Shadows and Soba

15+ Advance chapters on P^^^on

Mei, who was always cold and steady, blushed faintly when she saw her sister clinging to Yuto like that. Her small hands reached out, tugging at Misaki Fujoka in a futile attempt to pry her away from the boy's arms.

'These two sisters could've been carved from the same mold—identical faces, same delicate, petite frames. Misaki Mei projects a calm, unshakable exterior, but when it comes to the people she cares about, a surprisingly cute side slips through the cracks.'

"No!!" Misaki Fujoka yelped, latching onto Yuto's arms with stubborn determination. The warm flow of magic radiating from him enveloped her, a spirit and filled her with a comforting heat she'd never known. Greedily, she pressed herself against his chest, squirming and rolling around, resisting her sister's efforts to detach her.

"You little brat, if you don't let go right now, you're not coming home today!" Misaki Mei snapped, her voice sharp with exasperation.

"Tsk, Mei's such a nag," Misaki Fujoka muttered under her breath.

In the end, her sister's stern authority trumped her selfish desires. With a playful pout and a mischievous glint in her eye, Misaki Fujoka reluctantly released Yuto and slipped back into Mei's shadow.

"It's getting late. Let me take you home," Yuto said, glancing at the sky.

From the moment he'd arrived at the Black Building after school to the defeat of the Special Grade curse spirit, hours had slipped by unnoticed. The sky was dark now.

Yuto reached into his pocket and pulled out the [Craft Essence : Motorcycle - Bmw M1000RR] With a casual toss, the sleek, black motorcycle with red and blue stripes materialized on the empty street.

{Pic}

Vroom, vroom, vroom!

The engine growled to life, its deep rumble reverberating through the night. The massive headlights flared, slicing through the darkness.

"You're such a strange person," Misaki Mei remarked, her tone dry. After everything she'd witnessed, the sudden appearance of a motorcycle barely fazed her.

Vroom…

Yuto revved the engine, then motioned for her to hop on. With a stylish flourish, he whisked her away, the motorcycle leaving a trail of brilliant exhaust flames as they sped away from the chaos-ridden area.

...........

"My sister died of leukemia a year ago. After that, she became… something like a ghost, living in my shadow. To understand cases like hers, I started dipping my toes into this mysterious world."

The night wind howled around them as the city lights flickered to life. Now in the heart of the bustling city, Yuto eased off the throttle, guiding the motorcycle smoothly through the crowded night market. The ride was effortless, almost joyful.

Like Artoria, the female King of Knights, Yuto had inherited Arthur's innate skill [Riding B]. He could master any mount short of demonic, fantasy, or mythical beasts with ease. His hands moved with the confidence of a seasoned rider, the bike steady and precise.

In the cool evening breeze, Misaki Mei, usually so reserved, finally let her guard down, sharing fragments of her past with the boy.

"Misaki has two abilities," she continued softly. "The first lets her swap bodies with me or attach herself to me. When she does, I get faster, stronger, and my attacks carry cursed energy. The second is short-range teleportation–up to three kilometers. But it takes a heavy toll on her, so I don't let her use it much."

"…"

'These two remind me of Yuta Okkotsu and Rika Orimoto from Jujutsu Kaisen,' Yuto mused silently. 'After Rika's curse was broken, she left her techniques and cursed energy to Yuta, cementing his place among the four Special Grade sorcerers. If only Misaki Fujoka had that kind of power. She's not quite on Rika's level, though.'

{Pic}

"Okay, we're here. This is it," Yuto announced.

Lost in their conversation, they'd arrived at Misaki Mei's house before either realized it. She slid off the back seat, ready to wave goodbye, when her shadow twitched. A small, dark figure emerged, swiftly taking over her body.

"Yuto-oniichan, it's still early! Want to come in for a bit?"

Gone was Mei's icy demeanor. Now, her face lit up with a warm, cheerful smile. She reached out with a soft, delicate hand, playfully nuzzling into Yuto's arms.

"Sure, I don't mind," Yuto replied with a shrug, amused by the sudden shift.

.........

Inside, the dynamic between the sisters continued to unfold. Misaki Fujoka's antics clashed with Mei's exasperation, leading to a comical tug of war over whether Yuto could stay. Eventually, Mei relented, and he stepped into their warm, spacious home.

As Misaki Fujoka darted off to fetch water, footsteps echoed from the second floor. A striking woman with long black hair descended, untying her headscarf. Her bare face was beautiful—refined and elegant, like Mei's, but with a colder, more commanding presence.

"Mei, we have a guest?" she asked, her voice cool and detached.

"Mom, this is my friend, Yuto-kun," Mei replied.

"Hello. You can call me Aunt Kirika," the woman said, offering a faint nod. She wore casual black jeans and a simple shirt, her slender frame poised with grace. Her bare feet gleamed under the lamplight, pale and delicate.

{Pic]

..........

The evening took an unexpected turn when it became clear no one had eaten—and no one in the house could cook. Sensing an opportunity, Yuto volunteered to whip something up. A quick trip to a nearby 24-hour supermarket later, he returned with ingredients and got to work.

Half an hour later, he untied his apron and called out, "Misaki, Aunt Kirika, dinner's ready."

Using his [Projection Magic Craft Essence], Yuto channeled the culinary prowess of Shirou Emiya from Today's Menu for the Emiya Family. The result? A simple yet mouthwatering New Year's Eve soba: chilled noodles, fried shrimp tempura, and a sweet-salty broth with kombu, bonito flakes, spinach, fish cakes, green onions, and a hint of yuzu peel.

Slurp, slurp…

The meal was a hit. Even Kirika, who usually ate out of necessity, couldn't resist. The soba vanished in minutes, leaving the mother and daughter stunned.

"You're not from a culinary school, are you?" Misaki Mei asked, licking the last drop of broth. "This is unreal!"

"Even I drank every bit," Kirika admitted, her usual indifference replaced by faint surprise.

"Just practice," Yuto said modestly, though inwardly he credited his maxed-out housekeeping skills.

"Yuto-kun, could you cook for us regularly?" Kirika asked, her tone softening. "Neither Mei nor I can cook. It's been ages since we've had a meal this good."

"Well… I'm still in school, so I can't do three meals a day," Yuto hesitated.

"That's fine. Prepare them a day ahead and have them delivered or come by when you're free," Kirika pressed, clearly won over.

"Alright then," Yuto agreed. A decent wage was nice, but if he could snag a special-effect Craft Essence out of it, that'd be the real prize.

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