"Cousin Toji, Father assigned you to protect me on my mission outside the clan. We leave tomorrow."
In the quiet, elegant tatami room, Toji Zenin and I sat facing each other. The tea before us had just been served, wisps of steam still rising from it.
Toji Zenin raised an eyebrow. "For something this trivial, you didn't need to go out of your way to help me, then call me here to tell me in person, did you? Little Miss... Ten Shadows Technique."
I answered without a trace of guilt. "I want to see for myself just how strong a fully realized Heavenly Restriction is. As for helping you? That was only because he was too noisy. I didn't like it."
Toji Zenin scoffed. I couldn't tell whether he believed me.
-Strong?
So what?
In the Zenin Clan, anyone without cursed energy was worthless.
He didn't pursue the subject, instead asking, "What time tomorrow?"
"I don't know. Someone will notify us." I shook my head honestly. "It probably won't be too late."
Toji Zenin gave an indifferent grunt.
It didn't matter. Naobito Zenin's promise still stood.
The terms of the deal were far too tempting, so naturally, he wouldn't mind such minor details.
Not long after Toji Zenin left, an unexpected visitor suddenly appeared in my courtyard.
-Naoya Zenin.
He had come with my father-in-name-only on the day I awakened the Ten Shadows Technique, but I hadn't seen so much as a glimpse of him even on the day of my Succession Ceremony.
Why had he suddenly come now?
And judging by his expression... was he furious?
"What did you say to Toji?" Naoya Zenin looked like a sulking little wife. "Why is Toji taking you on a mission tomorrow?"
Me: ?
Never mind how he'd found out-his accusatory tone alone killed any desire I had to answer. "None of your business."
Naoya Zenin kept going on his own. "So what if you have the Ten Shadows Technique! I've heard all about it. Your hand-to-hand combat skills are absolute garbage! You'll definitely hold Toji back!"
"Toji is so strong... You must have threatened or bribed him into taking you!"
My fists clenched. They were itching to hit him.
"Divine Dogs."
I raised two dogs specifically to bite people like this.jpg
Naoya Zenin scrambled backward several steps, then shouted with a forced show of composure, "I'm your older brother! Aren't you afraid I'll tell Father and the elders if you treat me like this?"
"Then go ahead." I smiled faintly. "Even if they bit the Seventh Elder, I wouldn't receive so much as a word of reprimand."
"Why are you so worked up? Could it be that the esteemed legitimate son of the Zenin Clan only pretends to despise people without cursed energy, putting on a show for everyone else?"
I swore, I had only meant to provoke him.
But there might have been something wrong with Naoya Zenin's brain.
He actually fidgeted strangely. "Toji... Toji is different."
Then his voice grew quieter and quieter. "How could that bunch of useless trash compare to Toji..."
Wow.
Who would've thought?
Cousin Toji actually had a little fanboy in Naoya Zenin.
Did he even know about this himself?
My interest suddenly returned.
"Actually, Father assigned Toji to me. When I go on a mission, he's responsible for keeping me safe."
"You, on the other hand, don't get that kind of treatment."
"You must be so jealous."
Naoya Zenin... Naoya Zenin refused to admit that he was practically dying of jealousy.
Why did Kamu Zenin get to see Toji's magnificent fighting prowess? Why did someone as strong as Toji have to lower himself to protecting her?
Just because she had the Ten Shadows Technique?
He refused to accept it!
His reaction told me I'd hit the mark.
So I kindly offered, "Actually, you could come along too. I don't think Toji would mind."
Naoya Zenin's eyes lit up.
Yet he made his reply sound incredibly reluctant. "Since you're inviting me so sincerely..."
"But I would."
Watching him suddenly freeze with an expression of disbelief, I smiled in satisfaction.
"I'll tell the elders today that your jujutsu skills are terrible, not even half as good as mine, and letting you out would only embarrass us."
If you're jealous, then stay jealous.
Before you continue