Your Life As A Tokyo Jujutsu High Background Student

Chapter 16 - To love and care

You never would have guessed that Inumaki's Cursed Speech could work such wicked wonders for sleeplessness and those pesky nightmares that had been plaguing you. But hot damn, after that epic shoulder rub and the "sleep well" command he laid on you yesterday, you had snoozed harder than a tranquilized bear – in the best possible way.

This morning, you had awoken feeling fresher than a spring daisy after April showers. Relaxed, yet buzzing with far more energy than you could remember having in recent memory. So much pep in your step that you briefly entertained delusions of being able to take down the corrupt dinosaurs on the High Council all by yourself. Well... maybe not literally. That was pushing it a little. But you did feel unstoppable in a metaphorical sense at least.

Before you could get carried away plotting any ill-advised coups, you had your usual assistance duties with Shoko to attend to first. No problem, you smiled to yourself, throwing on your uniform. With this Inumaki-blessed energy buff, getting through that stuff would be a breeze.

So, now sitting at Shoko's desk, you plowed through the towering stacks of reports, test analyses, and other paperwork with a refreshing effortlessness.

Just then, the door swung open with a creak, revealing a very bedraggled-looking Ijichi. The poor guy looked like he'd been wandering the desert for weeks without a drop of water. His eyes were ringed darker than a raccoon's and his whole vibe screamed "why am I still alive?"

"Ijichi-san!" you greeted with a friendly wave. "Looking a tad rough around the edges there. Everything okay?"

He shuffled fully inside, each step seeming to require monumental effort. "I was... feeling a bit off," Ijichi mumbled, sounding just this side of mostly dead. "Thought I'd see if Ieiri-san could... check me over."

You glanced pointedly at the clock on Shoko's desk. Just past 10 am – far too early for your perpetually sauced boss to have even considered emerging from her inevitable gin-soaked slumber.

"Well, Ieiri-san is probably still sleeping off whatever bender she was on last night, so she won't be in for a couple of hours minimum," you told Ijichi.

As Ijichi dragged himself to the chair across from your desk and collapsed into it, you gave him an appraising look. A "bit off" seemed like one hell of an understatement – the guy looked utterly wrecked.

Suddenly, you had a brilliant idea.

"But maybe I could whip you up one of her reinvigorating herbal blends? A special mixture of ginseng, reishi mushrooms, and like, twelve other flowery things I can't pronounce. Supposed to have you feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in no time!"

The very suggestion seemed to drain what little remaining lifeforce poor Ijichi had left, he looked like might be sick right there. "Ah... th-thank you, but I can wait for her," he stammered out quickly.

Clearly, the man didn't have much faith in Shoko's alternative medicine recipes. Or maybe he just didn't trust your brewing capabilities. Well, whatever. His loss. You shrugged, returning your focus to the paperwork instead.

But then, Ijichi rummaged through his leather briefcase and pulled out a stack of papers, placing it in front of you with a weary thump. "Here. Profiles of everyone who had access to my report of that incident within the first three minutes. I cross-referenced them with the list of staff having security clearance to obtain Ieiri-san's schedules like you asked."

You perked up with interest: "Oh, that's fast work. Thank you, Ijichi-san."

You quickly flipped through the pages. Only five people on the list. This should make stalking, eh... investigating them easier.