Chapter 22: The Three Great Systems! Akiyama Ren’s Shikigami!! - I am Him

Maki Zen'in tilted her head slightly, brows furrowed. "Magic? Never heard of it."

In the world of Japan's supernatural elite, there were only three dominant systems: Jujutsu, Onmyōdō, and Exorcism. These ancient arts formed the pillars of spiritual warfare across the country.

But Magic? That was something out of fantasy RPGs or anime—not real life.

"Maybe it's an imported system?" she offered after a moment of thought. "Like… something from overseas?"

Kurahashi Kyōko nodded, crossing her arms. "That's what I was thinking too. Sounds like some Western stuff, like spellbooks and wand-waving."

Just then, Maki wandered over to a small figure who had been quietly observing from the corner of the room. A petite girl with glowing eyes and an otherworldly aura.

"What's your name?" Maki asked, crouching down with curiosity.

The girl blinked, then smiled sweetly. "I'm Hotarugusa. I'm Master Ren's Shikigami."

"Hotarugusa… you're adorable!" Maki couldn't resist gently patting the little girl's head, feeling her heart melt a little.

Unable to hold back, she scooped Hotarugusa into her arms and plopped onto the couch where two other curious figures sat—Kyonshi Anin, with graceful winged arms, and Kyonshi Imouto, a bashful and timid presence with silvery hair and gentle eyes.

"What about you two?" Maki asked with a smile.

"I'm Kyonshi Anin," the winged girl said cheerfully, flapping slightly with pride.

"M-my name is… Kyonshi Imouto," the third one mumbled, eyes darting away shyly.

"You're all so precious…" Maki cooed, now rubbing all three of their heads as if they were plushies she'd just won from a crane game at an Akihabara arcade.

But even as she smiled, a part of her couldn't help but wonder: Why are Akiyama Ren's Shikigami all so... cute? Fushiguro Megumi's were all aggressive and creepy—frogs, snakes, wolves. Not exactly huggable material.

About half an hour later, the scent of sizzling oil and seasoned meat wafted through the apartment. Akiyama Ren emerged from the kitchen with a tray of dishes, his apron slightly singed at the hem.

"Lunch is ready!" he called, placing the last plate on the table.

Maki and Kyōko leaned over the table, eyes wide with surprise.

"Wait—are these… local dishes?" Maki asked, blinking at the lineup of stir-fried beef with scallions, mapo tofu, and golden egg fried rice.

"Yup. Just some simple home-style stuff," Ren said, untying his apron and flashing a grin.

Maki's thoughts briefly returned to the investigation file the Jujutsu Alliance had on him. Despite being the Adagaki clan's eldest son, Ren was adopted. His biological roots traced back to another place entirely…

Kyōko, unaware of this backstory, raised a brow. "Hold up. Ren, how do you know how to cook this well? Did you take classes or something?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "Not quite. my mom used to cook all the time when I was a kid. I just picked it up by watching her."

Kyōko blinked, stunned. "Wait… you're not blood-related to the Adagaki family?"

Ren nodded casually as he served up bowls of rice. "Nah. My biological parents died in a curse attack when I was four. After that, I bounced around in foster care until the head of the Adagaki family adopted me at eight."

Kyōko fell silent for a beat. "Damn. That's… heavy."

Maki's gaze softened. "So you've known all along that your parents were killed by a Curse?"

Ren shook his head. "Not really. My technique only awakened a few days ago, during the Shinjuku incident. It wasn't until then that my memories started clicking. I began to suspect something was off, so I did some digging."

"Did you find anything?" Kyōko leaned in, eyes sharp with interest.

"Not much," Ren said. "Most of the records are gone. But I managed to hack into the old police archives. Found a report that said the case was handled by a Jujutsu Sorcerer. So I figured it had to be supernatural."

Just then, Maki's expression turned solemn. "Ren… The Jujutsu Alliance actually ran a background check on you after the Shinjuku event. You're not wrong—your parents really were targeted by a cursed Spirit. But here's the thing…" She hesitated.

Ren paused mid-scoop.

Maki continued, "The Curse was artificially controlled. It wasn't random. The Sorcerer who investigated believed your parents were targeted by a business rival—someone who used Cursed techniques to eliminate them."

Ren's hands froze over the rice cooker.

Kyōko gasped softly, covering her mouth. "You're telling me... this wasn't an accident?"

"The Sorcerer reported it, but there was no solid evidence. The cops didn't follow up. And, well... you know how it is," Maki said, voice bitter. "Jujutsu Sorcerers only exorcise spirits—they're not detectives."

Ren was silent for a long moment. Then, quietly, "What happened to that guy?"

"Still free, probably living a normal life," Maki said with a sigh. "The whole system is broken. it's rotting from the inside. The world's changing, evolving—but our system? It's stuck in the past. The elders at the top cling to their power like barnacles on a sinking ship. For most of us, rising through the ranks feels impossible."

Kyōko nodded in agreement, her expression one of shared frustration. "Same with the Onmyō Agency. It's all politics and red tape. Strength alone isn't enough anymore—you need connections, obedience, and a willingness to sell your ideals."

"Then don't wait for the system to change," Ren said, a confident smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Become strong enough to change it yourselves. Be the one who rewrites the rules. If you reach Gojo Satoru's level—or surpass it—you won't need to ask permission to fix what's broken."

Maki and Kyōko exchanged glances and, for the first time that day, their eyes held no rivalry—only a shared resolve.

"Then let's do it," Kyōko said, her voice firm. "Let's get stronger—together."

"Agreed," Maki nodded, her usual stoic demeanor softening into something warmer.

With the tension dissolved, Ren served rice for everyone—both the girls and his three adorable Shikigami.

Maki picked up a piece of sparerib with her chopsticks, took a bite, and instantly froze. "Wha... this is amazing!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling.

"Sweet and sour spareribs," Ren said, chuckling as he added a few more to her plate. "Eat up."

"I still think the stir-fried pork with peppers wins," Kyōko chimed in, scooping a generous helping into her bowl and mixing it with rice like a pro.

Ren glanced at his Shikigami and asked with a grin, "What about you three? Which one's your favorite?"

Hotarugusa pointed excitedly at a bubbling dish. "The spicy tofu! It's like fireworks in my mouth!"

"The fried meat-stuffed balls are soooo good!" Kyonshi Ani declared with enthusiasm.

"I-I like the spareribs... and the eggs with tomatoes!" Kyonshi Imouto said shyly, her tiny wings fluttering in delight.

Their little food reviews sparked curiosity, and soon everyone was tasting everyone else's favorites, passing plates back and forth and laughing together.

By the end of it, all the dishes were nearly wiped clean.

"Ren, your cooking is god-tier," Maki said between mouthfuls.

"Seriously. If this Jujutsu thing doesn't work out, open a restaurant," Kyōko teased, licking sauce from her chopsticks. "You're in charge of the kitchen from now on."

Ren laughed. "Hey now, don't get used to it. I'm not a live-in chef. Besides, Japanese cuisine has its own charms—this stuff just happens to be nostalgic for me. You want more? Learn to cook it yourselves."

"Hmph. Fine, I will," Kyōko said with a slight pout, lifting her chin defiantly. "I'll learn and make something better."

Maki smiled faintly but didn't comment. She admired the taste, sure—but training came first. There were battles to fight, enemies to face, and a world to change. Cooking could wait.