Koi No Yokan (gojo x oc)

18. The Star Plasma Vessel

Perhaps some greater force allowed them to choose life, even if it means enduring more suffering and pain.

Or maybe, someone has called out to them loudly enough to draw them back.

March 2006
Twenty minutes later.

"Yeah, but you know, I get why Curse User Group Q would be after her, but why would this Star Religious group want to kill a brat?"

"Their object of worship is the pure form of Tengen-sama. Allowing the Star Plasma Vessel, in their minds, an impurity, to blend into him is unforgivable."

I press the key for Amanai's floor, as the elevator takes us up.

"The Star Religious Group is an organization of non-sorcerers. I don't think we need to pay them any mind. The ones to be wary of are Q."

"Well, I'm sure it'll be fine," Satoru hums over the speaker of Suguru's phone. "We're the strongest, after all. That's why Tengen-sama asked for us specifically, right?"

A disturbed expression twists Suguru's face. He sighs.

"What is it?"

"You know, Satoru, I've been wanting to say this for a while," he grips his chin, glancing back and forth between myself and the phone, "But you should stop being so full of yourself."

"Huh?!"

"Especially when you're addressing your superiors. We might end up meeting Tengen-sama, after all. You should be more polite and humble. You'd scare your juniors less, too."

"Kaede's my junior, and she isn't scared."

The elevator doors open to a long, carpeted corridor. "He isn't wrong, you know."

Suguru frowns. "You're enabling him."

"You'll get over it," I say. "Although, I do wish you wouldn't so carelessly categorize yourself with me, Satoru. I am the strongest after all."

He scoffs largely. "Screw that."

"Come on, Satoru," Suguru scolds, but we arrive at Amanai's door in the midst of the hallway, "Whatever. I'll bring it up again later."

I run two fingers along the wood of the door as Suguru rings the bell. "Wait—"

"Coming!"

A rapid beeping follows the girl's voice.

"Huh?" is all I hear, before Suguru's arm pulls me back, and we're enveloped in whatever curse he's managed to summon at the last second. I'm clinging on to the hems of his jacket, bounced roughly down the hall, swarming in smoke.

"You guys alive?" Satoru calls out, most likely having seen the bomb go off from the outside.

"We are, at least."

"You think we'll be blamed if the brat died from that?"

Waving a hand through the smoke, my attention is turned towards the window, where the frame of a small girl darts by. Satoru notices it too, humming over the phone as Suguru and I take a running start.

Squid-like curses plant themselves into the glass, fracturing it before we smash through the window, free falling into the open air. As if diving into water, we plunge down, Suguru conjuring the same curse that had flown me out from the snow. It materializes beneath us, turning upwards sharply as Amanai lands in my arms.

"Would you please stop making us stand out?" Suguru calls out to the Q soldier within the remaining rubble of Amanai's room. A small man in a ridiculous uniform that covers the lower half of his face. "We just got chewed out for that this morning."