"Ran!"

  didn't know what to say.

  Seeing Ran like this made anxious. If she didn't revert back to her usual self soon, he felt as if he might really lose her.

  Damn it!

  "Talk about yourself!"

  Ran, however, didn't notice 's expression at all.

  Instead, she turoward Sonoko with curiosity.

  "How are things goiween you and Makoto?"

  Ran was aware that her best friely got a boyfriend, and that boyfriend was Makoto, known as the karate king for winning 400 secutive matches.

  "If it's Makoto, it's fine!"

  When Sonoko spoke about Kyogoku, her expression faltered a bit.

  Ran caught ht away.

  "What happened?"

  "..."

  In front of others, Sonoko usually wouldn't divulge much. But Ran was her closest friend, and they had shared everything sihey were kids. After hesitating for a moment, Sonoko sighed and spoke up.

  "Makoto has been ag a little weird tely. He barely even looks at me anymore!"

  Although Sonoko might seem a bit naive, she wasirely clueless.

  "Isn't that kind of expected?"

  Before Ran could react, , who had been listening ily, couldn't help but interject.

  "What did you say, you little brat?!"

  Sonoko's eyes narrowed, gring at with irritation.

  , still frustrated by what happened earlier, seized this opportunity to let out all his pent-up feelings.

  "For someone like Makoto, who's won 400 karate matches, it's only natural for other women to notice him. You're ly stunning, so you don't really think he's with you just for your looks, do you?"

  Sonoko, with her headband and average looks, ched her fists.

  "You...!"

  Uo retort, she poi , fuming with frustration.

  "Hit a nerve, didn't I?"

  smirked. It felt good to see her uled, especially after how she'd embarrassed him in front of Ran before.

  "No eback? Looks like you already know the truth, huh?"

  "..."

  Sonoko fell silent.

  Even if she hadn't fully aowledged it before, she wasirely oblivious.

  "Enough, !"

  Notig Sonoko's disheartened expression, Ran quickly scolded .

  "Tsk!" Though annoyed, respected Ran enough to stop talking. He crossed his arms and walked off to the side, grumbling internally.

  Ra out a small sigh and patted Sonoko's shoulder gently.

  "I believe Makoto really cares about you. Don't overthink it!"

  "Oh, by the way, didn't you mention seeing that sorcerer on the live broadcast? you tell me more about it?"

  Ran wao ge the subject quickly.

  Though still feeling down, Sonoko nodded and reted what she'd seen about Ryuji.

  It wasn't until the evening that the shopping trip ended.

  "I'll head back first."

  Ran waved as Sonoko's ride pulled up, taking with her.

  After getting home, Sonoko saw her father, Suzuki Shiro, sitting in the living room with Makoto Kyogoku. They seemed to be in the middle of a versation.

  "Makoto?"

  Sonoko was taken aback. In the past, Makoto had always deed her invitations to visit, g his intense karate training. Why was he here now?

  "Sonoko~"

  Makoto stood up with a smile when he saw her.

  "I came to discuss some matters with your dad."

  "Is that so?"

  So he came to see her father? Sonoko forced a smile as she looked at her father.

  "Well, you two carry on. I'm heading to my room."

  "Huh?"

  Makoto was surprised by Sonoko's rea. Normally, she would rush to his side the moment she saw him.

  "By the way, Sonoko, I have some free time tomorrow. How about we go out together?"

  "No, I'm a bit tired after today's shopping with Ran. I'd like to rest."

  For some reason, 's words echoed in her mind when she looked at Makoto. Was she so pin that someone as exceptional as him would only be ied in her because of the Suzuki family's wealth?

  When someone who's never experienced love questions their worth, there's always that sting of realization.

  "I... I see. Then take care a some rest."

  Rejected? This was pletely ued for Makoto. Normally, Sonoko would be overjoyed at su invitation. She would cover all their expenses and even give him a vish gift by the end of the day.

  Was she losing i? Were wealthy girls always so impulsive in their affes?

  Makoto said nothing more but couldn't shake off the unease.

  Sonoko, oblivious to Makoto's thoughts, went back to her room. It wasn't until the maid khat she emerged again. By then, Makoto had already left, leaving only her father in the room.

  "Makoto's gone?"

  "Yeah." Suzuki Shiro sipped his tea, notig the ge in his daughter's behavior with surprise.

  Not long ago, Sonoko was so infatuated she'd do anything for Makoto. Today, though, she was different.

  Holy, whether Makoto had hidden motives or not, Shiro didn't care too much. The Suzuki family's wealth was vast, more than enough feions.

  Still, seeing his daughter mature made him pleased.

  Casually, he mentioned, "Makoto suggested that the Suzuki family sponsor a karate petition, inviting more partits."

  "A karate petition?"

  A way to show off his prowess? But in this era of sorcerers, no matter how skilled someone was in karate, it didn't mean much.

  "So, we're footing the bill?"

  Sonoko, who'd never questioned such things before, now asked.

  "..." Shiro was surprised again but stayed silent, aowledging her shift.

  "I haven't given him an answer yet."

  Shiro was only ied in his daughter's happiness. He waited to see what she'd say.

  "Fet it."

  Sonoko paused before replying.

  "No matter how skilled someone is in karate, they 't fight against a cursed spirit. Let him deal with it himself."

  If it had no value, why gh with it?

  "..."

  Shiro was stunned but satisfied. He didn't mind if his daughter dated someone fshy, as long as she wasn't being taken advantage of. This newfound independence romising.

  "Then I'll let him know ter."

  Whether Makoto would be upset or not was not Suzuki Shiro's .

  "Oh, one more thing."

  He hadn't thought it necessary to mention before, but now he felt she should know.

  "I heard from the staff that when Miss Mei Mei visited us, Makoto approached her, asking to be taught how to exorcise curses."

  Needless to say, he was turned down.

  "..."

  But this only firmed that Makoto had ulterior motives.

  Sonoko's hands balled into fists.

  "I uand."

  That was enough for Shiro. He was tent with her rea.

  "Is this Miss Mei Mei ?"

  Mei Mei, looking irritated, picked up her phone and spoke coldly.

  "If you call me again, I'll kill you."

  With that, she hung up and tossed her phone aside.

  "Another admirer?"

  In the room, Ryuji held Mei Mei close, his eyes amused.

  "No."

  Leaning against him, she smiled warmly.

  "Just someone desperate for power. His name's Makoto Kyogoku. I met him when visiting the Suzuki family. He must've gotten my hrough them."

  Mei Mei never gave her taformation to Makoto.

  But she didn't care.

  "Makoto Kyogoku?"

  Ryuji, who had watched several episodes of Detective , reized the name.

  Longing for power? In this era, who didn't crave it?

  "With his skills, he might have some potential as a sorcerer."

  After all, dodging bullets and pung through walls were feats unheard of for a regur person. In 's world, he was a monster; in this world, he could very well be a sorcerer with siderable talent.

  "And?"

  Mei Mei was aware of this but shrugged dismissively.

  "I'm not ied in teag beginners."

  There were plenty of people with sorcerer potential out there. Why waste time on Makoto? She'd much rather speime with Ryuji.

  "Hahaha."

  Ryuji chuckled but didn't add anything.

  Cursed energy was born from ive emotions. If Makoto really did possess potential and hadn't learo harness it properly, it would iably affect his mind. This versation roof enough.

  It seemed Makoto was ambitious, but that didn't matter. If he ever crossed a line, Ryuji could easily put him in his pce.

  "Have you rested enough?" Ryuji asked, shifting his gaze to Mei Mei.

  "Of course!"

  Mei Mei, realizing what he meant, smiled and nodded without hesitation.

  The tension began to build.

  Crack!

  Makoto wasn't feeling as posed. His phone shattered in his grip.

  "Hah..."

  It took siderable effort to steady his nerves.

  "Damn it!"

  First, Suzuki Shiro called and implied that the karate petition would only happen if Makoto paid for it himself. And now this? Everything was slipping out of his trol.

  If Sonoko were still head over heels, she'd never have allowed this. Something had ged.

  So Makoto turned his focus to Mei Mei.

  A true sorcerer. If he could gain her guidance, he wouldn't he Suzuki family's wealth.

  But reality hit hard.

  Rejected by both Sonoko and Mei Mei—it was a plete defeat.

  Makoto's eyes showed a flicker of doubt and indecision. After standing in silence for a while, he finally reached into his pocket and took out a new phone. With a sigh, he dialed a number.

  "You mentioned before that you'd be willing to teach me to bee a sorcerer, right?"

  "Oh! So, you've made up your mind?"

  ***

  If you came here from WN inally, I'm re-uploading this ba WN. Just check my profile. Let's hope it stays up this time.

  Support me on patreon to read 150+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.