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Yuki nodded. "Jujutsu isn't meant for 'normal' people, Ryosuke. It's not a path you can walk without it changing who you are, deep inside. If you're not already a little weird, a little crazy from the start, this world will break you. It'll force you to go insane—but in a destructive way—and you might lose who you truly are."
She leaned in slightly, her eyes sharp. "That's why I'm asking you this question. What's your type of girl? That'll tell me whether you've got that little spark of madness, that touch of eccentricity that'll let you survive in this world without losing yourself."
Ryosuke opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He had never imagined such a question could carry so much weight. He suddenly felt incredibly vulnerable. Thinking about something like this in such a serious context felt... strange. But he remembered that in the manga, this was his aunt's trademark. If she asked, it meant it really mattered to her.
He looked away, searching for the right words, and finally murmured, slightly embarrassed, "Well... I guess I like girls who are kind... and caring. Someone with a good heart, you know?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow, as if weighing his answer. She stayed silent for a moment, thoughtful. "Kind and caring, huh?" Then she slowly nodded. "Hmm, interesting. It's a good start, but we're going to have to dig deeper than that."
Still uncomfortable, Ryosuke wondered what she meant by that, but didn't dare to ask.
Yuki half-turned, her gaze drifting to the forest around them. "This world is full of challenges. And to get through it, you not only have to be strong, but also a little crazy, like I told you." She turned back to him, her eyes softer this time. "A question like this, as stupid as it may sound, might reveal things about yourself you weren't even aware of. It's important that you know who you are and what you want—because that'll protect you when the world of Jujutsu tries to devour you."
With that, Yuki crossed her arms as the silence between them grew heavier.
Ryosuke felt nervous, trapped by a question he had never prepared for.
"What kind of woman do I like?" he repeated in his head.
It was a question he had never truly thought about. In his past life, sure, he'd had relationships—but all of that felt blurry and distant. Like that part of him belonged to someone else in another life, disconnected from his present.
Before regaining his memories, he'd just been a regular teenager, avoiding complicated questions about emotions. He was one of those slightly awkward, stubborn kids who never really admitted how they felt, afraid of being rejected or ridiculed. He remembered that exact feeling, that mix of excitement and embarrassment he'd felt back in middle school when he had a little crush on the girl who sat next to him. She was kind, always lending him her notes, her smile brightening his day—but he never had the courage to tell her how he felt. It all felt so far away now.
He closed his eyes, trying to sort out his thoughts. This question, which seemed simple on the surface, made him feel incredibly vulnerable. But Ryosuke knew his aunt was expecting an honest answer.
He took a deep breath before speaking, his words slow and hesitant. "Well..." he began timidly, still avoiding Yuki's piercing gaze. "I think... my type is women who've been through hard times. Women who've been broken by life, who've suffered, who don't know how to move forward anymore." He paused for a moment, sinking deeper into his thoughts. "Maybe because... I want to be the one who gives them back something they've lost. Just the feeling of being seen as their savior... it's a pleasure I can't resist."
He thought for a few more seconds, then continued with a little more confidence: "The more a woman's been corrupted and broken, the more attractive she seems to me. To me, it's like seeing mud and being the architect who turns it into a diamond."
Ryosuke scratched his head, slightly embarrassed.
"So yeah... I think... that's the kind of woman I like," he concluded.
He finally looked up to see Yuki's reaction. She was staring at him, her wide eyes filled with surprise.
Then suddenly, she burst out laughing—a loud, ringing laugh that echoed through the little clearing.
Ryosuke, frozen in palpable embarrassment, watched her, stunned. He scratched the back of his head, even more confused than before.
Yuki, tears in her eyes from laughing, raised a hand to calm herself. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure, though a smile still tugged at her lips. "Oh, Ryosuke..." she said, shaking her head. "I have to say, you really surprised me. I was genuinely worried about you. But now, I see I had nothing to worry about."
Ryosuke raised his eyebrows. "What? What do you mean, Auntie?"
Yuki wiped a tear from the corner of her eye before locking her sparkling gaze on her nephew. "Your first answer, about kind and caring girls, left me a bit... uncertain, I'll admit. I thought, 'Oh no, he's giving me the boring, typical answer.' But then..." She paused to catch her breath, her smile turning a bit more mischievous. "Then you went off about broken women and wanting to save them. And that's when I knew: you're a total weirdo, dear Ryosuke!"
Ryosuke felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment, his eyes darting around in search of an escape from her teasing gaze. "What? No, that's not what I meant..." he stammered, flustered. "Well, maybe a little, but..."
Yuki didn't give him a chance to explain further. She made a theatrical gesture with her hand, still wearing that mocking grin. "Oh, don't worry! I'm not judging. Everyone's got their preferences, right? If you're really into women who've suffered, I guess you must be super into prostitutes or mean girls. They've probably been through enough to be 'broken,' like you said." She raised her eyebrows with fake seriousness, hands on her hips. "So you prefer those, huh? Good to know."
Ryosuke, completely floored by her teasing, didn't know where to hide. "No, that's not what I meant!" he exclaimed, flailing. "That's not what I was saying, I mean... Argh!" He buried his face in his hands, realizing he was only digging himself in deeper.
Yuki burst into laughter again, thoroughly amused by her nephew's confusion. Then, after a moment, she composed herself a little and stepped closer to him. She placed a warm hand on his shoulder, looking at him with a more affectionate gaze, though her smile still lingered at the corners of her lips. "Relax, Ryosuke. I'm just messing with you."
He looked up at her, still embarrassed, but this time with a hint of curiosity. "So... what do you think, Auntie?" he asked finally, his voice hesitant. "About what I said, I mean."