“You should know that I’m two years older than you, right?” Maki’s voice carried a hint of an unidentifiable emotion.
She stared into Arata Hoshino’s eyes–eyes that shone exceptionally bright under the moonlight, reflecting her own silhouette.
“Eh?”
Arata froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Maki to suddenly bring up the topic of age.
After all, when he was watching the anime and reading the manga, he hadn’t thought much about it.
Besides, the Maki in the anime didn’t look like a sixteen-year-old girl at all; she had the vibe of a cool, older sister.
*Forgot the beginning, forgot the middle–Akutami Gege, you really owe MAPPA a huge favor.*
“What’s with the ‘Eh’?” Maki’s voice was very low, but every word fell clearly into his ears.
“You think I can’t tell?”
Arata blinked, then suddenly laughed.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.” Arata looked into her eyes, the curve of his lips impossibly soft.
“Just thinking…
so you knew all along.”
“Duh.
Everyone else saw it, and you’re the only slow-witted guy who didn’t notice.”
“Then, what do you think?”
Maki didn’t answer.
She simply stared at him for a few seconds before releasing her grip on his collar.
Arata thought she was about to turn and leave, but in the next second, Maki’s hand landed on his shoulder, pushing him back half a step, and then…
She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.
It was light, brief, and over so fast it felt like an illusion.
Arata froze where he stood.
Maki turned her face away, her ears turning a shade of red that looked like they were on fire.
However, her tone remained as flat as ever.
“Is that clear enough for you?”
Arata stood there as if someone had hit the pause button on his life.
Even after Maki’s lips had left his, he could still feel a lingering trace of warmth on his own.
“You…”
Maki had already turned and started walking away.
Her pace was faster than usual, but her back was ramrod straight, the flush on her ears spreading all the way down her neck.
Arata dazed for two seconds before quickly catching up.
“Maki.”
“Shut up.”
“No, I…”
“I told you to shut up.”
Maki didn’t look back, but her steps quickened.
Looking at the back of her head, Arata suddenly burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Maki finally turned around to glare at him, her eyes filled with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
Arata took a few quick steps to walk side-by-side with her, a smile still hanging on his face.
“Who’s shy?”
“You.”
“I am not.”
“Your ears are completely red.”
Maki took a deep breath, stopped, and turned to face him.
Her eyes stared straight into his.
“Arata Hoshino, are you looking for a beating?”
“Okay, okay, my bad.” Arata raised his hands in surrender.
“Time to go back, right?”
Maki snorted and turned to keep walking, though her pace finally slowed down.
The two were silent the rest of the way, soon arriving at the dormitory gates.
Maki stopped, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
“About today…
don’t you dare tell anyone.”
“I know, I know.
I promise my lips are sealed,” Arata said, patting his chest.
Maki nodded and was about to head inside when Arata called out to her again.
She turned back only to see Arata walk up to her and gently pull her into a hug.
“Thank you,” Arata whispered into her ear.
Maki’s body stiffened, but then she slowly raised her arms and hugged him back.
“Idiot.”
Early the next morning, Arata leaned against a pillar by the main gate, hands in his pockets.
His gaze fell on Yuta Okkotsu, who was talking to Principal Yaga not far away.
“I didn’t expect a guy like you to personally come pick up Yuta.” Arata, with a lollipop in his mouth, looked expressionlessly at Miguel Oduol, who was walking toward him.
Miguel stopped, his eyes scanning Arata before his lips pulled into a faint, ambiguous smirk.
“What, not welcome?”
“Welcome?” Arata tilted his head, his tone carrying genuine confusion.
“Why would I welcome a former curse user?
And one of Suguru Geto’s ‘family’ at that.
You’re not using the excuse of taking Yuta to Africa for training just to trick him into picking cotton, are you?”
Miguel’s smile stiffened for a split second.
“Arata-kun, you should be a little more polite~” Gojo Satoru’s voice drifted from nearby.
Arata glanced at him, shrugged, and didn’t say anything more, though the rejection in his eyes remained entirely undisguised.
To be honest, he didn’t have a good impression of this guy.
Of course, it wasn’t just because he was Geto’s accomplice, but more importantly…
*This guy is a total cliché.*
“Senior.”
Yuta Okkotsu had walked over at some point.
His eyes, though the dark circles had faded slightly, looked at Arata with a hint of reluctance.
Arata’s expression softened.
He reached out and patted Yuta’s shoulder.
“Train hard.
Don’t let this guy kidnap you to pick cotton.”
“Pick…
pick cotton?” Yuta blinked, clearly not understanding the joke.
“Ignore him.” Maki walked over and handed a bag to Yuta.
“Eat this on the way.”
Yuta took the bag and opened it to see several exquisite rice balls.
He froze for a moment, then smiled.
“Thanks, Maki-san.”
“Salmon roe!” Toge Inumaki walked over and gave Yuta a light hug.
“Have a safe trip,” Panda said, stepping forward for a hug as well.
“Yeah, thanks everyone.” Yuta’s gaze swept over everyone’s faces, finally resting on Arata.
“Senior, wait for me to come back.”
“Go on then.
Don’t let Miguel sell you off.” Arata nodded.
Then, using Construction, he created a black whip and handed it to Yuta.
“If he dares to treat you poorly, just take this whip and lash him!”
“Hey, hey, hey!
That’s racial discrimination!” Miguel finally couldn’t help but speak up, his tone laced with helplessness.
“Am I really that untrustworthy?”
Arata glanced at him without saying a word, but his eyes clearly said: *You tell me.*
Miguel took a deep breath as if he wanted to say something, but eventually just shook his head and turned toward the car.
Yuta gave the group one last look before following Miguel into the vehicle.
The car started and slowly drove away from the gates of Jujutsu High.
Arata stood there, watching the car disappear at the end of the road before shoving his hands back into his pockets.
Mid-May, 2018.
An unexpected visitor arrived at the high school.
“Miss Yuki?
What brings you here?”
On the training field, Arata, who had been preparing to test a technique on a wooden post, looked at the newcomer with surprise and joy.
“Just passing by, thought I’d check on you.” Yuki Tsukumo stood with her hands on her hips, her signature smile playing on her lips.
“After all, you’re the only one capable of inheriting my technique.
You’re basically half my student; I have to check on your progress.”
[Total Bonus Chapters Achieved: 0]
[Ptreon.cm/Prince_of_LanLi for 50 adv chs.
20% discount right now.
Throw spirit stones to this humble one *dogeza*.]