Chapter 18: Fragile

　　Kei Kojima's exam was cancelled and he was temporarily ranked as a fourth-level sorcerer. After working so hard for so long, he got such a result. He suddenly felt depressed.

　　The other two first-year students, Yuu Haibara and Kento Nanami, were promoted to third-level sorcerers. In order to allow them to get better improvement and training, the school began to frequently send them out on missions. These were all tasks of removing low-level cursed spirits to increase their experience. When the two of them joined forces, they would not be in a panic when dealing with some unexpected events.

　　The school suddenly became empty. The second-year students were often absent, and the first-year students were so tired that they could not speak after going out. Nanami Kento always had a world-weary look on his face when he returned to the dormitory, as if his body had been hollowed out. After eating, he would close the door and take a nap.

　　Haibara Yu was still quite energetic. Every time he came back, he still had the energy to ask about Kojima Kei's situation. Kojima Kei just smiled and replied:

　　"I'm fine, just like yesterday."

　　Kei Kojima is now the most idle person in the school. He is basically the only one in the training ground. Occasionally, Naoko Ieiri will be there. Although she does not have to go out to perform tasks, she spends most of her time in the treatment room for internship, starting to learn medical professional knowledge in advance and prepare to become a professional therapist.

　　The only one left was Kei Kojima.

　　He didn't have anything else to do on weekdays. Training was already on track, and his daily routine was to go to the training ground and train from morning to night according to the plan made by Yaga Masamichi. Only an assistant coach, Matsui Shinobu, could occasionally accompany him.

　　This is what he has always been looking forward to, without having to communicate or interact with anyone.

　　His previous campus life had given him too many uncomfortable experiences, and he always thought that people outside were all like this... except for "Jie". Although later, this only person from the outside world he had contact with was the one who hurt him the most.

　　Kei Kojima had already begun to be afraid to continue communicating with others and had made up his mind long ago, but when he came here, he could feel that the kindness exuded by people including Haibara Yu seemed different from that of the people he had met before.

　　Habit formation is terrible.

　　He had only been in that sunny, optimistic environment full of laughter and sweat for two months, but he had already gotten used to that atmosphere.

　　But the excitement didn't last long, and he was alone again.

　　It's inevitable... to feel a little lonely.

　　The smile on his face became much less frequent. He was finally willing to speak a few words before, but now that he was alone, he returned to his old self.

　　Even more silent.

　　There is often no one in the dormitory, and every time I go back, the corridors and rooms are just quiet.

　　Kei Kojima moved slowly, but today he unexpectedly heard a noise.

　　Could it be that Haibara Yu and the others have returned from their mission?

　　Kei Kojima almost ran out to open the door, but when he opened the door and stuck his head out, he saw Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru standing at the door.

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　I want to go back a minute.

　　hateful!

　　Why the two of them...

　　What bad luck!

　　The sharp-eyed Gojo Satoru had already discovered him, and it was too late to go back now. Kojima Kei had to pretend that he was going out and closed the door slowly.

　　Their room was behind Kojima Kei's, so there was no way to avoid it. Kojima Kei passed by them and gave them a perfunctory greeting:

　　"Hello, senior."

　　"Kyu-kun~~"

　　After not seeing him for several days, this guy still had a smiling face. His eyes were fixed on Kei Kojima, and he seemed to be thinking of some tricks to play on him. Hearing his tone, Kei Kojima really didn't want to pay any attention to him.

　　"Long time no see~ Did you miss us~" Gojo Satoru said in a floating voice.

　　"No."

　　Kojima Kei said.

　　"What a cold-hearted Kei!"

　　Gojo Satoru laughed twice and said deliberately:

　　"I heard you're a fourth-level sorcerer. How amazing!"

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　"Enlightenment."

　　Geto Suguru held Gojo Satoru's shoulder, who was about to say something.

　　"Don't tease him. We have to leave after we get our things."

　　"Hey~ Can't you stay a little longer~" Gojo Satoru pouted and said reluctantly.

　　"cannot."

　　"Okay then~~~Kyu, see you later~ I hope you've improved again next time I come!"

　　Gojo Satoru waved at Kojima Kei, and his smile looked particularly provocative.

　　It made Kei Kojima want to beat him up.

　　Bad guy!

　　Geto Suguru walked past Kei Kojima, just nodded at him coldly with a distant smile on his face, and quickly passed by Kei Kojima.

　　Gojo Satoru made a face at Kojima Kei and followed Geto Suguru into the room.

　　Kei Kojima's heart was pounding, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the two people enter the room.

　　Ever since he cried in front of Geto Suguru that day, Kei Kojima rarely saw Geto Suguru's gaze again.

　　Did this person finally realize that he should keep his distance from me?

　　Or do you hate yourself?

　　He knew that what Jie hated most was boys who were timid and cried all the time. He was an exception, but now the two of them had no emotional foundation, so this was all he had left for Jie Xiayou.

　　Hate is a matter of course.

　　That's good.

　　For a month or two in a row, Geto Suguru always had a lukewarm attitude when he met her, which made Kei Kojima feel much more comfortable.

　　This is normal.

　　At least, now Kei Kojima will no longer be frightened when he meets Geto Suguru. At best, they are just acquaintances in this school, seniors and juniors who are not very familiar with each other and are just nodding acquaintances.

　　This Geto Suguru is not the Geto Suguru he knows, and hatred should not be vented on this person. The relationship between the two of them is good enough.

　　Knowing that the two of them were in the dormitory, Kei Kojima didn't want to go back for the time being, so he decided to go to the library.

　　I wonder if there is any information related to their family's techniques in the existing ancient books.

　　He knew too little, and the way he was treated by the higher-ups left him completely bewildered.

　　Kei Kojima has always thought that his technique accelerates the aging of things. Could it be that reversing the technique can increase the therapeutic effect?

　　But even the genius Gojo Satoru doesn't know how to use the reversal technique, so can we rely on him?

　　Kei Kojima was puzzled.

　　Maybe you can find some clues by looking through the materials in the library.

　　On the way to the library, Kei Kojima saw Naoko Ieiri leaning against the wall, smoking leisurely.

　　Kojima Kei: "!!!"

　　"Oh~ Isn't this Kojima-kun?"

　　Ieiri Naoko blew out a smoke ring skillfully and raised the corner of her mouth towards Kojima Kei:

　　"What? Aren't you going to work hard in the training ground today?"

　　Kojima Kei was stunned.

　　Home glass posture looks

　　smoke!

　　The seemingly most normal senior schoolmate turned out to be a delinquent! Judging from the way she puffed out cigarettes, she seemed to be an old smoker.

　　Jialiu Glass snorted and laughed. The expression on the junior brother's face was too easy to understand. She smiled wickedly:

　　"What's wrong? My dear student, there's no smoking policy in this school. But don't tell Mr. Ye Moth. I don't want to be scolded by him. How about I treat you to a meal in return?"

　　Kojima Kei hastily refused:

　　"Don't worry, Senior Sister, I won't tell anyone! I have something else to do, so I'll go back first..."

　　"No~~This is an order from Senior~"

　　Ieiri Shoko said with a smile, grabbed Kei Kojima who was trying to escape, and dragged him to eat.

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　It's simply not refusal!

　　It turns out that anyone who can get along harmoniously with two big demons should not be underestimated!

　　Kei Kojima was so upset that he could not even cry, and was dragged to the cafeteria by his senior.

　　It has been several months since he started school, and he rarely communicates with Ieiri Naoko. This is the first time that the two of them sit face to face while eating. Kojima Kei feels a little uncomfortable and eats his rice quickly with his head down.

　　Fortunately, Ieiri Naoko didn't say anything. The two of them looked at each other and ate in silence.

　　When they were almost done eating, Ieiri Naoko looked at Kojima Kei, holding the unlit cigarette in her hand, and suddenly said:

　　"What do you think of Gojo and Geto?"

　　Kojima Kei nearly choked on his rice. After a moment of silence, he said, "Both seniors... are amazing."

　　Ieiri Glass smiled and said:

　　"Of course. Our class is the strongest in hundreds of years. They and I are not in the same field, so it's okay. But it will be very difficult for you younger generations to catch up with them."

　　Kei Kojima hummed softly.

　　"Don't blame me for being harsh. You arrived the earliest among the first-years, but your relationship with them isn't nearly as strong as the other two first-years. They still occasionally call Gojo and Geto, but you probably don't even have their phone numbers. But I can see that among the three, you're the one who wants to surpass them the most. Am I right?"

　　Kei Kojima suddenly clenched the chopsticks in his hand:

　　"...Is there anything wrong with wanting to surpass them..."

　　Kairi Glass waved his hand:

　　"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. You don't have to be on guard. I just wanted to say...um..."

　　Ieiri Shoko is having a headache. Mr. Yaga asked her to have a talk with Yuku and Kojima Kei some time ago. This guy is closed-minded, very thoughtful, and a sensitive guy. If he continues like this, it will be detrimental to his growth.

　　Noctua's righteous stance, if he said something, might only have the opposite effect.

　　"My presence would only add to his burden. I'll leave Ieiri Naoko in your care. You're the best person for this job."

　　The old man looked very sincere.

　　She couldn't possibly refuse the teacher's request, but...

　　Ieiri Naoko sighed deeply in her heart. This junior classmate was really hard to talk to.

　　I don't know what made him suddenly alert. Why is he so depressed at such a young age?

　　She can understand that Geto and Gojo are not suitable for sex, but it is difficult for her to enlighten them herself!

　　Damn moths!

　　It would be better to let me go on a mission!

　　Ieiri Naoko complained in her heart and was considering her words.

　　"Thank you, Senior. I know everything. Thank you for the meal today. If there is nothing else, I will go back first."

　　After finishing his last bite of rice, Kei Kojima put down his chopsticks, stood up, politely said goodbye to Nozomi Ieiri, and left the cafeteria.

　　Ieiri Shoko looked at his back and sighed again.

　　A gloomy and dull junior.

　　I heard from Teacher Ye Mo that his mother had a cheerful personality, and no one knew what happened to make this guy grow up like this.

　　Gojo Satoru squatted on the railing behind Ieiri Nozomi and listened to Ieiri Nozomi's work report to Yemo.

　　"No, we can't talk. That guy is too boring, teacher. I'm not really suited to this job. Why don't you talk to Gojo? I think Gojo's words would be more effective for him."

　　“To whom is it more useful?”

　　Gojo Satoru suddenly spoke, startling Ieru Naoko. She covered her phone and looked back:

　　"What are you doing here?"

　　Gojo Satoru turned over and walked in front of him:

　　"Are you talking about Kojima Kei?"

　　Ieiri Glass hummed:

　　"Teacher Yega asked me to be a psychological guide for Kei Kojima. It's difficult. Isn't this putting me in a difficult position? I already have psychological trauma..."

　　Iaru Glass muttered.

　　"Ah, Kei~"

　　Gojo Satoru snorted and laughed.

　　"Won't Kojima be mad at you for calling me so affectionately?"

　　Ieiri Naoko said unhappily.

　　"He really hates it when people call him by his name so affectionately. He didn't even dare to breathe when he saw Goyu. Last time Goyu called him Kei, he almost got angry. Aren't you afraid that the fragile Kojima-san will get mad at you for calling him that?"

　　"Not yet~ Besides, I love seeing him angry the most, isn't it cute~"

　　Gojo Satoru said with a smile.

　　Ieiri Glass was somewhat speechless and commented:

　　"abnormal."

　　"Oh~ Don't praise me~"

　　"Then I'll go find our fragile-minded junior and have a chat with him~"

　　After saying this, Gojo Satoru disappeared.

　　"Hey! Gojo! Stop messing around!"

　　Ieiri Nozomi wanted to call out to him, but it was too late.

　　Gojo Satoru's figure had already disappeared.