That said, I don't even have a credit card, and Panda definitely doesn't either. I'd better go find Principal Yaga.
Dai Li headed back toward the building he had just left.
"He's not here."
Only when he arrived did he realize Masamichi Yaga had already left.
"Did you need something?"
Dai Li turned toward the voice. It was Assistant Supervisor Kiyotaka Ijichi. He seemed to be passing by, though this clearly wasn't an ordinary room.
"I don't have any identification right now, so I can't get a credit card or shop online. This place is so remote that going to an appliance store in the city would be a huge hassle."
"I see. Then I'll place the order online for you. As for the money, you can pay me back once you've earned some wages from missions."
"Here's my phone number. If there's anything you want to buy this month, just let me know."
Kiyotaka Ijichi was always generous about helping students in trouble, especially when it was something within his power.
"Thanks, Mr. Ijichi."
"Your identification should be ready this month. Mr. Gojo should have already explained the details to you. Your registered address will be in Tokyo."
Actually, I do have money. I'll pay Ijichi back once I get a credit card.
Dai Li hadn't told anyone at Jujutsu High where he wanted his registered address to be or any other details, but he trusted them to handle it.
After all, Jujutsu High's intelligence network included plenty of members of Window, and there were bound to be powerful, influential people in Japanese society among them.
"Satoru Gojo didn't tell me a thing. Who knows where he's gone off to have fun now?"
"Then please come to me if you have any questions in the future. Mr. Gojo is Special Grade, so he can be rather busy."
Ijichi chose a tactful way of putting it, but he didn't defend Satoru Gojo either. Given Gojo's personality, even he couldn't tell whether the man was away on business or off having fun somewhere.
After noting down the list of things Dai Li wanted to buy, Ijichi said goodbye and returned to work. An assistant supervisor had plenty of responsibilities, after all.
I'll leave the heavy stuff, like the computer and game console, to Ijichi. As for game cartridges, clothes, and everyday supplies, I'll head into central Tokyo to buy those later.
That afternoon, Dai Li rode into central Tokyo and bought a large quantity of everyday supplies, along with quite a few game cartridges from an electronics store.
Finally, around dinnertime, he found a Chinese restaurant with a decent reputation. The food had a distinctly Japanese flavor, but it wasn't bad.
He walked back to Jujutsu High at dusk with two full bags, arranged his room, then lay on his bed browsing Japanese forums on his phone and drinking cola. After watching a few supposedly paranormal incidents on YouTube, he showered and went to bed.
What a fulfilling day.
By noon the next day, the computer and game console Dai Li had asked Ijichi to buy online had arrived. Perhaps it was because of Jujutsu High: the order had been placed yesterday afternoon, and the courier had delivered it by noon today.
Whatever the reason, the sooner it arrives, the sooner I can play.
Dai Li spent the afternoon gaming. That evening, he ate some of the cup noodles and other junk food he'd bought, then kept playing until three in the morning before going to bed.
Ah, what a fulfilling day.
The next day, he slept until noon, then went back to playing, eating, and sleeping, day after day.
An unknown amount of time passed like that.
[Reminder: moderate exercise helps improve physical fitness and cursed energy control.]
"Why are you popping up now, system? Can't you see my cursed energy still hasn't recovered? We can talk once it's back."
With that, Dai Li gave himself an excuse to keep slacking off.
About two months drifted by in a haze after he entered Jujutsu High. Panda visited him a few times, and Satoru Gojo came by once too, only to leave immediately when he saw Dai Li quietly playing games inside.
March 30, two days before the start of term at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High.
"Oh, this feeling is...
"My cursed energy is back."
"System, bring up my panel."
[Your panel has been displayed.] [Name: Dai Li] [Overall jujutsu sorcerer strength: Semi-Grade 1] [Total cursed energy: Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer level] [Overall physical fitness: average person] [Cursed technique: Life and Binding]
"Semi-Grade 1 overall strength? Just what I'd expect from myself."
[Note: overall strength also takes the strength of the host's cursed technique into account. Without using it...]
"I know, I know. Stop talking. I don't want to hear it."
"Is it that hard to admit I'm a powerful host?"
Rather than agonizing over it, Dai Li questioned the system, but it gave him no response.
"But my cursed energy is back, which means two months have already passed."
"Hey, that was fast. Did someone speed up time?"
"Still, spending two whole months doing nothing but gaming was awesome. I'll take it."
Dai Li felt no regret over the time he'd wasted. He was a man determined not to regret his own choices.
"Let's go out and take a look around. The last time I went out was because I ran out of snacks. Being back in high school is pretty nice."
"Now this is youth."
Culture festivals, haunted houses, fireworks festivals, maid cafés-that's the classic Japanese experience.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm~"
Dai Li stepped out of his little house, imagining and looking forward to his youthful days on campus.
Even if that sort of school life had nothing to do with him, a man still needed a few fantasies.
He wandered aimlessly onto one of the school's stone paths, but someone nearby seemed to be watching him.
It was a slender boy with short, silvery-white hair brushed back to reveal a smooth forehead. A navy-blue scarf covered his mouth, and his gaze as he looked at Dai Li was calm and gentle.
"Kelp."
The boy in the scarf said something that made no apparent sense.
"No, I don't like eating kelp."
"That's not what he means. He's descended from cursed speech users. To avoid unconsciously using his cursed technique and hurting someone, he only speaks in rice ball fillings."
"His name is Toge Inumaki. He's one of the classmates who'll be starting school with you."
Satoru Gojo, who had been missing for ages, appeared out of nowhere beside them and explained it to Dai Li.
"Salmon."
Beside him, Toge Inumaki named that rice ball filling as if expressing agreement.
Dai Li had a rough understanding of what Toge Inumaki's words meant.
If I remember right, salmon means yes, bonito flakes means no, kelp means hello, and mentaiko means there's danger.
He couldn't remember the rest, only something about tuna mayo.
"With that, all of this year's students are here. As your teacher, I'll have to give it my all too."
You're a give-it-your-all knight too?
If everyone's here, that means Maki Zenin has arrived too, right? With that hyper-aggressive personality of hers, will I be able to get along with her? Panda is a panda, and Inumaki only says salmon and bonito flakes.
Still, judging by how they've acted, the first two seem pretty normal. Sure enough, nobody from the Zenin Clan is easy to get along with.
My campus life is about to begin. If I didn't have to exorcise cursed spirits, it'd really be a wonderful youth.
Before you continue