I reappear in a narrow alley in the heart of Tokyo, emerging from the shadows. The air here is heavy, thick with the smell of garbage and dampness. The concrete walls are covered in faded graffiti, and the distant sound of car horns echoes through the nearby streets.
I take a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion from the technique. Shadow Step is useful, but it drains a lot of my cursed energy. Nanami would strangle me if he knew I used it for something as trivial as a "casual stroll," as he likes to call it. I can almost hear the lecture: "You're not Gojo Satoru, stop wasting energy." I smirk slightly, brushing the thought away.
With my hands in my pockets, I step out of the alley. Tokyo's streets pulse with life, even at night. Neon reflects in dirty puddles, and the distant murmur of crowds creates a chaotic symphony. I walk slowly, savoring the moment as the sun sets and the shadows take over the world.
After a few blocks, a chill runs down my spine. I stop and glance at the alley to my right, where I can clearly feel the presence of something vile.
I don't think twice and step into the alley, the sound of my footsteps muffled by the damp ground. The scent of blood hits me first—metallic and fresh. Then I see her. In the corner, slumped against a pile of garbage bags, lies a homeless woman.
Her body is twisted, limbs bent at impossible angles, her face frozen in a silent scream. Blood trickles across the concrete, forming a dark pool.
Above her is the cursed spirit. Medium-sized, with a misshapen body covered in pulsating boils. Its eyes—many and glassy—stare at me, and a gurgling laugh escapes from its mouth full of crooked teeth.
"Disgusting," I mutter, raising a hand toward the creature.
In the blink of an eye, the alley comes alive. From the shadows on the ground, from the cracks in the walls, from every dark corner, black spears erupt. They pierce the cursed spirit from every angle, tearing through its form. The creature lets out a high-pitched scream, but it's too late. The spears shred it, and its form dissipates in an instant—exorcised with no chance to resist.
"Haah… okay, now I'm tired," I murmur, feeling the weight of using Shadow Manipulation like that. With a gesture, the spears dissolve, retreating back into the shadows as if they had never existed.
I lower my eyes to the woman on the ground. Her broken, bloodied body is a cruel reminder of what these curses do.
A wave of anger rises in my chest, mixed with a sorrow I can't shake. She was just another victim, another soul erased by the tide of curses that infest this world. Like so many others, she had no chance. No sorcerer to protect her, nothing but her own vulnerability.
I turn my back on the alley, leaving the body behind. Someone will find her. Someone always does. I step out onto the street, the night air of Tokyo brushing against my face.
The walk to my apartment is long, but I'm in no rush. My steps move at the rhythm of the city, which pulses unaware of what I just went through. Rushed crowds flow around me, their faces blurred by haste. Street vendors shout yakitori and ramen deals, their voices blending with the laughter of groups of friends enjoying the night. Life goes on, vibrant, ignoring the shadows that lurk in the alleys. Sometimes, I envy that ignorance.
After a few minutes, I arrive at my building—a modest structure squeezed between a convenience store with a flickering sign and skyscrapers trying to touch the stars. I climb the first flight of stairs, the cold railing under my fingers. At the top, I unlock the lobby door and face another flight up to my apartment. The silence in the hallway is almost oppressive, broken only by the distant hum of an air conditioner.
I open the door, and the quiet of my home swallows me whole. I toss the keys onto the table, the clink echoing through the emptiness. I take off my shoes, lining them up out of habit, and collapse onto the couch, the worn fabric giving way under my weight.
"I'm tired..." I mutter, closing my eyes—and within seconds, I'm asleep.
***
Morning sunlight invades my apartment, rays slipping through the half-closed curtains and hitting my eyes. "Damn sun," I groan, turning my face on the couch.
Then I feel it. A weight in the air, like the very atmosphere is judging me. I open my eyes slowly, and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest. Nanami is inches from my face, his eyes sharp as blades behind his glasses, his brow furrowed in that lethal mix of irritation and disappointment only he can pull off.
"You. Are. Late." His voice is calm—but it's that kind of calm that's one breath away from exploding.
I scream, partly in shock, partly in pure panic, and fling myself backward, slamming my back against the couch arm. "N-Nanami-san?! Why are you here?!"
He straightens up, adjusting his tie with a motion so precise it looks choreographed. "I was just passing by. And I decided to check whether you had, by any chance, set the apartment on fire. Or yourself."
Seriously? Does he really think I'm that irresponsible? I mean, okay, I did forget the stove on once (or twice), but that's a bit much.
"Now, Eiji-kun," he continues, locking eyes with me, "how late do you think you are?"
I swallow hard, cold sweat running down the back of my neck. My eyes dart to the clock on the wall, and my stomach drops. 10:37. The first class started two and a half hours ago. "W-well, let's be reasonable," I begin, raising my hands like I might calm the volcano that is Nanami about to erupt.
Nanami raises an eyebrow, and the silence that follows is so heavy I swear I can hear my own heartbeat. "Eiji… you have exactly five minutes to get ready and convince me it's worth not dragging you to school by the collar."
"Five minutes?!" I practically choke, already jumping up from the couch in a clumsy stumble, tripping over my own feet. "Nanami-san, that's inhumane! I haven't even had breakfast!"
He stares at me, expressionless. "Four minutes and fifty seconds," he says, glancing at his wristwatch.
'Crap!'
***
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.