ƚԋҽ Ⴆʅҽʂʂҽԃ ƈυɾʂҽ

Chapter 20

"Did you slack when you took a one-week leave?" Maki frowned swinging the three-section staff. "I'm just conserving energy" Noroi mumbled avoiding her attack. "Really?" Maki increased her speed and Noroi was almost forced to exert more energy than before.

Noroi's hair fluttered after the end of the staff stab her hair instead of her face. "Huh, who's that?" She mumbled and Maki looked at to where she was looking a paint grunt leaving her lips after receiving a kick on the stomach.

"That probably hurts" Nobara winced, her seniors cheering after Noroi got the three-section staff and after landing a hit. "That was foul!" Maki hissed rubbing her stomach. "It's called tactics" Noroi defended using the other end to rub her head.

"Tactics my ass! You just really love to play dirty!" Maki shouted and they can see the horns and tail and also the fire her mouth is spewing. "Not my fault you felt for such childish tr—" everyone's shoulder tensed up feeling a strong energy.

Noroi bolted away but it was too late for her. Maki managed to get away, avoiding getting caught by the strong current. Noroi planned to get away not until she got electrified.

"Will this turn to a bloody fight again?" Panda worriedly asked when the water disappeared. "When did fights between those siblings didn't end up turning bloody?" Maki mumbled.

Noroi harshly coughed when the water disappeared, she coughed the water out of her lungs when suddenly her body got slammed on the ground. Large sharp claws circled her neck, warning her not to move. The gammas wrapped their tongues on her limbs, restricting her movement.

"I win" Megumi declared having his shikigami restricting Noroi. "Isn't this foul?" Noroi scowled the claw getting closer to her neck when she move a bit. "It's called tactics" Noroi throw him a glare.

"There's no foul in fights. There's no equality. Ambushes can always happen. Didn't you teach me that?" Megumi stated, pointing his weapon at her.

Noroi purse her lips, their position giving her unsettling feelings. She's not liking how he's looking down on her, how she's in a pathetic state right now.

How the situation is reminding her of it.

Everyone was alarmed especially the bystanders. "Okay what the hell is that?!" Nobara exclaimed eyeing the ground they are standing turning black within a ten-meter distance.

Megumi clenched the handle of his sword seeing how the annoyed expression she has on her face and eyes turned emotionless and lifeless.

"Fine, you win" Noroi sighed shaking her head. The shadows went back to her, turning to normal again. "You look unhappy" Megumi muttered dispelling his shikigami's, eyes looking at her with weariness and worry.

"Won't you also be unhappy if you were in my situation?" Noroi scoffs standing up combing her disheveled wet hair, diverting her attention by gripping her hair to get rid of it. "Noroi, what was that?!" The seconds years shouted then together with Nobara running into their direction.

Noroi didn't answer their question. "Ah good work, even though you won by sheer luck consider it as your win. Congrats on exorcising max elephant" Noroi smile a bit as her shadows devoured her, bringing her to her domain.

She quickly held her head and sighed, walking to where the bathroom is to wash. Mumbling words to herself.

"I wonder what will happen if others did that to me? They probably died on where they were standing before I could regain my sanity back"


"Megumi, what are you doing here? Is training finished already?" Noroi asked noticing the tips of his erratic hair, dripping droplets of water. "Yeah, by the way, are you free today?" Megumi asked entering her room and accepting the towel from gee.

"Why? It depends on what you're going to ask me" Noroi answered finishing her pudding. "Let's go out" Megumi invited. "The second year's and Kugisaki are joining and of course Panda-senpai can't join because you know" he explained, not showing his uneasiness when her tired bored eyes, turned sharp while continuing staring at him.

"I'll pay for all your expenses" it's the only thing he can do. Megumi knows his sister won't ask for support, for help, and the last thing he wants is her disappearing again for a week.

"Don't go complaining if I spend all your allowance" Noroi grumbles taking a hoodie inside her closet. "Let's go," she told him and Megumi frowned getting a whiff of the scent of the hoodie she's wearing.

"Megumi"

"Y-yeah?" He instantly pulled his hand back after he unconsciously held her hood. "It's not your fault" Megumi went rigid, his composure faltering. "Just don't do it again for your own sake" Noroi whispered leaving the room first.

Megumi pursue his lips clenching his fist and sighed. "What I did is the reason why he's using Itadori's hoodie as her support?" He whispered leaving her room to quickly catch up to her.


"Okay, what should we do fi—"

"Let's go shopping!" Nobara grinned cutting Maki off. "Didn't you go shopping last week?" Maki asked sighing. "Tuna Mayo" 'Let's go sightseeing' Inumaki suggested. Their curious about what she did back at the field but they just keep their curiosities and questions to themselves.

"Let's not go somewhere with big crowds" Megumi informed holding Noroi's hand just to make sure she won't stray from the group. "How about we eat first?" Noroi suggested and of course, they all comply with her suggestion.

The group walked away and went around to look for a cafe. Because the girl has a sweet tooth that can rival an annoying someone they look around for a cafe that sells a lot of sweets.

"Noroi?" Megumi called her attention when she stray from the path but because he was holding her hand, she didn't get lost from their sights. "I saw someone selling Usagi Manju" Noroi informed gesturing to the small stand on the side.

"Senpai, Kugisaki, please wait for a moment" they nodded their heads and watch the siblings go to the stand. "Their sibling's relationship is weird and interesting. Looking at them you won't really believe how they always try to beat each other to a pulp" Nobara commented snickering.

"Tuna Mayo?"

"Not sure but Noroi"

"Fushiguro said Noroi was older than him by months when we are in this fancy restaurant where you can get a whole view of the city and the Tokyo tower!" Nobara exclaimed, wondering when they're going to eat there again.

"Senpai, what kind of sibling relationship do they have when they were kids to make their relationship right now like that?" Nobara tilted her head, eyeing Maki with confusion when she noticed how she suddenly look uneasy. Even Inumaki is confused, between the second-years class Maki is the only one who knew the girl more together with Megumi.

"Nobara, the two have been together for almost four years" Nobara and Inumaki's eyes turned wide. "Wait so you and Fushiguro are not living in the same household?!" She whispered and Maki nodded her head.

"Noroi live with the same household with me for four years and she lives with the Fushiguro's for almost four years now" Maki explained, trying her best not to spill any important information about Noroi. "Tuna. Tuna Mayo. Salmon cod roe?" 'So Noroi live in two different households when she was young?' Inumaki asked and Maki nodded her head.

"She live with the Fushiguro after Gojo took her out of the Zenin household. That was four years ago, where the Zenin almost got annihilated by her" Nobara and Inumaki are curious. Judging by the year they know Noroi is a child around 11 or 12 years old by that time. So their curious about how a child like her managed to almost annihilate a clan that is part of the three great families in the jujutsu world.

Maki compose herself instantly and the two followed her. "What were you three talking about?" Megumi asked, securing all the foods he bought for Noroi. "We were just talking about who will get diabetes first between Gojo-sensei and Noroi!" Nobara laughed and her seniors mentally applauded her for quickly making up a lie.

"Gojo-sensei and Noroi already have sugar immunity. For being around them for years, they are no days where they aren't eating sweets. Till now I am still wondering how they are still alive" Megumi sighed giving the Dango stick to her after she finished her tenth dorayaki.

"Let's go I made a reservation—"

"Is that place a high-class expensive one?!" Nobara shine, eyes turning to stars. "Noroi, I don't have enough money for those kinds of places" Megumi grumbled. "Not my fault you're broke as fuck" a vein popped at the side of his forehead and the trio are wondering if they're going to fight again.

"Not my fault you're making me broke"

"Well, who's fault was that? Didn't you say you're going to handle my expenses?" Megumi muttered incoherent words under his breath, and Noroi took that as a sign of his defeat.

"Let's go, I got a coupon for that place which I managed to get surprisingly. The coupon is rare because once you show it to the counter you'll instantly be allowed to order everything you want without being charged" the two are skeptical at that while the other two aren't.

"Let's go! I'm already starving and seeing you eating already is making me starve more!"

"Tuna Tuna. Salmon!"

Noroi guided them to the cafe and when they arrived they don't know if they're really in a cafe or a restaurant.

"You sure we're at the right place?" They suspiciously asked letting her take the lead. "Yeah" they feel like an outsider when they entered the place, all heads turning in their direction.

"Ah Noroi-san, welcome back! The usual?" The lady in charge on the counter asked with a bright smile. "Well, I actually have this. I luckily got my hands when the store made a giveaway like an event" Noroi pulled out the small coupon inside the pocket of her hoodie and gave it to her.

"Please state your orders so we can prepare them immediately!" Noroi states her orders which are different kinds of desserts. The four were thankful that the place doesn't only sells sweet but also dishes and snacks.

"The first floor is currently packed right now so please take the second floor!" They took the second floor just as the lady said. "Noroi, let's go" Megumi called when her sister just stayed behind on the counter.

"I'm waiting for my drink. I'll just catch up" Noroi informed and he's wondering where she got the donut she's eating right now. "Don't be reckless okay?" He sighed. "Were in public" Noroi deadpan.

"Just don't do anything stupid" Megumi muttered going upstairs. "So that's him huh" she whispered. "He looks like you, Noroi-sama!" Noroi finished her donut and licked her lips.

"How did Ogawa handle the case I did at the school in Kawasaki, Ami?" Noroi asked accepting the brownie she gave. "Master Ogawa was was mad because cases keep filing him up. He even made a dark joke which is so unlike him" Ami chuckled making Noroi's latte.

"Also the others are wondering when you're going to see them. They said it's unfair you only met Master Ogawa and his son and also his brother Master Yamada" Noroi stared at her half-eaten brownie blankly before finishing it.

"Everyones are wondering when you're going to come back, Noroi-sama" Ami smiles giving the latte to her. "I can't. I have a lot of problems and things to deal with" Noroi sighed taking a sip of her drink.

"I'll be going now. The more I stay here the more they and he will get suspicious about me" Ami nodded her head offering Noroi a smile.

"Don't worry, we're always here to support and will always be your aide, Noroi-sama"


"Never have I ever ride a motorcycle!" Nobara yelled out of nowhere, and they felt embarrassed when people looked in their direction. "Lower down your voice!" Maki hiss.

"Let's play never have I ever and I never ride a motorcycle!" Nobara grinned eating her rainbow fruit yogurt parfait. "Never" they muttered. Noroi slurps her noodles raising her hand and bringing a finger down.

"Wait you know how to ride that?" Noroi nodded her head eating the tempura. "Never have I ever placed a bucket full of water at top of a door so whoever opens will get splashed" Inumaki winced bringing a finger down.

He nervously shifted in his seat avoiding the sharp glare of the girl in front of him. "Salmon cod roe. Tuna" 'Never have I ever say fuck you' everyone stared at him blankly bringing a finger down.

"You're lucky because you use safe words" Maki scowled. "Never have I ever drink any kind of alcohol the liquor not the one you use to kill germ" they almost spit their drink when Noroi brought a finger down.

"Oh, so you drink?" Nobara asked, them gaining another new information about the girl. "Yeah" she mumbled finishing the ramen soup. "Never have I ever accidentally changed the fur color of the dogs" everyone looked at Megumi baffled after he put a finger down.

"I was washing them after rolling on the mud when someone sabotage the shampoo" they don't need to know what that someone is because the annoyance in his face clearly tells who that person is. "Never have I ever gone to a nail spa to get a manicure" Nobara brought a finger down so as Maki.

"Never have I ever dyed—"

"Smoke! Never have I ever smoked!" Nobara chimed and they are stunned when Noroi brought a finger down. "Curiosity kills the cat and adolescence stage will make you curious about things" Megumi raised an eyebrow at her reason and scoffed.

The game continues till Noroi only has one finger left. Megumi has two fingers left. The girls three and Inumaki also only have two too.

"Never have I ever curled my lashes"

"That's a lie! That's clearly a lie seeing how pretty your lashes are!" Nobara shouted ready to throw hands but Maki forced her to sit back on her seat. "Not my fault my eyelashes are like this" he muttered Maki and Nobara brought a finger down and so as Inumaki.

"Loser gets a punishment!"

"Bonito flakes!" 'Not fair! We didn't even agree on this in the first place!' Inumaki retort and Nobara stick her tongue out to spite her senpai.

"Never have I ever dyed my hair orange" Nobara gasp looking at Maki with betrayal. "Wait you got your hair dyed with orange too, Fushiguro?" Megumi grimace. "Gojo thought it was funny to dye my hair, thankfully he only managed to dye the tip of my hair" he grumbles.

"Never have I ever got hit by playful cloud" Nobara groaned and Maki chuckled the two of them bring a finger down, everyone except for Maki only have one finger left.

"Never have I ever eaten wasabi chips!" Nobara grinned and now everyone is a tie after Maki brought a finger down. Tension rose, around their table, and those who are near their table can feel it.

"Never have I ever" Maki drawled everyone is paying attention to her except for Noroi stealing Megumi's takoyaki. "Kiss a boy" Maki stated and no one's finger was brought down.

"Hey Noroi, are you listening?"

"No, what did Maki say?" Noroi asked and Megumi frowned seeing her eating his food. "Never have I ever kissed a boy" Maki repeated and the two of them stare at each other and if they were eating or drinking something they probably got choked by it or spit it out after Noroi brought her finger down.

"You already got your first kiss?!" Nobara gasps. "No. Maki didn't state what kind of kiss it is" Noroi defended placing the empty plate on the table.

"So kiss in the cheek or forehead is still countable because it's a kiss and it wasn't also stated that the kiss should be romantically or platonically" Noroi reasoned after finishing her cup of coffee. Nobara tried to throw a retort but her words make sense making her shoulder sag and she sighed in dismay.

"Well loser gets a punishment so eat this!" Noroi"s face scrunched for a scowl. "Hey, a deal is a deal!" Nobara said pushing the cup to her. "This isn't a deal but forcing people to do your biddings" Noroi grimace.

"Hey matcha's are good and judging by your expression it seems like you don't like it"

"I thought it doesn't look obvious," Noroi said with a bit of sarcasm laced in her tone. "That shits taste like grass and I don't know what grass tastes like. But that flavor reminds me of disgusting medicine" Maki and Inumaki are wondering if she's really Gojo's child because they can see the similarities between them when they gave their teacher a matcha KitKat last year after he told them to buy him a chocolate KitKat.

"Drink this or wear a dre—" Noroi quickly chug the cup and Megumi was holding the empty bowl of ramen just in case she throw it up. "I should have said wear a dress instead of this!" Nobara groaned, remembering she still doesn't see her friend wearing any kind of girly clothes.

Noroi placed the empty cup on the table and chugged down the half-melted ice cream to wash the bitterness away from her mouth. "Bathroom, I suddenly feel like throwing up after eating a lot" she informed standing up from her seat.

"That's your fault for being a glutton" Megumi grumble moving his head to dodge her smack. Noroi left the table and went upstairs seeing a lot of people inside the restroom.

But Noroi didn't go inside the room, she went to the veranda, leaning her back on the rails to take a breather. "How to hide the cigarette scent?" She grumbles placing a stick on her lips but not lightening it up.

"I wonder what Yuji is up to. Is Sukuna tormenting him?"

'Speaking of Sukuna'

Noroi bit the stick, lips turning thin. "Ah whatever I'll just borrow a cologne to hide the smell" she groaned and lit up her stick, taking a drag, and blowing it out.

'Should I ask him? It might be different but it might become a part of it like an extension. But how come there were no records regarding about it?'

Noroi took a long drag and pulled the cigarette away, greyish white stream leaving her lips as she slowly and softly exhaled it out. Turning her back to face the city she propped her elbows on the railings and looked down.

The stick she was about to place back into her lips stopped an inch away. Mismatched eyes stared at her with surprise and astonishment.

"Noroi, are you here?" Noroi grinds the tip of the cigarette on the railing and throws it at the bin. She turned her back and went inside picking it up and using it.

Megumi frowned seeing Noroi coming from the other side after he waited for her outside the restroom. "Went outside to get fresh air" Noroi mumbles combing her hair. "Here. This is what you get for eating too much sweet" he sighed and Noroi accepted the chocolate parfait his carrying.

"Let's go back to the table" Megumi frowned again, and went closer to her leaning. "Why do you smell like those lemon disinfect?" He grimaces pulling away after accidentally inhaling too much of her scent.

"The person cleaning the other side didn't notice me while spraying it" Noroi grumbles lying to cover up that she smoke a while ago.

Going out the hallway Noroi looked at the window and the figure isn't there anymore.


"We just finished eating and you're already buying again?"

"Take out snacks" Noroi defended waiting for Ami to finish wrapping all my orders. "Damn under that large oversize hoodie is a slim body. What the hell is your secret?!" Nobara cries out.

"How can you have such a dream body figure after eating too much?!"

"Oi lower than your voice!" The two hissed when their group gather attention again. "Your friends are really lively and energetic. How can you endure someone so opposite of you?" Ami giggled.

"Extroverts adopting introverts" Noroi mumbled. "Noroi, what's your secret?! What workout are you doing?! What kind of vitamins do you also take?! Because I don't believe the only thing you do is sleep and read!" Nobara growled glaring at her friend.

"I always sleep and sometimes read and if I train I train my technique" Noroi grumbles accepting the cookie the other lady in charge of the counter gave to her. "Liar! I know you have a body workout because how the hell does you manage to keep your stomach flat?!" Nobara shouted, the trio getting alarmed when she raised her shirt showing her stomach.