Chapter 61: She’s More Caring Than I Expected.
—OoOoO—
Haruno's bold threat about what would happen if Hachiman ever make her jealous sent shivers down his spine. He couldn't even tell if it was a joke or something truly heartfelt. However, it wasn't something he needed to worry about. At least, not right now, as there were more important matters Haruno seemed to want to discuss.
“I knew you were going to come up with something, but why do we’ve to go to the Boso Peninsula again?” Hachiman snorted with his eyes glued to the road, “And, why do I’ve to drive? I haven’t even showered or changed yet, you know? And where’s your usual car?”
“One at a time, okay?” Haruno said after all his questions.
Still, she understood why he was confused. When Haruno called him the night before about urgent business, Hachiman expected a cozy café or a quiet lounge, not a road trip to the Boso Peninsula, which felt more like a sightseeing trip than a crisis meeting.
"I'm sure there are outsiders who want to stir up trouble between the Association and Shizuka-chan, and that’s including us, of course. Some of the higher-ups may be their accomplices," the girl brought up the main topic.
Hachiman glanced at his girlfriend while keeping his hands on the steering wheel.
“And your base is?”
“The day before yesterday, I said I finally got some knack for summoning Alters, didn’t I?” Haruno replied, her gaze fixed on Hachiman, “I finally managed to do it. However, the news reached them too quickly, so much so that they rushed to Tokyo yesterday afternoon.”
“And they pressured you to show everything?”
Haruno nodded slowly, then turned her face back towards the street.
“Do you think that’s a solid basis for drawing such a conclusion?” Hachiman asked again, “From their perspective, isn’t it natural that they’d want to know all the information about you?”
Hachiman didn't want to be a bitch by dismissing all the information Haruno had gathered and the analysis she had conducted. However, in a discussion forum, criticism was essential to maintain logical thinking and avoid any bias. Therefore, by asking these questions, he wanted to ensure that Haruno's opinions weren't driven by hatred toward the association.
“You're really looking down on us, eh, Hikigaya-kun?”
The voice sounded exactly the same, but it carried a different weight than he was used to.
“Alter, huh?”
Hachiman looked again at the passenger seat and saw a mouth appear on Haruno’s cheek.
“As academics and top students at Chiba University, we understand how important it is to ensure neutrality in data collection.”
Haruno nodded at her shikigami's words.
“But it hurts when my own boyfriend doubts me, you know?" the girl continued flirtatiously.
She leaned over and gently touched Hachiman’s shoulder, sending a strange feeling through him each time their skin met.
“Stop that. Can't you see I'm driving?”
"What's there to worry about? The line in front of us is still long."
"But I haven't showered or changed after my jog, you know? I'd appreciate it if you didn't get too close," Hachiman replied, moving his body away.
But Haruno only smiled mischievously as she moved even closer to him.
“Don’t you know that your body odour becomes stronger with this car’s AC?”
Hearing her tease, Hachiman frowned and rolled the car windows down halfway to let in some air. Haruno just laughed at his reaction.
“Hahahaha… Don’t you ever think that your reactions are cute, Hikigaya-kun?”
“Please stop that and get back to our topic,” the boy replied with a sigh.
Haruno smiled as she stretched her stiff muscles.
“What was it again? Their interest in my technique was the basis for my suspicions, wasn’t it?” the girl asked, leaning back.
She paused to grab a bottle of water beside her. With the windows open, the air was better, but the dry summer heat still made her feel stuffy, especially since the car was barely moving.
"From their perspective, any information about me is indeed very valuable, and I can understand that," Haruno said again while opening the cap, "However, I don't see the urgency that made them come to Tokyo immediately."
She took a sip of water from the bottle. Her eyes closed, allowing her brain to enjoy the refreshing sensation of the water wetting her throat. Eventually, a long, soft "aah" sounded, filled with relief. Meanwhile, Hachiman's eyes were still focused on the line of cars before him, but the gravity of the scene held his attention, making it difficult for him to swallow his saliva at the sensual sight.
"They had someone who was quite good at hiding their presence to monitor me. That's why they immediately knew I had successfully manifested my technique. Eventually, even if they didn't bother coming to Tokyo, I would use my technique in missions, and also demonstrate it for my grade re-evaluation."
“Isn’t it possible that they don’t believe you’ll undergo a re-evaluation for a promotion?” asked Hachiman, still playing the devil’s advocate, “I mean, like Principal Yaga and Hiratsuka-sensei, who many people believe they’re at a special grade level, but stuck in first grade because they don't want to undergo a re-evaluation."
“It would make sense if I had the same personality as those two, but you know I'm not like them, right? I'm even sure people already compare me to Gojo, and that annoys me a little.”
A hint of anger showed on Haruno's temples, and her smile appeared a little stiff. However, she quickly straightened herself with a sigh.
“Well, I can see why. You both have an equally strong arrogance and annoying aura,” Hachiman said nonchalantly.
To which, the boy immediately received a hard pinch on his torso from Haruno, which made him jump a little.
“I mean, you’re friendlier than Gojo-sensei,” the boy quickly corrected himself, “You can be on equal footing when talking to anyone, while Gojo-sensei is always acting high and mighty."
'But you two are still equally annoying, tho,' Hachiman added inwardly.
Seeing the line of cars in front of him start moving again, he gently pressed the gas pedal while gradually releasing the clutch. However, it didn't take long for the cars in front of him to stop again, a few meters later.
“Seriously, I know it’s summer break, but why are the toll queues this shit?” the boy grumbled.
“There might be a slight problem with the ETC server. Otherwise, it wouldn't be this bad.”
ETC, also known as Electronic Toll Collection, was a fully automated toll payment system that eliminated the need for manual card tapping and required no human intervention. It was highly effective in reducing congestion at toll gates by up to ninety per cent. However, nothing was perfect. Just like any system that relied on the internet and servers, the slightest disruption could cause the entire system to shut down completely.
"If only I weren't the one driving, this moment would be perfect for me to sleep all day," Hachiman muttered.
Haruno chuckled at his comment. She thought about making a joke, but decided not to, since it would take them off topic.
"Anyway, the idea that I wouldn't reevaluate is understandable, but they know I'm a highly ambitious woman. Thus, in this case, those reasons were simply fabrications to provide motive and justification for their actions."
Hachiman glanced at her for a moment, then looked back at the road.
“Well, I can tell that.”
Now his throat felt dry, and without thinking, he reached for the bottle on his left side. However, just as he was about to twist the cap off, his movements stopped. The boy suddenly remembered that Haruno had also drunk straight from it.
“Why are you hesitating? It’s not like we’ve never kissed, right?” Haruno asked teasingly.
Hachiman shut his eyes, embarrassed that she had d guessed what he was thinking. He tried to keep a straight face, but the blush spreading to his ears gave him away.
'Shit, whatever.'
Swallowing his embarrassment, Hachiman took a quick drink of water.
"So, you thought they, the higher-ups, would eventually get wind of your technique. However, their hasty actions make you think there's someone behind them, possibly wanting to jeopardise the association with Hiratsuka-sensei?" Hachiman asked in confirmation, wiping away some water droplets from his mouth.
Haruno slowly shook her head, showing there was something else she hadn’t said yet.
"That part was just something I found unnatural. However, my suspicions were aroused when I offered them a pact based on the Binding Vow."
Hachiman frowned when he heard she was about to make a deal with them. The Binding Vow was risky without careful planning. It could help keep everyone honest, but it wasn’t foolproof. The spell was based on a verbal agreement, so if someone broke the deal without going against the exact words, the Binding Vow wouldn’t activate.
'But we're talking about Haruno-san here. She wouldn't have offered to form a Binding Vow without considering the risks and solutions.'
“And what’s the content of the pact?” asked Hachiman.
Instead of answering, Haruno gave Hachiman a meaningful smile, as if inviting him to guess.
“Don’t you want to guess? If you succeed, I’ll give you a special gift.”
Hachiman glanced at her and almost said something, but closed his mouth again. He didn’t want to fall for her teasing. Well, maybe he did want the gift, but he didn’t want to seem desperate.
"I don't need a gift. But if you can impress me, I'll double it and give it back to you," the guy replied.
Haruno laughed at his answer.
“What a long-winded way to say you want a gift. But that's what makes you so cute.”
She leaned back in her seat and looked out at the scenery, watching as the traffic jam finally started to clear.
“Technically, they were the ones who insisted on creating a Binding Vow,” Haruno continued with a slight correction, “However, I gave them my terms. Which, in short, was that I would give them all the information about my technique, without exception. But in exchange, they would have to stop all forms of investigations they were conducting on me.”
Hachiman slightly furrowed his brows.
“And then?”
To which, Haruno shrugged nonchalantly at the question.
"They refused, of course, and negotiations fell apart. Though I offered them the option of not having to perform the Binding Vow, so they could still continue investigating me while I provided them with information about my techniques.”
“Well, but that gives you room to deceive them or distort the information. In other words, it’d be no different than them investigating you from the start.”
“Exactly,” Haruno replied curtly.
Hachiman began to understand where the conversation was headed and why Haruno had mentioned that someone behind the higher-ups wanted to pit the association against Hiratsuka. After the incident with Yumiko, Hiratsuka had carried out a complete purge in Chiba, kicking out everyone suspected of being a spy. Even the psychiatrist who had first leaked Yumiko's information to the association was immediately exiled to Hokkaido because the higher-ups didn't want to take responsibility for protecting him.
The incident widened the rift between the association and Hiratsuka's group. If another suspicious incident occurred in the future, the association would almost certainly take decisive action. Before Yumiko's incident, investigating Hiratsuka's inner circle was extremely difficult. And after that incident, even investigating matters within Chiba, let alone getting information from the inner circle, became even more difficult.
'Haruno-san and Isshiki are the only loopholes that can be exploited. Isshiki would usually stay a day or two in Tokyo to submit her weekly activity report, but now she'll be returning to Chiba straight after submitting her assignment. She's well aware of the tension between both parties, and it makes her uncomfortable to stay in Tokyo for too long.'
Hachiman gradually increased the car's speed after they finally passed the toll gate.
'In other words, Haruno-san is the only option left. Indirectly, she's a hostage to keep the Chiba faction in check, so she'll be in Tokyo more often. If the association stops investigating her, it's the same as admitting that Haruno-san is clean, and she can return to Chiba without having to return to Tokyo. Which means, the association will no longer be able to investigate Hiratsuka-sensei's activities through Haruno-san.'
“I'm starting to get the gist of it. But what about Hiratsuka-sensei's response? I assume you've already told her about this, right?”
Haruno didn't immediately answer the question. Instead, she turned around, reached for the bag lying on the back seat, and rummaged through its contents slowly. The faint sound of small objects scraping against each other could be heard as her fingers traced the bag's interior. A few seconds later, she stopped and pulled her hand out, revealing the protein bars she had found.
“Well, this is a difficult situation,” the girl said as she unwrapped the snack, “We know they’re planning something, and it’s possible that some of the events in Chiba were caused by the people who control the higher-ups behind the scenes.”
Haruno paused, then held the protein bar up to his mouth.
“Eat this. You haven’t eaten anything since you finished your jog, have you?”
Hachiman was slightly startled by the unexpected action. With a blush returning to his face, he took a bite of the snack Haruno had offered him. The short-haired girl's gaze revealed a satisfied smile.
“The option is, we can act actively, but that means we will be openly hostile to the association,” Haruno continued her explanation.
"Hiratsuka-sensei doesn't like that idea, does she? There are many magicians who, while they definitely would support her, came to Chiba seeking job stability without any dirty competition."
“For a personal matter involving her students, I don’t think Shizuka-chan wants to drag more people into it,” Haruno said.
Jujutsu sorcerers, though possessing superhuman abilities, ultimately sought financial stability and survival within the demanding jujutsu society. Remaining directly under the association could offer stability, but frequent misjudgments of threat levels often led to higher mortality. For most, except first- or second-grade sorcerers or assistant managers, this option was impractical.
Joining a clan was reserved for powerful sorcerers or those with unique abilities. Aside from the Gojo clan, which was undergoing significant change under Gojo Satoru, most Japanese clans remained conservative and resistant to outsiders. Membership required more than allegiance; it often involved arranged marriages and binding family ties by blood.
As a result, the most practical and low-risk choice was to settle in a specific area, often in the countryside. While income was modest, stability was possible if others didn’t challenge their territory.
When Hiratsuka Shizuka returned to the Jujutsu Society after a classmate’s death and settled in Chiba, a new system emerged. Sorcerers, seeking relief from bloody competition, gathered to establish their own authority. Although still registered with the association, they operated under independent rules.
Hiratsuka Shizuka, as the leading authority in Chiba, was responsible for distributing work and clients fairly. It couldn’t be achieved even by working directly under the association due to the firm's hierarchical and oligarchic boundaries. Furthermore, doing it alone was very risky due to the threat of territorial disputes, which could lead to clashes between individuals. In other words, Hiratsuka's role was more akin to a handler, and no outsider would dare to oppose her because many people believed she was on the same level as Gojo Satoru.
Therefore, the most beneficial perk of the system was the protection Hiratsuka Shizuka herself provided. Usually, when there was an error in the threat level assessment in a case, the sorcerers in charge had the mental burden of confirming the level or risking being deemed incompetent and losing another job. However, in the new system established in Chiba, Hiratsuka instructed them to simply back down, and she would handle the situation herself.
In other words, if an unmanageable threat arises, whether it was from a cursed spirit or a curse user, Hiratsuka Shizuka would immediately intervene with a single report, without the need for time-consuming bureaucracy. It was similar to what Gojo Satoru did. The difference was that she didn't play around with her job and didn't carry out her responsibilities half-heartedly.
“So, our plan is just to make full preparations, wait for them to make their move, and get authentic, irrefutable evidence?”
Haruno nodded at the question with her head down as she opened a protein bar.
“The Chiba Museum looting, the hotel attack, the incident that happened to me, Komachi-chan’s assassination attempt, Yumiko-chan’s case, and the sharp increase in the number of cursed spirits in Chiba compared to last year, there are so many things that we don’t even know which are coincidences, and which are planned,” Haruno said without looking away.
Meanwhile, Hachiman had no intention of interrupting her. He knew his girlfriend wasn't finished yet. Furthermore, what she said echoed his thoughts the day before during the extermination of the two first-rank cursed spirits led by Hiratsuka. It was the same question, but he wanted to hear Haruno's conclusion.
"Whoever orchestrated this clearly wants to confuse us. However, continuing to do so will only tighten our guard to the point where it will be difficult for them to move."
Haruno paused and fed Hachiman the protein bar she had just unwrapped. Even though it wasn’t the first time, he still felt a bit embarrassed being pampered like this.
“So, you think the next attack they might make is a final attack on us?” Hachiman asked as he chewed on the snack.
To which, Haruno nodded slowly as a response.
"Yumiko-chan's case has already put Shizuka-chan's relationship with the association on thin ice. Whatever they're after, one more blow will annihilate it," the girl concluded.
“Haaah….”
Hachiman let out a heavy sigh, his face looking even more wrinkled than usual. His back seemed slightly hunched, as if a heavy weight were pressing down on him.
“That's really suck,” the guy complained.
“Need some water?”
With that question, Hachiman glanced at his lover for a moment. Without saying anything, he nodded silently.
“Playing hide and seek like this is really annoying,” said Haruno, who opened the bottle of mineral water. “Moreover, we don’t know what cards they will use this time.”
The girl handed her lover a bottle of mineral water. Without taking his eyes off the highway stretching ahead, Hachiman reached for the bottle with his left hand, while his right hand remained firmly gripping the steering wheel. He sipped the water slowly, as if each sip could ease the fatigue building in his head, giving his weary mind a brief respite before sinking back into the flow of the journey.
“By the way, why did you suddenly invite me to Choshi?” asked Hachiman.
Haruno smiled meaningfully at the question.
“I wanted to say that I wanted to remember our first date on the Boso Peninsula,” the girl replied enthusiastically.
However, she then let out a sigh that made Hachiman raise an eyebrow.
“Unfortunately, that's not the case. We're going on a business trip,” Haruno continued.
This time, the answer only made Hachiman frown, his expression becoming even more sour. After all, he hated having to work on holidays. Seeing this reaction, Haruno felt like laughing and teasing him. However, she refrained from doing so, as there were still many matters they needed to discuss.
“Shizuka-chan asked me if I wanted to take on a job that dealt directly with clients,” the girl provided some context, “Well, I’ve never done this before, and it made me excited to try a new experience.”
"Nothing is interesting about that job, you know?" Hachiman quickly retorted. "You're dealing with civilians. You’ve to make up some plausible excuse and explain it to them. Plus, you’ve to do some stupid, useless movements to make it look like you’re performing a supernatural ritual to them.”
Haruno smiled at his complaints. If he had a choice, he would probably rather fight strong cursed spirits than deal with people.
“So, what are the details of the job this time?”
Instead of immediately giving an answer, Haruno went back to rummaging through her bag and pulled out several neatly arranged documents.
“Then, let me explain,” said the girl.
—OoOoO—
Choshi was a small city and tourist destination located at the easternmost tip of Japan. Panoramic views of the ocean and rolling hills stretch as far as the eye could see. The large, powerful waves, brought in directly from the Pacific Ocean, make it a favourite spot for domestic surfers. However, while the city was renowned for its tourism, it still held a rich history ready to be passed on to future generations.
Due to its proximity to the sea, Choshi was also renowned for its fresh seafood and aquatic aquaculture. To say it was among the best in Japan was no exaggeration. In fact, Choshi's fishermen were among the largest tuna suppliers in the country, and their tuna was of the highest quality, auctioned at Toyosu Market every year.
A Toyota Century pulled into the parking lot of a large mansion. A young man, neatly dressed in a black suit, stepped out from the driver's seat. His hair, usually a little messy, was now slicked back, revealing a clean, blemish-free forehead. However, his clean and tidy appearance wasn't enough to offset his negative aura, especially with the near-death corns he had been forced to work on his day off.
The young man immediately ran to the passenger seat on the other side and lazily opened the door.
“After driving for so long, and now this? Could you go there alone and let me sleep in the car, Haruno-san?” he said, holding out her right hand.
A soft laugh came from inside the car as the young man voiced his complaints.
“Isn't your current job to act as my assistant, Hikigaya-kun?”
With that reply, a woman stepped out of the car after taking the outstretched hand. She was clad in a traditional miko outfit often worn for rituals and religious celebrations. Resembling a haori, a silk chihaya with an ivory hue and pine leaf motif in parts covered the top, with a red string tying the ends.
However, what was most striking was the accessory adorning the woman's head. A small crown of woven cherry blossom petals exuded a feminine aura. Her short hair was tied into a bun with a gold hairpin carved into a hou-ou, or Japanese phoenix. Most importantly, a white cloth hung down from the cherry blossom crown, concealing the elegance and beauty of her face.
"You know, if I had to play a role, I'd like to be someone who doesn't play anything. Or at least, someone who's there to relax and fill in the background," Hachiman joked.
“Isn't that just your usual self then?”
Haruno sighed. She desperately wanted to stretch. However, she had to maintain her posture while doing this work.
“Exactly,” Hachiman replied quickly, “That’d be very honourable, wouldn’t it? There’s nothing better than being yourself.”
The woman smiled at those silly words. The urge to respond and joke with him was overwhelming. However, once again, she had work to do, especially since it was something she had decided on her own.
“Greetings, my dear reverend.”
A strange voice greeted the two sorcerers, making their heads automatically turn to follow the source of the voice.
“Biwa-dono, am I right?” Haruno asked in a calm voice.
Her gaze then fell on three other figures following him from behind. A woman who appeared to be the same age as the man, and two children of different genders, who were hiding behind her.
“Yes, it is. I am Biwa Tatsuo, the head of Biwa Household.”
The newly arrived man immediately bowed ninety degrees, showing his deep respect for his guest. The woman and children then followed suit, albeit with some hesitation.
“And they are my wife and children.”
"My name is Biwa Akemi. Please take care of us."
“It's Biwa Ryuuji,” said the boy, who was also the oldest child.
Haruno looked at the last figure who hadn't yet introduced herself. It was a small girl, probably only six years old. She had short, thick white hair, unlike the rest of her family.
"The name is Biwa Hayahide. Nice to meet you."
Haruno nodded after she pocketed their names.
"First of all, I apologise because I have to hide my face and cannot give my real name for some reasons."
The woman slightly bowed her head, showing respect to some degree.
“However, please call me Lady Autumn if you wish.”
The husband and wife stared at each other for a few seconds until the man finally nodded.
“Okay, we understand and have no problem with that, Lady Autumn.”
Meanwhile, Hachiman, who was just standing still and blending in with the background, seemed to furrow his eyebrows when he heard the alias the woman used.
'Lady Autumn? Seriously. I know the kanji in your name have nothing to do with any season, but if you just go by the pronunciation, your name means spring, right? But why do you use autumn as your alias?'
Honestly, Hachiman didn’t really understand Haruno's way of thinking. Using Lady Spring might be too obvious if the goal was to hide her identity, and "Autumn" might provide a pretty good misdirection, especially for someone who likes to play pranks like Haruno.
'But still, isn't there another name you can use, Haruno-san?'
Hachiman sighed silently. Haruno glanced at the boy through the gaps in the cloth covering her face and smiled in satisfaction at his reaction.
“Very well. Shall we discuss your problem inside?”
—OoOoO—
The Biwa family had a sizable fishing network and a business focused on aquatic products, including shrimp, shellfish, and lobster farming. They were also a major supplier of tuna, distributed nationwide, including to Japan's largest auction market, Toyosu Market. The Biwa family was still well-respected in Choshi. However, their business scale was far from that of the Yukinoshita family, which established their business dynasty since the Showa era and gained momentum after World War II.
“So, you do think your house is haunted by cursed spirits these past few days?” Haruno asked.
The girl sat elegantly on a long sofa all to herself, with Hachiman standing tall behind her, fulfilling his role as assistant manager. Meanwhile, seated on another sofa was a married couple from the Biwa Family, while their children had been led back to their room.
"It's not just me!" the husband said. "The air in this house feels stuffy, and our minds feel clouded whenever we're home, as if anger is always taking over. Furthermore, the children are more susceptible to illness."
Haruno nodded at the statement.
“Have you been to the hospital? What did the doctor say?”
The wife gripped her skirt tightly when she heard the question.
"They said it was just mental exhaustion. As for the children who were frequently ill, they said there was nothing unusual in their medical examinations."
“We’ve tried going to several different hospitals, and even went to Tokyo, but they all gave similar answers without providing a solution,” the husband added.
"That's why we tried consulting the priests at Manganji Temple, and they said what we experienced could never be explained scientifically," the wife concluded her explanation.
“I see,” Haruno nodded at the reviews, “If multiple hospitals are giving the same diagnosis, what you experienced was apparently caused by supernatural events.”
Without hearing their explanation, the girl already knew that the house was inhabited by a cursed spirit. She could sense the creature's presence and pinpoint its location.
Meanwhile, the husband and wife widened their eyes in shock, as if a giant hammer had struck them in the head. They already had a feeling that the strange events they were experiencing were anything but ordinary. The discrepancy between their experiences and the hospital's medical observations only added to their suspicions. However, when an expert spoke up, the worry and fear couldn't stop their hearts from shaking.
"T-then, will we be fine? C-can you handle it?" the husband asked in a trembling voice.
Haruno smiled from behind the cloth covering her face.
"Please, do not worry. Isn't that why you asked God for help? I have come here to fulfil your prayer."
From her chihaya's sleeve, Haruno pulled out a piece of paper with some difficult-to-read calligraphy. She placed it on the table and applied pressure to the entire surface to ensure it was firmly attached.
"This is a talisman. Once the ritual is complete, you can remove it and burn it," Haruno said.
There was no response from her client, but that didn't matter. Haruno hadn't expected any response from a man gripped by fear and anxiety in the first place.
“My dear servant, please have my regalia,” Haruno cried.
Hachiman flinched when his girlfriend suddenly blurted out something stupid. His brow furrowed at the request. However, the veins in his neck suddenly thickened in annoyance as he understood what Haruno meant.
'So, this is the reason why she gave me the prayer beads before getting out of the car?'
The boy closed his eyes, trying to keep up with Haruno's play.
“Here are your regalia, Lady Autumn,” the man said, handing her the prayer beads.
Haruno smiled as she accepted the item. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing her lover frustrated by doing something so ridiculous. However, she didn't respond, maintaining a professional demeanour.
Instead, Haruno wrapped the prayer beads around her left palm and brought her hands together as if she were about to pray.
"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than the darkness. Purify that which is impure, guard this sacred purity."
After the incantation was cast, the talisman affixed to the table glowed with a blue glow, invisible to the naked eye. Simultaneously, a deep blue barrier descended from the sky, like slime pouring from nowhere, blocking sunlight from illuminating the mansion.
Despite this significant change, humans without aptitude for jujutsu sorcery couldn't perceive it. However, that didn't mean they couldn't fully sense it. The initially warm air suddenly dropped drastically, creating a tense, eerie feeling.
'A modified version of the Curtain spell, developed by Hiratsuka-sensei herself,' Hachiman muttered in his mind, 'She taught this spell to sorcerers in Chiba to serve clients. But since I've never done this kind of work, this is my first time seeing this spell.'
Unlike the original version, which simply hid the covered area from outsiders and put non-sorcerers inside to sleep, Hiratsuka's modified version of the Curtain spell provided a more specific prompt.
It wouldn't immediately render the normal humans inside unconscious. They remained conscious and felt no effects when the Curtain was lowered. The only reason the couple felt such horror was due to their already exhausted mental state, as their home was inhabited by a cursed spirit. However, at the slightest indication of the cursed spirit going berserk, the normal humans inside would automatically be put to sleep.
It was very convenient for exorcisms that directly involve civilians. If the terrorising cursed spirit was only a fourth-grade one, technically, it’d be over quickly. However, from a business perspective, it wouldn't be profitable, as sorcerers need to perform some "acts" to make their services marketable. However, if the cursed spirit were even slightly stronger, it’d endanger their clients and possibly lead to a bad experience during the actual fight.
That was why Hiratsuka Shizuka modified the existing Curtain spell for a particular purpose. If nothing happens, it wouldn’t affect normal humans and was solely a preventative measure. And if there was a potentially cursed spirit running amok, it’d immediately put clients to sleep to prevent them from experiencing a terrible experience.
That way, low-level exorcism could provide some entertainment and reassure them that they didn't need to rely on jujutsu sorcerers, while also allowing them to be prepared if things went south. A business model unique to Chiba that allowed them to completely break free from dependence on associations.
“Mother, father.”
A slight sound from the stairs interrupted Haruno's ritual performance, prompting the people in the living room to turn their heads.
“Hayahide-chan, why?” asked the mother.
The thick, white-haired girl didn't reply immediately. Instead, she hurriedly descended the stairs and approached her parents.
“Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?” the girl asked.
Hachiman and Haruno gasped upon hearing those innocent words. Normal humans shouldn't be able to see jujutsu phenomena.
“The sky is dark?” the father squeaked as he turned his head to the window, “I don’t really understand. It looks as bright as ever.”
Hayahide turned her face away and puffed out her cheeks.
“Why doesn't anyone believe me? Even Onii-chan thinks I'm hallucinating.”
“I believe you, Young Lady.”
Haruno's voice, suddenly joining the conversation, drew their attention to her.
“Really? Do you believe the sky is getting dark?”
Haruno nodded in response to the question, a faint smile hidden behind the cloth covering her face. She rose from the sofa and slowly approached the little girl. Then she crouched down, lowering herself so that their eyes were level, before taking her tiny hand in a gentle, reassuring touch.
“Hayahide-chan, isn't it? I see. So, you can see it too,” the shrine maiden muttered.
"Is it a bad thing?" asked the mother.
Haruno turned to the woman.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing. She could live a normal life if she wanted. It's just that, like me, she has a heightened sensitivity to the supernatural things."
The husband and wife seemed to clasp their hands at the same time. Meanwhile, the little girl stared at her parents confused.
“Don’t worry, nothing bad will come to you,” Haruno said as she gently stroked the white mane, “However, for now, if you want to be a smart girl, you should sleep for a while.”
A bluish energy seemed to envelop Haruno's hand that was holding the white head. She slowly lowered her fingers until her index touched the girl's forehead. Along with those touches, little Hayahide's eyes grew heavy, and an enormous yawn escaped her mouth. She didn't know what was happening. What was clear was that she wanted to immediately return to the room and sleep comfortably. However, before she could leave, the little girl lost consciousness and fell into Haruno's embrace.
“W-what are you doing?” asked the father worriedly,
"Please calm down. I meant no harm to your daughter. I was just putting her to sleep for a moment until this ritual was complete."
Right after saying that, Haruno immediately turned to look at Hachiman, who was still standing at his post.
“My dear servant, could you carry Hayahide-chan and lay her down on the sofa?”
The guy frowned and almost squealed if he hadn't really restrained himself to keep up their role play.
“As you wish, My Lady.”
Without waiting for further instructions, Hachiman immediately walked towards the girl. He carefully picked Hayahide up, treating the small body as if it were his own sister.
'Actually, being able to put someone to sleep perfectly is quite a feat, especially since Haruno-san has only been learning jujutsu sorcery for a month and a half. It may seem trivial, but it requires precise control of the cursed energy to prevent any aftereffects for a normal human.'
“Then, I will perform a ritual to exorcise the evil spirit in this house.”
—OoOoO—
If it were just a simple extermination mission, sorcerers wouldn't bother performing ridiculous rituals to show their clients off and appear legitimate. They'd simply approach the cursed spirit and exterminate it for good. However, to put on a show for those who call on their services, they need to do so.
Haruno unfurled a large sheet of paper with a circle and a pentagram, both engraved in calligraphy. At each end was a burning incense stick, while she sat in the centre with her palms clasped together as if in prayer.
“I will start the ritual to summon the evil spirit,” said the girl.
Which, though not entirely, was a lie. No such ritual existed. Except for the third grade and above, cursed spirits possessed no intelligence whatsoever. In fact, while the higher grades were said to be intelligent enough to have methods for torturing and enjoying their prey, these were nothing more than wild instincts, except for the first and special grades, who could begin to communicate.
What Haruno did was actually quite simple. She simply released her negative energy bit by bit to lure the cursed spirit. As living creatures, they relied on the cursed energy constantly seeping from normal humans. Therefore, if they sensed high-quality cursed energy, they would gladly approach its source as long as it was within their area of birth. However, if the cursed energy came from a much more powerful entity, such as a first-grade or special-grade, they wouldn't be provoked and would prefer to hide.
Therefore, since arriving at this residence, Hachiman had completely suppressed his presence to the lowest level so that their target would not be frightened,
'It's here.'
Haruno opened her eyes. Even though her vision was practically obscured by the white cloth. However, the cursed spirit's presence was clearly felt across her skin.
The creature came from the second floor, from the same direction as little Hayahide.
The creature had three legs and two arms, and a neck up to one meter long. Its body appeared large and muscular, like a hippopotamus, but was covered in white fur. Overall, the creature stood about three meters tall, including its neck.
“The evil spirit, it's stronger than expected, but it seems like it's growing slowly by consuming Hayahide-chan's energy without killing her outright."
Haruno's explanation caused the husband and wife to widen their eyes when they heard their daughter's name associated with death. They wanted to ask, but their mouths couldn't even move as the cursed spirit approached.
'The barrier doesn't force them to sleep, which means the cursed spirit isn't the aggressive type?' Haruno thought.
The girl stood up from her seat to perform the "ritual." She calmly walked over to the cursed spirit and stood directly in front of it. They faced each other, allowing Haruno to better see the monster's form through the silhouette imprinted on the cloth covering its face. However, her goal wasn't to admire the creature, which could walk perfectly despite having no eyes.
Just as the cursed spirit was about to wrap its long neck around Haruno's body, the girl immediately caught its head.
'Alter.'
'No need to tell me, dear myself.'
With just that spiritual interaction, the negative energy flowing through her body to lure the creature out was instantly replaced by positive energy. Haruno quickly channelled it into the creature's head, causing it to writhe in pain as if enduring intense torture. However, Haruno's grip was far firmer, preventing the creature from escaping.
'The positive energy output for exorcising a cursed spirit, no matter how many times I see it, it's very impressive,' Hachiman thought as he looked at Haruno's hand that was covered in a white aura, 'Although in theory it makes sense, but in terms of energy costs it's very inefficient. That's why people like Hiratsuka-sensei really don't recommend it, and not even Okkotsu would do it unless he was in dire need.'
Besides Haruno, Yuta was the only person Hachiman had ever seen use positive energy to exorcise a cursed spirit. However, the efficiency they demonstrated was utterly different. Haruno could directly inject it into her target's head with just a touch. Meanwhile, Yuta needed to put his hand in his mouth so the positive energy he emitted could reach his head directly. He even joked that he might kiss the cursed spirit because, apparently, mouth-to-mouth injection was much more efficient.
However, another suspect popped into Hachiman's head. Shoko Ieiri. The woman was a genius in the Reverse Cursed Technique, to the point that Gojo Satoru claimed she possessed a completely different, unexplained, and highly efficient method of converting cursed energy into positive energy.
'In my observation, Shoko-san is still more efficient than Haruno-san, but that's purely due to experience. With the innate characteristics of her cursed technique, Haruno-san's efficiency may increase drastically. Coupled with her fighting potential after she successfully manifests an Alter, Haruno-san will truly assert her position in the politics of jujutsu society.'
Positive energy was the cursed spirit's kryptonite. As the white glowing energy continued to enter its head, the creature screamed in pain, unable to do much. Eventually, its resistance weakened, and it lay helpless on the floor until it finally disintegrated into energy dust and evaporated into the air.
“It's done,” said Haruno.
The girl turned to walk to the table and immediately tore the talisman paper. Simultaneously, the curtains surrounding the house lifted, bringing in fresh air and relieving the atmosphere.
“Is it really… done?” asked the wife.
She looked around the house in turn, looking for a change that could interpret what she was feeling at the moment.
"It's weird. It's like nothing happened, but my body feels lighter, and the air in the house feels warmer," the husband murmured.
“That’s because the evil spirit has been successfully exorcised,” Haruno replied as she tucked the talisman into her sleeve, "Once evil spirits inhabit a house, they will slowly drain the energy of the occupants, making them uncomfortable, and tend to have more bad thoughts."
“But how did they get into our house?” asked the wife.
Haruno didn't answer the question immediately. She first put the words together in her mind to explain in a way that would be easiest to understand and wouldn't cause them too much fear.
“Evil spirits can come because of feelings of hatred or dislike from other people towards us, or sometimes there are also some who are brought from outside for some reason.”
“Hate… us?” the father muttered.
Haruno glanced at the man through the gap in the cloth covering her face.
"That is why living well and honestly, and always helping others rather than being busy enriching ourselves, is the most effective method to avoid evil."
Having just stood there, observing the group, Hachiman tried to restrain his sad smile. Helping others instead of enriching ourselves? That was ironic, and that irony made it funny. While not all of them, jujutsu sorcerers were the epitome of selfishness itself, especially when those words came from a princess who had been spoon-fed since birth like Haruno.
'Well, they say the most important thing is the message, not who says it,' Hachiman thought.
“That being said, there is something else I would like to say,” Haruno continued, “And I hope you will think about this seriously because it concerns your daughter’s life and future.”
Those words felt like a bomb dropped on their heads. The couple had just felt relieved of the threat posed by the cursed spirit, and now they were left worrying about their daughter's fate. The wife turned to the sofa, gazing sadly at her daughter, still sleeping there.
“The source of food of evil spirits is the spiritual energy of humans,” Haruno said in terms that civilians could easily understand, “When they curse someone, it means they are slowly devouring that person’s spiritual energy.”
“So, when these evil spirits haunt our house, they’re also slowly sucking away our energy?” the husband asked.
Saying that spiritual energy was being sucked out sounded a bit different from the original concept, where curses actually feed on cursed energy. Haruno's statement made it sound as if humans would become corrupted as their spirits were slowly sucked out of them. However, it was a more plausible metaphor than explicitly telling civilians about cursed spirits to gain followers, as other sorcerers typically do.
"Generally, it takes time for evil spirits to develop. However, it's a different story if they feed on powerful spiritual energy," Haruno then turned to the still-sleeping Hayahide. "Some children your daughter's age will begin to be sensitive to the presence of creatures like evil spirits, ghosts, and spectres. This indicates they possess a quality of spiritual energy that is above that of a normal human."
Without further ado, the parents understood what Haruno meant. They didn't know where the curse terrorising them came from, but they knew the creature posed a serious threat to their daughter. The thought of their daughter facing a future filled with evil spirits seeking her life made their hearts ache like they were being cut by tiny knives.
“So, what should we do?” asked the mother.
Haruno smiled at the question even though they couldn't see it.
"Although people like me, your daughter, or even my dear servant over there are scarce," Haruno said, pointing elegantly at Hachiman, "but we have developed various ways for people like us to mingle and live normally."
The husband and wife listened to the girl's words seriously, showing their seriousness about their daughter's future.
"Though I must say that there are some individuals with special abilities who harbour malicious intentions," Haruno continued, "However, the Manganji Temple you consulted with is a branch of our organisation. So, you can consult with them further."
These people could finally breathe a sigh of relief, although it didn't completely alleviate their worries. At least they knew what they were dealing with and where to turn if they had any questions about the supernatural.
"Of course, you must be extremely careful and keep this secret. You can request a list of the officially affiliated shrines in Chiba. And because the supernatural world is sensitive information, I urge you to refrain from any discussions with anyone not mentioned on the list."
Haaruno took a deep breath before she conveyed the last message.
"I will inform my master of this matter to my master. She will provide a more reliable solution and tell you how to avoid bad people who will probably appear in the future to take advantage of Hayahide-chan."
Giving advice to those in despair, Haruno felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't the sense of superiority she usually felt when faced with someone who hesitated to even look her in the eye.
The family who became her clients right now reminded her of how she ended up in this world, the Jujutsu Society. While Haruno never regretted her choice, she also had to admit that her interactions with the other side of the world were the fruit of her curiosity. Whether Mahito turning her into a sorcerer was a coincidence or not, she couldn't deny the fact that several of her college friends had died tragically in that incident.
On top of that, it was an unbelievable stroke of luck for Haruno. The connection she accidentally forged with Hiratsuka Shizuka and Hikigaya Hachiman was the main factor in her being able to breathe and move freely up to this point. If she hadn't known them, if Hachiman and Maki hadn't been the first to discover her, perhaps her fate would have been entirely different, and she wouldn't have been able to laugh and enjoy life to this day.
Therefore, seeing others benefit from her help made her feel a sense of satisfaction and inner peace she had never felt before.
“Well then, if there is nothing else, I will excuse myself,” Haruno said, bowing politely.
Which, also served as a closing for today's activities.
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: Hi, sorry for the delay. I was a little under the weather for a few days after New Year's, which kept me from getting to this story for a while.
Alright, this chapter opens with some recaps of what happened previously. I've also included some interactions between Hachiman and Haruno to show their changes in attitude after dating. which, actually, some things still need to be pointed out to show Haruno's resolution after she entered into a relationship with Hachiman, and it's not only about her love story, but also her personal life, especially with her family.
The second half of this story was inspired by Geto's scene in JJK 0, where he started a business to treat cursed people. I always wanted to touch on this topic, and I think it's something other sorcerers in Japan do as well. I think it's pretty cool to show how their business goes beyond exorcism activities directly into fighting cursed spirits. If I’ve the chance, I'd like to explore this aspect.
Okay, that's all from me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay safe and healthy, and see you soon.