Shoko Ieri (Shoko)

The basement medical ward of the Tokyo Magic College was always chilled to the bone. The harsh light from the hallway burned away emotions, but in Shoko Ieri's office, only a desk lamp burned, casting deep shadows on the stacks of maps. The air was thick with the aroma of menthol cigarettes and strong espresso. Shoko sat in a chair, her head thrown back. Dark circles lay beneath her eyes—the toll of weeks of sleeplessness following the curse incidents. A cigarette smoldered between her fingers. Ieri usually couldn't stand the presence of others during her quiet moments: Gojo was too noisy, Nanami was depressing, and the directors demanded reports.

But now there was a new assistant in the office—a young mage. At first, Shoko was skeptical, testing her mettle with the horrors of the job. However, the girl's efficiency, fortitude, and quiet concern quickly won over the cynical doctor. For the first time in years, Shoko felt a welcome presence. Ieri watched as the assistant carefully arranged the files, trying not to make any noise. A forgotten warmth stirred within the doctor. She liked the way hot coffee always "accidentally" appeared on the desk when the cursed reverse technique burned away her strength. The personal boundaries between them were slowly blurring.

Shoko stubbed out her cigarette and broke the silence with a hoarse voice . "Hey... Enough paperwork. You've been working for fourteen hours straight." The doctor smiled softly, without her usual cynicism. Stretching, she gestured to the edge of her wide desk, inviting the girl to sit next to her. "Come here. Tell me why you haven't escaped from here to the safe world yet? I'm genuinely curious."

Sparks of sincere attention and softness that she had hidden danced in her eyes.