Chapter 138: So You Are Too?
"Someone is coming."
Hikigaya Hachiman lightly patted Togawa Sakiko's head. He could understand her feelings. It was like the "light boat having passed ten thousand mountains"—having endured the bitter days, the girl had earned her first pot of gold through her own efforts. It was indeed worth celebrating. No matter how mature Sakiko acted, she was still just a teenager.
However, what he didn't expect was that Wakaba Mutsumi had actually followed his Cursed Energy from earlier and sought him out.
When Hachiman observed Mutsumi's Cursed Energy before, he only knew she was dining with her mother. Now that the meal was over, Mutsumi had actually come looking for him and was currently right outside their private room. It made sense; after all, her master was here, and it was only natural for a student to pay their respects.
Yet, Mutsumi maintained her polite demeanor, not daring to enter unannounced. She stood obediently outside the door. She believed that Hachiman must have sensed her, and if he agreed to let her in, he would say so.
"Is it a staff member?"
Reminded by Hachiman, Sakiko suddenly realized this wasn't a place where she could act so spoiled. She also realized with a blush that she had just been acting very intimate with her sensei. She asked the question to hide her inner embarrassment.
Sakiko wished she could find a hole to crawl into. How could she have acted like that, almost burying her head in Hachiman's chest? It started with wanting to thank him, but as she spoke, she ended up hugging him.
Even if she felt relaxed around him, wasn't that going too far?
In fact, the primary reason for this behavior was the god Hachiman had slain—the God of Love and Joy. Whether Hachiman liked it or not, that god's deathbed curse remained; he would naturally be more attractive to the opposite sex. It was an effect akin to, "Brother, you smell so good."
This effect was particularly pronounced on girls who already harbored feelings for him. Sakiko happened to meet those criteria, so she instinctively wanted a headpat and felt particularly safe by his side, even to the point of hugging him. Once Hachiman spoke up and broke the atmosphere, those affected by the "technique" would gradually snap out of it.
"It shouldn't be a staff member." Hachiman shook his head.
He had a strange feeling. If he told Sakiko right now that her childhood friend was standing silently outside the door, would it sound a bit like a horror story? To spare Sakiko's feelings, he laid some groundwork.
"It's an acquaintance of mine. They should be looking for me."
Hachiman explained Mutsumi's presence to Sakiko so she wouldn't be too shocked when she saw her. "During a mission, I accidentally discovered a child with a very special Cursed Technique, someone with real talent as a sorcerer. So, I took her as my disciple. She must have sensed my presence and come to visit."
Hachiman didn't reveal Mutsumi's identity the same way he had revealed Soyo's to Mutsumi. With Mutsumi, he let her guess. With Sakiko, he planned to let her see the truth for herself. The reason he hadn't used the same gradual approach was because Soyo and Mutsumi attended the same school. Bringing up the school in front of Sakiko would only be like twisting a knife in her heart.
After all, her inability to attend Tsukinomori Girls' Academy was tied to her and her father being ousted from the family. That was the beginning of her hardships.
"She is a very polite child. Without my permission, she wouldn't come in."
"A disciple of sensei..."
Hearing that the uninvited guest was his student, Sakiko breathed a sigh of relief. Her racing heart calmed down, and she became quite curious. In the Jujutsu world, techniques are passed down through lineages or master-disciple relationships. Families like the Big Three were the most famous examples. It seemed perfectly normal to Sakiko that a powerful sorcerer like Hachiman would have a disciple. If he didn't have the ability to teach others, then no one in the Jujutsu world could.
However, mentioning the inheritance of Cursed Techniques made Sakiko's expression dim slightly. She had no talent for it and had never awakened a technique.
"If you don't like it, I can tell her to go back.
It's fine, let her in."
She was his disciple, after all. Refusing her at the door would be too pitiful. It was only natural to visit when sensing one's master; respecting sensei is paramount. Furthermore, if she was a disciple, she was "one of them." Sakiko was curious who had caught sensei's eye.
Seeing Sakiko had no objections, Hachiman straightened his clothes, which had been wrinkled by her embrace. He then walked to the door and opened it to reveal his disciple's face.
"Mutsumi, come in."
Mutsumi had sensed Hachiman's Cursed Energy getting closer and knew he was coming to open the door, so she wasn't surprised when it swung open. But when the door opened...
Mutsumi had already seen a blur of blue accompanying Hachiman earlier. So, when she actually saw the slightly flushed Sakiko standing by the window in the open room, her heart still skipped a beat.
'Saki is really here.'
The two overlapping silhouettes she saw earlier were indeed them. Her two best friends actually knew each other.
Hachiman introduced them: "Sakiko, let me introduce you."
When she heard Mutsumi's name and saw the figure appearing before her, Sakiko's pupils noticeably shrank.
Mutsumi spoke first: "Saki."
'How is it actually Mutsumi-chan?'
Sakiko stared at Mutsumi, her brain momentarily stalling. She never imagined her childhood friend would become the student Hachiman valued. Since Sakiko wasn't a sorcerer, it wasn't surprising she couldn't see the changes in Mutsumi.
Mutsumi, now a sorcerer, had vastly improved sensory abilities. Sakiko thought she had hidden her presence well earlier, but Mutsumi had sensed someone watching her. She just hadn't overthought it because Hachiman's energy was her main focus.
The last time Sakiko and Mutsumi met was because of Nagasaki Soyo. Soyo had formed a new band and wanted Mutsumi to join. Mutsumi had told Sakiko about Soyo's situation, but Sakiko had told her not to get involved. Their conversation had ended there.
Meeting again, Mutsumi had become a sorcerer with talent high enough to catch Hachiman's eye and become his disciple. Meanwhile, Sakiko was still an ordinary person. It felt as if only a short time had passed, yet it felt like forever.
"So you two know each other."
Though Hachiman knew they were childhood friends, he had to act as if he didn't.
He sensed the heavy atmosphere in the room. He had prepared for this when he decided to reveal Mutsumi to Sakiko. Sakiko was sensitive; facing Mutsumi now was like a disgraced person suddenly standing before someone who had found great success. Even without envy, there would be a feeling of self-deprecation.
Caring for their feelings, Hachiman spoke up directly. "But let me re-introduce you to each other properly."
Hachiman pointed to Sakiko first.
"Mutsumi, this is a comrade who has fought alongside me, Togawa Sakiko."
Hachiman didn't directly state she was a liaison for the Association.
"Sakiko has provided me with a lot of intelligence and helped me greatly."
Hachiman believed there was no shame in her work, but he knew Sakiko felt differently. Going from a high-and-mighty Young Lady to a customer service rep wasn't something she found glorious.
Thus, he didn't mention her part-time job as a liaison.
Saying she "provided intelligence" added a layer of mystery and acted as cover for her.
Hachiman's words made Mutsumi's mouth hang open slightly.
'So Saki is also part of the Jujutsu world?'
Mutsumi had thought she was the only one among her friends who had truly touched the hidden world; she didn't expect Sakiko to be involved, even providing convenience for Hachiman's work.
'Saki is so impressive.'
This was Mutsumi's impression of Sakiko—the sister-like figure in her heart now seemed even more towering.
Hachiman's beautification of her role in front of Mutsumi made Sakiko's face flush with embarrassment. She was deeply moved that he had protected her dignity by not revealing her true status.
When introducing Mutsumi, Hachiman didn't need to consider as much. "Wakaba Mutsumi is now a Grade 4 sorcerer in the Association. Her technique is very suitable for combat. If she plays her cards right, she can even kill a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit."
Hachiman praised Mutsumi in front of Sakiko. He also noted that he took her as a disciple because of her simple personality.
"Hmm?" Hachiman felt Mutsumi tugging at his sleeve and whispering.
Mutsumi's face was red; she didn't think she was as amazing as Hachiman was making her out to be. It sounded like pure flattery to her. "Hachiman, I'm not that good."
Hachiman felt helpless but didn't stop the praise. In short, Mutsumi's talent was exceptionally high. He valued her precisely for her potential.
"When Mutsumi grows up, I believe she will become a sorcerer no less than me."
And so, these two who were once as close as sisters were re-introduced by Hachiman, learning each other's hidden identities. Their mutual surprise far exceeded their initial shock.
"Wait."
Sakiko suddenly caught a blind spot. Earlier, Mutsumi's mother mentioned Mutsumi had been going out with a boy.
'Could that boy be sensei?'
The intelligent Sakiko instantly deduced the truth. Mutsumi had transformed into a powerful sorcerer. This wouldn't have been possible without sensei's hard work in training her from an ordinary person. Since Mutsumi was always with a man, it was only natural for her parents to think she had a boyfriend.
"Mutsumi, I saw you eating with your mother earlier, so I didn't call you or come say hello." Hachiman explained that he had noticed her but didn't want to intrude. "Today, Sakiko and I are eating together primarily to celebrate her earning a very high manuscript fee."
"Manuscript fee?"
"A well-known company is developing a game and needed background music," Hachiman explained. "Sakiko wrote a piece and sold it. I acted as the middleman, so she wanted to thank me and invited me to dinner."
Mutsumi understood. Sakiko's talent for composition was indeed very high. She also knew about Sakiko's circumstances and her financial struggles, combined with her prideful personality that refused help. It made perfect sense for her to invite Hachiman after getting a large sum of money.
"Mutsumi, do you have time later?"
"Yes." Mutsumi nodded. Normally, she would have gone home after eating with her mother.
Hachiman felt that since they were close friends, it would be fine for Mutsumi to demonstrate her Cursed Energy to Sakiko.
Meanwhile, they could brainstorm the future development of Mutsumi's techniques. As for Sakiko not having talent or the ability to see Cursed Energy—that wasn't an issue; Hachiman could allow her to see its influence temporarily.
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