Chapter 2

The Next few days were absolute torture for me after finally unlocking the first stage of my cursed technique. It was a textbook definition of bittersweet. I had to endure the pain of starvation, but also eat the required amount of food to keep myself healthy, knowing it would do absolutely nothing to bring me any relief.

The first bite I had at breakfast with my family, I almost bit through my chopsticks with how quickly I tried to get the food in my mouth. My mother always made delicious food for us but after starving through the night, even the white rice tasted like it was fit for a fine-dining restaurant.

And that was the worst part.

Every bit of food I consumed tasted divine, but the second it reached my stomach, it seemingly disappeared and left me wanting more. No matter how delicious something was, it never left me satisfied, and I wasn't allowed any more than my normal serving. When I left the table after staring at my empty bowls for however long it was, I felt like crying in frustration.

Class was just as bad, because there was nothing to distract me since I knew everything that was being taught. And when lunch time came around, my food lasted maybe two minutes before I cleaned my bento box, not leaving a single grain of rice behind. But at least Mrs. Kyoka was looking a lot more upbeat. Ironic that the day I stopped her from starving herself, I go and do the exact same thing the very next day. And that kid from yesterday left me alone too, which was a good decision on his part. If he was stupid enough to go after any of my food for the next week, I might just risk expulsion and send him to the hospital.

The second day wasn't any better. In fact, the pain, lack of sleep and constant frustration was fraying my mind to pieces and I was so close to giving up at the dinner table. But the thought of not having anything to show for my turmoil was enough motivation to keep me going for the rest of the day.

Days three and four were basically the same all the way to the last detail. Have breakfast with my parents, go to school, ignore everyone, eat lunch, go home, eat dinner, then scream into my pillow and try to fall asleep.

Day five was less of a struggle because I had time to myself, it being a Saturday and all. I took my frustrations out on all the curses I could find lying about, only ate what I was given, then started running around the neighbourhood to work off my stress.

The sixth day was a change to the routine, because my parents decided I needed a break, and decided to take me shopping for some new books that I'd asked for. It was nice of them, and I loved them for trying to make me feel better, even though they had no idea what was going on with me, but the more time we spent with crowds of people, the less stable I was getting. Especially when we stopped in McDonalds for lunch, then all I could see were people smiling and enjoying their meals without a care in the world, and it nearly drove me insane with rage.

That night, it took all of my control to thank my parents for my books and go to my bedroom before I burst into tears and started punching my pillow, then bit down on it before screaming as quietly as possible, then collapsing in exhaustion.

Today was the last day of my test, and I woke up with bags under my eyes, barely acknowledging my parents as I sat down for breakfast. I didn't even have the energy to eat my food with any rush like I had been for the past week. I knew it wouldn't fill me up, I was literally just doing it for the sake of the task, but I was so close to giving up, I could taste it more than the food in front of me.

"Are you okay, Kenji? You look like you didn't get much sleep last night." My mother said with a frown on her concerned face. I just about managed a quirk of my lips to imitate a smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine Mom. Couldn't put my new books down. I'll do better tonight." I wasn't talking like I normally would. I couldn't even string a proper sentence together. And for better or worse, I would be getting some sleep tonight, either because I end up passing the test or, the far more likely option if the morning is anything to go by, because I'll end up failing.

"You're an amazing kid, Kenji. We couldn't be more proud of you as your parents, but because we're your parents, we will always worry about you. So just know if you need to talk because you're struggling, or just want someone to be there for you, know that you'll always have us. So don't push yourself too much, okay?" I sometimes forget that my dad isn't just some average guy. He's travelled around the world, he teaches company heirs about the outside world, and he's honestly the closest thing to a perfect father I can imagine. He doesn't hover, he always listens and he's always there for me.

"Thanks, Dad. I love you both." This time, I actually managed a genuine smile.

Feeling slightly more upbeat about my hunger than when I woke up, I continued on with my day and ignored the hunger pangs like usual, but wasn't so successful with the nerves constantly building in anticipation for finally being rid of this curse tonight.

As the bell rang to end class and start lunch, I reached into my bag that was hidden away in the slot underneath my desk like everyone else and reached in to pull out my bento box.

Except it wasn't in there.

No, no, no, no!

In a panic, I ripped my bag out from under my desk, removed everything from it in a mad frenzy and continued to stare in horror at not finding any sign of my bento. And that was when I realised I'd forgotten to pick it up from the kitchen where it is always kept, every single morning. But with the lack of sleep and starving for the past week, I haven't been able to focus on anything with any kind accuracy.

I failed.

All that pain, struggle and determination and I've fallen at the last hurdle.

All I have the energy to do is look at the empty bag in despair as I fall into the back of my desk chair.

"Kenji! I need you to come with me, please." I drew my eyes away from the reminder of my failure to the smiling Mrs. Kyoka. I stood up in a daze and moved my feet on autopilot through the halls until I ended up back where we had our last private conversation, with me sat opposite her again with a small round table in front of us.

"I wanted to thank you properly about what you helped me realise in our last meeting, Kenji. Thanks to you, I finally had the guts to throw my boyfriend out and the restraining order was finalised this morning. So, I thought I'd let you know how much you helped me in getting back my freedom." I looked up at my teacher, giving a quick glance at the places I noticed the abuse last week and only found clear skin, and a fresh manicure. Her cheeks could do with more filling in, but that would come in time.

"I'm glad I could help, Mrs. Kyoka. Who says five-year-olds can't understand adult problems, huh?" My lame attempt at a joke, fell as flat as the curse I crushed under my foot on the bus this morning.

"Speaking of understanding problems, I noticed you getting a bit irritable today before I called you. Is there anything I can help you with?" She asked.

"I just forgot my lunch today." The level of sadness in that one comment was the most emotion I can ever remember showing someone in my entire life who wasn't my parents.

"Oh, is that all?" She asked casually.

Is that all? Is that all! Bitch, you have no idea what I've been going through this past week! While you've been benefitting from my advice, which you should have figured out on your own, I've been starving to death, torturing myself with food that can't fill me up, and right when I come to the end, I end up failing like a stupid fucking-

"Here, I guess it's a good thing I packed two lunches today. I had to pay you back after I stole your food last week, hehe." My internal rant came to a swift drop and a sudden stop and died before I could finish it. I looked in wonder at the two lunch boxes Mrs. Kyoka placed in front of us and failed to stop the tears of relief from falling.

"Hey, hey! There's no need to cry. I know I did the same thing last week, but you don't have to copy me to make me feel better." I laughed at her overly-dramatic comment, before reaching towards the box closest to me.

"Thank you for the meal." I said refelxively before digging in.

That single first bite was technically the same as every other one I'd had since starting this test. It wouldn't fill me, it wouldn't satisfy me, but I swear it felt like someone just gave me ice-cold water after walking through the desert for the day. The rest of the meal followed and I placed the chopsticks down and looked up at Mrs. Kyoka in gratitude.

"That was delicious, Mrs. Kyoka. I can't thank you enough."

"What are you talking about, Kenji? This was just a thank you for what you did for me." She countered.

No, you have no idea what you've done, and I will always be grateful for what you've given me today.

I had a smile on my face for the rest of the day, which creeped more than a few of my classmates out since I'm usually more stoic, and the starving hunger was barely an issue for me anymore.

Even my parents noticed my upbeat demeanor and seemed to release some tension they must have been carrying on their shoulders since this morning. And after eating the last piece of fish for dinner, I made a beeline for my room, awaiting time to run out and for this stupid test to be over.

"C'mon, just hurry up and get out here already!" I commanded, looking down at the seal on my chest. As if emerging because of my command, Gluttony spewed forth from the generated cursed energy coming from my torso.

"Oh my! It seems congratulations are in order, my master. You have officially completed the trial of Gluttony. Well done!" The manifestation exclaimed with a jolly chuckle that made his rotund stomach roll back and forth like the waves on a shore.

"Great! So, what happens now, do I summon you to fight for me when I need a hand?" I asked impatiently. I was still starving, and the pain hasn't gone away yet.

"Oh, heavens no! We do not possess any combat ability whatsoever." It said that with no shame at all. In fact, Gluttony was looking at me as if I was the one who said something crazy!

"If you're not gonna fight for me, what was the point of the trial in the first place!" I demanded. I didn't go through the worst week of my life for nothing!

"The point of the trial was to prepare you for my ability. All of us sins come with a unique power that we can grant to you if you pass our test. If I had given you the ability immediately, you would have devoured everything in sight until it killed you. And I mean everything, whether edible or not." Gluttony explained with a dangerous edge to his tone.

"But now that the test is done, I present to you the power of Gluttony!" A burning sensation started up on my tongue the moment he finished speaking and stopped a few short seconds after. That was also when the hunger pains vanished completely. I could finally feel food in my stomach again! It looks like the test didn't make the food vanish, it just tricked me into thinking I was always hungry.

I walked over to my mirror sat on my desk and opened my mouth to see what happened and discovered a new brand on my tongue in a intricate design with a fanged mouth in the centre.

"From now on, you will be able to feed on outside sources of cursed energy, even cursed spirits themselves! Although, depending on the strength they possess, it would be better to devour them after they have been exorcised and consume the remains left behind." He explained.

"But why would I want to eat curses? If I just exorcise them, then it's the same thing, right?" I asked.

"Not at all! You see, when you devour the energy from curses, techniques and even places with negative energy, all of that excess is stored in my stomach. Then, while you sleep, any and all cursed energy you have collected gets transferred to your overall capacity." I looked at Gluttony with wide eyed wonder, trying to see if he was messing with me, but he gave nothing away and also had no reason to lie about something this important.

This means I'll be able to constantly improve my cursed energy output. Who knows, maybe I'll even reach the point of never running out of energy!

"I see you now understand the value of my ability. I look forward to all of our future meals together, Master! Please do not hesitate to call on me when you have need of me for another test of gluttony." He said. Looks like he's ready to go back to sleep, or whatever he does when he's not here.

Wait… What did he just say?

"What was that about more tests? Your mean you have more abilities to give out?" I questioned.

"Now, now my master. I thought you were gifted with wisdom beyond your peers?" He asked with a teasing tone. I glared at him to get him to stop beating around the bush and getting to the point. He sighed, but still kept that damned smile.

"You see, I only have the one ability to bestow, but you can decide to bestow it upon others, as long as they pass the test at the very least." That bombshell was hard to comprehend.

"So, what you're telling me, is I can basically give someone a cursed technique, as long as I have it to start with?" I tried confirming this incredible piece of news. If I used this properly, I could make a select group of people that would be loyal to me in exchange for their very own cursed technique in the future. My very own army.

Gluttony gave me a knowing smile along with a nod as I thought of all the possibilities this could mean for me. I smiled back at him as plans began forming in my mind, and watched as he disappeared without another word.

Before I readied myself for bed to enjoy the first good night's sleep in a week, I unleashed a small amount of cursed energy into the air, nothing significant to my reserves, but it amounted to the combined energy produced by an entire school of students for an entire year. That drew the attention of twenty small cursed spirits, each about the size of a chihuahua, and one larger curse that looked like some giant deformed slug measuring at least 1.5 meters long.

I blew apart the slug curse with an explosive punch to the 'face' and the rest fell with a wave of my hand, combining it with cursed energy. As they all set on metaphysical fire, I opened my mouth to test out my newly gained ability and marvelled in awe as they all broke down to dust and the brand expanded into a hologram outside my mouth and started absorbing the cursed spirit remains like a black hole in space.

Oh yeah, I could get used to this!