Back in my room, I changed into my school uniform and sat on the edge of the bed. I found myself spiraling into deep thought about the chaos of the last few days.
'Between yesterday and today, why do I keep getting caught up in these kinds of situations? It's like they're all just looking for a chance to mess with me. And every time they do, some disaster follows.'
"What am I even supposed to do? Is my reaction really that entertaining? Even when I try to stay stoic, it's hard to just brush it off when they catch me off guard like that."
'They're all good people, but their constant teasing is going to be the death of me.'
No matter how much I racked my brain, no solution presented itself. Frustrated, I ruffled my hair aggressively and collapsed face-first onto the bed. After rolling around for a bit, I remembered my earlier plan to take a walk and sat bolt upright.
'Maybe getting some fresh air will clear the fog in my head. There's no point in rotting in this room when I'm this agitated. I need to move.'
I headed out immediately, leaving the dormitory behind and walking slowly toward the training grounds.
"It's been a while since I've just walked without an objective. I don't know if I'm finding answers, but my heart feels a bit lighter, at least."
I had circled the grounds twice when I saw someone emerge from the main building, warm up briefly, and start into a steady jog.
"Huh? That's Yaga-sensei. Does he usually run at this hour?"
I adjusted my path to intercept him. Realizing I was there, Masamichi Yaga slowed his pace and came to a halt in front of me.
"Touya? This is a surprise. I didn't expect you to be awake at this time."
"Haha... my eyes just happened to open early. I figured I'd come out for a walk and enjoy the dawn air."
Yaga-sensei's eyebrow twitched slightly before he gave a curt nod.
"I suppose so... you were out on a mission yesterday. You must have gone to bed early out of exhaustion."
"Ah, yes. That's right. I turned in much earlier than usual, so I woke up ahead of schedule. Do you always—wait, huh?"
Before I could finish, Yaga-sensei reached out and grabbed my arm, cutting me off.
"Never mind the talk. Since we've run into each other, you're coming with me. Run. Now."
Pulled along by his firm grip, I was forced to start moving my feet just to keep from tripping.
"Wait... Sensei. I have to run too? I haven't done any distance running in ages..."
"Yes. If you have any fault, it's the fact that you crossed paths with me. Blame yourself for waking up early for a stroll."
I let out a heavy sigh but adjusted my pace to match his. Only then did Yaga-sensei let go of my arm. We ran in silence for a while before he finally spoke up.
"Touya. Why do you think I wake up early every morning for a run?"
As I was choosing my words while maintaining my breathing, he continued his thought.
"In truth, for Jujutsu Sorcerers like us, running is often considered an inefficient exercise. Don't you agree? If you're going to condition the body, focusing on raw strength is usually better. Unless a battle turns into an extreme war of attrition, cardio rarely dictates the outcome. So why do I always do it?"
"Well... I think it's a form of mind control. By never neglecting basic discipline, you're honing your mental fortitude and willpower. It's a way to maintain an attitude of never giving up, regardless of the situation."
Yaga-sensei, running beside me, let a small, satisfied smirk pull at the corner of his mouth.
"Excellent. As expected of my student. You understand perfectly. This is exactly why you're my favorite. But Suguru, Satoru, and Shoko..."
His smile vanished instantly, replaced by a dark expression as his fist began to tremble with suppressed frustration. I laughed awkwardly and put a bit of distance between us.
"Haha... I'm sure the others have their own ways of thinking. It's just that my opinions happen to align with yours more often, which is probably why you feel that way."
Yaga-sensei exhaled a weary sigh and continued.
"Regardless, I run every day to prevent myself from becoming complacent. As you know, I fight using Cursed Corpses and puppets. You and Suguru also use mediums that distance the self from the core of the fight. The fact that you don't neglect physical conditioning despite that is highly commendable."
"Is it? Haha... that's a bit embarrassing. I just think of it as a necessity. People usually assume a shikigami user is weak once you get past their summons. Of course, I'm not weak because I have a great teacher."
"A good mindset. You can rest when you need to, but never let go of your edge. Especially with your Ten Shadows Technique—since your shikigami are so overwhelmingly powerful, it's easy to think, 'I don't need to train myself further.' But the moment you stop personal conditioning is the moment your growth as a sorcerer hits a ceiling."
I nodded at his advice.
"Yes, Sensei. I'll keep that close to my heart. But you know I'm quite fond of lying in bed... so you'll understand if I take long breaks sometimes, right?"
At my playful remark, Yaga-sensei closed the gap between us and aimed a mock kick toward my shins.
"You little... Of course I won't!"
I dodged his footwork and playfully sprinted ahead. We continued like this until Yaga-sensei reached his target distance and finally stopped.
"That's enough. We've covered my usual route. Follow me."
'If we're done running, shouldn't I be heading back?'
Puzzled, I followed him to a vending machine, where he bought two drinks and tossed one to me. He sat on a nearby bench and patted the spot next to him. I took the seat.
"Is there something else you wanted to talk about?"
Just as I cracked open the lid to take a sip, Yaga-sensei spoke in a disturbingly calm voice.
"Tell me. Are you and Mei Mei in a relationship?"
I couldn't believe my ears. I reflexively sprayed my drink into the air before hacking out an answer.
"Pfft—! Cough... Sensei. What on earth are you talking about?"
Yaga-sensei's eyebrow arched again.
"What? You aren't? I assumed since I saw the two of you heading off on a date yesterday..."
"No. It's nothing like that."
"I see. Good. Just... choose the women you associate with carefully. If you're going to meet someone, look for someone like Iori, not someone like Satoru."
"Hahaha... you sound exactly like a worried father."
"Well, wouldn't you feel the same? When you're surrounded by problem children, the one sensible student naturally gets more of your affection. Anyway, as long as it's not like that, fine."
He stood up and gave a casual wave as he walked away, then stopped to look back one last time.
"By the way, there hasn't been any word regarding your next mission today. I'll let you know once something comes in."