her, nearly ducking under the desk.
The moment she heard the door open, Yuigahama looked over with teary eyes, silently begging him to save her.
This was why Yuigahama was an idiot. How could she dare ask a perfectionist like Yukinoshita to tutor her? Luke sighed softly in his heart.
Seeing Yuigahama lose focus, Yukinoshita reminded her coldly.
"Yuigahama-san, if you want to improve your grades, I think you should start by learning how to concentrate."
"Sorry, sorry!"
Yuigahama's bun-tied head instantly turned back around.
Why do they look so much like mother and daughter?
Luke walked over and looked at her test paper.
Mm. A very simple, classic plane geometry problem.
Yuigahama was still holding her pen and scribbling on the paper. She probably didn't even know what she was writing.
"Sigh. Let's take a break."
Yukinoshita looked at Yuigahama and said that helplessly.
"Okay!"
Yuigahama immediately perked up and quickly turned her head toward him.
"Do you want to study with us too?"
"Who's like you, getting such an easy question wrong?"
Luke said speechlessly. She actually wanted to drag him down with her.
"So I don't need to."
Although he often slept in class and never did homework after class, he had to admit that every student was usually good at something.
"English~ English!"
Yuigahama hurriedly said that.
"N-no thanks. I have something to do today, so I have to leave early."
The moment he heard English, he hurriedly answered.
Who would want to study during club activities after spending the whole day at school? Especially English…
Besides, the system had not even given him a task to improve his grades, yet Yuigahama still wanted to drag him into the water.
Absolutely impossible!
So he turned his gaze toward Yukinoshita.
"Can I leave early?"
Yukinoshita checked the time.
"No one should be coming today. It just rained outside, so if you want to end early, please do as you like. Yuigahama excluded."
"Got it."
Luke glanced at his text message and prepared to leave. On the way out, he looked at the pitiful Yuigahama.
"Good luck."
"Grr!"
Yuigahama expressed her anger toward the traitor who was running away early.
…
Mikasa stood in front of Sobu High School, her feet stepping on the thin layer of water covering the ground.
Just like the past few days, she was waiting for Miura Yumiko.
Although she had never had much contact with this person before, much less any deep feelings, so they naturally could not be called friends…
With her master's order, she would still use all her strength and wholeheartedly help Miura get through this final stretch of misfortune, and solve the problem of her spirit-attracting constitution.
And she would not admit that after spending the past few days together, she had developed a bit of fondness for this girl whom her master had described as reckless in her actions, but very gentle and cute on the inside.
"Hey! Bye-bye~"
Miura Yumiko said goodbye to the others like usual, then walked over to Mikasa.
They had only spent a few simple days together, but the two of them already seemed quite familiar with each other. Without saying much, Miura quickly came to Mikasa's side.
Mikasa made room beside her and let Miura walk on the side farther from the road. She had to avoid any possible failure.
The two of them walked along the road toward Miura's home.
According to Kasumizuki's prediction, the recovery of her spirit-attracting constitution would be accompanied by an increase in misfortune. In other words, the bad luck would gradually grow as time accumulated.
Today was the expected final day, so the misfortune might reach a critical point.
But…
Unlike before, they did not encounter—
A vicious dog that had slipped its leash.
A tennis ball flying toward them.
A car with failed brakes.
A loser gambler turned pervert.
An antisocial person hurting people in the street.
A drunk uncle trying to play sugar dating games.
Although these people were not actually that difficult for Mikasa to deal with using force, they were still inevitably disgusting.
Now that everything was quiet, almost like normal life, Mikasa raised her guard even more in her heart despite knowing they had a backup plan.
Mikasa remained silent as usual.
After today, she would no longer need to stay at her house…
Thinking about that, Miura Yumiko pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "You and… him. Are you in that kind of relationship?"
"What kind of relationship?"
"Umm—just, you know… that kind of relationship!"
Miura did not know how to describe something so hard to say, so she could only stammer incoherently.
Seeing her young and nervous state, much like what she herself had once experienced at the beginning, Mikasa already understood. She raised her head and looked straight ahead.
Mikasa, who did not care about other people's opinions, did not hide it.
"Yes. It's the kind of relationship you're thinking of…"
Miura Yumiko's eyes lowered, and her fingers tightened around the strap of the schoolbag on her shoulder.
"...The kind of relationship where we can have babies together," Mikasa added, confirming Yumiko's suspicions.
Miura was startled from behind.
That was way too direct, Mikasa…
Then she thought of the blond girl whose identity was similar to Mikasa's, Annie Leonhart.
"You… Do you really not mind sharing him with another person?"
Miura kept rubbing the curled end of her hair as she asked. Then she hurriedly waved her hand.
"Ah… I'm just curious. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to!"
Faced with such a question, even the straightforward Mikasa suddenly paused in thought.
Mikasa froze for a moment. Her mind slowly began to turn, and after a brief hesitation, she answered.
"…Miura-san, no matter how I say it, I'm still a high school girl. Of course I want to have him all to myself."
Miura looked at her.
Mikasa continued.
"But compared to my desire to be with him, that feeling still loses."
"So I suppose I do mind a little."
Mikasa glanced at her.
"That's how I am… What about you?"
Miura Yumiko did not know how to answer.
She recalled the few times they had spent together, and her mind also brought up the big-headed evil spirit she had encountered before.
Compared to the mannequin incident, that evil spirit had not been the most dangerous or terrifying event.
But it had been the ugliest, most disgusting, most nauseating thing from the bottom of her heart…
Just thinking about it made her feel repulsed.
So, in contrast…
Was it natural to feel at ease when she thought of him?
Miura unconsciously began to remember.
No…
Why does that guy keep running around inside my head?!
So annoying!
Miura Yumiko puffed out her cheeks and shook her hair, driving away every image in her mind.
"I don't know."
After throwing those thoughts out of her head, Miura finally answered.
…
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