Cursed Warehouse

Naoya strolled through the Zen'in estate, his hands tucked into his sleeves and a bored expression on his face. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the courtyard where two tiny figures were playing—one struggling with a bokken and the other idly fiddling with a small toy. It was Maki and Mai, the so-called "cursed twins" of the Zen'in clan.

Naoya smirked. How pitiful.

With a slow, deliberate pace, he approached them, his shadow looming over the two girls as he came to a stop. Mai sat on the ground, her small hands clutching a toy, while Maki stood nearby, gripping a wooden training sword. Despite her small size, Maki's posture already carried a spark of defiance, her tiny hands clenched tightly around the bokken.

"Training, huh?" Naoya's voice was laced with amusement as his gaze settled on Maki. "Well, trying to, at least."

Maki and Mai quickly recognized Naoya—their mean cousin, the one who always seemed to take pleasure in mocking them. Maki shot him a glare, her tiny hands tightening around the wooden sword. "Go away," she muttered.

Mai barely spared him a glance, still playing with her toy. "Yeah, go away."

Naoya let out a low chuckle, crouching down so he was eye-level with them. "Oho? Attitude." He tilted his head at Maki, his smirk widening. "Didn't anyone tell you? No matter how much effort you put in, you'll never get strong enough."

Maki's glare darkened, but she didn't say anything. Naoya, clearly enjoying himself, turned to Mai and tapped her forehead lightly. "Didn't know they let crybabies into the Zen'in Clan."

"I'm not a crybaby!" Mai swatted his hand away, her cheeks puffing out in annoyance.

Naoya smirked. "I bet you'll start crying if I just flick your forehead."

Mai gasped, covering her head immediately. "I won't cry!" she protested, her cheeks puffing out even more.

"Bet you will," Naoya said, lifting a hand with his index finger poised. Mai flinched, making him chuckle.

Maki stepped forward, her tiny face set in a fierce glare. "Leave her alone, Naoya! Fight me instead!"

Naoya snorted. "Fight you?" He ruffled her hair roughly, making her stumble back. "You're not worth the effort. Maybe in ten years, when you can actually lift a real sword without tipping over."

Maki batted his hand away, her face red with anger. "Tch! I will get stronger! And then I'll kick your butt!"

Mai, still half-hiding behind her sister, whispered, "...Yeah!" but shrank back when Naoya glanced at her.

Naoya chuckled, then turned to Maki, his grin widening. "Miss Future-Sorcerer, what's the point of all this?" He lazily pointed at her bokken. "Even if you train, you'll never get cursed energy. You know that, right?"

Maki's grip on her sword tightened. "I don't need cursed energy! I'll get stronger anyway!"

Naoya blinked, then burst into laughter. "Stronger? You?" He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "That's like a fish saying it'll climb a tree. How cute."

Maki's face burned with anger. "Shut up, Naoya! I'll show you! I'll—"

Before she could finish, she lunged at him, swinging her bokken with all the strength her tiny arms could muster.

Slow.

Naoya effortlessly sidestepped, placing a single finger on her forehead and pushing her back lightly. She stumbled, barely keeping her footing.

"See?" He shrugged. "Too weak."

Maki's nostrils flared. She gripped her sword tighter and tried again, swinging wildly. Naoya dodged with ease, yawning exaggeratedly.

Mai, standing a few feet away, watched nervously. "Maki, stop… you're just gonna—"

Before she could finish, Maki tripped on her own feet, falling flat on her face.

A long silence followed.

Naoya blinked down at her, then smirked. "…Pffft."

Maki shot up, her face red with embarrassment. "Don't laugh!"

Mai, unable to hold it in, let out a small giggle behind her hands. Naoya snorted. "Man, you're really bad at this."

Maki clenched her fists but said nothing.

Naoya crouched down, resting his chin on his palm. "Tell you what, Maki. If you ever manage to land a single hit on me, I'll admit you're strong."

Maki's eyes lit up. "You better remember that!"

Naoya chuckled, standing up. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't take too long, alright? I might get old before that happens."

As he walked away, he heard Maki huff in frustration while Mai sighed in relief. Naoya's smirk widened.

Heh… those two are kinda fun to mess with.

.......................................

The next day, Naoya walked toward the Cursed Warehouse, a heavily guarded underground storage facility owned by the Zenin clan. This was where they kept their most dangerous and valuable cursed tools, locked away behind strong seals and protections. The entrance was secured with thick chains and stitch-like bindings, each one filled with cursed energy to stop anyone from entering without permission. Only those with the right key—or the strength to break through—could get inside.

Naoya stopped in front of the entrance, his eyes scanning the area. The air was heavy with cursed energy, and the dim lighting made eerie shadows dance on the walls. Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled out the key—a small but detailed object that seemed to hum with power. He inserted it into the lock and turned it slowly. The chains and bindings began to unravel, making a series of metallic clicks and hissing sounds.

Naoya wandered around the warehouse, scanning the countless weapons stored inside. There were cursed tools ranging from grade 4 to even special grade, but nothing seemed to catch his interest. The only reason he had come here was to see the true wealth of the Zenin clan, and he wasn't disappointed. Rows of powerful weapons, each holding deadly potential, stood as proof of the clan's status.

Apparently, Toji had taken three special-grade weapons, but Naoya didn't care. He had no interest in those tools—though one could make an argument for the Inverted Spear of Heaven. It was a truly desirable weapon, capable of nullifying cursed techniques, making it one of the most dangerous tools ever created. 

Just as he was about to leave, a small dagger caught his eye. It wasn't a special-grade weapon, just a semi-grade one, but it had an interesting ability. The blade carried a deadly poison that could slow down an opponent, weakening them over time.

"It could be useful, I guess," Naoya muttered, picking it up and examining its sharp edge.