Miwa sighed as she leaned on her katana.

"I might be useless for real," she said, sighing as she lifted her sword up.

It was a few days after the sister school event with Tokyo. Miwa was still down on herself after getting her $$ beat by Maki, before getting put to sleep by Toge. . . where she then stayed asleep for the whole battle against Hanami.

Needless to say, these were demoralizing on their own, let alone all at once on one day. Add that to her abyssmal strength level(weakest sorcerer in her school with the exception of Mai and the new first year) and the pressures from her financial situation, and you get someone who is currently reassessing her job choice.

I got complacent in my weakness. Yeah, we fended the curse off this time, but . . . what happens when they fail? When I have to defend myself?

I need to get stronger than this. How to do it though . . . Oh I know!

Miwa brightened up.

I'll get some new techniques from the New Shadow school! I'm sure they're new avenues I haven't looked at or noticed. Yeah, if I learn more techniques, I'm sure my strength will naturally get stronger.

. . .

"What do you mean your not teaching me anything?"

"Exactly that. You're too weak to learn any new techniques," the headmaster said, screwing of the cap of an Apple J.

"They're not enough! I'm falling behind faster than I already was!", Miwa said as she sat down, feeling a new level of despair.

"Hey," the headmaster said, with a look of pity. "That's your fault for being weak."

At this point, something snapped in Miwa.

"Yeah, well if it's my fault for being weak, what do you want me to do, huh? No one teaches me anything, my peers look down on me, and apparently I'm too weak to improve my situation!"

"Well," the headmaster said, now looking sheepish, "I-"

"You're the only one who told me that I didn't require a type of curse technique or power!" Miwa said, jumping up from her seat with tears in her eyes. "But that was a lie, apparently, since I don't even meet the fucking baseline!"

"Well . . ." the headmaster opened his mouth only to get cut off.

"Enough! I'm done with people telling me what I can or can't do without telling me how to pull myself up! I . . ." Miwa choked up a bit, dimly aware of her cursed energy starting to flare up and expand.

"I want to be more than just a liability!"

The headmaster mulled over her words for a bit, slightly uncomfortable. Finally he sighed a bit. "You're right. I shouldn't have patronized you like that, regardless of your strength. However, I still can't teach you everything with your cursed energy density and physical prowess as it stands."

"Headmaster," Miwa said, "Is there at least a library for non-clan curse techniques?"

"Hmm," the headmaster thought for a bit, "Yes, but . . ."

"What?"

It's Zenin clan territory. You can't really find it without a clan member."

Miwa's frown eased into one of relief. "That's more than enough. Thanks, headmaster."

"Ay, anytime, Miwa. Just, come by once in a while, ok? Gets lonely."

"Will do, Headmaster!"

"Wait, how will you . . .?" the headmaster started, but Miwa was already gone.

. . .

"Eh . . . it's . . ."

Miwa looked at the library from the outside.

"Pretty run down, no?" Mai said from the outside of the library.

"Yeah . . . hey why aren't you in the building with me?"

"Don't need it," Mai said.

Besides, they wouldn't let me in here anyways when I was here, doubt that's gonna change, Mai thought to herself.

"If you say so, Mai. I'll be out in 30 minutes."

"Ok."

Entering the library, Miwa found out that the inside was surprisingly clean. The shelves were ordered, and there were even small chairs around. Behind the library was a training yard, although she had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to use it.

In the back, there was a person, a little woman, she realized, whose had half of her face scarred to purple, dark blue hair in a bun. She was sleeping.

"Um . . . excuse me?" Miwa said cautiously, which caused the lady to jump up, as if she was awake all along.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" Miwa exclaimed.

"No, no, it's cool, I just-" the lady paused for a bit, looking her up and down. "I didn't expect people to actually come here."

"Well, um . . . must be lonely."

"It is!" The lady exclaimed, smile on her face. "The head doesn't care about the library, and the tradition is the only thing stopping him from destroying it. Everyone's become increasingly focused on their curse technique because of Gojo, if they haven't become complacent."

"I see." Miwa said, a bit put off by the lady's abundance of energy. "Well, I'm looking for sword techniques, so . . ."

"Ah, it's on the second shelf to the left.

"Thank you, Ms. . . ."

"Call me Indigo."

"Thanks Ms. Indigo!"

Sword Creation

Creates a sword stronger than regular swords. Someone with this as an innate cursed technique will be stronger than one without that uses it(i.e. someone with creation as an ability that uses it that way.).

Miwa thought about it for a bit, before putting it in her bag.

It's cool, but I feel like that it'd be a waste of energy. Maybe as a last resort, or maybe I can shorten and lengthen the size, which would make it a pretty great weapon, even if I can't use it for long.

Turning to the second technique pamphlet, she read it before beaming.

Energy Slash

Coat a blade in cursed energy before slashing, resulting in a highly lethal and dangerous wave of energy. Damage depends on the cursed energy, however just enough usually provides sufficient results. MUST coat the blade.

At this, Miwa beamed. This was perfect for her! She jumped up and almost ran out, before remembering that it was a library.

"Hey, Ms.?"

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering who I should go to borrow this from."

"You see the state of this room?" the library lady waved her hand around. "You could take both of them if you want and never return them, if you'd like."

"Wouldn't that put it in a worse state?"

"Miwa," Indigo said, "I appreciate your kindness, but I have two things to say for you. One, the library was made in such a way that a copy is created after 21 days."

"Oh," Miwa said.

"And two, that kindness will get you killed in this world."

"I know, but . . ."

"What?"

Miwa sighed, then paused before saying her next words.

"I was a fan of this American rapper, J. Cole. Still am, but that's beside the point. There was this line from one of his songs, I can't remember which. It said that, 'this one thing you do, don't let them taint your soul.'

"I don't want to taint my soul, just yet at least. I want to get as strong as possible, yes, but, even if it's a bit selfish, I want to keep my humanity," Miwa said, slight smile on her face.

"Huh. Well, I'll always be here if you want more knowledge. I'm rooting for ya, kid."

Miwa beamed. "Thanks Ms. Indigo! I'll come back to return these!"

"You don't have to kid!" Ms. Indigo smiled back.

As Miwa walked out, she noticed that Mai was scowling a little at her.

"Um, are you okay, Mai?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here before the curses come."

"You know, you shouldn't be afraid of them."

"Yeah, well for the most part we as a species shouldn't be afraid of the dark, but here we are."

"Ehe . . ."

"Ok, so just envision the sword, and it should form in front of you, or in your hand," Miwa said to herself in her dorm. She hadn't felt like doing the energy slashes by the time she got back from the compound, and the sword creation just seemed more convenient to practice on at the time.

Closing her eyes, Kasumi pictured it in her head. The scarlet red-white diamond patchwork, the ellipse hilt, and finally the silver-like sheen of the steel metal. However, when she opened her eyes, there was nothing.

Kasumi tried again. Still nothing.

30 minutes later, and she was crying silent tears, exhausted and no sword in sight. She couldn't understand it in a way that makes sense. When she tried, she would get the image in her head, but when actually channeling curse energy, the cursed energy picture was blurry at best.

Disheartened, she rolled into bed, ready to give up and just listen to music as she tucked in for the night (as I should be, I'm typing this at 1:46).

However, because she was still using Spotify and hadn't discovered the joys of Musi, it switched from 'Let Her Go' to 'Cut my Lip' from Twenty one Pilots.

I'll keep on trying
Might as well
If you decide
That all is well . . .

"Yeah . . . I guess I have to keep on trying, huh?" Miwa thought to herself.

Had Miwa known what she would've accomplished and what she would become, who knows what her reaction would be. Likewise, we cannot see future Miwa's reaction to past Kasumi, except when reminiscing. However, this song made it all possible, at least for her subconscious.

What would change this poor, unfortunate soul with two brothers? She would not notice. You will simply have to see for yourself, dear viewer.

"I'll keep on trying . . ." Miwa mumbled to herself, falling asleep to the song's calming influence, where she would wake up later to fight and train another day.

Until she was shocked out of her skin when it switched to grandson, because unlike Musi, mobile Spotify doesn't have a repeat button.