It was summer at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Summer vacation should have been a time for students to be off and schools to be closed.
However, this rule clearly did not apply to Tokyo Jujutsu High.
The birth of Cursed Spirits is closely related to people's negative emotions.
Summer, with its intense sunlight and unbearable heat, yet the need to work hard, is clearly a season when negative emotions run high.
Those who can enjoy air conditioning in an office are ultimately a minority.
Most are ordinary people who have to work outside without high-temperature subsidies.
Every season, Eichi would recall his past life, working under the scorching forty-degree sun in the south.
In such conditions, it would be strange if negative emotions were not high.
"This takes care of it. Also, welcome back."
Inside the Tokyo Jujutsu High office, Masamichi stamped and filed the documents Nanami submitted.
"Thank you, Principal Yaga."
After realizing at Tokyo Jujutsu High that being a Jujutsu Sorcerer was garbage, Nanami chose to enter society.
However, after realizing that workplace labor in society was even more garbage, Nanami chose to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer again.
As Nanami once said, "Since it's all garbage, I might as well choose what suits me better."
This heartfelt sentiment from a corporate slave naturally became one of his classic quotes.
"Do you need some time to adjust?" Masamichi asked with concern.
He had been away from the Jujutsu world and living in general society for four years.
Even for a talented sorcerer like Nanami, his skills would surely have declined.
Moreover, due to the reasons for his previous departure, his return required a reassessment of his rank.
However, this was not a problem for Nanami, who was talented, steady-minded, and diligent.
According to the original timeline, three years later, the year Okkotsu Yuta enrolled, Nanami was already a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
He even set a new record for consecutive Black Flash during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
That record lasted for about a year before being broken by the athletic Itadori Yuji.
"Thank you. I am ready," Nanami said with a serious expression.
"Is that so? Then I will assign you your first task now." Masamichi closed his eyes slightly, then opened them again, his tone grave.
"Please tell me."
Nanami looked equally serious, prepared to step straight into battle to exorcise Cursed Spirits.
"Go to the Tokyo Jujutsu High zoo temporarily set up on the training ground and take good care of the children there."
Masamichi suddenly raised his voice, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"Yes. Huh?"
Nanami had just responded loudly and was ready to head out when he froze in place.
Tokyo Jujutsu High zoo. Take care of children.
"That…" Nanami extended a hand toward Masamichi, unsure where to begin.
"You heard correctly. This is Tokyo Jujutsu High's most urgent and important task right now. Do you have the confidence to complete it, Jujutsu Sorcerer Nanami?"
Masamichi adjusted his glasses, his expression solemn.
"Yes, Principal Yaga."
Under the amused gazes of two people outside the door, Nanami, full of confusion, arrived at the training ground that felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
It was familiar because he had spent four years here.
During that time, they had often sweated and bled on this field.
It was unfamiliar because there really was a zoo here.
This looks somewhat like Eichi's shikigami, but much smaller. And what is with these children? Has Tokyo Jujutsu High started offering elementary and middle school services now?
Looking at the small, cute animals in the field and the little girls playing with them, Nanami silently observed the six children, five girls and one boy.
No, four girls and two boys.
Although he could not quite grasp the situation, the reliable adult still walked down the steps and began patrolling the training ground.
"Be careful, cat…"
Nanami stopped mid-sentence.
This is Tiger Funeral, right? Even if it is smaller, this is definitely Tiger Funeral.
Why would they let Tiger Funeral play with two little girls?
Are Eichi and Principal Yaga not afraid the girls will get hurt?
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
Maki, who had just picked up Tiger Funeral under its forelegs and handed it to Mai to pet, looked at the adult who had suddenly appeared and spoken only half a sentence.
"Nothing."
Nanami shook his head.
"I just wanted to remind you not to be too rough. If you hurt the tiger, I mean the cat, it will bite you."
He adjusted his glasses and spoke seriously.
"I know. You're so annoying."
Even so, Maki's movements became much gentler.
"Mai, don't be scared. Look, that suspicious adult even said it's a cat, not a tiger. Come on, touch it. It feels really nice."
Encouraged by her sister, Mai carefully placed her hand on Tiger Funeral's fluffy head.
"Wow, it really is smooth."
"Right?"
It had to be said that Mai, who had not fallen into mental exhaustion and become a tsundere due to Maki running away from home, was indeed very cute.
Just like when she was little and cried after being frightened by a harmless Grade 4 Cursed Spirit.
But it did not matter. Even if she was not forced to grow stronger, her sister would always remain by her side to protect her.
Anyone who dared to bully Zen'in Mai would have to face the wrath of the second-generation Heavenly Restriction.
Unlike the cheerful sisters, Nanami fell into an existential crisis for the third time in a short span.
Suspicious adult. Suspicious adult. Adult.
The mature and reliable Nanami felt as though his own Ratio Technique had struck his heart.
Shaking his head, he carefully avoided the hopping Rabbit Escape and approached another pair of children.
"Everything seems fine here."
He nodded.
"Wait. Is that a panda? Why does Tokyo Jujutsu High have a panda?"
Nanami fell into deep doubt.
Could it be that Principal Yaga was serious about building a zoo? With Satoru and Eichi around, it is entirely possible. Although Eichi is not as mischievous as Satoru, he would not refuse Satoru's suggestions.
Nanami felt he had uncovered the truth.
"I see. So it is a Cursed Corpse."
After observing for a while, he finally identified the panda, which was being held by a little girl with a pacifier stuffed in its mouth.
After confirming that everything was in order, he walked toward the Fushiguro siblings.
Yuta and Rika paid him no attention. After standing nearby for a moment, Nanami quietly left.
The two were happily playing house with the baby panda.
"Yuta, the baby is hungry. Hurry and get the bottle."
"Bottle, coming right up."
Yuta immediately picked up a drink bottle serving as a milk bottle and handed it to Rika.
"Our baby is so cute, Yuta."
"Mm. Rika is too."
"Oh, Yuta."
Rika lightly punched the smiling Yuta, both happy and shy.
At that moment, Masamichi was hiding behind a tree not far from the training ground.
That is my baby. Mine.
He could only shout in his heart.
After Rika saw him holding the panda, she had bombarded him with pouting and cuteness until he could not refuse.
In the end, after agreeing to let her "take care" of the panda for a while, he immediately regretted it.
But regret was useless.
He had already agreed.
Now, he could only hide at a distance and watch anxiously, afraid the two children might accidentally hurt the panda that had only recently been born, the one he treated like his own son.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)