I need to jump before the building collapses.
I create some distance and sprint toward the window. I'm five stories up. No time to think.
I jump.
"AAIEAAEIAAEIAAA—!"
The wind slams into my face as I fall. I land on both feet, knees buckling from the impact.
Pain shoots through my legs. Even with cursed energy reinforcement, it hurts like hell. Maybe I just suck at reinforcement… but it's all I've got.
I look up at the cursed spirit. It's massive.
Yeah… you've gotta admit, that's a big boy.
The curse had been halfway through the building earlier. When it charged in, it tore through a huge portion of the apartment. Now it's stuck, trapped in the wreckage as rubble pins it down.
It notices me and tries to turn, but that only makes things worse. The already unstable building begins to collapse further.
I stare, dumbfounded, as the entire structure comes down on top of it.
For a moment… silence.
I can't help but chuckle.
Five seconds later, the rubble shifts.
Yeah. No. I'm out.
I wave at the curse and start running. As I sprint, I try to reinforce my legs with cursed energy to move faster—but I mess up the balance. One leg pushes harder than the other, and I nearly slip.
I barely catch myself.
Yeah… I really shouldn't rely on cursed energy yet. I suck at this...
I keep running.
After about ten minutes, I duck into a convenience store and hide inside.
Luckily, nothing followed me.
I scan the store—and spot a weak cursed spirit. A flyhead. Perfect test subject.
"Well, looks like you volunteered," I mutter as I grab it.
It tries to escape, but my grip is too strong. Unlucky.
I mess around with it for a bit, hitting it without cursed energy, testing how much force it takes. After a while, I get bored and exorcise it.
It's ridiculously easy. I flick it, and it dies instantly.
…Nice.
I continue looking around the shop. I manage to find a calendar.
November 3rd.
So the Shibuya Incident happened a few days ago.
My stomach rumbles.
Right. Food first.
I find some instant ramen—but there's a problem. The electricity is out.
I sigh, about to give up, when something clicks.
…Wait.
I can make fire.
Why not just boil water myself?
My mood instantly improves. I search around and find a small pan, fill it with water, and use my cursed technique to heat it.
Honestly, this is perfect training. I can practice controlling the intensity of my flames while also feeding myself. Efficient.
Hell yeah, I am the smartest. The only problem is that if I run out of cursed energy doing this I would be a goner.
But my cursed energy reserves… they feel huge. I'm barely using anything compared to what I have. Mostly because my flames are at best 300 celsius hot due to me using it to boil the water and not melt the steel pan.
As the water begins to boil, I lean back and think.
I'm probably one of those awakened sorcerers like Higurama. But did this body exist before? I don't have any memories… but I do have an ID card, so it must have.
Still… it would've been nice to have her memories.
November 3rd. The Shibuya Incident was on October 31st…
The story never really showed what happened in the following days. I only know that Yuta killed Yuji—and that happened here, in Shibuya. Exactly where I am.
There should be sorcerers evacuating civilians… but I haven't seen anyone.
As I'm lost in thought, the convenience store door creaks open.
I instantly tense up, turning toward it.
A kid walks in.
I relax slightly. She notices me too, watching me warily.
"Uh… hi. My name is Ikuyo. Ikuyo Kita. What's your name?"
I walk over slowly and kneel so we're at eye level.
She looks at me, her expression blank.
"Hina Tsumigi."
"Tsumigi-chan… where are your parents?" I ask gently.
"I have no family," she replies in a flat, emotionless tone.
…Oh.
"Oh… I see. It's okay. I'll take you somewhere safe."
I gently pat her head.
We stood in this position for a whole minute; it was awkward
"Are you hungry, Tsumigi-chan?" I managed to ask to break the awkwardness
She tries to shake her head, but her stomach growls loudly.
…Yeah, that answers the question.
"It's fine. We can share. I am making ramen. Would you like some?"
I go back to the pan. The water is nearly boiling. I open two ramen packs for myself and prepare a simple meal.
What is your favourite ramen? I ask Tsumigi, and she looks around and points to one of the packages, I open it for her and prepare it for her.
We eat in silence.
Then—
A sudden sense of danger washes over me.
A few seconds later, Tsumigi looks in the same direction I am.
From outside, we hear a voice.
"Come over… It's dangerous here… You two… come here… we have a warm bath… come take a warm bath… we can sing too…"
That's a curse.
I glance at Tsumigi, shake my head slightly, and press a finger to my lips. Stay quiet.
Then it hits me.
Wait… a girl... convenience store... curse calling a kid...
Didn't Yuta save a girl around here?
If this is her… then that means—
I might survive this. I might have slandered you in my past life, but now you are my hero
…Maybe.
Better not risk it. If I were to fight that curse, I might win, but didn't that curse survive Yuta's sword attack? He was probably holding back to not hurt Tsumigi... can I really win if I were to fight it...
We wait in complete silence. While I begin to run all sorts of scenarios inside of my mind.
Outside, the curse grows more agitated, its voice getting louder, more distorted.
"Come… come here… COME HERE…"
Come on, Yuta, come save me. I will follow you like a duck, maybe even call you daddy if you want to... Just save me.
Any second now… Any second now...
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Second chapter, I think I am getting better. Please tell me your criticism, as it's very helpful.