One in Ten Thousand

The maple leaves outside the window had turned red.

Three months was neither a long time nor a short one. Wana had grown a little taller, learned plenty of new things, and written increasingly long letters. Her correspondence with Shoko had never stopped, going from one letter a week at first to one every two or three days.

The two little girls shared their lives in their letters: what new things Wana had learned that day, what kinds of shells Shoko had picked up on the beach yesterday; the sweet osmanthus blooming in Wana's courtyard, the three kittens born to the cat near Shoko's house; Wana asking whether anything fun was happening in Tokyo, and Shoko saying that a big ship had arrived at Yokohama's harbor, drawing crowds of onlookers.

Their everyday lives were utterly ordinary, yet they made both little girls feel as though the other was right beside them.

That afternoon, Wana clutched a letter and pattered into Zhiyan's study, her little face more anxious than he had ever seen it.

"Brother! Brother!"

Zhiyan was sitting at his desk, reading a book. He looked up at her voice and saw his sister charge toward him like a little cannonball, throwing herself into his arms.

"What's wrong?" He set down what he was holding and steadied her, his voice calm.

Wana tipped up her little face, her eyes shining, and held the letter before him. "Brother, look! A letter from Shoko! She said she's been seeing strange things!"

Zhiyan took the letter and unfolded it to read carefully.

It began with the usual greetings, mentioning that the weather had turned cool lately and reminding Wana to dress warmly. Then the subject changed-

"Wana, I think something's wrong with me. These past few days, I keep seeing strange things. They're small and black, and they look like bugs, but not quite. They crawl around the streets, and sometimes they fly outside my window. I asked Mom and Dad whether they could see them, and they said no. I asked my classmates, and they said no too.

"But I really can see them. They're right there, and some even make very, very faint noises, like something buzzing. I don't know what to do. Is something wrong with my eyes? But I went to the doctor, and he said my eyes were fine. I drew one of the creatures I saw for you. Have you ever seen anything like this?"

At the end of the letter was a crooked pencil drawing-something small and round, with a few things resembling feelers.

A fly head.

Wana had recognized it at once. She had seen an illustrated guide in the Zenin Clan's library and knew it was the weakest kind of cursed spirit. But she had never seen a live one-the clan's sorcerers cleared those things out so thoroughly that they could never enter the inner grounds.

"It's a fly head!" She looked up, her little face full of anxiety. "Brother, Shoko can see fly heads! Does that mean she's... she's about to awaken her cursed technique?"

Zhiyan studied the drawing without speaking.

Only jujutsu sorcerers or people whose talent for jujutsu had awakened could see fly heads. Shoko Ieiri-that little girl from an ordinary family-was actually one in ten thousand?

"It's possible." He put down the letter, his voice as steady as ever. "But we still need to confirm it."

Wana bit her lip, her little hands gripping his sleeve tightly. "Brother, will Shoko be in danger? Will those things hurt her?"

"Fly heads don't attack people on their own," Zhiyan reassured her, gently rubbing the top of her head. "They're too weak. But..."

He paused.

But being able to see cursed spirits meant Shoko had already stepped onto the fringes of the jujutsu world. That world was not as peaceful as ordinary people imagined. Those unseen things could threaten her life at any moment.

And Shoko was only a nine-year-old child, with no way to protect herself and no one to teach her how to deal with them.

"Brother," Wana said, her voice quieter now but unusually earnest, "can we go see her? She must be really scared right now."

Zhiyan looked at her.

Three months ago, his sister had still been a little girl shut away behind high walls, knowing next to nothing about the world outside. Now she worried about a friend's situation and looked at him with such earnest eyes.

The corners of his lips lifted.

"All right."

Wana's eyes lit up instantly.

"Really?"

"Really." Zhiyan stood, carefully folded the letter, and handed it back to her. "We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It's too late today. It takes over an hour to get to Kanagawa, so it would be dark by the time we arrived."

"Then I'll write to Shoko right now and tell her we're coming to see her tomorrow!"

With that, Wana hugged the letter to her chest and pattered out again, leaving a trail of cheerful footsteps behind her.

Zhiyan watched her disappear through the doorway, and the smile slowly faded from his lips.

He sat back down at his desk, but rather than returning to his book, he gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Shoko Ieiri.

The girl whose beauty mark beneath her eye lifted slightly when she smiled. The girl who disliked sweets but had gone to buy daifuku out of curiosity. The girl whose parents loved her dearly, who lived an ordinary, warm life.

If she truly had awakened a cursed technique, her life would never be ordinary again.

The path of a jujutsu sorcerer had never been an easy one.

Wana woke early the next morning, just as dawn began to break.

She dressed and washed even more quickly than usual, then ran to Zhiyan's door with a small bundle in her arms and waited eagerly.

When Zhiyan opened the door, that was what he saw-his sister in a brand-new kimono, her hair neatly combed, a bulging little bundle in her arms and anticipation written all over her face.

"Good morning, Brother!"

Zhiyan glanced at the sky, then at his sister, and his lips curved slightly.

"Morning. Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, yes! I ate ages ago!" Wana nodded repeatedly, then lifted the bundle in her arms. "Look, Brother! These are presents for Shoko!"

"What are they?"

"Bookmarks I made myself! And the sweets we bought last time! And this-" She pulled a palm-sized box from the bundle and opened it, revealing a delicate shell brooch. "Shoko sent me lots of shells last time, so I made them into a brooch for her! Does it look nice?"

Zhiyan looked down at the brooch. The shells had been carefully polished and arranged into a little flower. Though the workmanship was still a little rough, she had clearly put a great deal of thought into it.

"It looks lovely," he said sincerely. "Shoko will definitely like it."

Wana's eyes curved with her smile. She carefully put the box away and hugged the bundle again.

"Then let's go!"

The car was already waiting at the entrance.

This time, Zhiyan brought few attendants, with only two sorcerers following them. Too large an entourage would be inappropriate for a visit to an ordinary family's home.

The car left the Zenin Clan's gates, passed through Kyoto's streets, and headed down the road to Kanagawa.

Throughout the journey, Wana leaned against the car window, watching the scenery race backward. She asked, "How much longer?" over and over, and after receiving all sorts of answers, she finally settled down against Zhiyan, her little face full of anticipation and nerves.

A little over an hour later, the car entered urban Yokohama.

Following the address in Shoko's letter, they stopped in an ordinary residential neighborhood. It was not far from the shore; a faint salty tang lingered in the air, and seabirds called occasionally.

Zhiyan got out and looked around.

Ordinary streets, ordinary houses, ordinary lives. There was no trace of the Jujutsu Society here, no open or hidden struggles between clans, only the simple bustle of everyday life.

Wana had already jumped out with her bundle and started running ahead. Halfway there, she ran back and took Zhiyan's hand.

"Come on, Brother, hurry! It's that house up ahead!"

She pointed to a small two-story house nearby. Several pots of flowers and plants stood out front, and a calico cat lounged lazily in the sun atop the wall.

Zhiyan let her pull him along. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened from inside.

Shoko's mother stood in the doorway. She paused at the sight of them, then broke into a delighted smile.

"Oh, Wana and Zhiyan! What brings you here? Come in, come in!"

"Hello!" Wana bowed politely, then asked eagerly, "Is Shoko home?"

"Yes, yes, she's upstairs." Shoko's mother ushered them inside while calling up the stairs, "Shoko! Wana's here!"

There was a noise upstairs, followed by a patter of footsteps.

Shoko rushed down the stairs, her eyes lighting up the instant she saw Wana.

"Wana!"

"Shoko!"

The two little girls hugged, laughing and bouncing like two little birds reunited after a long separation.

Watching beside them, Shoko's mother could not help laughing. "All right, all right, don't stand in the doorway. Come inside. You too, Zhiyan. Make yourself at home."

Zhiyan bowed slightly and followed them in.

The living room was small but spotless, filled with signs of daily life. A plate of washed fruit sat on the coffee table, several photographs stood on the television cabinet, and a few little succulents lined the windowsill.

Shoko pulled Wana onto the sofa, and the two girls began chattering away.

"Wana, what brought you here? I thought I'd have to wait until my next letter to tell you!"

"As soon as I got your letter, I begged my brother to bring me!" Wana said, her little face utterly serious. "Shoko, I know those things you drew in your letter! They're fly heads!"

Shoko blinked. "Fly heads?"

"Yes! They're a kind of cursed spirit, the very weakest kind." Wana explained with a hint of pride in her voice. "I saw them in an illustrated guide in our library. Ordinary people can't see them. Only people with a talent for jujutsu can."

After listening, Shoko showed no sign of fear. She merely nodded, her tone as mild as ever. "So they're called fly heads."

She looked at Zhiyan and tilted her head slightly. "So I really did see them? There's nothing wrong with my eyes?"

"There's nothing wrong with your eyes." Zhiyan's voice was gentle and steady, reassuring in its calm. "You have the talent to become a jujutsu sorcerer."

Shoko thought for a moment, then gave a soft "Oh."

"That's good." Her eyes curved slightly. "I thought my eyes had gone bad. The doctor said they were fine, and I thought he was lying to me."

Her composure made Wana laugh, her little body shaking. "Shoko, how come you're not scared at all?"

"I am scared," Shoko said honestly. "But now that I know there's nothing wrong with my eyes, I'm not as scared. Will those things hurt people?"

She looked at Zhiyan as she asked.

"Fly heads don't attack people on their own," Zhiyan answered. "They're too weak. But if you can see them, that means you've already stepped into another world. In that world, there are beings far more powerful than fly heads."

After listening, Shoko lowered her head and looked at her hands, her thoughts unreadable.

Wana watched her nervously and said in a small voice, "Shoko, if you're scared, my brother and I will protect you!"

Shoko raised her head to look at her, her lips curving slightly.

"Thank you, Wana."

Then she looked at Zhiyan again. Her voice remained mild, yet held a surprising calm. "Then what can I do? I mean, since I have this talent, what can I do with it?"

Zhiyan looked at her.

This nine-year-old girl had not become anxious over suddenly gaining an ability, nor had she panicked upon learning that another world existed. She simply asked, calmly: what could she do?

"First, we need to identify your cursed technique," Zhiyan said. "Seeing cursed spirits is only the first step. A true awakening comes with more obvious signs. Have you noticed anything unusual lately? For example, does anything change strangely when you touch it?"

Shoko blinked and thought for a moment.

"Change..." she repeated under her breath, then stood. "Wait a moment."

She ran into her room and returned carrying a little box.

Inside was a tiny sparrow.

It lay quietly at the bottom, its feathers somewhat ruffled, but its chest rose and fell faintly. It was clearly still alive.

"I found it in the yard yesterday," Shoko said softly. "It fell out of a tree and was badly hurt. Its wing was broken, and I think its leg was too. I thought it wouldn't survive, but..."

She paused and looked at Zhiyan, her gaze as clear as spring water.

"But I touched it, and it slowly got better. Its wing wasn't broken anymore, and its leg was fine too. It was just still a little weak, so I put it in the box and gave it some water and millet."

As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked the sparrow's head.

The sparrow opened its eyes and chirped, then fluttered out of the box, circled the room twice, and flew out through the open window.

Wana's eyes went wide, and she let out an astonished "Wow!"

Shoko watched the sparrow fly away, then turned to Zhiyan. "Is that the cursed technique you were talking about?"

Zhiyan was silent for several seconds.

Reverse Cursed Technique.

It was an extraordinarily rare healing ability in the Jujutsu Society, capable of reversing injuries and restoring the body. More precious still was the ability to project it outward and use it on others. Over the centuries, only a handful of people had been able to use this technique. Yet the nine-year-old girl before him had performed it unconsciously.

Shoko Ieiri.

He would remember that name.

"Yes," he said, his voice even gentler than usual. "This is a very, very rare talent. It's called Reverse Cursed Technique."

Shoko blinked, seemingly taking in the information.

"Reverse Cursed Technique... is it really powerful?"

"Very powerful," Zhiyan said earnestly. "Powerful enough to shake the entire Jujutsu Society."

Shoko tilted her head, her expression barely changing, and only asked softly, "Then what can I do with this technique? Besides saving little birds?"

"You can save people," Zhiyan said. "Jujutsu sorcerers are often injured while fighting cursed spirits. Some injuries are so severe that ordinary doctors can't treat them. If you're willing, you can save them."

Shoko lowered her head and looked at her hands again.

"Saving people..." she murmured, then looked up with a faint smile. "That sounds pretty good."

Wana could no longer contain herself. She threw her arms around Shoko, her little face full of pride.

"You're amazing, Shoko! I knew you were amazing! You'll definitely save lots of people someday!"

Shoko could barely breathe in her embrace, but she still smiled and gently patted her back.

"Thank you, Wana."

Zhiyan watched them, his lips curving slightly.

Then he spoke, his voice gentle but serious.

"Shoko, I have some advice about your awakened technique, if you'd like to hear it."

Shoko released Wana, sat up straight, and looked at him attentively.

"Please, go ahead."

"Your technique is extremely rare. Once people in the Jujutsu Society learn about it, many will come looking for you. Some will want to protect you, some will want to use you, and some will want to turn you into their tool." Zhiyan's tone was calm, but every word was clear.

"You're still young, and you still have a choice. You can choose to accept all of this, enter the Jujutsu Society, and become a jujutsu sorcerer. Or you can pretend nothing happened, hide your talent for the rest of your life, and keep living as an ordinary person. Whichever you choose, I will respect your decision."

He paused, looking gently at the girl.

"But if you choose the first option, I suggest you keep your technique a secret for now. At least until you have the ability to protect yourself."

Shoko listened carefully, then nodded lightly.

"I understand."

She thought for a moment, then asked, "What about you? Will you use me?"

Wana immediately grew agitated and jumped up. "My brother would never do that! He's the best!"

Shoko smiled and patted her hand, but her eyes remained on Zhiyan.

Zhiyan met her gaze and answered earnestly, "I won't."

Shoko nodded, seemingly very satisfied with that answer.

"Then I choose the first one."

"What?"

"To enter the Jujutsu Society and become a jujutsu sorcerer," Shoko said, her tone as casual and natural as if she were saying the weather was nice. "It looks like I have this ability, so I might as well use it. Besides, Wana's there too. If I go, I can visit her and play with her often."

As she spoke, she looked at Wana. The two little girls met each other's eyes and smiled.

Watching them, Zhiyan's eyes softened with warmth.

"All right," he said. "But before that, there are a few things you need to know."

"What things?"

"A jujutsu sorcerer's life isn't as peaceful as an ordinary person's." Zhiyan's tone grew serious. "You'll see many things ordinary people can't see and go through things ordinary people never experience. You'll get hurt, and you'll see your companions get hurt. Some injuries might be beyond even your cursed technique's ability to heal."

Shoko listened quietly, the expression on her little face barely changing.

"What else?"

"And..." Zhiyan paused. "In the world of jujutsu sorcerers, sorcerers can be more frightening than cursed spirits."

Shoko blinked, then asked a question.

"What about Wana? Will she become a jujutsu sorcerer too?"

Zhiyan glanced at Wana.

Wana immediately puffed out her little chest. "Of course I will! I'm a child of the Zenin Clan!"

Shoko nodded and turned back to Zhiyan. "Then I want to become a jujutsu sorcerer too. If Wana's going to be there, I want to stay with her."

At those words, Wana's eyes reddened slightly, and she threw her arms around Shoko again.

"Shoko..."

"There, there," Shoko said gently, lightly patting her back. "It's not like we won't see each other again. What are you crying for?"

"I'm not crying!" Wana said in a muffled voice, but she buried her face in Shoko's shoulder and refused to lift her head.

Watching the two little girls, Zhiyan's lips curved into a smile.

Outside the window, the sparrow flew back and landed on the sill, chirping away as though thanking the person who had saved its life.

The afternoon sunlight spilled into the room, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

Shoko's mother poked her head out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "Stay for lunch. I've made plenty of food."

"Let me help you!" Wana immediately let go of Shoko and scampered over.

"Oh, no, no, you're a guest-"

"It's fine! I help my brother carry the dishes at home too!"

Their voices gradually faded as they disappeared into the kitchen.

Only Zhiyan and Shoko remained in the living room.

Shoko looked at Zhiyan and suddenly said, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For telling me all this," Shoko said earnestly. "Thank you for not lying to me or saying things like 'everything will be all right.'"

Zhiyan looked at her.

This nine-year-old girl had a calmness in her eyes far beyond her years.

"Aren't you scared?"

"I am," Shoko said quietly. "But being scared won't help, will it? Besides..."

She looked toward the kitchen, where Wana and her mother could be heard chatting and laughing.

"Besides, with Wana here, and Mom and Dad, and someone like you who's willing to tell me the truth, it doesn't seem like there's much to be afraid of."

Zhiyan's lips curved into a slight smile.

"You're stronger than I imagined."

"Am I?" Shoko tilted her head, her eyes crinkling slightly. "Maybe. I don't really know either."

Lunch was a lavish spread. Shoko's mother was an excellent cook, and although everything she made was simple home cooking, it was especially delicious. Wana ate until her little belly was round, then leaned back on the sofa, groaning.

Shoko sat beside her, sipping miso soup and occasionally glancing at Wana with a faint smile in her eyes.