Time flew by, and before long, the year 2001 was already coming to an end.
Toji and Mukuro spent the year balancing two very different lives. On one side, they accepted high-paying jobs from the jujutsu world. On the other, they picked out assassination contracts from the underground, carefully choosing the ones they wanted.
In the underworld, rumors spread about a duo of top-class killers. Other than Shiu, no one knew their real identities. Whenever the brothers took contracts, they disguised themselves.
In the jujutsu world, they were known as the Twin Tyrants, a pair who seemed untouchable. (Can suggest a better title.)
Nearly five years passed this way. During that time, the brothers had made more than a billion yen. But after Toji spent a massive amount on several special-grade cursed tools, less than two hundred million remained.
* * *
December 31st. The skies were clear.
"Why so early… Why do I have to get up at this hour?"
Inside the Zenin compound, Toji yawned and stretched lazily as he dragged himself out of bed. What surprised him was that Mukuro, who usually got up later, was already awake, dressed neatly, and sitting on a stool nearby, waiting.
"Onshin is coming soon. We're going on a trip," Mukuro said calmly as he stood up and searched a cabinet for a camera. His posture was composed, his words casual, like it was the most ordinary thing.
"Huh? Since when? Why didn't I hear about this?" Toji scratched his head, his expression somewhere between confusion and annoyance. With a sigh, he shuffled toward the bathroom to wash up.
"I decided a few days ago. I just didn't tell you," Mukuro replied, still rifling through drawers. He stuffed a few items into his backpack while speaking in that detached way that always got under his brother's skin.
Toji's eye twitched. "And you're supposed to be the younger one. Fine, you be the big brother then."
* * *
By the time they finished getting ready, Toji threw on his jacket, and the two stepped out together.
"Good morning, Toji-sama, Mukuro-sama," the servants greeted respectfully as the brothers passed.
Ever since Naobito had become clan head, the staff and branch family members no longer dared to look down on them. Instead, they greeted them with bowed heads and polite tones. The clan head had already made it clear: even if they lacked cursed energy, they were still direct descendants of the Zenin clan.
Still, the other main family members treated them as they always had, with the same coldness and distance, except Ogi, who carried only bitterness and spite.
"Have you been waiting long?" Toji spoke as they stepped outside.
Onshin stood by the roadside with a small bag in one hand and a covered basket in the other.
"Not at all. I just got here," she responded with a smile, her voice soft and cheerful. She slipped into the passenger seat with practiced ease, giving Mukuro in the back a playful wink as she handed him the basket. The exchange looked normal, but there was clearly some hidden plan between them.
"Sit tight. We're leaving," Toji said simply.
He pressed down on the accelerator, and the car roared forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"So… is there anything special about this place?" he asked after a while, glancing at the map Onshin had passed him. Try as he might, he couldn't recall any spot in Kyoto that matched.
"It's a secret," she answered, raising a finger to her lips with a mischievous grin.
"You'll see when we get there."
Toji glanced into the rearview mirror at his brother, hoping for a clue, but Mukuro only shrugged and crossed his legs, eyes already lowered to a puzzle game on his phone.
The SUV pushed on, carrying them far from the bustle of the city.
* * *
After more than an hour of driving, they finally stopped in a quiet, remote area.
"Why pick a place like this?"
Toji stepped out first. Before him stretched a forest. The branches were bare, stripped of leaves, and the season of blossoms was still far off. Beyond the trees, the view opened wide, with only a clear river cutting through the landscape.
There was nothing remarkable about it. At least not to him.
He muttered to himself, puzzled, though there was no complaint in his tone. For him, it didn't matter where they went, as long as Mukuro and Onshin were there.
"If we came when the flowers were in full bloom, there would be too many people. Today is perfect," Mukuro explained from behind.
"Huh? What are you two hiding from me?" Toji was about to press further when Onshin's cheerful voice called from the back.
"Toji! Come help me lay everything out!"
He turned to find her rummaging through the trunk, pulling out picnic supplies he hadn't even realized Mukuro had packed.
Shaking his head, he walked over. Between the three of them, they quickly set up by the river.
They sat together, eating Onshin's homemade lunch, watching the distant trees. The meal was simple, but it carried warmth. If the season had been different, with blossoms brightening the branches, it might have been the perfect outing.
"Toji, do you know what today is?" Onshin spoke up suddenly.
"Today? What's so special about today?" He frowned, tapping his forehead as he tried to recall.
He rarely paid attention to dates. The only recent thing that came to mind was the brat's birthday not too long ago.
He searched his memory but found nothing.
"You really are hopeless! It's your birthday!" Her face flushed red as she blurted it out, like she'd mustered every ounce of courage to speak.
"My birthday… oh, right. I guess it is…" Toji murmured, realization dawning on him.
For the first part of his life, the concept of birthdays barely existed.
Before Mukuro was born, or Onshin appeared, the only time he had something close to a birthday was when he turned six. The day his cursed energy, or lack of it, was tested.
That day had ended with his own mother taking her life, unable to endure the shame of having a son without cursed energy or a technique.
Since then, the idea of celebrating his existence felt pointless. Even after Mukuro grew old enough to care, even when he and Onshin started marking the day for him every year, Toji never remembered. His birth wasn't something he believed deserved celebration.
"Honestly… I knew you'd forget again," Onshin sighed as she opened another layer of the basket. Inside was a small cake.
[Happy Birthday, Toji.]
The words were written neatly on top.
"This idiot never remembers, but it's fine. We remember for him," Mukuro added, unwilling to let the moment pass without teasing.
"Come on, Toji, close your eyes and make a wish!" Onshin urged, lighting a single candle and patting his shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Toji shook his head helplessly and closed his eyes.
But then he felt a pair of warm hands covering them. "You have to make a wish! Don't try to cheat me!"
"Fine." He let out a faint laugh.
Normally, Toji never bothered. He didn't believe in fate or wishes. He'd always opened his eyes immediately, dismissing the ritual. But this time, for the first time in his life, he made a wish.
"It's done."
At his words, she pulled her hands away.
"T-then… let's cut the cake."
When he opened his eyes, her face was as red as a ripe apple. Her hands trembled as she pulled a plastic knife from the basket and handed it to him.
"Hm?"
Just as he was about to cut, he noticed something odd.
When he brought the knife close to the cake, her hands clenched tight. When he pulled back, she relaxed. When he leaned in again, her body tensed once more.
"What's this? Did you hide a bomb inside?" Resting his chin on one hand, he twirled the knife between his fingers and teased her.
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