Baobhan Sith was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, watching TV.
Yesterday, she'd managed to slip some hints about Brain—the one lurking in Suguru Geto's head—into his mind.
Of course, she didn't go into too much detail. After all, she had to be careful with information about her own suspicions. Most of her knowledge wouldn't stand up to scrutiny…
Instead, she gave Geto a nudge, hinting that she was still investigating and not quite sure herself. By leading him half-truthfully in the direction she wanted, she made it easier for him to believe.
She needed him to verify, to ponder, to doubt—and that way, he would end up believing it even more.
People often question what's handed to them too easily, but they tend to trust conclusions they've struggled to reach on their own.
Someone was always watching him and his dear friend, Satoru Gojo—someone who had even gone so far as to target his juniors. That deep-rooted kindness in Geto would surely haunt him sleeplessly.
Before she left, Geto had asked for more information, but Baobhan Sith brushed him off with, "I still need to confirm a few things. I'll tell you once I'm sure."
Give him time to mull it over—let him complicate things in his head, and she could keep things simple.
Suguru Geto was bound to think, If even someone as terrifying as Baobhan Sith can't handle that person, then they must be an extremely cunning and dangerous figure.
Although this might shake her strong image, it was actually beneficial. The scarier Geto thought Brain was, the less time he'd have to dwell on his own darker urges.
Then again, she wondered if he'd tell Gojo about the Brain.
"Coco, you're blocking the TV. Move."
The little cat, Coco, who kept darting in and out between her and the screen, finally faced Baobhan Sith's justice. She grabbed the cat by the scruff and promptly tossed her aside.
"Meow!"
Coco did an elegant backflip mid-air and landed gracefully, glaring up at Baobhan Sith with a huff.
"Ah… so bored."
Once upon a time, she could sit in front of the TV all day long, but now, nothing seemed to hold her interest. The shows felt bland, and even the news was dull.
She'd once thought about searching for cursed spirits through the news. But after a few tries, she'd realized that most of what aired was rumor-based nonsense. All those so-called haunted locations were fake—certainly unrelated to cursed spirits or jujutsu sorcerers.
It made sense, after all. The fear that cursed spirits caused could become a source of strength for them. To prevent that, the jujutsu world strictly censored all related information, and every fight with a cursed spirit involved setting up a special barrier called a "Curtain." Trying to find cursed spirits through official channels was absurd.
That's why Da Vinci later developed a device capable of detecting cursed energy in the surroundings. Without it, Baobhan Sith wouldn't have been able to exorcise spirits with such efficiency.
"Master, Master, are you feeling bored?"
Hearing Da Vinci's voice, Baobhan Sith replied without a second thought.
"No."
"Lying isn't good, Master."
"Shut it. Every time you call me, I know it means my break is over."
She propped her feet up on the coffee table with a click of her tongue.
"So, I'm not very welcome in Master's heart? Oh no… I'm heartbroken… Sob, sob."
"How can you be so good at playing cute?"
"I thought we'd have plenty in common, Master. After all, we both went through the process of changing from a man to a woman, not just physically but mentally as well—"
"Zip it, or I'm ending the call."
Baobhan Sith raised her hand, about to close the screen.
"No! Wait, Master, hear me out! This time, it's not a mission! It's not about fixing Singularities or pruning Lostbelts—just listen, okay?"
Baobhan Sith's hand hovered mid-air, but she reluctantly lowered it.
"Fine. Let's hear what scheme you've cooked up this time."
"Haha, trust me a little more, Master. You'll see it has its perks."
On the screen, Da Vinci cleared her throat and continued, "Master, since you're just at home anyway, how about taking little Jasmine out on a date?"
"…"
"Don't hang up! Listen, listen! At least let me explain, Master!"
Baobhan Sith was ready to cut Da Vinci off, thinking the joke was getting out of hand. Two girls going on a date?
To this, Da Vinci explained.
"It's not an actual date. Although, Master, you'd probably be fine, it's best to avoid anything that could get you in trouble. I'm just suggesting you take Jasmine out for a fun day," Da Vinci said, holding up a finger, her expression serious. "Kids Jasmine's age are enjoying the innocence and joy of school life, yet Jasmine? She's hardly been out. Even when she does, it's usually only for grocery runs, or while under your close watch. That's not healthy for her development, mentally speaking."
"I get that Jasmine's not suited for a regular school environment, but Master, you still need to help her experience some of what kids her age should be doing. Like going out to have fun, or, I don't know, even taking her to pick out a dress from a clothing store?"
After Da Vinci's lecture, Baobhan Sith suddenly felt… a bit guilty?
Raising a child wasn't something she'd done before. Jasmine was a remarkably mature and well-behaved kid who rarely asked for anything, and always seemed content with whatever she had. In the whirlwind of battles and missions, Baobhan Sith had simply… overlooked it.
Sitting up, Baobhan Sith shifted into a kneeling position on the couch, leaning her arms on the backrest.
Just then, Jasmine passed by, holding a large basket of laundry she'd just brought in from drying outside. Without really thinking, Baobhan Sith called out to her.
"Jasmine, want to go on a date with me?"
Jasmine's physical strength, of course, was enhanced through cursed energy—otherwise, she wouldn't be able to carry such heavy loads.
But the moment Baobhan Sith's last word left her lips, Jasmine's flow of cursed energy suddenly jolted in a frenzy.
Bang!
As Baobhan Sith watched the pile of clothes that now lay scattered on the floor—and the half-buried Jasmine with only her legs sticking out—she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
---
T/N: DA VINCI I LOVE U