Chapter 35 – Not Suitable, We're Too Familiar
After dinner, once Maki and Mai had gone home, the house grew quiet—leaving only Zen'in Shinsuke and Tsukumo Yuki.
Shinsuke leaned back on the sofa, flicked on the TV, and asked casually:
"So… what brings you back this time?"
Normally, Yuki never returned without a good reason. After all, it was overseas where she hunted for answers—why were sorcerers so rare outside of Japan, and why did curses manifest there so much less?
The ratio was staggering: domestically, sorcerers made up 99% of the population, while overseas only 1%. The ratio of curses mirrored it.
If she could solve that puzzle, maybe she could tackle the very root of curses themselves.
But instead of an explanation, Yuki kicked off her shoes, sprawled sideways across the sofa, and shot him a teasing look.
"Obviously, I came back to see if you'd gone rotten without me. And maybe catch up a little—what, that's not allowed?"
Shinsuke's expression didn't twitch.
"Don't say things like that. We're adults. You're pushing thirty—you don't need to sound like a teenager."
"…!" Yuki puffed her cheeks, glaring at him with wounded pride.
"Can't you just play along once in a while?"
He didn't bother answering. Childish antics weren't his thing.
"…Fine. Honestly, I just wanted to see you. And check if Jujutsu High has changed at all."
She sat up, folding her legs under her, propping her chin on one hand as she studied him.
"What do you want to know? I'm teaching there now. Think of this as me giving you a report."
"Never thought I'd see you working for them," she muttered, lips curling.
The idea clearly annoyed her. That institution was rotten in her eyes—more concerned with preserving its balance of power than saving the world.
"Each of us takes what we need," Shinsuke replied flatly.
"Funny you say that. You know, if you'd taken him under your wing, Geto Suguru might not have fallen so far."
Her voice sharpened.
"Instead, he's out there burning himself up, swearing to kill every non-sorcerer alive. That's what your precious system gave him."
Shinsuke's expression stayed calm.
"That was his choice. Even without me, he would've walked that path eventually. Maybe even something worse. All I did was make him choose sooner."
She had been surprised, yes, but not shocked. The easiest way to "save the world" was also the most brutal—and Geto had chosen it. Without power above special-grade, it was a doomed road. Unless he recruited Gojo. Or her.
Neither option seemed likely.
Shinsuke smirked faintly.
"If we're playing the blame game, you're not innocent either."
"…!" Yuki shot him a sharp glare.
He chuckled. "Truth is, no one's innocent. Not Gojo. Not you. Not me. The fault isn't with one person—it's with the world itself."
He switched off the TV and stood.
"Get some rest. It's late."
With that, he left for his room. Fortunately, the house he'd seized was big enough to spare a guest room.
Watching him disappear, Yuki chewed her lip. Maybe… this is my chance.
After today, she couldn't ignore it anymore. If she didn't act now, maybe someone else would steal him away.
Twenty minutes later, the house had gone quiet. Yuki showered, slipped into a light nightgown, and crept out of her room barefoot.
She tiptoed to Shinsuke's door—only to find it locked.
Her face twisted in outrage.
What's that supposed to mean? He's actually guarding against me?!
For the record, Shinsuke was completely innocent—he always locked his door on weekends, because without fail, Mai or Maki (usually Mai) would barge into his room at dawn.
But Yuki didn't know that. All she saw was rejection.
"Oh, you're going to keep me out?" she muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Not tonight."
A thread of cursed energy slipped into the lock. Click. The door swung open without resistance.
Pathetic. Did he really think a lock could stop a special-grade sorcerer?
She eased the door open, slipped inside, and closed it behind her, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. Flawless.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The lights snapped on.
Shinsuke was sitting upright on the bed, staring at her with cool, unimpressed eyes.
"…Ah!" Yuki nearly jumped out of her skin, clutching her chest as it heaved dramatically.
"You scared me!"
Shinsuke's expression darkened.
"This is my room. Why are you asking me why I'm here?"
"…Fine." She huffed, cheeks burning. "Cards on the table: I'm here on purpose. I thought I was obvious enough already, but do I really have to spell it out?"
Caught red-handed, Tsukumo Yuki dropped all pretense. Hands on her hips, chin high, she looked every bit the shameless rogue.
Tonight, no excuse, no obstacle was going to stop her. She'd been eyeing this man far too long—she wasn't leaving without sinking her teeth into this prize.
"You…"
Zen'in Shinsuke's gaze turned complicated. Until now, he'd always assumed Yuki was just teasing him, playing her usual games. He never thought she actually meant it—never thought she'd be serious enough to corner him like this.
And now, she wasn't even bothering to hide it.
"…We're not suitable."
"Not suitable?" She puffed out her cheeks. "You haven't even tried! How do you know we're not suitable?"
She arched her back, pressing forward as if to prove her point.
"Am I not beautiful?"
"You are."
"My figure not good enough?"
"It's good."
"My strength too weak?"
"You're strong."
"…Then it's the money, isn't it? You look down on me because I'm broke!" Yuki blurted, panic flashing in her eyes. "Fine! I'll work harder, earn more—I'll let you live off me for the rest of your life if that's what it takes!"
"…That's not it."
Shinsuke rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. He wasn't concerned about money. Ever since he'd quit gambling, he hadn't cared about wealth—so long as he had enough to get by.
"Then why?" Yuki demanded, stamping her foot. "Where exactly am I not good enough?"
After a long pause, Shinsuke averted his eyes, scratching at his hair like a man embarrassed to admit something ridiculous.
"It's just… we know each other too well. I'd feel awkward making a move."
"Eh?" Yuki froze, stunned. That's it? That's the reason?
She actually lost to… familiarity?!
So this was why childhood friends always lost to newcomers—too close, too comfortable, too familiar.
"…I don't care!" she snapped, face flushing red. "If you're too embarrassed, then I'm not!"
With that, Yuki threw herself forward, tackling him onto the bed. In one motion, she slapped the light switch off and leaned close, her voice dropping into a soft, mischievous purr:
"See? With the lights out… we're not familiar anymore."
Shinsuke's first instinct was to push her away—but before he could, something warm and damp pressed against his lips.
His hand, frozen stiff at first, slowly settled against the curve of her back.
It was the first time he'd ever been forced into such a passive role.
As expected of her… a woman who never played fair.