NOVEL WEB Chapter 7
Chapter 7.5 Do You Have No Friends?
As expected of one’s own body, even by keeping her head tilted upward and gazing at the ceiling all the while, she managed to take a shower smoothly.
As for soaking in the bath, Yukinoshita Yukino felt that the bathtub in her home would probably be idled for a while before Lin Qi left her body.
Of course, not being able to soak didn’t pose much of a problem to Yukinoshita Yukino. The biggest problem was still Lin Qi, who had parasitized her body, silently scheming something behind her back which she wasn’t aware of anyway.
The critical issue lied in him being a chatterbox and fond of provoking people!
She couldn’t indefinitely stay off from school on excuses. Even if she was willing, her family would come knocking at the door right away, ready to question her motives.
“Impossible! You can’t blind me from seeing beauty with cheap cosmetics!” A voice loudly protested right on Yukino’s forehead.
“Shut your mouth! I won’t go to school with two faces showing!” She sat decisively in front of her vanity desk, eyeing the various cosmetics she seldom used.
“!!!’’ Lin Qi attacked with his tongue in the mirror, as the girl’s forehead wiggled with a demonic tongue.
Despite this threat, Yukinoshita Yukino firmly kept her lips sealed tightly, with no plans to give up on concealing the additional pair of eyes.
“Do you think covering your eyes makes a difference?” Lin Qi roared, “If you push this any further, we’ll be stuck in an endless conflict! Yukinoshita, you don’t want another mouth on your head, do you?!”
The girl froze momentarily, and Lin Qi seized the opportunity to offer a compromise, “How about we both take a step back? I’ll simply close my eyes and guarantee I won’t open them to scare anyone.”
If Lin Qi chose not to open his eyes, they could almost pass unnoticed – perhaps seen as small scars, attracting some attention but no greater concern than having an extra eye or mouth visible would.
Without much deliberation, Yukinoshita Yukino quickly agreed.
After packing her lunch box, eating breakfast, and getting everything ready, she set out on foot for school.
In her first year, Yukinoshita moved out of her house and lived alone in a high-end apartment close to the school, which was easy to reach by walk.
It took just about fifteen minutes to reach from home to school, and despite being only a day since last time, stepping onto this road again transformed her attitude entirely.
“Is this what it means… for Cursed Spirits to be so common?”
Silently observing the weary office workers brushing past her – more accurately, the cursed spirits coiled on their shoulders, looking like repugnant worms composed of flesh.
Throughout her journey, she’d seen many such entities crawling on the ground, flapping in the sky, hanging from windows, or clinging onto people’s bodies.
Every one of these encounters made her shudder at the dangers lurking amidst her daily commute.
“They’re never common; they’ve always been there, waiting for someone unobservant to come along,” Lin Qi’s voice echoed softly.
Is this the true face of the world…
Tightening her grip, remembering Lin Qi mentioning how her Sukuna aura attracted cursed spirits, she worried, “Will every single one attack me?”
“Not to worry, those too weak wouldn’t dare approach let alone assault you. Only stronger Cursed Spirits drawn by the likes of Ryonen Sukuna himself would come near,” he reassured her.
“This isn’t good news…” Yukinoshita sighed inwardly.
Upon arriving at school, relieved that no Cursed Spirits were around to disrupt her class, she slipped in quietly with a deep exhale. She couldn’t bear the thought of encountering one while trying to focus on a lecture, especially one hanging above her in the classroom.
Lin Qi remained true to his word and did not plan to stir things up. So, Yukinoshita Yukino found her rhythm back within her daily school life, her expression gradually calming down.
Always diligently attending classes, taking notes, spending breaks either reading or using the toilet—she stayed almost silent barring a short verbal exchange in the morning to hand in homework. Life went on in peaceful rhythm akin to a beautiful portrait painting…
Yukinoshita, I have a question.
During the break of the third lesson, Lin Qi’s voice resurfaced. Yukinoshita frowned immediately, “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t cause trouble during school hours? If someone hears…”
Maybe I speak directly to your mind without your needing to utter a word?
Glancing at the strange looks from classmates around, she turned crimson before clearing her throat and returning to her book as a cover-up gesture.
Why didn’t you tell me straight?
You never asked. I’ve been talking this way during your school commute. I assumed you knew already.
Seeing so many terrifying curses along the way, I barely noticed your voice at all!
Reflecting on it, Yukinoshita eventually abandoned the argument.
In conclusion…
What’s your question then?
Organizing his thoughts…
Do you have any friends?
Silent for a moment in response,
First, let’s define what a friend is.
Isn’t such a definition unnecessary?
Precisely, having a definition is like having a standard measure. Without one, anyone you bump into once, chat with briefly, but will never meet again is labeled as a friend?
Looks like you indeed have no friends.
Lin Qi asserted confidently.
…
Class bell rang timely, presenting her a convenient pause on the conversation.
I need to go to class now. Please keep quiet, Parasitic Bug, and refrain from making noise inside others’ heads.
Tsk, Poor kid.
With what seemed like a sigh yet carried mockery, echoed in her mind, Lin Qi fell silent, stopping his provocative behavior.
During recess, she brought her lunch to an empty classroom. Occupying only the area near the podium, the room had a lonely chair and a desk, while the backsides were crowded with more furniture.
She sat on the chair and began eating her lunch.
“What is this place, secret hideout?” With nobody else around, Lin Qi boldly revealed himself openly on her hand back.
“Are you some elementary kid?” She responded mildly, “This is the activity room for the society I established.”
“What society?”
“The Service Club.”
If Lin Qi had a body, it might tilt backward in sheer shock.
“I can’t believe it, you set up such an improper club!” He said reproachfully.
“Thereupon,” she retorted, “it’s a legitimate club officially recognized by our school with a faculty advisor.”
“Improper names give people wrong ideas; it’s not like the name is appropriate itself,” he argued.
He glanced suspiciously at the door, as if sensing incoming trouble and closed his eyes, “Two people are coming over, I’ll stay hidden.”
Yukinoshita, frustrated with the change of target, settled down quietly with mild discontent and turned towards the classroom door.
Seconds later, the classroom door burst open, and in walked a teacher, wearing a lab coat over her suit—a rather peculiar sight.
“Yukinoshita, I’m coming in… why that face? Did I offend you?”
…
Dismissal, then becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer