Miko jogged over, pulled Hana aside, and scribbled a line in her notebook.
"Hello, Nishimiya-san. My name is Yotsuya Miko. I'd like to get to know you and ask you a few questions."
Shoko exhaled softly at the words, gave a small nod, and led the two girls to her usual lunch spot.
A chair in a quiet corner.
Once seated, Miko raised her notebook.
"Do you know Ishida Shoya?"
Hearing that name, Shoko's whole body shivered.
Miko quickly added, "He's dead."
Shoko stared at the words, stunned, then sorrow flooded her eyes.
Someone who grieves for the person who once bullied her… what a gentle soul.
Miko drew a breath and continued.
"No offense meant. If this is uncomfortable, you can refuse."
"Before you transferred, Ishida attacked you, didn't he?"
For a long moment, Shoko was silent. Finally, she lifted her own notebook and wrote with trembling fingers,
[ It was a misunderstanding. Ishida was being bullied; vicious words covered his desk. ]
[ I know that pain. I wanted to wipe them away before he arrived, but he must have misread it. ]
Reading the reply, Miko's heart felt heavy.
The truth had clearly been far uglier.
What would a victim do to the person he blames for his torment?
Resentment must have festered for months.
Even this brief meeting showed Miko that Shoko was gentle—always thinking of others first.
That Ishida, with his cruelty, had robbed Shoko of her last chance to hear the world.
Miko wondered what she would have done in Shoko's place.
She would have cursed him, hated him for the rest of her life.
From that moment, last night's killing no longer weighed on her conscience.
She smiled and wrote.
[ Thank you. You've helped me settle something in my heart. ]
"You're brave. If you ever need anything, come find me—Class B. I'm glad we met." Miko said with a slight smile.
Shoko's eyes curved in a smile as she signed, [ Me too.]
They parted after lunch. On the rooftop, Miko let the warm wind brush her face.
"Lord Akuto, Shoko can be healed, right? With that technique of yours…"
Akuto knew at once she meant Reverse Cursed Technique.
"Hah? Why would I waste my time on something so pointless?"
Miko choked.
Right—she'd forgotten how nasty his personality could be.
The bell was about to ring. She turned to leave—and froze.
A vile spirit hovered behind her, student-shaped, its head dangling by a flap of skin.
Rotting flesh, pus oozing from gaping wounds.
Hideous and terrifying.
"Lord Akuto, please help me." It was inches away; tears welled in her eyes.
"You can't even swat a trash mob? Pathetic."
"I'm done babysitting. I'll drill you once; after that, don't come crying."
"Figure it out yourself."
"Miko! There you are!"
Hana stepped onto the roof. When Miko didn't answer, she hurried over.
Miko watched Hana walk straight through the spirit and tow her toward the stairs.
"Saved…" She muttered under her breath.
A tear slipped free. Spirits had no substance; you could pass right through them.
Afternoon classes ended. After parting from Hana, Miko started home.
"Brat, head into that construction site," Akuto said.
"The special training? But you said I have no talent…?"
Miko peeked into the abandoned lot; since gaining sight, she hated deserted places.
"Ever since you swallowed that finger, your body's held Cursed Energy," Akuto explained.
"In theory, anything I can do, you can too."
Recalling Akuto's rooftop leaps, Miko felt a surge of hope.
Clearly, she overestimated herself and underestimated the word "theory."
"So… what do I do?"
She glanced around. Only one spirit—an old man muttering at the wall—stood nearby.
It swayed, terrifying.
"First, a crash course on Cursed Energy."
"Cursed Energy is born from humanity's negative emotions."
"Everyone produces it; only a few can wield it."
"Out in the world it condenses into cursed spirits—the things you call ghosts. Those who use it are Jujutsu Sorcerers."
"Cursed Energy reinforces the body. Those superhuman feats you saw? Reinforcement."
Akuto paused, then went on.
"Some sorcerers are born with innate cursed techniques—like built-in programs."
"You don't have one."
"Other techniques aren't as flashy as you think. For now, you can only learn barriers, Reverse Cursed Technique, martial arts, and Domain Expansion."
"All too early for you. Stick to martial arts."
"Channel Cursed Energy steadily through your body and you'll be able to hurt spirits."
"Got it!" Miko clenched a fist and smacked her palm.
"So… how do I actually use Cursed Energy?"
Akuto slapped his forehead.
He really wasn't cut out for teaching.
"Cursed Energy comes from emotion. Learn to draw it out, and while you're pumped, don't waste it."
That's the lecture.
"Class dismissed—time to fight!"
Yu flashed a wicked grin, and a mouth opened on Miko's cheek.
"Oi, geezer! I can see you!"
The spirit stiffened and slowly turned.
"You… can see…me..?!"
Akuto waved lazily.
"Yeah, yeah, come eat me."
"What are you doing?!" Miko screamed in panic.
"I can't see it!"
Miko's hair bristled like a spitting cat.
Akuto smirked.
"You're here to fight, not play house. No combat, no lesson."
"It's coming. Feel your Cursed Energy surge and take this seriously, or…" He paused for a bit before saying. "You'll die."
The spirit lunged, claws raking for her head.
At the last instant, Miko regained control and jumped back.
"Shred!"
Four gashes tore across her right side; flesh peeled, blood gushed.
Pain stabbed; tears streamed down her face.
"It hurts… help…"