Yuta and Rika were walking to school. This stretch of road didn't have many vehicles; it was mostly sidewalks, so even though they were both only 11 years old, they wouldn't normally encounter any danger.
As top-tier childhood sweethearts, the atmosphere surrounding them completely lacked any tsundere-like ambiguity, only the warmth of pure love radiated outwards.
Was this... an early romance?
According to Huaxia's standards, Yuta and Rika were undoubtedly in an early romance, and a very serious one at that.
But in reality, the concept of 'early romance' only exists in Huaxia. The country Chinatsu was currently in, along with various European and American countries, did not have this concept.
"Yuta~ The exam is in a few days; have you been studying? If there's anything you don't understand, you must ask me, you almost failed your last exam~"
"Don't worry! This time I've made full preparations. I believe my grades will definitely improve greatly. We've agreed to go to the same middle school in the future, and I'll definitely catch up!"
Yuta Okkotsu clenched his fists as he spoke. Although his tone wasn't brimming with confidence, it exuded a determination to push himself and succeed.
They had long agreed to attend the same middle school, high school, and even university in the future, but Rika was an academic overachiever, while Yuta's grades were quite ordinary.
If things continued this way, for them to attend the same school as promised, Rika would have to compromise and attend a lower-tier school. But Yuta also had his pride.
Recently, he had been studying diligently, listening attentively in class, and working hard on practice tests at home. A mysterious power named "Pure Love" surged through his body, filling him with fighting spirit.
Looking at Yuta Okkotsu in such a state, Rika simply smiled faintly. If Yuta Okkotsu's grades were truly too poor to get into a good middle school, she would definitely follow him. However, she originally didn't plan to do nothing.
If Yuta Okkotsu consistently failed to show motivation in his studies, Rika intended to use her own methods to supervise Yuta's learning and get him motivated.
Compliance was not indulgence. Rika loved Yuta, which was why she hoped Yuta could move in a better direction, rather than fall into decline.
They walked their usual path to school. Not long after, they stopped before a traffic intersection. The red, yellow, and green traffic lights flashed, and the two quietly waited for the light to turn green.
Yuta Okkotsu stood still. Perhaps it was due to too much study pressure recently, but he felt that his body... his mental state had been a bit strange lately.
For example, even when he was alone at home, he would occasionally hear strange things, sounds that weren't quite human but also not quite animal.
He once suspected that something in the house was broken and making those noises, but after searching around the house, he couldn't find anything broken. In desperation, he could only conclude it was auditory hallucinations.
If it were just that, it would be fine, but sometimes he also felt that his eyes were acting up; one moment he seemed to see something, and the next it was gone.
"Is it because of too much stress lately...?"
Yuta Okkotsu muttered uncertainly to himself, his mind immersed in his own world. His gaze was fixed on the distant traffic light, but he didn't notice that it had already turned green.
"Come on, come on, it's green!"
Rika said, habitually glancing left and right. This habit was often emphasized by both elementary school teachers and parents, and Rika didn't take it lightly but diligently followed it.
However, sometimes danger couldn't be avoided so easily. Rika had only taken a few steps forward when a car suddenly sped from the right side of the road. The driver's eyes were somewhat unfocused, and he reeked of alcohol.
Through his hazy vision, he saw the red light for his direction at the intersection. Subconsciously, he knew he needed to step on the brakes, but his body, affected by drunkenness and somewhat out of control, stomped hard on the accelerator instead.
Facing the crosswalk and the red light, the black sedan not only didn't slow down but suddenly accelerated. This sudden change stunned the drivers who had stopped in other lanes, obeying traffic laws.
And by the time the black car's driver realized something was wrong, the car was less than one or two meters away from Rika in the crosswalk. It was too late to brake.
Rika turned her head, her eyes wide with fear, watching the vehicle speeding towards her. Yuta Okkotsu, standing still and witnessing the scene, widened his eyes.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze. Scene after scene of bloody fantasies appeared in Yuta Okkotsu's mind, only to be fiercely rejected by him.
As time flowed to the next second, the out-of-control black car flashed horizontally past Yuta Okkotsu's vision, ultimately crashing directly into a nearby building.
The vehicle was practically flipped over on the spot, and even the building's wall had a deep crater smashed into it. Thick black smoke erupted from the car, and there were even crackling electrical sparks and tiny flames.
But these were not the things Yuta Okkotsu wanted to focus on now. His dazed and trembling gaze remained fixed ahead, on the spot where Rika had been standing.
There was no blood splattered from Rika being hit and thrown, but neither was Rika herself present. His chest involuntarily sank, his mind completely engulfed by the name "Rika."
A look of despair appeared on his face. Not only his pupils but his entire body trembled slightly. The immense Cursed Energy originally hidden within him was drawn out by this negative emotion, releasing aimlessly outwards.
Generally, people with Cursed Energy abilities awaken between 4 and 6 years old, but Yuta Okkotsu was an exception.
Perhaps due to incomplete initial settings, or perhaps because Yuta Okkotsu himself was so special, he was already on the verge of awakening, and at this moment, he broke through the limit.
"Calm down, young man."
A hand rested on his shoulder from behind. Yuta Okkotsu turned around, his pupils trembling, to look behind him.
From his perspective, Rika stood unharmed behind him, and beside her stood a suspicious woman about 1.8 meters tall, wearing sunglasses.
Chinatsu lowered her head slightly, tilting her sunglasses downwards to reveal her azure blue eyes.
"Let's get acquainted. My name is Gojo Chinatsu."
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