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-----
As Hanami activated their Domain Expansion, the barrier rapidly began spreading outward.
Yuta, who was the closest to Hanami and even the other students who were a bit far from the two of them saw the walls of the barrier expanding and pulling them inside as well.
They tried to run away, but the speed at which the domain was expanding was far too high for them to run away.
'No choice!'
Megumi gritted his teeth and did a hand sign.
[Rabbit Escape]
A large horde of rabbits erupted out of Megumi's shadows.
Some of them were within the domain's range, but quite a lot of them were summoned out of the domain.
"Get someone!"
Megumi knew very well how domains worked and how lethal they were.
If all of them were trapped in there was a high chance that all of them would die within the domain.
They needed someone who could either break the domain from the outside or someone with an anti-domain technique to come in and neutralise Hanami.
'Either Naoya nii-san or Gojo-sensei will work. Just hurry!'
Megumi placed his hope on the two special grades, unaware of the fact that the two of them were busy at a different location.
As these thoughts ran through Megumi's head, the barrier of the domain finally closed.
-----
Inside Hanami's Domain:
The students found themselves standing in a boundless, serene field completely blanketed in millions of beautiful, brightly colored flowers and lush plants under a warm, glowing sky.
One look at this place and anyone would think it was nothing more than a picturesque paradise that they would want to enjoy every day.
However, the harsh reality of this place was different.
[Domain Expansion: Shining Sea of Flowers]
The innate domain of the Disaster Curse Hanami.
Born from humanity's collective fear and hatred towards nature, the domain's scenery showcased the reality of what a beautiful world could be without the existence of human exploitation.
Usually, this domain was used in tandem with [Life Sacrifice Blast].
The life energy CE laser was the Sure hit effect of the domain, and anyone within direct contact with the domain would have been constantly attacked by the laser.
However, Hanami's current mission was getting rid of Yuta Okkotsu, who they theorized to become a dangerous individual if left to grow any longer.
Yuta Okkotsu's durability against the CE blast earlier showed Hanami that the sure hit effect won't be enough to take him down on time, especially when they were so injured that they couldn't even move.
However, through their battle with the children, they knew that they had a technique in their arsenal that was highly lethal against Yuta Okkotsu.
[Curse Devouring Buds]
Before deploying the domain, Hanami changed the sure hit effect of their domain with the Cursed Buds.
Because of that, every student inside the domain had been brought to the ground with countless cursed buds stuck to their bodies and growing out.
Yuta and Rika had it worse as their massive CE reserves were working against them, and the buds were growing and damaging them rapidly.
Yuta was using [RCT] to keep his condition normal, while Rika was actively trying to pull the buds out of Yuta, though as she pulled one out, a new bud would manifest and latch onto Yuta.
All of them were in a relatively similar condition.
Maki and Mai were faring slightly better than the others.
They had the least CE, and the buds weren't damaging them as much, but they, too, had far too many buds attached to them that they couldn't even move properly.
Mechamaru's robot attachments were clogged by buds, making him remain motionless as well. He wasn't in any pain since his real body wasn't present, but the puppet was struggling to stay intact, making him unable to help others.
Overall, the students were in a really helpless state.
Megumi was glaring at Hanami's healing, cursed body.
'...I will have to-'
Megumi's hands started to move.
Though the moment he raised his hand, wooden roots shot out of the ground and restrained him.
[Enough of your tricks.]
Hanami's voice rang in Megumi's head.
Hanami focused on Megumi and Yuta.
Both of them were the most problematic ones of the bunch. Both of these need to be killed.
While all of them were struggling, there was a single person with the domain who was relatively better than the others.
Kasumi Miwa, who was quick-witted enough to have activated her [Simple Domain] before the domain closed down, was not damaged by Hanami's technique at all.
Miwa looked at everyone around her; her friends were all severely injured.
She herself was not affected by the sure hit effect, but her [Simple Domain] was not over the other students to protect them from the domain's effect.
[So, one of the children is capable of rendering the sure hit effect void.]
Hanami's voice rang in everyone's head.
[...How unfortunate though...the one who is left to fight and save you all...is so weak.]
As those words entered everyone's mind, Miwa's thoughts sank.
No one actively said out loud, but it was the fact that she was probably the weakest student in both schools.
[A less than impressive CE reserves, and judging by how silent you have been when the other joined in on the attack earlier, I believe that you aren't strong enough to contribute... probably a weak or no technique at all as well...I apologise if I have hurt you, child, but that is what I have estimated about you. You will die today, but you can be at peace that you will die with your friends beside you, and your death will be beneficial for the earth. So stop struggling and accept your fate.]
Those words were Hanami's form of kindness. They might be cursed spirits, but it was also true that they were the kindest cursed spirits around.
Their mission wasn't to kill all humans. Their mission was to let the world rest long enough so that it becomes the beautiful world it once was, and life can be happy and enjoy it. If they need to replace the humans, then they are willing to do that.
[Just rest in your final moments.]
Hanami said their word and waited for their body to recover.
The students heard that, but none of them was willing to accept that.
Yuta and the others struggled to be free, yet none of their efforts was helping.
Their bodies were in pain, and the roots of the buds were growing deeper and deeper in their bodies.
They were somehow stable thanks to Yuta using [RCT] on both himself and them, but he didn't know how long he could sustain that.
Miwa looked at the scene that was happening and gritted her teeth.
Hanami's words echoed in her head, and all she felt right now was....anger.
-----
Flashback:
Kyoto Jujutsu High:
A few months back, when the new term just started at the Jujutsu High:
Kasumi Miwa was one of the few students who were super diligent with her training.
Except for the days when she was sick, she had never once missed her training. She knew that it was the only thing that was making sure that she became a fine sorcerer. However, even she knew there were limits to her talents.
That day, too, was one of those days when she suddenly started to feel down after having those thoughts.
While she was performing her sword moves, a sudden sigh escaped her lips.
"Kasumi"
Hearing her name being called out of nowhere, her body jolted in surprise.
Miwa clutched her sword tightly and turned around, only to sigh in relief on seeing the person.
"Sensei...don't surprise me like that."
Seeing Naoya present wasn't that surprising since her sensei did guide her from time to time in her training, but the sudden arrival did surprise her.
"Sorry... but why the long sigh and depressed look?" Naoya asked.
Miwa was surprised that Naoya caught that... though she knew Naoya was a teacher who worried deeply about all his students.
"Haha...it's nothing." Miwa scratched her head actively and told Naoya that she was fine.
She didn't want to rant about her complexes and talents to her teacher.
"Really?"
"Yes! You think I am lying?"
Naoya nodded.
Miwa's eyes widened.
How can her teacher not believe her?
"Don't worry. I was just thinking, how hard do I have to train to get a promotion recommendation from you?"
"Huh? I ain't giving you a recommendation."
"...Huh? WHY?!?!"
"I mean, we teachers can't recommend our own students. That's a rule."
Miwa's mind was blown away at the revelation. Who will give her a recommendation now?!
"Why the hurry for promotion? Take your time for those things."
"A-Ah....well, I want to raise my rank as fast as possible...hehe"
"Why, though?"
"....I want to earn more. I have two brothers at home that I need to raise, and my family is not affluent... if I can become an independent sorcerer soon, then I will be able to earn more, right?"
Miwa explained her situation.
"Is money the only reason?"
"H-huh...I mean, it is the major one."
"Kasumi, if your goal is to get into a good-paying career as fast as possible, then I can offer you a nice job at one of my businesses....it will be far better than risking your life working as a solo sorcerer, and you would be able to look after your family better."
"E-Eh? I mean, I am grateful for the thought, but I don't want to trouble you, sensei."
"No troubles at all. It's better than dying just because you are chasing money...you are not suited to be a solo sorcerer, so I'd better stop my cute student before things get too late."
"...Not suited to be a solo sorcerer...is it because I am too weak?"
Hearing Naoya's words, Miwa gave a helpless smile. Even Naoya believed that she was not strong enough.
"Ha...Haha...Hahaha, I understand what you mean, sensei. I am not physically gifted like Todo-senpai, I don't have massive CE reserves like Mechamaru, I don't have an amazing technique like Mai, I don't have a good background like Kamo-senpai... in the end, I am just the usele-"
Before she could finish, Naoya landed a solid chop on her head.
*BONK!*
"OW!"
"What the hell? Making me the bad dude on your own? When the hell did I call you useless and compare you to anyone?"
Naoya scolded with an annoyed look on his face.
Miwa's eyes started to tear up, not because of the pain....well, maybe somewhat because of the pain too, but the emotions that she had been carrying within her for so long, threatened to burst out as tears.
Noticing her expression, Naoya sighed and grabbed her by the collar before he forcefully made her sit on the ground.
Naoya sat down as well and looked straight at her.
"No physical training today. Right now, your mind needs more help than your body. First of all, take this."
Naoya took out a handkerchief and placed it in Miwa's hand.
"Cry, and let all those things that you have bottled up within you out. I am sitting with you and will listen to everything you want to say."
Naoya told Miwa with a serious look on her face.
Miwa looked at the handkerchief in her hand, yet hesitated. Her thoughts were in a mess, and she was unable to decide what she should do.
Though all that confusion eased up a bit when she felt Naoya patting her.
"I don't think I am such a distant person to you that you would regret telling me your feelings. Just cry it out and lessen the burden, okay?"
Miwa remained still for a while before she started bawling and telling what had been on her mind.
Her family troubles, her worries for her and her family's future, her career as a sorcerer, her shortcomings, weaknesses, and many more things.
She continued to ramble for a while, and the tears kept coming out as well.
After she was done saying her mind and stopped, she looked up at Naoya.
He was looking straight at her with a fond and caring expression.
"So much in such a little head of yours...damn..."
"Ugh...I know I am not that smart, but that is rude*sniff*"
Naoya shook his head. He knew that Miwa knew that it was not what he meant.
"First of all, let me make things on my part clear first."
"I didn't call you a bad fit for a solo-sorcerer because you are weak. I told you that because you are the kind of girl who works best when you are working with your trusted ones. Sure, you might not be the strongest out there, but there is no denying that you don't work hard to not get behind others."
Naoya let that digest before he continued.
"As for the other thing about asking you to look for a normal career. I only told you that because you told me that your motive for being a sorcerer is money for you and your family. It's true that this job pays nicely, but you need to realise that you will be in constant danger. If money and taking care of your family are your priority, then it's better to get a normal career. Being a sorcerer just for money....well, there are some people like that....But I personally believe that it is the worst reason to be a sorcerer."
Miwa gave a weak nod. She heard Naoya and could understand that he was caring for her, but somewhere in her head, she could still hear the echoing of him thinking that she was weak.
Naoya looked at her reaction and sighed.
"Kasumi....you are a kind girl.....but as long as you are on this side of the world, kindness is worth nothing."
"You mentioned envying Aoi's strength, Mai's technique, Kokichi's CE, Noritioshi's family.... let me tell you as someone who has better versions of all those qualities within me."
"Being kind while even being strong is not worth it. Take it from someone who had to give up most of his kindness because this world started to gnaw in on him."
Naoya then started telling Miwa about his childhood, how he was treated by his family, how he couldn't feel at peace because of assassination attempts, and how even his family members tried to backstab him.
For someone who had all those benefits that Miwa mentioned, Naoya's life was not peaceful, easy, or kind at all.
"You are still a kid who has just started to climb the stairs of growth. Be it growth of mindset, growth of your power, or growth in your career. So take these things just like a kid would and enjoy the process. You are worrying about your weaknesses, but others, too, have things that they envy from you."
"Envy from me?"
Miwa asked in disbelief.
"Yup, there are many things to envy from you. You just have to find what that is. For me, I envy how you have such a cool, amazing, kind, and awesome teacher. I never had one like that."
"*Pfft* Haha,"
Miwa chuckled, seeing Naoya praising himself.
Naoya gave back a toothy smile.
"Haa~...okay, I understand, sensei. I wi-"
"Woah, woah, woah, who told you that the counselling is over?"
"Hm?"
"I am the cool, amazing, kind, and awesome teacher. I don't give up until I clear all of my students' worries."
Naoya smirked and pointed at Miwa.
"You are clearly worried about being weak. And let me be frank, you absolutely are right. You are weak!"
Miwa blinked in shock. Was Naoya now dissing her?
"Don't take me wrongly. Being weak is not bad. Knowing that you are weak and not doing anything about it is bad. You train daily, but I will be clear from the start. If that is the only path that you are going to take, then you will be hitting your bottleneck soon."
Miwa clenched her fists.
"You are a highly skilled swordsman....swordswoman, but you lack a certain oomph. As long as you are facing threats at your level, you can somehow manage, but the moment the danger increases, you will fall short. You need to work on that."
"B-But how can I change that?! I don't have any other areas I can improve on! I just can hone my sword! I don't have a CT! I am not strong! I don't have immesne CE! What can I do?!"
Miwa yelled and complained to Naoya.
"True, you don't have all those things. Such a dagger. Whatever will you do without those things to work on? Damn, if only you had something you could work on. Or if only you had a cool, amazing, kind, and awesome teacher who could guide you and tell you ways to get strong. Such a tragedy."
Naoya gave a mock sigh and peeked at her with one eye open.
Miwa's frustration continued to grow as Naoya spoke, though all that vanished when Naoya came to the last part.
...Naoya-sensei had a way she could work on to get stronger.
"Um...Sensei...can you....help me?"
"Glad to~"
Miwa smiled in relief. Naoya wasn't angry with her after she acted like that.
"First of all, we need to change that overly kind head of yours. We can't have that much kindness if we need to get stronger."
"Eh?!"
"What are you acting surprised for? Let me tell you something. A sorcerer who is super strong and totally sane does not exist. If you want to get strong, you need to be a bit screw loose. Being kind is nice, but nice doesn't cut it. I told you how much of a shit I got in because of that."
Miwa nodded. Naoya's story really tells her how messed up this world could be, even for the super-strong ones.
"I-I will work hard...to be crazy?" Miwa questioned at the end.
"Not crazy. A bit messed up."
"I will work hard to be messed up!"
"Good! Say it again!"
"I will work hard to be messed up!"
"With Passion!"
"I WILL WORK HARD TO BE MESSED UP!!!"
Miwa got on her feet and yelled out loud.
Naoya smiled seeing her getting out of her sad and depressed feelings.
"Good, now then let me tell you ways to get that "I will f*ck you up" power."
Miwa gave a nod.
"You know about Binding Vows, right?"
Miwa gave a nod. She was familiar with them, after all, her simple domain works on her self-imposed Binding vows.
"Binding Vows are kind of contracts you make with the heavens. However, what you need to know about is how Binding Vows are connected to Jujutsu." Naoya started and took out a notebook and a pen from his shadows.
"Jujutsu is centred around Cursed Energy, and Cursed Energy is made up of negativity that we have all over the world for anything. Binding Vows can be imposed with Cursed energy as well. Mostly, we use CE as collateral for Binding Vows."
Miwa nodded. She already knew that.
"However, that is not all you can put as collateral."
"For better or worse, the heavens are kind of sadists. Binding Vow contracts made with heaven are always better when you are limiting yourself in one way or another. You are familiar with your lack of movement in the simple domain. You give something, and you gain something. That's the gist of it."
Miwa nodded, though she didn't know that she would ever hear someone call the heavens a sadist.
"If we go by that rule. The more f*cked up of a restriction you place on yourself, the more you can ask the heavens for in return. Remember, CE is negative in nature; the more danger you put yourself in, the more the CE will reward you. It is like a deal with a devil."
Miwa thought for a while. She understood what Naoya was trying to say, but she didn't know what she could give up to get stronger.
"I don't have much to give up anyway...all I have is this sword....the best I can think of is giving up my sword..." Miwa mumbled.
"Bzzt! Wrong thinking. You won't get the 'I will f*ck you up' kind of power with just that."
"Eh? Even giving up on the sword, my future is not enough?"
"Are you putting yourself in huge danger by giving up your sword. For all I know, you can just use a different weapon to fight. The vows are sadists, not idiots."
Miwa hung her mouth open. What could she do now?
"That is the reason why you need to be less kind. You need to be messed up in your head to put yourself in a kind of danger that will entertain those sadists."
"...But-"
"No buts. You will get messed up in the head and put yourself in danger to get stronger."
"...That is not something a caring teacher should say!!!"
"Too bad! Your teacher is a strong sorcerer and way too messed up in the head."
Naoya laughed out loud and patted Miwa's back.
Miwa wondered whether it was all right to trust this process.
"Don't worry. Just believe in me who believes in you. I am not one to give false hopes. You will get strong. And when the next time some calls you weak or ridicules your CE, CT just use this spell that I am telling you."
-----
Back to the present:
Miwa was looking at Hanami with anger.
"Hey, cursed spirit!"
Miwa yelled out loud.
The students glanced at Miwa, and so did Hanami.
"I might not have too much CE or a CT...I might even look weak to you...But you know.....my sensei taught me a spell for these situations."
Hanami looked at Miwa and shook her head.
It is the struggle of the weak. A thing that is very common in nature.
Miwa ignored that gesture and took a different stance from her usual one.
"F*ck Cursed Energy!"
Miwa held onto her katana.
"F*ck Cursed Technique!"
Hanami's non-existent eyes started to widen. The CE within the weak child was getting stronger.
"and F*ck YOU!!!!"
Cursed Energy erupted out of Miwa, and her Simple Domain expanded rapidly.
Within seconds, a Simple Domain with a 50m wide radius surrounded Miwa.
All of her friends who were in the domain's sure hit effect were suddenly inside a totally separate Domain that stopped that.
Still, the buds were still damaging them, they were still not out of tr-
Miwa took a deep breath and yelled out loud.
[Ittou Shura!!!!!]
Miwa's figure blurred as she vanished from her spot.
A moment later, most of the overgrown buds that were attached to the students were sliced apart.
Hanami and the students looked at the scene with their eyes widened in shock.
Miwa looked at her friends.
"I will hold the curse back for a while. Do hurry up, though. I don't have much time."
With that, Miwa rushed towards Hanami.
Hanami, who was still not completely healed and was surprised by the sudden burst of power in the weak child, was unable to react to Miwa.
Miwa's CE reinforced katana struck Hanami's torso, and the force behind it sent them flying.
The sword didn't slice in, but the force was enough to send them flying.
Miwa took a deep breath and looked at her friends and then at Hanami.
She calculated the distance she could move to not have her friends out of the domain and rushed towards the airborne Hanami.
Appearing directly behind Hanami Miwa, slashed their still reforming body, causing a chunk of the non-reinfroced part to be sliced off them.
'Hurry up and heal up, Okkotsu-san!!!' Miwa thought.
------
Binding Vow: Ittou Shura
It was a binding vow that Miwa placed on herself after thinking a lot about what she could give up.
She didn't have much to give up to gain the tremendous power she wanted.... so she decided to give up everything she had.
Once per day, she can bet all her CE, stamina and vigour to be burnt up for 1 whole minute.
It meant that once that 1 minute was over, she was totally defenceless to all forms of danger and was unable to protect herself as well.
But that was the kind of entertainment that the heavens wanted to see.
In that 1 minute when the binding vow is active, Miwa's output skyrockets and her CE reserves shot up temporarily as well. Her limitation of not being able to move with her Simple Domain active is also lifted, and the Simple Domain itself is strengthened. The reinforcement from CE is supercharged as well.
Overall, for one full minute, Kasumi Miwa becomes a genuine top-tier Grade 1 sorcerer.
The time limit was dangerous, especially against dangerous enemies....but that's how messed-up a sorcerer should be to get strong.
-----
'This doesn't make sense at all'
Hanami's thoughts were a mess.
Right now, their body was sent flying from one place to another by the weak child they mocked earlier.
They tried to fight back and attack the girl, but their attacks didn't hit her.
Kasumi Miwa might usually be weak, but her skills were exceptional. Her diligence to train and master the art of swordsmanship has made her quite an adept swordswoman, and now, when her strength is boosted, there is hardly anything that would be enough to stop her.
Hanami saw Miwa rushing towards them once again.
A wave of roots was fired at her, but Miwa easily sliced through them.
As long as the attacks were happening in her [Simple Domain], Miwa had all the awareness of where the attacks were coming from.
A root shot out from her blind spot to restrain her, but Miwa's hand moved automatically to slice that root apart before focusing back on Hanami once again.
Miwa was solely locked in on Hanami.
She didn't have much time, and knew that she wasn't strong enough to end the curse...that job was for someone who was genuinely strong.
'...But that's not something a messed-up sorcerer should think like.'
Miwa knew she couldn't kill Hanami.
...Yet she wanted to prove herself wrong.
I will exorcise it!
Miwa was locked in. She was leaving her brain totally focused on Hanami.
Her friends, the buds, Yuta almost ready to fight back.
None of those things mattered to her right now.
'For this once....I want to be strong!'
Miwa jumped over the wave of roots that appeared in her path.
Hanami was there, behind the wall of roots. They planned that.
To have the child be airborne and not have any chance to dodge their attack.
....However, Miwa knew what Hanami was trying to do.
For the first time in her life.... a feral yet excited grin appeared on Miwa's face.
Without any hesitation, Miwa threw her sword at Hanami with all her power.
Hanami, who was about to attack, was struck by the sword and was disturbed during their attack preparation.
The sword bounced back off Hanami's body, and Miwa caught it once again and had CE pass through it once again and attacked Hanami.
Hanami raised their arms to block Miwa.
But Miwa didn't stop; the attack continued and struck Hanami.
As the attack connected, a spark of blackened, cursed energy burst out.
[Black Flash!]
The sword cleaved through the arms Hanami had raised to protect themselves, and the force that the swing created sent Hanami flying.
"GWAH!!!"
Hanami coughed up purple blood.
The last hit sent a shock through their body.
They looked back at Miwa, who was momentarily lost in herself.
Miwa looked at herself. The sensation she felt just now felt new.....yet awesome.
'Such a weak child could get this terrifying....though too bad...it seems that was the limit.'
Hanami thought as they noticed the excess CE that Miwa showed was starting to fade away.
As if to confirm that, the simple domain started to shrink down as well.
All of the students were now free from the buds, except Rika, who was remaining, and Yuta was about to use the [Cursed Speech Microphone] to get rid of them as well, but they noticed that the domain had started to shrink.
"Ah...I was not...fast...."
Miwa's body began swaying as she fell on her knees. Her body started getting lethargic, and her energy levels started to dip.
At any moment, she could fall asleep, and the moment that happens, the simple domain vanishes and the hell from Hanami's domain restarts.
'It was a good fight...but now it is finally over.' Hanami thought.
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
Out of nowhere, a loud smacking noise echoed throughout the domain. {A/N: Hanami raised a flag.}
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
The thumping sound got louder and more frequent.
*SHATTER!!!*
A shattering noise broke the echoing thumps.
Everyone looked at the sky from where the pieces of the barrier fell like broken glass.
*SHATTER!!!*
Another break in the barrier happened, and this time brought along the reason behind those noises as well.
"Don't worry! You ask why? Because we are here!!!!" Todo declared with an excited smile on his face as he and Yuji jumped inside the domain after punching it through from outside.
"You fool!!! It is a domain!!! You will get hit by the sure hi-"
Mai started to yell at Todo.
"As taught by my Big Brother! The best way to fight a domain is a domain! Brother! Watch and learn!"
Todo declared out loud and made a heart with his hands.
[Domain Expansion-]
------
A/N: You guys don't know how long I have been waiting to write the Miwa chapter. Hope you all like it as much as I liked writing it.
Do stone the fic.