Curse Return: Demon Void Girl Doesn't Want to Be a Weakling

"I will let him live," the old man repeated softly, then gave a bitter smile. "I've lived my whole life, and I haven't made many right choices. Especially regarding Jin and Kaori..."

His gaze fell on Masashiro's face, his sharp eyes softening considerably. "You...you're not an ordinary person, are you? You can see those things?"

Mashiro understood his meaning and did not answer directly. Instead, she raised her right hand, gathered a wisp of magical power at her fingertips, and gently swept it through the air, leaving a fleeting glimmer of light.

"A family of jutsu, a descendant of the Kujo family," Mashiro said with a smile, "though I'm the only one left in the entire family."

Itadori Yasuke's eyes widened slightly as he looked at the traces left by Mashiro's cursed power. As if he had finally confirmed something, he slowly nodded.

"The curse... I understand." His voice was soft, with a hint of relief. "I will tell Yuujin that I can trust you and can come to you for anything, but please promise me one thing."

"Please speak."

"Don't tell him everything." The old man's gaze drifted out the window, towards the school. "Don't tell him the truth about Jin and Kaori. At least not now. That child... has already lost enough."

Mashiro was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I promise you."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, his body relaxing slightly as he leaned back against the pillows. He then changed the subject: "How old are you?"

Huh? Why are we suddenly talking about age?

What does that mean? Did they see through it?

Mashiro blinked, touched the silver hair hanging down from her temples, and said hesitantly, "Ah, my ID says I'm 20 years old."

"Actually?"

They're obviously questioning her age! Did they think everything she said was just childish chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur)?

"...Twelve." Mashiro turned her head away, a little embarrassed, and whispered with a slight blush.

As Itadori Yamasuke watched her flustered state, so different from her previous calm and composed demeanor, the corners of his mouth gradually turned up, and then he burst into laughter: "Pretty much, pretty much the same age as I imagined."

After laughing, he stopped laughing, straightened up, and bowed slightly to Mashiro. "Then, I'll leave Yuujin's matter to you."

Mashiro looked him straight in the eye and nodded solemnly.

Just then, Itadori Yasuke heard a familiar set of footsteps outside the ward, followed by the voice of a vibrant young boy.

"Grandpa! I brought your favorite red bean buns—"

The ward door was flung open with a whoosh, and the super athlete Yuujin Itadori appeared, carrying a bag from a convenience store, with a bright smile.

Upon seeing the situation in the ward, his smile instantly froze on his face, and his gaze darted rapidly between his grandfather on the hospital bed and the unfamiliar silver-haired girl beside the bed.

What's that on the child's head? Cosplay?

The air in the room seemed to freeze as Itadori Yasuke and Mashiro stared at him simultaneously.

The old man's tired expression vanished instantly, replaced by his usual slightly impatient one: "Oh, you're here."

Mashiro calmly stood up, turned to Itadori Yuujin, nodded slightly, and carefully examined him.

A living Tiger Emperor! Wow, that's incredibly tall! Will I ever grow any taller?

She had to look up to see Hisahito Itadori's face clearly.

This was the first time she had seen the protagonist of this world at such close range.

A vibrant life force, eyes free of gloom, and a vast potential hidden within his body that even he himself was unaware of.

Everything overlapped with the image in my memory, yet was subtly different.

"Grandpa, who is this...?" Yuujin Itadori blinked, looking at Mashiro with some confusion, trying to ignore the dharma wheel above her head.

Itadori Yasuke coughed, gestured to Mashiro with his eyes, and then said to his grandson, "This is Miss Kujo, the granddaughter of an old friend of mine. She happened to be in Sendai and came to visit me."

Mashiro nodded, and following his words, smiled politely at Itadori Yuujin, "Hello, Itadori-kun, my name is Kujo Mashiro, sorry to bother you."

"Ah, no, no!" Hisahito Itadori immediately waved his hand, revealing his signature hearty smile. "I'm Hisahito Itadori! Thank you for coming to see my grandfather!"

His gaze lingered on Shiro's face for a moment, curious about her unusual hair and eye color, but he quickly realized it was inappropriate and silently looked away.

He came in, put the bag on the cabinet, and then stood by the bed, looking at his grandfather and then at Mashiro, somewhat at a loss.

"Um...did I arrive at the wrong time? Are you guys chatting?"

"Nothing important, just chatting." Itadori Yamasuke said, glancing at Mashiro with a subtle, meaningful look in his eyes. "Miss Kujo, are you leaving already?"

"Yes, I won't disturb your rest any longer." Mashiro understood and picked up her backpack. She walked to the door, then stopped and turned back.

Her gaze swept over Itadori Yasuke and finally landed on Itadori Hisahito.

The boy was watching her back with curiosity, his eyes clear and untainted.

"King Itadori," she said slowly.

"Yes?" Yuuji Itadori thought he had been caught peeping and immediately stood up straight.

Mashiro took a note from her pocket with a phone number written on it and handed it to Itadori Yuujin.

"This is my contact information. I'll be in Sendai recently. If..." She paused, deciding to be tactful, "If you, or anyone you know, encounters any problems, please contact me. I'll do my best to help you."

Yuji Itadori was stunned. He took the note, looked at the delicate handwriting on it, and then looked up at Mashiro's calm face. He seemed not to understand why a little girl he had just met would say such a thing.

Although he didn't understand, he nodded anyway, carefully folded the note, put it in his pocket, and then took out his phone. "Oh, oh! Okay, thank you! Um, Kujo-chan, do you have LINE? Let's add each other as friends! You can contact me if you need anything!"

Hearing him casually address her as "Kujou-neechan," Mashiro's lips twitched, and she opened her mouth, but ultimately gave up and silently took out her phone: "...Okay."

And LINE! I'd completely forgotten about it!

When I talk to Hiromi Nichisha and Kenji Nanami, I always use business cards. Is that my fault? I'm really not an old-fashioned person!

Watching Mashiro's rare moment of frustration and restraint, Itadori Yamasuke couldn't hide his amusement, but he still put on a stern face and scolded Itadori Yuujin: "Idiot! This is your senior! Listen to her obediently! Tell her everything!"

The young man, Itadori, stood at attention again: "Yes, sir!" He then scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile, "Sorry, Kujo-senpai, I thought you were a kid."

Why did this father and son have to pick this to say! Tiger, you just wait!

Mashiro felt that staying any longer would only cause her blood pressure to rise further, so she didn't respond to his words. She simply nodded to the old man on the hospital bed and said, "Mr. Itadori, please take care."

"Ah," Itadori Yasuke responded, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Mashiro didn't linger. She turned and walked out of the ward, gently closing the door behind her.