Sunlight pierced into Qian's room through the sliver between a pair of linen curtains hung in front of an oval window. Outside, the birds chirped in glee, as though greeting each other 'good morning' on this fresh new day. The weather was beautiful, with the sky being a crisp, bright blue; and the trees, despite losing most of their leaves now that it's late autumn, still remained fully iridescent with splashes of orange and red.

And yet, in a comically contrasting image to the pristine beauty that is outside, Qian remained staring wide-eyed at the wooden ceiling above her, dark circles visible around her eyelids from lack of sleep. The girl turned over to her side once more, pulling her blankets over her face, attempting to shield her face from the bright light. Several minutes passed as she squeezed her eyes shut, desperate for slumber to envelope her. When nothing came, she rolled onto her back, releasing a sigh in defeat as she returned back to glaring at the ceiling.

It has been exactly five days since the night she found out her family's connection with the administration, and she has yet to come up with a decision. The stress of that, combined with… recent events with a certain silver-haired sorcerer… prevented her from getting any real sleep.

Stop, brain, do not go there. She vehemently slapped her cheeks to stop her thoughts from straying to their heated exchange. She couldn't let herself get distracted by her stupid emotions, she needed to figure out what to do with her current situation. She couldn't keep wasting time, taking advantage of everyone's kindness… especially her mentor who's providing a room and letting her stay here.

She needed to give an answer. She owed it to everyone but she just didn't know what to do. She couldn't just stay here like a parasite.

Finally, she released a sigh, pushing herself up to a seating position. She had to talk to someone.

She reached over to her nightstand, picking up her phone to tap on her contacts. Miyano-chan? She shook her head; unfortunately, her best friend was too segregated from the Jujustu world and would just be confused.

Her family, well- that was out of the question.

She scrolled down to her peers. Yuji and Nobara were kind but… didn't seem very aware of the hierarchy and politics surrounding Jujutsu High. She could talk to Maki, but the girl seemed like she had a strong animosity towards the elders like Satoru did. Panda would be kind and listen but… he also didn't seem knowledgeable besides the information birthed into him when he was created. And Toge was… well. Silent.

Megumi flashed in her mind. The boy had always been level-headed and mature. Plus, he seemed cognizant about the administration. Maybe he would be a good person to ask for advice. Before she talked herself out of it, she tapped on his phone number.

"Hello?"

"M-Megumi-san!" Qian practically cried in relief, grateful he answered. "I-I'm so sorry to bother you but… do you have time to meet? I…It's a long story but I just need someone to talk to… I'm so sorry."

"Sure?" His voice was monotonous, but curious. "I'm going to be training in the center field in about half an hour or so. I can talk during my break."

She dipped her head down in appreciation, even though the boy couldn't see it. "T-Thank you so much! I'll see you there!'

—-

An hour later, Qian rushed to the center track field, where Megumi was grappling with his shikigami. The wolf hybrid was barking playfully as he tried pinning his master to the ground, but the boy was lithe and easily dodged his attacks.

Qian waited on the sidelines, watching their sparring session carefully. Megumi saw her in the distance and whistled softly, signaling the canine to take a break. The wolf yipped and flopped on his belly in the grass, grateful for the rest, and Megumi jogged towards her. "Hey."

"H-Hi." She bowed politely in greeting. "T-Thank you for letting me take your time to chat."

"Yeah, no worries. What's been going on?" Megumi reached into his duffel bag, grabbing a bottle of water. "I haven't seen you since the party."

"A-Ah yes. A lot has happened." Qian admitted, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "I-I guess I just wanted to ask you… i-if by some chance, i was involved with the administration… do you think I have a right to stay?"

Megumi had raised the bottle to his lips and faltered, quirking a brow at her. "...Qian, this whole school is associated with the administration. What do you mean?"

Qian wanted to slap herself. Ah. Right. She coughed before blinking owlishly up at him. "W-Well… I mean… yes but-"

He regarded her calmly as she formulated her thoughts. "I-I…" she finally sighed. "O-Okay, so… long story short, I found out that I was only allowed to stay here because someone else was pulling the strings, not because I proved myself or helped the school in any way. I… I don't feel like it's right of me to stay here but… I don't want to leave… I don't know what to do."

"If you don't want to leave, then don't. It's as simple as that." He took a sip from his bottle.

She bit her lip. "B-But…"

He regarded her calmly. "Look. No family is perfect. Hell, Maki can tell you: our family is super fucked up. But sometimes that's just life. So what, they went behind your back and tried to control your life. Fuck them. Don't let what they do define you.."

Qian snapped her gaze up at him in shock. "H-How do you-"

He waved his hand dismissively. "People talk. But at the end of the day. It's about what you want. Do you want to stay?"

"I-I…" The girl thought back to her achievements, her work in the lab, the fun experiences she had and the connections she made here. "I-I do… but-"

"Then stay." Megumi capped his bottle, tucking it into his bag. "Ieiri-sensei and Principal Yaga both think you've been doing good work, no one wants you to leave. So why leave?"

"I-I…" Qian was speechless, realizing he had a point. Yet- "I-I don't want to be selfish and end up hurting people anymore."

"It's not like you were intentionally doing it. You had no idea." He took out a towel, roughly drying his hair which was damp with sweat. "Anyways. If I were in your shoes. I'd say fuck my family, they can wait till I'm ready, and I'd stay."

Qian stared at him for a moment longer before her eyes grew misty. She sniffed, turning her cheek away as she took off her glasses. "T-Thank you, that really means so much. I needed to hear that."

He wiped his brow and chin with the cloth. "Don't mention it."

"C-Can I… hug you?" She asked hesitantly, placing her glasses back on the bridge of her nose. "S-Sorry, it's a strange thing to ask, I just-"

Megumi raised his brow as he folded the towel, tucking it into his bag. After zipping it up, he rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I'm not the best hugger but, if it'll help, sure." He opened his arms and Qian gratefully threw her arms over his shoulder. He patted her back gruffly and stiffly.

She sighed into his neck. "T-This was really helpful. Thank you so much."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't mention it. Just, hang in there. You seem like you're really stressed out and you shouldn't be."

She nodded eagerly. "I-I will try… thank you!" She stepped back and gave one more grateful bow before running back up the hill towards her room.

In the distance, from the hallway of the main campus building, a figure watched their interaction carefully, a deep frown marring his features.

—-

"So, you've come to a decision?"

The next morning, Qian was now standing back in Shoko's office. The girl seemed completely recovered, her green-eyes bright like polished emeralds, shining with newfound resolution. She dipped her head.

"I-I did. I decided… I'm going to stay." Qian concluded, folding her hands calmly in front of her.

Shoko grinned. "That's great. And just so you know, Principal Yaga informed me that there was a stern discussion with the administration and… they will no longer have any association with you. You are free to do what you want to here."

she widened her eyes. "W-Wait, really?" Upon seeing Shoko nod, she sighed in relief, before her thoughts traveled to her family. "A-And… my parents, Nii-san?"

"They're worried about you, but they seem fine." She replied, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "They told Satoru that they will wait patiently until you're ready to talk."

Qian nodded once more, a grateful smile tugging at her lips. She missed them- despite what they did. However, she needed time to process everything. Plus, she needed to be her own person. For too long, she relied on her brother and parents… and clearly paid the price for it. Now, she was truly independent.

"Alright well, now that it's official, I can finally say: get back to work!" Shoko grinned cheekily and Qian giggled, giving her one more bow in farewell, before turning towards the door.

As she opened the handle, the girl whirled back around, a true, genuine smile spread across her lips. "T-Thank you Ieiri-sensei, for your patience… help… everything!"

Shoko regarded her softly. "Don't mention it. Hang in there."

Qian threw one more grateful look over her shoulder before stepping into the hallway, closing the door quietly behind her. She breathed in a sigh of relief. She felt so rejuvenated after her conversation with Megumi, and upon seeing her mentor's support and hearing that her family was okay, she felt even more motivated

She turned her heel and started heading down the hallway, back towards her lab, when suddenly she felt her arm yanked to the side, bringing her into a room. The culprit immediately slid and locked the door behind her shut with a soft click.

She was pinned against the closed door, a warm hand covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Her eyes shot upwards in fear, before they blinked upon recognizing the person.

G-Gojo-sensei!? Despite his mask, she could tell he was glowering down at her, no doubt aggravated, and she cowered underneath his gaze.

He lowered his hand and she immediately laced her fingers nervously across her chest. "S-Sensei, what is it? What's wrong?" She blurted out anxiously, feeling a sense of danger radiating off the man. Why is he so angry? Her eyes flitted about to take in her surroundings, noting that they were in his office. She took a step to the side towards the center of the room in an attempt to create some space.

"Since when were you and Megumi so close?" He murmured, taking a step forward.

Her eyes widened as she regarded him owlishly, confused by his abrupt question. "M-Megumi-san? What do you mean?" She instinctively took another step backwards.

—-

He wasn't expecting to see her here, or grab her for the matter. He was sitting at his desk, signing off mission reports when he suddenly heard her voice saying goodbye to his coworker next door. As soon as he heard footsteps, he stood from his desk, peering out into the hallway and seeing the girl about to walk past him, appearing to be lost in her own thoughts.

The memory of her and Megumi hugging yesterday flashed in his mind. They both looked pretty… close. She had actively thrown her arms around his student; he had never seen her openly affectionate with anyone that way- let alone a guy. They must have gotten chummy with each other at some point when he wasn't present…

Before his logic kicked in, his body had moved on its own to reach out for her. Bringing them back to their current position.

"What I mean is…" He narrowed his eyes upon seeing her continuing to move away from him. "...why are you avoiding me?"

She blushed radiantly at the blatant question. "I-I-I'm not, I'm just surprised to see you-"

"So, it's not because of what happened between us…?" He slowly took off his sunglasses, irritation flickering in his hypnotic gaze as he straightened his back, following her movements carefully with an eerily calm look in his eyes. Another step forward, another step back.

"N-No, not at all! I just… um…" Her voice was too high-pitched and she swallowed. A step forward, a step back, forward, back, until…

Ow. Her hip hit something hard. Her eyes flickered down, recognizing the edge of his desk. Shit.

She immediately tried moving to the right but his arm shot out, slamming his hand onto the surface. She quickly shifted to the left, his other hand doing the same.

In an instant, he was directly in front of her, towering over her petite form. She was trapped.

If he was angry before, he is definitely pissed now. Rage and annoyance emitted from his body.

She frantically shook her head. "I-It's nothing! It's okay, I know it doesn't mean anything. I'm alright, it really didn't bother me."

"Oh, it doesn't bother you?" He leaned down, his lips hovering right beside her right ear. She gulped, heat blossoming across her face, her heart pounding violently in her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vehemently before turning away in sheer embarrassment.

It was a blatant lie- one of the main reasons why she had been unable to sleep was because of him. His rough hands sensually caressing her, the overwhelming sense of need he evoked with his touch, the pleasure of his tongue in her mouth… everything he did completely haunted her night and day. And the way he held her fingers against his pulse as he explained his own confusion… revealing his own vulnerability… his actions were starting to force open the lid to her feelings for him she had so desperately tried to keep shut these past few months.

"I am… flattered, honestly, but I… I don't… return your feelings."

She vividly remembered his remorseful expression from that day. There was just no way that has changed, why would they, how could they?

He was far above her and completely out of her league.

However, his warm hand suddenly grabbed her jaw, tilting her face upwards. She gasped at the rough gesture, unwittingly meeting his heated gaze. "S-Sensei-"

"It should have bothered you." He regarded her with a darkened expression. "Didn't you say that you loved me?"

Her face reddened even more upon his candor, as if he had read her mind. She gaped up at him. "I-I-"

"What, so just because some other guy gives you attention, your feelings just change like that?" He hissed, unable to stop himself.

However, as soon as he saw the hurt flash across her eyes, he immediately regretted his words. Oh shit.

It was as if a bucket of ice cold water was dumped over her head, harshly waking her from her stupor. "I-If you're referring to Megumi-san… he was being a friend." She replied, her gut churning in fury. "I-I don't know how you saw us, or what you're thinking, or why you're being like this. But he was being much nicer to me than you are right now."

She jerked her face away from his hold, placing her hands against his chest while keeping her eyes downcast. "I-I was having a difficult time and Megumi-san helped clear my head. I carefully thought about what I want to do and… I ultimately decided to stay." She whispered, pushing the man away from her. "S-So, I hope we can continue working together."

Honestly, why was she so angry? Did she actually expect his forgiveness?

She took a deep breath, turning away as she felt traitorous tears pool at the corners of her eyes. "T-Thank you for taking care of me last week. I appreciate you being kind and will forever be grateful, but I think it's best we keep some distance between us. I'll-"

In a surge of panic, he lunged forward, grabbing her shoulder to twist her around.

But somehow, in the back of her mind, she knew what he was trying to do and immediately covered his mouth with one hand as he hooked an arm around her lower back, crushing her into his chest as he tried to move his face closer to hers.

His ice-blue eyes narrowed in indignation and she met his gaze with just as much ire. She shook her head, uncharacteristic resolve emanating from her core. "N-No. I'm not going to let you do what you want to me. Either we talk, or you accept my suggestion."

For a moment, they glared at each other. Finally, he exhaled through his nose- seemingly in defeat- as he lifted a hand, gently grabbing her wrist to pull it away from his mouth.

Her relief was short-lived as he then kissed the inside of her hand. Her legs immediately felt like jelly as the heat returned to her face once more. But she desperately tried to hold onto her last shred of resolve. "S-So we'll distance then-"

His eyes flickered back to her and, as if taunting her, he licked her palm. She immediately felt way too hot, a fire igniting in her belly upon seeing his pupils dilate, his blue irises suddenly dark with desire. "S-Sensei, stop-"

"Why did you willingly touch him…" He growled against her fingers. "While you seem to avoid my touch in every possible way?"