Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

Three hours later.

Ayase and Kirino stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Ahhhhhhh... Doesn't this jerk senpai ever take a break? T-three hours... isn't he tired at all?" Kirino cried out exasperatedly, running her fingers through her messy waist-length light brown hair.

Ayase's face turned scarlet as her thoughts raced.

'Don't books say that even ten minutes is incredibly impressive? How can this senpai keep going for so long! Is Iroha really going to have to live in this kind of place until graduation?' A hint of worry appeared in her eyes.

It was painful enough that her beloved senpai didn't know her feelings. For Iroha to have to live in such a terrible environment every day...

This... isn't it too cruel? Someone with a fragile spirit would probably break down crying, right?

"Kirino, do you think Iroha might do something rash?"

Because the master bedroom's bed wasn't big enough for three people, Ayase and Kirino were staying in the cleaned-up second bedroom.

After her question, Kirino's face showed hesitation.

Judging by the food situation in the fridge, Iroha was probably in too deep. The senpai she yearned for day and night was now doing that kind of thing with someone else.

She didn't dare imagine how heartbroken her friend must be.

"Should we check on her? If she's really upset, we should comfort her. Even though this senpai is good at cooking, he's way too much of a player. We can't just stand by and watch Iroha sink into this pit."

The two exchanged glances, strengthening their resolve.

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In the dark master bedroom, Iroha remained completely unaware.

Her ear was pressed firmly against the wall as she strained to listen.

'...Why does this wall have such terrible soundproofing!'

There she was, a cute junior, pressed so ungracefully against the wall.

It was outrageous enough that she was eavesdropping on her jerk senpai and some mysterious woman, but the wall's poor soundproofing made everything sound muffled.

Two hours earlier, she had been lying in bed, silently cursing her senpai.

Through the distance, she caught fragments of conversation — words like "Jujutsu Sorcerer" and "transfer ability". These made her realize that whatever the two were doing wasn't simple.

Suspecting deeper meaning, she desperately wanted to hear more clearly.

Even holding her breath didn't help — the sounds remained intermittent, and the strange woman's speech was unclear.

As the sounds became even harder to distinguish, she had no choice but to get up and press her ear tightly against the wall.

"Daiki... when can... comprehend..."

The unclear words made Iroha grit her teeth in frustration.

If the soundproofing was good, it wouldn't keep her up at night — and if it was bad, she should at least be able to hear clearly!

Thud!

The wall suddenly vibrated, making the eavesdropping girl jump.

After that came more of the same fragmented, unclear words.

'Is this woman leaning against the wall?' Realizing something, Iroha's face reddened as she muttered, "Shameless."

She must be another one who fell for that jerk senpai's tricks after just a few sweet words.

"When this ends... will be able to comprehend... ugh ugh..."

The voice suddenly stopped.

This made the eavesdropping Iroha clench her small fists.

'What are you 'ugh ugh'-ing about? What can people master? Tell me!' She was dying of frustration from the conversation next door.

Angry, she raised her delicate foot to kick the wall. But her small toes accidentally hit the edge of the bedside table.

Bang!

Sharp pain shot from her toes straight to her brain.

"Ow... I forgot to wear shoes — it hurts so much. Damn you senpai, I'll remember this grudge." Clutching her foot, tears streamed down Iroha's face from the pain.

It was painful enough that senpai was with another woman. Now, up in the middle of the night eavesdropping, she'd hurt her toes too. Her luck lately had been absolutely terrible.

Why did senpai always prefer other women? Wasn't she cute enough?

She had even subtly expressed her feelings last time, but he...

Pouting with dissatisfaction, she pressed her ear harder against the wall. This time she caught fragments about "Black Flash" and "can really use it".

Just as she was about to hear more clearly, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Click!

White light illuminated the master bedroom as Ayase and Kirino concernedly pushed open the door.

They found Iroha pressed against the wall, eavesdropping, with clearly visible tears in her eyes.

"..." The eavesdropping girl's face froze.

The atmosphere in the master bedroom suddenly became awkward.

Would Kirino and Ayase think she had some weird fetish?

"Iroha, you..." Ayase fell silent as she stared at those glistening tears.

Pain! It was just too painful!

Her heart being torn apart, yet still eavesdropping with tears in her eyes — Iroha's heart must have been crying out, begging that strange woman to take it slow.

Don't let her beloved senpai exhaust himself, right?

Ayase covered her nose, overwhelmed by how pitiful the scene was.

Though this behavior was unsettling, what else could she do? They were best friends after all.

Kirino stood silent, reminded of that NTR game she'd bought because of its cute little sister characters — the one whose content had left her unable to eat for three days straight.

She imagined Iroha must be feeling exactly as she had back then.

Kirino held back Ayase, who was about to speak, her expression grave.

"Let's give Iroha some space." With that, she tugged her friend's arm and pulled the bedroom door shut.

Creak!

The master bedroom door closed.

The eavesdropping Iroha's eyes grew wide as her voice rose to a shriek.

"Wait, no! You've got it all wrong! I wasn't — I mean, I can explain!" The newly-aware girl's face flushed crimson.

Her cheeks burned as she realized what Ayase and Kirino must be thinking. Those pitying looks they'd given her before leaving...

It was a devastating blow to her little devil pride!

Forgetting all about eavesdropping, she scrambled to her feet to chase after them. If she couldn't clear this up, her reputation would be ruined forever.

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Next door, Mei gently brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair from her cheeks. She collapsed powerlessly on the floor, ignoring the pool of water gathered there.

Her hands formed loose fists as she punched the air with Cursed Energy.

۞ Black Flash! ۞

Boom!

Black lightning exploded forth.

The Black Flash — a technique ordinary Sorcerers couldn't deliberately use — had just manifested. Its strike force could even be adjusted according to the Cursed Energy output.

Even the money-obsessed Mei was momentarily dazed.

What an absurd reality!

The effects of Hundred Teachings were beyond ridiculous. Daiki's striking techniques could be taught to others with remarkable ease.

"Daiki-kun, I've been wanting to ask something. Can your Innate Technique enhance my Cursed Energy? Not just that — my physical strength is much greater than before." She stared intently at him.

If her guess was right, what Daiki represented was terrifying.

"Indeed it can enhance, with no upper limit, and grant Eternal Youth too."

"Like the effects of an immortality spring?"

"Mm." Daiki helped her up from the floor.

His casual explanation left the blushing Mei dumbfounded.

Didn't this mean that as long as they maintained their current lifestyle, even an ordinary Sorcerer could become a Grade 1 Sorcerer at worst!

Or rather, a Semi-Special Grade Sorcerer. The threshold for Special Grade Sorcerer was understanding one's Domain Expansion.

While Hundred Teachings couldn't awaken her Domain, it could raise her Cursed Energy to the required standard. Combined with her ability to regularly use Black Flash, she had already surpassed Grade 1.

Mei let out a deep breath, her gaze toward Daiki growing more intense.

"Does Daiki-kun have any other techniques that rival Black Flash?" Her tone was gentle and charming — enough to make one's blood boil.

"No." He replied with a casual glance.

His decisive answer made Mei pout.

She refused to believe he only knew how to use Black Flash normally. This guy had way too many secrets and treasures hidden away.

"Then please help me increase my Cursed Energy some more, Daiki-kun?" She pleaded in a soft, sweet voice, putting on her most pitiful expression.

Seeing this, Daiki's interest was piqued, and he began the Yin-Yang Primordial Method once again.

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