Miko woke up the next day and looked at the ghost face stuck on her ceiling in silence.
"Can you... see me?"
The ghost let out a creepy voice as it opened its rotten mouth, black gas spilling out.
Miko remained calm and got up from the bed like usual, then stretched her arms.
On the outside, she appeared calm. On the inside, however...
'So scary! So scary! So scary!'
She was scared as hell but maintained her outward calm.
"Can't see?... o... h..."
The ghost on the ceiling muttered before disappearing.
'Is it gone? Has it finally left??'
Miko felt a little relieved, then just as she took a step forward, a rotting ghost face suddenly appeared right before her.
"See... me?"
The ghost muttered as a black, rotten fog came out of its mouth and touched her face.
Miko's expression didn't change as she easily bypassed the ghost and walked into the bathroom.
After closing the bathroom door, she weakly leaned against it with a crumbling look on her face.
'So... so scary!'
The ghost appearances had been getting more and more out of control recently.
She didn't know what caused it.
But she knew someone who could help her solve it.
The boy's face from yesterday passed through her mind, making her tightly clench her shaking palm.
'Even after the misunderstanding... he didn't kill me... even helped me get back home...'
Although she was still scared of him, remembering how carefully he held her and helped her get back home made her calm down.
'His name... I remember she called him... Naoya Zenin.'
'Zenin... Zenin... I have never heard that surname before...'
Even being so young, he carried incredible strength.
'Maybe... maybe if I ask again... he will help me...'
Releasing a breath, Miko washed up, changed her clothes while ignoring the ghost, and left her room.
After eating breakfast with her family and her ghost dad, she left her house and quickly made her way toward Naoya Zenin's home.
Fortunately, her holidays were going on, or she'd have to go to school.
Ding
"Come in."
Getting his approval, Miko quickly entered through the front door.
Coming up to the entrance, she noticed the door was open and carefully pushed it before peeking inside.
Instantly, their eyes met.
Naoya Zenin.
He was standing there, drenched in sweat, holding a metal spear in his hand.
Miko was instantly taken aback.
Before she could say anything, the boy spoke.
"Follow me, and close the door behind you."
Miko saw him turn around and quickly stepped inside before locking the door.
Carefully following behind him, she said in a hesitant voice.
"Um... good morning?"
"Yes. Good morning," Phantom replied in a plain voice without turning back.
She really didn't think he'd reply.
Gaining a little confidence, she was about to say more when Phantom suddenly stopped and said,
"I will be training for some time. You can wait here until then."
He pointed at the room on the right with his hand.
Miko looked at the wooden door with her golden eyes before turning to him and asking hesitantly,
"Can I watch you train?"
She wanted to learn how to fight the ghosts.
Hearing her words, Phantom turned his head halfway, glanced at her in silence, then said,
"Do as you wish."
Then he started walking again. Miko followed behind without hesitation.
Under Phantom's lead, they entered the basement.
Miko looked curiously at the reinforced white walls, a little taken aback by the sudden change from the wooden house upstairs.
Phantom held the spear tightly and pointed at a corner.
"Sit there and don't move, or you'll get hurt."
Miko followed his words like an obedient child and quickly sat in the corner with refreshments.
Under her curious eyes, she saw Phantom swing the spear in rapid succession, not missing a beat.
It looked powerful. Every single movement seemed to contain a strength she couldn't describe, built over years of repeated training.
She fell into a daze, in awe of the hard work he must have put into it.
Unknowingly, time passed.
Then suddenly, Phantom made a thrust and stopped.
Silently retreating the spear, he stood in place, clicked his tongue in displeasure, and said softly,
"Tsk... still not enough."
'Was he dissatisfied?' Miko wondered, seeing the unhappy look on Phantom's face.
Phantom walked to her side, picked up a water jar, and sat down, quietly sipping from it.
Miko clasped her hands together, then said after a moment,
"Good work!"
Phantom stopped drinking and gave her a silent look.
"..."
Miko quickly lowered her head in embarrassment.
As Phantom rested, her gaze landed on several metal spears sitting on the shelf.
"Can I try?" Miko asked, pointing at them.
Phantom looked at her in confusion for a moment before silently nodding.
Getting his permission, Miko walked up to the shelf.
She curiously held one of the spears and tried to lift it.
And... she couldn't even budge it.
Miko looked in horror at the spear, then at Phantom, who was casually sitting nearby.
'H-he was using something this heavy...'
Shock and disbelief crossed her face before she let go and awkwardly backed away.
As she stepped back, she suddenly heard a voice.
"You should train your strength first before trying a weapon," Phantom said calmly as he walked toward her.
Miko's eyes lit up.
"Will you train me?"
"I'll teach you some basics... for the rest, don't hold much expectation," Phantom said while sensing her weak cursed energy.
"Yes!"
Miko was excited to get started.
Of course, that way of thinking was about to change very soon.
'I-I feel like I'm about to die...' Miko thought as she lay powerlessly on the ground, drenched from head to toe.
Exercise isn't everyone's cup of tea. To gain results, you need to go until failure, which most people can't do.
And considering Miko's cowardly mindset developed over years under the ghosts' influence, it was even harder for her.
Phantom rubbed his temples, looking at Miko lying on the floor like a dead dog.
'How do I fulfill master's order with this one...'
Weak cursed energy.
Weak physical strength.
And a cowardly character.
It was as if he had hit the lottery—in the worst way.
After helping her up, Phantom supported her and took her upstairs.
"I didn't bring a change of clothes..." Miko muttered tiredly, her wet clothes clinging to her skin.
She'd have to go back home.
But she was too tired to move.
"I have some clothes if you need," Phantom said as he came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel.
"It won't fit..." Miko replied without turning her head.
Phantom was smaller than her.
"I have some bigger clothes."
Not long after, Miko came out wearing a T-shirt and pants, relief written on her face.
"It feels so nice~"
It felt extremely comfortable not having a ghost stare at her while bathing.
Ever since she stepped into this house, she'd unknowingly been at peace.
She didn't need to fear random ghosts jumping out from corners.
Relaxed, Miko smiled and said,
"Thank you, Naoya-kun."
Phantom instantly narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you know that name?"
"..."
Miko flinched and looked down awkwardly.
"I heard it... from that lady..."
Phantom stared at her silently, then said,
"My name is Phantom."
'Isn't that a made-up name?!'
Miko complained internally while nodding.
"Yes... Phantom-san..."
She unconsciously used honorifics despite him being younger.
'Maybe he has some deep backstory...'
An extremely strong boy living alone, hiding his real name, pursued by assassins.
It felt like something out of a drama.
Mysterious! Very mysterious!
Not to mention, Phantom had extremely good genes.
Her gaze unconsciously lingered on his sharp features.
He definitely looked like someone from an ancient warrior family.
As she was thinking, Phantom suddenly asked,
"Why did you come here?"
Isn't it a little late to ask that?
"I wanted to ask about the ghosts, and how to beat them..."
"Ghosts? You mean cursed spirits?"
"Cursed spirits? Is that what they're called?"
A bright light passed through Miko's eyes.
She was finally going to learn about the monster's who have been haunting her all this time!
"I take it you don't know anything?"
"Yes! I'm a complete beginner! Please enlighten me, sensei!"
"Cursed spirits are born from negative human emotions. They are not ghosts."
Phantom explained, and Miko listened attentively like a child.
"As long as humans exist, cursed spirits will too."
Though the more she listened the more her expression crumbled.
Cursed spirits were everywhere in Japan, they cannot be seen by humans and can kill them with their terryfying strength.
It was really scary.
"Then how do we deal with them?", Miko couldn't help but ask.
"By becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer."
"Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
"Special people who can control cursed energy and perceive cursed spirits."
"T-then! Can I become one too?!"
"You can."
Her eyes lit up for a moment.
"But you don't have much talent."
Then extinguished the very next second.
Still, some talent was better than none.
"Most powerful Jujutsu Sorcers, apart from those who work alone, mainly come from the three ancient clans."
"Three ancient clans?"
"Zenin, Gojo, and Kamo."
"...!"
Zenin clan!
Naoya Zenin!
Her guess was right.
Miko couldn't help but look at him in curiosity.
Could it be the young master of Zenin clan?
After that Phantom explained to her about curse technique and some other general knowledge.
When he finished Miko quickly asked if he could teach him about curse energy to which Phantom shook his head and said.
"Please teach me!" Miko knowtowed on the floor.
"Why should I waste my time training you?"
Although his has master said to help her, he also told him that the details were up to him to decide.
And in case it gets too troublesome, he have allowed him to cut off connection with her as well.
"Please! I'll do anything!"
"You will do anything?"
Miko flinched, raised her head, looked at his calm eyes before placing a hand on her heart and nodding.
"...Anything."
Not long after...
Miko sat at a table with a brush and blank paper.
"Start drawing. We're falling behind schedule. The new volume must be delivered."
Phantom said while moving his hand in an quick expert like manner.
Miko gave him a blank look, wondering how she ended up becoming a manga artist out of nowhere.
She didn't even know how to draw!
----
Years passed.
On the training ground, Naoya's tall figure moved at incredible speed.
Holding a short sword in hand he struck the training dummy with fluid motion.
As he was training, a servant suddenly came running from the side and said in a hurry. "Master! Someone from the Gojo clan had come to meet you."
Naoya stopped and looked over in confusion.
----
Note: Send powerstones!!!