Chapter 41: Proposal (1)

[Third Person's Point of View]

August's steps softly resonated against the pavement, as Tokyo's vibrant lights reflected off the streets, creating a dazzling display of hues. He stopped in front of Echigaya Kubota, a highly acclaimed izakaya known for its intimate atmosphere and secluded dining options. The restaurant was conveniently located just a short stroll from the bustling Shinjuku Station.

He stepped through the wooden sliding doors into the izakaya's welcoming embrace; the interior was a tasteful mix of traditional elements like wood and paper lanterns, creating a warm and inviting ambience. He made his way to the reception desk, where a friendly attendant greeted him with a smile.

"Good evening," August stated in a calm and confident tone, "I have a reservation under the name Gojo Satoru."

The attendant smiled with practised ease and nodded, acknowledging his request. "Of course, Gojo-san mentioned we would be expecting you. Please, follow me."

She led August past the main dining area, where the sounds of conversation and laughter filled the air. They reached a more secluded section of the izakaya, where a private room awaited.

"Here we are," she gestured towards the room. "Enjoy your evening."

The attendant guided August to his room, and after a polite bow, she left him. The hallway was filled with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of glasses from neighbouring rooms. August paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

He raised his hand and rapped on the door before sliding it open without waiting for a response.

"Oh, you're here," Satoru greeted him, his voice cutting through the sudden silence that fell over the room. The conversations that had animated the space just moments before now gave way to a quiet curiosity as all eyes turned to the newcomer.

The private room offered a quiet sanctuary, a complete contrast to the bustling energy of the main dining area. Traditional Japanese paintings adorned the walls, while a low table rested in the centre, encircled by plush floor cushions. Soft light from paper lanterns created playful shadows, adding to the room's intimate ambience.

August stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces of Jujutsu High's finest—Nanami Kento, Shoko Ieiri, Utahime Iori, Mei Mei, and Atsuya Kusakabe. Each of them carried a reputation that preceded them, and now they were all here, in one room, their attention fixed on him.

Gojo motioned August to the seat across from him, next to Mei Mei. "Everyone, this is August," he announced in a smug tone, with a small smile. All eyes turned towards August, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"Hello everyone, My name is August Blackwood," he introduced himself with a calm and confident voice, followed by a chorus of nods and murmurs of acknowledgement from around the table.

Gojo then proceeded to introduce the rest of the group, starting with the sorcerer in a brown peacoat. "This is Atsuya Kusakabe, whom I believe you have met before."

August nodded towards Kusakabe as the sorcerer responded with a stoic smile. "It's nice to see you again, Blackwood-san."

"I hope yesterday's mess didn't cause too much trouble for all of you."

"Nonsense. In fact, we are grateful for your assistance." Atsuya dipped his head respectfully to convey his gratitude.

Gojo continued, "Next to Kusakabe is Shoko Ieiri, our resident medical expert." The brown-haired woman clad in her white lab coat and blue turtle neck sweater waved warmly at August.

"Beside Shoko is Utahime Iori, a skilled jujutsu sorcerer, part-time teacher and full-time singer." The long blackish-purple-haired woman dressed in a traditional miko outfit scowled at the silver-haired annoyance before quickly composing herself.

Utahime offered a polite nod towards August, her sharp gaze assessing him.

'Is Mr Strongest flirting with her?' August couldn't help but feel sceptical about the dynamic between the two sorcerers as Satoru introduced the next person.

"To my left, we have Nanami Kento, a jujutsu sorcerer renowned for his precision and tactical acumen." Nanami, dressed in his famous business suit, simply gave a curt nod while keeping his expression unreadable.

"And last but not least," Satoru gestured towards the person sitting beside him, "we have Mei Mei, a powerful and versatile mercenary sorcerer. Oh, and she happens to be married to wealth."

"Ara, thank you for your straightforward introduction." the blue-tinted silver-haired sorcerer playfully smiled at Satoru.

After the introductions were finished, the room buzzed with conversation once more, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. August couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the evening ahead as he settled into his seat.

"So, what is this mess he is talking about?" Utahime raised an eyebrow as he asked Kusakabe about the details of their mission.

"I hope you are alright with Sashimi?" Shoko politely checked with him about his food preferences and informed him that they had already ordered for the evening. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Um, I think I'll have a light beer with a lemon wedge" She nodded and pressed the red button on the side of the table as a waiter appeared shortly to take his orders.

After hearing the whole story from Atusya, Utahime turned towards August and spoke with amazement barely concealed in her voice, "You did well, Blackwood-san. I'm surprised that Satoru kept you hidden from us. Usually, he can't stop boasting about his strong students and how great of a teacher he is."

"Oi!"

"Well, I just did what I had to do. And please, call me August. That goes for everyone else too. I already asked Kusakabe-san, but he insists on using my last name."

As the evening hours gradually turned into night, the atmosphere remained pleasant and August skillfully mingled with everyone, even engaging in enjoyable conversations with a few.

"Tell me about yourself, August," Came a friendly voice beside him. Mei Mei, who was relatively quiet the whole time, spoke up, "What are your hobbies, goals...ambitions?"

"Hm...reading books and playing games with my friends are some of my favourite activities," August replied. "As for goals, my main focus right now is finding my place in this world. I awakened to this side a few months ago, and the more I learn about this world, the more I realize how little I knew before."

Mei nodded attentively, as she looked at August with clear intrigue in her eyes.

August then turned the question back to Mei, "What about you, Mei-san? Satoru mentioned that you are married to wealth."

She chuckled softly and answered, "It is what it is. I am very materialistic. Money holds great importance to me. Even the idea of being in a relationship not based on money is beyond my understanding."

'Ah, so she's that type of person...' August thought as he gazed into her lilac eyes with his amethyst ones and stated, "I'm not so sure about that, Mei-san. For me, money doesn't hold the same value as other things in life."

Mei raised an eyebrow as he continued, "Money isn't as crucial or elusive as you may think." He pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. "Just in the last year alone, I made around..." He turned the phone towards her to show her the display. "415 million dollars just from sports betting."

The conversation in the room hushed down as Mei stared at the numbers displayed on the screen with wide eyes.

AHAHAHA!" Gojo burst into laughter, falling onto his back and rolling around while everyone else looked at him slack-jawed.

"See? For some, it's just a number. If you still believe it's important...would you marry me for half of this amount?"

Even Gojo shot up straight and looked at his student incredulously while the person in question unblinkingly stared at the white-haired girl next to him.

Mei Mei's eyes narrowed as her smile turned chilling. "Are you joking?" August smirked in response and played along, "Why not? I'm not ready for marriage yet, but I wouldn't mind dating you." He raised the stakes, "Is the amount too little? How about I double it?"

She scoffed at his bravado, "And then you'd be broke."

"Oh please. If I could turn a few thousand dollars from my parents into four hundred million within a year, imagine what I can do with my current fortune."

-Ding

As if on cue, his phone chimed with a notification.

"Ah, another 17 million dollars added to my account from my successful Premier League and Laliga bets this week."

He turned to her with a sly smile, "So what's your answer, Mei-san?"

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