Shinomiya Family Study
The clock's hands ticked to exactly 2:00 AM with a soft click.
Ganan Shinomiya glared at the second hand, his jaw clenched so tight his teeth ground together.
The steady swing of the antique pendulum couldn't quell the volcano erupting in his chest.
"Damn it! That little punk!" He slammed his fist on the desk, sending the penholder rattling. "Didn't he say he'd bring Kaguya back later?! Later means 2 AM?!"
Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu Onsen, LaVista Hotel Suite
Moonlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling window, spilling across the wide bed.
Kaguya lay curled on her side, fast asleep.
Her cheeks glowed with the flush of recent joy, tiny beads of sweat dotting her forehead.
She was nestled in soft down bedding—or, more accurately, nestled in Gaio's arms.
Her forehead rested against the crook of his neck, one hand unconsciously draped across his chest.
Gaio leaned against the headboard, awake. One arm held Kaguya securely to keep her from slipping, while the other held his phone, its screen glowing.
A message from "The Strongest Sorcerer":
"So, how's my ~Nero-kun~ liking my arrangements? ~(◕‿◕✿)"
Gaio's eyelids flickered as his fingers tapped a reply.
"Hm."
The response came instantly:
"Ehh~ Don't be so cold! (;へ:)"
"Look, I've been running around doing so much for you~"
"How about helping me with a teensy tiny little cursed spirit?"
"Pleeease~~ (ノへ￣,)"
Attached was a location pin.
Gaio's lips twitched. He closed his eyes.
An invisible wave of perception surged outward, piercing through walls and forests, locking onto the cursed spirit at the pinned location, radiating twisted malice.
Its strength? Decent. Special-grade, but to him—just small fry.
He opened his eyes. Carefully, he slid his arm from under Kaguya's neck, moving as if handling fragile glass. He gently laid her flat, tucking the blanket around her.
Silently, he got out of bed, his bare feet sinking into the soft carpet.
The Enma Blade materialized in his hand.
He stepped onto the spacious balcony, the night breeze cool against his skin.
His left hand gripped the scabbard, his right casually resting on the hilt.
Clang—
A faint metallic rasp.
Draw, slash, sheathe.
So fast it seemed like a trick of the light.
The Enma Blade vanished.
Gaio returned to the room, slipping back into bed without a sound.
In her sleep, Kaguya sensed his familiar warmth and nuzzled closer, letting out a soft, contented hum.
Gaio naturally wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. His chin gently brushed the top of her soft hair.
The room returned to stillness, filled only with Kaguya's steady breathing.
Shizuoka Prefecture, Takao Mountain, Night
A sharp crack of breaking branches pierced the silent forest.
Yuji Itadori rolled to dodge a black claw, the ancient tree behind him splintering into fragments.
"Hey, Megumi!" he shouted, wiping blood from his face as his fist ignited with cursed energy. "Summon Mahoraga!"
Ten meters away, Megumi Fushiguro's hands formed seals, his shadow twisting on the ground. "Don't order me around."
He let out a sharp command. "Nue!" A giant eagle shikigami burst forth, lightning crackling toward the hunched figure.
The cursed spirit let out a wail like a crying infant.
It was gaunt, like a dried corpse, its skin covered in writhing black runes, each stroke oozing blood.
Its face was the most horrifying—no features, just a crooked smile carved into the flesh.
"You need Mahoraga for this?" Nobara Kugisaki hefted her hammer onto her shoulder, spinning three long nails between her fingers. "Yuji, you getting weak or what?"
"Shut up!" Megumi snapped, his eyes narrowing as the cursed spirit froze mid-motion. "Yuji, close in and keep it busy! Buy me time for Max Elephant! Nobara, use Resonance—"
"Got it!"
"On it!"
Yuji's leg muscles tensed, his cursed-energy-wrapped fist aiming for the spirit's face. Nobara's nails arced through the air, only to freeze mid-flight—
Crack.
A faint metallic hum.
The contorting special-grade cursed spirit went still.
The black runes stopped flowing. Its outstretched claws hung frozen.
Then, a straight light mark appeared at its crown, slicing cleanly through its face, chest, and pelvis—perfectly splitting it into symmetrical halves.
Thud.
The spirit collapsed like toppled blocks, the cut mirror-smooth. Its black cursed energy fizzled out before it could erupt, its remains turning to ash.
The trio froze in their attack stances.
"…Huh?" Yuji's fist hung in the air, his expression blank.
Nobara's eyes lit up, her hands clapping together. "Whoa! Is this my idol's slash?!"
She bounced in place, ecstatic. "It's totally him! That cut! That precision!"
Megumi released his hand seals, rubbing his temples wearily. "Who else could cheat like that?"
He glanced at his phone's signal. "Cleanup crew's still an hour out."
Yuji scratched his head, bewildered. "So… we came all this way for nothing?"
He pointed at the dissipating spirit remnants. "Didn't even get a warm-up."
Megumi didn't answer. He turned toward the dark forest, where hundreds of gnawed corpses knelt in worshipful poses.
"Mission's not over," he said, his voice cold as ice. "Set up a barrier at the corpse site. Wait for cleanup to handle the bodies." He strode into the darkness. "No one's sleeping tonight."
Nobara pouted, snapping a photo of the bisected spirit with her phone. "Gotta send this to Hana! @LordNeroIsTheCoolest!" She jogged after Megumi. "Hey, wait up!"
East Jin, Somewhere
Satoru Gojo lounged with his legs crossed, grinning at the photo Megumi sent of the sliced cursed spirit.
"Heh~" His fingers tapped the table. "Such a tsundere, Nero-kun~" His tone dripped with teasing glee. He forwarded the photo without a second thought.
The Next Morning, Kusatsu Onsen Hotel
Sunlight crept over the windowsill, brushing Kaguya's face.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Gaio's chiseled jaw, his steady heartbeat filling her ears.
Thump, thump… It was like a key unlocking a flood of memories.
Last night's scenes rushed back.
How she'd mustered the courage to tell him, "Tonight… I don't want to go home."
How he'd drawn that strange blade in front of her, slicing through the air to open a glowing cross-shaped portal.
She'd only realized last night… pregnancy wasn't just about hugs and kisses.
It was that… intense, wild… entanglement.
Her body caught in a searing tide… rolling… gasping…
Sweat-soaked hair… trembling waist… until she'd lost all sense of herself…
"Nn…" A faint whimper nearly escaped her lips.
Kaguya bit her lower lip hard, burying her face deeper into Gaio's chest, her ears burning red.
Her heart raced like a drum. She peeked up, wondering if he was awake.
Her gaze met his deep, knowing eyes, tinged with morning laziness.
Her mind buzzed, embarrassment threatening to make her evaporate. She buried her face again, ostrich-style, leaving only a crimson ear tip exposed.
Gaio's lips curved silently. He tightened his arm around her, his chin brushing her soft hair.
"Good morning, Kaguya," he said, his voice heavy with the languor of just waking.
"M-Morning… good morning!" Kaguya stammered, her face practically steaming.
Gaio chuckled at her flushed ear, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her burning forehead.
Then he threw off the covers and got out of bed.
His toned torso, unobstructed, hit Kaguya's eyes, the defined muscles rippling in the morning light. Last night's searing memories snapped into sharp focus…
"Ah!" Kaguya yelped, yanking the blanket over her head and curling into a ball.
Gaio glanced at the bundled-up Kaguya and chuckled softly.
He slipped on his clothes and walked to the bedside.
"I'm grabbing breakfast," he said, his voice slightly husky from the morning. "What do you want?"
The blanket mound shifted, a small gap opening at the top.
Kaguya's watery eyes peeked out, stealing a quick glance at the fully dressed Gaio before mumbling, barely audible:
"Strawberry… cream cake…"
Gaio's lips curved. "Got it."
The door closed softly.
In the bed, Kaguya poked her head out, gulping fresh air.
Her cheeks still burned. She pressed her right hand to her left cheek to cool down, trying to shake off the lingering, intimate images.
Carefully, she slid out of bed. The moment her feet hit the floor, a secret ache in her thighs made her gasp.
Blushing, she steadied herself against the wall, inching toward the bathroom to freshen up.
When Kaguya emerged, wrapped in a bathrobe with damp hair, moving gingerly, Gaio was back.
A delicate breakfast spread sat on the small round table.
Seeing her struggle, he crossed the room in two strides and scooped her up in his arms.
"Eek!" Kaguya let out a short squeak, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
Gaio set her gently into a cushioned chair.
He sat across from her, sliding a plate of vibrant strawberries and snowy cream cake, along with a warm glass of milk, toward her.
Kaguya picked up a small fork, nibbling at the cake. The sweet flavor melted on her tongue, easing her lingering embarrassment into contentment.
Gaio watched her cat-like satisfaction, a smile spreading in his eyes. "Kaguya."
"Hm?" She looked up, a dab of cream on her lips.
"Starting tomorrow," he said gently, "breakfast can't be this sweet, okay?"
Kaguya paused, her cheeks flushing again. She knew it wasn't proper.
In the strict Shinomiya mansion, such indulgence would be unthinkable.
But now… this was her first taste of freedom after escaping her cage, her chance to selfishly ask for a little sweetness.
She poked at the cake with her fork, letting out a soft hum of agreement, but her lips curved into a quiet smile.
Shinomiya Mansion, Patriarch's Study
Sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating Ganan Shinomiya's ashen face.
His bloodshot eyes, framed by heavy dark circles, glared at the wall clock.
The hands pointed mercilessly to—
8:24 AM!
"Eight… eight twenty-four?!" His voice was hoarse, scraped from his throat.
She didn't come home at 2 AM… and now… 8:24 AM?!
His mind flooded with unbearable images, each one fraying his already taut nerves.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
A feral, hellish roar exploded from him!
Like an enraged lion, Ganan Shinomiya slammed his palm onto the heavy mahogany desk.
Boom!
The entire study shuddered!
Expensive teaware leapt off the desk, shattering on the floor. Gold pens spilled from the penholder, clattering everywhere.
Papers, paperweights, even the heavy brass ashtray danced wildly on the desk!
"That—damn—punk!!!" Each word was growled through gritted teeth, his face twisted in fury, practically spitting fire. "I'm—going—to—kill—you!!!"
He shot to his feet, hands frantically tugging at his hair, his expensive kimono collar askew.
"My Kaguya!!!" His voice was laced with despair and the bitter anguish of "his little cabbage being stolen away," echoing mournfully in the lavish but lifeless study.
The heavy study door creaked open a sliver.
The elderly butler's face appeared in the gap, his expression a mix of sympathy and resignation.
In the calmest tone, he delivered the most gut-wrenching words:
"Master… it seems… Miss Kaguya has not yet returned…"
Rip—!
Ganan's hands froze, still clutching his hair.
Then, a sparse strand of his once-carefully-groomed hair… was yanked clean out.