DISCLAIMER:

I do NOT own the Oregairu and Jujutsu Kaisen series as they are respectfully owned by the creators and studios.

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TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY

September 14

7:32 AM

"Okay... let's analyze everything carefully..." Haruno walked back and forth in her bedroom while holding her chin. "Miyamoto Mei and that old man she was with are sorcerers. I know their secret, and they found out. But, two strangers carried me back to my limousine... it wouldn't make sense if they're on that woman's side. They must be the guards Gojo assigned to protect us... So if kidnapping was really the intention, did that woman really need to talk to me? Is it provocation? Some kind of warning? Some cursed technique that has some requirements to meet? What other angles am I not seeing here?"

She sat on her office chair.

"What am I missing?... the guards... surely she took that into account. And yet, it didn't seem to be the case since I'm still in one piece. And from my earlier talk with Mother, it seems nothing happened unless it was all in the dark."

She stared down at the screen of her phone.

"Gojo hasn't responded to my calls... What could he be doing right now? Obviously one of them would be taking care of Hikigaya... That's it."

Haruno straightened her back.

"Why did Miyamoto Mei tried pulling this off in the first place knowing what would happen if Gojo finds out?... Does she have some sort of countermeasure?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Sooo~, how was the party?" Satoru asked in a playful tone while standing on top of a railing. He jumped and landed on a chair to sit on it with a small round table in front of him. Sitting across the table was Mei, who was drinking a cup of coffee. Her long silver hair was left straight loose, being blown from the gentle wind. She wore a white, semi-fit T-shirt and a black binding lounge shorts. Meanwhile, Satoru wore his signature jujutsu uniform and blindfold. They were outside of a balcony on the top floor of a building.

"It was wonderful." Mei answered while smiling. "The food and beverages were exquisite, and I got to make so many interesting friends."

"By interesting, you mean rich." Satoru folded his arms together and turned to look at the view. "If money is the only thing from a person, they'd be boring as hell."

"True, but that also means they are easy to manage."

"Yeah, I could definitely imagine how you'd light up their dull world. No denying the fact here that you're a beauty."

"If it's not from you, Gojo, I would've taken that as a genuine compliment."

"What? I'm not being sarcastic here."

"Half-sarcastic, half truth."

"... Do you think that's an accurate ratio you just split?"

"How quick of you to admit your joke."

"I don't wanna keep this talk any longer, since we're both busy with our own problems..." Satoru turned back to the woman in front of him. "What are you trying to pull?"

"Hikigaya Hachiman." She said while resting her chin with her backhand and crossing her legs. "Now that is one special boy. Good with a sword, has a keen intellect, and great cursed energy. Such talent is rare nowadays..."

"Uhuh..."

"It would be a shame if someone that amazing is dead..."

"Very bold of you to say that right in front of me."

"Indeed, I am."

"Which means you have some kind of countermeasure against me."

"... You see, I've noticed how you developed a soft spot for Hikigaya-kun. I found it suspicious the moment you bribed me to be your personal surveillance camera for the boy's training. Why did you give him the special treatment? How could he be the first step to your plan B when he appeared and act like a normal boy? What did you see in him?" Mei took another sip of the coffee before putting it down on the table. "Then, of course... there was the abnormal surge of curse activity here in Chiba city, along with the immediate accusations against him. That right there, was where I started to see the truth slowly..."

"Hoooh?" Satoru rest his cheek on his left fist.

"He is the cause of that surge, isn't he?" Mei's smile grew larger. "Tell me. Is he a vessel like Itadori Yuji? Something that's part of his cursed technique that could hide the cursed spirits from our awareness?"

"That I don't know."

"Playing dumb, are we? It doesn't matter... to me, at least. What would the old fossils say after hearing about this?"

"You're gonna need evidence for that. While they really want to get rid of Hikigaya, they can't do it without a valid reason. If those geezers decided to just do it without solid proof backing their action, it would be seen as an act of contempt, rather than justice or whatever excuse they could think of. To me, I don't see it as any different from a crime of a curse user and everybody sees that."

"I see... evidence... you must've forgotten, Gojo-kun." Mei raised her hand slightly and then a few crows landed on the balcony railing. One chick flew slowly towards her and stood on her finger.

"Awwwwww~. That's so cuuuuute~!" Satoru pushed his cheeks while staring at the tiny crow with glee. "You used your cursed technique on this little fella so that no one would notice."

"I figured you entrust this prefecture entirely to very skilled individuals. If not, you would be more often to visit here. It is hard to control this particularly cute thing. I had to both regulate the cursed energy I'd imbue to hide my 'camera' from them while at the same time, maintain function in sharing each other's vision through my cursed technique. But in the end, I managed to capture a good angle of at least two of your secret friends."

"So you getting Yukinoshita Haruno drunk wasn't the only reason you were aiming at her. You were going after the ones protecting her." Satoru placed both of his feet on top of the small round table. "But are mere pictures of foreign sorcerers enough?"

"No, but they will get curious. It's rare to find a sorcerer not from this country. Instead of pouncing on their heads, I would just crawl like a parasite until they give in. Also, I hope you didn't forget they will use even the tiniest atom of advantage to push their propaganda. Instead of figuring out the truth, those stick-in-the-muds would come up with a different narrative that suits to their liking."

"It was the same thing when word about Miguel being associated with us. That got under their skin for a while. Sometimes I wonder if our dear seniors are racists or not." Satoru released a sigh. "You still haven't answered my question: What are you trying to pull?"

"... I want Yukinoshita Haruno's help." Mei caressed the baby crow's back. "Status, beauty, wealth, intellect, communication. She has all the capabilities necessary to accomplish perhaps anything. I want her talent."

"For what reason?" The blindfolded sorcerer put down his feet and leaned forward.

"Sorry." Mei apologized as she placed her index finger near her lips. "But that is a secret I'd rather not reveal to anyone."

"It's a personal one, huh? So basically, you want me to stay out of this using blackmail." He put his elbow on his lap and rest his cheek on his hand.

" One month." She raised her index finger. "Do not come to this place for one month, while I will protect her and her loved ones."

"Let's see... deal!"

"That's really quick."

"You have a problem?"

"... No. Not at all.

"Awesome! I'm a little relieved... but you know..."

"Hm?"

"Doing something that is not for money? That's really not like you at all." Satoru grinned before disappearing in a blink of an eye, leaving a bewildered Mei in the balcony. She stood up and walked back inside her apartment room as the crows flew away, including the little one. She looked around her room with a hand on her hip.

"No wonder it went far smoother than I imagined." She slid the glass door closed. "How did he know? Where did I slip up?"

Her eyes then laid on a newspaper on her desk with the cover that read: "High And Low Political Tides Change Party Dynamics."

"Ah... how careless of me." She picked up the newspaper and sat on her bed. "From the angle he was standing on the railing, he might've seen this. But figuring out my intentions just from looking at the cover?... No, it's more of a confirmation? Did he predict this kind of development from me ever since he introduced me to that boy?"

Yukinoshita Sisters: Part 3

The False Ray Of Sunlight

10:05 AM

Haruno sat in her office chair, staring at her phone on the desk in silence. There was not a single movement from her. All focus was on the device that looked like her salvation in her mind. Within minutes, she would fidget her feet up and down repeatedly. The next minute, she would continuously tap the desk with her finger in a moderately fast rhythm until she unlocked the phone. After not seeing a single notification on the screen, she went to the Line app to text Satoru for the hundredth time and when she sent it; she waited. Despite wanting to take action... Despite gritting her teeth from anxiety, Yukinoshita Haruno remained patient.

However, the patience Haruno desperately held was like a thread of a spider web. Too thin for a human to see without light, yet too strong for a tiny insect to escape. In this particular circumstance, she was both.

"... Why aren't you picking up, you useless piece of-!" The woman stood without finishing her words and dropped on her bed. "Come on..."

She sat up with her knees bent close to her body. After staring at the ceiling for several seconds, Haruno went to her closet to change her clothes. Just a simple belted dress consisted of a white top that had a scoop neckline and butterfly sleeves, and a ditsy floral, high waist skirt that had a flared hem. She hurried out of her bedroom and went downstairs to reach for the front door, but the moment she went past the living room, a voice called to her.

"Haruno?" Her mother called out her name. "Where are you going?"

"A walk?" Haruno answered without showing herself as she just stood still outside the room and out of the mother's sight. "It'll only take an hour."

"I see. Then is your schedule for the day full?" The maternal parent asked while walking out of the room to see her daughter's back.

"No, I'm completely free at the moment." Haruno turned around to face her with her signature smile. The mother remained stoic until the corners of her lips curved upward as well.

"Then make sure you keep your schedule open at 3:20 PM. There is something I want both of us to do."

"Oh... well, okay. I'm fine with that." Haruno nodded in agreement and stepped forward towards the door. "I'll take my leave then."

"Stay safe." The mother waved slightly at her, who didn't even look back before leaving. Once the door closed, she dropped her smile and held her chin. "No makeup?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

Haruno walked the outside world with only one destination in mind. Everything else was of little importance for now. The bustling of the surrounding people was ignored. When the traffic light for the pedestrian crossing glowed red, she stopped walking until it went green. When she bumped shoulders with a stranger, she simply muttered one word of apology and continued her way. All of Haruno's responses were subconscious, as if her body moved automatically and accordingly for every scenario. After turning to a corner, she saw her destination, which was a cafe. What caught her attention was the man with white-hair. She could only see his back as he sat on a chair and drank a cup of hot drink. Then, her phone vibrated and saw the name she was hoping to see appeared on the screen.

All a mere coincidence.

Without hesitation, Haruno answered.

"Hello?"

[Hello~! How was the party last night~!?] Satoru teased on the phone.

"It was a disaster." Haruno responded bluntly.

[Yeah... I heard.] He let out a sigh. The woman approached him until she was truly behind him. "You doing okay?"

"See for yourself." She said with a hint of anger in her voice. Satoru bent his head upward until he could see Haruno from behind.

"I'll take it as a no... Have a seat." Satoru offered and Haruno just sat across the table while looking down, not making eye contact with the white-haired sorcerer. "Excuse me, can I get another coffee?"

"No, just water is fine." She said to the server, and the latter nodded. Her eyes focused back on the sorcerer. "... What took you so long?"

"Just had a one-on-one talk with Hachiman. I'll be honest, he's tearing himself apart." He said with the tone of his voice lower.

"W-what?" Haruno loosened her fists as she finally made eye contact with a shocked look. "What happened?"

"Looks like his battle scars are starting to bite back." He tapped his index finger on his left temple. "Bad case of hallucinations, trauma. It's worse than we imagined."

"Where is he now?"

"Resting. Our doctor gave him medication and everything to hold back his auditory hallucinations. Honestly, if we didn't notice it sooner, he'd tie a rope around his neck."

"... Crap..." Haruno covered her mouth and looked down at the table. "Can't you get him out of there? Make him quit?"

"No can do. We discussed this so many times now. There would be trouble if we do that... Besides, he said he wants to keep working soon. There's still a lot of willpower in him."

"And how long do you think that'll last?! Next thing you know, when you get back there, he might be lying in bed with a cloth covering his face!" It took all of her effort not to stand up and shout. With gritted teeth, she grabbed the collar of Satoru's uniform. "You remember what I said a while ago... right?"

-0-

"If the time when he breaks comes, I'll kill you."

-0-

"And I also remembered you said you'd take responsibility..." Haruno tightened her grip on his piece of clothing. Some customers saw this and shared looks of concern.

"Excuse me." A male employee of the cafe confronted the pair. "Please do not cause a disturbance."

"... Sorry." She let go of the collar and drank her glass of water before smiling at the employee. "I'm very sorry, sir. It's just a banter gone wrong. We'll stop."

"That will be appreciated." With a bow, the employee left the pair to continue his work while blushing. The other customers followed suit and went on enjoying their time.

"You just made him have that 'love at first sight moment'. " Satoru commented, but the woman in front of him didn't respond after dropping her lips into a frown. As she stared at the water in silence, the white-haired sorcerer spoke after seconds had passed. "Yeah, I admit. I screwed up big time. I really want him out of Jujutsu Tech for his sake, but it's impossible without consequences. You don't want everyone to get caught up in this hell. Your sister, parents, friends... If something bad happens, who do you think Hachiman is gonna blame?"

"..."

"No one but himself. You need to under-"

"I do understand!" Haruno said with a quieter yet angrier voice while massaging the bridge of her nose until she covered her eyes. "Why is this happening? All this—... And now there's a bitch out to get me."

"First time I've heard you swear like that." Satoru placed his arm on the backrest of his chair. "You don't have to worry about her. She only wants your help."

"I refuse..." She responded while glaring at him. "I told you so many times that I don't want to be a part of this God-forsaken business."

"Right... and how many times did you contradict that statement, Ms. Hypocrite?" He argued in a deadpan tone. Haruno opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Her eyes slowly looked down while growing wider. Silence remained for five minutes as Satoru tried to speak, but closed his mouth to think of the right words to say after considering the woman's distraught. After releasing a sigh, he spoke. "On the bright side, you got to eat a ton of fancy food and got drunk with some good old wine, right? Oh, man I really wanna go for an alcohol right now. Maybe I should go for a whiskey? Nah, vodka might be good if I want to let myself loose."

"... Try Mars Koshu Sparkling." Haruno responded without eye contact. "Delicate, but exquisite at the same time because of the flavor of both lemons and limes exploding once it got in your taste buds."

"Heeeh~? Guess I'll try that. Thanks for recommending!" Satoru maintained that cheerful expression. "Look, the person you just met at that party last night is Mei Mei. She's a strong sorcerer with an obsession for money. From what I've seen, she's probably the greediest person in the world, willing to do any means necessary to grab a huge bag of cash. Basically, she's just as you called her. A bitch."

"From my conversation with her, she didn't approach me for money."

"Yeah, I figured. Her goal is something else, and it's probably not jujutsu-related."

"Sure it isn't. I'm positive this Mei person wants my phone number." Haruno said sarcastically in a blank tone. "Or maybe she wants to get with my father since he's part of our prefectural assembly."

"You are kinda close to the latter."

"Huh?"

"Mei's goal is to get involved with either the House of Representative election and the local elections. You obviously know about the governor of Chiba resigning, right?"

"Yeah, he said it's for health reasons, but we know that's a lie. Then again, if we look at it another way, his mental state is probably at his lowest. Pretty understandable with all the things that happened lately. A few other governors from their respective prefectures resigned as well, and one prefecture assembly got dissolved. And of all places, Miyamo—Mei Mei chose here."

"Now I'm not sure what EXACTLY she is planning, but it's most likely about that."

"Most likely, huh? Not 'really' or 'definitely'." Haruno sighed while leaning her back against the chair. "She knows about my knowledge on curses, their line of work. There's definitely something else going besides some politics."

"Nah, I'm pretty sure it's that. After the news spread about Hachiman, she probably saw hundreds of opportunities. From his achievements to his dedication to jujutsu." Satoru said nonchalantly and thought. "Like killing someone from a noble clan and got away with it, or maybe the fact that so many foreign sorcerers surround him. What result is a spark."

"So she's doing this thinking he'd make massive profits and wants him to share?" Haruno arched an eyebrow.

"Whether it's profit or something else, yeah... so relax. Just put up with her for now and you'll do fine."

"You can't just tell her to go away?"

"She knows that you know about Jujutsu, right? We don't want that to be exposed. I'm already in a binding vow to not come here once she started giving you work under the condition that she will take full responsibility to protect you and everyone else from harm."

"A full month?! Are you stupid?!" She hissed. "What if she won't follow those rules?"

"A binding vow is serious. If one of us breaks it, who knows what could happen?"

"And so you intend to tie her up so that she could behave even if it means tying yourself up along with her... And the guards?"

"They'll do their work as usual. The only thing you have to worry about is what kind of hassle Mei-san is gonna give you for her goal. Better hope it's not paperwork cuz that would be boring."

"I'd take paperwork over any other stressful job. By the way, did you know Mei's other identity?"

"Miyamoto Mei, the runway model. I didn't expect her to be invested in that sort of thing. Then again, it does suit her appearance-wise." Satoru held his chin. "So that's why she's been traveling abroad more often than normal... All I heard was that she was needed for exorcism."

"Her occupation is something she kept hidden, huh? Even from you..." Haruno folded her arms together. "If she has the ability to withhold that kind of information, then someone is backing her up."

"Katsunori. That one is the real trouble. He likes to make zen gardens, calligraphy, and even does pottery. A seriously dangerous guy..."

"How are those dangerous?"

"It'll bore everyone to death!"

"Well... it is a bit boring for me, too. But on the other hand, doing those things can be relaxing sometimes, you know."

"Of course you would know that, Ms. Rich Girl. Anyway, his skills as a sorcerer are nothing to laugh at. When it comes to stealth and finishing the job quickly, he's second to none. If the old man is serious, no one would notice him except me. So that's where you should place your trust on Mei-san, since her cursed technique involves sharing senses with crows. The more surveillance she put out, the less likely Katsunori would try anything."

"What are the chances those two are working together?"

"Eeeeh, thirty to forty percent?" Satoru stared at the sky while contemplating on his answer. "Just do what you gotta do."

"I see..." Haruno finished her water and thought in silence. "... Give me time to think."

"If you want time, ask her." He responded.

"Mei did say I can tell her anytime I want, but with a one month time limit, I might have to do it or else she might take drastic measures." She closed her eyes for a moment until she stood from her chair. "Thanks for everything."

"No worries, just treat me to Saize and we'll call it even." Satoru grinned.

"Why Saize, of all places?" Haruno asked with an amused smile. "I could instead treat you to something better, like Apollo or Alponte Due."

"Ooooh~! I'll take your offer then!"

"... Also, I'm sorry." She mumbled before leaving. That soft voice didn't escape the white-haired sorcerer's ears, however. As he watched her going further away, he slumped in his seat.

"... I should be the one who's sorry." After whispering those words, Satoru clasped his hands together, interlocking fingers, and teleported in a blink of an eye to a rooftop of a tall building. With one deep breath, he spoke in English. "You still know your priorities, right?"

"Yes, sir." Two voices spoke in sync. However, one person appeared behind him. He wore a black business suit. Under the black jacket was a yellow shirt with a vertical stripe pattern and two ties. One blue and one red. They were two people... but in one body.

They were conjoined twins, meaning that they were born with their bodies physically connected. The type they had was called the dicephalic parapagus when they had two heads, but only one trunk. A human with two heads.

"Can I ask?" The right head spoke in English as well.

"Yeah? Uh... What are your names again?" Satoru asked in confusion.

"Chadi." The head to their right spoke. He had a blonde crew cut and wore the blue tie.

"Samer here." The left head followed suit. He wore the red tie, albeit loosely, and had a black crew cut.

"Is it really a good idea to let yourself be tied to such a binding vow?" Chadi asked. "I feel like it is counterintuitive to do so."

"Yeah, it's fine. Once Mei-san tells that old geezer, he won't resist taking the opportunity, and when he does, keep a close eye on him."

"Is he doing something suspicious?"

"I have my suspicions... People with authority have more freedom than anyone, and that will get into their heads. Katsunori specifically, since he's one of the best at hiding either in plain sight or in the shadows. I can find him wherever he goes, but the issue is evidence. He's good at hiding that and without using jujutsu at all."

"What? He's that good enough to hide things from you?!" Samer asked in shock.

"I know right?!" Satoru nodded strongly. "It's seriously breaking my heart! Secrets here, secrets there! Why can't everyone be honest?!"

"You're the last person to say that..." Chadi mumbled with a deadpan voice.

"So, uh... What about Yukinoshita Haruno?" Samer spoke after regaining his composure.

"Mei-san will 'take over' your job from now on until the month ends. She's a one-woman security system. In fact, she could take over everyone's bodyguard duties, but that would be asking too much. She has a limit, after all."

"Wait, you said that sorcerer will tell her partner-in-crime." Chadi said while scratching his own cheek. "Your binding vow doesn't involve keeping this a secret to anyone?"

"Nope, cuz' if I don't, she might be more unpredictable. Mei-san doesn't choose sides based on some morals or principles, just on how much benefit it would give her, both in wealth and more." The white-haired sorcerer squat down on top of the parapet. "Then there's the issue with her using non-sorcerers... For now, she is still neutral, who's starting to lean a little to our side. She will be our best asset once she comes around."

"So that means she turned you into a messenger to Yukinoshita Haruno, because it is expected." The man with the blue tie mumbled. "Mei Mei wanted you to reveal more about herself while at the same time, tell her that she doesn't have much time to decide."

"I don't get it. Shouldn't she tell her that by herself? Why go the extra mile to let you do it?" Samer asked with a look of confusion.

"Would you tell an emotionally unstable woman that she 'doesn't have much time'?" At Satoru's question, they fell silent. "If she wants to use Haruno, the latter needs to be at her best. I guess I'm also Mei-san's negotiator and therapist too. Anyway, in short, your task is to observe Katsunori 24/7. You still got the gifts I gave you, right?"

"These Beating Stashes are pretty neat." Chadi praised as the two used one arm each to pull out the two small heart-shaped wood in their pockets. "We could just walk in front of their faces without being suspicious."

"Just keep them close to you and use it wisely." The white-haired sorcerer jumped onto the parapet and sat on it. "Those two are smaller than the original, since the only materials we could use were the pieces Hachiman shattered in his fight with Ogi and his two buddies. Those lesser versions you're holding have a six-hour time limit to absorb and ooze out cursed energy, and you only get a boost when you break them for just one second. Basically, for only one or two moves. Once time is up or you break them, they'll just be as normal as any wood."

"We'll manage... One last question."

"Go ahead." Satoru pulled out his phone and started texting.

"Why can't you just blast them away? It feels like we're wasting a lot of time." Samer moved his left shoulder to shrug.

If it's that easy, I wouldn't be doing all this complicated stuff."

"He's right, brother. For one, abusing one's power will be seen in a negative light." Chadi explained. "Killing him would stop whatever he's doing, but it won't accomplish your goal, Mr. Gojo, which is to overthrow the higher-ups."

"Oookay?" Samer tilted his own head in confusion. "If you want to take over, just get rid of them."

"I just said it won't do any good. Mr. Gojo's goal is to lead Jujutsu society in a better direction. Think, brother. What would people think if he rules everyone by committing a massacre?"

"I'd think he'd be cool."

"I didn't ask for your perspective."

"Hah... A tyrant, then?"

"Bingo." Satoru confirmed Samer's answer. "If we find out Katsunori is breaking Jujutsu laws, it'll damage the higher-ups' image. Even if they still hold authority, many of our sorcerers and the ones who side with the old geezers will have doubts. Just the smallest ripple in the water is enough. Besides, even if I just tell him to stop, he'd still do it, anyway. He's one of the most prideful out of all the higher-ups. Katsunori would rather die than do as I say. For an even stronger effect, it would be great if he got exposed by someone from our sorcerers and not me. That way, there won't be any biases or so many conspiracies."

"I really hate complicated stuff..." Samer released a sigh.

"Now for my actual last question..." Chadi narrowed his eyes, piercing him with a glare. "How far did you see all this coming?"

"Hmmm, let's see..." He touched his chin with the phone while staring up at the sky. "The results went as I expected. It's the process that left me shook. For one... Yukinoshita Haruno shouldn't have been caught up in this whirlwind. If that didn't happen, she and everyone else would be more safe, but..."

"So this Mei bitch targeting her is a miscalculation?" Chadi put his hand in his pocket.

"It really would've been much easier to find evidence if it's you doing it." Samer commented.

"He couldn't find any, remember?"

"I thought by showing her results of Hachiman's work while giving her tons of money, she'd give this idea a chance. I forgot that he's in a relationship with a daughter of a rich family. And that part is what pulled the trigger in her to act."

"You said that woman is a selfish, greedy slut who will do everything for money. How are you so sure she'd join our side?"

"Pretty simple..." Satoru stood and walked on the parapet until he reached the corner of the rooftop. He turned around to face the conjoined twins, who had confused looks after he answered: "She's a woman of Jujutsu society after all."

3:45 PM

"So this is what you had in mind." Haruno said in a seiza position in a tatami room. Her attire was a pink yukata with a golden obi around her waist that had a white floral pattern. In front of her was a circular bowl-like vase called a suiban and it had an olive color. There were other objects on the tatami mat such as a kenzan, a koryu-style hasami, and some flowers.

"This is something I've been doing yesterday instead of yoga." Her mother responded while also sitting in the same position and had the same things she had. She wore the signature purple yukata she had always used. "I remembered my aunt used to do Ikebana, so I began having an interest in making this a hobby. The practitioners here were good friends with her, so she often came to this specific place."

"'You seem to be stressed, but you won't say anything. Let's bond as mother and daughter and let me help you relax.'... is what she's trying to say." The daughter looked down at her materials and then lifted her head to gaze at her parent smiling, which she returned with the same expression and then looked outside, pretending to enjoy the garden. "I can understand why. The atmosphere is peaceful, so it goes well with Ikebana's several aspects in regard to health. Then again, I never explored this kind of hobby, so I'm not sure how I would do well."

"'I know what you're trying to do, and I'm thankful for it. But I'm fine now'... is what she's trying to say." The mother thought as she grabbed the branch of a Japanese maple while placing the kenzan in the center of the suiban. "Don't be nervous. Just watch and learn, and you will do fine just like you always have been."

"... Right." Haruno's slight hesitation to respond caught her parent's attention.

"The last sentence was a mistake." The mother placed the Japanese maple on top of the suiban's lips to measure the length, then used the hasami to cut the branch diagonally to make it sharp. The length became one and a half times the length of the suiban's diameter. After that, she pushed the now pointy tip of the branch into the kenzan so it would stand tall. Haruno followed her action, choosing the orange flowers called the quince blossom as the subject stem called 'shin'. She measured the length by putting it on top of her own suiban's lips and cut the branch diagonally to have a sharp end. Then, just like her mother did, she pushed it down into the kenzan for it to stand tall.

The daughter raised her head to watch her mother submerge a stem of a lavender into a small bowl of water and cut it with the hasami, but not diagonally like she did with the branch. After that, she pushed the end of the stem into the kenzan, placing the stem of flowers right beside the branch of Japanese maples. Haruno noticed the rose was cut quite shorter than the branch. She looked down to contemplate on what she would use as the secondary stem or "Soe", and chose an erica flower, sinking it into the small bowl of water and cut it. Then she placed it on the kenzan right next to the quince blossom, but a little in front of it.

Haruno looked up once again and watched the maternal parent submerging several stems of red carnations the same way she did with her lavender and cut them, but much shorter than the lavender. She placed at the very front in the middle, which hid the stems of the two previous flowers that was attaching to the kenzan. The daughter folded her arms inside the sleeves of her yukata, staring at the flowers she had until she picked up the bluebells as her object stem called "Hikae" and put them into the bowl of water for her to cut them. She put the bluebells at the very front on the right side, just enough to hide the stems of her two other plants attaching to the kenzan.

When Haruno looked up, she noticed her mother staring at her work and smiled before going back to her own ikebana. The daughter's lips curled up as she watched her mother continued working. She noticed how her mother was looking at her Japanese maple from different angles until she grabbed the hasami to cut a small branch off the main one, thinking there were too many of them. Haruno checked at her own while holding her chin to see if she should cut more or not. Firstly, she bent the quince blossom slightly until it leaned a little to the left. Then, she pulled the erica off the kenzan and cut it slightly to be even shorter than the subject stem, but still the second tallest plant while bending it to the side. After a few seconds of consideration, Haruno put down the hasami and went back to her mother to find out the next step.

Her mother started cutting and placing three stems of succulents, two on the right and one on the left. Haruno mimicked her, choosing the same plant, cutting and placing it in the same way. Once they both finished, both parent and child remained silent as they began staring at their own work. Haruno appeared to be proud of how her Ikebana went nicely. With a sigh of relief, she saw her mother, who had her eyes closed.

"Mother." She called out to her. "Thank you for inviting me. I never felt this relaxed in a while."

"I see..." The mother smiled while eyes remained closed. "You know how art conveys the artist's work, yes?"

"I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge."

"Your grandmother told me so many stories about her and father. Before they were even considered as lovers, they didn't get along well. The start of their conversations were often just a game of insults, arguing like children and such. If there was one thing everyone was glad of, it was that they never escalated with their fighting, always keeping it immature. Mother and Father didn't have a close bond, but there were those rare moments where they relied on each other, but with one minor problem..."

"... What?" Haruno leaned forward in interest.

"Ahaha... they weren't good at putting things into words." The mother chuckled.

"Ah... Pfft, that sounds like a certain young couple I know." The daughter stifled her giggle.

"I think the same as well. Though, the difference between those two and your grandparents is that the latter were literally throwing insults as if they had tantrums. Anyway, when they relied on one another, father and mother found it difficult to let out honest words to reach an understanding. That was when your grandaunt suggested that they do Ikebana. They communicate through the process of the art, using our language of flowers, the Hanakotoba, and symbolisms."

"... So what we're doing right now is..."

"Just a simple conversation between us, mother and daughter." From those words, Haruno looked back and forth between her own Ikebana and her mother's. She rewound the entire process of making their artworks today in her head and tried remembering the symbolisms and the Hanakotoba.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Mother's Shin: Japanese maple. Symbolizes strength, endurance and balance.

"Be strong, Haruno. Whatever it is you are dealing with, you can do it."

"Haruno's Shin: Quince blossom. Symbolizes endurance towards hardship and coping with a tough adversary.

"Just having a hard time with something. I'm fine."

Mother's Soe: Lavender. In Hanakotoba, it means faith.

"Have faith in me."

"Haruno's Soe: Erica. In Hanakotoba, it means solitude.

"I can do it on my own. Don't worry."

Mother's Hikae: Red carnation. In Hanakotoba, it means familial love.

"Just know that I love you, my daughter..."

Haruno's Hikae: Bluebells. In Hanakotoba, it means gratitude.

"Thank you for everything."

Their final plant: Succulent. Symbolizes timeless love.

"I love you for eternity, daughter."

"I love you always, mother. Forever."

-0-0-0-0-0-

"What... the..." Haruno straightened her back with a look of shock. "I... I didn't do it intentionally."

"I thought so. Even someone as smart as you wouldn't read between the lines of art." The mother stood and approached her. "It happened to father as well. He knew a few Hanakotoba and symbolisms of plants, and yet he was somehow able to hold this kind of conversation without knowing it. I know you are knowledgeable about flowers and such."

"But... how?"

"Perhaps it's the subconscious mind in the works."

"Subconsciously... My body moved on its own without realizing it?... I just... chose these flowers on a whim. I didn't give much thought to their meanings."

"That's one of the wonders of art, dear. When you pour emotions into your work, they tend to become a physical embodiment of yourself. When you saw my feelings behind these flowers, you responded by doing the same without thinking. You allowed yourself to be honest, even if what you've shown is vague. If one can't release their emotions through a certain mean, they are bound to be released elsewhere.. Sometimes, the results are not positive for people."

"Mother... I..."

"I'm glad..." The mother bent both knees to kneel on the tatami mat and combed away strands of her daughter's hair. Haruno just sat still as her own cheeks were touched by her mother's hand. "I'm glad that you were honest here... I still don't know what troubles you, but I know you are struggling. When you can finally use words to tell me, I will be there."

"..." Haruno just stared at her for five seconds before turning her gaze to the garden outside and then went back to her mother with trembling lips. For one second, the daughter looked down on the floor until she faced her again. Haruno opened her mouth, gritted her teeth in frustration, and then with closed eyes, she wrapped her mother in her arms.

"Haru... no." The maternal parent froze in bewilderment. She raised her arms, hesitated for a moment until finally returned her daughter's affection with an embrace of her own. The two remained that way, letting each other's warmth comfort them as the mother began caressing Haruno's head. Seconds passed into a minute, and time continued to move forward. Meanwhile, they stayed in each other's embrace, apparently unaffected by the marching of time. Sadly, that proved to be wrong once Haruno let go first. Both parent and child stared at each other's eyes in silence, smiling at the results that were brought by the former's invitation for this activity.

"I need to go..." Haruno told her with a newfound resolve. With one breath through the nose, the parent put both hands forward on the tatami mat while lowering her posture to bow.

"Come back safely..." That was her only word to her daughter, which the latter stood and left the room. Once she heard the door sliding shut, the mother sat up and gazed at the Ikebana Haruno made. "Yukino... Haruno... I should have done this with you both sooner."

5:48 PM

In a huge and luxurious apartment room...

Sprinkles of hot water fell from the shower as steam slowly began to build up the room. Mei Mei let the water rinse her entire body to remove the fatigue and sweat. Then she rubbed her head with shampoo and used soap to wash away whatever bacteria or other irritants from herself. After enjoying a wonderful shower, she came out of the bathroom wearing only a red bathrobe long enough to reach below her knees, and her head was wrapped in a white towel.

Mei grabbed a small bag of green tea leaves and dropped a tablespoon of those leaves into the kyusu teapot. After that, she poured two-thirds cup of hot water with an electric kettle and closed the lid on top of the kyusu teapot, waiting for it to brew for two minutes until she did a second steeping of water for another twenty seconds. Once the brewing was complete, Mei poured the green tea in her yunomi cup and sat on a sofa chair to watch in a wide flatscreen television. The moment she took a sip of her hot drink, her phone rang. The number of the screen was unknown to her, but she smirked nonetheless.

"Hello, Haruno-san?" Mei answered the phone.

[Good evening~. Ah, how did you know it's me?] Haruno responded in such a joyful tone.

"The instinct of an opportunist."

[What's that supposed to mean? Some magic power?]

"I'm not one to use my power for such a trivial matter. So, I take it that you want to have the private conversation?"

[You left me on a cliffhanger that got me bothered for an entire day. Take some responsibility! Geez~!]

"I want to keep you in suspense, after all. And it sounds like curiosity is taking over you. When and where do you want to meet?"

[We can do it tonight if that's okay with you. And the place iiiiisss~... Hmmmm~... How about your place?]

"Oh? Are you sure you want to come to a place of someone like me?" Mei raised an eyebrow while wearing an amused smile.

[As in someone like a hot runway model? Obviously! Or am I overstepping?]

"Not at all. Tonight then? Maybe at seven o'clock?"

[Sure, sure! See you soooon~!] That was Haruno's last words before the call ended. Mei's smile faded when she leaned forward while carelessly waving the phone back and forth. She closed her eyes the moment she tapped the device on her chin. After a few seconds, the silver-haired lady turned to gaze at the orange sky as the sun began to set.

"She sounded way different from our first encounter... She almost sounded like..." Mei exhaled sharply and stood from her sofa chair with the yunomi cup of green tea in her hand. While finishing her hot drinking, she walked towards her closet and opened it to reveal a variety of clothes. She pulled out a green dress that had a short skirt, but put it back in. Mei pointed at the hanging clothes one by one to decide until she chose a red long sleeve with a turtleneck. She put down the cup on the table and then pulled out a pair of jeans. She removed the towel wrapped on her head as well as her bathrobe to wear her chosen attire. After getting dressed, Mei put on an apron to start cooking.

Firstly, she preheated the oven. While waiting, she used her cursed technique to control seventeen crows to fly around her apartment until each of them found a spot to stand and watch. Some of the crows she commanded were on top of the streetlights, while others stood on the trees' branches and rooftops of buildings. All act as surveillance.

She let out the ingredients: a bowl full of puff pastry sealed in a plastic wrap, cheddar cheese, a jar of spiced tomato and caramelized onion chutney, ham and an egg.

Mei cooked the ham first and cutting it. Once that was done, the oven was preheated as well after twenty minutes. She rolled out the puff pastry and grated the cheddar cheese into a bowl. Then, she spread the spiced tomato and caramelized onion chutney all over the sheet of puff pastry until it had an even coverage. After that, the silver-haired lady put a few hot sliced ham on top, sprinkled the grated cheese as well, and cut the pastry into about two centimeters wide lengths. Next, she rolled each length of pastry into swirls, placed them all on a non-stick baking tray and washed their top with a beaten egg to put them in the oven. After about thirty minutes, the swirls became golden brown for her to pull the tray out and used the kitchen tongs to put them on a plate.

Mei sat back on her sofa chair after preparing the food, leaning against the backrest with eyes closed. Sharing the visions of her crows, she checked the alleys, roads, and the entire surroundings of her apartment. So far, she only saw vehicles moving and people she couldn't care less about. All the deepest, darkest corners were within her sights, all thanks to her power. It went on for thirty more minutes until she finally spotted a black limousine on the road driving towards the front of the apartment. A grin formed on her face when the vehicle stopped and the door to the backseat opened, revealing Haruno in her pink yukata as she went out of the limousine.

The silver-haired lady combed her hair straight and tied it into a ponytail. The doorbell rang, and she opened the door to greet.

"Good evening, Yukinoshita-san." Mei spoke.

"Hello~! It's good to see you again!" With such a cheerful expression, Haruno did a small wave. For unknown reasons, a chill went up in Mei's spine, but she maintained composure.

"Come in. I just finished baking puff pastries." The silver-haired lady stepped aside as her guest entered the apartment room. "Why the yukata, by the way?"

"Oh, I was making Ikebana with my mother." Haruno responded while looking around the room. "It was my first time doing it too, and it was one hell of an experience. I just took a liking to this yukata, so I didn't change my clothes."

"For a second, I thought you were trying to show off and begging me to be a model." Mei chuckled.

"Eeeeeh~? A model, huuuh~... I think I can make a decent work with it. Never crossed my mind, though."

"Decent is putting it mildly, Yukinoshita-san." Mei sat back on her sofa chair, and Haruno sat across the table with the puff pastries on top. The latter picked one and took a bite. "I bet all the other models would be extremely jealous of your beauty. You look like you know how to move right on a catwalk."

"Really? I mean, I can put on a show, but I think I'd have more confidence in Takeshi's Castle than modeling."

"Exactly what kind of confidence do you have in partaking in a game show?"

"The kind that makes people laugh. Just my smile alone would lighten the mood. I've been praying to Hotei at his shrine a lot lately, so my odds of getting the show to the highest rating are next to guaranteed!"

"So it's just your ability to make everyone laugh and not win the game? It wouldn't be just as entertaining if you don't try to compete."

"I'd rather be the host. It's far better than getting dirty, wet, and falling all over the place."

"Now that's no fun, Yukinoshita-san. It would be a shame to not see you slip into the water or get hit by a boulder. Oh, I can imagine how those scenes would go viral."

"Miyamoto-chan, you're so cruel." Haruno took another bite, which was smaller, and then swallowed. "My face is delicate, you know? It's a taboo to even leave a scar on my cheek."

"Why are you describing the game show as a sort of violent battle?" Mei chuckled.

"Isn't it?"

"You're not wrong. Then would you be the one to revive the show? It's been decades since it last aired."

"Oooooh~, I guess I can be a producer."

"Not director? Quite surprising."

'What's so surprising about that?"

"With all that talent, you have what it takes to lead. Of course, the producer can do that as well to an extent, but the director gets to make the decision on the final product. I'm sure you can think of wonderful ideas to put into a show."

"That's true. Buuut~..." Haruno's smile became devious with her eyes narrowed. "Lately, it feels like I was already offered the same kind of job before that. And I don't think I have the option to refuse."

"Now that is wonderful." Mei drank the cup of green tea once again. "I sure hope the show you are helping with is entertaining."

"It's less entertaining and more stressful." Haruno grabbed her own cup of green tea. Before drinking, she spoke further. "If I accept this job, I just know we'll get in real trouble... both of us."

"You seem to underestimate yourself." The silver-haired lady crossed her own legs as her gaze narrowed. "The job you were offered will be child's play. All you have to do is manage, provide, and support the product. You have extensive knowledge in business and experience in leadership. I understand the difficulty of being a producer, but being anxious won't do anything."

"Who says I'm anxious?" The guest put down the yunomi cup. "I'm only complaining about the issues I might get myself in since the director would give an innocent woman like me to do absurd things liiiike~ hiring some actors, or making the set where her favorite character is left standing."

"So it isn't a game show." Mei appeared to be amused.

"It's a drama show with a bit of suspense and tragedy. I read the leaks about the plot. The characters argue a lot and apparently, there is going to be this scene where thousands of nobodies help the character that the director wanted to put more focus on."

"I see. That would be an interesting show, especially since you would be there to help them."

"... Can I do it?"

"Without a doubt." After Mei's reassurance, Haruno folded her arms together, contemplating on the matter as she looked outside. The sky became darker as the sun descended on the horizon.

"If you're so sure about it, then I guess I'll give it a try!" Haruno declared with enthusiasm.

"That's great. Then we should do a celebration for this."

"Eh? Save that when the show is successful."

"I'll make sure to keep my schedule open when the premiere is released. While we're still on the topic, can you tell more about it? My curiosity is getting the better of me."

"I don't have that much info. Let's see... oh, I heard there would be actors from overseas, so that's interesting. The team told me they want the setting to be outdoors, so that means I'm gonna have to rent some places for shooting. I got lots of ideas already and the first thing is to get some cameras from different angles. It'll be pretty expensive since there's literally gonna be so many of them."

"How many do you think you need for one scene? It's as if you're planning to do a collage."

"Maaaaaaybeee~... about seventeen?" Haruno's answer caused Mei to freeze for only three seconds until she grabbed her yunomi cup.

"You're joking, right?" Mei asked while drinking.

"Nope." The guest answered nonchalantly while grabbing another swirl of pastry. "So there's this friend of mine who studies at my university, and he is one movie geek. I remembered him talking about a special camera technique. They say if you overlap all that footage into one clip and do some editing, you can make a cool effect! Almost like a collage just as you said! He said last time he saw something like that, it was a B-movie and apparently for having such a low budget, they managed to have fifty-four cameras in certain scenes. Though, it did get mixed reviews because of that. Don't you think that's interesting?"

"Yes... It reminds me of a technique similar to that. About two years ago, I was doing a commercial for a shampoo product, though I forgot the name of that brand. It was a small business in Italy. Anyway, they used several cameras on a scene where I got out of a white Volkswagen golf that I believed it was borrowed by the owner's friend. The moment I flipped my hair was when the cameras all around me started taking pictures to create some bullet time effect using stop motion. The result was impressive, but unfortunately they didn't release the commercial."

"Awww~, but why?" Haruno asked before biting the pastry.

"I didn't ask. My manager said there was a scandal, but I wasn't interested since I got paid to di it." Mei shrugged her shoulders. "So, are you planning to use that technique your friend told you?"

"I'm interested in doing it. The place I would wanna use our set would be in a huge building like your apartment. And there will be cameras on a rooftop~, at the railing of a balcony~, on top of the streetlights~, on the trees~. Ah, I could put some more in the alley! And theeen~—" While Haruno was rambling on about her ideas, Mei just stared at her with a scrutinizing gaze, maintaining her smile to not appear suspicious.

"She's listing all the positions I placed my crows on." Mei thought. "She even knew about the number of crows I'm currently using and the most I've used in the past, as well. I get the latter that Gojo told her that information, but how did she know about the former?"

"—are some angles that would look great. Honestly, they're pretty lucky to choose me to be in their little project. I remember all the good places here for them to shoot." Haruno puffed her chest proudly.

"Ah, so she memorized the city's structure down to the last detail and deducted where I put all my surveillance." Mei laughed at that thought. "You are truly something else, Yukinoshita-san. If you want as reference, you need to watch No Country For Old Men. A very well-made western movie."

"Never heard of it. Is it that good?"

"Well, for one thing, the two main characters reminded me of my father in a way."

"Really?"

"Yes, there are some similarities here and there, and I do enjoy his moments in the movie... However, the villain is much more enjoyable to watch."

"Wow, I feel bad for your father."

"It's nothing that bad. The villain was just entertaining, that's all. Characters who oppose the protagonists and bring actual challenge are what make stories like those entertaining, right? Especially those who are new and refreshing."

"Can't disagree with that."

"Speaking of, how is your father lately? I heard about the reconstruction of the tower and all."

"Busy as usual... Although, compared to his previous workload, this time he's working nonstop."

"Ah, yes. He's also competing in the election for prefectural governor, right? It seems he has so much on his plate. The moment the Prime Minister declared the House Of Representative to dissolve, it had a domino effect. Along with Chiba, one prefecture had their governor resigned as well, and three others had their prefectural assemblies dissolved. Big changes are in the air now..."

"Well, I don't know how big those changes will be. For one, I doubt the dominating political party would fall."

"Pfft, that's true. That would be a very unrealistic outcome." Mei stifled a chuckle. "But, the outcome will most likely that they would be weakened, and the opposing parties would take advantage of the recent events."

"I can see that... Father is already having a hard time. Meh, he'll push through." Haruno shrugged.

"I agree. He is familiar with Chiba more than anyone else. But let's not lower our guard." Mei narrowed her eyes for one second after saying that last sentence before disguising it into an innocent expression.

"We'll see."

"How is the love triangle, by the way?"

"They're fine. I mean, I haven't contacted them yet, but I know the thorns are slowly entangling their relationship."

"You really are cruel."

"Thank you very much. On the plus side, they need this type of trial, anyway."

"Did you also do that with the younger love triangle?"

"Guilty as charged."

"Goodness... Well, let's hope the spouses and the third wheel can stay strong." The silver-haired lady looked up to see the time on the clock. "Ah, it's getting late."

"Oh, wow. I didn't notice. Thanks for the food, by the way." Haruno stood from her chair while having one last drink of her tea. However, the moment she straightened her posture, she lost balance, making her lean forward and held onto the table to stop the fall. Although she was saved, the last remnants of her green tea spilled all over Mei's face. "Ah! I'm sorry!"

"No, that's okay. It's a good thing the tea is not that hot anymore." Mei brushed off her apology as she grabbed a towel to clean her own face. While doing so, she saw the look on her guest's face. Although her eyes were wide open and her mouth covered to express her shock, Mei could see through the gaps between Haruno's fingers and caught a glimpse of her smirking.

"Geez, I guess I'm too tired today."

"Well then, I shouldn't hold you for long. Hope you have a proper rest."

"Thanks!" Haruno went for the door while Mei followed her from behind as the guest wore the wooden sandals called geta. When Haruno opened the door, she turned around to say a few words to the silver-haired woman. "Let's talk again soon."

"Definitely. Ah, one more thing..." Mei stopped her with her words. "About the movie..."

"Hm?"

"I hope you get its message. I learned it a lot from it."

"Oh... sure!"

"See you next time." Mei waved her hand, in which Haruno waved back and closed the door on her way out. The silver-haired sorcerer released a sigh while folding her arms together.

"Why are you wasting time?" She turned around to see Katsunori standing in the middle of her apartment room.

"What do you mean? Establishing trust takes time." Mei walked past him to carry the plate full of puff pastries and sealed it with a cling wrap. After that, she picked up the two yunomi cups and dropped them in the sink.

"All this talk about movies and other pointless rubbish... I'm impressed you crafted so many made-up stories of your 'runway model' career."

"It is essential to make your fake identity as believable as possible. How long have you been eavesdropping?"

"... Just make sure you give enough advantage to make Nariaki's victory guaranteed."

"A guarantee is unrealistic, Katsunori-san. His opponents are quite strong and influential." Mei argued as she washed the dishes, starting with a plate. She rinsed it with water first before scrubbing it in a circular motion with a sponge.

"You don't have to worry about that." Katsunori walked towards the balcony and slid open its glass door. "I'll handle that problem mysel-"

"I'd appreciate it if you could not try any reckless actions." The moment she said those words, four crows flew near the balcony for the elder to see. Mei continued to speak while scrubbing a kitchen knife. "There is no benefit in it."

"Calm down, Mei. I'm not that idiotic to do such a thing... There are other ways, after all."

"I'm sorry, but I can't trust that you would make a good outcome with your unknown methods."

"I only paid you to fulfill your task, not to ask me questions."

"Maybe you should pay me extra for my complete obedience."

"Don't get too cocky." Without turning around to face the woman, Katsunori clenched his right hand repeatedly until its muscles were tense. Meanwhile, Mei still held the kitchen knife while putting down the plate on the dishwashing rack. Seconds passed as silence stretched. None of them moved an inch. The four crows flew closer towards the balcony. The elder's expression remained stern as he slowly slid his left foot on the ground backward, turning his body. Mei, on the other hand, still had the smile on her face while holding the kitchen knife firmly with her right hand.

Finally, the first person to move was Katsunori.

He rushed towards her from behind, hoping to grab the back of her head. However, Mei weaved to the left without turning, allowing his hand to go past her cheek and thrust the knife backward to stab his face. Katsunori used his left foot to kick the back of her left knee, making her lose balance and causing the trajectory of her strike to shift away from him slightly. Then, he tilted his head to barely evade the knife, letting it graze his cheek, and grabbed her right arm to perform an armpit lock.

A grappling technique called the Waki-gatame in the martial art of Judo.

However, he stopped falling lower to avoid breaking her limb.

"Oh, my. Maybe you're the one who's getting cocky, Katsunori-san." The silver-haired sorcerer spoke, looking as if the joint lock didn't bother her. "Is it because Gojo-kun isn't here to spoil the fun?"

"It's you who keeps refusing to know your place."

"Our grades are different. Are you aware?"

"What does a grade matter to a woman? It doesn't label the measure of your strength accurately against other sorcerers." Katsunori tightened his grip and bent her arm further, but her smile never faded.

"Oh? Did you also say that to Tsukumo Yuki as well?" Mei grinned when one crow flew towards the elder from behind. The latter had no choice but to release her limb and duck from the Bird Strike. The instant the crow crashed into a concrete wall, he caught a left uppercut with the medial side of his wrists, combined the momentum of her strike with his strength to pull her, and tried hitting her with a right palm strike to the chin. Mei leaned back to lessen the impact of his attack, allowing it to push her and let herself fall. While doing so, she used that momentum to grab his right arm and caught his neck with her legs to perform a triangle choke. Katsunori was able to place his hand near his face to avoid getting strangled by her legs. While struggling, he turned that hand around, palm facing Mei. That caused the woman's instincts to alert her as she loosened her left leg to kick that dangerous palm upward with its foot. Katsunori's hand vibrated strongly to the point it blurred slightly, and a spot of the ceiling where his hand pointed towards melted into a liquid substance while emitting steam.

Katsunori freed his right arm from her grasp, but Mei used the same left foot to thrust a kick to his groin, crossed both of her legs around his own right one, twisted herself sideways to trip him on the ground, and tried grappling it. The higher-up struggled as he kicked her two times in the face, but she blocked both of them with her forearm. Mei attempted a joint lock on his captured leg, but her grip on it with her own legs felt slippery as the limb escaped from her. The old man rolled back while the silver-haired sorcerer went on her feet.

She noticed his right leg was quite longer than normal and more flaccid. The old man held the knee, pulling and twisting his limb while gritting his teeth until they heard the crackling of bones. With his leg recovered, he stood while grunting in pain. Mei dashed at him and threw three left jabs. Katsunori blocked the first two jabs and tried defending against the next one. But the third was a feint as she hit his liver with a left hook instead. She quickly followed it with a right oblique kick to his left knee, but the old man swung his left arm downward to parry it, stomped his right foot forward to perform a right karate-style straight punch to the solar plexus. Because of the absurd speed, Mei's immediate response was to block with her lower arms.

The power of that punch caused her to slide backward from the recoil until her back was against a wall. Katsunori rushed towards her for the offensive. The woman saw him about to throw a left karate-style straight punch to her face. However, she anticipated incorrectly because that was a fake as he hit her right kidney with a left hammer punch, followed by a right snap elbow to her jaw and then a left palm strike to the face. Unfortunately for him, Mei simply tilted her head to avoid the last attack, causing his palm to crash into the concrete wall. The moment his palm went through the wall, which resulted in a hole in it, the silver-haired woman struck his stomach with a right front kick, causing him to take a step backward from the pain. Mei caught his left sleeve from the arm that was still stretching forward due to his previous strike, grabbed the collar of his kimono, lifted her hips towards him and threw him.

A judo throw known as the Tsurikomi-goshi.

She dropped him down as his body hit both the wall and the wooden floor, breaking its concrete and wood from the strength she possessed in her body reinforced with cursed energy. Suddenly, her right knee trembled for reasons unknown to her and lost balance. At incredible speed, Katsunori rose up with one knee and struck a blow to her face with a right punch. Mei tumbled until she stood on her feet and faced him. She threw three right jabs at him. The old man blocked two of them, evaded to the side with a circular motion from the last one, and grabbed her left arm. With the help from her momentum, he pulled the limb and hit her left side with a right side kick. Then, Katsunori followed up with a quick grab on the back of her left knee while still holding her left arm, lifted her up on his shoulders, and dropped her with such speed and strength, it broke the wood of the floor.

A Kata Guruma.

He then stomped on her right upper arm, grabbed the other one with his right hand and pushed both down to restrain her. Katsunori grabbed her neck as well, and the two remained still. The difference between their stamina was clear as day. Mei was still composed despite the outcome of their fight, while the old man was panting with a drop of sweat running down from his forehead to the bridge of his nose.

"Looks like you're getting too old to be moving this intensely." Mei mocked him. "Dislocating your leg to escape must've taken a lot of your energy."

"Spare me your pity." Katsunori released her while standing up and offered her a hand. "That throw you did earlier was a bit off."

"Was it?" She arched an eyebrow as she accepted his help in standing up.

"You struggled to carry me because of your poor grip. Be careful next time."

"I see... I should say that last line to you as well, though."

"My age is really growing my limits. I always kept that in mind."

"I find that hard to believe." Mei chuckled.

"Then start believing it, or else you might get distracted by my bones cracking in our next sparring session." He said towards the doorway to the balcony. "I'll send an extra ten million yen to your bank account."

"Can I ask a question?" She said while going to the sink.

"No more questions." The old man refused her demand.

"Why did you hesitate to hit my face?"

"..."

"You had the chance, and you didn't commit."

"Is it wrong to not hit something beautiful?"

"Flirting someone younger than you is seen as a concerning act, Katsunori-san."

"Shut it. Forget my reason then."

"One last question."

"No."

"What's your relationship with Yukinoshita Nariaki?" Despite his refusal, Mei still asked anyway as she went back to washing the dishes. "I find it odd of you going to such lengths to help him. Are you two close friends?"

"No, we're not." He denied while staring at the night sky. "I told you, the political landscape that we higher-ups live by is threatened by a new party, and their ideas could endanger our Japanese civilization. Instead of aiming for the House of Representative in the National Diet, they are firing a precisive strike at the prefectural assemblies by stealing the position of governors and overtake the assemblies. They'll become parasites that would crawl their way to disaster."

"And why Chiba, specifically?" Mei stopped scrubbing the cutting board. The sound of the water coming out of the faucet was the only thing permeating the atmosphere between the two sorcerers. After ten seconds, he answered.

"... If you understand math, you'd know you asked me two questions, not one."

"Well, let's just say it-" She turned around to face him, but Katsunori was nowhere to be found. The crows flew around the apartment to find him, but no luck. Mei shrugged her shoulders and continued washing the dishes as usual until they were all cleaned. "Even with this many eyes at my disposal, he managed to get away... Whatever that cursed technique is, it'll be troublesome to fight against..."

She looked at her lower arm to see the massive bruise on it, then looked at her damaged apartment.

"His skills shocked me a bit for a grade 2. I wonder what would happen if we didn't hold back at all?" After that thought, the doorbell rang. She went to the door nonchalantly and opened it to reveal a middle-aged woman standing outside. "Oh, Mrs. Landlady. Did the noise cause a disturbance?"

"Obviously. Some of the neighbors complained about two animals wreaking havoc and breaking stuff. And a lot said something about you and a man going... rough... with each other." The landlady cleared her own throat while blushing. "Look, I'm not gonna ask what you do in your private time, especially with men, but please try to keep it down. People are trying to sleep and going at it this late at night is gonna wake them up. Again, I'm not saying you're not allowed to do it, but don't make too much noise."

"Oh... I see." That is very embarrassing of me. I'm really sorry." Mei bent forward for a bow.

"Don't be too noisy next time, alright? Good night." The landlady walked away without noticing the silver-haired resident's eyebrow twitching. After hearing her footsteps fading, Mei closed the door.

"Now then... What to do with this mess?" She turned around to look at the damage caused by the fight. After staring at the broken wood and concrete, Mei noticed the cling wrap on the plate of pastries was open. "Oh?"

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Damn her..." Katsunori mumbled as he walked in an alleyway while leaning against the wall for support. He held where his liver was for a moment before taking something out of his kimono sleeve.

A swirl of puff pastry.

He took a bite out of it and continued walking.

"This tastes good." He said while chewing, and then took another bite. "I initially thought that hiring Mei would be a wise move. She doesn't care about politics as long as she was given money, but I guess that has changed slightly... I have to keep my guard up. She already guessed a tiny gist about one of my objectives..."

The old man finished eating the puff pastry... only to take out another one from his sleeve and ate it as well.

"Now then..." He leaned his back against the wall, putting his left arm inside his kimono to relax and watched the civilians walking in the street. "My other concern is Gojo Satoru... He's out of the picture for now, but I doubt he agreed to her terms without leaving something behind. As for Nariaki's eldest daughter... she doesn't seem to be a threat, though she did interact with Gojo casually. For now, I'll ignore her until I discovered something. She could be useful if she's really innocent. Now the local election... Assassinating the candidates is already a bad idea. I thought Mei would just ignore my actions, but I was proven wrong. Also, after thinking about it more clearly, it would cause a stir in the prefecture. Even if I disguise their deaths as accidents or natural causes, that wouldn't stop people from making conspiracy theories. I don't want to burden Nariaki with doubtful looks... So what's the best action here?"

The screen on the laptop showed the credits rolling while there was music playing in the background. It was all English, as each name and word arose from the bottom.

"Well... it's a good movie, at least. It's great they have Japanese subtitles." Haruno was on her bed, lying on her side and with a hand on her cheek to support her head. "In the end, Anton, the main villain, won getting all the money while one of the main characters, Llewellyn, got killed by the Mexicans... So what's the message she wanted to tell me? The fact our conversation was so cryptic means that someone was watching or eavesdropping on us. As for why she couldn't just text me the job she wants me to do, I have no idea."

She sat up straight and closed the laptop.

"Gojo said she has her own goals, and it involves political reasons, which is why she could be on our side... If that's true, then she's trying to hide her true intention. Because someone spied on us earlier, Mei had to tell her plans for me discreetly while at the same time, clear their suspicion by disguising it as having a normal interaction. Still, texting me would've been better... unless she had a reason not to. Maybe a jujutsu that prevented her from doing it or... this is some test she's giving me to prove my skills?"

"Oh, I can definitely imagine that being the case. That smug of hers is starting to pop up." She mumbled and sat on her office chair, tapping her finger on the armrest.

"The two main characters reminded me of my father..."

"The villain was just entertaining, that's all. Characters who oppose the protagonists and bring actual challenges are what makes stories like that great, right? Especially those who are new and refreshing."

"Speaking of, how's your father lately?"

She stopped tapping and froze for a few seconds before holding her hands together and interlocking her fingers.

"He's also competing to become a prefectural governor, right?"

"About the movie... I hope you get its message..."

With furrowed eyebrows, she tilted her head.

"—those who are new and refreshing..."

"—your father."

"—governor."

"Characters who oppose the protagonis—"

"Love—father—but I enjoyed the villain more."

"She wants me to help the DPYRS candidate in winning the local election in Chiba as governor?" Haruno spun the office chair in thought. "But why? What sort of goal she's trying to accomplish? Does she have an issue with the dominating party? Though she did say she supported my father, but was that a lie? Probably. How does she want me to approach this, anyway? Surely that woman's not suggesting me to kill my own father..."

"How is the love triangle, by the way?"

"Does she want me to use them?... or suggesting to do the same thing to the newcomer party. I think I'll do both. I guess I really am their producer." She stopped spinning her chair and unlocked her phone to look at her contact list. After scrolling through the names, she stopped at the contact number under the name 'White-haired Idiot'. Haruno became still for a moment until she scrolled the list down slightly to reveal another number below. It was only named 'Partner'. At first, she slowly lowered her thumb, almost pressing the call button...

"Haruno-san... Just hurry up and choos-"

The memory of the little boy that was Hachiman in her dream resurfaced. His words caused her to stop moving her thumb.

"Are you just gonna stand there?"

Haruno grunted and closed her eyes as images appeared in her mind. The stoic expression Hachiman had before he went to the funeral. The sad look on Yukino's face after discovering he was horribly wounded from surviving an assassination attempt. Even her mother's expression of worry when she discovered her own daughter's distraught and went to lengths in helping. Also, the time the young couple and others were in the hospital after going in that abandoned middle school building.

Those memories fueled her resolve, and after a moment of hesitation, Haruno pressed the call button.

Suddenly, the memory of Hachiman's horrific state came back once again to haunt her. The scene of all the people grieving at the funeral following the massacre. And the dream of that monster in make-up eating Yukino and was about to eat her as well.

Then there were images of herself wearing a surgical gown and latex gloves, staring at a dead body that was cut in numerous areas. On top of its chest was a grotesque creature that she didn't bother recalling the appearance.

That resolve she gained disappeared in an instant.

With fear in her eyes, she quickly pressed the decline button before the owner of that contact number could answer her call.

"... I can't do it..." Haruno mumbled and turned off the phone.

"Nee-san?" The voice of a certain younger sister reached her ears, along with the knocking on the door. "Are you there?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, do you need something?" The older sister brushed the strands of her own hair with her hand.

"Can I... come in?" Yukino asked with hesitation in her voice. Noticing that, Haruno opened the door to see her sibling with clear sadness in her face. "There's something I want to talk to you about..."

"... What happened?"

Hey! Hey! HEEEEEY!

It's been a while!

Once again, I tortured myself to make two chapters in one day. Oh well, at least I finally post some chapters. But is that the reason why it took so long for me to come back?

Not really. There are things that I did that took away a lot of my time.

1) Vacation

The day after I posted chapter 21 (AKA chapter one of the Yukinoshita Sisters arc), I traveled back to the Philippines with my family and spent a month there. It was fun. Reuniting with friends and relatives, going to Palawan. Honestly, the best part of my vacation is just me walking in the streets that I grew up in. The nostalgia hits right in my soul and it made me happy and tearful... and kinda sweaty because of the hot climate. Overall, an amazing vacation. One that I needed the most.

2) Weight loss journey

I gotta be honest. I'm not proud of what I am in the present. Becoming 232 lbs Filipino man sitting in my home doing nothing is not what I had in mind when I first arrived in Canada years ago. It was all caused by my depression that brought existential dread in my mind. And so, I started working out everyday and even went on a diet, hoping I could be a better person. At first, it was painful and I wanted to just stop, but I kept pushing. At the time of this post, I'm now 190 lbs and I'm still going!

Lame excuses over!

Okay, for this direction of the story, I realised that I really... REALLY have a habit of shooting myself in the foot. Because this type of genre is WAY out of my range. Some Death Note style narrative is not something that I expected.

Now I know what you're thinking: "B-But, author-san! You said you have a plan! What about the titles you teased us!?"

Yeah, I have a plan, but plans don't always go well. It's hard to explain really... Sometimes it felt like the world in this fanfic just... have a mind of its own? Like, I'm about to do one thing but then suddenly it becomes that instead. The biggest example is the Shell And The Slug arc. Almost none of the events are in my notes, but... there they are... I'm not really making sense, am I?

I think I already said those words plenty of times, but damn. It's almost at the point where even I don't know how this story will go. Well, almost since I'm writing it after all. LOL

So yeah, what do you all think? While Yukino is on a slice of life world with a dash of drama, Haruno drew the shortest stick and got a political thriller. Hope you guys stick by to see how it all unfolds!

thank you for reading this story and see you in the next chapter! Let me know your opinions in the reviews!