The air suddenly grew quiet.
The two young women bit opposite ends of a Pocky stick, staring at each other with unwavering determination.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Yomi began to nibble tiny pieces off the Pocky.
Kagura saw this and refused to fall behind, biting her way toward the center bit by bit.
The Pocky stick was only about the length of a young woman's palm, and even with both taking small bites, most of it was quickly gone.
Their faces were now only inches apart, close enough to feel each other's breath.
But neither was willing to give up.
The scene played out just like a popular mini-game that had trended among young people in Japan a few years ago.
The "Pocky Game."
The rules were simple.
Prepare a box of Pocky, then select two participants.
Each person bites one end of the Pocky and begins eating toward the center.
Because of its length, their faces would quickly get very close.
If one person pulled back or broke the Pocky due to the pressure, they lost and received a punishment.
If neither gave up and they continued to the end... That was exactly the situation Kagura and Yomi were in now.
The Pocky was down to less than two centimeters.
Their faces were nearly pressed together.
Kagura hesitated and was the first to stop.
Yomi saw this and gave a mischievous smile.
Kagura instantly knew what that expression meant. Yomi only made that face when she was planning to tease her.
Panic flickered in Kagura's eyes. She tried to bite through the rest quickly and retreat like a startled animal.
But it was too late. Yomi lunged at her just as she smiled.
Kagura was pinned against the back seat of the car, her hands caught, legs kicking in vain.
It was useless. Yomi was on top of her, and Kagura couldn't reach her back.
In Kagura's panicked gaze, Yomi's face drew closer and closer.
"Nee-san, no... mmph..."
With her mouth covered, Kagura could only let out a muffled whimper.
After a long moment, their lips finally parted.
Yomi licked her lips with satisfaction.
"Ha... ha... you're such a bully..."
Today's victory belonged to Yomi.
Satisfied with Kagura's flushed and tearful face, Yomi lifted her leg and kicked the back of the front seat.
"Don't look, pervert."
Sitting in front was Noriyuki, who had been enjoying the view in the rearview mirror.
He was Yomi's fiancé.
"Ack."
Noriyuki's hand trembled, but he quickly gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"Yomi, that was dangerous, okay?"
"Hmph. Serves you right."
Everyone in the car was a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Noriyuki was at least a semi-Grade 2, the same as Kagura.
So Yomi wasn't concerned about him losing control of the vehicle.
Still, there was a difference between them.
Noriyuki was older, and his future growth was limited. He would likely remain at Grade 2 at best.
But Kagura was different. She was young, well-trained, and under Yomi's protection.
Both the Isayama and Tsuchimiya Families recognized her potential. She would surely become a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer in the future.
Noriyuki was a shikigami user who inherited the Family Technique, capable of summoning fast and nimble Kudagitsune for combat. His intelligence-gathering skills were top-notch.
However, since Kudagitsune were not suited for frontal combat, the Izuna Family had him mainly work as an Assistant Supervisor. He only took on exorcism missions when there was a serious shortage of personnel.
Amidst the banter between Yomi and Kagura, the car soon returned to the Isayama Family residence.
"We're back." ×2
The two removed their shoes and stepped inside.
Two people were just about to leave the house.
Isayama Yu. Isayama Mei.
By bloodline and tradition, Isayama Yu should have been the current Head of the Isayama Family.
However, due to rebellion in his youth, he left the Family, infuriating the previous Head, who then passed the title to Yomi's father, Isayama Naraku.
Naraku was also the previous Head's son, but born from a servant. At first, the previous Head had no intention of naming Naraku his successor.
But Yu's behavior pushed him over the edge.
Yu had argued constantly with his father over a woman he barely knew, declared his independence, and ran off with money.
Naraku, long overlooked, seized the opportunity. In just a few years, he gained the support of the majority, including the previous Head.
Naraku was fearless and made a name for himself in the Jujutsu World through countless exorcisms.
In the final days of his life, the previous Head entrusted shishiou, the Family's thousand-year-old cursed tool, to Naraku and officially named him the next Head.
What he didn't expect was that the wayward son who ran off with a woman would return years later, crying and begging for forgiveness.
Yu had quickly squandered all his money. Although he had some ability as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, it was limited.
Most importantly, he lacked the courage to face life-and-death battles. After being injured by a Cursed Spirit once, he no longer dared to exorcise anything.
With nowhere else to go, he returned to beg for entry into the Family.
A parent's love runs deep. The previous Head gave him a nominal position and a comfortable life.
But people are greedy.
After seeing how harsh the outside world was, Yu wanted to reclaim his former position.
He didn't dare to seize it by force. Naraku had earned his place through real strength and recognition.
So Yu pinned his hopes on his daughter, Isayama Mei.
Naraku had only adopted a daughter, while Mei, his own daughter, was a legitimate heir by blood.
However, Naraku was preparing to pass the title to Yomi, the "outsider" he had taken in.
So today, Yu brought Mei to confront him.
But in the face of Naraku's unshakable stance, Yu could only retreat in frustration.
"Uncle Yu."
Yomi respectfully bowed. Despite his reputation, Yu's status was technically higher than hers.
"Hmph."
Yu cast a resentful look at Yomi, who wore shishiou on her back, snorted coldly, and left.
"Yomi, I've heard you've been quite active lately. Keep it up and don't bring shame to the Isayama name."
Mei had been raised since childhood to become the next Head of the Isayama Family.
Unlike her cowardly father, Mei understood the importance of endurance and strategy. This was something her late mother had taught her.
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Mei was one year older than Yomi.
Yomi didn't particularly like her. Mei always spoke of duty and Family, and that pressure was suffocating.
Just as Toji's source of pressure was the Zen'in Family, and Suguru's was the act of absorbing Cursed Spirits,
Yomi's pressure came from the Family — especially from Mei and her father.
(To be continued.)