Zack POV
July 15th, Tokyo Jujutsu tech, late afternoon.
"Hey, Zack," Miu said, approaching me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let's head into the city. I need a break from all this training."
I grinned, always up for an adventure. "Sounds good to me. Comic book store or arcade first?"
Nobara overheard our conversation and joined us, her straw doll construct hovering beside her, now a perfect replica of the original. "Mind if I tag along? I could use some retail therapy."
"Sure," Miu said, "The more the merrier!"
"Well, as long as the more involves people who are actually worth a damn." Miu seemed to mutter something beneath her breath, I couldn't overhear her.
Nobara didn't even seem to notice.
Nobara dispersed her straw doll construct, which seemed to have some kind of iron-like material while remaining as cursed energy.
We made our way to the gate, and left the Jujutsu Tech grounds, and headed towards the nearest train station. The platform was bustling with commuters, a stark contrast to the quiet seclusion of the school. We boarded the train, finding seats amidst the sea of faces.
"So, Roppongi it is?" Miu asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I nodded. "The heart of Tokyo's nightlife. Should be plenty of interesting things to see... and maybe a few curses to kill."
Nobara smirked. "And hopefully some decent clothing stores. My wardrobe could use a refresh."
We arrived at the train station and bought our tickets.
"So, what was it like growing up with those martial arts geezers?" Nobara asked, her curiosity piqued by Miu's stories.
Miu chuckled. "It definitely was interesting. They were tough as nails, but they also had a soft spot for me. Especially Uncle Sakaki. He may seem like a grumpy drunk, but he is actually quite caring in his own way." A tear dropped from Miu's eyes. "And uncle Kensei was a really great teacher."
Sensing something wrong, Nobara paused. "Wait. Was? Oh my god, I'm so sorry! You don't have to continue at all!" Nobara started to panic.
"It's okay, Kensei would want me to remember the good times." She wiped her face and nobara went forward to hug her.
I joined in the group hug until she calmed down.
As the train approached Roppongi Station, a sense of anticipation filled the air. We got off the train and moved towards the stairs.
As we emerged from the station, the vibrant energy of the district washed over us like a tidal wave. Neon lights bathed the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors, reflecting off the throngs of people crowding the sidewalks.
The air buzzed with a cacophony of sounds the pulsating beat of music from nearby clubs, the raucous laughter of revelers spilling out of bars, and the incessant chatter of vendors hawking their wares.
"Whoa," Nobara exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and apprehension. "This place is like another world."
from the vibrant energy of the district washed over us. Neon lights illuminated the streets, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the crowds of people thronging the sidewalks.
We navigated the crowded streets, dodging groups of boisterous partygoers and weaving through clusters of tourists snapping photos with their phones. The sheer variety of establishments on display was mind-boggling.
Themed cafes with outlandish concepts, hostess clubs with names that bordered on the obscene, and shops selling everything from cosplay outfits to adult toys lined the streets.
"What in the world is a 'maid cafe'?" Miu asked, her brow furrowed in confusion as we passed a storefront with a group of young women dressed in French maid costumes waving enthusiastically at passersby.
"Apparently, it's a place where you can pay to be served by women dressed as maids," I explained, recalling a brief explanation from Gojo during one of our cultural lessons. "They act all cutesy and call you 'master'."
Nobara snorted. "Sounds kinda creepy."
Miu nodded in agreement. "That's totally fucked up."
"Wow," Nobara exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "This place is insane."
"What in the world is a 'cat butler cafe'?" Miu asked, her left eye now twitching in confusion and bafflement as we passed a storefront with a giant image of a man dressed in a butler uniform with cat ears and a tail.
I shrugged. "Beats me. But it seems popular."
Miu shuddered.
We wandered through the district, taking in the sights and sounds. Bizarre themed cafes, hostess clubs with outlandish names, and shops selling everything from cosplay outfits to adult toys lined the streets.
We continued our exploration, eventually stumbling upon a small vintage clothing store tucked away in a side street. Miu's eyes lit up as she spotted the eclectic mix of styles displayed in the window.
"This is it," she declared, pulling open the door and ushering us inside.
The store was a treasure trove of vintage finds, with racks overflowing with clothing from various eras and styles. Miu immediately began browsing, her fingers trailing across the fabrics as she searched for unique and interesting pieces.
Nobara joined in, pulling out a brightly colored pink kimono with intricate embroidery. "What do you think of this, Zack?" she asked, after exiting the changing room.
I nodded appreciatively. "Looks great on you."
As they continued their shopping spree, I found myself serving as a human clothes rack, my arms laden with an assortment of dresses, jackets, and accessories.
When the pile became too cumbersome, I discreetly slipped behind a rack and deposited the items into my hammerspace. I would leave more money at the register to make up for it.
Nobara, who had been watching me with a curious eye, raised an eyebrow. "Where did all those clothes go?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
I simply grinned. "A magician never reveals his secrets. Also, don't worry, I'll still pay for it."
She shrugged, "I really don't care as long as I get my clothes after we leave."
Soon, the girls dragged me over to the bikini section.
"What about this?" Miu asked, as she showed off a very nice skimpy purple bikini.
She smirked, and dragged a startled Nobara into the changing room with her.
"What are you- wait! No!" After a tiny scuffle, a blushing Nobara and a mischievous were revealed.
"What do you think?" Miu smirked.
I gave Nobara an appraising look, raking my eyes up and down her body as she blushed even harder. "Indeed, a work of art. Absolutely beautiful."
After a few more skimpy numbers we bought everything and I sneakily paid even more for the stuff I lifted with my hammerspace.
We walked around a bit, Nobara and I wandered into a nearby comic book store. Shelves lined with colorful graphic novels and manga stretched as far as the eye could see, a haven for any self-respecting geek.
I browsed the latest releases, my fingers trailing across the glossy covers, the familiar scent of ink and paper a comforting balm to my soul.
My first life of a mundane guy who ended up losing his name to a shitty admin seemingly had a love for anime, manga and video games.
"Hey, Zack," Nobara called out, holding up a manga with a striking cover illustration depicting a young woman with fiery red hair and a katana. "Ever read this one? Looks kinda cool."
I shook my head. "Haven't seen that one before. What's it about?"
Nobara shrugged. "Not sure, but the art style is awesome. Look at the detail on her sword it's practically glowing."
We delved deeper into the store, discussing various series and debating the merits of different storylines and characters.
Nobara, with her sharp wit , proved to be a surprisingly knowledgeable manga enthusiast.
"What? no! There's no way that's canon!"
We bonded over our shared love of action-packed adventures, and beautifully illustrated art.
"Hmm. So, if you were isekai'd what kind of setting would you want to be isekai'd to?"
As we were about to leave, a commotion erupted outside.
The sounds of shouting and shattering glass drew us to the storefront window.
A group of thugs were harassing a young woman, their faces contorted with malice as they backed her against a wall.
One of them, a hulking brute with a shaved head and a dragon tattoo snaking up his neck, raised a fist, preparing to strike.
The other one radiated sewer rat energy.
Like dank, sewer rat energy.
He looked it, and felt that way.
The woman cowered, her eyes wide with fear. She was dressed in a simple white dress, her long black hair cascading down her back.
A small, leather-bound book was clenched tightly in her hands.
Nobara's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them.
"Those bastards," she growled, her hand instinctively reaching for her straw doll.
she burst out of the store and I followed, her cursed energy surging around her like a tempest. I exchanged a look with Miu, who had just emerged from an ice-cream shop with a bag full of treats.
A silent understanding passed between us.
Without a word, we followed Nobara into the fray, ready to defend the helpless woman and teach those thugs a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.
We both pulled out our Tojo executive pins and grinned menacingly.
"Give us the ledger! You're clearly makin' more money than you're payin' protection for!"
Before Nobara could beat the shit out of these morons, I thought I could handle this 'externally peacefully' after seeing their bronze tojo pins.
"Nobara, sorry but can you let us handle this? We are after all part of the Tojo clan."
Nobara scowled, "Fine, but if they are really being shits, at least let me kick their shit in a bit."
"Hey! Bronzies!" I shout.
Their eyes darted to my ruby Tojo pin and they immediately stopped and bowed, "Executive sir and Executive madam!"
"What's this about ehhhh?! On my day off even?" Miu let out her best delinquent ehhh too. Wow.
"Sir and madam! We needed to do some collections. The protection fee was low, so-"
I glanced at the young woman and, despite being terrified, handed it to us. "I looked at the numbers and she was actually paying more than what she was making for.
She was also paying more than once a month.
With my increased intellect and knowledge of the area, these entries seem to match exactly.
These books definitely weren't cooked at all.
"Morons 1 and 2!" I called out.
"If you can't do math or keep dates properly, maybe Majima can have a better fucking job for a couple idiots like you. Maybe as training dummies!"
They tensed but didn't dare move.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Majima.
I glared as it rang. "She's paying multiple times a month. What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Majima picked up, "Eh, kid whaddya need? Or do you have some good deals for me? Eh? Eh?"
They clearly heard Majima's voice and their faces became pale like gray paint.
I put them on speaker. "Couple of bronzies over collecting on protection. On fucking Roppongi of all places. They even made a scene making us look like fucking thugs. The tojo clan aint fuckin' thugs but the way these morons are acting they clearly can't fucking proport themelves at all like a proper Yakuza of the tojo clan." Movie Yakuza acting powers activate!
"Yeah, just take their pins and a thumb and pointer from each involved. Do it in private, don't make a scene, but you guys are good so I know you won't make any problems. Hows the progress with the Nobara girl?"
"Ight, boss, I'll do as you want." I didn't answer his question and hung up.
I turned to the two morons who were trembling.
"You heard the man, you're both out. Follow us for your finger readjustment."
They bolt.
But not fast enough.
I'm already in front of them and Miu is grabbing one of them with her knee on the back of the first idiot.
The other one is also on the ground.
"Motherfucker, you made a couple of executives work on their day off. You made a couple of executives chase you on their day off, and now I'm taking both your middle fingers too. Don't fucking make me take your whole hand, you pieces of shit." We drag them into an empty alley.
A convenient cinder block is nearby.
after we give them a short beating I pull a knife from my hammerspace while pretending to pull it from my hip.
Miu and Nobara, with sadistic looks on their faces, hold them down.
Some screams later, and the Tojo clan is a bit cleaner.
On our way out of the alley, I stomp on their bronze pins, soon after we make our way to return to Jujutsu tech.