15 The Muse of the Painter

The next day.

When Toshihisa Arisaka awoke in the temporary medical room of the Gojo residence, he felt as if he had stepped into another world.

Not far from his bedside, a woman with tea-colored hair, dressed in a white lab coat, turned her head toward him.

“Awake? Do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?”

The painter, Toshihisa Arisaka, briefly fell into a daze, recalling those unreal moments.

“That boy who saved me…”

“Oh, you mean Yuiri?” The tea-haired woman smiled gently. “It’s a bit strange to refer to him that way, considering we share the same surname.”

She was Yuriko Ieiri, the sole nurse at the technical college.

Ieiri…

Toshihisa Arisaka repeated the name silently.

Having undergone treatment to reverse the cursed technique not long ago, both his body and mind were still in a sluggish state.

Scenes from his memories flickered through his mind, half real, half illusory, blurred and fragmented.

Arisaka was a painter, and his specialty was the grotesque aesthetics found in ukiyo-e.

And that boy…

There could be no one more fitting.

Strange yet sensual, splendid yet dangerous, painful yet pleasurable—these opposing words coexisted in him, contradictory and harmonious, perfect.

He was the spark Arisaka had only glimpsed faintly in dreams, now materialized into reality.

Like the mysterious star he gazed at, faint and hovering—his muse…

He thought, lost in admiration.

Seeing the flush that suddenly colored her cheeks, Ieiri Yuriko was silent.

Was he a pervert?

Judging by his expression, he was not exactly normal, but she did not wish to pry.

Just as she was about to say something, a knock interrupted them.

“Knock, knock—”

Then, a lively voice came through the door: “Senpai Yuriko, it’s me, Yuki.”

“Ah, come in,” Yuriko said.

A blond boy pushed the door open. “Senpai Yuriko, I brought a green grape cake, light and slightly sweet—super delicious.”

“Oh? Thank you.”

Yuriko’s eyes curved into a smile as she took the cake. “By the way, you went out to eat with Inumaki today? You’re back so early?”

As the two chatted, the barrage of comments, which had vanished overnight, suddenly reappeared without warning:

【Landing on time!】

【They’re here!】

【Two Ieiris, taking a commemorative photo. By the way, Koyuki also brought Yuriko a cake—so adorable!】

【More screen time for Yuriko, please!】

【Isn’t that Rose? Has she grown up already?】

【…Wait, isn’t that Kumo in front? Rose and Yuriko are completely different people, right?! Anyone who’s watched a few episodes would know this.】

【Yuriko’s fans might cry soon.】

Yuriko glanced up and caught a fleeting glimpse of a black snake’s tail beneath the boy’s collar.

She didn’t dislike snakes and couldn’t help but look a few times—after all, humans are visual creatures.

This combination…

Hmm, quite pleasing to the eye.

The livestream perspective followed suit, but their conversation shifted focus, becoming somewhat indescribable and… strange.

【Everyone, this school uniform is really powerful, the black sleeveless one is truly divine.】

【Hmm…】

【Huh?】

【What? I don’t get it!】

【Kuzan’s body temperature should be rather low; you can see it from the side—it's already frozen.】

That long comment was posted but was blocked within seconds.

In its place appeared a notification: 【System Warning: This comment has been blocked!】

Still, some viewers saw it.

【Whoa!】

【Big sis, that’s really savage language—this is the power of an 18+ rating! (Now a crooked-mouthed Dragon King)】

【Hehe.】

【Small and pink, aww!】

【Huh? What exactly is it?! Stop being so cryptic!】

Ieiri Yuki was trying to make up for how Inumaki had been frightened by Kuzan’s madness, planning to spend the day enjoying food and fun together.

“Senpai got an urgent mission and could only eat before leaving.”

“That’s a shame.”

Jujutsu sorcerers rarely enjoy freedom.

Yuriko sighed silently.

“Yes,” Yuki said, walking over to the bedside to greet the black-haired young man.

“Mr. Arisaka, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, much better…”

His voice was tense.

Hearing the voice outside, Arisaka realized his muse had arrived and didn’t know where to place his hands or feet.

“That’s good.”

The boy nodded and pulled a chair close to his bed.

Seeing this, Yuriko took the green grape cake to another room.

Only the two of them remained.

Arisaka’s Adam’s apple moved; even the air seemed to slow.

He dared not meet those eyes, nor defile or speak.

“Mr. Arisaka,” the boy chuckled softly, “I’m Ieiri Yuki, a student at the technical college. I’m here to explain the incident’s background.”

“…Okay.”

Yuki.

A name as fresh as newly fallen snow, he thought.

Yuki began by explaining some basics of the jujutsu world, then said, “Do you remember the kotodama? It belongs to a category called imagined cursed spirits.”

A terrifying urban legend, repeated so often it becomes a cursed spirit.

Like the Slit-Mouthed Woman or Sadako.

“Mm.”

“It’s quite intelligent. To strengthen itself, it made the apartment its base and targeted all of you.”

“Your case is special because when it possessed you, its cursed energy also contaminated your paintings, unintentionally turning them into a kind of vessel—”

“People who see your paintings are affected, experiencing emotional fluctuations far beyond normal, and those emotions become nourishment for the kotodama.”

The reason that kotodama didn’t kill Toshihisa immediately was because it tasted the sweetness of “successful hunting” without leaving its home.

Arisaka was stunned.

This was another world to him.

Yuki continued, “Though the cursed spirit has been exorcised, the cursed energy fused within you exceeds normal levels. Therefore, your paintings may still carry the power of a ‘curse.’”

After Yuki submitted his mission report, the Night Gaunt Path sent a message.

His text outlined possible scenarios under these conditions and instructed Yuki to conduct a check in advance to prevent a second tragedy.

【I see.】

【I recall the principal stayed on after graduating from the technical college over thirty years ago, having encountered more cursed spirits than students have eaten salt.】

【The principal could probably write a book.】

【A cursed spirit encyclopedia, right?】

【Hahaha.】

Yuki glanced at the passing comments thoughtfully.

Though the comments were joking, he found the idea somewhat feasible.

Japan’s cursed spirits are bizarre and varied, but if the principal could summarize their traits, it meant multiple cases supported the theory.

If the theory were compiled into a volume, it would benefit the college’s students greatly.

Elsewhere.

Hearing the boy’s words, Arisaka clenched his palms unconsciously. “Th-then I will never again…”

Unable to pick up a brush?

Arisaka knew well that the government would never allow something dangerous to society to continue unchecked.

The blond boy shook his head. “It’s not that bad yet—just a trial.”

Trial…

To paint another picture?

“Yes. If the cursed energy is absent from your painting, or you can control it, then there is no problem.”

Arisaka nodded, licking his chapped lips, his throat dry.

He blurted out, “For the test painting, may I… use you as the model?”

“…”

Seeing the boy startled, Arisaka’s heart almost stopped. “I’m sorry if I offended you…”

“You may,” the boy said.

The painter’s eyes suddenly lifted.

He saw the boy’s smiling face, who said, “I’ve seen your works, Mr. Arisaka—they’re beautiful.”

“…” Arisaka nodded shyly.

“However, I have a small request—” the boy smiled, “Please allow Kuzan and me to be painted together.”

Since entering, the presence of the ink-black snake had been almost nonexistent; its eyes blinked open briefly, revealing crimson ruby snake pupils, then closed again.

Merely a human’s way to flatter him.

…

【Tsk.】

【Mr. Happiness isn’t reacting much.】

【Turning into Mr. Indifferent.】

【Having gotten what he wanted, he doesn’t cherish it? After hearing Koyuki’s ‘confession’ in the cave, Mr. Happiness has become spoiled.】

【But still, painting together, I’m looking forward to it…】

【Previously, close-ups of this painter’s works mostly showed beautiful boys alongside non-human monsters, intertwining sensuality and eerie mystery.】

【The most that’s shown is a shoulder, but the overall atmosphere is very sultry.】

【Full monster vibe.】

【Production team, promise me there will be a close-up of this painting, okay?!】

【Will there be a release? Definitely buying it.】

The perspective returned to the room.

Arisaka naturally agreed.

For the first time, he felt utterly tongue-tied; in front of his muse, he could not utter a full sentence.

“Ieiri-san, I…”

Nervousness overwhelmed him to the point his stomach churned with nausea.

In his heart, there was gratitude to his lifesaver, closeness to the boy, and… love for his muse.

No artist could help but love their muse.

His mind went haywire:

“I-I love you!”

…

On the boy’s neck, the ink-black snake, half-asleep, suddenly opened its eyes. Its crimson ruby snake pupils fell ominously upon the human.

The comments paused for a second, then erupted:

【Haha, I’m thrilled!!】

【Mr. Indifferent, why aren’t you staying indifferent anymore?】