Anime Crossover: Eating Evil in a Daily World — Chapter 106

Chapter 106: Shuchiin Academy’s Plan, The Weather Manipulator

Just as Shizuka Hiratsuka had predicted.

At this very moment, within the prestigious walls of Private Shuchiin Academy, the high-level school authorities were gathered in a tense, hushed boardroom.

The sole subject of their emergency meeting was Sobu High School.

Or rather, it was Yozora of Sobu High School’s Class A.

To understand the gravity of the situation, one had to understand what level of institution Private Shuchiin Academy truly was. It was hailed as the absolute cradle of future talent in Japan. Its faculty, its pristine environment, and its elite student body were, without dispute, the absolute best in the entire country.

Other schools had their selling points. Advanced Nurturing High School boasted a reputation where, as long as one completed their studies, a flawless employment rate was guaranteed. Whether a student’s goal was to become a ruthless politician, a high-flying financial executive, or a renowned artist, passing their assessments and graduating meant their dreams would materialize.

But Private Shuchiin Academy was a different beast entirely.

This school rested on only one reputation.

The most outstanding high school in Japan.

That single title was enough.

However, reality had just dealt them a resounding, humiliating slap to the face. Since the founding of Private Shuchiin Academy, every single year, without a single exception, the student who ranked first in the national joint entrance exam had chosen to enroll in their hallowed halls. It was only natural for the most outstanding student to choose the most outstanding school.

Yet, the student who ranked first in this year’s national exam had chosen to enroll in the unremarkable, entirely average Sobu High School. A school several tiers below Shuchiin, one that could not even be compared in the same breath.

What was this?

This was a blatant, unforgivable insult.

The most outstanding student of the year had looked at their pristine gates and walked the other way. How could Shuchiin Academy still have the audacity to claim they were the absolute best? At the very least, in the eyes of this year’s top genius, Yozora, they were second-rate.

This was something that Shuchiin Academy, an institution steeped in centuries of arrogance and aristocratic history, absolutely could not tolerate.

“Tell me, what should we do next?”

The VIP tier of the academy’s administration murmured among themselves, desperately seeking countermeasures to salvage their pride.

“Without a doubt.” A middle-aged man at the head of the table spoke in a deep, measured voice, his eyes cold. “Only by directly defeating that student named Yozora in a formal examination can we prove that our Shuchiin Academy remains the pinnacle. In fact, spinning this correctly would yield an even better effect.”

He steepled his fingers, looking around the room. “The genius who originally achieved first place in the joint exam chose to enroll in the mediocre Sobu High School, and as a direct result, became a mediocre and incompetent person. The sharp contrast will then highlight just how excellent our Shuchiin Academy’s faculty truly is.”

“In the future, if anyone thinks they can choose their school freely based purely on their raw talent, that boy named Yozora will serve as a permanent cautionary tale for them.”

Hearing these cold, ruthless words, as if addressing a bitter enemy on a battlefield rather than a high school freshman, the staff of Shuchiin Academy allowed cruel smiles to touch their lips.

“This is a splendid idea.”

“Although it might seem beneath us, given Shuchiin Academy’s lofty standing, to compete with a mere Sobu High School… a sleeping lion occasionally needs to hunt to let the ignorant prey know who the true master of the savanna is.”

“Crush Sobu High School, and shatter their pathetic illusions in the most brutal way possible.”

Amidst a chorus of arrogant, self-important agreements, an untimely question suddenly rang out from the end of the table.

“But… what if we lose?”

The middle-aged man who had first spoken frowned deeply, scoffing with open disdain.

“Do not forget who we have. Among our first-year students this time, we have that absolute academic monster from a common background, and the young lady of the Shinomiya Zaibatsu. How could we possibly lose to a mere Sobu High School?”

He sneered, adjusting his tie. “The sheer excellence of those two is something that short-sighted individuals who willingly degrade themselves can never hope to achieve. also, after a full semester of elite cultivation by our Shuchiin Academy, how could our champions lose to a mere Sobu High School student?”

With that, the middle-aged man slammed his hand on the table, making the final decision.

“The time will be set for a month and a half from now, during the final exams at the end of June. I will personally notify Sobu High School’s administration.”

A peaceful week quickly passed, and Friday arrived.

“Rio, look here, you have to pull it like this…”

Inside the Supernatural Society activity room, a thick curtain was drawn across the corner.

Yozora sat in a chair outside the curtain, completely zoned out, acting as the designated door guard.

Behind the fabric, Mai Sakurajima, Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, and Miko Yotsuya were gathered around Marin Kitagawa, eagerly learning the dark and ancient art of chest binding.

Logically speaking, while Mai, Yui, and Miko were all quite well-endowed, they weren’t at the level where they absolutely needed to bind their chests to function. It was merely a precaution. If Mai and Yui were to awaken their Soul Manifestation abilities in the future and needed to disguise their appearances for combat, it was a good idea to seize this opportunity to learn the ropes.

Besides that practical reason, they all desperately wanted to witness the miraculous effect Marin had boasted about. She claimed that with exquisite techniques and professional tools, even Rio’s astonishingly massive chest could be compressed to show absolutely no trace of its size from the outside.

“Um… Kitagawa.”

Hearing Rio’s hesitant call, Marin, who was entirely focused on wrapping the binding cloth, didn’t even lift her head. She simply smiled brightly.

“No need to be so polite, just call me Marin.”

“Then… alright, Marin.” Rio adjusted her glasses, looking down at the blonde girl. “What’s wrong, Rio?”

Looking at Marin, who was earnestly helping her get dressed with a look of pure dedication in her eyes, Rio asked softly. “Why do you like to dress yourself up as another person?”

Marin didn’t find the question offensive in the slightest. On the contrary, her eyes lit up. She was always thrilled when someone asked her about cosplay, and she immediately answered with a warm smile.

“Rio, you’re looking at it a bit wrong. Cosplay isn’t just about dressing up as another person.” Marin pulled the fabric tight, securing it. “It’s not only about pursuing external appearance and costume similarity. When cosplaying, one’s entire demeanor, posture, and actions must conform to the character’s personality. That’s what we call fitting the character’s persona.”

“As for why I like it…”

Marin paused for a few seconds, her hands resting on Rio’s shoulders as she smiled sweetly.

“I feel that if a certain character has a shining quality that really attracts me, then if I become her when I cosplay, I can also, to a greater or lesser extent, gain some of that courage or strength I seek in those few moments of becoming her.”

After saying this, Marin saw that the other girls in the club room were all deep in thought. While she was touched by their serious attention, she also couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed, rubbing the back of her neck.

“However, I haven’t really cosplayed properly at a big event yet. This is just my personal understanding, so it might not be entirely accurate.”

“I actually think what you said, Marin, was beautiful.”

Mai still wore her flawless, elegant smile, her voice gentle as she spoke up. “I’ve actually had that exact feeling you mentioned before, when I was acting on set. While playing a certain role, I could also absorb a lot of strength from that character myself.”

“Oh, really?”

Hearing a famous actress like Mai agree with her philosophy, Marin’s face lit up with absolute excitement. “Then Mai-senpai, why don’t you try cosplay too?”

Mai laughed wryly and waved her hand dismissively. “I think I’ll pass. It would cause a massive amount of trouble at the venue, wouldn’t it?”

Marin scratched her head, realizing the truth in that statement. Given Mai’s immense national fame, no matter which anime convention she appeared at, even if she wasn’t cosplaying herself, just her mere presence would cause a stampede. If something like that really happened, the convention would probably be shut down by security.

“However…”

After finishing the final adjustments on Rio, Marin looked at the gloomy, pouring rain outside the window and sighed helplessly. “I saw online that many anime conventions have been canceled recently due to the frequent heavy rains across Japan. Perhaps the rainy season came early this year.”

“That’s right.” Yui also looked out the window, her face full of worry. “It’s been raining every single day. Sable hasn’t been able to play outside freely for a long time. I really don’t know when this dreadful weather will end.”

“Watch your language, be more polite,” Rio said blandly, adjusting her collar.

Yui chuckled foolishly, her gaze shifting back to Rio, who was now wearing a loose white button-up shirt. Suddenly, Yui’s pupils contracted in sheer shock. She slapped both hands over her mouth, exclaiming in absolute horror.

“Ri-Rio, your… your breasts are gone!”

Mai and Miko instantly followed Yui’s gaze, staring at Rio sitting calmly in the chair. They were completely stunned by the sight before them.

“It’s… it’s so flat!?”

Seeing Rio, who originally possessed an astonishingly heavy chest, become completely unremarkable after binding and throwing on a loose shirt, the Supernatural Society members were dumbfounded.

Holy cow, what kind of sorcery was this?

Was it magic? Did those two large mounds just vanish into another dimension? This was practically a dark art.

Seeing everyone’s exaggerated, shocked expressions, Marin smiled, looking incredibly smug with her handiwork.

“Hehe, how about that? I told you it would be fine.”

Immediately after, Marin watched Rio stand up from her seat and stretch her arms, testing the mobility. Marin tilted her head, asking curiously. “But Rio, why do you want to bind your chest anyway? Are you planning to cosplay a male character?”

Rio froze. Her body stiffened at the innocent question. She parted her lips, entirely unsure how to answer.

She didn’t like lying, nor was she particularly good at it. But crucially, could she really tell the absolute truth? Could she look this sweet, innocent girl in the eye and say that because her chest was too big, she couldn’t participate in the last armed robbery of a cursed demonic sword, so she thought of binding it to disguise her gender for their next criminal syndicate heist?

Wouldn’t that give Marin a slight psychological breakdown at becoming an accomplice to domestic terrorism?

Looking at the dead silent Yui and Miko, who were sweating bullets, Rio was at a loss. At this critical, life-or-death moment, the veteran actress Mai stepped up to the plate.

Mai smoothly walked over, intimately taking Marin’s hand with a soft, charming laugh. “By the way, Marin, are you in a hurry to go home today? If not, I’d love to treat you to a nice meal as a thank-you for your help today.”

“Oh, no need.” Marin waved her free hand dismissively. “It’s just a small thing. I also hope to have more friends to cosplay with me, after all, it’s my favorite hobby.”

Seeing that the dangerous topic had been successfully diverted by Mai’s flawless acting, the rest of the club members collectively breathed a massive sigh of relief.

Yui quickly jumped in with a bright smile. “That’s true, but we still have to treat you to a meal. After eating, we can go shopping together. Marin, didn’t you say there are stores that specialize in cosplay props and costumes? I’ve never been to one, I’m super curious.”

Marin nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling. “Okay, okay, then let’s go shopping after dinner. I haven’t been shopping in a long time either.”

Yozora, sitting outside the curtain, listened to the girls’ melodious voices and joyful chatter, and couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

Female friendships were truly a terrifying, beyond understanding phenomenon.

Only after Rio unbound her chest and changed back into her usual lab coat did the girls finally pull back the curtain.

Yui leaned over Yozora’s chair, smiling brightly. “Yozora, we’re going to grab some food, and then go shopping. Want to come along?”

“Please, no,” Yozora refused with absolute, zero-hesitation finality.

Were they kidding him? Ahead of them lay an abyss full of endless trouble and exhausted legs. He simply couldn’t understand the female species. When girls said ‘shopping,’ did they really mean just pure, hard shopping for six hours straight? For him, it was an experience akin to medieval torture.

Yozora would rather go shopping for groceries in the deepest, darkest pits of the Inner World than accompany the Supernatural Society members to a mall.

Except for Rio. Rio’s approach to buying anything, including clothes, was ruthlessly efficient. Find the store, locate the item, pay the cashier, and leave the premises. Total time elapsed: four minutes.

However, recently, Yui and Mai had both been trying to persuade Rio to change her usual style of dress. How could a beautiful high school girl dress like a perverted, sleep-deprived scientist every single day? After their repeated, exhausting persuasions, Rio seemed to have bought a few sets of clothes that were different from her usual style, more youthful and cute, but she had never actually worn them. At school, she never took off her glasses or tied her hair into a high ponytail, stubbornly maintaining her original aesthetic.

“Then where are you going later?” Mai asked, crossing her arms.

Hearing the question, Yozora stood up, stretching his neck until it popped, and replied casually. “First, I’ll grab some McDonald’s. Then I’ll go to a fighting competition that determines both superiority and life-and-death. After that, I’ll see what my evening plans are. I might spend some intimate time with a beautiful, mature Sister.”

Mai chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. “What absolute nonsense are you talking about? Well, we’re leaving first. Don’t stay out too late.”

Clearly, Mai thought Yozora was just acting crazy and spouting chuunibyou nonsense again.

Little did she know, Yozora was telling the absolute, unvarnished truth.

Half an hour later, McDonald’s.

This specific McDonald’s was the exact same one Yozora, Yui, and Miko had visited after the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten incident. It was also one of the very few areas in the city that Evil Spirits dared not enter, a fact previously mentioned by the ghost of Miko’s father.

And the reason for that safe zone was currently standing behind the counter.

“Sir, your order.”

A girl with twin pigtails, a very cute appearance, and wearing a crisp employee uniform, gently placed the tray of food on his table. She then reached out and took the plastic number tag Yozora had placed on the edge.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Just as she was about to turn and leave to return to her shift, Yozora suddenly spoke up, his tone casual, as if it were merely an afterthought.

“It’s raining again today.”

The twin-tailed girl paused at his words. She looked through the massive floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor, watching the dreary, rain-soaked street outside, and sighed softly.

“Yes. This kind of weather really makes one’s mood worse.”

Yozora also looked deeply distressed, staring at his fries as he muttered to himself. “That’s right. I have something critical to do later, and if it rains, it will be completely ruined.”

The girl blinked, asking curiously. “Is it something very important?”

Yozora nodded slightly, his expression grave. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I must seize it. Unfortunately, the heavens are not cooperating with my schedule.”

Hearing his undisguised tone of bitter disappointment, and noticing the deep sorrow etched into his handsome face, the girl pursed her lips. She lowered her head, evidently deep in thought, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her apron.

After a few tense seconds, the girl finally looked up and offered him a warm, comforting smile.

“Don’t worry. I think this rain should stop very soon.”

“Alas, I can only hope it’s as you say.”

Upon returning downstairs to the main counter, the girl first put down the plastic order number tag. Then, she quietly untied her apron, draped it over a chair in the breakroom, and walked out of the McDonald’s front entrance.

Standing under the awning, she looked at the street covered in drizzling rain. There were hardly any pedestrians visible, just a sea of gray concrete and a gloomy, oppressive sky. The girl slowly closed her eyes, clasped her hands tightly together beneath her chin, and began her prayer.

Meanwhile, sitting comfortably on the second floor with a burger in hand, Yozora’s eyes narrowed. He saw a distinct, powerful ripple of spiritual energy appear in the air around the building.

It wasn’t like the chaotic power fluctuation when a Psychic used their Soul Manifestation ability.

If anything… it felt ancient. He had only felt such a pure, dense fluctuation of energy when he signed his soul contracts with Hachishaku, Tamamo-no-Mae, and the Mountain Goat Head God.

Yozora’s gaze shifted sharply to the window.

The continuous, heavy rain, which had been falling steadily all week, had completely stopped at some point. The clouds were parting.

“Found it.”

Yozora stood up, abandoning his food, and walked right up to the floor-to-ceiling window. He pressed his hand against the glass, looking straight up at the sky.

Through the thick, parting gray clouds, he could clearly see the silhouette of a gigantic, majestic whale made entirely of shimmering rainwater, faintly swimming through the atmosphere above the city.

“A God who controls the weather…”

Yozora muttered to himself, a dark hint of fanaticism and deep, unhinged excitement appearing in his eyes. He licked his lips.

“What will it taste like? I’m really curious.”

Ten minutes later, Yozora left the McDonald’s, stepping out into the newly sunny streets.

When the twin-tailed girl eventually went up to the second floor to clear his table, she found a neat stack of crisp banknotes tucked under the plastic tray. Beside the money was a small paper napkin with a note scribbled on it.

‘Thank you for your prayer. It was very helpful.’

Looking at the thick stack of banknotes, the girl was entirely bewildered, her hands hovering over the table, unsure of what to do. Her very first reaction was to run after him and return it. But the strange customer had already left long ago and hadn’t left any contact information.

The girl bit her lip. Her younger brother coincidentally needed to pay for his school textbooks recently, and they were completely broke. This stack of banknotes sitting innocently in front of her could perfectly solve her desperate predicament.

She reached out several times to take it, and several times her hand froze in mid-air, her morals warring with her reality, unable to make up her mind.

Just then, a sharp voice called from downstairs.

“Hina, hurry up, a customer wants to order!”

“Oh, okay, got it!”

Hina Amano couldn’t afford to stand there and think too much. She could only quickly pocket the money for now. If she left it sitting on the table, it would definitely be stolen by someone else. She didn’t intend to use someone else’s money, no matter how desperate she was. Since that handsome customer came to the store to eat this time, he might come again soon. She resolved to just return the money the very next time she saw him.

On the other side of the city, at the grand entrance of the first floor of the towering office building constructed by the Yukinoshita Construction Company.

“Why haven’t they arrived yet?”

Mrs. Yukinoshita stood near the glass doors, her usual composed demeanor cracking slightly as she checked her watch. She couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of anxious dread.

Standing opposite them were the high-level executives from the Kyoto Municipal Bank. But that wasn’t what was making her nervous. Standing behind the bankers were a dozen strange, heavily muscled individuals. They wore sharp suits, but their eyes were entirely inhuman—pitch-black sclera with piercing white pupils. They looked fundamentally different from normal people, exuding a bizarre, suffocating aura of violence.

Just as Haruno was about to step forward and answer her mother, a familiar, incredibly lazy voice sounded from the street behind them.

“Ugh, such a hassle. Let’s just finish this quickly so I can go eat.”