Chapter 34: Promises for an Unknown Future

Mai Zenin was in the clan's training field, her forehead beaded with sweat. She had been trying, unsuccessfully, to execute a compressed cursed energy release technique she had read about in one of the clan's ancient scrolls. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to concentrate the energy in her fingers, but each attempt ended in a wild explosion or, worse, nothing at all.

"Why can't I get this right?" she murmured, her fingers shaking as she tried to focus her energy into them. Every attempt seemed to fail, which only increased her anger and desperation.

Frustrated, Mai sighed deeply, wondering if she would ever master that technique. She was preparing for another attempt when an unexpected voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You're forcing too much energy into a single point. No wonder it's dispersing," said Kaede, in Naoya's body, from the shadow of a nearby tree.

Mai turned abruptly, surprised to see Naoya in the training field. Her cousin's presence usually spelled trouble, and his sudden appearance put her on edge. "Naoya-sama... I didn't know you were here. I'm sorry, I'll leave," she said, bowing and gathering her things.

Kaede raised a hand to stop her. "No, don't go. I want to see how you do it, but first, listen to me."

Mai nodded, still feeling uneasy about Naoya's unusually kind attitude, but she decided to follow his advice. She closed her eyes and tried to feel the flow of her cursed energy, letting it move naturally before attempting to concentrate it in her fingers. At first, she felt the same dispersion as always, but remembering Naoya's words, she tried to relax and not force the process.

Kaede watched in silence, evaluating each of Mai's movements. He saw potential in her, a talent she perhaps didn't even recognize. Although Mai was nervous in his presence, Kaede knew the advice was sound and that with the right practice, she could master the technique.

When Mai failed again, Kaede stepped forward. "You're not focusing the energy properly. Let me show you." Calmly, he raised his hand and allowed cursed energy to flow into his fingers, showing her how to concentrate it into a single point until a spark of pure energy formed at his fingertip.

Mai watched intently, impressed by Naoya's skill. "That's how it's done," Kaede said before releasing the energy in a flash that sliced through the air, dissipating into the horizon.

"The trick is not to force it," Kaede explained as he demonstrated. "Let the energy flow naturally before concentrating it. If you do it right, you'll be able to shoot it precisely from your fingers, making the most of your cursed energy."

Mai observed in awe. "I never thought to do it that way," she admitted, impressed by her cousin's skill in something she had never seen him practice. However, a part of her remained cautious. She couldn't understand why Naoya, who usually despised her, would take the time to teach her something.

Kaede smiled with slight satisfaction, though his mind was occupied with other thoughts. There was something intriguing about this situation; the contrast between his real identity and Naoya's allowed him to act in ways he would never have imagined. "Try it again," he said, stepping back to give her space.

Mai nodded, focusing her energy again. This time, she followed the advice to the letter, and to her surprise, the energy flowed more controlled and precise than before. With a boost of confidence, she channeled the energy into her fingers and released it, creating a shot that, while not perfect, was a notable improvement compared to her previous attempts.

Kaede watched closely, nodding slightly at the improvement. "You're on the right track. Keep practicing like this, and soon you'll be able to control that technique much more effectively." His voice sounded almost encouraging, an attitude that, though confusing for Mai, filled her with a strange happiness—someone was praising her.

"Thank you, Naoya-sama," she said this time with genuine respect.

Kaede simply watched her for a moment longer before turning to leave. "Remember what I told you," he added before departing. "Don't force the energy, let it flow."

Seeing her cousin's friendlier attitude, Mai decided to approach Kaede. Although the idea of asking Naoya for help felt uncomfortable, she knew her situation warranted it.

"Naoya-sama," Mai began, her voice trembling but determined, "could you help me with my cursed technique? No matter what I try, I can't seem to improve it."

Kaede raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What exactly is the problem?"

Mai sighed, searching for the right words. "My innate technique is extremely inefficient. It consumes almost all of my cursed energy just to create something. The problem is, I can only make one bullet a day, and the effort leaves me exhausted. The reaction to activating the technique is severe, like my body is on the brink of collapse."

Kaede nodded slowly, understanding the severity of the problem. He knew that cursed techniques could be ruthless, demanding a high price for their use, but in Mai's case, it seemed almost destructive. As he looked at her, a thought from the past crossed his mind.

"Mai... you and Maki are twins, right?" Kaede asked in a voice that, although calm, had an unsettling tone.

Mai was puzzled by the question, so obvious that she didn't understand why Naoya was asking it. "Y-yes, you already know that..." she responded, noticing a change in his tone.

Kaede watched her in silence for a moment, his mind wandering to memories of another time, before giving her a smile that sent chills down Mai's spine. "What if you kill her?"

Mai stepped back, shocked and frightened by the suggestion. Fear took hold of her as she saw the dark expression on Naoya's face, who now looked more like a monster than a human.

"Hehe, it's just a joke," Kaede said with a soft laugh, though his gaze remained disturbing.

Mai swallowed, cold sweat running down her back. For a brief moment, she had seen something terrifying in Naoya's eyes, something inhuman.

Kaede, seeing Mai's reaction, decided to lighten the mood. "Don't worry. I have a temporary solution you could try. Instead of using all your energy at once, try dividing it into smaller parts. Start by creating small amounts of matter and concentrate it in your fingers before trying to form the complete bullet. This will allow you to dose your energy, and over time, you might improve your efficiency."

Mai, still recovering from the scare, nodded slowly, trying to understand the advice. "Do you think that will work?" she asked, with a mix of hope and skepticism.

Kaede smiled, this time less disturbingly. "I'll come by from time to time to check on your progress. Don't worry, I'll help you perfect this technique."

Mai nodded again, feeling a bit more at ease. Though she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling Naoya had left her with, she was willing to follow his advice. After all, any progress would be better than staying stuck.

As Kaede walked away from the training field, his thoughts lingered on Mai. "Mai Zenin..." Kaede thought, reflecting on the young woman he had just helped. "She has potential, but she's trapped in an environment that doesn't allow her to flourish. Maybe if she wasn't under the shadow of her family, she could discover what she's truly capable of."

Mai had a rare and useful power, but it was restricted, and that was because of her sister Maki. "Now that I think about it... I haven't met her yet. Should I go see her? It would be a good excuse, hehe." Although now that I think about it, it was evident that her training, up until that point, had been limited by the lack of guides who truly understood her technique and how to develop it to its fullest. The situation with the Zenin clan didn't make things easier for her.

Kaede had noticed the spark in Mai's eyes when he gave her advice and agreed to instruct her, and the small but significant improvement in her technique. "If she continues like this, and solves her problem, she could become a force to be reckoned with."

However, what really caught his attention was how someone like Naoya ended up giving her that advice. According to the memories of the original owner, Naoya was despicable, someone who saw women and those he considered weak as mere tools or pawns. Kaede, on the other hand, didn't share that perspective, but he knew he had to act like him, at least in public.

But then, why had he helped Mai? Why did he care about her progress? Kaede wasn't sure of the answer. Maybe, in part, it was a desire to see how far someone like Mai could go, someone who, despite the adversities, had the potential to challenge her destiny.

"Maybe she'll find a better solution than Sukuna... if I can guide her in some way, even while I'm trapped in this role..." Kaede let the thought fade, unfinished. He knew he couldn't afford an attachment or get too involved, but at the same time, he felt an inexplicable responsibility towards those who showed promise of greatness.

"Perhaps, in the midst of all this confusion, I can do something worthwhile," Kaede thought, before letting those thoughts dissipate. There were too many things at stake, too many unknowns. But for now, he had planted a small seed in Mai Zenin's mind, and only time would tell what fruit it would bear.

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Alright everyone, that wraps up the marathon of chapters! From now on, I'll be releasing a new chapter every 3 to 5 days. For every 50 power stones, I'll post a new chapter immediately. If we don't hit the goal, I'll see you on Monday! ɅɅ