In a coffee shop in Ginza, Tokyo.
Saori, dressed in casual clothes, wore a gentle, mature smile as she carefully listened to Nobara's complaints, occasionally offering a few words of comfort.
It was just like when she used to look after Nobara back in the countryside when she was little.
Their first meeting had been ten years ago, when Nobara had just started first grade and Saori moved from Tokyo to that remote village.
Nobara had always thought the people in her old village were ignorant and had something wrong with their heads.
After meeting Saori, who had come from the big city and was gentle, mature, and reliable, she quickly grew fond of this beautiful older sister.
Later, Nobara often went to Saori's house to play, even bringing along her good friend Komon.
She even called Saori's house her "secret base."
Later, because the villagers became overly sensitive about certain matters, they began showing symptoms close to paranoia.
In the end, Saori could only return to Tokyo under countless malicious gazes.
During her time in the countryside, Saori had really liked Nobara, that adorable little girl, and wanted to become someone Nobara admired, so she always tried to act like a mature older sister.
Because of that, Saori did not exchange contact information with Nobara. She was afraid her image would be shattered in the hearts of Nobara and Komon, and that their relationship would gradually become distant.
She hoped she could always remain that mature and gentle older sister in Nobara's heart.
However, what Saori did not expect was that Nobara would actually find her this way.
At first, Nobara had only happened to overhear a familiar name on a Heroic Spirit Media ship.
The decisive Nobara immediately launched an investigation and confirmed that the person mentioned by the employee was indeed her Sister Saori.
So, after returning to Tokyo, Nobara immediately found a way to contact Saori and visited her on the first weekend after school started.
There is no death without regret for a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
As a character who had appeared in Nobara's life review, Eichi also had an impression of Saori.
Especially those few lines, "I wanted her to admire me, so I pretended to be a mature older sister."
"I didn't exchange contact information with them because I was afraid we would become distant in the future."
Those words, combined with the setting of overtime work and a bittersweet smile tinged with sadness, left a deep impression on Eichi at the time.
Because of that, even after more than twenty years, Eichi still remembered this gentle person after Nobara enrolled.
After instructing Zen'in Shuji to investigate, he had her hired by Heroic Spirit Media.
"Is Nobara attending school in Tokyo now?"
Saori curiously examined the unfamiliar school uniform Nobara was wearing.
Having lived in Tokyo for twenty years, Saori was familiar with the uniforms of most high schools in Tokyo.
But the uniform Nobara wore did not belong to any high school she knew.
It did, however, resemble the uniforms worn by two handsome men who often appeared at Heroic Spirit Media.
She heard those two were teachers at a certain school.
"Yes, Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School."
"Jujutsu?"
Saori tilted her head in confusion.
"It's a school related to folklore and religion. There aren't many students, and it isn't very famous, so it's normal that you don't know about it, Sister Saori."
Nobara waved her hand casually.
"Is that so? Will it be hard to find work after graduation, then?"
"It's fine. Our school guarantees employment after graduation, and we can even take on missions to earn money while we're still in school."
After saying that, Nobara suddenly perked up and picked up a new handbag from beside her.
"Ta-da! This is the latest handbag I bought with a month's worth of mission fees."
Nobara proudly showed off her new designer handbag to Sister Saori, like a child showing a toy to an adult.
This handbag must cost over a million, right?
Saori looked at the new designer handbag in Nobara's hand in surprise.
It was not because she was jealous that Nobara could afford such a bag, but rather...
"Nobara."
Saori suddenly gripped Nobara's hands nervously.
"If you ever run into any difficulties, you must tell me. And you absolutely must not get involved in anything bad."
Saori recalled some things she had learned in college.
In ancient times, women in some temples, monasteries, and shrines were required to perform certain kinds of work, and it was said that some of these feudal customs still existed today.
So Saori was very worried that Nobara might go astray for money.
"Difficulties?"
Nobara remembered the several Grade 1 and Grade 2 Cursed Spirits she had smashed apart with a few swings of her hammer.
For Nobara, who had already been promoted to a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, exorcising them was truly not difficult.
However, due to the secrecy rules of Jujutsu, Nobara could not talk about these things. She also did not want Sister Saori to know that she was the kind of girl who could smash Cursed Spirits' heads with a hammer and go on a rampage with a submachine gun.
"It's not really difficult."
Nobara said after pondering for a long time, pinching her chin.
"I understand. Here are my phone number and LINE ID. Write them down first."
Saori took a refreshing-colored pocket notebook from her bag and wrote down her contact information.
She had once worried that her image would be shattered in Nobara's heart, and that they would become distant, so she had not left her contact information.
But now, she was more worried that Nobara might go astray. After all, among normal professions in Japan, a job where a woman could earn over a million yen in one month...
"Alright, I'll add them now."
Nobara immediately pulled out her phone and added all the contacts after seeing the loose-leaf sheet Saori handed her.
"Um, long time no see, Nobara, Sister Saori."
A very soft voice appeared, tinged with a hint of shyness and nervousness.
"Komon!"
Nobara excitedly stood up and hugged her long-lost friend.
"Wait, everyone's looking."
Komon said, a little embarrassed.
Afterward, the group began happily shopping and eating together, finally resting at a hotel.
Because of the misunderstanding, Saori, worried about Nobara, also began frequently contacting and meeting with her.
The three of them seemed to have returned to the days they once shared.
(To be continued.)
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