Mei Mei's way of speaking carried a sense of certainty, as if gathering information about someone was never a difficult task for her.
Indeed, as someone who was often involved in the underworld, Mei Mei could most likely obtain information in a short amount of time—perhaps within a single day, or even just half a day.
"Oh! You're right. In that case, Mei Mei, find out about that woman," I said as I finally turned to look at her, giving a brief smile as a sign of approval.
"Look at you, you really do like that woman, huh? So you're into women who seem quiet and cold?" Rika said calmly, yet her gaze was sharp, carefully observing every reaction I made, as if trying to catch something I didn't say.
"What? I already said no! It's not like that!" I protested again, this time with a slightly raised voice, almost like a reflex from being continuously pressed.
"Really? But that woman looks very beautiful. With that quiet and cold expression of hers, it actually makes her even more attractive. So, are you sure you don't like her?" Shizuka asked again. Her tone remained calm, but her pouting expression was now more visible, as if she was deliberately pushing my reaction.
"How could I possibly like that woman? Enough, stop it. I just feel like I've seen her somewhere before. Try to find out whether she's connected to the Jujutsu world or not, that's all," I said, starting to feel annoyed. My brows furrowed slightly, and without realizing it, I let out a short breath, trying to suppress the irritation that was beginning to surface.
I quickly walked away from them, my steps slightly faster than usual, trying to avoid the meaningful gazes coming from behind that were starting to bother me.
"Suspicious," Shizuka muttered in a serious tone, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched me leave.
"Agreed," Rika nodded lightly, her voice sounding casual yet carrying the same meaning.
"In that case, I'll head to the black market in Gifu Prefecture to find out what Kenji wants," Mei Mei said before disappearing from the spot. Her departure was incredibly swift, almost without a trace—as if her body dissolved into the air—leaving the atmosphere calm once again in an instant.
Shizuka and Rika exchanged a brief glance, a meaningful look passing between them, then without saying much, the two of them began walking in my direction.
I was now standing near a flower field, watching Mimiko, Nanako, Maki, and Mai playing. They ran lightly among the densely grown flowers, their feet occasionally brushing against the petals that swayed gently.
Their laughter sounded light and free, chasing one another with cheerful expressions. Occasionally, they stopped to carefully pick a flower, then showed it to each other before laughing again.
The atmosphere around them felt warm and alive, filled with color and the pleasant sound of laughter. The gentle morning breeze carried a faint floral scent, adding to the calmness of the scene.
However, my mind wasn't fully there. The image of that woman kept appearing in my thoughts, surfacing again and again without being able to be stopped, disturbing my focus even as I tried to ignore it.
For now, we were still in Gifu Prefecture, as I still needed to establish my influence in several cities within this region. Every step had to be taken carefully—no rushing, no openings. Even the slightest mistake could lead to significant consequences.
...
...
...
Now, time had shifted into the late afternoon. The sunlight began to dim, turning into a soft orange hue as it streamed through the windows of the house. The light stretched across the living room floor, creating long shadows that slowly shifted with time.
Shizuka, Rika, and I sat in the living room of one of the houses we had purchased in a city within Gifu Prefecture.
The house wasn't particularly large, but it was neat and comfortable. The air inside felt warm, with natural light still filtering in from outside, casting a soft glow across the room.
On the other side of the room, Mimiko, Nanako, Maki, and Mai were sitting in front of the television. Their eyes were fixed on the screen, with occasional small bursts of laughter and light conversation slipping out between them. They were watching a colorful children's anime filled with cheerful sounds, something simple that made the four of them laugh happily without a single worry.
Meanwhile, I was having a casual conversation with Shizuka and Rika, though in truth, only half of my attention was there. My thoughts kept drifting back to that woman—her face, her gaze, and that strange feeling that had been following me since morning.
Suddenly, without making the slightest sound, Mei Mei appeared inside the room.
Her presence immediately caught my attention. Almost instinctively, my gaze shifted toward her, realizing that she had returned far sooner than I had expected.
"So, who exactly is that woman?" I asked without any preamble, my tone turning serious again, completely different from the relaxed conversation earlier.
My eyes immediately fell on the envelope Mei Mei was holding. It looked thick and neatly arranged, its edges slightly stiff, clearly containing something important—not just ordinary information.
Mei Mei handed the envelope to me without saying a word. Her movements were calm and efficient, as if there was nothing that needed further explanation.
I took the envelope, feeling its weight in my hand. The surface of the paper felt cold and firm, as if it carried something more than just ordinary documents.
Inside were various files about the woman we had seen that morning—the very information that had been making me uneasy from the start was now right in my hands, simply waiting to be opened.
"The woman's name is Yaeko Nishimiya. Not long ago, she divorced her husband after it was discovered that their child, Shoko Nishimiya, has a hearing impairment. Because of that, her husband chose to divorce her," Mei Mei explained calmly. Her voice remained flat as usual, without any emotional fluctuation, as if she were merely delivering a routine report she recited every day.
Meanwhile, I continued reading through the documents Mei Mei had brought. Page after page, I flipped them slowly, the tips of my fingers brushing against the slightly rough surface of the paper.
The faint sound of paper sliding echoed softly, almost blending into the stillness of the tightly enclosed room. There were no other sounds—only steady breathing and the quiet passage of time.
Every detail written inside was neatly organized and systematic. Names, dates, background information, even small notes that seemed trivial—everything was recorded clearly, as if an entire person's life could be summarized flawlessly within a few thin pages.
But when my eyes stopped on a page that contained the photo of a young girl, my hand suddenly froze mid-air.
Shoko Nishimiya.
That name felt instantly familiar, like an old echo that had finally become clear again.
In an instant, something in my mind seemed to connect. Fragments of memories that had once been vague now came together perfectly. That face, that gentle expression, those fragile-looking eyes that still tried to remain strong, and the subtle way Shoko smiled… everything resurfaced clearly, no longer blurred like a fading shadow.
Shoko Nishimiya was the main female character from the anime Koe no Katachi—a girl with a hearing impairment who had to face bullying from a young age.
At school, Shoko was avoided, mocked, and even hurt simply because of her differences. No one truly tried to understand her world—a world of silence, separated from sound, yet filled with wounds that could not be seen.
------------------------------
[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
[Note: This is my other novel: As the White Spider-Man in Earth-76 with the Spider-Man System]
(Note: Every PS support means a great deal to the continuation and development of the story, and it also serves as a way to unlock Bonus Chapters as a form of appreciation.
For every 100 PS collected, 1 Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 300 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 500 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 1000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked. At 2000 PS, 1 additional Bonus Chapter will be unlocked.
In other words, if 100 PS are collected within this week, 1 Bonus Chapter will be released. If the total reaches 300 PS, then 2 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 500 PS, then 3 Bonus Chapters will be released. If it reaches 1000 PS, then 4 Bonus Chapters will be released. And if it successfully reaches 2000 PS, a total of 5 Bonus Chapters will be released.
Thank you for your support. Every single PS truly helps push this story forward.)
[Note: 30+ latest chapters have been added! For Just $3.50 You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel, Scribblehub and Wattpad by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Andi_Dri]