Chapter 6 – Sweat and Barley Tea

◇《POV: Renma》

Jujutsu is split into three types: Unique Jujutsu, cursed tools, and basic jujutsu.

“So, Shinano—your Unique Jujutsu was 【Stealth】, right? What cursed tool are you using?”

“Eeeh—why’re you asking that? Per-veert~.”

“Fine. I’ve decided I won’t team up with anyone I can’t trust.”

“Ah—! Kidding, kidding! My cursed tool is 【Escape】! The cheap kind that’s sold everywhere!!”

She flashed the pink charm clipped to her pants at me.

It gave off a faint trace of cursed energy, forming a single circuit through Shinano’s body.

Cursed tools have to be bound to the user’s soul and cursed energy, and each person can only use one at a time.

That said, they can be swapped out—though it’s a pain.

Plenty of jujutsu users prioritize quantity over quality.

Or rather, since most jujutsu users don’t have Unique Jujutsu in the first place, it’s normal to rotate cursed tools.

“If you keep using strong cursed tools, they say it’s bad for your skin, right? But look—thanks to that, I’m suuuper smooth.”

Shinano’s cheeks looked dewy, and her silky silver hair reflected the dim overhead lights.

“Is that so? I’ve been wearing a special-grade cursed tool this whole time, but…”

“Oh wow, there it is—an unintentional flex. Yeah, Miyama-kun, your skin’s pretty smooth, and looks-wise you’re kinda handsome, but still no. Your personality’s still impossible.”

“Miyama” is my alias.

No way I’m giving my real name to a journalist. The risk of getting identified is way too high.

“I’m aware. I want you to tell me I’m amazing.”

“Yeah yeah, amazing amazing, MiYaMa-KuN iS sOoOo StRoNg AnD sOoOo WoNdErFuL.”

“……//”

“Don’t get embarrassed over a fake compliment!!”

“And now, please listen—Mugicha Tarou, with ‘You Were There Before the Kettle.’”

“And, Yuuri-san—don’t incarnate just to sing!!”

“Hey, Yuuri. You’re using too much haku today. Wrap it up in three more songs.”

“On the cheek where you said that~ there’s barley tea like teeeaaars~♪”

Nope—she’s not listening.

I cancel everything after the fourth song, more or less at random, and drain the barley tea in my hand.

“I’m going to pour a drink. Want one too, Shinano?”

“Stop! That kettle is mine and mine alone! I’m never handing it over to the likes of you!!”

“…I’m coming with you. Listening to Yuuri-san sing is gonna make my head go weird.”

“You don’t want ice?”

“I’m not really into super-cold stuff. I like things hot—like, really hot. Jokes, relationships… clothes, too.”

Come to think of it, Shinano is bundled up even in the shop, and she looks like she’s sweating—just a little.

Liking everything “hot” is a pretty weird quirk.

“And yet it sounded like you were bluntly tearing into me. If you do that, don’t relationships usually go cold?”

“Miyama-kun, you’re the type with a serious need for validation, right? And the rule with guys like that is: even if it’s insults, if someone calls you out by name, you end up feeling kinda warm inside.”

“When you say ‘inside,’ where exactly? Lower?”

“Obviously upper, you perverted masochist.”

“Yeah… bringing that up with a woman was rude. I apologize.”

While apologizing to Shinano—who’s at least playing along—I pour myself an iced coffee.

“…Still, that weird straightforward side of you is kinda cute.”

“Did you say something?”

“Mmm—maybe I was talking trash about you~?”

I nod along and drink the coffee.

…Bitter.

Ever since I got teased on stream for not being able to drink coffee, I’ve been trying it whenever I have room to breathe like this.

I’m pretty easy to manipulate, even I can admit that.

“Your grimy hands grip that filthy kettle!!! Heat takes over your body and won’t let go!!! And then, with your burned hand, you gently, softly—…”

Guess she’s in the last chorus—Yuuri’s full-throated wail carries all the way to the drink bar.

“Kinda late to say this, but that’s totally an NTR song, right? The song choice makes zero sense.”

“Jealous, maybe? No idea of who, though.”

“Of you, Miyama-san, maybe? And of me too, perhaps~?”

“Yuuri’s feelings toward me aren’t like that.”

“You never know. Want to test it? She’ll probably come flying over.”

“Ah—Yuuri’s the type who gets crazy focused. She might not even realize we left the room.”

“I see… so that means she won’t notice if I make a move, right?”

A weighty curtain of silver hair slips into my chest.

A flower-sweet scent cuts through me, and my pulse kicks up at the presence of the beautiful girl right in front of me.

Maybe my brain is sounding alarms on its own—my eyes lock onto her, and before I know it, I’m studying her closely.

Perfectly groomed hair, crystal-clear eyes, smooth, beautiful skin—

And her lips feel like they’re drifting closer and closer…

Huh?

Smooth skin… without a single bead of sweat?

“Hey, Miyama-kun…”

“Shinano…?”

When I turn around—

There’s another Shinano.

A fake?

No—wait. That Shinano is the real one.

Then who the hell is this Shinano tucked into my chest!?

Don’t tell me… this is—

“Who’s that man over there? A friend of yours, Miyama-kun?”

—An enemy.