*Author's note: Sorry for another late post! Really appreciate all of your patience and support during these difficult times. Divorce is still in progress… not sure when it's going to be finalized. Just know that no matter how long this story takes, I am determined to finish this… just taking a while due to everything that's been going on. Thank you everyone for your comments and kind words! They really help me push through during my dark days :) Without further ado, enjoy!

Masamichi took a deep breath, taking off his glasses to run his hand over his tired face. He had been reviewing documents for the past 4 hours and the stack of paperwork seemed to remain the same height even after signing thousands of forms.

Suddenly, the phone rang and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he picked up the receiver. "I know the deadline was yesterday, sir. I just need to finish reviewing-"

"Masamichi?" His eyes shot open as he recognized the voice. "It's Tomioka Chase."

"Tomioka, this is a surprise." He remembered his old classmate. Chase was always the goody-two-shoes, student president-type while he himself was a troublemaker through and through. Despite that, they ended up being paired on missions together and have been quite amicable ever since. "Apologies for missing you and your wife's anniversary party. Qian invited me but unfortunately that night was a bit hectic."

"Oh, no worries at all. That's not what I was calling about-" A murmur of voices could be heard in the background. "- listen, Zeng mentioned that you've been trying to hunt down a cursed user who can summon plants?"

Masamichi straightened his back. "Yes, why?"

"Well, Zeng found someone suspicious lurking in the back of our house." Chase's voice was eerily solemn. "We don't know who he is- but my son mentioned that he tried attacking him by summoning leaves."

Immediately recognizing the description, Masamichi stood up and opened his drawer, combing through the folders until he saw a specific file. He placed it on the desk, flipping through the pages. "Yeah, that sounds familiar. A few months back, Satoru and the first years went to Gunma for a mission and encountered a cursed user. They were about to take her in but she was rescued by someone who fit that description." He lifted his eyes. "Are you and your family safe? Where is he now?"

He could hear the man opening a door, presumingly checking something. "He's unconscious and secured in our living room."

"Okay, good. I'm sending over Hitsunara to your location." Masamichi instructed, placing Chase on speaker as he scrolled through his contacts.

"Toshinori?" The man sounded perplexed. "Or Vivian? I thought the twins were in Europe?"

"I requested them to return since we've been so stretched thin, but I'm talking about Toshinori." The principal was surprised that he recognized them, though thinking back, Chase did participate in the mentorship program after graduation. Though shortly after, he had disappeared from the Jujutsu world. "Anyways, just texted him. He's on his way."

"Understood, thank you."

—-

"HE DID WHAT?!"

Qian felt a familiar sense of déjà vu as Miyano screeched once more from beside her, the cup of coffee she had been holding almost fumbling out of her grasp. Fortunately, the weather was unusually warm for late autumn, so instead of meeting up in their usual cafe or restaurant, they opted to walk around in a local park instead. In this case, it could almost be considered a blessing; since her friend never seems able to restrain her outbursts, the loud volume did not seem to faze or be heard by any passerby nearby..

"M-Miyano-chan!" The bespectacled girl quickly caught the drink, handing it back to the blonde with one hand, using her other to palm her face. "W-Why do you always freak out like this?!"

"BECAUSE-" Miyano muttered a quick 'thank you', quickly checking to make sure none of the liquid leaked out from the lid, before she lowered her voice in a loud whisper. "Because this is huge! He kissed you?! Like, multiple times?!"

"I-It's really not that big of a deal!" Qian's cheeks were bright red, her eyes flitting around as people were beginning to turn their heads to regard them quizzically. "M-Miyano-chan please quiet down!"

"I FLIPPIN' CALLED IT!" Miyano was grinning from ear-to-ear. "I flipping KNEW you guys had something! So? You guys made out in your lab which- hot- by the way-" She gave a quick wink at her friend's completely mortified expression. "Spill, so then what happened?"

"T-Then nothing!" Qian protested, brushing her hair out of her face as she tried cooling her burning cheeks with her gloved hands. "H-He got a call and had to go back to work."

The blonde seemed to visibly deflate, her lips stuck out in a pout. "Damn, I was hoping you'd lose your v-card right then and there-" She grumbled the last part almost inaudibly.

Qian immediately grabbed her friend's shoulders, shaking them frantically. "M-MIYANO-"

"Yeah, yeah I'll shut up. But I'M JUST SAYIN'-" Miyano held her hands up defensively. "Did I call it, or did I not call it?"

"Y-You didn't call anything!" Qian argued, shoving her fingers into the pockets of her peacoat as she stormed ahead down the path they were walking on. "I-I'm sure he just needed a-a release or something."

"Wait, Qi." She felt a hand grasp her elbow and she turned to look at her friend curiously. "Are you saying, you guys aren't dating?"

"N-No, absolutely not!" She gulped as she waved her hands wildly in front of her. "T-There's no way-"

"Wait, hold on. Why not?" Miyano quirked a brow as she took a sip from her cup. "You guys clearly like each other! You've at least talked about it. right?"

"U-Um…" Qian gave a nervous giggle, choosing to look at the pavement underneath her. Miyano narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Right…?" Upon meeting further silence, the girl gave an obnoxious groan, chucking the remainder of her drink in a nearby trash can and stepping in front of her friend, crossing her arms in front of her, a deep frown marring her usually bubbly features.

"Qi, you guys need to talk about this." Qian glanced up, meeting her friend's bright blue eyes, which were unusually solemn. "For your sake."

Qian paled at the thought. "I-I think confronting him about this will just make it worse-"

"How would it be a confrontation?!" Miyano asked incredulously, taking a step back to place her hands on her hips. "You'd just be talking to him about how you feel, and what you guys want to be."

"B-But," Qian argued, hanging her head down dejectedly. "I-I don't even know-"

Miyano sighed, flipping her curls over her shoulder. "Okay, let me paint a picture. Do you enjoy being with him?"

"I-I do, but…" Her shoulders visibly sagged. "I-I don't believe I'm good enough for him, especially when he's so much older-"

"Okay, stop right there." Miyano playfully smacked the back of her head. Qian yelped, regarding her friend with wide, incredulous eyes. "See, that's what I'm talking about right there. Because you both haven't communicated about what 'this'-" She circled her finger around her face. "-'this', these feelings you have for him actually mean, you are already thinking ten, no, twenty steps ahead and destroying your own confidence because of it. Which, by the way, you really shouldn't be doing to yourself. I've told you plenty of times that you're awesome, you just refuse to believe it!"

"I-I'm trying! I do want… to be with him." Qian admitted quietly, her eyes softening at the thought of his rare smiles, the memory of how nice it felt to be held by him, the taste of his soft lips.… "B-But-"

"I get you're scared. I understand how confusing this all is. But trust me, Qi, the longer you don't talk to him thoroughly about this, knowing you, you're going to overanalyze one thing or another and destroy yourself." Miyano huffed, loosening her scarf as she rubbed the back of her neck to massage the knots. "Trust me,the number one thing that men hate is lack of self-esteem."

"B-But-!" Qian suddenly felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, indicating that her lunch break was over. She bit back a sigh, grateful that something interrupted the two of them so she could escape this uncomfortable conversation. "I-I have to get back to work anyways, I'll see you later!"

"Wait, Qi!" The bespectacled girl gave her a quick hug before rushing off. Miyano groaned, stomping the ground in frustration.

"I really hope they talk properly- before any further miscommunication comes up." She muttered to herself before turning on her heel in a huff, heading down the path they came from. For her sake.

—-

Kurofiru stirred, his brain feeling as though it was rattled and shaken in his skull. He blinked groggily, his blurry vision slowly growing focused as he slowly woke up, trying to discern his surroundings. He noticed that he was in the middle of a room, perhaps a living room based on the couch in the corner, and the family photos scattered along the walls. His ears perked up upon hearing the low voices from the other room.

"They said he died in the fire, his parents as well." A male voice spoke. "At least according to the police reports."

""How is this possible then?" A female voice spoke.

"They never found a body. Could be this whole time, he possessed cursed energy and…" Another male interjected. There was a pause. "...and managed to survive."

"I remember the fire spreading everywhere that night." A third male voice interjected. "The blaze was incinerating, officials thought all the victims simply burned to dust."

"Well, clearly that wasn't the case. In fact, maybe he had something to do with it."

He tried to stand, only to notice his hands and feet were bound to a chair. The movement made a harsh, creaking sound from the chair scraping across the floor. He cursed under his breath as the voices suddenly hushed. A shadow could be seen approaching from the hallway.

Zeng's face was dark with anger as he rounded the corner. "I can't believe this. You're really alive. How did you-"

"Zeng, calm down." Chase was closely behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to placate his son.

Kurofiru flicked his wrist, attempting to use his power but was shocked to find that he couldn't feel his cursed energy.

"Yeah, good luck trying to use your cursed energy. That rope that's tied around you, it's made of purified talisman parchment we use for exorcisms." He looked up to see Hitsunara suddenly in front of him, squatting down so they were at eye level with a smirk stretched across his lips. "So how about you tell us who you really are and why you're here- or, apparently, alive for the matter?"

Kurofiru remained silent, choosing to glare instead and Hitsunara sighed, pushing himself to his feet. He cracked his knuckles. "I guess we'll have to do this the hard way-"

However, Yi-lang suddenly stepped forward, bending forward to place a gentle hand on the young man's cheek. He jerked back, shooting a wild gaze up at the woman before suddenly feeling a sense of warmness, observing her eyes swirl with a beautiful sea of cerulean blue.

"You are Hayato, correct?" Her voice was so soothing, so gentle in his ears. The fact that she knew his identity didn't really phase him for some reason-

"Yes." He immediately responded. Wait, why did I- He blinked rapidly, shaking his head rigorously and trying to shove himself back with his bound limbs.

But she reached out again, touching his skin with her soft fingers. "Why are you here?"

"To look for Qian." He inwardly cursed again, but she felt so warm and soothing…

Her voice seemed to emanate throughout his mind in a hypnotic lull. "Why are you looking for her?"

"To kill her." Her fingers were so gentle…

"Why do you want to kill her?" She continued in her melodic tone.

His mouth opened automatically with a reply. "So I can finally be rid of my past."

"How did you survive?!" Zeng couldn't help but interject. Kurofiru couldn't hear him, however; the woman's silky touch was so addicting…

"Son, you know how your mother's power works." Chase stepped forward. "Only she can ask questions or else he won't answer truthfully."

Yi-lang repeated her son's inquiry and Kurofiru immediately responded. "Someone revived me."

The dark-haired woman furrowed her brow. "Who?"

"Me." They all whirled around, only to see a pale iridescent male figure raise his fingers, freezing them all in place. As their frozen, shocked looks locked onto his cheerful, cocky gaze, Chase and Hitsunara's expressions were discerning, seemingly recognizing him. He nonetheless smirked, easily meandering around their still bodies to approach Kurofiru, who shook his head vigorously, awakened from his prior stupor. He glanced wildly around him before fixating on the cursed spirit. "Honshoji, how did you-"

The spirit clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Oh dear, look what they did to you. Now, now, this won't do." With the flick of his wrist, the binds easily dissipated. "It's always amusing how these sorcerers think something as feeble as this can withstand greater beings like us."

Kurofiru caressed his head, running his hand through his sweaty locks. He took a breath, shaking his head rigorously once more while cradling his face in his hands. His mind still seemed sluggish as he processed the recent turn of events. "What happened to me?"

"You were impatient, that's what." Honshoji turned to leave as the young man stumbled, pushing himself to his feet. He noticed the others remained frozen in place.

"You're not going to do anything?" Kurofiru couldn't help but ask, taking a hesitant step after the spirit.

"Where's the fun in that?" Honshoji smirked, gliding smoothly past their motionless bodies. "Now that I made my formal introduction, I'm itching to see what they think they can do to me."

"Formal introduction?" The man faltered in his step, his golden irises flicking back and forth between them. "You didn't say anything."

"I don't need to." As Honshoji stepped out the front door, he glided down the steps and paused before the driveway. He lifted his two fingers, generating a portal before him. "They know who I am, I am quite famous after all." He gestured toward the darkness, giving his companion a haughty wink. "Now, how about we get you patched up?"

Famous? The young man definitely never seen the spirit before their initial encounter, let alone recognize him at all. All he knew was, this being wasn't human. It was only a year after their partnership began when he was educated about cursed energy and spirits, which was when Honshoji revealed himself as the latter and explained his ability in being able to make people immobile. Yet, for the past decade, there were times where it was clear the spirit was toying with him, almost as though he was hiding his true power. But Kurofiru didn't care to investigate or indulge. After all, he had a mission to fulfill.

Choosing not to press further, he stepped into the darkness and the two disappeared in a soundless 'pop'.

Neither of them, however, noticed the small band-aid that was taped to the young man's upper arm.