JJK: Red Priest Pathway

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Stepping out of the building where the "higher-ups" had recently gathered, I suddenly felt a familiar wave of cursed energy rapidly approaching me. This surge of power was unmistakable. But almost immediately, the source of that energy froze, as if recognizing me and deciding not to come any closer. The sorcerer, realizing who was inside, halted just beyond the building, clearly choosing to wait. I slowed my pace and narrowed my eyes.

Why is she here? The only ones who knew about my plan were Nanami, Shoko, Kokichi, and Maki — people I trusted. So, is one of them playing both sides? Hmm, no, I doubt it. It's not wise to jump to conclusions when the source of my suspicion is just a few dozen meters away.

"I thought you'd already left the city," I said as I crossed the threshold, locking eyes with the person whose energy was so familiar to me.

"I still have a few loose ends to tie up," Mei Mei replied casually, her voice calm as always. She glanced at the smoke rising from the building. "Although, it seems like I won't be able to finish them now."

"You have excellent connections," I smirked, noting that she showed up just as the "higher-ups" had gathered. Coincidence? Unlikely.

"My informant isn't nearly as efficient as yours," she replied, shaking her head slightly, as if amused by the thought.

Silence hung between us. Usually, it was a natural and comfortable silence, but now it felt heavy, pressing down on both of us. I didn't know how to break it. We stood facing each other, and it felt like an invisible wall had risen between us — a wall with no door or window, unlike the usual easygoing interactions we shared. Normally, Mei Mei and I had no problem conversing, but today... today was different.

Honestly, ever since things got serious with Maki, I hadn't wanted to impose on Mei Mei. Besides, after everything that had happened, I wasn't in the mood for small talk. It's not that I wasn't happy to see her — no, it was something else. I had just burned nearly a dozen people alive. And even though they were "higher-ups" I despised, I was still troubled by the complete lack of emotion I felt about it.

And no, I'm not the kind of person who whines about life's hardships. It just seems logical to me that maybe you should feel something — anything — when you kill people, even if they're your enemies. Regret, satisfaction — something. But no. Inside, there was nothing. And this is coming from me, a Pyromancer who's always reveled in the sight of flames consuming everything in their path. But this time, there was no familiar thrill, no sense of accomplishment. Nothing. The apathy was so profound that it was disturbing in its own right.

It's funny how we sometimes search for meaning in our actions, trying to justify or at least explain them to ourselves. We find excuses in revenge, justice, or the pursuit of order. But today, I realized that all those words are just pretty packaging. What remains is the stark reality — where emotions don't always play the role we think they should.

But what unsettled me the most was realizing that I thought I had already made peace with my dark side long ago. To be fair, though, this was the first time I had consciously killed so many people at once.

"You're usually much more talkative when we meet," Mei Mei began, her usual teasing smile never leaving her face.

"Times change," I shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding any deeper explanation.

I had already decided I wasn't going to impose on this woman anymore, and, in fact, I didn't plan on continuing our relationship the way it had been before.

"You've grown up," Mei said, giving me a scrutinizing look, as if evaluating something. "I liked you better before."

"I liked you better before too," I replied with a faint smirk, then remembered an old conversation of ours and added, "But we're both adults now, and we know how to separate personal life from business, don't we?"

"Using my own words against me? Touche, Sukehiro, touche," Mei narrowed her eyes, a cunning glint flickering in them.

She clearly wasn't pleased with how abruptly I had ended things between us. But I didn't feel guilty, nor did I plan to explain myself. Mei Mei was a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it. But I had long decided that I wouldn't get attached to people who weren't planning on getting attached to me.

"Mei, you know I don't hold any grudges against you," I said, looking at her, trying to be honest. "I understand perfectly well how our relationship must have looked from your side."

"Unstable and immature," Mei blurted out, her words sounding harsher than she might have intended.

"There was no need to say it out loud," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Just because you don't hold a grudge doesn't mean I don't," Mei said, looking me in the eyes, and I saw something there I hadn't noticed before.

"Don't even start," I shook my head, holding her gaze. "Of all people, you have no reason to be upset. Maybe you're a little annoyed that I slipped off your 'hook' so easily, but that's about it."

She paused for a moment, as if considering my words, then nodded.

"You know me too well," Mei suddenly smiled, her confidence shining through that smile. "Are you sure this is it? There was definitely a spark between us."

"A spark? And how much was that spark worth in dollar terms?" I smirked, tilting my head slightly and narrowing my eyes.

"About a hundred million, maybe more," Mei smiled casually, revealing information that no one else besides me knew.

"And how do you know about that?" I shook my head and sighed, knowing full well that when it came to money, this woman was always in the know. Her level of awareness was sometimes downright frightening.

"I have my sources," she said, her voice as enigmatic as ever, with a hint of something almost playful in her eyes. "But you know, if this were only about money, I wouldn't be bringing it up… After all, if it were just about material gain, I'd easily settle for the role of a mistress. You do realize mistresses often get more expensive gifts from men than their wives, right?" Her tone was teasing, but there was a deeper subtext hidden beneath her words.

I couldn't help but laugh. This was classic Mei Mei — confident, always able to turn a situation to her advantage, even if something deep down was bothering her. There was a lightness in her voice, but I could tell she wasn't entirely happy with how things had turned out between us. Still, she remained true to herself — graceful and independent, no matter what.

"Looks like you've got a thing for younger guys," I quipped, trying to shift the subject with a sly grin, referencing her earlier remark.

Mei Mei smirked too, but there was still something hidden, just beneath the surface, in her gaze.

"And it seems you don't mind older women who know what they want out of life," she teased, though there was a warmth in her tone that always managed to make me smile.

To be honest, this woman was too tempting, too seductive to resist her charms. Even now, she radiated an aura of dangerous allure, capable of captivating anyone. But despite all her appeal, deep down, I knew she wouldn't be the one to stay by my side when I hit rock bottom, utterly alone. That cold realism was already making itself known, especially now as war loomed, and she acted as if it didn't concern her at all. She seemed to forget that she, too, was a sorcerer, bound to this world. Maybe one day, she would join the decisive battle against Sukuna, but until then, her presence would remain like a ghost — unseen and distant.

Even now, despite this so-called spark between us, she hadn't come to check on me; she was here to prepare for her own "departure". That said a lot about her priorities. She always kept her distance, staying at a safe remove from both danger and from me. Unlike her, Maki had shown time and time again that she was willing to go all the way, no matter the cost. Mei Mei, on the other hand, was like a shadow — gracefully slipping along the edges of conflict, but never diving into the heart of it.

Yes, she was a true siren...