Chapter 15 – Consider Me, Will You!
Geto Suguru no longer knew what he liked—what he wanted.
Back when he was partnered with Gojo Satoru on missions, confusion never weighed on him like this.
But the further Gojo walked ahead, the more he left Geto behind.
And now… Geto could no longer even recognize himself.
---
Inside a quiet restaurant, Yuki Tsukumo happily devoured a Mexican chicken wrap, speaking between bites.
"Why did you say that kind of thing? Aren't you afraid he'll go down the wrong path?"
Zen'in Shinsuke rolled his eyes at her.
"Please. Between us, your words are way more likely to mislead him than mine."
What was wrong with telling a kid to "do what makes you happy"? Not everyone was born to save the world, and not everyone had the power to, anyway.
"That's not fair! I was just sharing my perspective. How is that misleading?" Yuki protested.
All she'd done was exchange opinions with Geto. The choice, ultimately, was still his to make.
She had faith that even in confusion, a special-grade sorcerer would make a decision they wouldn't regret.
Shinsuke let out a short chuckle. "Heh."
In theory, she was right. A few casual words shouldn't carry such weight. But the truth was different: Geto was still just a teenager. Layer trauma upon exhaustion, and even the smallest push could ignite an inferno.
Not that it mattered to Shinsuke.
As a "special lecturer," he'd said his piece, fulfilled his duty as a teacher—barely. What came of it was no concern of his.
---
"Oh, right," Yuki said casually, "about the money… I'll have to delay repayment. Things are a bit tight right now. I'll get it back to you later."
Her tone was utterly nonchalant, like she'd rehearsed the art of owing without shame.
Shinsuke's cheek twitched. He knew it—this woman was just as much of a grifter as he was.
So in the end, this trip was a loss: no money collected, and he even paid for her dinner.
All he got out of it was the brief thrill of riding her motorcycle.
"Where are you freeloading these days?" Yuki asked with feigned curiosity.
"Watch your mouth. Do I look like the type to live off women?" Shinsuke replied smoothly, not a flicker of shame in his voice.
Yuki gave him a look of mock disbelief. "Don't tell me you've actually turned over a new leaf?"
"I'm a contracted instructor at Jujutsu High now. No need for handouts."
Strictly speaking, dropping the habit of mooching wasn't "turning over a new leaf" at all—it was more like reverting to the wrong path.
"Pfft—hahaha!" Yuki burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Don't make me laugh. You don't take missions either, same as me. That little salary from Jujutsu High—can it even compare to what you used to rake in daily?"
She simply didn't believe it. A man who had coasted on easy money for seven or eight years suddenly giving it up? Impossible.
Men who've tasted fast cash don't settle for pocket change.
Shinsuke didn't argue. He quietly continued eating.
"…Wait, seriously? You're not mooching anymore?"
His calm expression stunned Yuki. Was this really the same greedy man she remembered?
But Shinsuke had never thought of himself as greedy. He'd only ever sought money because overseas ventures required it—whether gambling for "fun" or funding his travels.
Now, though, that life of indulgence was temporarily over.
Yuki leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. "Wait… so you really quit freeloading? That means I have a chance, doesn't it?"
"A chance at what?" Shinsuke frowned, clearly missing her implication.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "If I'm not wrong, you're twenty-six now, right? Twenty-seven in traditional counting—basically pushing thirty! At your age, still single, that's unacceptable. So… how about it? Ever considered getting a girlfriend? What about considering me?"
She leaned across the table, resting her hands on it, blinking playfully at him.
If she could reel this man in, her first plan wouldn't need to be abandoned. After all, once they were a couple, she could "use" him freely—without spending a dime.
Two birds, one stone!
But Shinsuke frowned, staring at her dazzling eyes. "Don't even think about using this as an excuse not to pay me back. I'm warning you—I won't let you get away with it."
This woman wasn't just trying to freeload a meal—she had her sights set on his body now. Truly wicked.
Yuki sighed dramatically. "Tch, and here I thought I'd hidden it well. You saw right through me."
What an idiot.
She muttered curses in her heart while biting into her chicken wrap.
After the meal, she hopped onto her scooter and waved him goodbye. "See you around! Don't miss me too much!"
As always, she came and went like the wind, off once more to search for her way of "saving the world."
But in her heart, she'd already made up her mind—if next time she returned and he still didn't have a girlfriend, she'd use more forceful methods.
After all, she was a special-grade sorcerer. Taking down a man without cursed techniques would be child's play.
Watching her leave, Shinsuke had a bad feeling. If he couldn't even get back the money she owed him, what were the odds he'd escape her schemes?
Completely unaware that he'd been marked, he returned to his peaceful routine.
---
Not long after, news reached him: Special-grade sorcerer Geto Suguru had massacred an entire village.
Even with his small butterfly-effect interference, it hadn't been enough to prevent the tragedy.
The higher-ups branded Geto a curse user and sentenced him to death.
Shinsuke, however, paid it little mind. He simply carried on with his repetitive, ordinary life.
---
In the courtyard, he hefted a boulder weighing several tons, squatting rapidly with it on his shoulders. Steam poured off his body like a boiling kettle, as if he had just stepped out of a sauna.
"Whoa! Cousin turned into a steam hero! Amazing!"
From a distance, Zen'in Mai clapped excitedly, eyes sparkling with awe, mouth agape in pure admiration.
Beside her, Maki imitated her future teacher's movements with a plank of wood, stubbornly training.
Though she hadn't officially become his disciple, she came almost every day, determined to learn by observing how her cousin had grown so strong.
Mai, who had once sworn never to set foot in this courtyard again, ended up tagging along out of loneliness. Without her sister, she felt too afraid. But when Maki ignored her protests and came anyway, Mai had no choice but to follow.
At first, she kept her distance, trembling as she watched. But slowly, she realized—her "scary cousin" wasn't a monster at all.
He was just their older brother. And unlike others, he didn't bully them.
From the girl who once cried at the sight of him, Mai had transformed into his number-one fangirl.
After all, whenever she and her sister trained here, no one dared to pick on them anymore. That alone was enough for her to see him as a hero.
"Steam hero? Keep spouting nonsense and I really will eat you."
"Bleh~! Mai's not scared anymore!" she giggled, sticking out her tongue.