Shadowed Appetite Chapter - 78

Shadowed Appetite Chapter - 78

Ren yawned and stretched, standing up from the couch where he'd been lounging for the last hour. The television buzzed faintly in the background, forgotten. He wandered through the apartment, exploring more carefully now that his initial irritation had faded.

He made his way to the bed and flopped down.

"Wow," he muttered, sinking into the mattress. "Softer than the one I have in the school! What is this? Memory foam? How much did this all cost?"

He gave a lopsided grin.

"Ah, who cares? It's not my money. Hehe."

He got up and padded toward the bathroom. The lighting was soft and clean. There was even a small tub tucked into the corner.

"Damn. Gojo actually gave me a decent place."

Ren returned to the living room, arms raised as he stretched. His gaze swept the room—and then paused.

Something was off.

Tissues. On the couch.

And baby oil?

Ren slowly walked over, dread creeping up his spine.

Under the coffee table, tucked almost too neatly, was an envelope.

He crouched and picked it up. Inside was a single folded note and something else—a magazine.

Ren opened the note.

"My dear Ren-kun,

If you're reading this, that means you're either in the mood or just poking around. Don't worry, it's exactly what you think it is...

Don't go outside, ok! Girls = Heartbreak. For now, only use your hand.

<3 Satoru Gojo"

Ren stared at the note.

Then at the magazine.

Then back at the note.

He spoke flatly:

"I am one day going to punch that bastard."

He dumped the magazine straight into the trash with barely-contained disgust.

"I get it. I'm a teenager, but still... the guts on that guy."

Ren flopped onto the couch, picking up the remote again, but Gojo's stupid prank had ruined the mood. He flipped through channels mindlessly.

"Rika," he muttered.

The black void shimmered to life. Ren pulled out a simple black hoodie and faded jeans. He stripped out of his Jujutsu High uniform and casually folded it, passing it back to Rika.

Just like before, she vanished like she had never been there.

Dressed now in casual wear, Ren pulled his hood up and shoved his hands into his pockets.

He stepped out of the apartment.

He didn't notice the pair of crows perched silently on the trees above, their beady eyes tracking his movements.

Ren strolled along the quiet streets of Kanagawa. The air smelled of faint rain and concrete.

His thoughts wandered freely.

"Once I have my Red Cursed Circuit perfected, learning things like barrier techniques, sensory cursed energy detection... those will be much easier."

His eyes narrowed as he walked, hands still deep in his pockets.

"That's one of the reasons I haven't bothered with that stuff yet. I want to master one thing before moving on to the next."

He glanced at the sky. Crows circled briefly and landed farther ahead.

"It's like drawing. If I understand color, shape, detail... I can make something beautiful. Something complete. Not a scribble."

Ahead, a small restaurant caught his eye. It had a quaint look, like something out of a Western movie—wooden signs, cozy windows, warm lighting.

An English-style diner.

Ren raised an eyebrow.

"Pasta, maybe?"

He pulled out his wallet from the inner pocket of his hoodie—slim, but holding a few folded bills. His own hidden stash. Money no one knew about.

"Haven't had pasta in ages... not since I got here."

He stepped through the restaurant door. A bell jingled overhead.

Outside, two crows perched on the power line, unmoving.

Still watching.