"?"
Hayashi was surprised to receive a call from Yukino late at night, thinking she might be in danger.
Subconsciously, his Super Perception activated.
Hayashi saw Yukino in the restaurant...—a Yukino with a tear mole near her eye.
Yukino has a tear mole?
Realizing something was wrong, Hayashi immediately hurried to the restaurant where she was.
"Hello, sir!"
"I'm here to find someone."
Led by the beautiful waitress at the entrance, Hayashi arrived at Yukino's location, but his steps paused briefly along the way.
"Sir?"
The beautiful waitress noticed the change in pace behind her and turned around, looking puzzled.
"It's nothing... Thank you; I've already found the person I was looking for."
Hayashi shook his head at the beautiful waitress and spoke politely.
"It's my pleasure to serve you."
The beautiful waitress offered a sincere smile and then turned to leave, though before turning away, her gaze couldn't help but linger for a moment on the muscles outlined beneath Hayashi's thin shirt.
'Those muscles, that physique! Too bad he's not my boyfriend.
Is he here to find someone? Is he looking for that black-haired girl? Ugh, I'm so jealous!
Hmph~ I wish she would just die! Ah, what am I thinking? When did I become so wicked?'
Setting aside the thoughts of the beautiful waitress that even startled herself.
On the other side, Hayashi had roughly confirmed Yukino's situation.
After all, the tear mole near Yukinoshita's eye was highly recognizable at this moment.
That terrifying charm ability constantly stirred up the possessiveness in Hayashi's heart... unless Yukino had used Heroic Spirit Possession to gain the tear mole of that poor Lancer—Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.
Then, in Hayashi's memory, the only other person with such a charming tear mole was that famous horror character created by Master Junji Ito.
—Kawakami Tomie.
A woman who cannot be killed, the embodiment of desire.
'This is trouble!'
'When did Yukino get involved with her?
She clearly didn't have a tear mole near her eye during the day. '
Sighing internally, Hayashi quickened his pace but did not immediately expose Tomie's identity.
After all, given Yukino's current situation, she was clearly being parasitized by Tomie.
Considering Tomie's horror, under these circumstances, Yukino was already beyond saving at this moment.
Because of this, Hayashi was no longer in a hurry. He was even a little curious about how long he himself could resist Tomie's terrifying charm.
He wanted to test just how soft his weakness truly was.
"Yukino? You called me here..."
Hayashi, pretending not to have noticed anything, called out to Yukino in confusion.
"Sorry, I twisted my ankle. Could you take me home?"
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. 'Yukino's' cool, pretty face carried a hint of vulnerability, and her eyes looked toward Hayashi as if they could speak.
"!"
Alright, confirmed. Although the 'Yukino' in front of him still possessed a cool temperament, she was definitely not Yukino.
That Yukino, while she would accept help from others, would absolutely not call him this late at night to seek assistance.
Especially not just because she twisted her ankle.
So...
'The person who just called me must have been the real Yukino!
And this one now must be Yukino controlled by Tomie. What does she want?'
Thinking of this, and based on Hayashi's understanding of Tomie's vicious personality... although he didn't know why this creature had occupied Yukino's body, she must be trying to charm him now, right?
'Using Yukino's body to charm me? Did she take a liking to me? Or does she think Yukino likes me and wants to steal me away?'
Hayashi couldn't quite determine Tomie's goal, as this creature was fundamentally the personification of desire, jealousy, and madness.
Nothing she did would be strange.
"Hayashi~?"
Seemingly surprised that Hayashi hadn't greedily reached for her hand immediately, a hint of confusion flashed deep within 'Yukino's' eyes. She called out with a seductive coyness mixed into her cool tone.
"Mhm, I'll help you!"
Curious about what this 'Yukino' intended to do, Hayashi placed one hand on her shoulder, while the other unceremoniously rested on the girl's slender, easily grasped waist.
If it were the real Yukino, Hayashi naturally wouldn't be so abrupt; Yukino would definitely freak out.
But when dealing with Tomie, Hayashi didn't know the meaning of politeness.
'Yukino,' however, was very satisfied with Hayashi's abruptness! She had thought her charm had failed because of his earlier hesitation!
But now it seems all men are the same; they only deserve to be dogs beneath her feet.
'Men are all the same, don't you think so, Miss Yukinoshita Yukino!'
In her mind, Tomie, who was completely controlling Yukino's body, spoke to a certain consciousness.
'Don't let me find an opportunity!'
Yukino's voice, as chilling as the Nine Netherwinds, rang out from the depths of her heart. Softness? Pity? None of that existed!
Only bone-piercing coldness.
However, no matter how cold Yukino's voice was, at this moment it only provoked Tomie's unrestrained, flirtatious laughter.
'Tch...~ You're angry. Seriously, I looked at your memories. If you had found out earlier, you really could have frozen me to death, but hmph hmph... now everything about you belongs to me. Hayashi is handsome and capable, especially his body. He saved you; you like him, right? Don't deny it; I've seen all your memories! Oh, and that girl named Yuuki Asuna is the same way~!
Hehe~ Now watch how I make him fall head over heels for me! Don't blink, Yukinoshita~~!'
'...'
Yukino wanted to refute Tomie, to deny her claims, but the words were suppressed by Tomie's declaration that she had seen all her memories.
She even started to doubt herself. Did she really like Hayashi?
Having never been in love and never having particularly anticipated it, she couldn't quite figure it out.
But that wasn't important. What filled her heart now was anger—anger at Tomie for trying to steal her life and pry through her memories.
But this anger was tinged with powerlessness.
Finally...
'Don't hurt him...'
Yukino said weakly.
Just then, she couldn't help but remember: didn't Hayashi have precognition ability? The scenes of his brilliant calculations while clearing the zoo rule oddity were still vivid in her mind.
Perhaps he already knew about her situation.
Perhaps he had already found a way to save her?
'How is that possible? We've merged into one. Oh, no, you're almost becoming me. How can he save you?
What a dreamer, Miss Second Daughter Yukinoshita. And even if he knows, so what? No man can resist my charm~
Miss Second Daughter Yukinoshita~ just watch him become my dog. When I get tired of him, maybe I'll let you out so you can play with him!'
Tomie's confident and arrogant laughter rang out. She mocked Yukino, believing victory was firmly in her grasp.
But outwardly, she still put on a seven-tenths imitation of Yukino, leaning into Hayashi's embrace while pretending to limp.
Hayashi didn't know about the conversation she and Yukino were having internally.
Instead, a pair of angry eyes caught his attention.
It was the male waiter who had been serving 'Yukino' since earlier.
He was now glaring at him with a face full of anger and jealousy.
He had already paid for 'Yukino's' meal on credit, only to find the goddess he adored now nestled in another man's arms.
How could he not be angry? How could he not be jealous!
Gradually, his anger even transformed into killing intent.
...
Frowning, Hayashi turned his head to look at him. This was a poor soul captured by Tomie's beauty.
He was pitiful, but his killing intent was too blatant.
In response, Hayashi's gaze slightly sharpened.
In the silent confrontation, the waiter felt as if he wasn't looking at a person but staring into a massive sun suspended high in the sky.
And it was the kind of Black Sun that was about to swallow the Earth! Too terrifying and dazzling to look at directly.
Instinctively lowering his head for survival, he suddenly felt as if he had turned into a rabbit, a goat waiting to be slaughtered, or a mere lump of blood!
Fear, endless fear, permeated his mind. Trembling, he withdrew his gaze, daring not to look into Hayashi's eyes again.
He could only watch Hayashi supporting 'Yukino' as they walked away.
His desire lingered... and he became somewhat dazed.
As if he had lost his soul.
"What's wrong?"
When other employees called out to him, he didn't respond at all, like an empty shell.