At this moment— Akiyama Ren couldn't help but be slightly exasperated.
Wasn't Miwa Kasumi supposed to be a Gojo Satoru fangirl? Why's she suddenly asking for my autograph?
As expected, her loyalty was to power, not people. Whoever stood at the peak became the object of her admiration.
Still, despite his inner sarcasm, Ren took the small notebook she offered and signed his name with a casual flick of his wrist.
Miwa lit up like someone had just handed her a lottery ticket.
"Can we take a photo together too?" she asked, already pulling out her phone.
Ren chuckled. "Sure, why not?"
Overjoyed, Miwa handed her phone to Zen'in Mai and rushed to stand beside him. Mai reluctantly took the photo, clicking with the precision of a jujutsu sharpshooter.
Miwa took back her phone and squealed, staring at the image like it was a sacred artifact. "So handsome! You're even more photogenic than I imagined!"
The rest of the girls couldn't help but exchange blank stares.
Ren leaned back on the couch, crossing his legs as he looked at the beautiful—and clearly chaotic—assembly in front of him. "Alright, let's cut to it. What brings all of you here?"
They exchanged glances, and eventually, it was Yotsuya Miko who stepped forward.
"Ren… I want to learn how to deal with spirits properly," she said, her tone serious despite the faint trembling in her hands.
Ren nodded. She had the potential—especially after awakening her ability to perceive malevolent entities. With the right training, she could become a capable spiritual medium, perhaps even a battle-exorcist.
He then looked to the two girls standing behind her.
"And who are they?" he asked.
"These are my friends—Yurikawa Hana and Niguredou Yuria," Miko answered quickly.
Ren recognized them from his interdimensional knowledge. Both were key characters in "Mieruko-chan." Their spiritual potential was dormant but accessible.
Yurikawa Hana had a vibrant personality and an equally vibrant appearance—short orange hair and a physique that, frankly, made some of the girls in the room slightly self-conscious. Niguredou Yuria, on the other hand, had blonde twin-tails and the posture of a petite Onmyōji acolyte—cute but not to be underestimated.
"They want to learn too?" Ren asked.
"Yes, please, Akiyama-san!" Miko bowed respectfully, prompting the others to follow her lead.
Ren nodded. "Alright. Teaching one or teaching three—it makes no difference to me."
In his eyes, the trio was a long-term investment. As someone who could assimilate and refine spiritual systems, nurturing these girls now meant potential assets in the future.
"Thank you so much!" Miko said, eyes bright with gratitude.
Ren waved off her thanks and then turned toward Tsuchimikado Natsume and Utahime Iori.
Natsume hesitated, cheeks tinged red, clearly unsure how to begin.
Utahime Iori—an instructor from Kyoto Jujutsu High—stepped forward, her posture straight and formal. "Akiyama Ren, I'm here on behalf of Kyoto Jujutsu High. We'd like to invite you to officially enroll as a student."
That got a reaction.
Maki Zen'in and Kurahashi Kyōko immediately burst out laughing.
Maki couldn't hide her grin. "Sorry, sensei—but it's a little late for that."
Utahime Iori raised a brow. "And what's so funny?"
Maki cleared her throat, trying to reel in her amusement. "Ren is already a faculty member at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
That landed like a Cursed Tool hammer.
The room fell silent.
Even Kurahashi Kyōko blinked in surprise. Despite living with Ren and training under him daily, this was the first she'd heard of it.
She glanced at Maki, suspicion in her eyes.
So that's why you've been acting smug lately. You brought him in yourself. Shameless.
But she forgot her own elders had sent her here with similar intentions. Pot, meet kettle.
Utahime Iori recovered quickly and turned back to Ren. "Is this true?"
Ren gave her a calm smile. "It is. And since I'm a teacher now, we're technically colleagues, not student and instructor anymore."
Utahime Iori froze for a heartbeat. Her expression didn't change, but her spiritual pressure subtly shifted—like a shrine bell struck by sudden wind.
Truth be told, Ren admired her composure.
It had to be said—Utahime Iori truly possessed a captivating beauty.
In terms of sheer allure, she and Mei Mei stood atop the Jujutsu world, each a vision of grace and power. When clad in her ceremonial shrine maiden attire, Utahime Iori exuded an ethereal presence, like a divine spirit walking among mortals.
But on that flawless canvas of a face was a single imperfection—an old, jagged scar that marred her cheek. To some, it might ruin the illusion of beauty. To Ren, it was trivial.
If he willed it, erasing such a blemish was within his grasp. After all, his mastery over advanced Jujutsu techniques—along with healing arts adapted from multiple systems—gave him more than enough ability. But Ren wasn't in the business of handing out favors for free. Not unless she became his—a loyal companion, bound to him not only by technique but by something deeper.
Utahime Iori lowered her eyes and gave a soft sigh. "Understood…Akiyama-Sensei."
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly at the sudden formality. "Anything else?"
The Kyoto girls exchanged glances. Finally, Utahime Iori stepped forward again with a respectful bow. "Your current strength has surpassed even Gojo Satoru. Within the Jujutsu Society, you're already whispered about as the strongest alive. We'd like to stay by your side… to learn, to grow, and to witness your evolution firsthand. Would that be acceptable?"
Ren leaned back, arms crossed, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Plenty of rooms here. Take your pick. They're all gathering dust anyway."
He wasn't foolish. He knew the higher-ups from both the Jujutsu Alliance and the Onmyo Agency had their reasons for pushing these girls into his orbit—some political, some strategic, and others far more manipulative. They thought he could be used, distracted, or controlled.
Fools.
If they sent him treasures, he'd simply keep them.
He would reverse their schemes and make these girls his. Allies. Partners. Lovers. Whatever they needed to be to serve his long game.
His gaze shifted to the two standing slightly apart—Tsuchimikado Natsume and Dairenji Suzuka.
Natsume, with her long raven-black hair and piercing violet eyes, looked like a solemn priestess descended from the heavens. In truth, she was a frontline Onmyoji—and the face of the Tsuchimikado clan's future. Despite her calm demeanor, Ren could sense the turbulent weight she carried behind her gentle smile.
Beside her stood Suzuka—twin-tailed, sharp-eyed, and impossible to ignore. The youngest of the Twelve Divine Generals, Suzuka's command of Modern Onmyōdō was near peerless. She wasn't just a genius—she was a walking storm of potential, albeit one with a dangerously immature edge.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly. They really sent her too?
The Onmyo Agency was playing a dangerous game. They were offering him the golden core of their future talents. Either as bait or tribute.
Did they forget who Natsume was supposed to be? To the world, she had long been declared the reincarnation of Tsuchimikado Yakou, the legendary founder of modern Onmyōdō. A figure revered to the point of deification.
Of course, Ren knew the truth—as did a select few. The real reincarnation was Harutora Tsuchimikado, Natsume's childhood friend. The entire ruse had been crafted to protect him.
So then, why send her?
Do they want me to pull an NTR on Yakou himself? Ren mused darkly, lips quirking in a sardonic smile.
No matter the motive, it didn't matter.
He would train them. Teach them. Mold them. And if they wished to follow him to the edge of the world and beyond…
He wouldn't stop them.