Chapter Text
“……What are you two doing?”
We had moved to a different location—less of a skyscraper, more of an apartment complex. We were currently waiting for the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, to wake up.
First, I had applied Reverse Cursed Technique to the two of them. Misato Kuroi woke up almost immediately, but since Riko was still out cold, I decided to go for a stroll around the building to kill some time. Satoru and Suguru were right there to watch her, and I knew that if Mahoraga manifested in a cramped room like this, it would be a literal disaster, so I was granted permission to wander.
When I finally returned a while later—
“IIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!! UNHAND ME, YOU HEATHENS!!”
It had come to this.
Suguru had Riko’s arms, Satoru had her legs, and they were pulling her in opposite directions with enough force to make you hear the imaginary creak-snap of her joints. It was a literal execution by drawing and quartering.
Ignoring Riko’s screams, the two of them wore identical, shadowy grins, twisting and pulling the girl as if she were a wet rag they were trying to wring out.
…………… Uh, what is this situation?
No, no, no, wait, hold on! I don’t care what led to this, but that girl is the Star Plasma Vessel! She’s a high-priority figure whose existence literally prevents human society from collapsing! Why are you treating her like this?
And Suguru—especially you! You’re supposed to be Satoru’s moral compass! Why are you joining in?! Stop it! Let her go! Be gentle!
Look at her! She’s tearing up! She looks like she’s about to burst into a full-on sob! You can see it, can’t you? Give her a break!
Actually, more importantly—
“What the hell do you think you’re doing to a middle school girl?!”
Without leaving room for debate, I slammed a cursed-energy-reinforced fist into both of their skulls. I thought for a split second that using cursed energy for a "correction" might be overkill, but these two are the type who won't listen unless you hit them where it hurts.
A heavy THUD echoed through the room. Reeling from the sudden pain in their heads, the "Idiot Duo" let go of Riko. Deprived of her human rack, she plummeted straight to the floor with a wet splat. That looked like it hurt.
…………
…………………… Ah. Crap. I didn't think that through.
“……hic…… sniff…!”
Riko pushed herself up silently into a "maiden’s sit," her young face contorted with pain and shock. Big, fat tears welled up in her eyes, and then—
“WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!! MISATOOOOOOOOOO!!”
She wailed. It was a grand, theatrical, full-throated sob. Her mouth was wide open as she let out a cry so loud I’m pretty sure the neighbors downstairs could hear it.
To be honest, I’ve never been good with crying kids. Back in the Heian era, I was usually too busy to deal with them, or I just didn't have the chance to interact with them normally.
In short… I have absolutely no idea what to do.
“Wait, ah, hey! I’m sorry! I know it hurt, I’m sorry!!”
I waved my hands around frantically, trying to figure out how to comfort her, but every idea I had seemed like it would just make her cry harder or make her more annoyed. I was completely paralyzed by overthinking. This is where I show my true weakness; I can fight a god-tier curse, but I’m a total amateur when it comes to a crying middle schooler. It’s pathetic, really.
I spent the next few minutes desperately trying to get her to stop, but then Misato walked in and calmed her down in seconds. I felt the overwhelming weight of maternal—or at least, guardian—superiority.
+++
“I am truly, deeply sorry.”
I was currently performing a full dogeza prostration before Riko—or rather, Riko-chan—and Misato. I have to say, my form was impeccable.
Heh. I owe this skill to my Heian-era best friend. Every time he broke something as a kid, I was the one who had to go and prostrate myself to clean up the mess. (I miss those days.)
“Ah… no…… I mean……”
Riko-chan looked a bit taken aback—maybe even a little creeped out. It’s a bit much for someone who just finished a crying fit. I get it. If someone suddenly hit the floor in a perfect bow after you’d been bawling, you’d be weirded out too.
But sorry, Riko-chan. This is the only way I know how to pay someone back. My sense of "gift-giving" or "social grace" is basically extinct.
“Oh my, look at that, dear. Isn't it just awful?”
“Truly a terrifying child. Imagine making someone who was trying to help her bow like that… it really shows the rot in her soul, doesn't it?”
Two snide voices drifted into my ears.
One was using a high-pitched, gossiping tone I recognized, while the other was speaking with a delighted, incredibly irritating mock-formal accent. It was infuriating.
“Oh, goodness me, just look at that little girl’s eyes. She looks like she wants to commit murder! How scary!”
“I know, right? I bet she doesn't have a single friend.”
It was a blatant, malicious attempt to bait her. Even though I knew they were just messing around, it still ticked me off. Being poked like that is annoying no matter who you are.
I peeked up. Riko-chan looked like she was about to explode. She was fuming, her face twisted in pure rage. Misato was hovering beside her, looking panicked and flustered. (Bless her soul.)
My eyes met Riko-chan’s. The awkwardness from before was gone. Now, we shared a single, common goal.
In an instant, we moved.
I broke my prostration and launched into a high-speed dash toward the back of the room. Riko-chan followed right behind me. For a civilian, she was surprisingly agile—she leaped through the air like a rabbit. Her target: Suguru’s face.
Suguru, caught off guard by her speed—or perhaps distracted by the "unfortunate view" afforded by a middle schooler leaping through the air—closed his eyes on reflex to be a gentleman. That split second of hesitation was his undoing. You’re a "pretty boy" for a reason, Suguru.
As for Satoru… he was standing there with a massive, delighted grin. He’d clearly baited us on purpose just to see what would happen. Fine. You’re getting hit, too.
Neither of them showed any sign of using their techniques. Apparently, even they knew better than to blast a safe house. (Though if they had, I would have used everything I had to crush them.)
To the sound of Riko-chan’s battle cry and Suguru’s muffled groans, I aimed my fist at Satoru.
I don’t know what you’re so happy about… but the two of you are going to sit in a formal seiza for the next hour!! Line up, you idiots!! I’m going to lecture some common sense into your trashy heads!!
+++
CRACK.
The glass cup in my hand fractured.
My hand tightened instinctively, my directionless rage pouring into the fragile vessel. I watched the five figures in the distance. Two guards, the Vessel, the maid… and Meguru.
There was no logical reason for me to be angry. I should have been happy just to see that he was alive. It should have been a blessing.
And yet, I couldn't accept what I was seeing.
Meguru was making the two guards sit on the floor while he lectured them.
“What’s wrong with you two?! Did you forget your mission?! Do you have any idea what you’re doing to our charge?! Hey, are you listening? I’m talking to you, Suguru—”
I used my technique to compress the space between us, allowing me to hear his voice clearly. He was genuinely angry. He looked like he was about to catch fire from pure rage. And the two he was scolding? They just looked bored.
“LISTEN TO ME WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU!!”
Finally reaching his limit, Meguru grabbed both of them and pulled them into a double-headlock. It was a pro-wrestling move.
The boy with the weird bangs—Geto—was tapping out, his face turning blue as he slapped the floor. The other one, Satoru Gojo, was doing the same… but his face was twisted into a wide, joyous grin.
………… I’m jealous.
That’s right. I’m jealous. Why am I not there? That should have been my place. Why am I watching from the shadows while they enjoy his touch?
It was a pathetic, ugly, low-class jealousy. I knew that. But I couldn't stop it. The envy was suffocating.
“……He was mine.”
I whispered the words to the wind. That’s right. He was mine.
The emotions he’s feeling, the pain he’s inflicting, the days he’s spending… everything, everything, everything, everything… it was all supposed to be mine.
Why are you there? Why are they there? That was my spot. I was the only one allowed to stand beside him.
“My best friend… my little brother… my elder brother… my father.”
I hate it. I hate them…!
Get out of the way. That’s my seat. That’s my home. His love belongs to me alone, not to you.
I squeezed the cup harder. The sound of it shattering echoed in the silence.
I looked back. Geto was lying face-down on the floor, seemingly unconscious, though his right hand was dipped in red ink, scribbling something on the ground.
The other one, Satoru Gojo, was still being choked by Meguru. He was slamming his hand against the floor, shouting "I give up!" but his face was radiant. He didn't look like he was in pain at all. He looked happy.
……How loathsome.
As I stared at them with pure venom, my eyes suddenly met Satoru Gojo’s.
He had turned his head casually, looking straight toward my hiding spot. He saw me. He knew I was there.
And then… wearing a nasty, mocking smirk, he stuck his tongue out at me.
In that moment, something inside me snapped.
The cup shattered completely, the liquid spilling over my hand. My teeth ground together, and the pressure of my Limitless began to crush the surroundings. The glass in front of me cracked, the ground groaned under the weight, and my hair began to float, charged with cursed energy.
My goal—the reason I had taken this job—shifted in a heartbeat.
The target had changed.
……Yes…… That’s right…… I’ll do that………… I’ll kill him.
I’ll let the Vessel, Geto, and the maid go. I’ll only kill that imitation.
I’ll tear that boy apart—the one who dares to stand by Meguru’s side with that smug look on his face. I’ll slaughter him.
I’ll blast his face off, pull out his organs, crush his limbs, gouge out his eyes, cut off his nose, slice off his ears, tear out his tongue, and crush his throat… I’ll turn him into a pile of meat so unrecognizable that even Meguru won't know who he was.
And then, I’ll take Meguru home. We’ll be together again. We’ll hold hands, and I’ll have him hug me just like he used to.
And then…… we’ll have children. Mine and Meguru’s.
We’ll do everything we couldn't do back then.
“Heh… hehehe… hahahaha!”
I couldn't help but smile. Just the thought of it made me feel a wave of bliss. Knowing that this will soon be my reality makes me feel like I could float.
Well… first things first……
I need to plan the wedding.
Heh… hehe… hahahahahaha!