"don't, don't—!"
The demon struggled violently, his body twisting as he tried to summon the remaining demonic power to restore his limbs, now reduced to a crimson mess.
But before he could recover, the right foot pressing against his mouth shifted forward with a gentle but unyielding force.
"No—!"
A sickening sound of bone and flesh tearing erupted. Blood sprayed across the walls, splattering onto the ceiling in thick, sticky sheets. The metallic stench filled the air, curling like smoke.
Gojo Satoru withdrew his foot with a slight shake of his head, a trace of regret flickering in his expression.
"Seems demons aren't all that interesting, either," he muttered, bored.
Now that the chaos was settled, he could finally think about something mundane.
Dinner.
But before that, there were still responsibilities to handle. He reached for his phone, contacting the Tokyo Yin-Yang Branch to report the incident and request post-battle cleanup. After confirming that Tanaka—the security guard whose senior was possessed by the low-level demon—was still alive, albeit unconscious, he hung up.
The "account," as Gojo referred to it, would automatically reset once the other Onmyoji arrived.
There was no need for further worry.
...
Two days passed quickly.
In that time, Gojo indulged in his own amusement.
When boredom struck, he teased Umaru relentlessly or playfully harassed her while he handled household chores.
Umaru, ever obedient, bore the antics silently, though her meek reactions often drew a chuckle from Hiratsuka-sensei, who would discretely give her a fist-bump in quiet approval.
Even amid these diversions, Gojo remained diligent.
He attended first-year Class F as homeroom teacher and sometimes substituted for Shizune Hiratsuka in English lessons.
On occasion, he would go to purchase desserts outside and bring them into the class, much to the students' complaints.
Yet, Gojo paid them no mind, strolling through the hallways with his usual nonchalant confidence.
...
Saturday — Afternoon arrived,
At the Nakano residence, Nino stood before her mirror with a mixture of frustration and determination. Outfit after outfit, she scrutinized herself, each piece seeming perfect yet somehow wrong.
Her room was already a battlefield—skirts, cardigans, hair ribbons, even socks scattered everywhere.
"Ughhhh!" Nino groaned, tugging at her long red hair. "Why is this so annoying!? I just need one outfit! ONE!"
She bit her lip and, glaring at her reflection.
A part of her wanted something cute, something different—something that would make a certain someone's jaw drop. But another part of her screamed that if she overdressed, her sisters would sniff her out like bloodhounds.
Finally, surrendering to practicality, she chose her familiar yet refined black Lolita-style dress. The frills framed her figure elegantly, neither too flashy nor too plain. She tidied the folds of her skirt with delicate care, then tied her signature black butterfly headband in place. With a satisfied nod, she deemed herself ready to leave.
Descending the stairs from the second floor,
Nino froze—
Her four sisters were all seated neatly on the living room sofa, like a tribunal awaiting judgment.
Their gazes locked on her at once, sharp and knowing.
Her cheeks immediately burned crimson.
"W-what are you all staring at!?" she snapped, flustered.
"Hmm…" Ichika, the eldest, tilted her head with a sly grin. "Nino, you look… unusually cute today. Going out somewhere special?"
"Eh? Nino… do you have... a boy you like?" Miku asked softly slowly, her cheeks pink but her tone carrying genuine curiosity. She clutched her headphones like a lifeline, yet couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes.
Itsuki crossed her arms, her expression half stern, half amused. "Don't tell me you're sneaking off without informing us. As sisters, we have a right to know what's going on."
And then came the kill shot.
Yotsuba, tilting her head innocently, beamed. "Oh! Is this about that date you asked me for fashion advice on?"
The room went silent for a heartbeat.
Nino's face turned a dangerous shade of red.
"Y-YOTSUBA!!" she yelled, pointing dramatically. "Why would you say that out loud!?"
Yotsuba flinched. "Ehhh!? But you asked me, so I thought it was fine to mention—"
"It's NOT fine!" Nino stomped her foot, her twintails swishing furiously. "And for the record, it's NOT a date. It's just a simple meal, okay!? Don't overthink it!"
Her sisters exchanged knowing glances.
The eldest smirked, the quietest smiled faintly, the glutton looked unconvinced, and the airheaded just blinked in confusion.
In other words, none of them bought her excuse.
Ichika propped her chin on her hand, her sly grin widening. "Oh, I see. Not a date, huh? Then why are you so flustered?~"
Miku adjusted her headphones nervously. "I-In any case… if it is a date, you should enjoy yourself...Don't let us embarrass you too much."
Itsuki sighed with sisterly authority. "Still, you should have told us. What if something happened to you?"
Yotsuba piped up again, oblivious,
"And you specifically said, 'It has to be the perfect date outfit!' Remember?"
Nino let out an anguished groan.
"I hate all of you!"
She snapped, storming to the front door with cheeks puffed and head held high.
She shoved on her leather shoes, grabbed her bag, and marched out.
BANG—!
The door slammed behind her.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Ichika chuckled. "Well, well… I think we just confirmed it. Nino's got herself a crush."
Miku fidgeted. "…Do you think it's someone from school?"
Itsuki pursed her lips,"Whoever it is, we need to make sure he's serious about her. Nino deserves someone who'll treat her properly."
Yotsuba raised her hand energetically. "Should we follow her then? Like, stealth mode! Ninjas!"
Ichika's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Now that's an idea. Come on, don't you all want to see what kind of guy could possibly make Nino act like this?"
Miku hesitated, but curiosity won. "…I-I suppose just a peek wouldn't hurt."
Itsuki frowned. "It's not right to spy… but I am curious."
Yotsuba pumped her fist. "Operation Follow Nino begins!"
The decision was unanimous.
Without wasting time, the Nakano sisters quickly gathered their things.
Ichika led with a conspiratorial smile, Miku kept nervously glancing around, Itsuki muttered about morality, and Yotsuba bounced like an overexcited puppy.
...
Meanwhile,
Gojo Satoru had already left the hospital.
With the Tokyo Yin-Yang Branch handling the cleanup, Tanaka safe, and the minor demon eliminated, he moved with effortless confidence through the streets.
Afternoon sunlight dappled the sidewalks, casting long shadows, but Gojo remained indifferent to it. His next tasks were simple: dinner, leisure, and perhaps teasing Umaru.
Yet, beneath his casual demeanor, his vigilance never faltered.
The demon he had just destroyed was rare, but not unique. ThIs world remained unpredictable, full of threats that demanded constant awareness. And Gojo, as both Onmyoji and homeroom teacher, understood that responsibility was never optional.
But for now, the world could wait.
Afternoon sunlight glimmered off the Tokyo skyline, and Gojo allowed himself a rare moment of calm.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers—but today, he had earned a fleeting reprieve.
...
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