-514- Hoped for

The Kurahashi Family.

As the foremost family in the world of jujutsu, the Kurahashi family's mansion surpassed even the Tsuchimikado family's main residence, boasting an even grander scale, though in terms of jujutsu handling, it couldn't quite match the Tsuchimikado family, which had a thousand-year legacy.

The handling of jujutsu, in this context, referred to things like protecting the residence with barriers.

In the past, the Kurahashi family was not rooted in Tokyo but moved here decades ago and established itself.

Therefore, the barriers set up within the Kurahashi family were relatively new from a jujutsu perspective.

In contrast, the Tsuchimikado family had maintained their barriers for nearly a thousand years, continuously improving and refining their jujutsu handling through generations of family heads. It had reached a point where even individuals like Dairenji Suzuka, one of the Twelve Divine Generals, found it challenging to deal with. One can imagine the high level of the barriers.

While the Kurahashi family couldn't match the Tsuchimikado family in this aspect, they excelled in many other areas.

For instance, compared to the desolate Tsuchimikado family, the Kurahashi family not only had numerous servants and security but also shikigami stationed throughout the mansion. These shikigami remained vigilant around the clock, guarding the residence.

If anyone dared to intrude into the Kurahashi family recklessly, even if they managed to bypass the Kurahashi family's barriers, they would be discovered by these shikigami. The intruders would then be expelled, arrested, and in severe cases, could even be seriously injured or face lethal force in self-defense.

This was the Kurahashi family, a presence in the jujutsu world akin to a feudal lord.

And within this heavily guarded household, one person moved freely and returned to her girlish room.

"Bang."

With a slight closing sound of the door, the young girl closed the door and leaned against it, staring blankly at her room. She made no further movements for a long time.

"Ha...."

After a long while, the young girl finally sighed.

"It's the same today, I couldn't talk to him properly."

The person speaking with a somewhat despondent and lonely tone was naturally the jewel in the Kurahashi family—Kurahashi Kyouko.

To outsiders, Kurahashi Kyouko was seen as a young onmyouji with boundless potential, the future heir of the Kurahashi family, and a bright princess.

Even to her classmates in the same academy, Kyouko was an excellent student, possessing outstanding qualities and a dignified yet approachable demeanor, earning her widespread admiration.

In fact, even in secret, numerous male individuals admired this girl with a beauty akin to an idol and a charming figure, forming a substantial legion of admirers.

However, despite possessing all these, every time Kyouko returned home, she felt this way—dejected and lonely.

"Why is it like this?"

Kyouko murmured to herself as she lay on her bed, sounding as if she wanted to cry.

The person constantly on her mind was naturally Rozen.

"It's been several years since then."

Kyouko whispered to herself.

Ever since encountering Rozen at the Tsuchimikado family, Kyouko's life had been completely altered.

In the past, Kyouko had lived carefreely, like a little princess, doing whatever she pleased, never thinking too much.

However, since encountering Rozen in the Tsuchimikado family and witnessing the astonishing jujutsu battle he had with her father, Kyouko began to strive for self-improvement.

"After all, we've already made a promise."

They had already agreed.

The next time they met, they would engage in a jujutsu battle.

So, after that encounter at the Tsuchimikado family, Kyouko diligently applied herself to her studies.

"It's also to show that guy what I'm made of."

That was Kyouko's initial intention.

Who let Rozen not even bother to come and see her off when she left the Tsuchimikado family?

At that time, Kyouko was filled with resentment, and she channeled that resentment into determination, constantly striving to learn jujutsu.

To learn jujutsu, Kyouko no longer played with her acquaintances.

To learn jujutsu, Kyouko no longer indulged in past entertainments and leisure.

As if completely obsessed, Kyouko immersed herself in the world of jujutsu, studying diligently every day, absorbing knowledge and abilities to become an exceptional onmyouji.

Of course, Kyouko didn't find this tedious; rather, she found joy in it.

On one hand, Kyouko did not dislike jujutsu.

On the other hand, the anticipation of meeting that person again fueled her.

The more she anticipated, the more motivated she became. This motivation pushed her to excel, driving Kyouko's progress.

At first, Kyouko had only these thoughts.

However...

"When did it start?"

When did it happen that her mind was occupied by just one person without her realizing it?

Anticipation for the next meeting with him.

Anticipation for a jujutsu battle with him.

Anticipation to surprise him.

Anticipation to impress him.

One anticipation after another, Kyouko eventually realized that her heart was completely occupied by that person.

As the saying goes, people grow up.

The initial naivety was just innocence and purity.

But as the girl's heart gradually awakened, Kyouko slowly discovered that she had unknowingly fallen into an abyss.

"After all, it was just a brief encounter from childhood, and he used to bully me."

Kyouko felt quite unwilling.

On the other hand, Kurahashi Kyouko felt that becoming like this seemed quite normal.

"Why didn't I find him annoying?"

Even after being bullied like that, Kyouko still didn't dislike him.

Because Rozen's lazy expression and astonishing performance didn't incite any aversion in Kyouko.

This feeling accompanied Kyouko as she grew up, up until she entered the Onmyou Academy and saw Rozen still superior to her, firmly occupying the top spot in the entrance exam. Strangely, she didn't feel unhappy; instead, her heart was full of joy.

However, this joy only lasted for a moment.

"Tsuchimikado Natsume?"

Seeing the name of the second-place holder below Rozen, Kyouko's joy began to fade.

This was just a gut feeling.

Her intuition told her that this person called Tsuchimikado Natsume was undoubtedly closely related to Rozen.

"I remember she's from the branch family."

So, according to the Tsuchimikado family rules, this girl would be that person's shikigami?

Kyouko easily deduced this.

And then, on the day of enrollment, during the opening ceremony, Kyouko finally saw that person.

Still wearing that lazy expression.

Still appearing indifferent to everything.

But...

"He seems more handsome."

Kyouko thought shyly.

However, this feeling also only lasted for a moment.

Following that, Kyouko saw it.

She saw that incredibly beautiful girl, standing together with Rozen, talking to him without a gap between them.

In that moment, an unnamed flame surged in Kyouko's heart.

"You're having a happy time with that cute girl, even though I worked so hard?"

With this unnamed fire, Kyouko's mood became extremely unpleasant.

Adding to this, Ohtomo Jin approached Kyouko and made that statement.

"Miss Kurahashi, it seems the young masters and young miss of the Tsuchimikado family don't want to come on stage to give a speech. How about you represent the new students?"

Such a frivolous and irresponsible remark intensified the unnamed fire in Kyouko's heart.

"Just because they don't want to do it, I have to take their place?"

Am I just a standby substitute?

The rage in Kyouko's heart escalated.

So, Kyouko went on stage and made that declaration.

It was that declaration that completely changed everything Kyouko had hoped for in her heart.