Next Target, 600PS!
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That was why, when Sakiko Togawa invited Soyo Nagasaki to join the band, Soyo agreed without a second thought.
She loved the feeling of being with everyone. It gave her a sense of warmth, like a real family.
That was why she couldn't accept it when the band broke up. She desperately wanted to get them back together. She kept pestering Sakiko.
At that moment, Soyo turned her head and looked at Kai in the passenger seat.
"So, Sakiko actually ran into a Cursed Spirit like this too, right?" Soyo felt she had just uncovered the truth. "Does Sakiko know about the Jujutsu world?"
"She does know about that." Kai nodded, having no idea what was running through Soyo's head.
"I KNEW IT!" Getting that confirmation only cemented Soyo's theory.
"Sakiko must have found out how dangerous the Jujutsu world is! She was worried I'd get dragged into it, so she pushed me away! I get it now. That explains everything!"
As she said this, her smile grew brighter. She had practically scripted an entire drama in her head.
Sakiko still cared about her. All those cold words from before... they were just her way of keeping Soyo safe from the Jujutsu world.
"???" Haruno blinked in bewilderment as she watched Soyo smile like a fool, lost in her own delusions. She shot Kai a look.
'What's wrong with her?'
Even without words, Kai read her gaze perfectly.
'Who knows.' Kai shot back a look and shrugged.
He had to admit, he sometimes underestimated just how wild a teenage girl's imagination could be.
He hadn't even said anything, yet she managed to invent an entire narrative. The best part? She looked pretty damn proud of herself.
'As if I'd buy that!' Seeing him play dumb, Haruno grumbled internally.
He was definitely hiding something. Then again, she didn't exactly have the right to interrogate him.
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"I'm heading back!" Soon enough, Haruno pulled the car up to Soyo's apartment building.
Since she lived closer, they dropped her off first.
Stepping out of the car, Soyo wore a warm, gentle smile—a stark contrast to the terrified girl from earlier.
"Kai-kun, please tell Sakiko that I understand her true feelings now! Thank you for protecting her all this time. But I want her to know that even if it's dangerous, I'm willing to face it alongside her."
After delivering that solemn speech, she turned and walked up the stairs.
She clearly believed that Kai and Sakiko's relationship wasn't what it seemed. It was just a cover story to keep Soyo away.
Kai was a powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer. Sakiko must have run into trouble, and he was just sticking around to protect her. That had to be it.
Fueled by that thought, Soyo's steps grew light and bouncy as she headed up to her apartment.
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"What is..." Watching Soyo leave, Haruno struggled to find the right words. Her expression was a mix of confusion and exasperation.
"Crazy, right?" Kai asked.
"You said it, not me." Haruno sighed, looking helpless.
Calling a girl crazy felt a bit rude. Luckily, Kai stepped up and said it for her.
Kai just shrugged, brushing it off.
"What exactly did she run into?" Haruno was naturally curious. Whenever she stumbled onto a mystery, she wanted to dig up the roots.
"It's her private business. Do you really think it's appropriate for me to tell you?" Kai shot her a flat look, making it clear he wasn't going to explain a thing.
"Tsk!" It drove her crazy to be this close to a secret and not get the answers. Whatever. Given Kai's actual identity, she couldn't just keep messing around. Even if he didn't mind, she had to draw a line somewhere.
"So what now? That little brat isn't here to interrupt us anymore. Want to pick up where we left off?" Haruno asked.
"Pick up where we left off?" Kai looked at her in surprise before cracking a smile. "Aren't you worried about losing more than you bargained for?"
"Either way, I don't lose out, do I?" Meeting his gaze, Haruno's eyes sparked with eager anticipation.
Setting his Sorcerer status aside, Kai was great to look at. He was undeniably hot.
In truth, Haruno had her own hidden motives.
The way she saw it, Yukino was only getting close to Kai because he was a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Yukino must have figured out the perks of the Jujutsu world and wanted to secure his power for the family by tying herself to him.
This was Japan. Arranged marriages and securing alliances through relationships were standard practice. But she was the older sister. If she let Yukino handle the heavy lifting, what good was she?
If Yukino could make that kind of sacrifice, there was no reason Haruno couldn't do it herself.
"Sure." There was no reason to say no. She was taking the initiative. If Kai acted all shy and hesitant now, he'd just look like a coward.
Plus, Haruno was gorgeous.
"Let's go!" Haruno smiled, thrilled that he agreed.
For a split second, she had been terrified he might reject her. That would have been mortifying.
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"Should we grab a drink first?" After parking the car, Haruno pointed to a nearby izakaya.
She talked a big game earlier. But now that it was actually happening, her nerves were kicking in.
"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet?" Kai teased.
"I'm just trying to help you relax. I don't want you getting so nervous that you can't even find the right spot."
As if. Admitting she was scared right now would ruin her pride.
Tossing out that quick excuse, Haruno marched straight toward the hotel entrance.
Kai followed right behind her, laughing it off. He didn't mind her bluffing.
After all, they were about to find out exactly who couldn't find the right spot.
"W-Wait a second!" Sure enough, Haruno's courage crumbled.
"Hold on! Seriously, wait!"
Too bad. Kai wasn't the type to back down once things got started.
To him, Haruno's desperate pleas just sounded like foreplay...
Haruno finally got to experience it firsthand. The sheer difference between a Jujutsu Sorcerer and an ordinary human. His stamina alone was on a completely different level.
"You animal..." Thoroughly exhausted, Haruno muttered before passing out as Kai carried her toward the bathroom.
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By the time she woke up, it was already the next morning.
"Yawn~" Haruno stretched and slowly sat up in bed.
After a deep, restful sleep following last night's exhaustion, she felt great. Maybe it was because she had been stressed for so long and finally got to release it all.
"That wasn't bad at all." Even though it was a bit much to handle, she was very satisfied with Kai's stamina.
But when she looked around and didn't see Kai anywhere, a wave of melancholy hit her.
"That jerk!" He actually just left!
She knew she wasn't going to be his official girlfriend. Still, he was her first. It was natural to feel a little attached.
Just then—
"Sakiko?"
"Yeah, something came up. I'll be home tonight, don't worry!"
Kai walked into the room, talking on his phone.
Haruno instinctively pulled the blanket up, but after realizing it was him, she rolled her eyes and let it drop.
He had already seen everything anyway. There was no point in hiding.
"Girlfriend checking in?" She leaned on her side, shooting him a sultry look.
"Pretty much!" Kai didn't look guilty at all as he set some breakfast down in front of her.
"I thought you..." Haruno started to say she thought he had left her.
Right at that moment, Kai's phone started ringing again.
He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet, and answered the call.
"..." She didn't know who it was, but she could clearly hear a girl's voice on the other end.
'This guy. He really is a massive player.'
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