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After spending a considerable amount of time in the clothing store, Riko emerged with a satisfied smile, holding a bag containing her newly acquired outfit.
Misato followed her, and the two strolled toward the mall's exit side by side.
"The younger one is likely the Star Plasma Vessel."
"If word gets out to the organization, they'll likely steal the credit."
"Just a pair of ordinary people. Even if I'm just a scout for Miss, I should be able to handle it."
Not too far behind the duo, the oddly attired woman pondered to herself, discreetly maintaining her surveillance.
"Thank you, Kuroi."
Walking along the street, carrying the bag of clothes paid for by Misato, Riko's smile radiated happiness.
"This is just what I'm here for, Miss."
Misato gently shook her head.
At an age where most other kids are carefree and enjoying the shelter of their parents, Riko had shouldered the immense responsibility of being the Star Plasma Vessel, destined to be assimilated by Master Tengen. Her life was bound to just ten years. Due to her status, she couldn't indulge in the simple joys of hanging out with friends like any other child, and every outing required caution and vigilance.
Just a simple trip to the mall had brought such evident happiness to Miss Riko...
Observing Riko's joy, Misato's heart clenched even tighter with a mixture of sympathy and concern.
"By your side, Miss Riko, until the day of assimilation," Misato assured softly.
"Well then, we..."
"Wait, Miss!"
In the midst of Riko's excited thoughts, she was abruptly halted by Misato's outstretched hand. Baffled, Riko followed Misato's gaze and spotted a woman with an unusual wavy hairstyle approaching them ahead.
"Kuroi..."
"Be cautious, Miss Riko. It's likely that this person is a Curse User with ill intentions towards you."
Kuroi's demeanor turned serious, her gaze sharpening as she sized up the approaching individual.
Stepping forward, she positioned herself as a shield in front of Riko.
"Hehehe, fortune truly favors me. I've stumbled upon the correct one."
"The rewards the leader will bestow for delivering the Star Plasma Vessel's body are beyond imagination."
The woman named Masato took each sinuous stride with an eerie grace, her movements contorted and twisted as she advanced.
Her voluminous wavy brown hair undulated with her motion, forming a surreal backdrop to her approach.
Her scarlet lips traced a languid path as anticipation burned within her, eager to witness the awe-stricken expressions of her comrades and savor the lavish rewards bestowed by her leader.
"To which Curse User group do you belong?"
Misato's gaze bore into Umegawa with an icy intensity as she retrieved a broom from the nearby wall.
Clenching the broomstick with a determined grip, her posture adopted a slightly crouched stance, poised for combat.
"Seems like you're just an amateur, yet you possess some knowledge of the Jujutsu world."
But Masato had no intention of engaging in a fruitless exchange of words with Misato.
Without offering an explanation, her already striking visage transformed into a haunting beauty, her expression taking on an ethereal quality as she lunged towards Misato.
Unfazed by the presence of an unknown adversary, Misato met the challenge head-on, wielding the broom as her weapon of choice.
"Hmph, your movements are far too sluggish. An amateur indeed."
Umegawa's lips curled in disdain as she observed Misato's broom-wielding efforts.
Swiftly crouching, she skillfully evaded Misato's attempted strike.
With a deft motion of her right hand, a pen materialized from her sleeve, gripped tightly in her grasp.
Harnessing Cursed Energy, she condensed it into a lethal point on the pen's tip, aiming for a vulnerable spot on Misato's exposed neck.
"Meet your end!"
Masato's grin widened, confident that this strike would prove fatal.
In that fateful moment, Riko's voice rang out in a desperate cry.
"No...!"
Confronting this life-threatening assault, Misato Kuroi maintained an unflinching composure.
With a twist of her wrists, the broom's trajectory shifted, turning its direction right as it passed over Masato's head. Swiftly and forcefully, it descended, striking Masato's head in a devastating blow.
"This can't be!"
Masato's visage contorted in disbelief, his eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground.
Yet, just before succumbing to unconsciousness, he managed to press a button on his sleeve.
"Kuroi, are you hurt?"
Riko hurriedly approached Misato, her concern evident in her voice.
"I'm unharmed, Miss."
"The person's strength might not have been impressive, but it's likely that other Curse Users will come to target you. Let's leave."
Holding the broom with one hand and Riko with the other, Kuroi swiftly carried her away, disregarding the stares and comments from passersby on the street.
Meanwhile, Masato remained sprawled on the sidewalk.
Pedestrians who spotted him chose to steer clear. A few pointed and murmured from a distance, but no one approached.
Before long, two individuals in even more peculiar attire than Masato arrived at his side.
The pair crossed their arms, peering down at the disheveled and somewhat embarrassed figure on the ground.
"It seems he was defeated."
"He's utterly useless; we'll leave him to wake up on his own."
"Indeed, the Star Plasma Vessel can't have gotten far. We have ample time to pursue."
"Let's move."
...
"I apologize, Kuroi. This is all my fault for being so headstrong... If I hadn't insisted on going to the mall after dinner, none of this would have happened."
Riko, cradled in Kuroi's arms as they fled, bore a heavy burden of guilt on her delicate features. Her insistence on visiting the mall had led to the attack they faced now.
Kuroi was resolute in not allowing Riko to face dangerous adversaries in order to protect herself.
"It's not your fault, Miss. Don't worry, I will ensure your safety," Misato reassured, though her grip on the broomstick tightened involuntarily.
She thought to herself:
"That individual must belong to a Curse User group. I'm unsure why they appeared so feeble..."
"In the days to come, there will likely be more attackers targeting you. The Jujutsu division will need to swiftly send protection for you."
"Hopefully, there are no accomplices of that Curse User nearby right now—"
However, the more one frets over a situation, the more likely it is to come to pass.
Kuroi came to a sudden halt, her gaze fixed on the two masked men obstructing their path. These men were dressed even more oddly than Umegawa, yet they shared a similar bizarre fashion sense.
Sensing the intimidating aura emanating from them, a bead of sweat trickled down Misato's otherwise smooth cheek.
"This isn't good..."