Struggle to Survive, Miss Yotsuya Miko

Mana Akihare Remiho was the actual manager of the street beneath their feet and the driving force behind Akihabara's introduction of otaku culture.

She was also one of the main characters in Steins;Gate, a work many had called a masterpiece in Miyauchi Hiyage's previous life.

Before obtaining the Diary, this had already been one of the areas Miyauchi Hiyage needed to pay the most attention to during high school. One reason he had chosen to study in Tokyo was so he could easily come here whenever he had time.

After all, during the summer vacation of his first year at university, Steins;Gate's protagonist, Okabe Rintaro, had created a time machine capable of sending text messages into the past through an absurd coincidence.

After that, the protagonist continuously used the machine to jump across different world lines and fulfill the wishes of himself and his friends.

Miyauchi Hiyage paid attention to this place because time machines were simply too dangerous.

On the Alpha world line, the world was ruled by the organization that obtained the time machine, becoming a dystopia where humanity had no future.

On the Beta world line, the time machine became known to the upper echelons of various nations, triggering World War III.

In the end, after struggling for so long, the protagonist barely found a path to save himself in the gap between the two main world lines.

But the protagonist was actually like the Flash—he merely jumped between different world lines. That did not mean the other world lines had ceased to exist.

Even if this world was a hodgepodge, Miyauchi Hiyage did not want to gamble on that possibility.

His original plan had been to find a way into Okabe Rintaro's Future Gadget Laboratory after entering high school and crush the time machine in the cradle.

He had never intended to monopolize it. Even he was afraid that he would not be able to control himself around something like that.

Before humanity could enter a true utopia like Doraemon's world, it was better not to let time machines appear before mankind.

Even though he now possessed the Diary and his plans could no longer keep up with the changes, Miyauchi Hiyage did not intend to write about the time machine in it until he figured out how to handle it.

That thing was far more dangerous than APTX4869.

As long as one person who saw the diary developed selfish thoughts and wanted to use its power to make up for regrets from their past, things would become truly chaotic.

Before the time machine even appeared, the Diary holders would start fighting among themselves. Wouldn't that turn this into Future Diary?

"But in the end, Steins;Gate is still a science fiction work. Aside from the time machine that was accidentally created, no other supernatural powers ever appeared."

Thinking this, Miyauchi Hiyage sat in the café. He ordered Guanghua a sugarless black coffee that symbolized adulthood, while ordering juice and some desserts for himself and Renge. As he watched Feiris NyanNyan's pleasing figure from behind, he felt much more at ease.

There was still one semester before the time machine appeared. As long as the Diary gave him fewer light novels and manga, his strength would improve greatly.

He could search for a more suitable solution during that time.

Compared to the potential apocalypse the time machine could bring decades later, Miyauchi Hiyage cared more about the other supernatural powers in this world.

The question of whether his diary actually had readers had already received an affirmative answer.

As long as he wrote in his diary every day, many stories he had originally planned to personally intervene in could now be handled by the "kindhearted people" who saw his diary.

Understanding this world's supernatural powers had become his top priority.

There were several places he could not conveniently visit yet, such as Morioh and Fuyuki City. He was also worried that he might run into a Stand User with bizarre powers or be forced into joining the Holy Grail War as soon as he arrived.

But within Tokyo, he planned to search for other characters and works related to supernatural powers.

Mieruko-chan, Noragami, Durarara!!, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Sorcerers...

Or perhaps hidden magical girls and the like. With his current physique and abilities, he could at least lurk around the edges and observe.

While waiting for the desserts, Miyauchi Hiyage seriously considered whether he should join or establish a "Paranormal Phenomena Research Club" after high school began as a cover.

But after thinking about it, even if such a club existed, its members would probably just be horror movie enthusiasts who loved the idea of dragons but had never seen one.

Their club activities would probably consist of watching horror films in the clubroom or exploring so-called haunted houses.

"Should I test the waters a little when I write my diary today? I'll start with Miss Miko, the girl who can see ghosts."

With that thought, Miyauchi Hiyage had more or less decided what he would make up in tonight's diary.

Under the care of Akihabara's landlady, they enjoyed the desserts and juice. Although Miyauchi Hiyage felt that she was probably just interested in his adorable little sister.

The woman had even taken the initiative to feed Renge an expensive dessert under the pretense of giving it to her. Then, with a suspicious smile on her face, she reached out and touched the two ahoge strands on Renge's head.

Heh, woman. For the sake of the expensive dessert you gave her, I'll let you touch my little sister's head this time.

Then, watching Guanghua across from him frown so deeply that her brows were nearly twisted together, yet still force herself to finish the black coffee before commenting, "The flavor is very pure," Miyauchi Hiyage added, "If you like it, I'll bring you a cup every day when I go to school."

Only after his second sister raised the white flag and surrendered did Miyauchi Hiyage finally pay the bill and leave the maid café in satisfaction.

That evening, after returning home with a pile of things, Miyauchi Hiyage opened his Diary and began today's entry.

If he was going to make something up, he might as well make it thorough.

Even if Yotsuya Miko did not exist in this world, he had to make it sound convincing.

After thinking for a moment, he began writing.

I woke up this morning and discovered that someone had posted on Twitter, telling me not to keep writing.

I'm very happy that you're willing to post on Twitter, but I don't like the fact that you're using an alt account.

So I won't reply to your DM. We can talk when you use your main account someday.

While watching videos during lunch, I came across a Guitar Hero video. I don't know much about guitars, but I think I know Guitar Hero pretty well.

Right, Little Bocchi?

Oh, you probably haven't been called that nickname yet. But it's okay. When you meet the person who gives you that nickname, you'll understand what I mean.

When the time comes, I'll consider going to watch your band perform live.

But you're not today's focus, so I'll let you, little social anxiety case, off for now.

This afternoon, while I was on the train, I saw a girl who somehow felt familiar.

I didn't recognize her at first, but after getting home and thinking about it, she really did resemble the protagonist of an anime I watched in my previous life.

Anyway, whether it was you or not, I'm putting out a call across the internet for Miss Yotsuya Miko. Did you see any ghosts today?】

Chapter 24: Struggle to Survive, Miss Yotsuya Miko

Sorry, it may sound a little rude, but I do mean that literally.

Miss Yotsuya Miko, if you have already awakened Spirit Vision and happen to be able to see this diary, then you should understand what I mean.

If you have not yet awakened Spirit Vision, then I advise you to cherish your peaceful everyday life.

Believe me, once your Spirit Vision awakens, you will definitely miss your old life.

After all, no one would enjoy having evil spirits and ghosts surrounding them everywhere, things that only they could see and touch.

While eating, there might be an evil spirit staring at you from beside you. While bathing, a ghostly head might suddenly emerge from the bathtub. When you wake up, you might discover a baby ghost inside your blanket...

They would not actively attack humans—or rather, they could not directly harm ordinary humans—but they would constantly test people before their eyes.

The moment they discovered someone could see them, they would attack that person without hesitation.

Interestingly, your story also has a special setting.

Only humans with Spiritual Power could see evil spirits. Then, depending on their talent and the strength of their Spiritual Power, the evil spirits they could see would differ.

Those with powerful Spiritual Power could see powerful evil spirits, while those with weak Spiritual Power could only see the most basic ones. It was like matchmaking in competitive games: a Bronze player would not encounter a King-ranked player right away—unless, of course, you were special.

As an ordinary person without Spiritual Power, you somehow awakened the highest level of Spirit Vision.

If you wanted to survive, you could only suppress your fear and ignore every evil spirit that appeared before you.

If it were me, I probably couldn't endure a life like that. It's incredible that you managed to persist for so long.

Honestly, if the person I saw on the train really was you, then I'll have to reassess how dangerous this world is.

But I haven't awakened Spirit Vision yet, and this world's evil spirits won't attack me. So the rest of you reading this diary do not need to worry too much about such things.

As for you, Miss Yotsuya Miko, if you can see this diary, then work hard at cultivating Ripple Aura Chi Kung.

It may not make your life much easier, but once you can draw out Ripple Energy, you probably won't have to worry about ordinary ghosts anymore.

As for those powerful evil spirits, and the indescribable things that might appear later...

Nope. Absolutely not.

If you want to vent your fear, you can also post on Twitter or upload a video. If I see it, I'll give it a like in support.

In short, until I draw something like Master Kau's inheritance, please trust in your luck as a protagonist and struggle to survive.

After making up the diary entry, Miyauchi Hiyage stretched his body.

He hoped Yotsuya Miko would see this diary.

Thinking back to Mieruko-chan from his previous life, wasn't what viewers loved most seeing Miko's pitiful appearance whenever she was harassed by evil spirits—terrified, cowardly, yet still pretending that nothing had happened?

He wondered what expression she would make after seeing this diary.

But no matter what expression you make, even if you want to cry, post on Twitter before you start crying.

With that thought, Miyauchi Hiyage received today's diary reward.

One Camera Obscura, with a style of his choosing, along with a set of blueprints.

It came from Project Zero, a horror-themed game that shared a universe with the Nioh Series, yet became widely known because of its alluringly beautiful female protagonists.

"I wrote about Miko today, and you gave me a Camera Obscura? What the hell use is this thing to me?" Miyauchi Hiyage complained.

Although he had not been particularly involved with horror works in his previous life, beautiful girls were another matter. Naturally, he knew about Project Zero.

A Camera Obscura was essentially a specially modified camera capable of photographing and repelling Vengeful Spirits.

After thinking about it, Miyauchi Hiyage simply shaped the camera into the same style as the one held by that magenta world destroyer, then picked it up and took several pictures of his surroundings.

The photographs came out clearly, but they were merely ordinary photos without anything unusual in them.

After all, Miyauchi Hiyage possessed a Pure Yang Body that innately restrained evil spirits and strange entities.

Chongyun had wandered around Teyvat for so many years without ever seeing a ghost. If Miyauchi Hiyage could casually photograph something strange, that would be truly ghostly.

"That camera in Brother Xiao Ming's hands can't take normal photos. If I'm holding a camera that can photograph strange things, could I really fail to capture even one ghost?"

Miyauchi Hiyage felt that was highly possible.

For evil spirits that were not even afraid of his Pure Yang Body, this Camera Obscura probably would not be useful either.

Assessment complete. This thing really was useless to him.

So what truly mattered was the Camera Obscura's blueprints.

Miyauchi Hiyage glanced at the blueprints in his hands.

They were not difficult to make, provided that this world had Spirit Stones, or something similar that could substitute for them.

"After today's diary entry goes out, it'll probably cause some panic among the Diary holders as well. Should I share the Camera Obscura blueprints too?"

"Hmm... Those girls don't have Spirit Vision to begin with, and Vengeful Spirits can't affect their lives for the time being. I should search for crafting materials first. Once I confirm this thing can actually be made, I'll decide then."

Before anything had been confirmed, Miyauchi Hiyage felt there was no need to forcibly drag the female protagonists of those everyday school series into this mire.

Inside Shinomiya Kaguya's residence, just as Miyauchi Hiyage had expected, after today's diary update, even Shinomiya Kaguya, daughter of the Shinomiya conglomerate, felt deeply shaken.

Was this world actually so dangerous?

Evil spirits were everywhere, and anyone who could see them would be attacked?

Shinomiya Kaguya looked around her empty room. Could some invisible evil spirit be hiding in it too?

She wanted to call Hayasaka Ai over to sleep with her. Otherwise, she definitely would not be able to sleep tonight.

She touched her face, forced herself to calm down, then carefully read through the diary again.

In the diary, You Know Who had encountered a woman who resembled Yotsuya Miko on the train, which was why he had written today's entry.

In other words, You Know Who himself could not actually confirm the other person's identity. It was only a guess?

When faced with a question she did not understand, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately began writing in the Diary.

Did Vengeful Spirits really exist in this world?

Shinomiya Kaguya had actually asked similar questions before, but the answers she received in the past had always been the familiar lack of permissions.

This time, she did not hold out any hope either. She was merely trying out of habit.