There was a distinct warmth in every sentence Yukina spoke—a warmth that was not forced, but born from years of habit in caring for, protecting, and worrying about those who fell under her responsibility.
Yukina spoke with a gentle smile. It was not artificial; it was warm and sincere, as though it came from an affection that had been built up over many years.
The faint lines at the corners of Yukina's eyes were slightly visible, not because of age, but because of how often she smiled at others.
Yukina lifted her hand and then brushed my head with a slow, attentive motion. Her movements were careful, as if she were afraid of hurting me; the warmth of her palm was clear as it touched my still slightly messy hair.
Yukina's touch was light, yet it was enough to make my chest feel faintly tight with an emotion that was difficult to put into words—a mixture of comfort, safety, and something that almost made me let my guard down.
Such a good woman. If you keep acting like this toward me, I might really end up falling in love with you.
That thought crossed my mind just like that, before I had time to stop it, accompanied by a ticklish, warm feeling that blended together into one.
I held myself back from smiling too widely, even though the corners of my lips still lifted unconsciously, reacting to attention that felt far too sincere to ignore.
"Go take a bath quickly," Yukina said afterward, her tone returning to its usual firmness while remaining gentle, as she slipped back into her familiar role. "After that, I'll clean the wound on your right hand."
After saying that, Yukina stood up from where she was, tidied her clothes slightly, and then looked at me as if to make sure I would truly follow her words.
Yukina's gaze carried a subtle warning that I knew all too well—a look that said she would not accept any objections.
"I understand," I replied briefly.
I immediately walked up to the second floor, my footsteps echoing softly on the wooden stairs that had long since become familiar.
Each step creaked lightly, a sound that was usually soothing, yet this time it seemed to accompany a weariness that I had only just begun to realize.
I then went straight to my room, opened the door, and headed directly into the bathroom to prepare for a shower.
But first, I took off my dirty clothes and the tie Mei Mei had wrapped around my right hand like a temporary bandage, placing everything onto the pile of laundry.
The fabric of the tie was already damp with dried blood and sweat, a makeshift testament to my attempt to keep the wound from getting any worse.
After that, I turned on the tap, and the water began to flow over my body, washing away the fatigue and the lingering tension left from what had happened earlier.
The warm water touched my skin, running over my shoulders and back, slowly easing my muscles, even though the sting in my right hand was still clearly there.
After finishing my shower, I stepped out, dried myself, and quickly put on clean clothes.
At the moment, there was still no bandage on my right hand, so the wound continued to throb every time I moved it. Once everything was in order, I went back downstairs.
Not long after, Yukina came carrying a first-aid box. Her footsteps sounded hurried yet still controlled. When her eyes fell on the claw marks on my right hand, which were still seeping fresh blood, her eyes widened slightly.
Yukina looked genuinely startled, even though she tried to hide it by drawing in a short breath.
After all, I had been clawed by a rather large dog-shaped Cursed Spirit.
So it was no surprise that the marks were clearly visible—long, and frightening to look at, far from the kind of wound one would get from brushing against a tree branch. Those red lines had torn into my skin roughly, showing just how close I had been to danger at that moment.
"So…" Yukina finally spoke while staring at me closely, her gaze sharp yet filled with worry. "You really did fall?"
There was suspicion in Yukina's eyes, as if she were trying to match the story she had heard earlier with the injuries now right in front of her.
Her eyes moved slowly from my face to my right hand, which was only half wrapped in bandages, then back to my face again, searching for even the tiniest crack that might betray a lie.
"Yes," I answered quickly, almost on reflex. "I fell and got scraped by a branch."
My tone sounded natural—at least to me. But inside, I was already bracing myself in case Yukina decided not to believe me.
Then I added, trying to steer the conversation away before she could ask any further, before her gaze grew sharper and harder for me to escape. "By the way, what should I do with that girl's tie? It got stained with my blood."
I truly did not want to talk about what had really happened. What I had gone through was clearly not normal, not even if I explained it in passing.
Yukina did not need to know about the other side of the world—a world that runs alongside the human one, yet is filled with danger and things that make no sense.
The hidden and mystical world. The world of Jujutsu. A world of myths and legends: gods and goddesses, yokai, demons, angels, or fallen angels. A world where death can come without warning, and where the truth is often far more cruel than any lie. That world was not a place Yukina should ever have to know about, let alone become involved in.
After all, I had already promised to protect this orphanage. To protect this place meant protecting Yukina and the children from everything that should never touch their lives. So, Yukina, you don't need to worry. Let me be the one who bears all of this.
"Just put it in the washing machine," Yukina said at last, as if she accepted my explanation even though a trace of doubt still lingered on her face. She let out a soft breath, choosing not to press me any further. "Does that girl live nearby? After it's washed, give the tie back to her."
As she spoke, Yukina's hands never stopped moving. She cleaned my wound, applied the medicine with care, then wrapped my right hand neatly with a clean white bandage.
The tips of her fingers moved slowly, the pressure light yet precise. Her movements were practiced and full of caution, as though she were afraid of hurting me any more than I already was—even though I knew the sting could never be avoided completely.
"No," I replied. "But we promised we'd see each other often."
I looked down at my hand, now fully bandaged. The white wrapping stood out sharply against my skin. Damn it. My chuunibyou soul began to stir without permission. A bandaged right hand… an evil black dragon sealed within my right hand! Hahaha!
That ridiculous thought appeared out of nowhere—wild and completely out of place—making me break into a wide grin without realizing it.
"What's wrong, Kenji?" Yukina asked with a puzzled look, one eyebrow lifting slightly as she took in the strange expression on my face, an expression that clearly did not suit the situation of injuries and bandages.
"It's nothing," I said quickly, still smiling, trying to compose myself. "I just remembered an anime character—the male protagonist who has superpowers in his right hand, wrapped up like this."
"You really are something else," Yukina muttered, shaking her head lightly. Her tone sounded resigned, yet warm. Then she stood up, took the medicine box, and walked into the kitchen to start cooking, leaving me behind with a small smile still lingering on my face.
Meanwhile, I sat in the dining room, waiting for Yukina to finish cooking. The atmosphere of the house slowly returned to its usual rhythm—quiet, familiar, and comforting.
Not long after, the other children from the orphanage began to come inside. They greeted me cheerfully, some of them waving at me, before heading off to their respective rooms to clean themselves up.
------------------------------
[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
(Note: Every PS support means a great deal to the continuation and development of the story, and it also serves as a way to unlock Bonus Chapters as a form of appreciation.
For every 100 PS collected, 1 Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 300 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 500 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 1000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 2000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked.
In other words, if 100 PS are collected within this week, 1 Bonus Chapter will be released. If the total reaches 300 PS, then 2 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 500 PS, then 3 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 1000 PS, then 4 Bonus Chapters will be released. And if it successfully reaches 2000 PS, a total of 5 Bonus Chapters will be released.
Thank you for your support. Every single PS truly helps push this story forward.)
[Note: 30+ latest chapters have been added! For Just $3.50 You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel, Scribblehub and Wattpad by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Andi_Dri]