───

EVERY MAN — EXCEPT THE FOUR THAT accompanied himari — were chased out, as madam yume also left with a huge bag of fake gold bars, created by sukuna's powers, using some mud.

     as all the women whispered amongst themselves, himari had promptly taken a sip of tea, wiping away chīsana's tears.

     "himari, what were you thinking? what are we going to do with all these women?", getō whispered.

     "do you like any of them?", himari asked, to which the dark-haired male had let out a confused hum.

     "if you want, maybe you four could marry one or two of them", himari joked, to which sukuna had snorted.

     "dinner sounds bette—"

     "ANYWAYS, since I have bought this brothel, I'm going to state my expectations first and foremost", himari stated, clearing her throat, as everyone quieted down.

     "are we going to continue being prostitutes?", one woman questioned, to which himari smiled, shaking her head.

     "I plan on revamping this entire establishment into a school", the auburn-haired woman announced.

     "A SCHOOL?! HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EARN MONEY THEN?!"

     "YEAH YEAH!! HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED MAKE A LIVING?!", another one chimed in.

himari held up her hand, crossing her legs, as she stared at the copious amount of women.

"everything will be provided, as long as you're willing to learn", himari answered.

     "may I ask why a school for us? we're all women of different ages...I'm afraid some of us are already too old to learn or don't have the necessity to...", one said.

     himari shook her head in disagreement.

     "no one's ever too old to learn, and I'll just put it out there. women shouldn't be submissive to men. if you stick with the mindset that you'll never be able to stand on the same ground, then you will forever be beneath them.

we are not just birth givers and chefs for our husbands, brothers, and fathers. we can pursue a better future for ourselves because we control our own lives!

however, if you're set on serving a man for the rest of your life, the door is that way.

if you believe in me, my words, my promise to you all, then stay, and I'll be able to show you what you can become".

     everyone seemed to hold their breaths, as himari's emerald green eyes were passionate and sincere.

     many of the women glanced at each other, their faces clearly containing loads of trust issues and doubt on whether they'd truly be able to blossom into the independent woman that himari had averred.

     "you say we...but how do you know what it feels like to be submissive to men?", one finally spoke up.

     himari sighed as she pulled out her hair tie, letting her fiery red locks fall onto her shoulders like a curtain.

     "y-you're a woman?!"

     "was it that hard to tell?", himari grumbled.

     "well...it's just difficult...since you're so flat...", one murmured, making himari loudly gasp as sukuna and the others snorted.

     "I'M STILL DEVELOPING, OKAY?!"

     "at the age of twenty?", gojō questioned, making himari glare at the male.

"shut your mouth before I do it for you", the woman threatened, making gojō playfully raise his hands up.

"but who will be their instructors?", getō asked, to which himari had smiled.

"we will be staying for a few days, and I'll organize everything before we take off once more. I will have father send a monthly allowance here to provide for your food, shelter, and other expenses.

     my only condition is that you all pour your hearts and souls into learning and educating yourselves", himari bargained.

     many nodded as it sounded like free rent to them, to which himari had sighed.

     "it's been a long day. I'll let you all think about it over night. I'll come back tomorrow and start with the reconstruction of this place", himari yawned, standing up, as she patted chīsana's head.

"and I'll see you tomorrow, chīsana", the woman smiled, walking off as everyone watched the four men follow himari out.

fully stepping outside, the auburn-haired woman mentally planned everything as she suddenly realized that she didn't know where she was going.

"eh? where's yūji and rumi?", himari asked, stopping in the middle of the road.

     "satoru told them to wait at this inn, since minors weren't allowed in there", getō explained.

     "so...they're alone right now?"

     "mhm. is something wrong?", getō asked.

     "oh nothing~ I was just thinking that maybe we should...oh I don't know...shop around a little before we head back for dinner, ya feel?"

     gojō merely scoffed, as getō nodded in agreement.

     "I'm going back to—"

     "OH! SO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY GOJŌ SATORU CAN'T AFFORD TO LAVISH HIS MONEY ON A WEAK LITTLE GIRL?!", himari suddenly shouted, making the people on the street suddenly snap their heads around and gossip.

gojō's right eye twitched a little, as he turned to look at the conniving woman, who wore a pout like a pro.

"of course I can", the man stiffly replied with a forced smile.

"if you desired, I could buy off this entire village for you", the white-haired daimyo grinned with an irk mark on his forehead.

     himari clapped her hands together.

     "perfect! then everything's on you tonight. come on, tōji, suguru, and ryō. we're going shopping~"

     "what's taking them so long? do you think that they're okay?", rumi worried, setting the table, as she glanced outside the shoji — to which there was a yard specially connected to their wide room.

     "mmm...I'm not sure, but they're probably fine. lady himari's got tōji-senpai and the rest protecting her", itadori replied.

     "that's true..."

     as rumi placed the bowls down, the brown-haired girl accidentally knocked one over, as a tiny spider was crawling on the table.

     "y-yūji-kun, t-there's a spider!!", rumi pointed out.

     "huh? where?!", the pink-haired boy asked, searching above and under the table multiple times, as he couldn't find it whatsoever.

"i-it's on the floor now!!", rumi squeaked, pointing at the tiny arachnid, as its eight legs tinkled against the wooden floorboards.

     itadori squinted his eyes, as he suddenly paused, leisurely raising up his hands.

     "okay, don't freak out, but it's on top of your head right now. don't worry...I'll get it. okay?"

     rumi ever so slightly tilted her head up and down, watching as itadori approached her like a predator.

     before the boy could catch the spider, he suddenly tripped over his own socks and fell on top of the girl.

     "HEY GUYS! LOOK WHAT WE BOUGH—HOLY SHIT!"

     himari nearly dropped all her bags, as sukuna and gojō grinned, giving itadori a thumbs up.

     "W-WAIT, HIMARI! IT ISN'T WHAT YOU THIN—"

     "S-SORRY FOR DISTURBING!!"