Several weeks had passed since the end of the Holy Grail War. Life had returned to normal, or as close to normal as possible for someone living surrounded by sorcerers and curses.
Yuji finished his class at the Jujutsu school, erasing the board while feeling the somewhat strange silence behind him.
Gojo, Getou, and Shoko were leaning against their desks, observing him with complex expressions… almost as if they were looking at a stranger.
Yuji raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"
Gojo, with his arms crossed and his glasses crooked on his face, grumbled: "Dude… I still haven't gotten used to seeing you without the tattoos on your face. It looks like you're… naked."
Getou let out a tired sigh, but agreed. "Unfortunately, I have to agree with Satoru. Your smooth face is disturbing. Like… too smooth."
Shoko, resting her chin on one hand, looked at Yuji with a slight smile. "I thought it was cool, to be honest. It gave off a 'dangerous professor' vibe. Now you just seem… normal."
Yuji snorted, looking away as he put his papers in his folder. "What a lack of respect… I almost lost my soul because of those tattoos."
Gojo shrugged. "And we lost the professor's style."
"Priorities, Satoru." Shoko retorted, throwing a piece of chalk at him.
Gojo easily dodged it, but continued complaining.
Yuji gave a small smile. Even with all the craziness of the last few weeks, it was good to see that some things never changed.
Yuji was almost at the classroom door when he heard the avalanche of questions behind him, a perfectly synchronized combo from that infernal trio that was Gojo, Getou, and Shoko.
Gojo leaned back in his chair, resting his feet on the desk, a mischievous grin plastered on his face: "So, sensei… did you make any progress with Arturia?" Getou crossed his arms, looking genuinely curious, or at least feigning it very well: "So, have you two had your honeymoon yet?"
Shoko, with the utmost nonchalance, looked up from a medical report she wasn't even reading: "When's the wedding? And how many children do you want?"
Yuji froze at the door. For a second, he even considered going back inside the domain expansion just to escape the conversation.
"I-It's none of your business!!" he replied, red-faced and sweating, while trying to maintain his dignity.
Gojo winked.
Getou laughed like someone who had just received the gossip of the month. Shoko patted Yuji on the shoulder as she passed him: "If you want an obstetrician, I charge cheaply."
Yuji almost fell to his knees.
And so, completely socially crushed, he finally managed to escape the room, with the absolute certainty that having students was harder than facing Gilgamesh.
Yuji finally arrived home, leaving behind Gojo's endless teasing, Getou's quiet jokes, and Shoko's mischievous smile, and breathed a sigh of relief as he opened the door.
Right away, he heard voices coming from the living room.
Hana was sitting on the sofa, playing with her hair, while Sakura, beside her, held a cup of tea. The two chatted as if they were old friends, laughing softly, almost like accomplices.
When Yuji entered, they both looked at him.
"Oh, Yuji-sensei!" Hana waved, with that innocent way that hid the fact that an angel resided within her. "Welcome! We were talking about you."
Sakura smiled. "I didn't expect you to take so long. Was class tough today? Is Suguru still teasing you?"
Yuji sighed, taking off his shoes.
"Actually… the three of them were bothering me about other things…" she said, looking away, remembering the questions about marriage, honeymoons, and children.
Hana tilted her head, clearly interested. "Hm? What kind of things?"
"…Nothing important." Yuji answered too quickly.
Sakura laughed, bringing the cup to her lips. "I bet it was about Arturia."
Yuji's face turned red instantly. "H-Hey! How do you know that?!"
"Because it's obvious…" Sakura replied. "And also because she asked me to tell you she'll be arriving soon."
Yuji winked. "Arturia… are you coming here?"
"Uh-huh," Hana nodded. "She said she had something important to talk to you about."
Yuji felt his heart race, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.
Yuji closed the door behind him and let out a tired sigh. Hana was sitting on the sofa, swinging her legs, while Sakura packed her bag.
"I'm going to buy a few things…" Sakura said with a slight smile. "You take care of Hana while I'm gone."
Hana waved her hand, nonchalant. But Yuji was serious. He approached her, his eyes focused not on the girl, but on what was inside her.
"Hana… no. I want to talk to you…" he said firmly. "Angel. Your work here is done."
Hana's expression went blank for a moment, as if her body had shut down. Her eyes turned white, and her voice changed, echoing as if two were speaking at once. "So, finally, you wish to end our alliance, Yuji Itadori?"
Yuji crossed his arms. "You helped. I acknowledge that. Without you, we wouldn't have defeated Gilgamesh. But the war is over. There's no reason to remain inside Hana. You've fulfilled your role."
The Angel tilted his head slightly, observing Yuji as if weighing his worth. "Your request is… reasonable. And your vessel is strong. Perhaps too strong to remain burdened with another burden besides yourself."
Yuji gave a small, tired, but sincere smile.
"So, do you accept?"
The Angel closed Hana's eyes. A soft light began to shine on her chest. "Before I leave… Itadori, know that a part of my wings will remain with you. Not as power, but as protection. You are… too interesting to leave completely defenseless."
"Protection?" Yuji raised an eyebrow. "What kind of protection?"
"Just live your life. You'll understand when you need to."
The light intensified and then disappeared like smoke.
Hana stumbled forward, but Yuji caught her quickly.
Her normal eyes returned, blinking confusedly.
"I… fell asleep?" she murmured.
Yuji smiled, ruffling her hair.
"Something like that. The important thing is that you're free now."
Hana smiled, relieved, and then hugged Yuji without thinking. "Thank you… really."
Yuji blinked, surprised, but returned the hug carefully.
The war was truly over, and life was slowly beginning to resume its own rhythm.
Yuji closed the door after Sakura left, still holding the small translucent sphere, the Angel's soul, which played with the light in his fingers. Hana, innocent as always, tilted her head to the side.
"What is this, Yuji?" she asked, curious.
Yuji smiled, relieved that she didn't recognize the presence he had carried within him for so long.
"Ah… this?" he made a calm expression. "It's just… a charm. Like a protective amulet I received. Nothing special."
Hana blinked, accepting without question. "Ahhh… okay. If it's important to you, take good care of it."
Yuji nodded, patted her head, and then went to the backyard while the Angel's soul floated lightly above his palm, as if understanding that it was about to leave.
Upon reaching the outside, Yuji took a deep breath. The night sky was clear, the moon white, almost too calm considering everything he had experienced. He slowly opened his hand, the light of the Angel's soul flickering, as if looking at Yuji for the last time.
"You've done your part..." Yuji said in a low voice, heavy with respect. "The war is over. You are free now."
The light rose slowly, transforming into a thin beam that climbed into the starry sky, disappearing among the clouds.
Yuji watched until the last spark vanished, quiet, thoughtful… feeling that, finally, the weight of the war was truly coming to an end.
Uraume appeared silently behind him, like a cold breath cutting through the night breeze.
Yuji turned his face, surprised; he expected Hana, Sakura, anyone… but not Uraume.
For a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Yuji, still with the serenity of the post-war period, took a deep breath and said calmly:
"Uraume… you don't need to stay here anymore." He opened his hand, revealing the same spiritual glow he had used before to free the Angel. "If you wish, I can release your soul as well. You are free."
Uraume didn't answer immediately. Her cold eyes slid to the energy in Yuji's hand… and then returned to his face.
Then she took a small step forward.
"It's not necessary," she said in a low, almost whispered, yet firm voice. "I am no longer Sukuna's Servant, much less Gilgamesh's. And…" Her lips trembled slightly, something rare for Uraume. "…I no longer have a purpose."
Yuji's eyes widened slightly.
Uraume inclined her head, like someone making an old promise. "You accepted me even when I made unforgivable mistakes. You believed in me, fought by my side, trusted me."
Then she slowly knelt before him, without any hesitation, as if this were the only path left.
"From now on… I am your Servant, Yuji Itadori." The wind blew stronger, ruffling his white hair.
And Yuji stood there, motionless, trying to understand the weight of that choice and realizing that the war still left echoes he never could have predicted.
As soon as Yuji finished looking at the sky, the grass in the yard swayed with a strange, cold, and gentle breeze, like an ancient presence. He turned his face, feeling a familiar spiritual signature, and saw a white figure emerging from the swaying trees.
It was Uraume, standing a few steps from him, her expression neutral and her translucent eyes reflecting the moon.
Yuji sighed, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Are you still here?" he asked. "...I thought you could leave now. If you want, I can free your soul too."
Uraume tilted her head, her bluish strands falling over her shoulders.
"No need," she replied, calm as always. "Now... I am your Servant. I have nowhere to go but by your side."
Yuji frowned, worried. "But... the body you're using. It doesn't belong to you. I can't just let you continue like this. The girl who originally lived in it..."
Uraume sighed as if she had already foreseen exactly that lecture. "I imagined you would complain. So I decided before coming here."
She took a step forward, touching her own chest, as if showing off a new garment.
"I spoke with someone called Touko Aozaki. She specializes in creating perfect mannequins to house souls. I transferred the girl's original soul into one of these mannequins. She's alive, healthy... and won't even notice the change." Uraume offered a half-smile, a rare occurrence, as if proud to have resolved the problem before Yuji could worry. "This body is truly mine now. There are no more loose ends."
Yuji blinked, surprised… and relieved. "You thought of everything, huh…"
Uraume approached, crossing her arms behind her back. "Of course. Now that you're my master… I can't cause unnecessary trouble."
The moon illuminated the yard, and Yuji felt that, although the war was over, his life was about to become even more complicated.
Yuji closed the gate behind him, taking a deep breath after asking Uraume to take care of Hana. The light snow falling in the late afternoon made the air colder, but he didn't seem to notice. The silence of the neighborhood contrasted sharply with the turmoil he carried in his chest.
He adjusted his coat, put his hands in his pockets, and began to walk slowly down the empty sidewalk.
Uraume had crossed her arms with that feigned air of irritation before agreeing to take care of the girl, and Yuji knew it was just childish tantrum, in the strangest way possible for someone so powerful. Even so, that scene made him smile for a moment.
But when he started walking, the smile vanished.
There was someone he needed to see.
Someone he should see.
Yuji murmured softly, as if trying to convince himself: "It's time... they deserve to know everything."
Megumi.
Tsumiki.
He looked at the sky slowly, as if searching for courage up there.
Two people Toji had asked him to take care of.
Two people who had always been connected to his destiny, somehow, since the beginning of everything.
Yuji closed his eyes for a moment. "Toji... I promised, didn't I? So I'll go."
And he continued walking down the silent street, towards the meeting that could change everything.
Yuji walked along the quiet sidewalk that late afternoon, the cold wind brushing against his face and the strange, yet pleasant, feeling of finally experiencing normal days after so much chaos. He kept thinking about what he would say to Megumi and Tsumiki when he saw them… until a soft voice called out to him:
"Yuji?"
He turned and saw Illya, standing a few steps behind him, holding a small shopping bag. She wore a light-colored coat, and her smile seemed shy, but genuine.
Yuji blinked, slightly surprised.
"Oh… Illya!" He approached. "I… didn't expect to find you here. How are you?"
Illya looked up at him and replied with that gentle manner that always hid much more strength than it appeared:
"I'm fine. Actually… much better than I imagined I'd be after everything." She gripped the bag tighter.
Yuji smiled, relieved. "That's good. I'm really happy, truly."
Illya stepped forward, facing him with a more serious expression, as if she wanted to see beyond the face Yuji showed to the world.
"And you?" she asked. "Without… all that inside you. Without the scars. Without the weight."
Yuji took a deep breath before answering.
"I'm… living." He chuckled softly. "It's strange. But it's good too."
Illya nodded slowly. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but heavy with something that had been hanging over them for years.
Yuji finally looked up at her and said:
"Illya… I…?" He ran a hand through his hair, somewhat nervous. "After all these years, I can finally… apologize to you."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Yuji continued: "For not being able to protect you in the past. For everything you suffered. For everything I should have done. I've always carried this with me."
Illya lowered her face for a moment, clutching the bag tightly… and then smiled, a small but genuine smile.
"Yuji… you don't owe me anything." She shook her head. "You've done more for all of us than anyone could ever ask."
She stepped forward and touched the sleeve of his shirt lightly, almost like a childlike gesture, but full of affection. "And… thank you. For still caring."
Yuji smiled, this time in a lighter way, as if something he had carried for a long time had finally been left behind. "I'll always care."
Illya laughed softly, almost embarrassed. "Shirou will be happy to see you someday. And… Arturia too, of course."
Yuji blushed.
"Y-yeah… well… yeah."
They both laughed.
And then Illya said goodbye with a gentle wave, continuing on her way. Yuji watched her for a few moments, feeling his chest warm.
He finally took a deep breath, turned back to the street… and continued his walk towards the reunion he still needed to face. Megumi. Tsumiki.
And this time… he would go as someone free.
The wind was colder that afternoon, carrying a strange feeling of nostalgia as Yuji and Illya walked side by side through the quiet streets of the neighborhood. It was the first time in a long time that Yuji felt he could breathe without the weight of war crushing his shoulders. He finally had time... time to repair what was left behind, to fulfill promises, to look into the eyes of those affected by the battles he had fought through.
Illya walked calmly beside him, hands behind her back, observing the houses with a distant air… perhaps even slightly content.
They were almost at the address Toji had left for Yuji before the war.
Yuji said he was going to see Toji's children.
Illya said she would go too. She herself wanted to see those two; after all, Toji had fought and died before her as well.
They walked to a simple, silent house with a small, somewhat rusty metal gate. Yuji took a deep breath… and knocked.
A few seconds later, the door slowly opened.
And there he was.
Megumi, still a child.
Spiky hair, a slightly bored expression, a sharp gaze… so familiar it almost hurt.
He stared at Yuji with that typical "whatever" air, as if measuring the usefulness of that visit.
Yuji smiled.
Megumi didn't smile back, but looked, assessed… and for the first time, spoke to Yuji right there, in that moment.
"Who are you?"
The voice was calm, firm… and full of that "I don't give a damn" attitude that only Megumi could have.
Illya smiled softly beside Yuji, finding it curious and even cute.
Yuji crouched down to be at the boy's height.
"I'm someone who… promised your father that I would take care of you." Megumi raised an eyebrow.
"My father?"
"Yes. Toji Fushiguro. He… did a lot of wrong things, but… he cared about you. More than he let on."
Megumi looked away, as if it affected him more than he'd like to admit. He didn't say anything, but he didn't close the door. And that, coming from him, was already a huge gesture.
Illya clasped his hands, looking at him fondly.
"You have the same look as when you were an adult," Yuji joked in his mind. Megumi frowned, confused.
Yuji chuckled softly.
"Megumi… can I come in?"
The boy hesitated for a few seconds… then opened the door a little wider.
"If you don't make a mess."
Yuji almost cried with laughter.
Yes… it was Megumi himself.
And there, in that small gesture, Yuji felt that Toji, wherever he was, could finally rest in peace.
They arrived at that modest house on a quiet street, peeling walls, a small garden with crooked flowers, and a rusty swing creaking in the wind. Illya held the bag of cakes he had brought; Her expression was shy, but there was a sparkle in her eyes. Yuji paused in the doorway for a second, feeling a weight and a lightness at the same time; Toji's request echoed in his head.
On the other side of the lawn, two small figures played near the door: Megumi, with a serious face and a gaze always a little distant, and Tsumiki, fiddling with an old teddy bear. Megumi raised her head when she saw them and, without much emotion, said a short "hi," her way of greeting. Illya smiled and waved, adjusting her bag.
Yuji took a deep breath. For years he had known about Megumi's sister in her original world, but he had never had the chance to really talk to her (since there was someone in her body). And now, standing there, the weight of Toji's promise weighed like something concrete on his chest.
Tsumiki was the first to approach, with timid steps. She looked at Yuji with large, sincere eyes, without the filter adults usually use. There was curiosity and a hint of apprehension, like someone finding a new face in a family photograph.
"It's you… who will take care of us?" she asked softly, as if asking something too important to get wrong.
Yuji felt his heart soften. He remembered Toji's words that night: "If I die… take care of them." The promise wasn't just a phrase, it was a pact that now demanded action.
He knelt on the grass, getting to Tsumiki's level, and smiled with all the sincerity he could muster. "Yes," he replied, his voice firm and sweet at the same time. "I will take care of you."
Megumi glanced briefly, assessing the situation. She didn't smile, but there was a slight relaxation on her face, enough of a sign for Yuji. Illya stood beside him, her eyes brimming with tears, but with a proud smile that said she believed in him.
"We have a big family," Yuji continued, looking at Illya and then at the children. "Full of slightly crazy people, but who care. You'll never be alone again."
Tsumiki squeezed the teddy bear and, for the first time, a shy smile formed on her lips. "You promise?" she whispered.
"I promise," Yuji repeated, and extended his hand. Tsumiki placed her small hand over his, firm as if accepting an oath.
Megumi walked a little closer, crossing her arms as he did, and said dryly: "Don't embarrass me, understand? I don't need drama."
Yuji laughed, with emotion and an almost painful relief. "It's okay. We'll handle this your way."
Illya wiped away a tear with the back of his hand, circled the scene, and gave Yuji a small squeeze on the shoulder, a silent approval of the guardian he had just assumed.
The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the garden orange. That promise, made at Toji's final request, now seemed less burdensome, because it wouldn't just be Yuji carrying it; it would be a strange, noisy, and protective team. And Tsumiki, with her hand still in his, looked at the sky as if recognizing that something important was beginning there: the family she had chosen to stay together.
Yuji took a deep breath before answering, trying to keep the conversation light, even with all the strangeness of that moment. He knew that, for the next few weeks, this house would be receiving Megumi and Tsumiki, and he needed to show them that there was nothing to fear.
Tsumiki tilted her head slightly, curious: "Do you have anyone else our age there?"
Yuji smiled gently, bending down slightly to be at their level.
"Yes, we do. But it's not the girl next to me." He pointed to Illya, who already had her arms crossed, impatient.
Megumi narrowed her eyes, looked Illya up and down, and asked with the brutal honesty of a child:
"How old are you?"
Illya let out a dramatic sigh, raised her chin proudly, and replied: "I'm old enough to drink, drive, and not accept that kind of question from a grumpy-faced child."
Yuji almost choked, holding back laughter.
Megumi showed absolutely nothing. She just blinked.
Tsumiki, trying to be polite, gently tugged her brother on the shoulder: "Megumi… don't talk to your elders like that…"
Illya smiled victoriously, even though she was only a few centimeters taller than Megumi.
Yuji placed a hand on Megumi's head, ruffling her hair the same way he always did in the future. "You'll like our house. It's… full of very different people."
Tsumiki smiled for the first time.
Megumi only murmured, "As long as no one tries to make me talk too much…"
Illya nudged Yuji sideways, whispering, "This family just keeps growing…"
Yuji smiled, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.
It was the first time he saw the two not as a burden of fate, but as two children he could finally truly protect.
Yuji was about to answer Tsumiki when his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He found it strange; few people called him directly, and he answered.
On the other end of the line, Choso's voice echoed, full of excitement and exhaustion at the same time, as always:
"Brother…" he said with that dramatic intonation, "Eso and Kechizu just got back from their trip! They brought you a present. A strange thing, but a present."
Yuji smiled genuinely, relaxing his shoulders a little. "That's great, Choso. I'm really happy. It's been a long time since I've seen them so… excited."
Choso continued: "They want to know if you're coming home today. And… well… Kechizu is saying he'll hug you regardless of your current size."
Yuji gave a light nasal laugh. "Okay, tell them I'll be there soon."
He hung up and put the phone away, letting out a long sigh.
It wasn't a sad sigh… but one of worry.
Because, in his head, a question began to spin like a blade: "How am I going to explain to Megumi and Tsumiki…I'm a cursed brother?" The idea sounded so absurd that he imagined the children's faces,
Megumi with her deadpan, judgmental stare (as always),
and Tsumiki trying to be polite while clearly understanding nothing.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed just thinking about it.
…Okay, this is going to need a plan. A very, very big plan.
Illya glanced at him sideways, noticing the change in his mood.
"Any problem?" she asked.
Yuji smiled somewhat guiltily. "No… it's nothing. It's just… a lot of people to explain.
They're… family. In a very complicated way."
Illya laughed, covering her mouth with one hand. "Considering who you hang out with… those two will get used to each other quickly."
Yuji wasn't so sure.
But one thing was clear:
He was going to figure it out.
He always did.
As Yuji pondered Shirou and Rin's condition, since the two had left on a mission a few weeks ago, the perspective shifted to the couple silently passing through an aged iron gate. The wind carried the distant sound of bells, and before them stood an old, abandoned church, its walls worn, its stained-glass windows shattering the floor with dull colors.
Shirou's footsteps echoed hesitantly. Rin walked beside him, serious, but with a delicately worried expression, something she rarely let show.
"Is this it?" Rin asked, looking at the broken cross atop the church.
Shirou took a deep breath.
His heart pounded.
"It is… here." This was the place where Tachie, the real one, the human, the one he had never known, lived.
The door creaked as he pushed, revealing a silent interior, illuminated only by the faint light filtering through the broken stained-glass windows. Dust danced in the air, and old pews were draped with cloths.
And there, kneeling before the destroyed altar…
Was Tachie.
The same girl his servant had sworn to protect, the human version, fragile, but alive.
When she turned her face, her eyes widened.
The destiny that had separated them on the battlefield now reunited them in a silence that weighed more than any fight.
Shirou and Rin walked slowly down the silent church corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The air had a faint scent of dust and old flowers, and the light filtering through the stained-glass windows fell upon them as if the place itself were suspended, awaiting something important to happen.
Shirou stopped before the only half-open door. He took another deep breath and felt his heart race. It was different from any battle, different from any enemy. This time, he had no blade, no armor, no world to save… just someone to talk to. Rin lightly touched his shoulder.
"It's going to be alright, Shirou." She smiled proudly. "Now it's your turn to save her."
Gathering courage, Shirou pushed open the door.
Inside, in absolute silence, sat human Tachie on a church bench. She seemed calm, yet distant, as if her soul were somewhere between lost memories and days that would never return. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, a gaze far sweeter and more vulnerable than the version that fought to the death against Gilgamesh.
Shirou approached slowly, his heart clenching.
"H-Hm… Hello… may I…?" he swallowed hard. "May I know your name?"
The girl blinked, observing the strange redhead for a few seconds. Then, in a low voice that echoed in the silence of the church, she replied:
"My name?... is Tachie."
1 year later...
Yuji took his fifth deep breath in less than a minute.
The room where he was being prepared seemed too small for the number of people and the tension. Choso tugged at Yuji's tie with a gentleness that didn't match his intimidating aura at all.
"Stop trembling, Yuji," he scolded like an older brother who had lost his patience. "You fought against the King of Heroes. You survived Sukuna within your soul. And you're nervous about marriage?"
"This is different!" Yuji complained almost whispering, his hands sweaty. "It's much harder!"
Eso appeared behind them, adjusting Yuji's suit collar with his enormous hands covered in extravagant accessories he insisted on wearing.
Kechizu, beside him, smiled so broadly he looked like he was about to explode.
"Little brother is getting married…" Eso murmured excitedly.
"Our brother is getting married!" Kechizu shouted, already ready to cry.
"Guys, calm down!" Yuji pleaded, trying not to laugh. "You're making it worse!"
By the door, Taiga rested her hands on her enormous nine-month pregnant belly.
She was breathless, but full of energy as always.
"Yuji!" she called excitedly. "If you faint at the altar, I swear I'll get up from this pregnancy just to give you a scolding!"
"I'm not going to faint!" Yuji said… unconvincingly.
Choso crossed his arms, staring at him firmly. "Everything will be alright, you love her. She loves you." The rest is just… ceremony.
Taiga smiled tenderly. "And then I can finally sit down, because this baby's been trying to kick my ribs since morning."
Yuji laughed nervously, but their sincerity somehow calmed his racing heart.
Then the door opened once more.
Taiga peeked inside. "Yuji! It's almost time. Everyone's already seated. Arturia is waiting."
Yuji's heart leaped.
Choso adjusted his tie once more and patted him on the shoulder.
Yuji took a deep breath…
And finally smiled, that sincere smile, full of life.
It was the day… the day Yuji Itadori would finally marry Arturia Pendragon.
On the other side of the reserved hallway, while Choso, Eso, and Kechizu were taking care of the final details of Yuji's tie and unruly hair, Taiga, already with a huge nine-month pregnant belly, took a deep breath, smiled, and said she would go to the next room to check on the bride.
As soon as she left, the door behind Yuji opened again.
Shirou and Megumi entered.
Shirou stopped at the door, observing his friend almost trembling on the makeshift red carpet, and offered a warm smile: "Breathe, Yuji… You've fought against much worse things than marriage."
Yuji swallowed hard.
"This doesn't help!!"
Megumi stood beside Shirou, hands in her pockets, posture straight as always. She observed Yuji for a few seconds… and although her eyes remained with that same almost cold serenity, there was a corner of her mouth that threatened to lift.
Almost.
Almost.
But it didn't.
"You look like a disaster..." Megumi commented with her usual calm. "And it's funny to watch."
Yuji's eyes widened.
"Megumi, that was the cruelest thing you've ever said to me."
Megumi shrugged calmly: "You'll survive. And she looks beautiful, by the way."
Yuji froze.
Shirou chuckled softly, giving his fiancé a light pat on the shoulder: "He's trying to calm you down in his own way. Trust him."
Megumi then crossed her arms and added, without changing her expression: "If you faint at the altar, I'll pretend I don't know you."
Eso chuckled from the corner of the room.
Kechizu put his hand to his chin, analyzing: "I thought humans only fainted when they were almost dying."
Choso sighed deeply and adjusted his brother's tie again: "Yuji... look at me."
Yuji looked. "Everything will be alright. You deserve this. More than any of us. So… relax."
For the first time since waking up that day, Yuji managed to breathe without choking.
Shirou approached, adjusted his suit, and said in a low voice:
"She's waiting for you."
Megumi nodded once:
"And you're going there on your own. No technique, no power, no Sukuna. Just you."
Yuji smiled nervously, yes, but sincerely.
The kind of smile only someone who had been through entire worlds of pain, love, and impossible battles could have at that moment.
Taiga entered the makeshift room they were all using as a "bride's room," a large space within the Jujutsu school that, that day, seemed more like a sacred temple dedicated to feminine chaos than anything related to witchcraft.
Arturia was in the center, standing erect as always… but utterly lost. The armor wasn't there. Instead, the white dress flowed like pure light, delicate yet firm, with golden details on the hem reminiscent of Excalibur's gleam. She followed each instruction with the same expression she made before a new enemy: absolute concentration, tense… and discreetly terrified.
Rin, pulling the brush with enviable precision: "Stop frowning, Arturia! I'll never finish this makeup like this."
Sakura, carefully holding the veil: "Relax. This is easy."
Uraume, sitting in a corner, doing absolutely nothing but criticizing: "This veil is crooked. Isn't this makeup overdone? This collar should be smaller. Why in the modern world do dresses have so much useless fabric?"
Rin, without even looking: "Shut up, walking freezer."
Tachie, silently, arms crossed, observed everything with a small smile, a rare smile, almost imperceptible, but genuine. She seemed pleased to see the former Knight King so human at that moment.
Hana, on the other hand, was the only one who truly seemed in the mood for the occasion. The little girl ran around holding petals she shouldn't have been throwing yet. "Sakuraaa, look! I know how to throw them up like this!"
The petals flew and landed on Arturia's carefully styled hair. Rin made such a quick, desperate face that even Tachie had to hide her laughter.
Arturia, with a resigned sigh, murmured: "If it were a battle, I'd rather fight a hundred warriors simultaneously…"
Taiga took two steps, stopped at the door, and observed the whole scene with an emotional glint in her eyes, placing her hands on her round belly: "Wow… you look beautiful, Arturia… Yuji is going to faint."
Arturia blushed instantly, looking away. "I hope not… It would be inconvenient for the ceremony."
Rin chuckled. "If he faints, I'll wake him up with an explosive jewel, relax."
Sakura adjusted the veil on Arturia's head and took a step back, admiring the result. "There. Now that's more like it… Our bride is perfect."
Uraume snorted, but even she had to admit: "Hmph. Not terrible."
Tachie gave a small nod. "He'll like it."
Hana raised the bouquet with both hands: "ARTURIAAAA! Here! Now you can get married!"
Arturia caught the bouquet as if she were holding a sacred relic.
She took a deep breath.
She looked at herself in the mirror, a version of herself she never thought she would see.
Taiga smiled, excited: "Shall we go? He's already waiting for you."
And for the first time since arriving in the modern world, Arturia Pendragon smiled in a completely human way, small and soft and full of hope.
The door slowly opened, and Tsumiki entered with a slight smile.
"The groom is already waiting." he warned, with a soft voice that contrasted with the commotion inside the room.
Arturia took a deep breath. Rin adjusted one last detail in her eyeliner, Sakura adjusted the final part of the dress, Tachie just watched in silence with a proud smile, and Hana tried to balance the petals without dropping everything on the floor.
Uraume crossed his arms, feigning impatience.
"Finally…" he mumbled. "Let's go before Yuji really passes out."
She then approached and extended her hand to Arturia, adopting an almost solemn tone, although full of her usual grumpy personality:
"I'll take you to the groom myself."
Arturia smiled, accepting. "Thank you, Uraume."
"Tsk… don't make me sound nice." but her eyes gave her away.
Hana lifted the basket of flowers above her head and jumped excitedly. "I'll throw the flowers! I'll throw the flowers!"
"Yes, yes, go ahead..." said Uraume, gently pushing her closer to the door.
Tsumiki completely paved the way.
The hallway was silent... and soon the soft sound of the wind passing through the Jujutsu school's flags filled the air.
Uraume walked with Arturia down the hallway, side by side, while Hana ran a few steps ahead, scattering white and gold flower petals across the floor.
The petals fell slowly…
Arturia walked with a small smile…
And Uraume, although he pretended to be bored, had teary eyes without admitting it.
The path to the altar began.
And Yuji waited
The small hallway decorated with white ribbons and handmade flowers seemed to come to life when the music started playing. The gentle wind passed through the windows of the Jujutsu school, carrying petals that Hana spread happily as she walked ahead, each light, innocent step, bringing even more brightness to the moment.
Right behind her, Uraume walked with a serious and elegant posture, despite being absurdly proud of having been chosen to carry the bride. She held Arturia's bouquet for a moment, as if making sure it was perfect, before handing it back.
Arturia appeared in the hallway.
Everyone held their breath.
She wore a simple but impeccable white dress with gold details that discreetly resembled her old armor. Her hair was partially tied up, and Rin's light makeup made her eyes even brighter. Sakura held the train of her dress carefully, smiling tenderly; Taiga, with a nine-month-old belly, wiped away a tear; Tachie watched with his arms crossed, but with a small sincere smile at the corner of his mouth; and Tsumiki held the door open, proud to be part of it.
Gojo tilted his head, raising his glasses: "Wow… I could even get married."
Shoko gave him a light slap on the head without taking the cigarette out of his mouth. Getou just laughed softly. Even Yaga showed a fatherly smile, even though she tried to hide it.
The godparents were lined up next to the improvised altar:
Choso, with the posture of a proud older brother.
Megumi, serious as always, but slightly blushing when she saw Arturia.
Shirou, smiling with that calmness that only he had.
Eso and Kechizu, adjusting their formal clothes with difficulty, but happy to be there.
The bridesmaids were on the other side, forming a perfect arc of different colors and expressions: Rin with her radiant confidence, Sakura at peace, Taiga emotional, Tsumiki excited and Tachie serene.
Yuji, standing at the altar, felt the air leave his lungs.
He had never seen Arturia so beautiful.
His heart raced to the point where Choso, in the back, chuckled proudly, muttering: "He's going to faint… I'm sure."
Arturia walked slowly, each step firm and full of meaning. Uraume, at his side, couldn't hide his proud smile, although he tried to maintain his usual icy expression. Hana finished throwing the flowers and ran to sit next to Sakura, clapping her hands.
When Arturia finally arrived in front of Yuji, she stopped, raised her face to him... and smiled, a rare, fragile and completely real smile.
And then, the wedding began.
The light wind passed through the outer corridors of the Jujutsu school, discreetly swaying the white and gold decorations that the students had put up with so much effort. When everyone was prepared and positioned, Yoshinobu Gakuganji cleared his throat, straightening the paper where he had read several times just to convince himself that it was not absurd to serve as "priest" in this completely non-standard wedding.
People settled down on the improvised benches, and respectful silence ensued. In front of them, Yuji, tense but radiant, waited.
Then it started.
---
The Ceremony
Gakuganji took a deep breath, accepting his role in this unique moment.
"We are gathered here..." he began, with a slight embarrassment in his voice. "To celebrate the union of these two young people, even if all this seems extremely stupid... but, well... let's not spoil the mood."
There were some low laughs.
Yuji felt his face flush. Behind him, Choso, Eso, and Keshizu discreetly raised their thumbs, proudly.
And then, Arturia approached him. Guided firmly by Uraume and with Hana enthusiastically scattering petals, she looked like a living light in that dress that seemed to have been made for her before time existed.
Yuji's eyes shone.
Arturia's did too.
Gakuganji continued: "Arturia Pendragon, do you take Yuji Itadori as your mate, partner, and husband?"
Arturia raised her gaze, firm, determined, but with a sweetness that only Yuji could awaken in her.
"I do."
A shiver ran through everyone.
Gakuganji turned to Yuji. "Yuji Itadori, do you accept Arturia Pendragon as your companion, partner, and wife?"
Yuji, moved, held her hands.
"I do..."
It was sincere. Pure. Definitive.
Old Gakuganji sighed, closed the folder, and murmured: "Then… you can kiss, whatever. It's officially done."
Rin stifled a laugh.
Sakura wiped away a tear.
Choso sobbed with emotion.
Megumi seemed… satisfied.
Shirou smiled proudly.
Tachie crossed her arms, but her smile betrayed what she felt.
And then, in front of everyone, Yuji held Arturia's face tenderly…
…and the two kissed, finally sealing a story that spanned worlds, wars, destinies, and curses.
When their lips parted, a sudden wind blew through the place, soft, warm, almost as if the world itself were congratulating the couple.
And everyone applauded.
---
I looked up and thought about how my life had changed.
A year ago, I barely knew if I would survive until the next day…
And now I was there, married, surrounded by people I loved, people who fought, bled, and lived by my side. People I never imagined calling family.
The late afternoon light shone on me, and I smiled.
I remembered Kenjaku.
That shadow that always existed in the back of my mind, the destiny that seemed to haunt me since I was born.
But, for some reason… at that moment, it seemed so distant.
"Now… it's over," I murmured to myself.
I squeezed Arturia's hand. She looked at me as if she understood every bit of what I felt, even without me saying anything.
Shirou was chatting animatedly with Choso.
Megumi watched the two with her usual serious look.
Hana was chasing after Keshizu, who was running away scared.
Taiga was arguing with Eso about the cake.
Rin and Sakura were taking pictures.
Tachie was talking to Illya about dresses.
A totally chaotic family. Completely imperfect. But it was mine.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight in my chest finally disappear after so many years.
I didn't need to worry anymore.
The war was over.
The curses were gone.
The future… was finally mine.
By her side.
Arturia rested her head on my shoulder.
"Want to grab some burger?" I asked softly.
Arturia smiled.
"Of course!..."
And, for the first time in my memory… I felt like I had found a place where I truly belonged.
Far from all this curse…
End of Epilogue.