Greetings fellow readers, MasterW here
I apologize for the wait for those waiting for this story, I had a lot of obligations since December, so I was busy with that.
If for some reason I decide to abandon writing altogether, I will let you guys now, but if not, then be assured that I haven't dropped any of my stories.
Also, if you guys want, I can make many of Akira's Adventures into their own stories, you can write in this paragraph which of the omake you have liked so far, and I will see if I write them as their own separate story.
But just to be clear, it will have no connection to this one.
Anyhow....
Without any further to do, enjoy!
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(Third Person's POV)
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
The rhythmic, mechanical chirp of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the heavy silence in the private hospital suite. It was a sterile, expensive silence, smelling of antiseptic and dread.
In the center of the room, lying small and fragile amidst a tangle of wires and tubes, was Nakano Yotsuba.
Her usually vibrant, energetic face was obscured by layers of white bandages, with only a pale slit for her mouth and the faint outline of her nose visible. An oxygen tube ran beneath the gauze. The cheerful, air-headed sister was now a still, broken doll kept alive by machines.
Surrounding the bed, the other four Nakano quintuplets stood in a silent, grim vigil. Tears traced clean paths down Miku's cheeks as she stared, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"How could this happen?" Miku whispered. her voice thick.
Ichika, the eldest, stood with her arms crossed, her usual charming smile replaced by a hard, anxious line. "I don't know. She just went out to buy some candy from the corner store… I shouldn't have let her go alone." The guilt in her voice was obvious
Nino and Itsuki didn't speak. Nino's jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful, her eyes blazing with a fury that threatened to melt her tears before they fell.
Itsuki simply stared, her face pale, biting her lower lip raw as she watched the steady, artificial rise and fall of Yotsuba's bandaged chest.
Outside the room, in the plush, quiet hallway, their father, Nakano Maruo, leaned against the wall.
The deep, purplish bags under his eyes spoke of a sleepless night. He wasn't looking at his daughters; his gaze was locked on his smartphone screen.
The image displayed was not of Yotsuba. It was a grainy, zoomed-in still from a security camera, showing the alleyway beside the convenience store.
The timestamp matched the time of the attack. In the photo, Yotsuba was mid-fall, her expression one of pure confusion and terror, her arms flung out as if warding off an unseen force. And there was nothing there, just empty space where something had clearly grabbed her.
Maruo's thumb brushed over the image, his expression hardening into something cold and ruthless.
'This is just the beginning,you will Pay'
That was the message left on the scene of the attack
The soft click of dress shoes on marble announced an arrival.
A man in an impeccable dark suit and wire-rimmed glasses, Maruo's personal secretary, approached and gave a slight bow.
"Mr. Nakano, we have finished the preliminary scour of the scene and the surrounding area. The police report has been… influenced, as you requested"
"What did you find?" Maruo's voice was a low, controlled rasp.
The secretary adjusted his glasses, choosing his words with care. "Forensically, the scene is contradictory. There are no fingerprints, no foreign DNA, no signs of a struggle with another person. But the force of the impact… it suggests a violent assault." He paused, lowering his voice further. "The security footage from three different angles is conclusive, sir. Yotsuba-sama was grabbed and thrown by something… invisible. The force applied does not match any known physical leverage a human could achieve from that position."
Maruo's eyes narrowed. "So, you are saying this wasn't caused by normal means."
"We believe it falls outside the jurisdiction of conventional law enforcement or rival business interests," the secretary confirmed. "Given the nature of the injury, the specific degradation noted in the confidential medical report from our specialist, the evidence points toward interference from the… other side."
"One of those sorcerers…..." Maruo stated, the word leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The correct term would likely be a 'Curse User,' sir. A rogue element. But yes"
Nakano Maruo was silent for a long moment.
The world of curses and jujutsu was a shadow he was aware of, a dangerous underworld his wealth and influence had allowed him to largely ignore.
Until now. Now it had reached into his life and broken something precious.
"Get me a contact," he finally said, his voice dropping to an icy whisper. "A reliable one from that side" He looked up, his eyes meeting his secretary's. There was no fatherly grief in that gaze now, only the calculating chill of a man prepared to defend his castle "If one of these supernatural bastards thinks they can touch my daughter and walk away, they are profoundly mistaken"
The secretary gave another bow, deeper this time. "Understood, sir. I will contact them as soon as possible"
Maruo nodded, dismissing him. He turned back to the window of his daughter's room, watching the four sisters huddle together.
The gentle beep of the monitor seemed to grow louder, a ticking clock counting down to a retribution he was now determined to deliver, no matter what dark world he had to step into to get it
----------------------------------------------------
While a family sat in the sterile dread of a hospital vigil, another family basked in the joy of Sugar Park.
The amusement park was a riot of color, sugary smells, and the distant, cheerful screams from roller coasters. The giant pink bunny mascot waved from atop the entrance gate
"Here, Daddy! Have some ice cream!" Sakamoto Hana beamed, holding out a towering, rainbow-sprinkled cone to her father.
Sakamoto, a mountain of a man in simple cheap t-shirt that strained over his bulk, accepted it with a soft smile that completely transformed his usually stoic face.
Even with a billion-yen bounty on his head, he couldn't deny his daughter and wife their promised family day.
He'd just… taken precautions.
That's why, alongside his two loyal (if unusual) employees, Shin and the red-haired Lu, he had called in some very specific reinforcements.
Case in point....
"Sakamoto-san," Yoshioka Akira said, his voice calm as he watched a parade of cartoon characters go by "When I told you I was available to help you, I did not expect you to call me so soon"
"Sorry, Yoshioka-san" Sakamoto rumbled, taking a careful lick of the ice cream.
"It is not a problem," Akira replied, his crimson eyes scanning the crowd with detached efficiency. "Besides, this could serve as a relaxation day for my students as well." He gestured beside him.
Most of his students were there, scattered around the entrance plaza like a particularly powerful and eccentric school trip. Miko, Hana, and Yuria were giggling, taking a selfie with a man in a giant bunny costume. "Cheese!"
Zaimozuka walked with Shigeo and Lala, the alien girl staring in wide-eyed wonder at everything.
"Wow! So, this is an Earth amusement park! It looks fun!" Lala exclaimed, her ahoge twitching with excitement, as so did her tail hidden beneath her dress' skirt
"Hmm," Shigeo nodded, a small smile on his face. "I can show you around if you want, Lala-chan."
"It's a date!" Lala declared, beaming. "That's what it's called, right?"
"A date?!" Shigeo spluttered, his face instantly flushing. "How do you know that term?"
"Mai-chan taught me!" Lala chirped, pointing.
Shigeo turned a betrayed look toward Sakurajima Mai, who was leaning against a railing, savagely eating a cloud of pink cotton candy with a profoundly irritated expression
"Hey," Mai said, not looking at him, her voice flat. "I'm getting tired of seeing you blush at any moment thanks to her. She likes you. Just get on with it."
"Umm…" Shigeo scratched his cheek, utterly lost.
"Let's go, Shigeo-kun!!" Lala didn't wait, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the nearest ride.
The group watched Shigeo be dragged off, a human rocket in the grip of enthusiastic alien affection.
"Be safe, brother," Zaimozuka intoned solemnly, placing a hand over his heart. "And remember… women have claws."
Mai ripped a huge chunk of cotton candy off with her teeth, chewing with enough force to suggest she was imagining it was someone's neck. 'When sensei told me he wanted me to come to the amusement park with him, I thought it was a date, not a… group party,' she fumed internally.
Beside her, Busujima Saeko watched Mai's anguished expression and allowed a faint, knowing smile to touch her lips, as if the other girl's distress was amusing
Shin, the mind-reader, watched the sorcerer entourage with a bewildered frown. "Wasn't this supposed to be a body-guarding mission?" he whispered to Lu
"It's not like there is any danger" Another voice added "Akira and I are here."
The other addition to the group was, of course, Gojo Satoru.
Akira finally glanced at the person standing next to him, currently working on a five-scoop ice cream monstrosity
"Why are you even here?" Akira asked, watching Gojo attempt to lick all five melting scoops at once. "You have your own students to teach."
"They're fine," Gojo said, words slightly muffled by mint-chocolate-chip. "They're very capable on their own."
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Meanwhile, at Tokyo Jujutsu High…
The trio of Inumaki Toge, Zen'in Maki, and Panda stood in the middle of the sun-baked training courtyard. The only sound was the wind.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Okay" Panda finally said, his stuffed head drooping. "This is just getting ridiculous."
"That asshole should be here, teaching us!" Maki snarled, her grip on her practice weapon tight enough to whiten her knuckles. "But noooo. He's who-knows-where, doing who-knows-what, and there's literally no way to contact him!"
"Look on the bright side," Panda offered. "We don't have to do homework."
"We don't even get homework in the first place!"
"...That's even better."
---------------------------------
Back at Sugar Park, Akira turned his judgmental gaze fully on Gojo.
"....."
"..."
"You are a very bad teacher," Akira stated flatly "How do you even got your teaching license?"
"Please," Gojo scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "As if I need a license for teaching. Besides, if I wanted one, I could get it the same way Shoko got her medical license."
Akira simply hummed, a sound of deep skepticism. He looked out at the spinning teacup ride. "Then, it is no surprise that your students are so undisciplined and weak. With a teacher like you."
"Hey! I'm a great teacher! And I'm sure my students could beat yours any day of the week!"
"Then, let us make an accord," Akira said, crossing his arms. "When my school is established, I will inscribe it in the upcoming Goodwill Event. We shall see then which teacher has fostered the stronger students."
A wide, competitive grin spread across Gojo's face. "Deal!!"
Nearby, the students had caught the tail end of the exchange.
"It's just like the doujin…" Hana murmured dreamily, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Doujin? What are you talking about?" Yuria asked, tilting her head.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Hana squeaked, waving her hands frantically.
"It's a shame Momo and Okarun couldn't come with us," Miko commented, changing the subject.
"Well, what did you expect?" Yuria said, crossing her arms with a sigh. "Who in their right mind plays baseball with someone's… balls? Now, thanks to Momo's grandma, Okarun is still missing one."
A sudden, heavy silence fell over the little group as the memory of their friend's… unique misfortune replayed in their minds.
"....."
"....."
"....."
"PFFT—HAHAHAHA!"
They collectively burst into poorly suppressed laughter, shoulders shaking.
Even Mai cracked a slight smile, and Saeko let out a soft chuckle.
Akira and Gojo glanced over at the sudden outburst, then at each other, before turning back to their watch. The day was peaceful, for now
-------------------------------------------------------
Of course, nothing is ever peaceful. Not forever.
Amidst the colorful chaos of Sugar Park, two figures stood out like oil stains on a rainbow. They stood near a game booth where patrons futilely tried to knock over weighted milk bottles.
"This is the place?" asked a rowdy-looking man. He had a narrow head, spiky vertical hair, sharp cheekbones, and a distinct scar across his right eyebrow. He picked his nose with a long, jagged fingernail, utterly indifferent to the families passing by.
"The intel says so," replied his companion. He was a dark-skinned man with large, round eyes, very long black hair tied back, a prominent scar on his forehead, and he wore a bright yellow dress that clashed violently with the park's pastel aesthetic "The target is here with his family"
"Let's get this over with. I've got things to do," Miyagawa grunted, pulling his finger out and flicking a booger onto the pristine walkway.
"Stay focused, Miyagawa. The target is said to be a formidable individual, even without Cursed Energy. And a public place adds… variables."
"So? He's a normie," Miyagawa sneered, cracking his knuckles with a sound like snapping twigs. A nearby child clutching a balloon flinched and hid behind her mother's legs. "Besides, we're Claw, aren't we, Takeuchi? A strong normie means nothing"
"Just don't get overconfident," Takeuchi cautioned, his large, unblinking eyes scanning the crowd. They moved past laughing teenagers and tired parents, searching for a particular their target "This mission is to collect the bounty funds for the organization"
"Sure, sure. A billion yen for the boss. Alright then"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From another corner of Sugar Park, where the scent of churros mixed with the artificial strawberry smell of a nearby slushie stand, a different kind of predator surveyed the crowd
"The target should be around here," stated a beautiful woman with long, dusty-pink hair that cascaded past her shoulders and dark blue-green eyes. She wore a sleeveless black dress and long dark heels, her dress choices seemed completely impractical for an amusement park
Beside her stood a young man with a large, jagged scar running down the right side of his face. He wore a headband with parallel line decals over his spiky hair. "Geto-sama will be pleased if we secure these funds," he said, his voice low.
"He will be glad the money was obtained by eliminating another monkey" Suda replied, her lips curling in a faint, cold smile. "So, let's just finish this and—Mimiko! Nanako! Focus!"
She snapped her head towards the pair of teenage twins who were supposed to be providing lookout.
Instead, they were taking a selfie with the park's giant pink bunny mascot.
One had short brown hair in a bob cut with a symmetrical fringe over her brown eyes similar to a hime-cut while the other had long caramel hair tied in a bun, her eyes the same warm brown. They wore matching school uniforms, one in a navy-blue sailor fuku, the other in a beige cardigan over a white button-down similar to a kogal-gyaru style
"Ahh, don't be such a downer, Manami-san!" said the twin with the caramel hair, Nanako, giggling as she struck a peace sign. "Besides, Toshihisa-san and you are here. It's not like those normies could do anything to stop us."
"Well... Nanako-san is right," Toshihisa agreed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ahh," Manami sighed deeply, massaging her temple as she crossed her arms under her bust. "Very well. Let's just get this over with before any—hey, where did they go?!"
She turned, and the twins were gone, vanished into the river of park-goers. Suda scanned the area, seeing no sign of the brown and caramel hair. She let out another, heavier sigh. "Teenagers..."
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Teenagers..." Akira commented dryly as Gojo enthusiastically dragged him towards the snaking line for the spinning coaster attraction
"What do you mean? I'm an adul—"
"No, you are not," Akira interrupted, his voice flat as stone.
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Gojo pouted, crossing his arms and turning away with a dramatic huff.
"At the very least, make sure you keep an eye on Sakamoto-san and his family."
"Don't worry," Gojo said, his playful tone dropping into something more serious for a split second. He lowered his glasses slightly, and his Six Eyes seemed to glow with an inner light as he scanned the park. "I've been keeping tabs on them since we got here." The casual act returned. "Though, I have to warn you. I've been sensing a lot of... interesting Cursed Energy signatures filtering into the park. More than just your kids."
"Hmm." Akira's hum was pensive. "Some Curse Users must have decided to take their chance to claim the bounty." He pulled out his phone, his thumbs moving swiftly over the screen.
"What'cha doing?"
"Alerting my students that there are active threats in the vicinity."
"And why don't you just take them out yourself? Would be quicker."
"Then it would not be a learning experience. Besides," Akira slipped his phone back into his pocket, "You and I are here. With your eyes, we can monitor the entire situation at any given moment. If the situation calls for it, we shall intervene."
"Fine by me," Gojo shrugged, then his face lit up as the line moved. "Look, it's our turn!"
"Hmm. I do not understand what you derive from this. You can move faster than this roller coaster ever could"
"Well, duh! But I'm spending time with my friend!" Gojo declared, slinging an arm around Akira's shoulders with a grin that was somehow both mocking and genuine. "That's also important!"
Akira was silent for a moment, then released a small, barely audible hum. "...Very well then."
He allowed himself to be steered into the coaster car. As the safety bar clamped down the two strongest prepared for a ride designed for children
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the trio of Miko, Hana and Yuria had found a sweet haven away from the crowd
A charming little crepe stand with a line just short enough to be tempting.
Miko, Hana, and Yuria stood off to the side, each savoring a different flavor—strawberry and cream, chocolate banana, and matcha red bean.
"Ugh, this is so good," Hana moaned dramatically, a bit of whipped cream on her nose. "Why is everything here so expensive but so worth it?"
"Because they trap you with sugar and joy," Yuria stated sagely, licking a stray drizzle of chocolate "Well, it's not like we don't have money, Sensei pays good for just exorcising a couple of cursed spirits"
"Yeah, I've been able to save quite a bit" Miko nodded, taking a bite of her crepe.
Suddenly, a presence entered her senses.
Cursed Energy, not quite big, but enough to be noticeable
"Those look delicious!" A voice interrupted their chatting
The trio of girls looked up and noticed two girls hovering nearby, looking at their crepes with undisguised longing.
They were twins, one with a short brown bob, the other with long caramel hair in a bun, both in school uniforms.
Hana, ever the social butterfly, replied instantly "I know, right!? They taste just as good as they look" she called over, gesturing with her own crepe
The twins blinked, then the one with caramel hair, Nanako, smiled. "Yeah! They smell really good. Where did you get them?"
"Right over there!" Hana chirped, pointing to the stand. "The line's not too bad now!"
"Thanks!" Mimiko said softly, and the two hurried off to join the queue.
As they left, Miko's brow furrowed slightly. She hadn't sensed any overt malice, but there was a faint, unusual thrum of energy around them
'Cursed Energy' It wasn't that big, but her sense managed to catch on the feeling of their energy
Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out with her free hand, her eyes scanning the message from their sensei.
[Yoshioka-sensei: Multiple Curse User signatures detected within the park. Threat level unknown. Maintain vigilance]
Miko's blood ran a degree colder. She looked up just as the twins returned, each now holding a crepe of their own, looking far more cheerful.
"Got the strawberry one!" Nanako announced happily.
"These are really good," Mimiko agreed with a small, genuine smile.
"You should come with us!" Hana blurted out, always eager to make new friends. "We're gonna hit the haunted house next! Safety in numbers and all that, right?"
Yuria shrugged, not opposed to more company. "Sure, why not?"
"Wow, really?" Nanako's eyes lit up. Then she noticed Hana looking at her hands. "Hm?"
"Sorry!" Hana said, grinning. "Your nails are just so pretty! That shade of lavender is perfect."
Nanako beamed, holding out her hand. "Oh, thanks! There's this great little salon in Shinjuku I go to. The artist is a miracle worker with gel designs. I can give you the address if you want!"
"That would be awesome!"
As the five girls began to walk together, Hana and Yuria chatting easily with the twins about nail art and park attractions,
Miko hung back half a step. She ate her crepe calmly, her expression neutral, but her eyes never left Mimiko and Nanako. eyes occasionally scanned the crowd not like excited tourists, but like someone looking for something—or someone.
Miko's mind raced, analyzing the situation. They hadn't made a move.
They seemed… normal, even friendly. But Sensei's warning was clear.
She would be ready if anything happens
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Sakamoto family was unaware of the chaos happening around the park.
The large man carried his daughter on his shoulders, his wife clinging to his arm, laughing at something. Shin and Aoi Lu flanked them, their eyes constantly moving, the former's mind-reading ability scanning for hostile intent in the sea of thoughts around them.
But it wasn't Shin who caught the first whiff of danger.
Busujima Saeko, walking a few paces behind the main group with Zaimozuka and Sakurajima Mai, stopped mid-stride. Her nostrils flared subtly. Her senses, honed to a razor's edge by her Heavenly Restriction and training, filtered through the thousand scents of the park—popcorn, sweat, perfume, grass.
And there, threading through it all, was something acrid and unnatural: the distinct, oily reek of concentrated Cursed Energy, getting close
"Something's wrong," she said, her voice low but cutting through the ambient noise.
Zaimozuka instantly tensed, his goofy demeanor snapping into focused readiness. Mai's bored expression sharpened into one of alert interest. "What is it?" Mai asked.
"Two sources. Moving this way" Saeko's crimson eyes scanned the crowd behind them, her gaze locking onto a pair that moved against the flow like sharks. A stunning woman with dusty-pink hair in a sleek black dress and heels, and a scarred man in a headband beside her. They moved towards Sakamoto in a straight line
"They reek of it," Saeko murmured "Cursed Users. Remember Sensei's text."
The pair's eyes were fixed on the retreating back of Sakamoto.
As they closed the distance to about twenty meters, the beautiful woman's voice carried, laced with annoyance. "It took us forever to find him in this circus. And of course, those useless twins are nowhere to be seen."
Saeko turned her head slightly toward Shin, who had noticed the shift in her posture. "Shin" she said, her voice calm but carrying an edge of command. "Take them ahead. Now. We have hostiles."
Shin didn't hesitate. He nodded sharply, tapping Sakamoto's shoulder and murmuring something urgent. The big man's face turned serious. With a practiced ease, he steered his wife and daughter down a side path toward the "Fantasy River" boat ride, blending into a larger group of tourists. Lu followed, casting one worried glance back.
That left Saeko, Mai, and Zaimozuka standing in a loose triangle, blocking the path of the two Curse Users.
The woman, Suda Manami, noted the sudden departure of her target and the three teenagers who now stood in deliberate defiance. Her blue-green eyes narrowed, assessing them. A slow, cold smile touched her lips.
"Oh? Bodyguards? And young ones at that," she purred. "You three… you have the stink of Jujutsu on you as well. Sorcerer pups." She glanced at her companion, Toshihisa. "It seems we have to clear the playground first."
Toshihisa cracked his scarred knuckles, a faint shimmer of Cursed Energy coalescing around his hands. "Leave it to me, Suda-san"
As Toshihisa stepped forward, Suda raised a hand. "Not here, you oaf. Even monkeys would panic at a spectacle"
"Then what do you suggest?"
Seeing the conundrum, Mai suggested "How about we settle this in the forest right there, is big enough and we can open a curtain in there"
Toshihisa turned to Suda, who nodded. The pair started walking towards the forest, not taking their eyes off of the trio.
Saeko, Mai and Zaimozuka walked the same, none of the two groups lowering their guards. Without taking her eyes off the pair, Mai quickly texted into the chat group about the threat they encountered
They entered the forest, and walked right into the centre of it. Just then, Suda chanted
"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure"
A curtain opened in their location, hiding them from the outside world, the group instantly turned into fighting stances.
Saeko's hand empty, since she left her sword in Miko's Shikigami.
"How about this, we will give you one chance to walk away before things turn ugly"
None of the trio responded
"Very well, let's get this quick"
Then Suda and Toshihisa jumped towards Yoshioka's students
------------------------------------------------
While the confrontation in the forest was about to erupt, elsewhere in the park, Miko's group was navigating the cheesy, jump-scare-filled corridors of the haunted house. Hana was jokingly shrieking and clinging to Yuria, while Mimiko and Nanako giggled at the obviously fake ghosts.
Miko remained alert, her senses tuned not to the props, but to the two curse-user twins walking casually beside them.
Just as they turned into a corner, a dimly lit corridor portion of the attraction, two figures stepped out from the shadows
"Well, well. Look what we stumbled into," drawled Miyagawa, his spiky hair almost glowing in the eerie green lighting. He cracked his knuckles, his sharp nails gleaming. Beside him, Takeuchi in his yellow dress stood silently, his large, round eyes surveying the group of five girls.
Hana froze. "Umm… are you part of the show?"
"Not quite," Takeuchi said, his voice soft but carrying an unsettling weight. "We're looking for a large man with a woman and a little girl. Have you seen him?"
Miko instantly recognized them by her senses.
The same she'd sensed from the twins, but cruder, more aggressive and bigger.
Her phone buzzed again in her pocket. She didn't dare to look
She could feel the threat radiating from these two. And couldn't leave her guard down
Nanako and Mimiko exchanged a glance, their playful demeanors vanishing. They recognized the type, too
"We haven't seen anyone like that," Miko said, her voice steady, stepping slightly in front of Hana and Yuria. "You're in the wrong place."
Miyagawa grinned, a cruel, toothy expression. "I don't think so girl, I saw you flinch, it means you know about him. I think you're with him. And even if you're not…" His eyes roved over the group, lingering on each girl. "…you'll do as nice leverage. Or just a warm-up, or maybe even some fun while I wait for that fatass"
He lunged, a blur aimed at grabbing the closest girl, Yuria.
He never reached her.
A massive, translucent spectral claw of Miko's shikigami slammed down between them, blocking the path.
The ground shook. At the same time, Nanako had her phone out and Mimiko pulled out a doll from inside her uniform
Miyagawa skidded to a halt, his eyes widening slightly. "Sorcerers? Here?"
He didn't bother concentrating to feel cursed energy as he didn't think there were sorcerers around the park.
"Looks like we're not the only ones on the job" Takeuchi murmured, finally shifting his stance, cursed energy beginning to writhe around him like serpents.
Miko didn't hesitate. "Hana, Yuria, behind me!" She threw her hands forward, and her shikigami fully materialized from shadows at her feet, growling low, its form shimmering with cursed energy.
She had also summoned her staff, which she now held with both hands
The five girls were now back-to-back in a loose circle, facing the two Claw operatives.
"You are sorcerers as well, right?" Miko asked, her expression never faltering "Can you help us deal with these guys?"
"Sure!" Nanako said, her sweet face set in a determined frown. "I don't really know what's going on, but these guys give me a bad vibe"
"And I don't like the way he looks at me" Mimiko replied.
Miyagawa laughed. "Five against two? This just got fun!"
Takeuchi's cursed energy solidified into sharp, coiling tendrils. "Eliminate them all. Then find the target"
---------------------------------------------------------
In another place, a woman was sitting in the sofa of her living room.
The place was quiet, bathed in the soft, late afternoon light filtering through the blinds.
Marikawa Shizuka sat curled on her plush sofa, a cup of tea growing cold on the coffee table in front of her.
She wasn't looking at anything in particular, her gaze distant and unfocused.
The click of the front door opening and closing broke the silence. Her friend, Minami Rika, walked in, dropping her bag by the entrance. She took one look at Shizuka's dazed expression and hummed thoughtfully, settling into the armchair opposite her.
"Are you okay, Shizuka?" Rika asked, her voice gentle.
"Um, oh, yes," Shizuka replied, blinking as if coming out of a trance. She offered a small, unconvincing smile. "I'm fine. Just… thinking. I'm technically unemployed now, thanks to the school closing, but those… uh, 'wizard guys' gave me a very substantial compensation after that. So, financially, I have no problems at all."
"Oh, really? That's good," Rika said, leaning forward. "So, if it's not money… what's clouding your mind? You've been like this since you had a run with the "Wizards". I know for sure anything involving them turns to be weird. I had my own runs with them as well before, and let me tell you, it's always surprising what you can see with them involved"
Shizuka fidgeted with the hem of her sweater. "Eto… well, remember the guy that saved me? The one I told you about?"
"The albino with the scary eyes and the sword?" Rika's eyebrows rose. "What about him?"
"It's just…" Shizuka's voice dropped to a dreamy murmur. "I can't stop thinking about him. The way he moved…... And when he stepped in front of me, stopping that… that stitches guy…" A faint blush touched her cheeks. "He looked so dashing. He protected me with his wide back, just like a knight in one of those old fairy tales. It was terrifying, but also…"
Rika's lips quirked into a knowing smile. "So, you have a crush on the guy?"
Shizuka buried her face in her hands for a moment before peeking through her fingers. "I guess so? I've never felt like this before...…So, I guess I do. Is that crazy?"
"Well," Rika sighed, her tone turning practical. "Let's wait a little bit before coming to a conclusion. You went through a massive trauma. Your brain might be latching onto the person who represented safety in the middle of it. Maybe it's just a small infatuation that will fade with time. You should really focus on resting and recovering. And if you're having nightmares, don't forget to call me. I'm more than willing to help you through them."
"Sure, Rika. Thank you," Shizuka said, her shoulders relaxing slightly. She appreciated her friend's help
Rika nodded, standing up to head to the kitchen. "I'll make us some fresh tea."
"Wait!" Shizuka's voice suddenly sharpened, stopping Rika in her tracks.
Rika turned. "What is it?"
Shizuka's earlier dreaminess was gone, replaced by a look of genuine, creeping anxiety. Her hands trembled slightly as she wrapped them around herself. "You know… those 'wizard guys'… they told me that after a couple of days, the side effects would fade. That I'd stop… seeing those things. The curses."
"Yeah, usual procedure states that exposure to that "Cursed Energy" can temporarily open someone's sight, but it usually goes away once the energy dissipates," Rika recalled, her own expression growing concerned. "And?"
Shizuka looked directly at her friend, her hazel eyes wide and unsettled. "Well… it's been almost a week. Then why…" She swallowed hard, her gaze flickering briefly to the empty corner of the room behind Rika, where nothing was visible to a normal person. "...why can I still see them?"
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(Thousands of Years Ago)
(?'s POV)
""And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Although, well, we're already in hell. Aren't we, Ajuka Beelzebub?"
Around the Satan known as Beelzebub lay lifeless bodies.
Fire surrounded a white so pure that just looking at it would burn a demon's eyes.
Beelzebub eyed with a calculated gaze the boy, no, man, who stood before him.
A white sword in his hand, blood running down the blade. The boy wore an oversized gray cassock that reached almost to his ankles, black trousers, and boots. He has white hair and red eyes that stared directly into his soul
Around the boy's neck was a silver cross, signifying his belief in God. "You knew what your brother was doing, you knew his intentions. Once is an incident, twice is a coincidence, but more than ten times?"
The boy looked at Beelzebub with disgust.
"He was a filth, a rotten, disgusting dog. And just like a stray dog, I took it upon myself to put him down"
The boy walked backward and looked at the bodies around him.
"And of course, you demons decided to retaliate for that. Demanding not only my head, but also the girl I was protecting. And I wonder, what about the sisters? The servants of the master who were seduced by that malevolent being, and then their minds broken to the point of emptiness?"
The boy let out a small sigh that sounded like a laugh.
"Of course, they didn't matter. They were just humans to the demons. Just livestock they could take whenever they wanted and discard whenever they wanted, right? And then they say demons have changed, that they're not the same as before."
At that moment, Ajuka decided to respond to the boy. "I understand your frustration, but wiping out multiple demon houses just for that?"
"Oh, and you didn't do the same?" The boy turned around. "If I remember correctly, a Nekoshou killed its master, and you decided to wipe out the entire race, leaving only two. One is forever a demon, carrying broken chains that will never leave its body. And the other is an enslaved pet."
Faced with such a response, Ajuka didn't know what to say.
"I only came to deliver a message, Satan Beelzebub, to teach you a lesson: despite all your pride and your innate magical powers, you are not the strongest. Your race is not the strongest. And also, to remind you that the faction of God, even with the throne empty, is not to be taken lightly. After all, demons were banished and defeated by the heavens before, and they can do it again."
Ajuka took that response and analyzed it with his prodigious mind. "Do you know about their deaths?"
"One of these demons decided to shout it in front of me, intending to destroy my faith, I suppose. However, I always remember this verse: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Even in death, God and His teachings will be eternal, and I will eternally follow them."
The boy then grabbed Beelzebub by the neck. "Your power of the 'Kankara Formula' was difficult to defeat, but it was defeated. Remember this day, Beelzebub. Because today I send a message to all the demons who think themselves superior. A human defeated a Satan, a 14-year-old human. Without a Sacred Gear, without inherited power. All through sheer willpower. Remember today, that the heavens illuminate everything, and the darkest shadows can be destroyed by the purest light"
With that, the boy pulled a Bible from his cassock. A multitude of pages spilled out of the Bible and surrounded the boy. The one who looked at Satan with serious eyes.
"Amen," the boy murmured, and then disappeared, leaving pale, inscribed leaves on the ground where he stood.
Ajuka needed to alert the demon faction.
Heaven has a weapon.