Asagi was tired.
currently in the underground headquarters, journying to a research room to review the latest research into Ryuji's background. The thought of two of her precious people being sent on a mission terrified her as it kept her awake at night.
She had already lost Kyousuke.
The Chaos Arena had changed him, made him different, as if another person had crawled inside his body and taken over. She could still see those golden eyes, filled with nothing but disgust for her. That white hair. The aura he radiated, it didn't just make her blood boil. It felt like actual heat pressing against her skin. And that sword. Beautiful craftsmanship, yet it radiated death itself.
Awakening, Kyousuke had called it.
But how could this be an awakening? There had been cases where a Taimanin's demon blood awakened, empowering them while amplifying their emotions. There had been cases of alternate personalities surfacing, But those were still them, only more demonic, their negative emotions twisted larger.
Kyousuke was different.
This wasn't an amplification of his own negativity. This was someone else entirely. A different person, using her fiancé's body. There was no rage, no wild emotion. Only a calm, focused hatred aimed at everyone in that arena. And what was worse? That thing had tried to kill her. And Murasaki. Without hesitation.
She would have died that day if not for that Chinese man, as he is the one who protected them from Kyousuke. Despite working with NOMAD, he fought Kyousuke to shield them, even trying to reason with whatever was controlling her fiancé. Asagi was grateful. She wanted that man to join the Taimanin. But according to Kurenai, no amount of persuasion would make him accept.
Even stranger, someone with a similar face had arrived in the village. Miyatake Ryuji. A boy who had not only saved the students in Yomihara but also Shiranui. He had defeated her, temporarily undone her brainwashing, and bought enough time to bring her back to the village for a permanent cure.
Her first impression of Ryuji was of a polite, kind, humble boy. He quickly befriended the trio, and even Shiranui.
But during the interview, his demeanor shifted. Professional. His tone and speech became serious, his face guarded. Asagi could tell that Ryuji viewed everyone in the room as potential enemies. He answered their questions carefully. There was even a chance he had lied about everything. Still, she decided to trust him. After all, what kind of stranger would go that far to save them, and Shiranui, who had been an enemy herself?
And then, during PE that day, Ryuji showed initiative by helping fellow students train. His methods were unusual, very close and personal. Later, when he visited her office and she observed him in the common room, he had clearly befriended Sakura and Asuka. If he could do that, he couldn't possibly be a bad person.
The more Asagi learned about him, the more interesting he became. His past. His abilities. Especially his abilities, which seemed to stem from his clan's bloodline.
One was Sanctuary, a gateway to a pocket dimension. Murasaki described it as a very quiet place, with a house, grass, and even wind blowing, despite being inside a pocket dimension. Ryuji used his own blood to draw runes on doors, creating the gateway.
Next, his flames. They appeared ordinary, yet he struggled to control them unless he entered a certain state from either the result of a brain injury or a natural limitation. That forced him to use guns as a conduit. But the flames themselves, according to the students, radiated warmth and tranquility, soothing them despite their size and intensity.
Then there was his ability to predict opponents' movements. Looking at the camera footage, Ryuji positioned himself as if he could see the future. Asagi knew Rinko well, a talented swordswoman with a highly versatile Ninja Art. Yet Ryuji managed to compete with her, sword to sword, and even outsmart her by throwing his blade as a distraction to grab her, limiting her movement.
And when Rinko started teleporting, he still kept up, predicting where she would appear. It was only when she cut his sword in half that things grew truly interesting. Ryuji entered a state that gave him free rein over his flames. And it impressed her, such strong control, creating a wall of fire. Luckily, the camera was positioned directly above them, moving at speed thanks to his flame boost, quickly defeating Rinko. Though Asagi credited that more to catching Rinko by surprise; she doubted Ryuji would win as easily in a rematch.
This ability fascinated her. According to Shiranui herself, it was the very power that had given Ryuji the edge to beat her. Not only that, but it was also similar to Asagi's own Ninja Art, the Hawk Art. Similar in the way it amplified abilities. For Asagi, the Hawk Art enhanced her senses, mind, and body, allowing her to move at superhuman speed. For Ryuji, it amplified his senses and strength while granting him free control over his flames. However, there was backlash. Asagi simply suffered fatigue afterward. Ryuji might suffer similarly, but with the added complication of brain damage of which could significantly reduce his time in that state. How long could he use it before that injury manifested? She would ask him later.
Still, how could one boy possess so many abilities? She couldn't help but compare him to Fuuma Kotaro, but Kotaro's ability was to steal Ninja Arts, and only one at a time. Ryuji, on the other hand, possessed many natural abilities. If any clan learned of his bloodline, how many would try to marry him into their ranks? A lot, she figured. Ryuji's abilities showed tremendous potential. That was why she would keep this a secret—to protect him from those who might wish to claim his bloodline for themselves.
Still, she worried more about Ryuji's loyalty than the risk of his abilities leaking. Despite having a soul-bind contract with Yamamoto, Ryuji could still find a way to help the Militia. But he might not. She didn't know if Ryuji was loyal to the Taimanin. That was why she would propose helping him rebuild his destroyed clan, as a way to secure his loyalty and show goodwill to the Militia.
She arrived at the research room and approached a woman. "How is the research going?"
"Not well, Lady Asagi. We used everything, his face, fingerprints, blood. Nothing in the system. It's as if he doesn't exist."
"Either he's a foreign agent or a demon." The latter was impossible, since Ryuji's flame had been described as having anti-demon properties. So the former was a possibility. That would also mean the Sovereign Mage Militia might have been created by foreign countries.
But. "The former is also impossible, since most of their members are mages. And mages are known to dislike working with the government." There were rare cases of mages working with governments around the world, but compared to Taimanin or exorcists, they were just a few small droplets in a vast ocean.
Then what are the Militia's goals? Why rebel against the government? Being anti-government was one thing, but mages could usually operate without interference. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she lacked crucial information.
"Um, Lady Asagi? We do have a lead, but you might not like this."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Asagi looked at the monitor, and her eyes widened.
Miyatake Ryuji. Bounty: 10 billion yen. Dead or alive. It seemed the bounty had been posted less than a week ago.
"So this happened recently." Then why now? Why post the bounty at this moment? Her mind wandered to the only place it could be. Yomihara. Under Eden. The day Ryuji fought Shiranui. Shiranui, who had been a servant of the Incubus King. He must have posted that bounty, angered by Shiranui being taken from him.
"Miyatake Ryuji… despite not knowing where your loyalty lies, I will protect you like any other student in this academy. But now I have to prioritize the meeting with—"
Someone knocked on the door.
It was Murasaki. "Hello, Lady Asagi. Sorry to interrupt. I have something to ask."
"It's okay, Murasaki. Speak your mind."
"Will Myouga Oiwa be arriving with the leader of the Militia?"
Myouga Oiwa? Ah, that onmyoji. The one with a personal history involving Murasaki. "I don't know. Ryuji didn't say who would be accompanying the Militia leader."
"I see. I was hoping he would be here so I could put a colla— I mean, have a discussion with him." There was an edge of frustration in her voice.
Asagi had assumed Myouga Oiwa was a horrible man, the one who had raped Murasaki under the effect of an aphrodisiac and impregnated her. But the way Murasaki acted toward him felt different, as if she deeply cared for him and missed him. She would ask Ryuji or the Militia leader for answers about him and Kyousuke. For Murasaki's sake, and her own.
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During the night, the mother and daughter of the Mizuki family slept soundly together. Yukikaze stayed close to her mother. Ever since learning that Ryuji had slept with her, she had tried her best to prevent the worst possible outcome. That meant spending more time with her mother to ensure Shiranui and Ryuji didn't do anything sexual.
Shiranui woke up. She felt as if someone was in the house. Actually, she had felt like she was being watched all morning, but she had simply chalked it up to paranoia from the result of years of deteriorating mental health. She quietly left the bedroom and went downstairs to grab a glass of water.
Then she noticed a light coming from the kitchen. Had she forgotten to turn off the lights? Then she heard a noise. Intruders. So she really had been stalked this morning. She should have listened to her instincts. Despite not having access to a weapon, she knew hand‑to‑hand combat. Confident that she could take them down using her CQC and Ninja Art, she crept forward slowly, attempting a surprise attack.
"Lady, we know you're there. How about you come sit with us and have some tea?" A man's voice, arrogant in tone, so similar to many high‑ranking individuals.
Shiranui decided the best approach was to reveal herself and strike up a conversation. She had already lost the element of surprise, so she might as well gather information from them. She walked straight to the kitchen. Then she saw what shocked her.
One man had black hair styled into a bob cut. His eyes were yellow, and his pupils resembled those of a snake. The other man—the one making tea—looked just like Ryuji, but older.
"Ryuji?" The name escaped her lips instinctively.
"Hm?" The Ryuji lookalike gave an annoyed look. "I am Alpha‑01, not “Ryuji” you speak of." He spoke in a robotic tone, devoid of emotion, yet the irritation was faint enough that one could still detect it. He then set the cups down and poured tea into them.
"Come on, don't be angry at her, evil Ryuji." The spiky‑haired man's tone remained playful.
"Call me Alpha, Juryu. And keep calling me that, and I'll tell Ryuji you're bullying me."
"O-okay, buddy. Let's not go that far, okay." His playfulness quickly turned to fear.
Shiranui took a moment, then sat down at a distance from the two. Alpha reacted by placing a cup of tea much closer to her.
"Oh? Are you afraid?" The spiky‑haired man's voice carried the same arrogant tone.
"I'm simply being cautious around two strangers who broke into my house."
"Hm. Very well. I shall introduce myself and my relationship with Ryuji." That piqued Shiranui's interest, he had mentioned Ryuji's name. "I am Orochi Juryu, one of Ryuji's best friends."
He pulled out his phone to show proof. A picture of Ryuji, Juryu, and another man she didn't recognize. "See? This one's us at the beach." Then he swiped the screen. "And this is us at the carnival." He kept going, swiping through photo after photo, until Shiranui lost count. How many pictures of the three of them did he have?
"Oh, right. Sorry." Juryu stopped, looking embarrassed. "Right. I'm here with a proposition."
"Proposition?"
"Correct. I want you to come to my organization HQ to train."
"To train?" The word made her stomach turn. She couldn't help but think of that kind of training, the kind that turned her into a sex slave.
"And no, not that kind of training." How did he know? "You people of this world are so predictable." Juryu chuckled. "I want to train your demonic side."
"M-my… What are you talking about?" She was genuinely confused. Why would she want to train to wield her demonic power?
"You must be thinking, what's the point of training to wield demonic power, right? Ha. Well, this is about your beloved Incubus King and Ryuji." He then showed his phone, revealing Ryuji with a… ten billion yen bounty!
"Yup. He's got a bounty now, thanks to you."
"Thanks to me?"
"Do you have to ask? Ryuji saved you. He took you away from the Incubus King. And your King is angry that his favorite toy has been taken away." He then showed Ryuji being attacked by a group at night. "Look, he's already been attacked."
Shiranui could only think that the bounty was her fault.
Juryu's face turned serious. "If you want to help Ryuji, then come with me. I plan to take him down, and you're the key to making that happen."
She hesitated. Her mind flashed to Ryuji. But at the same time, she couldn't bear to leave her daughter alone again.
"Do not be afraid, Ms. Mizuki," Alpha said. "Ryuji will watch over your daughter and ensure her health and happiness. The training won't take long, only a month. Then you will return to your home until we enact the plan to end the Incubus King."
"Very well." Shiranui agreed, though she couldn't ignore the bias in her decision. The fact that Alpha looked so much like Ryuji made it easier to trust him.
"Yaaay!" Juryu celebrated. "Now let's take a selfie with all of us together."
Alpha sighed in annoyance.
Shiranui shifted uncomfortably.
"Come on, we're friends now! You're in the middle, Mizuki-san~." Reluctantly, they did as told.
Click. The phone's camera took a picture with a flash.
"Alright, before we leave, can I use your printer for a sec? Gotta leave a picture with this letter here."
"Sure. Just do it quickly." She just wanted to leave before her daughter woke up.
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Yukikaze woke up feeling refreshed. She noticed her mother wasn't in the room. She assumed her mother had let her sleep in since there was no school today. She had to get ready for her date this afternoon, so she quickly got out of bed and started her breakfast.
For some reason, she felt lonely. Like she was the only one in the manor. She pushed that feeling aside and focused on food. She went downstairs and there was no noise of cooking, no cleaning, nothing. It felt as if she were completely alone in the house.
"Mama?" Yukikaze called out. No answer. Maybe she had gone out shopping?
She went to the dining table and noticed a letter. It was addressed to Ryuji? Had her mother written this? She opened it and was surprised to find a picture inside—a photo of her mother with two unknown men. One of them looked surprisingly like Ryuji, only older.
This made her worry, as the picture showed how uncomfortable her mother looked. So she started reading the letter.
[I know it's you reading this letter, Yukikaze. Jeez, it was supposed to be for Ryuji. Anyway, Ryuji, I've got Shiranui, and you won't be able to see her again unless, of course, you come to the Tokyo Kingdom and have a chat with me. When will it happen? You'll know soon. So focus on surviving against the assassins coming after you and get stronger. P.S. Don't be angry at me.]
Yukikaze crumpled the letter under her fist. She was in a state of rage. She had finally gotten her mother back, only for her to be taken by someone connected to Ryuji.
‘Ryuji. This is all his fault.’
Yukikaze wanted answers now. Once Ryuji returned, she would demand that he bring Shiranui back, even if she had to shock him to death.
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"Mamoru, wake up! Didn't you have something to do at school today?"
A boy stirred at the sound of his mother's shout. He sat up in bed, then stood, stretching his arms wide to work the stiffness out of his muscles.
"I'm awake, Mom. I'll be down after I shower," he called back, grabbing a change of clothes and a towel before heading to the bathroom.
This is Tanaka Mamoru. Brownish, unkempt hair. Ordinary brown eyes. He looks so completely unremarkable that no one would ever suspect he's a mage. But he is, he and his family arrived in this world from another. Tanaka has a strong affinity for magic, yet his parents and siblings are ordinary civilians, completely unaware of the supernatural world that exists around them.
When they first arrived, Mamoru was able to calm them down and convince to let him take care of everything. His sisters are able to go to school though for others like his father, he could only work at the convenience store thanks to the fact that he is in another world with no proper documents to prove his education, experience in work, and his citizenship. There is a limit that forgery of documentation can do.
And so, the father fell into a quiet depression. His son had become the family's provider. Mamoru couldn't help but feel ashamed that he couldn't ease his father's burden. Still, not everything was bad. Tanaka had his circle of friends and the Shepherd of the Lost Lamb to help him navigate the dangers of this world. That meant his family had layers of protection against unknown threats. And the organization provided jobs, jobs that let Tanaka earn money to support his household.
As he finished his shower, he headed downstairs. Food was already on the table, and the rest of the family had already started eating. He sat beside his little sister, directly across from his father. The family was simple: father, mother, older sister, younger sister, and the son.
"Why does big brother get to go to magic school?" his little sister Miu, asked. "I want to go to that school and learn magic too!"
Before Mamoru could answer, his older sister Akari jumped in. "Because he's a selfish idiot who won't share his secret on how to do magic."
Yeah. They were both envious that Mamoru could use magic and had kept it a secret from them. But it was for their own good. Magic was dangerous, it attracted monsters and dangerous individuals. That was why most mages knew at least some form of combat to protect themselves.
Well, he could introduce them to the Magical Girl Corps, but that world was still rife with danger, even if most of the lower-level work involved dealing with weak evil spirits. Plus he doubts Akari would enjoy being one.
“That's enough, Miu. Akari." Ah, his wonderful mother, Yuki. "He has a good reason to hide it from us." Then she took a quick jab at him. "Of course, that doesn't stop me from lying awake at night, knowing my son is out there fighting monsters and possibly dying to one of them."
Mamoru desperately hoped someone would support him. His father? Yes, his very own father understands. Now he was reading a newspaper. Despite how unpopular newspapers were these days. Seriously, who even provided him with one?
"Hm?" His father, Hiroshi, noticed his son's distress. "Come on, don't pressure him too much. He's the only reason we're living comfortably."
‘Thank you, Dad.’
"Unlike me, of course. Just a worthless adult who can't find high paying work. A failure as a husband, a father, and to society."
‘Oh, come on! Why do you have to get depressed now?’ Mamoru couldn't take the negative atmosphere anymore. He quickly chowed down as much food as he could. "All done! I gotta go now, bye!" And with that, he rushed outside.
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His plan was to head to the Gokou Academy, but first he needed to stop at the Church of the Lamb's Refuge, just to check the place and maybe pick up some news. Then he arrived.
The church was open to the public despite being located far from the city. Despite the secrecy that surrounded it and its use as a base of operations, it remained a place of worship—a place where Father Antonio's words echoed. The holy house of God belonged to all. Many tourists visited, and some Christians came there to pray.
Then Mamoru noticed Father Gracia. He wore clothes befitting a holy pastor, yet he looked… very intimidating. He was definitely angry. Mamoru wondered what had made the Father so upset.
"You okay, Father Gracia?"
"Hm? Ah, young Mamoru." The priest's expression softened slightly. "It's nothing. It's just that vampire woman is annoying me again."
Vampire woman? Ah, he meant Cara Cromwell. "Well, what did she do?"
"I'd prefer not to speak of it, young Mamoru." Father Gracia straightened his collar. "Say, what brings you here?"
"Oh, just checking the place before heading to Gokou Academy."
"Ah, alright. Before you go, I should tell you. Your old friend, Miyatake Ryuji, is in this world."
Ryuji was in this world? Mamoru's heart fluttered with excitement. "Really? Where is he?"
"He's currently staying at a place called Gosha Village."
Gosha Village? Where had he heard that name before? Oh—the place where Azuma-sensei was born and raised. "Thank you for the news, Father Gracia."
"Oh, there's something else. We're conducting an investigation in Amidahara. There's been news of multiple organizations making moves, according to our scouts and the Militia. If you want to join, just ask, and I'll add you to the team."
"Very well. I have to go now. Thanks for the news, Father Gracia."
"May the Lord bless your day, young Mamoru."
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Mamoru arrived at the Gokou Academy. It served as a headquarters and training ground for onmyoji, as well as a research facility for magic, spiritual energy, and Taima Particles. As he walked through the academy, he noticed a member of the church giving a lecture to a group of students.
"And that's how you infuse holy energy into water to make holy water. Oh, Mamoru, come over here for a second."
"Uh, sure." He did as he was told.
"Let me show you how effective holy water is." The church member then aimed the spray bottle at Mamoru.
"Is it going to work? I'm a hundred percent human."
The church member then sprayed the bottle. Mamoru felt such excruciating pain that he couldn't help but scream.
"AAAHHH! IT BURNS!" He dropped and started rolling around, trying to stop the pain.
"As you can see, it's very effective on demons and evil spirits."
"I'm neither of those things! How did it work on me?"
"I don't know. Maybe you have an evil soul? You do practice dark magic a lot."
Mamoru tried his best to wipe the water from his face.
"Are you alright, Mamoru-kun?" A woman's voice. He recognized that soft, calm tone. "Use my handkerchief.”
"Ah, Azusa-sensei. Thank you." He grabbed the handkerchief and wiped away the holy water. Finally, he could see clearly. Before him stood a woman with long white hair and eyes remained closed. She carried an air of elegance.
"No problem." She tilted her head slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah, just watching over my friends, making sure they don't cause any trouble." He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.
A small smile touched her lips. "Such a caring and responsible man you are."
"Haha." He chuckled, rubbing his damp forehead. "Being the boss of the group means you gotta be a responsible guy."
"Hm." She nodded thoughtfully. "That's good." Then she glanced toward the door. "Well, I'd better get going."
"Wait, sensei." He stepped forward, hesitant. "Can we have some tea together, if you're free?"
She turned back, one eyebrow raised. "Oh? Why is that?"
"Nothing, just…" He looked away, searching for words. "I felt worried for you."
"And why?" Her voice was soft but curious.
"Well, you're just spending a lot of time training." He met her closed eyes again. "It feels obsessive."
She paused, her expression unreadable. "I meant, why do you care?"
He straightened his shoulders. "I'm your student. Why shouldn't I care for you?"
This momentarily stunned her. Her lips parted, then closed. Finally, she exhaled softly. "Very well. I'll have some tea with you this evening."
"Thank you, sensei." He bowed slightly, relief evident on his face.
With that, she turned and walked away, her white hair swaying gently behind her.
That was Kichi Azusa. Despite being blind, she was a deadly swordswoman. Mamoru always sensed a hidden anger buried deep inside her—a fury concealed behind that calm, serene expression. He wanted to help her as best he could. But she was a very closed-off person, rarely expressing her emotions or sharing her personal problems with anyone. He realized, helping her would be very difficult.
Mamoru sighed and entered the academy. Then he noticed the red-haired teacher, Kamimura Azuma. She spotted him and approached.
"Hello there, Mamoru-kun. Are you here to watch over your friends?"
"Hello, Azuma-sensei." He gave a small nod. "Yup. Gotta make sure they stay out of trouble."
Azuma placed a hand on her hip, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Good grief. What are you, their mother or something?"
Instead of feeling embarrassed, Mamoru just laughed at her joke. "Haha, maybe. They do tend to cause trouble like children sometimes."
"You know, you shouldn't worry so much about them. We, the teachers, can watch over them."
"It's not like I don't trust you all. It's just… I'm worried." He looked down at his feet. "Where we came from, those guys didn't get treated very well. And I feel like if they lose control, you all would just—" He stopped, the words catching in his throat. He couldn't finish the sentence. Ashamed that he had nearly accused the teachers of possibly killing them.
"Hey." Azuma grabbed both of Mamoru's cheeks and held them firmly. "We won't kill them. We're tolerant of demons. We've even allied with a vampire. So I assure you, worst comes to worst, we won't end up killing them."
"Thank you, Azuma-sensei." Despite his gratitude, she didn't let go.
"Mamoru…" She blushed, suddenly aware of the awkwardness. "Ahem. Uh… are you willing to come to my place today?"
"Is it to help clean your apartment again?"
She turned even redder. "Y-yes. Well, would you?"
"Sure. As a student, I have a responsibility to help my teachers." He beamed with happiness.
"You're very weird, but…" She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Very dependable. See you tonight, Mamoru."
With that, she left, leaving a blushing Mamoru behind. He quickly shook it off and headed straight to the club room.
Mamoru had created a club called the Monster Research Club. In all honesty, it was just a place for his friends to hang out. They did tend to do research occasionally, but mostly they just slacked off. Though Mamoru hadn't created the club solely for that purpose—it was also a way to explore his friends' unique monster heritage. Correct: he was friends with monster-human hybrids. Werewolves, ghouls, revenants. All sorts of human-shaped monsters.
Mamoru arrived and found only one member in the room, hunched over a laptop. The girl had very pale skin, like a ghost, and long, unkempt hair that hid her face. Yuki Ema—a cursed human-spirit hybrid with a strong ability to manipulate technology, though mostly just computers and phones.
"Yo, Yuki-san. I'm guessing most of them are participating in today's activities?"
The girl simply nodded and beckoned Mamoru to come closer by waving her hand.
Mamoru obliged and stepped nearer, close enough to see the laptop screen. "What is it you wanted me to see?" He scanned the screen—and his eyes widened. "Ryuji! Ten billion yen bounty!"
He stumbled back in shock and fell flat on his back. Quickly recovering, he scrambled to his feet, grabbed his phone, and started dialing. "Come on, pick up."
"Hello?" A man's voice answered.
"Juryu! Ryuji is here, and he has a ten billion yen bounty on his head!"
"Yeah, I know."
"Wait, what?! Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
Juryu chuckled on the other end. "Eh. Kinda wanted to hear that stupid, surprised voice of yours."
Mamoru grumbled. "So what should we do?"
"Nothing. Let the Militia handle this. Besides, this is Ryuji we're talking about. He'll be fine. He's survived a lot of stuff, so this won't make any difference."
"Hmm…" This didn't make Mamoru feel any better.
"You know what? How about you help Ryuji? I heard from a source that they plan to infiltrate Gosha Village to attack him this Monday."
"Juryu… You didn't play a part in the attack this Monday, did you?"
"I'm appalled that you would accuse me of attacking my best friend."
"Y-you're right. I shouldn't accuse you of this. It's just… you did last time."
"I was under my father's control, Mamoru." Juryu's tone turned serious.
"I-I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you next time we meet, okay?"
Juryu's voice immediately turned cheery again. "Okay~ You'd better bring your wallet, because I plan on emptying it. Goodbye."
The call ended. Mamoru sighed. He needed to inform the Militia about this and plan a meeting with Ryuji this Monday. There was nothing wrong with skipping a couple of days of school to help a friend, right?