My Youth as A Sorcerer Sucks, Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Hiratsuka Shizuka Is Not as Friendly as Expected.

—OoOoO—

Weekends were always a special day for everyone, especially for workers, because they could relieve fatigue after struggling with work for almost a whole week. Many ways could be done to get through to the end in peace. Some people would choose to hang out with colleagues, go on an outing with family, or even just lazing around at home could be done.

In contrast to his personality, who liked to tease people and always gave the impression of a carefree man, Gojo Satoru was busy. He had a tight daily schedule, leaving only two to three hours of sleep. Although he always enjoyed his work, mainly whenever he interacted with his students, he could also occasionally feel bored with his routine.

That was why, even for Gojo Satoru, he was a man who still longed for a weekend vacation.

“Asuka-san, look! I caught a lot of fish in the river!” said the white-haired man with sunglasses.

The man walked while showing off his fishing rod, which had several medium-sized fish on it, to the woman who appeared to be preparing the equipment for the barbecue.

The bespectacled woman with short hair turned her head when her name was shouted. Instantly, one of her eyebrows raised at the sight.

“That many? Did you catch them using your abilities, Satoru-kun?”

Satoru smiled widely with pride at the question, making the woman sigh softly.

“If you want to grill fish too, why didn’t we just buy it at the supermarket, while we were buying the meat?” the woman asked.

Satoru didn't answer right away. He looked for the cooler box he had filled with ice beforehand, which he had prepared before fishing.

“It's nothing. I just wanted to show you that I'm not just a rich guy, but also a man you can rely on for labour work,” Satoru replied as he put the fish into the box.

“You’re the strongest in the world. Do you still need such a validation?”

The white-haired man sighed with a confident smile. He immediately straightened up after arranging the fish and removed his gloves. Satoru turned to look at Asuka. Slowly, he lifted his shades, revealing the beautiful blue gems in his eyes.

"Being the strongest is one thing, but every man always wants to show his masculinity to the woman he loves," Satoru said seductively.

However, Asuka felt a cringe that pierced her skin, making her shiver and shudder with horror when she heard those words.

It was a stupid flirtation, which, instead of charming the target, made her smile awkwardly. However, Asuka knew that what Satoru had just said was just one of his silly jokes, and the man enjoyed every reaction from the people who became his victims. Indeed, what a weird hobby.

Satoru chuckled softly at the woman's reaction. Without any intention of continuing his stupid words, he picked up another box of vegetables and brought it to the camping table beside his lover.

“Put that aside, I really didn’t expect you to invite me to a picnic in a place like this, Asuka-san.”

Before the woman could answer, Satoru continued his words.

“I thought I would never get an invitation from you even though we have been dating for almost a year.”

Asuka's hands that were chopping vegetables suddenly stopped hearing those words that seemed to have a subtle hint of sarcasm. However, she immediately took a breath and cleared her mind. Maybe the words the man said sounded negative, but she knew that Satoru wanted to convey his surprise at the unusual invitation.

“After all, I’m a mother of two, you know? My priority is my children, and when I have a day off, I’m more comfortable sleeping longer at home.”

“That sounds like something Hachiman would always say,” Satoru replied, holding up a few bags of charcoal he had grabbed earlier.

Hearing that spontaneous statement, Asuka smiled, laughed briefly, and continued her words.

“However, when I decided to accept you as my lover, I knew I had to distribute my time more wisely so that our relationship would work,” the woman continued.

Asuka widened her eyes in surprise as she felt a chin land on the top of her head and a tall body hug her from behind.

“It sounds like you were forced to do it,” Satoru replied in a sulky tone.

“Don't be silly,” Asuka said as she continued her activities, “If I had to, I wouldn't have accepted you in the first place.”

Relationships between adults weren’t as simple as teenage romances. It must be full of dedication, understanding of each other, and often even making small sacrifices, especially time, so that it could last. Especially if one party was already responsible for a family, that person needed to manage time to balance her life as a parent and lover.

While the two lovebirds were enjoying their quality time, suddenly Asuka’s smartphone rang, which wasn’t far from where she was slicing vegetables. The woman reflexively turned her head and saw the name "Hiratsuka" on the screen. Asuka quickly pressed the green icon and activated the loudspeaker mode, as if she didn't care if her conversation was heard by Satoru, who was still hugging her from behind.

“With Hikigaya Asuka here,” the woman said.

“Good afternoon…, or not. It's still morning. But, excuse me, It's Hiratsuka Shizuka.”

“Yes, Hiratsuka-san, how can I help you?”

Without further ado, the woman on the phone immediately replied.

“Sorry for taking up your time on the weekend, Hikigaya-san. However, do you know where Gojo-san is? I’ve tried contacting him, but it seems he turned off his phone. And Ijichi said he seems to be on vacation.”

Asuka reflexively turned her head to the side to look at Satoru, who was next to her, and only got a shrug from the man in response.

“Gojo-san? Why?” Asuka asked.

Although some people guessed their relationship, the two lovebirds had never announced their dating. If they meet someone from the jujutsu society or someone they know, Asuka and Satoru would drop their intimacy and switch to professional mode.

“Apparently, one of the students in my class has been involved in something and is now at Tokyo Jujutsu Tech. I would like to ask Gojo-san to pick me up and take me there using his teleportation,” Hiratsuka explained her condition.

“A student in your class?” Asuka repeated the information, “Like, your student from Sobu High? Does that mean she’s Hachiman-kun’s classmate?”

Hiratsuka nodded at the question, even though no one could see it.

“Yeah, she is. Honestly, I don’t know what happened, but it worried me to hear that a girl who had nothing to do with the jujutsu society was suddenly there.”

“I understand. I will try to contact Gojo-san and convey your message, but I cannot guarantee that he will be willing to help you,” Asuka replied, glancing at Satoru.

“Thank you very much, Hikigaya-san. I really appreciate it.”

Hiratsuka expressed his thanks sincerely, but before Asuka could reply, the woman on the phone preceded her.

“Then if you will excuse me, I will take my leave.”

With that, the call ended. Asuka immediately faced Satoru and looked at him earnestly.

“So, what are you going to do, Satoru-kun?” the woman asked.

Satoru didn’t reply immediately. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked up at the sky, trying to decide what action to take. The strongest man was experiencing quite a fierce inner conflict. On the one hand, he felt some responsibility, but on the other hand, he was reluctant to sacrifice the picnic he could rarely have.

Seeing her lover looking hesitant, Asuka gave him some pieces of advice.

“I understand the burden of responsibility you bear as the strongest. Hearing about the Higher-ups who seem to be trapping innocent people, I know you want to rush over and solve it yourself. However, you are not alone. You can share that burden with others.”

Asuka took the napkin on the table, wiped her hands, and continued her words.

“It seems like Hiratsuka-san will also take on that responsibility. You can even count on Hachiman-kun for this.”

“I thought you didn’t like it when Hachiman got too involved in organisational matters, especially at his young age?” Satoru asked.

Asuka sighed and replied, “I do wish for him to enjoy his youth to the fullest. However, hearing your plan that you told me a few weeks ago, I realised that I cannot continue to think of my son as a little baby.”

The woman let out a sad smile with the corners of her eyes narrowed.

“Moreover, I know that Hachiman-kun is a person with strong empathy even though he looks like an indifferent boy who always needs a reason to take action,” Asuka said as she put down the napkin. “If that kid always needs a reason, one day he will regret not taking the initiative earlier. That’s why I’m always grateful to you and Hiratsuka-san who slowly taught him the meaning of responsibility.”

Satoru smiled when he heard the sincere confession from his girlfriend, who was ten years older.

“I see. You don’t have to worry, Asuka-san. I'm not the same emo teenager you met ten years ago who thought no one could understand me."

Asuka chuckled softly when Satoru brought up the topic. It reminded her of the past when everything was still difficult.

After calming herself down, Asuka brought her right hand to touch the white-haired man's cheek. She stroked it gently, feeling every inch of the softness of the well-maintained skin.

“Besides, this is the vacation I have been looking forward to, you know? So, make sure to come back as soon as possible.”

Satoru couldn't help but smile widely when he heard that. His stomach felt ticklish like thousands of butterflies were flying around.

Asuka's hand touched his cheek, and Satoru slowly reached for it. With a gentle movement, Satoru kissed the back of her hand softly.

“As you wish, my queen.”

—OoOoO—

Two girls were waiting in front of the Jujutsu girl’s dormitory with little conversation. One girl had long blonde hair, while the other had short white hair. The blonde stood with her body leaning against the wall, her head bowed. While the other one was sitting cross-legged and busy monitoring the trees around them.

They were Miura Yumiko and Momoshiro Chiyoko, who managed to get out of the main building after threatening people by bringing up Gojo Satoru’s and Hiratsuka Shizuka’s names.

“Stop that gloomy face of yours. I told you everything would be fine, didn’t I?” Momoshiro said without looking at the girl.

“How can I be fine, if my normal days suddenly become filled with supernatural things?” Yumiko replied in a low voice, but it sounded full of frustration.

During the journey to the dormitory, the two girls talked quite a lot, especially Yumiko, who spoke about her condition, and Momoshiro, who talked about the big picture of what place she came to. During that time, Yumiko also became more and more surprised that she was trapped with something much more terrible than she expected. However, on the other hand, she was also quite relieved because, at least, she wasn’t crazy.

“You’ve Hiratsuka-san behind you. That alone is a good capital for you to get out of this situation,” Momoshiro said.

Yumiko clenched her fists tightly and bit the corner of her lip.

“But can I return to my normal life, Momoshiro-san?”

Momoshiro preferred to remain silent rather than answer the question. She was the type of person who was terrible when it came to comforting someone. However, ignoring people just like that would also leave a lingering feeling.

The white-haired girl stood up and patted her butt to remove the dust after she sat down on the ground. She looked at Yumiko, seeing the girl who was still gloomy. Preceded by a sigh, Momoshiro finally gave her opinion.

“For that matter, it’d be better to discuss it with Hiratsuka-san herself.”

Momoshiro looked at her watch after saying those words.

“She should be here soon.”

Hearing that, Yumiko looked up and looked at her idol with astonishment.

“How? Even though Tokyo and Chiba are neighbours, the distance is still quite far, you know? How could she come so fast?”

Even if she took a car, Yumiko knew it would still take about two and a half hours to get here. And yet, she had only just left the main building a few minutes ago.

“Have you forgotten, Miura-chan? We’re in a world where supernatural powers exist.”

Right after those words came out of Momoshiro's mouth, a wind blew near them even though there were no leaves to blow it. Yumiko was surprised by that. However, what surprised her even more was when she saw two people who suddenly appeared before them.

"Hiratsuka-sensei?" Yumiko muttered.

Seeing a woman she knew so well, Yumiko's eyes suddenly felt hot. Her body froze in place for a moment with her mouth agape. Her brain seemed to stop working after failing to process what she had just witnessed. However, the intense emotion pushed her to just charge at the woman.

“Hiratsuka-sensei!”

Yumiko screamed with tears. She hugged the woman tightly and buried her head in her chest. The reaction shocked Hiratsuka at first, but she quickly stroked the blonde's head gently after realising that the girl had been through a lot.

“It's fine. I'm here," Hiratsuka said softly.

Yumiko nodded in her arms, tears flooding her eyes. The accumulated stress and bursting out made her forget the surroundings. In fact, she ignored the presence of the white-haired man with sunglasses in grey shorts and a blue shirt with the small sunflowers pattern.

Satoru didn't want to interrupt the reunion. However, he didn't have much time because he had promised to return as soon as possible.

“I’ll bring the kids here.”

Hiratsuka turned to the man.

“Are you sure it’s okay to involve them? Hikigaya and Maki are already busy as Haruno’s guardians. As for this matter, I can handle it myself.”

Yumiko fell silent when she heard a familiar name. It also reminded her that Momoshiro had mentioned the name before when she was threatening the four people who took her. However, before she could say anything, a man had already preceded her.

"No matter how good you are, you won't be able to look after this girl all day," Satoru replied, "Besides, I'm sure she’d be more comfortable with kids her age than having to be looked after by your people in Chiba."

Satoru turned to look at Momoshiro, who was still leaning against the wall. Receiving that look, the girl kept her smile wide and tilted her head.

“Not to mention, you’re going to be facing to those old farts after this, right? Momoshiro is strong, but it wouldn’t hurt to add more powers.”

Realising that her name was involved in the conversation, the young actress walked over to them.

“The sorcerers who are on the side of the Tokyo’s boards are all here. Adding reinforcements would be a great idea,” the girl said.

Hiratsuka sighed as she closed her eyes.

“Okay, I understand.”

The black-haired woman grabbed Yumiko's shoulders and pushed her away gently to release her embrace. She looked the girl straight in the eyes, showing her sincerity that everything would be okay.

“Listen, Miura. Hikigaya will be here soon and will accompany you while I go meet with the boards. Despite his aloof appearance, he’s a reliable boy.”

Hearing that, Yumiko nodded slowly. As for Satoru, he put on a faint smile and prepared to bring his students over using his technique.

“Okay, everyone please make some space because the gust might feel a little strong.”

He put his hands together to form a hand seal.

“Cursed Technique Release: Forced-Reverse Teleportation.”

The ability that Satoru used was an extension of his cursed technique. Utilising the Limitless ability to manipulate space and time, Satoru could teleport himself from one point to another by wrapping the space. Using a similar method, he could bring other objects as long as they were marked with a talisman written in a circle around them.

After the spell was chanted, the ground before them suddenly cracked, forming a small crater. Dust flew and was quickly swept away by the wind that emerged from the teleportation effect. However, what surprised Yumiko again was that five people, or more precisely, four people and one animal were on top of the crater.

“Hikio? You really are that Hikio!”

Even though she had been told that the “Hikigaya” mentioned earlier was her classmate, Yumiko couldn’t help but be surprised when she saw him in person.

“Yo,” the guy greeted back awkwardly.

Yumiko observed the people around the boy. A platinum blonde-haired boy with a style like a male idol and a high jacket collar that covered his mouth. A girl with glasses, flat bangs and a high ponytail. A large panda standing at the back. Lastly, a woman who looked more mature, with short black hair that reached her shoulders.

Except for the panda, the people seemed to be wearing sportswear suitable for high-mobility activities. However, Yumiko couldn't take her eyes off the woman. She remembered meeting her before.

“You are… the onee-san I met at Chiba University, aren’t you?”

Feeling that the person she was referring to was herself, Haruno gave a friendly smile.

“Nice to see you again. We've heard all about it from Gojo. It must have been a tough experience for you, right?”

Yumiko nodded slowly without any words coming out of her mouth in response to the question. However, her head reflexively lowered again, not daring to look at those people any longer. Partly because she felt intimidated by them for some reason and the other reason because she was pretty worried about whether she could trust those people if she put aside Hiratsuka and Hachiman, whom she had known since the beginning.

Shizuka seemed to understand what her student was feeling and gently patted the girl's shoulder, which made Yumiko turn to the woman beside her.

“Rest assured. Except for Haruno and Momoshiro, they were Hikigaya’s classmates before he transferred to Sobu this year,” Hiratsuka said.

The sorcerer who specialised in barrier techniques looked at Yumiko, who seemed calmer but couldn't shake off all her complexities.

“I’ll go to the boards and find out why you were tricked into coming here,” Hiratsuka continued, “While I’m gone, they’ll accompany you. So, everything should be fine.”

Yumiko nodded slowly for the umpteenth time.

“I understand, and sorry for troubling you, sensei.”

Hiratsuka sighed as one corner of her lips curled upwards casually.

“Don't sweat it. I know it must be hard for you not having anywhere else to vent.”

Hiratsuka turned her upper body, staring intently at the towering pagoda from which the main building originated. A fierce glint appeared in her eyes, indicating how much anger she held back. Hiratsuka looked back at Yumiko, taking a deep breath to clear her mind.

“Before that, there are a few things I want to ask you, Miura.”

—OoOoO—

The Jujutsu Tech compound was divided into several sections. Whether it was the Kyoto headquarters or Tokyo's, it was generally divided into the jujutsu high, where young sorcerers study, and the jujutsu headquarters, where the higher-ups and staff gather. In addition, if there was a preparation for a large-scale operation, other sorcerers would also be gathered there. However, specifically for the Tokyo headquarters, another section was included in the temple area where Tengen resided, which was considered sacred and tightly

 guarded.

Six Japanese-style doors were arranged in a circle in a dimly lit room, lit only by candles. Behind each door were the top brass of the branch office.

These people were responsible for all orders, planning, school operations, and so on in Tokyo and other areas of Eastern Japan. And in the middle of those arranged doors stood a woman with long black hair.

The woman appeared to be wearing a white shirt and a dark blue tie around her neck, all covered by a black vest. Pants of the same colour also appear as her bottom. However, her white coat made her look more striking and gave a strong impression of confidence, which constantly fluttered following every movement of her body.

“I demand an explanation of what happened and why Miura Yumiko, a student from Sobu High, ended up here?”

Hiratsuka emphasised every word she said. Her sharp eyes, which were constantly scanning the room, also added to the intimidating impression the woman gave off. She observed every silhouette behind the doors. However, none of the old men seemed to waver.

“Hiratsuka Shizuka,” said one of them, “You should be the one who owes us an explanation.”

The woman narrowed her eyes, processing what she had just heard.

"What do you mean?"

No one answered the question for quite a while, causing the frown on the sorcerer, a high school teacher, to deepen. It was as if they were deliberately hanging her to show that the power in this place was in their hands.

After enjoying Hiratsuka's annoyed face, one of them spoke.

“First, Yukinoshita Haruno. Now, Miura Yumiko. Both of them are people who are closely related to you.”

The old man finished his words but was quickly connected by his other companion.

“You’re not going to say it was just a coincidence, are you, Hiratsuka?”

The black-haired woman felt offended, and her eyes immediately glared at them individually.

“You’re accusing me? You think I was planning something behind your back?” Hiratsuka replied with her fists clenched tightly.

“We’re not accusing you. That’s why we demand that you explain everything,” one of them said arrogantly.

Just as the high school teacher was about to reply, another old man had already beaten her to it.

“Everyone here knows that you have visited Tengen-sama several times when you were young. It’s only natural since you share the same cursed technique, the Barrier Technique.”

“And we’re not naive, who don’t consider that Tengen-sama has taught her one thousand years-worth knowledge of jujutsu sorcery to you. Something that even Gojo Satoru doesn’t possess.”

Hiratsuka didn't rush to interrupt even though her heart was already churning to slap those people. She stood still, keeping her ears wide open so as not to miss any nonsense about to be thrown at her. Besides, she knew there was still something else they would say.

“And on top of that, if two of the same things happened to the people closest to you, would you deny that you didn’t know anything, Hiratsuka?”

A sigh was heard from the woman as the question was finished. Hiratsuka closed her eyes, trying to reorganise her thoughts to maintain her sanity.

“First of all, yes, Tengen-sama has summoned me several times before. Second, yes, she shared some tips to me. However, how I use my technique and my fighting style are all purely the result of my own efforts. And third, and lastly, I did absolutely nothing that is in your heads.”

Hiratsuka answered calmly and straightforwardly in one breath. However, she continued her words without giving them a chance to reply.

“That’s why I’m here to confirm to all the esteemed council members,” the woman paused for a moment, “What do you intend to do to Miura Yumiko, and how did she end up in this place?”

Thanks to Hiratsuka managing to control her emotions, the tension in the room became more relaxed.

“We heard that another subject appeared in Chiba with the same case as Yukinoshita Haruno and Yoshino Junpei.”

“I’ve confirmed it directly with the girl. She doesn’t seem to have met the cursed spirit named Mahito,” Hiratsuka replied quickly.

Although the room had minimal air circulation, the candle flames swayed wildly occasionally. The cursed energy from everyone inside was trying to dominate each other, causing the air around to move randomly.

“Even if your student wasn’t awakened in the same way as Yukinoshita and Yoshino, it could still mean something and everything,” said one of the old men.

Hearing one of his colleagues finish his words, someone immediately continued.

“Moreover, we’ve conducted an investigation and it has been proven that she has killed someone using her cursed technique.”

Hiratsuka's eyes widened, but it only lasted for a split second as she glared at each door. Her mouth dropped open momentarily before she clenched her jaw until the veins in her temples bulged.

“The case of someone being burned alive a few days ago in Chiba. You must have seen the news, right?” one of the higher-ups asked.

Hiratsuka bit the corner of her lip, trying to stay calm despite being cornered.

'I had someone check the crime scene as soon as the news aired in the morning, but the report said there were no residual energy traces at all, even I double-checked it during the day.'

Residual energy wasn’t something that could be quickly disappeared if not handled properly. Moreover, if it was used to burn someone alive to a charred death, the cursed energy should be large enough to last a whole day.

However, the fact that Hiratsuka found nothing, even when he checked it herself, made her dismiss the assumption that it was caused by a supernatural phenomenon. Moreover, the police report that found evidence in the form of gas leaks, cigarette butt, and lighter fragments all strengthened the assumption that the incident was purely caused by unfortunate coincidences.

'When I asked her, Miura said she didn't know her abilities. But if she had a technique that could naturally ignite a massive fire, it’d make sense that no residual energy was detected.'

Hiratsuka put one hand in her pocket.

“Is your information reliable?” the woman asked.

Hiratsuka knew what kind of place the jujutsu society was. Forging information and manipulating evidence were just a small part of the place at the bottom of the underworld. In fact, these people wouldn’t hold back from giving false reports if it meant they could get rid of someone without getting their hands dirty.

“If you doubt it, you can bring Miura here to confirm it.”

Hiratsuka gritted her teeth at the challenge. It was such a smooth verse that it was hard to deny. It wasn't that the woman was afraid to bring Yumiko or didn't believe she could protect her. If anything, Hiratsuka was confident in her abilities in case the worst-case scenario happened. However, what concerned her was that Yumiko was just an ordinary girl.

'Haruno has a few screws loose in her head, making her crazy enough to adapt so quickly to this world. That's something that Miura doesn't have. That girl has reached her limit. More than that, I'm afraid she'll go completely crazy.'

While Hiratsuka was lost in thought, one of her interlocutors was getting impatient to hear her answer.

“Why did you suddenly become silent, Hiratsuka?”

Hearing the provocation, Hiratsuka didn't give any response. She just brushed her hair back, hoping that would ease her frustration.

“We won't go anywhere at this rate.”

Hiratsuka's soft voice echoed in the room, making it quite audible to the old men. However, they remained silent, giving her space to finish her words.

“Let's form a pact. If your accusations against me are proven, I’ll be willing to accept any punishment. However, if by a certain time it’s not proven, be sure to accept the consequences.”

The second hand on the wall clock seemed to stop moving as Hiratsuka threw down the gauntlet. The tension that had eased now filled the room again. If air could carry even the slightest wave, it would be the sound of the old men's chattering teeth.

After the tense silence lasted for a while, those old-fashioned men started yapping individually.

“You know that your convoluted actions could be interpreted as a rebellious move, right?”

“All you need to do is hand over Miura, let the girl clarify everything, and a little monitoring as proof that she’s not dangerous.”

There was a pause of a few seconds before the other person continued.

“You said it wasn’t Mahito’s doing. But what if she consumed a cursed object?”

Hiratsuka rolled her eyes in boredom, having heard that excuse before.

“The same story you used to frame Haruno, huh? If that’s the case, wouldn’t Gojo-san be more qualified to check her out?” the woman chirped.

Seeing that no one responded quickly, the high school teacher let out a lopsided smile and continued her words.

“Then what? You’re going to call Miura to the headquarters in Kyoto, and hope to find an opening to ambush her, just like you planned to do to Haruno?”

The taunts made the ears of the people who heard it feel hot. They were so furious to see their dignity trampled on by a 27-year-old woman. The throne they occupied felt so uncomfortable that they wanted to immediately stand up and slap that arrogant mouth. However, they couldn’t fall into the provocation to maintain their dignity.

“You seem adamant about not compromising with us, huh?”

“I’ll take responsibility for Miura and ensure that nothing like what you’re worried about will happen,” Hiratsuka replied quickly.

Some silhouettes show them changing their sitting position to become more comfortable.

“Just like Gojo, you realise that your stubbornness could lead to even more complicated internal conflicts, right?”

Hiratsuka stared intently at the silhouette who had just thrown the question. However, no words came out. Instead, the woman closed her eyes, considering all the consequences of what would come out of her mouth.

Slowly, memories of things that had passed crossed her mind. Starting from Itadori Yuuji's attempted assassination using the same method to get rid of Haruno, Haruno's attempted ambush in Kyoto, Haruno's first mission that ended up fighting a special grade cursed spirit together with Maki, the association that turned a blind eye to the suffering of the Hikigaya Family after being pressured by Zen'in and Kamo to get Hikigaya’s daughter, and many more rotten things that made Hiratsuka wanted to puke.

'No matter what I say, those people will always find a way to interfere in other’s business and act as they please.'

Hiratsuka opened her eyes, revealing a pair of black irises with solid resolution.

“Internal conflict, huh?” The woman hung her words, “As I always say, I’ve never been interested in getting involved with either axis. My position has always been clear, as long as no one disturbs my people, I won’t direct hostility towards anyone.”

Hiratsuka has been through a lot in her life. She has swallowed the ups and downs of the world to reach this point. Disappointment, depression, and helplessness have even made her withdraw from the world of jujutsu. These experiences have shaped her into someone who loved peace and was reluctant to get involved in political conflicts within the organisation.

However, sometimes, there came a time when a tiger must show its fangs to those who disturbed its peace.

“I can assure you that Miura, Haruno, and even myself aren’t planning anything behind your back.”

Hiratsuka paused her words. With a soft sigh, she released a high pressure of cursed energy. As a result, the floor she was standing on cracked and spread quickly to the corner. The air around her seemed to shake and scream in fear at the incredible intimidation.

Hiratsuka glared at the men, ensuring her message was firmly imprinted in their minds. Unable to withstand the pressure, they could only lean on their hands with their lungs struggling to reach oxygen.

“However, if you continue to pursue this idea, you won’t only find me standing with the progressive faction. Instead, I’ll create a whole new organisation that can end your arbitrary influence in society.”

The pressure Hiratsuka had been emitting eased as the threat ended. Without bothering to wait for a reply from the old men, she turned and walked towards the door. She opened the sliding door and walked out without leaving any final messages. However, without having to do so, what she wanted to convey was already profoundly engraved in the minds of the men.

—OoOoO—

While the adults deal with the thorny issues, a group of youngins and a panda were seen gathered in the lobby of the girls’ dormitory, a boundary where male students could enter the women’s area under strict conditions. They were seen sitting at a long table facing each other with smartphones in their hands held horizontally and one ear apparently plugged with an earbud.

Even though they were gathered together, hearing a single word from their mouths was rare. The kids were focused on what their screens were displaying, and their thumbs seemed to be dancing on the surface, controlling the characters they were playing.

Yes, the young sorcerers seemed busy playing a game. In fact, Haruno, the most mature-looking woman, and the one with the highest social credit like Momoshiro, also joined Hachiman and Co. However, of course, not everyone could enjoy it peacefully. Apart from Panda, who wasn’t interested in mobile games, Yumiko's eyes still seemed to radiate a slight restlessness and couldn’t focus on her task in the game.

“Is it okay to play Among Us while sensei goes to that place alone, Hikio?”

Yumiko finally voiced her anxiety after playing with these new people she had just met.

“If it’s Hiratsuka-sensei, there’s nothing to worry about,” Hachiman replied casually without taking his eyes off the screen.

“Don’t think too much about it, Junior-chan. Shizuka-chan is the last person you need to worry about,” Haruno replied with a smile.

Although Yumiko got a convincing answer, it didn't immediately calm her down. However, one thing bothered a little when she heard Haruno's reply.

“Uh… please, could you not call me ‘Junior-chan’?”

“But you’re my junior, right?” Haruno replied with a question.

Yumiko, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the screen, finally looked at Haruno with nervousness clearly reflected on the blonde’s face. Feeling that she was being stared at, the short black-haired woman lifted her head until their gazes met, and Haruno only responded by tilting her head innocently.

“Yeah… sure…, but that… sounds a little awkward,” Miura said as she turned her gaze back to the screen.

Hachiman and his friends were far less scary than the strangers she met. However, Yumiko also felt they were far weirder than anyone she had ever met.

They briefly got to know each other before they started playing Among Us. Unfortunately, there was no information that Yumiko could use to get to know these new people better.

Putting aside Hachiman, who she always met at school, and Momoshiro, her idol, the most normal person in her eyes was probably the bespectacled girl with dark green hair in a ponytail. Even so, her gaze was very sharp, and her glance was intimidating. Not to mention, she had a deep, low voice, which was very rare for girls.

In appearance, the girl looked like a quiet bookworm. However, Yumiko felt she’d rip someone's mouth off if someone offended her.

On the other hand, a white-haired guy who was so quiet and had a style like a boyband member. When she looked closely, he had good taste in clothes, with his white jacket and a high collar covering his mouth. He, who didn’t talk much, exuded a cool vibe. However, that imagination was shattered when the words that came out of his mouth were only sushi's ingredients.

Lastly, there was an animal. He said his name was Panda, and he was really a panda. No further explanation was given, even though she was very curious. Furthermore, the panda seemed able to understand and speak perfect Japanese.

'Maki-san, Inumaki-san, and… Panda. Hiratsuka-sensei said they were Hikio's classmates before he transferred to Sobu. Combined with Hikio's negative personality, they are the most unique and random group I've ever met.'

Everyone there realised that Yumiko was secretly observing them. However, no one paid any attention to her. They seemed so indifferent, but in reality, those people were just immersed in the mobile game. Even Panda, who was just watching Hachiman play, seemed to enjoy the show even though he didn't know what those people were doing.

“Hachiman, is this the only way to play this game?” the furry creature asked with his finger touching his chin.

“Well, Among Us is a game that requires us to find the impostors, after all.”

“Yeah, but you all played too cautiously that no one got killed at all,” Maki complained with a furrowed brow.

Among Us, a mobile game with spaceship themed that boomed worldwide in mid-2018. It had a relatively simple gameplay. Players would be divided into two teams, the crew and the impostors. The crew was required to complete the available tasks while finding the impostors. Meanwhile, the opposing party had a mission to kill everyone. Whoever completed the objective first was the winner.

In fact, it was a fascinating game with various dynamics that could occur due to the many interactions of the players. However, the players in this group were different in many ways and had various uniqueness.

Haruno and Yumiko aside, those youngins had much experience with lives at stake. They were used to fighting with high-level mechanics in real life, which carried over into the game. Even though Haruno was considered to have little experience, she had a brilliant brain that allowed her to follow the gameplay, which required brain powers and patience.

Meanwhile, Yumiko, who didn't want to be a party pooper, could only play it safe by avoiding being alone with anyone as much as possible.

“Bonito flakes.”

Yumiko glanced at the sushi boy with a raised eyebrow, not understanding what he was trying to convey. She caught sight of Haruno and Momoshiro, who reacted similarly, leading her to conclude that they weren't too familiar with the guy's style either.

“Yeah, we're not going anywhere at this pace.”

Maki replied casually, which only surprised Yumiko even more.

'Do you really understand what he said?' Yumiko thought to herself.

“Tuna mayo.”

Hearing the sushi ingredients come out of the boy’s mouth again made Yumiko feel like she had given up on understanding it,

"But if we hold an emergency meeting, what will be discussed if there’s nothing suspicious at all?" Hachiman asked.

Emergency meetings were an attempt to do if the game was at a dead end. However, it was like gambling if no one showed any suspicious movements. Since the number of traitors was always far less than the crew, the first emergency meeting mostly ended with a friendly fire.

“How about we just vote for the most annoying person?” Momoshiro suggested.

Without waiting for approval, the girl went to the meeting room and pressed the emergency meeting.

A list of players' names with their respective character avatars appeared in the lobby. In the upper-right corner, a timer also showed their time limit for discussion.

“If that’s the case, I guess there’s no need for small talk,” Maki said as she pressed one of the names on the screen.

“Sure, that sounds fun,” Haruno replied.

“Salmon.”

The only ones who didn't answer were Hachiman and Yumiko. While the boy nodded, the girl was still shy with the group. However, it didn't take long for all the votes to be collected. When the results were shown, Hachiman's eyes immediately widened.

“What? Why did everyone vote for me?!” the guy raised his voice instantly.

“Fuahahahaha!!”

Maki seemed to laugh out loud. Even her back was bent backwards with her hands covering her eyes. For someone with a face that was always stiff, it was rare to see Maki laughing so hard. Not only that, Hachiman also heard Haruno trying to hold back her laughter.

“It seems like everyone finds you annoying, Hachiman,” Panda commented.

“Well, that’s to be expected, isn’t it?” Momoshiro chimed in, “If we include Todo-kun and Hakari, we’ve got the most annoying trio of our generation.”

"Excuse me?" Hachiman said flatly, "You should’ve added that arrogant girl over there as well.”

Hachiman pointed to Maki, who was removing her glasses to wipe away the leaking tears.

“Well, unfortunately, the majority opinion showed the opposite result. Even Haruno-san and your friends voted for you, you know?”

Yumiko averted her gaze when Maki mentioned her name. Honestly, she didn't expect everyone to vote for him when Momoshiro suggested voting for the most annoying person. In her defence, she didn't know anyone other than Hachiman, which made her reluctant to vote for anyone else even though she understood it was meant to be a joke.

However, Yumiko felt a little guilty when Hachiman was teased by his friends. But then again, she didn't want to be a party pooper. As such, she could only sigh softly in silence with her eyes closed. However, in the next second, she widened her eyes when she felt a strong pressure that made breathing difficult and caused her pupils to shake.

Yumiko wasn't the only one who felt such a powerful killing intent. Everyone there simultaneously turned to look at the great pagoda, where the terrifying aura came from. However, Haruno was the only one who took the initiative to approach Yumiko and hold both of her hands.

“Calm down. Breathe slowly and clear your mind,” Haruno said as she channelled her positive energy to Yumiko.

The surge of negative energy that felt so powerful that it reached the dormitory area showed the quality of whoever released it. It was a feat that could only be done by a sorcerer with a level equivalent to a special grade. However, putting that aside, if an untrained sorcerer was exposed to killing intent at that level, it’d disrupt the flow of their cursed energy. That was why Yumiko collapsed on the table, not only because she had difficulty breathing, but her whole body also felt tingly.

However, Yumiko gradually improved as Haruno channelled the positive energy. Her complexity began to subside, and her chest began to pump air more smoothly, although cold sweat was still coming out of the pores.

“What… happened?” Yumiko asked hesitantly.

“It was Hiratsuka-sensei, but I’ve never seen her this angry,” Hachiman answered calmly.

The boy exited the game and turned off his phone. Hachiman narrowed his eyes, assessing the situation and considering what steps to take. After all, even though he was tasked with taking care of Yumiko for the time being and making her a priority, leaving his master behind left a bad taste in his mouth.

“Hiratsuka-san isn’t the type of person who’d just start a fight,” Maki said, then glanced at Yumiko, “However, I think leaving this place is the best choice for your friend.”

"But how?" Haruno interrupted, "I left my car in Saitama. Even with Akari-san bringing it here right now, it’ll take at least another 45 minutes.”

The short-haired woman then turned to the windows in the lobby, trying to observe the situation through the gaps in the glass.

“Considering the situation, I doubt any assistant manager would be willing to drive us or even lend us a car,” Hachiman added.

Right after he said that, a table scraping against a solid object was heard, drawing everyone's attention to the object. Haruno stared in confusion, but her expression immediately changed once she realised it. The woman immediately raised her head, looked at where the object came from, and found Momoshiro smiling meaningfully.

“Luckily, I came here by driving,” the white-haired woman said, propping her chin on both hands, “I don’t mind lending you my car. Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve talked, right, Yukinoshita-san?”

Haruno took the car key and held it tightly. Although she smiled in return, her body language didn’t convey a similar message.

“Didn’t I tell you to just call me by my given name, Momoshiro-san?”

Her experience as a witch for the past month made her extra cautious when facing another sorcerer she had just met. Moreover, in this case, she knew Momoshiro quite well personally. After all, she was an actress contracted under a production house that received much investment from the Yukinoshita Family. That’s how she met Momoshiro on several occasions, which made her conclude that the girl had a rather nasty personality.

Moreover, when she found out that the actress was the granddaughter of the Kyoto Jujutru High principal, Haruno paid extra attention to her. That was also the reason why Haruno didn't talk to her at all.

'No, you shouldn't involve personal feelings, Haruno. Focus on the main substance,' she thought to calm herself down.

Haruno turned to Hachiman.

“What do you think, Hikigaya-kun?”

The boy didn't reply right away. He looked at Yumiko, and their eyes met. Fear and worry were clearly visible in those eyes.

“I’m sure nothing will happen. Moreover, even though they are a bunch of stupid old men, they at least know that only Gojo-sensei can stop Hiratsuka-sensei.”

Hachiman put his phone into his pocket.

“However, let’s go and meet up with her again once the situation has calmed down,” the boy said, concluding his words.

“Very well.”

Haruno replied to Hachiman while tidying up her things on the table and putting them into the tote bag. However, without her expecting it, the figure sitting across from her, Momoshiro Chiyoko, also stood up following Hachiman.

"Wait, you're coming too?" Hachiman asked, representing Haruno's question.

“Well, of course. It's my car, after all.”

Hearing that answer, Haruno snorted softly without anyone noticing. She could only hope that Momoshiro wouldn’t take the opportunity to talk about work and the debt of gratitude after saving Yumiko from the trickery of the boards. However, she knew a girl as petty as Momoshiro wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity.

Resigned to the situation, Haruno decided to focus on what needed to be done and prepare all the arguments that needed to be ready in case Momoshiro demanded unreasonable things.

Meanwhile, Yumiko, confused because the atmosphere had changed drastically, could only follow the three more experienced people than her. Through her eyes, she signalled to Hachiman that she was also ready.

Hachiman nodded slowly in response.

“Okay, let's go.”

—To Be Continued—

Author Note: Hello… I'm back after taking a week off. Well, I hoped the weather would be better over the past three weeks, but nothing happened. I think it is what it is.

I wanted to show more interactions between Hachiman and his friends, but I changed my mind after seeing the word count, which was already over 8k.

The beginning of this chapter will be a setup for developing the relationship between the Hikigaya Family and Satoru. Actually, I was hesitant whether I should write it. However, after considering several things, I decided to do it. After all, their relationship is one of the plots in this fic, and I have no intention of ignoring it just like that. Moreover, from the beginning, I intended to make this problem a part of Hachiman's character development to become wiser and more mature.

Most importantly, the second part is about Hiratsuka's resolution. Creating a third organisation, a rival organisation based in Chiba, is the plot point of this fic. Suppose Haruno's recklessness was the one that opened the floodgates for the Oregairu verse. In that case, Hiratsuka's resolution will shift this fic from being entirely focused on the conflict in the JJK verse to shifting it partly to the Oregairu verse.

Actually, I was in a dilemma when choosing between Hachiman or Hiratsuka as the bearer of this resolution. In fact, I can say that it was the most difficult decision because this point can be said as the big picture of this story. However, after considering several things, I chose Hiratsuka to carry this. I won't tell the main reason because it will reveal itself as time passes.

However, one of my considerations is that I don't want to make this story a story that only revolves according to the main character's will. Moreover, Hachiman is too young to think of such a big resolution, which requires much effort and time to realise. Therefore, the older generation, the senior pf life, will start it, will lay the groundwork, and the generation below will continue its legacy.

Honestly, it's a concept I'd really like to write. If you noticed, I also mentioned it quite a bit through Satoru wanting to retire after all his affairs were settled and passing the baton to Yuta, Hachiman, and Maki. If you forgot, you can read the chapter where Satoru and Asuka were on a date at home.

That's all from me. Next will be the One Way Home update. See you in two weeks. Stay healthy, and keep up the spirit!