Nanami's charm

In the end, she never got a sample of Satoru Gojo's handwriting, so she couldn't fully uncover what connection he had to Toji Fushiguro.

Meanwhile, their relationship plummeted straight to freezing point.

Whenever they met, they both turned their heads away, as though looking at the other would make them go blind.

Suguru Geto looked the two of them over and gave a helpless smile.

"So, what are you two sulking about?"

Miwa Chisei remained impassive, her hands tucked inside her sleeves. Her modified Jujutsu High uniform had loose sleeves specifically so she could keep her hands tucked away.

"Brat who can't take a joke."

Satoru Gojo offered that assessment with a thoroughly disgruntled expression. Suguru Geto understood now. This guy had probably said something outrageous again.

"All right, Satoru. We're leaving for 'that mission' in a few days. You won't see each other for a while."

"Can't wait. I wish we were leaving tomorrow."

From their conversation, Miwa Chisei gathered that they were heading away on a mission. Her peaceful days would return.

So she nodded to Suguru Geto.

"Stay safe."

Suguru Geto scratched his head, smiling rather cheerfully.

"Somehow, when you say that, Miwa, it doesn't sound like you're wishing us well."

Sure enough, Miwa Chisei gave him a frosty look with the visible half of her face, so Suguru Geto immediately corrected himself.

"Thank you for the good wishes, Miwa."

She had no time to banter with these two. Lately, Miwa Chisei had devoted all her free time to studying Reverse Cursed Technique, borrowing quite a few laboratory mice from Shoko Ieiri along the way.

Shoko Ieiri was certainly happy to receive free cigarettes, but the number her junior requested every day was getting a little excessive.

Shoko Ieiri had a vague feeling that this junior was rather unhinged too, seemingly unaware of the meaning of moderation.

Miwa Chisei was the sort to throw herself wholeheartedly into anything that interested her.

After another laboratory mouse died a gruesome death in her hands, Miwa Chisei pressed a hand to her chest to express her apologies.

Now, bring on the next lucky mouse.

Miwa Chisei worked diligently in the laboratory, trying to layer her Judgment jujutsu, but every attempt ended in failure.

The dying mice didn't recover. Instead, they died even faster.

Miwa Chisei felt unusually dejected. Did she really have no talent for this?

Just then, someone knocked on the laboratory door. Miwa Chisei looked up at the silhouette beyond the translucent window and the familiar outline of cursed energy.

"Come in, Nanami."

Kento Nanami handed Miwa Chisei a stack of documents.

"I just stopped by Mr. Eikura's office. He asked me to give these to you. I think they're compiled materials from last month's lessons."

Miwa Chisei immediately walked over to take them, a faint ripple stirring in her otherwise still eyes.

For the first time, she felt what it was like to have a teacher look after her.

Kento Nanami's gaze swept over the horrifically mangled mouse corpses, and he sighed.

"Still experimenting with Reverse Cursed Technique?"

Miwa Chisei nodded, her voice a little weary.

"I really have to admire Ieiri. This is difficult. Do you have any insights, Nanami?"

Kento Nanami considered it for a moment, then shook his head quite frankly.

"I generally avoid areas I'm completely unsuited to, so I don't waste too much time."

How rational. Just what I'd expect from Kento Nanami.

Miwa Chisei sighed inwardly, leaning against the lab bench as she touched the hair tied up with a dark blue silk ribbon.

At this rate, I'll go bald.

She had already gone to Ieiri for treatment once. She couldn't forget the look of barely suppressed laughter in her eyes.

But I really don't want to give up just like this...

Seeing his usually even-tempered classmate-except when she was dealing with one particular awful senior-looking so gloomy, Kento Nanami offered what advice he could.

"Why not approach it from a different angle? After all, Ieiri's Cursed Technique is entirely geared toward healing."

Kento Nanami's words were interesting. What types of Cursed Techniques were there?

Hers clearly leaned toward "enhancement" and "detection," while Satoru Gojo's were plainly "space" and "attack," and Suguru Geto's was "summoning."

Judgment really hadn't produced any results in terms of healing. It kept failing.

So perhaps trying the unrelated Divination would offer a breakthrough?

Realization dawned on Miwa Chisei's face, and she nodded to Kento Nanami.

"Thank you, Nanami."

"I didn't really do anything."

Kento Nanami wasn't one to claim credit. After all, Miwa Chisei was very intelligent herself.

He checked the time. Dusk had quietly fallen, and fiery clouds had dyed the sky orange. It was getting late.

Yet Miwa Chisei returned to the lab bench with an eager expression, jotting something down with pen and paper.

Kento Nanami watched her utterly absorbed figure, feeling somewhat surprised.

Not eating...? That's unlike Miwa Chisei.

Sensing Kento Nanami's well-meaning scrutiny, Miwa Chisei tilted her head and asked curiously.

"Is something wrong, Nanami?"

"Nothing."

Kento Nanami answered calmly, but discreetly brought out what he had been holding in his other hand, hidden behind his back.

It was a pork floss rice ball from the school shop.

He set the rice ball in front of Miwa Chisei, a trace of resignation in his narrow eyes.

"Remember to eat, too."

Somewhat surprised, Miwa Chisei stood and accepted the rice ball from Kento Nanami, feeling the simple, genuine warmth of her classmate's concern.

Ever since coming to Jujutsu High, she had often experienced this unfamiliar feeling.

"Thank you."

Unlike her usual polite, distant thanks, Miwa Chisei's gratitude this time came more sincerely from the heart.

Kento Nanami said nothing more. He nodded and left the laboratory.

Miwa Chisei looked at the rice ball in her palm, unwrapped it, and took a bite. Its soft texture carried the fresh fragrance of seaweed-she really had been hungry without realizing it.

She seriously considered Kento Nanami's steady, well-mannered demeanor. He seemed like a very good person.

How should I put it? He'd make a good husband. He'd probably raise good children, too.

I wonder if his family relationships are complicated, though. If they are, I'd have to think carefully about having him marry into my family. The betrothal gifts would probably cost quite a lot, wouldn't they?

Miwa Chisei openly sized up her classmate without a blush or a flutter of her heart, as though she were analyzing a stock market investment.

Much later, when Kento Nanami heard about this, he remained perfectly composed. Listening to his classmate make grand promises as she tried to coax him into "marrying into her family," he merely pressed a weary hand to his forehead and sighed.

"Qianxing, perhaps you should take a look at the face of a certain someone who's desperate to marry into your family?"

Miwa Chisei looked utterly indifferent.

"Who? Geto isn't suited to raising children, Yu and Ijichi are too weak, and Yuta and Inumaki are minors. From an investment perspective, you're a stable stock, Nanami."

Kento Nanami fell speechless. That man wasn't even on Miwa Chisei's list of candidates. He really was a senior who deserved no respect.

And do you have any room for romance in that head of yours? You're just analyzing investments, damn it.

This classmate is beyond saving. Hurry up and cremate her.