Outside the Exhibition Hall,
The afternoon sun shone brightly outside the venue, reflecting off the glass walls of the massive exhibition center. Cosplayers dressed as anime characters, demons, idols, and many different erotic characters moved in and out of the entrance like a colorful tide.
Shirakawa Shiroha and Kitagawa Marin walked side by side.
Just a few minutes ago, Gojo Satoru had said he was going to meet an "old friend" and told the two girls to continue exploring inside the exhibition first.
Then he disappeared.
Just like that.
Without even explaining further.
But now....without Gojo-sensei around, neither of them had much interest in continuing.
So they slowly walked outside and sat down on a public bench placed near the entrance plaza.
Whoosh~~
A gentle breeze blew past.
Cosplayers continued walking around them, laughing, chatting, and taking photos.
At first, the atmosphere between the two girls was relaxed.
They began chatting like normal girls.
Talking about— Cosmetics, lipsticks, clothing brands, makeup trends, accessories and even wigs used for cosplay.
Marin leaned back slightly on the bench, stretching her long legs forward.
"Ah, Shiroha-san… did you see that booth earlier?" Marin said excitedly. "They had limited-edition lip gloss. Like—seriously rare stuff!"
Shirakawa Shiroha nodded calmly. "Yes. I saw it. The shade called Scarlet Moon looked very suitable for you."
Marin blinked. "Eh? Really?"
Shiroha crossed her legs elegantly. "Yes. Your skin tone matches warmer colors."
Marin suddenly laughed happily, as she praise her. "Shiroha-san, you're so good at this stuff!"
The conversation continued naturally.
But gradually…
The topic began to change.
The air grew quieter.
As Shiroha lowered her gaze slightly. Her long, pale legs pressed together neatly. Her fingers rested lightly on her skirt.
Then, She spoke softly. "…Marin."
Marin turned her head towards Shiroha with a curious expression.
"Hm?"
Shiroha looked away, not wanting show Marin her expression as she pretending to observe the passing crowd.
But her voice carried hesitation which she tried to hide. "Don't you… like Gojo-sensei?"
"..!!"
Marin froze, her body stiffened instantly as her eyes widened in shock.
She didn't expected that question.
A deep blush instantly spread across her beautifully make-up face. Her hands instinctively clasped together tightly.
"W-What?!" Marin stammered nervously. "W-Why would you ask something like that?!"
Shirakawa Shiroha slowly turned her head, eyes looked directly at Marin.
"It's obvious, Marin," Shiroha said calmly, trying to prevent her face from changing expression.
Her voice was firm as she continue, "Anyone with discerning eyes can tell that you like Gojo-sensei."
Marin's face turned even redder. Her fingers covered her cheeks trying to hide her flush but it only make it worse.
"S-sh—what?!"
Her thoughts raced wildly.
Is it really that obvious?!
Even outsiders can tell?!
Her heart pounded loudly as she lowered her head slightly.
After hesitating…After thinking…After gathering courage…
She whispered, "I… really like Gojo-sensei."
Silence followed her words.
Shiroha's pupils shrank slightly.
Although she already suspected it…Hearing it directly still felt shocking.
She bit her lower lip lightly to control herself as a trace of unwillingness appeared in her beautiful blue eyes.
Then, she spoke again, quietly this time.
"But… actually…" She inhaled slowly. Her fingers clenched slightly as she finally decided to reveal her heart. "I like him too."
Marin froze again.
"W-What?!"
She was the shocked one once again.
Shiroha turned her gaze toward the distant sky. Her expression softened slightly as her voice became quieter, softer.
"Ma-Marin… you don't know." Her eyes became firmer as the memories surfaced in her mind. "You don't know that Gojo-sensei has saved me twice."
Marin blinked again, her expression changing from shocked to confused to concerned.
Shiroha continued speaking slowly.
"For the first time…" Her voice carried faint emotion, her heart beating lightly as the memories surface inside her mind. "It was before we transferred to Sobu High School."
Her fingers tightened slightly. "A group of criminals kidnapped many people… including me… Umaru Gojo, and...Kirara"
She lied. Even though she was in an emotional state she didn't think or believe that Marin will believe that turth even if she said it!
Marin listened quietly, as she didn't interrupt her.
Shiroha lowered her voice slightly, her voice turning into whisper. "At that time… we thought we were going to die."
Her breathing slowed, her chest rose and fell gently as the horrifying scene re-surface in her mind. The scene of Kegare attack and killing the peoples.
"But then…" Her lips curved faintly without even her knowledge. "Gojo-sensei appeared."
Her eyes softened as a very light blush appear on her face. "He saved all of us."
"..."
Marin remained silent as she continue to listen carefully to her friends words.
Shiroha continued her face turning into frustration.
"The second time…" Her expression darkened slightly. "It was....the boy who reported the disappearance of Class D."
Shiroha eyes flicker lightly in surprise as she come to know that she didn't even remember his name!
Marin too didn't asked the boys name. She thought that if Shiroha didn't remember his name that only means that he had done something very bad....or he wasn't worth it to remember his name.
"I rejected his confession." Her fingers tightened again. "He tried to force me to become his girlfriend."
Marin's eyes widened slightly as she complain inwardly, 'What a scumbag! It's good think that she didn't remember his name!'
Shiroha exhaled softly, the blush appearing again on her face. "But once again… Gojo-sensei appeared."
Her voice softened again "He rescued me....again..."
A short silence followed.
Before Shiroha whispered again.
"At first… I was just curious about him." Her lips curved faintly into a soft smile. "But I don't know when it started…"
Her voice softened further "My curiosity became admiration."
"And admiration… became affection."
She finally turned her head. Looking directly at Marin with a expression of a maiden.
"So…" She spoke clearly. "Before I knew it...I becam to like him."
Her voice trembled slightly. "I like Gojo-sensei."
Silence filled the space between them.
Marin sat quietly as a strange expression appear on her beautiful face. Her heart felt complicated.
Conflicted. And confused.
We both like the same person…and he's also our teacher…
What should we do…?
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then suddenly—
Marin smiled.
Brightly this time.
Just like her usual cheerful self.
"If you like Gojo-sensei…" She shrugged playfully. "You can like him."
Shiroha blinked, confused and shocked as she couldn't help but exclaimed, raising her voice without even knowing.
"Eh? What do you mean… Marin!?"
Marin winked mischievously not minding as she continue, excited.
"According to current law…" She smiled brightly. "It's not like we can't marry together."
Yes, Marin had done her research on it! But at first, she had only research it on the topic if their are any situation when a student can marry their Sensei....
Shirakawa Shiroha froze.
Then—
Blink!
Blink!
Her brain processed the words slowly.
"That's…...true."
She muttered softly as if muttering to herself.
She knew that their were some situation where one man was able to marry multiple different woman. While, it was rare...well very rare. That doesn't mean that their not some unique cases related to it. Most of the Government doesn't really care about it as long as the person in question is capable and able to provide support to his wifes, then he can have as many wifes as he want.
{T/N: The law that powerful Exorcist can marry as many as they want is kind of a public secret like Government are doing it to keep the Person in the country so they can't have nasty rumor going around about them can they! That is why this law was made while it's said that "capable man can marry as long as they are capable", it's mostly talking about powerful Exorcist. And that too is rare since except for some (very rare cases), many only want a single partner so yea...}
Marin laughed softly as she continue, a little amused by her friend expression. "We're best friends, right?"
Shiroha nodded slowly without saying anything.
"So we won't fight over the same man." Marin grinned as she continue as if she was talking the most normal stuff. "We'll just marry him together!"
Shiroha stared at her.
Then—Slowly—she smiled, a self-defeated smile as she accepted the situation.
The tension between them disappeared instantly.
The awkwardness faded.
The two girls looked at each other.
And laughed. Softly. Amused.
"I guess…" Marin said playfully, "In a few years… we'll really become family."
Shiroha nodded slightly.
"Yes… perhaps."
.....
Meanwhile — Nearby Streets,
After receiving orders from Makima, two Devil Hunters who happened to be patrolling nearby moved into action.
Hayakawa Aki and Himeno!
They headed straight toward the nearby police station.
.....
Soon—
WEE-WOO~ WHEE-YOO~!
Sirens echoed in the area as the Police vehicles arrived as quickly as possible.
Orders were issued rapidly from the higher-ups.
The situation escalated quickly as the public can a nasty wake up call. Loudspeakers began broadcasting messages.
"Attention! Please evacuate five kilometers away!"
"This area has been temporarily requisitioned!"
"A military exercise will be conducted soon!"
"Please cooperate and evacuate immediately!"
Fifteen police officers holding loudspeakers shouted continuously as dozens of other officers began dispersing the crowd as quickly as possible.
However—
The public were not willing to leave.
Not at all!
They had prepared for this day for weeks.
Some even took months to prepare for this day.
Many had spent hours doing makeup.
Some had crafted handmade costumes.
Others had traveled long distances just for this!
Naturally—
They were furious.
They don't know who it was but one cosplayer shouted loudly.
"Why is this place suddenly being turned into a military exercise?! I just arrived!"
Another shouted angrily as if getting a clue.
"I started makeup at six in the morning!"
"My legs are sore from standing!"
"Who's going to compensate my time and effort?!"
Another voice yelled, the voice getting louder and louder.
"Refund! Refund our tickets! You didn't do military exercises earlier—why now?!"
The crowd grew louder.
More chaotic.
Some troublemakers hidden among them began deliberately stirring the situation.
Throwing insults.
Shouting aggressively.
Standing on top of a police vehicle as if it was there father's property.
The commanding officer who was presented with such a situation, held his forehead, his expression was filled with frustration.
'A military exercise excuse isn't working…' He sighed inwardly in frustration, feeling helpless despite his position. 'But we can't tell them the truth either.We can't say there's going to be a supernatural battle here…can we?'
If we did…These people might panic even worse that now.....
He exhaled heavily already understanding the situation. Before he turned his head slowly.
Behind him—two figures stood calmly.
Smoking.
Hayakawa Aki and Himeno
Both looked completely unfazed.
Inhale…~
Sssssip~~
Exhale…~
Pshhh~ Wooooosh~~
Smoke drifted into the air as the smell of smoking began to fill the room. If it wasn't for the situation or who these people's were the commanding officer would have scream at them to stop smoking.
Aki flicked ash from his cigarette, before he turn to face the commander as he spoke calmly.
"Let me handle it."
The commander looked relieved instantly as he forget his earlier complains.
"Please… do."
Aki nodded lightly, as he dropped the cigarette to the ground.
STEP!
Crushed it under his black shoe as he began to walk forward.
Slowly.
Calmly.
He climbed onto the police car roof.
The crowd continued shouting.
Complaining.
Arguing.
Aki reached forward with a clam expression.
Without hesitation—
He grabbed the pistol from his behind.
Opened the safety.
Raised it upward.
Then—
BANG!
A loud gunshot exploded into the sky.
The sound echoed violently across the area.
Instantly—
Silence fell.
Complete silence.
The crowd who had been clamoring and refusing to leave all shut their mouths.
Even the troublemakers shut their mouths.
Warm grayish smoke drifted from the gun barrel.
Aki lowered his arm slowly, his expression cold as he in a calm but firm voice. "Can you go now?"
No one answered.
Not a single person dared speak.
Under the combined pressure of police presence…
And the terrifying gunshot…
The crowd finally began moving.
Step by step.
Quietly.
Slowly.
Leaving the area under police command.
The evacuation had begun.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 2,078