NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57: Rumors (Final)
Geto raised an eyebrow, visibly puzzled.
"Two?"
Yuki nodded gently.
"Yes, two."
A slight frown crept across Geto's face as curiosity took hold.
"Care to elaborate?" he asked, his voice insistent, almost impatient.
Yuki shrugged nonchalantly.
"You'll find out when the time comes," she replied, as if the answer were obvious.
Geto stared at her for a moment, then let out a sigh. His initial annoyance gave way to a mix of resignation and intrigue.
Rising gracefully, Yuki adjusted her outfit before flashing him a mischievous smile.
"Thanks for the chat, Geto. Good luck with what's ahead."
He tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment.
"Sticking around in the country?" one of the teenage girls asked.
She shook her head.
"Oh, no. I've lingered here long enough. I'm leaving tomorrow for my next adventure."
"Lucky you!"
Yuki glanced at them, her smile softening.
"When I'm back, I'll take you along," she said with an almost solemn tone.
The two girls lit up, their faces beaming with joy. They quickly turned to Geto, seeking his approval.
He regarded them silently for a moment before nodding, his expression softening.
"Alright."
A squeal of delight erupted from the girls as they practically jumped with excitement.
Yuki chuckled softly at their enthusiasm. She looked at Geto one last time.
"Take care of this family you've built, Geto."
He nodded, murmuring a quiet, "I will."
With a final wave, Yuki exited the room.
The two girls, still brimming with joy, began chattering excitedly about what their future journey might hold.
As for Geto, he remained seated, Yuki's words lingering in his mind.
Two obstacles.
His calm smile returned.
The door creaked open, revealing a broad-shouldered man whose towering frame seemed to fill the room. His dark, oversized t-shirt emphasized his robust build.
Geto glanced up, his expression unreadable.
"Larue, you sure took your time."
The man, clearly a bit flustered, gave a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, boss. I wanted to be certain we had solid intel before coming in."
Geto arched an eyebrow, signaling him to continue. Larue took a deep breath before speaking.
"It seems there's a potential Special-grade threat in the region. The details are sketchy, but… judging by the stir over the past few days, it's looking likely."
Silence hung in the air for a moment. In the background, the two teenage girls had stopped laughing, their faces now tinged with curiosity.
"A Special-grade, huh?" Geto murmured, his gaze darkening as a mixture of calculation and anticipation crossed his face.
Larue nodded.
"With the current surge in curses, two second-year students will be sent on patrol first."
A calm, nearly imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Geto's lips. He gave a slight nod before rising smoothly, adjusting his coat with practiced ease.
"I see."
He walked toward the door at an unhurried but resolute pace. Miguel, who had been silent until then, cleared his throat before speaking.
"You want me to come with you?"
Geto turned slightly, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. His smile widened faintly, almost amused.
"No," he said casually. "I'll go alone. It'll be a nice little warm-up."
Miguel shrugged, clearly used to hearing such responses.
"Suit yourself. Just be careful."
"Don't worry."
The two teenage girls exchanged glances, their faces caught between excitement and concern. One of them stepped forward hesitantly.
"Take care," she said softly.
He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to the girls. Though serious, his expression carried an undeniable gentleness.
"Always."
Without another word, he stepped through the door.
---
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden hue.
Inside a dimly lit room, Nanako and Mimiko were sprawled across the living room rug, their laughter punctuating the occasional ding from their phones. Miguel, seated nearby, idly worked a rope between his fingers, his movements methodical yet absent-minded. Larue, slouched in an armchair, appeared lost in light slumber, his head lolling to one side. Manami, on the other side of the room, meticulously applied a second coat of black polish to her perfectly manicured nails.
The peaceful silence was broken by Manami, who glanced up briefly from her hands.
"Do you think the boss… will be back anytime soon?"
Miguel shrugged without looking up from his rope.
"It's been a few hours already," he said, tightening a knot.
Manami frowned slightly, blowing on her nails to dry them.
"I wonder what kind of 'interesting curse' he's run off to deal with this time…"
Larue, who had seemed entirely asleep, groaned mockingly without bothering to open his eyes.
"Speak of the devil…"
The door creaked open, and Geto entered. The room fell silent in an instant.
His clothes were disheveled, his right sleeve torn, and his expression heavy with exhaustion.
Nanako and Mimiko sprang to their feet, dropping their phones as they rushed toward him, their faces etched with worry.
"Boss! Are you okay? What happened to you?" they exclaimed in near unison.
But Geto, as if lost in his own world, didn't acknowledge them. Instead, he walked to an armchair and collapsed into it with a weary motion. Placing one hand over his head, he suddenly, and inexplicably, broke into a wide, almost maniacal grin.
"So, this is the second obstacle you mentioned… Yuki Tsukumo, right?" he murmured, his voice audible yet almost as if he were speaking to himself.
Manami, curious, stood up and moved closer.
Geto casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear before lifting his gaze.
"A new variable has entered our plans."
From the back of the room, Larue squinted.
"A variable that left you in this state?"
Miguel, still toying with his rope, finally looked up to echo Larue's question.
With slow, deliberate movements, Geto crossed his legs, a touch of theatrical flair in his posture.
"He wasn't even trying… and yet he forced me to use a portion of my curses. Though, I wasn't entirely serious myself."
"Dammit," Larue muttered under his breath.
The twin girls, who had gravitated back to Geto's chair, instantly flared with fiery indignation.
"We'll make him pay for this, boss! If he dared hurt you—"
Before their outrage could boil over, Manami placed a firm hand on Nanako's shoulder.
"That's enough. If even the boss struggled, what do you think the two of you could do?"
"But, Manami—"
"No 'but.' We wait for his orders."
Miguel leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied Geto's face.
"So, boss… what's the name of this so-called variable?"
Geto averted his gaze just a fraction, his smile slowly returning.
"That's precisely your next mission. Find out who he is."
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N:
The fanfiction is moving forward nicely! Some say the pace is a little slow — I admit, it wasn't intentional. But hey, the story decides, not me! The stage has been set for a while now, and we're finally approaching the end of the introduction arc (yes, we're still in the intro, believe it or not 😂).
Oh, and don't expect a plot that mirrors the original. That'd defeat the purpose of writing a fanfic, right? Things are going to take some very different turns, but I hope you'll enjoy the ride!
On another note, my publishing rate has slowed down a bit because I've got a lot on my plate now (goodbye student life 😅). This has unfortunately caused the fanfic to drop way down the rankings — hard to believe it was once trending at #1. But hey, the past is the past. I never imagined it would blow up like it did, and I'm super grateful for all your support.
Oh yeah, almost forgot! I still haven't heard from whoever's reposting my fanfic on other platforms… they're still at it? Bold move! 🤦 And just so you know, I promise not to say spell, familia, or Rank S anymore. Apparently, JJK fans are very particular about that! I read all your comments, seriously — every single one (and if you haven't gotten a like from me, feel free to file a complaint 😜).
Now, let's talk about my original novel. You guys are way too quiet about it! Go check it out; it's a super cool story. Or are you waiting until I hit 100 chapters? Either way, it's already been contracted, and come January, I'll be publishing massively to officially kickstart my writing career 🚀. Speaking of that, I really enjoy reading your comments. Some are so refreshing and downright hilarious.
Anyway, I haven't said much lately, so I thought I'd drop by. See you soon, and thanks again for reading!
The story continues! ✨
Next Chapter: Seeing the Light of Day...