"Hahh…"
I took a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion in my bones. So far, I'd taken down over a thousand cursed spirits across these forests. None of them were particularly dangerous—just small fries. But there were so many that leaving them unchecked would be a mistake. They didn't pose an immediate threat, but their sheer numbers could become a problem. It wasn't just the quantity that had drained me, though; it was the distance. If I had to round it up, it probably equaled running from Narukami Shrine to Inazuma City ten times over—all in one night. I wasn't sure what time it was anymore. The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to collapse into my dorm bed and sleep for an entire day.
Sighing at the thought of having to walk what felt like another hundred miles back to Inazuma, I forced my feet to move. As I trudged through the dense forest, my eyes picked up movement far in the distance—people. One of the perks of having the Six Eyes was the ability to see far away and even through obstacles, like buildings, without any effort. It was convenient, yes, but also tiring to have it constantly active. My glasses had broken in the middle of the last fight when I'd moved too quickly.
"As I thought, blindfolds are more practical…" I muttered to myself, though I wasn't eager to adopt that look again. I didn't want to stand out any more than I already did.
The glasses were a special commission, made by some artisans in Natlan—something that fox had arranged for me. I wasn't sure how she got her hands on them, but I felt bad for breaking them. Aside from the broken glasses, my clothes were in shambles, too. The outfit, stitched together by some tailor from the shrine, wasn't nearly as durable as the ones I had back in Jujutsu High. Maybe it was a matter of fabric quality? I'd seen adventurers return from commissions in far better condition than I was. Perhaps they knew of a stronger material. I made a mental note to look into that when I got back.
Distracting myself with these thoughts, I tried to ignore the aching in my legs. Just as I was deep in thought ignoring the long walk ahead, a soft, strange sound caught my ear. An instrument? Who would be playing music this deep into the forest—and at this hour? My curiosity piqued, I scanned the area and quickly picked up on a faint aura. The person's curse energy was low, meaning either they carried very little negativity or their vitality was dwindling. Curious, I decided to investigate.
Following the sound, I came upon a small, run-down house tucked away among the trees. Despite its age, the place wasn't in disrepair—just a bit weathered by time. Sitting on the veranda, hunched over a stringed instrument I didn't recognize, was an old woman. The music stopped as I approached, and she raised her head, sensing my presence before I could even speak.
"Who is it?" Her voice was soft but firm.
"Excuse me," I said, stepping closer and offering a bow out of respect, however she didn't seem to acknowledge the bow
"Hmm… A young boy?"
"Yeah, sorry, I got a little lost."
"Oh, how unfortunate," she said with a faint chuckle. "Would you like some tea, child?"
"I'm more of a coffee person, actually,"
The old lady let out a gentle laugh, amused by my straightforward answer. As we talked, I realized something—her gaze was hollow, it's as if she's not looking at me at all. Could she possibly be blind?
"Sorry to disappoint, but this old lady doesn't have any coffee beans," she said with a sigh, still smiling.
"It's fine," I assured her. "Do you live here by yourself, ma'am?"
"Yes, I've been here for a long time now. Just me and the forest." Her voice was steady, but there was a trace of sadness beneath it.
As we continued chatting, I learned bits and pieces of her life. She and her late husband had chosen to live here, away from the noise of the city. They enjoyed a peaceful and simple life, until old age took him, leaving her behind. The area was secluded, difficult to find unless someone stumbled upon it by accident, as I had.
I couldn't help but wonder how she had managed all this time without encountering trouble. Treasure hoarders, wild animals, cursed spirits, especially with her playing instruments like this, it's sure to attract unwanted attention. However, I decided to leave it at that and just hope this lady will be fine. With cursed spirits appearing more often, it's a good thing that I decided to clear them daily. This just gave me another reason to continue purging the cursed spirits as I steeled my resolve.
"Boy," the old lady's voice brought me out of my thoughts, "how about staying over for the night?"
"Huh? No, I couldn't possibly trouble you like that."
"It's no trouble at all," she insisted.
"It'll be easier for you to find your way in the daylight. Besides, it's safer."
In truth, I didn't need the daylight, with the six eyes I can see perfectly fine. But I was tired. The thought of having to walk all the way back to Inazuma made her offer more appealing.
"I appreciate the offer, ma'am," I said, giving in. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Come, then. Rest is good for the young," she said with a small, knowing smile.
Before I followed her inside, she suddenly paused and asked, "Boy, may I touch your face?"
I blinked, taken aback. "Huh?"
"I'm sorry to ask," she explained softly, "but this old woman can't see. I'd like to know how you look—through touch."
Ah, so she really was blind. Her request reminded me of my grandmother, who would often trace my face when I was younger, though she wasn't blind. It was more an affectionate habit. I felt a pang of nostalgia, and I didn't mind letting her do the same.
"Of course," I said.
Gently, she raised her hands and began to trace the contours of my face—my brow, my cheekbones, my jaw. Her fingers were light and slow, memorizing the shape of my features.
"You're a fine-looking young man," she remarked, her voice thoughtful. "Somehow… you feel familiar."
"Familiar?" I echoed, a little confused.
"Yes, your features remind me of someone who visits me from time to time."
"Someone?" I asked, curiosity stirring.
"A relative?"
"No, no," she said, shaking her head.
"Not family. Just a girl—a kind soul. She comes to check on me every now and then. Like you, she stumbled upon this place by accident."
A girl? I wondered who she could be, but decided not to ask further. I didn't want to intrude on her private affairs.
The old lady guided me to a small room with a neatly made bed. "Rest now, child," she said. "The morning will come soon."
"Thank you, granny," I said, giving her another bow, though she couldn't see it.
Settling into the bed, the exhaustion quickly pulled me under, and I slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The morning light trickled through the cracks of the old wooden shutters as I stirred awake, the scent of cooked eggs wafting through the air. I blinked a few times, groaning softly as my body protested the movement, sore from the night's battle. I wasn't exactly a morning person, but something about the smell of breakfast made the morning a little more bearable. Granny had woken up before me and prepared a meal, a simple breakfast of eggs and rice.
"Ah, you're awake, young one," Granny greeted with a warm smile as I sat up, stretching out the aches in my limbs.
I nodded, offering her a quiet, "Good morning."
The breakfast was simple but comforting, and we ate in silence. As I finished my meal, I thanked her once again for her hospitality. "Thanks, Granny. I'll be sure to visit again sometime."
"You're welcome anytime, child. Take care of yourself out there," she said kindly, her cloudy eyes crinkling at the corners in a soft smile.
Considering I'll be roaming around at night hunting curses, it might not be a bad idea to crash over at her place from time to time. With that, I nodded as I bowed one last time.
"I'll make sure to bring something next time."
She chuckled softly at that. "I'll be looking forward to it."
With that, I left the small, secluded house behind, walking through the dense forest as the early morning sun rose higher into the sky. After a long night of fighting off cursed spirits and resting in Granny's home, I was finally making my way back to Inazuma City. The walk was peaceful, the quiet forest gradually giving way to the bustling streets of the city. It was still early, but the people of Inazuma were already starting their day.
The sight of the busy city made me feel a little out of place, especially since I looked like I had crawled out of a warzone. My clothes were in tatters, dirty and torn from the countless cursed spirits I had fought through the night. Sure enough I started to feel the stares of passersby on me, their eyes lingering with curiosity or pity. It was understandable. An 11-year-old kid walking around in rags wasn't exactly a common sight.
I ducked my head, hoping to not attract anymore attention
I should hurry back to the dorms and sneak past the dorm keepers to avoid questioning. Keep a low profile Satoru, keep a-
"Gosh, you're an eyesore."
"Hahh?!"
The voice of a girl cut through my thoughts like a sharp blade, and I turned, glaring at the source of the insult. A girl around my age—or maybe a bit older—stood a few feet away, her sharp red eyes fixed on me in a look of disgust. Her brown hair, streaked with a few strands of gold, was tied up in a simple ponytail decorated with red ornaments, and she was dressed in a surprisingly flashy outfit. I had no idea who this brat was, but she clearly had no filter.
"What did you just say?" I growled, fists clenching.
"You heard me," she said, stepping closer with an air of confidence that grated on my nerves. "You look terrible. What are you wearing? Those rags make you look like a beggar. It's a complete insult to your face."
I glared at her, baffled by the mix of insults and what sounded like a compliment buried somewhere in there. "You picking a fight?"
She shook her head, completely ignoring my threat, and instead grabbed the collar of my tattered shirt. "Come with me."
"Why should I—? Hey, let go!"
"I said come here," she repeated, her voice sharp with authority. "Don't make me say it again."
I seriously considered decking this girl, but I gritted my teeth and allowed her to drag me along, the last thing I need now is to cause a scene and attract even more unwanted attention. She pulled me to a nearby stall, where she reached behind the counter and pulled out two short swords. My eyes widened slightly.
"Oh, you use a sword?" I asked, more out of curiosity than anything.
She ignored my question and, in a strange combination of movements, used one hand to hold the swords while pulling out a red rope with her free hand. She circled me like a hawk, measuring my body with the rope. After a moment, she nodded to herself and swiftly moved to grab a few bolts of fabric—black, blue, and white.
With quick, precise movements, she began cutting through the fabric with her swords, stitching it together with a speed and elegance that surprised even me. Despite how annoying she was, I couldn't deny she had some serious skills.
"There," she said, pointing the swords at me, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. "Now take them off"
I blinked at her, bewildered. "Take what off…?"
"Your clothes, obviously. What else?"
"I'm not stripping out here in public!" I snapped, incredulous.
"I don't care" she said nonchalantly
"Well I do!"
She rolled her eyes, tossing a thumb over her shoulder. "Fine. Use that room over there".
Grumbling under my breath, I took the new clothes she tossed at me and went to the small room she pointed to. I changed out of my ruined outfit and slipped into the new one. To my surprise, the clothes fit perfectly. The white and blue shirt was light and breathable, paired with black pants and a sleek black haori. I couldn't deny that I looked pretty damn good in this.
When I stepped out, the girl was standing there with her arms crossed, looking me over critically. "There. Now you look somewhat decent. You should thank me."
I sighed. "Seriously, what's with you?"
"What's with me? What's with you? Why were you walking around looking like a vagabond?" she shot back, frowning at me.
I shrugged. "Why do you care?"
"Because it annoys me to see someone like you wasting your appearance with such garbage clothing," she replied flatly.
I narrowed my eyes at her, holding back a sarcastic remark. "Anyway, Isn't this expensive? Aren't you worried I won't be able to pay for it?"
"I don't care about that," she said, waving me off. "I enjoy making clothes. Besides, your face reminds me of someone which irritates me. It would've bothered me to see you looking like that."
I blinked at her, caught off guard. That was the second time someone had said I looked familiar. Weird.
I shook off the thought. "Well, thanks, I guess. But I can't just take this for free. How about I commission you and pay double?"
Her eyebrows raised slightly. "A commission? I don't usually take commissions."
"Huh, why?" I asked, frowning.
She shrugged. "People usually have no taste, and they ask me to make ugly things. But if you don't care about the design…"
"I don't. I just need something that can handle fighting—and maybe withstand an explosion or two."
She stared at me, her red eyes narrowing in thought. "Is that why you were in such rags?"
"More or less," I replied casually.
After a moment, she smirked, clearly interested. "Fine. No complaints later, though. I'll make what I want, and you'll wear it."
"Deal."
As I turned to leave, she finally introduced herself. "By the way, the name's Chiori. You'll find me here when your order's ready in about four days"
"Four days huh? That's around the same time I'll be picking up my school uniform"
"School uniform?" she asked curiously.
"I'm a new student in Kyushu Gakuen. They say we'll have to pick up our own uniforms about 2 days before school starts. I'm not too familiar with Inazuma city so maybe you know something about tailor shops here?"
"Oh so you're a freshman, if it's that academy you can come here to pick it up. Coincidently, our store have been handling uniforms for awhile now"
"Wow, what a coincidence"
She shrugged "Just make sure to come in 4 days"
I nodded and was about to be on my way before she called me out one last time
"I'm a third year there by the way, nice meeting you kohai-kun"
"I have a name…" I complained in an annoyed tone
"I didn't ask" She simply brushed it off and scoffed
With that, I left Chiori behind and went back to academy's dorm, of course I also got scolded in the process but I didn't have the energy to care. Six more days until school starts, and if today was any indication, my school life is going to be quite a headache.
