Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Gap Between Sorcerers
After the club's summer camp ended, the group returned to their relaxed and routine summer life. This time, there were no curses, no weird happenings, and no more of Hayashizaki's usual calm.
The summer homework had already been completed, and as long as the daily exercise routine was done, they were free to do whatever they wanted.
"My older brother is just lying on the couch playing games again. Really, he doesn't do anything serious except go out for morning exercise!"
The annoyed voice came from beside him, and Hikigaya Hachiman lifted his gaze from the handheld console to look at his sister standing in front of the couch.
"Being able to spend every day leisurely, that's the whole point of summer vacation."
He paused, then asked, "Are you changing clothes to go out?"
In front of him, Hikigaya Komachi was wearing a light yellow short-sleeve shirt with a denim romper. She had a shopping bag hanging from her arm, and her youthful energy was evident.
"Going to buy groceries. We've run out of food in the fridge."
She raised an eyebrow and shot a cute glare at her useless older brother. "Lazy brother, you should go ask Ijichi-sensei if there are any curse removal jobs for you, so you don't keep hanging around and bothering your adorable sister!"
"But thinking about how you might get hurt, the kind-hearted Komachi has decided to let you stay home and take care of yourself!"
The short-haired girl suddenly smiled playfully. "This line scores big points in Komachi's heart!"
"Yes, yes, my brother is too weak, he can't fight curses, so to avoid getting hurt, he should just stay home," Hachiman said in a mock-serious tone.
Hikigaya Hachiman said in a half-hearted tone, turning his attention back to the game.
"Sigh, I can't even imagine how you will survive on his own once Komachi leaves."
With a helpless sigh, Komachi walked towards the entrance.
"Oh, don't go to any dangerous places on your own, like abandoned buildings or near graveyards."
While playing a game, Hikigaya Hachiman warned her.
"How would I end up in those places just to buy groceries?"
Komachi complained as she sat on the stairs by the entrance to change into her sandals.
"That's good."
After a moment, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly realized what Komachi had said.
Huh? Does that mean I'll be separated from Komachi in the future!?
However, when he realized this and sat up from the sofa, the sound of the door closing came from the entrance.
Komachi, unaware of the impact her casual words had on her older brother, walked straight toward the nearest shopping street after leaving the house.
Once at the shopping street, she pondered what to make for dinner while casually strolling through the area.
At this hour, most of the people shopping were housewives buying groceries. It was rare to see a girl Komachi's age walking around.
Because of their parents' work, the Hikigaya family didn't have them around often, so Hikigaya and Komachi mostly took care of themselves.
Most of the time, the task of buying groceries and cooking fell to Komachi.
She often visited this shopping street, and many of the shopkeepers knew the lively girl who was so responsible despite her young age.
"Oh! Komachi! Want some ribs today? They're guaranteed fresh!"
Not long after, the owner of a butcher shop, seeing the short-haired girl walk by, greeted her enthusiastically.
"Ribs sound good," Komachi said with a smile after hearing the man's call. "Same as usual?"
"Same, same! I'll give you a discount!"
The man immediately grabbed a cleaver, quickly cutting off a piece of ribs, wrapping it up, and handing it to her.
"Thanks, uncle!"
Komachi grinned as she took the meat and put it into her shopping bag, then paid and continued to wander around.
After some more browsing, having almost finished buying the ingredients for the next few days, Komachi thought about stopping by the department store to get some snacks. She took out her phone and called her older brother.
"Hello? What's up?"
After a short wait, Hikigaya Hachiman's voice came through the phone.
"Hey, onii-chan, I'm going to the department store to get some snacks. Is there anything you want?"
"No... Just bring me a can of Max coffee."
"A can of Max coffee, got it. I'll hang up now..."
As Komachi was about to end the call, she suddenly blinked, stepped back a few paces, and curiously looked down a narrow alley she had just passed.
In her gaze, a man with black hair, wearing a five-layered monk's robe and a topknot, was reaching out his hand towards a cursed spirit in front of him.
A monk?
The next moment, the cursed spirit twisted unnaturally, moving toward the man and turning into a glowing, deep blue orb in his hand.
A Jujutsu Sorcerer from the higher school, I guess?
They're really dedicated, working even during the summer break... Wait, I guess sorcerers don't have vacations, do they?
A year-round, high-risk job sounds terrifying when you think about it. No wonder sorcerers are so impressive.
"What's wrong?"
Not hearing any response from Komachi for a while, Hikigaya Hachiman asked.
Of course, excluding his lazy, good-for-nothing older brother who is always lying around at home.
There's also a difference between sorcerers.
"Nothing, I'll hang up."
With a sigh, Komachi ended the call and continued walking.
I guess it's better not to interrupt someone's work.
"Hmm?"
Geto Suguru turned around as if sensing something and just in time saw a short-haired girl leaving while talking on the phone.
"Can she see? But she doesn't seem like a sorcerer or a student from the sorcery school."
Geto Suguru opened his mouth and swallowed the glowing orb made from the curse spirit in his hand.
"Just an ordinary person with spiritual sight?"
The shopping street was busy with people coming and going, but aside from Hikigaya Komachi, no one noticed what was happening in the alley. The man wearing the Gojo robes had already disappeared, as if he had never been there.
...
...
Komachi returned home with the groceries and snacks she had bought.
Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman still lying on the couch, enjoying his handheld game, and remembering the sorcerer she had seen earlier, working hard to exorcise curses and protect the city, she immediately felt frustrated.
After changing into slippers, she stormed over, grabbed the handheld game from Hikigaya Hachiman's hands, and shoved the coffee and groceries he wanted into his arms.
"Huh? What's going on?"
The boy with dead fish eyes, who had his game taken away and was now carrying a pile of things, looked confused. He had no idea why his cute sister was suddenly so mad at him.
"You're making dinner tonight!"
Komachi frowned and said firmly, as if there was no room for argument.
"Huh? So sudden?"
"I don't care!"
"Alright, alright."
Knowing he couldn't defy Komachi's orders, Hikigaya Hachiman reluctantly grabbed the groceries and headed into the kitchen.
Not far from Hikigaya's house, on a rooftop of a nearby building, Geto Suguru quietly watched, finally confirming that this was just an ordinary household.
"The cursed spirits that have appeared recently have all gotten stronger, and many ordinary people have suddenly awakened curse power and techniques. It seems like the sorcery world has birthed someone extraordinary again."
The last time this kind of anomaly occurred was when Gojo Satoru was born.
"Could it be you?"
The corners of the man's mouth curled up slightly, and a trace of curiosity flashed in his dark eyes.
...
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