Jujutsu Kaisen: I Have A Gardevoir

"Maki?"

Akira called out again.

"Huh, what?" Maki finally responded.

"If you want to go find your sister, just go. The day's events are over, and now it's free time. Just don't be like Todo and disappear for the night."

"Who would do that?" Maki shrugged, dismissing the idea. She had never considered things like chasing idols or dating—unless she succeeded in overturning the Zen'in family or gave up completely and accepted her fate.

"You haven't even sorted out your own affairs, so don't butt into things between me and Mai."

"That's not necessarily true. Ever heard the saying, 'Another's experience can sharpen your skills'? Maybe the situation between you and your sister could give me some insight—how did things between you two end up like this? You don't seem like the kind of person who would bully your little sister."

"I didn't bully her. As for the specifics... I'm not entirely sure. One day, we just had a huge fight."

Some sister she is.

Akira pondered for a moment, then probed, "Isn't it because you left her behind when you ran away from home?"

"Probably not. I told her early on that I'd leave that cursed house. Mai always knew."

Rome wasn't built in a day, and though Maki's departure wasn't as meticulously planned as Akira's past actions, she had made significant preparations.

"Maybe she didn't really believe you. How many people thought you could actually become the head of the Zen'in family?"

"Besides Satoru and you guys?" Maki replied honestly.

"Exactly. Lots of people have grievances with the Big Three Sorcerer Clans, but most just complain without taking any action."

"So you're blaming me?"

"I'm not blaming anyone. It's just a communication issue. It's better than situations where you can't communicate at all. Sitting down with your sister and having an honest conversation would be better than this cold war."

"..." Maki fell silent.

"If you're too stubborn to make the first move, I can create an opportunity for you two. After all, I'm not worried about losing face."

Akira spoke while taking a step toward Mai's direction.

"Don't do anything unnecessary!" Maki's voice turned cold.

"Staying stuck like this won't solve anything. If you actually enjoy bickering with your sister, then I won't say another word."

"That's not it. Just stay out of it, or I won't let this go."

With that, she turned and walked away.

"Gardevoir..." Gardevoir gently tugged on Akira's sleeve.

Akira understood her concern for Maki and replied softly, "If you want to go, then go. Leave the rest to me."

"Gardevoir~"

Gardevoir's voice immediately grew lighter, and she floated after Maki with a joyful bounce.

Maki had never been cold toward her, and the way they walked shoulder to shoulder gave off a strong sense of sisterly bond.

Not far away, Mai bit her lip without realizing it. She glanced at Gardevoir's trainer, noticing he was also watching her. A mischievous gleam flickered in her eyes as she flashed a signature coquettish smile.

"Oh my, Akira."

"Mai."

Akira maintained a polite, professional smile. Judging by the drastic shift in Mai's demeanor, he could tell she had something in mind—most likely related to her sister. The fact that he had embarrassed Kyoto in the competition seemed like an afterthought to her.

"Just call me Mai. You call my sister Maki, don't you? In return, I can call you 'Aki' just like Maki does, right?"

Some say that women are born actresses, and while that may not apply to all, Mai certainly mastered the skill. With her expectant, flirtatious gaze, most teenage boys wouldn't stand a chance.

But Akira wasn't most teenage boys. He—

"Sure."

...

Don't get the wrong idea—he wasn't falling for her act. Someone like Mai might trick a naive boy, but laying it on so thick only made her efforts seem overly deliberate, lacking in subtlety.

Akira simply wanted to play along and decipher her true intentions. Besides, if he could mediate between the sisters, all the better.

Yes, that was definitely it.

Unaware of Akira's true thoughts, Mai continued to close the distance.

"Aki, you haven't really had a chance to explore Kyoto Jujutsu High, have you? Let me show you around."

"I'd appreciate that, Mai... er, I mean, Mai. I was busy with the strategy meeting yesterday and didn't have time to look around."

Akira's smile widened. He had to admit, when he intentionally got her name wrong and Mai responded with a playful pout, there was a certain charm to it.

Given time, she might just become the ultimate femme fatale of the Jujutsu world.

"That's better. Follow me."

Mai turned, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips, which she quickly masked before walking forward, her petite heels clicking on the ground, showing off her graceful figure.

Whether intentionally or not, she led Akira in the same direction Maki had taken.

Akira feigned ignorance, letting her guide him.

For one, Mai was indeed easy on the eyes. Secondly, everything she did contrasted with Maki's nature, making the experience oddly refreshing, given how alike their faces were.

"Aki, are you close with my sister?"

"Not bad. Maki's a reliable teammate, serious about her work, and... well, she's very direct."

Akira's hesitation provided Mai with an opening.

"Direct, huh... Yeah, Maki's always been direct—so direct that she doesn't consider other people's feelings. Not that I'm speaking ill of her behind her back, but even as her sister, she's said things that really hurt me sometimes."

Using a gentle approach, Mai kept her words ambiguous, skillfully navigating the conversation.

"Yeah, she can be like that sometimes. But at other times, being straightforward can be a good thing. Being honest isn't always bad. Keeping everything inside can lead to misunderstandings. Are you two not getting along? Could it be that you've misunderstood your sister?"

Akira, ever the master strategist, countered with her own tactics.

Mai bit her thumb unconsciously, a shadow crossing her eyes, though she maintained her smile.

"Well, we used to get along, but Maki started wanting to compete for everything. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't listen. We ended up having a huge fight, and after that, she treated me coldly. Then she left for Tokyo. Aki, do you think I did something wrong?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes, making her look heartbreakingly pitiful.

Tsk, if I hadn't seen Jujutsu Kaisen myself—especially that scene of the sisters' fight over five times—I might actually fall for this.

Heh, women.

"She has her own ideas, and you have yours. As long as neither of you is breaking the law or violating social norms, there's no right or wrong. Clear the air, fulfill your role as a younger sister, and do it with a clear conscience."

The emphasis on the last three words made Mai's expression falter for a moment, though she quickly recovered.

"I... I want to, but with my sister's strong personality, I feel like she wouldn't listen to me unless I beat her in a fight—"

Akira couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Strength might matter to Maki, but that didn't mean she valued it above all else, or was deaf to reason.

Otherwise, how could his own mom, a mere Grade 3 sorcerer, have guided her?

"—Aki, will you help me? It's for Maki's sake too."

Maki should hear this. Her sister's words are miles better than anything she'd say.

But little sister, you've got one major flaw—no matter what you say, you still won't call Maki your sister. You say it's for her, but who are you trying to fool?

"Of course, I'll help." Despite his internal thoughts, Akira nodded readily, then, with a smirk, added, "But you know how sorcerers operate—we don't work for free. What's in it for me?"

"What do you want? If it's something I can manage, just say the word." A hint of disdain flashed in Mai's eyes—she thought he was just another ordinary guy at heart.

However, in the next second, that disdain turned into fear.

Akira's ever-smiling gaze suddenly sharpened, becoming intensely aggressive. He scanned her body from head to toe and back up again, as if stripping her with his eyes. The scrutiny seemed to cut through her clothes, grazing her very skin, making every hair on her body stand on end.

"You can definitely manage it. What I want is... you—"