The next day, Yukino didn't show up to school. She had requested leave in advance, citing that she wasn't feeling well.
"Yukino didn't come today?" Mai asked curiously, noticing the absence. She looked over at Ryuji, who seemed unusually casual about the whole thing.
"Yeah," Ryuji responded easily. "She's resting today."
"First, you were out yesterday. Now, Yukino?" Mai raised an eyebrow, her suspicions clearly rising.
Ryuji just chuckled, giving her a playful knock on the head. "Don't overthink it, Mai. You've got more important things to focus on, like actually learning how to use cursed energy."
"I'm trying!" Mai pouted, rubbing her head. She had been putting in the effort, but sensing cursed energy wasn't coming as easily to her as she had hoped.
Just as Mai was about to complain more, Hana suddenly exclaimed in excitement.
"I did it! I finally sensed cursed energy!" Hana shouted, her face lighting up with pride.
"No way…" Mai stared in disbelief. Hana, the girl she had least expected to succeed first, had beaten her to it. "You've gotta be kidding me…"
Before she could process her shock, Miko raised her hand calmly. "I think I've got it too."
A faint light-blue glow appeared at her fingertips, marking her success as well.
"…"
Mai stared at her friends in silence, feeling utterly defeated. Of all people, how did she end up the last one?
Ryuji chuckled at her reaction but didn't say anything. He just gave her a knowing look. Mai, feeling the pressure of Ryuji's gaze, quickly turned back to her practice, her face set with determination.
"I'll get it today, just wait!" she muttered to herself, now more motivated than ever.
Ryuji, amused by her resolve, turned his attention to Yotsuya and Hana, both of whom were clearly thrilled by their progress.
"Well done, both of you," he said with a nod of approval. "Sensing cursed energy is the first step, but now the real training begins. Control, focus, and application. You'll need all of it."
The thing about Cursed Energy is that it's always hardest in the beginning. Once you manage to condense a bit of cursed energy, everything starts to flow more easily."
Everything is hard at the start.
It's the same as how going from 0 to 1 is much harder than going from 1 to 100.
Starting from nothing is always the most difficult part.
But once you have something to build on, things will naturally become easier.
"Hm!"
Hearing Ryuji say this, both Hana and Miko obediently nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Ryuji, are you sure everything was fine yesterday?"
Miko knew why Ryuji had taken a day off, but even though he was standing in front of her perfectly fine, she was still a bit concerned.
"Don't worry!"
Seeing Miko's worried look, Ryuji smiled and waved dismissively.
"Didn't I say? I'm really strong!"
Ryuji's confidence made Miko giggle softly.
"I'll do my best to help you, Ryuji-kun!"
Miko wasn't someone who craved power. She wasn't desperate to get stronger, but recently, she had been trying to build up her strength so that when Ryuji faced danger, she could at least help him.
Not necessarily fight by his side.
But at the very least, she didn't want to be a burden.
"And me! I'll help too!"
Hana, who had been standing quietly beside them, suddenly raised her hand and shouted excitedly.
Her innocent personality meant she probably didn't understand the full weight of her words.
But it didn't matter.
The thought itself was enough.
Ryuji wouldn't force them to do anything, so he just smiled and gently patted both Miko and Hana on the head.
"Take it step by step, no need to rush with your training."
"Yes!" they both responded seriously, nodding their heads.
Originally, they were eager to take advantage of the moment they sensed a bit of cursed energy and continue practicing, but just then—
"Ryuji! Ryuji!"
Saki came running in, her face beaming with excitement.
Following behind her was a girl in a high school uniform. She didn't seem shy at all. In fact, she looked around the room curiously as soon as she entered.
"Ryuji! I found someone who experienced something strange!"
"..."
Is it really okay to be this excited about someone else encountering a cursed incident? She probably just saw this as a chance to make some money.
Ryuji didn't let it bother him. Instead, he glanced at the girl Saki had brought with her.
Her appearance was average, nothing that stood out.
But in a place like Tokyo, makeup was so common that even a plain-looking girl could be transformed into something else entirely with a few layers of foundation.
Of course, Ryuji wasn't concerned with appearances. What truly caught his attention was that the girl didn't give off any cursed energy or negative aura.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked Saki, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course!" Saki replied, looking indignant, as if Ryuji had doubted her abilities. "Riko herself told me about it, and she seemed really serious!"
Saki had been struggling to find anyone who had experienced something supernatural. But as soon as she left the classroom earlier, she overheard someone talking about a strange event they'd gone through. Excited, she immediately asked the person if it was true, and when they confirmed it, she wasted no time bringing them over.
That person was, of course, Riko.
"So, what happened exactly?" Ryuji asked, still somewhat skeptical but willing to hear her out.
"Well…"
Riko wasn't shy. She immediately started explaining her situation.
Initially, Saki looked hopeful, excited about finally having a case to solve.
But as Riko kept talking, the expressions of everyone else in the room slowly started to change.
By the time she finished her story, Saki's face was frozen in disbelief.
Miko and Hana, who had been curious, couldn't help but glance at Saki.
Was this really what she meant by a strange event?
The issue wasn't anything supernatural.
It was what Riko said next:
"Every time I see him, my heart starts beating faster. I dream about him all the time. When I don't see him, I miss him so much. I just want to be with him forever. What do you think? Do you think something weird is happening to me?"
At the end, she looked at them expectantly, waiting for their validation.
The boy Riko was referring to was just a classmate of hers.
Ryuji didn't say anything.
A strange event?
No, this was just a textbook case of someone being head over heels in love.
"This… this is what you meant by a strange incident?" Saki asked, her mouth twitching in frustration. If Riko had said it was just a crush from the beginning, Saki wouldn't have dragged her here and embarrassed herself. She glanced at Ryuji and the others, wondering if they were silently laughing at her.
"What's wrong?" Riko asked, clearly not understanding what the problem was.
"If I wasn't possessed by a ghost, why would I be following him home in secret? There's definitely something off. It's like something's taken over my body!"
"… No, you're just being a stalker! That's not possession."
"Well, technically, a stalker," Ryuji thought, but didn't say out loud. After all, she was a girl. They'd probably label her something less harsh.
"I'm sorry. This isn't something I can help with," Saki sighed, clearly embarrassed. "You should probably just go."
"How could this be?! I really thought you could help!" Riko pouted, clearly unhappy, but eventually stomped her feet and left.
With that, the strange little episode ended, leaving Saki sitting at her desk, utterly defeated.
"Ugh, life..."
"Enough already, don't let it get to you," Ryuji said, not making a big deal out of it. Even if it was a ridiculous situation, it was just one of those silly moments in life.
"Well, anyway, the real cursed events haven't fully spread yet. But soon, more people will come to ask for help."
"Really?" Saki perked up at the idea, but then quickly realized something.
If more people come asking for help, doesn't that mean more people will be in danger? What kind of person am I, hoping for that to happen?
"Whatever, I'm over it," Saki grumbled, waving her hand dismissively.
"But speaking of which, doesn't Ryuji-kun seem a little different today?" she asked, suddenly noticing something.
"What? Have I become more handsome?"
Ryuji smiled casually.
"Handsome? I don't know about that, but you're definitely as shameless as always!" Saki joked, laughing.
"Brat!" Ryuji chuckled. He enjoyed these little moments. The higher one's strength, the lonelier things became. Compared to endless battles, Ryuji preferred these peaceful, everyday interactions.
There were still a few days before the weekend, and for now, Ryuji didn't have much to do.
"Strange, though. Why hasn't there been any news from Jujutsu High?"
They had been so desperate for help, but in the past few days, it was as if something had come up. They'd gone completely silent.
"They couldn't have been attacked, could they?"
It wasn't impossible. Even though Jujutsu High was protected by the barriers set up by Master Tengen, those who knew Tengen well understood that he wasn't as infallible as people thought. He had tricked special-grade sorcerer Yuki Tsukumo, leading to her death. He had lived for thousands of years, and while that was impressive, he was still just an old conman at the end of the day.
"Eh, whatever. It's not my problem as long as it doesn't affect my life."
Over the past few days, Kitagawa, who had always been cheerful and outgoing, had become much quieter. She used to be lively in class, but now she barely spoke.
Having seen a cursed spirit with her own eyes, it was only natural she'd be affected. No matter how carefree someone was, witnessing something like that would leave a mark.
"Marin?"
Her friends, noticing her dazed expression, approached her with concern.
"Are you alright? You've been so quiet lately."
"Did something happen?"
Marin hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just shook her head.
"It's fine. I'm okay."
Even though Utahime had said she didn't need to keep the existence of cursed spirits a secret, what was she supposed to say? "Hey, did you know monsters are real?"
Sometimes, it was better not to know certain things.
"What is that?"
During lunch, Marin saw Ryuji walking outside the classroom. Her face immediately turned cold, and she stood up as if to confront him, but by the time she reacted, he had already passed by.
Her classmates noticed too.
"Hey, wasn't that Ryuji?"
"Yeah, that's him! He got top marks on the exams!"
"He's amazing!"
"And kinda cute, don't you think?"
Watching Marin's reaction, some of the girls started teasing her.
"Wait, do you like Ryuji-senpai?"
Marin's reaction hadn't gone unnoticed.
"I knew it! You're so bold, Marin!"
"Wow, go for it!"
"If you like someone, you should go after them with everything you've got!"
"Yeah! Don't give up!"
"__"
Marin was about to say something, but her words were drowned out by the lively conversations around her.
Watching her friends gossip as if no one else was present, Kitagawa could only sigh helplessly.
"You guys aren't even listening to me."
"I haven't said a word, yet you've already imagined some dramatic love triangle in your heads!"
Forget it.
Unable to refute them, Marin sat back down, letting her friends continue their enthusiastic discussions.
In truth, her recent changes in behavior really were because of Ryuji.
After witnessing everything that had happened that day, Marin had wanted to find Ryuji at school and ask him about the cursed spirit.
But when she got to school the next day, she realized something important.
Although they attended the same school, she didn't know him. They weren't friends, so why would he answer her questions?
And besides, his attitude toward her had been pretty cold that day.
"This is so confusing!"
She wanted to approach him, but she was also a little scared.
Though, even Marin herself didn't fully understand what she was afraid of.
Was it that Ryuji might ignore her again? Or was it something else entirely?
Unable to figure it out, Kitagawa's expression grew even more troubled.
"Sigh…"
She let out a quiet sigh.
Ryuji, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on in Marin's mind. Even if he did, he probably wouldn't care.
The weekend soon arrived. Ryuji had promised Yumiko earlier in the week that they would go on a date, so he politely declined the invitations from Utaha and the others.
There was plenty of time to hang out with them in the future, but since he had promised Miura first, he intended to keep that promise.
He was confident in his decision.
"Hurry up and help me pick a dress! How do you think this one looks?"
The usually confident and assertive Yumiko was a little flustered now. She had invited her best friends, Yui and Hina, over to her house to help her pick an outfit for tomorrow's date. Holding up a dress for them to see, Hina examined it closely and gave her opinion.
"How about going with a school uniform look? You've got a great figure, Yumiko. It'll suit you perfectly. I'm sure Ryuji will love it too!"
"Really?"
Yumiko didn't think much about it.
She had a variety of styles in her wardrobe, and after hearing Hina's suggestion, she quickly grabbed a school uniform outfit and changed into it.
"How's this?"
"You look gorgeous!"
Seeing Yumiko in her new outfit, Hina nodded in approval.
No wonder Ryuji seemed to like Yumiko the most out of their group. There was definitely a reason for that.
"What do you think, Yui?"
Yui, who had been daydreaming, snapped out of her thoughts when her name was called. She quickly nodded.
"You look beautiful! Ryuji will definitely love this look on you!"
"Really? Haha!"
Yumiko was thrilled by the compliments from her friends and couldn't help but laugh in delight.
Watching Yumiko so happy, Yui's face fell slightly. "How great would it be if I were the one going on a date with Ryuji?" she thought.
Hina, noticing Yui's change in mood, said nothing but made a mental note of it.
"Ryuji mentioned not to stay out after dark, so you can both sleep over here tonight," Yumiko offered, glancing at the darkening sky outside.
"Okay!"
Neither of them objected.
They had already let their parents know they'd be staying over, and it wasn't the first time they had spent the night at Yumiko's house after staying out too late.
"There's only one guest room set up at the moment, so I'll go clean up another one."
Yumiko's family was well-off, and their house was big enough to accommodate guests. However, they only kept one guest room prepared at a time, so Miura started getting ready to clean a second room for Yui and Hina.
"It's fine!" Yui quickly stood up, seeing Yumiko about to get up as well.
"I'll clean it up myself—" she began to say.
But Hina interrupted with a grin. "Why don't Yui and I just share a room?"
"Huh???"
Both Yumiko and Yui were taken aback by the suggestion.
"I'm feeling a little spooked about sleeping alone these days. It'd be better if Yui could keep me company. You don't mind, do you, Yui?"
Hina's tone was casual and natural, leaving no room to argue.
"No, I don't mind at all!"
Yui was naturally a bit shy, and she didn't see a problem with it either. After all, they were both girls, and it was only for one night. Yui quickly agreed.
"Alright then, let's get ready for bed!"
Later that night, they lay down in the room. It wasn't a typical bedroom setup, but rather two futons laid out on the floor, spaced far apart from each other.
Yui tried her best to fall asleep, but every time she closed her eyes, her mind filled with thoughts of Yumiko and Ryuji on their date tomorrow. She couldn't stop picturing them together, looking happy.
She tossed and turned, unable to relax.
"Are you jealous?" Hina's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"???"
Yui jolted, startled by Hina's sudden question.
"You're still awake?"
"Yeah, just like you, I'm a little jealous," Hina replied honestly.
"I-I'm not jealous!"
Yui's voice was muffled, clearly defensive.
"There are only the two of us here. It's okay to be honest."
"..."
Feeling exposed, Yui finally gave in.
"I guess I am a little jealous of Ryuji-kun," she admitted quietly.
Yui had no idea Hina was thinking the same thing.
"What's so strange about that?"
Hina's tone was casual, as if there was nothing unusual about having feelings for the same person as their friend.
Yui felt herself letting her guard down.
"But Ryuji-kun is already going to be with Yumiko."
It was pointless to keep liking him, wasn't it? Yui couldn't imagine herself ever doing something like trying to steal her friend's love.
"So what?"
"???"
Yui was stunned by Hina's straightforward response.
She turned to look at her, eyes wide with disbelief.
"How bold!"
She had never realized that Hina was this kind of person.
"But wouldn't that be wrong?" Yui stammered. "Yumiko's our friend. I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"What are you even talking about?"
Hina rolled her eyes at Yui.
"Do you really think I'm that much of a villain?"
"Well...!"
Yui was hesitant to fully trust her, but before she could voice her concerns, Hina cut in.
"I'm not talking about ruining anything. Do you really think one Yumiko is enough for someone like Ryuji?"
"What do you mean?"
Yui was confused.
Hina smirked. "I overheard Ryuji once. He's planning to 'expand the family.' You know, like a legacy."
"Expand the family?"
Yui didn't find the idea strange. In Japan, family inheritance and legacies were important, especially for people with unique abilities like Ryuji. But she wasn't sure what Hina meant by it in this context.
"What do you mean by 'expand'?"
It took Yui a moment, but then it hit her.
"Wait… you mean—?"
"That's right!"
Hina smirked, watching Yui slowly piece it together.
"If Ryuji wants to expand his family, one Yumiko isn't enough. And if we have kids with him first, our positions in his family would be higher."
"K-Kids?!"
Yui panicked at the thought, her mind racing as she imagined having children with Ryuji. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became, her face turning bright red.
"..."
Hina was amused by Yui's reaction, even though she wasn't entirely sure what to say.
"Th-That!" Yui quickly tried to compose herself. "Why are you telling me this?!"
"Because I like Ryuji-kun too," Hina said, without any hesitation.
"..."
That wasn't exactly what Yui had been asking. "If you like him, that's fine. But why tell me?" she thought.
Hina must have picked up on Yui's confusion because she explained further.
"It's not a secret. But honestly, I don't think I stand much of a chance if I'm on my own."
Though Hina was pretty, she was also realistic. She knew Ryuji had plenty of admirers, and she wasn't the only one.
"So, I thought we could team up."
"Team up?"
Yui was dumbfounded.
Her reasoning wasn't wrong. Hina had chosen Yui because she was pretty, but also because she wasn't cunning. Hina, with her high emotional intelligence, didn't want to constantly compete with more manipulative girls. Yui was trustworthy, at least.
"But I don't think I can do this!" Yui admitted, lacking confidence.
She had always been a bit insecure. She wasn't as beautiful as Yumiko, nor as clever as Hina. She didn't believe she had any real chance.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You have your strengths over Yumiko too."
"Huh? I do surpass Yumiko in some way? What do you mean?"
Yui looked down at herself, not understanding what Hina was getting at.
"Of course!" Hina nodded confidently, her eyes subtly lowering to Yui's chest.
"You've got something that Yumiko doesn't."
"…!!"
Yui realized what Hina was talking about and quickly crossed her arms over her chest, her face turning crimson.
Hina couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.
"Come on, it's not that big of a deal. Everyone has something special, and yours just happens to stand out a bit more."
Yui, still flustered, didn't know how to respond. All she could manage was a weak, "But..."
"So, do you want to team up with me or not? Think about it carefully, this is your future we're talking about. Do you really want to just stand by and watch while someone else gets everything? Are you okay with never having a chance with Ryuji for the rest of your life?"
"My... whole life…"
Yui fell silent, considering Hina's words.
The thought of spending the rest of her life watching from the sidelines, smiling through her disappointment while Ryuji and Yumiko were happy together... It was unbearable.
"I... I agree!"
At last, Yui nodded, her face flushed but resolute.
"Perfect! I knew you'd come around!" Hina smiled triumphantly.
"So, what should we do now?" Yui asked, still unsure of what came next.
"Well, for now, we don't need to do anything. Just wait for the right moment."
"Wait for an opportunity?"
Before Yui could ask more, Hina had already laid back down, getting comfortable on her futon.
"Don't worry, we're still young. There will be plenty of opportunities. Just remember, when the time comes, don't be afraid to go for it!"
Yui's face flushed again at the thought. "Go for it?" Could she really be bold enough when the time came?
"I'll... I'll try my best!"
She nodded to herself, as if convincing herself more than anyone else.
Obviously, Yumiko had no idea what had happened.
In just one night, her two close friends had become a team, and their target was none other than Ryuji.
After finally getting through the night, Yumiko got up early the next morning to get dressed.
"Yumiko!"
Hina and Yui had also woken up around the same time.
"How'd you sleep?" Yumiko asked casually while applying her makeup.
"Great!" Hina said cheerfully.
"Me too!" Yui chimed in, though her voice was a bit more hesitant than Hina's. She wasn't as composed as her friend, feeling a bit flustered for some reason.
But Yumiko didn't notice anything strange. Her mind was entirely focused on her upcoming date with Ryuji.
"It's getting late. We should head back. Good luck on your date with Ryuji!" Hina said, giving Yumiko an encouraging smile.
"Thanks!" Yumiko smiled brightly, waving them off.
"Let's go," Hina whispered to Yui, giving her a knowing look before leading her out.
"Uh… okay!" Yui responded, still a bit out of it as she followed Hina.
As for the date itself, Ryuji took Yumiko to the same couple's restaurant he'd visited before with Utaha and Eriri.
Why? Well, it was simply the only couple's restaurant he knew.
"The atmosphere here is amazing!" Yumiko remarked happily, clearly impressed with the choice of location.
Seeing Ryuji take her to a place meant for couples made her heart flutter with excitement. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, and she couldn't help but take in the romantic setting.
After they sat down, Yumiko leaned toward Ryuji and whispered, "I feel like the waiter's looking at us a little strangely…"
Ryuji, without missing a beat, leaned back and pretended to think for a moment before giving her a confident answer.
"Maybe it's because you look stunning today," he said with a smirk.
"Really?" Yumiko's heart practically melted at the compliment, much more than if it had come from one of her friends.
"Let's order," Ryuji suggested.
"Hmm," Yumiko nodded, flipping through the menu. She was so caught up in her excitement that she didn't notice Ryuji's subtle glance toward the waiter.
The waiter recognized Ryuji immediately. He had served him before with different girls, and while the waiter was professional, it was clear he had taken notice of Ryuji's… habit. Still, he smiled politely.
Yumiko ordered two dishes, and Ryuji ordered two more, then he casually pulled out a thick stack of bills.
"Let's switch up the music," Ryuji said with a relaxed smile as he handed the money to the waiter.
The waiter's eyes widened for a split second, but his smile didn't falter. With that much cash, he would've switched the entire band, let alone just the song.
"Understood, sir," the waiter replied, flashing a grin. He leaned in and added, "You and your wife make a beautiful couple. I'll make sure the music fits the mood."
Ryuji just waved him off, letting him handle it.
Yumiko, however, was left stunned. Wife? Did that mean…?
Her heart started racing at the thought, and she felt like it might leap out of her chest. She glanced over at Ryuji, half-expecting him to correct the waiter, but to her surprise, he didn't seem to mind the title at all.
"What's wrong?" Ryuji asked with a playful smile, noticing her dazed expression.
"N-Nothing!" Yumiko stammered, trying to calm herself.
But she couldn't. The thought of being called Ryuji's wife… was exhilarating.
After a brief pause, Yumiko finally gathered her thoughts. "Wasn't that tip a little too much?" she asked, remembering the sizable stack of bills Ryuji had handed over.
"It's fine. As long as you're happy, it doesn't matter how much it costs," Ryuji replied smoothly.
To him, money was nothing more than a number. If he wanted, he could have people lining up to give him money. Spending a little to set the mood was no big deal.
But for Yumiko, hearing that made her heart swell even more. She looked at him with shining eyes, utterly smitten.
"Ryuji…" she whispered, her gaze softening as emotions welled up inside her. At that moment, she didn't care about the food, the music, or anything else. All she wanted was to be with him.
Still, she managed to keep her composure. There would be time for that later.
After lunch, Ryuji took Yumiko to a few places to enjoy the day. They visited parks, arcades, and a few shops. While Ryuji was indifferent, Yumiko had an absolute blast. It was a perfect day for her.
As the sun began to set, Yumiko suddenly turned to Ryuji, her voice a bit quieter than before. "It's getting late… maybe we should find a place to rest?"
Her face flushed as she looked at him expectantly.
Ryuji raised an eyebrow, already understanding her meaning. With a smile, he replied, "Sure."
But just as they were about to head off, Ryuji's attention was caught by a figure sitting on a nearby bench. He stopped walking, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hmm?" Yumiko followed his gaze and spotted the girl sitting on the bench. She had two-toned hair—half yellow, half black and her head was lowered, making it hard to see her face. Still, she seemed familiar.
"Ryuji-kun!" Yumiko suddenly pouted, her voice tinged with jealousy. "You're looking at another girl?"
Ryuji chuckled, tapping her on the head lightly. "Relax. They're just sorcerers I've met before. Let's go check on them."
"Wait, they're sorcerers?" Yumiko blinked, now more curious than jealous.
Following his lead, she walked with him toward the girl on the bench.
As they approached, Ryuji recognized them immediately. It was Nanako and Mimiko, the twin sisters who had followed Geto Suguru.
But they looked different now. Broken, desolate. It was as if the life had been drained out of them. They sat there, motionless, like hollow shells of their former selves.
"Long time no see," Ryuji greeted them casually, but there was no response.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced around. "Geto Suguru isn't here, is he?"
Nanako and Mimiko flinched at the mention of Geto's name. Slowly, they looked up, tears welling in their eyes.
"Master Geto…" they whispered, their voices trembling.
"I see. So he's dead," Ryuji muttered, piecing together what had happened.
Geto must've finally challenged Jujutsu High and failed. Without the ability to use domains, it was inevitable. He probably underestimated his opponents, or maybe he pushed too hard, too soon. Either way, his end wasn't surprising.
The twins burst into tears again, sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of their master.
Yumiko, though not entirely understanding the situation, could tell these girls had lost someone dear to them. It tugged at her heart. She instinctively tightened her grip on Ryuji's arm, worried that one day, she might end up in their position—crying over him.
"Don't worry," Ryuji whispered to her, sensing her anxiety. "I'm the strongest."
His voice was calm but filled with certainty. And for Yumiko, those words were enough.
"No! Master Geto was the strongest!" Nanako and Mimiko protested, their tear-streaked faces filled with grief.
"Well, he's dead now, isn't he?" Ryuji shrugged, not wanting to argue with them in their current state.
He sighed, then asked, "What are you two going to do now?"
The twins looked at each other, their expressions filled with uncertainty. "We don't know… Master Geto told us not to seek revenge, even if he died."
They were lost, with no clear path forward.
"Maybe that's for the best," Ryuji said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You wouldn't survive if you tried to go after Yuta or Gojo anyway."
Nanako and Mimiko glared at him through their tears, but they couldn't argue with the truth.
"You'll live. That's something," Ryuji added before turning to leave.
The twins didn't reply. They just stood there, their expressions hollow.
As they walked away, Yumiko looked up at Ryuji, her eyes filled with admiration. "You're really amazing, Ryuji-kun."
Ryuji just smiled. "Let's go."
With that, they left the scene behind and headed toward the hotel.
---
The next day, Yumiko didn't show up at school. As expected, she had taken the day off to rest.
"Hey, Ryuji!" Yui greeted him cheerfully when he arrived at school. "Where's Yumiko?"
Hina, standing beside her, gave Ryuji a knowing look. "Yumiko didn't come today, huh? Guess you were a little too powerful last night."
Ryuji just grinned, deciding to play dumb. "Are we talking about exorcism? Yeah, I'm pretty good at that."
"Yes, yes, you're really good at exorcisms," Hina replied, clearly teasing him. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she exchanged a glance with Yui, who seemed oblivious to the underlying joke.
"Yeah! Ryuji-kun is super strong!" Yui nodded enthusiastically, still not catching onto Hina's teasing tone.
"..."
"What I mean by that is definitely not the same as what you're thinking."
Yui's pure and naive response left Hina momentarily speechless. But when she thought about it, it made perfect sense, Yui's innocence was one of the reasons she and Hina got along so well.
"Hahahahaha!" Ryuji suddenly burst into laughter.
Yui, not understanding what was so funny, laughed along with him, her carefree nature as bright as ever.
Hina, on the other hand, gave Ryuji a sly smile.
"Success! I finally did it!"
During lunch break, the excited cheers of Mai rang through the service club room.
"I finally sensed cursed energy!"
That's right, after so much effort, Mai had finally managed to extract a small amount of cursed energy. Now, it was just a matter of accumulating more over time.
"..."
Ryuji glanced over at her but didn't say anything. He wasn't one to heap praise on minor achievements, especially considering how long it had taken her.
Saki, however, couldn't help but snicker.
"Tch, what's there to be so excited about? Miko and Hana mastered this a while ago."
"That's different!" Mai immediately shot back, unwilling to accept being compared.
"You don't understand how hard it is until you've done it yourself!"
"Pfft."
Saki rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "As if I care."
To be fair, both Mai and Saki had been a little envious of Miko and Hana's progress. Even Yukino had once felt the same way, though things had changed for her.
Yukino glanced at Ryuji, a small smile forming on her lips. She was no longer envious, not anymore. Whether she had cursed energy or not didn't matter, her life with Ryuji was already perfect, and there was nothing more she needed.
"Ryuji!" Saki, now the center of attention, grabbed his arm with a bit of playful frustration.
Her expression said it all: "When is it my turn?"
"Don't worry," Ryuji said, waving his hand casually.
"I've already figured out which cursed technique could give ordinary people like you the chance to become sorcerers."
Since Geto Suguru was no longer around, it was only a matter of time before the four disaster-level curse spirits appeared. Ryuji just needed to locate Mahito and trigger his Idle Transfiguration technique.
If it didn't work the first time, he'd try again. If it failed ten times, he'd try twenty. He was determined to make it work.
"Ah… achoo!"
Meanwhile, far away on a beach, Mahito suddenly sneezed.
"What's wrong? Catching a cold?" a woman with long, pink hair asked with a smile, her voice gentle despite the grotesque scar running across her forehead that ruined her otherwise beautiful face.
"Idiot, curse spirits don't catch colds," Jogo grumbled, glaring at Mahito. But even he was curious as to why Mahito sneezed.
Hanami stood off to the side, quietly observing, while Dagon floated serenely over the sea, enjoying the ocean's presence, the place he felt most at home, being a curse spirit born from humanity's fear of the ocean.
"It's nothing," Mahito said, grinning mischievously. "I just felt like someone was talking about me. But who cares?"
He waved it off. He was, after all, a special-grade curse spirit, born from humanity's fear of each other. In terms of potential, Mahito was perhaps the most powerful among the four disaster curses.
Unfortunately, potential alone doesn't guarantee strength. For now, Mahito still had room to grow.
"It's good you're alright," the pink-haired woman said, her eyes narrowing slightly. Despite her calm demeanor, there was something eerie about her.
She wasn't a curse spirit herself, but her power was undeniable. Jogo remained cautious, squinting at her with his large, single eye.
"So, when do we begin this plan of yours?"
Not too long ago, the woman had approached them with an offer to cooperate. After a brief skirmish, the curses agreed to work with her, though not without suspicion. Jogo, especially, was wary, but for the sake of achieving their goal of curse domination, temporary alliances with humans were tolerable.
"Soon," the woman said with a cryptic smile. "I just need a new body first."
Her name was Kenjaku, the mastermind behind countless conspiracies over the centuries. Using the Brain hopping technique, she could swap bodies and live indefinitely.
Currently, she was inhabiting the body of Itadori Kaori, Yuji's mother, and was preparing to initiate a plan that would reshape the world. It was no coincidence that Yuji Itadori, the future vessel for Ryomen Sukuna, was born as a result of her machinations.
Kenjaku, with all her schemes and her ability to implant her brain into others, had already decided her next target: Geto Suguru's body. The plan was to use Suguru's body to control cursed spirits, and more specifically, to obtain Mahito's Idle Transfiguration technique.
"Once I have Geto Suguru's body, the real fun will begin," Kenjaku said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
But there was still one significant obstacle: Gojo Satoru.
"Aren't you worried about Gojo Satoru?" Jogo asked, his voice low and menacing.
They had all learned about the human world's most powerful sorcerer, and even for a curse, Gojo was a threat.
"Yes, he's troublesome," Kenjaku admitted with a sly smile. "This generation's Six Eyes user is far stronger than the previous one. If I were to fight him head-on, I'd likely die."
"Hmph! Strongest sorcerer, my foot. I'll deal with him when the time comes," Jogo boasted, full of confidence.
Kenjaku didn't argue, her smile widening. "Let him try," she thought. "If he's foolish enough to challenge Gojo, he'll learn the hard way."
As far as she was concerned, the curses were mere pawns in her grand scheme. All she truly cared about was Mahito's technique, which would pave the way for her ultimate plan.
"Well, I'll be off to retrieve that body now," Kenjaku said, leaving the beach without another word.
---
Back at the school, Ryuji sat with the girls, who were all staring at him expectantly after his earlier comment.
"Are you sure it'll work?" Saki asked, looking hopeful but still a bit skeptical.
"Of course," Ryuji said confidently. "It might take some time to locate the right target, but I'll handle it."
"That's enough for me," Saki replied, smiling. "Take your time. If it's too dangerous, don't push yourself."
The other girls nodded in agreement. For them, Ryuji's safety was the top priority. Becoming a sorcerer was a distant second.
"Hahaha!" Ryuji laughed, clearly amused by their concern. "You all worry too much. Didn't I tell you? I'm the strongest!"
His confidence was infectious, and the girls couldn't help but smile back, reassured by his words.
"Speaking of which…" Mai suddenly raised her hand, her voice small and a little hesitant. "I finally condensed cursed energy. How about a little praise, huh?"
The room went silent for a moment before everyone burst into laughter, lightening the mood even further.
"Yeah, yeah, congratulations," Ryuji said, though his tone was a bit dismissive.
"How perfunctory!" Mai puffed her cheeks, clearly displeased with his lack of enthusiasm.
"Come here," Ryuji said, waving her over.
Despite her annoyance, Mai immediately walked up to him, eager for some recognition.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Ryuji gently grabbed her face.
"Let's not forget, you were the first one I taught how to channel cursed energy, and you were the slowest to get it. Don't go bragging about it just yet."
"W-Wha…?!"
Although Ryuji wasn't using much force, Mai whimpered pitifully, pretending to be hurt. Once he let go, she stared at him with mock resentment.
Deep down, though, she had to admit that Ryuji had a point. Maybe her talent wasn't quite on par with the others, and that realization stung.
Seeing her dejected expression, Ryuji softened. He didn't want to crush her spirits.
"But hey, all that aside, I'm proud of you for sticking with it and finally succeeding."
Hearing Ryuji's gentle tone, Mai's face turned bright red.
"W-Well, it wasn't that hard…" she muttered, suddenly flustered and unable to meet his eyes.
"Just you wait," she added, trying to sound more confident. "I'll surpass both Miko and Hana soon enough!"
Ryuji smirked, finding her determination cute.
"You'd better hurry, then," Saki chimed in with a smirk. "If you're not careful, I'll catch up and leave you in the dust."
"Why you—! You wanna go?" Mai snapped, immediately on edge.
"Bring it," Saki replied, equally fired up.