Miwa Chisei was lifted off her feet. Only one person would treat her like this.
The sunglasses were taken off her face, giving Miwa Chisei a clear view of the two black frames looming right in front of her.
"You're amazing, Gojo."
The words held no feeling, only practiced flattery.
"All right, Satoru. Miwa's still injured, isn't she?"
Suguru Geto, who had thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, reminded him. He had already had his fun. If her injuries hadn't healed yet, there was no need to rush into teaching Miwa Chisei a lesson.
She might get scared and run away tomorrow. They should let her experience a friendly, harmonious school life first.
As luck would have it, Satoru Gojo spotted a pink, scabbed-over wound on the girl's neck. She probably still had plenty more on her body.
He took a deep breath, then set Miwa Chisei down.
Then, as though something had occurred to him, he turned to look at the blond boy.
"What was your name again?"
"Kento Nanami."
For once, Satoru Gojo made an effort to remember a name. The boy had nearly escaped his Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue. Though he had lowered both its power and speed, this new student was pretty good.
"Nanamin, huh."
"It's Nanami, Kento."
"Oh, Nanamin."
Kento Nanami considered it seriously for a moment and decided that pointless arguments were ridiculous. A name was only a label. Taking it too seriously would make him seem childish.
Forget it. Let him do what he wants. I'm going to be a dependable adult someday.
Eikura Yohei wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Let's end today's training here. Haibara, will you help me take Miwa Riona to the infirmary?"
The helpful Yu Haibara immediately agreed. He only regretted that Miwa Chisei's injuries had kept him from asking Suguru Geto for pointers.
Still, there would be another chance, right?
In an instant, only four people remained on the field. Kento Nanami felt that his arm might need treatment too, so he excused himself and headed to the infirmary as well.
Miwa Chisei took her phone out of her pocket. Eleven thirty. It was almost lunchtime.
The school cafeteria was free. Miwa Chisei was in a great mood. She no longer had to worry about living on instant food.
Then Satoru Gojo's voice rang out behind her like a demon's.
"Aren't you injured? I'll take you to the infirmary too. Come on, let's go."
"No need-"
Satoru Gojo completely ignored Miwa Chisei's words. He bent down and effortlessly hoisted her over his shoulder. At that moment, she was no different from a sack.
The girl's body was softer than he had imagined, as light as a cat. Her black kimono smelled of floral laundry detergent, mingling with her own scent to form a remarkably soothing fragrance.
Satoru Gojo twitched his nose. What the hell? I don't hate this smell.
Miwa Chisei remained expressionless. She turned toward Suguru Geto as though asking for help, but he shook his head regretfully.
Apparently, even he couldn't stop Satoru Gojo when he went off the rails.
The hard bones and firm muscles of the silver-haired high school boy's shoulder dug painfully into Miwa Chisei's abdomen.
She patted Satoru Gojo's shoulder.
"You're pressing on my wound."
Satoru Gojo stopped in his tracks and put her down with an irritated expression. He noticed that Miwa Chisei's face had grown a little paler.
"You're way too weak."
Miwa Chisei wound her silver hair around a finger, looking innocent, as if to say, What am I supposed to do about it?
Then, a second later, Satoru Gojo sensed a familiar flow of cursed energy.
"Damn it, Miwa Chisei!"
Satoru Gojo watched the girl give a mischievous blink before vanishing from in front of them in an instant.
It was Suguru Geto's first time seeing anything like this, and he found it fascinating.
"Is that Miwa's jujutsu?"
That curse user last time had disappeared from in front of them in exactly the same way.
"Yeah. The Miwa Family Jujutsu. It's something like a judgment, activated under specific conditions."
Satoru Gojo was extremely annoyed and kept grumbling.
"That damn brat-can't win a fight, but comes first in running away."
Miwa Chisei, the champion of running away, had already appeared at the entrance to Jujutsu High's cafeteria. The aroma of food wafted toward her, whetting her appetite.
There were quite a few unfamiliar faces in the cafeteria. Some graduates who had become professional jujutsu sorcerers also gathered at Jujutsu High.
Among the crowd, Miwa Chisei spotted the woman with gray-blue hair.
Mei Mei spotted Miwa Chisei too. Since this useful little helper had earned her ninety thousand yen, she offered her a smile.
As it happened, Miwa Chisei had something she wanted to ask Mei Mei.
The food at Jujutsu High looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful. After all, jujutsu sorcerers risked their lives at work. Any meal might be their last, so the cafeteria treated them well.
Miwa Chisei sat down across from Mei Mei. Only after taking a few bites did she ask her question.
"Miss Mei, do you know any ways to make money?"
Mei Mei looked at the first-year student in front of her and cheerfully answered with a question.
"What can you do?"
Miwa Chisei answered quickly.
"I can tell fortunes."
That answer surprised Mei Mei a little. She tilted her head, her voice languid.
"Then how about telling mine as your consultation fee?"
Miwa Chisei blinked and held out her palm to Mei Mei.
"Then please write a few words on my palm, Miss Mei. Anything will do."
Mei Mei found this interesting and actually did as she asked. As she traced each stroke, a sort of cursed energy seemed to swirl around Miwa Chisei's palm, connecting with Mei Mei's invisible handwriting.
"All done."
At Mei Mei's words, Miwa Chisei withdrew her hand. She looked at Mei Mei and spoke calmly.
"Miss Mei, you have a little brother who was just born. Your family was the reason you entered Jujutsu High. I get the sense that you're on good terms with them."
At that moment, a meaningful look entered Mei Mei's eyes.
"What's your name?"
"Miwa Chisei."
Hearing that name, Mei Mei searched her memory.
"So you're from that legendary Miwa family."
That surprised Miwa Chisei a little. Apart from the Three Great Families, most jujutsu sorcerers shouldn't have heard of the Miwa family. At most, they would take it for an ordinary surname.
"You know about the Miwa family, Miss Mei?"
"Information is an important resource for making money too, little girl."
She really is a woman with poise and charm, Miwa Chisei thought with genuine admiration.
"Does this ability have any side effects?"
"No, but I need the handwriting of the person involved."
Mei Mei propped her face on her hand and watched the girl before her with pleasure. "Then can you see the future?"
"The further away it is, the vaguer the information becomes. If it's very soon, though-"
Miwa Chisei lowered her voice and looked at Mei Mei seriously.
"Half the bills the other party uses in your deal tonight will be counterfeit, Miss Mei. Make sure you check them carefully."
With her sunglasses, dark kimono, and words like those, she looked every bit a fraudulent fortune-teller.
But Mei Mei found her utterly fascinating.
This little girl and I are meant to get along.
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