Chapter 84 — Senior Guidance
The next day.
"Senior Guidance… a tutor?"
Inside a classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the second-year students were gathered together. Maki Zen'in raised her eyes and looked toward the silver-haired man sitting casually on the front desk—wearing a flashy floral shirt, sunglasses, and lounging with his legs crossed.
"Yeah, that's about it," said Satoru Gojo lazily.
"Ren is an exchange student from Kyoto, right?"
"By convention, someone from our side should be assigned as his senior mentor—to help with daily life and let him integrate into Tokyo smoothly."
"But since all the third-years are absent, after discussion, the task falls to you, Maki."
"…Why me?" Maki asked, clearly unwilling.
"Because you're the most suitable."
"…What?" Her eyes flickered.
"You see, the most important part of being a mentor is being able to communicate normally, right? We can't exactly send Toge Inumaki, can we?"
"Salmon!" Inumaki responded from behind his high collar.
"And Panda?" Maki pointed at Panda.
"Well… Panda feels more suited to being a tour guide than a mentor," Gojo said, leaning back against the desk.
"Objection!" Panda immediately raised a sign that read OBJECTION.
"Panda is Panda!" he declared seriously. "A jujutsu sorcerer! Not a tourist mascot!"
"…But I still think Maki's the better choice."
"Why?"
"Put yourself in his shoes," Panda said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "If it were me, I'd want the person guiding my daily life to be a young, beautiful woman."
"Maki, do your best! You two might actually have a chance!" He gave her a big thumbs-up, flashing his signature toothy grin. "Definitely! A chance!"
"You—" Maki barely resisted the urge to smash a chair over his head.
"Then what about the first-years?" she asked helplessly. "Can't they do it? Megumi, Yuji, Nobara… and even Tsumiki, who just joined."
"Especially Yuji—they're already working together to track down that cursed spirit, right?"
"Nope!" Gojo raised both hands dramatically. "That would be rude. Extremely rude!"
"Mentorship should be handled by a senior. Assigning a peer is already borderline. Assigning a junior? Completely unacceptable!"
"Anyway, the higher-ups have decided. From now on, you'll be responsible for his daily life—and you'll team up with him on missions."
"…Damn it." Maki slammed her fist on the table, biting her lip, forcing herself to look unwilling.
—
Half an hour later, at the edge of the training field.
Maki stood in front of the first-years and Ren.
"Senior Guidance?" Ren asked.
"Yeah." Maki nodded. "That's the situation."
"Shouldn't a senior be someone older?" Ren questioned.
"Since the third-years aren't around, it falls to me," she replied.
She glanced at him, frowning slightly, her lips curling in mild disdain.
"What? You think I'm happy about this?"
…Not happy?
Ren looked at her cold expression and couldn't help but think to himself—
You didn't look like this last night.
Well… people really do act tougher after they've had their fill.
He found himself subconsciously comparing the girl in front of him—cool and distant—with the version of her from the night before… warm, alluring, and intensely affectionate.
Maki noticed his meaningful gaze. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she coughed lightly before regaining her composure.
"Anyway, that's the situation."
"As for stuff like 'daily life guidance' or 'helping you integrate'—forget it." She glanced around. "You've already integrated pretty well."
"The only thing that matters now… is preparing for upcoming missions."
"Missions?"
Maki nodded.
"That blue-haired cursed spirit still hasn't been found. And they're not planning to let you sit around doing nothing forever."
"A sorcerer's real job is exorcising curses. If you go too long without fighting, your edge dulls. And when you finally face that curse, you'll hesitate."
"So for the time being, you'll form a temporary team with me. We'll handle missions together."
"…Alright." Ren's eyes lit up instantly as he agreed without hesitation.
Maki shot Ren a slightly annoyed look, as if his overly enthusiastic agreement had made things… suspicious.
"Then it's settled. Get yourself ready. You'll probably receive your first mission within a few days."
With that, Maki Zen'in crossed her arms, turned, and walked away, her ponytail swaying behind her.
After watching her figure disappear at the edge of the training field, Nobara suddenly spoke up.
"Ren-senpai… did you do something to make Maki-senpai angry?"
"…What?"
"Don't you think she's being a bit too cold toward you?" Nobara raised a hand, her face serious as she began analyzing like a detective.
"If it were about the exchange event, it's been a while already, and it wasn't that big of a deal. Maki-senpai isn't that petty."
"So… did you do something else to upset her?"
"No." Ren shook his head firmly.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Hmm… then that makes things interesting." Nobara stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Then suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
"I've got it!"
"Maki-senpai must have that kind of feeling toward Ren-senpai!"
"Huh?" Yuji and Megumi leaned in, confused.
"You know—that!" Nobara pressed her two index fingers together meaningfully.
"Oh! I get it," Yuji said, realization dawning. "So she acts like she dislikes him, but actually likes him?"
Pfft—! Ren sprayed out a mouthful of water.
"But why?" Yuji frowned. "If she likes him, why pretend to hate him?"
"Adolescence! Adolescence!" Nobara stomped her foot. "You wouldn't understand a teenage girl's heart. That's why you're destined to stay single!"
"Either she's afraid her feelings will be exposed, so she pretends not to care," Megumi analyzed calmly, "or… because she likes him, she's afraid of being rejected, so she acts like she dislikes him first."
"…Megumi, you really get it," Nobara said, patting his shoulder in approval. "Compared to Yuji, you've got a much better chance of getting a girlfriend."
"Wait—why do you know so much? Don't tell me that calm, cool personality of yours is fake—you closet romantic!"
"Ahem—!" Ren's choking cough cut off their gossip.
"Senpai, are you okay?"
Maki… Ren tilted his head back, looking helpless.
This isn't on me.
You're the one who insisted on "acting normal"—and now it's so normal people are starting to notice…
She's not going to blame me for this, right?
"By the way, senpai," Nobara suddenly asked, "what do you think of Maki-senpai?"
"…What?"
Ren gulped down another mouthful of water and put on a straight face.
"Not interested!"
—
That afternoon, under the pretense of asking for guidance, Tsumiki brought Ren into an empty classroom.
"Ren-senpai, you went to see Maki-senpai last night, didn't you?"
As soon as they entered, she locked the door, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked up to him with a gentle smile.
"You and Maki-senpai… you're that kind of relationship, right?"
"…What?"
Ren stared at her in shock.
It was one thing for Nobara, Yuji, and Megumi—who were familiar with Maki—to notice something.
But how could you tell too?
And with such certainty?
For a moment, looking at her unchanged, gentle smile, Ren felt a chill run down his spine.
After a brief silence, he didn't deny it. He simply nodded, waiting for her reaction.
But instead—
She just giggled.
"Actually, I've known about you and Maki-senpai for a while now."
She leaned closer. Her lips, faintly fragrant, brushed softly against his cheek.
Then she bent down, her movements smooth and practiced, reaching for his belt.
"Tsumiki?" Ren was stunned.
"So it's fine," her gentle voice came from below, accompanied by a light, tinkling laugh.
"I'm not here to break you and Maki-senpai apart…"
"I'm here to… join you."
…
"T-Tsumiki…" Ren's body trembled, all strength draining from him. He raised a hand weakly, trying to stop her.
"N-not here… there are cameras…"
Tsumiki lifted a finger and pointed casually behind her.
The green indicator light on the classroom camera flickered—
and went out.
"There," she said, looking up at him with a bright, innocent smile. "Now there aren't any."