Ryosuke raised his hand, a slight smile on his lips, and said calmly, "I think we'll call it here. Sound good to you?"
Kasumi, still on the ground, looked up at him warily, but he approached slowly, offering his hand to help her up. After a moment of hesitation, she accepted, regaining her balance with her cheeks just a little flushed. He then turned to Mechamaru, who was still struggling to stand despite his damaged circuits.
"Mechamaru, sorry... maybe I hit a bit too hard," Ryosuke apologized. "Are you okay? Nothing too serious?"
But Mechamaru stayed silent. Kasumi, understanding his system, gently explained, "He's probably abandoned this host already. Another Mechamaru is likely on its way to take over."
Ryosuke scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Ah... didn't know how much power to hold back with him. Really, my bad."
Switching topics, he clapped his hands and looked at Kasumi with a warm smile. "I've got to say, you've got great control over your cursed energy, Kasumi! Your technique is super precise. But your reserve might be a little low, right?"
Kasumi nodded silently.
"No worries," Ryosuke reassured her. "Actually, you should play to your precision—try coming up with techniques that don't need as much energy. With your control, you could pull off something amazing!"
Kasumi offered him a shy smile, appreciating the advice. But just as Ryosuke turned toward Mai, she crossed her arms, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"And what about me?" she asked, trying to mask her anxiety.
Ryosuke gave her a playful, teasing look. "You, Mai? Well… hate to break it to you, but you're the weakest of the group, sorry. Your CE reserve is so low, I'm amazed you're still going. But your natural control? Now that's something."
Mai gritted her teeth, her cheeks flushed with frustration. She stayed silent, but her clenched fists revealed her emotions.
Noticing, Ryosuke stepped closer and, lowering his voice, whispered almost softly, "Don't worry. I'm here to help, and when the time's right, just remember that."
Ryosuke scratched his neck, a sheepish smile on his face. "I didn't get a chance to check out the area yesterday..."
Kasumi gave Mai a mischievous look. "Well, Mai can go with you."
Mai's brows knitted immediately. "Why me and not you, Kasumi?"
Kasumi shrugged, looking innocent. "I need to stay here and wait for Mechamaru. And besides, you know the area better than I do, right?"
Mai sighed, clearly unenthusiastic about the idea. She looked away, muttering under her breath, while Ryosuke watched her with an amused, knowing smile.
He stepped closer to her and, with a slight, teasing murmur, added, "Come on, Mai. Looks like we have ourselves a little date."
Mai rolled her eyes. "Keep your hopes in check. This is… an escort mission. I'm just here to guide you, that's all."
Ryosuke nodded with a mock-serious expression, but his grin gave him away.
Mai walked ahead, arms crossed and face set in a frown, making it clear she was not enjoying this little tour. Ryosuke followed, clearly taking pleasure in observing the surroundings, despite the icy silence from his "guide."
Down tree-lined paths, Mai led him first to a small pond. Under the sun's rays, the water shimmered, and a few colorful fish swam beneath the surface. Mai, however, remained stoic, glancing at Ryosuke out of the corner of her eye to gauge his reaction.
Ryosuke stepped closer to the pond, clearly captivated. "Nice spot you've got here…," he murmured, casting a glance at Mai, who only shrugged.
Without responding, she resumed walking, leading him onto a path that wound through a small forest. Here, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, mingled with the birdsong hidden among the branches, created a calming atmosphere. Ryosuke noticed Mai's posture relaxing, even though she still wore her mask of indifference.
"Do you come here often?" he dared to ask.
She answered briefly, without looking at him, "Sometimes. It's quiet here."
He didn't push further, content to enjoy the calm surroundings. They continued their walk, passing through a few streets, busy parks, and public squares.
Eventually, Mai turned toward a small side street, leading to a tiny shop where an artisan ice cream vendor offered all kinds of unique flavors. Without a word, she stopped in front of the display, sneaking a glance at Ryosuke, who was smiling in delight.
"Ice cream, huh? You've got good taste, Mai."
She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed by his comment. "I didn't bring you here for your sake, idiot. Just didn't want to skip this place on the tour."
Ryosuke pretended to think, gazing dreamily at the colorful flavors behind the glass. "Hmm… I'll go with vanilla and matcha. And you?"
She stayed silent for a moment, arms still crossed, before muttering almost inaudibly, "Melon."
After getting their ice creams, they sat on a bench in the shade of a large maple tree, letting the silence settle in once again. Ryosuke savored his ice cream with a relaxed look, while Mai, despite her indifferent airs, took small bites of hers.
"Thanks for showing me around. This was nice," Ryosuke said, looking at her sincerely.
She was quiet, a little taken aback. Finally, she looked away. "You're welcome…"
Ryosuke chuckled softly but didn't say anything more.
Silence fell between them, accompanied by the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. Mai hesitated, glancing away toward the horizon, before finally breaking the quiet.
"I know I'm weak," she murmured, almost to herself. "But… that doesn't mean I'm going to let people born under a lucky star like you look down on me. I'm really doing my best, you know, but…"
She trailed off, her voice trembling. Ryosuke put down his ice cream, his gaze suddenly serious, almost intense.
"I know," he replied calmly.
Mai stared at him, surprised. She had expected him to throw some teasing remark, his usual laid-back self. But this… this was different. Before she could say anything, he continued.
"I know you better than you think, Mai. And… I know her too."
The simple mention of "her" made Mai's eyes widen. She felt her heart race, but Ryosuke, as if nothing happened, took another bite of his ice cream with a sly smile.
"I had the chance to meet the other first-year students at Tokyo's Jujutsu High," he said nonchalantly.
Mai clenched her fists, trying to hide the hint of anger rising within her.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: Help