Tokyo Singularity (20) Welcome to the High School...
When Xia You opened his eyes again, all the hesitation and emotion in them had been burned away. "Take him to the Imaginary Tree as originally planned."
"As you wish."
When the room returned to a deathly silence, the setting sun streaming through the narrow window divided the room in two. Xia You, the cult leader, shifted further in, propping his head up and sitting diagonally on the couch, unwilling to bask in any sunlight.
I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.
Xia You, the leader of the sect, cleared his mind. Perhaps it was because a great thing was about to be accomplished, the past memories suppressed by the anger of revenge blurred his vision like a thin mist.
Despite using that guy and Lu Su's plan, those useless people in the sorcery world really didn't notice anything. They were still gloating that they could finally escape the life-threatening situation.
It made him seem even more foolish than before, failing to even notice such a brainless conspiracy. However, he was incredibly lucky here, as the girl named Fujimaru Ritsuka had changed him considerably.
Should we eliminate this unexpected factor first?
...Never mind, I suppose that girl couldn't change the fact that humanity is destined for extinction.
"It's almost time. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is about to begin again." Xia You, the sect leader, lowered his eyes and muttered to himself, "I should also kindly inform my old friends."
"It's almost time." Ashiya Dōman stood under the Imaginary Tree, a playful glint in his eyes. "The rest of the show is up to the Master. What kind of ending will she choose for this world?"
A sapling that has grown tall and strong is already beginning to overshadow the lush trees around it. Its silvery color is even more magnificent and mysterious against the backdrop of greenery.
But looking down, at the base of the tree, where layers of dead leaves covered the ground, dried bloodstains spread densely all around, and several remains lay either face up or buried in the sand, quietly rotting.
Fresh ropes were carelessly discarded among the corpses, while the roots of the Imaginary Tree gleefully pierced his beating heart. The sutures came undone, and active brain matter flowed from his half-open skull, only to be quickly absorbed by the branches that had taken hold of the ground.
At this moment, the Imaginary Tree seemed to hear the echoes of countless "great undertakings" planned over the millennia, all ultimately returning to silence. All ambitions and schemes converged in the face of death.
Before being absorbed by the Imaginary Tree and turned into bones, these sorcerers will probably rot together quietly, like old friends.
—
The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle was falling. The incessant sound of rain pattering against the window was rather annoying.
Waking up again in the dormitory where she had been resting for the past two days, Fujimaru Ritsuka skillfully tidied her clothes and turned on her communicator to let Kadoc on duty know she was safe.
Pushing open the door, she was surprised to find no Servants waiting for her outside. She wondered to herself, "Did everyone go out to gather intelligence today?"
Yesterday was incredibly fruitful. We learned the Avengers' hiding place, and the information that Shuten-dōji and Jeanne d'Arc Alter were investigating regarding the Imaginary Tree Seeds made some progress. It was the fastest we've ever made.
Once everything is thoroughly investigated and the location of the Panxing Cult is found, she can go there to retrieve the Holy Grail.
Although Fujimaru Ritsuka also wanted to leave the high school to investigate intelligence, she had just caused a scene at the General Headquarters yesterday and needed to lay low for a while. So today, she agreed to Haibara Yu's request to attend class with him, ostensibly to experience campus life.
For some reason, when she agreed to Haibara's request, Gojo and the others smiled even more brightly than Haibara herself. But before she could even come up with a plan, they were already at Haibara Yu's classroom door.
"This must be it," Fujimaru Ritsuka thought, opening the door without warning.
"—Bang! Bang bang!"
As the muffled explosion rang out, Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes revealed a wary yet calm expression. She raised her hand, the Command Seal flashing red.
But the next second, that vigilance turned into a bewildered sense of helplessness.
Huh, what's going on?
Amidst the exploding fireworks, confetti and sequins rained down on Fujimaru Ritsuka's head, turning her orange-red, shoulder-length hair into a vibrant, multicolored mess.
Gojo Satoru and Natsuyu Suke, holding confetti, smiled and pulled the stunned orange-haired girl into the room.
Bright lights acted as a barrier, isolating the hazy outdoors. Inside the classroom were everyone she knew from this world: three followers and a tall, middle-aged man.
Fujimaru Ritsuka snapped out of her daze and saw Gojo Satoru grinning as he gave the tall, middle-aged man a shove. The man turned and glared at her before walking towards her.
"Hello, I am Masamichi Yagami, the new principal of Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School." Masamichi Yagami said with a smile, "Thank you for taking care of these troublesome students these past few days."
Ignoring the complaints from Gojo Satoru behind him about the word "trouble," he reached out his hand to Fujimaru Ritsuka, trying his best to appear gentle on his cold, hard face.
"You are also welcome to join our college and become a second-year student."
...Huh? Fujimaru Ritsuka was taken aback and subconsciously grasped Yogami Masamichi's hand.
The classroom erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. Everyone stepped back like Moses parting the sea, revealing the words written in colored pens on the blackboard.
Welcome party.
Fujimaru Ritsuka slowed her breathing. She hadn't expected them to throw her a welcome party; it was something she'd only come up with to shut the management team up with, and now—
"I'm only temporary..."
“Even if you’re a temporary student, you’re still a member of the high school!” Gojo Satoru pushed up his sunglasses, revealing a bright and carefree smile. “You won’t miss any of the proper welcoming ceremonies.”
“I originally planned to choose who would announce it,” he complained playfully. “But to make it seem more formal, I gave the first chance to speak to Ms. Moth.”
Fujimaru Ritsuka tilted her head. The savior, who was quick to react in the face of crisis, seemed slow in such an ordinary scene, revealing her ignorance and naivety.
“It works very well, doesn’t it?” Xia Youjie also stepped forward. “Also, it was Shoko’s idea to bring Mr. Night Moth here. If you don’t let him speak, Shoko will definitely punish you.”
“I can’t handle a six-eyed young master.” Ieiri Shoko’s tone was playful. Fujimaru Ritsuka looked up and met a pair of smiling eyes, a beauty mark at the corner of her eye adding a touch of mystery.
"Welcome, Fujimaru, to our junior."
"Welcome Ritsuka to be my and Nanami's classmate!"
"welcome."
Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked, the rain and mist outside the window reflecting into her eyes through the glass, seemingly veiling her brows and eyes with a layer of moisture. But looking again, only a bright smile remained.
"Thank you... thank you everyone!"
The three Servants who had been silently watching Ritsuka breathed a sigh of relief in unison. As long as their Master was happy, all their hard work had paid off.
The welcome party officially began, with all sorts of snacks, desserts, drinks, and alcohol piled up on the few desks available. Gojou Satoru and Haibara Yu pulled Fujimaru Ritsuka to the table, pointing at the food on it with an air of superiority, saying that she would definitely love it.
Fujimaru Ritsuka spotted a lot of melon-flavored snacks, and even a whole melon—it was clear that Oberon had put in a lot of effort.
Ieiri Shoko opened a bottle of sake and handed it to Shuten-dōji, thanking her for her contributions to the welcoming party and for concealing Ritsuka's secret. Shuten-dōji didn't stand on ceremony, accepted the sake, and said in a soft, charming voice that she just hoped her Master could relax and not be so polite.
Yagami Masamichi clearly wanted to talk to Fujimaru Ritsuka, but his path was blocked by a suddenly appearing projection screen. Little Da Vinci, with a pleased smile, also congratulated Fujimaru Ritsuka for a few words, then began discussing serious matters with Yagami Masamichi.
The students at the vocational high school stared at the projection screen with a mixture of surprise and excitement. Gojo Satoru, in particular, clung to Ritsuka, begging her to give the introduction in a spoiled manner, like a clingy little white kitten.
"Hmm, not bad." Jeanne Alter didn't want to join in the fun. She jumped onto the table, casually picked up an ice cream-flavored cookie from the side of the table, tore open the wrapper, and tossed it into her mouth. "That girl, it's rare to see her so relaxed."
Like a long-traveled traveler finding a place to rest, she smiled with relief. Seeing this smile, Jeanne Alter felt that the half-day she had wasted being stopped by Gojo Satoru was worthwhile.
Oberon, also not wanting to join the fun, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Hearing Jeanne Alter's words, he gave a short laugh.
"School, welcome party, such an ordinary yet distant dream." He raised his head, glanced silently at Fujimaru Ritsuka, and couldn't help but reveal his helplessness the moment he looked away.
I can't understand it.
I cannot understand why she so easily accepted this fate, nor can I understand why she so resolutely rushed towards such a disgusting reality—
"All we can do is weave this fleeting dream, so that our Master, burdened with so much, can relax a little."
As a soft sigh dissipated into the air, a crisp clinking sound rang out. The boys joyfully raised their glasses, rims clinking together, celebrating their miraculous encounter with heartfelt delight.
So happy, so young.
Fujimaru Ritsuka finished her drink, then suddenly turned around thoughtfully, meeting Oberon's gaze. She paused, then raised her glass again, offering him a toast from afar.
Respect to us.
Respect to the new Chaldea.
Various snacks gradually floated in the air. For some reason, Gojo Satoru angered Natsume Yuuki again, and the two started fighting with the snacks at hand.
Seeing the snack crumbs flying all over the classroom, Nocturne Masakado held back for a long time, but finally couldn't take it anymore. He punched each of them, muttering, "You two seniors are setting a good example for the freshmen!"
Kento Nanami pulled Shoko Ieiri and Yu Haibara to a corner, while Ritsuka Fujimaru watched with great interest, as if they had returned to the dining hall of Chaldea.
It's very lively.
It was as if she were a genuine freshman enrolling in a vocational college.
Outside the window, the rain seemed to never stop, but inside the classroom, the incandescent lights illuminated the boisterous crowd, like a beautiful dream melting into the rain.
But dreams eventually end.
"—Buzz"
Just as everyone was immersed in the relaxed atmosphere of eating, drinking and having fun, the sudden alarm broke the rare tranquility, like cold rain seeping into a warm room.
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
"This is... a cursed spirit has broken in?" Haibara Yu put down the half-eaten daifuku and asked his seniors in surprise.
"Impossible. The barrier is still intact." As the person who knows the school best, Yae Masamichi immediately corrected, but he also didn't know what had happened.
The little Leonardo da Vinci in the projection frowned as he looked at the calculated results and used the broadcast to notify two people in Chaldea.
The sirens continued to blare, like the whimpering of a child, sending chills down one's spine. The once lively atmosphere was now shrouded in a cold, misty shadow.
A note from the author:
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