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17: a yua's aversion

17: a yua's aversion
Alt. Title: Satoru once said, "I may be called a blind rat but I'm not actually blind and a rat."

"Engage... Engagement?"

Maki shot her friend a look. "Well, it's not official yet. I mean, Hori's the type not to say no unless the other party offended him in some way." She snorted and began tapping on the armchair.

"So, she's been begging Hori to say yes."

Ah.

The reason why he's been avoiding me...

... was it because of this?

The palm of his hands became clammy. Engagement? Why would that woman approach Shihori-san, of all people? He doesn't have anything to do with the clans anymore, right? She shouldn't have approached him. Shihori-san... is supposed to be by my side.

When Maki saw Yuuta's complicated expression, she explained further. "Yuuta, the relationship between the three clans is complicated. Each one is more traditional than the other. The Gojo Clan has one of the worst relationships. Although the Zenins are outwardly patriarchal, the Gojos don't make it too obvious but they're just as bad."

Once, before Hori left the clan, he complained to Maki and Mai about what he had seen at the Gojo Compound. It was at that time Maki learned that the women in the Gojo Clan experienced the same discrimination she and Mai experienced at the Zenins.

It was a surprise Satoru managed to grow up the way he did while living in that sort of environment.

"Anyway, that woman who proposed to Hori, she's probably looking for a way out. She's not outstanding so the clan wouldn't let her marry out or in the family. If she doesn't marry, she'll end up becoming the servant of the main family's children. With Hori being on par with Satoru, he could take her out of the clan by legal means. That's most likely her reason for reaching out to him."

Still, just the thought of Shihori being engaged to someone else didn't sit well with Yuuta.

Maki couldn't help but pat her friend on the back with a heavy hand, almost sending Yuuta tumbling forward. "Hey, don't worry, Yuuta. In any case, if he accepts, he'll just divorce her in a few months when Hori and Satoru find her a safe place. She's friends with Satoru so that's why Hori's thinking hard about it."

A wry smile settled on Yuuta's lips. "... yeah."

Although Maki was sure that Yuuta still felt uneasy, there was nothing else she could do. It was up to Shihori to tell Yuuta the conundrum he was in. Damnit, why is my cousin always in complicated situations?

.

.

Dusk had come around.

Warm light peeked through the glass window, bathing the room in hues of red, orange, and yellow. It gave the living room a romantic ambience yet the youth on the couch felt anything but. In fact, he was busy brooding on the news he had heard just a few hours ago in class.

Even if it was a fake engagement to help a poor girl, it was an engagement nonetheless and Okkotsu Yuuta couldn't help but feel anxious. Does that mean his Shihori would have to act like an actual couple with that woman to make it believable?

Why don't they just make trouble in the Gojo Clan to the point they have to negotiate for the woman's freedom?

Why a fake engagement?

This wasn't some cheap ass novel!

Yuuta was so blinded by jealousy that he didn't even stop to think what the consequences would be if Shihori and Satoru really did that. The number of jujutsu sorcerers of high quality were already declining. If they made trouble, what if they accidentally traumatized an up and coming prodigy? What if they crippled a good sorcerer?