DISCLAIMER, JJK does not belong to me, all rights go to Gege Akutami
(rushing for work cuz I end late today, I hope ya'll can still read it and do point out my grammar mistakes if there are)
In the aftermath of their fight, the students and teachers of Satosakura Highschool slowly began to wake up from their sleep-like state of phenomena that Junpei had induced. As there were parts of the school that were destroyed, Nanami felt it was best to pass off this incident as a sudden minor earthquake.
The small-scale destruction caused by the battle was indeed concerning, but the cover-up story of a minor earthquake was believable enough for the students and staff. As students and teachers regained consciousness, they found themselves disoriented, with hazy memories of what had just occurred.
The rest of the administrative matters would be dealt with by the Jujutsu managers.
Yuji and Junpei were in a more critical condition, so they returned to Jujutsu High in a separate vehicle. Whereas, Nanami and Olga were returned with Kiyotaka as their driver.
Since the fight, Olga has kept to herself, smoking her cigar while seemingly in deep thought. Nanami was aware that she had figured out something but has yet to divulge information to them.
It was incredibly suspicious that she was holding back on crucial information, however, it could be that she just wanted to piece the information together properly before explaining it to them.
Olga was comparable to a Special-Grade level but it never really stated on how much she scaled in terms of power in the Jujutsu grading system. She had sustained little injuries aside from the scratches on her arm that he suspected was Mahito's attempt at making her release him from her grip.
Nanami knew that from the beginning, that she would've killed Mahito in an instance from their first meeting.
But belligerently, she chose an irrational course of action. He disliked her manipulation. She had the ability to obliterate the curse but was caught up with gathering information and her own sadism.
That curse could manipulate the shape of souls. What other reason did they need to not immediately kill it?
Not to mention, he couldn't shake off Mahito's last words. That she wasn't exactly human.
He doubted that she had actually gone all out on Mahito as she had shown little signs of fatigue this time.
Her excuse the last time was valid as it was checked out by the fact that she did in fact go overseas for a mission from the Secret Church.
It still irked him.
"Kiyotaka," She started her face still gazing outside the window. She sat beside him, although there was a noticeable distance between them as the middle seat was vacant. "When you see the next nearest drop-off point, could you pull over?"
Nanami turned to her. "You're not going back to Jujutsu High?"
"I'll go to the school tomorrow. Junpei's condition has yet to be confirmed. For now, I just want to rest," She said in an even tone.
But Nanami couldn't neglect her current state. "You should get yourself checked out by Ieri-san first. I know that you are a professional but you should make sure that you're alright."
Olga briefly glanced into his direction before turning her sights back to the window. "That isn't necessary."
As their exchange ensued, Kiyotaka felt a sweat go over his forehead. He knew that this conversation might turn out for the worst. The two stoic and composed demeanors behind him might get into a heated argument and he didn't know if he should listen to one or the other.
He looked at the scars on her arm as his voice grew demanding. "Olga-san, I would ask that you come back with us, it's—"
She held a palm out to him. "This isn't a matter to argue about. Especially not in a cramped space like this."
Her reasoning was sound.
Nanami knew when to pick his battles, and arguing with Olga in the confined space of the car was not the right time or place. He decided to respect her wishes for now, but he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
"Alright, Olga-san," he said, his voice calmer now. "If that's what you want. But make sure you'll see Ieri-san as soon as you can. We can't afford to have you injured or unwell."
Olga glanced at him again, her eyes briefly meeting him. She nodded in acknowledgment but didn't offer any verbal assurance. Nanami understood that she was a woman of few words.
As they approached the next drop-off point, Kiyotaka pulled over as Olga had requested.
"Thank you for the ride, Kiyotaka."she said, her voice softening slightly.
Kiyotaka nodded and offered a small smile. "Take care of yourself, Olga-san."
The Jujutsu manager unlocks the door, so that Olga could exit the car. However, just as she was about to close the door behind her, Nanami spoke.
"Don't overexert yourself Olga," He finally said.
Olga who was about to close the door behind her turns back to face him. She leans into the car and meets Nanami's gaze.
She was going to say something but decided against it as she headed out, forgoing her usual greetings of farewell.
Nanami watched as Olga stepped out of the car, her silhouette disappearing into the crowd of people.
Nanami sighed as he leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, and he couldn't help but worry about Olga. He knew she was strong, but the events of the night had been intense, even for someone of her caliber.
Kiyotaka, who had been listening to the exchange, spoke up as he started the car again. "It seems like you've had a troublesome day."
Nanami didn't respond immediately, lost in his thoughts. Finally, he turned to Kiyotaka with an exhausted expression. "The situation has become complicated, we should watch her more closely from now on,"
She seemed to want to keep some things buried.
He'll respect her secrets.
Olga's first destination was not to head to her accommodations. The blood on her arm was still quite wet but she hid it under her long sleeves.
But, she wasn't sure if that man could find her or if she had to find him herself.
"Looks like I managed to catch you just in time, Ms Olga~" The man jubilantly announced as he emerged from the shadows.
Olga was disinterested by his candor and delved straight to the point. "What do you want?"
The deadman crossed his arms over his chest, his slit eyes closed as he hummed. "I just wanted to meet you, Ms Olga. You see, your sudden appearance has piqued my interest and that's why I wanted to confirm something with you."
Olga notes that this man has been constantly addressing her with the English formalities of 'Ms. Olga.' A gesture she assumed for him
He strokes his chin. "And perhaps intrigue you with a favor?"
Olga chuckled dryly, a behavior that was not synonymous to her.
"Clown, there is nothing you can give me that you already have."
The man raised an eyebrow at her reaction but didn't seem perturbed by it. "Well, aren't you a bold one, Ms. Olga~" he remarked with an easy-going smirk. "I don't know why you insist on calling me a clown. But enlighten me as I don't quite follow what you mean by calling me a clown."
She felt her strings work around her, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
"Wasn't it you that initiated all of this? I'd like to sometimes believe that the will of the Lord has brought me here, but that would be giving him far too much credit as that would mean I'd discredit the actual mastermind." Her tone was measured and alleviated slightly towards the end of her sentence.
Finally, the scheming man opened his eyes wider to gaze into her hollow ones. She was certainly a fascinating woman. The fact that she hadn't immediately attacked him suggested that she hadn't yet viewed him as a threat.
Or it could be false bravado on her part.
"Hmm, I take it that no matter how hard I try to convince you, you wouldn't change your mind since you've already settled for your own agenda." He deduces. "So, then what will you do?"
Olga sensed a secondary presence approaching them.
"Nothing. Think of me as the overseer, I won't interfere in your schemes so long as what you will do doesn't cross me."
Geto Suguru was a dead man. It was confirmed via her sources that he had sustained fatal injuries leading to the cause of his death in the Death Parade battle the previous year.
It was an instance that came and went which meant that she didn't have the time to witness the whole ordeal herself in person.
Aside from that, she had come to know that Geto Suguru was a genocidal maniac who aimed for the cleansing of non-sorcerers. The man before her didn't fit that role as he aligned himself with curse-spirits.
While possible, it was quite a major leap for an individual like that to change his initial goals.
"Though I feel a little hurt, Ms Olga," He said in a dramatized tone as he rested the back of his hand over his tilted forehead in a mournful pose. "You didn't follow through with my previous request about sparing Mahito,"
"Wasn't he just a mere pawn, to you?" She inquired, seeing through his deception.
"Well, he was the most useful, making him my favorite pawn. No matter, I have other pawns."
Olga smiled but only briefly before pressing her lips into a line.
She tugs on one of the wires at her feet.
"Don't immediately jump to conclusions. I'm sure that thing will spawn in some place else in a different form, though I have no doubt that his next incarnation would recognize me if we were to meet again." Olga brushed him off as she took a step forward.
The man hums at the thought, snapping his fingers as an idea courses through. "Then I'll just change my strategy this time. Guess I'll have to find him again."
A petite body appears behind the man in the monk-like robes. He walked until he stood beside him with an impassive expression.
"Is this the woman you were talking about? I'll just have to take her out, right?" He brings a hand up, summoning a sharpened icicle.
"Yep, but make sure to do so discreetly," He advised before turning away.
"Ms Olga, I am aware that this won't be the last we meet, so make sure to survive Uraume first before we meet again," He said while his back faced Olga, he parted with some few words before fading into the depths of the alley.
So a fight was unavoidable from the beginning.
Olga closed eyes and sighed.
The impostor was testing her.
"I guess there's only one option in this kind of situation," She swings a hand up, raising a sole thread.
The temperature of the atmosphere had dropped significantly as frost appeared on the floor.
"I'll escape,"
Her back presses against the door before she lowers herself to the floor until she was fully sat on the ground.
The space was dark. Light barely slipped through the translucent curtains in the room, casting dim, hazy patterns on the floor. Olga took a moment to let her senses adjust to the low light, allowing her eyes to scan the room methodically.
The room was sparsely furnished, with minimalistic decor and an overall sense of emptiness. It was clear that this was not a place anyone would call home. Well, it served the main purpose of being a temporary hideout or a stopover.
There were two large suitcases, sticking out like a sore thumb at the side of the living room. They had laid claim in a particular corner for convenience purposes.
She didn't intend to move them from their current placement anytime soon.
Her mouth was dry.
Perhaps some wine should suffice?
She takes off her shoes as she gets up.
She entered a small kitchenette area and opened a cabinet, revealing a collection of bottles. Olga's fingers danced over the labels until she found a bottle of red wine. Without much thought, she retrieved a glass and poured herself a generous serving. The rich aroma of the wine filled the air as she took her first sip.
The wine's warmth spread through her, easing some of the tension that had built up during the day. Olga leaned against the kitchen counter, her gaze distant as she contemplated the events that had transpired.
Olga's mind drifts to the recent conflict.
The man known as "Geto Suguru" was someone she had come across in her research. Despite her main operation being overseas, she has kept tabs on several peculiar instances happening in her homeland.
Afterall, Japan was a hub where high-level curses thrived unlike any other parts of the world.
He was on an international hit-list for his affiliation as an evil man that delved in using cursed energy for his selfish intentions. Such fellows were deemed heretics and labeled as having been influenced by the Devil by the Secret Church. In that regard, the Executioner should have killed him on sight.
However, in the case of Japan that had its own set of rules to adhere to, the Secret Church respected their decision enough not to interfere with their internal conflicts.
The Secret Church would very much avoid getting into political arguments as much as possible. That's why they were considered isolationist in this world that was dawdled with curses and supernatural powers.
Curse users, rogues, witches… Basically anyone who uses their powers for selfish desires that can cause harm to others and have gained enough reputation would immediately fall under the Secret Church's radar.
Ordinary holy exorcists which are the majority would be given a book to steer clear of such individuals as they are not as competent to take them on in a battle.
Olga was the only one in the Secret Church that had the potential to create devastating damage.
As she was now, her strengths were equivalent to the Jujutsu sorcerer system of being a High First-grade sorcerer. It would've increased ten fold if she was not weighed down by her restrictions.
Though there were a few things that she was able to take from the day's experience. This "Geto Suguru" had a connection with the disaster curses and that boy( Or girl? She couldn't tell) that she had to fight.
Their intention so far didn't seem particularly malicious, but that could just mean that they were still working through the early stages of their plan. Olga believes that perhaps what they have in store would be more than what the rest of the Jujutsu society would've bargained for.
All in all, she was left with the decision to include her findings in her mission report.
Although Olga was deliberately not going to make it easy for them. Unless they ask directly, she would leave them to find out the rest on their own.
True to her word, being the overseer meant that she was not going to directly involve herself in the conflict that was due to ensue.
Aside from that, her concern now lies in Junpei. She has given a part of her soul, so now they are connected. Legally, she had no authority to take him under her but since she knows a Gojo Satoru, perhaps it's possible for him to make an arrangement for her and the boy.
She won't force anything on Junpei and she'll let him know that it's his choice to live however he wants with this second chance.
Needless to say, this wasn't going to affect her future plans.
She settles the wine glass on her kitchen counter with a measured force.
Olga contemplates on whether she should first patch herself up as the scratches on her arms were quite an eyesore.
The layers of clothes on her, she realized needed to be removed so that she could tend to the wounds with ease. With that, she sheds her top before chucking them into the laundry basket.
She takes out the first aid kit and washed the bleeding scratched to clean them before applying a disinfectant. Her current self had endured several internal ruptures, but she was adept at handling them.
Why she chose not to visit Shoko was due to the many anomalies about her body. Most of which were due to her own modifications and the Oath. She was sure that Shoko would've noticed it if given the opportunity to analyze her in detail.
TING!
Her train of thoughts was disrupted by the doorbell.
She hadn't expected to receive any visitors at the moment. Her residence was strictly confidential and only a selected few should know where she was living. Also, last she checked, she hadn't any neighbors living beside her at the moment, so it couldn't be them.
She entertained the thought of leaving the stranger at her doorstep and acted falsely as if she wasn't home by doing nothing. But ultimately, she decided that it would be too cruel to feign ignorance on a small matter.
It does beat the boredom of her own isolation.
She felt the gears of her door shift beneath the door shift as she unlocked the door.
Once opened, the figure standing on the other side was a familiar face.
Standing before her was a man who was only slightly taller than her height. His blond hair that was usually styled with gel for convenience was let down for a more casual look. Instead of his regular cream-colored suite, he wore a milk chocolate brown sweater and black baggy pants.
"Ijichi-san told me where you were staying," Nanami explained, his expression calm and collected as always. He had come to check on her well-being, especially after the intense battle with Mahito.
However, his professional facade wavered for a moment when he saw Olga's current state. Nanami eyes briefly flickered over Olga's exposed upper body. Her scars, burns, healed stab wounds, and bullet wounds adorned her bare skin like a map of battles fought and survived.
By a sorcerer's standard, when compared to all of Olga's wounds, her's were a much severe case.
Hell, most sorcerers would probably not have such tattered bodies like hers despite grueling battles from cursed spirits from fighting cursed spirits.
No matter the danger level of the mission, they wouldn't reflect the same critical state as her's.
For a few seconds, Nanami's expression remained unreadable, but then he let out a small but heavy sigh.
He quickly infers that that might be the reason she was fully clothed, seeing as the smell of disinfectant had permeated the air.
"Please be decent, Olga-san," he finally said, his voice returning to its usual calm tone.
Olga promptly closed the door and took a moment to pick up a random shirt, her movements precise and efficient. It was a lapse in her own judgment that she was improperly dressed.
She was only a holy woman by title.
Being a holy exorcist does not make her a priest nor a nun, so she didn't abide by the same set of rules set up by her faith. That means their usual decorums often don't apply or at least, were not strictly enforced for her.
Anyhow, to her, it was no big deal that Nanami had seen her improperly dressed. Although, she supposed that she should be more careful about her appearance moving forward as it might garner a reputation among her current comrades.
She turns back to the door and reopens it to see Nanami waiting for her. How odd. She hadn't expected him to turn up at her apartment.
The woman had expected something like this from the erratic man like Satoru but he has never once sought her beyond work hours.
Olga, still with her usual empty expression, properly greets Nanami once more. "I apologize if I have troubled you. So what do you need, Nanami?"
He took a moment to recollect his thoughts before speaking. "Seeing that you're like this. I take it that you didn't intend to pay Ieri-san a visit at all, so I decided to check up on you myself,"
Olga leans on the doorframe. This came as a surprise to her that Nanami seemed concerned about her well-being even when he deliberately tries to hide it with his usual stern mug.
She hummed as she briefly closed her eyes.
"I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" He asked again, the tone in his voice slightly rising.
"Rest assured, I was simply drinking some alcohol so it wasn't all that important. I was thinking of heading out to the church later on, but that can wait,"
Nanami raises a brow.
"Pardon, so I was intruding?"
Olga leans her head forward at his confusion. "Nanami, I don't believe you came here to just check up and leave, come in. We can talk more inside."
"That's not necessary,"
"I insist," Olga firmly stated.
Nanami who was now in defeat accepted Olga's invitation and stepped inside her apartment. The space was simple and devoid of any personal touches. It looked more like a temporary base than a home.
Though Nanami wouldn't nitpick on Olga's interior preferences. In a way, this plays suit Olga's demeanor.
"Thank you for letting me in, Olga-san," he said politely.
Olga waved a hand dismissively, indicating that it was no trouble at all. "Make yourself comfortable. It's nothing, the church is always open to me no matter the time of day or night,"
At this, Olga noticed Nanami immediately stiffened. Perhaps the reference of her faith had made him uneasy. In truth, while still in deliberation Olga did intend to meet up with Reverend Yamamoto and put his worries to rest later on that day.
"Have a seat, Nanami. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you," Nanami declined the offer and took a seat on the dining table, his posture relaxed yet poised.
"So, what's on your mind, Nanami?" Olga inquired, taking a seat across from him. Her piercing teal eyes bore into him, awaiting his response.
Her gaze bore holes into him as the intensity of her stare had him looking away. Olga was astute and sharp. From the time he has known her, he understood that her gaze always held a deeper meaning.
She must suspect that he might have had a hidden motive in-store for her but that was far from it. In all honesty, Nanami was unsure of himself about what prompted him to meet her after working hours. It was so unlike him to even go to this extent for a colleague.
There was no reason for him to be there but he had found himself looking up at her living quarters through Kiyotaka.
Although the Jujutsu manager had a peculiar expression about his senior's request, Kiyotaka didn't question Nanami and did as he had said.
As Nanami pondered, his eyes trailed to her forearms. Last he recalled, they were scratched by Mahito to the point of bleeding earlier on that day. Seeing them now, the bleeding seemed to stop and it didn't seem like the wounds were too deep.
Prior to his intrusion, it would have seemed that Olga was tending to herself as evident by the open first aid kit on the counter.
An uncomfortable silence filled the air.
"You know you don't have to stop taking care of yourself for my sake,"
"It would be rude to not entertain a guest,"
"Yes, but I don't mind,"
Hearing this, Olga turns back to her first aid kit and finishes applying the ointment on her scratches before bandaging the wounds. As she finished her dressings, Nanami looked away as he pondered about Olga.
It was clear that she was not pleased by her sudden visit but she insisted he enter her apartment without a shred of reluctance.
Although, entering her apartment does give him some insight about her it was quite lackluster as there was really nothing noteworthy in the place.
Olga did not see this place as a home, in fact, he could tell that she hardly spent any time here with the way the furniture and her belongings were being placed. The only thing that seemed to have been considered out-of-place besides the opened first aid kit was the wine bottle and the wine glass parked beside it.
There was also an ashtray located in the middle of the dining table in front of them.
"Do you like to drink?" He inquired in a curious but surprised tone.
"It's become a habit of mine, though not aligned with most of my "beliefs" I admit I am far too deep in the consumption of alcohol to call off such a behavior. You can say that's a bad habit of mine." She answered immediately without turning her head to face him as she packed the box.
"That sounds like an addiction. Is that the same reasoning behind you smoking?" He craftily questions with a raised brow.
Olga faces him with half-lidded eyes and offers a slight curve from her lips before responding to him. "I won't deny that accusation. But enough with this," She slides out her chair and gets up from her seat.
She walks over to a cabinet and rips off an imaginary seal, which became visible upon Olga's disenchantment. Puzzled, Nanami watches Olga carefully pull out a worn-out centimeter thick yellow file. From the looks of it, she seemed like she was going to show him something.
"Here," She passes the file to him. "This is a compilation of my own personal research about the soul. Such a vague concept had always fascinated me, so I began my own research for the past decade. It's my own personal research, one I've undertaken since the beginning of my occupation as a holy exorcist. I'm sure you jujutsu sorcerers will benefit from this information more so than me just keeping it all stored away for my own viewing,"
Nanami was without words. For a moment, he had assumed that Olga would've hidden such things as it was how perceived her to be, but now she was handing him her research.
Rather it would be more believable for her to keep these things to herself rather than handing it to them on a silver platter.
"May I have a look through it?"
Was it credible?
"Of course, take it. I leave it up to you on whether you want to keep it to yourself of give it to Jujutsu Tech, I have no use for it now."
Her words were honest, he sensed no hidden deception behind them.
Or this could also be a trick of hers.
But how exactly would doing so benefit her if she provided them with false information? It will lead them to a wrong conclusion, yes, but it won't impact them on a great scale.
As he flips through the repertoire of pages to find that they were all detailed with inky handwritings. Many of the pages had edit marks on them and paper notes attached as if to stack on more of each point.
Towards the back of the pages, he found that the pages were fresh and white with the scent of ink still emanating. A quick read was enough for him to infer that Olga had written this part recently after the encounter with Mahito.
"You're serious about giving this to us?" He looks up from the page with doubt.
"I no longer have any use for it," Olga walks over to where her wine bottle was placed. "Though don't misunderstand, I give this file to you. So it's up to you on whether you choose to share the information," She clarified as she poured herself some more wine.
Nanami was unsure of her decision. How would this file benefit him when his technique was ill-suited against curses like Mahito.
"But why me?"
Turning back to face him, Olga sips on her wine with a blank expression before answering. "They all trust you, so following that logic I'll entrust my research on to you,"
She was being far too generous for a secretive woman known for her unclear intentions.
All of this was a lot to take in.
Nanami puts the file down and crosses his hands over his chest.
It would be meaningless to continue on this discussion as she's already bared her motives to him.
"I take it that you won't take no as an answer?" He asked, sounding unsure of himself.
Olga swirled the glass of wine, as she processed her thoughts.
"So are you going to take it?" She retorted with an explicit condescending-like tone.
Nanami really had no other choice, accepting Olga's generosity like this would benefit her in only gaining some semblance of trust towards her.
He leans his head forward for a slight bow. "Then, I appreciate the gesture,"
The holy exorcist briefly closed her eyes as she placed the glass onto the table top.
Nanami initially only came to her apartment to check on her condition despite her seeming fine after exorcizing Mahito. But before that, he was going to question her about her findings.
However, after the conversation that they just had, he realized that coming here and receiving such an informative file was more than he bargained for.
"You know the scars on your forearm are still fresh and Ieri-san would be able to erase them completely while healing the skin if you wanted to," He pointed out as he eyed the bandages on her arms.
He doubted that Olga was a prideful woman. Although some of her battle scars were faint but still noticeable, it seemed unlikely that she kept them solely as trophies from her battles.
Besides, she'll heal much faster rather than taking the natural healing process.
"That is logical. Although, personally I would have to decline from receiving treatment from my injuries. I have nothing against Shoko. She is a very capable doctor and I trust her to take care of Junpei's condition," She explained tersely. "Declining being treated stems from my beliefs."
Ah, there it is.
That blatant excuse for religion.
But he wasn't going to question it.
It's better this way if he didn't have to find out what weird messed up beliefs the Secret Church had.
"I was under the impression that salary men were, heartless or inexpressive as that was your work culture. However, you proved me wrong, Nanami." She strides over to her end of the table opposite to him with a glint in her eyes.
"For the duration of our partnership, you've shown to be a responsible adult caring for Yuji and to some extent, Junpei. That quality is endearing as many would've opted to close themselves off from dealing with such hardships. Afterall, you all are susceptible to loss."
"I don't follow,"
Olga chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed out of place given her usual stoicism. "I'll elaborate. You are a selfless man, who actively protects the youth. Your words to Yuji, speaks volumes. That's why I am pleased with this mission's outcome."
Nanami shifted in his seat. Compliments, especially unexpected ones,were not something he was accustomed to receiving, and it made him feel a bit uneasy. He preferred to keep things professional. The acknowledgment of his actions caught him off guard.
"Your assessment is overly generous," he responded, his tone retaining its usual calmness despite the subtle hint of discomfort. "I'm just doing my job."
Olga tilted her head slightly, studying him with those penetrating teal eyes. "Isn't that why you came back to being a jujutsu sorcerer?"
He didn't respond immediately, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. Sensing that their conversation had reached a natural conclusion, decided it was time for him to leave. He rose from his seat, inclining his head slightly towards Olga.
"I won't take up any more of your time," he said, making his way towards the apartment door.
"Thank you for having me here," He bowed slightly.
Olga watched him silently as he left, her eyes revealing nothing of her thoughts or feelings.
As the door closed behind Nanami, Olga returned her attention to her glass of wine. She contemplated the events of the day and the unexpected visit from her colleague.
Despite her stoic demeanor, there was a hint of curiosity left behind her eyes.
-with Nanami-
Outside of the apartment, Nanami's hazy gaze lingered on the door.
He felt it was a mistake for coming to visit her.
But he wouldn't be sure of it if it was still unknown.
Nanami sighed inwardly, running a hand through his blond hair, his breath forming a faint cloud in the cool evening air. His dark brown eyes, usually sharp and focused, now seemed distant as he contemplated what just happened?
His brows furrowed slightly, a subtle sign of his internal irritation. Nanami was a man of practicality, and he found himself mentally scolding himself for getting involved in something that seemed to veer into the realm of sentimentality. He had no business being concerned about a colleague's well-being, especially one as self-sufficient as Olga.
As he made his way down the hallway and towards the elevator, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He had expected their conversation to be brief and strictly professional, but it had taken an unexpected turn.
Nanami believed in separating sentimentality from service, but he also knew that understanding one's colleagues could be beneficial in the field.
It was one that Olga immediately realized and put to an end as she knew it was going to lead to something she must've found troublesome. It would seem that she was actively trying to not get close with others.
As he made his way down the hallway and towards the exit of the apartment building, Nanami couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had entered Olga's world briefly, and it had left him with more questions than answers. Deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to become far more complicated.
Lastly, he never answered her question.
.
.
.
'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'
Matthew 5:3-12; The Beatitudes
It was ironic that the line resonated with her, but she herself could not fully believe in them.
The dark haired woman promptly shuts the book, sending a gust of wind in her direction, ruffling her disheveled bangs.
The woman sat beside the patient's bed. Light enters the room through the translucent curtains, reflecting the boy's peaceful face. His chest rises and falls, an indication that the boy who was originally 'died' was still very much alive in front of her.
It was her meddling that brought about this change, so she expected nothing less.
A day has passed since the whole fiasco with Mahito. Since then, the disappearance cases were put to an end.
To the local authorities, this incident was brushed off as serial kidnappings that were, and the victims family were paid handsomely to keep these cases silent while being fed the lie that the ones missing were subjected to horrible dehumanizing experiments by a mad scientist.
Of course, there would be those who would want to find out more but Olga made a personal request to handle it, instead of sending in the Jujutsu Managers to deal with the usual social affairs.
Unlike jujutsu sorcerers, sometimes holy exorcists appealed to a more emotional side and assisted in dealing with social wariness when it comes to supernatural incidents such as these.
As she remained in the room, her eyes fixed on Junpei's peaceful slumber. She couldn't help but think about the events of the past day and how they had unfolded. She had made a choice, a deviation from her usual mission parameters, to save this boy's life. It was a decision that had consequences, both known and unknown.
She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from the boy's face, her touch delicate and caring.
But the look on her face betrayed any sense of compassion or empathy.
Only indifference.
(A/N) HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!
Well this arc is FINALLY FINISHED!
BUT I GOTTA RUSH CUZ I NEED TO HEAD TO WORK!(yes i'm working today)