Chapter 11

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"I've had enough…" he whispered, his voice barely audible, fists clenched tightly as his forehead rested against the rough, uneven floor of his domain. The words slipped out, heavy with exhaustion and sorrow.

Megumi could no longer endure the suffocating burden of his own suffering.

Everything he had once held dear, everything he had fought to protect, now lay in ruins.

His spirit was drained. The thought of continuing felt pointless.

And so, in the face of overwhelming despair, he chose to surrender.

"…I've… had… enough." he repeated slowly, not for the sake of emphasis, but because the sheer act of speaking had become a struggle. His voice cracked, each word an effort.

He didn't raise his head not even once. It stayed pressed to the cold floor. The idea of looking up felt impossible; the courage to face what lay ahead was far beyond him. He remained still, his spirit just as broken as his body.

The figure standing before him widened his eyes slightly, surprise flickering across his face.

But soon, surprise gave way to a quiet understanding. What more could he have expected?

Given Megumi's state, this level of despair could be seen from a mile away.

More than thirty days had passed, during which Megumi had been confined in complete isolation. No one was there to offer help, no voice to reassure him that things would get better.

Just him, himself, and the silence.

It was no surprise that he felt this way, that surrender seemed like his only option. What had he endured? Whatever it was, it must have pushed his already fragile mind to its limit.

But what kind of friend would Yuji Itadori be if he allowed his closest companion to drown in despair without even trying to pull him out?

"Fushiguro..." Yuji called out, his voice laced with urgency and worry. Time wasn't on his side, and he could feel it in the way the world around him seemed to close in, pressing on his senses.

The plan had worked: Okkotsu had landed Jacob's Ladder on Sukuna, and Yuji had managed to reach Megumi's soul.

It had gone well—maybe even too well—and he knew he had to seize this moment. After all, when would they ever get another chance like this?

Time was slipping away, and he had to make the most of it.

All he had to do now was convince Megumi to fight back, the same way Todo had once done for him.

No matter how impossible it seemed, Yuji Itadori would never abandon his best friend.

"All is not lost," Yuji began, searching for the right words. He knew Megumi needed convincing. "We need you, Fushiguro. Please... get up."

For several agonizing moments, Megumi remained silent, and the weight of despair began to suffocate Yuji. He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, Megumi's voice, cracked and broken, interrupted.

"I'm not that strong..." Megumi muttered, his fists clenching even tighter. "I never was."

"That's not true!" Yuji shot back, his movements animated as if sheer physical force could drive his point home. "You're strong, Fushiguro! You've come this far, just keep going until the end!"

If I'm strong, why did she die? Megumi thought bitterly. If I'm strong, why couldn't I fight back? Why did I falter? What kind of strength allows someone to collapse like this?

But beyond the self-loathing, there was something else gnawing at him, making Yuji's words feel hollow.

"I haven't come this far," Megumi corrected, his voice rough with resignation, weighed down by the truth he couldn't escape. "I'm already dead."

"You're not dead, and I won't let you die!" Yuji's voice rang out, trying to sound resolute, but the fragility of their connection was becoming more apparent, and with it, a growing sense of despair.

He was running out of time. He had to act fast.

"Fushiguro, I'm here for you!" Yuji pressed, his eyes wide with urgency, the weight of the moment heavy on his chest. "You're not alone anymore, and you never will be again! Just listen to me!"

Not alone? Of course you are alone.

Megumi remained silent, unmoving, seemingly resigned to his fate. More than anything, he wished for the torment to end.

"Fushiguro, wake up!" Yuji gritted his teeth, feeling the world around them begin to dissolve, but he reached out his hand anyway. "Let me save you, like you saved me!"

Weak. A bad person. That's what she said. And in Megumi's mind, bad people didn't deserve to be saved.

"Just end it," Megumi muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as though speaking the words sealed his failure. He couldn't bring himself to face Yuji. "Don't worry about me…"

Let Megumi die? Unthinkable. Yuji refused to accept it.

"I'm not letting you go!" Yuji shouted, desperation sharpening his tone. "We'll fight this together! Wake up, Fushiguro, right now!"

His time was slipping away.

Any other time, Yuji would have tried to find the right words, to give a more heartfelt speech.

But now, he had no time left. All he had was this one last chance.

"Let go..." Megumi muttered through clenched teeth. "Just… let go. I can't do this anymore…"

Yuji clenched his own teeth in response. He had to take a deep breath, force himself to stay calm.

"Yes, you can," he said firmly, ignoring the darkness creeping closer. No matter how hopeless it felt, he couldn't afford to give in.

He had to keep fighting—he had to fight for both of them.

His gaze hardened with determination as he faced Megumi. "Wake up, Fushiguro. Don't tell me you can't, and don't ask me to give up. I won't give up on you, so don't give up on me."

Megumi remained silent, but Yuji pressed on. "You can't quit before you've even tried. How can you say everything's lost if you haven't fought for it?"

"That's different..." Megumi whispered, his voice barely audible. "I know I can't do it. Why try if I already know I'll fail?"

His soul had no will left to fight. It felt as if a thousand curses weighed him down, their crushing negativity keeping him pinned, aimless and defeated.

"Because trying and failing is part of it!" Yuji shot back, his voice thick with emotion. "That's how you get stronger! Every failure teaches you something that brings you closer to success."

If Megumi had the energy, he would've laughed at the absurdity of it. Was Yuji really serious?

"There's no second chance if I fail," Megumi said bitterly. "Not in a situation like this..."

"Then don't waste this chance!" Yuji's voice rang out, firm and unyielding, even as the world around them began to dissolve, the connection between their souls slipping away.

But Yuji Itadori refused to let go.

"No matter what you think, no matter what you want me to believe, I'll keep coming back! Again and again!" he declared, his form flickering as the connection faded. "And that's why I'm going to say it as many times as it takes:"

"Wake up, Fushiguro!"

...

"Wake up, Fushiguro!"

...

"Wake up, Fushiguro!"

...

"Wake up, Fushiguro."

...

Megumi's eyes shot open, his body instinctively jerking to the side. He tumbled off the bed with a heavy thud, the impact sending a sharp ache through his arm as he hit the cold floor. A grunt escaped him as the weight of his body drove the air from his lungs.

He lay there for a moment, face pressed against the hard ground, the shock of the fall forcing a cough out of him. His throat felt tight. Maybe he had choked on his own saliva or bitten his tongue in the rush of panic. The exact cause didn't matter; all he knew was that the urge to cough was overwhelming.

"Ugh…" he muttered weakly, pressing a hand to his mouth as he drew in a shuddering breath. "Damn it… not again…"

Slowly, he rolled onto his side, then onto his back, limbs sprawled across the floor. His gaze locked onto the dark, suffocating ceiling above. The room was silent, save for the rasp of his own ragged breathing echoing faintly in the stillness.

Another nightmare. It was always the same. Or at least, it felt like it.

Maybe that's why he slept so little—his body's way of protecting him from the visions that haunted him the moment his eyes closed.

Megumi told himself he didn't care about the nightmares. Or the voices.

But that wasn't true.

He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling unevenly as he tried to calm the rapid beating of his heart. Closing his eyes again, he fought for control, seeking steady breaths.

Once again, he was there, tormenting him. He was the one reminding Megumi of his failures, of everything he could've done differently. He was the voice that dredged up his regrets, his mistakes.

'You will never be alone again.'

... Damn liar.

Megumi hated it. Every second of it. He wanted the nightmares to end. He wanted the visions to disappear. He wanted the voices to be silent.

But deep down, he knew he didn't really want that.

Because if his mind stopped showing him these visions, if the nightmares finally ended, if the memories stopped replaying, then maybe he'd forget.

Forget the sound of Yuji's voice.

Forget the feeling of his presence.

Megumi couldn't bear that.

And so, he was trapped in the same cycle—barely sleeping, only to wake up from yet another nightmare.

All because of one stubborn, persistent friend who refused to let go.

And that went for both sides.

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The afternoon sun bathed Tokyo's grand buildings in a soft, orange glow, and anyone gazing at them would find it hard to imagine the destruction this place had endured just a few months ago due to a "terrorist attack".

It was around 2 o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon. The streets weren't particularly busy, as most people were at work, but a few pedestrians made their way along the sidewalks, and occasional cars passed by.

One of those pedestrians was a teenage girl with brown hair, expressionless blue eyes, and a pair of headphones resting around her neck. She carried a shopping bag in her hands.

That was Miku Nakano.

"Rice, seasoning, pasta..." she muttered, carefully checking the contents of her bag as she walked. "... sauce, oil... yeah, I didn't forget anything."

Her gaze drifted ahead to the imposing structure of the Pentagon, where she lived, prompting her to quicken her pace slightly.

As she approached, she finally stopped in front of the electronic door, scanning for the security guard who would let her in. He wasn't there.

Then, Miku juggled her shopping bag while fumbling in her jacket pocket, trying to find her key card without dropping anything.

After a moment of struggle, she finally located the card, pulling it out and holding it near the identification panel before typing in her code.

Just then, she sensed someone behind her and glanced back to see who it was.

"Oh..." Her eyes brightened in recognition. "Hello, Megumi." she greeted.

The boy behind her offered a slight nod. "Hi, Miku..." he murmured in response.

Megumi looked just as she always saw him: wearing Asahi's uniform, a backpack slung over his shoulder, and his spiky black hair slightly tousled.

Seeing him in front of the Pentagon at that hour could only mean one thing: he was there to do his job.

Miku carefully completed the process of unlocking the door by entering the correct code on the panel, and soon, the electronic door slid open.

She glanced at him for a moment before nodding toward the entrance, indicating that he should join her inside, which Megumi did.

Upon entering, the reception greeted them with its excessive brightness and a gentle scent of lavender.

Miku walked a bit further as they made their way deeper into the Pentagon, heading toward the elevator. She stole a glance back at Megumi.

If he was here to teach a lesson, she thought maybe she could join in this time.

Perhaps she was pushing her luck, but Miku decided to make a wish.

"Uhm…" she began tentatively, prompting Megumi to look at her. "You're going to teach us, right?"

"Yes." he replied.

Miku nodded slightly, averting her gaze forward. She bit the inside of her cheek, then hesitantly asked, "Can we... learn history today?"

Megumi stared at her for a moment before slowly shrugging. "We can do that." he said nonchalantly.

He could have asked if Miku would participate, but the answer was already clear.

Miku smiled faintly at this before nodding again. Good thing.

They finally reached the elevator, and Miku called for it, leaving them both to wait.

With little to do, Megumi let his gaze wander around the lobby. All he noticed were a few staff members, some overly expensive chandeliers, potted plants, a vast red carpet, and a few sofas.

His gaze eventually landed on the door leading to the men's restroom.

Tilting his head slightly to get a better look, he realized the restroom was still off-limits.

He frowned for a moment before shaking his head and dismissing the thought. The first time he had seen the bathroom closed was yesterday, and he had no idea how long it would take for the chemicals used by the pest control team to dissipate, so he decided not to question it further.

After a brief moment, the elevator finally arrived. Miku stepped in first, followed by Megumi, who hesitated slightly.

The last time he shared an elevator with the Nakano family, the overwhelming scent of perfume had almost made him pass out. But not wanting to appear rude, Megumi reluctantly followed Miku inside.

Once the doors closed and the elevator music softly filled the space, they stood in silence.

To his relief, Megumi soon realized that Miku wasn't wearing perfume. He felt a little relieved.

Miku kept her eyes on the elevator doors, her expression distant as she waited for them to reach the penthouse floor.

After a moment, she glanced at Megumi, briefly studying his face, but quickly looked away when his green eyes met hers.

A soft chime signaled their arrival, and the doors slid open, revealing the hallway leading to the Nakano residence.

As they walked, Miku reached into her pocket to fish out her key, but with the bag she was carrying, it proved difficult. She frowned in frustration, almost dropping the bag of rice before catching it just in time.

Nino will kill me if I drop these… she thought, her frown deepening.

Noticing her struggle, Megumi gave her a curious glance before realizing what was happening. Without a word, he casually took the groceries bag from her hands.

Miku paused, looking up at him in confusion. He merely nodded toward the door of the Nakano residence, now in front of them.

"Oh…" she murmured, understanding his gesture. "Thanks." she added, retrieving the key with ease now that her hands were free.

Miku quickly unlocked the door to her apartment, which swung open effortlessly, inviting them inside.

She stepped aside, holding the door wide and glancing at Megumi—a silent offer for him to enter first.

But Megumi remained still. It wasn't polite to enter before the host.

Neither felt the need to explain their intentions, and the resulting silence stretched awkwardly.

Two introverts in a standoff.

After a few moments, Miku seemed to realize he wasn't going to move first. She averted her gaze and, with a hint of reluctance, stepped inside.

"Miku!" a cheerful voice suddenly rang out, startling both her and Megumi, who had just stepped in after her.

It was Yotsuba, without a doubt, bounding toward her sister with a bright smile.

"Did you get my yogurt?" she asked eagerly. "Strawberry flavor, right..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced down and noticed Miku's empty hands.

Yotsuba's smile faltered, her expression turning to mild disappointment. "No yogurt…?" she mumbled.

Miku pointed back at Megumi. "I did get it," she replied. "I just don't have the bag with me."

Yotsuba's gaze followed her sister's gesture, landing on Megumi. Her smile quickly returned, and she waved enthusiastically.

"Hey, Fushiguro-san!" she greeted, her eyes darting to the bag in his hands. Her grin widened as she approached, relieved. "There it is!"

Without thinking much, Megumi handed over the bag, which Yotsuba accepted with open arms.

"Don't eat it yet." Miku instructed as Yotsuba immediately rummaged through the bag for her yogurt.

Yotsuba paused, looking up at her sister in confusion.

"It's not cold," Miku explained simply. "Put it in the fridge first."

"Oh…" Yotsuba muttered, glancing toward the kitchen, then back at the bag. After a moment, she shrugged and smiled again. "I guess I can wait!"

She turned to take the groceries to the kitchen, but hesitated, glancing back at Megumi. "You're here for the lesson, right?"

"Uh-huh." Megumi confirmed.

"Okay!" Yotsuba said, nodding enthusiastically. "I'll just put these away, and I'll be right back!"

Megumi nodded slightly in return, watching silently as Yotsuba headed to the kitchen.

With Yotsuba gone, the silence between Miku and Megumi returned, thick and awkward once more.

Suddenly, faint noises, like tiny feet scurrying across the floor, caught Megumi's attention. He seemed to be the only one who noticed, as Miku remained still, completely unresponsive.

The source soon revealed itself when a small white rabbit with red eyes darted past him, heading toward the corner of the room.

Megumi followed the shikigami's movements with his eyes, watching it hop across the room to where four other identical rabbits had gathered.

He stared at them for a moment, realizing he had forgotten about his shikigami. In fact, it wasn't until the rabbit assigned to follow Miku passed right by him that he remembered it was still around.

This wasn't a good sign, though. He wasn't sensing the presence of his shikigami the way he normally would—something essential for protecting the Nakano sisters. But he would deal with that later.

On the upside, the fact that Rabbit Escape had stayed active for so long was promising. Although it required the least cursed energy to maintain, it had been more than a week since he activated it, and he still hadn't lost control of the technique, despite being rusty. That was a relief.

Amid the silence, Miku glanced around, looking unsure of what to do. She shifted awkwardly before turning toward Megumi.

She noticed him staring intently at the corner of the room. Curiosity piqued, she looked in the same direction, but saw nothing.

Miku turned back to Megumi, assuming he was searching for her other sisters.

"Uh…" she began hesitantly, drawing his attention. "The others are probably upstairs." she said softly, her gaze falling immediately after.

Megumi nodded, glancing toward the stairs. "I'll go get them, then." he replied.

Miku didn't respond, offering only a small nod in acknowledgment.

For a moment, she wondered if she should be more like Yotsuba and offer to go with him. But before she could decide, Megumi had already turned and begun his ascent up the stairs.

When Megumi reached the top of the stairs, he found himself standing in front of the first of five doors. If he remembered correctly, this one belonged to Itsuki.

He approached and knocked three times.

A moment later, the door cracked open slightly, and a single dark blue eye peeked through the gap. Upon recognizing him, the door swung open to reveal Itsuki.

"Good afternoon, Fushiguro-kun." she greeted politely, a small smile on her face.

"Afternoon." he muttered in response.

Itsuki glanced past him for a moment before focusing back on him. "The lesson, I suppose?"

Megumi gave a small nod.

"Alright," she said, glancing back into her room at her desk. "I'll just grab my things. Give me a minute."

True to her word, she would be joining the lesson.

Leaving the door ajar, she disappeared into her room to collect her materials.

Megumi stood still for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze down the hallway toward the remaining doors. Without much thought, he moved forward again, continuing his search for the other two sisters.

He walked past Yotsuba and Miku's empty rooms before stopping in front of the fourth door—Nino's room.

He raised his fist, hesitating for a second.

"..."

Well, there was no avoiding it.

He knocked three times, as usual.

"Who is it?" Nino's voice immediately called from behind the door.

Megumi paused, his expression growing a bit weary. She probably wouldn't open the door if she knew it was him...

But what other option did he have?

"Fushiguro." he said, resigned to his fate.

Megumi stood in silence after knocking on Nino's door, waiting for a response that didn't come right away. Finally, she broke the silence from the other side.

"I'm not joining," she said flatly. "And skip this room next time."

Megumi didn't bother to respond, knowing there was no point in arguing. He simply turned and made his way to Ichika's room.

Without much thought, he knocked gently, waiting for a reply. Nothing.

He knocked again. Still no answer.

Megumi frowned. Was Ichika not in her room? He hadn't seen her downstairs, and with all five Rabbit Escape clones accounted for, she clearly hadn't left the house.

Unless... she was asleep. If that was the case, of course, she wouldn't answer.

Sighing internally, Megumi reached for the doorknob. But just as he was about to turn it, Yotsuba's voice interrupted him.

"Don't!" she exclaimed urgently, hurrying toward him after rushing up the stairs.

Megumi gave her a puzzled look, his hand still on the knob.

Yotsuba reached him quickly, letting out a sigh of relief when she saw he hadn't opened the door. She adjusted her posture and offered a sheepish smile. "This is Ichika's room, you know?" she said.

"…I know." Megumi replied, his confusion deepening.

"And she's probably sleeping... naked, as usual," Yotsuba added, growing more embarrassed as she explained. "... Nino's been complaining that she hasn't even bothered to cover herself lately, hehe…"

Megumi raised an eyebrow before sighing. Of course...

"Don't worry, I'll check for you." Yotsuba offered, her smile turning more confident.

Megumi nodded slightly, stepping aside to let her take his place by the door.

Yotsuba slowly cracked the door open, peeking inside. The lights were off, so she squinted to make out what was in the dim room.

As expected, the place was a mess. But what mattered was that Ichika was indeed asleep on the bed.

Yotsuba sighed again when she noticed her older sister was, at least this time, covered by a blanket.

"It's safe!" she announced, stepping back from the door with a grin. "Let me just turn on the lights..."

Yotsuba slipped inside the room and flipped the light switch, bathing the space in a gentle glow.

She glanced over at Ichika, who stirred slightly but didn't wake. As usual, nothing short of an earthquake would interrupt her big sister's sleep. Wrapped in a blanket, Ichika looked peaceful, and Yotsuba couldn't help but smile.

Megumi waited outside, watching as Yotsuba tiptoed across the messy floor to avoid stepping on anything scattered about. Reaching the bed, she leaned down and gently tugged the blanket up over Ichika's bare shoulder. Satisfied, she straightened and turned toward the door.

"She's out cold," Yotsuba said with an amused grin. "But I'm going to wake her up."

Megumi simply nodded. He could almost envy how easily Ichika slept through anything.

Turning back to her sister, Yotsuba hesitated for a moment before giving Ichika a gentle poke. "Psst... wake up," she whispered, keeping her voice soft to avoid startling her. "Fushiguro-san is here. We need to study."

Ichika groaned, squeezing her eyes shut tighter. "Mmm... studying sucks..." she mumbled sleepily.

Yotsuba chuckled at the response. "But we have to!" she said, poking her sister again.

"Just let me sleep a little longer..." Ichika muttered, turning over and burying her face deeper into the pillow.

"You've already slept long enough," Yotsuba teased, giving her a gentle shake. "Come on, time to get up!"

Megumi watched silently as the two sisters bantered, his hands in his pockets. He had nothing else to do but wait.

"Alright, alright..." Ichika grumbled after more prodding. She peeked one eye open at Yotsuba, though her face remained hidden in the pillow. "But I'm not wearing any clothes," she added with a sleepy grin.

"I know," Yotsuba replied with a giggle, patting her sister's back. "Want me to grab you something to wear?"

"Mmm..." Ichika hummed, closing her eye again. "Would you?"

"Of course!" Yotsuba chirped, immediately scanning the floor, littered with clothes. "Let me find something decent..."

Ichika's muffled laugh came from beneath the pillow. "Good luck with that…"

While Yotsuba rummaged through the pile of clothes, Ichika reluctantly rolled onto her back, squinting against the light. She lifted her head slightly, her gaze landing on Megumi, who stood by the door.

"Hah... not a bad first thing to see after waking up." she teased with a lazy smile.

"Second thing." he corrected.

Ichika chuckled, glancing over at Yotsuba. "Yeah, second thing…"

With Ichika's attention now on Yotsuba, who was still sifting through the pile of clothes, Megumi took the opportunity to glance down the hallway.

His eyes soon landed on Itsuki, who had just stepped out of her room, clutching a notebook. They exchanged a brief look, and she nodded slightly before heading downstairs.

He glanced back at Yotsuba, who was still preoccupied, then turned to follow Itsuki downstairs to join her and Miku.

Just as he turned to leave, Yotsuba gasped loudly behind him.

"Is that… lingerie!?" she exclaimed, holding up a piece of black underwear with wide eyes before looking up at Ichika in disbelief.

Ichika, utterly shameless, grinned casually. "It's comfortable."

"But it's so… adult!" Yotsuba stammered, staring at the lingerie with a mixture of awe and horror.

"Mmm," Ichika hummed, rubbing her eyes. "Maybe you should try it."

Yotsuba froze, giving her sister a confused look. "Really?" she asked, unsure if Ichika was being serious.

Ichika nodded. "We have the same body. If it looks good on me, it'll look good on you." she assured her.

She held back from commenting on Yotsuba's typically childish choice of underwear, though. She wasn't about to embarrass her sister like that with Megumi nearby.

Yotsuba glanced down at the lingerie again, clearly thinking it over. Slowly, she shifted her gaze back toward Megumi, who was about to leave.

"What do you think, Fushiguro-san?" she asked hesitantly, holding the lingerie up against herself as if trying it on. "Would it look good on me?"

But without even turning around, Megumi muttered, "Wear whatever you want. I'll wait downstairs."

With that, he walked off toward the stairs, leaving Yotsuba standing there with a dumbfounded look on her face.

Ichika had to cover her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Guess he's not much of a fashion critic."

...

Itsuki descended the stairs, carrying the materials she needed for the upcoming lesson. As she neared the living room, she noticed Miku sitting on the couch, staring blankly at a notebook resting on the table in front of her, lost in thought.

"Miku?" Itsuki called softly as she took a seat across from her.

Miku slowly lifted her head, meeting her sister's eyes with a confused expression.

"We're going to have a lesson with Fushiguro-kun," Itsuki announced. "If you're not interested..." she trailed off, but her meaning was clear.

For a moment, Miku said nothing, her eyes drifting back to the notebook. Wasn't it obvious that she would join?

Then she remembered that it wasn't, not from Itsuki's perspective at least.

After all, she hadn't participated in the first few lessons and hadn't exactly warmed up to the idea of Megumi as their tutor. She hadn't even bothered to tell her sisters about her change of heart.

Finally, Miku responded, "I'll join."

Itsuki blinked in surprise, raising her eyebrows. "You... will?" she asked, almost disbelieving.

Miku gave a small nod.

"...Uh, that's... good, I guess," Itsuki said, glancing down at her notebook awkwardly. "I just didn't expect it." she admitted.

"Can't blame you." Miku murmured.

An awkward silence settled between them.

After a moment, Itsuki looked back at Miku, chewing the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. Then, with a tentative tone, she asked, "What changed?"

Miku blinked, not immediately understanding the question.

"I mean... what made you change your mind?" Itsuki clarified.

"Oh..." Miku murmured, averting her gaze. "I talked to him." she said vaguely.

"Did you really talk to him?" Itsuki echoed in surprise, frowning. "On your own?"

Miku raised an eyebrow at her sister's tone. "Yes..."

Itsuki seemed to process this for a moment, her expression softening. She certainly hadn't expected Miku, of all people, to approach a stranger and strike up a conversation.

"May I ask why?" Itsuki ventured after a brief pause.

Miku hesitated, casting a wary glance at Itsuki. She was reluctant to share any details.

Despite what Megumi had said yesterday, she still found the entire situation embarrassing and somewhat silly—definitely not something she wanted to discuss with her sister.

But the universe seemed to be on Miku's side, as the perfect distraction to avoid answering Itsuki's question arrived: Megumi himself.

He walked down the stairs and headed toward them, seemingly lost in thought.

Itsuki immediately turned her gaze to him before briefly glancing back at Miku and then shifting to her notebook. The lesson would begin soon—no chit-chat during study time.

That seemed to be Itsuki's mindset, and Miku internally sighed in relief.

Megumi settled into a seat and let his backpack fall to the side, his gaze flitting between Miku and Itsuki, the latter returning his look after a moment.

Megumi took a seat, letting his backpack fall to the side. He glanced from Miku to Itsuki, who met his gaze after a moment.

"Are the others coming?" Itsuki asked.

"Ichika and Yotsuba are." Megumi replied simply, beginning to unpack his things.

Itsuki nodded slowly. So, no Nino, then? Not that she really expected anything different.

With Megumi's presence, the conversation faded into silence.

Miku didn't mind the silence, as she wasn't particularly fond of talking anyway.

As for Itsuki, she felt a bit out of place surrounded by two people who weren't very talkative, so she didn't feel comfortable breaking the silence.

After a few moments, footsteps echoed down the stairs. Itsuki glanced over and saw Yotsuba bounding down, closely followed by Ichika.

"Hey!" Yotsuba called out, waving excitedly as she rushed down the stairs a little too quickly for her own safety.

Ichika followed a little behind, stretching and letting out a yawn. She was wearing clothes that Yotsuba had picked out for her, apparently having managed to find something suitable in the chaos of her sister's wardrobe.

As they approached, Ichika raised an eyebrow at the sight of Miku. "Did you take a wrong turn or something?" she joked.

Miku frowned slightly, feeling like her sisters were making a much bigger deal out of her presence in the class than necessary.

"Oh, are you joining too?" Yotsuba asked when she realized what Ichika was referencing.

"Uhum..." Miku murmured in confirmation as Yotsuba plopped down beside her.

The girl beamed, glancing toward Megumi. "You're making progress!"

"I get paid for this, after all."

"Still a nice change from someone who didn't even bother trying to convince us a few days ago." Yotsuba quipped.

Megumi chose not to respond to that.

"I don't want to sound rushed, but can we get started?" Ichika said casually, leaning her head back lazily. "I want to go back to sleep soon..."

"Sure..." Megumi muttered, reaching for his notebook. He wasn't particularly eager to extend this study session.

Since it was Itsuki and Miku's (and Ichika's, to some extent) first real lesson, he hadn't yet asked about their academic strengths and weaknesses, although their report cards might provide some clues.

Deciding to play it safe, Megumi began the lesson with history.

"Today—" he started, but was quickly interrupted.

"What are you still doing here?" a bored voice called from above.

Megumi glanced up over his shoulder to see Nino leaning on the railing, looking down at them.

He frowned slightly, assuming she was talking to him. "I work here."

Nino shot him a glance. "Not you," she replied sharply, confusing him further as she turned to head downstairs. Within moments, she was at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes darting toward Ichika. "But you."

"Me?" Ichika tilted her head, an amused smile forming. "I live here."

Nino huffed, stopping in front of them with her arms crossed. "Did you forget about your 'part-time job'?" she asked exasperatedly. "You said it started today."

Ichika blinked, confusion etched on her face, before realization slowly dawned on her. She glanced at the clock and quickly stood up.

"Haha... you're right." the older girl said sheepishly, rubbing her chin with an awkward smile.

Megumi looked at Ichika, raising an eyebrow. She shot him an apologetic glance. "Sorry, I won't be able to attend your class today." she said.

"You were sleeping minutes before your first day of work?" Yotsuba exclaimed, giving Ichika a scandalized look.

Ichika shrugged, a grin breaking through. "Gotta have full energy to make a good first impression, right?"

"Your hair is all disheveled..." Itsuki murmured tiredly, struggling to see how this image of Ichika could create a good first impression.

"That's what a comb is for," Ichika replied playfully as she walked past Nino. She looked at her sister and patted her shoulder. "Thanks for reminding me. Don't know what I would do without you." Her grin was unapologetic.

Nino rolled her eyes slightly, choosing not to respond.

"You could have warned me," Megumi said flatly as he watched Ichika climb the stairs. "I could have rescheduled the lesson for another day."

"Blame your random lesson schedule, not me," Ichika shot back with a wink. "I'm just doing my duty."

"Speaking of duties…" Nino began, glancing over at Yotsuba. "Didn't the basketball team mention when they'd visit the hospitalized girl?"

Yotsuba nodded eagerly. "Yes!" she replied. "The visit is this afternoon…" Her voice started to trail off when she realized what she had just said.

Nino raised an eyebrow, checking the clock before returning her gaze to Yotsuba. "Any specific time?"

Yotsuba swallowed hard, following Nino's gaze. Her eyes widened, and she sprang to her feet. "I'll be late!" she exclaimed. "I totally forgot!"

"Yeah, you're not much different from Ichika, are you?" Nino remarked, narrowing her eyes at Yotsuba.

Itsuki, however, began to understand the situation and shot a suspicious look at Nino.

Yotsuba turned to Megumi, her head slightly bowed in shame. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to participate either…" she said, though she knew time was running out.

Megumi sighed internally before nodding slightly. "No problem…" he murmured. It looked like he had chosen a bad day for his lesson.

Yotsuba quickly waved goodbye to her sisters before rushing toward the door, grabbing a bag containing plastic flowers from the table as she passed.

"I'll be back soon!" she announced, exiting the penthouse and locking the door behind her in a hurry.

Probably not soon enough to join the lesson, though.

Nino slowly shifted her gaze to Itsuki, her eyes dropping to the girl's notebook before returning to her face.

"Itsuki—"

"Don't," Itsuki cut her off resolutely, letting out a sigh. "I know what you're about to say, Nino, but I don't have any commitments today, and I'm not leaving the lesson."

Nino paused, frowning at Itsuki. "Geez… I was just going to ask if you wanted to eat something." she murmured.

This made Itsuki hesitate, the mention of food prompting her to glance down at her stomach warily.

But Nino's attention had already shifted to Miku. The sight of her middle sister made her hesitate.

Nino raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing there?" she inquired.

"Trying to study." Miku replied shortly, already growing tired of the questions.

"Huh?" Nino blurted out, now thoroughly confused. "With him?" She pointed at Megumi.

"…With who else would I?" Miku muttered.

Nino's expression darkened at Miku's response, a scowl forming at the implications. "What's been going on with you all lately, huh?" she asked, casting a brief, disdainful glance at Megumi. "First Itsuki, and now you. I didn't know you were into guys with insomnia," she scoffed.

"You're one to talk about taste in men…" Miku shot back, narrowing her eyes.

This comment clearly offended Nino, who knew exactly what Miku was implying without her finishing the thought. "What's wrong with liking bad boys, huh?"

"Everything." Miku replied shortly.

"I just like the style, okay?" Nino said defensively, giving Miku a once-over. "But I wouldn't expect someone who dresses like you to know anything about style and fashion." She pointed a finger at Miku.

"And you call those pointy fingernails fashionable?" Miku shot back, maintaining a neutral expression despite her frustration.

Megumi felt exhausted just watching this exchange. He really wasn't in the mood for these two sisters to argue...

It was Itsuki who finally intervened, hesitantly. "Uhm… guys, let's not fight…" she said, though her voice lacked the usual seriousness. Her hand moved slowly to her belly. "We… we are sisters…"

Nino looked at Itsuki, pressing her lips into a thin line. But before she could respond, she noticed her sister's strange behavior.

Realization dawned on Nino, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "Hmm… have you had lunch yet?"

Itsuki swallowed hard, glancing up at Nino warily without saying a word.

Nino's smirk widened, an idea forming in her mind. "As I expected…" she said, turning her attention back to Miku. "How about we settle this discussion differently?"

"How would that be?" Miku asked monotonously.

Nino nodded toward the kitchen. "Let's see who makes the best family meal." she proposed.

This suggestion made Miku hesitate. A cooking competition?

She remained unresponsive for a moment, clearly uncertain. However, her gaze slowly shifted to Megumi, and memories of their conversation yesterday began to resurface.

Those memories made her feel a bit more confident, and her expression returned to neutrality as she looked back at Nino.

If Nino kept pestering them, then beating her at something she was good at would likely make her stop, at least for a moment.

Never mind that Miku sucks at cooking. What mattered now was coming out on top in this argument.

"If I win, you let us study in peace." she said simply.

Megumi frowned. "You're agreeing to this?" he murmured.

Nino stayed confident. "Deal," she responded, fully aware that her sister's past record worked in her favor. She quickly added, "And if I win, no studying today."

"Deal." Miku agreed without a second thought.

Megumi, however, was left exasperated. Seriously? No matter who won, the time it would take to prepare the dishes would pretty much bring his lesson to an end.

A mere look between Miku and Nino conveyed everything they needed to know. As the sisters began to turn toward the kitchen, Megumi sighed.

"You're dooming our study session," he said, unimpressed. "And I'm sure that's exactly what she wants."

But Miku remained resolute. She glanced back at Megumi, nodding slightly. "Don't worry, I got this."

Megumi frowned at her words. "Got what?" He muttered, but both Miku and Nino were already heading toward the kitchen.

He directed his gaze toward the ceiling, feeling exhausted. How was he supposed to do his job if things like this kept happening?

Itsuki gave him a shy look, fidgeting with her fingers. "Sorry, Fushiguro-kun. It's just that…" Her voice trailed off as she grunted in frustration before blurting out, "I'm starving! I haven't eaten since breakfast, and it's already 2 in the afternoon!"

"It's okay," Megumi replied in a quiet tone. "A lesson with just two people wouldn't make much of a difference anyway…"

Itsuki didn't seem convinced. She looked away from him and toward her notebook, which reminded her of something.

"Actually…" she began, reaching to open the notebook and leafing through it until she found a folded sheet of paper. Picking it up, she continued, "Perhaps the class might not be wasted entirely."

Megumi shifted his attention to Itsuki, glancing briefly at the sheet in her hands. She soon unfolded it and held it out to him.

"The test…" he mused aloud upon recognizing what it was.

"I haven't reviewed it yet," Itsuki admitted shyly, placing the sheet in front of them. "I was waiting for you to help me with that."

Megumi hummed quietly, adjusting his posture slightly. "We can do this." he said.

A small smile formed on Itsuki's lips as she nodded. "Good. Let's get started while they're cooking."

In the kitchen, Nino and Miku stood in front of the counter, exchanging glances once again.

Nino smirked lightly. "You didn't really think before accepting that, did you?" she teased.

Miku regarded her impassively. "Think what you want, it won't change the outcome."

The smirk fell from Nino's face at her sister's tone, replaced by a slight frown. "Hm… I haven't seen you this confident in a while." she pointed out.

Miku shifted her gaze to the fridge, approaching it and pulling the door open. "Things can change." she replied simply.

"So suddenly?" Nino muttered, rummaging through the drawers for the dishes. "I have my doubts."

So do I, Miku thought, but her resolve hardened. The doubts didn't matter now.

Without recieving a verbal response, Nino sighed and placed the plates on the counter. "Well, try not to burn the kitchen down…" she muttered.

Miku scoffed quietly at this as she grabbed a carton of eggs from the fridge.

Nino shot her a frustrated look. "I'm being serious. You know what happened last ye—"

"Leave the past in the past."

...

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

Itsuki tapped her pen lightly on the sheet, casting a glance at Megumi as she awaited his explanation.

Megumi contemplated the question for a moment before formulating the best possible response. "An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. It consists of only one type of atom."

Itsuki nodded slightly, her gaze returning to the sheet. "Like oxygen?" she asked.

"Exactly," Megumi confirmed, before explaining compounds. "A compound is formed when two or more elements chemically combine in fixed proportions."

Itsuki listened silently for a moment, then murmured, "Like… like water?"

"Correct," Megumi replied. "So, what's the biggest difference?"

"Uhm… compounds have two or more substances, while elements have only one?" Itsuki responded slowly.

"Yes," Megumi affirmed again. "Good job."

He couldn't help but notice that Itsuki was easier to teach than Yotsuba. Perhaps it was because, unlike her sister, she kept her mouth shut during the explanations.

That made things easier, at least.

Itsuki smiled slightly at this, dropping her pen. "It's… actually easy," she said, looking away. "I think it just makes our failure to pass the test worse…"

"Your failure saved my job, though."

Itsuki chuckled lightly at that. "True…"

The sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. They looked up toward the kitchen as Nino and Miku emerged, each carrying two plates.

Nino wore a confident expression, her carefree smile radiating self-assurance.

Miku, on the other hand, appeared far less sure of herself than before. The reason for this became obvious when comparing the dishes they had prepared.

"Ta-dah!" Nino announced, placing the plates on the table, one in front of Itsuki and the other in front of Megumi. She flashed a proud smile before explaining, "A Dutch baby with seasonal vegetables and ham."

Her dish featured a perfectly golden pancake, adorned with juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and a medley of vibrant vegetables.

Itsuki's gaze locked onto the plate, the aroma making her mouth water. She had to clamp her lips shut to avoid the embarrassment of drooling.

Miku hesitated, her face flushed with embarrassment. A quick glance from Nino prompted her to shyly set her plates beside Nino's.

"O-Omurice..." she murmured, presenting a rather disorganized dish of fried rice with ground meat, ketchup, and bits of scrambled egg.

Megumi had no idea what an Omurice was supposed to look like, but he was pretty sure it shouldn't look like that.

Itsuki reluctantly tore her gaze away from Nino's enticing plate to Miku's creation, her brow soon furrowing at the sight of... whatever it was.

She swallowed nervously, briefly meeting Miku's eyes. Would she really have to eat this? And without grimacing, lest she hurt her sister's feelings.

The silence that followed the looks at her dish only deepened Miku's insecurity. "I... I should just eat it myself..." she stammered, reaching for the plates.

"No, you cooked for them, so they should be the ones to eat it," Nino cut in, gently pushing Miku's hands away. She then turned to the two tasters with a firm tone. "Alright, dig in."

Megumi wasn't exactly starving enough to handle two meals, but he hadn't eaten lunch today, not because he was busy, but simply because he didn't feel like it.

Itsuki, on the other hand, didn't even need an empty stomach to handle two meals.

With a deep sigh, Itsuki reached for the cutlery, focusing her attention on Nino's dish. She'd start safe and deal with Miku's cooking afterward.

She carefully cut a piece of the pancake, her eyes fixated on the food, while Nino kept her own gaze fixed firmly on Itsuki, arms crossed with an air of confidence, waiting for the verdict.

Meanwhile, Megumi absentmindedly picked up his cutlery and took a bite of Miku's dish.

Miku's attention immediately shifted to him, her brow furrowing in worry as she watched him bring the food to his mouth. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath caught as she watched him chew and swallow, palms growing clammy with nerves.

She'd forgotten how nerve-wracking it was to be judged like this. It was one of the reasons she often preferred not to try at all.

When Megumi finished, he... didn't grimace. In fact, his face showed no reaction at all as he moved on to Nino's dish.

To anyone else, this might have seemed like a neutral outcome, but to Miku, it was a relief. At least he didn't make a face. She exhaled quietly, relieved.

But then her eyes landed on Itsuki, and her heart sank a little.

Itsuki was in a state of pure bliss, her face lighting up as she savored Nino's dish.

"This is... amazing," she murmured dreamily, taking another bite before gazing at Nino in admiration. "You impress me more and more with every dish..."

Nino smirked, a smug glint in her eyes, but she waved off the compliment as if it was nothing. "Oh, stop flattering me." she said, though she shot a glance at Miku.

Miku pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze dropping to Nino's dish. She had never received that kind of praise from Itsuki.

Noticing her sister's reaction, Itsuki hesitated, glancing from Miku to the Omurice. She bit her lower lip slightly, conflicted.

She couldn't ignore Miku's dish. What kind of sister would she be if she didn't at least try it?

"Uhm... I'll try Miku's now." Itsuki muttered, cautiously reaching for a piece of the fried rice.

Miku's anxiety surged once again as she watched her sister's hand move toward the plate. Itsuki would be much more critical than Megumi—she knew that all too well, and it made her nerves even worse.

As Itsuki closed her eyes, steeling herself to taste the Omurice, Nino shot a glance at Miku. She was ready to make a teasing comment, but seeing the anxious expression on her sister's face, she held back. Instead, her attention shifted toward Itsuki, who was now raising the fork to her mouth.

Miku's heart pounded with each passing second as Itsuki took her first bite.

The reaction was immediate. Itsuki's eyes shot open as the smoky, burnt flavor hit her taste buds. A frown crept across her face. It was clear the dish was overcooked.

But with both of her sisters watching her, Itsuki forced herself to keep eating, despite the discomfort. She closed her eyes again, trying desperately to hide her reaction, but the effort was futile. It was just too unpleasant.

Miku's face fell further with each passing moment, watching as Itsuki visibly struggled to keep her reaction in check. The attempt to not make a face only drew more attention to the fact that she was doing exactly that.

Miku's shoulders slumped under the weight of disappointment. What did she expect anyway? Nino's cooking was leagues ahead, always had been.

There was no reason for Miku to think she could compete with her in the kitchen. So why had she even bothered?

Her eyes drifted unconsciously to Megumi.

He had just finished his first bite of Nino's dish, carefully setting down his utensils without saying a word. His expression was as unreadable as ever, giving nothing away.

Meanwhile, Itsuki swallowed Miku's food, letting out a quiet sigh of relief as the taste faded from her mouth—though a hint of it still lingered unpleasantly on her tongue.

When she looked at Miku, her heart sank at the sight of her sister's detached expression. It was clear she hadn't done a good job of hiding her preference, and guilt washed over her.

Nino remained quiet for a moment, glancing between Megumi and Itsuki. There was no need for gloating this time; it was obvious who had won, and rubbing it in would only deepen Miku's humiliation. That wasn't something Nino wanted.

"So," Nino finally said, her tone gentler than before, "since you've both tried the dishes, let's get to the point." She paused before adding, almost as a formality, "Which one's the best?"

Itsuki hesitated, glancing down before meeting her sisters' gazes once more.

She knew sugarcoating the truth would be pointless, maybe even insulting, so she opted for honesty.

"Nino's dish was better," she muttered, quickly looking away before quietly adding, "…in my opinion."

Miku showed no reaction, already expecting something like this, and sighed internally.

Nino nodded slowly, though she wasn't exactly thrilled. She turned to Megumi. "What about you?"

Megumi shifted his gaze between Nino and Miku before saying, "I preferred Miku's omurice."

A silence fell over the room.

Itsuki slowly turned to Megumi, her face a mask of disbelief. "You… what?"

Nino, eyes wide, echoed the words with even more incredulity. "You what!?" She looked at Megumi as if he had lost his mind.

Even Miku seemed shocked, her lips parting as she stared at him. Was he serious?

Yes, he was.

While it was clear to everyone else which dish was objectively superior—both in craftsmanship and taste—Megumi was a different case entirely, thanks to one specific issue:

His brain was scrambled.

So, was he mad enough to prefer burnt, poorly cooked food over Nino's culinary masterpiece?

Maybe.

But Megumi's mind wasn't just metaphorically scrambled—it had been literally altered.

Courtesy of Satoru Gojo.

His soul had withstood the brunt of five Unlimited Voids, but that wasn't the main issue (souls don't have brains, after all). The real problem was what had happened to his physical body as well.

Ten seconds. That's how long his mind had been exposed to the overwhelming flood of infinite information within Gojo's Domain Expansion. Ten seconds was more than enough to reduce his brain to near mush.

His senses were wrecked—his vision hypersensitive to light, his sense of smell either dulled or overwhelmingly sharp (as shown by his near fainting from Ichika's perfume), and most critically, his sense of taste had become almost unrecognizable.

For Megumi, distinguishing flavors was almost impossible.

Except for one: spiciness.

Spicy food was the only thing his scrambled brain could still detect. And Miku's omurice? It had pepper.

While Nino's perfectly crafted dish was a sensory blank for him, Miku's burnt, thrown-together omurice had just enough spice for him to notice.

So, by process of elimination, Miku's was, in his mind, the tastier dish. And Megumi hadn't lied about that.

Back in the real world, Megumi shrugged in response to the shocked looks directed at him. "It's just my opinion."

Nino didn't seem convinced. She looked from Miku to Megumi before demanding, "Are you just saying that so Miku doesn't lose the competition?"

To her, it made more sense that Megumi claimed Miku cooked a better dish to prevent Nino from winning, which would mean they could keep studying.

But Megumi shook his head. "I genuinely preferred Miku's."

Itsuki frowned slightly, concern flickering across her face. "Are you okay?"

Megumi frowned at her.

"But… but…" Nino stammered, still struggling to comprehend the situation. Then, she glanced at Miku and her voice trailed off.

Miku had her gaze fixed on Megumi, her lips still parted in surprise before slowly curving into a smile.

The tension in her shoulders visibly relaxed as she brought her hands together in front of her face, closing her eyes in evident relief and gratitude.

Seeing her sister appear lighter with such a simple outcome made Nino lose her desire to argue.

She cast one last glance at Megumi before sighing and turning away. "Whatever…" she muttered quietly as she walked toward the stairs.

This left Megumi, Itsuki, and Miku alone.

Itsuki continued to look at Megumi as if he had three heads, while he casually glanced at the clock.

He was clearly past his time.

In the end, Nino had made them miss a lesson.

Not exactly, he thought as he looked back at Itsuki. At least she managed to review her test…

But he soon frowned as she kept staring at him weirdly.

"It's just my opinion." he repeated slowly, trying to express his frustration at being scrutinized.

Itsuki blinked, her cheeks slowly turning pink as she realized she might have been a bit rude.

She quickly looked away. "S-sorry…"

Megumi said nothing, shifting his gaze back to the dish before looking up at Miku.

Miku was still smiling softly, her eyes fixed on him. And unlike the previous times, she didn't look away.

Megumi didn't know why, but something about her reaction made his expression soften a little.

Then he remembered that he still had two whole dishes to eat and his expression darkened once more.

...

Cold water splashed onto the plate, occasionally trickling over Megumi's hands and creating a stinging sensation. He worked methodically, scrubbing away the remnants of the meal.

Beside him, Miku focused on cleaning the second plate, her movements slow and deliberate as she soaped it before handing it to him.

An awkward silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the sounds of running water and the sponge against the dishes.

Only Megumi and Miku remained downstairs, washing the dishes. Nino had gone upstairs a while ago, and Itsuki followed after Megumi assured her he could handle the cleanup.

He continued washing the dishes without much thought, clearing his mind in the quiet.

But soon, the silence was broken by Miku.

"Did you really mean that?" she asked quietly.

Megumi paused, giving her a questioning look. "Mean what?"

She hesitated, her gaze wavering as she met his eyes. "That my dish was better than Nino's?" she clarified, her voice laced with both hope and doubt.

Megumi nodded slowly. "I wouldn't lie."

While he could have explained that his sense of taste was unreliable, doing so would raise too many questions, and he definitely did NOT want to mention his brain damage. Especially considering what had caused it.

Sure, lying and saying it was a condition he was born with would have been a simpler option, but Megumi avoided that for a specific reason:

Imagine telling Miku that the only way someone would find her cooking better than anything else was if they couldn't taste anything in the first place.

That would be a bit harsh, right? So Megumi chose not to elaborate on the real reason behind his dubious opinion.

Miku continued to glance at Megumi for a few moments before looking away again.

Megumi let the silence stretch between them for a bit before asking, "Do you cook often?"

Miku paused in her task once more, but kept her eyes fixed ahead. She bit her bottom lip, then reluctantly shook her head. "Not often. My sisters don't really like my cooking, as you probably noticed." she admitted, her tone darkening with a hint of resignation.

Megumi could definitely tell, based on the look of her dish and Itsuki's reaction to his decision, that this was true.

He wasn't surprised, though, given Miku's past behavior when it came to cooking.

"You enjoy it, at least?" he asked.

Miku sighed, her gaze dropping. She was sharing a lot with Megumi, maybe more than she normally would, but at this point, she didn't seem to care. "I do…" she admitted.

Megumi hummed in acknowledgment, finishing up the last plate before turning his attention to her.

He thought about what to say next. She was clearly feeling awkward after everything that had happened, and he figured he should try to make her feel better.

It was a noticeable contrast to the confidence Miku had shown earlier, which—ironically—was the opposite of the insecurity she'd displayed yesterday.

And that was a good thing. Even though it was temporary and quickly faded, she had trusted in her own abilities, instead of folding comparing herself to Nino.

"Good work earlier." he said simply.

Miku looked at him, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "Good work?" she echoed. "…With my cooking?"

"With your confidence," he clarified, watching as her eyebrows lifted in surprise, the confusion morphing into something more thoughtful. "It was a significant improvement compared to yesterday."

Miku studied him for a few moments, her expression softening, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly before a sigh escaped her lips. "But that confidence did little for me in the end." she said, the hint of defeat creeping back into her voice.

Megumi furrowed his brow. "But at least you had it." he retorted.

Miku shrugged. "I still failed with my dish, didn't I?" she murmured. "Itsuki didn't seem to like it."

"...I liked it." he replied simply.

Miku almost smiled at this, but a new wave of negativity washed over her. "You're just being too kind…"

Using the term 'kind' to describe him felt entirely inappropriate, and Megumi's frown deepened at the thought.

"Everyone has different tastes," he murmured, echoing his words from yesterday. "Don't let negative reactions affect your confidence."

Miku fidgeted with her fingers for a moment before looking up at Megumi. "It's just tiring to try and fail," she murmured, her tone darkening. "It's always like this... I always seem to fail, no matter what."

Her words made Megumi freeze.

"Maybe I'm just being negative, but…" Miku glanced away, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I do something knowing I'm not good enough... and that I'll only be disappointed…"

Megumi continued to stare at her in stunned silence, an overwhelming sense of déjà vu washing over him.

Miku sighed quietly, looking back at Megumi with dejected eyes. "Sometimes I wonder why I even try in the first place if I already know the result—"

"Always try," Megumi interrupted, his expression hardening. "No matter what, always try first."

Miku was taken aback by his sudden interruption, her eyes widening in surprise as she processed his words. "Huh?"

"Trying and failing is part of the journey. It's completely natural," he explained, his voice steadying as he met her gaze. "Don't beat yourself up if you don't succeed right away, because it's precisely failure that leads to growth."

Seeing Miku's full attention on him, Megumi continued, "Your failures make you think it's not worth even trying? That's just cowardice." He noticed her gulp at his words.

Although they were harsh, Megumi was trying to convey a feeling that took him a long time to accept himself.

He thought blunt words would be the best way to get this through to Miku.

"You failed. So what? What does that change? Absolutely nothing. Just try again." Megumi's words flowed naturally, as if someone else was speaking for him. "Dwelling on what happened... your failures, it won't get you anywhere…" He paused before adding, "That's why you shouldn't keep doing this to yourself."

"And if you tell yourself you can't do this... that's just a lie," he said firmly. "Of course you can. If not now, then soon."

All this talk of lack of confidence stung something in Megumi.

His expression softened a little. "So... it's okay to fail," he murmured. "It's okay not to be able to do something. It happens to everyone, so don't think you're less of a person because of it."

Miku continued looking up at him in silence, her lips parted in an 'O' shape.

Maybe he wasn't just saying this to her. Maybe he was saying it to himself too; who knows?

But he couldn't just let Miku continue down this path of negativity.

He slowly looked away. His expression grew a little melancholic, and he continued, "After all... it's okay to make mistakes." he murmured.

Miku's eyes widened slightly, especially when he looked at her again, more resolved than before.

"So don't say you're going to fail without even trying first," Megumi stated, his gaze fixed on her. "And know that if you actually fail, it means nothing. Or do you think Nino was born knowing how to cook?"

Miku didn't respond, suddenly unable to hold Megumi's gaze any longer and looking away.

"If you feel incapable, make yourself capable…" His voice trailed off. "If you feel out of place, make a place for yourself... and... if you feel like you can't do it alone…"

Megumi hesitated for a moment, rationality warring with emotion as he pondered whether or not to say what he wanted to say next.

But in the back of his mind, that same boy with pink hair and warm eyes remained fixed there, like a scar that would never come off, pushing him to do things he never thought he could.

"…then let me help you through it." he muttered.

Miku's breath caught in her throat, and she shot Megumi a bewildered look. Did she hear him right?

Megumi sighed, glancing at the floor. Maybe it was crazy to offer help to someone he barely knew, but there was something about her that made him feel compelled to assist.

And that something was himself.

Megumi saw himself in Miku.

And he hated it. No one should have to be like him.

"Whatever you're struggling with in cooking, you can learn to improve," he murmured. "I can help you with that. It makes no difference to me."

Her bottom lip trembled slightly at this.

"And if it takes you a while to get the hang of things, that's okay. It just makes the success that much more rewarding when it comes," he added. "And you will achieve it. If everyone can succeed at something, why would you be any different?"

Miku clenched her fists lightly, lowering her head to hide her face.

Megumi's tone softened. "And... the results are important, yes, but..." He paused momentarily before adding, "What truly matters is courage. If you just have confidence in yourself... what more could anyone ask for?"

After all, confidence shapes success.

"The gains will come naturally... but just... trust yourself."

And then he said the words that would be the final straw for Miku.

"...Because I will trust you."

Silence followed, as Megumi had already expressed everything he wanted to say.

And Miku... she didn't know how to respond.

She felt overwhelmed, a torrent of emotions coursing through her chest and making her dizzy.

Taking a shaky breath, Miku brushed away the tears that threatened to spill from her dark blue eyes.

"You're too kind..." she forced herself to speak, trying to sound composed as her gaze remained fixed on the floor. "That's not really part of your job..."

"I'm not doing this for work," he muttered in response. "I'm doing this for you."

Miku swallowed hard as his words sank in. This boy... would he ever stop?

Her body shook slightly, and Miku soon turned her back to him, not wanting Megumi to see the tears that were sure to fall.

She wanted to say something—she wanted to express her gratitude, to say thank you, anything. But she couldn't.

Miku found herself without the strength to utter a single word.

Megumi watched her in silence, pressing his lips together as he observed the emotional turmoil he had unintentionally stirred within her. After a moment, he sighed and looked away.

"I should go now..." he muttered, assuming it would be better if he left. Miku probably hated feeling so exposed and vulnerable in front of someone she barely knew.

Without waiting for a response, he quickly exited the kitchen, heading towards his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder.

Miku remained there, standing still in complete silence while Megumi approached the door. He unlocked it with the key that was still in the lock before taking one last look back at her.

"...See you." he muttered. And with that, Megumi left the Nakano penthouse, leaving Miku alone.

A massive wave of relief flooded her chest as she heard the click of the door closing behind him. In this moment, solitude felt like a blessing.

Miku raised her tear-filled eyes toward the door. The key was still in the lock, and she knew she had to lock it. Otherwise, Nino would definitely confront her.

With that thought echoing in her mind, she took a step forward, aiming to reach the door, but her legs suddenly buckled beneath her.

Instinctively, Miku's hand shot out to find support against the wall beside her as she lost her balance, her eyes widening in alarm as a gasp escaped her lips.

Her gaze dropped to her trembling legs, and she quickly realized just how much she was shaking. Like a leaf, Ichika would say, probably.

She hesitantly raised a hand in front of her face, only to discover that it wasn't just her legs that were shaking; her hands were trembling too.

What was happening?

Miku swallowed hard, slowly bringing that hand to her chest.

She could feel her heart racing—madly.

It didn't make sense...

Leaning her back against the wall, a shaky, weak sigh escaped her lips as she allowed herself to slide down to the floor.

Looking up at the ceiling, warm tears streamed down her pale face, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions and frustration.

"What... is this?"

.....

The elevator music wasn't working.

Normally, Megumi wouldn't mind this. But now he could really use something to occupy his mind while he waited for the elevator to reach the ground floor.

His gaze was fixed on the ceiling light, his eyes distant and unfocused.

Did he do the right thing? Should he have said all that? Didn't he go too far?

He had no idea.

But Megumi had acted on impulse. He saw Miku acting like a version of himself he wanted to forget, and he couldn't just stand by and watch. Could you blame him?

He only hoped his words had affected her positively, but that was just a hope.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, Megumi wasted no time stepping out, arriving in the lobby.

He wanted to wash his face. Yeah, he could use some cold water on his skin.

So he immediately turned toward the men's bathroom, approaching it in a hurry.

Only to stop when he saw that it was closed.

Megumi frowned. Of course it was closed; he had seen it earlier that day.

Frustration surged through him, and a sigh escaped his lips. He'd have to wait until he got home; going into the women's bathroom was out of the question.

However, just as he turned to walk away from the bathroom, he froze, suddenly stopping when he felt something.

Something very familiar, especially for someone like him.

Megumi slowly looked back, his eyes fixed on the men's bathroom door.

That feeling... although faint due to how he'd avoided feeling it for the past few months, it was present. It was obvious, clear as day.

There was something inside. An emission of cursed energy too strong to be the product of an ordinary human.

Megumi clenched his fists, his expression turning wary. Could it be a curse? He couldn't tell from here; not in his rusty state.

But assuming it was a curse was the most logical conclusion. After all, what else could it be?

Given the history of this bathroom, he shouldn't have been surprised to feel a curse lurking there. A security guard had died inside; it was only natural that the negative energy would attract a curse sooner or later.

Still, it was dangerously close to civilians. He cast a worried glance toward the counter where the building's staff was before looking back at the bathroom.

He pondered what to do for a moment before his mind settled on the obvious choice: exorcise the damn thing.

What else should he do?

Rusty or not, Megumi was still a sorcerer. And if a sorcerer saw a curse, especially in a place with civilians, they had to exorcise it.

That was what he would do.

Megumi turned back toward the bathroom, his expression hardening as he began to approach.

But just as his hand hovered over the door handle, a voice interrupted him.

"Sir, you are not allowed in this bathroom," called out the receptionist, a blonde woman.

Megumi glanced back at her.

"It's closed. I'm sorry, but you can't come in." she added, looking at him.

Megumi sighed internally, slowly moving his hand away from the door. "I just want to check something." he tried to argue back.

But the receptionist just shook her head. "Not allowed, sir," she repeated. "I ask you not to do that."

Frustration began to fill Megumi. Really, why did his job always have to be made so difficult?

Casting a final glance at the bathroom, he sighed and reluctantly walked away without saying anything else.

He would have to find another way. Leaving the curse inside was not an option.

As he moved past the automatic door, Megumi immediately looked both ways, searching for somewhere secluded to go before spotting an alleyway between two buildings.

He headed there without much thought, leaning against a wall and glancing around.

There was a trash can nearby, overflowing with rubbish, and a covered manhole. But Megumi soon focused on the main problem.

How would he get into that bathroom?

Passing off the entire staff was one option, but he wouldn't even consider that. Although Maruo would probably cover for him if he explained the reasons, it was still completely crazy to even think about it.

Sneaking? Unlikely that would go unnoticed. Enter through a window? Public bathrooms typically didn't have windows. So how?

As Megumi's mind raced with thoughts, he gradually brought his gaze to the ground, noticing the shadow cast by the building behind him.

...A shadow.

Megumi's eyebrows raised as he remembered he could literally dive into shadows and go completely unnoticed.

Well, sorcerers would usually see a puddle of black liquid moving across the floor, but he was dealing with non-sorcerers, and they wouldn't see a thing.

He felt a wave of frustration for forgetting a basic application of his technique but quickly dismissed it. He couldn't afford to waste any time. The sooner he finished this, the sooner he could go home and wash his damn face.

Without hesitation, Megumi closed his eyes, held his breath, and sank into the darkness.

...

Megumi took a deep breath as he emerged from the shadows, gasping for air. He had almost forgotten how suffocating shadow diving could be, especially due to the lack of oxygen.

Just as he inhaled, an overwhelming chemical odor flooded his nostrils, and he couldn't help but cough softly. Was that because of the pest control team?

Once he recovered from the stench, he tried to focus his vision in the dim bathroom, the lights off—likely to conserve energy since the place was closed.

Unsure if it was wise to turn on the lights and risk attracting the staff's attention, he remained still, trying to navigate the area despite the poor visibility.

In addition to the strong smell of chemicals, the bathroom was quite large, as expected from a place like the Pentagon.

Megumi squinted, scanning the white floor, the stalls, and finally the ceiling, until his gaze landed at the end of the bathroom.

That's where he thought he spotted something unusual.

He squinted harder, tightening his grip on the handle of his sword, which he had retrieved from the shadows just in case.

He was almost certain something was there.

It could be his imagination, but he noticed something that appeared oddly out of place, shifting slightly like a chest rising and falling with each breath.

He felt the cursed energy leaking a little stronger around him. In fact, it was more present. That kind of gave away that there was indeed something there.

Regardless, he was here for a reason, and he intended to exorcise the curse quickly.

Slowly placing his sword in front of him, Megumi began to approach the creature to discern its shape.

As he drew nearer, he realized it resembled a bubble—a large, strange, disgusting bubble. Still a bubble.

And inside that bubble was something.

Megumi halted in his tracks. Was that a cursed womb? Some cursed wombs took on a bubble-like appearance.

But he wouldn't find the answer until he got closer.

Or until the damn bubble burst on its own. And guess what happened?

Megumi's eyebrows rose in surprise as the cursed energy became even more pronounced—extremely pronounced, to be precise.

A low screech escaped whatever was inside the bubble, and it appeared to be in a fetal position, slowly beginning to rise.

Megumi tightened his grip on the sword and instinctively shifted into a defensive stance. That thing emitted a tremendous amount of cursed energy; he could feel it.

The air thickened as the 'curse' stood upright, its silhouette still shrouded in shadows. But it was tall. Extremely tall. It even had to bend over to avoid hitting its head on the bathroom ceiling.

It was skinny—really skinny—especially for its height. Its arms were long, its fingers sharp, and its head... oval?

But what caught Megumi's attention most was that it didn't give off the usual aura of a curse.

A sorcerer can easily distinguish the presence of a curse from anything else; curses are entirely composed of cursed energy, making them relatively different to sense compared to humans, for example.

But this… was different.

Megumi broke out in a cold sweat, slowly realizing that he might not be dealing with a curse after all.

The not-exactly-curse slowly turned its head toward him, releasing another pronounced screech.

Megumi kept his gaze fixed on the creature, his expression growing wary. What even is this thing? Shikigami? Something else?

He struggled to make it out, hindered by the poor lighting and the distance between them.

But if distance was the issue, it seemed the creature was eager to bridge that gap, twitching before lunging toward him in a clumsy yet strangely fast manner.

His eyes widened slightly, and Megumi instinctively raised his sword to block an attack launched by the creature's arm, the impact echoing loudly throughout the bathroom.

That was bad. He shouldn't be making noise.

But the creature didn't seem willing to give him time to think, forcing Megumi to jump to avoid a sweeping kick that threatened to knock him off balance.

A sweep kick, really?

The weight of his body crashed down as he landed, the sudden movement making him clench his teeth.

Another attack followed—a swing from the creature's long arm—forcing him to react once more.

He blocked the strike with his right forearm, then quickly took advantage of the opening, swinging his blade toward the creature's chest.

But the impact resulted in nothing more than a dull thud.

Just an impact. It didn't cut, didn't pierce—just a bump against its chest.

Realizing this, Megumi immediately jumped back to create distance, a frown forming on his face.

Did he forget to reinforce his sword with cursed energy? No... that wasn't it. He was sure he had done it.

Once again, the creature charged at him, screeching loudly, not giving him time to think. Megumi raised both arms to absorb the force of the blow.

He grunted as he was pushed back, the creature driving him until his back slammed against the wall with a thud.

Looking up at the creature's distorted, shadowy face—too close for comfort—Megumi gritted his teeth. With all this noise, someone would definitely come into the bathroom soon.

But in that close proximity, Megumi noticed something: the smell of chemicals was stronger now.

Or rather, the smell wasn't from cleaning supplies at all. It was coming from the creature itself.

Frustration twisted Megumi's expression as the realization sank in. "Pest control my ass…"

Another screech erupted from the creature, forcing Megumi to turn his head to avoid the saliva that sprayed from its mouth. Some still hit his face, leaving a slight burning sensation.

"What's happening in there?!" came an urgent voice from behind the door, and Megumi's eyes widened. "What are those screams?"

They heard it.

They shouldn't be hearing it.

Beings conjured through jujutsu shouldn't be seen or heard by regular humans.

But they heard this thing.

Dread filled Megumi's chest at the implications.

"Whoever's in there, stay put! It's forbidden to enter!" a voice, probably from security, called out. The situation was getting worse. "I'm coming in, and I'm armed! Don't move!"

This was bad.

As the creature continued to push and writhe against him, Megumi knew he had to act fast.

Just before the door swung open, revealing a security guard with his gun drawn, both Megumi and the creature were swallowed by shadows.

————————————————————————————————————————

Nino sat on the sofa in the living room, wrapped in a towel after her shower. The warm air from the hairdryer gently brushed against her as it dried her long, reddish-pink hair.

She tried to focus on the calming sensation, letting the soft breeze ease her tension and recent stress.

But her mind kept drifting back to the latest events. More specifically, to Fushiguro's presence and how it was affecting her sisters.

She couldn't make sense of it.

Yotsuba was always friendly, but she seemed too friendly towards him. Or maybe that was just Nino's imagination.

Ichika, as usual, was her provocative and engaging self. Nothing to worry about there.

Itsuki... well, she was an emotional person. It made sense that she would warm up to Fushiguro after he helped her with the bullies.

But Miku... something was different today. She seemed more confident, at least for a moment.

And that was good.

Nino liked that her sister was showing more confidence, maybe even a bit of resolve. It was a welcome change.

But Miku hadn't been like this yesterday. And Nino was sure that Fushiguro had something to do with the sudden shift.

After all, Miku warmed up to him as well.

That left her feeling confused and a little uneasy. What had he done to reach Miku, of all people? Nino had no idea, and the uncertainty didn't sit well with her.

A sudden noise from the corner of the room snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned, squinting through her blurred vision, trying to make out who the figure was. It was hard without her contact lenses.

She assumed it was either Miku or Itsuki, as they were the only ones in the house with her. So, she called out to the one she had been thinking about most.

"Miku, is that you?" she asked, turning off the hairdryer.

Silence.

That pretty much confirmed it was Miku.

Nino's expression softened slightly, and she bit her lower lip. She had argued with Miku earlier. It had been brief and a little silly, but it was still an argument.

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier," Nino began, her voice softer, almost hesitant as she tried to push past her pride. "I was just frustrated, but I wasn't fair to you."

The silence stretched on, and Nino felt a flicker of frustration. Could she really not get a response?

She took a deep breath and pressed on, "Maybe I overreacted a little," she admitted.

"You definitely did," Miku's voice finally broke through the quiet. "I don't understand your dislike for Megumi."

Nino clenched her jaw, holding back the urge to argue. This wasn't about Fushiguro. "Come on... let's not start that again, okay? I'm trying to apologize here."

Another tense silence settled between them, and Nino nearly rolled her eyes.

"...I don't understand you," Miku muttered after a few moments, making Nino frown.

"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely confused. If anyone didn't understand, it was her. Nino always made her feelings clear—what was so hard to understand about that?

"You have so many friends..." Miku's voice was quiet, almost tentative, as if she were approaching something delicate. "Why push him away?"

Nino's irritation flared. "A lot of friends?" she repeated, her frown deepening. "Who said that? They're just classmates."

Miku was silent for a moment, choosing her words. "Let me rephrase..." she began. "You're always surrounded by people. Why can't we do the same?"

Nino huffed in frustration. "What are you trying to say, Miku?"

"It's always been like this—you always try to push people away when they get close to us," Miku said, her tone filled with both exasperation and frustration. "Why?"

"You know why." Nino's voice was firm. "I'm the fixer. Don't blame me for keeping people at a distance."

"You can't keep living in the past..." Miku murmured. "We can't assume that every friendship will end the same way."

"Where is all this positivity coming from all of a sudden?" Nino shot back, her frustration building. "You never cared about not having friends, so why question me now?"

"Things change," Miku repeated softly. "You should, too."

"So, what, you want me to just let people in, let them deceive us and break our trust?" Nino's voice rose slightly. "Where were these so-called friendships when Mama died and Papa went bankrupt, huh?" Her voice wavered.

Silence hung heavy after Nino's words, and Miku seemed hesitant to respond.

"...I understand what you're saying," she said quietly. "But still, you're always surrounded by people."

"What are you getting at?" Nino hissed.

"I mean that even though you try to act like you don't care who's in your life..." Miku's voice dropped as she finished. "...deep down, you're afraid of being alone."

Nino's eyes widened, and if she could see Miku clearly, she would have glared at her furiously.

"That's bullshit!" she exploded, her face flushed with rage as she clenched her fists. "I only care about the five of us, nothing else!"

Miku waited a moment, perhaps hoping Nino would calm down, before speaking again, her voice softer. "It's okay..." she began. "I'm afraid of being alone, too."

Nino froze, her defensiveness faltering at her sister's words.

With Nino speechless, Miku seized the moment to continue, "But... I think, maybe, things can change," she murmured. "I really want to believe that."

Nino's lower lip trembled, and her face tightened. "Is it... is it because of Fushiguro?" she whispered.

"...Yes." Miku confirmed.

Hearing her suspicions confirmed, Nino took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"...Why?" she asked, struggling to understand the sudden shift. "What happened between you?"

Miku sighed. "I used words." she said simply.

Nino frowned at the response, ready to call her sister out for what felt like a scoff, but then she paused.

Words...

Her eyes widened as she realized what Miku meant.

Words.

Miku had previously told Nino that words mattered, to which Nino had retorted that Miku herself rarely used them, so she had no right to demand them.

Nino had urged Miku to express her thoughts, to engage, and to let them support each other.

But Miku seldom did.

Now, however, she was implying that those very words missing from her sisters had been shared with Fushiguro. With an outsider.

And somehow, Fushiguro had instilled in Miku a hope that maybe, this time, things wouldn't end badly. Miku—of all people, the most pessimistic among them.

Nino couldn't fully wrap her mind around that, leaving her utterly speechless once again.

Miku lingered for a moment, taking a deep breath before quietly turning to leave.

"...So please don't ruin this for me," she asked softly. "And try to go easier on him."

With that, Nino was left alone in the room, stunned, shocked, and in total disbelief.

She blinked a few times, her head slowly lowering as she tried to process what had just happened.

But as she soon realized, it was almost impossible to understand.

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