Just as the monstrous human centipede lunged forward with a guttural screech, Yotsuya Miko couldn't take it anymore.
Her body moved on instinct—pure, desperate fear propelling her forward as she let out a terrified scream and ran toward the only source of safety she had left.
Akiyama Ren.
There was no plan, no logic—just the primal urge to survive.
Ren watched her approach with a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Mission accomplished.
Miko bolted to his side and clung to his arm tightly, her entire body trembling. "S-Save me… p-please… I-I don't want to die…"
Ren's expression softened as he looked down at her tear-streaked face. Her wide golden eyes were full of helplessness, and her fear was almost tangible.
He gently reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. "It's okay now. I've got you."
With a calm, almost lazy motion, Ren raised his right hand and formed a sword mudra—index and middle fingers extended.
His fingers glowed faintly as he traced a sharp arc through the air, and his voice dropped, low and commanding:
"Ten-Line Spell—God's Protection."
In that moment, divine power surged through his fingers, transforming into blinding sword energy. The air rippled as the spiritual blade shot forward and struck the human centipede precisely at its vital junction—seven-three split, the classic cursed weakness.
(I think he used a spell from Campione but I can't be sure.)
The abomination didn't even have time to scream. It burst into motes of white ash, disintegrating into nothingness as if it had never existed.
Miko stared, slack-jawed. Her legs nearly gave out.
"So… amazing…" she murmured in awe. "You're… an Exorcist?"
At that moment, Kurahashi Kyōko stepped out of the wagashi shop, holding a neatly tied paper bag in her hand.
Her eyes flicked over to the scene—Ren acting cool with a girl hanging onto his arm—and her brows furrowed instantly.
She walked up to him with a blank expression and sent a voice transmission laced with sarcasm.
"You're seriously using cursed spirits to flirt with girls now? That's low, even for you."
Ren didn't flinch. He responded calmly through telepathy.
"She's been following us since earlier. Clearly terrified but too afraid to approach. I figured I'd give her a nudge."
"Hah. And I'm supposed to buy that?" Kyōko's eyes narrowed, filled with cold disdain—as if she were staring at trash.
Ren only shrugged. He didn't care what Kyōko thought. She wasn't really the affectionate type anyway.
Yotsuya Miko, on the other hand… now she was cute. Sweet voice, tearful eyes, perfect blend of frailty and courage—definitely his type.
"T-Thank you so much!" Miko suddenly bowed deeply, her voice trembling but sincere.
"You're welcome," Ren replied with a casual wave.
After a brief pause, she mustered the courage to ask, "Um… you can see ghosts too, right?"
"Obviously," he said with a grin. "How else could I blast one out of existence?"
"R-Right…" she mumbled. Then her eyes turned pleading. "Um, is there a way to… shut off this power? I don't want to see them anymore. I just… I can't take it…"
Ren studied her carefully.
It was tempting, of course, to tell her yes. But he shook his head with a smile.
"You could turn it off, but it'd be such a waste. You've been gifted a divine eye—Onmyou Eyes of the highest caliber. With training, you could become something much more."
"Something… like an Onmyōji?" Miko asked, pointing at herself incredulously.
Ren nodded. "Exactly. You've got the talent to be an Onmyōji, maybe even a Jujutsu Sorcerer That power in your eyes… it goes beyond just seeing ghosts. You can see spirits, curses, and more."
(Could be feasible based on my limited JJK knowledge. If Heavenly Restriction users use cursed tools to see and fight cursed spirits then it's possible for Miko's eyes to do something similar yet different)
Akiyama Ren had been right all along. Turning off her Onmyou Eyes would've been like throwing away a treasure chest out of fear of what was inside.
If she truly wanted peace, she had to earn it—not by running, but by becoming stronger.
If she became an Onmyōji… no, a true master of the spiritual arts… she wouldn't have to tremble anymore. She could protect herself, protect her mother, protect Yurikawa Hana… and even Yulia, who always acted so brave.
"I… I'll do it," Miko said, her voice steadier now. "Let's exchange contact info. I'll come find you when I can. I go to Soubu High, Class 2-F, too."
Ren pulled out his sleek black phone and smiled. "Nice. We're even classmates? Fate's working overtime today."
After exchanging numbers, Miko hesitated for a moment. Then, nervously fidgeting with her sleeves, she looked up at him again.
"U-Um… Ren-kun, do you… maybe have something like a charm or talisman? Something that can keep ghosts away? I know it's selfish, but… I'm still scared."
Ren chuckled softly. "No problem. Hold out your hand."
Miko quickly extended her delicate palm, trusting him completely.
With a fluid motion, Ren drew an ancient manji symbol—often misinterpreted, but in spiritual terms, a sacred seal of protection—right in the center of her palm using a thin strand of glowing spiritual energy.
"As long as you have this, the spirits won't come near you," he said with a reassuring smile. "Even if they can sense that you see them, they won't dare approach."
What he didn't say was the truth.
The symbol itself? Pure decoration.
What really worked was the divine energy Ren had channeled directly into her body. It wasn't just a protective charm—it was a temporary blessing from a being who had walked the boundary between mortal and divine.
With that blessing active, no low-level ghost or curse would be able to get within ten meters of her without being instantly purified.
"Thank you… thank you so much, Ren-kun!" Miko beamed with newfound hope. Her fear hadn't vanished completely—but now, it was no longer paralyzing.
"You're welcome," Ren replied with a relaxed wave.
Miko kept bowing gratefully, again and again, before finally turning and walking away down the shopping street—each step lighter than the last.
As soon as her figure disappeared around the corner, Kurahashi Kyōko crossed her arms and gave Ren a sharp look.
"You're seriously going to teach her Onmyōdō?" she asked bluntly.
"Why not? That girl's got talent—raw, unrefined, but potent. If she sticks with it, she could surpass most licensed exorcists within two years," Ren said confidently.
Kyōko's brow twitched. "So what'll it be? Jujutsu? Onmyōdō?"
Ren gave a sly grin. "Why limit her to one path? I'll teach her both—plus exorcism techniques, martial arts, spellwork, and maybe even magic if she can handle it. She'll be the ultimate hybrid."
Kyōko stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "You lunatic…"
No agency—neither the Onmyō Bureau nor the Jujutsu Alliance—would ever allow such a fusion. A spiritual hybrid who walked both cursed and divine paths? They'd never accept her.
But if Akiyama Ren—rumored to be more powerful than Gojo Satoru himself—insisted on it, could they even stop him?
Kyōko wasn't sure… and that uncertainty unnerved her.
--
Later that evening, the two of them returned home in a taxi.
Though the Adagaki family's stronghold was in Osaka, their influence didn't stretch much into Chiba. The city was considered a spiritual backwater by the major clans, which was why they hadn't invested here.
When Ren transferred to Soubu High, the family offered to purchase him a villa in the hills—but he turned it down.
Instead, he rented a cozy apartment not far from campus. At around 160 square meters, it wasn't large by noble standards, but it was perfect for him. Four bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, and a bath. Simple and efficient.
Ren took the master bedroom—sunlight poured through its wide balcony doors every morning. The other rooms he'd turned into a study, a compact gym, and a guest room.
Before he awakened his system, he had relied on rigorous physical training to stay sharp. Now? Not as necessary—but the habit lingered.
As they entered the apartment, Ren turned to Kyōko. "Guest room's ready. Bedding's fresh—mattress, quilt, pillows, all new. You can use that room."
Kyōko gave a satisfied nod, then perked up. "There a computer in there?"
"Yep. Computer, TV, projector, and even a PSP if you're feeling nostalgic."
Kyōko's eyes lit up. "Seriously? I love this place already!"
Ren watched her dart off with a grin and shook his head. "You're such a gremlin…"
He closed the door behind them, the apartment warm and quiet—a moment of calm in a world that was anything but.