A letter from home

The next day.

By the time morning training ended, the sun had only just climbed above the treetops.

Rihito wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, still catching his breath.

His sparring session with Maki had lasted another full hour. Although she still had him on the defensive, at least he could fight back now, unlike their first session.

At the other end of the field, Kugisaki tucked her hammer into her belt and walked toward him.

A flesh-colored bandage still covered her neck. The bruise from the steel mill had yet to heal completely.

"Hey, Rihito." Kugisaki stopped a few steps away, crushing her empty sports drink bottle with a series of crackles. "Want to go a couple of rounds?"

Rihito glanced at her.

Kugisaki sounded casual, but there was a hint of seriousness in her expression.

Since returning from the steel mill, she had been putting in noticeably more extra training. The same went for Fushiguro.

"Sure." Rihito straightened up.

Kugisaki wasted no words and immediately took an offensive stance.

Rihito took his stance as well.

Kugisaki used her nails for ranged attacks, but she was no slouch in hand-to-hand combat either.

Unlike Maki's precise strikes that countered him at every turn, Kugisaki's attacks were just like her personality: direct, with no beating around the bush.

She stepped forward and drove her right fist straight at Rihito's face.

Rihito raised his arm to block. His forearm struck her wrist with a dull thud, then swept outward with the momentum, trying to throw her off balance.

But Kugisaki held steady.

The instant he deflected her right fist, her left foot had already followed through. Dropping her center of gravity low, she swept a kick straight at the outside of his front knee.

Rihito had to step back.

That single step opened a gap in his guard.

Kugisaki seized the opportunity. Using the rotational momentum of her sweep, she swung her left elbow sideways at his exposed ribs.

Rihito lowered his elbow to protect his ribs, meeting hers head-on.

Thud!

Bone struck bone with a dull thump, forcing both of them half a step back.

Without pausing, Kugisaki sent another fist hurtling toward him.

Her combinations had no fixed rhythm. Sometimes there was half a beat between punches; sometimes three came in a continuous stream, as fast as a hammer driving nails.

Rihito stopped trying to predict her rhythm. Instead, he focused on guarding his centerline, using his arms and shoulders to absorb the attacks he could not dodge.

Though his forearms were going numb and his shoulder had taken a heavy blow, he did not retreat.

He was waiting.

Kugisaki's punches came thick and fast, but their power varied.

After a heavy punch, she needed an almost imperceptible moment to catch her breath before throwing the next one.

That opening was brief, but after several days of Maki's intensive training, Rihito could spot it now.

Then Kugisaki raised her hand and threw another hook, harder than any of the preceding punches.

The web of her hand brushed past Rihito's ear with a rush of air.

Now!

Rihito's eyes lit up.

Seizing that fleeting opening, he took half a step forward.

Then, before Kugisaki could raise her left fist, he rammed his shoulder into her chest.

Thud!

The powerful impact drove Kugisaki back two steps.

"Not bad!"

She regained her balance and looked up at Rihito, the corner of her mouth twitching before she settled back into her stance.

Rihito took his stance again too.

His forearms still ached from blocking her attacks, but he made no unnecessary movements.

Because Maki had told him that, in front of an opponent, every unnecessary movement was an opening.

As they continued sparring, their footwork trampled the grass on the field in every direction.

The morning light grew brighter, casting two constantly intersecting shadows behind them.

After a few more exchanges, they stopped at the same time.

Breathing heavily, Kugisaki wiped the sweat from her chin with the back of her hand.

Rihito's breathing was unsteady too, and a small patch of his uniform was soaked with sweat at the back.

Just then, a figure approached at an unhurried pace from the edge of the field.

It was Kiyotaka Ijichi.

He wore a gray suit and a pale blue shirt, his tie pulled as tight as Nanami's. But on him, the outfit lacked Nanami's imposing air and instead made him look rather stiff.

He stopped at the edge of the field, holding a letter, and bowed slightly toward Kugisaki.

"Miss Kugisaki, there's a letter for you."

"A letter for me?" Kugisaki froze for a moment.

Since deciding to become a jujutsu sorcerer, she had gone a long time without contacting anyone back home.

Besides her family, she could not think of anyone who would send her a letter.

With that thought, Kugisaki walked over and took it.

Rihito stayed where he was, watching her open the envelope and scan the letter.

He assumed it was some sort of notice or bill and paid little attention.

But soon, Kugisaki's movements slowed.

After reading it once, she quickly scanned it again from the beginning.

Although her expression did not change, Rihito keenly sensed that her spirits seemed to have fallen.

The wind across the field suddenly picked up, sending the empty drink bottle rolling far away.

Kugisaki turned without a word and headed off the field.

"Did something happen?"

Rihito hurried after her.

Kugisaki paused, her voice a little subdued.

"Just something minor."

Rihito stopped. It seemed Kugisaki did not want anyone bothering her right now.

But that was not the important part. While Kugisaki was reading the letter, he had inadvertently caught sight of a few things himself.

Home... grandmother... could something have happened to her family?

At that thought, Rihito frowned slightly.

In the original story, almost nothing had been revealed about Kugisaki's background.

All he knew was that Kugisaki had a grandmother who was a jujutsu sorcerer, and that she was the one who had first guided Kugisaki down that path.

Later, Kugisaki had wanted to come to Tokyo, while her grandmother wanted her to stay close. Their disagreement had erupted into a conflict.

Although Kugisaki had ultimately gotten her wish and come here, the seeds of that conflict had been planted back then.

The original story never mentioned a cursed spirit incident in Kugisaki's hometown. Could this be another result of my interference with the plot?

Rihito shook his head slightly.

No, something like this...

I won't get anywhere just thinking about it. If I want answers, I'll need Kugisaki to tell me herself, or...

Just then, Rihito suddenly remembered something.

After the transfiguration incident, Mahito had shown particular interest in the companions around him.

Now there was a cursed spirit incident in Kugisaki's hometown. What if Mahito was involved?

It was only a guess, but he had to guard against that possibility. Those students at Ritsu High School were the clearest example.

No, I can't let Kugisaki go back alone. Even if it's just an ordinary cursed spirit incident, I can't let her face it by herself.

Whether it's to figure out how the plot develops from here or to keep Kugisaki safe, I have every reason to go.

Most importantly... Rihito raised his head and looked in the direction Kugisaki had left. She's my classmate, an irreplaceable part of our group!

With that thought, Rihito headed forward.

His steps were firm.