Chapter 165 — Turning Into a Simp!
Evidently, this was either a visual deception meticulously arranged by someone, or the two people in the other room simply had no idea that their every move was within someone else's field of vision.
Even if Emiya felt a slight sensation of being watched, he merely assumed that a certain elderly man who had recently taken a beating was feeling indignant and was secretly "screen-peeking" to vent his anger. Well, regardless, he had nothing worth hiding, and his relationships were perfectly clean—surely "true gold does not fear the furnace"?
What Emiya hadn't expected, however, was that Miwa Kasumi would actually come to the Tokyo school alone to find him. Had some problem arisen?
For example... a defect in the blade? After all, that was the first time Emiya had forged a Special Grade Cursed Tool with an integrated technique; it was inevitable that some oversight might occur.
If the problem was serious enough, he wouldn't mind reforging a weapon for Miwa Kasumi. It wouldn't take much of his time anyway, and he could view it as strengthening his own faction's power.
The teachers and higher-ups at the Kyoto school had fixed mindsets that were indeed difficult to change, but couldn't the young children still be molded? They hadn't even fully reached adulthood yet. Emiya took a long-term view. Even from a narrow perspective, the Kyoto students would be the main force supporting the jujutsu world and exorcising Curses in the future.
Why not see them as potential allied strength?
Though the reality was slightly different, wasn't Ultimate Mechamaru already on their side? Well, at least the person himself was physically with them, even while the Mechamaru puppets continued their activities back at the Kyoto school.
"So, is there something you needed to see me about?"
After entering the room, Emiya had originally intended to wait for the other party to state their purpose, but he didn't expect Miwa Kasumi to be in such a fidgety state, looking as if she had something to say but didn't dare to. In his memory, Miwa-senpai was quite capable, even holding the position of assisting Principal Gakuganji of Kyoto. Why had she become so hesitant now? Had something serious happened?
"Um, that... well..."
Miwa Kasumi lowered her head slightly and twiddled her fingers. It seemed that only after a massive amount of internal psychological preparation did she finally muster the courage to ask: "I saw there were many other people looking for you, Emiya-kun. Am I... am I interrupting something important?"
"Over there? That matter is mostly settled. Nothing important will be delayed," Emiya replied seriously after a moment's thought.
Mrs. Mitsue was only there to give thanks, and he would have plenty of time to host Miko after he finished here. As for the matter of Rom joining Jujutsu High, he didn't need to worry about it personally. Principal Yaga would surely be extremely interested in an invention that could improve student mission safety and allow the entire jujutsu world to advance—letting them talk it out was for the best.
"Is that so? That's a relief." Hearing this, Miwa Kasumi let out a small sigh.
He was now an official teacher at the Tokyo school, while she was just a student from Kyoto. Not only were their statuses unequal, but Miwa couldn't even see the "taillights" of Emiya's strength in a direct comparison.
How could she dare put on the airs of a senpai?
Most importantly, she had recently accepted a massive favor from him. The price of a Special Grade Cursed Tool was at least several hundred million yen—and they were the type of item that money couldn't buy even if you had it, let alone a tool custom-made for her specifically.
Only someone who has truly experienced that kind of powerlessness can realize how vital such a powerful Cursed Tool is to themselves. It was fortunate she was a Kyoto student; generally, few sorcerers would be bold enough to offend her. Had she been an ordinary independent sorcerer, she might have ended up in a sewer the very next day.
"Actually, I didn't come here for anything specific. I just wanted to express my gratitude to you in person, Emiya-kun. With the help of [Emiyamaru], I've already become a Grade 2 sorcerer!"
"I felt that saying this over the internet lacked weight, so I wanted to come and tell you face-to-face... I even bought gifts!"
Following the direction of Miwa Kasumi's finger, Emiya saw several bags on the floor containing unknown gifts. The price might not have been astronomical, but for Miwa herself, it was definitely a major financial sacrifice.
In the beginning, Miwa Kasumi didn't even have Emiya's contact information; she only managed to get it after the last Exchange Event.
However, due to a chaotic overlap of gratitude, guilt, and admiration, she didn't dare to proactively send a message.
Sending a "Hello" felt too distant; "Have you eaten?" felt too boring; "What are you doing?" felt like she didn't know her place...
After undergoing rounds of encouragement and "interrogation" by her best friends Nishimiya Momo and Zenin Mai, Miwa Kasumi finally chose this "super-strategy" of just charging in directly, conveniently having such a legitimate reason to do so.
On her way to the Tokyo school, she had simulated how to address Emiya in her head hundreds of times, terrified that her form of address might cause him offense.
To put it simply—poor Miwa had completely fallen into the mindset of a "simp" (licking dog).
But there was no helping it. When facing someone they perceive as vastly superior, people subconsciously lower their posture, which over time fosters this modern "simp mindset." The more she thought, the more cramped and afraid she felt. The trepidation in her heart didn't ease; instead, it intensified.
Fortunately, for some reason, the moment she actually saw Emiya, all those emotions softened significantly, preventing her from "imploding." Perhaps it was because just seeing Emiya-kun standing there was enough to make one feel at ease.
"A Grade 2 sorcerer? That's great."
Emiya didn't show any disdain; instead, he sincerely praised Miwa Kasumi's growth.
Most of the time, there is no need for a person to compare themselves with others; feeling that you have made progress is a great success in itself. S
he said she relied on the power of the Cursed Tool, but even if you gave a Cursed Tool to an ordinary person, could they fight a Cursed Spirit? Someone with a "Heavenly Restriction" like Fushiguro Toji also needed Cursed Tools to exert his true strength, didn't he?
"But there was no need to come all this way just to say thanks. Miwa, you must have a lot of daily training to do, right?"
"Training is important, but it's not as important as this..."
"What?"
"Nothing!!"
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