ARNING : I am not a native speaker. So, read it with a grain of salt and please enjoy yourself.
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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 21: Yukinoshita Haruno's Fate Part IV (Her Decision).
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The eyelids finally opened. The eyelids that had hidden the beauty of the eyes behind them for three days finally revealed a pair of violet irises. However, the light emanating from those eyes was not as bright as it used to be shown. On the other hand, it was not as dim as it looked. Basically, what flashed deep within her eyes, was just a sheer calmness that couldn't be described in words.
"Are you finally awake, Haruno?"
Yukinoshita Haruno, the possessor of those purple irises, looked to the side weakly when someone called her name. It was a familiar voice to her, a voice that brought her memories back and a voice she had always respected and looked up to during her high school days.
Haruno found a woman with long black hair and a straight posture sitting beside her bed. The woman wore a white shirt wrapped in a black sleeveless vest. She also wore black pants that weren't too tight. Because her posture was quite tall and she had beautiful long legs, the woman did not need to use high heels. Therefore, she only wore flat shoes that looked comfortable on her feet.
Next to the woman stood a man who was also quite tall, about 177 centimetres. He was wearing black pants and a plain black shirt with long sleeves.
His rotten eyes strangely made Haruno feel calmer and safer.
"Shizuka-chan and…, Hikigaya-kun?" Haruno replied, calling the names of the two people at the bedside.
The woman got up and tried to sit straight even though her body felt weaker than usual. Haruno was prepared to refuse help if they were to help or even forbid her to sit. However, she had to be forced to swallow her own ridiculous thoughts because until she managed to sit down, neither of them had helped Haruno.
Haruno was a little curious as to whether they lacked empathy or something. However, she only realised one thing when she decided to look at their faces one more time. The two, Hiratsuka and Hachiman, both believed that she could do such a simple task alone.
"How do you feel?" asked Hiratsuka again.
Haruno was silent for a few seconds and replied, "I don't know. I'm not sure what to say. But if I have to put into words, my mind is much clearer than usual."
Hachiman and Hiratsuka looked at each other. The ambiguous answer from Haruno's mouth made it difficult for the two professional sorcerers to interpret the meaning.
"I know this is a very cliché question," Haruno said a little weakly, "But where am I?"
Neither Hachiman nor Hiratsuka answered right away. Instead, the two of them held each other for a few moments. Until they finally heard a gasp from an adult woman who sat cross-legged in the room.
"You are in Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School's infirmary. You've been unconscious for three days. And after some deliberation, we decided to bring you here."
Haruno was a little grateful for Hiratsuka's answer. However, that reply only added another question to Haruno's mind. Realising this, Hachiman finally spoke up.
"In short, this place is a place to learn about jujutsu sorcery as well as one of the main bases of jujutsu sorcerers."
Actually, to say that Haruno was at Tokyo Jujutsu Tech outright was a bit risky. The reason was Haruno, who was confirmed to immediately awaken her cursed technique by Satoru, must be treated as an unusual jujutsu phenomenon. Furthermore, Haruno's cursed technique was awakened by the intervention of a cursed spirit. This made Haruno's current position very complicated.
They didn't know if there were any side effects from the forced awakening. They also needed to determine whether the cursed spirit forced dangerous doctrines into Haruno's brain. The law of give-and-take was a basic rule that must always be observed for cursed users. Because of that, no one knew the price for Haruno's forcibly awakened cursed technique.
'No. everything will be fine. If that damned cursed spirit really intended to send spies to us, he would have done it to the children. I mean, awakening a cursed technique for someone Haruno-san's age would actually make her not efficient as a spy. Right, nothing to worry about,' thought Hachiman.
Haruno tried to recall the events she had experienced. Strange creatures who chase and prey on her friends blindly, Hachiman and his friend who fight beyond reason, herself dragged down into an underground sewer, and then… a man with a face full of stitches.
She remembered well that the man had grabbed her head. However, Haruno had no idea what he did to her or what happened after that.
"So, what exactly happened to me? What strange creatures are they? Then, Hikigaya-kun… and maybe also Shizuka-chan, what are you really?"
Hiratsuka sighed. She knew that Haruno would ask the question. However, she didn't think that she would ask with such a calm expression. Actually, it would be better for her if Haruno acted hysterically or frightened. Because, at least, she would know very well what Haruno's mental state really was. On the contrary, with Haruno acting so calmly, Hiratsuka was worried that the girl was keeping her feelings to herself.
The only boy in the room felt the same way.
"You're not afraid, Haruno?" asked Hiratsuka, who got Haruno's attention.
Hiratsuka also looked at the boy standing beside her. Not long after, the woman looked back at Haruno.
"Afraid? Of course, I am. Since the incident that happened on the night of the masquerade that time, I can't forget the fear I felt," Haruno explained in a calm voice, "However, the curiosity inside me is far greater than my fear. And after what I experienced myself in the tunnel that day, everything became clearer to me. That feeling of fear is nothing compared to the feeling of satisfaction after successfully proving that supernatural beings do exist."
A bead of sweat dripped from each of Hachiman and Hiratsuka's foreheads. Their worries for Haruno disappeared after hearing the girl's crazy statement. Especially Hiratsuka. She was Haruno's high school teacher and personally was quite close to her. She knew how persistent Haruno would be if the girl had already decided to get something. However, she didn't think her persistence could get to such an extreme stage like this.
Hachiman took the initiative to answer Haruno's previous question.
"The thing that dragged you into the underground sewer back then was a cursed spirit. As for who attacked you and your friends… I don't know, we're still not sure. They are cases that are new to us and we do not have sample data to study them. But it's clear they're not cursed spirits."
"Cursed spirit? Is that some kind of ghost or youkai?" Haruno asked.
"More or less. Maybe people are more common with the term ayakashi since it is used more often in movies and anime," Hiratsuka retorted, "However, we refer to them as cursed spirits. That's because they are born from the human's cursed energy leaking out and gradually congealing into cursed spirits."
"Wait! Wait! I don't get it. Cursed energy? What else is it?"
Hachiman was at least relieved to see Haruno's reaction. It was a normal reaction to him, and he quite enjoyed normal things like that.
"Cursed energy is energy created by human emotions. Anger, fear, greed, lust, envy, desire, resentment, jealousy, longing, and even love, happiness, and affection are sources of cursed energy. And all humans around the world have the cursed energy, " explained Hachiman.
Haruno still tried to digest the new information. She completely understood what Hachiman was saying. However, her brain still felt frozen due to her new knowledge. In addition, there was still one more question they still needed to answer.
Hiratsuka, who was watching Haruno's behaviour, noticed it. The woman answered Haruno's biggest question without needing to be asked again.
"As Hikigaya said, all humans have cursed energy. However, the amount of cursed energy varies from person to person, and not everyone can control it. Those who can control cursed energy and harness it, those who learn jujutsu sorcery to eradicate cursed spirits, and those who live mingle with normal society. That's all us and our lifestyle. And we call ourselves… jujutsu sorcerers."
Cursed energy, cursed spirits, and jujutsu sorcerers. You might laugh when you hear it and think they were just people trapped in their childhood fairy tales. However, Haruno witnessed it with her own eyes. This world was not only about atoms that work according to the laws of physics. The world was broader and deeper than that. She risked her life to take a peek into the world was the evidence and witness itself.
Making sure that everything was fine, Hiratsuka rose from her seat. She looked at Hachiman and Haruno alternately before finally speaking.
"Hikigaya. You show Haruno around and answer all the questions she asks. I will go to Gojo-san and Shoko-san to inform Haruno's condition."
Without waiting for her student's protest, Hiratsuka just walked toward the. However, before reaching the door, Hiratsuka stopped, looking slightly up at the ceiling as she remembered something.
"Oh, right. You may have to meet with Principal Yaga this afternoon. So, don't go home yet and I think you should stay here tonight. After all, tomorrow is Sunday, right?"
Hachiman actually wanted to protest, but he didn't do it because he knew he had to take responsibility for Haruno's current condition. As a result, only sighs and a reluctant mumble escaped his mouth.
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"Sorry."
"What for?"
Haruno fell silent while looking down, gazing at their footsteps, walking hand in hand.
After leaving the infirmary, Hachiman took her on a tour of several places in the Tokyo Jujutsu Tech area. The boy took her to places such as a football pitch with a running track, a gym, a dormitory, a shrine usually used for prayer, a dojo, a baseball field, and such. Even so, Haruno realised that there were some places that Hachiman had avoided. This led Haruno to assume that some areas were exclusive to certain people, or at least not to an outsider like her.
"For not listening to your advice. Also, after everything that happened, I feel bad that I've been approaching you all this time to find out what exactly you're hiding."
Hachiman fell silent at this sudden confession. He let his mind work to process Haruno's words. What Haruno said was not difficult to understand. He already had the answer he wanted to say. It's just when the answer was about to leave his mouth, all the words he had composed felt stuck in his throat.
Hachiman's silence made Haruno resume her words.
"What we've been through has started with lies. However, what I felt at that time was completely real. Starting from when Yukino-chan and Komachi-chan left us at the mall, me accompanying you at Chiba University, and our date, everything was very enjoyable for me."
Haruno wasn't the type to care about what other people felt or thought. On the contrary, she was a manipulative person. As long as she could achieve what she was aiming for, Haruno didn't really care what method she had to use.
However, when she had to admit that she was only taking advantage of the boy who walked by her side, there was an uncomfortable feeling that she felt for the first time.
"No problem. Honestly, I already knew that you were trying to get information out of me. It was also my fault for not avoiding you right away."
Hachiman felt the same way. He was a person who did not hesitate to throw away what he had if it meant keeping himself or his family out of trouble. However, when Haruno started proactively approaching him with a predictable goal, he felt cornered and challenged.
He felt a pinch because Haruno's aggressiveness could get him into trouble. However, he felt challenged because never before had he seen anyone trying to dig the secrets of jujutsu in such an aggressive and intelligent way as Haruno.
On the other hand, that feeling gave him an adrenaline rush that made his heart beat faster every time he dealt with Haruno. He had always been curious as to what method Haruno would use next. Basically, without him even realising it, being by Haruno's side had become an addiction and something to cheer him up.
"Jujutsu sorcerers, huh?" Haruno muttered while looking up at the sky from the corridor, "Why are you calling yourselves jujutsu sorcerers?"
"Err… because we learned about jujutsu sorcery?"
"Well, make sense."
Haruno cursed herself for throwing such a stupid question. However, it wasn't her fault, as their situation was indeed quite awkward at the moment.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're saying, some of the higher-ups of the country, including my father, know about this secret, right, even though they couldn't see the cursed spirit? And that makes you have a mutualistic relationship with the government."
At least, as long as Hachiman became an impromptu tour guide, he had already provided some basic information. Like how the hierarchy in the association and anyone who knew the existence of this supernatural world.
Hachiman nodded at Haruno's question, and that made her ask more.
"Then, does that mean the whole world is also working with the same system? I mean, do other countries also cooperate with their sorcerers?"
"To be honest, I don't know much about the situation of sorcerers outside. I mean, even though we're sorcerers, that doesn't mean we have a relationship with them. In fact, the population of sorcerers outside Japan is actually not much larger than here. You could say, Japan is the country with the most sorcerers."
Haruno realised that Hachiman had other words to say. Therefore, she chose to remain silent and listen.
"To answer your question, a country like China might have ties to their sorcerer association. However, in a country like America that has a high culture of freedom, it seems their government doesn't know about the existence of jujutsu sorcerers because the sorcerers there don't want to be tied by rules."
Hachiman did not have extensive connections with sorcerers outside of Japan. In fact, he had only ever conversed with Miguel—the person currently training Yuta overseas—and Quanxi, whom he killed last week. Everything Hachiman said about foreign sorcerers actually came from what he had heard from Miguel before the sorcerer returned to Africa.
"It made me wonder if the stories of witch-hunting in Europe during the Middle Ages were real. Or even a figure like Jeanne d'Arc was indeed a witch. I mean, she was accused of being a witch, wasn't she?"
Hachiman glanced at Haruno, who was walking beside him for a few seconds and then looked straight ahead again.
"Who knows. It's not like we really know what happened in the past. In fact, some parchments that record historical events in Japan alone need to be verified many times to ensure their validity."
Haruno nodded in understanding. However, she asked again for the umpteenth time.
"Being a sorcerer, having above average cursed energy so can see cursed spirits. That sounds like a big responsibility, huh?"
"To me, it actually sounds like a curse that ruin my life," replied Hachiman with a bitter smile.
Haruno noticed that smile. Responsibility or curse, the two were only separated by a thin line. Like state officials who had to sacrifice something every time they carried out their duties. Whatever the form, every responsibility always required sacrifice, which often became a curse that only brought bad luck and misery.
Meanwhile, for those sorcerers, their responsibility was a responsibility that had been imposed on them since they were born. The responsibility they had was their own destiny. A person like Hachiman could just leave it all behind and run from his destiny. However, was that really the best way? Would running away from the curse bring you happiness?
No. Living surrounded by curses felt disgusting, but running from destiny would create havoc. No matter how you insist, one cannot escape their destiny. Even when you decide to hide, fate will come your way in the end. The problem was, was he ready or not when that fateful day came?
Hachiman continued to force himself to live in this muddy puddle with that kind of thinking. In the end, life was not just whether you liked it or not. It was about whether you dared to move forward or not.
"You are right. I'm like an idiot for talking like that even though I don't know anything," Haruno said.
Hachiman snorted and replied, "No. That doesn't mean what you say is wrong. At the very least, some people gladly accept their destiny and dedicate themselves completely to exterminating cursed spirits."
"Do they?"
Hachiman nodded, "Not like me who survived in this world for a simple reason. People like those who dedicate themselves sincerely, are damn awesome."
Not many people were like that. However, Hachiman knew several who met those qualifications.
For example, Komachi, his own sister. She had a beautiful heart and great empathy. She did look like a naive girl, but Komachi never took her eyes off reality. The awful that existed in the world of jujutsu actually encouraged Komachi to help those trapped in this world.
Komachi believed that social societies follow the pyramid principle. If people always described the strong as being at the top of the pyramid, it meant that the weak were the ones who supported the pyramid's foundation. By that logic, if those weak people—the ones keeping the pyramid—were destroyed, that would mean the entire pyramid would also be destroyed. In other words, to ensure that the pyramid remained solid, the strong had to protect the weak.
That was the principle that Komachi believed in.
The same goes for Okkotsu Yuta. Hachiman's admiration for Yuta was undisputed. Yuta was a real example of someone who didn't collapse despite experiencing various injustices since childhood. He was forced to possess incredible powers that he had no control over. The power even repeatedly made him almost kill another person. In fact, he was once sentenced to death. The injustice he always endured should be enough to make his weak soul fall into the abyss of despair.
However, the determination of an Okkotsu Yuta did not turn him into a world antagonist. With his power, it should be easy enough for Yuta to vent his disappointment on people who behaved against him. However, Yuta refused the vengeful path. Instead, he was able to come to terms with his anger and even expand his positive influence. As a result, it was uncountable how many lives the boy saved.
Yuta was a real example of a frog who came out of his pond and then transformed into something that made other people put their hope in him.
That level of spirituality was something Hachiman couldn't reach. He was unlike Yuta, who dared to come out of his small pond. Hachiman was just a frog that was satisfied with his small pond where his family was. He always thought it was okay that he couldn't be as strong as Yuta as long as he had enough power to protect his family.
"To be honest, I don't understand since everything is still new for me. It's just whether it's a simple or a noble motivation, it doesn't make any difference. As long as you have a goal and the determination to reach that, doesn't that mean you are growing too, as a person and as a sorcerer?"
As Haruno said. There was one thing this young sorcerer didn't realise. Even Hachiman didn't know what kind of limits would make him strong enough to protect his family. He was a person who always doubted himself and always doubted the future. That's why, by always doubting himself, Hikigaya Hachiman had blocked his path to run away and push himself to grow at a pace that was difficult for most people to follow, so he had no reason to doubt himself anymore.
"I don't know how you sorcerers view life. However, I knew, wherever it was, something like reason or ambition wasn't the main thing. In the end, what is most important is, whether you have enough guts to do it or nah."
Hachiman chuckled softly at the description.
"I think you're right. No matter what the reason may be, it's those who keep moving forward who can end up having the last laugh."
"Of course, it is. That is a virtue of this onee-san, after all," Haruno replied proudly.
As the two were strolling, they suddenly saw two girls from the end of the corridor. The two girls had different heights and appearances. The first was Maki, who wore grey shorts and a Sukajan jacket. She covered her long legs with thick black stockings and a pair of boots as footwear.
While the other girl looks younger than Maki. It was Komachi, who was wearing an all-green jersey.
"Onii-chan~!" shouted Komachi while waving her hand.
Komachi then quickly jogged over to Hachiman and Haruno.
Hachiman was very familiar with the scene. A cute little sister running down the corridor came to her older brother. Actually, Hachiman really wanted to reach out and spread his arms wide to welcome Komachi's embrace. However, he realised this scene was a cliché in the romcom series.
'I'll bet that Komachi will hug Haruno-san instead of me.'
Exactly as Hachiman thought. As soon as the middle school girl was only a metre away, she jumped while hugging Haruno. Haruno was slightly startled and pushed backwards, but she quickly returned Komachi's hug.
'Look? I right, weren't I?' thought Hachiman, 'I knew something like this would happen. However, it still feels sad you know, Komachi-chan. I mean, I'm here too, you know?'
Ignoring Hachiman's flat look, Komachi looked up at the woman.
"We haven't seen each other in quite a while. I heard what happened to you, though I don't know the details. Anyway, I'm glad you're doing well, Haruno-san!" said Komachi, releasing her arms from Haruno.
Haruno smiled and nodded, "Thank you for worrying about me, Komachi-chan."
Behind Komachi, the girl who had come with her finally arrived where the three of them were.
"Can you stay five metres away from me, you damn bitch? Don't you realise that your sweat smells like dirty laundry?" said Hachiman, who immediately looked for a commotion when he saw Maki.
Maki, who heard it, immediately looked into Hachiman's eyes fiercely. She then looked at the bin placed on the side of the corridor, then looked at Hachiman, then looked at the bin again, and finally looked back at Hachiman.
"Wait. Have you been here the whole time? Sorry, your fucking face is kind of similar to that bin. I thought that the bin speaks for itself. Honestly, it creeps me out. No, your presence fucking creeps me out, idiot."
"Oh, are your so-called eyes useless now? If so, just sell your eyes instead of just being an ornament in your shit head."
Maki, who didn't want to lose, turned her gaze to Komachi. The little girl that suddenly stared at by Maki became a little nervous. She knew her brother had a unique relationship with her self-proclaimed big sister, but that didn't mean she had become accustomed to their uniqueness.
"Komachi, what you saw and heard just now is an example of a bad and useless human being. If you want your future to be bright, you better stay away and don't imitate that loser," said Maki
When Maki suddenly dragged her into their silly fight, Komachi didn't know what to say. However, before she could retaliate, Hachiman had preceded her.
"My dear Komachi, that damn glasses is a bad example for you. All she can do is use her muscles rather than her brain. But it's understandable since she was suffering from brain death all this time."
Komachi muttered a long "umm" while closing her eyes. Then, after a few seconds, the girl finally spoke.
"Well, I think Maki onee-chan is strong, independent, tough, and unbreakable. Honestly, I want to become a strong girl like Maki onee-chan."
Maki smiled triumphantly after hearing Komachi's praise. Meanwhile, Hachiman had to smile wryly at that confession.
"As for Onii-chan…, although you are a little rotten, you are very smart, strong, reliable, and caring, and I love you very much," continued Komachi.
This time, it was Hachiman's turn to smile triumphantly, and inside his mind, he was laughing at Maki's defeat. Maki, who saw the annoying smile, chuckled in annoyance.
"Throw away that stupid smile of yours, idiot. Komachi called you rotten whereas she completely praised me. So, I'm better than you. Know your place, loser," said Maki curtly
"Are you deaf? She says she loves me instead. And that's the point."
Komachi looked at the two of them tiredly. Even though she had tried to give the best answers about them so that both of them could stop, it only ended in vain. As if there was always something that kept the spark between Hachiman and Maki burning.
"Shouldn't they be separated? They won't fight, will they?" Haruno muttered to Komachi.
"Stay cool, Haruno-san. Even though they look like that, they are 100% good."
There was a feeling that forced Haruno not to accept what she had just witnessed and heard, a sense that seemed to pinch a small part of her heart. However, she quickly put those feelings aside because it was something she shouldn't be thinking about for now.
Haruno stared intently at Maki. Even though it was dark, Haruno couldn't possibly forget someone who was her saviour at that time.
"You… saved me back then, weren't you? Thank you very much. My name is Yukinoshita Haruno, and I will try to repay your favour," Haruno said to Maki while bowing her body 90 degrees.
Maki's attention, which had been focused on Hachiman, shifted to Haruno.
"Please don't think about it. If anyone owes me, it should be that thing," Maki replied while pointing at Hachiman, "Because he was the one who asked me to help him take care of you in case anything happened. By the way, you can call me Maki, Haruno-san."
Haruno straightened her body and looked deep into Hachiman's eyes. Haruno wore a smile filled with sincerity, the most beautiful smile Hachiman had ever seen.
'Right, I haven't properly thanked Hikigaya-kun.'
Ever since she came to her senses, many things filled Haruno's head. The thoughts overlapped so that they overwhelmed her a little. Moreover, she also had to think about her fate, considering that she was specially brought to this place, there must be a strong reason behind it. The fact that Hachiman hadn't mentioned why she was here just now had made her think of many bad scenarios.
Plus, whether it was just her feelings or not, Haruno felt like there was some information she never remembered having had before.
Haruno tried to get rid of those uncertain thoughts.
She then brought her head closer to Hachiman and whispered something to the boy.
"I also want to thank you. However, I think I will give you something special."
Hachiman's face suddenly turned red at those words. The exhalation of breath that hit his ear and every word Haruno spoke made him tingle and gave off a strange sensation. This wasn't the first time she'd suddenly whispered right next to his ear. However, the young sorcerer still wasn't used to it whenever he heard Haruno's sensual voice.
Both Maki and Komachi blinked their eyes in surprise. Neither of them expected that Haruno would dare to tease Hachiman that much. Moreover, for Komachi, who had a maiden's soul that was still pure, that scene was too much for her.
"A-ah, Onii-chan and Maki onee-chan still have a business, right? Then, I'll go see Megumi-san and the others' training first. See you later," said Komachi, who hurriedly left without waiting for a reply.
Seeing that, Hachiman shouted in response to Komachi while trying to hide his nervousness.
"Be careful with Panda, okay? Don't let him cram weird things into your head again!"
Komachi didn't answer, but Hachiman was sure that at least the girl could hear him. On the other hand, Haruno seemed to be tilting her head after hearing something from Hachiman's words that caught her attention.
'Careful with panda? What can a panda do to her, anyway?'
There was silence again for a few seconds after Komachi's departure. Until then, Haruno became the person who broke the silence.
"So, is Komachi-chan a sorcerer too?"
"That's how it is. Our family comes from a sorcerer family. Although not always, the possibility of a sorcerer born from a sorcerer family is quite large," replied Hachiman.
Before Haruno could respond, Maki had already chimed in.
"And just for information, that thing is the descendant of Abe no Seimei," she said, pointing at Hachiman.
This was perhaps the most surprising of all the information Haruno got today. Even ordinary people would know who Abe no Seimei was. One of the great figures in Japanese history was said to be the founder of the Onmyoji and a person with a high knowledge of astrology.
Abe no Seimei was a very respected person. However, for Hachiman, the name was just a troublemaker.
"Wait, does that mean you are part of the Tsuchimikado family?" Haruno asked.
"I am not. Even though I am descended from Abe no Seimei, my family is not of direct descent. There were too many ramifications in my family tree to finally come to Abe no Seimei. To be honest, we ourselves didn't know about our family's origins until a few years ago."
If the Hikigaya family was a family that was a distant descendant of Abe no Seimei, the Tsuchimikado family was a family that had a direct lineage. You could say Hachiman's family tree was similar to Yuta's. The lineage of their ancestors had been cut off, so their origins were difficult to trace. However, if Okkotsu Yuta came from an average family, the Hikigaya family would still be a sorcerer family working in the countryside.
Speaking of the Abe no Seimei family and their descendants, the Tsuchimikado family was originally included as one of the major clans. They arguably could compete with the Gojo, Zen'in, and Kamo clans in the early generations. However, after several generations of never giving birth to great sorcerers until now, their influence continued to weaken, so the name Tsuchimikado was removed from the ranks of the major clans in the jujutsu society.
Actually, before asking the Gojo clan for help, Hikigaya Asuka—Hachiman and Komachi's mother—had asked the Tsuchimikado family for protection. However, because they did not want to create a conflict with the Zen'in and Kamo clans, the Tsuchimikado refused to assist the Hikigaya family.
"By the way, these damn glasses are descended from Taira no Masakado, as for your information," said Hachiman.
Hachiman was one hundred per cent sure that Maki knew he didn't like being associated with Abe no Seimei. However, watching the girl mock him by associating him with that figure made Hachiman want revenge by bringing Maki's background she hated so much, into the conversation.
And sure enough, Maki stared intently at Hachiman while clenching her teeth. While the perpetrator just smiled arrogantly while feeling satisfaction because he managed to mock Maki.
"A descendant of Taira no Masakado?" Haruno muttered while trying to remember something, "Are you from the Zen'in clan or something?"
Bull's eye. That was what Hachiman shouted in his mind.
Both Tsuchimikado and Zen'in were very famous names in Japan. In fact, those, who didn't live in a jujutsu world, there must have at least known the names.
Tsuchimikado was not only famous for having a direct lineage from Abe no Seimei. They were also known for having several astrologers and guarding the Seimei shrine in Kyoto.
While the Zen'in clan—for regular people—was one of the elite families who managed many arts and cultural centres in Japan, especially in Osaka. Even though Zen'in's household was in Kyoto, no one knew why the centre of their art businesses was mainly in Osaka.
"No. I mean, I do come from there, but I've already left the clan," Maki retorted, slightly annoyed.
However, the girl was not annoyed that someone brought up the Zen'in clan before her. No, she was annoyed about that, but that wasn't the main reason. Instead, the girl was frustrated that she couldn't find a proper way to repay Hachiman this time.
On the other hand, combining the pieces she had, Haruno tried to assemble the information into a unified whole.
'Abe no Seimie and Taira no Masakado. Both are very famous in history. Moreover, many myths say they both became vengeful spirits. Vengeful spirits…, could it be…."
"Don't tell me, that the Gojo clan, who are descendants of Sugawara no Michizane, and the imperial family are also sorcerer families?" guessed Haruno.
Hachiman and Maki were both shocked. Except for the imperial family, Haruno's guess could be said to be correct.
"The reason?" asked Maki.
Haruno took a deep breath before answering.
"Well, Abe no Seimei was a great figure in the past, and he was said to become a vengeful spirit after his death. The same thing is said to have happened to Taira no Masakado. The name Taira no Masakado is even known as one of the Three Greats Vengeful Spirits of Japan. In addition to Taira no Masakado, the title was also assigned to Sugawara no Michizane and Emperor Sutoku. So, well, for the upper class, the Gojo clan is already famous for its origins as descendants of Sugawara no Michizane. However, for Emperor Sutoku, there was no record of who his descendants were. It's just that, since he was an emperor, it wouldn't be surprising if the current imperial family had the bloodline of Emperor Sutoku."
The long and impromptu presentation succeeded in making Hachiman and Maki amazed. Hachiman knew that Haruno was a person with extraordinary brain power. However, he didn't expect that Haruno could draw such a conclusion from the bit of information she had.
Haruno's only fault lay in her point about the imperial family. However, that was understandable because the records of Emperor Sutoku's descendants were incomplete. In contrast, the Zen'in and Gojo clans were recorded coherently and could generally be seen in the civil registry. Even if she was wrong, her approach was absolutely perfect.
Hachiman pretended to cough to wet his throat and then answered Haruno.
"Well, for the Gojo clan, yes, you're right. However, for the imperial family no, but it is also not completely wrong. Emperor Sutoku's descendants were indeed one of the sorcerer families in Japan, but it's not the imperial family that we know of, but the Kamo clan."
"Kamo?" Haruno squeaked softly.
In her memory, Kamo's name wasn't written as an important family in the upper classes, unlike Zen'in and Gojo. However, that didn't mean Haruno had never heard of the name. When it came to the Kamo clan being close to the imperial family, there was only one ringing in her head.
"Is it those who have been spiritual advisors to the Emperor? If I'm not mistaken, they also became stewards of the Meiji and Shiramine-Jingu shrines, right?"
Hachiman blinked a few times before he finally whispered to Maki.
"Hey, where is Shiramine-Jingu?"
"Maybe in Kyoto? Who knows? I mean, its name sounds like Kamen Rider Rey's, doesn't it? I remember some people on the internet said Kamen Rider Rey was from Kyoto," Maki replied, getting out of context.
"You mean Shiramine Takato from the Kamen Rider Kiva series? It's ridiculous, but it sounds reasonable," said Hachiman, who followed Maki's silliness.
Even though they were whispering, Haruno could still hear their conversation clearly. The woman couldn't help but smile wryly because she didn't understand the topic Hachiman and Maki were talking about.
However, on the other hand, the feeling Haruno had pushed aside just a moment ago came back. Seeing the closeness of Hachiman and Maki made Haruno's heart tingle. Plus, knowing that Hachiman could give off various reactions around Maki made Haruno a little jealous.
'Just a moment ago they looked like sworn enemies, and now they act like true friends who can understand each other.'
Haruno wasn't an innocent person and didn't like anything complicated. She might have only known Hachiman for about three weeks, but she understood that time was irrelevant in this case. Not to mention, Haruno herself had at least three dating experiences, even though she didn't date because she liked them.
However, above all, Yukinoshita Haruno was not an innocent person.
'Don't tell me I'm… jealous?'
After hearing Hachiman's words, Haruno had to return to the real world.
"Well, that's more or less. The Kamo clan, which has been close to the imperial family, are sorcerers and protect the emperor from supernatural threats."
Haruno nodded. There were many things she still wanted to ask. However, she realised they had missed what she really wanted to know.
"Putting that aside," Haruno said firmly, "The reason I was brought here, don't you want to say it?"
Maki and Hachiman stared at each other for a few seconds. The two were silent as if they were busy with all their inner conflicts. By seeing that behaviour, Haruno immediately understood that it couldn't be said quickly.
"How about we talk while we continue our walk?" asked Hachiman, who broke the deadlock.
Haruno nodded. That short reply was enough for Hachiman and Maki to take the initiative. They walked side by side, with Haruno sandwiched between the two young sorcerers.
"Being able to see cursed spirits under normal conditions is a minimum requirement to become a jujutsu sorcerer. Because if someone can see them, it means that person has the minimum amount of energy needed," explained Hachiman opening the conversation again.
When Hachiman said those words, Maki reached into the pocket of her sukajan jacket. From within, she took out a human-like talisman with a pentagram circle in the centre. The girl then handed the talisman to Hachiman right after he finished his sentence.
"This thing is a talisman made by Komachi. Even so, this object can be categorised as a cursed object because it contains a cursed spirit," continued Hachiman.
Haruno wanted to ask what a cursed object was. However, she was reluctant to do so.
Talisman—the paper that Komachi used for her cursed spirit storage medium—could only be used by her alone. However, when Komachi granted permission to someone in certain cases, that person could release the cursed spirit that was sealed within the talisman to a certain extent.
That's why the pentagram's circle glowed blue when Hachiman channelled his cursed energy into the talisman. Not long after that, the whole piece of paper also turned the same colour and released a cursed spirit that Komachi had tamed.
The curse had an insect-like shape, a brownish body and a pair of white wings.
"This creature is a Fly-Head. The most frequently found cursed spirit," Hachiman explained, "You can see it, can't you, Haruno-san?"
Haruno couldn't help but gape at what she had just witnessed. She had previously been involved in a jujutsu incident that ended her in a three-day coma. However, seeing such a summoning ritual with her own eyes, there was nothing but admiration that she could think of.
"A-ah, if you mean this winged creature, I can see it," replied Haruno, who was still staring at the Fly-Head.
"By the way, can I hold it?"
Hachiman was no longer surprised by Haruno's question. At least, considering Haruno's great curiosity, Hachiman had already predicted that the question would come out.
"Just hold it. That thing is harmless and has been tamed."
Haruno tried to grab the creature flying before her with slow hand motion. There was still a feeling of dread in her chest, of course. Even though Hachiman said the beast was harmless and had been tamed, it was still something Haruno had seen for the first time. Even for a Yukinoshita like her, she still felt a thump when facing new things.
Haruno was finally able to reach the creature. She originally only held onto the top of the Fly-Head's head. She tried to gently stroke to feel the skin texture of the supernatural creature. However, as if that was not enough, she switched to touching its wings and trying to figure out how they worked. Haruno even started to get up the nerve to grab hold of the creature just to make sure it was real.
"I know I may sound tacky, but this is awesome. Like a creature from another world," Haruno said.
This time, it wasn't Hachiman who retaliated but Maki who chimed in Haruno.
"Well, it's a normal reaction for those who are seeing it for the first time."
Amid her preoccupation with scanning the Fly-Head's cursed spirit's entire body, Haruno suddenly realised something. Hachiman's previous explanation and the current fact, the two points were connected to each other.
"Being able to see cursed spirits under normal conditions is the minimum requirement to become a sorcerer," Haruno said, repeating Hachiman's words, "Wait, don't tell me that I..."
Haruno quickly turned to Hachiman. Her head then turned to look at Maki. Alternately, the woman looked at the two young sorcerers walking on either side of her.
"As you think. You have the minimum requirements to become a jujutsu sorcerer, Haruno-san," replied Hachiman.
Continuing Hachiman's words, Maki then chimed in.
"Generally, those who can become jujutsu sorcerers have their talents shown by the time they are five to six years old. There are indeed several cases of someone who can suddenly see a cursed spirit. However, such cases are very rare. Even if there were, they would be nothing more than weak sorcerers who could only learn energy control and basic spells such as curtain and summoning lower-grade shikigami. I did say that, but the fact is that some strong people can make it to the first grade even if they only have control over the cursed energy."
Maki paused her speech. She then glanced at Hachiman and demanded the boy continue the rest.
"Apart from those who can be strong only by controlling the cursed energy, there is one thing that distinguishes sorcerers from one another. And that is a cursed technique."
"Cursed technique?" chirped Haruno.
Hachiman nodded and continued, "Maki said earlier that a sorcerer's talent could be seen from when they were five to six years old, right? What Maki meant was a cursed technique. An innate technique that allows sorcerers to access unique abilities that set them apart from other sorcerers."
Haruno understood broadly. However, she still couldn't imagine what the cursed technique things Hachiman meant were like. The boy glanced at Haruno. He realised the confusion the woman was in. Because of that, he had prepared this from the start.
'I actually don't like revealing my cursed technique to other people. However, I guess it will be fine if it was Haruno-san.'
Haruno, still staring at Hachiman on her left, suddenly felt a touch on her right shoulder. The woman reflexively turned her head to the right. She was sure that the one touching her shoulder was Maki, considering the girl was the only one on her right side. However, how surprised she was when she found that it was Hachiman who was on her right side.
"What? How could that be?" Haruno asked in surprise.
She quickly turned her head back to the left. And it turned out the one walking on her left side was a girl with dark green hair tied in a ponytail.
"Wait. How? Hikigaya-kun, weren't you on my right and Maki-chan on my left? No. Even I kept staring at you who was on my right before my shoulder was touched."
"That one was a simple example of my cursed technique, which is an illusion. Well, to go into detail, you've actually been under the influence of my technique ever since the three of us walked by earlier. In other words, from the start the one standing on your right side was Maki. Whereas what I did was give the illusion as if I was on your right while Maki was on your left."
Haruno once again couldn't help but feel amazed. She saw and learnt many new things in less than half a day.
Initially, she was a little surprised and felt uneasy when she realised she could be a sorcerer. However, seeing that there were many new things that she could explore and witness, she realised that the world of jujutsu was a world with no boundaries where anything could happen.
"There are many different cursed techniques in this jujutsu world. And Haruno-san, you have it too," continued Hachiman.
Haruno didn't know how to react anymore. She was tired of being surprised in just the span of today.
"I have? How come? Didn't you say earlier that the cursed technique only awakens at the age of five or six years? Then, how did you find out?"
"That's what confused us all," Maki replied casually, "Your case is the first time in history. And we suspect that it has something to do with the cursed spirit we met that day. That's why Shizuka-san and Satoru decided to bring you here."
"And how do we know that, let's just say there is someone with very good eyes who can even see someone's cursed technique," added Hachiman while imagining a Gojo Satoru.
Haruno immediately grasped the outline of what the current problem was. The cursed technique that was awakened due to being related to the cursed spirit was clear that the scenario smelled suspicious. Haruno was reluctant to admit it, but she understood the consequences ahead.
Haruno was quite sure that there was nothing wrong with her body. However, from another point of view, it wouldn't surprise her if they thought she was currently under the influence of a cursed spirit.
"No need to worry. Some of us believe that you're clean. Although people like Gojo-sensei are more interested in how your cursed technique awakened, we will also help you clear your name from the accusations," said Hachiman trying to lighten Haruno.
"But it's not easy, is it?" replied the woman curtly.
"Indeed, but that doesn't mean it can't be done."
"Actually, Satoru…, Gojo Satoru told us to train you to become a jujutsu sorcerer so that your name can be more easily cleared," Maki said to Haruno, "However, the world of jujutsu is not a playground that people with half-hearted intentions can survive. If it's not forced, it would be better not to get involved with us any further."
"That's why Maki and I agreed not to train you unless you really want to become a jujutsu sorcerer," added Hachiman as he continued to stare ahead, "Don't worry. Even if you don't become a sorcerer, your name will still be cleared as long as you don't cause trouble. Having said that, I hope you think about it well, Haruno-san."
Haruno lowered her head, looking at her feet, walking in harmony with the two youngsters by her sides. What Hachiman and Maki said was true. She did not know for sure how the world of jujutsu worked. She may have been involved in a jujutsu incident, but that didn't mean she understood this world's intricacies.
Haruno understood that the world of jujutsu was the deepest side of the abyss. They contained people with supernatural powers beyond reason and those with power and status among the upper classes of society.
The Gojo clan ran the investment and development business. The Zen'in clan, which greatly influenced the arts, culture, and performances in Japan, and the owner of the Star Entertainment agency based in Tokyo and Osaka. And don't forget the Kamo clan, a clan that had a particular affinity for the imperial family. On top of that, the Japanese Jujutsu Association also cooperated in secret with a handful of high-ranking Japanese Government officials and some elite businessmen.
Jujutsu sorcerers did not have a direct influence on this country. However, with them occupying each other's industries and strategic positions in Japan, their power could indirectly shake the country's foundations if they wanted to.
'No. "Shake" sounds a little soft. If they want, they may overthrow this country.'
What Haruno knew was only a handful of what she could see on the surface. In fact, there were still many things hidden within this abyss. Haruno knew. When she decided to enter this abyss, she might never experience the everyday life she used to have. She also realised that all this selfishness might also drag her family.
Her father already knew the existence of this world, but her sister and mother lived in ignorance.
"Here we are."
Haruno, deep in thought, regained her senses when she heard those short words from Hachiman's mouth.
Before them, there was currently a sliding door. She didn't know what was behind the door. However, she guessed it might be one of the other rooms Hachiman wanted to show. After all, she had received service from the start to tour the school complex.
Maki grabbed the doorknob and slid it until it made a scraping sound. Following the two teenagers who had entered first, Haruno started to walk inside. Not what she expected. This room was quite empty. There was no furniture to fill it. If there were wall hangings, it's just talisman papers pasted on and almost filling the entire wall.
There was one thing that caught her attention. It was a grown man tied to a chair with his mouth stuffed with a cloth. Perhaps to prevent the man from looking around, that's why there was a cloth covering his eyes as well.
"He is a cursed user, an illegal sorcerer who was captured around Yamanashi," said Hachiman.
Haruno just realised that Maki wasn't near them. So she quickly looked around to find the whereabouts of the bespectacled girl. In one corner of the room, Haruno found the girl walking and picking up a word that was placed there.
After taking what she needed, Maki immediately turned around and sauntered toward Hachiman and Haruno.
"He has violated several articles set by the association, including attacking civilians using jujutsu sorcery. And on the authority of the association, he was sentenced to death."
Just as Maki said that, she threw the katana at Hachiman. The boy caught the katana without a hitch. While Maki walked closer to the defendant, who was tied to a chair. She removed the man's blindfold, and without further ado, Maki continued to remove the cloth from the man's mouth.
"Fuck! You people from the association arbitrarily punish others. After all, what you guys are doing is no different from me!" rushed the man.
Maki, who didn't like people shouting at her, hit the man's face very hard. Actually, she didn't hit hard, but because of her physical strength, even a light punch from Maki would be very painful.
"Stop whining like a sissy, you stupid bastard. You just do whatever you want, but you get mad when other people do the same to you?"
Maki's punch knocked out some of the man's teeth and broke his nose. Oh, don't forget the slightly shifted jaw too. Even though he was a sorcerer when he was tied in this room with all the seals that bound him, the control of his cursed energy became chaotic. So, he couldn't use cursed energy reinforcement properly.
Haruno, who saw the sight, was shocked to see how a girl like Maki could ruthlessly attack people without hesitation. She then recalled the charges and what punishment awaited the man.
Haruno then looked at Hachiman, who had already pulled the katana out of its sheath. An extremely sharp blade that could even display self-reflection was visible.
"W-wait. D-don't tell me…."
Before Haruno could finish her words, the boy swung the katana first. The sharp blade cut the man's neck neatly without any significant obstacles. Dark red blood splattered everywhere when the head was removed from the body. The capillaries were still continuously contracting, making the fresh blood flow incessantly from the tip of the neck that had lost its crown.
Blood splattered randomly, hitting the two young sorcerers. The clean floor did not escape into a pool of blood. Haruno, standing less than two metres, had to let go of her cheeks, and some corners of her clothes were splashed with blood. The rancid smell quickly spread throughout the room. Reflexively, Haruno immediately covered her mouth when she felt a nauseous sensation in her stomach.
Haruno had indeed witnessed her friends savagely die in the abandoned tunnel. However, the adrenaline and the drive to survive took over her body at that moment, so she paid no attention to her surroundings. Unfortunately, today was different. Haruno was in good health, her body just a little stiff, though. All in all, She wasn't in danger either, so there was no adrenaline to keep her body going.
Moreover, with the clear lighting, Haruno could see how the man's head was rolling, and his eyes were rolling backwards so that only his sclera could be seen. Moreover, his tongue stuck out as if to tell what pain had taken his life.
"Becoming a jujutsu sorcerer isn't just about exorcising cursed spirits. you also have to deal with humans and kill each other," said Hachiman while wiping his body with a handkerchief.
After pausing for a moment, Hachiman continued.
"He is an illegal sorcerer that we caught alive yesterday and brought here. We really wanted to show you how jujutsu sorcery works. In fact, executing someone is more often done on the spot than waiting for an association judgement like this, except in exceptional cases."
What Hachiman and Maki did look cruel. However, it was all they did to crush Haruno's imagination that the world of jujutsu was a safe place. Hachiman realised that Haruno's curiosity was dangerous. With such a trait, Hachiman didn't want her curiosity to backfire on Haruno.
Because of that, he showed the woman the truth before she crossed any further. Even though Satoru asked the two of them to guide Haruno to become a good sorcerer, Hachiman and Maki agreed that all decisions should be returned to Haruno.
Seeing Haruno, who was still silent, Maki added.
"We jujutsu sorcerers are not heroes. We don't save people who are not ready to be saved. We also do not hesitate to sacrifice hundreds or thousands of lives for the greater good. Murder, sabotage, conspiracy and manipulation, things like that are common to us. This is a place where egoism often trumps morality. Haruno-san, this is the world we live in, the jujutsu society."
"Personally, I advise you not to go any further. However, whether you cross over to this side or not, it's all in your hands," said Hachiman.
Haruno's hands were still shaking. Her shrunken pupils also seemed to tremble. She looked at the bloodstains stuck to her clothes. And though she couldn't see it, she could feel the warm, thick, fishy-smelling liquid running down her cheeks. Getting used to death was not an easy thing to do, even for her. Whether it was a normal death or a sadistic massacre, it was bound to make the worst impression on anyone who witnessed it.
What was presented before her was a reality. The path that Hachiman and Maki pointed out was steep and dark. However, as they say. The future was not theirs or anyone else's. Only she could determine her future.
Haruno always followed her mother's orders. She always did what her parents wanted. Did she not like the path provided by her parents? Not really. At least Haruno enjoyed it. She enjoyed mingling with others and loved chatting and sharing knowledge. She also admired herself, who had many talents and masks to live in various layers of society.
However, the things she was so easy to do made her so bored.
On the other hand, the jujutsu society, the new world that Haruno saw, offered her various experiences that she couldn't get from the life of a normal community. It's just, she also understood what kind of risk awaited her if she crossed over to that side. Egoism and morality were all mixed up and shouted at each other in Haruno's head.
"A place where egoism is often being the moral compass, correct? Even if I try, it seems I'm having a hard time getting used to these killing things," Haruno retorted.
Haruno wiped the splashed blood and hit her cheek using the tip of her thumb. She looked at the bloodstain and, without hesitation, licked the blood using her tongue. A rancid, fishy, and disgusting taste mixed into one. In both Hachiman and Maki, no one expected Haruno's action.
However, Haruno did it. She admitted that getting used to blood and death would be difficult. To her, it was the right and natural thing. Just looking at the corpse and the blood made her stomach queasy. Therefore, by licking the blood splashed on her cheeks, Haruno hoped that her brain would remember the sensation and make it easier for her to adapt.
"However, I'm already very bored with my routine so far. I may sound crazy for risking my own safety and maybe my family's too, but I really want to know how far I can go in this world. That's why, take me, Yukinoshita Haruno, to the cursed world you are in."
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: Hello, it's been a while since I updated this story. I've been pretty busy these past few days, and I've been writing other stories when I'm free, lol.
As for information about Tsuchimikado, that's true, and many sources can be accessed if you are interested. As for the information regarding the other three major clans, that is entirely the headcanon that I created.
For a reviewer to say that Hachiman could keep up with Yuta, I'd say it's tough. Hachiman's technique is indeed versatile and can be very troublesome because of Hachiman's creativity. However, Yuta himself has many weapon ammunition and cursed techniques that he has copied. What's more, in chapter 19 (20 if you count it with the prologue), it is written that Yuta is immune to Hachiman's illusions because Rika is the one who can awaken Yuta from the inside. So, it will be tough for Hachiman to keep up with Yuta, but our MC will continue to develop until his strength level truly deserves a special grade.
Well, that's all from me. This week I am in a good mood because my work is going as expected. So, if there are no severe problems, the next chapter will probably be out next week.
Oh yes. I wrote a new story titled "Yuta Okkotsu: The Saga of Copycat Sorcerer". Please stop by and leave a review of the story. By the way, that's a story I wrote in the last three weeks because I got bored with work and got writer's block when I was about to write this, lol.
So, what do you think 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.