The small two story apartment building stood quietly in a quiet neighborhood, tucked away from Tokyo's bustle.
The late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves of the trees that lined the street, casting long shadows on the pavement as Gojo and Roy arrived at the doorstep of the Fushiguro siblings' home.
Megumi opened the door, his dark hair messy and his expression carrying the weight of someone far older than ten.
He blinked once at the sight of Gojo, then shifted his gaze to the stranger standing behind him.
Beside him, Tsumiki appeared, her smile gentle as always, her presence almost like a soft breeze.
"Megumi, Tsumiki,"
Gojo said, his tone cheerful,
"this here's Roy. He's gonna be around for a while, so treat him nicely, okay?"
Roy stepped forward, offering a grin that showed no trace of shyness.
"Hey! Nice to meet you both. I'm Roy. I hope we can get along."
Tsumiki returned the smile, polite and welcoming.
"It's nice to meet you, Roy."
Megumi crossed his arms, his tone curt.
"...Hi."
Roy didn't seem fazed at all.
If anything, he leaned down slightly, eyeing Megumi with amused curiosity.
"You're younger than me, huh? Guess that means I should look out for you, little brooo."
Megumi frowned instantly.
"I'm not your brother."
Roy laughed.
"Not yet!"
Gojo clapped his hands, snapping both boys' attention back to him.
"Alright! That settles it. Roy, you'll be living here for a year before you officially enroll at Jujutsu High. Think of this as… a warm-up round."
Before Roy could ask what that meant, Gojo thrust a bundle into his arms.
Baggy purple pants, a loose short-sleeved kimono top, and a small pack tied with string.
Nestled on top of the clothes was a sleek smartphone.
Roy blinked, holding the bundle awkwardly.
"...Wow. Did you just… shop for me?"
"Think of it as a welcome gift."
Gojo flashed his usual grin.
"All the numbers you'll need are saved there. Don't lose it."
Roy swiped the phone open and immediately squinted.
There were exactly two contacts.
The first was "Gojo Satoru 🌟✨," and the second was "Homelessness Help."
Roy's golden eyes flicked upward, unimpressed.
"Really?"
Gojo laughed.
"Don't glare at me like that. That's actually Principal Yaga's number. Call him if you're bored. He loves long conversations."
"I doubt that,"
Roy muttered, but his lips curved into a grin anyway.
Gojo waved as he stepped back, already preparing to leave.
"Well, kids, I'll let you handle the rest. Get along now! Oh, and Roy try not to destroy any buildings."
With that, the strongest sorcerer strolled away, leaving the three standing in silence.
Tsumiki broke it first.
"Would you like to join us for dinner, Roy?"
His expression lit up instantly. "Really? You're sure I'm not intruding?"
"It's fine," Tsumiki said warmly.
Megumi sighed but didn't argue.
"…Whatever. Just don't be annoying."
"I'll take that as a yes!"
Roy said brightly.
Dinner was simple, rice, miso soup, and grilled fish, but to Roy, it might as well have been a feast.
He sat with the siblings at their small dining table, the warmth of the home pressing against the lonely week he'd spent under the bridge.
Conversation started slow.
Tsumiki asked Roy about himself, while Megumi watched quietly, occasionally interjecting when his sister grew too chatty.
Roy hesitated for a moment, then decided to mix half-truth with half-lie.
"Well… I've been homeless for a while. That bridge was kind of my place. Then, I started seeing… ghosts, I guess. I didn't know if they were real or not at first, so I just… fought them. Gojo said he heard rumors and came to find me."
Tsumiki's hand flew to her mouth as she tried not to laugh.
"You fought ghosts?"
Roy grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I mean… something like that."
Megumi, despite himself, let out a short, amused exhale and shook his head.
After the meal, Roy insisted on helping with the dishes.
The three of them ended up working side by side, Tsumiki washing, Megumi drying, and Roy clumsily putting things away.
For the first time since he'd arrived in this world, Roy felt something familiar, a sense of belonging.
When everything was done, Tsumiki walked him to the door.
Next to their apartment was another home, two floors, a small balcony visible from the street. Gojo had already arranged it.
Roy stepped inside, wide eyed at the space.
It wasn't luxurious, but compared to the cardboard box under the bridge, it was paradise.
He wandered upstairs, pausing in a room with a sliding door that opened to a small balcony overlooking the quiet street.
He set the bundle of clothes on the floor, the phone buzzing softly in his pocket. With a grin spreading across his face, Roy flopped onto the bed and whispered to himsel.
"Not bad at all."