Chapter 76

"No, that person has hidden their true feelings very well, and I cannot see through them in my current state! But I can still see some clues; that person does indeed possess some unique qualities. Sage, you should do as you see fit."

Takanashi Rikka put the blindfold back on and then gave an affirmative answer.

"It seems we're on the same page this time, Rikka."

He grunted in agreement.

"Bite..."

As the school bell rang, the students returned to their seats one after another.

"Hasegawa-kun, if I may ask, have you had a mental evaluation done at a hospital?"

As he passed by, Yukinoshita Yukino a solemn expression.

"Yukinoshita- kun, are you being Poison Tongue or serious?"

Suddenly, Hasegawa Izumi turned around at a 45-degree angle, her expression a mixture of amusement and sarcasm.

"There shouldn't be any difference, right?"

She vaguely sensed the pressure and pursed her lips.

"Hmm... I actually had it tested when I was a kid."

He sat down in his seat, crossed his arms, and pondered for a moment before speaking.

"And... what was the result?"

Hearing this nonchalant tone, the girl felt a strange fear, and her voice stammered for a moment.

I was sweating profusely.

"It seems to be some kind of 'Intermittent Insanity'? Hahaha, what an ignorant fool to make such a judgment. But I can't blame him; the changes I've experienced are beyond the common sense of people in this world..."

"Thud."

"Hey, Yukinoshita, what are you doing over there?"

Hasegawa Izumi made a couple of sarcastic remarks, then turned around to find that the other person had already disappeared from sight.

"Excuse me, I felt a strong sense of danger to my life, so I sat a little further away."

With her hands placed in front of her chest, Yukinoshita Yukino assumed a defensive stance, looking alert.

"Just a little?"

He glanced at the distance between them.

Just moments ago, the other person was between him and Rikka, but now they have moved to a position near the classroom door.

"Fine, as long as you don't feel it affects the quality of your listening."

Just then, the teacher walked in from the doorway, and he looked away.

"It seems your potential is ultimately limited!"

Takanashi Rikka, who had been staring intently, shook her head and then looked ahead as well.

The lecture begins.

The girl who was listening in temporarily suppressed her panicked emotions, and her expression gradually returned to calm.

Did I overdo it?

If they were truly a dangerous mental patient, they wouldn't be here, let alone be the top student in their grade, would they?

Maybe he's just joking with himself? Or maybe it's just a very minor issue?

"But he seemed serious."

Yukinoshita Yukino whispered something.

"What an incomprehensible oddball. I'd better focus on the teacher's lecture first."

She temporarily put her mind at ease.

"Rustle..."

She was taking notes.

Before I knew it, a class had passed.

"Hasegawa-kun, could you teach me this?"

"The teacher's explanation was a bit too advanced; I still think your explanation was simpler!"

"Hey you guys, stop fighting for seats!"

When class ended, she saw several girls running up to Hasegawa to ask her questions.

"Perhaps I'm overreacting."

Seeing this, Yukinoshita felt instantly much more at ease.

"Yukinoshita -san, hello there! How are you doing at Shuchiin?"

At that moment, the innocent and carefree Chika-chan noticed Yukinoshita standing alone to the side, approached her, and asked her kindly.

She ignored the cold, aloof stance that seemed to isolate her from the world, and simply walked right into it.

"Oh."

This caught Yukinoshita off guard. Her eyes flickered before she replied, "Although I don't know much, it seems that the academic atmosphere at Shuchiin is quite good. The interactions between everyone are also different from what I've heard; they seem quite harmonious..."

"Right!"

Fujiwara Chika grinned and made an arrow gesture at her.

"But it wasn't like this before, actually it's all thanks to Izumi-chan! Izumi-chan did something really big in his first month of school... so everyone should thank him~"

Are you sure you're talking about humans?

This was Yukinoshita Yukino's first thought after hearing the story.

"Hehehe, Yukinoshita, you don't believe me? That's normal. Even my family didn't quite believe it after hearing it."

"But that's the truth! You can ask anyone about it, Yukinoshita."

Fujiwara Chika seemed unfazed by her reaction.

"Um..."

Yukinoshita Yukino remained silent for a long time.

That sounds utterly absurd.

But she couldn't resist her nagging curiosity and asked others, only to receive the same answer from them all.

"Is this what they mean by 'there are always people more capable than you, and heavens beyond heavens'?"

At that moment, she was deeply shocked.

"Hey, Yukinoshita- kun."

Suddenly, a voice called out in my ear.

She instinctively turned her head and met those bright, clear blue eyes, her breathing quickening in that instant.

"Do you want to become a champion of justice?"

90% purity is really too low.

What kind of eyes were those?

Shining brightly, like the brightest star in the night sky, it guides lost travelers in their way.

As Yukinoshita's mind wavered, these words left her momentarily at a loss.

"Why... why do you ask that? And who are the partners of justice?"

Her tone was somewhat unfocused.

"Through our previous conversation, I understand that your belief, Yukinoshita, is absolute justice, right? Your ideal is to 'change the world' by 'changing people's weaknesses'."

As Hasegawa Izumi spoke, she slowly approached.

That's right.

She nodded affirmatively.

"Unbiased, without double standards, treating everyone equally, and addressing each issue objectively—if such a person can truly be called a partner of justice."

"Although this title is somewhat unique and I don't particularly like it, what you've said is indeed what I'm currently practicing, and I will continue to do so in the future."

As they talked, the two became so close that they were less than half a meter apart.

Yukinoshita gradually adjusted to the intense gaze directed at her, without flinching or showing any fear.

Originally, she had nothing to feel guilty about.

What she's most concerned about now is the other person's true thoughts behind those remarks.

After hearing about what the other person had done, she inexplicably developed a sense of anticipation for this incredible person.

After all, that's a height that even I can't reach.

People tend to be more tolerant and have higher expectations of outstanding individuals and true leaders than they are of ordinary people.

The same applies to human girls.

"But do you know what? Yukinoshita, changing someone's perception is really difficult."

Hasegawa Izumi grinned and raised a finger.

"If it were that simple, the world wouldn't be the way it is now..."

Yukinoshita Yukino sighed, then added, "But we can't just give up because it's challenging, can we? I established the Service Club at Soubu High School precisely to put my beliefs into practice."

Service Club?

What a weird name. They might as well call themselves the SOS Brigade.

In order to prevent the whole thing from falling apart, he only muttered a curse in his heart, while maintaining a mysterious demeanor on the surface.

"Indeed, with enough effort, it's not impossible to completely change a person's perception, but! It's utterly impossible to change the world with that! Because... Yukinoshita, you're still lacking something!"

His voice was loud and inspiring as he pointed at the other person.

What am I lacking?

Yukinoshita Yukino lowered her head slightly, her fingers gently touching her chin, lost in thought.

At this moment, the students in the classroom were all watching and whispering, treating it as if it were a stage play.

"Could it be that Yukinoshita -san has been fooled by Hasegawa-kun? That would be so embarrassing."

"What are you talking about? If Hasegawa-kun said something like that to me, I'd be hard-pressed not to be confused!"

"Hehe, if it were Hasegawa-kun, I would definitely cooperate with him, but unfortunately my acting skills are still too bad."

After a short period of thought Yukinoshita Yukino came to her answer, raising her head and saying, "I know, I still lack the influence to spread my ideas."

"..."

Hasegawa Izumi's lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.

"What you said isn't wrong, but that's also a limitation of your perspective! What you truly lack is strength! Force! You can't change the world without using your fists!"

"You mean you want me to gain control of armed forces and then conquer the world? If it has to go that far, even I would lack confidence in my abilities."

Yukinoshita Yukino frowned slightly.

Girl, you're a bit clueless!

"You keep talking about changing the world, but you don't have enough confidence. Yukinoshita... your purity is really too low."

He sighed, then raised his right hand and, without giving the girl time to react, placed it on her delicate shoulder.

"Thud."

Wow, that was fast!

Yukinoshita Yukino's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't react at all. Then she saw that handsome face was right in front of her.