"By the way, I've never seen your Cursed Technique, Renji. What is it?" Shoko lied on Renji's bed, looking utterly at ease.
My Cursed Technique?
He had never used it in front of others. Even he himself hadn't fully experienced his Domain Expansion: Cursed Love. According to the favorability system, the one currently within its scope should be Shoko.
"My technique is quite terrifying, Shoko-san. It'll make you feel like you're looking in a mirror."
Renji chuckled, though in his mind he was thinking he should find an enemy to test this technique on.
Shoko let out a yawn. "Hmm... Is it an illusion-type technique or something? Then I'd rather not see it. I'm already quite sleepy as it is."
Shoko rubbed her eyes. Then, under the covers, she took off her knitted sweater and shorts and tossed them onto Renji.
"Alright, I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." Shoko closed her eyes and lied peacefully.
Renji: ?
"Shoko-san, this is my room. Your room is next door." Renji said with a helpless smile.
"I don't care. I'm asleep now. Renji, you go to the other room." Shoko pulled the covers over her head, pretending not to hear anything as she hid.
This girl really is...
Renji shook his head, pushed the door open, and walked out.
"Okkotsu." Suguru's voice sounded from the hallway.
Renji looked toward the voice and saw Suguru staring at him with a serious expression, as if he had been waiting for him at the door.
"What's up, Geto?"
"That shikigami by your side... is it friend or foe?" Suguru got straight to the point.
He had to protect every one of his friends.
Shikigami?
The Shiromuku in the red cord was a Cursed Spirit, and the Twelve Torii Technique hadn't even been used yet. All things considered, apart from Cursed Love, there shouldn't be anything that could be called a shikigami, right?
Perhaps seeing Renji's confused expression, Suguru continued, "It's that presence around you when we first arrived here this morning."
Ah! It's Murasame!
"She is my partner, a unique existence. She's not an enemy, so don't worry, Geto." Renji replied with a smile.
[Ding! The adaptability of the Divine Blade – Murasamemaru to the Host has increased. You can now borrow Murasamemaru's power for your own use through special means.]
Murasame has been listening all along.
"That's good. Want to go for a walk? It wasn't easy to ask in front of Shoko just now. With Shoko's personality, if she knew, she'd definitely drag you off for a bunch of completely useless tests." Suguru tossed out a bottle of cola.
[Ding! Geto Suguru's favorability +5]
[Current favorability: 25]
Snap!
Pssht!
The pull-tab was opened, and the sound of soda fizzed.
"Sure, let's go."
The two walked out of the house.
It was already evening, but the flow of people on the street hadn't diminished. Perhaps because tomorrow was the Iwate Prefecture fireworks festival, or perhaps because it was always this lively here, the streets were noisy. The occasional honking of cars seemed to blend right into the clamorous atmosphere.
"Okkotsu, what do you think a Jujutsu Sorcerer's mission is?" Suguru walked side by side with Renji on the sidewalk.
It was right when students were getting out of school. High school students, chatting and laughing, merged into the crowd.
It was as if only the two of them were walking against the flow.
"Exorcising Cursed Spirits, preventing harm to more people... That's what ordinary Jujutsu Sorcerers think."
Renji took a sip of the soda. He had to criticize the fact it wasn't ice-cold.
Suguru glanced sideways at Renji. "So, Okkotsu, are you an ordinary Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Renji said calmly, "Me? Of course not. I don't have such grand ambitions. I just want to live, get stronger, and then be able to protect the people I want to protect. Not exhaust myself blindly trying to protect everyone. Wouldn't living like that be exhausting?"
Suguru's gaze didn't change and his voice was as usual, betraying no emotion. "Is that so? I see."
In Japan, about 1.59 million people die every year. Over 500,000 die from natural disasters, over 200,000 from natural accidents, over 100,000 from murder. The rest are incidents that can't be explained. Some of those might be genuine disappearances, but the vast majority have the hand of Cursed Spirits behind them.
Jujutsu Sorcerers are like police, except ordinary police catch criminals, while Jujutsu Sorcerers exorcise Cursed Spirits and Curse Users.
Where there are people, there are cities. Where there are cities, there is darkness. Where there is darkness, there are negative emotions. Once negative emotions accumulate, Cursed Spirits sprout up like bamboo shoots after rain, so many that it's suffocating.
"Okkotsu, do you think Cursed Spirit Manipulation is disgusting?" Suguru spoke again.
"Not at all. I think it's incredibly strong, not disgusting in the slightest. Summoning Cursed Spirits to fight alongside you is super cool, hahahaha." Renji laughed heartily and patted Suguru's shoulder.
[Ding! The power of recognition! Magnificent! No need for words! Geto Suguru's favorability +10]
[Current favorability: 35]
Speaking of which, what's going on? Is Suguru already asking about the meaning of being a Jujutsu Sorcerer before reaching the specific plot point?
Am I Yuki here?
"Okkotsu, you really don't match your age. Your body, soul, and thoughts all seem more like a unique individual distinct from a child's mindset, but your age constantly reminds me and everyone else that you are the youngest Special Grade Sorcerer in the entire Japanese Jujutsu World." Suguru laughed.
"I think so too."
The two chatted idly.
Suddenly, they noticed a crowd gathered up ahead.
Suguru's expression turned serious as he walked forward.
They saw that the manhole cover there had been opened. Several police officers and men in suits were inside the cordoned-off area, looking for something while talking.
On the ground, on a stretcher, lay a twisted corpse wrapped in a white cloth. The surrounding police were trying their best to persuade the crowd to disperse.
"Everyone, please step back! It's nothing major! Don't block the professionals from accessing the scene! Break it up! Break it up!"
The middle-aged man in charge had a drop of cold sweat on his forehead, he clearly knew something.
"Cursed Spirit." Suguru's eyes narrowed, and he immediately jumped inside the cordon.
Renji followed closely behind.
"Hey! You two over there! Civilians aren't allowed in here. Please leave immediately!" The middle-aged police officer had naturally noticed Suguru and Renji.
Before Suguru could speak, a voice suddenly emerged from the group of men in suits. "They're from Jujutsu High. Quick, don't stop them."
The middle-aged officer looked at them, then at Suguru and Renji, and stepped aside.
But he muttered to himself: These two look the same age as my daughter, and they're also part of that group?
"Officer Taiju, are we just letting them through like that? We're the police, aren't we?" A rookie officer spoke up, displeased.
This was his first case since taking up his post, and he was thinking about promotions and raises.
"Kid, you don't understand. They... they're not normal people. For some things, the police are useless."