The Zen'in estate.
Zen'in Naobito returned ho and his first announcent was explosive: he declared Fushiguro gumi the heir to the Zen'in family headship. The declaration imdiately provoked outrage among several clan mbers.
"Head of the family, isn't this decision a bit too hasty?"
Zen'in Jinichi, Zen'in Ogi, and Zen'in Naoya — all special-grade sorcerers — crowded around Naobito, demanding he revoke the order.
"If he were to take the Zen'in na, I might tolerate it," Jinichi said, face hard. "But if Fushiguro inherits the house, what becos of the Zen'in clan?"
They didn't doubt gumi's talent or bloodline — his lineage was valid — but that surna… it was sothing they simply couldn't accept.
"If that brat becos head, won't the Three Great Families turn into the Fushiguro clan?" Ogi spat, hugging his long blade while shooting a glance at Naoya. Under normal circumstances, Naoya would have been the frontrunner for succession — he would not calmly watch the family headship slip to an outsider.
"Father, I wouldn't object if Shinsuke-san beca family head, but gumi… that's just wrong," Naoya said, looking at Naobito with thinly veiled skepticism.
Naobito took a sip of his drink and smiled faintly. "It's decided. If you have problems with it, go talk it over with Shinsuke and his brother."
"I refuse!" A sharp feminine voice cut in from the doorway. Maki barreled into the room, followed closely by Mai. Mai's face was anxious; she clutched Maki's sleeve and whispered, "Sister, calm down. Don't be impulsive." Though bolder than before, Mai still trembled quietly in front of their elders.
Everyone in the hall froze at Maki's sudden charge.
"What are you two doing barging in? This concerns the family head — who gave you the right to speak?" Ogi snapped at his daughters. If those two hadn't failed to show talent for so long, the old head's succession might have gone to soone else entirely. Mai bowed her head; Maki rely shot her father a contemptuous look and turned to Naobito.
"I demand a new selection for family head — and I want to be a candidate!" Maki's voice rang out. When she left the family, she swore she would return as the next head. Even if her rival was gumi, she would not give up so easily.
Two seconds of stunned silence followed. Then a burst of laughter erupted — loud, incredulous, full of scorn. Naoya collapsed to the floor laughing, clutching his stomach; the room was a chorus of ridicule.
"You really think you're Shinsuke-san?" Naoya mocked. "Don't confuse being his pupil with becoming his equal. Shinsuke-san is one of a kind — you think rely being fortunate enough to be his student makes you the sa level?"
"Stop embarrassing yourself, Maki. Leave now." Ogi hissed.
"Wait — I agree with this!"
After laughing for a while, Zen'in Naobito suddenly slapped his knee — a good idea had struck him.
"Huh? Second Brother, you can't be serious about this!" Zen'in Ogi blurted out, looking alard.
Naobito waved him off with a grin. "Since all of you have so many opinions about the next head, let's do things the democratic way this ti."
He leaned back in his chair, his tone casual but decisive.
"The next head of the Zen'in clan will be chosen through strength.
We'll hold the contest one year from now. Anyone with Zen'in blood can participate."
It wasn't the right mont for an imdiate succession — the clan was still unstable — so Naobito set the date for a year later. If everyone wanted the position so badly, then they could earn it the only way that mattered in the Zen'in family: through power.
That way, no one could complain once it was settled.
"Tch... that actually sounds reasonable," Ogi muttered, folding his arms in thought. This thod was brutal but fair — and it ant he had a good shot himself.
"I've got no objections," Zen'in Jinichi said, nodding.
"Neither do I," Naoya added, smirking before turning to Maki. "Rember that, Maki. You've got one year. When the ti cos, I'll show you the gap between us — and between you and Brother Shinsuke."
Maki rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot."
With that, she took Mai by the hand and stord out of the hall.
She had one year.
One year to beco stronger than anyone in the Zen'in family — no matter what it took.
She would fight for the position of clan head with everything she had.
Outside, Mai sighed. "Sis… do you really want to beco head that badly? We're doing fine now, aren't we?"
Though her power had grown, she still didn't quite understand Maki's obsession. Being a jujutsu sorcerer was enough — why fight for a title?
"Fine? You call this fine?" Maki shot her a glare. "You want them to keep mocking us for the rest of our lives?"
Mai pouted. "So what? Just ignore them."
Maki groaned. "I didn't say you had to beco clan head, did I? Just focus on your own training — and hurry up with that sword I told you to forge."
Ever since Shibuya, after wielding the fully ard cursed arsenal, ordinary weapons no longer satisfied her.
She wanted her own complete arsenal.
And the only one capable of crafting it was her genius little sister — Zen'in Mai.
"Ughhh, are you trying to kill ? Making cursed tools of that caliber will take half my life!"
"Then get stronger," Maki shot back. "Otherwise, I'm not waiting for you."
"You—!" Mai's eyes widened in outrage.
First Maki abandoned her for Tokyo Jujutsu High, and now she wasn't even pretending to be nice!
Fine then!
"Listen up, Sis!" Mai declared, puffing up her chest. "I've decided — I'll beco the head of the Zen'in clan too! I'll compete with you!"
Her tone was fierce and proud, her determination burning bright.
She would grow stronger — stronger than anyone in the Zen'in family!
She would rise above them all, beco the head, make everyone kneel before her — even her sister!
…And maybe then, her brother would have no choice but to stay ho and play with her every day.
Maki blinked, staring at her sister with a puzzled expression. Then she reached out, touched Mai's forehead, and frowned.
"No fever… huh. So why are you talking nonsense?"
"…"
Mai could only glare in stunned silence, while Maki walked ahead, pretending not to see her pout.
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