12:33 PM on the day of the Fireworks Festival.
Renji dragged Naobito and Jotaro out of the sewage treatment pipe. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in his hair and shone on his face, making him feel unaccustomed to it for a moment.
"Ah! Clan Head!"
Jinta, who had been waiting at the exit, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Renji walk out alive, but nearly burst into tears when he saw the people Renji was dragging.
"Your Zenin clan must have rescue methods, right? I'm heading back, there's a fireworks display waiting for me tonight."
Renji placed the two men in the sunlight. Cursed Energy Shoko had already healed their bodies using Reverse Cursed Technique. As for corrosion, presumably they would have means to handle it.
Jinta ordered the Zenin clan members behind him to carry the two onto an ambulance. The destination was Kyoto Jujutsu Hospital, where the Zenin clan's best healers were stationed. Moreover, over half the hospital's personnel were from the Zenin clan, making it much safer compared to other places.
"Okkotsu-san, thank you for bringing the Clan Head out. I thought..." Jinta bowed, his tone sincere, seeming to hesitate about whether to continue.
Renji brushed aside his disheveled hair. "You were thinking, 'I could have taken this opportunity to kill your Clan Head,' or something like that, right? Don't bother, I'm not that petty."
Renji ignored him and simply walked straight in the direction to leave.
Jinta watched Renji's retreating figure and shouted. "Okkotsu-san! For this assistance, the Zenin clan will certainly offer substantial thanks. After the Clan Head awakens, we will send someone to invite you to the Zenin clan!"
Renji's figure gradually disappeared from Jinta's sight.
After leaving the village, Renji got into a taxi.
The black taxi advanced through the traffic.
By the window, Renji yawned, then leaned to the side and closed his eyes. A foul, rotting odor emanated from his body—looked like he needed a bath when he got back.
Originally, the taxi driver hadn't intended to pick up Renji. But when the driver wanted to refuse, he suddenly saw a faint figure of a woman wearing a pure white dress, head bowed, standing behind Renji and facing him. He had a premonition—if he didn't give this person a ride, he might not live to see tomorrow.
...
A river outside Iwate Prefecture flowing towards another city.
The rushing river water rolled forward, emitting a roaring, turbulent sound. The originally murky, unclear sewage water at the riverbed became clear and transparent under the push of the current.
In the distance, was the nearby bay.
On a fishing boat.
"Today's a good day for a great catch."
A fisherman with a cigarette in his mouth happily cast his net. For some reason today, he felt inexplicably happy. Perhaps the sea god was smiling upon him, today's catch was probably going to be excellent.
The fisherman was called Nakama Kojiro, a famous fisherman in the area. It was said he had once caught a two-meter-long fish, with a mouth so large it could swallow a child.
Nakama Kojiro lied on a sun lounger.
He had a secret that he had never told anyone.
He could see 'ghosts'.
Other fishermen needed to constantly monitor wind, waves, fish school movements, and whether they were off course when going out to sea but he was different.
Around him was a group of 'fish' with human mouths that could fly. They would help him avoid storms and catch fish automatically. For giant fish species that normally required four or five ordinary fishermen to haul up, with the help of those 'fish', he could just casually pull on the fishing rod and reel it in.
Nakama Kojiro dozed off in a daze. When he woke up again, he found his group of 'fish' surrounding him, their mouths constantly repeating. "Scared... terrifying... no... don't go over."
What happened?
Nakama Kojiro immediately got up and looked towards the fishing platform. His plastic boots made thumping sounds on the deck as he looked out at the sea.
"Woman?!" Nakama Kojiro exclaimed in surprise.
Following his gaze, he saw a stunningly beautiful young girl lying naked on the sea's surface, quietly drifting. She wasn't very tall, about 1.6 meters, with long black hair. Her straight legs, enchanting figure, and seemingly delicate, flawless skin made Nakama Kojiro, a seasoned old man with thirty-five years of experience with his arm, blush involuntarily.
He completely forgot the murmuring words from the 'fish' around him and immediately licked his lips.
If she's alive, take her back as a wife.
If she's dead, play with her once and then throw her back.
The desire of the little head destroyed the reason of the big head.
The rope from the fishing platform coiled around the girl's waist. Then, Nakama Kojiro effortlessly pulled the girl onto the deck.
Looking at the girl's enticing posture, he couldn't hold back any longer. He stripped off his clothes and pants and pounced fiercely towards the girl.
His burning hot skin turned dark and foul-smelling the instant it touched the girl's body. Before Nakama Kojiro could react, his entire body had darkened, and a stinking liquid seeped from his skin and pores.
...
It was already afternoon by the time Renji returned to Suguru's home.
He pushed open the door.
"Welcome back. Will you eat lunch first, or me first? Meow?"
Shoko, with a calm expression, wearing a maid outfit, tilted her head and looked at Renji.
"Huh?"
"By the way... Shoko, do I have to wear this too?" Suguru's voice sounded from upstairs.
"Hahahaha! Suguru, you better not wear it. Hahahaha! The skirt got stretched and torn. Hahahaha!" Satoru's voice suddenly rang out.
Seeing that Shoko showed no intention of explaining, Renji's playful mood surged and he immediately pinned Shoko against the wall.
"Shoko-san, which one do you want me to choose?"
"Renji-kun, let me remind you, I'm five years older than you."
"So what?"
A faint blush appeared on Shoko's perpetually impassive face.
Then, she turned her head, looked into Renji's eyes, and slowly spoke, "You stink... go take a bath."
Ah!
He just came out of the sewer, and the smell on him hadn't gone away.
"Alright."
Renji walked towards the bathroom in Suguru's house.
On the spot, Shoko gently covered her chest.
Her heart was beating rapidly. This feeling... it's the first time.
The next second.
Satoru, wearing a maid outfit, jumped down the stairs.
"Where's Okkotsu? I thought I heard his voice just now." Satoru's outfit was extremely eye-searing.
"He went to take a bath. Let's change out of these. We're going to see the fireworks later." Shoko smiled and walked up the stairs.
At the stairway entrance, a weakened Suguru was squatting.
"Consider my physical condition, you guys. If you're messing around, please don't include me."
"Shut up, Suguru. If you're weak, go take medicine."
"Satoru, do you want to fight?"