ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ - ᴊᴜᴊᴜᴛꜱᴜ ᴋᴀɪꜱᴇɴ

Chapter 37

Satoru provided Akira with the essential background, explaining, "Yuta is a special-grade cursed human, burdened with the spirit of his childhood friend, Rika Orimoto. She was tragically killed in an accident, and her curse is inexorably bound to Yuta."

Akira absorbed this information, his expression contemplative. Then, he inquired with a hint of skepticism, "What's the catch?"

Satoru's response carried a tone of seriousness. "Rika is exceptionally powerful, far beyond what you'd expect from a typical curse. And here's the unsettling part: Yuta desires death."

Akira's eyes widened briefly, taken aback by the gravity of the situation. He pondered the implications before finally asking, "What are you planning to do?" His gaze locked onto Satoru.

Satoru declared his plan with determination, stating, "I'll enroll him as a student here."

Akira couldn't help but express his concern, raising a valid point, "What about the higher-ups? You know they won't just let you do that without question."

A confident smirk played on Satoru's lips as he reassured his old friend, "I've already taken care of that, Akira. You worry too much." He punctuated his statement by flicking Akira's forehead.

Akira couldn't help but pout at Satoru's nonchalant attitude. "Well, it's hard not to worry when you make impulsive decisions like this," he retorted.

Satoru simply grinned, unwavering in his confidence. "I can handle it."

Akira rolled his eyes in response with a small smile. "Yeah, I know you can. So, where is he?" he inquired.

----

"Wait out here," Satoru instructed, using a gentle touch to guide Akira away from the door as he moved closer to it.

Once Akira was at a distance, he closed the door behind him. Satoru's focus shifted to Yuta, his curiosity plain to see as he inquired, "What do you think about this, Yuta?"

Yuta's response was quiet and hesitant. "It was... a knife. I've been trying to round up, but Rika even stopped me," he mumbled, his voice carrying the weight of frustration and helplessness.

Satoru's response was brief, but it conveyed a deep understanding of the situation. "Very sad," he mumbled sympathetically.

Then, Satoru abruptly changed the topic, declaring, "From now on, you will be the new student."

Yuta's response was immediate and clear. "Don't want to," he interjected firmly.

Satoru's curiosity was piqued, and he hummed inquisitively, prompting Yuta to explain his reluctance.

Yuta opened up about his inner turmoil, his voice heavy with guilt and concern. "I don't want to hurt anyone else anymore, and because of that, I don't want to go out anymore," he explained, revealing the weight of his past actions and the fear of causing more harm.

Satoru, however, was quick to offer an alternative perspective, gently coaxing Yuta to consider a different path. "But if you're all alone, you'll be lonely," he reasoned.

"The curse that's bound to you, if used properly, can be a force for good. I can teach you how to harness its power. You can use it freely as long as you're willing to attend school," Satoru encouraged.

------

Akira displayed his patience as he stood just beyond the door, fingers rhythmically tapping on his arm as he hummed a tune to himself.

The sound of the door opening quickly drew his attention, and he composed himself for the encounter.

Satoru emerged with a warm smile, accompanied by a visibly despondent young boy.