Tokyo Psychic

Perhaps this pride, born from her beauty and talent, is her only and most precious possession.

"Ms. Momoka?" The sensation of contact from behind startled Momoka Kawara, causing her to sit up straight.

She turned her head and saw that Akira Kurishi had taken off her yukata and draped it over her shoulders.

“Oh, you’re awake,” Akira Kurusu said with a smile. “You suddenly fell asleep on the table and said a lot of strange things.”

"I... what did I say?" Momoka Kawara asked, somewhat embarrassed.

"You said you wanted to date me."

"Impossible!" Kawara Momoka felt a flush on her face, unsure whether it was the aftereffects of the alcohol or the shyness she thought was almost gone.

Her cheeks were indeed rosy, like the color of rouge.

Akira Kurishi lazily raised the glass in front of her and drank it all in one gulp.

Kawara Momoka watched his actions, hesitant to speak. She wanted to say, "Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol," and she also wanted to explain the previous topic, but the words that came out of her mouth were stammered into almost pleading words, "Can...can you please stop bothering me?"

"Ok?"

"I...we..." Momoka Kawara looked at Akira Kurusu sitting in the lamplight, her figure seemingly glowing, and said with great difficulty, "It's not appropriate."

“But I like Kawara no Momoka.” Akira Kurusu told her without any hesitation.

Momoka Kawahara shook her head, "Don't joke around at a time like this."

Her eyes dimmed slightly. "Although I've never been in a relationship, I at least know what it's like to truly like someone."

Akira Kurusu looked at Momoka Kawaharaki with some surprise. "There's such a saying?"

"You just think that dating a professional female singer who is older and prettier than you is something to brag about among your peers," Momoka Kawara said with a helpless smile. "After all, Amamiya is probably the type who likes girls younger than him, right?"

"That's slander! My favorite kind of girl is a cool, calm, and composed woman like Momoka, preferably a mature woman with a larger bust."

Momoka Kawaharaki was amused by Akira Kurusu, "Really...?"

"Absolutely true." Lai Xixiao felt inexplicably guilty.

This feeling of guilt intensified, especially after considering what her velvet assistant actually looked like.

Suddenly, Akira looked up at the empty spot in the corner of the tatami mat. It seemed that Ravenda was really sitting there, taking a small sip of a cup of black tea, and then responding to the contractor's gaze with an unconditional smile of doting affection.

So it's clear that this isn't an illusion.

The phantom thief could only smile awkwardly at the spot where Ravenda had just disappeared. The girl's small hand pressed on his wrist, slowly pulling it up and pointing to the location of Kawara Momoka.

The next instant, this interference from the level of consciousness vanished without a trace.

Akira Kurusu naturally grasped Momoka Kawara's right hand, which was damp with sweat.

Kawahara Momoka was somewhat taken aback to find that, unlike any other man's approach she had ever encountered, she felt absolutely no aversion towards Kurusu Akira.

She just sighed and made a gesture to pull her hand back, "Although I can understand all sorts of romantic fantasies that teenage boys have, I'm really not suitable to be your girlfriend."

“But I do like Ms. Momoka,” Akira Kurusu suddenly said.

"Compared to a woman like me who wastes time and life doing several part-time jobs every day, Miss Anwa, Miss Wakaba, or Shoko are all more suitable choices for you to date, right? Oh... I almost forgot, you've already made your move on them. If all else fails, even Nina, Nijika, or even Ryo could be your next target."

“I said…” Akira Kurusu suddenly leaned forward, placing her hands on Momoka Kawara’s thighs, her eyes fixed intently on those light gray eyes, “I like Momoka-san.”

"Ah..." Momoka Kawara's mouth dropped open, and her gaze suddenly began to dart away. "This is going to be difficult."

She bit her lip so hard it almost bled, and then she said, "There's nothing about me that you should like."

"Does Miss Taoxiang know why I like Xiangzi?"

"Appreciate further details."

"Because Xiangzi is a 'phantom thief of the soul,' she has many elements of a 'phantom thief'... I have always been a huge fan of phantom thief elements, and I have also fantasized about becoming a phantom thief who can soar freely between skyscrapers."

Akira Kurusu raised her hand and cupped Momoka Kawaragi's burning face. "And in my eyes, Momoka-san is probably like a diamond buried in the mud. The way she is willing to immerse herself in the mud of mediocrity and loneliness for the sake of the purity of her dreams is actually very attractive. As someone who admires the culture of phantom thieves, I simply cannot resist Momoka-san's charm."

Kawara Momoka felt as if flames were burning where Kurusu Akira's hand was covering her. She wanted to resist, but silently gave up struggling under Kurusu Akira's undeniable gaze.

Perhaps it was because she could no longer bear loneliness, or perhaps it was because she truly longed to be able to lean on someone like any other girl, even if that leaning was merely a fleeting moment on a foolish night, a chance embrace...

Kawahara Momoka asked a question as if possessed.

Will they agree?

As soon as she finished speaking, Kawara Momoka was pushed down onto the tatami mat.

Faced with Akira Kurusu's silence, she could only smile bitterly and say, "I really regret agreeing to stay with you guys for the training camp."

Then, having probably found a reason to frame her for being drunk, Momoka Kawahara closed her eyes and tacitly allowed Akira Kurusu to do as she pleased.

Then, the next moment, Qingyue's phone rang suddenly in the room.

Akira Kurusu had just slipped her hand under Momoka Kawaharaki's T-shirt when she pulled it back and answered the phone, "Hello, what's up?"

At such close range, Momoka Kawahara could clearly hear the voices of two girls coming from the phone at the same time.

"The hot spring in the courtyard of the room is open, and I am urging Xiangzi to take off his clothes."

"Xiao Mu, let me out!"

Akira Kurusu stood up. "What do you mean by making a special phone call?"

"Together." Wakaba Mutsu's short, trembling voice came through the receiver.

"Mumu! What are you trying to do?!" Toyokawa Shoko's angry scream could be heard in the background. "That kind of thing should be done after marriage..." Her words were cut off abruptly, and only the sound of a heavy object falling into the water could be heard.

Soon, Ruoye Mu returned to her phone. "It's done."

Akira Kurusu could already imagine what kind of erotic scene was unfolding on the other end of the phone just by listening to the voice. She felt a little hot on the tip of her nose, so she prepared to leave Momoka Kawara's room without any hesitation. "Sorry, my girlfriend is urging me to go to the hot spring."

Then he lectured Wakaba Mutsu, "We still can't let things get too out of hand. Shoko is very sensitive."

“It’s okay,” said Mutsuya Wakaba. “Actually, Shoko is enjoying it.”

"How could you describe me like a 'masochist'?!" Toyokawa Shoko's exasperated voice came from the background again.

"After all... Xiangzi is the type who immediately becomes obedient if someone treats him with the slightest force."

"Metis! Get back here!" Toyokawa Shoko looked like she was really about to cry.

"Hey, no! I finally get a chance to chat with the guy I like." Mortis loved teasing Toyokawa Shoko, and she muttered on the phone, "Ren~ are you listening?"

"You said."

"I've told Xiaomu so many times, you're my absolute favorite person!"

“I know.” Lai Xixiao pushed open the door and walked into the empty corridor.

With a voice full of gratitude and adoration, Metis said, "It's different... It's because of you that I can truly exist."

Even though we were on the phone, I could almost see a bright and happy smile on her face. "You are the only reason I exist!"

"A girl who exists only for me"—is this such a romantic and unfair concept?

Akira quickened her pace as she walked toward her room. "Okay, then I like Metacritic the most too."

"Huh? They added an extra 'most'? How cunning!" Metath exclaimed, not to be outdone. "Then I'll just say I like Lotus the most... the most, the most, the most!"

......

Kawara Momoka sat up straight and looked at the closed door.

As an adult, she understands how to examine emotional issues better than those young girls whose minds are full of naive romantic fantasies.

Rather, in the adult world, relationships often only last if "each party gets what they need."

Can Ren Amamiya and I last?

Kawara Momoka pondered for a long time.

Suddenly I felt a bit thirsty and wanted to stand up to get a glass of water.

At that moment, she noticed a wallet that had been stuffed with 10,000 yen notes fall from her arms to the floor.

The wallet was warmed by the alternating body heat of the two people.

Kawaraki Momoka bent down to pick up the wallet, instinctively trying to count the amount inside, but when she opened it, she saw a note tucked inside. The note, written in scribbled handwriting, read, "Two million yen lent to Kawaraki Momoka. Repayment date: indefinite. Interest: 0."

Finally, a faint murmur drifted through the silent room.

"Wouldn't that mean... I'd be completely kept by that guy?"

She felt her heart beating very fast.

...Not only do I not feel disgust or anger, but I also feel a little secretly pleased.

I'm hopeless.

Kawara Momoka looked at the tightly closed door, feeling melancholy in her heart.

......

The sulfurous heat condensed into water droplets on her eyelashes. Toyokawa Shoko curled up her knees and sank deeper into the pool, the stone walls scalding from the hot spring water. Suddenly, Wakaba Mutsumi's wet hair brushed against the back of her neck, startling her so much she almost choked.

"Don't move." Akira Kurusu reached out and grabbed Shoko Toyokawa's wrist, pulling her slightly out of the water.

The girl quickly grabbed a floating tray from the side and tried to use it as a shield in front of her.

Suddenly, ripples spread across the water like sand dunes. Wakaba Muku silently swam closer, her knees touching Kurusu Akira's thighs beneath the hot spring. Then, as if seeking a foothold, she hugged Kurusu Akira's shoulders, kneeling in his arms and completely shielding him from Toyokawa Shoko.

Beneath her damp bangs, her light golden pupils resembled amber immersed in spring water.

She gazed into Akira's eyes, her face blooming with a bright, spring-like smile, and then, disregarding the barriers between men and women, she tightly embraced the boy she liked best.

“So it’s Motis…” Akira Kurusu reached out and stroked the girl’s fair and smooth back.

"Actually, it was Xiao Mu just now, but she was too shy, so she hid."

Shoko Toyokawa finally couldn't take it anymore and stood up from the water with a splash, her long, wet hair wrapped around her waist like seaweed.

"Let me out!"

She said aggressively.

Then, the next moment, belatedly realizing her current state, the girl suddenly sat back down at the bottom of the water. Only when she touched the smooth stone wall and the steps that supported her did she hug her chest with tears in her eyes, completely losing her previous haughty demeanor.

"Xiangzi, don't spoil the fun. It's a rare opportunity for us all to soak in a hot spring together." Motis chuckled and buried her face in the crook of Kurusu Akira's neck, her muffled laughter echoing in his skull.

At this moment, Akira Kurusu could clearly feel the softness and delicacy of the girl in various parts of her body.

After she finished speaking, Motis suddenly leaned closer and pressed her forehead against Akira's. The tip of her nose touched something that was either hot spring water or something else, and the salty taste spread between Akira's lips.

Akira played with the mischievous girl for a while, then his gaze moved past her shoulders, which were marked with red welts from the bra straps, and landed on Shoko Toyokawa across from her.

Toyokawa Shoko's face turned completely red, and she felt increasingly at a loss. Her skin was flushed pink from the steam of the hot spring, and through the water, it felt as if all her privacy was being exposed to Kurusu Akira's ambiguous gaze.

She whispered, "I want to make a phone call."

The voice was too soft; even Lai Xixiao could barely hear it. "Speak louder," she said.

"I...I want to make a phone call!" Toyokawa Shoko was on the verge of crying out of embarrassment.

“You can’t get out,” Metathia turned to look at her, winking slyly. “I… I’ve already locked the door.”

"Then how are we going to go back to sleep?"

"The invincible Ren Amamiya will find a way."

All three of their phones were placed in a wicker basket in the locker room, and the locker room door had been locked from the inside by Metis—the girl had somehow managed to seal the lock.

Akira Kurusu even tapped it out of curiosity and felt as if it were frozen inside with ice.

He now held Metis's slender waist in his arms, allowing her to sit in his lap at the same height so they could look at each other. "Can you use Persona in real life?"

"Only a little bit," Mortis said modestly.

"Could you describe exactly what it feels like when using the Persona?"

"Hmm... it's just a very ordinary way of using it, but compared to the space of impressions, it's much more strenuous, and even the smallest movements are very tiring."

"Have you ever faced the fear of 'death'?" Akira Kurusu asked Mortis.

Motis immediately fell silent.

Akira Kurusu hugged the girl in her arms again, and she immediately struggled to escape.

Just as Akira thought she was going to run away and let go of her hands, Metas bumped into Akira's chin, then stood up and hugged his head, as if to vent some kind of fear, and rudely and awkwardly lowered her pearly face.

After about half a minute, Ruo Yemu suddenly blushed and took a few steps back. Her expression had clearly changed to indifferent reluctance, as if she was arguing with another voice in her heart. Then she brushed away the strands of hair that were messy and stuck to the corners of her mouth due to the violent movement, and gathered her damp sideburns below her earlobes, like a light and gentle stroke drawn with the tip of a sheep's hair brush.

Although his expression wasn't obvious, it was clear that Wakaba Mutsu was suppressing his shyness.