Oops! I didn't trigger the entry on Geto.
I didn't expect it to be triggered by this cursed spirit.
I have to say, it's really a pleasant surprise.
After swallowing the cursed spirit, Ryuji let out a satisfied burp, feeling much better. It wasn't a wasted effort after all.
"Well, sorry about accidentally demolishing the house..."
He looked around at the now-roofless manor. The sky was clearly visible, and sunlight flooded the room where the ceiling had once been. Ryuji's tone held no hint of actual apology, though.
"No, it's... fine," Gan'an Shinomiya stammered, still in shock. He had expected Ryuji to be strong, but this? This was beyond anything he could have imagined.
From a distance, Geto began clapping slowly, his expression calm yet intrigued.
"Subarashi! Truly amazing. To be personally recognized by Gojo as a genius sorcerer, you've certainly earned that title!"
The information from Jujutsu High about Ryuji had already reached Geto, helping him fill in some gaps in his knowledge. The variety of techniques Ryuji had displayed twisting space, casting powerful incantations, and even devouring cursed spirits was nothing short of extraordinary. Geto knew without a doubt that Ryuji was the one. While Geto had seen sorcerers who could use multiple techniques before, Ryuji's versatility and control piqued his curiosity.
Nearby, Mimiko and Nanako, the twin girls who accompanied Geto, exchanged a glance. Their initial annoyance at Ryuji's seeming disrespect had now shifted to wariness. It was clear to them, as it was to everyone present, that Ryuji's power was no joke.
Strength commanded respect, and Ryuji had plenty of it.
"Mr. Ryuji," Geto started, his tone friendly, "I'm curious what do you think about non-sorcerers?"
The question hung in the air, and Ryuji knew exactly why Geto was asking. He was well aware of Geto's twisted ideology: to eliminate all non-sorcerers and create a world where only sorcerers existed. It was a vision Geto had crafted after years of disillusionment, spurred by tragic events and his own radical conclusions about the nature of curses and humanity.
"Tsk," Ryuji muttered internally, feeling a bit exasperated. He knew the story. In a way, he could even sympathize with Geto's fall into darkness, but that didn't mean he shared the same beliefs. If not for the influence of that special-grade sorcerer Yuki Tsukumo back in the day, Geto might never have turned down such a dark path.
Out loud, he said, "I don't have much of an opinion on the whole sorcerer versus non-sorcerer thing. One of my girlfriends is a non-sorcerer, after all."
Everyone in the room paused. The distinction between "a non-sorcerer" and "one of my girlfriends" wasn't lost on anyone.
Mimiko and Nanako both shot Ryuji disapproving looks. Gan'an Shinomiya glanced at his daughter, Kaguya, before clearing his throat awkwardly. Meanwhile, Yukinoshita Fumino gave her daughter Haruno a sideways glance, her expression questioning. Haruno, for her part, avoided her mother's gaze entirely, pretending not to notice.
"Well, then..." Geto chuckled, realizing Ryuji wasn't aligned with either side. "Perhaps you're still young. In time, you might come to understand the fundamental difference between sorcerers and non-sorcerers. After all, the presence of non-sorcerers only increases negative energy in the world, leading to the growth of cursed spirits."
Ryuji simply shrugged, unimpressed with Geto's reasoning.
With that, Geto gave a polite nod, signaling the end of the conversation. "I'll take my leave for now. It was... enlightening meeting you, Ryuji." He then turned to the twin sisters. "Let's go."
Mimiko and Nanako gave Ryuji one last glance before following Geto out. Their expressions held no hostility now, just the grudging acknowledgment of someone who knew when they'd met their match.
As Geto and his group left, Ryuji watched them go without a word. Despite their differences in ideology, he didn't harbor any personal animosity toward Geto. If anything, Geto was a tragic figure, corrupted by his own twisted ideals but still possessing a magnetic personal charm that drew others to him.
It was a shame, Ryuji thought. In another timeline, maybe Geto could have been saved, but now, his path was set in stone.
Ryuji let out a breath and waved to Haruno. "Alright, let's go."
"Wait up!" Haruno hurried to catch up, smiling despite everything.
"Um…" Fumino hesitated as she prepared to leave, still mindful of her original goal. Before she could say anything, Gan'an Shinomiya interrupted her.
"Don't worry," Gan'an said, his voice firm. "The Shinomiya family will formally announce its support for the Yukinoshita family."
This was more than she had expected. Originally, she had hoped for a word of support, something that could help her family's reputation. But now, after witnessing Ryuji's power, Gan'an was offering full backing a powerful endorsement from one of the most influential families in the country.
"Thank you very much," Fumino replied, bowing deeply, her voice filled with gratitude.
As Fumino and Haruno left with Ryuji, Shinomiya Kaguya's older brother, Oko, finally spoke up, his voice wavering slightly. "Father, are we just going to let this happen? That... that was more power than I've ever seen."
Un'yo and Kaguya remained quiet, but it was clear they shared similar thoughts. The events of today had shaken their understanding of the world.
Gan'an Shinomiya looked at his children with a somber expression. He had withheld much about the existence of sorcerers to protect them, but after today, there was no point in keeping such things a secret.
"In time, I'll have all the necessary information given to you," Gan'an said after a moment's pause. "For now, just understand that no matter how wealthy or powerful we are, there are forces in this world far beyond what money can influence."
His children nodded, their expressions grave. They had seen the truth of his words firsthand.
Gan'an then turned to Kaguya. "Your birthday is in a month, correct?"
Kaguya blinked, a bit startled by the sudden shift in conversation. "Yes, Father."
Gan'an smiled. "I believe we'll throw a large party this year. We'll invite Ryuji as our honored guest."
Kaguya understood immediately this was no mere birthday celebration. It was an excuse to maintain a connection with someone as powerful as Ryuji. Still, she couldn't exactly refuse.
"I understand," Kaguya replied, her voice steady.
"Good. Make sure you look your best."
"Yes, Father."
***
Outside, Haruno and Ryuji climbed into the family car. Haruno was still buzzing with energy after everything that had happened, but her mother's sudden movement to the front seat threw her off.
"Mom?" Haruno called, confused. "Aren't you going to sit back here?"
"I think I'll sit up front," Fumino replied smoothly, already opening the passenger door. Haruno blinked, realizing her mother was deliberately giving her space with Ryuji. Her face heated up in embarrassment, especially when she noticed Ryuji grinning at her.
"You coming?" Ryuji asked, patting the seat next to him.
"I... just don't think anything weird," Haruno muttered, cheeks burning.
Ryuji shrugged with a smirk, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Sure, sure."
Up front, Fumino couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding behind her. Her plan was working out perfectly.
"Let's get going," she instructed the driver, who raised an eyebrow at the situation but wisely said nothing as she started the car.
As they drove off, Fumino pulled the curtain between the front and back seats, blocking off any view of what was happening in the rear. Haruno glanced at the curtain and then at Ryuji, her blush deepening.
"You're incorrigible," she mumbled.
Ryuji only chuckled in response.
***
Far away from the manor, Mimiko and Nanako trailed behind Geto Suguru, still stewing over the events that had transpired.
"Who is that guy, anyway?" Mimiko muttered.
"And how does he have so many techniques?" Nanako added, equally frustrated.
Geto smiled calmly, his hands tucked into his robe. "Techniques can be acquired, through training or… other means. But remember, it's not just about the number of techniques you have. Power comes from mastery."
The two girls nodded, though the tension between their brows remained.
"Master Geto is still the strongest," Mimiko said with certainty.
Nanako nodded in agreement. "That guy might be impressive, but he's no match for you, Master."
Geto chuckled at their fierce loyalty.
"Hahaha!"
Nanako and Mimiko's words made Geto Suguru laugh heartily. Seeing him laugh, the two sisters beamed with pride, clearly pleased with themselves.
Looking off into the distance, Geto's gaze turned contemplative, a subtle seriousness settling in.
No matter what, his original plan would not change. It seemed he couldn't master Domain Expansion before the plan kicked off. But that didn't matter there were always other ways.
"Gojo… just wait. I'll definitely create a new world," he muttered to himself, his mind already calculating the next steps.
---
Back in the business car, during a brief moment of rest, Ryuji took a look at the golden entry he'd triggered from the special-grade cursed spirit.
"Golden Entry: Shadow Manipulation!"
Not bad it was the power to control shadows.
Ryuji gave it a try and found he could not only manipulate his own shadow but also the shadows of others. This technique definitely had a high ceiling for growth and mastery.
"Load it," he decided. For abilities like this, keeping them was a no-brainer.
Only abilities that were truly useless would get discarded.
"Talent Entry System:
[Talent entry system]
Host: Ryuji Hoshino
Bloodline: Human
Loaded entries: Soul Devouring [Red], Yin-Yang Eyes [Gold], Presence Concealment [Gold],Tranquility [Gold], Reverse Cursed Technique [Gold], Monster Attracting Physique [Gold], Third Dimension, Dreamwalker [Gold], Physical Strengthening [Gold], Cursed Speech [Gold], Shadow Manipulation [Gold], Iron Fist [Purple].
Points: 74,120!"
Ryuji smiled at the progress. His stats were really starting to stack up.
Compared to the nearly empty panel he'd started with, his abilities now were pretty stacked.
After returning home, it would be a good time to practice more with his shadow manipulation. Since it was a newly acquired ability, it needed testing and refinement. After glancing at his panel for a moment, Ryuji closed it with a satisfied grin.
Turning his attention to Haruno, who was kneeling in front of him, Ryuji reached out and playfully patted her cheek, grinning.
"Well done," he said with a satisfied tone.
Thank goodness this business car had enough space in the backseat. Otherwise, things would have been a little too cramped for comfort.
"..."
Haruno shot him an icy glare, unable to say much, though her expression was one of frustration and exhaustion.
Just then, the car stopped.
"Mr. Ryuji, we've arrived," Fumino's voice came from the passenger seat.
She had even instructed the driver to take a few extra loops around the block, giving them plenty of time.
"Alright," Ryuji replied casually, watching as Haruno hurriedly tidied herself up. He smirked, stepped out of the car, and stretched his arms.
"Thank you, Mrs. Yukinoshita, for the ride home," he said politely.
"It's nothing at all," Fumino responded with a calm smile, maintaining her composed demeanor. "If you ever have the time, Mr. Ryuji, feel free to visit our house."
"There'll be a chance for sure," Ryuji grinned, giving a short wave as he walked off.
Once he was out of sight, Fumino instructed the driver to start the car again. As the vehicle began to move, she turned her attention to her daughter, who sat in the back with messy hair and a flustered look.
"Haruno, care to explain how you and Mr. Ryuji became acquainted?" she asked with a knowing look.
"You didn't know him at all and yet, you were fine leaving me alone with him?" Haruno shot back, rolling her eyes. Despite her irritation, there was a strange sense of security she felt from Ryuji. He was now someone she trusted deeply.
"Well, what could I have done? If you didn't want to, I couldn't have forced you," Fumino replied indifferently.
She understood her daughter well. Despite Haruno's outwardly obedient nature, when it came to matters of principle, she wouldn't back down easily. Fumino had encountered her daughter's stubborn resistance many times especially when she had suggested taking Yukino to high-class social gatherings, only to be firmly opposed by Haruno.
Haruno had always insisted that her younger sister deserved to enjoy a normal, carefree school life, and as the eldest, she would bear the burden of their family's responsibilities.
"..."
Seeing her mother's piercing gaze, Haruno had no rebuttal. Deep down, she knew her attraction to Ryuji was real, even though she had initially resisted it.
She sighed in resignation. "Fine, whatever. Think what you want."
Fumino shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn't need to pry any further. As long as her daughter understood the stakes, that was enough.
"I'm tired. Let's just go home," Haruno said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Of course," Fumino replied, turning back around, satisfied with how things had gone.
---
Meanwhile, after arriving home, Ryuji noticed that Miko still hadn't returned. He made a quick call and learned that she had been busy accompanying her mother.
Ryuji didn't mind. In fact, Miko had even suggested that he could visit her at her mother's house if he wanted. The upstairs rooms were soundproof, after all.
Ryuji's immediate reply was, "Sounds good!"
Yeah, just checking on the soundproofing nothing more.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, interrupting his thoughts. Curious, Ryuji walked over to answer it.
When he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Izumi Sae standing awkwardly at the entrance. She looked a little flustered.
"So, what's wrong this time? Another broken water pipe?" Ryuji asked with a playful smirk.
"The kitchen…," Sae muttered guiltily, avoiding eye contact. She was clearly embarrassed.
Ryuji just stood there, looking at her for a long moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Alright, I'll take care of it."
---
Inside the kitchen, Ryuji quickly spotted the issue. As expected, the floor was flooded. The pipes were clearly busted, but upon closer inspection, it didn't seem like normal wear and tear. This pipe had been tampered with.
"You know, I just realized this wasn't caused by old pipes wearing out," Ryuji said, looking over at Sae with a raised eyebrow.
Sae froze, guilt flashing across her face. She had definitely been caught.
"..."
She couldn't meet his gaze. Her eyes darted to the side, avoiding him entirely.
"You broke it on purpose, didn't you?" Ryuji's grin widened as he leaned back.
Sae's face flushed with embarrassment, and she stammered, "I—well… maybe?"
"Uh-huh. Well, I think some punishment is in order for that, don't you?" Ryuji teased, his voice carrying a playful edge.
"W-Wait! You—" Sae tried to protest, but Ryuji wasn't about to let her off that easily.
"I'm back!"
A few hours later, Izumi Sagiri returned from school. As she stepped inside, she was surprised by the silence in the living room.
"Mom?" she called out, puzzled. Usually, her mother would be waiting for her here.
"Good evening, Sagiri-chan!" Ryuji greeted her, coming down the stairs from the second floor. He waved with a warm smile.
"Ah, good evening!" Sagiri replied, a bit startled to see him in her house. However, since she had seen Ryuji a few times before, she wasn't scared. Instead, her curiosity grew.
"Well," Ryuji shrugged and explained casually, "Sae-san said there was an issue with the water pipes in the kitchen, so I came by to fix it. But she got a bit tired helping me and went to rest in her room."
Technically, it wasn't a lie. After all, Sae was indeed tired and resting in her room.
"Oh, I see!" Sagiri nodded, accepting the explanation without suspicion. She sighed softly. "Things keep breaking around the house. Yesterday it was the bathroom, and now the kitchen. What's next?"
"Haha!" Ryuji chuckled at her complaint. "Sagiri, you haven't eaten yet, right? Since Sae-san is asleep, how about I make you something?"
"Huh? Really?" Sagiri looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure that's okay?"
Ryuji waved off her concern. "It's no trouble at all. Sagiri-chan is cute, and I can't just let you go hungry, can I?"
Sagiri blushed, embarrassed by his compliment, but she smiled shyly and nodded, sitting down obediently at the table. Her small feet swung under her chair, a cute habit of hers. A short while later, Ryuji came out of the kitchen with plates of food, having used the ingredients stocked in the fridge.
"All done!" he said, setting the dishes down.
"Whoa… that's a lot of food!" Sagiri's eyes widened at the sight of the feast.
"It's fine," Ryuji said with a smile. "When Sae wakes up, she can join us."
As he cleaned up the kitchen, he added, "Alright, I'm heading out now."
"Huh? Brother Ryuji, aren't you staying to eat with us?" Sagiri asked, feeling a little disappointed. Although they hadn't spent much time together, she had grown fond of Ryuji during their encounters.
"Nah, I've already eaten," Ryuji replied with a grin, glancing toward Sae's room for a brief moment. "I'm more than full."
"Well… okay then," Sagiri pouted slightly but didn't push further.
"Enjoy your meal, Sagiri-chan!" Ryuji waved and left the house.
Sagiri, now alone at the table, took a bite and her eyes lit up. "Wow, it's so good!" she exclaimed, thoroughly impressed. Ryuji's cooking skills had clearly improved over time, likely due to his enhanced control and precision from his growing strength and refined senses.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Sae slowly woke up from her nap, feeling a bit sore.
"Ugh… what a beast!" she muttered under her breath, blushing slightly as she recalled the earlier events. "Is this because he's young? Still, that was… too much."
Shaking off the thoughts, she got out of bed. Sagiri would be home by now, and she hadn't prepared dinner yet. As Sae walked downstairs, she spotted Sagiri already seated at the table, happily eating.
"Hmm? What's all this?" Sae asked, trying her best to walk normally so Sagiri wouldn't notice anything strange.
"Brother Ryuji made it!" Sagiri said cheerfully. "Come on, Mom, join me! The food's amazing!"
"Ryuji made this?" Sae blinked, looking at the spread on the table, and then at her daughter. A soft smile appeared on her face.
"Well then, I can't refuse," she said, sitting down next to Sagiri. She took a bite and her eyes widened with delight, much like her daughter's.
"Wow… this really is delicious!" Sae exclaimed, savoring the flavors. However, as she continued eating, a thought crossed her mind. She turned to her daughter, feeling something was off.
"From now on, just call him 'Uncle Ryuji,' okay?" Sae said, a little flustered. The dynamic between them was starting to feel a bit confusing.
"Huh? Why?" Sagiri asked innocently, clearly not understanding why the change was necessary.
"Just because, that's why!" Sae huffed, avoiding a more in-depth explanation. "You'll understand when you're older."
"Fine…" Sagiri pouted but decided she would talk to Ryuji about it later. Why should she call him 'uncle' when he was obviously more like a big brother?
The two continued their meal, enjoying the delicious food Ryuji had left behind.
---
The next day during the lunch break, Ryuji was surprised to see Utaha visit the service club. She arrived with her usual elegance, barely blinking an eye at the other girls already there. She had known about Ryuji's situation for a while, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary to her.
"I made you a bento," Utaha said with a small smile, handing over a neatly packed lunchbox.
"Thanks, Shiyu," Ryuji accepted it gratefully. He then introduced her to the other girls in the room.
"Hello, I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha, and I'm Ryuji's girlfriend," she said, her tone calm and collected.
The others responded in kind, except for Yukino, who only offered her name in a somewhat frosty manner, though not out of malice.
Miko, as always, was her warm and gentle self, greeting Utaha politely.
But then there was Hana.
"Oh, what a coincidence!" Hana piped up cheerfully. "I'm also Ryuji-kun's girlfriend! I'm Yurikawa Hana!"
Utaha blinked, clearly taken aback by Hana's bright and innocent demeanor. It was hard to process at first, but soon enough, she smiled back.
"They seem friendly enough," Utaha thought to herself. Despite her outward calm, she felt relieved that there wasn't any hostility or exclusivity among the girls. After all, they were all part of Ryuji's strange life now.
"By the way, where's Eriri?" Ryuji asked, curious about her absence. After the incident with the curses, Utaha and Eriri had become surprisingly close.
"Oh, I may have sent her in the wrong direction," Utaha admitted, smiling mischievously.
"..."
Ryuji couldn't help but laugh. Not long after, Eriri burst into the room, visibly annoyed and out of breath.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, you evil woman!" she practically growled. "I almost searched the entire school thanks to you!"
"How scary," Utaha feigned fear, hiding behind Ryuji with exaggerated theatrics. "Ryuji-kun, help me! Eriri's going to hit me!"
"You little—!" Eriri's hands balled into fists, but she stopped herself. She didn't want to appear overly aggressive in front of Ryuji, especially with Utaha watching her smugly.
"Alright, alright," Ryuji intervened, laughing. He patted Utaha's back and said, "I already punished her, so don't be mad, Eriri."
"Fine…" Utaha said, stepping away, a playful glint in her eyes. She knew not to push things too far.
Eriri huffed, sending a glare toward Utaha. She couldn't help but notice how Utaha seemed to savor Ryuji's touch. Was this really a punishment? It felt more like a reward.
That woman must have some strange hobbies, Eriri thought, her imagination running wild, a habit from her days as a doujinshi artist.
With Utaha and Eriri now joining the service club, the atmosphere became more lively. Surprisingly, there was no tension, no animosity, and no secretive competition between the girls. In fact, they all got along quite well.
This was exactly the kind of peaceful scenario Ryuji preferred.
Just as everything seemed to settle down, the door to the service club opened once more.
"Ryuji-kun!" Kawasaki Saki called out excitedly as she walked in, looking eager to share something. However, she froze when she saw Utaha and Eriri in the room, her excitement faltering for a moment.
What is this, some kind of harem meeting? Saki thought to herself.
"What happened?" Ryuji asked, bringing her back to reality.
"Oh, right!" Kawasaki Saki snapped back to attention. "Come in!"
At her invitation, another figure entered the room—though only Ryuji could see her. It was none other than Sakurajima Mai, the girl who had been gradually fading from existence due to a strange phenomenon.
"Who's there?" Utaha asked, glancing around.
The other girls exchanged confused looks. They didn't see anyone around Saki.
"Uh… well, I can't see her anymore either," Saki admitted, scratching her head. She explained that she had met Mai on her way to the service club. After learning about Mai's problem, she had brought her here, hoping Ryuji could help. But along the way, Mai had disappeared from her view too.
"Mai Sakurajima… the campus legend?" the girls murmured, recognizing the name. Utaha and Eriri, hearing it for the first time, exchanged curious glances.
They couldn't see anyone, but from the conversation and context, it was obvious that someone was there.
Feeling disappointed, Mai, who had been standing in the middle of the room, slowly started to turn away. Her hope was fading, and it seemed like no one could truly see her or help her after all.
But just as she took a step toward the door, a voice stopped her.
"Are you leaving before your problem is solved?"
Startled, Mai spun around and stared at Ryuji. She couldn't believe it. "You… can see me?"
"Of course," Ryuji smiled, his calm demeanor giving off an air of reassurance.
Mai stood frozen for a moment, her disbelief slowly morphing into relief. For so long, she'd been slowly vanishing from people's lives, to the point where no one could acknowledge her existence anymore. And now, this boy could actually see her.
"Hey, Ryuji, what's going on?" Eriri asked, looking around in confusion. "Are you saying that she's actually here?"
"Yup. Right in front of me," Ryuji nodded. "Her name is Sakurajima Mai, and she's… well, she's dealing with some unique circumstances."
"Can you explain it to us?" Utaha chimed in, adjusting her glasses. She was clearly intrigued by the situation.
Ryuji nodded and turned back to Mai. "Don't worry. We're going to figure this out," he said, giving her a reassuring smile before addressing the rest of the room.
"As you all know, there's a strange urban legend about Mai Sakurajima. She's a celebrity, but she's been slowly becoming invisible to people due to a phenomenon connected to her sense of existence. It's a type of curse energy affecting her, and that's why she's been unable to interact with anyone."
"A curse energy? So, it's like what happened to me before?" Saki Kawasaki asked, connecting the dots to her own recent brush with the supernatural.
"Exactly," Ryuji confirmed. "It's not as intense, but the problem is that Mai's presence is fading from everyone's perception. People stop noticing her until she essentially disappears from their world altogether."
"But why hasn't it affected you, Ryuji?" Yotsuya Miko asked, her brows furrowed.
"I can see her because of my abilities," Ryuji explained. "My connection with curse energy allows me to perceive things that others can't."
"That's incredible," Yotsuya Miko murmured, clearly impressed.
Mai stood quietly as Ryuji explained her situation. It felt surreal hearing someone talk about her so casually when she had been ignored and forgotten for so long. The girls in the room, even though they couldn't see her, were now fully aware of her presence.
"So… can you help her?" Utaha asked, cutting to the point. Her analytical mind was always focused on solving the problem at hand.
Ryuji turned to Mai, who looked back at him with hesitant eyes. "Yeah, I can help," he said confidently. "It'll take some work, but I should be able to break the curse that's affecting her."
"Really?" Mai's voice was hopeful, though she tried to temper her expectations.
"Trust me," Ryuji reassured her. "You won't disappear. Not while I'm around."
The sincerity in his voice was enough to make Mai feel a flicker of hope she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this strange boy really could help her after all.
"Thank you," Mai said softly, her voice laced with emotion.
"No need to thank me yet," Ryuji smiled.
"Let's get started on fixing this mess first."