Utaha didn't have time to react.
Yuta's arm shot up as if it had a life of its own—the sharp sound of energy being shaped filled the space between them.
ZHHHRACK
A blade of cursed energy materialized with brutal force. A dark, dense arc, vibrating as if the very air rejected its existence.
She took a step back, instinctively.
Her eyes widened, her body on high alert.
"That... thing on your arm…"
Her voice trembled. But she didn't take another step away.
Yuta didn't respond.
He didn't look at her.
His gaze was fixed on something behind her—something only he could see.
The first ghost moved.
Fast. Sinuous. Like a current of smoke with claws.
CRACK
The blade sliced through the air in a clean cut.
No scream. No blood.
The creature dissolved into gray particles the moment it hit the ground.
Utaha blinked. There was nothing there.
But Yuta had already spun his body.
Four more came at once.
Dense shadows that seemed to float, vibrating with heavy intent—invisible to anyone but him.
ZSHH
The second cut was diagonal. A spiral of thick energy unraveled in the air like torn fabric.
The third tried to come from above.
Yuta leaped a step to the side, curved his body, swung his arm, and—
TSCHACK
The blade's impact dissolved the spirit before it could get close.
Utaha couldn't see the enemies.
But she saw Yuta fighting the void.
His movements weren't chaotic. They were surgical. Precise.
She didn't speak. Didn't move.
She just watched.
A fourth ghost tried to escape—crawling toward the wall like a frightened animal.
Yuta tracked it with his eyes. The blade gleamed.
CLACK
And then, silence.
The cursed energy vanished with a breath.
Yuta lowered his arm slowly.
His hand returned to normal. The room, at peace.
He glanced at the door for a second, then turned his eyes to Utaha.
Utaha was still frozen.
Her arm remained half-raised, as if she could still feel the impact of that energy coursing through her skin.
Her eyes locked onto Yuta—there was no fear there, but a thick mix of doubt and something akin to... calculation.
"You... killed that thing."
The statement wasn't a question.
She knew what she saw.
Even if it was only for seconds.
Even if the image was already starting to dissolve like a waking dream.
Yuta didn't answer immediately.
His hand slipped back into his coat pocket. His shoulders relaxed slightly, but his gaze remained heavy, weighing the time, the silence, the risks.
"They were after you."
"Why?"
The question came at the right moment. And Yuta had the answer ready.
"It wasn't you."
He spoke without hesitation, as if to make it clear this wasn't about her.
"Those ghosts... they were attached to the flash drive. Probably drawn by whoever handled it before."
Utaha kept her eyes steady. But inside her mind, the pieces were moving quickly.
"Tomoya."
Yuta nodded slowly.
"It's a possibility. He might've touched something cursed without realizing. Or someone passed it to him."
Utaha looked away for a moment.
The flash drive was still in the inner pocket of her coat.
Heavy now.
Not physically. But as a presence.
Like guilt.
"He just handed me the flash drive. He didn't seem... strange. Just nervous."
Yuta crossed his arms.
"That's enough. The kind of thing that attracts these entities doesn't need a ritual or incantation. Sometimes, it's just the weight of a wrong emotion at the wrong time."
Utaha lowered her eyes, thinking.
The room was in absolute silence.
The sound of the next class was already stirring in the hallways. Footsteps, voices, chairs.
But in here, it was as if the world was sealed off.
"So... what are you going to do with it?"
Her tone wasn't defiant.
It was just... pragmatic.
Yuta didn't answer right away.
Instead, he glanced to the corner of his vision. A faint blue interface appeared, translucent.
[⚙️ JJK System – Interface Active]
[Experience: 120 / 100]
[Current Level: 1 → 2]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up.]
[+3 Attribute Points available]
[Mission Condition: Object confirmed as cursed.]
[Status: Partial threat elimination completed. Object still active.]
The system vanished soon after, but Yuta already knew what he needed to do.
His gaze shifted to the pocket of Utaha's coat.
"The mission... isn't over yet."
She noticed. The tension in the air hadn't fully dissipated.
"You're going to destroy the flash drive now?"
Yuta took two steps.
The distance between them became minimal—not intimate. But close enough.
"Give it to me."
His voice was flat. No room for argument.
Utaha hesitated. Her fingers twitched subtly, as if her body reacted before her mind.
"It's just a flash drive."
"It's not. Not anymore."
She closed her hand around her coat.
"If I give it to you... what happens next?"
Yuta looked at her, direct.
"I destroy it. And you go back to writing... alive."
It was harsh. Intentionally harsh.
But Utaha needed to hear it clearly.
She didn't respond.
Instead, she reached into her coat pocket, pulled out the small plastic object, and held it for one more second.
Looked at it.
Looked at Yuta.
And handed it over.
Yuta took it calmly. No rush.
He turned on his heels and walked to the corner of the room, where the wall cast a shadow.
He closed his eyes for a second. Felt the energy rise from his palm to his forearm.
The blade returned. Black. Dense. Vibrating in silence.
Without hesitation, he pressed the flash drive against the wall and—
KRACK
The blade split the object in half. A muffled snap and a ripple of energy swept through the space like an invisible wave.
The broken pieces fell to the floor with a faint glow.
Ashes. And a subtle sound of something escaping. Like a sigh that didn't want to be heard.
[⚙️ JJK System – Update]
[Cursed Object successfully destroyed.]
[Mission "Guardian of Silent Words" – Completed.]
[Reward Received: +1 Special Ability: Forge Protective Amulet]
[You can now create spiritual barrier talismans – limited to low and mid-level curses.]
[+50 XP]
[Current Total: 70 / 200 (Level 2)]
Yuta dismissed the blade with a subtle flick of his wrist.
His arm returned to normal.
He turned.
Utaha was still in the same position. But her eyes... they had changed.
There was no longer surprise.
Just understanding. And a different kind of respect.
"So you... do this often?"
"Shouldn't have to. But it happens."
"Are you going to erase my memory or something?"
Yuta crossed his arms.
"No."
The answer was blunt. Final.
"You saw. You felt. There's no pretending nothing happened. And honestly... I don't have that kind of power."
Utaha fell silent. Her body still, but her mind racing.
"So... what happens now?"
Yuta glanced at the door, where the sounds of other classrooms were starting to echo again.
"Nothing. If you're smart, you move on like it's just another weird thing. If not... you'll attract something worse."
"You're saying you won't protect me again?"
"No."
He looked at her again, firm.
"I protect people in danger. Not those who insist on playing with this."
Utaha nodded slowly.
Yuta walked to his desk without another word.
Picked up his pencil case. Closed his notebook calmly. All with automatic movements, as if his body were disconnected from the rest.
Utaha didn't move. Still processing the words, the images, the invisible weight of what she'd witnessed.
Yuta paused beside her for a second.
"Keep this a secret."
His voice was low. But firm.
"Especially from the one who gave you the flash drive. Watch him. Anything... abnormal."
Utaha raised her eyes. Her breathing had returned to normal, but her gaze was still heavy.
"You think he knew?"
"Don't know."
Yuta slipped his hand into his pocket.
"And it doesn't matter. A mistake can cause tragedy even without intent."
She nodded slowly. But the words stayed stuck in her throat.
Yuta walked to the door. Opened it just enough to peek into the hallway.
He stopped at the threshold. Didn't look back.
"Don't mess with what you don't understand, Kasumigaoka."
And he left.