My Youth As A Sorcerer Sucks, Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Things That They Would Never Expect.

—OoOoO—

“Man, who’d have thought that I’d end up being so busy even on my days off?”

A white-haired man with sunglasses seemed to complain as he exited the car. His relaxed and cheerful expression didn’t fade from his face, but a thin wrinkle began to appear on his forehead.

“If you really don’t want to, you should just refuse this meeting, Satoru-kun," replied the bespectacled woman, who also got up from the passenger seat.

“I know, right? I should just refuse. However, my bottomless kindness and generosity sometimes kick in and get me into trouble.”

Satoru joked with his usual cocky face, making his partner roll her eyes lazily, but she soon swept her gaze around the underground parking area. However, that wasn't what amazed her.

“To think Hiratsuka-san actually owns a bar in one of the best hotels in Chiba,” the woman said.

“Well, Shizuka-chan is a first-grade sorcerer on paper. That’s the level for elite sorcerers who can easily find their own clients without the need for an association. Unlike those mediocre ones who have a hard time finding work unless they go to the countryside where there’s little competition.”

Asuka, the woman with Satoru, listened to the explanation while looking at her reflection in the car window to ensure her appearance was in perfect shape for meeting someone.

“If you have a private client, you can easily determine the fee and payment method. As for Shizuka-chan herself, she has earned a lot of money through the missions alone. However, when she gets a private client, she’d never charge money.”

“So, is she…?” Asuka asked ang hung her words.

Satoru nodded slowly, then rested his chin on his crossed arms on the sedan's roof. The man solemnly watched his lover, who was still busy tidying herself up after a full day of picnicking in the open air.

“Assets, shares, rights to set up businesses in certain places, that’s what she asked for in return,” Satoru said.

Asuka finished her brief preparations. Her face seemed to smile in satisfaction after she had made sure there was no smell of smoke from grilling meat earlier in the day. The woman looked at Satoru and gave a small nod, signalling to her lover that she was ready.

“It’s first time to me knowing there are sorcerers who ask for things like that as payment for their services,” the woman muttered.

Although jujutsu society was the lowest level even in the underworld, didn’t mean that normal people didn’t know about its existence. Indeed, the facts about the ‘jujutsu society’ as a whole were a tightly closed secret, but there were rough images that were owned by the upper-class people. This was mostly because cursed spirits could appear in various forms and in various places and caused several problems.

Through its contract with the government, the association generally dealt with cursed spirits that disturbed public facilities or human security. However, it wasn’t uncommon for them to disturb or even attack people directly but escape the association's supervision.

Moreover, if the cursed spirit attached itself to people from the upper class and made them sick, but there was nothing wrong when examined by a doctor, that was when they’d seek alternative treatments. In normal cases, even low-level sorcerers could get private clients as long as they were lucky. However, Hiratsuka had a slightly different case.

“Chiba is one of the most densely populated places in Japan. The frequency of high-level cursed spirits appearing here isn’t much different from Tokyo. That’s why, in the past, quite a lot of sorcerers fell in Chiba because the difficulty of missions didn’t match the level of local sorcerers. Moreover, considering that Chiba has the largest port in Japan, troublemakers from other countries could easily enter Japan through this route.”

Asuka listened to Satoru's explanation carefully and occasionally nodded to indicate that she understood the long words.

“If I’m not mistaken, I once heard that the reason Hiratsuka-san wanted to return to this job was because the local sorcerers were overwhelmed by the many difficult missions in Chiba at that time,” the woman responded.

Despite not having a curse technique and coming from a rural area, Asuka was born into a sorcerer family. Before Gojo Satoru proved and asserted himself as the strongest, the world of jujutsu was truly like hell, where its members could die at any time. In fact, her parents were among the victims who died after receiving a difficult mission from the association.

From the beginning, there were few high-level sorcerers. Most of them were spread throughout Japan. Some even chose to join large clans. However, that was the problem. When it came to clans, their power distribution was often monopolised by them. Their fees were also costly, making it a serious hindrance. In the end, local sorcerers who weren’t that strong frequently became scapegoats when certain cases occurred.

It was a structural problem that even Gojo Satoru couldn’t fix quickly. However, he had started by moving the main residence of the Gojo Clan from Kyoto to Tokyo. It made power distribution more evenly distributed, less Kyoto-centric, and could reach Eastern Japan more comprehensively.

“The condition that Shizuka-chan gave in exchange for her taking on difficult missions, she wanted rights and access to clients in Chiba. That’s why she has so many assets in this prefecture. Although it sounds like an attempt to monopolise, in fact she also distributes those clients fairly to her people.”

—OoOoO—

Moon Mood Miracle, the name of a bar that not only provided luxurious drinks and dishes, but also a unique experience. The bar was on the top floor, so visitors could enjoy their time on the rooftop or indoors. If they wanted quality time, the place also provided several private rooms that could be used.

Being part of one of the best hotels in the Kanto Region, Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay, gave the bar a high prestige. Its visitors weren’t only tourists. Even VIPs from business circles and politicians also make the bar a place for them to unwind, even though they never thought that the owner was an elite sorcerer who was active as a high school teacher. No, they didn't even know what the jujutsu sorcerers were in the first place.

Hiratsuka sat alone at a table in the corner of the room. No matter how crowded the bar was, her eyes were fixed on her Nintendo Switch screen, which was playing Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel. Her ears were plugged with earbuds, emphasising that the woman didn’t care about the visitors who stopped by her bar. After all, from the start, Hiratsuka had entrusted the bar operations to an expert in the field.

'Luckily, I bring my Switch before going to Jujutsu High. Otherwise, I might have gone crazy from having no entertainment after dealing with those old farts' nonsense.'

That's right. Hiratsuka didn't immediately go home after meeting with the higher-ups and confirming Yumiko's status as a new sorcerer under her guidance so that no one dared to bother her.

However, as the woman was busy playing card duels, she noticed one of the employees approaching her. Hiratsuka then took off one of her earbuds and stared at the man.

“Boss, there are two people looking for you. They are a white-haired man and a short-haired woman.”

Hearing the news, Hiratsuka immediately raised her eyebrow because she was sure she didn't have an appointment with the woman. However, as soon as she looked at the bartender's table and saw a white-haired man waving at her and someone sitting beside him, Hiratsuka immediately recognised the woman.

“They are my guests,” Hiratsuka said as she stood up, “And please prepare a room for us.”

The male employee bowed ninety degrees, indicating that he understood his boss's instructions. Meanwhile, Hiratsuka immediately walked to the bartender's table without seeing the response. However, as if reluctant to wait, the white-haired man also stood up and approached her, with the woman following behind him.

“Yo, Shizuka-chan. Who’d have thought you’d contact me right after dealing with those bumps,” the man greeted cheerfully, “Is your situation really that bad now, hm?”

“No, it's not,” the woman replied with a snort, “Indeed, there’s a correlation, but it's not what you think, Gojo-san.”

Hiratsuka didn't want to keep looking at her senior's arrogant face, so she turned to the woman.

“You must be Hikigaya-san, right? This is the first time we’ve met in person. And thank you for convincing this man to help me this morning,” Hiratsuka said, bowing politely.

Asuka was slightly surprised because she didn't expect someone as crucial as Hiratsuka would treat her politely. She then returned the greeting with no less polite manners.

“No, I should be the one thanking you for guiding my son to become a very reliable man he is today.”

The two women straightened their bodies. Their eyes met, and they stole glances at each other. A small smile, a smile full of understanding, appeared on each of their lips. Although it was their first personal meeting, the understanding they showed seemed to indicate that the women had known each other for a long time. Their atmosphere was intimate and unhurried as if the world had stopped to enjoy the moment.

If the two women were in a different situation, perhaps they’d spend a lot of time talking about the boy with eyes like dead fish, who was their connecting link.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Satoru asked after feeling alienated for a moment.

“Ah, for that, I have prepared a room for us to talk.”

Hiratsuka stared at Satoru momentarily, as if she was digging up memories of the man's tastes.

“Anything as long as it’s not an alcohol, right, Gojo-san?”

Satoru immediately responded to the question by shrugging his shoulders. Receiving that response, the woman immediately turned her gaze to Asuka.

“What about you, Hikigaya-san?”

“To be honest, this is my first time coming to a place like this,” she said softly, “So, if possible, please give me something with low alcohol content.”

Hiratsuka nodded slowly. Her eyes showed understanding upon hearing the request. Without saying anything else, she immediately turned her gaze towards the bartender's table, which was not far from where they were standing. Her footsteps were light, casting a faint shadow on the sparkling floor, her body moving completely calm. Her loose hair would occasionally sway, following her firm footsteps, showing a strong charisma even though the woman was strolling.

—OoOoO—

"I heard that you were granted the right to open a bar in this luxury hotel due to a private contract with your client," Asuka commented as she looked at the interior of the private room, "Does that mean you are free from rent, or do you only have business rights without any other benefits?”

“At first it was just a business contract with a fairly cheap rental fee, but after Okura-san felt that it was easier to work with me than the association and the Zen'in Clan, he finally exempted me from the rental fee and gave me two percent of the shares of the Okura Group, in exchange for which I’m also responsible for the protection of this hotel and the Odaiba branch.”

Hiratsuka paused to conclude her explanation by taking a sip of the martini served to her.

Speaking of hotel chains, Hiratsuka's bar was located in Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay in Maihama. Although there was 'Tokyo' in the name, Maihama was geographically part of Chiba and bordered Tokyo. The main segment of this hotel was for visitors who want to vacation in the Disneyland and Disney Sea areas or to Kasai Rinkai Park, which was quite famous among locals. In addition, many chose it because of its strategic location and because it was pretty close to the centre of Tokyo and Chiba.

In addition, the Odaiba branch, which was still managed by the same company, was more focused on those who wanted to enjoy the offerings of Odaiba Island, which was famous for holding frequent technology exhibitions. So, even though the two hotels were located quite close to each other, they served different markets.

Hiratsuka glanced at Satoru, who was just listening to their conversation.

“And frankly, many private companies are fed up with the association's arbitrary treatment, so some of them are starting to look for other alternatives," the woman explained.

Cursed spirits were a more serious problem than imagined. Ten thousand deaths each year, potentially increasing in the future. After the balance of the world was destroyed by the birth of Gojo Satoru, the number of cursed spirits began to expand rapidly. It certainly caused various concerns.

Because those who had big products certainly couldn’t escape criticism and blasphemy from customers who were dissatisfied with their services. In the modern era, with so much tech support, these discordant voices could be more easily accommodated. Ultimately, cursed spirits who’d specifically curse these companies would be born faster. Even if that wasn’t the case, humans could easily be cursed and die.

Ultimately, the figure of ten thousand fatalities last year wasn’t something to be underestimated.

Those in contact with the jujutsu society certainly understand how crucial the sorcerers were to controlling the damage. However, the sorcerers also understood their value as the only ones who could eradicate the cursed spirits, so they could determine their prices as they pleased. Because of that, the money turnover was substantial, making this business a very sexy peat field.

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you asked me to meet you.”

Gojo Satoru immediately replied rather coldly, causing Hiratsuka to sigh slowly.

“Please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean to offend you or anything. I also know that you’ve been working hard to change the internal situation.”

Hearing that reply, Satoru immediately smiled casually.

“Oh, did I scare you just now, Shizuka-chan? Don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it,” the man replied while waving his hand.

“It’s not like I’m afraid of you. It’s just that I don’t want to look like a provocateur in front of my student’s parent,” Hiratsuka replied while looking at Asuka, “I’m sorry for showing you my cocky side, Hikigaya-san.”

That might be a bold statement from Hiratsuka that she didn't fear the Gojo Satoru. However, she knew how strong the man before her was. Although the woman had several ways to penetrate his defences, Gojo Satoru was a figure who was still dangerous even without the shield of Infinity. But confidence and not being afraid of anyone was a mentality that made Hiratsuka so respected.

Satoru's initially overly relaxed expression suddenly turned sour. The strongest being felt disturbed when he heard the woman beside him sigh.

“Just so you know, Asuka-san. Just because I wanted to intimidate Shizuka-chan a little doesn't mean I'm being childish, okay? It was just a little prank, okay?"

“You know I won’t comment on anything, right, Satoru-kun?” the woman replied with a sigh and looked straight at Satoru.

Meanwhile, Hiratsuka seemed to put on an awkward smile and felt momentarily isolated even though the couple had only exchanged a few words. The world felt like theirs as the two lovebirds stared at each other. Even a simple body movement could be translated as the language of love they expressed.

On one hand, Hiratsuka wasn't that surprised to see the couple. However, she was still not used to seeing the great Gojo Satoru being subdued by a woman's charms.

'Looking back, I think it makes perfect sense,' Hiratsuka thought as she watched them silently, 'Gojo-san always had Inoue Waka's picture as his wallpaper before Ieiri-san made fun of him so many times. In fact, I heard he still had Inoue-san's poster in his room even after he graduated.'

Inoue Waka was a famous idol and actress loved by many young people in the past. Her cheerful nature and mature appearance gave her her own charm. Moreover, she was also one of the people who popularised short hairstyles for women early in her career.

Imagining Inoue Waka's stature at that time raised Hiratsuka's eyebrows.

'Short hair and the aura of a reliable mature woman, doesn't Hikigaya-san have the same build as Inoue-san?' Hiratsuka thought to herself as she stared at the woman, 'Don't tell me one of the reasons Gojo-san is dating her is because Hikigaya-san has similar features to his high school crush?'

Hiratsuka closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Seeing as Hikigaya-san also came with Gojo-san, can I assume that the rumour that you two are seeing each other is true?”

Rumours about the closeness of the two people were indeed quite intensely discussed. However, no one could confirm the rumours because Asuka didn’t hold the sorcerer status and had never been active in the Jujutsu Society. But seeing Satoru and Asuka coming together, it was no wonder that Hiratsuka thought that what she heard was true.

“That’s how it is,” Asuka said calmly, “After learning that the Jujutsu Society is in turmoil, and my son might be on the front lines, I couldn’t just stay in the dark.”

The bespectacled woman seemed to fill her lungs with air and exhaled slowly.

“In terms of ability, I am only at the assistant manager level. However, I wanted to know if there was anything I could do even if it was just small things. That is why I am here.”

“And honestly I don’t really agree with it because it might put her in danger,” Satoru responded, “But after thinking about it, it’s better for me to let Asuka-san understand the situation and do something in my knowledge than to do dangerous things behind my back.”

“I would not be that careless. But thank you, and sorry if it worried you.”

Satoru smiled warmly at those words. His free hand waved lightly, signalling he didn't mind the extra responsibility. However, just as he was about to reply to his lover's words, the man caught her impatient gaze, wanting to say something.

“Alright, enough with the small talk. What’s your reason for asking to meet me in secret, Shizuka-chan?” Satoru asked with a change in his tone.

Hiratsuka coughed to clear her throat. The woman then stared intently at Satoru and began to explain the situation she had faced for the past few hours at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Without hesitation, she told everything without leaving any words unturned. Her eyes were unblinking as if trying to show her seriousness.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, and Satoru could feel the determination in every word that came out of Hiratsuka's mouth. Every now and then, the long black-haired woman would pause her explanation to take a deep breath before continuing. After a few minutes, she finally finished telling everything that had happened to her this morning.

“And you threatened the higher-ups that you’d set up a rival organisation if they kept bothering you?" Satoru concluded with a broad smile on his face.

Before Hiratsuka could reply, Satoru laughed so loudly that the two women in the room jumped.

“Hahahahaha!!!”

Satoru took off his sunglasses and wiped away a few tears that had leaked out. It was a booming laugh, one that was quite rare even though he was a man who was easily amused by even the most minor things. And after a few seconds, the man finally regained his cool.

“Sorry, sorry. But seriously, I can't help it imagining the reaction of those old farts. And that's coming from you on top of that,” the man continued.

Hiratsuka pretended to cough a second time to cover her embarrassment.

“Well, it was just a bluff. So, there’s no need to go that far as long as they don’t actually cross the line.”

Satoru just kept quiet without responding to the additional explanation. Hiratsuka interpreted his silence as a sign to immediately get to the point of the conversation.

"Because of that, I have a favour to ask you, Gojo-san."

“What was that about establishing a rival organisation you mentioned?”

Hiratsuka shook her head slowly while closing her eyes.

“As I said, the rival organisation is just my bluff. However, to be frank, I want to destroy the Tengen Barrier that surrounds mainland Japan.”

Satoru was silent for a moment, his mouth tightly shut. It was as if Hiratsuka's words were something his brain couldn’t accept just like that. Although no one noticed it because of the sunglasses, Satoru's eyes widened because he had difficulty grasping the meaning of each word the woman had said.

The man shifted his sitting position to give himself more time to think. Honestly, it was hard for him to believe that a pacifist like Hiratsuka would make a statement that could invite such conflict.

“May I ask why?”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the statement came out in a toneless voice.

“Three people were awakened to become sorcerers by two different methods. You can’t call it a coincidence. Whoever did it, they must be conducting experiments for something big.”

“And do you think that has something to do with the Tengen Barrier?” Satoru asked.

However, Hiratsuka shook her head slowly, which confused him.

“I can’t say it has anything to do with it directly. But Tengen Barrier is the foundation of jujutsu sorcery in Japan and is the main reason our land has been able to produce so many sorcerers, even more than England and China.”

"Even though you know that much, you still want to destroy it?" Asuka, who had been listening to all this time, jumped into the discussion.

“I understand your concerns, Hikigaya-san. I also can’t guarantee that there won’t be any negative impacts,” Hiratsuka replied in a caring tone, “But the thing is, Tengen-sama created the barrier to support the growth and stability of Japan’s jujutsu society. However, to be honest, it didn’t go as expected.”

Tengen Barrier was what shaped the jujutsu society into what it was today. However, aside from its primary role of keeping the number of sorcerers at an optimal level and being the basis for studying jujutsu sorcery, Tengen Barrier had yet to live up to its promises. Moreover, when the number of cursed spirits created far outnumbered the number of sorcerers born, stability in numbers and manpower became difficult to achieve.

“Tengen Barrier isolates the cursed energy in Japan, making it extremely concentrated and dense. That way, many sorcerers will be born as a response to adapt. However, because it’s an uncontrollable variable, the cursed spirits created from that concentration are also getting higher.”

Hiratsuka paused her presentation momentarily and glanced at Satoru for a moment.

“On our side, there are quite a lot of qualified sorcerers being born from generation to generation. However, on the opposite side, cursed spirits are superior in quantity. Because of that, the average number of deaths per year for the past two decades caused by cursed spirits could reach ten thousand cases.”

“You mean, you want to destroy the Tengen Barrier so that the number of cursed spirits being born will decrease?” Satoru asked for confirmation.

However, Hiratsuka gave a slow shake of the head as a rebuttal.

“An experiment to turn someone into a sorcerer. Although it sounds different, it’s the same thing as the basic idea of ​​Tengen Barrier, which is to increase the number of sorcerers.”

Hiratsuka took a deep breath and exhaled roughly.

“Let’s say it’s just me overthinking, but I’ve got a feeling that whoever is responsible for all this will also be after Tengen. So, before they get what they’re after, it’d be best if the Tengen Barrier is destroyed first.”

“However, that would mean that almost all jujutsu sorcery curriculum, whether taught in schools or passed down through families, would have to be revised from the scratch,” Asuka quickly replied.

Tengen Barrier was the foundation of the jujutsu society. It had been inevitable for the past millennia. Not only did it directly influence the number of sorcerers born in Japan, but also the method of teaching new sorcerers and exterminating cursed spirits. Moreover, the various barrier spells widely used today were almost all derivative spells oriented towards the Tengen Barrier.

In other words, the barrier technique that was widely used by sorcerers today was a spell specially created by utilising the existence of the Tengen Barrier as its basis. Therefore, the barrier technique which was initially a branch of jujutsu sorcery that required comprehensive understanding, now could be used easily by low-level sorcerers such as assistant managers. So, if the things that supported the jujutsu society were destroyed, the sorcerers would need a new method to carry out their duties and teachings.

“I understand that very well. That’s why, in response, I plan to create my own jujutsu school, one that will truly teach barrier spells properly and with a more transparent curriculum,” Hiratsuka explained to Asuka to put her at ease.

Hiratsuka Shizuka was a sorcerer with the same cursed technique as Tengen, the Barrier Technique. Although she once got some tips from Tengen when she was young, Hiratsuka preferred to develop her own technique according to her philosophy and needs. Therefore, if there was anyone who could breathe fresh air into a society that had long been stuck in the circle of conservative people, that person was definitely Hiratsuka Shizuka.

By taking on Hikigaya Hachiman and Isshiki Iroha as her disciples, Hiratsuka had prepared herself for this crazy idea.

“A new school?” Satoru asked.

Hiratsuka nodded at the question.

“I said earlier that many people, even government representatives, don’t like the association’s arbitrary attitude, right? I’ve some connections with them, and if I propose to build a new school outside the association, there’ll be some large donations coming in.”

“And you also said that the rival organisation thing was just your bluff, yet you want to create a new school?” said Satoru, repeating the information from the beginning.

“Yes, that is. However, they won’t just sit there quietly after hearing my bluff, right? Besides, the matter of the school thingy is a form of prevention against the impact that will occur to the Tengen Barrier that I’ll destroy in the near future,” the woman explained.

Satoru was about to reply to those words, but Hiratsuka preceded him.

“That’s why I only have one request for you and I’m not asking you to support me. It’s just, please, don’t get in my way and please let it slide,” Hiratsuka pleaded sincerely, even bowing her body.

The Gojo Clan was a clan that was mandated to guard Tengen. In fact, the fate of the Six Eyes users was directly tied to the fate of Tengen and Star Plasma, making them have a special connection.

However, Gojo Satoru failed in his destiny and let the Star Plasma Vessel be killed, ending the assimilation that was supposed to happen every four hundred years. This forced him to take more responsibility for Tengen and everything that threatened it. However, the white-haired man was the epitome of true freedom, allowing him to freely determine his path.

“Honestly, your idea sounds fun,” Satoru replied as he took a drink from the bottle of water on the table, “However, I’m not a guy who runs a charity. So, I expect something in return from this deal.”

Hiratsuka, hunched over, straightened up and readjusted her sitting position.

“I understand. As long as it is within my capacity, I have no objections to whatever deal you propose,” the woman replied.

Satoru smiled in satisfaction at her sincerity. He put the water bottle back on the table and removed his glasses to better look at Hiratsuka.

“What I want isn’t too complicated and I’m sure someone of your calibre can do it,” Satoru said with a nonchalant shrug, “So, open your ears and listen carefully, Shizuka-chan.”

—OoOoO—

It was a busy and hectic Saturday for Hachiman. His original plan was to train with Haruno, Maki, and the others in the morning for a few hours, then spend the rest of his weekend quietly reading new books he had just bought. However, it turned into quite a troublesome job when his master, Hiratsuka Shizuka, contacted him and told him to come to Tokyo Jujutsu High immediately for some reason.

“Who’d have thought that Miura’d be a victim too,” Hachiman muttered with a straight face.

The boy with the eyes like a dead fish walked alone on the streets of his neighbourhood. His eyes looked more rotten than usual as if the recently complicated things were taking a toll on his mental energy. Even his hands were resting in his pants pockets, hoping it could ease his tiredness even just a little. Every now and then, his mouth would yawn, trying to suck as much oxygen as possible to supply to his brain.

However, it was purely due to poor time management. Hachiman stayed up all night playing games and naively thought he had plenty of time to rest the next day.

“On the bright side, today Haruno-san treated me to lots of delicious food throughout the day.”

Hachiman yawned again for the umpteenth time.

“But this is bad. I’m starting to feel the joy of being nurtured by an older woman. Things like being a househusband that I used to joke about are starting to feel like a reality, and I don’t mind at all.”

Even though Hachiman earned a massive income after becoming a special grade sorcerer, even without doing any missions, his philosophy of enjoying free things made him helpless when Haruno always paid for all the expenses whenever they went out.

Moreover, because Hiratsuka ordered them to keep moving, especially not to take Yumiko home before the business in Tokyo settled down, Haruno took them around to look for hidden gems. However, when the evening approached, Hiratsuka took over the job and took Yumiko home. And while Haruno returned Momoshiro's car that they borrowed, Hachiman walked home alone.

“Well, it was indeed a long day, but it wasn’t too bad,” the boy muttered.

However, even though it seemed like the day was coming to an end, it seemed like there was something that was still bothering the boy.

Hachiman reached for his phone in his pants and pressed the power button to turn it on. His thumbs nimbly swiped the screen to open the chat application he always used.

'If there's no more work, can you go home right away? Since there are some things I want to tell you and Komachi-chan, we'll have a family meeting.'

He received a message from his mother about an hour ago. Reading the words 'family meeting' had been on his mind since earlier. Hachiman was sure he hadn't caused any trouble lately that would make his mother have to hold such an event. So, various possibilities were really flooding his brain.

Hachiman was already right in front of his house without him realising it. The boy held the handle of the iron fence, but he didn't open it. A long, heavy sigh was heard, and his hand rubbed the back of his neck roughly.

“Well, whatever happens, happens.”

Hachiman opened it without resistance and closed it before walking towards the door. However, he sighed again as his hand touched the handle.

“I'm home,” he said as he opened the door.

Hachiman immediately entered and turned to close the door. Without further ado, he took his shoes off and changed into indoor slippers. However, when he was about to put them on the shelf, he saw a pair of men's shoes that he didn’t recognise as belonging to his family.

“It can't be, right?” he muttered, his heart suddenly beating fast.

Hachiman then walked hurriedly to the living room. His face looked pale, and his teeth were clenched. The possibilities that he wanted to get rid of from his head suddenly haunted him.

However, Hachiman's steps stopped at the doorway. His breath hitched for a moment, and his eyes widened. Sitting casually next to his mother was a white-haired man who usually smiled annoyingly at every occasion. However, the smile was now replaced by a rather serious expression, which didn’t eliminate the comfy vibe around him. Even so, what bothered him so much was the impression implied by the man, which showed him as if he were part of the house.

Seeing her son silent, Asuka closed her eyes to prepare her heart. With firm determination, she opened them again, showing the determination and gentleness that had always been the mainstay of the Hikigaya family.

"Please sit down. I have something I want to tell you both," the woman said, turning to Komachi, who was sitting on the single sofa, "It was about our family, the future, and my relationship with Satoru-kun.”

Like a bolt of lightning in broad daylight, Hachiman's heart seemed to stop for a moment. The boy stared like an idiot. His clenched fists made his fingernails look red. His jaw tightened as if he was trying to hold back the emotional turmoil that felt like it was about to explode. It didn't take a high level of intelligence to deduce what he saw. Even an idiot could read the atmosphere in front of him.

However, when the seconds that felt so long had passed, the muscles in his body seemed to relax. Hachiman looked at his mother and the white-haired man with a complicated gaze, but he immediately turned his face aside because he felt both disappointment and disgust. He was disappointed because he felt betrayed and afraid that his mother would go to a faraway place. Still, he also felt disgusted at his selfishness because it was difficult to accept his mother's decision after sacrificing her happiness to raise two children alone

 for so long.

Hachiman regained his composure with a soft sigh, even though his selfish side still had difficulty accepting reality. However, the boy could stare at the two people without distracting himself from reality.

“Fine, I’ll listen to it.”

—To Be Continued—

Author Note: Hello, how are you guys? Hope you are doing well, okay?

After thinking it through, I finally decided to postpone writing the flashback about Hiratsuka. I think there’s still a more appropriate moment to reveal it. Besides, another reason is that I can't wait to return to the Oregairu side after spending quite a long time on the Jujutsu side.

Perhaps the next chapter will conclude this saga. After Hiratsuka's decision in this chapter, which made everyone on her side withdraw from Tokyo, the focus will shift to Chiba. However, some conclusions still need to be made, and that will be the end of the next chapter. The reciprocity that Satoru asked for will also be revealed.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay tuned and stay safe. The weather has been bad lately, so please stay healthy. Until then, see you again. And the next update will be One Way Home.