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

Mashiro clicked on the pink tiger profile picture to see what Tiger had sent her.

"Tiger Boy": Kujo-senpai! There seemed to be some strange noises coming from the back hill of the school during training today, but I checked and there was nothing there. Grandpa said he has to tell you everything, did I disturb you? (・ω・｀)

The message was sent two hours earlier, just as she was clearing the shrine.

Mashiro looked at the emoticon, her expression becoming somewhat subtle.

Emoticons? Who? That Yuhito Itadori?

"Is LINE cute?" She rubbed her chin with her fair, delicate hands. "Tiger is quite a contrast."

"Mashiro": No offense, where in the back mountain? What's that sound?

Just as she pressed the send button, she picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip. The warm water went down her throat, and before she could swallow, the phone in her hand began to vibrate violently, the buzzing sound particularly clear in the quiet room.

"Cough cough, a second, a second reply?" Mashiro choked, coughing a few times while covering her mouth, almost spilling water on her hoodie. She patted her flat chest to catch her breath, a slight blush rising to her fair cheeks.

"Tiger": Ah, senior, are you done with your work? There was a sound like metal clanging over at the old shrine, but when I went there, there was really nothing there.

Mashiro looked out the window. She had just returned from the old shrine. The metallic clanging sound that Itadori Yuujin mentioned must have been the sound of her fighting with the cursed spirit.

She paused for a few seconds, thinking about how to reply.

"Mashiro": The old shrine is very dilapidated. It's possible that some metal parts fell off. Don't go near there recently, or it might collapse.

"Tiger": Okay! Got it! By the way, are you familiar with Sendai, senior? I can recommend some super delicious restaurants! The Sendai beef tongue and matcha latte are amazing! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

The topic jumped around so fast; one second we were talking about the strange noises from the back mountain, and the next second we were talking about food.

"Mashiro": No need. Just be careful and come home on time. Your grandpa will worry.

But she had to admit that Tiger's news did indeed whet her appetite.

"I'm craving dessert."

After sending the message, she stared at the words "matcha latte" for two seconds, then rolled over and lay face down on the sofa, her legs swinging gently in the air.

Her silver hair slipped down her shoulders, and she reached out to brush it aside. Her fingertips hovered above the screen for a few seconds before she continued typing.

"Mashiro": Just tell me.

"Mashiro": Where can I find good desserts?

Mashiro thought for a moment and then added a sentence.

"Mashiro": Doesn't eat beef tongue.

After sending the message, she buried her face in the sofa cushions, her silver hair covering her reddened ear tips.

It's a bit embarrassing. I just said I didn't need it, and then I immediately asked where to eat.

But desserts are another matter; she has loved desserts in both her past and present lives.

"Tiger": Oh! I know about desserts. There's a shop called "Ganmi Komachi" on the shopping street near the school. Their edamame milkshake and red bean and mochi soup are super delicious! I've been there before. (´▽`)

Mashiro checked the time; it was four in the afternoon. There was still some time before the cursed spirits became active that evening, so there was still time to try some dessert.

"Mashiro": Sure, send me the address, I'll go there myself.

Tiger: Okay! I'll be there in about twenty minutes! Be careful on the road, senior! (•̀ω•́)✧

So you meant to eat together?

Mashiro rubbed her forehead. She thought it was just an address, but Itadori interpreted it as "we're going together." Oh well, it's fine.

"And by the way, ask about Tiger's paranormal department," she said softly, sitting up from the sofa.

The Paranormal Research Society incident was the starting point for everything. Members of the research society removed the talisman sealing Sukuna's fingers, causing the cursed spirits to riot.

In order to save them, Itachi swallowed that finger and was thus possessed by Sukuna, completely changing his fate.

The address arrived quickly. Mashiro got up, changed into a simple light-colored hooded sweatshirt and skirt, tied her silver hair into pigtails, put on a baseball cap, and carried the rain jacket on her back.

Before leaving, she stood by the window and looked in the direction of the school.

The fluctuations in the curse power were a little more noticeable than in the morning, but still relatively stable. Mashiro sensed it roughly and figured nothing should happen tonight.

It's only a four or five-minute walk from the apartment to the tree-lined path leading to the shopping street. The April breeze is cool, but the sunshine is warm.

"You are my special~"

Humming a little tune, Mashiro strolled slowly for four or five minutes and finally saw the Amami Komachi restaurant.

It was a small shop with a wooden sign that looked quite old. Warm yellow light shone through the glass window, and several exquisite and adorable dessert models were displayed in the window.

As Mashiro pushed open the door, the wind chimes tinkled.

There weren't many people in the shop, only two or three tables occupied. She immediately spotted the pink-haired tiger sitting by the window, engrossed in his phone, with two drinks already on the table.

"Itadori-kun." Mashiro walked over and greeted him.

"Ah! Kujo-senpai!" Itadori immediately looked up, revealing a bright smile. "Please sit down, please sit down."

Mashiro sat down opposite him, took off her hat, and her twin ponytails swayed gently with the movement, the ends of her hair brushing against her shoulders.

Tiger Staff stared at the extraordinaryly beautiful girl opposite him, then at the Dharma wheel above her head, and paused for a moment before quickly regaining his senses.

Do you take it with you every day when you go out?

Hmm, he'd heard of the "chuunibyou" (middle school syndrome) phenomenon. He couldn't disrupt the child's worldview, so it was best not to say anything.

"I've already ordered! This is an edamame milkshake, and this is a matcha latte. Which would you like, senpai? I've also ordered the red bean and rice cake soup. It'll be ready in a bit," Itadori enthusiastically explained.

It's only April, and there's still a chill in the air outside the window, but sitting here, Mashiro inexplicably feels that the temperature has risen a bit.

This naive enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming for her.

Mashiro glanced at the two drinks in front of her.

The edamame milkshake has a light green hue, with a high mound of cream and a sprinkle of fine soybean powder on top. The matcha latte, on the other hand, is a deep green, with the delicate aroma of matcha blending with the rich flavor of latte, creating a delightful fragrance.

"I'll have matcha." Mashiro thought for a moment, then chose matcha, pushing the edamame milkshake back to Itadori. "This one's for you."

"Okay." Itari didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the straw, poked it in, and took a big, satisfying gulp. "It's just too sweet for me. You girls probably prefer it a bit more."

"I don't like things that are too sweet either," Mashiro said, taking a small sip of her matcha latte.

The warm liquid glides over the small tongue, with a moderate sweetness and a perfect balance of the unique bitterness of matcha and the aroma of milk.

"It's delicious," she said honestly.

"Right!" Itadori grinned even more. "The owner specially imported this matcha from Kyoto, saying it's directly supplied from a tea plantation in Uji, so it's very authentic!"

Two bowls of rice cake and red bean soup were served soon after. The white rice cakes were soft and glutinous, and the red bean soup was thick and creamy, steaming hot.

Mashiro ate slowly with a spoon, scooping up a piece of rice cake, blowing on it, and putting it in her mouth. The soft and glutinous rice cake melted on her tongue, and the sweetness of red beans enveloped her taste buds.

She ate in small bites, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the Japanese knotweed across from her.

Unlike Mashiro, the boy ate with a hearty appetite. He scooped up a large spoonful, blew on it twice, and put it in his mouth, chewing it heartily and occasionally letting out a satisfied sigh, but strangely, he didn't come across as rude.

"Itadori-kun." Mashiro put down his spoon and smiled slightly.

"Hmm?" Itachi looked up from the milkshake, his lips smeared with cream. He subconsciously wiped it with the back of his hand, but it wasn't completely clean; a trace of white cream remained at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing his expression, Mashiro's smile widened.

"Do you participate in any clubs at school?"

"I've joined! The Paranormal Research Club!" Itadori answered immediately, his eyes shining. "Why are you asking that, senpai?"

Ah, he's joined. Megumi Fushiguro should already be in Sendai, searching for the whereabouts of Sukuna's finger, and Itadori's grandfather will be there soon too...

Sighing softly to herself, Mashiro stirred the red bean soup with a spoon and casually asked, "The Paranormal Research Club? What do they research? Ghost stories from school?"

"Yeah! Our school's been around for ages, there are tons of ghost stories!" Itadori said, leaning forward slightly. "Like the piano that moves by itself in the middle of the night, the portraits in the art room that blink, and the footsteps in the old school building..."

"Why did you join?" Mashiro asked, looking at him. "You don't seem like the type who's particularly interested in the paranormal."

"Well..." Itadori scratched his head and smiled a little embarrassedly, "Actually, it was Sasaki-senpai and Iguchi-senpai who initially pulled me in, saying that I was physically strong and could help if we encountered any danger during the investigation. I thought I could help others, so I joined."

He paused, his smile fading. "Besides, the research association activities aren't mandatory, so I can take care of Grandpa whenever I have time. Also, Grandpa always said that if you have the ability to help someone, you should help even if you don't get any thanks in return, and I think he's right."

Shiny white fingers gently caressed the spoon handle; that's the kind of person Itsuki is—he values ​​others more than himself.

"Any events planned recently?" she asked vaguely, taking a bite of rice cake.

"Recently..." Itadori thought for a moment, then lowered his voice, "Actually, the upperclassmen have been particularly excited lately, wanting to study that box."

"Box?"

"Yeah! I found it before, and since they seemed interested, I gave it to them." Itari finished the last sip of his milkshake, licked his lips, and looked somewhat helpless. "It's a rather old wooden box with strange talismans pasted on it, sealed tightly. They said they'd examine it tonight, but it'll probably just be the usual fakes."

This must be Su Nuo's finger. Should I take it?

No, that won't do. Itadori has to be in danger and eat his finger before he can come into contact with Gojo Satoru and join the high school. If I take it, the change will be too great.

After thinking for a while, Mashiro gave up on the idea of ​​taking it. "Studying it tonight? Don't you think it's dangerous?"

"There is some danger," Itari smiled, but his eyes were serious. "That's why I have to go even more. Grandpa said that if you see something, you can't pretend you didn't see it. Besides, I think that a lot of things are just us scaring ourselves. It's good to figure things out."

"What if..." Mashiro put down her spoon, leaned forward slightly, and said in a low, deliberately frightened voice, "What if I'm not just scaring myself? What if there really is a ghost?"

Itachi paused for a moment, then flashed a bright smile: "We can't just leave it like this, can we?"

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Mashiro couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Hisahito Itadori as she thought about the suffering he would endure.

Mashiro lowered her head and finished the last bite of rice cake. The sweetness of the red bean soup melted on her tongue, but when she swallowed it, it had a slightly bitter taste.

She wiped her mouth and said softly, "He truly is his grandson."

"Hehe, right?" Itajimaru was a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched the back of his head.

The two chatted about other things. Itsuki talked about the interesting things that happened in the research club, about the fuss that the senior students made, and about how his grandfather's health was not good, but his spirits were still good.

Mashiro mostly just listens with a smile, occasionally responding with a few words.

After chatting for so long, Itari never once asked her about her background, why she came to Sendai, or why her grandfather told her to contact her if she needed anything.

He simply accepted her presence there naturally, accepted her identity as "granddaughter of his grandfather's friend," and treated her with kindness.

The spoon unconsciously traced circles on the bottom of the bowl. Although this was her intention, this unguarded trust left Mashiro with mixed feelings.

"Senior," Itadori suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"Is something on your mind?" Itari looked at her, his eyes very direct. "I feel like you've been worried about something."

Mashiro looked up and met his gaze; the air was silent for a few seconds.

His eyes reflected his own image: a silver-haired girl with a perpetually calm expression, but whose crimson eyes always held a sense of heaviness and weariness.

"No." She looked away, picked up her cup, and took a sip. The matcha had gone slightly cool. "I was just thinking about something."

"Oh," Itajimaru nodded, not pressing further, and gave a refreshing smile. "If you have any troubles, senior, you can tell me. Although I may not be able to help, I can still listen!"

"……Thanks."

When it came time to pay, Mashiro wanted to pay, but Itadori firmly refused.

"I invited you, senior, and I'm a guy, how can I let a girl pay!" He pulled out his wallet so fast that even Shiro didn't have time to react.

I absolutely did not want to get something for free, absolutely not.

When I stepped out of the store, it was already getting dark, and the streetlights along the street were turning on one by one.

"Shall I escort you back, senior?" Itadori said.

"No need, it's very close." Mashiro shook her head. "Be careful on your way home."

"Alright! Then be careful on your way, senior!" Itari waved to her and turned to walk in another direction.

"Itadori," Mashiro called out to him.

"Hmm?" Itachi was called out, looking somewhat puzzled.

Mashiro looked at him, opened her mouth, and then closed it again.

She originally wanted to say, "Your grandfather doesn't have much time left," "A person named Fushiguro Megumi will come to find you in a couple of days," and "You will face unimaginable monsters."

But those words stuck in my throat, and what I finally managed to say was just a vague reminder.

"Someone might contact you in the next couple of days. Listen carefully to what they say." Mashiro looked into his eyes, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't mention his grandfather. "And, be careful."

Itadori blinked, then nodded seriously: "I understand, senior. Please be careful too."

He smiled, turned and ran, his pink hair standing out even more under the dim streetlights. "See you tomorrow!"

After running a few steps, Huzhang subconsciously turned back.

Under the streetlights, the silver-haired girl still stood there, gazing in the direction he had left, her shadow obscured by the trees.

That usually expressionless face was now shrouded in deep worry, its brows furrowed slightly and its lips pressed into a straight line.

But the dim light blurred her outline, making it difficult for Yuji Itadori to see her clearly.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, Mashiro's expression quickly faded, returning to normal.

"See you tomorrow."

She raised her hand and gently pressed down the brim of her hat, spoke softly, then turned and walked in the opposite direction from him, her figure quickly disappearing from sight.