Offering a Lamb to the Evil Wolf

In the first week after waking up, Mizuki Makoto gained a profound understanding of what "bankruptcy-level social anxiety" meant.

Todo, Mei Mei, Mai, Professor Utahime... even Miwa had helped take the hit for him. That long list of people who had saved his life weighed on him until he could barely breathe.

Especially that musclebound gorilla Todo. He had heard that although Todo's left arm had been reattached with the Reverse Cursed Technique, the Triple Black Flash had hit too hard. Now, every day, he ran laps around Kyoto Jujutsu High's main field, shouting and roaring Mizuki Makoto's name, declaring that once his best friend recovered, they would have another passionate brawl called "Soul Collision."

"Collide my ass..."

Mizuki Makoto sat on the floor of Utahime Iori's office, staring mournfully at the stack of rush-ordered "Special Grade VIP Handshake Tickets" in his hands, complete with replica autographs from Takada-chan.

(All I can say is, thank goodness for Mei Mei. Though that big sister left a death sentence in her message—"We'll talk when you wake up. Late fees double after the deadline"—at least she hadn't confiscated all my mission allowance and royalties while I was unconscious. She left me just enough money to buy my life.)

He had pulled every string he had to get these. To ordinary people, they were just a few pieces of paper, but to Todo Aoi, they were probably his life.

"First, I'll use these to 'exorcise' Todo. As for the rest of my debts, I can only slowly pay them off with my body... Pfft, slowly work them off."

As for everyone else... I'll pay them back slowly. Provided I don't expose my identity and get Gojo Satoru to hang me from Jujutsu High's front gate before blasting me with a Purple, or get punched straight to the Earth's core by Yuki Tsukumo...

Late at night.

"Should I wrap myself in ribbons, stuff myself into a gift box, and deliver myself to Mai-chan as a present? Or should I find some vegetable leaves to arrange over myself and use Boogie Woogie to deliver food right to her door?"

Just as he was agonizing over which way to court death, there came a soft knock at his dormitory door.

"Who is it? At this hour? Hasn't Todo finished training yet?"

Mizuki Makoto casually pulled open the door, but the complaint on his lips was instantly sealed in concrete when he saw the figure outside.

Miwa Kasumi stood outside.

That little angel who usually wore neat suits and looked so honest and dependable was now dressed in a lace slip nightgown that could make any healthy high school boy suffer an instant cerebral hemorrhage. The thin fabric trembled slightly in the chilly draft sweeping through the corridor. Her pretty face was so red it looked ready to bury itself in her collarbone, and she looked like a soft, pale lamb utterly lost in a blizzard.

"Um... Mizuki-kun, sorry to bother you..."

Mizuki Makoto stared at her expressionlessly for three seconds. His brain raced as the blood in his body split into two streams, rushing toward his big head and little head at supersonic speed.

Something is wrong with this development. Ninety-nine percent wrong! By light novel logic, this is either a beheading-worthy accidental fanservice scene from entering the wrong room, or...

He suddenly shuddered. His gaze swept over the empty corridor, and with lightning speed, he snatched his coat off the hanger, wrapped it around Miwa's head and body, dragged her into the room, and slammed the door shut with a bang!

"Miwa! Do you know that if Professor Kusakabe or Professor Utahime saw this, I'd be holding a handshake event in the morgue tomorrow?!"

However, Mizuki Makoto failed to notice that in the shadows across the hall, a mechanical eyeball was flickering with an eerie red light.

In his secret base, Kokichi Muta gripped the controls tightly. Watching Mizuki Makoto roughly drag the "disheveled" Miwa into his room on the monitor, his cursed energy nearly burst into flames from jealousy and rage.

"Mizuki Makoto... you scumbag... you unforgivable pervert!!"

Behind Mechamaru, a graceful figure elegantly held up her phone. Its screen clearly captured Mechamaru's lonely silhouette in the shadows, as well as the tightly shut dormitory door in the distance, brimming with "hidden details."

"Heh, looks like I've got someone's weakness." Zenin Mai curled her lips, lightly tapping the screen with her slender fingers and revealing a smile that said everything was going according to plan. "Mizuki, Mizuki, this is the 'thank-you gift' you delivered right to my door."

"Tell me, Miwa-chan. Who talked you into doing this?"

Mizuki Makoto pressed his fingers to his temples in near collapse as he looked at Miwa, who sat awkwardly on the edge of his bed, wrapped in his bedsheet and school uniform jacket like a rice dumpling.

Miwa Kasumi lowered her head, nervously twisting her sleeve. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "It... it was Mai-chan. She said that after you woke up, you obtained that ancient sorcerer's technique, and that you might... have a way to solve Mechamaru's Heavenly Restriction."

Mizuki Makoto froze.

...Indeed, after waking up, his soul had gained memories related to Soul-Flesh Separation.

I did discuss privately with Mai a few days ago whether that special technique could be used to solve the problem of Heavenly Restriction...

"And then?" He sensed something ominous.

"Mai-chan said that even though Mizuki-kun is very capable, you're fundamentally a 'serious pervert.' She said that if you treat Miwa this well, then it must be because... because..."

Miwa's face had turned red all the way to her ears, and she was practically steaming. "So, if I wanted to ask you to save Mechamaru, I had to show the 'utmost sincerity'..."

"That wicked woman from the Zenin Clan—she actually exposed me!!"

Mizuki Makoto threw back his head and sighed, weeping furiously inside.

Mai's move had truly inherited his style: forcing him to find the motivation to study the technique, smearing his reputation in passing, and pranking Miwa at the same time.

With the reputation I have now with Professor Utahime and Shoko... if word of this gets out...

He shuddered and refused to think further. Though he was at Kyoto Jujutsu High, Miwa Kasumi was the disciple of Tokyo Jujutsu High's second-year homeroom teacher, old man Kusakabe. And while Gojo Satoru acted carefree and rakish on the surface, he was actually such a pure-hearted guy that the most lewd thing he had ever done in his life was read the Gojo Mai: Household Affairs manga Mizuki had drawn...

If Mizuki dared do anything immoral to Miwa Kasumi, Kusakabe would really drag Gojo Satoru along and mince him into meat paste!

"Mizuki-kun..." Miwa suddenly raised her head, her eyes holding a trace of humble pleading and determination. "Can you really do it? As long as Mechamaru can have a healthy body, no matter what I have to give..."

"Stop! Don't go there!"

Mizuki Makoto abruptly stood up, pressed his palms together in refusal, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness:

"Miwa, first, please put this coat on properly! No, please change back into your clothes first! We're discussing a rigorous medical treatment, not filming a late-night show! As for Mechamaru... button yourself up first, then we'll talk!"

As for that wicked woman Mai... I've already drafted Miss Mai's Basement Training Diary in my head. Wash yourself clean and wait for me!

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