Satoshi arrived at the Yorozuya.
After nine years, it looked a bit run-down, but overall, nothing had really changed.
He had no idea what had happened with Toji, Yuto, and Jogo, or whether anything had changed at all.
Nine years had passed in the blink of an eye. He wasn't exactly old yet, but he couldn't help feeling the weight of time.
As soon as he approached the door, someone stepped out to greet him.
It was Okkotsu Yuto.
Excited, he said, "You made us wait nine whole years! Get in here! That guy said you'd definitely come back, so he prepared a whole table of food for you!"
Satoshi chuckled. "Toji really knows me well. But Yuto, you've changed a lot in the past nine years."
Leading the way, Yuto rolled his eyes. "Come on, it's been nine years! My kid, Yuta, is already two years old. How could I not have changed?"
He looked back at Satoshi—dressed in his black Jujutsu High uniform, posture straight, sharp features, calm and composed with an extraordinary presence.
The guy had no right to say others had changed. Satoshi himself looked like he hadn't aged a day.
Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "Yuta?"
Of course he was familiar with that name, the boyfriend of Rika, the pure love deity, Gojo Satoru's student, a reliable protagonist, and the last hope of the jujutsu world!
Yuto smiled. "Yeah. He's a quiet kid, doesn't cry much, but I think he's a good boy."
Satoshi smiled in relief. "He's definitely a good kid. Don't worry. When he grows up, I'll forge a Zanpakutō for him."
"Mmm, Satoshi, don't play favorites."
A voice interrupted them from inside the Yorozuya.
The two turned toward the sound and saw Toji in a black casual kimono, holding a curly-haired boy in his arms.
He looked at Satoshi and grinned. "You'd better forge one for us too!"
Assuming nothing had changed, the child in Toji's arms should be the one originally known as Fushiguro Megumi. Now, he went by Zenin Megumi.
He was another protagonist, and the key reason Sukuna had defeated Gojo Satoru.
Satoshi smiled helplessly. "Don't worry, Toji. It's just a Zanpakutō. Both Yuta and Megumi can have one. If they want, I'll forge two each so they can dual-wield."
Over the past nine years, they had worked hard to keep the Yorozuya running. Their friendship couldn't be measured by a mere Zanpakutō. Besides, giving the kids the power to protect themselves was important.
Toji rolled his eyes at Satoshi, then looked down at the boy in his arms and said softly, "Let it go, Satoshi. Honestly, I'd rather Megumi not get involved in the jujutsu world at all."
Yuto scratched his head and chuckled. "Toji's right. As cool as a Zanpakutō is, I'd prefer if Yuta grew up in a world without cursed spirits."
Inside, Jogo's voice rang out in protest. "Hey, Yuto! I'm still here, you know. Saying that kind of stuff in front of a cursed spirit?!"
Yuto laughed. "You don't count, Jogo. You're a spirit traitor."
"You bastard, Okkotsu!" Jogo stormed out, furious and ready to beat Yuto.
Seeing this, Satoshi and Toji burst into laughter.
Eventually, after some squabbling and bickering, they all sat down together.
"Long time no see, everyone," Satoshi greeted first. "Is everything going well at the Yorozuya?"
Toji smiled. "Of course. With a great friend like me here, how could anything go wrong?"
Yuto grinned. "It's a dream job, isn't it, Jogo?"
Jogo: ".…"
He was the one slacking off every day. How did Yuto have the audacity to say that?
Jogo turned away and muttered coldly, "I joined the Yorozuya, but not because of those stupid dreams of yours. I just wanted to see Ryūjin Jakka again. But I didn't expect I'd have to wait nine years. Nine years! Do you even know how I survived that?"
Yuto picked up a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth, laughing. "Come on, Jogo. What will you do after seeing Ryūjin Jakka again? Go back to being a cursed spirit and torment the world?"
Jogo curled his lips and looked at Satoshi. "Back then, when the boss asked me to join Yorozuya, I just thought it was a deal. But now… I finally get what Yorozuya really means."
He sighed. "So cunning! I didn't care about humans before, but after nine years living with them, I've started to understand. Life's unexpectedly interesting."
"…Though Yuto is still a damn pain."
Toji smiled. "Looks like those nine years of exorcism missions changed you too, Jogo."
"I guess so. Well, it is what it is. Just let it be a cursed crime." Jogo gave a helpless laugh, picked up his glass, and downed his drink.
"Hey, Jogo, how can you drink without waiting for Satoshi?!" Yuto shouted.
Jogo glared. "You already started eating. If you've got the nerve to say that, I'm definitely beating you up after dinner. Right in front of your kid!"
"Bring it on! I'm the kind of dad who'd kill Sukuna for my son."
Jogo rolled his eyes. "Stop bluffing, Okkotsu. Sukuna wouldn't even need to use Domain Expansion on you."
Yuto and Jogo kept arguing.
Satoshi just smiled, not interrupting. This kind of atmosphere felt very comfortable.
Toji and the others were drinking sake. Satoshi, technically still underage, had soda instead.
All he could say was, since having a kid, Toji had gotten a lot more attentive.
Satoshi didn't mind.
Soda was fine.
Eventually, the two got tired of arguing. Yuto even picked up a piece of meat for Jogo and murmured, "Looks like there's no mission today. Peace feels nice."
Jogo nodded. "Yeah, peace is great."
Toji smiled. "Don't get too comfortable. Over these nine years, our Yorozuya has become pretty famous. We're busier than ever, and we'll be busy again tomorrow. All this is for peace… and money, of course!"
Satoshi smiled, raised his soda glass, and said, "Since we all want peace, let's work for it. Let's carry the Yorozuya name forward and create a peaceful world for Yuta and Megumi."
(To be continued.)
***
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