Chapter 59: Sakiko, I'm Accelerating
"I'm truly sorry, I got it wrong."
Togawa Sakiko's face was flushed crimson. It turned out she had been mistaken once again.
In her elementary school days, she and a former friend had a similar experience, where she mistakenly thought someone was about to jump in front of a train.
That girl was physically frail, so Sakiko had been able to push her to the ground.
This time, it was Sanguinius-sensei. Since he was a boy, she couldn't push him away and could only hold on tightly.
Hikigaya Hachiman briefly explained, clearing up the misunderstanding.
He felt quite amused, yet helpless, that he was mistaken for attempting suicide. He had only been trying to use his eyes to confirm the Cursed Spirit's location, thinking it inappropriate to use Cursed Techniques in public.
For a Space Marine, whose honor is paramount, there is no path of suicide.
Hikigaya Hachiman wondered why Togawa Sakiko had suddenly embraced him.
"I am so very sorry."
Togawa Sakiko's face was still a little red, and she apologized again for her earlier offense.
There are simply too many people who commit suicide in Japan.
Early morning (so as not to inconvenience others), wearing a suit (to be stylish before death), right next to the railway tracks—plus, He was an artist.
Artists, after all, are like this; they are under a lot of pressure. If their work is unsatisfactory or not as good as before, they can easily take extreme measures.
To Togawa Sakiko, Sanguinius-sensei seemed to be stacking up reasons to worry, making it difficult not to jump to conclusions.
It had been truly dangerous just moments ago. The train tracks were right beneath them, and a light rail train would pass soon. That's why when Togawa Sakiko saw his body practically half-way over the railing, her mind went blank, and she immediately rushed over without thinking.
But the fundamental reason was Hikigaya Hachiman's height of nearly 1.9 m was misleading. He only slightly leaned his head out, but to Togawa Sakiko, it looked as if he had leaned out half his body.
"No, thank you, Miss Togawa."
Hikigaya Hachiman, who had just been played by Gojo Satoru, actually felt better after this misunderstanding from Togawa Sakiko.
"At the very least, you rushed over out of concern for my safety."
Hikigaya Hachiman noticed that Togawa Sakiko's knees were bleeding, the blood tracing down her calves. She must have scraped against the railing nearby when she rushed over in a hurry.
The girl's skin was naturally very fair, and the bleeding wound was quite startling, making it hard not to notice. Seeing this, Hikigaya Hachiman subconsciously licked his lips.
The scent of blood made the girl's fragrance sweeter, but Hikigaya Hachiman quickly suppressed the urge in his heart.
"Miss Togawa, you're injured."
Because Togawa Sakiko had rushed over so quickly, her backpack and the breakfast she had barely eaten were still lying on the ground nearby.
"Oh, it is."
Reminded by Hikigaya Hachiman, Togawa Sakiko looked at her knee and noticed a clear, bleeding wound.
She hadn't noticed it before, but the sudden pain of the wound made her involuntarily gasp.
"It's okay, it's just a small scratch. I'll deal with it later."
Togawa Sakiko smiled indifferently. She was much stronger now than she used to be and could force a smile even when injured.
The only thing that made her feel heartbroken was the piece of toast that had fallen to the ground after only two bites. She had just bought it!
Since the payment for the composition hadn't been deposited yet, the frugal Togawa Sakiko would likely have to go hungry this morning.
"I'm just glad you're alright."
After speaking, Togawa Sakiko patted her skirt and prepared to pick up her backpack nearby.
"Wait."
Hikigaya Hachiman naturally wouldn't easily believe her. For a Space Marine, an injury like being cut in half wouldn't be fatal.
But for a mortal, even the tiniest wound can become severely infected by bacteria.
"Miss Togawa, let me treat your wound quickly."
Hikigaya Hachiman saw her hesitation.
"No, really, it's fine."
Togawa Sakiko quickly waved her hands.
"There's no need to worry about such a minor injury."
Of course, the main reason was that she was a girl and he was a boy, which made her feel slightly awkward.
In this regard, Hikigaya Hachiman was more assertive than her.
"It will be over quickly."
The only way to handle a girl who acts tough but is inwardly vulnerable is to be even more assertive than she is.
"Don't move."
Togawa Sakiko felt a moment of panic when she saw Hikigaya Hachiman squat down in front of her skirt.
After all, having a tall boy squat in front of her made her feel a little shy.
But she didn't expect him to stand up quickly and tell her,
"Done.
It shouldn't leave any scars. It would be a pity for such beautiful skin to be scarred."
"That fast?"
It was too fast and too sudden, leaving Togawa Sakiko a bit incredulous.
She hadn't even felt any physical contact, yet it was fixed?
Hikigaya Hachiman nodded.
"The treatment is complete.
Just wipe off the blood later."
For a scratch that only broke the skin, Hikigaya Hachiman could use the Reverse Cursed Technique for repair incredibly fast.
He even took the opportunity while the girl was checking her wound to retrieve the backpack she had dropped in her panic.
The breakfast had fallen out of its packaging. He just tidied it up and threw it away.
Togawa Sakiko could clearly see that the wound on her leg was completely healed.
If it weren't for the blood, she might have thought the injury was an illusion.
"Magic? No, this is the Reverse Cursed Technique!"
Togawa Sakiko suddenly recalled a possibility that was virtually impossible but undeniable given that it had happened right in front of her.
Although the Togawa family was small, they still had basic knowledge of Jujutsu.
The Reverse Cursed Technique is an application of Cursed Technique even more difficult to master than the ultimate [Domain] that Sorcerers pursue, as it converts negative Cursed Energy into positive. She had heard her seniors say that the Sorcerers Association only had one Sorcerer who could use the Reverse Cursed Technique to heal others.
That person should be a woman.
"Yes, it is the Reverse Cursed Technique."
This was somewhat unexpected for Hikigaya Hachiman. Logically, an ordinary high school student like Togawa Sakiko shouldn't know specialized terms like [Reverse Cursed Technique].
"Is Sanguinius-sensei a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Realizing she sounded like she was prying into his identity, Togawa Sakiko instinctively apologized.
"Because I work at the Sorcerers Association, I know a little bit."
If an ordinary person works at the Sorcerers Association, it can only be logistics. They are definitely not "Windows" who can see Cursed Spirits, so she must be a call-taker.
Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly remembered that when he first met Togawa Sakiko, he felt that her voice was particularly familiar.
So, Hikigaya Hachiman tentatively asked,
"Customer Service Sakiko?"
These simple four words instantly caused Togawa Sakiko to break out in a cold sweat.
No, I only mentioned working at the Sorcerers Association.
How did the teacher almost name her employee number?
"You are..."
Since he recognized her, the teacher must be a Sorcerer she had dealt with before.
Seeing Togawa Sakiko's reaction, Hikigaya Hachiman knew his conjecture was correct.
He extended his hand to the girl and smiled.
"Let's properly reintroduce ourselves. My code name from the Sorcerers Association is 001. This is our first meeting in person, isn't it?"
Although Hikigaya Hachiman didn't have a good impression of the Sorcerers Association, he was very friendly toward his dedicated call-taker. It felt like finally meeting a battle-brother who had been providing convenience from the shadows.
"001."
Togawa Sakiko's golden eyes widened. 001 was the highest-grade Sorcerer assigned to her by the Sorcerers Association, with the highest priority level.
Togawa Sakiko was required to report every word and instruction the person said over the phone to the Sorcerers Association.
Afterward, she even had to write a psychological status analysis report, assessing 001's mood at the time.
Although Togawa Sakiko's clearance level prevented her from obtaining any information about 001, it didn't stop her from knowing his power.
Every time 001 called Customer Service Sakiko, it was a high-grade Cursed Spirit attack incident, at least Grade 1 or higher.
The process was always the same: upon receiving a call about a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, the Sorcerers Association would immediately transfer her to a man named Gojo Satoru to handle the aftermath.
Now, the real Agent 001 was standing in front of Customer Service Sakiko, and she was only astonished.
"My goodness, this is too surreal."
On the surface, Sanguinius-sensei was a best-selling author whose works topped the charts and were popular everywhere.
But his other identity was a Jujutsu Sorcerer who exterminated Cursed Spirits in the dark, protecting humanity with boundless love.
If this situation hadn't actually appeared before her, she would have thought she was watching a Hollywood superhero blockbuster, making it feel utterly unreal.
Having recognized Togawa Sakiko's hidden identity, Hikigaya Hachiman happily invited her to eat breakfast together.
When Togawa Sakiko rushed to save him out of goodwill earlier, her breakfast had fallen to the ground.
A simple slice of bread seemed too meager to Hikigaya Hachiman, even for a high school girl concerned about managing her figure.
Hikigaya Hachiman took Togawa Sakiko to a breakfast shop he always frequented.
It happened to be close by.
Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't recognized where he was when Gojo Satoru first teleported him onto the bridge, but after walking a block, he recognized everything.
Hikigaya Hachiman and Togawa Sakiko sat face-to-face, but appearances were deceiving; his [Izanagi] Cursed Technique had already been activated.
He had rendered one of the Sons of Horus invisible to ordinary people and sent it charging through the streets toward the luxury apartment complex where Hikigaya Hachiman lived.
Hikigaya Hachiman wanted the Sons of Horus to drive his car over.
Although he could swing between skyscrapers like Spider-Man, it wasn't very dignified to do so in broad daylight. So, he used [Izanagi] to dispatch a Son of Horus to drive his car over and park it by the roadside.
This led to a rather amusing sight: a Son of Horus, chin up and chest out, swinging its arms in a charge through a busy city street.
A pink-haired boy sitting by the window with his senpai, eating noodles, watched the scene with a stunned expression.
"What's wrong, Yuji?"
It took a moment for the boy, referred to as Yuji by his companion, to recover from his shock. He said flatly,
"There was an Astarte running in the street just now."
"Don't be silly, Yuji. Even if you're a fan of Sanguinius-sensei, you shouldn't hallucinate while eating noodles."
The average running speed of a Space Marine is 72 km/h, and their sprinting speed can reach 89 km/h.
For a distance of only three kilometers, the Son of Horus reached its destination almost instantly in a sprint.
As for fitting a two-meter-plus tall Astartes into a car, Hikigaya Hachiman only needed to slightly reduce the height ratio of the Son of Horus.
Hikigaya Hachiman could drive back to the apartment to change clothes for school right after breakfast, wasting no time.
The most important thing now was to properly host his guest.
"Sanguinius-sensei, you can just call me Sakiko."
Togawa Sakiko offered proactively.
With their identities mutually revealed, the originally unattainable distance between her and him suddenly became very close.
It felt wonderful, like two old friends who had communicated only through letters for years were finally meeting in person.
"My real name is Hikigaya Hachiman."
Hikigaya Hachiman remembered that he hadn't told Togawa Sakiko his real name last time.
"Sakiko, you can just call me Hachiman."
Hikigaya Hachiman watched the waiter place two baskets of freshly steamed dumpling in front of them. He took two small plates, poured a little vinegar, and handed a spoon to Togawa Sakiko, cautioning her that the soup dumplings contained hot broth, so she should first bite a small hole and let the broth drip into the spoon.
"Miss Togawa, good food needs to be savored slowly, don't rush.
As for going to school, I can give you a ride since it's on my way."
Hikigaya Hachiman immediately saw that Togawa Sakiko didn't want to inconvenience him, so he spoke directly.
"We won't be late. After all, I have to go to school too."
"Hmm?"
Togawa Sakiko suddenly reacted to Hikigaya Hachiman's words.
"School?"
Are you a student?"
The main reason was Hikigaya Hachiman's overly serious and adult demeanor, which made Sakiko quite surprised to realize he was the same age as her.
"Yes, I am a student at Shuchiin Academy."
Hikigaya Hachiman nodded.
"If you want to see my student ID, I might need to go back home first."
Togawa Sakiko shook her head. She didn't think he would use such a reason to deceive her.
She was simply too shocked that behind the titles of powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer and best-selling author was a high school student.
She was starting to feel numb.
Was there anything Sanguinius-sensei didn't know how to do?
Hikigaya Hachiman continued,
"Haneoka Girls' Academy is on the way to Shuchiin anyway, so you don't have to worry about me going out of my way."
"Then I appreciate the trouble."
Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head.
"It's no trouble. We're comrades-in-arms on the same front, aren't we?"
"'Comrades-in-arms' is a bit of an exaggeration."
Togawa Sakiko worked in the rear as administrative staff, and the danger level was incomparable to the Sorcerers fighting on the front lines to exorcise Cursed Spirits.
She often felt inferior in her daily work.
This was the first time someone had called her a "comrade-in-arms." This feeling of being acknowledged made Togawa Sakiko's heart tremble, and she was even flattered.
But Togawa Sakiko immediately shook her head, not accepting the compliment.
"I'm just a messenger."
"No, Sakiko, your work is very important.
As long as it's for the eradication of Xenos, no job is unworthy of respect."
Even though the number of Astartes in Hikigaya Hachiman's time was incredibly exaggerated, they were still a drop in the bucket when dispersed across every domain of the vast Imperium.
The far more numerous Imperial Guard were also the main force, and the presence of the Solar Auxilia, in particular, provided greater convenience for the Space Marines.
Sakiko's job was more like that of an Astropath, serving as the communication bridge between Hikigaya Hachiman and the Sorcerers Association.
"Everyone is working towards a better future for humanity. There is no such thing as noble or ignoble work.
I am very grateful to you."
It was somewhat amusing to Hikigaya Hachiman that Sakiko was Customer Service Sakiko.
No wonder when he called customer service the last time he encountered a Curse User at that company, someone else answered.
It turned out that Sakiko had taken the day off specifically to attend the finals. If Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't used Sakiko's song, she would have been doing customer service work while crying that night.
Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't forgotten that the girl playing the piano that day had swollen, red eyes.
Togawa Sakiko was quite surprised to receive such a solemn reply from Hikigaya Hachiman.
"So Sanguinius-sensei has always thought that way."
It was a fact that the Sorcerers Association was short-staffed. Togawa Sakiko sometimes had to take calls for other Sorcerers, and not all of them were as gentle as him.
Many used a condescending tone to order Customer Service Sakiko around, and if the Sorcerers Association's support was slow, the verbal abuse was quite severe.
Especially when dealing with those surnamed Zen'in; they were a bunch of irritable old guys, and Customer Service Sakiko could easily become Self-Isolated Sakiko.
Customer service work truly makes one humble, but Customer Service Sakiko couldn't afford to be proud. She needed this job badly to support her useless father.
Togawa Sakiko truly understood after entering society that money is a person's backbone; without it, one can't move an inch.
She had virtually no job satisfaction, and due to her pride, Sakiko couldn't share the discomfort of her job with others.
So, this was the first time Togawa Sakiko had received professional validation from someone else, and the first time she felt that her work was appreciated by others.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I lost my composure."
Togawa Sakiko rubbed her aching nose.
"Have some sweet, iced soy milk."
Hikigaya Hachiman simply inserted a straw into the iced soy milk and handed it to her.
Why worry so much? Better to eat more delicious food.
"And this fried dough dipped in this seafood soy sauce is incredibly fresh.
the savory tofu pudding is good too. Have some."
Togawa Sakiko saw Hikigaya Hachiman push these items toward her and knew he wanted her to turn her sorrow into appetite.
"Sensei, that's too much. I haven't even finished my dumpling; I can't eat any more."
Feeling cared for, Togawa Sakiko's previous distress and bitterness were replaced by a wave of warmth.
"Sensei truly is a good person..."
When she first met him at the Shirogane residence, Togawa Sakiko's first impression of Hikigaya Hachiman was that he was a very serious heir to a prominent family, rigid in his ways, and someone who would exploit those working for him terribly.
But now, she realized she had been truly shallow. Her teacher was a very warm person full of empathy. Togawa Sakiko, hit by her past boomerang judgment, felt very ashamed.
No wonder the Shirogane siblings next door got along so well with him.
With Hikigaya's encouragement, Customer Service Sakiko felt that her job wasn't so depressing after all.
"I'll get it."
Hikigaya Hachiman saw Togawa Sakiko trying to pay and preemptively insisted on paying himself.
Although he said they ate their fill, most of the food ended up in Hikigaya Hachiman's stomach; Togawa Sakiko wasn't a big eater.
Considering the neighborhood, the bill of around ¥1,800 was acceptable for both of them.
While the two were eating breakfast, the loyal Son of Horus had already made the round trip and parked the car safely by the roadside.
The key was in the car. Hikigaya Hachiman pulled the door handle, and the door opened.
"Sakiko, I need to go home quickly to change into my school uniform. Could you wait for me in the car for a moment?"
Togawa Sakiko felt slightly strange. Had she seen this car parked by the roadside earlier?
However, this confusion quickly disappeared. Maybe she had simply overlooked it before.
"Okay, no problem."
Sitting in the seat of a luxury car after a long time, the comfortable cushioning made Sakiko narrow her eyes, but her feminine composure prevented her from doing anything unseemly.
Togawa Sakiko had lived as a rich girl for a long time. To be honest, the car Hikigaya drove was quite understated; a higher-end Cullinan would have been more fitting for his status.
But Hikigaya Hachiman's Range Rover SVLWB, with 615horsepower and a V8 engine, was still quite expensive.
Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't driving very fast, but the three-kilometer distance wasn't long, and he could soon see the luxury apartment complex where he lived.
When Togawa Sakiko saw the apartment building from afar, her pupils constricted, clearly remembering something.
Just then, Togawa Sakiko saw the person she least wanted to see on the street far ahead, seemingly captured by a "strong gravitational field."
She must be walking to a nearby station, which had a transfer stop to Tsukinomori Girls' Academy.
However, the traffic light only had five seconds left. This meant that if Hikigaya didn't get through the intersection, Togawa Sakiko in the passenger seat might be spotted by the person crossing the street through the front windshield.
Togawa Sakiko broke out in a sweat just imagining what might happen then.
Hikigaya Hachiman also saw Nagasaki Soyo. Wearing the white Tsukinomori Girls' Academy school uniform, she stood out remarkably in the crowd, making her hard to miss.
Hikigaya Hachiman, who is very sensitive to others' emotions, perceived that Togawa Sakiko was inexplicably uneasy. Thinking he was driving too fast and making her uncomfortable, he slowed down.
"Sensei... can you speed up and rush through this intersection?"
Togawa Sakiko hadn't wanted to say anything, but she found herself unable to resist speaking, even though the lead car, Hachiman, was already stepping on the brakes.
"Please..."
Looking at those eyes and hearing the almost pleading tone from beside him, Hikigaya Hachiman quickly gave an answer.
"As you wish."
Hikigaya Hachiman saw there were two seconds left before the light turned yellow. He immediately switched to Sport mode and slammed the accelerator down. The supercharged V8 engine responded instantly!
The dashboard momentarily displayed a fuel consumption rate of 41 liters per 100 kilometers.
"Hold tight, Sakiko. I'm accelerating."
As soon as he spoke, Togawa Sakiko's body, which had been leaning toward Hikigaya Hachiman, was instantly pressed heavily against the seatback by the sudden force of acceleration.
Outside, onlookers saw the black Range Rover, which was almost stopping, suddenly let out a loud roar, startling them.
With the driver flooring the gas, the hood of the Range Rover visibly lifted violently, and the streamlined body shot through the intersection like a black arrow, rapidly disappearing from the street.
Togawa Sakiko looked at the rapidly retreating scenery around her, like memories she desperately wanted to forget slowly vanishing.
Watching Hikigaya Hachiman calmly steer the wheel with one hand, although her rational mind told her she was likely being affected by the suspension bridge effect.
Togawa Sakiko's heart, which had been pounding rapidly since the acceleration, felt for the first time that a boy could be so cool.
"Sakiko?"
Nagasaki Soyo, who had been staring at her still-unanswered chat window, was startled by the sudden noise and looked up.
But when she suddenly looked up, she saw a familiar blue figure on the car that flashed past so quickly she thought it was an illusion or a double image.
Just as Nagasaki Soyo couldn't win back Togawa Sakiko in the past, Togawa Sakiko still did not want to see her today.
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I'm happy to announce a new Fanfiction!
Danmachi - Emiya becomes the protagonist
Shirou Emiya awakens on the 18th floor of the Dungeon and is brought back to Orario by the Loki Familia.
Can Shirou becomes a Hero in this World? (No Bell)
Read ahead (40 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting