[The next class has been changed to exorcism. Course content: a one-day, one-night stay at a hot spring inn in the snowy mountains. Interested students should submit an application.]
The mont Oda officially posted the notice on the bulletin board at Kyoto Jujutsu High, the entire school erupted.
Morning sunlight had only just spilled across the hallway. The students, still rubbing their eyes and yawning, jumped on the spot the instant they saw the gold-embossed travel notice.
"No way?! Naoya-sensei is taking us out on a mission?!"
"Is this really about exorcising Cursed Spirits? Why does it feel exactly like a vacation on the school's di?"
"I heard there's been a snow disaster in the mountains lately. If we're exorcising Cursed Spirits, it should be a Yuki-onna, right? Isn't that just a Grade 3 Cursed Spirit? Do we really need to make such a big production out of it?"
"A whole hot spring inn! All-inclusive! Not a single yen out of pocket! What kind of divine Sensei is this?!"
"Oh my god, going on a mission with other Senseis ans risking your life, but going with Naoya-sensei ans going on vacation. I'm signing up first!!!"
The atmosphere of awe and fear that had once surrounded Naoya Zenin was completely washed away by excitent and anticipation.
The noise carried from one end of the hallway to the other. Even the Grade 3 students training nearby stopped what they were doing and crowded over to read the notice.
The whole school was as lively as a festival.
"Mai! Nishimiya-senpai! Did you see the announcent?"
Kasumi Miwa was the first to bring the news to her close friends.
The blue-haired girl was bursting with excitent, her eyes shining.
"Naoya-sensei is taking us to the snowy mountains, and there's even a hot spring!"
"Hmph. Who cares about so hot spring..."
Momo Nishimiya sat off to the side with her arms crossed, her golden twin ponytails sticking high in the air.
Although her ears had perked up long ago to eavesdrop, she still gave a stubborn snort. "Naoya Zenin is definitely just looking for an excuse to order us around! That arrogant jerk, as if he'd ever be that nice."
That was what she said, but for this mixed-race girl, a hot spring really was sothing she had never experienced before.
And she would be going together with the other students.
W-Wasn't this basically a school trip?!
Mai Zenin, anwhile, sat by the window, quietly flipping through her textbook as though none of this had anything to do with her.
But the fingers gripping the pages tightened without her realizing it.
A snowy mountain, a hot spring, traveling together with everyone...
She should hate it. She should stay away. She should pretend she had not seen it.
But the mont she thought of that cold, arrogant cousin, the mont Naoya Zenin's face appeared in her mind, that small, forbidden sense of anticipation in her heart quietly began to sprout like a vine.
If she signed up, she would have a chance to see him.
After all, ever since Naoya Zenin announced last ti that he was cutting off their sibling ties, the two of them had not spoken again.
Mai had been furious that day. Because of Naoya Zenin's humiliation, under extre pressure, she had finally broken through and stepped onto the path of [Cursed Technique Reversal].
That night, all she wanted was to kill Naoya Zenin with her own two hands, go full crash-out mode on the spot, and offer it all up to her sister by blood, Maki Zenin.
But emotions ca fast and faded just as quickly.
After sleeping it off, Mai returned to her usual soft, timid, do-nothing self.
Well, if she was trash, then she was trash. What else could she do?
She had already been trash for most of her life. What difference would the rest of it make?
Wasn't it good that Naoya Zenin was disappointed in her?
That way, he would stop tornting her, and she could keep muddling along in comfort.
And her mother's evil plan, the one she had been plotting since Mai was little, would not succeed either.
Mai would graduate like this, and after graduation, her father would use her as a pawn for a political marriage, finding so respectable family in Kyoto for her to marry into.
Surely she would not end up with a man worse than Naoya Zenin, right?
...Uh, probably not, right?
"Mai, aren't you happy?"
Kasumi Miwa leaned closer and tilted her head.
"Naoya-sensei is personally leading the team this ti, you know."
Mai snapped out of her thoughts. She raised her eyes slightly, her voice calm and even. "It's just a mission. What is there to be happy about?"
Keep pretending.
Kasumi Miwa's expression did not change, but inside, she had already let out a disdainful laugh.
If I hadn't overheard that ugly little scandal between you cousins that night, were you two planning to fool forever?
So what if you got yourself a boyfriend?
So what if your boyfriend is more than a decade older than you?
So what if your boyfriend is blood-related to you and also your older cousin?
What is there to hide?
If you've got the guts, just say it openly!
You have the guts to commit incest, but not the guts to admit it?
Damn it!
What does sex even feel like?!
Mai, you're so an! You won't even share that much! Do you still think of as your best friend?!
Tell , tell , tell ! I'm so curious I'm about to lose my mind, aaaaaah!!!
No.
She had to use the heavy artillery!
"But, but I heard they're also going to choose [teaching assistants] this ti?"
Kasumi Miwa leaned close to the two girls and whispered.
"This is a secret Utahi-sensei told herself. None of the other students know! Apparently, during this Cursed Spirits exorcism operation, Naoya-sensei is going to choose his own teaching assistants based on their overall scores..."
At the words [teaching assistants], Momo Nishimiya and Mai Zenin both froze.
The air went silent for a full ten seconds.
"Teaching assistant? Who'd want to be his teaching assistant? Getting ordered around by that man all day, then having to put up with his sharp tongue every single day too. I'm not like soone, enjoying being a masochist and getting bullied."
Momo Nishimiya was the first to scoff, turning her face away.
"I'm not interested in that sort of thing either."
Mai Zenin closed her book, her tone cold.
"I'm also not like soone who clearly isn't strong enough and gets lectured every day, yet still insists she doesn't care at all."
"I really don't care!"
Momo Nishimiya instantly lost her temper.
"I'm still young! I still have plenty of room to grow! Last class, wasn't I the first one to finish the exam? And Naoya Zenin even praised himself! I'm completely different from you, okay? If you're not good enough, don't go getting jealous of !!!"
"Hehe."
Mai covered her mouth and laughed instead.
"By room to grow, do you an that barren figure of yours? Nishimiya-senpai, I'm terribly sorry, but my cousin has always liked won with big butts. With a tiny butt like yours, I suppose I really should be jealous, shouldn't I?"
Kasumi Miwa broke out in a cold sweat as she listened from the side.
Wait, are these two still fighting?
Naoya-sensei, this is all your fault. You really are an unforgivable man...
"Y-yeah! Naoya-sensei is so strict. Being his teaching assistant must be exhausting... I-I don't want to do it either..."
To ease the cold war between Momo Nishimiya and Mai, Kasumi Miwa hurriedly chid in.
And so, the topic naturally shifted to the teaching assistant position.
Momo Nishimiya, Mai Zenin, Kasumi Miwa.
The three girls traded remarks, all saying they absolutely did not want it, whoever wanted it could take it, and it sounded like a huge pain.
Each of them looked completely indifferent, as if they had no interest at all.
However, soone among them was lying.
Teaching assistant.
That position would let her stay by Naoya Zenin's side, help him handle things, listen to him guide her in jujutsu, and openly squeeze every possible opportunity out of him.
How could she not be tempted?
Momo Nishimiya was already overjoyed inside.
As the top student from the last class, this little witch was already the strongest contender. As long as she signed up for this Cursed Spirits exorcism operation and perford well, she would definitely secure the teaching assistant position.
That way, she could prove her strength and make Naoya Zenin take her seriously, making him realize she was not just so young lady who only knew how to throw tantrums.
More importantly, it would satisfy Sponsor-sama!
With that power, Momo Nishimiya was sure that sooner or later, she would defeat Naoya Zenin head-on and snap Mai out of his gaslighting. Then Mai would finally realize she should have listened to Momo from the start, and that by defending that awful man, Naoya Zenin, she had been helping the villain all along.
Mai would definitely fall apart on the spot, then kneel on the ground in tears, kowtowing like crazy as she apologized.
But by then, it would be too late.
On that day, Momo Nishimiya, who had conquered the Jujutsu World and beco known as the Great Witch, would only smile coldly, wiggle her little butt, and walk away, leaving Mai behind to collapse and cry.
It could not be helped.
Back then, you ignored . Today, I'll make sure you're out of my reach!
Farewell, Mai, my once-dearest friend!!!
As her fantasy reached its dramatic climax, Momo Nishimiya could not help raising a hand to wipe her mouth.
But she could not laugh yet.
She had to hold it in here.
First, she had to fool Kasumi Miwa and Mai, make them think she would not fight for the teaching assistant position, and get them to lower their guard!
She would wait until tonight!
Tonight, she would go sign up herself and steal the win right out from under them!!!
However, Momo Nishimiya was not the only one [lying].
Kasumi Miwa was secretly clenching her fists as well.
She had only been going along with the topic, chanically agreeing with her two close friends while casually badmouthing Naoya Zenin behind his back.
But if they were really going to ask who the number one Naoya Zenin supporter at Kyoto Jujutsu High was...
It was definitely Kasumi Miwa!
Even the mysterious whale who had sponsored her with 50 million yen was, in this blue-haired girl's eyes, nowhere near as important as Naoya Zenin!
The reason was simple!
Because following Naoya Zenin ant good food and good living!!!
Although the mysterious Sponsor-sama had given her 50 million yen, Kasumi Miwa had transferred every bit of it straight ho.
So she still had no money!
She was still broke!
And if Kasumi Miwa beca Naoya Zenin's teaching assistant, what that ant hardly needed to be said, right?
After all, Naoya Zenin's greatest Cursed Technique was being rich!
He was a super-rich young master!!
The kind who was even richer than Satoru Gojo!!!
Of course, if that were the only reason, everyone would call her a gold digger.
But putting all that aside, Naoya Zenin had also saved her life not long ago.
She wanted to repay Naoya-sensei for saving her. She wanted to stay by his side, and even if she only helped with small things, she would be satisfied!
However, Kasumi Miwa was far from the only one [lying].
The hand hanging at Mai Zenin's side tightened slightly.
Teaching assistant...
In the past, Mai would definitely have thought that Naoya Zenin was choosing a teaching assistant not because he needed soone to run errands, but because he wanted to tie her to his side under a proper excuse so he could bring her back to the Zenin Clan.
She would have hated that and refused to be his teaching assistant.
But now, things were different.
That night, Naoya Zenin had already given up on her.
She was nothing but an outsider, an irrelevant passerby, not even worth treating roughly anymore.
After tornting her one-sidedly for so many years, he had the nerve to say he was disappointed now, then walk away on his own. What a shaless man...
Mai silently bit her lip.
No. She had to hear him apologize!
If she could secure that position, she would have a legitimate reason to et Naoya Zenin.
Sooner or later, Naoya Zenin would have to apologize to her for everything he had done back then!
Apologize to ! Apologize to my sister! Make the entire Zenin Clan apologize to us twins!
I don't want to hear you say that we're not siblings anymore from now on!
Blood ties are sothing you can never change in this lifeti. If we were siblings for one day, then we will be siblings for life!
Am I the only one...who cares this much about family?
Mai had never fought for anything in her life.
Even the things her sister had given up for her, she had never asked for.
But this teaching assistant position...
She had to get it!
"In any case... I'm definitely not applying to be so teaching assistant!"
Momo Nishimiya lifted her chin.
"M- too!"
Kasumi Miwa hurriedly nodded.
Mai Zenin gave a faint hum in response.
The three of them exchanged a glance, then looked away in perfect tacit understanding, continuing to pretend they did not care at all.
...
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