WARNING : I am not a native speaker. One of my reasons to re-write this fict is because I want to practice my English even just a little. So, read it with a grain of salt and please enjoy yourself.
—OoOoO—
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami
Oregairu by Wataru Watari & Ponkan8
Genre : Supernatural, Action, Freindship, Slice of Life, and Little Bit Romance
Summary : Not the romantic comedy of youth that he experienced, not the quiet and normal life of youth he had. He never missed his day-to-day cursing his strange and annoying life. He is Hikigaya Hachiman and this is all his complaints as a jujutsu sorcerer.
Chapter 8 : And Then, They Do What They Must to Do.
—OoOoO—
"Nanami-san, could you at least turn on the AC? It's too hot here even though it's only the middle of June."
"Air temperature continues to rise every year and the weather becomes erratic, mostly caused by carbon emissions from electronic devices and motor vehicles. That is why, if you don't want the air to get any hotter, you should at least refrain from using the AC, Hikigaya-kun."
Tsk. I really do respect Nanami-san. However, reality does not always match the expectations. People you respect sometimes also have traits you don't like. That is reality. As for Nanami-san, his way of thinking makes him like SJW from the West.
"Don't believe that bullshit, Hikigaya. His mouth does say something sweet, but he is just an old man who is afraid his electric bill will swell again."
The one who spoke earlier was Hiratsuka-sensei. She was sitting at Nanami-san's desk at the corner of the living room. While her back was leaning on an expensive looking office chair, she lifted her legs up and stretched out on the table. At the end of the table was also a tiny battery-powered electric fan that was now fanning her head.
Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and her hands were engrossed in playing the Pokemon Go on her smartphone. She seemed to give the impression that the woman was the owner of this apartment. In fact, it was not like that.
"Put your feet down, Hiratsuka. And stop acting like this is your place," Nanami-san commented.
Hiratsuka-sensei paid no heed to Nanami-san's orders. Her eyes were only focused on the game on her smartphone.
"Hey, Hikigaya. Do you think I should raise Palkia's CP or Dialga's CP? Damn, both are really good. Sadly, my items are very limited," said Hiratsuka-sensei, completely ignoring the host.
"Hah? Where did you get those two legendary pokemon from?"
"Don't underestimate me, kid. I am something you call a Pro in this game."
Wouldn't that be like saying that you are unemployed and always spends your spare time hunting pokemon? Or, in this case, are you the type of person who pretends to be busy hanging out everywhere on holidays when all you do is just hunt pokemon, Hiratsuka-sensei?
I mean, Pokemon Go is a game where you have to go outside to play it. Generally, people will play this as a distraction in their daily commute. However, some people who don't have friends will use this game as a shield so they don't look like pathetic people who just spend their free time shutting themselves up at home.
"I think Dialga would be better for the top priority. Well, to be honest I don't like dragon-type pokemon, because their weakness against dragon-type itself was a big deal. However, Dialga was a combination of dragon and steel type pokemon. As such, the fatal weaknesses of dragon type are covered. So, you will have a dragon type attribute that tends to have a lot of damage as well as a steel type attribute that will cover the dragon type deficiency."
If I had to sort out the three super legendary pokemon in Pokémon Go, Dialga is the best. Its attack and defence are very balanced, so it would be great if used for PvP. Meanwhile, Palkia generally has a better attack than Dialga, but his weakness as a dragon type will be very easily exploited by dragon and fairy type that many players used in the game. While Giratina is the worst between the three. Giratina can't be as flexible as Dialga or Palkia. While Dialga and Palkia can be used in PvE or PvP without any issues, Giratina can be tricky if you didn't know the differences between his two forms. Put it simply, Altered Giratina had a thick HP and deffense, it pretty good to used in PvP, but it sucks in PvE. On other hand, Giratina Origin Forme was the opposite.
What i hate the most about Giratina in Pokemon Go was, they separated these tow forms of Giratina. So, you shiuld catched those two if you want to have complate Giratina's forms. As such, you also have to works twice to build up those two. That is why i said Giratina was the worst betwwen the three.
"Good analysis. Out of all your bad personality, your knowledge is really very useful in such useless things. As expected, you resemble Gojou-san in strange ways."
"I am not that weird, you know."
Wait, did I just acknowledge that I am a weirdo?
"Anyway, how about yours? Do you have new legendary pokemon?"
Apart from the teacher-student relationship we had, Hiratsuka-sensei and I developed something else. You could say we are partners in playing Pokemon Go. I quite like pokemon. And since going here and there to do missions was very tiring, I followed Hiratsuka-sensei's suggestion to hunt pokemon during missions.
My conversation with the female teacher about pokemon continued to the point where we completely ignored Nanami-san. This made me feel a little guilty because he seemed to be the one who was outcasted in his own apartment. However, I couldn't do anything, though. Besides, Nanami-san also seems to be enjoying reading his book.
Ding… dong…
A bell rang, and it distracted the three of us.
"I think they have come," said Nanami-san, then got up from the sofa where he was sitting and went to open the door.
Hiratsuka-sensei knew that her playing time was over. She turned off her phone and then placed it on the table. Then, the female teacher lowered her legs originally on the table and corrected her sitting posture to look normal and polite.
Is she trying to look like a well-grown woman after all this time just playing games like an adult giving up on marriage?
Well. I also came to my senses, turned off, and put my phone in my waist bag.
Who knows who will come later is someone more senior than me, right?
After waiting for a while, Nanami-san finally appeared and entered the living room. Behind him, there were two people of the opposite sex following him. My eyes and those of the two met each other. At that moment, their expressions turned sour.
"Geh. … you … the bastard Hikigaya."
While the blonde haired girl in a bun who looked like an idiot was openly showing her dislike of me, the black haired boy with neat hair changed his expression back to a calmer one.
"Hikigaya, long time no see," said the guy one.
The two of them were Nishimiya Momo and Kamo Nori-something, my seniors from Kyoto Jujutsu High. Even though they are my seniors, my relationship with them is far from good. Maybe more accurately, I was one of the people they hated?
"Rather than them, why not just call Maki and the others?" I protested to Nanami-san, "Just for the information. I don't think I will be able to work well with them. Todo might even be the one who would killing me, you know?"
"Don't be afraid, Todo-kun is not on this mission," replied Nishimiya.
"Who are you calling afraid? I will say it again in case you forgot. I was the one who defeated Todo in a one-on-one battle."
"Yes, with cheap cheating tricks."
"If cheating you mean is making good use of my cursed technique, I don't wonder why you are still in the third grade even though it is already your third year, Nishimiya-senpai."
The blonde girl showed a bright red face when she heard my reply. Veins of annoyance appeared on her broad forehead.
"Enough of that, you two," Nanami-san cut in, "Don't ask me why Maki-kun and your friends were not here. This is the higher-ups decision."
Nishimiya turned her face to the side in annoyance. She and Kamo walked towards the empty side of the sofa and sat down. While I just shrugged my shoulders and signalled that it wasn't a matter.
Nanami-san, who saw that the four of us had entered into professional mode, finally faced all of us and started his explanation.
"The past few days, there was a group of overseas sorcerers who infiltrated Japan. They killed several well-known businessmen and party officials. From their tracks, there is no doubt that they are professionals."
Out of all my speculations, this is the worst mission. Hunting down illegal sorcerers who worked as assassins was difficult. They are human. In other words, they also have human intelligence. Their way of thinking are the same as humans. In short, fighting assassins with high intelligence was more troublesome than fighting average special grade cursed spirits.
However, there is still something bothering me.
"Didn't you on the phone say this had something to do with Hiratsuka-sensei? Yet, I don't see any correlation between Hiratsuka-sensei and them."
Nanami-san looks a little reluctant to answer my question. But, he finally gave an explanation after sighing once.
"There are allegations that this murder was carried out by the Star Religious Group considering that the victims found were all former followers of the religion."
"Star … what?"
"Star Religious Group, haven't you heard of it, Hikigaya?"
The one who answered my question was not Nanami-san but Kamo.
"Not at all. Are they a cult or something? Besides, what does it have to do with Hiratsuka-sensei?"
When Kamo was about to reply, my female mentor cut him off first.
"Star Religious Group is a group of people who worship Tengen as their Deity Being. They regard Tengen as the only God and savior of the world. Since my cursed technique is basically the same as Tengen's, a barrier technique, they also think of me as an infidel trying to become a God. That is why, they often send me assassins to kill me. So, seeing them throwing tantrums again, I feel like I want to beat them one by one."
I still do not understand. I mean, I know the problem Hiratsuka-sensei was talking about. However, I still don't understand why their group wasn't just destroyed.
"If they really are so problematic people, why doesn't the association take firm action against them? Sending assassins is too much, isn't it? Why are they not eradicated them to the roots?"
"Are you really asking that?" said Nishimiya with a wry face, "That is why you and your friends are the worst group ever, you are just a bunch of barbarians who only know how to fight."
"Will your mouth rot if you don't mess with me for a bit? Besides, the honorable nobles like all of you should be ashamed of being humiliated by barbarians like us."
"What?" Kamo retorted in annoyance.
To be honest, I don't have any problem with Kyoto students in general. Well, I do have a bad relationship with the Kamo Clan, Zen'in, and the higher-ups of the association because of how they treat Komachi. Todo also hates me to the core due to what I did to him in the past. However, they should think of it as a personal matter between those people and me, not between factions.
No. I think the Kyoto people have always looked at us fiercely from the start. Apart from me being labelled as a problematic person, there is Maki, who they are trying to take down her path as a sorcerer. In addition, there is also Inumaki, who has an inherited cursed technique from the Inumaki Clan, a clan that is considered a criminal clan. Finally, there is Okkotsu, an anomaly that they are terrified of because of his unnatural fast development. And don't forget about Panda … who literally is a panda.
So, it is no wonder that the people of Kyoto regard my class as a thorn in their throat.
"You three…, can you all stop being so childish?"
I gulped my saliva when I felt a piercing feeling from Hiratsuka-sensei. Her eyes felt blazing fiercely, followed by a terrifying aura. The room temperature was already stuffy because of the summer heat and was now even more uncomfortable with Hiratsuka-sensei's angry aura.
Nanami-san spoke again after seeing us, who finally fell silent due to Hiratsuka-sensei's irritation.
"Star Religious Group is a group that contains only civil society. Their group was previously called the Time Vessel Association, before they were banned, and then founded a new organization called the Star Religious Group. Some of them may be able to see cursed spirits, but that's about it, nothing more. So, killing them would be considered an act that violates the association's rules."
Even if you say that it still doesn't sound right to my ears. The Association was known for its strict regulations forbidding the use of jujutsu sorcery to attack civilians. Anyone who violates will be subject to hefty sanctions and can even be labelled a terrorist. However, that does not mean the association does not have access to eradicate those Star-something-organization.
The Japanese Jujutsu Association has solid connections to the top brass of this country. If you can't punish civilians, you just have to ask the government to do the job.
Star Religious Group sends sorcerers to kill sorcerers. So, the same logic should work. Associations should be able to send civilian-based organizations to punish other civilians.
"At least, that is the reason on the surface that the association shows," said Hiratsuka-sensei, who seemed to know my anxiety.
She leaned her back against the back of the chair, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Star Religious Group is the third largest donor to the association after the Ainu People and the Government of Japan. Crushing them to the root is the same as burning the money that goes to the association. Well, you know how it goes."
Tsk. How depraved is this association to the point where it loses its reputation in front of the capitalists? No wonder Gojou-sensei was so eager to revolutionize associations.
"So, what's our move?" Kamo asked.
Hearing Kamo's question, Nanami-san started handing us a few pieces of paper.
"This is the list of their victims so far that Ijichi has compiled. From this, it can be concluded that their victims were all people who out of the Star Religious sect."
There are already seven victims, huh? Three are accomplished businessmen, two are party officials, and the rest are government officials. Meanwhile, there are three other targets that they have not yet executed.
"Our mission is to prevent other victims from assassination and kill the illegal sorcerers. For now, we will divide into two teams. Hikigaya-kun, you come with me. As for Nishimiya-kun and Kamo-kun will team up with Hiratsuka," Nanami-san explained again.
"Wait, can't I join you, Nanami-san? With her cursed technique, Hiratsuka-san can easily perform aerial observations. So, if I were on the same team as her, our roles would collide with each other," replied Nishimiya.
"Hiratsuka can leave the aerial part to you. That way, she could do her part better. Besides, after I see how your relationship with Hikigaya-kun is, it doesn't feel like it would be effective if one of you two is on the same team as Hikigaya-kun."
Uh, wait. My relationship with the Kyoto faction indeed is really, really bad. I can understand Nanami-san's reasoning. However, it feels a little strange here.
I am still not sure. So, let's confirm this oddity.
"Are we really not going to do anything to that heretical sect?" I asked.
"No, the higher ups of the association will take care of the sect. Our mission is to eliminate the illegal sorcerers who infiltrated Japan."
The higher-ups of the association…, huh?
Hearing Nanami-san's answer, I am sure of one thing. From the start, this mission had been sabotaged by the association itself. As sorcerers, we never get a job done halfway. If we have to do a pest-cleaning job, we must do the job without missing a single one.
However, in this case, leaving the affairs of the heretical sect to the higher-ups would be tantamount to us being only tasked with cleaning up the debris the sect had inflicted. In other words, they didn't want us—or rather Nanami-san—to touch the sect members.
Considering that all seven of the victims were in the Tokyo area, it was only natural that Tokyo Jujutsu High would take on this responsibility. Therefore, Nanami-san was the one appointed to investigate. However, because the higher-ups didn't want the members of the Star Religious Group to be touched, they used their authority and sent Kyoto students as helpers.
What actually happened now was that these Kyoto students were sent to watch over Nanami-san not to touch the members of the heretical sect. It also explained why Todo didn't participate in this mission because he was an unruly individual.
And to overcome these Kyoto people, Hiratsuka-sensei and I were included in this mission without the association's knowledge. With Hiratsuka-sensei and I present, the focus of the Kyoto people sent here would be split. Besides, by taking advantage of my bad relationship with the people of Kyoto, Nanami-san could get the two of them to go after Hiratsuka-sensei under the pretext that my bad relationship would interfere with teamwork.
Or in other words, what Hiratsuka-sensei and I are doing right now is not an official mission. We still have to eliminate them, but we also have to outwit these Kyoto people. The payment we get later is not from the association but from the people who employ us.
However, the question is, who is that person?
I am sure Nanami-san was the type who would only do what his job was. The mission details are clear, so, Nanami-san won't dig into further information about the Star Religious Group. Besides, hiring me and Hiratsuka-sensei was not something cheap. Even though I am still in the semi-first grade in the paper, I am already considered equal to the first grade in terms of ability and knowledge. So, the fee to hire my services personally would be pretty expensive, especially hiring Hiratsuka-sensei, who is clearly certified in first grade.
In other words, the person behind me and Hiratsuka-sensei's involvement in this mission must be a person who is rich in money, has high curiosity, and definitely doesn't like the higher-ups of the association. Of the many names that popped into my head, only one person met the qualifications.
Yes, no one else. The person who hired Hiratsuka-sensei and me through Nanami-san's intermediary was none other than Gojou Satoru.
"If there is no other objection, I will end this session," said Nanami-san as he adjusted his glasses, "Nishimiya-kun and Kamo-kun, you can follow Hiratsuka. She will explain in detail what you will do."
With faces showing a hint of dissatisfaction, the two replied quite firmly.
"Yes / Understood."
—OoOoO—
Yokohoama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
The view of the dark, starless sky that looks boring along Tokyo Bay seems to be in contrast to the sparkling lights in one of the largest port cities in Japan. Being a metropolis makes Yokohama a city that rarely sleeps. As one of the cities that has become a favourite destination for foreign tourists, skyscraper hotel buildings were built in various corners of the city, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.
In a room in a five-star hotel in Yokohoma City, there are five beautiful women with different styles and characteristics. The five slept naked on the same super large bed, with one person in the middle and four hugging her arms and legs.
"Ladies, I think it is time for us to review the situation," said the woman in the middle.
"Eeeehh… can't we stay like this a little longer?"
"We will finish this work quickly, so that we can return to China as soon as possible. I hate to linger in this country," the woman replied again.
"If Quanxi said so … ."
The four women surrounded a woman named Quanxi gradually moved away from her to give her some space. Quanxi got up from her sleep and got out of bed. She walked with her innocent body without a single thread while showing off her proportional buttocks.
Arriving at the dressing table, she saw her own reflection in the mirror. Her long white hair looked dishevelled. Traces of sweat after night activities against the four girls seemed to adorn some parts of her skin.
The woman then took a hair tie from the table. Using her skilful hands, she tied her hair back in a ponytail. After that, she grabbed an eye patch and put it on her right eye, which had been permanently blind due to the actions of the person she hated the most.
After confirming her appearance in the mirror, she walked towards a luxurious chair, where there was a bathrobe on the back of the chair.
Quanxi took the white bathrobe and used it to cover her charming curves. After that, she sat on the chair and looked at the four women wearing the same bathrobe.
"Tell me, how is the situation? Are those stupid sorcerers hired by Tengen devotees still doing their thing?" asked Quanxi.
A woman with short dark green hair, horizontal stitches running along her forehead and vertical stitches running from top to bottom and splitting her right eye, took a tablet and checked the latest information.
"At least, so far there have been seven people who died under abnormal conditions. From the data that Geto Suguru just sent, they are all former Tengen worshipers."
Quanxi, who heard the explanation of one of her girlfriends named Tsugihagi, wrinkled her forehead so that it formed folds there.
"Then, what about the Japanese Jujutsu Association? Have they sent anyone yet?"
"Based on the report sent by Geto's spy in Kyoto, it seems that the association sent some sorcerers from Kyoto and Nanami Kento from Tokyo," said Tsugihagi, who explained again, "Besides, this spy also added, there may be other sorcerers employed without the association's knowledge."
"Dang it," Quanxi cursed as she bit her thumbnail.
Quanxi is a high-level sorcerer from China. In the underworld, she was famous as a sorcerer who often took on the job of killing people. Plus, the four girlfriends she had all had cursed techniques specialized in supporting Quanxi's cursed techniques. With this combination, the group became famous as one of the best assassin groups in China.
"Did Gojou Satoru join the mission?"
"I don't think so. If he had took the mission, the casualties would not have been this much."
Quanxi looked at one of her girlfriends named Long, who had long, dishevelled black hair and two small horns on her head. Quanxi then exhaled tiredly and closed her eye.
'Should I just refuse this cooperation in the first place? No. If it was just stealing an ordinary sword, it shouldn't be this difficult. However, due to the actions of the Tengen worshipers who sent assassins to hunt down their former members who left the sect, Tokyo's sorcerers were on high alert. The slightest misstep could make Gojou Satoru intervene directly.'
Quanxi pondered carefully on what steps she should take. She had already agreed to the work of Geto Suguru's offer. A job to steal Izumi-no-Kami Kanaseda's sword, Hijikata Toshizo's beloved sword, is currently on display at the Hijikata Toshizo Museum in Hino City Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture.
"Ah, looks like the Chiba Folk Museum next Monday will be holding a special exhibition about the Edo period."
Quanxi's attention was drawn to one of her girlfriends named Pingtsui. The black haired woman tied in a ponytail noticed the attention and continued her words.
"Why don't we just steal the sword during that event?"
"Eh, if it was already in Chiba, why not just let Geto take it? Or maybe Hijikata Toshizo cursed spirit?"
It wasn't Quanxi who answered Pingtsui's question. It was Long. The dishevelled haired woman replied with her sleepy eyes closed.
"Don't forget, Long. Geto Suguru is currently in America. He wants to meet the cursed spirit named Gun Devil or something," replied Quanxi's fourth girlfriend, Cosmo.
Gun Devil is a special grade disaster cursed spirit that emerged due to the rampant mass shootings in the United States. Although guns are easy to get there, it doesn't necessarily make Americans familiar with firearms. In fact, it was clear because of the fear of the shooter that could happen at any time, making the fear of firearms give birth to a cursed spirit whose first appearance was 100 years ago.
'Hijikata Toshizo and Gun Devil. Two disaster special grade cursed spirits whose appearance can bring havoc,' Quanxi thought as she rubbed her covered right eye, 'If this is a risk that needs to be taken to finish off Gojou Satoru, I can't back down anymore.'
After steadying her mind and drawing up her plan, Quanxi snorted and smirked confidently.
"Monday night, we will infiltrate the Chiba Folk Museum. We have two days before the D day. During that time, we will prepare an escape route through Chiba Port. That way, we will run away right after we get Hijikata Toshizo's sword."
"Yes, ma'am!" the four of them said in unison.
With this, the Quanxi group had set their plans. Details of the plan will be further worked out during the remaining two days they have.
Meanwhile, the group led by Nanami Kento and Hiratsuka Shizuka is currently combing through illegal sorcerers operating in Tokyo. The goals of the two groups do not seem to intersect with each other. The Quanxi group just wants to steal an old sword, while the Nanami and Hiratsuka group want to hunt down the intruder who killed the civilians.
However, here the story begins.
—To Be Continued—
Author's Note : Hello, How are you guys?
In this chapter, I introduce all the characters that will play in this arc, including the villains. As in chapter 6 and this chapter, the objective of this arc is about Hijikata Toshizo's sword and, of course, himself.
As you can see in this chapter. I used two terms to divide the special grade cursed spirits. The first one was an average or normal special grade cursed spirit. And the second one was disaster special grade. Well, as you already knew. Mahito and the gangs are lot stronger than normal special grade cursed spirits such as Smallpox Deity or Kuchisake Onna. They were classified as disaster cursed spirits apart from they were born by the human fear of natural disasters.
In this chapter, I also brought up Quanxi from the Chainsaw-Man manga. Well, actually, I'm planning to include other CSM characters besides Quanxi and Gun Devil. However, I'm still considering whether it's really necessary or not. Meanwhile, since Quanxi in CSM isn't shown too much about her powers (except her demon form), here I'm going to make her have her own original cursed technique.
To Hachiman Fan, thanks for the correction and sorry for my mistake. Megumi is a boy, a high schoolboy.
As for Guest reviewers, it's a great and interesting domain idea. However, I have determined all of Hachiman's powers and abilities since the first time I wrote the first chapter. I haven't decided on a name yet, though. To be sure, I can't change the domain technique that Hachiman will possess in the future. So, thanks for the idea and sorry for not being able to use it.
Ok, that's all from me. How do you feel about this chapter? And thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. Please leave your review for this chapter because your review is my encouragement. See you in the next chapter and stay safe.