Desolate Echo 07
You are at dawn, you are shining brightly, you make me cry, but I am willing to accept it. How I want to see you again, but I closed my eyes and became blind.
*
You stand alone in the inn's courtyard. There stands a large pine tree, its trunk thick and its bark mottled, a deep gray-brown. Its needles sway gently, casting a tranquil atmosphere.
Every great tree begins as a tiny seed. When the new sprout sprouts, no one can foresee whether it will become a mere bite for a wild beast, or grow into a towering giant with tangled roots and luxuriant branches and leaves.
This pine tree is tall, but far from a towering giant. A deep blue tree that can hold up the sky—a deep blue tree? What is that?
Someone is poking you in the back. You turn around and greet, "An-senpai."
Senior An withdrew his hand, put his hands on his hips, sighed, and then cheered up and said in a loud voice: "Every time I see you, you always look bitter and resentful. You age quickly this way."
"I'm not sad. I'm thinking, An-senpai." You answered her with a smile. You stroked your chin and continued to ask, "An-senpai, is there any scientific basis for the conclusion that frowning makes you age faster?"
An Geji was angry, An Geji was really angry!
"I don't care whether it has any scientific basis or not! Just keep smiling! Yes, just like now!" After saying that, An Geji became deflated.
"Hatsuchan, can't you give me a little face and smile more sincerely?"
You wanted to frown, but quickly changed your action to a wink. "Sorry, Iori-senpai. Is this okay now?"
An Utahime hugged you excitedly, "That's right! I don't like idols' business smiles!"
"Iori-senpai is so sincere, I want to be sincere to her too." You patted her on the back. Iori-gee immediately shook you with excitement: "Senpai, you can call me Diva! Just call me Diva and let me hear it~"
"Senior Ming."
"Ming...?" An Geji stopped shaking you, looked back and around, and then shouted "Mingming!"
"Are you walking silently?"
Ian-senpai's fussing made Ming-senpai laugh.
Come to think of it, it's been a while since you last saw Ming-senpai. Before, we only kept in touch online. An-senpai hasn't changed much before and after graduation, but Ming-senpai has changed a lot.
Senior Ming stroked his hair, smiled at you and said, "How about it? Do you want me to dress you up?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Ming. But I don't think I need it."
"It's not necessary for me," An Diva said bluntly and forcefully. "Our はつちゃん is naturally beautiful and is famous throughout Kyoto for beauties!"
No, An-senpai.
I always feel like it's a joke.
Senior Ming didn't continue the conversation: "I didn't see Gojo and the others. Haven't they arrived yet?"
Before you could reply, Senior Ming said, "We'll be there soon." A crow flew over and landed on Senior Ming's shoulder. He handed it to you, "Do you want to see it?"
You shook your head.
You don't understand the meaning behind Senior Ming handing you the crow. The crow flew over, and from its field of vision, it couldn't see where Wu and the others were... Senior Ming wanted to know...
"We're almost at the hotel. Should we go meet them?"
"You saw it." Senior Ming touched the crow's head, and the crow leaned against her obediently.
"Can Senior Ming still see it?"
"I can't see it anymore." She said with a little regret.
"What are you talking about!" Iori Utaha yelled, and then a light bulb went off in her head. She understood what you were talking about. So she comforted Meimei, "Hatsuchan is a "special grade", Meimei doesn't need to-"
"Hahahahaha..." Mingming laughed heartily. She covered her face and said calmly to An Geji, "What kind of help do you think this technique can provide me?"
"This... Even Gojo said that Mingming, you are very strong..."
"I don't care about that." Meimei walked towards you and lifted your chin. She looked you over and blew a breath at you. "Uta-sama, be careful with Hanatsu-chan. She's a precious and fragile treasure."
"How can you be so fragile?" Ange waved her hands up and down in protest before pouting and saying, "Hatsu-chan, you'd rather be treated like a normal person, right? I know my limits. I have a good relationship with Nozomi, and I know how to treat Hazu-chan..."
"I don't like being treated like an object, Senior Ming."
Mei-senpai covered his mouth with one hand and chuckled: "Hatsu-chan is priceless when he's alive. Dead, he's just a string of numbers on the black market."
"No one can kill me."
"Yes. Even if they can kill you, they won't."
"Do we have to discuss this kind of thing when we go out for a trip?" An Geji was puzzled and puzzled.
"Iori-senpai, isn't Naoko still asleep?"
"Still sleeping. I told you to wake her up when we get to the hot springs." An Geji angrily slapped Mingming's hand away, pinched your cheek, and put her face against yours: "Call me Geji~"
"At most, I'll call you Diva-senpai, just like Glass."
“That’s fine too.” Angehime let go of you.
"They've arrived at the hotel entrance. Should Zen-in go to greet them?"
"Yeah. They are my peers and juniors after all. Uta-senpai and Mei-senpai..."
The singer crossed her arms and said rudely, "I don't want to see Gojo."
"Then I won't go either. Good luck, Zenyuan. It's not an easy task to deal with that many people at once."
This hot spring inn is a pure wooden structure, a classic Japanese-style architecture. As dusk approaches, lanterns are lit, emitting a warm glow. For a moment, you think you've returned to your Zen home. But only for a moment. Houses don't hold people captive; it's always the heart that holds people captive.
"Is this where we're staying tonight? It looks pretty upscale." Gojo Satoru stretched after getting out of the car. His eyes widened as he saw you, and he opened his arms wide. As he wished, you threw yourself into his arms. He put his hands together and smoothed your wind-messed hair.
"Did you miss me?"
You didn't shake your head or nod, but smiled and said, "We met yesterday and today." Gojo Satoru was of course not satisfied with this answer: "Not just yesterday and today. But also tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow... We'll meet every day!"
"This is a difficult thing. It requires the joint efforts of both of us."
"The main thing is that Hatsu-chan needs to work hard!" Gojo Satoru emphasized, he acted as if you were a wife who was often away from home and he was a husband who stayed alone at home.
"I know. I will."
"Are we really supposed to come along, Nanami?" Haibara Yu and Nanami Kento whispered. "Even Geto-senpai is embarrassed."
"How should I know?" Nanami Kento glanced around. Gojo-senpai wondered how much a night in a high-end place would cost. Who paid for it? Why should he even consider these things?
"Gojo-senpai and Zenin-senpai have such a good relationship..." Ijichi Jiegao sighed habitually.
"Why? Ijichi wants to fall in love? But I heard that the marriage rate among sorcerers is very low."
"Huh? Ahhh... That's not what I meant! Don't misinterpret me, Suzuki..."
"Okay, let me go. The welcome snacks in this shop are delicious. Don't you want to try some?"
"I want another snack."
"Absolutely not," you said, smiling. Satoru was usually a very easygoing person. He didn't cling to you. You wanted to hold Gojo Satoru's hand—but you didn't.
"Stop staring off, Jay. Did you guys bring anything?"
"I brought..." Huibara listed a lot of things and was fully prepared.
"Idiot! Zenin-senpai means that if you brought something, you should take it off immediately."
"oh……"
"Don't ruin Haibara's fun, Nanami." You knocked lightly on the car window. The window rolled down.
"Is Ryoko overloaded?"
"Miss, I specially changed to a seven-seater car."
"Ryoko isn't staying?"
"No. I'm not interested. Besides, Kei and Tsumiki need someone to take care of them. You and Gojo are both minors yourself, so I'll have to take care of a lot of things."
"I haven't asked Ryoko what she thinks of Kei yet."
"Keiko?" Zenin Ryoko raised an eyebrow. She thought for a moment before saying, "What an unlucky guy. He used up all his luck meeting you and Gojo."
"Unlucky guy?" Zenin Ryoko rarely saw your surprised look, so she took the initiative to explain: "Being in the Zenin family, having such a father, and having such a technique, how can I not be unlucky?"
"If Kei is unlucky, what about Maki and Mayi?"
You've got Zenin Ryoko stumped by your question. Maki and Mayi could also fit into her story.
"Ryoko, don't get bogged down in denying what already exists."
"I appreciate your instruction, young lady."
[We, the children of the Zen family, are not unlucky.]
Gojo Satoru hugged you from behind, "Did you enjoy chatting?"
"Mr. Gojo, please don't do this in public—"
"There's no one here," Gojo Satoru said matter-of-factly. He rubbed your earlobe, and you felt an itch. Your face gradually started to burn.
"Then we'll take our leave, Ryoko."
Everyone else went in first, and Gojo Satoru took your hand.
"Shall we sleep in the same room?"
"The room was booked by Diva Senior."
Wu's mood was nine-tenths depressed, thinking, "There's no hope." The remaining tenth was eager to try.
"Which room are you staying in? I'll come find you in the evening."
"Nighttime should be spent sleeping."
"I came to you just to sleep."
Can such a thing be said openly?!
It will be seen.
[Can you blame me? It’s my own body...]
Gojo Satoru stretched out his evil big hand and chuckled evilly in your ear.
"Everyone already knows about our relationship. Don't be shy. Besides, you're planning to..."
"These are two different things, Satoru."
You walk into the hotel.
"This wagashi is really delicious, Nanami! You should try some too!"
"Aren't you going to eat, Summer Oil-senpai?"
"I don't like sweet food. You can take my share too..."
"Suguru-senpai, can you give it to Zenin-senpai?"
"Hatsu-chan, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Geto Suguru turned around and smiled at you.
You smiled back at him, "Sorry to have kept you waiting. I'll show you to your rooms."
"Do you want to change into a yukata?" Haibara Yu said excitedly.
"Didn't Huibara bring it herself?"
"Oh my..." Huibara touched her head, feeling very embarrassed.
"Did you bring Yuki's yukata by yourself?"
"It's provided by the hotel. The hotel is by the sea, and the yukata has a wave pattern printed on it." You rarely speak in a lively tone.
I always feel that the atmosphere is a bit depressing.
"The belt is tied incorrectly."
"Then Wu, help me tie it again."
"Did you do it on purpose?" Satoru also pretended to be coy...
“Not really.” You pulled open the partition. “This room belongs to Wu.”
Gojo Satoru pointed at himself in shock: "Why am I the first one?"
"I won't be the second one, right?" Geto Suguru pointed at himself.
"Congratulations, Jay, for guessing it right." You even clapped in cooperation.
"Then am I the third or fourth?" Huiyuan Xiong asked actively.
"Suzuki, we didn't even have a chance to talk..."
"We're the younger generation among the younger generation. The environment at the technical high school is already very good... Is there anything Ijichi wants to say?"
"No, no..." Yidizhi Jiegao waved his hands quickly.
"Diva!!!"
Geto Suguru skillfully grabbed Gojo Satoru who was about to go and settle the score with Angehime.
"I'll come find Wu after everyone is settled. Please wait patiently, Wu."
"Then come quickly."
The last one was Suzuki Yu. He didn't just open the partition but asked, "Do you have something to say to me?"
"I have something to say to Suzuki."
"Please speak frankly."
You feel like laughing when you think about how Suzuki is the same age as you but has become the junior of the junior.
"The three years at technical college will be very busy and will pass quickly. Has Suzuki thought about where he'll go after graduation?"
Suzuki Yu looked at you deeply before asking, "What are you going to do with me?"
Very smart young man.
"In addition to the 'window', unusual cases that the police encounter and cannot handle will also be handed over to the Spell Inspectorate."
"Compared to 'windows', the police can mobilize significantly more resources."
"True. But by the time a case reaches the point where it needs to be handed over to a sorcerer, tragedy has often already occurred."
"you--"
"There are nearly 800 cities in Japan, but the number of sorcerers is less than a quarter of that."
"Surprised? That's reality."
"You only told me before that the mortality rate was high."
The Sorcerer is consumable.
A consumable item that even our own people don't care about.
While the number of curse spirits increased, the number of curse masters did not increase. Instead, the gap between curse masters widened.
When the sorcerer and the cursed spirit are of the same level, the sorcerer handles the cursed spirit with ease. It's not that a sorcerer can't exorcise a cursed spirit of a higher level. It's difficult, but not impossible. Registered "special-grade" cursed spirits have never caused such trouble that they can't be dealt with. They are either exorcised or sealed by the sorcerer.
"Special Grade" Curse Spirit.
There were no "special-grade" sorcerers before.
A "special grade" sorcerer can easily exorcise "special grade" cursed spirits.
"Why else would all the freshmen have to go on missions? It's because there aren't enough of us." You complained, then added, "I can't learn anything by going on missions with me... What about the others?"
Suzuki Yuu looked at you, and you nodded for him to continue. He shook his head, bowed firmly, and said, "Please ask Principal Yemo not to assign me to carry out missions with Gojo-senpai and Geto-senpai anymore! Thank you very much!"
ah?
You are dumbfounded.
"I'm just an ordinary person." Suzuki Yu said sincerely.
"A lot of pressure?"
Suzuki Yu nodded very quickly.
You think back to the time when you were about to be promoted to the next level.
Are these two still incorrigible? They are not mature at all.
If they change, they are no longer themselves.
"If Suzuki wants to survive, it is very necessary for him to undergo devilish training."
[It’s better to die.]
“H-ha…” You smirked, covering your face before revealing your eyes: “I’ve been there too.”
That means there's no way to refuse, damn it—"I know."
"Suzuki, don't have that heroic look on your face."
"So you want me to be a police officer?"
"Aren't we also considered special department police now?"
"You are right."
"Suzuki, you can think about it again. We can discuss it again when we have time later."
"I see."
"Then I'll take my leave, Suzuki."
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