Chapter 11 "Partnership"

Gojo Satoru and Ieiri Shoko were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, especially Gojo Satoru, whose hearty laughter could be heard for miles around.

“I said, was it necessary to laugh so loudly? I could hear your laughter from far away.”

A voice came from outside the door, and the group turned to look in the direction of the door. A girl dressed as a shrine maiden walked in.

Behind her, another girl with long silver hair followed closely behind, smiling as she said, "First year is so easy, you have so much time to play and have fun at school."

Shoko Ieiri immediately straightened up and called out to the person who came: "Songstress-senpai, Mimi-senpai."

The visitors were Ankagi and Meimei, both second-year students. Because Gojo Satoru and Ieiri Shoko often complained about Natsuyuki's daily life with the kids in the group chat, the two had long been curious about Oriyuki Karin. So they came here specifically to see Oriyuki Karin.

"So cute! Your name is Natsuyu Ayakari, right?" Ankagi immediately squatted down in front of Oriyuki Ayakari with curiosity, extending a hand to her. "Hello, my name is Ankagi, you can call me..."

She paused for a moment, realizing that if she asked Yuki Ayaka to call her "Auntie," it would obviously make her seem old, but if she asked the other person to call her "Sister," the generational order seemed a bit confusing.

Shoko Ieiri, standing nearby, offered her experience: "Just let her call me 'older sister,' let each of us keep to ourselves."

As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Xia Youjie, giving him a look that suggested he would be in for a beating if he dared to take advantage of their seniority.

Xia Youjie responded with a helpless smile.

Anka immediately got it and continued to say to Oriyuki Aka, "Then you can call me Kaka-nee-nee (older sister Kaka)."

Karin Oriyuki obediently shook hands with her: "Hello, songstress sister~"

"Ah~ So cute!" Anka couldn't resist and reached out to rub the little face of Orishiya Karin with both hands, while complaining, "How can someone like Natsuyu... have such a cute daughter?"

In front of Oriyuki Ayakari, Anka barely managed to refrain from saying the word "scumbag".

Even though she didn't say it, Karin knew what word that pause meant.

Xia Youjie was speechless: "Senior Diva, why can't I have a cute daughter..."

Gojo Satoru excitedly raised his hand: "I know, the songstress meant that Jack doesn't have such big eyes."

Xia Youjie: = =#

Anka-hime was also annoyed: "How many times have I told you, don't just call people by their names like that. Call me 'senpai' properly!"

"Eh~" Gojo Satoru casually tilted his head. "No way~ As for seniors, they should at least be really strong, right? Only noobs have ideas about seniority."

The geisha, who had been called a noob again, snapped: "Hey! Gojo Satoru! Who are you calling a noob?"

"Scolding? I didn't, I was just stating the facts, okay?"

"Gojo Satoru!!!"

As Yuki Ayaka watched the two of them making a scene, suddenly a slender hand with five fingers reached out in front of her, holding a lollipop.

She looked in the direction of the gaze and met Mingming's smiling face.

“Xia You said you like milk flavor,” she said, her smile carrying her own unique mystery and allure.

Karin felt as if she had been struck straight to the heart. She blinked blankly and asked a somewhat silly question: "For...for me?"

"Hmm~" Mingming chuckled and tilted her head.

She was the mature, older sister type that Yuki Ayaka liked best, and she became careful with her words: "Th-thank you..."

As she spoke, she reached out to take it.

Mingming, however, flicked her wrist, dodging her hand. Then, under the questioning gaze of Zhixue Akarin, she held the lollipop directly to Zhixue Akarin's mouth.

“Ah,” she said.

Her face flushed red instantly.

Mommy, Mommy, Mommy... She's seducing me!

Karin Origami's lifelong pursuit is to become a mature, older woman, and she dreams of becoming one herself. Now, she has been completely captivated by fate.

She looked at the lollipop in front of her and felt that it wasn't candy at all, but a succubus fruit that tempted her to commit a crime!

Mingming was amused by her reaction, and shook the candy in her hand again, asking her with a smile, "Aren't you going to eat it?"

Karin Origami: Eat! She'll even eat wasabi!

Then the child, his face flushed, opened his mouth and ate the candy, mumbled a thank you, and then lowered his head without saying anything more.

Shyness was visible to the naked eye.

Shoko Ieiri laughed and teased her, "So, Karin-chan likes this kind of thing."

The person who was mentioned, Karin Oori, turned away silently, as if that way no one could see her blushing.

But what she was really thinking was: No, I like you too, Shoko-neechan. But... but... but... this is too much of a cheating move! Who can resist this?!

Xia Youjie was both amused and exasperated by her self-deceptive behavior.

Gojo Satoru protested, "No way, didn't I give her candy too? Why is she treated differently towards me?"

Several people: Is the main point that the candy is?

Mingming couldn't resist ruffling her little head, her smile conveying only one meaning: the plan is working.

The candy was prepared in advance because she genuinely came with the intention of building a good relationship with Oriyuki Karin. As for the reason...

Mingming bent down, a calculating smile on her face, and leaned closer: "Ayaka Rin-chan, right?"

Karin Oriyuki looked completely convinced and nodded, "Mm."

"Hello, my name is Mingming." She extended her hand to Shiki Ayaka.

Shiki Ayaka, feeling awkward, also extended her hand: "Hello, Sister Mingming."

Mingming said gently, "I heard from Xia You and the others that you come from ten years in the future, is that right?"

Karin Origami nodded obediently: "Mm."

"Well..." Mingming finally revealed her true intentions, "Could you tell me what the future is like?"

Xia Youjie, standing to the side, gave a helpless look: "Senior Mingming, Ayakari is just a child, we don't have the information you're looking for..."

Zhixue Yahuali:?

Huh? What?

Mingming, who had been exposed, was not embarrassed at all. She readily admitted it and corrected Xia Youjie: "Don't underestimate children. Sometimes, a simple child's innocent remark may hide many secrets that adults don't know about."

“What’s more…” Mingming gave Ayakari a meaningful look, “Ayakari-chan is a child from ten years in the future.”

And... the adults around her are still Natsuyuu, who is destined to become a special-grade sorcerer, and Gojou Satoru and Ieiri Shoko, who will most likely become very close to Natsuyuu in the future.

At this moment, Ayaka Kaori finally understood the real reason why Mingming had fished her out, and tears streamed down her face.

It seems like he was just using this to trick me into believing in the plot...

Xia Youjie rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache: "Senior Mingming, didn't I already tell you? Ayaka has always been by that 'me's' side. Even if she knows any information, it's only related to me. Are you asking her for information because you want to sell my information?"

Mingming: "If you don't mind, I'd really like to do that. How about we split it 40/60? I'll take 40% and you take 60%."

Xia Youjie: "..."

Karin couldn't help but ask, "What about me?"

I provided the information, but I don't get a share?

Ayaka Kirin's words drew everyone's attention to her. Gojou Gosho laughed and said, "Hey, I didn't realize you were such a little money-grubber, Rika."

He reached out and tried to pinch Ayaka Karin's face again, but Ayaka Karin quickly hid behind Natsuyuki.

Mingming was amused by Yuki Akahara's words and asked her with a smile, "How many do you want?"

One sentence stumped Ayaka Riko.

She had no idea how to divide the profits in this kind of "partnership"; she was just a naive and foolish college student.

So, Yuki Ayaka subconsciously turned her head to look at her adoptive father, Natsumi Yuki, completely forgetting that he was not even as old as her.

Xia Youjie patted her head helplessly: "Ya Huali, there was no profit split. Didn't I tell you that Dad and Wu's matter can't be told to outsiders?"

"Ayakari knows anything else!"

You can question my writing skills, but you can't question my familiarity with the original plot! She, Yuki Aka, even has a backup of tens of thousands of words of plot and character setting notes compiled by professional actress Fuwa Rui from the club!

Seeing how confident she was, Mingming smiled and asked, "Really? What else does Ayaka Rin-chan know?"

It was a question, but also an opportunity to extract information.

Unexpectedly, Karin Oriyuki, who had just been completely captivated by her sister, looked at her warily upon hearing her question: "I can't tell you for free."

Mingming was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this either.

Gojo Satoru burst out laughing: "Hahahaha... Miss Mei, how does it feel to be asked to pay? Hahahaha..."

Mingming smiled helplessly and asked her in return, "So how much money do you want to charge?"

Zhixue Yahuali: "."

He looked at Xia Youjie again.

Xia Youjie: "..."

He was also quite helpless.

"Aka-Rin, we don't sell information."

The main problem is that they still haven't determined whether Yuki Ayakari is from their future timeline or the "what if" timeline. Whether this information is reliable is one thing, but the key concern is that they might cause some trouble.

Seeing that he said that, Oriyuki Karin obediently listened and did not mention selling information again.

It just suddenly occurred to me... even if she sold the information, she wouldn't get the money back, shit!

Mingming felt the same regret as her, but she believed in mutual consent in business. Since Xia Youjie and the others had clearly refused, she didn't try to get information out of Zhixueya and Huali anymore.

Okiyuki Karin suddenly had an idea.

She tilted her head back, feigning ignorance like a little kid, and asked knowingly, "Is Sister Mingming an information broker?"

Mingming, still wearing a gentle smile, replied, "Yes."

"Then... can you help me find someone, Akari?"

Xia Youjie was somewhat surprised when she said she was looking for someone.

This was the first time he had ever heard a child mention looking for someone.

Mingming quickly switched into business mode and replied, "Sure, but..."

She rubbed her fingers together, reminding him, "I need to charge you, little cutie, do you have any money?"

Origami Karin, who has nothing: ": "

Before she could turn to look at Xia Youjie, Wujiao Wu spoke first: "If you obediently call me Uncle Wujiao, I can help you pay this bill~"

Instead of looking for Natsumi Yuki, Ayaka Rin simply acknowledged him as her uncle: "Uncle Gojo."

Gojo Satoru: "..."

Everyone: "..."

That's way too fast!?

Gojo Satoru rubbed his chin, feeling somewhat bored: "Strange, why does it feel like something's missing? Shouldn't I have at least hesitated a bit first?"

Under the gazes of several people, Zhi Xueya Karin suddenly realized with embarrassment that she seemed to have exposed some of her true nature as a poor college student. Silently, little by little, she hid herself behind Xia Youjie's trouser leg.

Zhi Xueya Huali: Brother Jie, bell-bottoms really suit you!

Fortunately, the landlord's foolish son was a man of his word. Although he felt something was missing, Gojo Satoru still agreed to pay the money.

"So? Who are you looking for?" he asked curiously.

The others also looked at Yuki Ayaka.

Having just ripped off Gojo Satoru, Shiki Ayaka no longer pretended not to hear him. She frowned and began to think about how to speak in a way that would better fit the image of a five-year-old.

"I...I don't know either. But...but...that person will occupy someone else's corpse."

Karin didn't mention Rōsō's name or his technique—things a five-year-old shouldn't know. She simply said, "I...I want to find that person, and then...and then we'll kill them, okay?"

A note from the author:

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Ahhh, I had a bit of writer's block, so I'm a little late, oh dear qwq