1st POV
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After a few months, I decided to introduce Gumi to Satoru. And guess what? No shocker here, they didn't exactly hit it off. Megumi couldn't stand him and made it blatantly clear by giving Satoru the fiercest glare every time he saw him.
"Ne, Colith-chan, your baby doesn't seem to like me much!"
"You called him an ankle biter."
"THAT'S BECAUSE HE BIT ME!"
"Shouldn't have poked the bear," I said, kissing the boy's forehead.
"BUT HIS CHEEKS ARE SO SOFT!!" he gushed, trying once more to poke Megumi who narrowed his eyes at the offending finger.
"That I agree. That I agree."
"So, does that mean you're with him, heh? Do you love him?"
"I'm not having that conversation with you, brat."
"Whaaaat? Can't a guy just check if his friend's partner treats them well?" he said, innocently batting his eyelashes. I looked at him, unimpressed by his remark.
"You sure it's not just because you can't stand him?" he sniffed, barely masking his irritation with a silly smile.
'A few more years and he'll have it perfected.' I noted.
"That too, yeah. But more seriously though, what do you even see in that guy?" he asked, kicking a rock that embedded itself in a stray curse. "Bet he's just using you! I don't want him to hurt you, Colith-chan! You deserve so much better than that!" He crossed his arms, clearly frustrated and, surprisingly enough, concerned?
I quirked an eyebrow, deciding to humor him, "And what makes you think that?" I adjusted my hold on Megumi who let out a whine when Satoru lightly tapped his forehead with a finger.
"This little guy here for one!" he swiftly retracted his hand when the boy tried to bite him. Smart move. "He's making you babysit his brat while he's kami knows where—GASP! What if he's with another woman!" I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his melodramatic act, and a snort escaped me as he started listing even more far-fetched claims.
"And what if he's secretly a spy, sent to steal all your secrets? Or worse, what if he's a shape-shifting alien?" he exclaimed, clearly going overboard with his wild imagination. "I mean, who even knows what kind of crazy things could be happening behind your back, right? I'm just looking out for you, Colith-chan!" He waved his hands dramatically, adding more absurd scenarios to his list of "what ifs."
At the start of our relationship, commitment was on my mind. I mean, there was nothing stopping him from cheating, and if he did, no matter how I felt about him, I would've probably called it quits. I may not be the relationship expert, but faithfulness is a big deal for me.
But guess what? During one of our dates, he totally blew my mind! This drop-dead gorgeous woman was all flirty with him, but he shut her down without second thought. Turns out he's no longer into other women anymore. I was like, "What? Really?!" It surprised the hell out of me, but kinda not.
Why? Simple.
Our pairing actually worked both ways, I noticed. I no longer felt attracted to the men my counterparts were eying ever since they dropped me here. It's actually pretty jarring now that I think about it, yet I consider it a blessing in disguise. Not sure how I would've handled all those feelings. Point is, I have more chance to die again than fall in love with someone else while staying here. An unnerving situation I'll admit, but it's less stressful if you don't actively think about it.
"And this!" I was pulled out of my musings by his finger that was now pointing to my left hand accusingly, "I see no ring!"
I blinked, "A ring." he nodded aggressively.
"An engagement ring to be exact! If he was truly serious, you'd already have one by now!" he folded his arms.
I remained unperturbed, my face blank, as I responded, "Toji's not the lovey-dovey type. Plus, it's way too early for this kind of thing, and I don't mind taking care of Megumi," I cooed at the boy, who snuggled in my hold. Satoru made a disgusted face before yelping when Shoko jammed a finger right into his ribs.
"A woman's love life is none of your concern, Satoru," Shoko said in a monotone, placing the bag full of drinks she got from the school's vending machine. She settled next to me and offered us some before popping a lollipop in her mouth, mindful enough to avoid smoking in our presence.
"But Shokooo! She's dating AND taking care of the Sorcerer Killer's kid!" he whined. "That's a massive red flag!" Shoko shrugged.
"She's strong enough to deal with him. Plus, she doesn't look dissatisfied with her situation. I don't see the problem."
"You're supposed to back me up and agree with everything I say, minion!"
"Since when?"
As I watched them bicker, a little grin crept onto my face. I glanced around the courtyard, where the students were now casually going about their business. It wasn't my first time here, so my presence didn't really intrigue them anymore. Some still stole glances now and then, but honestly, I didn't mind at all.
A younger Nanami and his partner, Yu, who, unfortunately, met his end in canon, were going at it in a friendly spar. Nearby, a young and definitely less stressed Ichiji sat immersed in a book.
Yu had a striking resemblance to the current Yuji – optimistic, positive, and all the qualities you'd expect in a Shonen protagonist. Being around him was a delight; he could effortlessly light up anyone's day with his sweetness. That's precisely why I couldn't bear the thought of something bad happening to him. The boy had been overly enthusiastic to meet me, and being the sucker for cute things, I got attached. My counterpart had this idea, with necklaces that basically prevents death except natural ones, and not knowing when exactly he'll die, I gave him one in the guise of a gift for his birthday.
"This is so unfair! How come he can stand you and not me? I'm obviously better than you!" Satoru complained as Shoko held Megumi. The girl playfully stuck her tongue out at him, while Gumi simply stared. I leaned back and flashed a content smile before teasingly ruffling Satoru's hair, which caused him to squawk.
"Maybe if you stop whining he'll start liking you." I pulled him into the center of the field, and as people stopped to watch, I cast a barrier to shield them from what was about to happen. "Alright, let's do this! Your [Purple] ain't gonna master itself."
Satoru flashed a mischievous grin, creating some space between us as he assumed a stance. "Heh, don't come crying when I put a hole through you, you hag! This time I'm gonna nail it!" I couldn't help but snort at his playful taunt.
"Sure sure, snowball."
"Go mama!"
The tiny voice caught me off guard, and I quickly turned my head to see its source, my eyes misty and filled with adoration.
"Mama."
"No, Gumi, I'm not your ma— This is your mama," I said, pointing to the photo in my hand. I had been trying to familiarize him with his real mother, Nozomi Fushiguro, for the past hour and, well, it wasn't going as well as I had hoped. "Say hello to mama!"
He stared at the photo with a blank look, then back at me, his eyes shining with excitement. "Mama!"
"No, I—" I sighed in frustration before glaring at Toji, who was simply enjoying the show with a wolfish grin. I mouthed, 'Bitch, do something!'
"I thought you liked being called 'Mommy,'" Toji teased, and the scandalized stare I gave him made him burst into laughter.
With a grumble and red ears, I returned to the task at hand, which was easier said than done. Gumi was thoroughly convinced that I was his mom, and as much as it made me happy to be seen as such, I needed to do this. I knew Ji didn't mind, but, well, it wasn't fair. I didn't know the woman, but the least I could do was make sure she wasn't forgotten by her son!
"Mama!"
"Aww my little bean—oh, I mean, no! This, this is your mama! Look at how pretty she is!"
"Mama!"
Gumi didn't relent. Toji laughed.
As you can see, it was an utter failure.
"You heard him, Colith-san," Shoko cupped her mouth, "Kick his ass!"
"Ieiri Shoko, how dare you?!" Satoru gasped, offended.
Shoko just smirked in reply, and I shifted my attention to Satoru, who seemed to lose some of his confidence all of a sudden.
"...Please be gentle?" He tried meekly.
I just grinned.
"Shit...!"
"Focus."
I jumped back with a grimace, "Did you have to be so rough?" I complained.
Toji huffed, eying my arm dispassionately "Shouldn't have lost focus."
My eyes narrowed and my gaze trailed downward. I gave him an accusatory look, "Seriously? You're the one with your torso out for the whole world to see. Have some decency, will ya?"
"If I remember correctly, that's your fault."
I sputtered, "Dude, I never thought you'd just vanish like a ninja!" I couldn't forget the moment he slipped away like a cat the second I grabbed his shirt. Toji seemed unfazed, "And cutting my arm off? Really?" I gestured to the stub, easily stopping the bleeding.
He shrugged, still gripping my severed arm like a stick, "Like I said, you should've stayed focused." I rolled my eyes.
Today's training session had one main goal: to see how I'd fare if I lost access to my powers. It's not something I'd given much thought to before, but looking back, it does seem like a plausible scenario. The only catch is that I don't know much about the HU, which, well, is essential to figuring this out..
Anyway, he brought it up one day and I was like, "Sure, why not give it a shot?" I mean, what's the harm in trying? At first, though, it was tough to resist relying on my usual tricks. But hey, I surprised myself and managed to dodge getting my limbs chopped off multiple times in a row! That's when I started feeling more confident. And then, just my luck, he had to go and flash me... Can you believe it?
He was allowed to use his weapons, and my job was to make sure I didn't end up with any fatal injuries. It was his way of teaching me not to get too comfortable relying solely on my toughness. I guess it was his own, weird, and I guess, sweet way of ensuring I could survive in any situation.
Thankfully, we were done for the day. He tossed my arm back, and I caught it effortlessly. Until our training session was complete, I wasn't allowed to heal, which was enough of a motivator for me to actively dodge his attacks. On the other hand, facing Gojo's absolute ball of destruction head-on was an excellent way to toughen up and improve my durability.
I didn't bother regrowing one because I usually did that only when my limbs were completely beyond recovery, and that didn't happen all that often.
How he was able to harm me despite my status?
Normally, my body's 10 times stronger than that of an average person and that is just the base strength. I'm also able to fortify myself to endure extraordinary feats such as bathing in an active volcano or leaping into the scorching embrace of the sun.
Yeah, 19 year old me was definitely running amok. Crazy girl. I mean sure, needed to find my limits but still?! But anyway, I intentionally reduced my resilience to that of an ordinary individual, aiming to make myself more vulnerable and add excitement to the experience.
Other than that, it was fun. No, I wasn't turning into a battle junkie, shut up.
It wasn't until two days later that I discovered why he had aimed for my arm, and boi... I knew I was slow, but this was on a whole other level.
"I had no idea you were married?" Jin said with a bemused look.
"What?" I looked up from my phone, startled by his remark. We were in a park, specifically in Sendai. I had brought Gumi along so he could play with Yuji.
Jin pointed to my left hand and chuckled, "You should've told me, I would've bought you a gift for the occasion."
Completely bewildered, I stared at my hand, and the silver ring that I had no clue existed until this very moment stared back at me.
My brain stopped.
"Colith? Colith, are you alright?" Jin asked in concern as soon as he noticed my frozen state. He waved a hand in front of my face, but I didn't move. "Oh dear."
"Papa! Look, look!" Yuji squealed, waddling toward us, Megumi trailing behind with gleaming eyes. "BEETLES!!" he exclaimed, waving the poor insect around. Megumi was far more gentle with his.
"That's awesome, boys!" Jin praised, smiling, "Come on, Yuji, don't wave him around so much, you wouldn't want him to get sick now, would you?"
"Ah!" the one-year-old gasped in realization, "Sowie, beetle!"
"Mama 'kay?" Megumi asked, looking at me.
"Oba-chan?"
"Ah, well she..." Jin trailed off, watching his son approach me.
A tug on my dress pulled me out of my agitated thoughts, and when I looked down, I nearly reenacted a Saiki by almost teleporting to Texas!
"Beetle!" Yuji chirped happily, shoving the bug towards me, not realizing he nearly scared me to death.
"Woah! G-good job there, buddy!" I smiled, although it was a bit forced. I tried to ignore Jin's attempt not to laugh and instead ruffled the bubbly pink-haired boy.
"Me too!" Megumi huffed, shoving something at me.
"Hm? I don't..." Jin trailed off, seemingly puzzled.
I paid him no mind, took what Megumi handed me and gasped in surprise. "Wow, that's amazing, buddy!" I got up, and the boy beamed as I lifted him up. Turning to Jin with an apologetic smile, I said, "I guess we'll have to get going."
Jin snapped out of his confused state, "Already?" he said, hoisting his son, whose attention was completely on the beetle.
"Yeah. Will you say goodbye to Yuji and uncle Jin, eh Gumi?" I asked, and the boy tilted his head in confusion before nodding.
"Bye-bye," he said, waving his hand with a sweet grin. The two Itadoris mirrored us and with that, I turned around to leave, but before we walked away, I heard Jin call after us.
"Have a safe trip, I guess...?" Jin's voice conveyed both genuine concern and a touch of amusement. He watched us exit the park before turning to his son with a puzzled look. "They weren't holding anything, right?"
"Huuu?"
They stared at each other for a moment before Yuji shoved the bug closer to his father's face, causing Jin to chuckle.
As we walked a few blocks away, my smile waned a little. The little cursed spirit Megumi found in my hand vanished into nothingness.
"My beetle...?"
"That wasn't a beetle, love. It was a curse," I gently explained, trying to hold back any worry in my voice.
"Cwuss?" he repeated, blinking back some tears to look at me.
"Yeah, it's no good. Don't play with them, they're really bad!" I said, then paused, my eyes widening in realization. "Now now, don't cry," I tried to hush him to calm down, but my attempts failed as he started crying. Sometimes I forget that he's just a baby and doesn't have the mental capacity to discern the good from the bad.
"But beetle..."
Without a second thought, I made a golden stag beetle appear, which immediately caught his attention. The tears were quickly forgotten as he marveled at the dazzling insect.
With that crisis averted, I gave my entire focus to the matter at hand. Literally. I felt my head starting to spin just by thinking of the implications of the thing around my finger.
WHAT THE FUCK.
This can't be, right? This absolutely cannot be, right?! It's only been, what, a year since I got here, and we've just started dating eight months ago, so this shouldn't be possible! Surely, this must be a mistake!
But hold on, when did he get the chance to do this...? How come I didn't notice it right away?
Nah nah nah nah, boy ain't no way boy. Boy ain't no way boy. Boy—
A yawn caught my attention, and I felt Megumi's little head rest on my chest.
"Tired?" I asked.
He nodded, making himself comfortable before promptly dozing off, the golden beetle resting idly on his head vanished. I gently stroked his hair, my thoughts still racing.
'Ain't no way he's serious. This soon?!'
I gulped, suddenly remembering the dipshit messenger's words from last year. My face paled.
"Yeah, you might get a few surprises."
"Surprises my ass, what the fuck is this?!" I grumbled lowly, making sure not to disturb the boy and entered an empty alley. "That's it! A prank, it's definitely a prank! Ain't no way this is what I think it is!"
"It's what you think it is."
My jaw dropped, and I stared at Toji in mute shock. He simply took a sip of his canned beer, his gaze never leaving mine.
"I'm surprised it took you so long to notice it. Guess we'll have to up your training from now on, your situational awareness sucks." he said nonchalantly.
"I-uh—you—... Huh?" I was at a complete loss for words and just stared at him. He quirked a brow.
"What?"
"What...? WHAT?!" My voice went high-pitched, and I felt my heart pounding rapidly. "WHAT'S THAT EVEN SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" I squeaked, shoving my left hand into his face for emphasis.
"Exactly what it's supposed to mean," he replied, an amused grin on his face. "So, is that a yes or a no?"
Dumbfounded and thoroughly bamboozled, I blinked slowly and sat next to him, feeling like I was in some bizarre sitcom episode. "I-I don't even know what to say right now," I stammered, attempting to process the unexpected revelation while trying to keep a straight face. "This is definitely not how I imagined getting proposed to!" I added, bursting into hysterical laughter, unable to contain the absurdity of the situation.
Toji chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"Unbelievable," I breathed after finally calming down, my voice filled with uncertainty and hope. "You sick bastard, are you trying to kill me? Fuck, Ji, I—" I trailed off, emotions swirling inside me like a turbulent storm.
My heart pounded erratically, torn between disbelief and hope, as if I were on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Exhilaration and fear intertwined into one tangled mess, leaving me feeling completely thrown off. I stared blankly at the ring, trying to process the overwhelming flood of emotions. The messenger's cryptic words added a layer of doubt that I couldn't shake off, further complicating my already whirlwind of thoughts and feelings.
Saying yes would mean staying here forever, and, oh man, the indecision was eating me up. I couldn't believe it. It took all my strength to keep from freaking out in front of him, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. If I say yes, that would also mean never returning to my beans. The thought of leaving them behind made my heart ache, but the possibility of something new was enticing. I felt torn between two worlds, uncertain of what path to take. It was like standing at a crossroads, with each option pulling me in opposite directions. I had to find a way to make a choice, but the weight of the decision weighed heavily on me, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and unsure.
"You're just a clone, so staying wouldn't really affect anyone—"
But me.
It'll affect me, you dipshit!
Not knowing what to do, I chanced a glance at him and found myself utterly captivated. Any hesitation I had immediately flew out of my brain. His expression hadn't changed that much, but the sheer hope and earnestness present in his eyes, and the growing panic in his aura, was all it took for me to reach a decision.
I punched him in the jaw, a mischievous cackle escaping my lips at his dumbfounded stare.
"That was for making fun of me," I said, my voice playfully teasing. Then, without missing a beat, I pulled him close for a kiss, pouring all the affection I had for him into it. His hands instinctively went to my hips, and I leaned back slightly, eyes warm with a mix of nerves and excitement in them. I watched as he blinked slowly, likely processing what just happened before his eyes widened in surprise. He finally broke into a grin, his genuine joy filling me with reassurance and upon seeing the tension immediately leaving his body, I knew he had been nervous too. In that moment, all the indecision melted away, replaced by the overwhelming sense that this, this was right.
I'm staying.
A thought struck me a few days later, and I couldn't help but ask, "Hold on a sec, you didn't propose just to get laid, did you?" My eyes narrowed into slits as I slowly turned my head toward him.
"That's one of the reasons, yes," he said nonchalantly, munching on his lunch as if it was no big deal. He then paused and looked at me with a puzzled expression, "What?"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes before shaking my head in amusement. At least he was honest. "You're impossible. I should've known you'd have some cheeky motive up your sleeve," I snickered, resting my chin on my palm.
Toji merely eyed me before returning to his lunch, seemingly unperturbed. "It's up to you in the end, I'm not going to force you if you don't want to," he shrugged, causing me to hum thoughtfully.
"I see." I leaned back in my seat, contemplating his words.
As much as his cheekiness annoyed me at times, I appreciated the fact that he respected my decision. It was just like him to present things casually, leaving the ultimate choice in my hands. His laid-back attitude was sometimes infuriating, but it was also what made him so endearing. With a smile tugging at my lips, I nodded to myself.
"Do you want an official ceremony?"
Toji's face twisted into a disgruntled, almost petulant expression. "Do we have to?" he asked, almost resigned to my decision.
I bit my lip not to laugh, and grinned, "Relax, I'm just kidding. I'm not a fan of big events either." he whipped his head toward me in disbelief.
"And what about last year's birthday parties?" he pointed out.
"Now, that was just a small gathering, not the same thing." Peggy crawled next to me and I began scratching her head.
"Right..." he drawled, totally unconvinced. I waved a finger, refilling his plate, and he grunted a thanks.
"Plus, I'm not actually a citizen, nor from this earth for that matter, so we might skip that part entirely. We'll just tell those we know, and that's it. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me." he replied with a thumbs up.
Despite the weight of this life-changing situation, we didn't delve into lengthy discussions about it that much. Instead, Toji had elected to leave the decision-making largely up to me. I couldn't even fault the guy; if the roles were reversed, I'd likely have taken a similar approach and since I was the most sociable here, that was a given. He didn't have many friends I was aware of, except that Shiu guy I saw maybe a few months ago—
"You know gambling isn't really my thing," I drawled, arching an eyebrow.
"Come on! I didn't say a word when you dragged me to that Otaku fest last month. Now shut it and pick a number, it's about to start!" Toji's excitement was palpable, his demeanor reminiscent of an enthusiastic puppy. His eagerness to introduce me to one of his favorite activities, horse betting, was both endearing and amusing.
If I had a dollar for every time I witnessed a 30-year-old basically act like an excited puppy, I'd have exactly two dollars. It was a rare sight to see him so genuinely thrilled, and it gave me a unique perspective on this side of his personality.
"You know I'm forbidden from doing this, right?" I mused aloud, watching as people instinctively cleared a path due to his mere presence. Despite the warning, Toji huffed and confidently purchased two sheets.
"You and I both know it doesn't concern you anymore."
I clicked my tongue, knowing he had a point."You don't even need the money anyway."
"It's not about money, it's about passion!" he persisted, an odd glint in his eyes that only added to his infectious enthusiasm.
"Suuure..." I rolled my eyes playfully, unable to suppress a chuckle. "So, how does it work?"
At that very moment, I witnessed a smile on Toji's face that could have cut through steel. I swear I even heard someone faint in the background. A few moments later, we found ourselves in the stands, surrounded by a few people who threw cautious, yet intrigued glances our way. After Toji's intensive and enthusiastic explanation, I deliberated for a moment before settling on a random number, 06.
It wasn't a frequent occurrence to see the guy gamble; he usually chose to spend time with me instead. So, I was confident he wasn't a gambling addict. The whole thing came about because I randomly asked him about his hobbies, and it was like a light bulb went off in his head, leading us here. Oh well.
The excitement of the upcoming race mixed right in with my genuine curiosity. The horses took off, and I was totally wrapped up in the whole show. But then, out of nowhere, this new voice barged in.
"Well, well, well. Look who's here. I thought you'd finally kicked the bucket, and now you show up with a lady by your side. What are the chances?"
We both turned our heads to see who this unexpected person was. I couldn't help but wonder what connection this guy had with Toji since his appearance didn't ring any bell. And the weirdest part? I could actually feel Toji's mood shifting a bit. His annoyance seemed to simmer down, and I swear I caught a glimpse of... happiness?
Standing there was a dude in a slick suit, cigarette dangling from his lips. He seemed genuinely surprised, which mirrored my own feelings as I tried to make sense of this sudden twist in our day.
That's pretty much how I met Shiu Kong, Toji's former handler. Why former, you ask? Well, turns out the guy decided to call it quits.
From the killing business?
Yup.
Give a guy a bit of love, and suddenly, he's done with his whole murder spree gig. Or maybe just become an infinite money supplier and sparring buddy – that works too.
Anyway, there's a chance he might get invited, and that's mostly because he occasionally babysat Gumi before I entered the picture. Let me set the record straight though: I don't really have strong feelings either way about this guy. I mean, sure, his complete lack of regard for human life is pretty darn despicable, and that's rich coming from someone who's about to tie the knot with a certified murderer. But hey, at least Ji demonstrated a hint of remorse, even if it was just a tiny bit, after I gave him a good talking-to about some of his life choices. Shiu Kong, on the other hand, well, he's like a rock – no feelings whatsoever.
One guy, the byproduct of a screwed-up clan and a messed-up situation. I'll admit, if I'd ended up in the same place as him and hadn't found solace in Islam, my path might've been just as twisted. The other dude? Pretty much indifferent, and he's all about the practical stuff. You could be buddies with him, I guess, but if any of his clients happen to ask for your head and are willing to fork out a hefty price, well, say you'd pretty much be toast.
Now to announce it to the others...
I started with Fushiguro Hanae, and I had to drag Ji along for this one. Yeah, his enthusiasm was definitely lacking, but I'm pretty sure those nerves were just bubbling under the surface. What really caught me off guard was that she didn't look all that surprised when she saw the ring. Instead, she was genuinely supportive. I guess it made sense; we had grown pretty close over the past few months. The whole Gumi situation had started off a bit rocky – and yeah, I had to apologize big time for that mess – but she showed remarkable understanding. She even seemed to appreciate my efforts in helping Gumi get acquainted with his mother's memory.
While I played with the kids, she pulled Ji aside for a chat. Not sure what went down during their conversation, but when he came back, there was this determined glint in his eyes. Hanae, on the other hand, just sported a warm smile and gave us her heartfelt blessings. The topic of last names came up, which turned out to be a bit of a complex puzzle. In the end, though, we settled on keeping our respective last names. It was a way to avoid adding any more complications to the mix.
Next up was Jin who, of course, burst out laughing once he got the gist of things. You'd think with his gentle and composed exterior, he'd be all serious and shit, but nope, the guy's a top-tier gremlin and he's going to make sure I never forget my blunder.
Nagi was all giddy when she heard the news, but her excitement kind of fizzled out when I told her there wouldn't be any grand ceremony. As for her friend Haiko, I haven't been able to reach her. Nagi did mention that she had a minor mishap, nothing too major thankfully. I'll have to pay her a visit sometime soon.
Now for my jujutsu friends...
Satoru stared, Suguru blinked, and Shoko merely hummed in response to the unexpected sight.
"Well, looks like you totally jinxed it, Satoru, " The girl commented, her gaze fixed on the ring. "And, oh my, it's not just any ring—it looks quite fancy."
"It does?" I blinked, a touch of surprise coloring my tone. I leaned in for a closer look, and a soft 'damn' escaped my lips as I noticed the intricate carvings on the seemingly simple silver band—
"NOOOOOOO!" Satoru's voice suddenly pierced the air, causing all of us to startle. In a dramatic display, he fell to his knees, his arms outstretched as if pleading with the universe for mercy, which attracted a few people's attention.
We all resolutely decided to ignore him.
"So... You're really going to do it?" Suguru asked, his curiosity evident.
"I guess?" I replied, looking up to meet his gaze. "I mean, this whole thing caught me off guard, but I can't say I'm against it."
"I see."
I kept a keen eye on Suguru, sensing that the original plot had been thrown out the window at this point. I can proudly say that I successfully prevented this Geto from spiraling into darkness.
How, you ask?
By pretty much snatching him one morning and delving into an introspective conversation while gazing at Earth from the vantage point of the moon.
Yeah, I know—it's quite the approach.
Thankfully, the guy hadn't plunged into his dark thoughts yet. A big part of that was thanks to Satoru, who I'd made sure to drill into his thick skull that he should always include Suguru in his missions, screw what the elders said. Gotta keep him from feeling left out, right? From what Satoru told me, he might be a bit more subdued than before, but he still managed to squeeze out a laugh or two here and there.
"W-what was that?" Suguru managed, nearly choking on the spoonful I had just thrust into his mouth.
"Mystery syrup."
"Huh?"
"Now, eat up and tell me what you think."
He gazed at the battered special grade I held, then back at me, thoroughly puzzled. With a mischievous grin, I pushed it closer to him. After a moment's hesitation, he reluctantly accepted it, transforming it into an orb. He swallowed, then suddenly went rigid.
"Well?" I asked eagerly, my knowing smile locked on his reaction.
"...It tastes like salmon...?" he blinked, baffled. "How?"
"Mystery syrup."
Suguru stared.
My grin grew wider.
Evidently, cursed spirits were disgusting as fuck, which explained why adjusting his taste buds appeared to be a brilliant solution. As it turned out, it was. Suguru no longer appeared to be quietly suffering every time he caught one of them. Their flavors remained random, but fortunately, it was the good kind of random that eliminated the risk of encountering foul tastes. He had expressed gratitude, not to the extent of shedding tears, but the relief was palpable in his expression.
Plus, the whole star plasma fiasco got sorted out — a certain gal and her maid are now kicking it in Angola, all because yours truly decided, "Screw it, bringing people back to life ain't such a biggie."
So, no more finger-pointing on that front.
And while I allowed him to vent his frustration on that Sonoda guy, the person responsible for all this mess, I firmly opposed the idea of letting him commit murder. Sanctioning the death of a teenager was one of the most despicable acts I've ever encountered, though sadly, such occurrences are not uncommon in the world of shonen. My hands weren't clean either, but I'd rather avoid killing. Punishments on the other hand...
I drew inspiration from a certain pompadour Yankee, opting for a strategy of relentless beatdowns, followed by healing, and repeating the process.
If I merged him with a boulder we happened to stumble upon in the Aokigahara Forest, then none was the wiser. Suguru honestly seemed to approve, the vindictive little brat.
Dissolving his cult afterwards was a walk in the park.
So yeah, Suguru's emotional well-being had greatly improved, particularly after I left a pair of twins on his parents' doorstep, ultimately leading to their adoption. In simpler terms, he now has two new little sisters.
Yeah.
It was all fine and dandy.
As the afternoon sun warmed my path home from school, my phone chimed with an incoming call. I glanced at the caller ID and my face lit up – it was Haiko. She filled me in on the latest developments, although her tone carried a hint of something unusual, which I didn't dwell on at the time. After sharing my own news, I received a gracious congratulations from her. However, our conversation took a more serious turn when she revealed that her daughter was unwell.
"I know this might not be the best time to ask, but could you bring some of your famous soup from last time?"
"Nonsense! I'll definitely bring it! You should have called me sooner! We haven't made any plans yet, so I'm completely free!"
Haiko sounded apologetic as she replied, "I see. Thank you so much. Fuki just refuses to eat the one I make. You'll have to share your recipe!"
I chuckled, "Of course, it's no trouble at all! I'll swing by tomorrow at 10:30. Is that good with you?"
After receiving her confirmation, I strolled back home to prepare the meal. This wasn't my initial visit to her place to drop off food – it had become a routine with practically everyone, now that I think about it. I could have easily conjured the soup and brought it today, but nope! Cooking it was! Except for the ingredient summoning part, I enjoyed the traditional cooking approach. Nevertheless, the following day, I found myself standing at her front door with a classic fish soup, complete with those alphabet-shaped pasta my mom used to make when I was a child. Fuki had a special fondness for this soup, which brought a smile to my face.
I knocked on the door, double-checking the time before patiently waiting. Soon enough, shuffling sounds emanated from within, and a few moments later, the door swung open.
Just as I was about to raise a hand to greet her, I went rigid.
"Ah, Colith, I'm glad to see you! Thank you for coming."
I gazed at her for a solid two seconds, struggling to comprehend what I was witnessing. I had no idea how I managed to refrain from growling, but instead, I simply nodded with a forced smile, giving her a hug before following her inside.
I'd recognize those stitches anywhere.
The anger coursing through me was tangible, yet I concealed it beneath a deceptive grin. I wasn't naive; I understood precisely why this was unfolding, and I hated it. Haiko, a non-sorcerer, was targeted for one reason alone: to reach me, for whatever sinister motive. I didn't bother digging deeper into the why. After ensuring Fuki was okay, I pretended to fiddle with my phone while Kenjaku fed her spoonfuls, displaying the grace of a mother. The infuriating part was that the fucker knew exactly what he was doing.
Fortunately, Haiko and I weren't particularly close, which didn't affect our conversation. So, when Fuki dozed off, he turned to me, offering a smile I mirrored.
My hand twitched.
"You're in a good mood. What's the deal?"
I hummed, then flashed a sly grin. "Oh, you know, just took care of a little nuisance, nothing to concern yourself with." With a casual wave of my hand, I made my way to the living room.
Toji simply scratched his head and shrugged.
[in a different dimension, Kenjaku shuddered.]
