"Well then... I guess there's no point trying to convince you to enroll at Jujutsu High anymore," Maki Zen'in sighed, her tone half-defeated, half-resigned. She crossed her arms, visibly frustrated, but also realistic enough to know when to back off.
Just as she was about to turn the conversation elsewhere, Akiyama Ren raised his hand casually, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Actually, registering my name at Jujutsu High isn't entirely off the table," he said coolly.
Maki's eyes lit up like a switch had been flipped. "Really? Then what's the condition?"
Ren looked at her—no, studied her—for a brief second. Her cheeks still had that faint flush from earlier, her long ponytail swaying slightly in the hallway breeze, and her glasses catching the sunlight just right. At that moment, reason took a backseat. His 'small head' won the internal war over the 'big head.'
"My condition is..." he paused dramatically. "Maki, go out with me. Let's date."
"Huh???" Maki froze, her brain blue-screening in real time.
Her cheeks immediately turned scarlet, and she began flailing in denial. "W-Wait, hold on! We just met yesterday! We don't even know each other yet! And—and yeah, okay, you're ridiculously handsome and all, and I do kinda have a good impression of you, but this is way too fast!"
Ren's expression dimmed ever so slightly. "Alright then. Forget it."
Maki bit her lip. Seeing him retract so quickly, panic crept up her spine. She didn't want to blow this—neither the mission nor the... connection.
"Wait! Ren, I—I didn't mean to reject you, exactly..." she stammered, voice softer now. Her hands fiddled with her sleeves. "It's just... can we take it slow? Like, get to know each other first? Start with dating and not... jump straight in?"
Ren shrugged with a smirk. "Is that so? I'll think about it."
That ambiguous answer sent Maki into a silent spiral of regret. She mentally kicked herself for hesitating. Wasn't this exactly her type? Cool, strong, handsome... and mysterious to top it all off? Just dating. It wasn't like he'd asked her to marry him!
Before she could say anything else, Ren broke the awkward silence.
"Well, if there's nothing more, I'm heading out. I need to pick up some clothes."
"I'll come with you," Maki offered almost too quickly.
Ren raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
Together, they hailed a taxi and made their way into the heart of Tokyo—Ginza.
Located in Chūō Ward, Ginza was the glittering crown jewel of Japan's commercial districts. Towering designer storefronts, polished marble walkways, and a kaleidoscope of luxury brands turned every corner into a fashion runway. Alongside New York's Fifth Avenue and Paris' Champs-Élysées, Ginza was a name whispered in reverence by shopaholics worldwide.
Their ride took just under thirty minutes. After stepping out, the two made their way into a towering department store with high ceilings and sleek modern décor.
Ren's main goal was simple: replace most of his wardrobe. Ever since awakening the Campione's physique, his physique had evolved in more ways than one—making his old clothes tight in all the wrong places.
Naturally, they made a beeline for the men's fashion section.
Ren grabbed a few pieces based on what looked cool at a glance, but Maki rejected each of them with unwavering precision.
"Nope."
"Too flashy."
"You're not a boyband idol."
After a few rejections, she took matters into her own hands and began assembling outfits like a seasoned stylist. Eventually, she handed him a combo she picked herself.
Ren tried it on—and was genuinely surprised.
Slim-cut blue jeans, crisp white button-up shirt, and spotless white sneakers. Minimalist, clean, stylish.
Maki gave him a nod of approval. "With a face like yours and that build, flashy stuff just distracts from your natural charm. Simple's better."
And judging by the way store clerks—and more than a few women shopping with their boyfriends—stared as Ren walked out of the fitting room, she was absolutely right.
He looked like he had stepped right off the pages of a top-tier shoujo manga.
Ren noticed the looks too, but instead of getting flustered, he enjoyed it. In his past life, he had lived in the shadows of mediocrity. Now? Let the spotlight follow him. He wasn't going to apologize for standing out.
"You've got good taste," he told Maki with a grin. "Mind picking a few more for me?"
"Leave it to me!" Maki gave him a confident thumbs-up.
After that, the two of them swept through nearly every fashion outlet in the department store. From streetwear to high-end designer pieces, Maki Zen'in played the role of personal stylist with surprising enthusiasm. In total, they picked out nearly a hundred sets of clothes and shoes.
And Akiyama Ren? He didn't hesitate for a second—whatever Maki chose, he bought without question.
The store clerks were stunned. Who was this guy with movie-star looks and an endless wallet? But they didn't dare ask. Every time Maki returned with another outfit, Ren simply nodded and said, "Ring it up."
As for how he carried that mountain of bags?
He didn't.
With a simple wave of his hand, the entire haul shimmered and vanished into his System storage space—a convenient little perk gifted by the mysterious entity that had brought him into this new life.
Maki, watching this happen for the third time, sighed long and deep.
"So unfair... You've got cheat codes turned on," she muttered.
Unlike Ren, she had to lug heavy Cursed Tools into every mission—knives, chains, polearms—because she couldn't manipulate cursed energy like others. A spatial storage ability like his would've made her entire career ten times easier.
"Wanna trade?" Ren teased.
"I'd rather punch you," Maki replied flatly, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
Evening crept in, golden light spilling through the department store's tall windows as the sun dipped low over Tokyo.
Ren glanced at the time, then turned to Maki. "Thanks for being my fashion consultant today. Let me treat you to dinner—what do you feel like eating?"
"I'm not picky," she said with a light smile. "I'll go with whatever you want."
She was clearly in high spirits. After all, she'd just spent the whole afternoon watching a gorgeous guy try on outfits like a living, breathing anime protagonist. It had been... unexpectedly fun.
"In that case, let's go for sukiyaki," Ren suggested. "There's a really good place on the fifth floor. I used to come here with my sister."
"Sukiyaki sounds perfect," Maki nodded.
They took the elevator up to the fifth floor, stepping into a warmly lit, traditional-style restaurant with modern touches. The scent of simmering broth and grilled meat lingered in the air.
But just as they entered, Ren's steps slowed.
At one of the corner booths sat a man and a woman. The man, in his early thirties, wore a conservative business suit and glasses. His features were plain—forgettable. But the woman beside him was striking, not just in appearance but presence.
Though she had the beauty of someone in her late twenties, her short, no-nonsense haircut, confident posture, and almost boyish fashion sense gave her a distinct tomboy vibe.
Ren recognized her immediately: Hiratsuka Shizuka—his homeroom teacher from high school.
Strict, sharp-tongued, and occasionally terrifying, Shizuka-sensei was infamous for her unlucky love life. Rumor had it she was cursed when it came to romance, especially with her habit of scaring off potential suitors during blind dates.
And judging by her stiff posture and forced smile, this was definitely one of those blind dates.
She spotted Ren at the entrance... and her eyes widened in horror.
The corners of her mouth twitched into a strained smile as she subtly waved at him with a flick of her fingers—Don't. You. Dare.
Ren smirked and gave her a casual thumbs-up.
"What's up?" Maki asked, picking up on the awkward air. "You know her?"
"Yeah," Ren nodded. "That's Hiratsuka Shizuka. My homeroom teacher—and she also teaches Japanese language and student guidance."
Maki blinked, surprised. "She's that beautiful and still single?"
"She's... picky," Ren said diplomatically. "And let's just say she's not exactly the 'soft and gentle' type most guys expect."
He glanced at Maki, a sly grin playing at his lips.
In more ways than one, she and Shizuka-sensei were surprisingly similar.
Maki caught the look instantly.
"W-What's that look for?!" she stammered, folding her arms and instinctively covering her chest like a protective barrier. "I'll have you know I'm not doomed to be single!"
"Oh, I know," Ren replied with a teasing smile. "Personally, I like your type."
"Idiot...!" Maki's face flared crimson. "You can't just say stuff like that in public!"
And then she punched him.
Not a love tap. A punch. The kind that could send a lesser man through a wall.
But Ren didn't budge an inch. His body had already surpassed human limits. Infused with the strength of the Campione's physique and the immense pressure of the Heavenly Restriction, he was built like a walking calamity.
He barely felt it.
"Ow," he said with a playful grin.
Maki, still blushing, turned away with a huff. "Tch. Should've aimed for the gut..."
*********
Attached is Maki Zenin. Yes boys, she can probably crush your head between her thighs like a watermelon if you ask nicely.