Yuji Itadori, OUT

[Author's note: Sweeties, feel free to send me any suggestions! I'm all about thinking them over carefully and replying seriously. I'm super active!]

Jujutsu High, girls' dormitory

[Ah~ My big, comfy bed~]

[Darling, your quest reward has been issued. Please check it.]

[Ah, oh, okay.]

[Ding! Completed side quest detected: Befriend Junpei Yoshino]

[Quest reward (issued): Frailty Buff Aura (aura intensity can be customized)]

I hurried over to sit at the vanity and equipped the aura. A second later, my face in the mirror grew visibly paler. If my skin had only been unhealthily pale before, it was now practically translucent.

I quickly switched the aura off. If I went out looking like this, people would mistake me for a ghost... I didn't want to scare my adorable classmates!

Ding-dong!

My phone chimed. I checked it and found messages from sweet little Junpei.

45 minutes ago

"Junpei: Edano, have you reached school?"

30 minutes ago

"Junpei: Edano?"

14 minutes ago

"Junpei: Still not there, Edano? Did something hold you up?"

Just now

"Junpei: Edano, I'm home now."

Aaaaaah, I forgot, I forgot! It was all Satoru Gojo's and Xiao Ba's fault! One attacked me with his gorgeous face because he had nothing better to do, and the other took forever to issue my reward!

[Host... I can hear what you're thinking... Waaaaah, so love really does fade, huh? I get it, I get it. I'm option E, I'm plan B, I'm the sixth person in the fifth row, the spare button on a suit, the puppy left out in the rain...]

I broke into a cold sweat.

[No, no, no! You're option A, you're plan A, you're the shining star at center stage, the button on the suit closest to the heart, the little prince adored by the whole world!]

[Waaaaah, really, host?]

[Of course! When have I ever lied to you?]

[Hehehe, okay, I forgive you, darling~]

[Mwah~]

Finally, I'd soothed Xiao Ba. Getting that whole speech out in one breath had been no easy feat.

Ding-dong!

Wait, I still hadn't replied! I had to message Junpei back right now!

"Takechi: I'm here too! Aaaah, sorry, Junpei! My teacher needed me for something, so I didn't get a chance to check my phone. I'm really sorry! Please forgive me QAQ"

"Junpei: It's okay, Edano. As long as you got to school safely!"

"Takechi: Hehehe, thank you, Junpei! You're the best!"

"Junpei: Ahem, my mom's calling me to help, so I have to go. Bye, Edano."

"Takechi: Okay! Bye-bye, little Junpei!"

Jujutsu High, training room

Wahahahaha! A white kitty in casual clothes spotted!

Tsk, tsk, tsk, that relaxed expression, that loose black T-shirt showing off his collarbones, those legs, that waist, those little sunglasses... Tsk, tsk, tsk, who was this little minx trying to seduce?

Oh, I kind of wanted to pull his shirt open and look at his abs...

[...Is this your type, Edano?]

[Yep. Actually, white hair is my kink.]

I was perfectly open about it. There was nothing to be shy about. If you liked something, you had to say it boldly!

[Actually, once I save up enough energy to upgrade, I'll be able to take physical form. Then I can look like that!]

[Wow! Then work even harder, Xiao Ba. I'm looking forward to it~ But if there's a look you prefer, don't worry about my tastes.]

[Not at all. Whatever you like, Edano, that's what I can be~] That syrupy-sweet little-boy voice was so cute!

[Mwah, my little system, I'm going to fall in love with you.]

[...Mm.] 1008 felt its code beginning to smoke...

"Hmm? Why do you keep staring at your teacher, Edano? Have you fallen for the charms of good-looking guy Gojo?"

Satoru Gojo noticed my gaze glued to him and preened like an arrogant white peacock.

"Yeah... Edano's been swooning over Gojo-sensei ever since she came in~" Yuji Itadori, whom I'd ignored from the moment I entered the training room, squatted in a corner and spoke resentfully, trying to awaken some shred of affection for a fellow classmate in me.

"Huh? Don't talk nonsense, okay? Our Gojo-sensei is a soft, sweet baby boy. Touch his ears and his face goes red, argue with him and he'll cry and let out little milky hiccups. He's sweet and soft and smells lovely. Pinch him and he cries, and once he cries, the milky hiccups start. He smells like milk all over, and if someone hurts his feelings, he'll dive into your arms and act spoiled. He's a little baby, okay!"

Sorry, Yuji. I chose to read your message and reply with nonsense.

"Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!"

Satoru Gojo, who had been happily staying out of it, choked on his own spit. A suspicious blush crept over his ears.

After taking a moment to digest that outrageous declaration, Satoru Gojo flashed a wicked grin.

"...Beautifully put. Edano, you're up first."

"...I think there's still hope for me, ri-"

Bam!

Satoru Gojo, you weren't playing fair! How could an unscrupulous teacher like you use Teleportation to ambush a student?!

I went flying, then received a loving beatdown.

I passed out.

Takechi, OUT

When I slowly came around again, I was lying on a soft lounge chair in the training room.

"...Have I been beaten up so often that I don't even need the infirmary anymore?!!"

"Hey, hey~ Shoko happened to pass by, so I had her check you over. Nothing serious!"

...Are you sure she just happened to pass by?

"Hahahahaha, Edano, you got bea-"

"Oww!"

Yuji went flying too.

Yuji Itadori, OUT

"Okay, okay, all done!" Satoru Gojo stuck his hands in his pockets, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Yuji and I lay on two lounge chairs side by side, staring at each other.

"Edano, your hand-to-hand combat has improved a lot, but your body still can't keep up at all. You passed out right away! So weak, so weak!" Satoru Gojo bent down and poked restlessly at my cheek.

The person you called has declined your call.

"Edano~" He turned my face back toward him.

The person you called has declined your call.

"Edano~~" He turned my face back again.

The recipient has refused your messages.

"Edano~~~"

"...Gojo-sensei, your smile scares me," Yuji Itadori muttered from beside me.

"..."

"Yuji, your cursed energy lags a beat behind. It can't keep up with your bursts of explosive power."

"You haven't mastered keeping your cursed energy with you, either, so it tends to linger along its path. That ends up creating an irregular flow of cursed energy."

"Just as they register the fist hitting them, the cursed energy slams into them. In other words, one strike produces two impacts."

"Divergent! Fist! This will become a major weapon for you."

"This isn't something you can learn just because you want to! So... Yuji, come practice with your teacher now!" With a wicked grin, Satoru Gojo hauled Yuji Itadori up.

"Nooo-!"

"Owww!!!"

Listening to those screams, I silently observed one second of mourning for Yuji.

Yuji, OUT