Next Target, 400PS!
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Even though they both kept pleasant smiles plastered on their faces the entire time, their words were laced with hidden blades. It felt like each one had countless hidden motives.
"I still haven't caught why you're looking for Kai-kun, Yukinoshita-san?"
"Well!"
Haruno shrugged. Even though she didn't know this girl's identity, she wasn't the type to back down easily. She replied with a perfectly natural tone, "Since we're friends, I was just planning to invite him out for a drive. You wouldn't mind that, would you, Nagasaki-san?"
"Speaking of which!" Pausing for a moment, Haruno acted as if she had just remembered something. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Soyo. "I still don't know what kind of relationship you have with Kai-kun?"
"Kai-kun and I are..." Soyo reflexively started to answer. But halfway through, her voice caught, and she instinctively glanced at Kai.
'Oh, right!'
Come to think of it, it was actually quite hard to define what her current relationship with Kai was. Friends? Not really. Love rivals? That felt kind of weird too.
"A SUITOR!"
Noticing Soyo's gaze, Kai smoothly supplied an answer.
"Right, a suit—"
Without thinking, Soyo automatically echoed him. But mid-word, she realized what he had said and shot him a nasty glare.
'Suitor my ass! I'm here to tear off your disguise and save Sakiko. I would never be your suitor!'
Considering that she hadn't successfully saved Sakiko yet, if she accidentally provoked him... He might do something terrible to her precious Sakiko. Just picturing that scenario made Soyo feel like her heart was breaking.
Therefore, no matter how furious she was internally, outwardly, Soyo could only force a stiff, plastic smile and nod.
"..."
A suitor? Haruno raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping between Kai and Soyo. She remarked pointedly, "I didn't expect Kai-kun to have such good taste. It seems Nagasaki-san is quite fond of you too. I'm sure you'll win her over."
"However, once you have a girlfriend, you really ought to be a bit more focused, shouldn't you?"
The underlying message here was meant for Kai:
'I already know you have a girlfriend. If you try to get close to Yukino in the future, don't blame me for exposing your secret.'
"It seems you've misunderstood something, Haruno-nee!"
Kai pretended not to notice the hidden threat in her words and looked at her with real surprise.
"??"
'What could I have misunderstood?' She scoffed internally. 'Don't tell me this lying scumbag is still trying to play innocent at a time like this.'
"When I said 'suitor', I didn't mean that I was pursuing Nagasaki-san. I meant that she is pursuing me."
"Huh?"
What the heck? Haruno instinctively widened her eyes and turned to stare at Soyo Nagasaki. It was as if she was trying to verify the claim.
"..."
In reality, Soyo felt like she was about to explode from rage. Yet, she had absolutely no way to vent that anger. She could only force a strained smile and nod at Haruno Yukinoshita:
"That's right! Because Kai-kun is so outstanding, I like him very much!"
'THIS IS INFURIATING!'
Even though she was internally cursing him to hell and back, she still had to maintain a smile on her face. She had never, in her entire life, hated a man this much!
"Oh, well!"
"Kai-kun is certainly impressive!" Left with no other response, Haruno could only cast a deeply meaningful look at him.
"If you don't have any other business, Yukinoshita-san, you can leave now. I have a few things I'd like to discuss with Kai-kun in private!"
Soyo took a breath to steady herself. She didn't feel much toward Haruno. Her only goal was to save Sakiko. As long as she could pry this man away from Sakiko, nothing else mattered.
"Oh?"
Picking up on the disdainful tone in Soyo's voice, Haruno suddenly felt her competitive spirit flare up.
What was this girl's problem? She was just a mere suitor, did she actually think she was better than her?
"I'm so sorry, but Kai-kun already promised to go for a drive with me. My apologies, little sister Nagasaki, but you're a bit too late!"
'That's what you get for just being a little girl.'
"Hmm?"
Soyo Nagasaki wasn't an idiot either. She could clearly hear the aggressively hostile tone in Haruno's words.
'Is this woman insane?'
"Is that so? But when I walked up just now, I don't recall hearing Kai-kun agree!" Soyo fired back. "Besides, you seem awfully fond of calling people 'little sister.' Is it because you feel so old yourself?"
"It makes sense—women really do need to start paying attention to their age at a certain point. You should have at least touched up your makeup before coming out—the wrinkles around your eyes are starting to show!"
Even though Soyo Nagasaki maintained her refined lady persona most of the time.
That didn't mean she had no temper. It didn't mean she couldn't throw shade when needed.
And her ability to throw shade was surprisingly lethal.
"WHAT?"
Hearing the word 'wrinkles'. Haruno visibly panicked for a split second. Evidently, regardless of their age, women cared about their appearance above all else.
After checking her reflection in the rearview mirror, she realized it wasn't wrinkles—it was just some dark circles from staying up too late. Even with makeup on, she hadn't completely concealed them. But as long as she caught up on her sleep later, she would recover just fine. Realizing this, Haruno let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Maybe you should consider getting your eyes checked and picking up some glasses, little girl. A woman in her prime doesn't get wrinkles. Besides, hasn't anyone told you? These days, boys tend to prefer mature, older women like me!"
After saying that, Haruno deliberately shifted to highlight her figure. It was indeed quite impressive.
If Haruno's opponent had been Yukino or Eriri, that move probably would have dealt massive emotional damage. But this time, her opponent was Soyo Nagasaki.
"Hmph!"
Soyo scoffed dismissively. When it came to figures, Soyo wasn't the least bit intimidated. She even deliberately tugged at her collar to emphasize her own assets.
"..."
'Tsk! Are all high schoolers developing this well nowadays?'
Haruno hadn't expected to lose the advantage in the figure department. She had really met her match!
For a moment, the smell of gunpowder in the air between the two women grew incredibly thick.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of it all, Kai, hadn't said a word. Instead, he watched the scene unfold with great amusement. It looked like a classic love triangle battlefield created entirely over him.
But Kai knew perfectly well that both of these women had their own hidden agendas.
It didn't matter, though. Regardless of what their actual goals were, it wouldn't stop him from enjoying the show.
Ring!
But right at that moment. The phone in Kai's pocket suddenly rang.
Who was interrupting his entertainment? However, upon pulling out his phone and checking the caller ID, Kai raised an eyebrow slightly, then directly answered the call!
"What is it?"
"..."
This sudden interruption instantly cooled the fiery standoff between Haruno and Soyo.
It was only then that they remembered. Their actual target was supposed to be Kai. How did they end up fighting each other out of nowhere? It was completely pointless!
Exchanging a glance. The two women simultaneously turned to look at Kai, who was casually taking his call.
'This man... He definitely did that on purpose!'
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"Now, now! Don't be so cold! We're good friends, aren't we? I'm the one who issued your Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer ID, after all!"
The voice on the other end of the line was Satoru Gojo's, carrying his usual flippant, cynical tone.
"The kind of good friends who try to kill each other?"
Kai certainly didn't recall ever becoming 'good friends' with Satoru Gojo.
'Try to kill each other?' Because Kai made no attempt to lower his voice. Both Haruno Yukinoshita and Soyo Nagasaki heard his words loud and clear.
Haruno Yukinoshita grew even more determined. She absolutely could not let this man anywhere near Yukino.
Soyo Nagasaki, on the other hand, became even more convinced. This man must have used violence to threaten Sakiko. Otherwise, her beloved Sakiko would never act like this.
'No. I have to save Sakiko!!'
For a brief moment, the thought processes of the two women were perfectly synchronized.
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"Besides, you actually kept secrets from me..."
On the other end of the phone. Satoru Gojo's tone suddenly turned whiny and wronged. "Your Innate Technique is clearly Cursed Spirit Manipulation, yet you kept it a secret!"
Evidently, after Mei Mei returned, she had reported the news of Kai possessing Cursed Spirit Manipulation straight back to Jujutsu High.
Satoru Gojo knew that Cursed Spirit Manipulation could be used to extract the Innate Techniques of Cursed Spirits. So, he naturally assumed that the spatial technique Kai had displayed earlier was actually extracted via Cursed Spirit Manipulation.
Since it was the signature technique of his former best friend, Satoru Gojo was very familiar with exactly how Cursed Spirit Manipulation worked.
"I don't recall you ever asking."
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