Chapter 59: However, Their Daily Life Is Never Changing.
—OoOoO—
Summer camp had ended. A short vacation meant to help the young sorcerers forget the complexities of the world of jujutsu. For three days and two nights, they returned to being ordinary people, without the need for excessive thought or constant vigilance. They returned to nature, to where they came from, and interacted with the young generations they had risked their lives to protect.
Although jargon like "Jujutsu sorcerers aren’t superheroes upholding justice" was often echoed by them, it didn’t mean that jujutsu sorcerers were heartless monsters. Of course, there were many evil sorcerers out there, and there were also opportunists who aimed to exploit civilians. However, many do their work with sincere intentions.
Therefore, rather than revealing their arrogance and moral compass, the slogan was simply a coping mechanism to maintain their steadfastness when they failed to save someone. After all, they were human beings before they became jujutsu sorcerers. They were children who might have dreamed of becoming presidents, doctors, athletes, chefs, or other wonderful things before they discovered this cursed world.
Therefore, with the summer camp that Hiratsuka initiated, she not only wanted to give these young sorcerers a break, but also to show them the world they had protected with their lives in line. Though every agreement had a price to pay.
Taking three days off didn’t mean that work dynamics would also come to a halt. Typically, the absence of the two most powerful sorcerers in Chiba wouldn't have a significant impact, as Hiratsuka had ensured that the prefecture wouldn't experience any malfunctions or regional disputes even if she stayed out for a few days. However, exorcism was a very unpredictable profession. Sometimes they could relax due to the lack of cases, but it wasn’t uncommon for major crises to arise that couldn't be handled without the strongest leaders stepping in.
"Sensei, you're already above the cursed spirits. However, they're hidden quite deep underground," a girl said through an earbud connected to the intercom.
Isshiki Iroha, a first-year student, was undergoing a special assistant manager education program initiated by Hiratsuka. Thanks to that program, she was the first sorcerer to receive dual student status, first as a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High and second as a student at Sobu High undercover. Therefore, during midweek, she had to travel to Chiba to accompany Hiratsuka at all times, and on weekends, she returned to Tokyo to submit activity reports to the principal.
However, what betrayed her expectations was that, just when she thought she could relax because she was only aiming for the assistant manager, Hiratsuka and Satoru actually pushed her even further to become a super assistant manager. Meaning, strong enough to face any problems, even if her goal wasn’t to be involved in the front lines.
“Seriously, they’re already this strong even though they’re just cursed wombs?” Hiratsuka’s voice came from the communication device, “Are Hikigaya and Miura in position yet?”
"They're right next to me now. Just waiting for your signal, we'll take action."
A sigh of relief was heard from the other side.
“Good,” Hiratsuka said calmly, “They’re the cause of the recent small earthquakes off the east coast of Chiba. Tell Hikigaya to stay alert and make sure Miura is safe.”
“Copy that.”
After Iroha's brief reply, their conversation ended as the communication line was cut off. The short-haired girl turned to look at a boy sitting cross-legged with a can of coffee in his hand, and a girl with long blonde hair standing, hugging herself to calm her nerves.
“I connected you with my telepathic abilities. So, you heard what Sensei said, right, Senpai?”
“Loud and clear,” Hachiman replied curtly.
The boy stood up and patted his pants to remove the dust. He was wearing his Jujutsu High uniform. Meanwhile, Yumiko, who didn't have any black clothes at home, was lent a calf-length black dress with a slit on the right side by Hiratsuka, along with a pair of white, seamless shorts underneath.
“Though, with Hiratsuka-sensei directly stepping in, I don’t see why I’ve to be here either.”
A sigh was heard along with a complaint that came out of his mouth.
“Well, if you’re not around, who’s going to take care of Yumiko-senpai, Senpai?” Iroha replied while puffing out her cheeks.
However, before Hachiman could respond, the blonde-haired girl voiced her concerns.
"Then, why did you bring me to such a dangerous place? I understand I need to learn to fight to protect myself, even if I don't want to become a jujutsu sorcerer. But still, isn't this level too high for me?"
Despite being dragged into the centre of the jujutsu society conflict, Yumiko wasn’t a figure who was initially built differently from Haruno and Yuuji. Both of them could be said to be quite insane in their own right. Putting aside Yuuji, who was born blessed with extraordinary physical abilities, Haruno, who was previously completely normal aside from her exceptional intelligence, at least had learned some martial arts.
Meanwhile, Yumiko possessed neither. She wasn't born with the physical strength of a monster, and her intelligence was only average. And when compared to her mentality, she was like a duck in the face of apex predators.
"I agree that this level is too high for you. Even most experienced sorcerers wouldn't necessarily be able to handle a threat of this level. That's why Hiratsuka-sensei intervened personally," Hachiman said, taking a sip of his canned coffee.
“Then, why?”
“You seem to have misunderstood, Miura,” the boy quickly retorted, which made Yumiko frown, “You’re not here to fight directly, but to accustom yourself to eliminating threats that seem more dire.”
As everyone knew, Yumiko's main problem was her mentality, which hadn't improved despite her diligent training under Hiratsuka's supervision.
“Besides, it’ll be your best chance to see that our master isn’t just a strong figure, but the second strongest jujutsu sorcerer of this era.”
Iroha spoke these words without looking at her two companions. Her gaze was fixed on the figure far ahead of them, standing majestically on a blue cube floating in the air. The fluttering of her white coat asserted her dominance under the night sky, even though her presence was kept to a minimum.
“A special-grade cursed spirit is a threat of the highest order, right? And there are two of them down there. Do you think Sensei will be okay?” Yumiko asked with genuine concern.
"Well, although it's very unusual to have two cursed wombs of that level in one place, Hiratsuka-sensei is a monster that even I’ve never won against in sparring,” Hachiman replied.
Regardless of the woman's power level, his concern over the anomaly of the cursed spirits couldn't ease his mind. Special grades earned the title "special" for several reasons, one of which was their frequency of appearance in the world. If these high-level monsters appeared too frequently, and were in the same area on top of that, it could indicate a significant shift in the world's balance.
Was it a naturally occurring phenomenon? Or was it something designed and planned by humans? With so much going on lately, it was hard to tell.
‘A thorough investigation, isolating the surrounding area, has been underway for the past two days, and no suspicious energy residues were found. I even brought Yuuji here to see if there was any reaction from Sukuna's finger, but there was no result. And it's possible they were born due to the Pacific Ocean earthquake prediction published last week.’
Hachiman took a deep breath.
'But still, this discomfort I'm feeling, am I overthinking it? Or have these recent incidents been deliberately designed to blur the lines between natural and manufactured phenomena? Are they planning something while we're all confused like this?'
“Hikio?”
Hachiman flinched slightly when he heard his name called.
“What?”
“The wrinkles on your forehead are getting worse. I wonder if you’re okay?” Yumiko asked.
The question prompted Iroha to turn and observe her senior's condition. But she simply stood there, even as curiosity flooded her mind.
"No, I'm not. Returning to work after a few days of complete rest can be really tiring. I just want this to be over, and I can go home to sleep," Hachiman replied with a slight lie.
However, he truly meant it even if it wasn't his primary concern. Like, he ended up dating Haruno. While it wasn't on his summer bingo list, he at least expected certain things after such a development. However, Haruno had to rush back to Tokyo just in time to leave the campsite to resume her work as a medic alongside Ieiri.
“You think this is tiring? Are you seriously complaining like that, Senpai?” Iroha replied in an irritated tone, “I’ve been working non-stop since summer started, you know? And even after I got a day off because Nobara was injured on a mission, I was dragged back to Chiba to monitor the sterilisation process of this area.”
Among Hiratsuka's students, Iroha was the only one not invited to the summer camp. But that wasn't because everyone had forgotten her. Instead, it was because she was officially a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High and had to participate in the school's summer activities. While it was called an official school program, it was actually just relentless work aimed at eradicating the curses that were at their peak during the summer.
Hachiman was so choked by Iroha's outrage that he couldn't even muster a single word in response. His flexible mind, which always found an excuse whenever he needed one, felt incapable of rebutting someone who was clearly suffering more than he was.
“W-well, this and that are two different things, you know?”
The boy then turned his gaze back to Hiratsuka, who happened to be preparing to do something.
"It looks like Hiratsuka-sensei is about to make her move. You'd better keep your eyes peeled for her."
Iroha snorted in annoyance as her senior tried to escape from her complaints of suffering, but she couldn't say anything as small earthquakes began to shake the surroundings.
“W-what is this?! Why suddenly?!” Yumiko screamed in panic.
However, Hachiman held her shoulder as gently as possible, trying to give the girl moral support.
"Don't be afraid and stay calm. Look ahead and never look away, and everything will be fine," the boy said.
Since when had he been able to offer such helpful words to calm someone down? Hachiman didn't even know how he acquired that ability. Much had happened since his return to Chiba a few months ago. Spending so much time each day interacting with normal people reminded him that humans were inherently fragile.
“I will try,” Yumiko replied in a trembling voice.
With her eyes half open, the blonde girl forced herself to keep staring at the figure of her teacher, who stood on the blue cube floating high in the air.
The slight earthquakes that had been felt earlier quickly intensified, as if something were trying to erupt to the surface. The ground and rocks shook violently, and cracks began to appear in various places. Soon, two giant caterpillars with large eyes and mouths burst through the surface from within, devastating the forest.
Hiratsuka looked down at the monsters with a cold, condescending gaze. She twirled her staff, causing the six rings at the end of the circle to create a loud, jingling sound. As if bait, the cursed spirits, shaped like giant caterpillars, roared loudly, reaching for Hiratsuka in the sky with their gaping mouths, revealing large, pointed teeth.
However, the black-haired woman was unfazed. Instead, she leapt toward the terrifying mouth, allowing the monster to devour her.
“What? What are you doing, Sensei?!” Yumiko jumped in surprise at the action.
Whether it was a reflex or simply because the girl cared deeply for those closest to her, her body tensed and she tried to dart toward. However, Hachiman's hand, gripping her shoulder tightly, prevented her from taking even a step.
“Calm down. She’ll be fine,” Hachiman replied in his monotone voice.
“Are you crazy?! That damned spirit clearly ate her!!”
The boy sighed softly, trying to be patient and understand the worry the girl was showing.
“I told you that she’s incredibly powerful, didn’t I? Even if there were a hundred of them, they were nothing to Hiratsuka-sensei.”
Yumiko looked unconvinced by those words, but she tried to believe and silently watched the monster devouring her teacher.
As if her worries were in vain, the cursed womb, shaped like a giant caterpillar, writhed and howled in pain like a maggot in heat. Yumiko frowned, not understanding the monster's change in behaviour. However, her question was answered. The creature's body expanded, as if something was pushing against it from within.
In less than a second, the giant caterpillar's body was destroyed, exploding into pieces with an enormous round and blue barrier, the size of which was able to rival the monster.
“Is that Hiratsuka-sensei?” Yumiko asked with her mouth agape.
Her eyes couldn't tear themselves away from the sight of a barrier that seemed to radiate its own light. At its centre was the figure of a floating black woman, her hair flowing beautifully.
Meanwhile, Hachiman snorted with a smirk.
“Told you, right?”
Yumiko was a little annoyed by the boy's response, as if her earlier worry made her look like an idiot. But more than that, her sparkling eyes showed how impressed she was with how her teacher had exterminated the cursed spirit.
"But is that a barrier? When I heard that Sensei was a sorcerer who specialised in barrier techniques, I thought she couldn't use her ability in direct combat."
Well, that was a common and perfectly normal first impression for beginners. When people hear about a sorcerer inheriting the Barrier Technique as their cursed technique, they inevitably think of and refer to Tengen as a reference.
“That’s generally true,” Hachiman replied without taking his eyes off the battlefield, “However, even if two people have the same technique, their mindset, mentality, and creativity will greatly influence how the cursed technique will develop. It’s not uncommon for two identical techniques to appear completely different because of these factors.”
“If you pay attention to the cube she used as a foothold earlier, it was actually a barrier she created, you know?” Iroha added.
“Eh? Like, seriously?”
Hachiman glanced at the blonde girl with a faint smile that no one noticed. She had indeed been studying jujutsu sorcery since then, but had never had the opportunity to see her teacher in action. Therefore, as the first student to be taken alongside Iroha, Hachiman felt proud of the admiration she showed for their master.
“Thanks to Tengen, who left behind the manual and the barrier surrounding Japan as support, sorcerers now have relatively easy access to learn derivative spells such as Domain Expansion and Curtain.”
Yumiko stared at the boy as he continued to explain.
"However, that cursed technique is like an aptitude, talent, or even a genetic trait when referring to inherited techniques. When those factors combine with a high level of creativity unbound by traditional values, you'll see Hiratsuka-sensei standing at the pinnacle."
As those words ended, the giant blue sphere-like barrier seemed to shrink rapidly. Its once-transparent walls turned a deep blue, revealing nothing inside. And before it could fully recover to the size of an adult, Hiratsuka emerged from the sphere with her staff extended forward, as if struggling to maintain its perfectly spherical shape.
Meanwhile, the remaining giant caterpillar seemed to go berserk upon seeing its comrade's body suddenly explode. With its lone eye, the size of a house and a black-red colour that leaked a blood-red liquid, the monster glared at Hiratsuka in rage.
Despite the sorcerer’s powerful presence, the cursed spirit seemed to gather its courage, though its body trembled slightly. The monster smacked its tail against the ground, causing another small earthquake to occur in the surrounding area.
However, Hiratsuka appeared unfazed by the rampage. As the creature charged at her, Hiratsuka fired a spherical barrier that had been compressed to the size of an adult human.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed through the sky, sending the cursed spirit flying backwards. But Hiratsuka's performance didn't stop there, as the middle and index fingers of her right hand joined to form a hand seal.
“Multi-layered Barrier: Ketsu.”
Along with the chanting of the spell, a transparent blue, cube-shaped barrier with three layers immediately appeared from nothingness and enclosed the cursed spirit.
“Collapse: Metsu.”
Following Hiratsuka's command, the barrier shrank rapidly, compressing and crushing the giant cursed spirit in less than a second.
Boom!
An ear-splitting explosion rang out, along with residual energy evaporating into the air as the final product of Hiratsuka's series of techniques. As a final touch, the woman created another cube barrier in the air to serve as a platform from which she could observe the entire forest and mountains from above.
In the distance, Yumiko was once again amazed at how effortlessly she had overpowered the two giant monsters. Her eyes were wide open, unconcerned by the night wind that might have picked up dust. Her mouth was equally wide open, oblivious to her idiotic appearance.
—OoOoO—
Two cursed wombs with a threat level reaching special grade were the first layer of the current problem. They were indeed the main threat. However, with the disappearance of the two strongest creatures inhabiting the mountains due to Hiratsuka's one-sided massacre, the weaker monsters began to scatter, fleeing for their lives.
“Southwest Sector, we managed to clear it.”
“The Northeast Sector has been cleared.”
"We on the South side need help. The escaped cursed spirits are only second-grade and below, but there are too many of them.”
Reports from the various magicians on standby came in one after another. All of them were Hiratsuka's men, handpicked to clean up the mess after he had finished off the big ones.
“Alright, folks. I’ve done my job, and now it’s your turn to have some fun with them,” Hiratsuka joined the conversation over the intercom.
““Yes, ma'am!””
Simultaneous screams were heard from the communication device.
However, on one side of the forest, a boy appeared unmotivated in his work. He simply ran nimbly through the trees, despite the dim light of the moon being the only source of illumination. A few metres ahead of him ran a cursed spirit, emitting an aura stronger than any of the other monsters attempting to flee the forest.
Even though the guy could have easily closed the distance between them and finished off the creature at any time, he didn't do so for a reason.
"Now, Senpai. Everything is clear. No other threats nearby, and there's no possibility of us being surrounded."
“Copy that.”
After receiving this confirmation, Hachiman was about to accelerate to increase his speed. However, before he could, he jumped a little high enough to crush a tree branch and immediately caught it, imbuing it with cursed energy. He paused for a moment and stood on another tree, his eyes briefly glancing at the tip of the branch he had roughly crushed.
'I think this much will do.'
With a small exhale, the boy immediately shot off, quickly closing the distance to the cursed spirit that was several meters in front of him.
Boom!
A loud bang rang out as Hachiman slammed into the monster from above. Despite being nearly three times his size, Hachiman could perfectly pin the creature to the ground.
“Krreegghhh!!”
The cursed spirit struggled violently to free itself. However, Hachiman immediately thrust the tree branch he had ensouled into its chest. The monster stiffened as if it had been stung by something after the sharp, rough edges at the base of the branch pierced it.
“Just doing this won’t kill you, right?” the boy muttered.
Capturing the creature without actually exorcising it was a tough challenge for Hachiman. He needed to do his best to keep the cursed spirit alive, but still immobilise it so it didn’t harm those around him.
“All done. You can come here now,” the man said through telepathically connected to him.
His attention was completely diverted by the monster beneath him, who was still trying to wriggle free, and it was really testing his patience because he wanted to finish it off right then and there and go home.
“Whatever you’re thinking, please stop it, Senpai. Or, Sensei will force us to do another assignment tomorrow.”
A shrill voice entered his eardrums, making the boy turn his head to look at his guest.
“You read my mind, Isshiki?”
“Don’t blame me, okay? Gojo-sensei said that if I could read your mind without you knowing, he would exempt me from all missions this summer.”
Hachiman's temple twitched at the mention of the man's name.
“Why me?” the boy asked with a sigh.
Iroha didn't answer the question right away. She walked over to him, her head tilted and her mouth pursed.
"Well, he said you're the strongest mental-type sorcerer of this era. If anyone tries to peek inside your head without your permission, they'll automatically fall into your illusion, or so he said."
'So, did that bastard use me as his test subject?'
Hachiman wanted to curse the man, but the intention disappeared when he realised that the girl had just been able to guess what was on his mind accurately.
“No, don’t worry,” Iroha commented, noticing the boy’s frown. “Your mind has a very complex dimension. Even I can’t penetrate past the first layer. The only time I can read your mind is when you transmit your thoughts to me through the telepathic contact I’ve previously established.”
The guy raised an eyebrow when he heard that explanation.
“Are you sure you’re not reading mine? Your explanation is oddly accurate to what I was wondering in my mind.”
“I mean, your expressions are pretty easy to read, senpai,” the short-haired girl replied with a sigh, “You don’t think you exude a mysterious aura just because you’re quiet and rarely express yourself, do you? Like, it’s creepy, you know?”
“You punk….”
Isshiki Iroha possessed a cursed technique called Telepathy. The name was derived solely from its basic function, which allowed her to communicate with others she had marked through their thoughts. However, she never considered exploring her innate talent, as her primary goal was simply to become an assistant manager. Yet, Satoru had other ideas. While he accepted the girl's wishes, he still encouraged her to unlock her full potential.
'Isshiki is a talented girl. She's a bit manipulative, like a cunning little fox, and knows what needs to be done to achieve her goals. Therefore, if she's properly guided, it's not impossible that she could become a first-grade sorcerer.'
That was what Satoru saw in the girl.
However, that wasn't all. What caught the man's attention was the hidden potential he believed the cursed technique might possess. But it was a different story to be told.
“Miura, you can come here now,” Hachiman said to get back to business.
Iroha also turned her body back, following the direction her senior was calling.
From behind the dense shade of the trees, a girl with long, blonde hair emerged and walked hesitantly. Her expression was pale, and her pupils were trembling, reflecting the pressure of fear she felt. Her hand gripped a katana tightly, hoping it would calm her anxiety. However, her heavy, ragged breathing betrayed her desire.
"Don't worry. Everything is completely under control," Hachiman said again.
Yumiko swallowed hard. Despite the heavy feeling, she forced herself to drag her feet. The pounding in her chest grew louder with each step she took closer to the monster. Eventually, her ears began to ring loudly, and her vision began to spin as she stood directly in front of the creature.
'This won't do. She has no guts. What should I do? Do I need to say something?'
Hachiman let out a soft sigh. He slowly released the pressure on the monster's back, while he put extra strength into his feet that were stomping on its hands, and took advantage of his sitting position to press deeper into the creature.
“Cursed Technique Amplification: Projection.”
Hachiman muttered the chant, making Yumiko wonder because nothing changed.
“Yo.”
The girl immediately flinched when she heard a voice behind her, along with a hand tapping her shoulder. She quickly turned around, her eyes widening at the sight.
“Hikio? How?”
A mumble escaped her lips, but then she turned to where the boy had been. He was still there, pinning down the cursed spirit.
“Huh? You didn’t disappear? Is it real?”
Yumiko was once told by Hachiman himself that his cursed technique could create illusions under various conditions. However, she never knew he could split his body in two.
“No, it’s not,” Hachiman replied, trying to explain. “That’s an advanced ability of my technique. You know that my basic ability can create illusions, but illusions are still illusions. Meanwhile, my amplification technique can project what’s in my mind into the real world. Literally, it brings the illusion to the real world”
“Doesn't that sound like overpower? Like, isn't that literally like creating new life?”
“Well, not really. It’s actually quite fragile and doesn’t have any special abilities, and it’ll disappear if it takes a few attacks,” Hachiman replied.
The boy raised his head for a moment, until finally he looked at the girl.
"You've studied shikigami, haven't you? Essentially, I developed this spell using the creation of a shikigami as a reference. However, unlike most shikigami, which have a specific form for each user, I can change it according to my mind projections."
Hachiman took a good look at the girl. The brief, light conversation seemed to bring her some inner peace. Complexity seemed to improve, as the colour returned to her face, and her breathing gradually became more natural.
“Excuse me.”
The brief words that escaped his lips made Yumiko tilt her head. However, her question was answered when she felt a firm hand touch the back of her palm.
“I don’t have any particular intention, but let’s end this for sure,” Hachiman said again.
Through his clone, the boy carefully guided Yumiko's hand to unsheath the katana.
“Wait, Hikio. I'm not ready yet!”
"The people who are after you will never wait for you to be ready. That's just how the world works," Hachiman quickly retorted.
The tension within Yumiko rose again, but the anxiety wasn’t as bad as before with the boy's hands guiding her.
“F-fine.”
"Good. Now, aim the sword at its head. Although cursed spirits have different anatomical and weaknesses from humans, and each type of curse also has a different structure, the head will always be the weakness."
The blonde girl took a deep breath and held it in her lungs. She aimed the tip of the katana at the cursed spirit's head, but her movement stopped just above it.
“Wait, do I need to imbue this sword with cursed energy?” Yumiko asked, clearly trying to cover up her lack of confidence.
However, the one who answered the question was not Hachiman, but Iroha.
“That’s my katana. So, you don’t have to do that because it’s a cursed tool.”
The sorcerer in training walked over to help her senior pin down the creature.
"Actually, it’d be better if you could imbue it with your own cursed energy. But that's not the main objective today," Hachiman added.
Just like most jujutsu sorcery training, the two subjects Hiratsuka taught Yumiko were the control of cursed energy and martial arts. However, the most important thing she wanted to highlight was her mental fortitude. Given her current condition, deploying her to the field to gain experience, even hunting low-grade cursed spirits, was highly unlikely. Therefore, other options for improving Yumiko's mental fortitude needed careful consideration.
“I understand, and sorry for causing you all trouble,” the girl replied, closing her eyes.
Memories from when, for reasons still unknown to her, she was able to see supernatural things played in her mind. The suffocating loneliness, with those around her, and even her parents, thinking she had a mental disorder. The nightmares that constantly haunted her after accidentally killing a man. The anxiety of discovering a group of people wanting to dissect her brain, and even the death threats she received. All of it drove her to near insanity and wanting to die right then and there.
However, the helping hand that Hiratsuka, Hachiman, and the others offered, the kindness they brought, was wrapped in a warmth of understanding. And more importantly, they could see what she saw, they understood her suffering, and didn’t try to take advantage of her situation.
The fear was still there. However, when she thought about it, she didn't want to betray the time, effort, hard work, and kindness of those who sincerely wanted to help her.
“But now I'm fine, and I'm gonna be fine,” the girl made up her mind as she opened her eyes.
The katana, which had previously stopped just above the monster's head, now pushed it down again. The tip of the sword touched the top of the head, and the sharp blade began to penetrate. The sensation of metal against the skull sent shivers down her spine, and the audible "crack" made her ears ache, causing the girl to wince.
“Don’t look away. Just do it slowly,” Hachiman said softly.
The clone grabbed Yumiko's hand again, helping her stab the katana downward. The deeper the blade entered the head, the more the cursed spirit's roars grew, and its struggles became more frenzied. However, Hachiman and Iroha held it firmly, ensuring the monster didn't interfere with the process.
Finally, the entire blade sank completely into the head, piercing through from top to bottom. Hachiman's clone guided Yumiko to cut all the way to the neck and slash it open, creating a gaping wound.
The cursed spirit eventually ceased its struggle, losing all strength and consciousness. Its body slowly faded, dissolving into black ash that drifted into the air.
"Like it or not, but congratulations. You're now a jujutsu sorcerer," Hachiman said.
At which point, Yumiko immediately fell down, panting for breath, as if her legs had lost strength after the adrenaline stopped giving her a boost of strength.
—OoOoO—
Early morning at Tokyo Jujutsu High, everything seemed normal, with people going about their daily activities. Granted, it wasn't a bustling place, despite its sprawling complex. In fact, it felt secluded, with only a few people visible in various corners. However, beneath the shade of the trees and the cool mountain air, one could occasionally see people dressed in black passing by, or even men and women in yukata and miko attire going about their daily chores.
At the pagoda, or main tower of Tokyo Jujutsu High, where the institution's top officials and upper echelons reside, Haruno walked with a stoic expression, with several men following her closely behind. Unlike the others, who wear grey yukata, Haruno appeared to be dressed casually in black pants and a white shirt.
“I'm here,” said the woman after entering the room.
The Audience Room, a chamber often used for exclusive meetings. The Inspector General's Office, also known as the main office in Kyoto headquarters, but the Higher-ups may occasionally gather in Tokyo to directly monitor conditions there.
"Long time no see, Yukinoshita,"
The room was dimly lit, with the only light coming from candles placed to illuminate the six traditional Japanese doors that circled the room, which hid the six top officials of the organisation. And of course, another lantern in the centre of the room for the audience.
"It's been a while, indeed. And I'm flattered that you're willing to come all the way to Tokyo just to see me," Haruno replied with a smile.
"Stop your charade. We're not here to make small talk with you."
"Is that so? What a shame, then."
“You already know why we called you,” said one with the silhouette of an old woman.
Haruno seemed to chuckle softly with her right hand on her waist while the other hung freely, and one knee slightly bent.
"About my cursed technique, isn't it? It's impressive how quickly the news reached you, even though I only manifested it last night," the woman with shoulder-length hair replied.
Although her tone and expression seemed friendly, her mind was constantly racing with thoughts of what they wanted. Furthermore, this encounter confirmed her initial suspicion that she was indeed being closely monitored.
'I've been making sure to practice my techniques in a place away from the main building and for short periods each day. I've also been practising during busy times. Although my sensory abilities may not be advanced, I've made a point to always be vigilant. In other words, they've placed someone truly skilled in their care, huh?'
Haruno bit the inside of her cheek.
'What a real pain in the ass. A lot of fuss for nothing.'
For just a moment, less than a second, the look in Haruno's eyes seemed piercing, glaring fiercely. However, it quickly vanished and was replaced by friendliness before anyone knew it.
“It’s good that you understand. We can save a lot of time.”
Haruno glanced to the right, to where the baritone voice came from.
"I'm curious as to why you're so eager to see the manifestation of my technique. The information will eventually reach you as I often take on missions even though my main job is in the infirmary, to assist Ieiri-san."
Haruno was almost sentenced to death because she was the first human to have her power awakened through interference from a cursed spirit. Furthermore, the timing coincided with the discovery of Sukuna's vessel, leading the authorities to suspect that the woman wasn’t a sorcerer whose cursed technique had awakened, but rather a normal human possessed by a sorcerer from the past.
However, despite the assurances offered to assure her that she wasn’t a threat, her cursed technique was acknowledged to offer lucrative benefits. While it hadn’t yet fully manifested into a full-fledged shikigami, its inherent effect of allowing her to possess two distinct energy pools, one positive and one negative, allowed Haruno to naturally maintain a substantial amount of positive energy without the need for a Reverse Cursed Technique spell.
It made her a valuable asset alongside Ieiri Shoko. Furthermore, Haruno possessed the aptitude to fight effectively as a sorcerer.
“It’s not your place to determine when and how we’ll get the information we want,” said one of the officials.
“You should be aware and grateful that we let you live longer and gain knowledge in the association,” his colleague chimed in.
Haruno smiled as she tilted her head with her eyes closed, emitting a friendly aura around her.
"Oh my, please don't misunderstand. I never meant to be rude to any of you, and my question was purely out of curiosity."
After those words ended, the woman with shoulder-length hair opened her eyes. Although a warm aura still surrounded her and the friendliness lingered in her smile, her gaze was piercing, as if she were about to peel away the elders' thoughts and expose them.
"I'm a wild card. Regardless of whether the mastermind who awakened my powers was merely a prank, they must have expected something from me. However, Shizuka-chan and Gojo did their job so well that information about me was very limited, even in the underworld," Haruno continued.
The six old fellows seemed to prefer remaining silent, allowing the woman to finish what she wanted to say.
"Like I said earlier. If you want information about me, you'll eventually get it. Furthermore, I'll definitely come to see you because I'm also seeking a re-evaluation for a promotion. But why are you in such a rush as if you don't have access?"
Haruno paused her words again to look at the elders one by one.
"Or perhaps, you want to immediately release this information to someone who doesn't have access to it? Like, for example, to the mastermind behind my awakening, so they can map out the consequences and risks of their whim-driven experiment."
"Yukinoshita Haruno!! How dare you!!"
An explosion of cursed energy accompanied the scream. A powerful gust of wind, accompanied by an aura of death and terror, swept through the entire room.
If it were her past self, Haruno might have only been able to stand still with her legs trembling. However, even though a month and a half was a short time to learn jujutsu sorcery, she had gained a great deal during her time in Tokyo. Furthermore, her extraordinary brain was capable of absorbing and analysing a vast amount of information at a glance.
Due to the nature of her cursed technique, Haruno possessed two pools of cursed energy with different polarities. The positive energy within her possession naturally allowed her to repel all effects of negative energy, including the murderous aura the old men exude. Only by slowly circulating her positive energy throughout her body could she be freed from the effects of this intimidation.
“Please, no hard feelings, I ask you,” Haruno said casually, “Just as you have high suspicions of me, I too will naturally be very wary around you.”
"Do you realise that you just accused us of being in league with the cursed spirits? We can consider your words a form of blasphemy."
"And you've also accused me, and even still suspect me of being an accomplice of that cursed spirit named Mahito. So, can we call it even, shall we?" Haruno replied cheerfully with a mischievous smile.
The old folks seemed to choke upon hearing those words. They felt like they had been toyed with by the woman, as well as by her subtle sarcasm.
"We have a vested interest in ensuring that no supernatural threats will ravage this land. Monitoring and eliminating threats are our duty," replied an elderly man in a somewhat hoarse voice.
"Your suspicions are merely a manifestation of your fears, while ours are for the benefit and well-being of the entire nation. Understand the difference, Yukinoshita."
Despite receiving a harsh rebuke, Haruno still looked relaxed with a smile full of confidence.
"Is that so? Ten thousand deaths per year are caused by cursed spirits, with the potential for the number of victims to continue to rise. You guys really work hard for the people and the country, huh?"
Putting aside the woman's constant sarcasm, Haruno's earlier remarks actually had more meaning than that. She was indeed on high alert and suspicious of those people. However, it wasn't just about herself or her fate. Instead, she was trying to find the bigger picture and the connection between everything that had happened recently.
'The attack on Hikigaya-kun and Gojo by the cursed volcano spirit was clearly a premeditated one. Sukuna's finger was deliberately placed in the Yoshino family's residence, and Hikigaya-kun has proven that it can be used to sneak into the Tombs of the Stars.'
The research Hachiman conducted with Satoru and Iroha was actually a secret that even Principal Yaga was unaware of. Technically, Haruno wasn't told anything by them either. However, she was there when Sukuna's finger was found at the Yoshino family's residence. Furthermore, she also helped pick up Satoru, who was guarding Komachi, thus allowing her to understand the entire chronology by piecing together the puzzle based on her observations.
'However, neither the attack on Hikigaya-kun and Gojo nor the attempt to break into the Tombs of the Stars is the main point. At first glance, there seems to be no correlation, but to execute both, they need perfect timing. The Volcano Head wouldn’t be able to attack if they didn't know Gojo's schedule, while breaking into the Tombs of the Stars is impossible unless they know when to do it.'
Haruno glanced at the people in turn.
'If one had to draw a conclusion, the enemy would need a schedule of all the association members' activities, something that would be impossible to obtain from ordinary spies. In other words, if the mastermind behind this was truly so confident as to break into Tengen's Chamber, there must be a higher-up providing them with the information.'
“You guys want to know about my shikigami that I finally managed to manifest, right?” Haruno redirected the conversation by returning to the main topic.
Though her mind was constantly working to analyse and simulate everything that would happen according to the plans the enemy was currently formulating.
'Come to think of it, with everything that's happened, it's easier to suspect that there's a traitor on their side than to believe that they're our ally. From their perspective, it's also hard for them to believe that I have no connection to this Mahito. With their loyalists and the people supporting me, if this narrative continues to develop, both sides will suspect each other while the main culprit will be free to carry out their plan.'
“We demand that you show the form of your cursed technique without hiding anything,” said an old woman.
"Please spare me. What do you expect? I only managed to do it last night, and there's still a lot I need to figure out," Haruno replied.
The woman shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, raising both her hands to the side to form a W shape.
In fact, the current situation also benefited her in some ways. She had initially planned to keep Alter, the name of her shikigami, hidden from the other mages and instead pursue promotions through achievements during missions. At least that way, she could treat Alter as her ace, a skill not everyone knew about.
'You thought you had me, didn't you?'
“So?” Haruno asked for confirmation.
“Just do as instructed, and form a binding vow between us.”
"Terms and conditions? Then, what benefits do I get in return?" Yukinoshita's heiress replied calmly.
“Show us everything you know about your ability, if it truly is a cursed technique. In exchange, we’ll drop our suspicions against you.”
“Objection,” Haruno replied briefly.
Which, made the elders appear to be smirking behind the traditional doors, as if they had anticipated the woman's rejection.
"Please don't misunderstand. I'm more than happy to show you my progress. It's not like I have anything to hide, after all," Haruno sighed with a light smile, "However, dropping your suspicions? Honestly, I don’t even care about that. Therefore, I’d like you to change the conditions for what I’ll receive in return.”
As if their assumptions had been turned upside down, some of the men seemed to let out growls after Haruno's rejection.
“Then, what do you want, Yukinoshita?”
The woman smiled faintly, but with a look in her eyes full of confidence, as if she had won the fight.
"I'm willing to show you everything I know and have learned about my technique so far. But in exchange, you must stop all your investigations against me."
—OoOoO—
Outside the main building of Tokyo Jujutsu High, in a light atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the air inside the meeting room, a group of people were gathered on an extended bench. A bespectacled girl and a white-haired boy sat on the bench, with a panda in their midst. Besides them, a blonde woman, in her early twenties, with the neat appearance of an office worker, sat on another bench.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” asked the panda, starting a new conversation. “Satoru said we could leave her alone. But I can’t help but think about it.”
At the end of the bench, Maki was seen quietly eating her protein bar. She didn't seem to have any intention of replying, at least not before she had finished swallowing the food in her mouth.
“Haruno-san said she has a plan and more or less knows what they want from her. So, I don't see why we should worry about her.”
“But still, we’re talking about the higher-ups, you know?” Panda replied again, playing with his paws.
“Mustard leaf.”
Maki sighed after hearing the concern.
“Why does it sound like I’m the heartless one here?” the girl complained.
Which, Panda arched his eyebrows even though it was not visible because it was covered by his fur.
“That’s surprising because you just realised that you’re actually a cold-hearted woman,” said the animal.
Maki's temples immediately twitched, and she immediately grabbed Panda's hand and squeezed it hard, making the furball groan in pain.
“But actually, I also understand what Maki-san means. Like, why don't we need to worry at all?"
The words didn't come from those sophomores, but from the short blonde woman sitting on another bench.
“See? Even Akari-san agrees with me,” Maki said, annoyed at Panda.
“Pollack roe.”
Maki facepalmed upon hearing Inumaki's remark. However, the next second, she sent a death glare at the handsome, white-haired boy.
“I never threatened Akari-san to agree to my words, you shithead!”
The girl then exhaled roughly and straightened her seat.
"Just so you know, Hachiman and I were responsible for Haruno-san's training. So, we’ve a full understanding of her abilities and capabilities."
Maki crossed her arms in front of her chest and folded her right leg over the left one.
"Like, seriously, you know what Haruno-san is like, right? She's able to develop quite rapidly and complete her work well even under tight supervision from the association."
The second-year students, often referred to as Team Maki, had a special bond with Haruno. Not only were Hachiman and Maki the ones Satoru appointed to mentor her, but she also frequently joined them on missions to exterminate cursed spirits and even hunt down illegal sorcerers.
“Moreover, she possesses extraordinary intelligence, which allows her to adapt easily even under high pressure,” Maki continued, “Also, I agree with what Hachiman said. If a female version of Satoru existed, then Haruno-san would be the perfect embodiment.”
There was silence for a moment after Maki gave her opinion, but the sound of a hand clapping made the young people turn their heads.
“Welp, putting everything aside, whether it was because of worry or whatever, isn’t that the reason we’re waiting here to help Yukinoshita-san if anything happens?" Akari chirped.
If Team Maki was a group that interacted with Haruno the most, Nitta Akari was an assistant manager who always helped her during her activities.
“Honestly, I still believe she doesn’t need our help with this trivial matter,” Maki replied as she unwrapped a new protein bar, “However, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to beat up those old farts, and somehow, I hope for that to happen.”
“No wonder people call you a barbarian queen….”
The girl wanted to reply to Panda's comment.
However, speaking of the devil, the figure who had been the talk of the town for the past few minutes was seen leaving the building with the same people who had led her towards the audience room.
“Tuna mayo.”
"She really got out without a scratch. You're not disappointed that there wasn't a riot, are you, Maki?" Panda chimed in again.
“Seriously, what kind of girl do you think I am?”
The group of teenagers had no urge to call out to the woman. They simply watched as Haruno bowed slightly, formally bidding farewell to her escorts.
A lone warrior heading into a cage of predators ready to devour her, and her comrades waiting and prepared to help if needed. Those sophomores thought it would make for a pretty cool narrative. As such, they chose to remain silent, building the atmosphere and letting the gentle breeze carry their aura.
On the other hand, Haruno always believed she was the best, regardless of her actions. Therefore, the concept of maintaining her attitude just for the sake of her aura didn't register in her mind.
"Maki-chan!! Panda-chan!! Toge-chan!! And Akari-chan!!"
Haruno waved her hands cheerfully and happily, her voice high-pitched. She jogged around, her hands constantly waving in the air. The teenagers were slightly stunned by her quite hyperactive behaviour, which contradicted their initial expectations of her leaving the meeting in a heavy mood.
“Hello, hello~!!”
Haruno reached out her hand to Maki, hoping to give her a high-five. However, the ponytailed girl gave her an awkward look as her hand was still motionless.
“Oh, come on. Even though I was only there for a short while, it feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you guys, you know?” Haruno grabbed Maki’s hand forcefully and swung it around roughly, “And forgive this Onee-san because it seems like I can’t create a big fuss for you.”
Maki's temples immediately twitched when she heard the joke.
“Why does everyone think I want a fight to happen?”
“Told you, right?” Panda quipped, earning a death glare from Maki.
Haruno then let go of Maki's hand and hugged the fur ball tightly.
“Panda-chan! Your fur, which is exposed to the sun every day, always has a unique and soothing smell.”
"But I make sure to take a bath every day, even though I'm a panda," replied the animal.
Haruno chuckled as she let go of the hug, then faced Inumaki.
“Toge-chan, hello!!” the woman high-fived the pale-haired boy, “I’m glad there’s at least one person following the trend in this group.”
“Salmon.”
That earned a nod from his interlocutor as she began to understand what the boy was trying to convey after struggling to learn the sushi language.
“Akari-chan~!”
Haruno immediately hugged the blonde woman in the suit, tightly enough to make her pat her back as a sign of discomfort.
“Please, it's making it a little hard to breathe,” Akari said.
“Eh? But I'm really touched, though. Even though you're not a fighter and your position in the association isn't very secure, you dared to wait for me and be prepared in case something happened."
“Well, aside from the loyalists and conservatives, everyone knows that being on your good side is the right choice since you are close to Hiratsuka-san and Gojo-san.”
Haruno blinked her eyes, staring at the woman who was two years older than her.
“Hahahaha! You’re so straightforward, Akari-chan!” Haruno said with a loud laugh, “That’s why I like you so much. I’ll make sure you get what you want once I’ve established my status in the association.”
“Without hesitation in making political promises even in the morning, now I understand why the public often curses politicians,” Maki said.
Haruno released the hug and turned her attention to the bespectacled girl.
“I'm not a politician, tho,” the woman replied while poking Maki's cheek, “However, ensuring someone is highly capable of getting rights and a good working environment is the best way to use your power.”
"Well, that's true, but it does seem like favouritism and collusion. Even as a jujutsu sorcerer myself, it's not my place to comment on that," Maki said.
"Things like that are actually quite normal. Believe me, this world's civilisation is actually built on things like that. And what matters most is the intention and the outcome. The method doesn't really matter as long as you don't get caught."
The world wasn’t simply black and white. In fact, pure good or pure evil didn’t exist at all. Everything in the universe was based on the concepts of reason and purpose. Only then could the flow of time from beginning to end be connected. Things like laws were human creations designed to bridge the gap between ethics and human civilisation.
In fact, science and political ideologies could develop rapidly due to petty crimes that accelerate the pace of bureaucracy.
Bribing an official to obtain a permit to operate more quickly, collusion to create stronger cooperative alliances, and nepotism to ensure strategic positions were filled by trusted individuals were morally unethical because they could stifle opportunities for others and were often used merely as a means of enrichment and personal gain.
However, the advancement of civilisation throughout history had stemmed from sustainability, which could last for years. Therefore, in a world full of ambiguities, the method chosen didn’t really matter. What mattered was that the intention and goal weren’t for the greater good of the individual.
And as jujutsu sorcerers, they understand very well the scale of priorities that must be taken, no matter what.
“By the way, you seem fine. Did the meeting go as you expected, Haruno?” Panda asked.
The woman, with shoulder-length black hair, appeared to be pinching her chin as she gazed up at the sky for a moment.
“Well, like I said, their purpose for calling me is very easy to guess.”
“So, what happened? You didn’t end up following their orders, did you?” Akari asked, worry evident in her eyes.
To which, Haruno snorted softly at the question with a slight smile plastered on her face.
“That’s impossible, right? After all, I went there with three possible outcomes in mind,” the woman said, holding up three fingers. “Leave with a super big win, just a big win, or an ordinary win.”
Haruno then bent her ring and index fingers, leaving the middle finger standing. However, this seemed to escape her mind, causing her to gape slightly and immediately lower the middle finger and replace it with her index finger.
“After quite tough negotiations and not finding a consensus, you could say the result I got was just a big win.”
"You said it was a big win, but the way you said it made it sound like you weren't delighted with the result," Akari retorted.
Haruno turned to look at the woman.
"Well, maybe it's because I always aim for the best results? But still, the outcome I achieved was actually satisfactory and met my target."
On the other hand, Maki seemed to be staring at the black-haired woman with narrowed eyes as if trying to probe what she was thinking.
From what she understood, Haruno was a unique individual. Despite possessing the best qualities inherent in her profile, she wasn't someone who always aimed for the best results like a perfectionist like Satoru. It could be said that she was far more adept at adapting. Therefore, rather than aiming for perfect scores, she always tried to keep every problem under her control.
“I know your minimum target is pretty high, but I also want to know what’s really going on overall,” said the bespectacled girl.
“About that…, after I successfully manifested my technique yesterday, they really wanted me to explain things related to it for sure,” Haruno said while sitting on the bench, “However, they needed to bind me with a binding vow to ensure there were no lies in my words.”
The young sorcerers, who had stood up to greet Haruno, now sat back down and filled the available seats.
“And your response?”
"They’re the ones who need information. From this point on, defeat and loss are impossible for me to bear. And by all means, they need the quickest way to validate my statement, knowing I could manipulate the information if they don't act quickly."
Haruno paused in her words as she folded her right leg over her left thigh.
“And they use binding vows to prevent you from lying?” asked Panda.
“Yep. Therefore, I can put in conditions that are all in my favour.”
The people stared at Haruno intently, but none of them wanted to interrupt her. They sat quietly, waiting for her to continue.
"First, or the condition for my super-big win," Haruno said, raising her index finger, "I'm willing to provide information regarding the technique and shikigami. However, in exchange, they must cease all investigations into me."
The explanation stopped again for a moment, followed by Haruno's middle finger rising next to her index finger.
"The second condition, or just a big win. They don't have to stop investigating me, but I won't give them any explanation either."
After that, Haruno raised a third finger.
"And the final condition I offered them, which I also call an ordinary win. I would tell them about my cursed technique, but without any binding vows whatsoever. In other words, they could still do their thing and still receive information, but of course, there would be a lot of information that I would distort."
Hearing the long explanation, Akari tilted her head in confusion.
“Wait a minute. So, the result you got from that meeting was that you didn’t tell them anything, but still let them investigate you?”
To which, Haruno nodded at the question.
“Isn’t that actually detrimental to you?” the blonde woman asked again, “Anyway, what conditions did they offer? They must have proposed something before you responded with your terms, right?”
Haruno chuckled, seeing the confusion written on her friends' faces.
“They offered to lift their suspicions on me and believe that I didn’t consume any cursed object.”
This answer didn't help the youngsters to understand the situation at all. Instead, it only made them even more confused by Haruno's thoughts and choices.
“Mustard leaves?”
Haruno turned to Inumaki after hearing the question. However, she didn't reply immediately, as her brain was still trying to decipher what the white-haired boy was trying to say.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Toge-chan,” the black-haired woman said with a hint of uncertainty, “You asked me why I didn’t accept the proposal when it would have been more convenient if they had stopped suspecting me, am I right?”
Inumaki nodded enthusiastically, feeling relieved that there was one more person who understood what he wanted to convey, despite his limited vocabulary.
However, it wasn't just him who was confused, but three other people also felt the same way.
“Stopping suspecting me and trusting me doesn't mean they'll stop investigating me, right?”
This brief response prompted them to let out a long "oh" sound, as if they had finally understood where the problem lay.
A binding vow was indeed an unbreakable binding spell that could even lead to death if one party violated it. However, like most man-made laws, binding vows had loopholes that could be exploited if someone wasn’t careful when drafting their agreement.
“Now I understand that, but how could they agree not to let you go so that they could investigate you?” Maki asked.
A sweet, yet terrifying smile was etched on Haruno's face.
"That's because Shizuka-chan completely kicked all of their loyalists out of Chiba after they misguided Yumiko-chan to Tokyo. Therefore, they no longer have eyes and ears there to monitor her," the woman replied.
Which, the four people were again confused by this matter.
“Hiratsuka-san, huh? I don’t understand the correlation,” Maki said again.
“On the surface, I’m indeed allowed to learn jujutsu sorcery from the resources the association has, as long as I’m willing to work here, specifically assisting Ieiri-san with my abilities.”
Haruno paused the explanation as she changed her sitting position, with her left leg this time resting on her right thigh.
“However, in truth, I’m a hostage and the only door through which they can peek at what Shizuka-chan is doing in Chiba, and use me to threaten her if she rebels.”
The explanation made everyone's eyes widen. Especially Maki's furious expression, with veins bulging out across her neck. After all, she was one of the people responsible for Haruno's training, and also responsible for not stopping her despite knowing through Hachiman that Haruno and her friends were going to create horror content in the abandoned tunnels of Narita.
"Why are you only telling me now? Does Hachiman know this too?" the girl asked, trying her best to suppress her emotions.
The expression looked cute to Haruno, and she quite enjoyed making people look frustrated. However, she knew this wasn't the time for jokes. At least, she didn't want to make fun of Maki's sincerity.
"I'm pretty sure he noticed it too. He's perceptive, and was there when this agreement was made, after all."
Haruno recalled her visit to Kyoto. It was one of the most beautiful memories she had ever made with her crush, despite some of the annoyances.
“That bastard. Did he think I was so unreliable that he wouldn’t tell me something this important?” Maki muttered, her fists clenched tightly.
“I don’t think Hikigaya-kun had any such intentions,” Haruno replied gently, “He most likely still feels guilty for dragging you into this mess after asking you to help him watch over me back then, and doesn’t want to trouble you any more than this.”
“Trouble me? I’ll go to Chiba and beat him half to death so he knows what being in trouble really means."
Maki exhaled sharply, her eyes tightly shut, forming wrinkles at the corners. While she tried to calm her anger, Panda, who had been listening, didn't want to miss the opportunity to comment.
“Well, Hachiman has always been like that. He tends to keep his problems to himself and insists on solving them himself.”
Panda's words reminded Haruno of Hiratsuka's story about why Satoru sent it to her when Hachiman’s mother asked him to drop out of Jujutsu High. Though it turned out Chiba was facing something big after that.
“Haru-san, there’s nothing else to worry about, right?” Akari asked.
The blonde woman leaned forward slightly and turned her head to the side to look at Haruno, who was blocked by Panda.
"Like, we're not as smart as you when it comes to planning things. But at least we want to help," Akari continued.
It took a while for that genuine concern to sink in. Things she hadn't believed existed before, she could now feel the warmth one by one, even as the world around her became increasingly insane.
"Actually, it's not like I meant to hide this from you. After all, I never expected Yumiko-chan to be dragged into this world and have Shizuka-chan purge Chiba from the higher-ups' loyalists."
“So, if that tragedy hadn’t befallen Miura-san, your position wouldn’t have changed to that of a hostage because they still had various ways to monitor Hiratsuka-san?” Akari asked.
To which, Haruno replied with a faint nod in confirmation.
"And as for what's next…" Haruno trailed off as she gazed out into the blue horizon. "Although I said the outcome of this meeting was in my favour, there will certainly be further responses from the higher-ups. Furthermore, there are several things I suspect."
“You’re not going to keep it all to yourself, are you?” Maki commented quickly.
However, instead of giving a reply, Haruno smiled broadly and hugged the girl while stroking her head, which made her rebel and struggle to get away.
“I’ll discuss this with Hikigaya-kun and Shizuka-chan first to avoid any confusion and to confirm a few things,” the woman said after Maki managed to escape, “However, I promise I’ll tell you all about this. After all, good communication is key to everything, isn’t it?”
"You'd better keep your words, Haruno-san,” Maki replied with a snort and averted her face to the side.
Haruno couldn't help but smile brightly at the bespectacled girl's reaction. For someone who loved her sister so much, it seemed to revitalise her siscon spirit.
“You’re so cute when you pout like that, Maki-chan,” the woman said, petting her, “But rest assured, because a good onee-chan would never lie.”
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: I won't say too much because this chapter is already very long. I just hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
And as always, stay healthy and safe, and see you soon.