Mind reading

Miku and Keshita sat on the wooden floor in front of the Buddha, holding hands. If it weren't for the frightened expressions on their faces, one would have thought they were getting married and Genshin was a priest.

"T-Tamiya, what was that?"

"I don't know. Did you see it too?"

Keshita looked at the beads, making them the prime suspects in what happened, as stupid as it sounded. He looked askance at Genshin, who was watching them.

"Sun Guardians. Help them. Follow the ringing of the bell."

Tamiya read the monk's thoughts for a moment, stood up and bowed. Still holding Aoki's hand, he left the temple in a hurry with her.

At the exit, the 500 Buddha statues no longer seemed so peaceful and burned through with their piercing stone gazes.

"T-Tamiya… it hurts!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

Keshita let go of Miku's hand and they stopped on the street next to the temple.

"I understand that something extremely unusual happened, but couldn't we discuss it first?"

"Just not there."

"?"

"These beads… or rather, Genshin himself."

"What about them? Do you think it's because of them?"

"I'm not sure. But I got into Genshin's mind for a second… it seems like he's not on our side."

"What? A spy or something? And why would he mix our memories? And how did he do it… it was probably the smoke from the incense. It probably contained a hallucinogen."

"I think so too. There were people I knew in yours. Also, for a moment, it seemed to me that there were people in Genshin's memory too. I couldn't penetrate your brains, so this is all the effect of some substance on our own subconscious."

"I-I see… so it's just a temporary clouding. In any case, we can't rule out the effect of SNH. To find out for sure, we need to continue the experiment. I'll discuss everything with the professor for now."

The guys were excitedly discussing their first incredible experience, bordering on delirium, and, in order not to attract additional attention, they walked further along the narrow streets of Meguro. When they met, Miku gave Keshita TWS headphones to record his vital signs, as well as to maintain contact in case of an emergency. Thanks to them, the team in the lab followed the experiment live.

"While the data is being analyzed, we can take a break for a bit. So you spoke to Buddha?"

"Yes. Buddha said that I don't know myself and what I want. And that the world can't be fixed. And then the monsters showed up and I panicked.”

"Genshin said that something is bothering you a lot. Maybe you need to deal with some internal issues to move forward? Otherwise, how will you gain control over your own body?"

"Do you think that's how it works?"

"Who would know. This is the frontier of biological science. What is beyond it - we do not yet know. Evolution in a day instead of millions of years? Even with outside intervention, I can not imagine it."

“This Sun is killing me. My brain is melting.”

Miku reached into the side compartment of her backpack and pulled out some water, poking it at Keshita.

“Exactly, I forgot that the body needs liquid. It's warm!”

“Well, I'm sorry, I didn't take the refrigerator with me.”

“Besides, she's ordinary… I need sugar for my brain.”

Keshita looked up and saw a 24-hour convenience store nearby. level”. Miku was also hot due to the abundance of equipment, so she easily agreed.

The cool breeze from the air conditioner was pleasantly refreshing.

Keshita immediately headed towards the soda fridge, Miku followed him, looking around.

"Here's my salvation!” Keshita happily announced, reaching for a purple DuDo can. ”You want some ?"

“No."

"You’ll regret it!”

Miku was too exhausted to argue, so she agreed. As she headed to the cash register, Keshita accidentally bumped into a tall man in a leather jacket. The can fell to the floor with a loud clang.

“Oh, sorry.” Keshita both bowed in apology and reached for the can.

"What a little bastard! I almost dropped the gun!” Suddenly, someone's voice sounded in Keshita's head.

"Eh?"

Keshita's mind sounded again.

Keshita stood up sheepishly and turned to Miku, pretending to choose chips on the next shelf. The stranger calmed down and went behind another shelf.

"How clumsy of you. Will she foam up now? And I don't think chips are a good choice right now. Did you know that…”

"What? No, it's gas-free.” Keshita replied, moving closer to Miku, whispering in his ear.” I think I just heard that big guy's thoughts. He's got a gun!"

"Uh?"

Keshita covered Miku's mouth with his hand so that the stranger would not hear her. When the girl blushed with embarrassment, Tamiya removed his hand.

"Sorry, I don't want him to understand anything."

"Even if so, what are we going to do?"

Between the shelves, Keshita noticed a police patrol on the street.

"If we go out now, he might suspect something or start acting… If only there was some way to give them a signal without them noticing…"

Keshita, who was staring at him. As if he suspected something, he called his partner into the store. Tamiya was scared for a moment and hid behind a shelf.

"The police are coming!” Keshita suddenly said, turning to Miku.

Miku staggered back from the sudden attack and hit a can of cola on the top shelf. The soda hit the tile with a loud thud, exploded, and flew with foam towards the cash register. The stranger turned around at the unexpected sound, taking out his gun at that moment.

The can hit him square in the forehead with such force that he lost his balance and dropped his gun as police entered the store.

After the criminal was detained, the guys paid for the soda with chocolate and left the store. Walking along a busy street, they decided to go into an alley.

“I-It's a coincidence, right?” Miku. ”Mind reading is unscientific!”

"But this is not the first time. And what worries me more is that the police came immediately when I wanted them to!"

"Damn Sun Guardians! It was definitely one of them. How did they find out about our plans so quickly!?” Before Keshita could answer, a new voice was heard from somewhere nearby.

"What other Sun Guardians?” He asked.

"What are you even talking about? I was talking about mind reading…"

Keshita stopped her with an outstretched palm, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. The guy looked around and found nothing more suitable for the source than a garbage can.

"There's no one there, you're just going crazy with SNH!” Miku said decisively and quickly opened the tank. ”Wow!"

There was a tied-up man inside.

They untied him.

"Thank you! Some bandits decided to play a joke on me. I don't know what I’d have done if it weren't for you!"

Having bowed, the stranger immediately left.

“I don’t understand anything anymore, how are you… Hey, what’s wrong?”

"While we were untying him, I read his thoughts… I’ve less and less doubt that I'm really capable of this, but… At the same time, it seems like paranoid delirium. It seems he was from Mukibutsu. One of those I saw earlier at the station, who are watching us."

“Hmm, we really should be followed, but why was he tied up?"

"I'm not sure, he mentioned…"

“It stinks so much in here. I wish I could get out of here as soon as possible…”

"Agreed, let's go back."

"Um… did you just read my mind?"

“Exactly, because this way we can find out for sure why we…”

"…didn't figure it out right away? Well, apparently you don't have it under control yet and… W-what again?"

Back on the busy street, Keshita fell to the ground, clutching his head.

"Thoughts… so many thoughts! Agh, my head is going to split! A-a-a!"

Collective consciousness is very close.