Sketch-mode world unlocked!

Leisurely days in Jujutsu Society never lasted long. And sure enough, it was time to get down to business again.

"And that's what happened~"

"..." I was stunned into silence.

"So I was the one who bewitched a bunch of Grade 2 and lower sorcerers from the Three Great Families and made them chase cursed spirits around on the ground, biting their asses?!!!"

Satoru Gojo mercilessly shattered my last shred of hope. "Uh-huh~ Edano, you were amazing. Out of all the sorcerers and cursed spirits there, only the Grade 1s and above weren't bewitched~"

Don't sound so giddy. You're scaring me.

"...Ah, and you still managed to protect me after all that, Gojo-sensei. Thank you for your hard work..."

"Not hard work. Just a hard life." Satoru Gojo produced his trusty pink handkerchief from who knew where and pretended to dab at the corners of his eyes.

"Ahahaha..."

I wanted to laugh, but I didn't dare.

I schooled my expression and fell silent for a moment. "...No wonder you wanted me to seal my eyes. Anyone who sees them gets bewitched. That's way too dangerous."

As I spoke, I rolled up my sleeve, took off the Silk Ribbon that had been wrapped around my wrist, and tied it over my eyes.

"I never thought this day would come so soon," I said, feeling rather melancholy. Then I realized that once I put it on, the world before me turned black and white. "Aha, sketch-mode world unlocked!"

"...Does it affect your vision?" Satoru Gojo asked gravely.

I turned toward his gaze. "It's fine. Other than not being able to see colors, there aren't any real problems. But we still need to test whether it actually sealed the curse."

Looking at the girl before him, her face so pale it seemed to blend into the white Silk Ribbon, yet still trying to act strong(?), Satoru Gojo felt as though an invisible hand had clamped around his throat, leaving him unable to make a sound.

"Huh? What's wrong, Gojo-sensei?" I tilted my head in confusion at Satoru Gojo, who stood there with his lips pressed tightly together.

Wait, he's wearing lip balm! Those pink, glossy lips-Gojo the kitty is so sexy, so delicate, so pretty!

"...Nothing. I'll have Megumi and the others come keep you company. I have something to take care of." Satoru Gojo pulled his blindfold back up, hiding the emotions churning in his eyes.

Before leaving, he caught hold of the door and turned back to wave at me. "Get some rest, Edano! I won't call Megumi and the others after all. I'll come see you later!" A broad smile returned to his face.

I didn't quite understand, but I obediently nodded. "Bye, Gojo-sensei..."

??? He left before I even finished! Those damned higher-ups are working him to the bone!

I called out to Xiao Ba in my mind, but as expected, received no response.

All right, now I'm alone again. A world without color really takes some getting used to... I tentatively got out of bed and left the Infirmary.

Meanwhile.

"Shoko~ Calling me over in such a hurry interrupted my time with Edano~"

"...You scumbag, don't say my name in that disgusting voice!"

Satoru Gojo rubbed his ear. "Wow, Shoko, you're loud. All right, all right, let's get down to business!"

"...Who started causing trouble the second he walked in?" Shoko Ieiri took a deep breath, reminding herself that Satoru Gojo had Limitless and she couldn't hit him. "Here. These are Edano's test results."

Satoru Gojo frowned and took the report to read it. "The higher-ups requested this?"

"Yes. Though I wanted to run the tests for my own peace of mind, too."

"...Why is her health so much worse than when she enrolled?" The more Satoru Gojo read through the report, the deeper his frown became.

"That special grade Humanoid Cursed Spirit's ability is to reshape souls. Although it failed to reshape Edano's, her soul still suffered severe trauma. She also exhausted herself while unconscious, which damaged her body."

"Besides, the cursed energy and curse inside her are both extremely mysterious. I imagine all your Six Eyes could see when you examined her was a haze, too."

Satoru Gojo lowered his eyes, his thoughts unreadable. "Yes." He paused. "Have you figured out why she lost control?"

"I suspect it was a combination of a severe emotional shock, excessive negative emotions, and that cursed energy and curse of unknown origin."

"But there's one thing I'm certain of: we absolutely cannot let her have another outburst and lose consciousness. If she loses control again, the damage to Edano's body will be irreversible. Besides, you managed to protect her this time, but the higher-ups probably won't agree next time."

Shoko Ieiri straightened the reports on her desk. "By the way, how did Edano take having to seal her eyes?"

Satoru Gojo irritably ran a hand through his hair. "She took it well. Almost as if she knew she'd lose control one day." Her strength was almost heartbreaking.

"...Pay a little more attention to her."

"Yep, yep, of course! Looking after his students' physical and mental health is a must for Great Teacher Satoru Gojo!" Gojo-sensei proudly raised his head.

Knock, knock, knock! Someone knocked on my dorm room door.

"Edano~~~" Satoru Gojo's sickeningly sweet schoolgirl voice rang out from outside.

"[Open the door]." I kept rummaging through my wardrobe without looking back. "What is it?"

Looking at all the pretty dresses in my wardrobe that he'd never seen me wear, Satoru Gojo thoughtfully rubbed his chin.

"Mm, nothing much. I'm just here to help you pack. You're moving rooms!"

"Huh? Why am I moving? Where to?" I finally stopped what I was doing and tilted my head at him in confusion.

"Yep, yep, just come with me first, Edano~"

"...Gojo-sensei, you sound like a creep trying to abduct a teenage girl." A scathing review.

"What! Have you ever seen a creep as handsome as me? Huh?!"

"...Aren't you focusing on the wrong thing?"

"No, Edano, you have to explain! Have you ever seen a creep as handsome as your teacher?"

Read. No reply.

"Ah~ The silent treatment! This is definitely the silent treatment!"

A vein throbbed at my temple. "Satoru Gojo! Get off me first!"

Satoru Gojo had draped his entire body over me. I simply couldn't handle the weight of someone over six foot three. Couldn't he see I was already being crushed so badly I couldn't straighten my back?!!!

"No! You won't even call me sensei anymore!"

"...Gojo-sensei."

"Hmph, too late now. You have to say 'Lord Gojo.'"

"..."

I gave up struggling and simply toppled backward.

Yep. I landed firmly on Satoru Gojo's Limitless.

"Ow, Edano, that's cheating! If I hadn't reacted so fast, you would've crushed me!" Satoru Gojo helped me up, looking aggrieved.

"Heh. Scumbag."

"...Shoko!!! Give me back my adorable student-!"

Shoko Ieiri, diligently writing reports in the Infirmary, sneezed.

Shoko Ieiri: Leave me out of this, thanks.

The teachers' dormitory.

"..." That was me.

"~~~" That was Gojo-sensei.

Both carrying my belongings, we stood in the hallway and stared at each other.

"...So I'm moving into the teachers' dormitory?"

"That's right. The higher-ups told me to keep an eye on you at all times. Pick any room you like, Edano~"

Without hesitation, I headed for the room farthest from Satoru Gojo's.

Then fate grabbed me by the back of my collar.

"..."

"Let go!"

"Nope~"

"Let go!"

"Nope~"

"Let go!!!"

"Can't do that. The higher-ups told me to watch you at all times~"

"...Then why did you tell me to pick?"

"Yep, yep, just going through the motions~"

"...Where are the higher-ups? I'm going to kill them!!!"

"You can't do that, Edano. The instant you storm headquarters, I'll get orders to punish you~"

"..."

"So just accept it, Edano. What's so bad about living next door to your teacher?"

Using Teleportation, Satoru Gojo became a blur as he helped move my belongings into the room. Everything was in place in no time.

There was no backing out now, even if I wanted to...

Once I went inside and saw the more luxurious, more comfortable room, along with the same "custom-made for royalty" mattress Satoru Gojo had... well, I could live with this!

After Satoru Gojo left, I secretly planted the Soul Seed on the balcony.