At the dining table, Roy remained silent, and Mai didn't know what to say either. The atmosphere was stiff.
Roy devoured the food at an astonishing speed—one bun in a single bite, finishing a bowl of porridge in just a few mouthfuls. The dishes on the table visibly diminished before Mai's stunned eyes.
"I'm full. Thanks for the meal."
Mai didn't have as big an appetite as him, but under his influence, she ended up eating more than usual.
"I'll be heading back today. I won't disturb you any longer."
Her task was already complete.
After last night's repeated efforts, she should have conceived by now.
She had timed her visit precisely—it coincided perfectly with her ovulation period.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
Roy swallowed the last bite of his breakfast and glanced at Mai.
"A little tired..."
Mai was taken aback. How could she possibly have slept well?
The fact that you're this energetic is what's truly surprising.
"Then go rest for a while. I'll take you back later."
Roy stood up and began clearing the dishes from the table.
"Okay."
Mai didn't dare—nor did she want—to argue with Roy, so she obediently nodded.
She turned to head upstairs but suddenly remembered something.
"Last night… why did you say that?"
"Say what?"
"That Maki… is a good sister."
"Ah, that."
Roy immediately understood and tapped his forehead.
"The relationship between you sisters is really complicated… The day before yesterday, right after you and Todo left, Maki came to me with a request."
"I thought she wanted me to help you get stronger, but that wasn't it. Do you know what she actually said?"
"She said she hoped I could give you a place to rely on."
Mai's expression froze.
Unconsciously, she clenched her teeth, her hands balling into tight fists, nails digging into her palms without her even noticing.
Her eyes burned with resentment.
"She really… said that?"
"Word for word."
Roy looked up, studying Mai's expression.
There was no trace of gratitude—not even a hint of mixed emotions.
Instead, to his surprise, she looked utterly enraged, her face twisted with hatred.
Your sister asked me to give you a place to rely on, you know?
From any angle, it was meant for your sake. So why do you look like you despise her even more?
"That woman… she's always so composed, isn't she?"
Mai suddenly sighed, her tense body relaxing slightly.
"Does she think saying something like that would make me grateful?"
She let out a cold laugh and headed upstairs.
How infuriating!
Mai kicked the door open, threw herself onto the bed, and tossed restlessly.
Roy's words echoed in her mind, fueling her anger the more she thought about them.
Maki would never understand what she truly wanted!
This kind of self-righteous "for your own good" was the last thing she needed!
Did Maki really think she was being some kind of noble, self-sacrificing sister, drowning in her own sentimentality?
"What I need… was never something like this!"
Mai lay on the bed, her arm covering her eyes as she muttered under her breath.
"Just wait… One day, I'll drag you down with me…!"
...
Noon.
"Feeling better now?"
Roy looked at Mai, who descended the stairs looking refreshed and energetic, unable to hide his surprise.
"Is something wrong?"
Mai glanced at him, clearly puzzled.
"Nothing, as long as you're fine. Given your earlier expression, I thought you were upset about what I said regarding Maki."
Seeing that she wasn't dwelling on his words, Roy didn't press further.
"Lord Roy is far more perceptive than I imagined."
Hearing this, Mai's slender willow-leaf eyebrows twitched slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"I was indeed angry earlier, but I've figured it out now... I've come up with a solution."
"A solution?"
"Never mind, don't worry about it."
Mai waved her hand with a smile, indicating she had spoken out of turn.
After another lunch together, Mai expressed her intention to leave.
"Come here for a moment."
Roy beckoned her over.
Curious, Mai approached him, only for him to tap her forehead with a finger.
"Though this is based on our agreement, I'll inform the Zenin clan that from now on, you belong to me. They won't dare trouble you again. This is for your protection—your cursed energy included. Practice with it more later..."
As he spoke, Roy engraved a second technique into Mai's mind.
Her brain had limited capacity, only able to bear two techniques at most—like most people. Those who could handle three were exceptionally gifted.
For now, Roy couldn't enhance her innate Construction Technique as he had with Maki, so he settled for imprinting a second technique.
"A second technique? And this is my cursed energy...?"
Mai tentatively tested it, staring at her hand in stunned disbelief.
She looked utterly bewildered, as if wondering whether she was living in a fairy tale.
Her cursed energy, unremarkable in offense, now provided formidable defense. Just by releasing a thin layer, she could easily deflect bullets.
A second technique? It seemed like a fantasy.
Even without the family's mission, receiving such a gift was an incredible windfall.
After Roy warned her not to reveal the second technique for now, Mai left the attic in a daze, overwhelmed by what had happened.
Once Mai was gone, Roy also left Jujutsu High.
He headed to the prison under the higher-ups' jurisdiction, where he found the imprisoned Kokichi Muta.
The sight was truly pitiful.
To have lived like this for seventeen years—Roy couldn't help but feel sympathy.
Still, pity aside, Roy had no intention of freeing him. Providing so much intel to Kenjaku had earned him this punishment.
After healing Kokichi's body and completing their binding vow, Roy left the prison.
"Roy, come to my office."
Upon returning to Jujutsu High, Masamichi Yaga sent him a message.
Roy went to the attic where the principal's office was located and met with Yaga.
"You needed me for something?"
"There are a few things I'd like your opinion on."
Yaga sat at his desk, carefully stitching the exterior of a half-finished cursed corpse with needle and thread, utterly absorbed in his work.
"This attack on the Tokyo Jujutsu High led by Suguru Geto has resulted in the loss of several important cursed objects from the Cursed Warehouse, including six of Sukuna's fingers and the first three of the nine special-grade cursed wombs. Did you find any clues during your fight with that special-grade cursed spirit? For instance, what exactly are they trying to achieve?"
"Frankly, even if we knew their goal, is there really any way to stop them?"
Roy let out a light chuckle, his face showing a hint of amusement.
"...I have a bad feeling about this."