chapter 10

Do what you think is right, don't worry about what others will say. Even if you cut ties with the Yukinoshita family, no one will say a thing, because you are a sorcerer!"

Sometimes, power really was an extraordinary thing. It allowed you to speak with confidence and forced others to approach you with respect.

"If you ever feel overwhelmed, you can always come to me. Don't forget, I am the strongest sorcerer now!"

Ryuji had recently been recognized as the strongest sorcerer. Not that he ever cared about such titles. Even Gojo, the former strongest sorcerer, never bothered to reclaim it or confront Ryuji over it.

"..."

Yukino didn't know how to respond. But seeing Ryuji's straightforward expression made her smile.

"As expected from you, always so simple and direct."

Only Ryuji could say something so plainly and make it sound so powerful.

"It may be simple, but it works, doesn't it?" Ryuji replied casually.

For ordinary people, handling matters often involved countless steps and complications. But for Ryuji, with his immense power, even the most challenging situations became straightforward and manageable.

"So, are you still worried now?" he asked.

"Not anymore!"

Yukino felt a sense of clarity wash over her after hearing Ryuji's words. That's right—as long as she followed her own heart and pursued what she believed in, there was nothing to fear.

In the past, she had lacked the strength to follow her convictions. But now, with her newfound power, what was there to worry about? She would shoulder the responsibilities that came with her upbringing and the support she received from the Yukinoshita family. She wasn't ungrateful.

Responsibilities were one thing, but she wouldn't let herself be used for the family's gain or to harm others. With this realization, Yukino felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

"Thank you!"

Yukino smiled at Ryuji, appreciating his presence. Without him, she would probably still be trapped in her own doubts and anxieties, unable to move forward.

"It's nothing."

Ryuji waved off her gratitude like it was no big deal. After all, she was his, and it was only natural to care for her.

Besides—

"By the way, are you free tonight? I could stop by to check on your training."

"..."

Training, huh? As if she didn't know what he was implying. Even though Ryuji said it with a straight face, Yukino rolled her eyes. That excuse was paper-thin. But still—

"Okay!"

Knowing what he really meant didn't make Yukino any less willing to agree. Though she projected a cold demeanor, she missed him just as much. After not seeing him for days, how could she say no?

"Great! Don't forget to leave the door unlocked for me."

Not that it would be a problem if it wasn't, Ryuji could get in either way. But there was something to be said for a sense of occasion.

Yukino just rolled her eyes again but said nothing to contradict him.

The school day soon came to an end.

Ryuji stayed in the Service Club room, lounging around with an easy smile. None of the girls seemed eager to leave either. For them, going home right after school felt dull. It was more fun to stay together.

Meanwhile, in a classroom at the end of the school building, students were packing up. Some were heading to their clubs, others going straight home.

One girl, wearing hearing aids and carefully gathering her things, glanced at the groups leaving for their club activities with a hint of envy.

Nishimiya Shouko wished she could join a club and make friends too. But due to her hearing impairment, she was often treated as an outsider by her classmates. At Sobu High, while no one had physically bullied her, the isolation she felt was still a form of cruelty. Unfortunately, bullying was not uncommon, whether in school or the workplace, and Shouko was aware of that. So, with a resigned expression, she finished packing up to head home alone.

But suddenly—

"Shouko!"

A group of girls with trendy outfits approached her.

"Want to catch a movie with us later?"

"Shouko, don't head home so soon!"

These were the popular girls in the class who usually stuck together. One of them even put an arm around Shouko's shoulders, acting overly familiar.

"???"

The sudden attention stunned Shouko. Reading their lips to understand what they were saying, she blinked in confusion. These girls had never interacted with her before, so why were they inviting her out now?

While Shouko was a bit naive, she wasn't stupid. Since she couldn't speak well, she pulled out her notepad and began writing.

Sign language wouldn't help—these girls didn't understand it.

Seeing her jotting down a response, the girls exchanged glances, a flicker of disdain in their eyes. What a weirdo, they thought, but kept their expressions neutral as Shouko lifted her notebook.

Why do you want to go to the movies with me?

They hadn't so much as spoken to her before, so the sudden invite felt odd, even if Shouko longed for friends.

"Oh, don't overthink it. We just want to get to know you better!" one of them said.

"Yeah, that's right!"

Another girl chimed in, nodding.

"Honestly, Shouko, you're pretty cute, you know that?"

It wasn't exactly a compliment. Shouko, with her quiet demeanor and tendency to keep her head down, hadn't drawn much attention. But up close, it was clear she was quite beautiful, enough to spark jealousy among the popular girls.

But Shouko didn't notice their envious glances. Embarrassed by the compliment, she looked down, flustered. It was the first time anyone outside her family had said such a thing. She wanted to respond with sign language but, remembering they wouldn't understand, she settled for writing again.

Cute? No one's ever called me that before.

Her defenses dropped a little, and she felt a touch of hope. Could they really want to be friends?

"Alright, enough standing around. Let's catch the movie!" said one of the girls, eager to move things along. It wasn't like they were here for Shouko's sake.

"Yeah, there's a new film that's supposed to be great!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

They ushered Shouko out of the classroom, half-dragging her along.

The situation left Shouko confused but compliant. She had promised her sister Yuzuru she'd come home early, and that thought made her hesitate.

Before she could write out an explanation, one of the girls snatched her pen away.

"It's fine! We won't be long, just a quick movie!"

They weren't about to let this opportunity slip by. Shouko, timid by nature, didn't resist.

A few classmates noticed the group leaving together and exchanged puzzled glances. When did Shouko become friends with them? But curiosity only went so far. No one felt the need to intervene.

Shouko had never been a significant presence in the class. If something happened, the others would likely just watch.

"By the way, did you hear that Ryuji was at school today?" one of the popular girls said as they walked.

Trailing behind, Shouko listened quietly. The sorcerer? She'd heard about him, mostly through rumors and snippets of the recent live broadcasts.

"Yeah, but it was so crowded we couldn't even get close."

"We thought about trying again later, but with Shizuka around, no one dared."

The fist-shaped dent in the wall still hadn't been repaired, serving as a silent warning.

"Tch."

The leader of the group clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"So what if he's a sorcerer? Does that make him special enough to act all high and mighty?"

"Exactly," another girl agreed.

"Just because he has powers doesn't mean he's better than everyone."

The negative talk made Shouko uneasy. She wanted to remind them that it wasn't right to badmouth someone behind their back, but she didn't feel comfortable speaking up yet.

Maybe once they knew each other better, she'd bring it up. For now, she convinced herself they were just being casual friends.

At that moment, Shouko still believed they were genuine. Sometimes, innocence made it easy to be deceived.

Soon, they reached their destination. But instead of a movie theater, it was an old video hall.

"???"

Shouko's confusion deepened. Weren't they supposed to go to a cinema? Why were they here?

Though she couldn't speak, her puzzled expression said it all.

"Don't worry, it's practically the same."

Not wanting to raise suspicion, one of the girls explained, "The new movies are sold out, so we'll just watch here instead."

The explanation calmed Shouko a bit, and she nodded. They pushed her into the hall, and for a moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension. It almost seemed like they were afraid she'd change her mind and run.

But why would she? Shaking off the odd feeling, Shouko followed them into a private room. Despite the hall's worn-out exterior, the room itself was tidy.

"Take a seat, Shouko!"

She settled in the middle of the couch while the other girls exchanged looks.

"Did you bring it?"

"Of course."

One of them revealed a black tape, eyes glinting with mischief.