"Do what you think is right, don't worry about what others will say. Even if you cut ties with the Yukinoshita family, no one will say a thing, because you are a sorcerer!"

  Sometimes, power really was araordinary thing. It allowed you to speak with fidend forced others to approach you with respect.

  "If you ever feel overwhelmed, you always e to me. Don't fet, I am the stro sorcerer now!"

  Ryuji had retly been reized as the stro sorcerer. Not that he ever cared about such titles. Even Gojo, the former stro sorcerer, never bothered to recim it or front Ryuji over it.

  "..."

  Yukino didn't know how to respond. But seeing Ryuji's straightforward expression made her smile.

  "As expected from you, always so simple and direct."

  Only Ryuji could say something so pinly and make it sound so powerful.

  "It may be simple, but it works, doesn't it?" Ryuji replied casually.

  For ordinary people, handling matters often involved tless steps and plications. But for Ryuji, with his immense power, even the most challenging situations became straightforward and manageable.

  "So, are you still worried now?" he asked.

  "Not anymore!"

  Yuki a sense of crity wash over her after hearing Ryuji's words. That's right—as long as she followed her ow and pursued what she believed in, there was nothing to fear.

  In the past, she had cked the strength to follow her vis. But now, with her newfound power, what was there to worry about? She would shoulder the responsibilities that came with her upbringing and the support she received from the Yukinoshita family. She wasn't ungrateful.

  Responsibilities were ohing, but she wouldn't let herself be used for the family's gain or to harm others. With this realization, Yuki a weight lift from her shoulders.

  "Thank you!"

  Yukino smiled at Ryuji, appreciating his presence. Without him, she would probably still be trapped in her own doubts and aies, uo move forward.

  "It's nothing."

  Ryuji waved off her gratitude like it was no big deal. After all, she was his, and it was only natural to care for her.

  Besides—

  "By the way, are you free tonight? I could stop by to che your training."

  "..."

  Training, huh? As if she didn't know what he was implying. Even though Ryuji said it with a straight face, Yukino rolled her eyes. That excuse aper-thin. But still—

  "Okay!"

  Knowing what he really meant didn't make Yukino any less willing to agree. Though she projected a cold demeanor, she missed him just as much. After not seeing him for days, how could she say no?

  "Great! Don't fet to leave the door unlocked for me."

  Not that it would be a problem if it wasn't, Ryuji could get iher way. But there was something to be said for a sense of occasion.

  Yukino just rolled her eyes again but said nothing to tradict him.

  The school day soon came to an end.

  Ryuji stayed in the Service Club room, lounging around with an easy smile. None of the girls seemed eager to leave either. For them, going hht after school felt dull. It was more fun to stay together.

  Meanwhile, in a at the end of the school building, students were pag up. Some were heading to their clubs, oing straight home.

  One girl, wearing hearing aids and carefully gatherihings, g the groups leaving for their club activities with a hint of envy.

  Nishimiya Shouko wished she could join a club and make friends too. But due to her hearing impairment, she was ofteed as an outsider by her cssmates. At Sobu High, while no one had physically bullied her, the isotion she felt was still a form of cruelty. Unfortunately, bullying was not unon, whether in school or the workpce, and Shouko was aware of that. So, with a resigned expression, she finished pag up to head home alone.

  But suddenly—

  "Shouko!"

  A group of girls with trendy outfits approached her.

  "Want to catch a movie with us ter?"

  "Shouko, don't head home so soon!"

  These were the pirls in the css who usually stuck together. One of them even put an arm around Shouko's shoulders, ag overly familiar.

  "???"

  The sudden attention stunned Shouko. Reading their lips to uand what they were saying, she blinked in fusion. These girls had never ied with her before, so why were they inviting her out now?

  While Shouko was a bit naive, she wasn't stupid. Since she couldn't speak well, she pulled out her notepad and began writing.

  Sign nguage wouldn't help—these girls didn't uand it.

  Seeing her jotting down a respohe girls exged gnces, a flicker of disdain in their eyes. What a weirdo, they thought, but kept their expressioral as Shouko lifted her notebook.

  Why do you want to go to the movies with me?

  They hadn't so much as spoken to her before, so the sudden invite felt odd, even if Shouko longed for friends.

  "Oh, don't overthink it. We just want to get to know you better!" one of them said.

  "Yeah, that's right!"

  Anirl chimed in, nodding.

  "Holy, Shouko, you're pretty cute, you know that?"

  It wasly a pliment. Shouko, with her quiet demeanor and tendency to keep her head down, hadn't drawn much attention. But up close, it was clear she was quite beautiful, enough to spark jealousy among the pirls.

  But Shouko didn't notice their envious gnces. Embarrassed by the pliment, she looked down, flustered. It was the first time aside her family had said such a thing. She wao respond with sign nguage but, remembering they wouldn't uand, she settled for writing again.

  Cute? No one's ever called me that before.

  Her defenses dropped a little, and she felt a touch of hope. Could they really want to be friends?

  "Alright, enough standing around. Let's catch the movie!" said one of the girls, eager to move things along. It wasn't like they were here for Shouko's sake.

  "Yeah, there's a new film that's supposed to be great!"

  "Let's go, let's go!"

  They ushered Shouko out of the , half-dragging her along.

  The situatio Shouko fused but pliant. She had promised her sister Yuzuru she'd e home early, and that thought made her hesitate.

  Before she could write out an expnation, one of the girls snatched her pen away.

  "It's fine! We won't be long, just a quick movie!"

  They weren't about to let this opportunity slip by. Shouko, timid by nature, didn't resist.

  A few cssmates noticed the group leaving together and exged puzzled gnces. When did Shouko bee friends with them? But curiosity only went so far. No ohe o intervene.

  Shouko had never been a signifit presen the css. If something happehe others would likely just watch.

  "By the way, did you hear that Ryuji was at school today?" one of the pirls said as they walked.

  Trailing behind, Shouko listened quietly. The sorcerer? She'd heard about him, mostly through rumors and ss of the ret live broadcasts.

  "Yeah, but it was so crowded we couldn't eve close."

  "We thought about trying again ter, but with Shizuka around, no one dared."

  The fist-shaped dent in the wall still hadn't been repaired, serving as a silent warning.

  "Tch."

  The leader of the group clicked her tongue in annoyance.

  "So what if he's a sorcerer? Does that make him special enough to act all high and mighty?"

  "Exactly," anirl agreed.

  "Just because he has powers doesn't mean he's better than everyone."

  The ive talk made Shouko uneasy. She wao remind them that it wasn't right to badmouth someone behind their back, but she didn't feel fortable speaking up yet.

  Maybe ohey knew each other better, she'd bring it up. For now, she vinced herself they were just being casual friends.

  At that moment, Shouko still believed they were genuine. Sometimes, innoce made it easy to be deceived.

  Soon, they reached their destination. But instead of a movie theater, it was an old video hall.

  "???"

  Shouko's fusion deepened. Weren't they supposed to go to a ema? Why were they here?

  Though she couldn't speak, her puzzled expression said it all.

  "Don't worry, it's practically the same."

  Not wanting to raise suspi, one of the girls expined, "The new movies are sold out, so we'll just watch here instead."

  The expnation calmed Shouko a bit, and she hey pushed her into the hall, and for a moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension. It almost seemed like they were afraid she'd ge her mind and run.

  But why would she? Shaking off the odd feeling, Shouko followed them into a private room. Despite the hall's worn-out exterior, the room itself was tidy.

  "Take a seat, Shouko!"

  She settled in the middle of the couch while the irls exged looks.

  "Did y it?"

  "Of course."

  One of them revealed a bck tape, eyes glinting with mischief.