Girls Shopping Trip

Division: Son of Envy

Arc: Buzzutsu Academy

Date: September 29, 2024

Location: Buzzutsu Academy, UTC Mall

Overview

Nicole spends a day off attempting to relax but quickly becomes frustrated when the other first-years are busy, prompting her to seek company elsewhere. After a reflective conversation with Ms. Godwin and Elysia about ambition, discipline, and self-worth, she organizes a group outing to the recently reopened UTC Mall with Elysia, Rosa, and Morgana. While framed as reconnaissance after the previous massacre, Nicole really just wants a social outing. Throughout their time at the mall, Nicole grapples with insecurity about her abilities and frustration over being excluded from deeper academy matters, leading to a tense but revealing conversation with Rosa about secrecy, responsibility, and belonging. After the two girls talk, Nicole’s curiosity is ignited about larger forces beyond the academy.

Detailed Plot Summary

Nicole wakes up late after an exhausting and unsuccessful training session with Magnus, still bruised but unwilling to seek healing. With a free day ahead, she attempts to rally the other first-years, only to find Troy training and Diego busy with work. Frustrated and restless, she heads to the library, where she asks Ms. Godwin for books about Jun-Jun—a sorcerer who overcame low cursed energy through physical mastery. Ms. Godwin challenges Nicole’s mindset, emphasizing discipline, patience, and character, subtly criticizing her recklessness.

Nicole then speaks with Elysia, who is studying anatomy in preparation for medical school. Their conversation turns personal, with Nicole expressing frustration over being labeled “gifted” her whole life while now feeling inadequate among stronger peers. Elysia offers gentle encouragement, reinforcing themes of patience and self-worth. Seeking something more engaging, Nicole proposes an outing and convinces Elysia to join her, eventually deciding to invite Rosa despite initial hesitation.

The group gathers Rosa from the Darkroom—where she is unexpectedly spending time with Duncan—and expands to include Morgana. Nicole pitches the trip to the recently reopened UTC Mall under the guise of reconnaissance after the massacre, successfully convincing both Rosa and the others. Kim reluctantly drives them, and the group arrives to find the mall bustling again despite its violent past. While they initially frame the outing as investigative, it quickly becomes a casual social excursion.

At the mall, conversations deepen. Morgana explains her heavenly restriction, revealing she cannot see or use cursed energy despite her skill as a weaponsmith, while Elysia reassures her that her worth extends beyond utility. Rosa shares her own perspective, explaining that her life has been defined by duty to the academy and that her freedom has only recently expanded.

Nicole becomes increasingly suspicious of Rosa’s behavior, noticing her technique subtly diverting attention and making it difficult to track her movements. This leads to a private confrontation, where Nicole accuses Rosa of hiding things and excluding her. Rosa pushes back, emphasizing hierarchy, secrecy, and the limits of Nicole’s authority as a first-year, while also revealing that larger forces beyond the academy are being monitored. Though tense, the conversation softens as Nicole expresses her desire to help and defines friendship on her own terms, leading to a tentative understanding between them.

By the end of the outing, the group finds no cursed residuals and prepares to leave. However, Nicole remains preoccupied with Rosa’s hints about external threats, her curiosity reignited. The chapter closes with Nicole considering further investigation, suggesting that what lies beyond the academy may soon become far more important than what lies within it.

Key Events

• Nicole wakes up late after failed training with Magnus and reaches out to the first-years.
• She visits the library and requests books on Jun-Jun, prompting a critique from Ms. Godwin.
• Nicole and Elysia discuss future goals, self-worth, and the pressures of being “gifted.”
• Nicole decides to organize a group outing and invites Rosa despite hesitation.
• Rosa is found in the Darkroom with Duncan, hinting at unusual interactions.
• The group (Nicole, Elysia, Rosa, Morgana) travels to the reopened UTC Mall.
• Morgana explains her heavenly restriction; group discusses purpose and usefulness.
• Rosa reveals her role in protecting the academy and her limited freedom.
• Nicole confronts Rosa about secrecy and being excluded; tension escalates.
• Rosa hints at larger external threats beyond the academy’s awareness.
• Nicole and Rosa reach a tentative understanding about trust and friendship.
• The group finds no cursed residuals and leaves the mall.
• Nicole resolves to investigate the broader forces Rosa mentioned.