"Eh?!"
Yotsuya Miko flinched, realizing how suspicious her reaction must have seed.
She quickly shook her head, waving her hands in denial.
"I-I didn't see anything! Your house is completely fine, Miura-san!"
Yuko exhaled in relief.
"Good. Don't scare like that."
"Relax, Yuko."
Ryuu took a sip from his drink, then leaned back on the couch.
"The most basic cursed spirits are born from negative emotions."
His voice was calm, analytical.
"They like places where that kind of energy lingers—schools, hospitals, abandoned buildings… places where people suffer."
He set the drink down.
"But they usually don't enter hos. Not unless sothing attracts them—or unless soone in the house has a strong attachnt to them."
"Eh?!"
Miko's eyes widened.
That's not how it worked in her ho.
"Wait," Yuko frowned.
"You're saying her house might be attracting them?"
Miko nodded hesitantly.
"There's… one in my house."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"It's… big—bigger than a person. It looks like so kind of dog… and it's always lurking there."
Yuko stiffened and took a sip of water, trying to process that information.
Even though she couldn't see them, the thought alone was chilling.
If she were Miko, she probably would've lost her mind by now.
Ryuu exhaled.
"Normally, spirits shouldn't just stick around like that unless there's sothing—or soone—keeping them there."
Miko hesitated.
Then, as if gathering courage, she spoke softly.
"...It's not just that one."
Ryuu raised a brow.
Miko's fingers tightly gripped her sleeves.
"I've also… seen my dad. And my little brother."
That caught Ryuu off guard.
"Your brother?"
Miko nodded.
"But… they look different. Not like other spirits. They look… normal. Human."
Ryuu's gaze sharpened.
"That's connected, then."
Miko's shoulders tensed.
"As long as cursed spirits exist in your ho, it'll always attract more of them."
His voice lowered slightly.
"That includes… things pretending to be people you know."
Miko's breath hitched.
Her fingers trembled.
Ryuu studied her expression.
"...So? What do you want to do?"
Miko swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
Then—
She bowed deeply.
"Natsukawa-san, please help !"
Her golden eyes shone with desperation.
"I don't care what it costs! Any reward is fine!"
Miura Yuko's expression tightened.
Even she, who wasn't afraid of much, felt uneasy hearing that.
She couldn't imagine what kind of stress Miko had been under all this ti.
So, for once—
She softened.
"If Ryuu can help, then he should."
"I never said I wouldn't," Ryuu replied smoothly.
Then, he raised two fingers.
"You have two options."
Miko listened intently.
"The first—"
"I deal with your current problems. The shrine's curse, the spirits in your ho—all of it. But your eyes? They can't be changed."
"You'll still see them. Forever."
Miko's stomach sank.
Her hands tightened into fists.
"...What's the second?"
Ryuu smirked.
"The second is the sa as the first—except I train you to handle things yourself."
Miko froze.
"Wait… train ?"
"You've already got so natural talent."
Ryuu leaned back, his eyes gleaming.
"If you learn to control it, you might not be so helpless anymore."
Miko's breath shuddered.
The idea of learning to fight back…
It wasn't sothing she had ever considered.
For so long, she had just been pretending not to see.
Trying to survive.
But if she kept running forever…
Would things ever change?
"...I-I'll take the second option."
Her voice was quiet but firm.
Yuko blinked in surprise.
"Wait—does this an she'll beco a Jujutsu Sorcerer?"
Miko hesitated.
"A… what?"
"A Sorcerer is soone who can see cursed spirits and fight them."
Yuko turned toward Ryuu.
"That's what this is, right?"
Ryuu studied Miko for a mont.
Then, he sighed and shook his head.
"She has so innate energy, but her technique is… different."
He glanced back at Miko.
"If anything, you're more of a support type."
"But you'll at least be able to defend yourself."
Miko shifted awkwardly.
"...One more thing."
Ryuu raised a brow.
Miko bit her lip, then looked up.
"Why does the Mountain God want dead?"
"The Mountain God?"
Ryuu snorted.
"You an that cursed spirit disguised as one?"
Miko's eyes widened.
"But… they saved !"
"They gave three protections!"
"Yeah. In exchange for your life."
Miko's stomach twisted.
"W-What do you an…?"
Ryuu leaned forward.
"So spirits need rituals to strengthen themselves."
He tapped a finger against his temple.
"They granted you three protections. That was the contract."
"Help you three tis—then claim you as their own."
Miko's hands trembled.
"Your dreams?"
"They aren't warnings."
Ryuu's voice lowered.
"They're… previews."
"Of what'll happen when it cos to collect."
Miko felt sick.
So that's why the fox gods turned into monsters in her dreams.
It wasn't just a nightmare.
It was real.
She was going to die.
"That thing's nothing more than a glorified curse spirit."
Ryuu smirked.
"And now that I know it's after you…"
His crimson eyes flashed.
"I'll make sure it regrets it."
Miko stared at him in shock.
Yuko, on the other hand, simply crossed her arms.
"Yeah. I'm never going to a shrine again."
She shook her head.
"Seriously, though… why does everything happen to this unlucky girl?"
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