I immediately opened my mouth to persuade him.
"Suguru. Just listen to me..."
"I know what you mean. You're probably worried that I'll get my heart broken. I understand. But there will be far more good non-sorcerers who know nothing than bad non-sorcerers who hurt me."
"..."
Suguru Geto seemed to have finished his own line of thought.
"I'll keep chewing on what you said, too. If I do, there might come a day when I feel that you were right. If that happens, my beliefs will change as well."
'Was it too short a time to change Suguru's mind yet? I'll talk to him enough to annoy him in the time we have left. He'll probably feel something himself as he carries out missions.'
I nodded and said.
"Alright. I respect your thoughts too. But... never mind. Let's hurry back and rest. Suguru."
I held back because I thought it would be rude to add more words to Suguru, who had finished organizing his thoughts. Suguru smiled softly as if he understood my feelings and said.
"Thank you. For worrying about me. You really are kind, Touya."
"Don't mention it. Tell me anytime you need help. Don't rot alone inside if you're having a hard time."
Having finished our conversation, silence ensued as if we were organizing our thoughts, and as we walked using the conversation coming from behind as white noise, we arrived at Jujutsu High before we knew it. We immediately headed to the dormitory building, exchanged brief greetings, and returned to our rooms. I took a shower right away and lay down on my bed.
'It's not quite time to sleep yet, but... I need to organize my thoughts a bit.'
Suguru is too delicate and upright. The more he is like that, the easier he is to break. If he thinks of non-sorcerers merely as objects to protect, I will help him from the side so he can change his mind. Just how evil can the weak become? Suguru doesn't know that.
'Since it's only my second day meeting Suguru anyway. My words probably won't resonate with him. I'll stop thinking about that for now... Maybe because a lot happened today, but I'm getting sleepy now that I'm lying down...'
Having washed my body and eaten dinner, I fell asleep right away despite the early hour without any hesitation.
Maybe it's because I went to bed early, but I woke up when it was pitch dark.
"Ugh... what time is it? 12:30? I still need to sleep more..."
Despite the fact that I should be sleeping more, perhaps because I had already slept for 4-5 hours, I didn't fall back asleep right away. Thinking I couldn't stay like this, I went outside to get some fresh air.
'The night air is nice. It feels like it's been a really long time since I wandered around outside at this hour.'
As I walked around like that, I found a place where the lights were on in the main school building, and I headed there as if possessed. As I entered the dark building, it felt a bit like an abandoned school from a ghost story, so my heart pounded a little. By the time my eyes got used to the darkness, I found the place where the light was on.
Checking that someone was there through the gap in the door where the light was leaking out, I knocked and opened the door.
"Is anyone there?"
Then, it was Shoko Ieiri, wearing glasses and sitting at a table, who was inside.
"What the. It's Touya. What are you doing not sleeping?"
"Shoko. Why are you here at this hour? I woke up from sleeping and couldn't fall back asleep, so I took a walk and came here because the lights were on."
Then Shoko gestured toward the door. When I checked again, the word "Infirmary" was written on the front of the door.
"As for me... they said a sorcerer doing a mission came back hurt. So I treated them."
'Aha. Shoko did say she resides in the infirmary.'
"Ah... you must be tired. Have you been here this whole time?"
"No. I was resting in my room, but Yaga-sensei called for me. He told me to go to the infirmary."
"The treatment is all finished, then."
"Well, they weren't heavily injured. It didn't take long. So, since I couldn't sleep either, I was studying medicine."
Thick major textbooks were laid out in front of Shoko. I pulled out a chair and sat next to Shoko. Then, Shoko adjusted her posture to face me and said.
"Why are you sitting down? Aren't you going to sleep?"
"I told you. I woke up from sleeping and can't fall back asleep. If it's the same for you, let's chat."
I said, resting my chin on my hands on the table and smiling. Then Shoko smirked.
"Well, if you want. What time did you sleep that you're awake now? At this awkward hour."
"I washed up and lay down right after eating earlier... around what time was that?"
Shoko tilted her head as if thinking for a moment, then said.
"Around 7-8? You must have been tired. If you fell asleep then."
Nodding, I thought about the things that happened today.
"Is it because of the mission? Nothing special happened. I guess I was just tired. What do you do when you rest in your room, Shoko?"
"Why are you curious about that?"
Shoko looked at me warily, covering her body.
"No, it's just... small talk. Why the sudden..."
When I stuttered in fluster, Shoko laughed out loud.
"Ahaha... my stomach hurts. Is this why everyone teases you? Your reaction is really funny. It's worth playing jokes on you."
I sighed and said.
"It was a joke? And here I was... thinking about what I did wrong to you."
"Ah, that was fun. By the way, what do you think about Gojo?"
"Satoru? Satoru is... a good friend. I only found out she was a girl yesterday, so I'm still adjusting, but her personality is the same as when we were young, so it's just comfortable. Whether male or female, the fact that she's my friend doesn't change."
Shoko let out a nasal sound and said.
"Hmm... is that so? Well... I get it."
'Why did she ask? Her reaction is lukewarm too. Well, does it matter?'
"Shoko. Aren't you tired after using Reverse Cursed Technique? It requires even more precision to treat others."
"Well. Of course I'm tired. But it's something I have to do every day from now on."
After thinking for a moment, I voiced what I had only been thinking in my head.
"Umm... hey Shoko. If you use Reverse Cursed Technique on others, does it relieve their fatigue too?"
Shoko's eyes went wide at my question, and she said.
"Why? You want to try? I've only thought about it; I've never actually tried it."
"If you use it on yourself, since you're using cursed energy, your wounds will heal but fatigue will accumulate, but I wondered what it would be like if you used it on others."
"I am curious. Should we try it?"
"I'll do it for you. You're tired, right?"
As I brought out the power of the Round Deer, it felt like horns had formed on top of my head. I carefully placed my hand on the head of Shoko, who was staring at me blankly, and used Reverse Cursed Technique.
"How is it? Shoko? Does it feel like your fatigue is relieved?"
Then Shoko stayed blankly with a flushed face before answering hurriedly.
"Y-yeah! My fatigue is completely relieved. It definitely relieves fatigue. This is nice."
"Really? That's good. Next time you treat a lot of people and get tired, tell me. I'll help you anytime."
When I said it with a smile, she nodded stiffly and then jumped up.
"Ah! Now that my fatigue is relieved, sleep is suddenly pouring in. I'm going to sleep first!"
"Huh? Uh... suddenly like this? Good night, Shoko."
She snapped the book shut with an unnatural posture and left the seat immediately; I saw her off and stood there blankly.
'What is this? Her fatigue is relieved, but sleep is pouring in?'
I couldn't understand it, but since I also had to go back to sleep, I turned off the infirmary lights and returned to my room.
'Reverse Cursed Technique also has a fatigue-recovery effect. I should do at least this much so Shoko doesn't get dark circles.'
Thinking that, I fell asleep feeling a bit proud.
Shoko, who hurriedly opened the door and came out, slid down to the floor, leaning against the door.
"What's with that face from earlier... seriously, shouldn't you hold back a little?"
Shoko's face as she said that was as red as a tomato. Shoko, covering her face with her hands, mumbled.
"I still have a long way to go to get used to that face... don't tell me this guy... didn't he know I was here and came here on purpose to seduce me?"
It was a statement from which one could deduce what kind of existence Touya was in her mind.
"I can't let that happen... I absolutely won't fall for it. Mmhmm. No, no."
Shoko, who was nodding and making such a resolution, remembered the feeling of her mind clearing up perfectly from earlier.
"Ugh... still, I want to receive that again... Even if I use Reverse Cursed Technique on myself, I only get tired; I've never felt anything like that."
Shoko, who was groaning and agonizing, pushed through with her will.
"Let's endure it... If I really can't, I can just receive the Reverse Cursed Technique and immediately run away."
Having made such a resolution, Shoko returned to her room and lay down to fall asleep immediately. Though it was difficult to fall asleep because of the face that kept popping up in her mind. Tossing and turning, Shoko eventually fell asleep only after 2 AM.
At that time, in the Zenin mansion,
Naoya Zenin, who was sleeping while tightly hugging her brother's pillow, flinched and opened her eyes.
"What the. That feeling just now. Don't tell me Brother seduced someone again. Just how many is this already? It's only been two days! Ugh... I miss Brother..."
It is said that Naoya also had a sleepless night due to a different reason.