In a crossover anime, do you believe that a machine spirit can defeat a fake human?

"Am I even suited to be a leading man? I'm afraid I'm only good for comedic roles." Chen Yi wanted to refuse; who has the time to enjoy being observed (and scrutinized) by others?

"It's okay, in my eyes, junior is the male lead." Kasumigaoka held the notebook, looking like a lovestruck young girl.

"..."

"Fine, whatever you say." Chen Yi shook his head, feeling a bit conflicted, and picked up the guitar bag from the corner.

Why not a gun bag? Because Chen Yi realized that bringing a gun bag back to school would be really hard to explain, so he decided to cover it up as a formality and instead use a soft guitar bag. He also modified the interior slightly to include a few small pockets for tactical gear and ammunition.

It reduces weight while still meeting tactical needs, it's really great.

As they walked out of the school gate, the two stopped in unison.

"What are your plans next, junior? If you're free, would you like to come with me on a field trip?"

"I'm going home for tutoring now, you know my grades aren't exactly great..." Chen Yi answered truthfully.

It's not that he's not doing well; he's just a little unbalanced in his studies. He's been catching up on his studies like crazy these past few days and he's almost done.

"You really fit the stereotype of international students... I'm also considered the top student in my grade, so if you ask me for help, I might as well do you a favor and tutor you, junior~" Kasumigaoka leaned closer, her face full of provocation.

"..."

"Really? Then please, senior." Chen Yi said curtly, but being kind-hearted, he still chose to give her a way out.

"Then let's not delay any longer, shall we go to your house today?"

"Going to a boy's house so eagerly doesn't seem like something a lady would do," Chen Yi wondered. Could it be that Kasumigaoka is really love-struck and can't distinguish between the suspension bridge effect and liking someone?

That won't do. Feelings based on hormones won't last. I need to find a way to persuade her.

......

"Is this my junior's house? It looks so... upscale."

Kasumigaoka, who was being thoroughly questioned about his identity downstairs, sighed with emotion.

The elevator was moving upwards, and a glass screen displayed the safety status of each area.

“The rent for this apartment is quite expensive for this area, considering the security here is practically government-level,” Chen Yi explained. He opened the door, placed his guitar case next to the sofa, and went into the kitchen. “Tea or coffee?”

"Junior, you can even make coffee?" Kasumigaoka looked over curiously.

"Yes, but the new house doesn't have any appliances, only instant coffee." Chen Yi shrugged.

"Then let's have tea... Junior, you're really excellent, you can do this and that."

"Because I don't play games or socialize, I naturally use my free time to pursue some hobbies."

I was just kidding. The most important reason is that it's good for showing off.

Chen Yi inwardly berated himself.

"The cookies we made during the club activity earlier were also delicious."

"I'm glad you like it, Kasumigaoka-senpai." Chen Yi replied casually while waiting for the kettle to boil.

"Aren't you curious why I chose you as the male lead, junior?"

"Why?" After brewing the black tea, Chen Yi picked up the cup and blew on it.

"Don't tell you."

"..." So what's the point of what you're saying? Chen Yi held the cup, remained silent for a moment, and then took a sip as if nothing had happened.

"...Actually, my novel is going to be canceled." Kasumigaoka suddenly changed the subject.

"The results for the first volume weren't good, and I'm having no inspiration for the second volume..."

"Hmm... So you came to me hoping I could offer you some help?"

"That's the idea..."

"No problem, we're friends after all." Chen Yi felt a little relieved, as long as they weren't targeting him.

It's irrational to try to persuade an irrational girl; in most cases, it's a thankless task and can easily provoke her rebellious attitude.

He wasn't completely uninterested in Kasumigaoka, after all, he was a self-proclaimed veteran of anime and manga. However, he was a serious person who wouldn't accept ambiguous or unclear feelings.

“...Thank you.” Kasumigaoka’s voice was barely audible.

"Want to stay for dinner? You should be able to get back in time, right?" Chen Yi asked, glancing at the time.

If we just do a little bit, it should still be enough time.

"No need, junior, I'll come again next time." Kasumigaoka's expression returned to normal, but his scarlet pupils concealed an imperceptible aggressiveness.

P.S.: Two chapters delivered! Please give me some monthly tickets and recommendations, meow! Love you all, meow! Please read and leave comments, meow! Love you all, meow!

Service Department: Chapter Thirty-One: The Visible Girl

"So you've joined the Service Club too?" Chen Yi glanced at Yuihama, then at Yukinoshita, who was quietly reading a book.

"Yeah, yeah, it's really fun here." Yuihama was very lively, teasing Yukinoshita one minute and Kasumigaoka the next.

"Oh right, since we're members of the same club, I'll call Chen Tongxue Xiao Chen from now on! And Aqi will be Aqi!" Yui suddenly blurted out.

"Xiao Chen sounds a bit silly." Chen Yi inexplicably got goosebumps, as if he were being watched by some being.

"Seconded, Hachiman is just too stupid." Hachiman immediately agreed to the suggestion.

"Then... Old Chen and the autistic guy?" Yui respected their opinions and then thought about it for a moment.

"...I didn't say I wouldn't accept it." Veins bulged on Hachiman's forehead, but suddenly he felt he could accept the stupid nickname he'd used earlier.

"Pfft..." Kasumigaoka couldn't help but chuckle.

"Huh? What are you laughing at, Kasumigaoka-senpai?" Yuihama looked over in confusion.

"Because the nickname 'Old Chen' is generally used in workplace and adult social interactions at Tokyo University," Yukinoshita explained to Yuihama as she closed the book.

Unfortunately, the quiet reading atmosphere was gone forever after Yui-hama, this lively character, appeared. Yukinoshita gently rubbed her forehead.

"So you two knew?" Chen Yi said in a completely flat tone.

"Huh? Is that how it is?" Hachiman was taken aback; it wasn't quite what he had learned.

So you're the only one who didn't know? Chen Yi glared at him.

"Don't worry about the details..." Hachiman picked up the stool and sat a little further away from Chen Yi.

Never mind, it's just a name.

Chen Yi returned to a Buddhist-like state.

"Um, that..."

Someone knocked on the door of the Service Department, followed by a somewhat nervous voice.

......

"You mean you feel someone is following you on your way home from school, and then you heard that the Service Club is a club that helps people fulfill their wishes, so you're seeking our help?"

"Yes, yes..." The other person sat uneasy in the service department, his eyes glancing at Chen Yi from time to time.

"The Service Club's motto is 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,' but let's leave that aside for now. Yotsuya-kun, knowing that the other party was in danger that ordinary students couldn't handle, why didn't you go to the police?" Yukinoshita frowned.

"The police probably won't care. Japanese police are the kind of group that might not even be able to rescue you in time if something happens," Hachiman sharply remarked.

Indeed, they always come to clean up the mess just when the problem is almost solved. What's the point of having Japanese police? Chen Yi wholeheartedly agreed.

However, the name Yotsuya Miko sounds familiar... Chen Yi looked her up and down, while she was openly staring at him.

Is she a character from some anime series?

"Oh dear, it's a bit impolite of you to keep staring at that girl, junior, isn't it?" Kasumigaoka felt inexplicably annoyed and spoke up to remind her.

"Sorry." Chen Yi quickly looked away.

"Then why don't you find an adult who can handle this? Where are your family members?" Yukinoshita continued to press.

“Because…” Yotsuya Miko glanced at Chen Yi, then lowered her head again.

"Because... I think Chen... is very reliable." After a long pause, Yotsuya Miko managed to come up with a vague excuse.

“…” “…” “…” Yuihama, Yukinoshita, and Kasumigaoka fell silent, unsure of what to say.

“…Let’s see how popular people become.” Hachiman said, moving his stool further away.

"......" Why is this none of my business again?

Chen Yi was confused. Did he know the other person? It seemed like anyone could recognize him. What kind of image did he have at school?

"It seems your junior is really charming, even girls come to you specifically~" For some reason, Kasumigaoka's tone sounded a little jealous.

"...So you mean you want Chen Jun to pretend to be your boyfriend to scare away that Zhihan?" Yukinoshita rubbed her temples and asked uncertainly.

That's a bit absurd of you to think that way.

“Yes…that’s it!” Yotsuya Miko’s eyes lit up.

"Uh..." This was Yuihama, who felt a little embarrassed after hearing this statement.

"..."

"Well, I should have the right to refuse, right? Besides, it's not good for your reputation..."

"I think the junior is probably worried about his reputation, afraid that people will say he's frivolous or something."

"..."

“No, I don’t think it’s necessarily about knowing Han.” Hachiman, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly interjected, offering a different perspective.

"What if it's one of those things? You know, there was just a major attack that came to light recently, which means there are quite a few of those things operating in the shadows..."

“It’s not impossible…” Yuihama chimed in.

"Huh? Didn't they say that the fake humans only start moving after sunset?" Chen Yi asked, puzzled.

Damn it, if these fake humans come out during the day, I'll probably have to live on guard for the rest of my life. I might as well find a grave and shoot myself.

“Indeed, I haven’t heard of any cases of fake people attacking during the day... So, it’s quite possible that it’s Zhihan.” Yuihama wavered again.

"So, you still hope to solve this problem through Chen Jun, right?" Yukinoshita looked at him.

"Ah...yes."

"Can you tell me why? Why do you feel that it has to be Mr. Chen?"

"..." After struggling with her inner conflict, Yotsuya Miko finally decided to confess.

......

Yotsuya Miko can see things that others cannot.

There are many 'evil spirits' in this world, whose danger is no less than that of fake people in the real world.

She had witnessed them eating, and it undoubtedly terrified her.

However, evil spirits also have significant limitations; they seem to be able to only eat people who can see them.

Therefore, Yotsuya Miko lived every day amidst their fangs, enduring fear time and time again.

"Can you see it? I can't see it..."

"You can see it."

until......

"The campus is unusually clean today. Has something happened?"

One day, Yotsuya Miko entered the school and inexplicably found the school much more pleasing to the eye.

She can no longer see evil spirits.

She thought her eyes were healed and she would no longer have to live in fear every day.

Until she saw that new classmate.

—The international student from the University of Tokyo, whose name is Chen Yi.

The focus wasn't on him, but on the blurry yet clear figure following him.

Everyone seemed to ignore the humanoid phantom, which made her wary.

Sure enough, after school, on my way home, those evil spirits appeared as usual.