"Mmm~ That feels so good~~"
The instant the red positive energy enveloped him, Yu Haibara let out one blissful moan after another. The relief felt like rain after a long drought.
Unlike the moaning Yu Haibara, the straight-faced Kento Nanami gazed at Tsukasa Hatayama with admiration.
Mr. Yaga had explained the principle behind Reverse Cursed Technique: two negatives made a positive. It sounded simple, but grasping it was harder than reaching the heavens.
Hatayama really lived up to his reputation as the school's resident freak of nature, casually using the rare Reverse Cursed Technique.
Tsukasa Hatayama selectively tuned out the moaning. A few seconds later, the two adults and one child returned to normal, and he withdrew his positive-energy cursed energy.
"The curse has been completely exorcised. Leave the follow-up to the Assistant Supervisor."
Tsukasa Hatayama finally stretched, then reminded the two, "This curse wasn't Grade 3. Remember to tell Mr. Yaga, or you'll kiss your fifty million goodbye."
Yu Haibara and Kento Nanami jolted at those words. Kento Nanami immediately took out his phone and called Masamichi Yaga.
They had joined Jujutsu High first to meet their idols, and second to earn money to support their families. Who would risk their lives fighting cursed spirits without getting paid? It wasn't as if they had nothing better to do.
Of course, the pay was quite promising. A Grade 4 Sorcerer earned one million per assignment, Grade 3 earned five million, Grade 2 ten million, and Grade 1 fifty million.
Special Grade 1 earned a hundred million, and Special Grade a hundred and fifty million. Exorcising a curse above your grade earned an extra fifty million. In short, all you had to do was be willing to risk your life.
The next day.
In a dorm room at Jujutsu High, Tsukasa Hatayama stood before his wardrobe, his face full of indecision. The four outfits inside left him at a loss.
He had no idea which one to wear to go shopping with Mei Mei. In the past, a maid had helped him choose, sparing him these unnecessary decisions.
"Since we're going shopping, the style has to be casual and relaxed. That way, we can forget our worries and enjoy ourselves."
As Tsukasa Hatayama mused aloud, his hand settled on a loose T-shirt. It was white all over, with a laid-back SpongeBob SquarePants printed on it.
"You're the one. Understated, but still casual."
Tsukasa Hatayama nodded in satisfaction. Without further hesitation, he took off his pajamas and put it on, then paired it with loose trousers and ordinary canvas shoes.
Satisfied with his appearance, Tsukasa Hatayama took his phone and left the dorm, heading to the address his senior had chosen with anticipation he could barely contain.
At the foot of a prominent commercial building in Chiyo.
The pedestrians entering the building kept casting admiring glances at a tall figure by the entrance. His noble bearing made it impossible to look away.
Simply standing there, he had become a beautiful sight at the entrance.
Tsukasa Hatayama was used to it. He wasn't quite sure how handsome he was, but their dazzled gazes told him he couldn't look bad.
He stood quietly in place, noble and elegant as he waited for Mei Mei.
"E-excuse me... could we take a photo together?"
Suddenly, a shy, almost pleading female voice rang out.
Tsukasa Hatayama lowered his gaze and saw a cute girl in a school uniform looking up at him bashfully.
Tsukasa Hatayama declined politely. "I'm very sorry. Please forgive my selfishness, but I'm waiting here for a woman who's very important to me."
Catching his implication, the girl left with her companion, disappointed but wishing him well. The way she kept looking back every few steps said everything about her regret.
If Satoru were here instead, he might take a hundred photos with the girl... and even remove his sunglasses so she could get a clear shot.
"My little junior, why are you here so early?" Mei Mei's unmistakable clear, alluring voice suddenly drifted into his ears from behind.
An inexplicable joy welled up inside Tsukasa Hatayama. He turned around stiffly to find Mei Mei looking up at him with an inscrutable smile.
Tsukasa Hatayama's earlobes reddened, and his gaze darted away. "Mom said it's rude to keep a girl waiting, so I came early."
"And besides... I wanted to see what you looked like after graduation a little sooner."
Mei Mei's red lips curved slightly upward, and her irritation from clearing out her phone last night gradually faded.
She elegantly rested a hand on her slender waist and said nonchalantly, "If you want to look, then look. It's not as though I'm stopping you."
Tsukasa Hatayama suppressed his nervousness and slowly lifted his eyes to Mei Mei, whom he hadn't seen in months.
She still wore her hair in a spirited ponytail. A Patrick Star T-shirt covered her curvaceous upper body, while her long legs were clad in casual, loose trousers, paired with canvas shoes.
An odd look crossed Tsukasa Hatayama's eyes as he glanced at his own SpongeBob SquarePants shirt, then his trousers and shoes. Finally, he said hesitantly:
"Mei Mei, it looks like we're wearing the same outfit."
Mei Mei, who had been expecting a compliment, raised a slender finger in utter exasperation. "I'm deducting a hundred million. Argue, and I'll deduct two hundred million!"
Tsukasa Hatayama swallowed the words he was about to say and fell so quiet that only his breathing remained.
The more Mei Mei thought about it, the angrier she became. She shot the strongest idiot a vicious glare. How could a genius hailed as the Jujutsu Professor understand nothing about a woman's heart?
This wasn't accidentally wearing the same outfit. These were clearly unconventional matching couple outfits. She had used Black Bird Manipulation to check what this idiot was wearing for nothing.
Had God put every last stat point into her little junior's talent?
Mei Mei said irritably, "Give me your hand to hold. I'm deducting money. You've made me angry-really angry!"
Tsukasa Hatayama hurriedly took her soft, smooth hand. The warmth traveling through their interlaced fingers flushed his fair cheeks and even his neck.
Mei Mei looked up in satisfaction. This idiot might not understand a woman's heart, but at least he's obedient enough to go along with me and listen to what I say.
In short, her little junior was adorably stupid. With that thought, she pulled him into the commercial building bearing the Hatayama name.
The tenth floor.
Tsukasa Hatayama let her lead him along. Though he didn't know how much money letting go this time would cost him, the sensation was wonderful-more wonderful than the Hōgyoku's evolution.
Was this what Mother called... the first stirrings of affection?
With that thought, Tsukasa Hatayama blushed and summoned the courage to tighten his grip on her hand. Their fingers were woven together so tightly that not even a gap remained.
Walking ahead of him, Mei Mei smiled knowingly. Looks like my little junior isn't that stupid. He even knows to tighten his grip on his own. Give him a few more years, and we can...
Neither of them entered a single shop. They simply wandered hand in hand without a destination, going from the tenth floor down to the first, then from the first back up to the tenth.
Both knew that entering a shop meant letting go, so they were content to keep wandering.
Ten that night.
Tsukasa Hatayama returned to Jujutsu High with a calm expression, but his light steps made it clear that he was in a very good mood.
Yet when he opened his dorm room door and saw his two best friends sitting on his bed with grins, Tsukasa Hatayama froze for a moment before breaking into a heartfelt smile.
Satoru Gojo sat casually on the edge of the bed, eating an egg tart. He teased, "Yo~ If it isn't my dear best friend who ditched his buddies for a girl?"
Suguru Geto ate instant noodles and said with a grin, "Tsukasa, that wasn't very nice of you. Sneaking off on a date while we were away on business?"
Tsukasa Hatayama said sheepishly, "It wasn't a date. I just went shopping with Mei Mei, from morning until night."
"Ooh~ Listen to how sweetly he says 'Mei Mei.'"
Satoru Gojo curled his lip and tossed two bags of local specialties over in mock annoyance. "These are the bitter pastries Geto and I brought back. Your favorites."
Warmth filled Tsukasa Hatayama's heart as he caught them. He offered eagerly, "Do you want some? If you do, I'll take them out and share them with you."
"No!"
"No!"
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto refused in unison without even thinking.
Those pastries were bitter beyond belief. Even swallowing them was terribly difficult, never mind savoring them. They were bitter enough to make your tongue go numb.
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