Right in front of us was the small police station. Even though I thought they'd take us to the main station, I guess this was the arrangement our families made.
As we sat down in the chairs, we drank the green tea Dojima offered us. In the end, he was just being kind and looking out for us because of everything that happened.
When we finished the tea, we saw two cars pull up outside through the window. Honestly, I don't know much about cars; I'm a jujutsu sorcerer, not a mechanic, but I think they were a Toyota and a Nissan. Don't quote me on that, though.
As I was talking, the bodyguards got out and opened the doors.
A tall man in his thirties stepped out of the Toyota. He looked a lot like Mei: purple hair and eyes, short hair on the sides with a long ponytail. He was wearing a dark business suit, and the look on his face softened with relief the moment he saw his daughter through the window.
Then my grandpa stepped out of the Nissan. He still had the same gray-white hair and short height that came with old age, along with the same grumpy expression as always. He was wearing an obviously expensive gray coat. The moment he looked at me, relief flashed across his face, only for it to turn serious and angry when our eyes met.
The last time I saw him was when he died in the hospital from lung cancer, the moment that completely changed my life after meeting Megumi and the others at Jujutsu High.
Even in another life, Grandpa was still the same person I always knew.
Dojima, who'd been sipping black coffee, stood up and said, "Alright, kids, your families are here. You can head home now. Take care, okay?"
Then he walked over and opened the door for us.
"Thanks for everything, Dojima-san," Mei said with a yawn.
I just smiled and said goodbye.
The second we walked outside, Mei's dad ran over and hugged her tight. Mei hugged him back right away.
I headed straight for my grandpa because I didn't want to interrupt their moment. Besides, both Mei and her dad were crying, and I honestly wouldn't have known what to say or do in that kind of situation.
My grandpa slowly walked up to me, tears in his eyes, and pulled me into a warm hug.
"Yuji… thank god you're okay, kid."
There were barely any times in my life when I heard my grandpa openly worry about me. Even though he was frail, he always stood strong like a tree, acting indifferent to everything. He never showed warmth or concern this openly. He was a man of few words, but his actions always said enough.
Watching my friends die one after another became too much for me to handle, and eventually I completely isolated myself, only keeping in touch with the few people close to me who were still alive. I kept moving forward even when there wasn't really a path left to walk.
Sometimes I wondered how different my life could've been if I'd gotten to die surrounded by the people I loved, or if I could've had a girlfriend… maybe even a family. Those were things I could never have because of what I was—a half-curse.
As time passed, my grandpa's final words turned into a curse for me, even though they were never meant to be one. The guilt and weight behind them kept eating away at me year after year.
Hearing those words from him now gave me a kind of comfort I hadn't felt even after hundreds of years.
Unable to stop myself anymore, I cried for the first time in a long time. Tears streamed down my face as I hugged him back as hard as I could.
"I missed you so much, Grandpa. I'm sorry… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for not keeping your promise."
I'll never let you go.
Grandpa.
"You know, brat, even if you cry, you're still grounded for the whole year."
…Yeah. I don't miss you quite as much anymore, Grandpa.
-----------------------------------
While I wiped away the tears and snot on my face with the handkerchief Mei gave me, my grandpa and Mei's father kept talking nearby. I couldn't hear what they were saying since I stayed beside Mei.
"Today was really stressful, wasn't it, Itadori-san?"
Yeah… honestly, this was way too much for a first day as a cursed object. Though, I don't even think I'm really a cursed object anymore. It's more like I reincarnated.
"My dad and your grandpa are taking a long time, don't you think?"
I'm really curious about what they're talking about. Still, the fact that my grandpa owns a multi-million-dollar company is shocking. Wait… if I'm here, then the others could be here too, right?
"Itadori-san? Are you even listening?"
Just the smallest bit of hope was enough to make me excited at the thought of seeing them agai—
"Ow! That hurts!"
I looked to my side and saw Mei glaring at me with puffed cheeks. She'd pinched me surprisingly hard.
Who the hell is this kid?
"That's what you get for ignoring me, Itadori-san."
Mental note: never ignore Mei again.
"Sorry, Mei. I got lost in my thoughts."
"Hmph. Make sure that's the last time."
"Y-Yeah… I'll never ignore you again, Mei-san."
Honestly, I was getting really sleepy right now. Seriously, when are they going to finish talk—
"Yuji, we're leaving, brat. Say goodbye to Mei. I'll be waiting in the car."
Grandpa walked over alongside Mei's dad. Actually, why do I keep calling him Mei's dad? He has a name. Ryoma, I think that was it.
Even though he'd only just arrived, Grandpa was already heading back to the car.
"Looks like we have to go now, Mei-san."
"So this is goodbye, Itadori-san… Will we see each other again?"
"Yeah—well, I don't know. I'd like to believe we will. Anyway… goodbye, Mei-san. Take care of yourself."
"Thank you. You take care too, Itadori-san."
As I opened the car door and sat down, Grandpa was right beside me.
Sorry, Grandpa, but I'm ready for a nice nap. Hope you don't mind me using you as a pillow.
"This damn brat…"
"Always like this… just like Jin, huh? The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree."
"Sir Wasuke, should we head to the usual place?"
"No. After the kidnapping, I'm not exposing Yuji like that again. I don't trust the staff anymore either. Have every single one of them investigated."
"…Understood, sir."
"We're going to Tokyo. Everything has already been prepared."
"Yes, Sir Wasuke."
---------------------------
What a good nap… I haven't slept like that in years. Well, saying "hundreds of years" would probably be more accurate, but I stopped keeping track of time a long time ago.
Still… this bed is way too comfortable.
Wait.
I'm in a bed?
I looked down and realized I'd even been changed into different clothes at some point. I was wearing red pajamas.
Honestly, this room was way bigger than I remembered from when I was a kid. Though, now that I looked around, it barely had anything inside it. Kind of depressing, actually.
At least it had a huge LED TV.
Though, I'd really like to know why this era is so technologically advanced already. Then again, that's actually great news for me.
If social media already exists this early, then online gambling sites should exist too, right?
Man, I'd love to play pachinko…
Though they probably wouldn't let a kid inside, even if I'm technically rich. Guess I'll have to wait until I'm around thirteen or fifteen. Depends on how fast this body grows.
More importantly…
I'm starving.
Seriously, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse right now.
Actually, no—I want a huge plate of rice with meat and noodles on top, plus a good orange juice…
Or maybe just some greasy McDonald's.
Yeah…
That sounds amazing.
It looked like nobody else was home besides Grandpa… well, aside from the neighbors nearby.
The moment I stepped out of the room, I realized the house was about the same size as a normal one.
Wait… are we broke?
Nah, probably not.
As I walked downstairs, I noticed empty boxes scattered all over the house.
So we'd just moved in recently. Good to know.
Though, I'd still like to know where exactly we are.
When I reached what was probably the dining room, I noticed the kitchen had everything you'd need for proper cooking.
And right beside it was my grandpa.
Wearing his usual light blue shirt and black pants.
Compared to the intimidating impression he gave off earlier today, this was the version of him I was most familiar with.
He sat calmly at the table drinking coffee while looking at a laptop. The moment he heard me arrive, he glanced in my direction.
"So the little tiger finally wakes up."
"I'm guessing you only woke up because you're hungry."
"..."
He read me like a book.
Yep. That's definitely my grandpa.
"First of all, good morning, Yuji," he said before taking another sip of coffee.
"Morning, Grandpa. Yeah, I'm starving, so hurry up and cook for me, old man."
"Well, before eating, go take a bath. You smell terrible. Check one of those boxes around there—you should find some clothes."
Come on, Grandpa, I can't smell that ba—
…No, he's right.
I smell like absolute shit.
Yep. Bath time.
Even after all these years… even if some memories had already started fading away…
Even in another life, this still felt the same as when I was a kid.
After taking a shower and changing into a red shirt and dark blue pants I found inside one of the boxes, I sat at the table waiting for the food.
Honestly, people used to wear way brighter colors when I was younger. Compared to now, where I mostly wear darker clothes just to blend in with crowds.
Grandpa was cooking something. I wasn't completely sure what, but from the smell alone, it was probably meat and rice.
As I opened the fridge looking for something to drink, thankfully I found Sprite.
Not my favorite, but I wasn't about to complain.
"Grandpa, when's the food gonna be ready?"
"Yuji, stop rushing me and let me cook."
"Ehh, hurry up already, I'm starving to dea—"
"Silence."
"Okay."
He really was just as easy to annoy as I remembered.
The moment I stopped complaining, the food was finally ready.
A bowl filled with rice, noodles, meat, vegetables, and seasoning.
Mmm… smells good.
"Thanks for the food."
…
It's really good.
Thanks, Grandpa.
I'm full.