Chapter 103: Date

Obviously, Yumiko had no idea what had happened.

In just one night, her two close friends had become a team, and their target was none other than Ryuji.

After finally getting through the night, Yumiko got up early the next morning to get dressed.

"Yumiko!"

Hina and Yui had also woken up around the same time.

"How'd you sleep?" Yumiko asked casually while applying her makeup.

"Great!" Hina said cheerfully.

"Me too!" Yui chimed in, though her voice was a bit more hesitant than Hina's. She wasn't as composed as her friend, feeling a bit flustered for some reason.

But Yumiko didn't notice anything strange. Her mind was entirely focused on her upcoming date with Ryuji.

"It's getting late. We should head back. Good luck on your date with Ryuji!" Hina said, giving Yumiko an encouraging smile.

"Thanks!" Yumiko smiled brightly, waving them off.

"Let's go," Hina whispered to Yui, giving her a knowing look before leading her out.

"Uh… okay!" Yui responded, still a bit out of it as she followed Hina.

As for the date itself, Ryuji took Yumiko to the same couple's restaurant he'd visited before with Utaha and Eriri.

Why? Well, it was simply the only couple's restaurant he knew.

"The atmosphere here is amazing!" Yumiko remarked happily, clearly impressed with the choice of location.

Seeing Ryuji take her to a place meant for couples made her heart flutter with excitement. The restaurant was beautifully decorated, and she couldn't help but take in the romantic setting.

After they sat down, Yumiko leaned toward Ryuji and whispered, "I feel like the waiter's looking at us a little strangely…"

Ryuji, without missing a beat, leaned back and pretended to think for a moment before giving her a confident answer.

"Maybe it's because you look stunning today," he said with a smirk.

"Really?" Yumiko's heart practically melted at the compliment, much more than if it had come from one of her friends.

"Let's order," Ryuji suggested.

"Hmm," Yumiko nodded, flipping through the menu. She was so caught up in her excitement that she didn't notice Ryuji's subtle glance toward the waiter.

The waiter recognized Ryuji immediately. He had served him before with different girls, and while the waiter was professional, it was clear he had taken notice of Ryuji's… habit. Still, he smiled politely.

Yumiko ordered two dishes, and Ryuji ordered two more, then he casually pulled out a thick stack of bills.

"Let's switch up the music," Ryuji said with a relaxed smile as he handed the money to the waiter.

The waiter's eyes widened for a split second, but his smile didn't falter. With that much cash, he would've switched the entire band, let alone just the song.

"Understood, sir," the waiter replied, flashing a grin. He leaned in and added, "You and your wife make a beautiful couple. I'll make sure the music fits the mood."

Ryuji just waved him off, letting him handle it.

Yumiko, however, was left stunned. Wife? Did that mean…?

Her heart started racing at the thought, and she felt like it might leap out of her chest. She glanced over at Ryuji, half-expecting him to correct the waiter, but to her surprise, he didn't seem to mind the title at all.

"What's wrong?" Ryuji asked with a playful smile, noticing her dazed expression.

"N-Nothing!" Yumiko stammered, trying to calm herself.

But she couldn't. The thought of being called Ryuji's wife… was exhilarating.

After a brief pause, Yumiko finally gathered her thoughts. "Wasn't that tip a little too much?" she asked, remembering the sizable stack of bills Ryuji had handed over.

"It's fine. As long as you're happy, it doesn't matter how much it costs," Ryuji replied smoothly.

To him, money was nothing more than a number. If he wanted, he could have people lining up to give him money. Spending a little to set the mood was no big deal.

But for Yumiko, hearing that made her heart swell even more. She looked at him with shining eyes, utterly smitten.

"Ryuji…" she whispered, her gaze softening as emotions welled up inside her. At that moment, she didn't care about the food, the music, or anything else. All she wanted was to be with him.

Still, she managed to keep her composure. There would be time for that later.

After lunch, Ryuji took Yumiko to a few places to enjoy the day. They visited parks, arcades, and a few shops. While Ryuji was indifferent, Yumiko had an absolute blast. It was a perfect day for her.

As the sun began to set, Yumiko suddenly turned to Ryuji, her voice a bit quieter than before. "It's getting late… maybe we should find a place to rest?"

Her face flushed as she looked at him expectantly.

Ryuji raised an eyebrow, already understanding her meaning. With a smile, he replied, "Sure."

But just as they were about to head off, Ryuji's attention was caught by a figure sitting on a nearby bench. He stopped walking, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Hmm?" Yumiko followed his gaze and spotted the girl sitting on the bench. She had two-toned hair—half yellow, half black and her head was lowered, making it hard to see her face. Still, she seemed familiar.

"Ryuji-kun!" Yumiko suddenly pouted, her voice tinged with jealousy. "You're looking at another girl?"

Ryuji chuckled, tapping her on the head lightly. "Relax. They're just sorcerers I've met before. Let's go check on them."

"Wait, they're sorcerers?" Yumiko blinked, now more curious than jealous.

Following his lead, she walked with him toward the girl on the bench.

As they approached, Ryuji recognized them immediately. It was Nanako and Mimiko, the twin sisters who had followed Geto Suguru.

But they looked different now. Broken, desolate. It was as if the life had been drained out of them. They sat there, motionless, like hollow shells of their former selves.

"Long time no see," Ryuji greeted them casually, but there was no response.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced around. "Geto Suguru isn't here, is he?"

Nanako and Mimiko flinched at the mention of Geto's name. Slowly, they looked up, tears welling in their eyes.

"Master Geto…" they whispered, their voices trembling.

"I see. So he's dead," Ryuji muttered, piecing together what had happened.

Geto must've finally challenged Jujutsu High and failed. Without the ability to use domains, it was inevitable. He probably underestimated his opponents, or maybe he pushed too hard, too soon. Either way, his end wasn't surprising.

The twins burst into tears again, sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of their master.

Yumiko, though not entirely understanding the situation, could tell these girls had lost someone dear to them. It tugged at her heart. She instinctively tightened her grip on Ryuji's arm, worried that one day, she might end up in their position—crying over him.

"Don't worry," Ryuji whispered to her, sensing her anxiety. "I'm the strongest."

His voice was calm but filled with certainty. And for Yumiko, those words were enough.

"No! Master Geto was the strongest!" Nanako and Mimiko protested, their tear-streaked faces filled with grief.

"Well, he's dead now, isn't he?" Ryuji shrugged, not wanting to argue with them in their current state.

He sighed, then asked, "What are you two going to do now?"

The twins looked at each other, their expressions filled with uncertainty. "We don't know… Master Geto told us not to seek revenge, even if he died."

They were lost, with no clear path forward.

"Maybe that's for the best," Ryuji said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You wouldn't survive if you tried to go after Yuta or Gojo anyway."

Nanako and Mimiko glared at him through their tears, but they couldn't argue with the truth.

"You'll live. That's something," Ryuji added before turning to leave.

The twins didn't reply. They just stood there, their expressions hollow.

As they walked away, Yumiko looked up at Ryuji, her eyes filled with admiration. "You're really amazing, Ryuji-kun."

Ryuji just smiled. "Let's go."

With that, they left the scene behind and headed toward the hotel.

---

The next day, Yumiko didn't show up at school. As expected, she had taken the day off to rest.

"Hey, Ryuji!" Yui greeted him cheerfully when he arrived at school. "Where's Yumiko?"

Hina, standing beside her, gave Ryuji a knowing look. "Yumiko didn't come today, huh? Guess you were a little too powerful last night."

Ryuji just grinned, deciding to play dumb. "Are we talking about exorcism? Yeah, I'm pretty good at that."

"Yes, yes, you're really good at exorcisms," Hina replied, clearly teasing him. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she exchanged a glance with Yui, who seemed oblivious to the underlying joke.

"Yeah! Ryuji-kun is super strong!" Yui nodded enthusiastically, still not catching onto Hina's teasing tone.

"..."

"What I mean by that is definitely not the same as what you're thinking."

Yui's pure and naive response left Hina momentarily speechless. But when she thought about it, it made perfect sense, Yui's innocence was one of the reasons she and Hina got along so well.

"Hahahahaha!" Ryuji suddenly burst into laughter.

Yui, not understanding what was so funny, laughed along with him, her carefree nature as bright as ever.

Hina, on the other hand, gave Ryuji a sly smile.

***

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