Waiting for the day all four digits are fours [Relentless Bullying]
"Kira, are you here to pray to the bodhisattva too?"
A clear, lovely voice rang out from behind him—bright and melodious, like the call of a cuckoo bird.
Nanami Kira turned around. Kasumi Miwa stood there, hands clasped behind her back, tilting her head slightly.
"Mm." Kira thought about the Bad Luck Money he'd just donated, but his expression didn't betray the slightest guilt. He nodded seriously.
"I'm here to make a merit offering to the bodhisattva."
After all, having the bodhisattva exterminate evil spirits counted as a meritorious deed, right? He was basically handing her a performance bonus.
But Miwa clearly misunderstood. Her eyes went wide and she covered her mouth. "Oh my—Kira, did you actually put money in the offertory box?"
"Yes. I'm a devout believer." He said it with a straight face.
"Um..."
Miwa wore a conflicted expression. She furrowed her brow, glanced around furtively, and when she confirmed no one was nearby, she leaned in close and lowered her voice:
"Kira, the bodhisattva won't actually receive it... Let me tell you a secret."
"This is kind of embarrassing, but all the donations from the school's offertory box get taken by the principal. Apparently he's been buying limited-edition guitars... Please don't tell anyone I told you!"
"Oh?" Kira's eyes lit up. "Principal Gakuganji takes all of it?"
"Every last yen."
"So you really shouldn't put any more—wait, Kira-senpai, what are you doing?"
Nanami Kira had already pulled out his wallet, rifled through it, and extracted the remaining stack of Bad Luck Money. He counted out a hundred thousand yen and fed every bill into the offertory box. He thought about it, decided that wasn't enough insurance, and added another forty thousand. The remaining five thousand he kept for cab fare home.
"If a senior needs it, then a junior should provide," he declared righteously. His handsome, composed face even managed to radiate respect, as if Principal Gakuganji were the person he admired most in the world. The very image of a man who respects his elders and looks after the young—the picture of a dependable adult.
"Wow—" Miwa's opinion of Kira rose another notch. Even knowing he was being cheated, he still chose to help. What a selfless, kind person! Compared to him, the principal seemed...
Miwa shook her head, banishing the disrespectful thought. She cupped her cheeks, stars glittering in her eyes. "Kira-senpai really is the kind of person who repays cruelty with kindness."
Hmph... That's what you get for making me work overtime... That's what you get for dragging me on a business trip... Enjoy a little bad luck.
That was what Nanami Kira was actually thinking, but on the surface he wore a faint smile and said sincerely, "It's the least I could do."
"Where is Gakuganji-senpai? I need to see him."
"I'll take you!"
Along the way, Miwa bounced alongside Kira like a hyperactive little bird, chattering nonstop. Her excitement had clearly gotten the better of her, and her true nature was showing through.
She didn't seem to care whether Kira responded or not. The adorable motormouth complained about being in a bad mood lately, whined about gaining weight, grumbled about friends fighting with each other, and ranted about a vending machine that re-locked itself the moment she put a drink back after scanning her phone to buy it...
Kira maintained a calm smile, fielding one scattershot topic after another, not bothering to ask why this airhead had put a drink back into the machine after purchasing it.
His smile grew even more serene. He nodded at the girl, then asked casually:
"You've been in a bad mood lately? And your friends are fighting?"
"Yes!" Miwa shook her head miserably, brow furrowed into a knot, scratching her scalp. "Mai and Nishimiya used to get along great. I don't understand how it turned into this."
"Mind if I ask what sorcerer grade they are?"
"Grade 3, I think... Why?"
"No reason." Kira nodded to himself and continued the conversation. "How long has it been going on?"
"Hmm, about two weeks now? Kira-senpai, do you know what's going on?"
"Who knows..." Kira shook his head lightly, answering half-heartedly. "Probably their cycles synced up."
"Senpai!"
Kira ignored the indignant Miwa flailing beside him. He gazed at the mountains ahead—warm morning light spilled across everything, and a few sparrows perched on the treetops, chirping.
He still remembered a report from the radio that morning: the suicide rate in Kyoto had been climbing steadily in recent days.
Yesterday, Kira had specifically asked Gakuganji when they'd first detected traces of Sukuna's Finger. The answer: two weeks ago.
Last night, the dismembered corpse hidden in the vending machine—despite the ice meant to slow decay, Kira's experience told him the approximate time of death: no more than two weeks.
According to the nosy neighbors, Inoue had started frequenting Kabukichō two weeks ago.
He recalled every person he'd encountered in those dark alleys last night—the sullen expressions, the cold indifference. Kira's face took on a thoughtful look.
Interesting. Truly interesting.
But Kira hated interesting things. Interesting things were full of uncertainty, and he hated uncertainty.
Better to wrap this up quickly and clock out early.
"Senpai! Senpai!"
Miwa waved her pale, slender fingers in front of his face. When his puzzled gaze landed on her, she stuck out her tongue playfully and asked:
"Do you know what's going on with all this, senpai?"
"I think I've figured it out."
They'd already reached the torii gate. Kira slid open the wooden door and forced his eyes away from her fingers, meeting her gaze instead.
"I've been feeling irritable lately too... I'll go in by myself."
He knew where Sukuna's Finger was hidden.