"Yes, yes!"
Fear filled the eyes of all four students. They nodded frantically, only wanting to leave as fast as possible.
"Get lost!"
Todo waved his hand with clear disgust.
The four of them fled as if granted a new life, supporting their trembling companions as they ran away. They wished they had been born with a few extra legs.
"What's your name?"
Ignoring their retreating backs, Todo turned his attention to the uneasy looking boy in front of him.
"Me? My name is Junpei Yoshino… Thank you so much for helping me just now!"
Even though Mukuro had not visibly done anything, Junpei looked in his direction and thanked him as well.
To him, the two of them were together, which meant they were both good people who had helped him.
Rare good people in his life.
"I'm Aoi Todo! I acknowledge your love for Takada-chan!"
Seeing how Junpei had been terrified yet still protected the ticket in his pocket, Todo felt a powerful sense of finding a true kindred spirit.
He was weak and timid, but his love for Takada-chan was so deep. It might not even be less than his own.
This was a friend worth making.
Before he realized it, Todo lifted his head as tears streamed freely down his face.
(This was all Todo's wild imagination. In reality, Junpei simply did not want to waste his mother's kindness.)
"Huh? Why is Todo crying…"
Junpei was completely confused. How did the person who saved him suddenly burst into tears after just introducing himself?
And what did he just say?
Love for Takada-chan? Where did that even come from?
"Listen carefully, Junpei! Whether as a fellow Takada-chan fan or as a man, you must protect what you love with everything you have! And sometimes, asking others for help is nothing to be ashamed of!"
After wiping away his tears, Todo's expression turned serious, with a hint of frustration toward Junpei.
"I will, Todo!"
While he did not fully understand what was being said, Junpei was carried along by the emotion and straightened his back as he answered.
"In public places, you don't need to speak that loudly."
At the back of the line into the venue, Mukuro turned around and reminded them. Many eyes around them had already been drawn over.
"Sorry, Fushiguro-sensei."
Only in front of Mukuro did Todo show a bit of a well-behaved student side.
"Sensei, this gentleman is your teacher, Todo?"
Junpei looked shocked.
From Todo's clothes, he had guessed that he was a student from some high school.
He had assumed the other man was also a student. He never expected him to be a teacher.
A teacher and student going together to a popular idol's handshake event. That felt unbelievably close.
Junpei could not help thinking of the fat pig teacher in his class. If that man had cared even a little about students, maybe he would not have been bullied like this.
"My name is Mukuro Fushiguro. There's no need to be surprised. In our line of work, young teachers are very common."
That was all he said, a simple introduction followed by the truth.
"I see. Hahaha…"
Junpei laughed lightly, still a bit confused, just trying to ease the awkwardness.
After all, "our line of work" did not sound very much like normal teaching.
* * *
The three of them waited in line together. While Todo and Junpei chatted happily, about thirty minutes passed before they finally reached Takada.
(Mai had already gotten bored and gone shopping upstairs.)
"This gentleman looks a bit distracted. Are you feeling down? I hope you'll be happy every day."
When she shook hands with Mukuro and saw that he did not smile like the other men, Takada struck her signature peace sign and offered encouragement.
"Uh… okay."
Mukuro paused for a moment. Before the staff even pushed him along, he released her hand and stepped aside for Todo and Junpei.
In truth, he had just been thinking about whether being a sorcerer made more money than being an idol.
After all, she was earning even from someone like Todo, a grade 1 sorcerer.
"Go on, Junpei!"
Todo, who had been eager to shake Takada's hand, unexpectedly stepped aside and pushed the shy Junpei forward.
"Um, I…"
"You look tired. No matter how life is, make sure you rest well and be kind to yourself. I'll always be here with you."
It was Junpei's first time at an event like this. He barely knew anything about her, and after almost getting beaten earlier, he was so nervous that his words stumbled.
Takada noticed his state and gently took his hand.
As she spoke, she leaned down slightly to meet his eyes and smiled warmly.
Giving fans a good feeling was what she wanted to do as an idol.
"Yes… thank you!"
Feeling Todo's approving gaze behind him, Junpei nodded hard.
'Mom was right. Coming to see Takada really did bring me good luck.'
He felt like he had finally gained his own true friend.
Then came Todo's turn.
As the only real Takada fanatic among the three, his behavior was surprisingly normal. He was just a simple starstruck fan.
* * *
"Junpei! Let's exchange contact info! Next time, we'll go to Takada-chan's meet and greet event together!"
Outside the venue, after regrouping with Mai and preparing to leave, Todo pulled out his phone and waved it in front of Junpei.
"Okay!"
Junpei blushed, happy to have made his first friend.
"Tokyo Jujutsu High, or the Kyoto one. Either is fine. If you don't want to be bullied anymore, you can try going there. Just say I recommended you."
As they were about to part ways, Mukuro suddenly said this.
"Huh?"
The other three froze.
To the outside world, Jujutsu High was said to be just a religious school.
But those words clearly meant he was offering Junpei a path as a sorcerer.
"Morals can't restrain evil people. If you don't want to be bullied, the only way is to become strong yourself."
Todo's help today might actually make Junpei's situation worse later. Mukuro had even considered killing those monkeys outright.
But after thinking it over, this might be a side effect of an unawakened technique. It made Junpei an easy target.
Rather than solving his problems for him, it was better to give him the power to solve them himself.
Junpei had talent for the sorcerer's path. Mukuro was only giving him a choice.
"Thank you, Mr. Fushiguro. I'll think about it carefully."
A serious look appeared on the boy's face.
At that moment, dusk was approaching.
And in the young man's fate, new colors seemed to be quietly taking shape.
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