Chapter 78: The Seventh Chapter, Black Ink Stained Fourth
Although Ooka came to school, his mental state was not good; his eyes were bloodshot, looking rather frightening. This made although his classmates worried about him, they didn’t dare to approach him and talk to him for some time.
“You finally came back to school, it’s really great.” Only Hayama Hayato approached him after class, saying, “Ooka, come to have a serious talk after school.”
“Talk?” Ooka gave a hoarse laugh, “Alright, then let’s talk.”
“Thank you.”
Hayama Hayato sighed in relief, believing that as long as Ooka was willing to talk with him seriously, they would be able to reconcile.
During recess, Hiratsuka Shizuka called Ooka to her office.
In the separate student guidance room, Hiratsuka Shizuka sat face to face with Ooka.
Subconsciously, she wanted to light a cigarette, but seeing Ooka’s bloodshot eyes, she put the half-opened pack back in her pocket.
“Ooka, teachers know that at your age, it’s a sensitive time, yearning for friends and closer relationships, which is all normal.”
“Mmm.”
“But we should pay attention to how we make friends, and even if friendship is formed through improper means, it would still be an awkward and incorrect relationship.”
“Mmm.”
“Young people all make mistakes, but as long as one is willing to correct them, there is still time. Besides, Kaburagi and Yamato forgave you, and didn’t tell others about it either, so you don’t need to worry too much about your campus life being affected.”
“Mmm.”
Seeing Ooka still respond with no emotions, as if his heart had been taken away, Hiratsuka Shizuka’s expression twisted.
“In short, youth is only once, I hope you can go through it without regret… Go back.” Ooka seemed immovable; she could only sigh helplessly and let him return for now, observing him further.
“Thank you, Teacher Hiratsuka, for disturbing you.” Ooka nodded slightly, softly saying this.
After he left the guidance room, Hiratsuka Shizuka lit a cigarette, once more lamenting that students these days were difficult to handle.
It was soon the end of school, and Hayama Hayato agreed to meet Ooka in the courtyard. He arrived early and waited.
Not long after, Ooka dragged himself to stand before Hayama.
“It’s great you came.” Hayama Hayato smiled warmly, “Let’s talk.”
It was this warm and open smile, like a breeze in spring, that made him popular among all the students, as if his smile alone could brighten up even the gloomiest lives.
But this time, it didn’t work.
“What do you want to say?”
Ooka’s voice was still hoarse, with even more bloodshot veins in his eyes, as if their vessels were on the verge of bursting.
“How are you? You don’t look well, haven’t slept in a while?” Hayama Hayato looked at him, his appearance seeming almost on the brink of collapse, asking worriedly.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Ooka suddenly shouted. He lowered his head, breathing heavily, “Just say what you need to!”
“I understand.” After a moment of bewilderment, Hayama Hayato’s expression turned serious, “Firstly, I’m here to apologize to you.”
“Apologize? What did you do that requires apologizing to me?” Ooka asked.
Hayama pressed his lips tightly, his hands fell limply, then clenched tightly again, before releasing them weakly, “If I had found a better solution… perhaps things wouldn’t have become like this.”
“Huh, you sympathizing with me, Hayato?” Ooka laughed bitterly, “I was the one who did those things—I shouldn’t need to hide behind lies and put the blame on myself.”
“…I hope we can still be friends, together with Kaburagi and Yamato, just like before.” Hayama looked earnestly into his bloodshot eyes.
“Friends? Forget it. We are from different worlds now.”
Ooka turned and walked away, without any pause.
“You’re not worthy of my friendship anymore.”
Watching his figure depart, Hayama Hayato subconsciously reached out to hold him back, yet ultimately let his hand drop helplessly, watching him move through the courtyard and enter the Special Building.
At that very moment, the last faint light in Ooka’s eyes dimmed completely, replaced by a dark red.
…
“…Then Umeko said…”
In the Service Club, Yui Yuigahama sat as usual beside Yukinoshita Yukino, casually chatting, but she was interrupted halfway.
“Hold on, Yui.” Yukinoshita Yukino raised her hand, gesturing Yui to pause, and frowned.
She met Hachiman Hikigaya’s gaze, who nodded slightly, equally grave.
She wasn’t mistaken; it was the response of Curse Energy.
In the Special Building, it was coming closer to their direction!
Was another Cursed Spirit appearing?
Yukinoshita Yukino questioned within her mind.
No, a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Lin Qi responded quickly.
“People are coming from the stairs to the left, already here,” Yukinoshita Yukino spoke abruptly.
Hachiman Hikigaya understood, rising and leaving the Service Club.
“Huh?” Watching Hachiman get up and leave suddenly, the girl with pink pigtails looked confused, “What are you talking about, Yukino? Why did Hachiman suddenly leave?”
“Nothing… Can you accompany me to the bathroom?”
Yukinoshita Yukino struggled to come up with a way out, forced to change topics, even resorting to something she previously dismissed:女生结伴去厕所.
“Ah? There’s no problem with that…群：死捌—侕三5”
Yui Yuigahama appeared puzzled, even knowing there must be something Yukinoshita Yukino didn’t want to share, though she wasn’t exactly stupid.
But sensitive as she was, she didn’t say anything; she simply nodded, rising to follow Yukinoshita Yukino to the bathroom.
However, when Yukinoshita Yukino opened the door of the Service Club room, Hachiman Hikigaya, who should have gone to block the unidentified Jujutsu Sorcerer, still stood not far from the doorway.
“Hmm, Hachiman? What’s going on?” Yui asked, puzzled.
Hachiman Hikigaya stretched his mouth slightly, moving aside to reveal the shadow walking down the corridor, “You didn’t say it would be like this.”
Yui also saw the shadow stumbling towards them.
” … Ooka?”
…
After school, becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer:
