I was lying back in the bathtub.
It had already been two months since I moved into this new body, and even so, I still could not honestly say that I had truly changed.
There was only one thing that was clear.
The common sense I used to have no longer worked in this world.
Especially when it came to staying alive.
No matter how capable someone might be, the moment they became involved with the world of jujutsu, their life was no different from walking on a tightrope.
Of course, in my old world, the chance of dying had never been zero either.
But this place was different.
Because this was a fantasy world, and most of the things that could kill me were not the kind of things one could predict easily.
That was why what I was doing now was trying to find a way to make sure the thread I stood on would not snap so easily.
The first was the Ten Shadows Technique.
At first, I had not felt much about summoning Mahoraga.
To me, it had only been one dangerous shikigami.
But once I learned that I could draw the properties of shikigami into my own body, and even make use of Mahoraga's adaptation, the life that had once felt as though it were hanging by a thread had gradually begun to stabilize again.
Of course, eliminating dangerous elements was still important.
At the moment, there were only a few threats I could clearly identify.
The first was the Ten Shadows user named Megumi.
The second was Takizawa. Even though I still could not confirm exactly what his ability was, he was not someone I could simply ignore.
But because those were all external factors, reaching out and interfering with them without thinking it through could easily lead to events beyond my control.
That was why the first thing I should do was not kill.
...
When I looked back on the time I had spent with Jogo—
What the hell was I even doing back then?
I quietly laughed at what I had done.
At the time, I had made my original body into someone the jujutsu school had marked as a target, even though I could have avoided the entire situation if I had wanted to.
But if you asked whether I would still go after Sukuna's fingers if I were sent back again—
My answer would remain the same.
Yes.
In the end, this new world was an opportunity for me.
An opportunity to seek out things that interested me.
An opportunity to gather as many experiences as possible.
I cut off all of those thoughts, then summoned Mahoraga's wheel once more.
After that, I took a deep breath and sank beneath the water.
I deliberately held my breath.
If my body began to run out of oxygen, then the wheel should turn.
Time passed slowly.
I remained still beneath the water.
Waiting to hear that familiar sound.
...
Why the hell isn't the wheel turning?
...
1
While the maid was fixing my hair, she suddenly spoke.
"Miss, do you know about Jujutsu Headquarters?"
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror for a moment before answering,
"A little. If I remember correctly, it should be the Japanese government organization that oversees jujutsu sorcerers."
"Yes, that's right."
The maid gave a small nod before continuing,
"This coming Saturday, there will be a social gathering held together with them, as well as several other jujutsu families. They have sent an invitation for you to attend as the Kujo family's representative."
I fell silent for a moment.
"Do you happen to know whether there is any hidden intention behind it?"
"As far as I am aware, it is merely a gathering to build relationships. There is nothing particularly unusual about it."
I looked at myself in the mirror for another moment before asking,
"Did Sebastian want me to do anything specific there?"
"Sebastian did not give any special instructions. If I had to guess, he likely only wants you to carry yourself appropriately, just as you do at school."
"I see..."
I murmured.
Then the maid spoke again.
"There is one more matter. Sebastian said that he cannot personally accompany you to protect you, so he was considering hiring a jujutsu sorcerer to look after you in his place."
A single name immediately surfaced in my mind.
"Tell Sebastian that won't be necessary. I already have someone in mind."
The maid paused slightly.
"May I ask who it is?"
"Fushiguro Toji."
Her hands stopped for a moment quite noticeably.
"The Sorcerer Killer? How did you come to have a way to contact him, Miss?"
"It was just a coincidence."
The maid still looked a little hesitant, but after a moment, she spoke again.
"He is certainly well known among jujutsu sorcerers, but it should not be a major issue if this is what you wish."
She gave a small nod.
"I will inform Sebastian."
"Then let's go with that. Saturday, right? What time does it begin?"
"One o'clock in the afternoon."
...
It was not long before the call connected.
I raised the phone to my ear.
"Hello. This is Kujo speaking. Is this Fushiguro-san?"
The other end was silent for a moment before his low voice, as indifferent as ever, came through.
"What is it?"
"Are you free this Saturday afternoon?"
"Free."
He answered almost immediately.
"Ever since you told me not to take jobs, I've had almost nothing to do except sit around in my room."
"That's good, then."
I replied in an even tone.
"I have a party to attend, and I need someone to accompany me as a bodyguard. You seem better suited for this job than anyone else."
"Fine. Tell me the place."
His voice was as unbothered as ever.
"No. Send me your address instead. We'll come pick you up."
The line fell silent again, as though he were thinking about something.
So I continued without hurry.
"And please find something decent to wear. A suit or something like that should be fine. I'll include those expenses along with your payment."
"Yeah, yeah."
Then he asked,
"Anything else? Should I get ready in case there's a fight?"
I fell silent for a brief moment before answering,
"I don't think there will be anything like that."
The other end was silent again.
I let out a soft sigh.
"If you understand, then say something, would you?"
"Yeah, yeah. So all I have to do is guard some young lady and dress nicely, right? Easy."
He replied in the same lazy voice.
"In that case, I'll take it that you've agreed. I'll see you on Saturday."
The moment I finished speaking, I ended the call.
I looked at the maid standing behind me through the mirror.
"He agreed to come."
"Understood, Miss."
2
At an old Japanese-style wooden residence overlooking a long stretch of pale stone garden, the surrounding air was so still that even the sound of the wind could be heard.
Abe no Seimei stood alone on the outer veranda, the sheet of names still in his hand, even though several days had already passed.
He appeared as a young man dressed in kariginu, yet he had lived for over a thousand years and was one of the very people who had laid the foundations of Jujutsu Headquarters.
As his eyes remained fixed on a single name written on the page, another figure approached from behind. The other man was dressed in much the same way, clothing worn only by those who held high positions within Headquarters.
"Are you still dwelling on that matter, Seimei-sama?"
Seimei answered without turning around.
"Yes."
His tone was as calm as ever, but that alone was enough to make the other man narrow his eyes slightly.
Seimei lowered his gaze to the paper in his hand once more before speaking slowly.
"There are one hundred and forty-seven jujutsu sorcerers in total."
He paused for a moment.
"And among them are two special grades, including the clan head herself."
The other man fell silent at once as the meaning of those words sank in.
One hundred and forty-seven.
The number of sorcerers alone was already higher than the Zenin clan's.
"You are referring to the Kujo clan, Seimei-sama."
"Yes."
"What was Tengen's opinion on the matter?"
Seimei lifted his gaze from the paper and answered without haste.
"She said we should draw them to our side."
He paused for a moment, then continued in that same flat tone.
"It is well known that the Kujo clan controls assets ranked among the highest in the world."
The other man was silent for a brief moment, his expression shifting slightly the instant he heard that.
"If we gain their support, then the influence of the jujutsu world over the outside world will rise with it."
Once Seimei finished speaking, the other man gave a slow nod.
"And what shall we do, then?"
"I am still not certain... This may be something we must first discuss with the great clans."
"But there is one thing I find strange, Seimei-sama."
"What is it?"
The other man lowered his gaze.
"At first, I thought the Kujo clan's cursed technique was entirely related to shadows."
He paused briefly.
"But according to the reports, it seems only the clan head is able to use that technique."
Seimei's expression remained unchanged as the other man continued.
"The rest appear to use cursed techniques resembling those of the Kamo clan. They use blood as a medium as well, but the results are completely different."
Seimei was quiet for a moment before replying,
"So the shadow technique is not passed down to everyone..."
He spoke in an even tone.
"That is most likely the case."
Seimei listened a while longer before slowly folding the paper in his hand and looking out ahead.
"For now, all we can do is keep watching them."
...
Seimei parted ways with the other man and walked back into the residence.
Even so, whenever the subject of shadow-related techniques arose, the first thing that came to mind was always the Ten Shadows Technique.
According to Yaga's report, the Kujo clan's shadow technique was called Mandate of Shadows, a technique capable of controlling the surrounding shadows and transforming them into various forms of attack.
The Kujo clan, was it?
In the future, they might become a piece useful for balancing the power of the Gojo clan.
3
The next morning, I realized for the first time that I now had a shadow of my own.
It was probably the result of Mahoraga's adaptation.
When I arrived in the classroom, I greeted Saionji and Takizawa as usual before going to my seat.
After that, I bent down to place my school materials beneath my desk, just as I did every day.
But the moment my hand slipped inside, my fingertips brushed against something.
I paused slightly before pulling it out.
What I found in my hand was a pink envelope.
A love letter?
I lifted my gaze and swept it around the classroom as casually as possible.
But I found no suspicious person at all.
I slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the folded note inside.
To Nanakusa Mayumi,
If possible, could you come meet me on the rooftop after school?
There's something I want to talk to you about.
The message inside was shorter than I expected.
And it had no name.
...
After school,
I put my textbooks into my bag before glancing over at Saionji and Takizawa, who were getting ready to head to the club room.
"Saionji-san, Takizawa-san, I don't think I'll be able to go to club with you today."
The two of them turned to look at me at almost the same time.
Takizawa was the first to ask,
"Do you have something to do, Nanakusa-san?"
I gave a small nod.
"Yes. There's something I need to take care of. Please go on ahead without me."
Saionji frowned slightly, as though she wanted to ask more, but in the end she only gave her usual short reply.
"Is that so."
Takizawa nodded.
"I understand."
I acknowledged them with a faint smile, then waited until the two of them had left the classroom.
Only after that did I take the pink letter out once more and head toward the rooftop, just as instructed.
A confession, was it?
If that was all it was, then I was willing to hear it out.
But my answer would still be rejection and nothing else.
There was no way I could date some boy while stuck in a situation like this.
When I arrived at the rooftop, I saw that a male student was already waiting there.
His looks were decent enough, and he was a little taller than average.
"Good afternoon, Lady Mayumi..."
But the moment he opened his mouth, my entire first impression of him collapsed at once.
That voice grated on me.
Even so, I still chose to play along for the moment.
"What is it you wanted with me?"
He smiled as if he were entirely confident in himself.
"Go out with me."
He said it in a tone brimming with certainty.
Where the hell did this bastard get that kind of confidence from?
I fell silent for a brief moment.
Then I answered in the same polite tone as before.
"At the moment, I have no plans to be in a relationship with anyone. I'm truly sorry."
"Is that so?"
He replied before pulling his phone from his pocket.
Then he held the screen out for me to see.
The image displayed there was a photograph of me with Fushiguro in the casino.
Even though the clothes were different from what I wore now, it was unmistakably me.
My gaze stayed fixed on the screen for a moment.
"..."
I see.
So this is blackmail.
His smile widened slightly when he saw me fall silent.
"Surely the refined and proper Lady Mayumi of our school wouldn't have a hobby like this, would she?"
He lightly shifted the phone in his hand.
"I wonder what would happen if this photo were to spread around."
...That would certainly cause a fair amount of damage to my school life.
So I took my eyes off the screen and asked in a calm voice,
"Who are you?"
The boy gave a faint smile before answering without haste, as though he were certain that even if I asked, he would still be the one controlling the flow of the conversation.
"My name is Kisaragi Nagi. Second year, Class A."
He paused briefly before continuing in a tone that deliberately gave weight to every word.
"The Kisaragi family is involved in finance and real estate. You could say we're one of the more influential families in this city."
He revealed his background without the slightest hesitation.
But if a family could produce trash like this, then it was worth no more than garbage itself.
I looked at him for a moment.
"What do you want?"
His smile immediately deepened, as though he had been waiting for that question.
"...Do you know that I've been interested in you ever since the first time I saw you?"
He spoke slowly and clearly.
"Go out with me. It would probably be beneficial for your family too."
I was silent for a moment before asking back,
"If I say yes, you'll delete that photo, correct?"
"Of course."
I let out a soft sigh.
Then I lifted my head and looked at him again.
"Could you give me until this weekend to think about it?"
He looked visibly pleased.
"That's fine. I happen to be a rather generous person."
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"I'm giving you time, so make sure to give me your answer on Monday."
I gave a small nod.
"I understand."
He smiled like someone who had already won before taking a step back.
"In that case, I'll be going now."
He only stopped for a brief moment before turning back to look at me once more.
The smile on his face had not faded in the slightest.
"And one more thing... don't tell anyone. Otherwise, you know what will happen. Think carefully about it, all right?"
The moment he finished speaking, he turned and walked away almost immediately.
After he left, I remained standing there in silence for another few seconds.
Then every trace of expression disappeared from my face.
Only indifference remained.
"Ha..."
I let out a breath and pressed a hand to my forehead.
What an irritating insect.
And worse, the kind of insect that doesn't know its place.
...
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, you little shit...?"