"Reiko and I bought a lot of balloons—in all sorts of colors—to decorate the Student Council room..."
Matsusaka was pale but managed to remain relatively composed; biting her lower lip, she recounted the story in a low voice:
"Half an hour ago, I was arranging the balloons on the wall to form a celebratory pattern. I happened to be missing two small red balloons, so I asked Reiko to fetch them for me."
"It was only after I'd said it that I remembered Reiko is actually red-green colorblind. I was about to go get them myself when—"
Matsusaka's voice took on a haunting quality:
"—when Reiko, without saying a word, brought over all the small red balloons—seven or eight of them—and not a single one was the wrong color..."
Kita blinked, instinctively lowering her voice as well:
"Red-green colorblindness is genetic; it's impossible to cure later in life... but could it just be a coincidence?"
Kitahara shook his head and spoke in a grave tone:
"From a probability standpoint, if there are seven balloon colors and you pick one at random hoping for red, the odds are one in seven. But to grab eight red balloons in a row without a single mistake? The odds are one in seven to the power of eight... It's basically impossible for that to be a coincidence."
Kita looked bewildered. "...Why seven to the power of eight?"
"...I'll give you a math lesson tonight."
Kitahara didn't have time to explain right then; he turned to the Student Council secretary and asked softly:
"You must have discovered something else that drove you to come here for help, right, Matsusaka-senpai?"
Ever since the incident in the club room, Matsusaka had made a point of avoiding him; she certainly wouldn't have sought him out unless she had no other choice.
Suddenly going from colorblind to having normal vision—while miraculous—was the sort of thing most people would simply wonder about for a moment before dismissing as none of their business.
Kitahara surmised that there had to be other circumstances causing this Student Council member to panic and seek assistance. "That's right." Matsusaka bit her lower lip; her face turned pale, and a flicker of fear crossed her eyes. "Reiko suddenly brought over all those small red balloons. I felt something was wrong right then—especially since she was acting so strangely today: silent, withdrawn, and with a stiff, unnatural expression. That's why I was worried..."
"There was a small makeup mirror in my bag. While Reiko wasn't looking, I secretly took it out and placed it on the desk."
"And then... then I saw it..."
As if recalling a terrifying scene, Matsusaka's body began to tremble slightly. "Don't be afraid, Matsusaka-senpai." Kita hurriedly stepped forward to soothe her, gently patting her back. "Kitahara-kun is so capable; nothing can hurt you."
"Haa..."
Matsusaka let out a long breath and slowly calmed down. Biting her lower lip, she continued her account in a low voice:
"Then... I saw Reiko walk silently up behind me. Suddenly, a smile appeared on her face—the kind of smile that makes your skin crawl. It was completely different from her usual sweet, cute self; she looked just like one of those mannequins in a clothing store—completely artificial."
"Not only that, but Reiko quietly opened her mouth. Her jaw dropped all the way down to her chest, and the corners of her mouth tore open to the edges of her ears—just like a python in a nature documentary about to swallow its prey..."
"I felt my whole body freeze up. Luckily, the phone suddenly rang, and Reiko instantly snapped back to normal, as if nothing had happened."
"That sounds terrifying..."
Kita hugged herself nervously, her voice hesitant:
"Did you take a photo, Matsusaka-senpai?"
"No."
"A video?"
"No, not that either."
"Hmm... Is it possible that you were just overworked, Matsusaka-senpai, and had a hallucination?"
"I don't know." A look of bewilderment flashed in Matsusaka's eyes. "I don't know if the Reiko I glimpsed in the mirror was a hallucination—but what if it wasn't? What if it was real?"
Matsusaka clutched her chest and looked up at Kitahara:
"After I fled the student council office, I thought about calling the police. But Reiko was acting exactly as usual; even if the police came, they'd likely just conduct a cursory check and leave... That's why I wanted to ask for your help, Kitahara-kun—to find out if Reiko is truly acting abnormally, or if I'm just hallucinating."
Ever since the incident in the shopping district, Kitahara's formidable strength had been deeply impressed upon Matsusaka's mind. That was why, when faced with this bizarre occurrence, the first person she turned to for help wasn't the police, but Kitahara. "Matsusaka-senpai is very level-headed; acting rashly in a situation like this really wouldn't do." Kitahara gave a slight nod, then turned to Kita. "Kita, you ask the question."
Kita readily agreed. "Leave it to me."
Peeling back the layers, hunting for clues, and piecing together the truth bit by bit?
This wasn't a detective novel; there was no need for such a hassle.
When in doubt, consult the Book of Answers.
If it couldn't reveal the mastermind behind the blood-red fruit, surely it could handle a question about an ordinary anomaly?
Of course, if it failed to answer that too, then 'Reiko' was almost certainly connected to the mastermind.
Under Matsusaka's puzzled gaze, Kitahara opened his schoolbag, took out the Book of Answers, and handed it to Kita.
"Hmm..." Kita blinked. "How should I phrase the question?"
Kitahara turned to Matsusaka and said softly:
"Matsusaka-senpai, send a message to Reiko and ask if she's still in the Student Council office."
"Just a moment, I'll ask."
Matsusaka bit her lip slightly, quickly took out her phone, and sent the message.
A moment later.
Matsusaka's face went pale again; she looked up at Kitahara nervously. "Reiko replied... she says she's still in the Student Council office. She asked why I hadn't come back yet—said if I didn't return soon, she'd come out to look for me."
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Kitahara's tone was calm, yet it conveyed an indescribable sense of security that instantly put Matsusaka at ease.
"Kita, ask what the 'Reiko' currently in the Student Council office actually is."
Kitahara turned to Kita and gave the instruction quietly.
"Okay."
Kita nodded earnestly, placed her hand on the Book of Answers, and asked the question seriously.
Flap, flap, flap.
Under Matsusaka's astonished gaze, the Book of Answers began to flip its pages rapidly, moving all on its own without a breath of wind. (What's going on?)
(Could it be a magic trick prop?)
(No, Kitahara-kun is so capable; he certainly wouldn't use a magic prop to fool anyone...)
Amidst these wandering thoughts, the "flip-book animation" quietly came to an end, and a line of text emerged silently on the blank page.
The answer wasn't garbled nonsense, but two clearly legible characters:
[Impostor]
"Huh? An 'Impostor'?" Kita's eyes widened as she let out a soft gasp. "So, Matsusaka-senpai wasn't hallucinating? The 'Reiko-chan' in the student council office really isn't human—she's an Impostor?"
"An Impostor... what exactly is that?"
Matsusaka looked toward Kitahara-kun nervously.
"Going by the name, it's likely some kind of anomalous entity capable of disguise." Kitahara-kun's expression turned serious. "One thing is certain: Matsusaka-senpai wasn't hallucinating. That thing definitely isn't human."
[Human] and [Impostor]—the terms differ by only a single character, yet they clearly represent two completely different kinds of existence.
"Wait a second." Kita's voice was laced with worry. "If the 'Reiko' in the student council office is an Impostor, then where is the real Reiko-chan?"
Reiko with glasses was a close friend of hers, so naturally, Kita was deeply concerned.
"Kitahara-kun, could you ask about Reiko-chan's situation?"
Kita tilted her face upward, looking at him with anxious eyes. Kitahara naturally wouldn't refuse: "I used up one question this morning, Ryo-senpai used one, and Kita just used another. We have two chances left, so the content of the next question is crucial; we need to think it through carefully."
"I suggest we ask about Reiko-san's survival status," Kitahara said softly, voicing his opinion. "If Reiko-san is still alive, we might be able to get information from the 'imposter Reiko' in the student council office."
"I'll leave it to you, Kitahara-kun..." Kita bit her lower lip and handed the Book of Answers to the secretary—the senior student beside her. "Matsusaka-senpai, you ask the question."
"Huh?"
Matsusaka was startled, a look of nervousness appearing on her face:
"I don't know how..."
"Don't worry," Kitahara said from the side. "You don't need any special abilities; even an ordinary person can ask questions."
Matsusaka still looked somewhat apprehensive: "What if I break the book?"
Kita blurted out:
"Then, of course, you'd have to pay for it with your body."
"..."
Kitahara looked over, speechless. You really have picked up bad habits from that scumbag Ryo, haven't you?
"Ahem, I was just joking." Seeing Matsusaka's face rapidly turn red, Kita hurriedly waved her hands. "The book isn't that fragile, Matsusaka-senpai, so don't worry. Right now, figuring out Reiko-chan's situation is the most important thing!"
"...I understand."
Matsusaka took a deep breath, her expression quickly turning serious. She solemnly took the Book of Answers in both hands and, under Kita's guidance, began to ask the question.
Rustle, rustle.
The Book of Answers flipped its pages rapidly, moving on its own without any wind.
Before long, text quietly emerged on the blank page:
[Current Status: Alive]
"Thank goodness..."
Upon seeing the answer provided in the book, Matsusaka finally let out a breath of relief; the massive weight that had been crushing her chest seemed to lift all at once. In her excitement, however, her grip faltered, and the "Book of Answers" slipped from her hands, hitting the floor with a clatter.
(Oh no!)
Her heart leapt into her throat.
(What if it broke from the fall?)
(It's such a precious item—if I accidentally ruined it, there's no way I could afford to replace it... Would I really have to pay it off with my body?)
"I'm sorry..."
Matsusaka apologized hurriedly, looking anxious.
"It's fine; you don't need to worry, Matsusaka-senpai." Kitahara bent down to pick up the book, his tone casual. "It's been dropped a few times before, but it's completely fine."
After a quick check to ensure the book was undamaged, he casually slipped it into his bag and said:
"Let's go. We're heading to the student council office."
"..."
The three of them left the classroom and, led by Matsusaka, headed straight for the student council office.
A short while later.
"We're here."
Matsusaka stopped and lowered her voice, looking nervous.
"Kitahara-kun, what do we do now?"
Kitahara answered decisively:
"We just walk right in."
"Huh?" Matsusaka blinked, a look of hesitation crossing her face as she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Um... don't we need to come up with a strategy first?"
"A strategy devised out of thin air is nothing more than empty theory—it's meaningless."
Kitahara said calmly:
"As it stands, the 'Imposter Reiko' inside the office doesn't seem to intend on revealing her true identity yet, so walking straight in shouldn't be a problem."
Matsusaka apologized nervously, "I'm sorry; I misunderstood you, Kitahara-kun."
"You don't have to keep apologizing, Matsusaka-senpai. Kitahara-kun wouldn't get mad over something so small," Kita whispered. "Let's just go inside for now."
"Right."
Matsusaka took a deep breath and nervously pushed open the door to the office. "...Matsusaka-senpai, you're back?"
Reiko in glasses standing by the window tilted her head to look over. It was a cute gesture, yet paired with that completely expressionless face, it created an inexplicable sense of unease.
"I'm back…"
With Kitahara standing right behind her, Matsusaka wasn't as flustered as she might have otherwise been:
"Reiko, you kept urging me to come back—is something the matter?"
Reiko in glasses remained expressionless: "There is something very important I want to discuss with you in private, Matsusaka-senpai."
Matsusaka bit her lower lip: "You can say it right now, Reiko."
Reiko's voice was stiff: "No, it has to be in private."
"..."
In private?
If she agreed to be alone with her, she might just get gobbled up in a single bite.
Naturally, Matsusaka didn't dare agree; she could only look up and cast a pleading glance at Kitahara.
Kitahara narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the 'doppelgänger' Reiko standing before them.
Since acquiring [Supernatural Vision], he could usually see through ordinary anomalies and monsters at a glance. Yet, right now, Reiko looked completely normal—proof that the doppelgänger's disguise capabilities were formidable.
However…
"Appearances can be faked, but there are things that don't exist—and those cannot be faked."
Kitahara silently activated his ability, [Health Bar].
As his eyes grew slightly warm, health bars materialized above the heads of the people in the office.
Matsusaka's health bar was incredibly short, showing only nine HP—well below the level of an ordinary person. Kita's bar was slightly longer, at fifteen HP; her biological level had evolved after consuming the Eden Fruit. In contrast, Reiko—the seemingly ordinary Reiko—had a staggering fifty HP.
Without a doubt, that thing was definitely not human. "Kita-san, you two step outside for a moment." The Reiko-impostor shifted her gaze to Kitahara and Kita, issuing the dismissal with a blank expression. "I have something to discuss with Matsusaka-senpai in private."
"Don't call me by my first name!"
Kita couldn't help but interrupt; thinking of her friend whose fate remained unknown, she demanded:
"What have you done to Reiko-chan?"
The Reiko-impostor tilted her head in confusion. "I don't know what Kita-san is talking about..."
"Liar! You aren't the real Reiko-chan!"
After shouting this, Kita immediately ducked behind Kitahara.
Although the Reiko before them matched her friend perfectly in appearance, height, and voice, that cold, indifferent expression was deeply unsettling—enough to make anyone feel inexplicably panicked.
"..."
The air suddenly went still.
The expression on the Reiko-impostor's face grew even more rigid, like a true doll; her eyes neither shifted nor blinked as she stared unblinkingly at the three of them.
"Kitahara-kun, what do we do now?"
Kita's voice was tense.
"It looks like communication failed."
"Do you know why they used torture to extract confessions in ancient times?" Kitahara asked as he took off his school blazer and handed it to Kita. "Because violence is the most effective way to get the truth."
So, she wasn't going to say anything, huh?
Throw a punch first, then ask all the questions while she's reeling.
Thud, thud, thud.
Kitahara undid the top button of his shirt and strode toward the Reiko-impostor.
The distance between them closed rapidly. Once within striking range, Kitahara threw a punch without a moment's hesitation; having confirmed the entity's abnormal nature, he felt no psychological burden about using force.
Faced with Kitahara's heavy blow, the previously expressionless Reiko-impostor hesitated for two seconds before forcing a blatantly fake look of fear onto her face:
"Please don't hurt me..."
BOOM!
Kitahara didn't hesitate in the slightest; his fist connected squarely with the Reiko-impostor's abdomen, sending her flying backward.
Bolstered by his exorcist constitution, the punch dealt not only physical damage but spiritual damage as well; Kitahara had even chosen to add a few points of "True Damage," making the blow devastatingly powerful. Hiss!
A sharp, serpentine hiss suddenly pierced the air. Sensing danger, the Reiko-impostor finally shed her disguise: the corners of her mouth tore open downwards, her eyes shifted into crimson slits, and snake-like scales sprouted across her skin. Dropping to all fours like a wild beast, she instantly launched herself off the ground, pouncing straight at Kitahara.
The impostor moved with blinding speed—so fast that Matsusaka could barely track her movements with her eyes. Seeing Kitahara standing motionless, her heart leapt into her throat, and she couldn't help but tense up.
The next second.
Boom!
Accompanied by a low, thunderous roar, the impostor—who had been mid-leap—was sent flying backward even faster than she had lunged. She slammed into the wall with a heavy crash, crushing most of the decorative balloons pinned there.
Kitahara had once again imbued his punch with "True Damage," nearly killing the impostor girl outright. After rolling across the floor seven or eight times, the Reiko-impostor lost all traces of her earlier frenzy; her crimson slit pupils reverted to normal, the scales on her body rapidly retracted, and her ferocious aura was utterly shattered.
Kitahara strode forward, his expression unchanged. Before he could even make another move, the impostor Reiko was already cowering, clutching her head and curling into a defensive ball.
"It—it hurts... Kitahara-kun, please don't hit me anymore... sob..."
"Impostors are terrifying," Kita's nervous voice rang out. "It's actually managed to disguise itself to look exactly like Reiko-chan now."
"Kita-chan, I am Reiko! I'm not an impostor!"
Reiko with glasses shouted hurriedly:
"That monster is inside my body!"
"Huh?"
Kitahara stopped and looked down at the imposter Reiko. To his surprise, he noticed that the health bar hovering above her head had shrunk significantly; she was down to a mere five points of health—exactly half of her total bar.
"Why are there two health bars?"
Kitahara's mind raced, and a possibility quickly occurred to him. "The girl right in front of me is indeed human; the Imposter Reiko was terrified into hiding inside her body, which is why the human Reiko's health bar has appeared?"
"So, [Imposters] aren't just humanoid anomalies, but a far more unique kind of entity?"