Note:
Heyy :D how are you? I'm so excited! It's the start of the second arc and we're finally getting into the plot! I can't wait!
Hope you will enjoy that chapter. I had so much fun writing it! Alas, it became too long and I had to break it into two parts ahaha xD
Enjoooy ~
[Arc 2: Becoming a sorcerer]
(Part I)Chapter 9
Tough Bargaining
"Mei Mei—! Oh." A clear, feminine voice rang out, carrying a blend of urgency and surprise.
Mariya instinctively turned her face toward the sound, her muscles tensing. What she saw took her aback—a young girl with dark brown hair, dressed like... a miko? The traditional attire seemed utterly out of place amidst the decay of their surroundings, a startling image of another era brought to life.
The girl rushed toward her, kneeling by Mariya's side without hesitation. Her large brown eyes sparkled with an odd warmth as she exclaimed, "You can see curses?" Her voice held a mix of incredulity and curiosity.
Curses. So that's what they were called!
For the first time, Mariya had a name for the hollows she had always seen. The word settled into her mind like a puzzle piece clicking into place, oddly comforting despite the terror associated with the creatures. Curses…curses….still not a reassuring name, though…but maybe it was simply because they were truly terrifying?
She glanced briefly at the silver-haired woman who had sliced through the monstrous creature with a grace so effortless it seemed otherworldly. The miko had called her 'Mei Mei.'
Tall and poised, her immaculate silver hair and meticulously chosen clothing radiated an air of quiet confidence. Something about her attire tugged at Mariya's memory, though she couldn't place where she'd seen it before.
...Wait. It was Satoru's school uniform! There's really a correlation, maybe there really is a school that specializes in hunting hollows?
Mariya timidly nodded in response to the miko's question, a sudden wave of shyness washing over her. These women….they were so powerful, especially Mei Mei and seemed so composed, and she felt, at the moment, almost small and insignificant in comparison. Still, confirming that there were others out there who could see these monsters, let alone destroy them, sent a glimmer of hope flickering through her.
"Yes," she murmured softly, swallowing to steady her nerves. "For some time now." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling vulnerable under their scrutiny.
The miko seemed to consider her answer carefully, but before she could respond, a question burned on Mariya's lips. She needed to know. If these two could handle hollo–err, curses with such ease, then maybe, just maybe, they knew… him .
"Do you know Gojo Satoru?" she blurted out, her voice breaking the quiet.
A silence fell over them, charged and fleeting. Surprisingly, it wasn't Mei Mei who reacted, but the miko. She let out an odd noise—a mix between a groan of frustration and a dramatic whine. "Ugh… what ?"
Mariya blinked at her in confusion. Why was she reacting like this? The miko's warm brown eyes narrowed as her lips pulled into a grimace of pure annoyance. Before Mariya could say anything, the miko placed her hands firmly on her shoulders, her palms warmer than expected in the chilly air.
"You've met him?" she demanded, her voice tinged with concern. "He didn't do anything to you, did he?"
? What?
She released a heavy sigh, muttering under her breath, "That idiot! He's going to give me gray hairs before my time!"
Mariya's eyes widened in surprise. Idiot? Satoru? Her first instinct was to jump to his defense—because, clearly, Satoru wasn't an idiot—but she bit her tongue just in time.
Instead, she watched the miko with growing bewilderment. How could someone harbor so much irritation toward someone like him? Someone so strong and charismatic?
The miko, still visibly simmering , continued muttering to herself—something about "another one of his stunts, I bet " and " I really need to talk to him ." Finally, she sighed deeply, her gaze falling back on Mariya. Her were gleaming with curiosity and wariness. Mariya looked back at her, and she heard a shuffle, almost like a little giggle. She didn't have to turn her head to know it was Mei Mei.
So, she knew Satoru. And not just that—she seemed familiar with him, almost intimately so. That was a good sign, wasn't it…? Even if she seemed to… hate his guts. And called him an idiot. It was definitely not the image Mariya had of him.
Before Mariya could piece together a response, Mei Mei's silky voice cut through the tension, her tone light and amused. "Fufufu~ Utahime, calm down. You're going to scare our little guest."
"Utahime," Mariya repeated under her breath, committing the name to memory. It was a pretty name, she thought, fitting for someone as kind and composed as this girl— despite her apparent temper.
Utahime shot a sharp glare at Mei Mei but quickly turned her attention back to Mariya. "At least you're in one piece," she said with a kind smile.
Mei Mei, however, wasn't done. Her lips curved into an enigmatic smile as she addressed Mariya directly. "You handled yourself well in the forest," she said casually. "I'm impressed by your resourcefulness."
Noticing her confusion, Mei Mei let out another soft, crystalline laugh.
"Mei Mei, don't be like that," Utahime scolded, her hands still gently steadying Mariya's shoulders. "She's terrified!"
"Less than you are, Utahime," Mei Mei replied with a faint chuckle.
The exchange left Mariya more confused. She darted her gaze between the two women as her mind finally, finally truly caught up with Mei Mei's words.
'You handled yourself well in the forest'
Her head snapped back to Mei Mei, and she fixed her with a sharp, almost questioning look.
...Wait a second. What did she just say again?! …Huh? But…she hadn't seen her at all in the forest? Of that, she was certain! She bet all her volumes of Bleach on it.
Besides, if the curse had noticed her, it would've been drawn to her, attacking or toying with her as it had with Mariya. The creature's instability made that a given.
But…the way she spoke showed that she had definitely been there. How else could she know she was in the forest, when they'd just met in the corridors of the elementary school?
Her amber irises trembling faintly. "You were in the forest? And you didn't do anything to kill that thing earlier? "
Mei Mei's smile widened, her amusement unmistakable. "Yes, I was there. Watching you."
Scuse me?
A dull anger sparked in Mariya's chest. " Watching me? And you didn't do anything to stop it?" she asked, her voice rising in a rush of frustration and exhaustion.
Utahime quickly intervened, her voice soothing. "Mei Mei! Stop toying with her—she's been through enough!"
Mei Mei shrugged lightly, the shadow of a smile still lingering. "You have potential. I wanted to see how you'd handle yourself. And, I must say, you exceeded my expectations."
That word caught Mariya's attention, despite the situation and the slight tension between Mei Mei and her. Potential?
The thought seemed absurd, but a small flicker of pride stirred within her despite herself.
Potential…like Satoru?
Utahime placed a gentle hand on Mariya's back. "We're taking you to Shoko. She'll patch you up and we'll answer any questions you might have."
Now, who's that? Her mind was too fuzzy right now.
"Shoko?" Mariya echoed, her voice hesitant. She also felt better at the prospect of being disinfected.
Mei Mei met her gaze, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Don't worry. We're not planning to hurt you. That would be a waste of talent."
Oh wow, how reassuring! A waste of talent, she said!
Utahime offered a reassuring smile. "You're in good hands. Trust us. What's your name?"
Mariya nodded hesitantly, too drained to argue right now, and answered, trying to keep her voice steady nonetheless. "Hibino Mariya." However… one question still burned in her mind. "Can we… go to my grandparents first?" she asked quietly, glancing away. "Uhh, I kind of snuck out?"
Utahime's eyes widened and she grimaced and Mariya thought: ' Seems like she's the kind of girl who avoids doing this type of thing as well, then.' "You snuck out ?"
Mei Mei let out another melodic laugh. "Fufufu~ charming and rebellious. You'll fit right in."
Fit in? Where?
…Anyway.
Mariya sighed, her stomach twisting at the thought of facing her grandparents' reactions.
But at least, for now, she was out of danger.
As they led Mariya toward a black vehicle, she noticed something else—something dark .
She could only describe it as an obscure night. A sort of….fabric of darkness draped over the area surrounding the elementary school. And it wasn't the black sky of the usual night, her instincts told her clearly.
For a moment, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. She rubbed them gently, still leaning against Utahime. Maybe she was too tired and was really starting to see things? Yeah, not believing this.
She shook her head….and right at that moment, she noticed a man near the car. He was dressed in a black suit, and despite the darkness, it was easy to tell just how fit he was. He wore sunglasses (? At 10 p.m.? Seriously?), and his hair was cut in a strict military style.
He stood beside the car, a cigarette held between his fingers. Mariya's eyes caught sight of his perfectly polished shoes.
"Welcome back," the man said with a deep voice, expertly shaking his cigarette. "Took you long enough for what it was."
Mariya couldn't see him, but she knew he was looking at her when he lowered his chin towards her. He seemed to pause. She didn't understand what exactly he was talking about. Was he talking about her? If so, it did seem strange to her.
"A civilian?" he finally asked, sounding astonished. But Mariya's brain circled when he said civilian.
Her mouth dried up.
He must be...
Oh God, he was a yakuza. Of course! Look at his shiny shoes!
Mariya braked suddenly. Utahime looked at her in confusion.
"Hibino-san?"
Mariya felt exhausted, part of her brain was trying to convince her that she was somehow delirious, and not to mention that she terribly regretted going out. It had brought her nothing but trouble!
But this—this was on a whole other level. If she had expected to run into gangsters tonight… well, that would have been literally the last thing on her list.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING FOLLOWING STRANGERS LIKE THIS, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT?! she screamed at herself internally, mentally slapping some sense back into her brain.
It was as if she had suddenly snapped out of a trance. She could not just go along with random strangers like this!
Of course, there were other dangers besides hollows! You know… normal dangers! Like psychopaths! Lunatics! Mariya, get a grip!
Her mind conjured up a rapid slideshow of horrifying images—tattooed bodies, an organized crime syndicate, people getting chopped up and stuffed into bags before being dumped into the deepest, darkest abyss—
Nope. Nope. Nope. Time to re-evaluate all her life choices.
Her heart suddenly kicked into overdrive, but she didn't have the strength to do anything , let alone run. She darted a glance to the side.
Oh, hell no. She needed to get out of here.
The street was completely deserted.
Well, obviously it was. They were loitering outside an abandoned school in the dead of night!
Bravo, Mariya. Truly, outstanding work.
She didn't know if it was sheer exhaustion, or if she had finally reached the absolute limit of what she could mentally endure (and she had endured a lot these past two months), but out of nowhere, she blurted out:
"I'm not giving you any of my fingers."
A deep silence followed her… highly questionable statement.
At that moment, Mariya had zero awareness of how completely out of left field her remark was to people who didn't have her panic-fueled brain running on overdrive.
No, quite the opposite. She was convinced they understood exactly what she was saying.
Of course! I've unmasked you in broad daylight! Or—well, broad nightlight… whatever! That wasn't the point!
All she could hear was the pounding of her own blood in her ears. All she could feel was her panic rising by the second.
Something switched inside her—a jolt of electricity, like thunder crackling through her veins. A brief but pure shot of adrenaline.
She seized the moment, tearing herself away from Utahime and shoving off her shoulder in one desperate movement—
Only for the adrenaline to betray her immediately. Her legs wobbled, her vision tilted, and she staggered like a baby deer on ice.
Her heart nearly stopped.
"My father used to beat up criminals and use them as a blanket," she threatened, trying to stand tall—except that was proving very difficult since her body wasn't cooperating. Even her voice wasn't as strong as she wanted it to be.
The man's eyebrows lifted over his sunglasses.
"Ah?"
"He will destroy your kneecaps. You won't even be able to lean against a konbini for your gangster smoke break anymore." She doubled down, eyes narrowed, lying like she had never lied before. She was bullshitting her way through this. Or was she?
Her dad had beaten up thugs before. Was it smart? No. But honestly, she wasn't seeing a lot of smart ways out of this situation either. She had already burned through every last functioning brain cell dealing with that Hollow earlier.
The man raised his eyebrows even higher , which she hadn't thought physically possible.
"Is that so?"
Somebody chuckled. Mariya was willing to bet it was that woman—Mei Mei.
"Hibino-san," Utahime cut in, staring at her with wide eyes. She lifted a hand—probably to rest it on Mariya's shoulder—but Mariya, with great difficulty, twisted to the side to avoid being touched.
"Who are you?" she snapped, breathless. Stray strands of hair had long since escaped her battered bun, one falling right across her face. She ignored it. "I'm not going anywhere with a bunch of gangsters. Are you running a human trafficking ring?"
As if asking them that question would help. Of course they would say they don't.
Behind her, Mei Mei chuckled. Again. She heard Utahime hissing at Mei Mei. "Stop that, senpai!"
Mariya had no energy left to react to that. Her nerves were fried. She kept her focus on the Yakuza , who had just shifted one step to the side.
Slowly, he raised his hands— in a reassuring manner that did not reassure her in the slightest.
"Nothing of the sort, miss."
"Don't lie to me." She muttered, eyes darting around. "I'm not getting in that car."
Honestly, she could've used this same good sense to, oh, not sneak out of her house in the middle of the night and go accidentally picking a fight with dangerous monsters. But now that she had regained it? She was going to use it.
Starting with not getting into a shady black vehicle with complete strangers.
And she verbalized it, as if voicing it would cement it into reality—a reminder, both to herself and to them, that she was not supposed to be this stupid.
"My parents taught me not to get into cars with strangers."
The man threw her a dry look.
"If your father went around beating up criminals, that wouldn't surprise me," he said, nodding toward Utahime and Mei Mei, as if suddenly piecing something together. "You didn't tell her anything?"
Utahime seemed mildly embarrassed, darting quick glances at him.
"No, Nakamura-san. It would've been better if she had been taken care of first. Hibino-san, I assure you, we mean you no harm. We're sorcerers. You saw how we got rid of that curse earlier, didn't you?"
Mariya shot her a sidelong glance, lips pursed. Sure... but the idea of getting into a car with them still didn't sit well. It definitely gave her kidnapping vibes, and she was not here for it.
Suddenly, her legs betrayed her, and she found herself plopping down onto the cold ground, utterly exhausted. The little burst of adrenaline had already fizzled out, leaving her feeling like a pile of limp noodles.
She ached everywhere . Her ribs, her forehead, her ankle... all of it felt like a symphony of pain. All she wanted was to curl up and sleep, to escape the aches of her worn-out body.
Mariya squeezed her eyes shut for just a moment. That was it. She really couldn't do anything more right now. She clenched her teeth and forced herself to think. If they meant her harm, they'd have done it already. And as things stood, there was nothing more she could do. She had no strength left to physically escape. She'd just hurt herself more. It made more sense to follow them for now. She could figure things out later.
I shouldn't have shown them that I don't trust them, she thought regretfully. I already gave them my full name like an idiot! God, this is the last time I mock the blonde girls in horror films! I should be crowned Queen of Idiots.
Her eyes landed on her blue nail polish, and she remembered Satoru. They know Satoru. She could work with that. She could pretend to be close to him. Something told her that among them, he was the strong one. Mei Mei seemed powerful, sure, but — Mariya could feel it in her bones — she was nowhere near as strong as Satoru.
Nowhere near.
"Do you know Satoru?" she asked the Yakuza—Nakamura. If she hadn't been so exhausted, she would have been more polite. Maybe she would have been more rational, too. But, given the circumstances... and maybe it was a good thing, showing them she wouldn't be easily walked over?
She heard a sharp intake of breath. Utahime. And a mumble. " Damn Gojo, what has he done now, she's stuck on him! " Again? Wow, she really didn't like him.
He seemed to pause, as if surprised. "I suppose you're talking about Gojo Satoru. Yes. I don't think there's anyone in this field that doesn't know him."
So he knew him, too. And he was famous . That was a fact she filed away in the back of her mind.
Utahime knew him personally, based on her reactions, and Nakamura…knew him, like Mariya knew Eminem or Zinedine Zidane. You know, like a celebrity. As for Mei Mei, Mariya couldn't quite figure her out, but she was willing to bet Mei Mei knew him the same way Utahime did.
Was Mariya seriously considering putting her potential life in their hands just because they knew Satoru? The guy who didn't even know who the hell she was (aside from saving her and her grandparents, of course)?
Yes. It was an argument their favor.
And... she'd let them think Satoru knew her. The fact that she called him by his first name would make it look like they were close—which, of course, wasn't true. She'd only crossed paths with him twice, and the second time, she'd passed out! (Let's also conveniently ignore how completely clueless she was about their world, and let them draw their own conclusions about why she didn't know anything, despite supposedly being close to Satoru.)
She could feel a silent exchange of glances between them, but she didn't pay it any attention.
"One last thing…" Mariya said, despite having already made her decision. Her throat was dry. "What is this thing around us?"
As best as she could, she made a sweeping motion with her hand, vaguely gesturing at their surroundings.
"This big black thing. It looks like a fabric of darkness or something."
"Oh, you have good instincts," Mei Mei remarked.
Mariya still wasn't sure how she felt about her. So far? Not great. She had been laughing at her a lot since earlier.
"If I may add my two cents without getting threatened again…" Nakamura interjected. Mariya didn't respond, though she did feel slightly embarrassed. Though the pain pulsing through her body made it hard to feel embarrassed about her attitude—after all, she wasn't exactly wrong to be suspicious, given everything that had happened to her. "You do have good instincts. What you call a 'black fabric,' we call it a curtain or a veil. To put it simply, it lets us encapsulate a place so that ordinary people—those who don't see curses—can't see what's happening inside and be terrified."
Oh. So that's how nobody knows anything about these monsters and the people who presumably fight them.
She took a breath, feeling her brain start to overheat.
Alright. Here we go.
"Alright. I'll follow you," she said, though she knew they could still force her into the car, she needed to give her verbal consent. A way to have a semblance of control over her situation, in a way.
"Well, that was a quick decision," Nakamura drawled. Yeah, well.
But when Utahime helped her up, Mariya met her gaze—and saw no deceit in her face. Not that she fully trusted her own instincts, but… she rolled with it nonetheless.
When Nakamura opened the car door, Mariya noticed—belatedly—that there was already someone inside. A girl. Sitting with the window cracked open. Smoking. And wearing that uniform, too.
She gave Mariya a small wave and a faint smile.
She looks familiar, though.
They got into the car as the girl shook her hand and put out her cigarette. Mariya wrinkled her nose at the smell and was hit with a slight coughing fit. The pain flared through her entire body as her coughing rattled her muscles, overexerted as they were.
"Oops," she said. "Sorry about that."
She'd said it with such apathy that Mariya briefly wondered if the girl was a robot. She saw her lazily put out her cigarette.
Mariya winced. Her whole body burned, and she was starting to have trouble handling her cuts. She cleared her throat. She'd never liked the smell of cigarettes, but now it was giving her a headache.
Mariya had never been tempted by cigarettes, no matter how many teenagers she'd seen puffing away in front of the school. Lung cancer aside, yellow teeth weren't exactly her aesthetic, and the lingering stench on clothes? Absolutely not. She couldn't spend time picking out a good good outfit only to end up smelling like a sailor who'd chain-smoked his way through ten packs.
And on top of that…
She distinctly remembered her father's sworn oaths against smoking—if he ever caught her with a cigarette, she might as well kiss her freedom goodbye until the ripe old age of sixty-five.
And knowing her mother, she wouldn't have fared much better. She could already hear her sharp remark: "Oh, so you've decided to season your lungs like a well-marinated steak? Excellent. Shall I set the table for your funeral now, or do you need a few more puffs?"
The funniest part was that her aunt Sabrina had said almost the exact same thing. Mariya could still picture her reaction when she found out that her son—Mariya's cousin—had started smoking. In fact, the whole family still remembered. Some moments in life just left a mark, and Aunt Sabrina's outrage was one for the history books.
Shaking softly her head, Mariya didn't say anything about the cigarette situation and instead stuck her head out the window to breathe in the fresh air. She noticed that Utahime had taken the seat on her end, while the girl sat in the middle. Mei Mei took the passenger seat, and Nakamura shut the car door, promptly locking them in.
After a few seconds, she pulled her head back into the car.
"How am I sure you're not going to hurt me?" Mariya asked nonetheless, because her anxiety couldn't stop her mouth from running, even though she already knew the answer.
She felt as though Nakamura was watching her through the rearview mirror. "That would be counterproductive to our work. Don't worry, we have no intention of harming you."
"May I add, we would have already harmed you if that were the case?" Mei Mei chimed in, a detached amusement in her voice, and Mariya couldn't help but grimace. Against herself. Yup. She sank further back into the car seat and bit her lower lip.
"Hibino-san, may I have your address?" Nakamura asked. Mariya gave him her address in a tired tone, and he started the vehicle.
She was finally going to get some answers to her questions. Oddly enough, she thought she'd be jumping at the chance. I suppose being nearly turned into Naan-Kebab or a punching bag for a Jigglypuff from Hell would exhaust anyone.
"Hibino-san, Shoko will look at your injuries," Utahime said.
"You can call me Mariya," she said softly. "I feel like you're talking to my dad."
Well, yes and no. No one called her father Hibino-san in France—more like Monsieur Hibino , or just Yusuke once they knew him better. But still, hearing it felt like they were addressing her dad, or her mother, in fact.
Utahime nodded gently. "Are you sure?"
Mariya smiled at her kindly. "Of course."
Utahime beamed at her. "Consider it done, then!"
Mariya had a feeling she was really going to get along with this girl.
"I'm so glad I came with you," the girl next to her said in a lazy drawl. "Man, I'm glad the trash didn't get to witness something so funny, serves them right." The trash? Who was she talking about sokindly? She waved a nonchalant hand at her with a small smile. "I'm Ieiri Shoko. Nice to meet you. Let me help you with your wounds."
Suddenly, Mariya recognized her.
The girl who was with Satoru!
She couldn't believe her eyes! The world, sure, was small!
Mariya watched her. Since she wasn't pulling out anything to tend to her injuries, Mariya asked, "…Help me with my wound?"
Shoko lifted her hand and placed it gently against Mariya's forehead.
Something happened—something that froze Mariya in place. A sensation that wasn't quite warmth. No, not warmth at all. It was cold . A sudden, familiar chill brushed against her forehead. Mariya was certain Shoko had nothing in her hands, and it wasn't just the feeling of a cold palm. No. It was as if something else —something purely cold—was touching her.
The sensation lasted only a few seconds before Shoko withdrew her hand.
The first thing Mariya noticed? Her injury didn't hurt anymore.
And it hadn't hurt when Shoko touched her either.
Mariya opened the mirror in the car and inspected her face. Her ebony hair was a mess, and a look of surprise was painted across her features. Dried blood streaked her cheek, giving her skin a faint reddish hue. But her eyes were fixed on her forehead. She pushed aside a few stray locks that had fallen over her face—and her mouth dropped open. She heard a noise; she was sure it was her jaw hitting the car's carpet.
"How?" she murmured.
She had seen Mei Mei appear and obliterate that hollow as effortlessly as a lion swatting away a puppy—just like Satoru had. Logically, she had suspected they shared similar abilities. Different, perhaps, but similar in their aptitude for defending against these creatures, for killing them.
But this, right now? She had healed her . Was she like Unohana? Mariya was really starting to wonder if the Soul Society didn't exist too.
Sorcerers , they said, she realized just then. That was what Utahime told her just a few seconds ago. 'We're sorcerers.'
Was it…magic?
Her entire education on the subject of magic from her mother's side of family hit her like a ton of bricks (or rather, her Aunt Sabrina's very opinionated stance on magic), accompanied by an internal HOLY HELL THIS IS BLACK MAGIC and THOSE ARE DEMONS, DEMONS I TELL YOU .
Thankfully, her face remained perfectly stoic, betraying none of the internal screaming happening inside her brain. Well—except for her eyes, which had gone unnaturally round.
"It's called Reverse Cursed Technique," Shoko drawled.
Kaw. Kaw. Kaw.
Utahime's head snapped up, her brows shooting so high they were seconds away from vacating her forehead entirely and pursuing a new life elsewhere.
Huh?
She glanced left. Then right. Then behind her—slowly, cautiously, like someone who had just realized they might not be alone in a confined space. Her expression wavered between deep confusion and that specific silent panic you experience when you know you saw a spider in the corner but now it's missing. Or when a sweet old lady is searching for her glasses while they're actually perched on top of her head.
"…Mei Mei, did you leave one of your crows in the car—"
" Letmeoutofthiscarimmediately! "
"Mariya-chan!"
"What do you mean cursed?! A curse?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I don't want anything to do with curses!"
"Mar—"
"Eehe, I'm really glad the trash is missing out on this. This is really funny."
"Shoko! Please! You're turning just like them!"
"Fufufu~~"
"Mariya-chan, it's just the name of the technique—"
"Cursed? You're talking about a curse here?! Alright, fine, I get calling those creatures 'curses,' in a sort of philosophical way, but her 'technique' is called cursed ?! That's a bit much! Plus, it was used on me! Am I going to be cursed for generations?! You're all insane!"
"You're going a bit overboard," Nakamura said.
"That's not what you think— Mariya-chan, don't open the door, we're still rolling! Shoko! Stop her!"
Mariya was pressed against the car door, eyes narrowed. She was well aware that her current behavior was anything but dignified, but frankly, she couldn't care less at the moment.
What do you mean,cursedtechnique? What were they talking about now ?!
"Mariya-chan, it's just the name of the technique."
"Once again, that doesn't reassure me at all . Why is it called a cursed technique?" she asked, heart pounding as she regretted every single decision that had led her to be stuck in this car.
Utahime sighed. "Sorcerers use what we call 'cursed energy' to exorcise curses…"
She briefly explained what cursed energy actually was. A sort of energy. Apparently, there wasn't literally a curse involved—at least not in the way ordinary people would understand it.
"So your technique heals?" Mariya asked Shoko cautiously, her eyes still slightly narrowed, though she had officially abandoned the idea of throwing herself out of a moving vehicle.
"Yep.."
"...But then why is it called a cursed technique? That's not exactly confidence-inspiring… You'd think they could've come up with something else," Mariya said, trying to make sense of it all.
"It's because it uses the reverse of the negative energy sorcerers harness to exorcise curses. Hence, reverse ," Shoko explained with a shrug. "If you ask me, we were just too lazy to come up with a clearer name."
Lazy? Yeah. That tracked.
"So, are we done trying to throw ourselves out of a moving vehicle?" Nakamura asked dryly.
Mariya flushed, sinking back into her seat with a small, sheepish "Sorry." Shoko took the opportunity to heal the rest of her cuts. At least her grandparents would see her in one piece .
"I apologize," Mariya said, addressing everyone in the car once her heartbeat had calmed down and she'd mentally slapped herself three times. She felt ashamed. "I don't usually react so dramatically, but I'm, uh… a little stressed."
"Nah, it's alright," said Nakamura as Utahime rushed to reassure her.
Shoko snorted, now leaning against the window since she had swapped seats with Utahime, who had moved to the middle. Probably to pacify her if she decided to play Rambo again .
Once she had calmed down a little, as they made their way to her house, Mariya couldn't help but ask a few questions—about (the obvious) school uniform, for example, or more importantly, about the different powers , or cursed techniques ( Right. Still not over that one. Her heart was still doing little palpitations at the thought, because all she could picture were spells that cursed entire bloodlines, forcing them to sell their souls just to eat soup. But hey. She had an overactive imagination.)
To be sure, she asked them if they were using wands. Shoko and Namakura's snigger was quite eloquent.
It was also confirmed that there were indeed schools dedicated to exorcising curses. One in Tokyo and another one here, in Kyoto.
So. High schoolers were out here hunting monsters. A bit like Ichigo. She was living the Bleach-dream (or nightmare, it depended on the point of view).
Even now, that felt wild . But she had seen Mei Mei in action. More importantly, she had seen Satoru. She had no real sense of the power scale for these "sorcerers" (which, honestly, was still a ridiculous name. Sorcerers . She had almost had another tachycardia episode but, having learned from her previous mistake, she calmed herself down real quick. They explained that it was just another way of saying shaman or exorcist . Mmm… sure, but it still gave major Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone vibes.) but they seemed pretty strong.
She supposed she could've called them Shinigami , but that would've been pushing her Bleach fangirlism just a little too far.
Then, she fell silent, lost in thought.
She thought back to the curse in the forest and wondered about its exact origin. It had been horrible , just like the one in her grandparents' garden, but strangely enough…she hadn't found it as terrifying.
Because today, she hadn't had to worry about her grandparents' lives.
Yeah. It was always easier to manage fear when you were the only one in danger, not the people you loved.
Mariya wasn't sure if she liked having learned that lesson.
"You okay?" Utahime asked from between her and Shoko. Mariya glanced up, surprised by the simplicity of the question. Was she okay? it was a question she'd been asking herself for almost two months now.
"Yes. Now that I'm healed, I feel much better," she said calmly.
"Shoko's the best at what she does, so I'm not surprised," Utahime smiled, leaning toward Shoko's shoulder in a friendly way. Her tone was light, but there was something in the way she said it—like she truly meant it.
Mariya shifted her gaze to the ground, her fingers playing with the hem of her sleeve still mulling over the past events.
"You sure?" Utahime's voice cut through her thoughts, warm and steady.
"Yeah, just thinking," she replied, giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.
"You look like you've been through a lot," Utahime added, her tone kind but perceptive, as if she saw through Mariya's guarded expression. Mariya knew she wasn't talking about the curse she'd had the pleasure of facing in the abandoned school.
Mariya didn't quite know how to respond, but instead, she found herself smiling, not out of obligation, but in a quiet understanding. "I'm good. Now that I'm healed, I feel much better," she said calmly, though the words carried a weight only someone who'd been through something similar would understand.
"But… how are you doing? You're not one to just brush things off, are you?" she insisted.
Mariya hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. Again, she felt no deception, no hypocrisy, only good-heartedness, so...
"Well," Mariya began, her voice lighter than before, "I'm still trying to make sense of all this. All these... so called "cursed techniques", curses, and…."sorcerers". It's a lot to digest." She glanced at Utahime. "I mean, I'm flexible, but pushed to my limits…I'm not exactly the type to just... roll with it that easily, you know?"
"You'll get used to it, or at least you'll learn how to live with it," Utahime replied, her smile softening into something more thoughtful. "We all find our own way to handle the madness, one day at a time."
The madness, huh?
Mariya stared out the window for a moment, watching the scenery pass by, the weight of Utahime's words sinking in. There was a strange comfort in the idea that she wasn't alone in this chaos. Despite everything, she could feel herself begin to relax, just a little.
"So, you're saying I'll eventually be okay with it? With... this life?" Mariya asked, raising an eyebrow at Utahime.
"Eventually, yeah," Utahime said with a laugh. "You'll find your rhythm. And hey, if nothing else, you'll get a lot of good stories. Being a sorcerer isn't all doom and gloom, you know. We've got some fun moments, too."
Sorcerer, huh. Is it what I'm going to be from now on? God, I can hear Auntie Sabrina from here…. 'is that how you've been brought up, young lady?! So you could go around waving a stick and casting evil spells on people?! Who are those people anyway! I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!'
Mariya tried to smile shaking off her thoughts about her aunt though there was a slight edge to it. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to calling myself a 'sorcerer.' Sounds like I should be wearing a cloak and speaking in riddles."
"Now that I would pay to see. You with a pointy hat, making cryptic prophecies." Utahime laughed, and Shoko snorted slightly, muttering something Mariya couldn't quite hear.
"I assure you, we definitely don't use magic wands." Nakamura said, his voice still tinted from his earlier amusement.
"Maybe I can sell some if you'll let me photograph you, Mariya-chan," Mei Mei said in a light voice. "I know people who would pay a lot for this kind of picture."
" What? " Mariya exclaimed, clearly displeased with the implication, just as Utahime chimed in, "Mei Mei, seriously, knock it off–"
"Relax both of you, I was joking….or not."
"…I feel like you two are kindred spirits or something," Shoko remarked apathetically.
"I'll take that as a compliment," both Utahime and Mariya retorted simultaneously.
Somehow, that really lifted Mariya's spirits. And when, after a brief silence, the entire car burst into laughter, it helped even more.
She was starting to feel way less guilty about sneaking out. In fact, it almost felt like fate at this point.
The closer they got to her house, the more stressed Mariya became, but she did a few discreet breathing exercises to calm herself.
When they finally arrived at her house, Mariya hesitated, sneaking a glance at the man driving until he turned to her, looking at her curiously.
"Yes?"
Mariya had no idea how to phrase this politely. "…This isn't meant to be offensive, but—I think my grandparents are going to panic if they see you."
Because you look like a yakuza .
She saw his eyebrows raise. "Oh? So we're doing profiling now?" he drawled, and Mariya instantly felt so ashamed. She remembered Zen'in calling her a monkey for some unknown reason—probably because she was the one being rude as hell right now.
"I'm sorry! I really don't mean anything by it, but I swear, if my grandparents see you, they'll panic—" Mariya started rambling, raising both hands in wide-eyed panic. "I don't have anything against your style, or you, but—"
The man snorted, cutting off her anxious rant. "Relax. I got it. Grandparents can be a little…particular about me, not a shocker. I'll stay here."
"…Sorry," Mariya mumbled again, blushing with embarrassment.
He waved a hand. "Nah, it's fine. If it makes you feel better, I'll stay back with Shoko and have a smoke."
That did not make her feel better. But at this point, she just wanted to maximize her survival chances.
So sorryyyyyyy.
Her grandparents were not pleased.
And that was the understatement of the century.
Her grandfather was silent, but Mariya could see the tension in his shoulders, not to mention the sharp glances he kept throwing her way. Her grandmother wasn't saying much either, eyes fixed on her tea, hands cradling the cup as if it held all the answers to the universe.
When her grandfather had opened the front door, he had clearly not expected to find her there, accompanied by two young women he had never seen in his entire life.
And, perhaps most importantly—she was supposed to be in her room, notoutside!
"Jin—Mariya-chan?" her grandmother had said incredulously, stepping out from behind her husband.
"I—I have things to tell you," Mariya had replied, avoiding her grandfather's gaze.
In the end, they had all stepped inside, and Mariya had quietly helped her grandmother serve tea and the biscuits they had baked that morning (before Mariya ended up arguing with her grandfather later that evening) like any good hostess would.
Now, seated on one of the living room couches, Mariya still avoided looking at her grandfather, lips pressed into a thin line.
Yes, she had acted foolishly. Recklessly. Stupidly. She rubbed one foot against the other, unsure of what to do with herself.
And yet… after thinking things over in the car…
"…Which is why your granddaughter would be best suited for Kyoto's Jujutsu High," Utahime concluded politely. Sitting with perfect posture, she had just finished explaining the situation to Mariya's grandparents with careful, respectful phrasing.
Despite everything, her grandfather seemed to appreciate Utahime's manners.
"Why would I allow her to do something so dangerous?" he asked, his voice firm, authoritative.
…And yet, despite everything—Mariya…didn't really regret it. Yeah, shocking, after calling herself the queen of idiots, and chastising herself in ten different ways.
Without this, she would have been stuck at home, waiting for her parents to arrive. She would have gone insane. She needed answers. And her grandfather wasn't listening to her.
"To be honest, you wouldn't have even been informed if you weren't able to see curses," Mei Mei said, her voice calm and composed, but her words like daggers. "Your granddaughter didn't tell us anything about that, but I'm not surprised."
Mariya's eyes widened slightly as she cast Mei Mei a quick glance.
….Maybe Nakamura would have been a better candidate than Mei Mei….what the—
Her grandfather's lips pressed into a thin line, and he locked eyes with Mei Mei, who remained utterly unfazed. Mariya tensed, a nervous shiver running through her. She really hoped that wasn't going to put her grandfather off.
"Mariya is already enrolled in a high school in Kyoto. She was supposed to start this year," her grandfather declared.
Right. That was another problem.
Mariya grimaced, pressing her lips together. She thought about how she had worked herself to the bone— literally —to get accepted. How she had studied until her nose bled, how she had pushed herself in Japanese, in science (and in math , that cursed subject she never truly understood after they had the audacity to mix letters with numbers— why ?), and in every subject to get into a good high school in Japan.
And, most of all… the money.
Unlike in France, school wasn't free in Japan. Her parents had spent so much on her education.
Throwing all of that away for Jujutsu High felt like an enormous waste.
"A transfer will be arranged automatically," Utahime reassured him. "Our school has a well-established reputation in the area, even if it's not openly discussed. You'll only need to sign the necessary paperwork."
"What exactly is your school's reputation? I've never heard of it," he demanded.
Utahime, ever the polite girl—and God bless her soul for that , Mariya thought—answered smoothly, "It has an excellent reputation. Upon graduating, students are automatically accepted into any university of their choice should they wish to pursue further education."
Mariya's grandmother blinked in surprise, and her grandfather voiced his skepticism.
"How is that possible? I would assume your focus is more on fighting these creatures."
"That is true," Mei Mei interjected smoothly, "but we also take academic education very seriously. Regular exams ensure students remain at a high level, and we house the largest high school library in Kyoto. Evening classes are also available for those who wish to take them."
She smiled in that peculiar way of hers—light, almost ethereal—as if she did not quite belong to this world.
"But most do indeed choose to focus on the primary purpose of the school: fighting curses."
Her final words fell like a sentence, thickening the air with their weight.
Mariya watched as her grandmother paled at the mention of those monsters. And though her grandfather's expression remained composed, the faint downturn of his mouth betrayed his understanding of what curse truly meant.
Only a keen eye would have noticed such a detail, and Mariya was beginning to realize that she was surrounded by such eyes.
These girls—who could not have been much older than she was—carried something in their gaze, something honed and sharp, a blade held at the ready. Even Utahime, with her kindness and gentleness, had an implacable quality in the way her jaw tensed and in how she held herself.
And Mei Mei… There was no need to speak of Mei Mei. She was the very embodiment of poised adulthood, reminding Mariya of the elegant women found in certain onsen , those who specialized in welcoming guests with perfect composure. But beware of those who crossed her. There was an unspoken boundary in her presence, a silent warning, even though she did not radiate hostility. She kept people on edge.
Am I going to become like that?
The thought struck her suddenly, sending a ripple of apprehension and curiosity through her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to become like them. To gain confidence, to carry herself with assurance—yes, perhaps. But did she have what it took to be as unyielding as they were? Like her grandfather…
"The school offers the advantage of immediate acceptance into any university. Ultimately, it is up to the student whether they wish to deepen their theoretical knowledge. Most do not, as they are focused on becoming exorcists. But some take their studies seriously," Utahime continued, her voice cutting through Mariya's swirling thoughts. "Either for the love of knowledge or because they consider a career change in the future."
Mariya's eyes widened. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.
She had already known about the school—that much had been explained in the car. But…
A school that would teach her to fight holo– curses and also guarantee her entry into any university of her choice simply by virtue of its diploma?
That was almost…
"…a little too good to be true," Mariya blurted out before she could stop herself.
Even though a part of her ached to go, she was fully aware that she was stepping into unknown waters. It would be reckless to dive in without understanding the full extent of what she was committing to.
Utahime clearly had not expected such a remark, judging by the glance she shot Mariya.
Mariya gave her a sheepish smile.
But she couldn't afford to act recklessly, not like she had earlier. Reality was settling heavily upon her shoulders.
There were too many factors at play. She was about to throw away her admission to a good high school, rendering all her preparations meaningless. Again, the hours (not kidding) she had spent studying, pushing herself to ace the entrance exams— and she had succeeded .
The money her parents spent! she reminded herself. All of it, for nothing.
Mariya was on the verge of discarding everything for a single proposition.
She knew it. Her grandparents knew it.
But was she truly ready to face another curse?
Yes.
That was the immediate, instinctive answer.
Yes, she was ready.
She had been terrified. She had regretted it.
But she had also loved it.
The rush of adrenaline in her veins, the desperate struggle to survive, the satisfaction of outmaneuvering the creature despite her fear—she had loved it.
A sudden concern crept over her.
That's not normal.
No one should enjoy facing things like that.
"If we receive such benefits, it is because we stake our lives for them," Mei Mei murmured, her voice silky smooth, her gaze locked onto her grandfather's before shifting to Mariya with a knowing glint in her eyes.
"The life of an exorcist can be brutally short."
Then Mei Mei chuckled.
"But we are well paid."
Mariya's grandmother let out a soft gasp, no doubt picturing her granddaughter six feet under.
A chill ran down Mariya's spine at the mention of death.
This was the second time now—the second time she had felt with certainty that she was going to die. The first had been in her garden, and the second, today.
And she still didn't know how to process it.
In the moment, she had understood exactly how she wanted to die.
But in hindsight, the sensation was harder to grasp, harder to identify. Like an adrenaline rush that had yet to fade.
She paused.
Huh?
Weird.
That feeling again—as if her brain was trying to tell her she was missing something.
Utahime pressed her lips together, visibly paling. "Mei Mei!" She turned to Mariya's grandparents, eyes wide. "I apologize! She—"
Mei Mei cut her off.
"He already knows, Utahime. Why do you think he is so adamantly against Mariya-chan attending Jujutsu High? This is something we must be honest about."
She shifted slightly on her feet, altering her stance without moving from her place, her eyes like daggers, her voice as smooth as silk.
"And Hojo-san expects nothing less than honesty from us."
"Exactly," her grandfather affirmed, his voice sharp, commanding.
"I refuse to send my granddaughter to die for a handful of yen . It is absurd. I expect honesty from you. And I will know if you lie."
"That is a perfectly natural concern," Utahime soothed, her voice respectful as she clearly tried to salvage the conversation.
"But missions are assigned based on rank and difficulty. Your granddaughter will never be sent against a curse that exceeds her capabilities. We are very careful about that. The goal is to exorcise curses, not to send students on suicide missions."
"And yet, you are telling me there are deaths." His retort was precise, unwavering.
Mariya was beginning to doubt that her grandparents would ever agree to let her go.
This negotiation was not going well.
And she had no idea how to convince them.
Her tongue felt heavy, stuck to the roof of her mouth.
She didn't have the courage to speak yet.
"Every year," Mei Mei began, "more than 10,000 deaths or disappearances are reported in Japan."
She paused, allowing the weight of that number to sink in.
"These disappearances are caused by curses."
Silence.
Then, smoothly, she continued, "One way or another, Mariya-chan will face curses, whether she wants to or not. Ordinary people who cannot see them still fall victim to them. But your granddaughter can see them. That means she will attract them. The moment she first laid eyes on them, her fate was sealed."
For the first time, Mariya saw her grandfather's shoulders tense.
"We have already taken measures to ensure that does not happen," he said. "We have established rules."
And the way he emphasized that word— rules —made Mariya realize the statement was directed at her .
A veiled rebuke.
Mariya bit her tongue, swallowing back any retort.
"And those rules are effective," her grandfather continued. "As long as we follow them, we will be safe."
Utahime intervened, casting a glance at Mariya. You good? her eyes seemed to ask. Mariya offered a strained smile in return, silently conveying I'm fine. But, of course, Utahime didn't buy it. The flicker of concern in her gaze told Mariya that much as she continued aloud.
"I have no doubt. But sorcerers are naturally drawn to curses. It's like a calling."
Mei Mei continued without allowing them time to absorb the weight of her words.
"Not to mention, we are a well-organized society. We have our own hierarchy, one that would never allow a potential like Mariya-chan's to remain unnoticed. She will be spotted sooner or later. We are rare, Hojo-san. There are few exorcists for so many curses. Your granddaughter is gifted."
Mei Mei cast her a glance, a smile dancing in her eyes. Mariya understood. She pressed her lips together, silently hoping they wouldn't bring up the incident in the forest. She didn't want to cause any more alarm.
"...she handled herself quite well before we even arrived to kill that curse."
Her grandfather stiffened. "A curse? What do you mean?"
"Let's just say your granddaughter had to manage on her own before we got there."
Her grandfather fell silent—an eloquent silence, heavy and charged.
Mariya curled her toes, discomfort gnawing at her.
"But we can see them too," her grandmother suddenly interjected. "Does that mean we have to become…sorcerers as well? Forgive me, but—we're old."
Mariya's eyes widened in shock, her face draining of color. W-what?
Her grandparents—sorcerers? Facing those monsters?
Memories crashed over her—their house in flames, her grandmother collapsed, her grandfather fighting desperately to protect them. Her heart skipped a beat, adrenaline spiking through her veins, and before she could stop herself, a sharp, resounding—
"No!"
The word exploded from her mouth, loud, forceful—a gunshot shattering the air.
She sprang from her chair, breath quickening, a surge of protectiveness suddenly taking over her. Her eyes flashed with a storm of emotion. "These are my grandparents. There's no way they should be out fighting those monsters. It's even out of question. I was foolish enough to sneak out and wander into an abandoned school. That's a me problem, not theirs. If those... higher-ups have an issue with that, I'd be more than happy to tell them what I think. It's completely ridiculous to demand elderly people fight."
She heard someone murmur her name, and recognized her grandmother's voice.
"Mariya," her grandfather interjected. She shot him an apologetic glance.
Mei Mei chuckled at her reaction, and Utahime pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh.
"Fufufufu. It's cute."
Mariya wasn't sure whether to feel horrified or irritated—or maybe both. But she stayed standing, her feet planted firmly, like a mighty oak.
"I mean it," she insisted, fixing Mei Mei with a firm gaze, to which Mei Mei responded with an amused smile.
"Oh, I don't doubt it. I can feel it."
Utahime sighed, exasperation clear in her voice at Mei Mei's behaviour as she glanced at her. "Don't worry, Mariya-chan. The higher-ups won't bother with your grandparents. They don't have enough curse energy to qualify as sorcerers," she reassured her.
It was then that they were explained the various positions within the hierarchy, such as window , assistant director, and sorcerer. Mariya absorbed the information like sand soaking up water, her mind racing at full speed.
The silver-haired woman intervened after Utahime's explanation. "Moreover, if they can see curses, it's probably because they've been in life-threatening danger, or brushed with death recently, right?"
"Yes," Mariya replied, her mouth tight.
"Which doesn't seem to be the case for you."
How does she know that?
"Your curse energy level." she responded when Mariya verbalized her question.
"Oh."
As if it was helpful at the moment! But it looked like that curse energy thing worked like reiryoku , in a way. In Bleach, every human being possessed a small amount of reiryoku, and if that amount was higher than average, then it gave them superhuman abilities (and among that, the ability to see ghosts or hollows.)
"Excuse me," her grandmother said faintly, standing gently from the couch. "I need a break."
Mariya immediately got up to follow her, worry flooding her. Her grandmother walked to the kitchen and opened a bottle of water, pouring herself a glass. But her hands trembled so badly that water spilled over the edges.
Swallowing a sound of distress in the back of her throat, Mariya quickly grabbed a cloth and wiped up the water from the counter as her grandmother looked on, almost absent, barely reacting.
Controlling her panic, Mariya tossed the wet cloths into the trash and put the water bottle back. Then she gently guided her grandmother to sit in the kitchen chair. She slid her fingers tenderly through her hair, her eyes wide with concern.
"Grandma?" she called softly.
Her grandmother blinked and looked up at her with a faint smile. Her features were drawn, and Mariya could see faint dark circles beneath her eyes—even though they often did face masks together when they could; but this was clearly mental exhaustion, not physical. Her grandmother's small hands, so similar to her own, trembled lightly. Mariya immediately took them in hers, her heart tightening.
"Is this really what you want to do?" her grandmother asked bluntly, in such a direct manner that Mariya wasn't prepared for it. "This... thing... sorcerers ."
Yes. That was Mariya's immediate and instinctive answer, deep in her sould. Yes. Yes, she wanted to do it, a hundred times.
But did she want to do it for the right reasons?
Mariya knew her answer wouldn't be well received.
And her reason? Her grandfather already knew it. They had argued about it before. She hadn't forgotten the words he had hurled at her.
That being said…
Were there really good reasons?
"You can be honest with me, Mariya-chan. I can see it in your eyes."
Mariya closed her eyes for a moment before nodding hesitantly. She could hear Mei Mei and Utahime's voices, as well as her grandfather's, coming from the living room. They were in the middle of yet another heated negotiation.
About her.
For her.
All of this was for her.
Or rather, because of her.
Because of her selfish desires. Mariya could still hear her grandfather's words echoing in her head. It's pure selfishness, he had told her.
Oh no. Now she was trembling. Stop it! You have to be strong. You have to reassure Grandma!
"Oh, my dear—"
Mariya pulled out a chair and sat beside her, slipping her hand back into her grandmother's.
"I don't know," Mariya admitted bluntly, inhaling slowly, eyes fixed on the floor. "I don't know what to say. There are too many conflicting feelings inside me. On one hand, I want to go because I feel like I have to learn how to defend myself—so I can protect others, protect both you too -and my mom and dad-, by extension. But on the other hand… that's not the only reason I want to go. Grandfather was right when he said it was selfish. Honestly… I liked it, you know? Facing that thing."
Even if, in the moment, trapped in that abandoned school, she had regretted sneaking out… in the end, she couldn't deny that she had enjoyed fighting that monster.
Her grandmother inhaled sharply.
"And maybe that's what they mean when they talk about a 'calling.' Maybe it's in my blood, or inside me somehow. I don't know."
Mariya lifted her gaze, meeting her grandmother's wide brown eyes.
"So, there. My reasons are a mess, and I want to be honest with you. I don't want to hide behind self-righteous excuses either," Mariya finished, forcing her voice to remain steady and calm.
"But nobody in the family is like that," her grandmother said, shaking her head. "Neither on my side nor your grandfather's... we would have known if it were the case. Sure, Yu-chan was hot-headed when he was your age, but he never once saw those monsters. He would never have allowed you—or even us—to stay in Japan otherwise."
Mariya would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it at least once since her grandparents started seeing them too—until Mei Mei explained earlier how they suddenly could.
"I don't know," Mariya said, offering no real clarity, biting her lower lip before adding with a bit more resolve, "But! Going into that school might give me some answers."
Though, to be honest, that wasn't her main concern at the moment. She just wanted to take back control of her life on solid new foundations and stop being lost in this suffocating fog of uncertainty.
"And if you get hurt? What will you do? What if you lose a leg?" came her grandfather's voice suddenly.
Mariya looked up, startled to see him standing in the kitchen. Had he left Mei Mei and Utahime in the living room? Alone?
"Jin–"
"No, Mariko. We need to lay out the facts."
His voice was firm, steady. He was watching her.
And Mariya saw a wall.
In that moment, she was struck by how much he resembled her father—a thought that shouldn't have surprised her. He was her father's father, after all. But her father loathed everything even remotely tied to her grandfather.
And yet, his entire demeanor was the same. Hibino Yusuke was a calm, composed man. A steamroller with no mercy when challenged. A businessman. His eyes had the same tendency to narrow when something unsettled him, his jaw clenched in the same way when irritated. And the glint in his gaze when something amused him—it was the same.
But whereas her father would throw his head back and laugh openly, her grandfather would only smile, that ever-present restraint keeping him in check.
Yes. The two were very much alike.
"You could lose an eye. An arm. And then what? Who will help you? Do you think you'll be compensated?"
"Yes," Mei Mei interjected. "In cases where injuries are irreparable, there is indeed compensation."
Her grandfather gave her a neutral glance. "She could lose her life . And what compensation do you propose for that? A life insurance policy, perhaps? I sincerely hope that's not the kind of argument you plan to present, or you can leave my house immediately."
Before Mei Mei could even respond, he turned his sharp gaze back to Mariya.
"And what will we do, if you die? At fifteen years old? What about your parents? What will they do? How will they feel?"
Mariya's breath hitched in her throat. She forced herself to exhale.
She had never seen her grandfather like this before. Unleashed —for lack of a better word.
But he was raising good questions. Very good questions.
"I'll only fight creatures I can take down ," she reminded him. It was an important distinction, but even as she said it… it felt shallow .
"That doesn't reassure us, Mariya. Humans make mistakes. This is military-level work, pure and simple. It has nothing to do with children."
He was right . Her grandfather was rationally, undeniably right.
But rationality had no place here. At least, it wasn't what was driving Mariya in this situation.
Before she could reply—still searching for the right words—her grandmother intervened. She intertwined her fingers with Mariya's, squeezing her hand gently. Mariya's amber eyes, now tinged with citrine under the weight of her emotions, turned toward her as she spoke, her voice firm. "Mariya-chan, your grandfather is right." Her grandmother inhaled. "To be honest, I will never forget that creature in our garden. Never . It is not your place to fight these monsters. You should be living your life as a high school student. Going out with your friends. Studying. Staying with your family. Finding a good boyfriend." Her voice wavered slightly. "This is not your responsibility."
Go out… live her high school life… study… stay with her family…dating a boy…
"Exactly," her grandfather added.
"You raise good points," a voice suddenly chimed in.
Mariya's head snapped up. Nakamura?!
What was he doing here?! Had the entire world gathered in their kitchen?!
She spotted Utahime behind him, looking slightly sheepish at her. One hand lifted to her face in a gesture that clearly said, Sorry, I went to get him.
She must have called him for backup—sensing that an adult, a figure of authority, was needed.
Oh, hell no.
Her grandfather turned to Nakamura. As Mariya expected, the moment he laid eyes on him, his expression shifted in an almost imperceptible frown.
She saw his nostrils flare slightly as he took a subtle breath—and knew he had caught the scent of cigarette smoke.
Oh, God.
Mariya cringed. This is exactly what I didn't want!
You could've at least done something about the cigarette smell… and the glasses! Those damn glasses that made him look like the yakuza he wasn't !
"And who might you be?" her grandfather asked coolly.
"He's Nakamura Toshiro," Mariya cut in quickly, hoping to minimize the damage. "He drove me here with Mei Mei and Utahime." And Shoko. But it wasn't an important information right now.
"A pleasure, Hojo-san," Nakamura said evenly, offering a small bow. "I'm an assistant director."
Mariya exhaled a quiet breath of relief. Okay… that was better.
Until her grandfather spoke.
"So, you drive children to their deaths?"
And Nakamura, unfazed, simply replied—
"You're quite the charming man, Hojo-san."
Mariya weakly dragged a hand down her face.
Her grandfather's expression remained utterly unmoved. "I am not in the mood for jokes, Nakamura-san."
The tension in the room thickened. Mariya slowly rose from her chair, her muscles tense, her hand still pressed against her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Utahime—her face pale, as if reconsidering her decision. You bet, Mariya thought, giving her a look that said it all.
Shoot, shoot, shoot!
Then, Nakamura smiled—a polite, professional smile—and gestured toward the living room.
"Why don't we all sit down and discuss this in more depth?"
Her grandfather, ever the civil man, gave a curt nod.
Mariya was not relieved.
But she figured that, as long as her grandfather hadn't thrown them all out yet (Mei Mei, Utahime and Nakamura), they were still in somewhat safe territory.