Meeting You Was Such Bad Luck

Seeing that Kamo Tetsuya remained silent, his eyes dark as though he were pondering something, Miwa Riona gently called to him again.

"Lord Tetsuya?"

Kamo Tetsuya pulled himself out of his thoughts and shook his head.

"I don't know about that yet."

Miwa Riona pouted. Remembering the humiliation she had suffered at Miwa Chisei's hands today, she couldn't help complaining.

"I don't want to attend Jujutsu High with her."

"All right, hasn't the bounty already been posted? Like the previous Miwa Family Head, she doesn't actually want to get involved in Jujutsu Society, does she?"

"That's true." Miwa Riona recalled how the girl had kept her distance. She really had inherited her spineless father's temperament. Still, Riona asked in confusion.

"Why did you offer a bounty to capture her alive, my lord?"

Although Kamo Tetsuya was smiling, his words carried a chill.

"That isn't a question you should be asking, Riona."

Miwa Riona immediately fell silent. She merely lowered her head, looking rather frightened.

Kamo Tetsuya sighed, his tone turning gentle again.

"Tomorrow is Monday, and you have school. Get some rest early tonight."

Miwa Riona nodded obediently, then said.

"When I went to see her today, I saw Satoru Gojo. It seems he was assigned the task of getting Miwa Chisei to enroll."

Kamo Tetsuya's brow furrowed. What a troublesome fellow.

"I see. That information is very useful. You've done well."

At his praise, a faint pink spread across Miwa Riona's cheeks. Together with her hair and eyes, it formed a lovely picture of girlish bashfulness. She bent forward in a respectful bow.

"It's only my duty. Ever since you began looking after my father and me, Lord Tetsuya, I have pledged my eternal loyalty to you."

As though pleased by those words, Tetsuya smiled.

"You're such a good girl, Riona. That's what I like most about you."

The word "like" made the girl's heart race and her cheeks flush as emotions stirred within her.

"Lord Tetsuya, am I the only one you like?"

"You're the only one."

Those words were enough to make the girl give her very life for him.

Miwa Riona lifted her head, a certain light sparkling in her pink eyes. "Lord Tetsuya, I..."

"Get some rest early, Riona. Make sure to gather information at Jujutsu High, too."

Kamo Tetsuya cut Miwa Riona off before she could go any further. A little clarity returned to her eyes, and she quickly withdrew in embarrassment.

Once Miwa Riona had left, the warmth on Kamo Tetsuya's face gradually faded into indifference.

Even after his careful selection, Miwa Riona's abilities were still inadequate.

But Miwa Chisei had been well protected by her father. That old man had staked his life on securing over a decade of peace for her.

Though mediocre, the Miwa branch family still had its uses. At the very least, they could approach that child from the Miwa Main Family.

It was fine to take things slowly. He was very patient.

Thinking of the Gojo Clan, with whom he already had a deep-seated feud, a cold sneer flickered in Kamo Tetsuya's eyes.

Gojo Clan, you insist on interfering with me. Do you think you're some kind of savior?

Then I'll make you pay for what you've done.

After Miwa Riona stormed off, Miwa Chisei also packed up her stall early and prepared to go home. Looking at the person following behind her, who showed no intention of leaving, she sighed helplessly.

"I'll treat you to dinner as thanks."

"Not instant noodles, right?"

"Forget it. Pretend I didn't say anything."

"Come on, don't be like that. It's not every day you're this nice. Oh, right, is that Miwa Oreo or whatever really part of the Miwa family?"

Behind her sunglasses, Miwa Chisei couldn't help shooting him a sideways glance. He really couldn't remember names.

"Probably. But aside from my father, I've never met anyone else from the Miwa family. She says she's from a branch family, and her name isn't in the Main Branch's register."

Satoru Gojo drew out an "Oh," his tone oddly suggestive, as though he had discovered something interesting.

Miwa Chisei said nothing more. She walked to the food street, then found a ramen shop she had tried before and liked.

"You're only allowed to order one bowl of ramen. Pay for anything else yourself."

Miwa Chisei still had rent and daily expenses to consider. She wasn't an adult yet, so she couldn't openly take a job.

Satoru Gojo clicked his tongue.

"You're so stingy, Miwa."

Then something suddenly occurred to her, and she generously added, "Have Mr. Geto join us, too."

Satoru Gojo thought he must be hallucinating. "Well, hell. Coming from a cheapskate like you?"

"Mr. Geto brought me a gift before," Miwa Chisei said with complete seriousness.

Satoru Gojo clicked his tongue again.

"He's on another assignment today. We probably can't reach him right now."

Miwa Chisei then wore a regretful expression that said, What a shame this menace gets the treat all to himself.

Satoru Gojo ordered a glass of strawberry sparkling water at his own expense.

While the two waited for their ramen, Miwa Chisei took off her sunglasses. Satoru Gojo noticed faint dark circles beneath her eyes.

It seemed she hadn't slept well last night. What had happened to Yamato Kaho had affected her to some extent, after all.

What do you know? She wasn't such a coldhearted brat.

Satoru Gojo cleared his throat and said, "I looked into the bounty, but I couldn't find who posted it. Seems like it's either someone influential or a curse user who's very good at hiding."

"I figured."

But after using jujutsu on Miwa Riona today, she had found that the bounty didn't seem to have anything to do with the branch family. That made things rather strange.

"Speaking of which, did you piss someone off?"

Satoru Gojo bit his straw as he asked curiously.

Miwa Chisei considered it for a moment, then looked very solemnly at Satoru Gojo across from her.

"Just you, I think?"

Satoru Gojo froze for a moment, then delivered an eloquent response.

"Fuck, would I need to post a bounty to capture you alive?"

Hearing the key phrase, Miwa Chisei looked a little surprised.

"Alive?"

"Yeah, the bounty says to capture you alive. I was wondering how it could be worth two hundred million. For a brat like you, it only makes sense if they want you alive."

Despite Satoru Gojo taking the opportunity to belittle her, Miwa Chisei remained calm and had no desire to argue.

Capture me alive? It looks like this person knows a lot about the Miwa Family Jujutsu. Do they want to use me?

Miwa Chisei let out an unprompted sigh and looked at Satoru Gojo with a hint of resentment.

"What are you looking at me for? I'm not the one trying to capture you alive."

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said with feeling.

"Meeting you brings nothing but bad luck."

"Say that again?"

"The first time I got beaten up was because of you, and now my peaceful life has been ruined because I met you, too."

Miwa Chisei propped her cheek on her hand, showing her white teeth in a somewhat self-mocking smile.

"The Miwa family and the Gojo Clan must be born incompatible, huh?"

Then Satoru Gojo half rose from his seat. His hand moved so fast it left only an afterimage, and he mercilessly sentenced Miwa Chisei to a huge lump on her head.

Pah! You shameless Gojo Clan menace! A sneak attack? What a sore loser!