-454- No backing out

Seeing Kurahashi Kyouko huddled, glaring at herself, Rozen couldn't help but emit a slight hum.

"Do you really think you've hidden it well, that no one noticed you pretending to be strong?" Rozen's words made Kurahashi Kyouko's mouth drop.

In other words, was that what he meant?

"Even when I first saw you, I had a pretty good idea of what you were thinking. You're an easily understood young lady," Rozen said with a smirk.

Upon hearing this, Kurahashi Kyouko had only one thought.

So, he saw through me a long time ago? Does that mean I've been acting like a clown in front of this person all along?

Thinking this, Kurahashi Kyouko no longer felt embarrassed. After all, she had faced plenty of embarrassing situations, so this was just one more.

Kurahashi Kyouko did, however, have one question.

While still sniffling, she stared hard at Rozen, trying to maintain an appearance of determination, but it only came off as her putting up a front.

And then, Kurahashi Kyouko asked her question.

"So, were you deliberately trying to bully me?"

She believed that Rozen was doing this maliciously, feigning bullying to make her reveal her true self.

Why else would he intentionally make her cry?

That's what Kurahashi Kyouko thought.

But who would have thought...

"I don't have a habit of bullying others," Rozen said calmly, crossing his arms. "It's just that your attempts to feel superior to me were getting tiresome. But don't take it too personally."

Kurahashi Kyouko had been acting strong in front of Rozen, believing her usual status didn't apply to this young master from the main family, making her feel inferior and unable to be as confident as usual.

However, from Rozen's perspective, he felt like he was suddenly treated as an imaginary enemy, glared at, and taunted for no apparent reason. Naturally, he didn't appreciate it.

"I couldn't help but give you a little pushback and let you vent your emotions. Isn't that nice?" Rozen said with a mischievous smile.

Kurahashi Kyouko found herself at a loss for words. If this had happened before, she would have been furious. But now, she simply couldn't get angry.

After all, Kurahashi Kyouko hadn't expected Rozen to deliberately make her cry for such a reason.

He was so petty, so capricious, so uncouth...

"Basically, just like a child..." Kurahashi Kyouko muttered under her breath.

Rozen overheard this remark. "Hey, who are you calling a child?"

If you were to calculate his actual lifespan, Rozen's age would make it entirely possible for him to be Kurahashi Kyouko's father, or even a grandfather.

Of course, actual age had nothing to do with being a child or not, or else how would the saying "some people grow younger as they live" even exist?

In Rozen's case, he had spent too much time indoors, lacking real-life experiences and social interaction, which led to his peculiar behavior.

Kurahashi Kyouko, unaware of this fact, suddenly felt a burst of satisfaction. It seemed that Rozen was just like a pretentious young boy, trying to act mature and sophisticated. This realization brightened her mood.

Even though he was from the main family, had incredible magical abilities, and stood above her in terms of status, the young man before her was still nothing more than a guy who could cry, laugh, and throw tantrums, just like her.

Understanding this, Kurahashi Kyouko wiped her tears and stood up from the ground.

"Hey," she called out to Rozen.

However...

"Don't call me 'hey'. I have a name, Miss Kurahashi," Rozen reminded her, crossing his arms.

"Fine, Tsuchimikado,"

Kurahashi Kyouko nodded and then added, "I'm not 'Miss Kurahashi.' You can call me either Kurahashi or just Kyouko. In any case, don't call me 'Miss.' It feels irritating."

It appeared that Kurahashi Kyouko could also discern that Rozen's way of addressing her wasn't a sign of respect, but rather a form of mockery.

Then, she said this:

"Listen up, Tsuchimikado,"

Kurahashi Kyouko pointed at Rozen, full of determination.

"Don't think you're all that just because you can use jujutsu now. Even if you're from the main family, once I master it in the future, I'll definitely surpass you."

She had mumbled such words to herself when she was alone earlier, but back then, it was only out of frustration, and she didn't have real confidence in achieving it.

Now, it was different.

Now, Kurahashi Kyouko's declaration wasn't born from self-deprecation but rather from her competitive nature.

Recalling the recent jujutsu combat, Kurahashi Kyouko had to admit she was deeply captivated by it.

Thus, she resolved to become equally skilled.

"Is that so?" Rozen raised an eyebrow, his smile now more enigmatic. "Can you really do it?"

Could she?

That was an unknown.

Logically, achieving that would be quite challenging. Faced with a boy who even impressed her own father, Kurahashi Kyouko didn't have unshakable confidence in surpassing him.

But at least in her heart, she refused to accept defeat. She didn't want to lose to this young man who had brought her into such an astonishing, awe-inspiring, and mesmerizing Jujutsu combat.

It was no longer about him being from the main family.

Right now, Kurahashi Kyouko didn't realize why she felt so strongly about displaying her strength in front of this young man. She simply wanted to achieve this one thing.

"If in the future, after I mastered jujutsu, you must have a battle with me, just like the one you had today," Kurahashi Kyouko wanted to achieve this.

Rozen's playful smile fading as he looked at Kurahashi Kyouko. He didn't say much after that.

Then, without hesitation, he agreed.

"Alright, no problem."

This brought an inexplicable joy to Kurahashi Kyouko's heart, and she couldn't help but smile.

"So, it's settled. No backing out," she said confidently, raising her finger.

To this, Rozen replied, "Of course, of course."

However, he added with a mischievous tone, "But maybe, in the meantime, you should cover up a bit."

Rozen's sly remark made Kurahashi Kyouko realize once more how she had completely let her guard down.

In the next moment, a piercing scream echoed, lasting for quite some time.